Carmen Ulrich on Building Wealth

What you need to know to take control of your income.

The day I took control of my income was the day I quit my job. Of course, my timing was perfect, as my husband had just gotten laid off the week before. Two missing incomes, one mortgage and a lot of bills. But it pushed us to talk seriously about our potential to make it on our own, to build our own business and open the doors to even more success. Read more

It Pays to Shop Around

Health insurance is a must. Here’s how to get the best deal on the right plan for you.

Medical expenses can add up quickly. In fact, health-related costs are a leading cause of bankruptcy in America today. That makes adequate health insurance a must. But health insurance can be a tricky thing for entrepreneurs. Without the benefit of an employer-sponsored plan, self-employed individuals are left to fend for their own health insurance needs. That dilemma alone is often a major obstacle for people who want to take the plunge into business ownership. On the other side of the equation are small-business owners searching for affordable benefits so they can attract and retain quality people. Read more

How are Your New Year’s Resolutions Holding Up?

It’s the beginning of February: How are you doing on your resolutions?

Are you still exercising, avoiding cigarettes, eating dinner with your family, saving money, packing a lunch instead of eating out, making those extra sales calls, volunteering regularly and (fill in the blank)?

You’re not alone if your commitment to your goals has faltered; it’s easy to slip back into old habits. One of the keys to staying on track is to write down your goals and put them where you’re reminded of them daily. If your weight-loss goal is posted on the fridge, you’ll see it when you’re in the mood for a late-night snack, and you’ll be forced to make a conscious decision about whether you really want that second (or third) brownie.

Another key to keeping your resolutions is creating new thought patterns. One of the best ways to do this is to read idea-inspiring books. Whether it’s the biography of a person whose success you admire or a book on how to achieve your goals, feeding your mind with positive, thought-provoking messages can change your life.

Here’s a recommended reading list for February:

48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. Check it out at www.48days.com.

See a Need. Do a Good Deed.

To those who think you can’t have it all, woman entrepreneur Kim Lim says, “Watch me.”

As a single mother, owner of two businesses and recipient of three academic degrees, Lim has had her hands full during the past few years. But following painful divorce, and with the creation of two new and starkly different career paths, Lim forges ahead. She says today, she’s doing everything she’s wanted in life, all at the same time. Read more

On Track to Millions

Becoming a millionaire may sound impossible. Millionaire may strike you as a term that’s meant for other people, not you. But that’s just not true.

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Still Balancing a Checkbook?

As you pursue your business objectives, it’s important to set and maintain personal financial goals—to make your money work for you as hard as you work for it! The reason most people don’t save enough or invest enough is that they have no idea what’s coming in—and how it’s flowing out. Cash slips through their fingers. Multiple credit card statements make it tough to track spending. And somehow the money is gone! Read more

Smart Money Tips

Being financially prepared can help you make the most of your money—and your life!

If one positive has come out of the current state of our country’s economy, it’s that we’ve all—hopefully—learned a very valuable lesson: When it comes to your finances, you can never be too prepared.
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