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Dog Days of Summer

With 90+ and even 100+ degree temperatures in the Northeast lately, it can be tempting to just shut it down until cooler days prevail. After all, the dog days of August are all about relaxing, savoring summer, and enjoying the outdoors.

If you know me by now, then you certainly know I’m all about time off. That’s why my working model is four days on, three days off. However, I also use August for a very important piece of my business… recalibrating.

That’s right, I dust off my goals from January to see what’s on track and what’s off kilter. I know that when Labor Day rolls around, I’ll have four months to reach or miss my goals.

So what happened to your 2010 goals? Do you even know where they are? Did you ever write them? It’s not too late to make a push this year, so find or create goals and get ready to ready, fire, aim through the remainder of the year!

47 Gifts from Success Authors

The following is a guest blog from Warren Whitlock, author, speaker, and social media strategist. Today I’m excited to be one of 47 success authors offering a special bonus when you check out Barbara Hofmeister’s new book. Here’s the scoop from Warren…

What does success mean to you?

Success goals may change, but once you CHOOSE
you will start to see more ways to succeed.

Barbara Hofmeister’s family fled East Germany
in search of freedom to succeed. She grew up
with the drive to succeed.

Then Barbara found out there was more… and
chose to grab more success, and share it.

Her new book “To Be or Not to Be. The Choice
is YOURS!” is on sale now.

Pick up GIFTS from 47 authors who have joined
Barbara to give you more success today.

http://MegaSuccessDay.com

Use this link to get more success today.

Warren Whitlock
http://MegaSuccessDay.com

PS. As you think about the people you will
share this idea with… you may begin to see
how easy it can be to touch the life of a friend
with one of these gifts.

Just one contact can lead to amazing
possibilities when you share MegaSuccessDay

http://MegaSuccessDay.com

An Intro to Working Less

People often ask me for an intro to the concept of working less, earning more. What better intro than the actual intro to the book. Enjoy!

How many hours do you spend at work every week? Is it 35, 50, or maybe even 80? Add on evening conference calls from home, late night blackberry emails from bed, plus weekend work catch-up time and you just might be spending 50% or more of your week on the job. Add-in sleeping time and your week is spoken for before it even begins. Have you ever wanted to cut those working hours in half without sacrificing money? What if I told you your income could double or triple while still dramatically cutting your hours on the job? Do I have your attention yet?
What I’m about to share in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Working Less and Earning More is not a get rich quick scheme. It’s also not a book about reading tea leaves to choose your lucky lottery numbers. You won’t be advised to try out for game shows or convince your parents to bequeath your inheritance early. You won’t read about hot stock tips to quit your day job and become a day trader. You won’t be trolling beaches with a metal detector hoping to score a rare coin.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Working Less and Earning More is a practical, clear, and most importantly attainable game plan for reducing the hours you spend on the job while maintaining or raising your income. Whether you work in Corporate America, run your own business, or work as a freelancer, this is your personal guide to a life of financial security and ample free time. I know you’re thinking you can’t have it both ways. Either you put in long hours to build wealth or you live more modestly to support a lower income job.
I’m here to break that mindset and prove to you that high income and abundant leisure time can co-exist. I’m living proof. I more than doubled my income in half the working hours after I left Corporate America to follow the very plan you’ll learn in this book. Today, I maintain this income working three or four days per week maximum. You know how you look forward to long holiday weekends? Well I get one of those weekends every week of the year and you can too.
So what’s the secret if you don’t need to buy a metal detector, audition for Wheel of Fortune or load up on lottery tickets? The key is asking yourself two fundamental questions. How many hours do you want to work each week and how much money do you want to make in those hours? Answer those two questions and you’ll know in minutes if your current job can support a working less, earning more lifestyle. My Corporate America job certainly didn’t stack up and that’s why I changed my approach to generating income and enjoying free time. I hope to take you on the same journey through this book.

So let’s make some money without burning the midnight oil!

Sites, Sites, Sites

People often ask me about the absolute best websites for working less and earning more. The ones that have truly helped my business are plentiful. To make your life easy, here’s a simple list of all the sites I cover in my book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Working Less, Earning More.

1ShoppingCart.com
Offers eCommerce and eBusiness software solutions for companies looking to market their products and services online

ABIworld.org
Sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute, this website can match you with a professional bankruptcy advisor to help get you back on your feet

AtAGlance.com
For those who still prefer the hard copy organizing, the site offers a range of planners, appointment books, and calendars

Banta.com
Teaches the ins and outs of negotiation including communication tips, training materials, and advice for closing the deal

BirthdayAlarm.com
Never miss another birthday with automatic reminders sent to your inbox for everyone’s special day

BookExpoAmerica.com
Brings together the largest gathering of publishers, authors, editors, and other industry professionals for an annual conference

Bplans.com
Helps business startups create online business plans in no time with sample plans, a template to fill out, and online expert advice

Blackberry.com
Provides mail access, IM capability, Internet connectivity, video recording, phone calling, an organizer, and GPS capabilities all in one

Business-Value.com
Business Value Research, Inc. can provide an objective and unbiased appraisal of the value of your business to help you set the market as you consider prospective buyers for your business

ChaosOver.com
Len Merson, founder of Productivity Concepts, Inc., provides useful tips to manage information flow and organization

DrDemartini.com
A great starting point for tips, tools, books, and motivational seminars for your personal and professional development

eLance.com
Provides an online workplace where individuals and businesses can find and hire people to work on freelance assignments

Entrepreneur.com
Offers tools, a search engine, message boards, and resources for owners of small businesses

Facilitators.com
Offers experienced meeting facilitators to help run smooth meetings and offsite team retreats

FinishRich.com
Supplies how-to financial educational tools and resources to help people save and manage money effectively

FlexPaths.com
Offers a web portal that connects individuals and employers interested in flexible working arrangements

FourHourWorkWeek.com
Serves as companion website to bestselling book by Timothy Ferriss and includes steps to plan a mini-retirement and calculators to determine the cost of your dream lifestyle

GLGroup.com
Consists of eight industry networks where experts can join and provide consulting expertise on an as-needed basis

GoFreelance.com
Connects freelancers and employers through a freelance work exchange and database of available projects

GoToMeeting.com
Provides online presentation, product demonstration, interactive training, and meeting collaboration services

GoToMyPC.com
Gain instant access to your computer files, program, and email network from any web browser or wireless device

GoodAccountants.com
Online service that helps individuals, small businesses, and corporations find suitable accountants

Guru.com
The world’s largest online marketplace for freelance talent to connect workers and employers locally, nationally, and globally

iFreelance.com
Connects buyers and providers on freelance services through a database of available projects and freelance talent

InventRight.com
Provides tools, resources, and how-to guides to help inventors get new product ideas to market

iPhone.com
Offers one integrated solution for telephone, email, maps, Internet, organizer, weather reports, camera, and calendar

iPrint.com
Personalized online printing services to cost effectively produce business cards, brochures, mailing labels, and more

LifeLock.com
Offers a proactive solution to prevent your identity from being stolen before it ever happens to you

LifeOrganizers.com
Provides tips to get your home, office, finances, and life in order while reducing clutter

LinkedIn.com
Offers an online network of over 17 million business professionals to help expand your personal relationships

MediaBistro.com
Provides opportunities for media professionals to meet, network, share best practices, find jobs, and further their education

MindTools.com
The career oriented site offers training in management, leadership, and career advancement to make you a high performer

MomCorps.com
Flexible employment site that matches employees who have opted out of traditional jobs with employers willing to take-on flexible working arrangements

Money.aol.com/calculators
Provides free finance calculators for mortgage planning, loans, college savings, retirement calculators, and more

Mozy.com
Offers secure, remote access to all the files, photos, documents, and music on your hard drive for a monthly fee

MyPartTimePro.com
Matches freelancers looking for part-time or flexible arrangements with potential employers

Nsacct.org
The National Society of Accountants can help your business with everything from tax preparation to financial planning and even management advisory services

NSASpeaker.org
The National Speakers Association is a great place to find a professional speaker or facilitator for your next meeting

Outsourcing.com
Offers information on the outsourcing process from needs assessment to choosing a vendor

PracticalChaos.com
Read Judy Martin’s blog, tips, and advice for finding work/life balance in a world that never sleeps

SalesGenie.com
Sales lead provider to help open doors for businesses looking to drum up new business and find new customers

SchoolMatters.com
Website for parents looking to research public schools including average test scores, school reviews, and student/teacher ratios

SBA.gov
U.S. government website established to provide training, financial advice, and resources for startups and business owners

SCORE.org
With over 10,000 former executives as members, this organization provides free in-person and email support for aspiring startups

The-EFA.org
A professional resource for editorial specialists including job listings, networking events, and group medical benefits

TheOutsourceZone.com
Includes articles, an outsourcing directory, and information on how outsourcing can impact your business

USPTO.gov
United States government sponsored website where you can download patent applications for inventions and ideas

WorkOptions.com
Site specializing in offering scripts, advice, and how-to’s for getting a flexible work arrangement approved by your employer

WorkSpaces.com
Your one-stop shop for setting up an efficient virtual office from home including desks, chairs, bookcases, and accessories

WritersMarket.com
Companion website to the popular book, the site helps locate markets for publishing your work, track manuscript submissions, and offers advice for aspiring writers

Books About Working Less

I hope you’ve had a chance to read The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Working Less and Earning More. May it be the start of your personal journey toward building the life you’ve always imagined.
If you’re thirsting for even more reading material on this subject and related topics, I also recommend the following books:

Allen, David. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. New York, New York: Penguin Group, 2001

Clyatt, Bob. Work Less, Live More: The New Way to Retire Early. Berkeley, California: Nolo, 2005

Drake, John D. Downshifting: How to Work Less and Enjoy Life More. San Francisco, California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2000

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream. New York, New York: Owl Books, 2005

Ferriss, Timothy. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. New York, New York: Crown Publishers, 2007

Langemeier, Loral. The Millionaire Maker’s Guide to Creating a Cash Machine for Life. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007

Levy, Mark. Accidental Genius: Revolutionize Your Thinking Through Private Writing. San Francisco, California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2000

Merson, Len. The Instant Productivity Toolkit: 21 Simple Ways to Get More Out of Your Job, Yourself, and Your Life, Immediately. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2005

O’Bryan, Pat. Your Portable Empire: How to Make Money Anywhere While Doing What you Love. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007

Robinson, Joe. Work to Live. New York, New York: A Perigee Book, 2003

The Ultimate Small Business Guide: A Resource for Startups and Growing Businesses. New York, New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004.

White, Jennifer. Work Less, Make More: Stop Working So Hard and Create the Life You Really Want! Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998

Zelinski, Ernie J. The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press, 2003

Vacation after Vacation

I don’t know about you but when I come back from vacation I’m always itching to get some work done. Maybe it’s that slight feeling of guilt that you need to catchup after lounging at the beach or sightseeing.

Unfortunately, a funny thing happens to me the day after vacation ends. Despite my best efforts to hit the ground running my mind is not ready for all-out fully-focused work. It’s almost like my brain forgot to come back from vacation.

Over time I’ve come to accept this first day brain lock as the natural part of vacation return. I no longer put high expectations on myself for day one. Instead I use it to catchup on small ticket to-do’s and rerack the rest of my week.

So now my new goal is to hit the ground running on my work… but only after a 24-hour waiting period as my brain returns to it’s rightful place.

Recession Proof Careers Foreword

If you haven’t picked up a copy of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Recession Proof Careers, I wanted to share the wonderful foreword written by Clarke Havener, Global Sector Leader, Aerospace and Defense, Korn/Ferry International. He’s been a wonderful partner and wrote a great foreword for the book. Enjoy…

One byproduct of the current financial turmoil is that hardly a day goes by without some pundit coining a new name for the upheaval. The Second Depression, Great Recession, and Nightmare on Wall Street are just a few that have been bounced around. But whatever name we finally end up with, it is certain to be a turning point in how work is organized. And while the emphasis understandably has been on the pain, economic upheaval also presents opportunities as people draw on creativity to reinvent themselves.

In the past, every broad shift in the economy has resulted in reinventing, redefining and reenergizing the workforce. The 19th-century’s industrial revolution, culminating in the Great Depression, transformed an agrarian society into an industrialized one marked by a mobile workforce. Stagflation in the 1970s signaled the decline in manufacturing in the U.S. and the rise of a knowledge-based, service-oriented economy. Finally, the Dot-com-driven 2000 recession marked the explosive growth of the Internet and globalization. Each of these periods represented inflection points in employment opportunities and saw the emergence of important industries such as aviation, petrochemicals and aluminum in the Thirties, and I.T. and biotech more recently.

Certain fields and industries present perennial growth. The graying of the U.S. and technological innovation can be expected to produce high-paying jobs in healthcare and computers. Openings for dental hygienists, physical therapists and physician assistants will jump 30 percent to meet demand, while data communications analysts and software engineers should see employment jump 53 percent and 45 percent, respectively. Openings in education and government are on the rise too. Meanwhile, innovation continues at small startups and big companies, and federal funding for basic scientific research at universities is fostering breakthroughs in biotech, high-tech and Green technology. These innovations will spur new businesses, industries and jobs.

But looking for a job is a bit like going on a journey and as with any journey, it’s good to have a guide. In Jeff Cohen, you have one of the best. He’s successfully made the transition from a corporate job to an entrepreneurial one—reinventing himself, achieving financial security and maintaining a balance between work and leisure time. But like all good guides, Jeff recognizes that no two paths are identical. So he’s organized this guide to let you find the path best suited to your goals, gifts and strengths, whether you are transitioning to a new career or a new graduate first starting out.

Recessions present new challenges but also new opportunities. And it calls on both experienced workers and those first entering the workforce to develop new skills that safeguard them from the vagaries of a shifting economy and enable them to compete in a global economy. Good luck as you begin your own personal journey toward finding a recession proof career.

Top 12 Recession Proof Careers by Income

There’s no need to sift through the entire 100+ recession proof careers covered in my book to find out the most lucrative. Here’s the top 12 in one handy list…

1. Computer and Information $79,000 - $129,000
Systems Manager

2. Actuary $59,000 - $115,000

3. Personal Financial Advisor $44,000 - $114,000

4. Pharmacist $83,000 - $108,000

5. Geoscientist $52,000 - $101,000

6. Computer Software Engineer $63,000 - $98,000

7. Medical and Health Services $57,000 - $95,000
Manager

8. Atmospheric Scientist $56,000 - $94,000

9. Management Analyst $51,000 - $92,000

10. Physician Assistant $62,000 - $89,000

11. Computer Systems Analyst $54,000 - $88,000

12. Medical Scientist $45,000 - $88,000

Careers with Greatest Growth Potential

With over 100 recession proof careers covered in my book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Recession Proof Careers, it can be hard to determine the best of the best. Here are the top twelve recession proof careers by anticipated job growth and income potential. The data presented here is based on the U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

Career Growth by 2016

1. Personal and Home Care Aid 51%

2. Personal Financial Advisor 41%

3. Computer Software Engineer 38%

4. Computer Scientist and 37%
Database Administrator

5. Substance Abuse and Behavioral 34%
Disorder Counselor

6. Social and Human Services 34%
Assistant

7. Gaming Surveillance Officer 34%

8. Dental Hygienist 30%

9. Computer Systems Analyst 29%

10. Gaming and Sports Book 28%
Writers and Runners

11. Physician Assistant 27%

12. Physical Therapist 27%

The Top Job Search Sites

The Internet is a wonderful resource for helping you achieve recession proof status and here’s a little refresher course on the absolute best job search sites to begin your journey…

1) www.beyond.com

2) www.careerbuilder.com

3) www.collegerecruiter.com

4) www.execu-search.com

5) www.hotjobs.yahoo.com

6) www.hound.com

7) www.indeed.com

www.jobcentral.com

9) www.jobserve.us

10) www.momcorps.com

11) www.monster.com

12) www.simplyhired.com

13) www.snagajob.com

14) www.theladders.com

15) www.truecareers.com

16) www.usajobs.com