After a great day of golf yesterday – I came back to check my email messages and I find “Infringement of Hasbro, Inc.’s MONOPOLY® Logo.”

Immediately, I laughed and said to myself “yeah right.” First – why in the world would they care about my logo, and second – HOW in the world did they find MY blog??

Now, anyone who knows even the slightest about me knows that my absolute favorite board game of all time is… MONOPOLY!!! So, when I wanted to officially start blogging (somewhere other than MySpace), I decided to create an ‘online brand’ for myself. There are several things that could be used to describe me - Monopoly, entrepreneur, Captain Morgan, Marine, Republican, etc.

I took all of those things into consideration and decided that since my life as an entrepreneur always seems to have me in a world of chaos – I needed to include that word. Okay… so we have part of the brand – what else? I really do love Monopoly so, I wanted to find a way to incorporate that as well. As I thought to myself about what a ‘monopoly’ was I mixed that idea with my conservative Republican nature, and decided that since our (Republican) beliefs are the only ones that should matter – we want to ‘monopolize’ the country. Thus – Monopolized. Put the two together, and you get Monopolized Chaos!

PERFECT! Jim Brown IS – Monopolized Chaos.

So, what’s next? I need a logo – right? Of course I do – I have to also rely on my design background! What would represent my new brand and persona better than the Monopoly logo? After doing a little digging, I figure out what font they used to create the logo, changed the name to Monopolized, and the color to orange (my favorite color – again, has to represent me), added Chaos, and viola!!! We have a logo!

Fast forward nearly six months later and I get the letter below from Hasbro demanding that I immediately cease the use of my ‘infringing’ logo. Are you serious? Again, I ask the question, HOW in the world did they find my blog? But it gets better – read the letter…

Hasbro states that the use of my logo will cause “confusion with respect to Hasbro’s authorization or sponsorship of or association with your activities,” and further the use of the logo will, “dilute the distinctive quality of the MONOPOLY® logo.”

Still laughing.

I guess I should feel honored that Hasbro thinks that my little blog on my portion of the internets (Insert George Bush parody here), will impact so many people that it will cause confusion of their brand.

Wow.

So today was Easter.

A friend of mine, Pat Coyle, posted a question today on Smaller Indiana, that made me desire to respond. The question was “Can Easter Eggs really walk on water?” Although asked tongue in cheek, the point of the question was, what is Easter all about? Are we celebrating a miracle that occurred 2,000 years ago? Or is today just about eggs and bunnies?

This whole idea of Jesus, or more so, “God” has made me question a lot through the years. Recently, in an effort to find the truth, I’ve been studying this topic pretty heavily the last few months. I’ve struggled with the idea of how one religion could be right and others wrong. I’ve wondered if we were all praying to the same “God,” but calling him different names.

Then something really stood out to me in my readings, and it was the life of Jesus. Jesus did indeed walk on this earth, as a man. Nearly all religions have testament to this, including, Buddhism. That said, the man, Jesus, made claim to be one and the same with God and his deity.

In looking at that, Jesus’ comments came off as blasphemy, and he was punished, and ultimately crucified for this. However, let’s consider our options here, either Jesus was a) telling the truth, and indeed was our Lord, or b) he was committing blasphemy, and thus, was a liar. Those are our only two choices.

Okay, let’s consider these choices: Lord or Liar?

In Hinduism, they consider Jesus a great guru, and some even say he is an avatar (incarnation of God on earth). Mahatma Gandhi, considered Jesus a teacher and inspiration. In Islam, Jesus is known as Isa and is one of God’s highest-ranked and most-beloved prophets. These are only a few examples, but if these two strong religions have this to say about Jesus… how could he be seen as a liar?

Jesus then said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

I think I’ll continue to celebrate his crucifixion and resurrection, minus the bunnies and eggs.

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he’d learned in seven years.”
-Mark Twain

Isn’t it interesting? Isn’t it ironic? As children, mainly teenagers, we seem to know it all. We’ve ‘been there, and done that.’ What could our parents possibly know, that we do not? We rebel and disagree, sometimes, just for the sake of doing so.

When I first came across this quote, almost a year ago, it made me stop and think. Wow, how true. Growing up, my father and I were nowhere close to being on the same page. My dad was a hard working laborer, who could do anything with power tools. He liked to hunt and fish, but that was about the extent of his sportiness. Myself on the other hand, I was a geek, and still to this day, do not like to get dirty. While mediocre in ability level, I was also an athlete; football, baseball, and basketball were my sports.

Often times my dad would try to teach me things, or get me to tag along with him for the day. I had no interest. I would rather sleep until noon and then bang on the keyboard of my computer for the rest of the day. Thinking back, I sure did miss out on some great life skill experiences.

Today, my dad and I are growing to become best friends. I love, and thus miss, him more and more every day. Our conversations are actually starting to contain a lot of substance, and I thoroughly enjoy the time that I get to spend with him.

These days, I call my dad for almost everything. “How do I…..” Anything from keeping the toilet from constantly running to when to plant grass seed. It has to get on his nerves, and I’m sure he sometimes thinks, “boy, if you would have only listened to me when you were younger…” Oh well, gives me good reasons to call him!

One of the lessons my dad did teach me (although, I thought he was out of his mind for the longest time), was not to borrow, anything. I was not allowed to borrow video games, money, toys, anything. I was told that if I couldn’t afford it, I didn’t need it. Boy, did I think that was unfair. All of my friends got to, why couldn’t I? I wish it would have stuck with me then, but just as the quote insinuates, it took me “seven years” to realize he was right. If only I had listened to him then, I wouldn’t have credit card debt, an expensive car payment, or even two houses, both with mortgages. I would also have a heck of a lot more actual cash in the bank.

Oh well. I wonder how much smarter he’ll be in another “seven years.”

With a little over eight months until the 2008 Presidential election, many are starting to ask the questions that will ultimately decide their vote. That said, I have THE question to help you decide which way you should cast your ballot:

Who’s job is it to take care of you? (Pick One)

               Mine           The Government’s

I am a huge proponent for personal responsibility and believe strongly that it is NOT the government’s job to take care of me. Thus, whoever is elected will not make my life any better… however, they could make it worse. As I continue to live in a free, capitalist society, I can continue to work hard, create jobs, and ultimately create more wealth, but if the government continues taking more and more in the way of taxes and regulations, at what point do entrepreneurs throw their hands up and say “It’s not worth it?”

Why am I so adamant about this? Let’s look at a few issues:

Housing/Real Estate/Mortgage Crises – Many people have seen their adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) rise over the last year, and have pointed their fingers at the government and said, “fix this!” Others have seen the value of their home drop significantly, and have been unable to get out from underneath their situation. They too, have pointed the finger government’s way. Is this the government’s fault, or even their place to fix the situation? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Home ownership is not for everyone. Most likely those who have ARMs in all reality, could not afford the house they purchased to begin with, and had to opt for a less than favorable financing arrangement. Why in the world should the government bail you out?

Retirement/Social Security – This is probably one of the most evident places that government should not be involved. Why in the world as an able-bodied, working citizen, would I (or should I), ask the government to take my money and hold on to it for when I retire? To me, this idea basically says, “work your whole life, spend everything you have, and then, we will take care of you.” How about we throw a little bit of personal responsibility in there and A) live on less than what we make, B) invest our own money in good growth stock mutual funds, and C) take care of our own retirement. It’s shocking to me that the government has a plan that tells me I’m not smart enough to take care of my own money, yet their program is inching closer and closer to bankruptcy every day.

Universal Health Care – Oh boy, this is a big one these days. Now, not only am I not smart enough to take care of myself during retirement, I guess I’m not smart enough to take care of myself during my working years either. It looks like big government is about to strike again and start taking care of our health care for us. Having served in the military, I’ve seen Universal Health Care at work, and it’s not pretty. Yes, all prescriptions are filled for free. Yes, all surgeries are performed for free. Yes, all check-ups and regular care is free. However, the quality of service is subpar. Think about it this way, if a doctor has his patients given to him, guaranteed that they will keep these patients, and then told they will only make half of what a private doctor would make – what would motivate this doctor? If you answered absolutely nothing, you would be correct. What would drive innovation? Discovery? Medical breakthroughs?

Regardless of your thoughts on these issues, how about we ask a different question, where does the money come from for these government programs? It comes from able-bodied, tax-paying citizens, and the more we make, the more they take. Kind of sounds like a redistribution of wealth to me, and correct me if I’m wrong, doesn’t that sound an awful lot like socialism? If we continue to let government take care of us, when does it end? What’s next? Are they going to provide housing for us? How about a car? Why not go ahead and throw in season tickets to our favorite sports team!

It really is the little things in life that matter the most. I have been extremely happy lately. From a macro level it has been pretty easy to figure out. I enjoy the business that I am in, and the tasks that I complete on a daily basis. I have a wonderful girlfriend who is amazingly kind to me. I’m enjoying my studies in school. But why is this making me as happy as I am?

I believe the overarching happiness is better seen on a granular or micro level. For instance, one of the reasons I’m actually writing this blog today, is because I got a little bit of prodding from a new friend in my life that knew I had made a commitment to blogging once a week. After not seeing any words coming from me for well over a month, I got a pleasant email from her basically reaffirming my commitment to myself. Having friends that care enough to hold you accountable is a nice feeling. Thanks Julie.

Another thing that put a huge smile on my face today was a little trip to the mail box. In today’s world of digital communication, email, voicemail, texting, etc, it’s a rarity to get meaning snail mail. Today was different. Being Wednesday, I have grown accustomed to it be “Junk Mai Day.” The day you get all the flyers and coupons to places you never go to – you get these too right? J Well today I pull out what I expect to be junk and low and behold, I found a hand written envelope from a friend I haven’t talked to in quite a while. It was a little heavy, so I ripped it open to find a card, along with a Monopoly Board magnet. Scribbled inside was just a note that said she had been thinking about me. It was perfect. Thanks Ellen.

And I can’t forget my wonderful girlfriend. For the first time ever I feel a sense of true completeness. I don’t mean that in the Jerry McGuire “You had me at hello,” way, no, it is a total feeling of being whole. She has all of the attributes I could ask for. She’s beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, and ambitious. But more importantly, it’s the little things; the way she looks at me, the way she kisses me, and the way she just wants to be with me. Thanks Kathy.

It really is an odd feeling more me. I’m not used to being genuinely happy for an extended period of time, but after a week of carrying a big smile on my face, I’m kind of getting used to it. I’m enjoying the little things.

More to come.

***Disclaimer***

I’m sure this post will piss some people off, and that’s okay. I have never said I was perfect when it came to money, but the following examples are just moronic.

Our country is in trouble. Not because of looming terrorist attacks. Not because of the invasion of privacy known as the Patriot Act. Not because social security is running out.

No, America is in trouble because we are on the verge of becoming a cashless society. It is bad enough we went off the gold standard a few years ago. What does that mean? Well, basically it means that the money you have in your wallet is not worth the ink it is printed on. Wonder why the dollar is not worth as much as other foreign currency? It used to be that each dollar printed was back by its weight in gold. Nowadays, if the government needs money, they just print it.

My concern actually is not with the government. It is with the banks, credit card companies, and other lending organizations that are financing the bankruptcy of America. My dad once taught me that if you cannot afford to pay cash for something, you don’t need it. Wow… if only I had listened to him. Instead I managed to get myself in the typical routine of living beyond my means, and like most Americans, racking up the credit card debt. Then one day, I woke up. I realized that if I didn’t change the way I was living, I was never going to get out of debt.

Nowadays, I live on a budget, I quit using credit cards, and I’m working my way out of the whole I dug. For anyone who has reached the bottom like I did, and is looking for some inspiration and a little help on planning your path to get back to the top, I recommend Dave Ramsey’s – The Total Money Makeover. The best thing about Dave, is he just tells it the way it is. If you are a moron, he is not going to put sugar on things—he will simply tell you that you’re a moron.

Once you make up your mind to live a debt free life, you will be amazed at some of the things you see right in front of you. Sometimes you’ll want to help, but after your advice falls on deaf ears so many times, you simply realize that those people are comfortable living pay check to pay check, and you can’t help them. The best is those people that talk about ‘good’ debt and ‘bad’ debt. The fact is, if you are in DEBT – it is bad. PERIOD.

So what are some of the things that have amazed me?

• I know someone who recently went on a vacation that was paid for entirely on a credit card—one month after over-drafting their bank account more than once. Does that make any sense at all? If you’re over-drafting your bank account, do you really think you need to go on vacation?
• I know someone who went over a year without any kind of employment, yet insisted, that he was too good to drive anything less than a brand new $35,000 car that they pays $400/mo for let alone the insurance. Wow. God bless credit cards.
• I know a single person who makes less than $35,000/yr that bought a house. What was hilarious was they got a 90/10 loan. Now, you might be thinking, well, that’s good – they put down 10%. If that were the case, I would shut up. But no, their parents paid the 10% down, so in all reality they took out a 100% loan on a house. WOW. I’m all about home ownership, but take a look at all the cookie cutter homes and bank foreclosures and you will start to see the picture that is being painted. Home ownership is NOT for everyone.
• I know a person who is waiting until January to buy presents for his friends and family for Christmas. I first thought – this is GREAT!! They are going to wait until they have the cash to pay for the presents. Unfortunately, that is not the case. They are waiting to get their financial aid check for school. Yes, that is correct they are using money meant for education to pay for frivolous gifts. I hope Sallie Mae at least sends them a Christmas Card every year!
• This is the best one… I know someone who drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee… good car, wish I had one. They traded the Jeep in for a Lexus RX350 and the $600/mo payment that came with it. After a year, the Lexus wasn’t ‘good’ enough for them and they traded that in for a Land Rover, as well as the $800/mo payment. Now, less than a year later, they are looking to trade it in again for a Mercedes M-Class and the $1000/mo payment. Really????

I guess the point of this blog goes back to the title – “Act Your Wage America!” People need to realize that if they cannot afford to live the ‘high life’ that’s OKAY!!! A friend of mine once told me that life is a marathon, not a sprint – what a brilliant concept. What happened to saving money until you can buy the things you want?!?

Maybe I should become a bankruptcy lawyer?

The presents have all been unwrapped. Leftovers will be served to unsuspecting individuals for the next week. Festive lights and decorations will soon be taken down to prepare for a new year.

Ah… Christmas, as the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

As my girlfriend and I drove from parents house to parents house and back yesterday, something struck me. Now for those that know me, you know I have no problems conjuring up a political squabble from time to time. This time I will mix a little bit of religion in the mix. Did anyone else notice that EVERYTHING was closed yesterday? Seriously, even Wal-Mart (the devil in disquise) was closed yesterday. Doesn’t that seem a bit odd? In a country where we are no longer allowed to utter the word’s “Merry Christmas” in fear of being reprimanded, every single business was closed on Christmas day.

Why?

Why is it that in a country where nativity scenes breach the boundaries of the seperation of church and state all businesses were closed on Christmas? Why is that in a country that was founded on Christianity, are those same Christians being suppressed to the point of not being able to say “Merry Christmas” because it might offend other religions, yet, everything was closed on Christmas? Why is that the big box retailers have taken “Christ” completely out of “Christ”mas, again because it is not politically correct, but they rely on Christmas sales to guide their profits for the year?

All of these things kind of just struck me at once, and I needed a place to vent my frustrations. After talking about it with my girlfriend, she said to me that it sounds like another goal for this year just made itself apparent. I need to work on my own faith.

After growing up in the church and understanding enough to build the foundation of my morals and beliefs, I, like most teenagers, strayed away in search of answers. During my four years in the Marine Corps I got a bit closer to the big man upstairs, but never really latched back on to the “every Sunday church-going experience.” In recent years I’m maintained the same level of belief. I know there is a greater being, a creator, a “god,” but for some reason have not been able to call him, “God.”

Therefore, in light of my disgust for the politically correct, I will make it a priority to find the answers that I need to grow stronger in my faith of Christianity.

Merry Christmas

For me, 2008 will be the year of self improvement on many fronts. I’m the type of person who always has several things going on. Whether it is business, personal, social, or whatever, I’m usually juggling 10-15 things at a time.

So, why will 2008 be any different? If you have not read Tony Robins – Lessons in Mastery, I highly encourage you to do so. He talks about an idea called CANEI, which stands for Constant and Never Ending Improvement. That concept motivated me to start this blog.

Men’s Health wrote an article this month about how to make goals more effective, and thus, more attainable. Thus, this blog serves two purposes: it lets me put my improvement goals in writing, and by making them public, it allows for others to hold me accountable. To recap their three step approach:

1. Put it in writing
2. Make it specific, realistic, and measurable
3. Put a date on it

That being said, I will outline my goals for 2008, adding as many specifics as possible. My goals, as well as the posting in this blog, will cover several topics all wrapping around the central idea of personal development. If you read this I ask that you help me attain these goals by challenging me, and holding me accountable.

Business:

• Identify and join two organization boards by June 31.
• Acquire and retain 20 clients on set monthly retainer by August 31.
• Speak at a minimum of 12 events by December 31.

Personal:

• Workout 3x/week resulting in desired weight of 190 lbs and 32” waist by March 31.
• Take a ‘real’ vacation to Hawaii, by July 31.
• Increase vocabulary. I’m not exactly sure how to measure this, but the following goal is a step in the right direction.
• Read two books monthly – one business book and one personal development book.

Financial

• Reduce total debt by 25% by December 31.
• Improve credit score by 50 points by June 31.
• Quit using credit cards completely January 1.

There they are. As of December 24, 2007 those are my goals for 2008. I know more will come into play, and I know I have others that aren’t measurable. I will blog about all of them, but these will be my starting points for the new year.

—

“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” – Benjamin E. Hayes

The Presidential debates are starting to heat up. As candidates prepare to campaign for their party’s nomination, at the forefront of these debates is a single issue; an issue that may in fact determine who wins—immigration. Recently a question was asked on CNN’s YouTube Republican Debates was; “if elected President, what will you do to curtail the illegal immigration into the United States, and how will you handle the millions of immigrants who are currently here in America.

While the country watches in anticipation, let’s look at the issue on a micro level, focusing only on the economic impact in Indiana. Of the 3.5% of the Hoosier population that is made up of Hispanics or Latino’s, Mexican immigrants comprise 76% of that number. We have seen the Mexican population increase 147% since 2000. (US Census .. 2006 pop. 228,457 | 2000 pop. 153,042)

Why is Indiana such a hotbed for immigration? “Indiana’s strong economy, high demand for workers, available housing, and inviting family environment has long attracted Hispanic/Latino newcomers. They in turn make significant developmental and cultural contributions to the economy, as evidenced by their rapid growth in business, media, leadership, church and celebration,” said Amy Mendoza-Hernandez, Executive Director, Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. “Their labor bestows a competitive edge to Hoosier industry, maintaining thousands of jobs that would otherwise risk relocation, and providing a crucial foundation as Indiana strives to compete nationally in growth sectors requiring specialized skills and training. Newcomers overcome natural challenges by the commitment to achieve a better life for their families.”

What exactly is the economic impact? First, let’s consider undocumented workers. It has been made plain and clear that employers who employ illegal immigrants can face penalties as harsh as losing their business. Yet, while these threats are severe, the follow-through is nil. The argument coming from the employer side of the table is that they are hiring immigrants who are more than willing to do that jobs that American workers simply will not do. From the perspective of the white-collar, college educated worker, that might be true, but what about the blue-collar, high school or less educated worker who some classify as ‘the working poor.’ They are the ones who are losing out to the lower-wages accepted by undocumented or illegal immigrants.

While undocumented workers are a problem facing each and every one of us, let us also take into consideration the tax impact (or lack thereof) of legal immigrants. Mexico has no state or local income tax. This difference may confuse some immigrants since Indiana residents are required to pay state income tax. Furthermore, the possibility that many Mexican immigrants remain unaware of Indiana’s tax filing deadlines and procedure may be very high, resulting in a delay of state tax dollars getting to where they can be used.

It would be unfair to only cover the negative impact of immigration, therefore let us consider the buying power of Mexican born immigrants. A 2005 study from the University of Georgia Selig Center for Economic Growth, reported that the buying power of Indiana Hispanics/Latinos was over $4 billion. It is critical to understand that Indiana tax revenue is directly correlated to the buying power of each individual, documented or undocumented, Hoosier or non-Hoosier. Thus, the buying power of these minority immigrants somewhat blurs the line of their economic impact. This November, before casting your ballot, consider all aspects of the illegal immigration debates. Immigration is what has made America what it is today. However, let us not leave out the very important word—legal. A vote for amnesty would be very damaging to the United States. The argument that they have done nothing wrong can easily be answered when one understand that, illegal immigration in and of itself is a criminal act. Unless of course, you like to “prensa dos para el inglés” (press 2 for English).

Ron Paul is the next President of the United States

Why?

I am huge advocate for Ron Paul, because I believe he can get us back to the conservative nature of Reagan Republicanism. A time when we had wholesome family values, protected borders, and limited government.

Military and Veterans: Ron Paul is a big supporter of our military. He believes that the VA should be phased out and our veterans should have their treatments paid for in private hospitals where their care is not only more cost effective, but is also top notch. Note: If you are a supporter of Universal Health Care – try joining the military and you’ll see exactly why that is a TERRIBLE idea.

Foreign Policy: I believe John Kerry was blasted for taking his stance of “Wrong War, Wrong Place, Wrong Time.” However, I also believe by now we have all realized that we have NO business being in Iraq. We were lied to, and led into a war that has no end. Ron Paul was not only against the war in Iraw, but believe our current government used the “War on Terror” to invade our civil liberties. Think: Patriot Act. He believes that a post 9/11 war against the ‘true’ terrorist would have seen as battle Al Qaeda – not Iraq.

Limited Government: Enjoy Freedom? Ron Paul believes that the size of the government MUST be decreased. He proposes abolition of the IRS. Read that again…. Ron Paul wants to ELIMINATE income tax, and promises that he will make no taxes nor will he raise any existing taxes.

Border Control: Anyone tired of having to read Spanish signs in the United States? Ron Paul does believe the all immigrants should be treated fairly; however he opposes a path to citizenship for ILLEGAL immigrants. He believes that programs like social security and welfare are magnets for illegal aliens and put a huge stress on our already high federal budget.

Health Care: Ron Paul opposes Universal Health Care (mainly because of its socialist nature). He takes a more proactive approach by calling for tax relief bills to be pass that will reduce health care costs for families by giving them dollar-for-dollar tax credits on their insurance premiums.

Education: Ron Paul aggressively opposes the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Ask any teacher what they think of it, and they will say it is absolutely ridiculous that they are held to standards that they have no way of obtaining because of the lack of funding that was promised with the Act.

Economy: Currently our money is worthless. When we were growing up every real dollar was backed by its equivalent in gold in Fort Knox (known as the Gold Standard). As a nation we have gotten away from that and are now a debt based society. Consumer credit debt is at $2.47 TRILLION. Our government’s national debt is at $9.01 TRILLION. Ron Paul wants as to return to a commodity-backed currency. Thus, making the value of the currency as valuable as the commodity.

Social Security: Ron Paul understands that the state Social Security is in is atrocious. But, look at the first word of the topic – ’social.’ It is a component of a socialist society. Ron Paul believe that young people should be able to choose for themselves whether or not you pay into social security or if you invest for retirement yourself. The question you have to ask yourself is: “Am I smart enough to take care of myself in retirement?”

THAT is who Ron Paul is, and THAT is why he will be the next President of the United States.