The simple fact is that there are no guarantees in life against something unforeseen happening. Because of this reality, every person should be sure to prepare a special fund for emergencies. In most circumstances, an emergency situation will require access to financial resources, so there is simply no substitute for having a well-stocked emergency fund that can bridge the gaps and ease the difficulties when challenges arise, no matter what they may be.

Surprise situations can come in all different types. Some people may find themselves facing an unexpected period of unemployment, while others may have a health problem that brings about high costs for specialized or extended medical care. In addition, an accident or disaster can necessitate repair work on an automobile, a home, or other property. The one thing that all of these situations may have in common is that they come out of the blue, without warning or a lot of time to prepare. Having an emergency fund allows you to deal with these kinds of problems without having to turn to loans or other forms of credit, which may exacerbate the issue.

Is There An Ideal Size For Emergency Funds?

Financial advisers who are knowledgeable about emergency funds will often suggest keeping a fund that equates to your living expenses over a period of three to six months. This amount may then vary according to your financial circumstances, your standard of living, whether you are single or dealing with a sizable family, how much debt you have, and whether or not you have insurance. Obviously, then, the amount for each person’s situation may vary considerably!

The suggestion of three to six months’ worth of living expenses may seem like a lot to many people, but it is a good idea to work toward having this much in an emergency fund. The biggest reasons for this is to cover expenses in the event that there is an income loss. Costs of living do not stop when there is a drop in family or individual income, and in these relatively uncertain financial times it can often take many months to find another place of employment.

In addition, maintaining a larger emergency fund is a good idea because it means that lesser emergencies (such as a broken household appliance or sudden home repairs) can be comfortably managed without causing a major strain on the financial front.

Finding A Beginning Point

For many people it can seem a daunting task to build a proper emergency fund, especially if they do not have one to begin with. However, remember that most emergency funds are not built with one deposit into a bank account!  The key here, as with most financial situations, is that you can begin with a smaller amount and build it up over time. By starting with a smaller goal and growing into a full three to six months of expenses, the goal will be achievable with consistent effort.

Emergency funds are usually best kept in a separate bank account (savings works very well). Create a system through which you can make deposits every payday, or on another schedule that meets your needs. If there are automated deposit options through your bank then you will not even notice it, and the account will grow regularly. Simply begin with an amount that you can manage, and grow from there.

Keeping Your Emergency Fund Accessible

Once your emergency fund becomes large enough, some people may consider placing the money into an investment account (whether money market or CD — certificate of deposit).  However, it is most advisable to keep the funds accessible, in an account that is capable of providing liquid assets.  After all, if you need the money you will want to be able to get it.

Timothy Ng lives, breathes, and sleeps personal finance! Check out his in-depth guide to doing a lifetime balance transfer where he answers everything you need about dealing with these types of balance transfer cards.

Some of the easiest ways to save extra money are right under your nose. While you might think that saving money will require you to make big sacrifices and miss out on things that you really enjoy that is not necessarily the case. Indeed, you can save loads of money by analyzing expenses and then making small changes that add up to big bucks. It really is all of the small things in our daily lives that wind up taking the biggest chunks of our money, so it makes sense to start there when you want to cut costs.

The Easiest Ways To Save Extra Money

Examine your monthly bills - If you are like most people you set up your utilities a long time ago and then never gave them a second thought. Now is the perfect time to look over them again and figure out if you where you can save money on them.

The best approach to this is to make a list of all of your monthly bills, what they cost, and what exactly you are paying for from each company. The last part is important because you are probably paying for services that you do not need or could do without. For example, maybe you are paying extra to have recyclables picked up from the curb when you could drop them off at the recycling plant for free. Maybe you are paying for a home telephone line with lots of features that you never use because of your cell phone. Let’s say recycling in $20 a month, by driving it to the plant yourself you immediately save $240 a year.

Cut back on utility consumption - Paying for electricity and gas is one of the biggest bills for any household. Some simple ways to cut those costs are to contact your provider and see if they will come out and do an audit on your home. This is a free service that is provided to help you come up with ways to cut down on your consumption.

While some things are expensive, like installing new windows or buying new appliances, others are relatively cheap like replacing light bulbs with CFL’s and putting in a programmable thermostat. One other easy way to cut your utilities is to go through your house and unplug everything. Then, only plug it in when you need to use it and unplug it again when you are finished. You will be amazed at how many items get unplugged and almost never get used again.

Find the best shopping deals - Food is a huge and necessary expense. We all want to feed our families well with nutritious meals, but that does not mean we have to break the bank. There are loads of coupon web sites that can cut your grocery bill in half and still allow you you to purchase healthy foods.

Sign up for club cards to get even more savings on food. While you are at it, make sure you get the best prices on everything you have to buy. Shop for clothes when they are on sale like after the season ends. When you have kids it is fairly easy to just buy one size up for next summer at the end of this summer season, saving piles of cash.

Just look around and you will see that the easiest ways to save extra money are all around you. If you are always on the lookout for extra expenses you do not need or ways to save money on the things you do need you will see them pop up all over the place. Doing this will save you lots of money without costing you much at all.

Timothy Ng is a personal finance writer, specializing in credit card comparison. Check out his guide to best credit cards where he will step you through the process of finding the best credit card.

In this economy people are looking to travel on a budget. However, since the prices of airfare continue to climb, the easiest way to save money on travel expenses is by choosing an inexpensive hotel. Fortunately it is easier than ever to find nice cheap hotels while following a few simple steps.

Five Steps For Finding Nice Hotels On A Budget:

1. When searching for nice hotels on a budget, consumers may take advantage of websites that offer the opportunity to search for hotels within a certain price range. Some of these websites include Hotels.com, Orbitz.com, and HotelPlanner.com. These websites not only allow to find cheap hotels, but to compare the prices of the hotels in the area. In addition, customers can actually book hotel rooms through these websites.

2. While using the above websites to find a cheap hotel, it is advisable to check each specific hotel’s website for current specials. If no specials are listed on the website, simply call the hotel directly and ask if they are offering any pricing specials or other deals. Many hotels are willing to negotiate prices with customers that take the time to ask directly. This is especially true for customers who intend to stay for an extended period.

3. When booking a hotel, compare the price of rooms throughout the week. Hotels in popular vacation spots may offer lower prices throughout the week, than what is offered during the weekend. This is also true for the time of year. The prices of rooms will rise during peak seasons, including the summer and holiday seasons.

4. After you have gotten a good idea of the hotels in a specific city and the price range in which they are offered, it is then time to determine which hotels provide a pleasant atmosphere. This can be accomplished by browsing a variety of customer reviews. Hotels.com offers a large number of honest reviews written by previous customers, which can supply a great deal of insight as to how nice the hotel really is.

5. Websites like Orbitz.com and Hotwire.com are also great resources when searching for nice cheap hotels. These websites allow customers to select a price range and star rating and receive a number of hotel options in the specific area. While customers are unaware of the specific hotel until they book a room, they are offered great prices for booking rooms from these websites.

Tax relief experts possess one particular objective in mind, and that is to locate simple remedies to tax issues. Delinquent taxes only get more serious as time goes by due to the fact of the inclusion of fees and penalties and interest along with the taxes you must pay back.

Anytime you are searching for sensible options, the final location you ought to turn to is the Internal revenue service. Individuals are crazy if they believe the IRS will be pleased the taxpayer has contacted them in an sincere effort to pay back their delinquent taxes. Sadly, the IRS views their power as their government rights and will most likely handle you more like a sucker than an truthful taxpayer.

If you have attempted trying to deal with with the Internal revenue service and have become frustrated, the reason is simply because the IRS actually isn’t really interested in negotiating. The IRS would like the full sum of repayment which includes interest and fines. The IRS adviser is never planning to provide a settlement or a tax decrease or penalty elimination merely due to the fact you did the correct procedure by getting in touch with them.Odds are the IRS bureau will certainly delay for you to push for tax relief in so they can observe exactly how much you understand about this kind of problems.

Tax relief experts are like calling in the National Guard. Dealing with the Internal revenue service on your own is not sensible. You require reinforcements which comprehend the tax laws and regulations and keep themselves updated of all tax and tax penalties. Tax experts understand what protection under the law taxpayers possess and can guard those privileges at the IRS.

The greatest method to obtain tax relief will be to utilize tax relief professionals. Professionals can pressure the IRS to think about the numerous alternatives accessible for tax relief.

Tax settlements which perform are types that provide a method to get rid of the tax load. This doesn’t imply you’re eligible to a elimination which could be paid out right away. It indicates your tax settlement professionals can work out a tax settlement strategy which will ultimately take care of the previous due tax sum.

In some circumstances, the tax settlement professionals will be capable to discuss a tax relief that decreases or gets rid of the taxes. This all will depend on on your present individual debt scenario and the causes why you have paid the taxes.

Whenever you want aid solving your tax complications, tax relief experts can help. Professional tax arbitrators can do the job with the Internal revenue service to be able to discover sensible and useful tax relief remedies. Trying to tackle these kinds of problems on your own is a bad idea when you think about the historical past of the Internal revenue service. A tax negotiator can help to make certain you are taken care of in a fair manner in accordance to your taxpayer privileges.

If you are looking for tax relief the people at taxreliefquick can help you a great deal. They will help you with the IRS. When you work with taxreliefquick.com you will have someone that really cares about your tax trouble and will stand by you so you won’t feel alone in the fight. They will discuss with you your options and tell you what would be the best resolution. Today is a perfect day to start your new future with no tax debt.

If you are one of those people who would immediately spend a sudden windfall, you are impulsive by nature and have little anxiety about the future. You are confident that you will always be able to earn whatever amount you need to meet normal expenses. You choose to concentrate on the “here and now” issues of life rather than worry about tomorrow. You often shop for items without bothering to compare prices or look for sales. Occasionally, you find yourself temporarily strapped for cash, but it seldom dampens your enthusiasm. You may also judge whether you can afford a purchase by whether you can afford to make the payments rather than its actual cost. Your savings are minimal and are probably forced savings, such as your employer’s contributions to a 401(k) plan or extra payroll deductions for income tax.

Some people would save the $100 they received. If you are one of them, you are cautious and conservative in your money handling. At minimum, you live within your means; more than likely, you include a certain amount for savings in your budget. You may be saving for a specific purpose, such as to purchase a new home, or your savings may be a generic hedge against unexpected expenses. When shopping, you are likely to at least see what might be on clearance, and you keep up with which retailer offers the best prices on items you purchase frequently. You believe in frugality, but you are not a miser. You feel no need for instant gratification, and are willing to wait to find a sale or until you have the cash in your pocket to pay for it in full.

An unexpected bonus is sometimes used to pay off debt. People who do this generally fall into one of two categories. Either they are struggling with debt, often through no fault of their own, or they are the type who simply abhors owing money. Sometimes, if debt is a constant problem, paying off credit cards and loans seems like the best answer. The problem is that you tend to fall back into debt quite quickly if the original debts were caused by overspending. If this is your problem, you may be failing to view purchases made by credit cards or checks the same as cash purchases. Those who suffered a major expense are less likely to lapse back into debt if they pay off their bills with the windfall. They are also more likely to establish a savings plan to guard against a repeat of the debt. Those who just do not like debt are more likely to have savings, carefully budget income and expenses, and weigh all options before making a purchase.

Those who would invest the money received can also be classified into two categories. The first is seeking to accumulate wealth in the fastest method possible. You are willing to take risks with your money if the return is substantial. You tend to spend more than you should and derive satisfaction from being the one who picks up the check or lavishes gifts on your friends and family. The second type of investor has some concerns about the future. You want to have enough money to live comfortably in retirement and are seeking to establish a nest egg for this purpose. Your investments are generally safe, solid picks such as mutual funds with a proven track record or “blue chip” stocks. You normally live well under your means and have an emergency savings plan in addition to your investments. You are cautious with your money and spend little on what you consider a non-necessity.

Planning for Your Dream Retirement

Whether you plan to retire to a tropical island, travel abroad, or simply enjoy life at home, everyone dreams of a perfect retirement. So what’s the best way to reach your retirement goals? Start saving for your retirement as soon as possible.

There are many different ways of saving for your retirement from a simple savings account to investing, but what worked for your co-worker, neighbor, or friends may not be ideal for you. Make sure you take the time to research all your options to find your best fit.

PENSION FUNDS
Pension funds are not being offered as readily as before, so if you are lucky enough to have a pension fund through your employer, jump aboard and take advantage. There are two different types of pension funds that most employers choose from: defined contribution funds and defined benefit plans.

A defined contribution fund means that for every hour you work, your employer pays a certain percentage of what you pay towards your pension. The employer invests your money, along with contributions from your fellow employees. Upon retirement, you receive payments from the balance of the fund. The main drawback? If the company did not invest wisely, it affects the balance that you get your retirement payments from.

A defined benefit plan is set up for you to pay a certain amount towards your pension, which is deducted from your paycheck, and the funds are then invested by your employer. The biggest advantage of this plan is that the employer has to pay you the agreed upon amount when you retire, regardless of how the investment performs.

401K FUNDS
A 401K fund is another way of saving for a retirement. 401K plans are typically offered through your employer. You decide the amount you would like to contribute, and the funds are deducted through your paycheck. Most employers will either match your contribution or pay a certain percentage of what you pay.

IRAs
An IRA itself is not actually an investment. An IRA is the account that holds the funds you will use for investing. However, the type of IRA account you choose plays an important role in your retirement. The most popular IRA accounts are a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.

The funds that you deposit into your Traditional IRA account will be deposited before taxes are taken out. Tax is not assessed until you withdraw the funds.

Roth IRA funds are deposited after taxes have been taken out. Therefore, when you withdraw the funds, no tax is assessed. By taking the tax out right away, you have the advantage of not paying tax on the interest your account earns.

Once you’ve determined the best IRA for your situation, the next step is to invest your funds. You can choose from stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and even treasury bills.

A stock is when you purchase a part of the company. When the company succeeds, investors are willing to pay more to purchase your stock. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. If the company’s profits decline, investors are not looking to pay top dollar for your stock. However, scary as it may sound, studies have shown that the average annual return is almost a 10% profit. Invest in several different stocks to minimize your risk.

Bonds are thought to be a safer option. A bond works like an IOU. You invest funds into the company, with a predetermined maturity date and interest rate. The interest rate is normally paid out bi-annually, although some will pay out quarterly or monthly.

Mutual Funds are a combination of stocks and bonds, most likely purchased by a broker, and shared between several investors.

Saving towards your retirement does not have to be a stressful situation. When you understand all your options, you are better able to make smart choices. And remember, the sooner you start planning for your retirement, the better off you’ll be when your retirement years arrive.

Many people are struggling financially and need a little help staying afloat. You may be one of them. Maybe you are in between paychecks or maybe your paycheck is not enough to cover expenses until the next paycheck. You may even encounter an auto, health or some other type of emergency in which you have need more money than what you have. If any of these describes your situation, then you might want to consider applying for a payday loan.

If you do an internet search for payday loans, your results will turn up thousands of websites. It can be difficult trying to figure out which one to choose. However, there is one that is incredibly easy to use and would benefit you greatly. Cash-in-24-hours is the ultimate payday loan website that helps you weather your financial storm. In about one minute you can fill out the application on the site and it will match you to multiple reputable lenders. You can be approved and have your payday loan of up to $1,500 deposited into your bank account within 24 hours. On top of that, the service this site offers is free of charge.

The cash-in-24-hours application is a simple one to fill out. It asks basic questions such as name, address and income level. However, it does not require you to fax anything. You are not even asked about your credit because there are no credit checks. Even if you have bad credit you can still apply for a loan. If you are worried about potential threats to your identity or having any of your information sold, then you should rest assured that this site absolutely safe and secure. There is no information released to any lenders that you do not approve, as outlined in the site’s privacy policy. You are not obligated to purchase anything or accept any loans should you have a change of heart or circumstance.

Testimonials from previous users of the site have reported speedy service and great customer support. All of them had issues ranging from emergency car repairs to quick cash for shopping and received service within one day. Some even report getting their loans the same day that they applied for them.

Regardless of the nature of your financial crisis, you can turn to this site for some quick and easy relief. There is no hassle. Your satisfaction is guaranteed with cash-in-24-hours.

The mortgage crisis is growing day by day.

Every time you turn around you hear about another friend, neighbor, or family member that has lost his or her job due to downsizing or through the general state of the economy. Others have been taken ill, or they may find themselves in need of medical care. Still others have experienced another catastrophic event that drastically alters their financial security.

As the monetary problems mount up, the monthly bills fall further and further behind. Eventually, even the most dedicated bill payer falls behind on their mortgage. The late charges accrue, and it becomes a vicious cycle that is hard to work your way out of without help.

This is where expertloanmodification.com comes to the rescue. It’s is a user friendly site that helps guide the struggling homeowner through the home loan modification maze. Dealing with lenders is difficult. They are difficult to reach via phone or e-mail, and when you do reach them, the main focus of the discussion is to pressure the homeowner to send a payment. The thought of helping work out a solution to the problem isn’t even considered. The homeowner becomes more and more frustrated and eventually gives up.

At expertloanmodification.com, trained professionals know how to deal with these difficult financial situations. Trying to work out a modification is a difficult process. The qualified loan specialists approach the modification from a problem-solving point of view. They negotiate with the lender to reach a decision that benefits the homeowner by bringing the mortgage current, reducing payments, and helping to smooth out the problems associated with delinquency. The online EZ application takes less than five minutes to complete. If additional information is required, you will be contacted personally to send the correct documentation. The maze of paper work and red tape will be cut through. You can finally relax and enjoy your home and family without the stress of this delinquent mortgage hanging over your head.

Don’t wait till the problem seems insurmountable. Visit expertloanmodification.com today and see what the caring and dedicated professionals can do to help you in your time of need!

Make your house the happy, secure home that it used to be. Check out expertloanmodfication.com today!

We’ve all run into the inevitable problem of having more bills due than we have cash on hand with which to pay them. Your car payment is late and the possibility of a repossession looms in the background; your electricity is on the verge of disconnection and then suddenly, Fido falls ill and needs an emergency visit to the veterinarian. How on Earth will you find a way to come up with so much cash in so little time? Borrowing from friends and family is often very impersonal and embarrassing. Are there any options left? Take heart, for there are! Online payday loans are a quick, efficient, and discreet way to obtain the cash you need in a matter of hours.

OnlineCash911 is here to match your immediate cash needs with our vast network of payday loan lenders. You can borrow anywhere from $100 up to $1,500 and be approved the same day! Best of all, there are no credit checks, no tedious faxing of paperwork, and no upfront fees. Bad credit? No credit? That’s A-OK, too! Your application is always completely secure and confidential.

You’ll soon discover that the application process is as easy as 1-2-3: Once you complete our Express Application by providing us with basic information including your personal contact details and your banking account information to ensure you receive your funds as quickly as possible, OnlineCash911 will securely send out your application to our diverse network of lenders who each have their own lending guidelines. Once you are matched with a lender from our network, you will work directly with that lender to determine the total amount you are qualified to borrow, repayment dates, and any loan fees there may be.

Whether you have expenses that are due immediately and can’t wait until your next payday, or you need a little extra cash on hand to treat yourself to that dream vacation you’ve always planned, a payday loan is the perfect way to get the funds you need NOW! When you need cash in a hurry, you don’t have time to fiddle around and scour the internet or the phone book for the best payday loan lender. Let OnlineCash911 take all the dirty work out of trying to select the right lender for you!

Nearly everyone looks for ways to keep your phone bill down. Since almost everyone has a cell phone, it is quite likely that most people are spending more then they should to maintain that phone. If you were to look at your bill it is likely that you could look at it right now and immediately find charges for services that you do not even use. The consulting industry uses a term, scope creep, that means a project slowly grows out of control. For most consumers this is what happens with their bill. Over time we add services in the form of extra lines, minutes, or data and our bill creeps up to a higher and higher amount until it is eventually out of control. If you want to get your bill back under control you should consider some or all of the following tips.

Ways To Keep Your Phone Bill Down

Watch your minutes - One of the biggest expenses for any cell phone owner is going over your minutes. If you consistently go over your minutes it is probably worth investing in a plan that gives your more from the beginning. There are also some free tools available that will let you know what your usage is and warn you if you are close to reaching your limit.

Consider a prepaid phone - If you do not use your phone a lot and do not want to shell out the money every month to maintain it you might consider a prepaid cell service. These services allow you to pay for only what you use and can be significantly cheaper then a traditional phone with equal service from a legitimate carrier.

Get rid of the insurance - Unless you have a very expensive phone and are particularly hard on them insurance is usually not worth the investment. It can cost about $200 which is not a great investment on a phone that is typically less then $500.

Look for discounts - Most carriers have ways to keep your phone bill down through employee discount programs. In some cases you might be entitled to a discount through the company you work for, or in cases of small businesses through their suppliers. You may wind up saving upwards of 20% on your bill.

Avoid buying ring-tones - Yes, they are cute and can make the ring of your phone a bit less jarring, but they are quite simply a cost that can be eliminated.

Double check your bill - There are online services that will evaluate your bill for a small fee. They can then tell you how to save money. Typically the reports can show consumers how to save hundreds of dollars each year based on their actual usage.

Swap SIM cards - If you break a phone prior to the expiration of your contract you might have to pay a steep price for a new one. But, if you have other phones under the same account you can instead replace an older one, getting a lower price on the new phone, and simply swap out the SIM card from the broken phone.

Negotiate - When your contract expires you can negotiate to get a better deal. Since plans are typically cheaper as time goes on it is likely you can do better then your previous contract. Just make sure you get the same or better services.

Reconsider unlimited plans - Unless you have a texting addicted teen under your account odds are you do not really need an unlimited plan. While most of us like having them because they relieve us from worry about overages we probably don’t need them. Look at your actual usage to determine what your actual needs.

Combine you and your spouses plans – If you are living together and are not sharing a cell phone plan you are probably wasting money. Combine into one account and you will easily save lots of cash each month.

Do not cancel a contract - If you want to switch carriers mid contract it will cost you a lot of money. Instead look to one of the online services that link up people like you with people who are looking for a cell contract. That way you help someone else and get out of costly fees.

Finding ways to keep your phone bill down is a great way to cut household expenses. You can then use that extra money for more fun things like going on holiday or to pay off other bills.

This article was written by William Eve, a regular personal finance writer for Home Loan Finder, a 100% free mortgage comparison and application service. Visit the Home Loan Finder website for more great ways to save money and the most competitive investment loans and first home buyer loans on the market.

Every year, thousands of families struggle to find financial aid to help pay for their children’s college tuition. This is no major shock, considering that a single year of college can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. While most scholarships are privately funded, the 529 plan is supported by state or government institutions. At its core, the 529 plan simply assists families in saving for college. It is broken down into two categories—prepaid and savings plans. If the family chooses the prepaid plan, it pays for the expenses of living at a college ahead of time. If it favors the savings plan, the family’s money goes into investing money, generally into investments. 529 plans must be applied to in order to be gained.

There are a number of advantages to using a 529 plan. First of all, the one who pours money into the fund is the one who ultimately controls the withdrawals. The recipient, the college student, has no say. Thus, reckless prospective college students cannot pull out random amounts of cash to pay for iPods or shopping sprees instead of saving up for their education. Another key advantage is that when you receive money from a wise investment, the government offers heavy tax breaks. Basically, any money you make is yours to keep. Finally, keeping a 529 plan is effortless. Upon choosing either a savings or prepaid plan and filling out the correct type and quantity of forms, you can pretty much do whatever you want; the 529 plan does not demand that you repeatedly come back to maintain it.

Disadvantages of the 529 plan come mainly when one does not use it. If unused, the earnings resulting from a 529 plan become subject to roughly a 10% penalty from the government. Also, the tax cuts on the earnings will drop, and they will be taxed normally. If you want to prevent these losses from happening, you should transfer the funds to a younger relative who intends on going to college.

If you choose to invest on your own, you will receive no governmental penalties for not using the money. The downside is your money will be subject to normal taxation. If the idea of investments does not appeal to you, and you are willing to search for a good amount of time, you could always take the scholarship route and earn enough money to pay at least part of your way through your college career.

The path to become a CEO is not straightforward. Some college courses try to delve into the idea but only individuals who have successfully navigated their careers to this lofty height can expound on what it takes. Those who have managed to achieve this top position have offered several recurring ideas for anyone who wants to follow in their footsteps.

Take the hard jobs that no one else wants
Anyone can take the easiest tasks or the jobs where there are no challenges. But taking on high visibility, difficult projects will give you an edge. Not only will it make you a go-to person for the company, it will put you right in the mix of core business functions at critical times. If the company knows they can depend on your willingness to do whatever it takes, it will show the resoluteness and relentless work ethic that a CEO needs.

Passion
The path to become a CEO also means having passion, for your product or business. People will follow passion, and passion cannot be manufactured. We all have something that drives us, whether it is making a better product, having the best customer service or just a competitive business fire. Finding a way to let our natural passions fuel our work is the only way to become successful. We must strive to be the best at what we do, and the work required to accomplish that can only be found with a keen interest in our work.

Relationships
We must also always treat people with respect. Abraham Lincoln once famously said “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” This means when you are placed in charge of a project or team, it’s time to work harder than ever to make sure that the people on the team are all getting heard and respected. It’s only natural to want to be in the limelight, but truly great leaders know that winning big is only accomplished by a team. Treating people poorly never works in the long run.

Networking
Networking is the one key skill that must be cultivated over a lifetime and will start to pay dividends, even if those results don’t come for years. Always keep in mind how you can help others, and how you can connect other people. When the time comes and you need help or a connection, you will find it incredibly easy to have people return the favor without even having to ask. Maintain relationships, no matter how trivial they seem.

Creativity
Be creative. Never be afraid to ask “why not”. Too many companies fail because they cannot change their ways, even as their markets dry up and the product landscape changes. Consider how companies will push on relentlessly with projects just because they’ve already sunk so many resources into it, even it it’s doomed to failure.