Thursday, March 17, 2011

Email to my Father In Law

I have probably the best Father In Law on the planet. Robert Uyttenhove, is a great man. However, he does love to forward me email on a daily basis. Truthfully I don't usually read them however, this morning I did. Below is my response to this well intended forward I got from him. I think the reason stuff like this even gets forward is just because, as average Americans we don't totally understand the dynamics of some political issues and then our Politicians use that against us when creating or writing public policy.

My response to his email (you can read the email below my response)

This is good but its important to understand both sides of this coin. The argument to buy American to save jobs is a noble argument. But the greater issue has to do with why jobs aren't being produced here or why are those companies of which many are American, owned move facilities overseas. It ususally is not made off of the hourly wage difference. Take the CEO of Intel who recently said.




I would love to open a new manufacturing facility in California but it will cost us about $1 Billion dollars more to be located in California. That is not because of workers wage that is just because of higher government fees and taxes on our business model in the US. The Billion dollar cost will have to be paid before that new plant produces one Intel product.

quoted from memory


So the solution. In order to sale more products in the USA companies need to be more competative. Our government needs to allow these companies to be more competative. However as Americans we demand for such services as 113 weeks of unemployement, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Our government can't afford this, there isn't enough tax revenue coming in so they raise taxes on business because its easier to do than raise the tax on the people on main street. Then companies do one of two things they raise prices now to help compensate, but the unintended consequence is products from outside of the US are cheaper and therefore many American buy on price. Or they move overseas so they can operate on a more even playing field marketing to the US as their other International competitors.



Simply paying more for American although noble as it sounds is NOT the solution. That just allows the government to continue to raise taxes and fees on businesses. Businesses then raise their prices even further to compensate for this.



Instead if government allowed for businesses to grow and didn't not charge as much in business taxes and fees. Businesses can stay right here in the good ol USA, sale their products at a competative price with overseas competitors. Create more jobs, more jobs create more revenue in the form of taxes which will increase the governments income to better afford things like Unemployeement insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

The email as it was forwarded:

Did you all see that Diane Sawyer has a special report coming up this week on this very subject. They removed


ALL items from a typical, middleclass family's home, that were not made in the USA.

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads

of items USA made being brought in to replace everything. And will be talking about how to find these items and the

difference in price etc. It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 (more than normal) on USA

made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs.



Made ME think! Check the canned food too

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART.

ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA'.



FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'.



I WAS SHOCKED!! SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.



TAKES FOREVER JUST TO BUY FOOD AND DO LABEL READING ! !



Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? While the Chinese, knowingly and

intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.



Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.



Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?



SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!!



Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes

Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese

products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.



Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter

is just an example, the point is do not wait for the government to act.



Just go ahead and assume control on your own.



THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade

imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!



The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!



The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most of the people who have been reading about this

matter are planning on implementing this on March. 4th and continue it until April.

4th That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports.

Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.



Remember, March. 4th to April. 4th



START NOW.



Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.



If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!



Pass it on!!!

(No I didn't pass it on, simply because its missleading and doesn't get to the heart of the issue)

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

I'm almost a millionaire with Coastal Travel!

DFIlive.com, continues to grow and I won my DFI Award Ring. I can't thank God enough for placing me in this business. Since my wife and I become totally debt free the end of last year. I now can see how fast we are saving and investing money. It's utterly mind blowing. At this pace without business growing anymore we should have a million dollar net worth (not including business assests) in 5 years. However, with just alittle improvement in business we could achieve that in as little as 3 years.

Not too bad for someone who grew up in a single wide trailer that his parents didn't even own. You can read more about where I started and my life before Coastal in this blog post from 2005 >> http://jackieoquinn.blogspot.com/2005/01/my-biography.html

Below is a copy of the latest email I just received from DFI. It shows my progress so far on the leaderboard and last months achievements. I recognize the names of most of the people on that leaderboard, I have met so many amazing people since being in Coastal Travel. I often wonder where we would all be if it weren't for Coastal Travel.

_______________________________________________

Hello Jackie,




We have been watching and recognizing the top DFI team builders since Feb. 2010. As you build your Coastal business you will be recognized on this leaderboard. Top leaders bringing in at least 30 brand new members and above have the privilege of earning the right to wear a very prestigious DFI Award Ring. You can see pictures of this ring and get more details at www.DFIAwardRing.com .



Lets start off by recognizing top team builders for the Month of Feb. 2011.



Diana Repko -- 7 ( Great job ! )

Jackie O'Quinn -- 7 ( Great job ! )

Stacy O'Quinn -- 5

Tim and Sue West -- 4

Tara Hayes -- 4



Diana, Jackie, Stacy, Tim, Sue, and Tara great job to each one of you and thank you for leading by example. You set a great example throughout the month of Feb. !



Now for the complete Leaderboard since Feb. 2010. if your name is listed on this leaderboard even for bringing in one team member then you are an active part of our team and we thank you. Together we are working to help others achieve more in their life! We are working to build a group of entrepreneurs who want to make a real difference in our world. Each of us need all of us and all of us need each of us!







Tim and Sue West 54 ( Award ring , 6 more to your first diamond award)

Cadie Kalmes 48 (Award ring)

Stacy O'Quinn 46 (Award ring)

Jackie O'Quinn 37 (Award ring)

Michelle Tascoe 36 (Award ring)

Angela Lasher 34 (Award ring)

Deon Danner 28

Natalie White 28

Jessica Fletcher 26

Tara Hayes 21

Jessica Wendelboe 17

Renae Heikkila 17

Richard Birney Smith 17

Hilary Snyder 15

Lynn Kessler-Fallon 15

Tanya Peck 13

Nike Roach 12

Eddie Indouze 11

Crystal Maguire 10

Rojan Alexander 10

Diana Repko 9

Staci Smith 9

Keri Skarin 8

Rob Larson 8

Connie and DJ Castro 7

Max Melonuk 7

Heather Maidment 6

Lisa Sierocki 6

Andrea DeRego 5

Barbara Trudgian 5

Elizabeth Still 5

Jennifer Baker 5

Mary and Diana Letourneau 5

Sue Caylor 5

Brad Colmenares 4

Courtney Cunningham 4

Jolynn Skarin 4

Judy Poague 4

Bill and Sandy Leddon 3

Carol Bliz 3

David DeRego 3

Geanean Roberts 3

Jacqueline McQuaide 3

Jean-Francois Gemme 3

Matt Pinter 3

Melanie Stevenson 3

Naomi Knight 3

Nate Anderson 3

Rand and Judy Baker 3

Rosie Feasby 3

Sandra Hardy 3

Stephanie Johnson 3

Thomas Parrilla 3

Carolyn Mauer 2

Collette Foster 2

Emund Odai 2

Gloria King 2

Heather Wallace 2

Linda Allen 2

Mary Gamble 2

Mary Wight 2

Melody Futrell 2

Ryan Johnson 2

Stacie Blackstead 2

Kenny Wilkinson 2

Angela McRorey 1

Anna Diaz 1

Cynthia Chamberlain 1

Daniel Goff 1

David Bayer 1

Deborah Mims 1

Edward Miller 1

Emmanuel 1

Eric Ledwith 1

Jay Jackson 1

Jena Vasquez 1

Judy Girardi 1

Kathy Allen 1

Linda Siddons 1

Lisa Conway 1

Marietta Vermooten 1

Melanie Carter 1

Veronica Lane 1

Yen Tsutsumi 1

Jennifer Nalls 1

Robbie Morrison 1

Kathie Babka 1

Tara Hills 1

Mark Bohde 1



We have a mission of creating 100 brand new Millionaires in the next 10 years. Each of you are apart of this mission!



To your success,

DFILive Support Team

DFIFeedback@gmail.com

1-866-628-4129



__________________________________________________

Thank you DFI, and thanks to all of our leaders who volunteer their time to make sure that we all are able to have the opportunity to build a successful business from home.

Thanks for reading,
Jackie O'Quinn

My Website >> www.flexiblebiz.com/goland1/leaderboard

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Email from Mike and my response

Sent: Mon, February 28, 2011 8:14:31 PM


Subject: Re: Mike read this before 10 pm EST

Listen I would love to make that kind of money staying home. But it just don't sound like it that easy I'm a full time business owner and always working to make a living and its hard too. So if it was that easy then I would do it. Nothing is for free today in this country and to make like you said that kind of money just seems like a bluff to me. Like I said I would love to but I prob have a better chance to win the lotto.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My Response

Hello Mike,


I appreciate your response. You are right in that it is a business and all business require work. However, let me reference a brief story from my grandfather in late 2004. Just a few months after me starting with Coastal.

My grandfather had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and I knew that this could lead to his death. While he was still relatively healthy one Wednesday morning I was visiting him at his house. Now a little background on my grand father. He was a self made business man. He started out when he married my grandmother they had dirt floors. He was a manual laborer on a farm, eventually got an entry level position with Mayflower moving company. Moved his way up to clerk with Mayflower and always saved money. One day he saw a mom and pop moving company called Faircloth moving company and he bought it. He worked that company for several years until he retired in his fifties but then he started another business later.

On my visit I thought it was time to learn from my granfather's wisdom knowing he may not be able to share that with me much longer. Being a Cancer Nurse prior to my Coastal career I knew patients always had alot of wisdom to share if you asked and listened. So that is what I decided to do. Here is that conversation as best as I can remember.

Jackie:  Papa, if you would tell me anything about business that you feel I should know what would it be.


He contemplated as if he knew this was a serious question and he wanted to give a good response.

Papa:  I can tell you two things. First find a business that pays you the most for your efforts and don't feel guilty about how much money other people DON'T make.


Jackie:  What do you mean?


Papa:  Well let me give you an example. Jackie, you know me and your grandma started out very poor. I remember thinking life would never be any different for us. Back then I just wanted to land a decent job, so I got that job at Mayflower and I was proud of that. I learned that business inside and out. So one day I saw a moving company for sale in the paper and I decided to use my saving and buy it. That was in the 60s and we thought we really had something. We brought in gross revenues of $300,000 a year but would only profit about $30,000 which was still good money back then but it was incredibly hard work. I was never home and me and one of my sons were driving all over the country moving people and businesses. You were always paying out far more than you could ever keep. It felt crazy but it was all I knew and I just assumed that is how business was. Then when I was in my early fifties I told your grandma we had plenty of money in savings and I was out of the moving business so I retired. Now this is the lesson I want you to learn Jackie.

One day I was bored of being at home, I saw a small convience store for sale out in Dudley. I had never ran a convienent store and knew nothing about it but figured if I broke even at least it would give me something to do each day. It was cheap so I bought it. Jackie, I worked a lot of hours at that convienent store. I loved every minute of it. I had the men that would come in the morning and talk with me and then I had the men in the evening that would come in, it was like people were always visiting me. I worked alot of hours there but it was very easy work. Jackie, I was shocked at how much money you could make in the convienent store business. If I would have known how much money you could make for the effort that you put in, I would have owned a convienent store my entire life!


alittle nervous to ask what I was thinking but I had to know


Jackie:  Well Papa, how much money did you make?


Papa:  (with his eyebrows raised) Jackie in the late 70s and 80s I did an average net profit of $108,000 a year and never worked even close to what I did with the moving business. All businesses are NOT created equal. Find the one that will pay you the most and work it hard. This new thing you are doing from home it sounds like that could be a good business. (he was talking about Coastal, I had shared alittle of it with him and some of the money I was starting to make).


I had to go back to his second piece of advice

Jackie:  Papa you said, also something about never feel bad about how much money someone else is NOT making what did you mean by that?

Papa:  I'll give you a good example. In the convienent store business, I did put in long hours 60 sometimes 70 a week but I loved every minute of it. I was also beginning to feel like I was getting rich. I have always lived pretty modest and I had plenty of money. However, I started to feel guilty about my bookkeeper and my stock guy. I had only one main employee he was a great guy, and I only paid him $10,000 a year back then. I had a bookkeeper and I paid her about $7 an hour back then. I went through a time where I thought I should be paying them more. They had needs in their lives, I heard them complain about not having money and I was making plenty of it. Jackie, I thought more about that. I asked myself what would really change for them if I paid them more money. Would they work any harder? Would they be more efficient? Would that solve their financial problems?

Then I realized, both of the people were better off than I was when I started my young adult life. What is keeping them from doing more with what they got? How come my bookkeeper doesn't grow her business? Both of these people had options in their life that was better than me just giving them more money. More money would not solve their problems. Jackie, you can not feel guilty nor is it your responsibility to look out for the well being of people who make choices not to do more with what is already in front of them. But you need to find a business that will pay you the most for the effort that you put in.


All businesses are NOT created equal....

(My grandfather did eventually pass away full of dignity as an honorable patriach. I wish he could see me now. More importantly I wish he could see people like Stacy in NC, Rob and Meggan in Ontario, Andrea in TX, Tara and Gavin in Ontario, Stephen in FL, Selene in FL, Bob in WA, and so many more that have successful businesses today mainly because of the advice that he gave me and I have followed it whole heartedly. )


Mike, I wish you the best with your business. If you want to do some serious research and check us out feel free to give me a call I will be glad to schedule an interview with you. 1-888-309-5759.

All the best,
Jackie O'Quinn