Things To Leave in 2014

One of the greatest ways to make a change is to create a personal agenda.  The best way to keep in mind what is wanted is to be confident about what is not wanted:

• Apprehension
• Chaos
• Detrimental Actions
• Distraction
• Drama
• Foolishness
• Going Nowhere Relationships
• Guilt
• Indebtedness
• Junk Food
• Liars
• Lose-Lose Situations
• Mismanagement
• Obstacles
• Self-Disrespect 
• Self-Ridicule
• Self-Sabotage
• Thieves
• Time Wasters
• Unhealthy Environments
• Users

What are you saying goodbye to....?

2015 is the year to do something radically different and better.

tnd

Cosigning 101

The holiday season is a time when some feel extra generous with their money and their credit. Some may even feel extra generous with their name.

Cosigning on an account so that someone who is not creditworthy (according to the lender) may obtain something is a dangerous stretch of ice to walk across.  

If a person has not demonstrated solid, sensible financial management, then that person may be a direct threat to the cosigner's good credit rating.  

Consigning should be done for someone who has demonstrated consistent improvement in financial management including stability, progressively increasing income, and verifiable steps to increase their credit so that way they will be able to open up future accounts under their own good name.

There is also a risk. Although the person has demonstrated great ability in increasing their income and proving their credit worthiness, things can happen. If that person should no longer be able to bring in income or just plain refuse to pay, then ultimately that cosigned account becomes the cosigner's responsibility. In fact, on Day One when the cosigner signs their name on the account, they have already told the world that they are responsible for that account no matter what. So if the account is never paid, it will go into collections under the cosigner's name and ruin the cosigner's good credit.

Lastly, cosigning to an account causes the debt side of the debt to income ratio to rise which may cause difficulty for the cosigner to obtain something for their own household in the future.

tnd

Graphic source: Capitol One

On Way to Appointment and Needed to Turn Right on Red

I'm on my way to an appointment and needed to turn right on red.  There are a couple of vehicles in front of me.

When it was time for the vehicle directly in front of me to turn, the driver hadn't yet pulled up to the corner.  I flashed my lights.  They moved up.  They took a while before turning when clearly nobody was coming.  Okay.  They finally turned.

Assumption.  Screwing around on the phone.

I finally turned right following this same hesitant-taking-too-long-to-go-ahead-and-drive driver.

It's rush hour and traffic is stopped.  That Stop-Slow-Little Gas-Stop-A Little Bit More type of flow.

Driver still wasn't driving in reflex.  Just pulling up whenever to close the gap.

Then....crash.

The driver in front of me hit the vehicle in front of them.

Just Great.   Just what was needed in this one lane road.  The driver in the vehicle hit stopped right then and there.  But lo and behold they moved up until the center lane became available so that vehicles could go past their incident. 

Whew.  Nobody was hurt.  Traffic was able to continue.

Next time, may not be so simple as a fender bender. 


 

Blocking Traffic Does Not Cause Change

Clearly there is a call for national reform for behavior fitness certification within law enforcement. All the protests need to be put in writing for petitions and coalitions to make across-the-board changes on Election Day...the day when elected officials really listen.

It's an HR departmental issue for changes in hiring checks and controls as well as new hire to retire phased/certification required departmental training with field and/or desk performance evaluations quarterly at first, then reduced as tenure continues .

However, I will always continue to respect the police officer. It is an honorable profession...a career I strongly considered once upon a time.

I saw this video and immediately corrected my perception that it is a "behavior behind a badge" problem across all racial lines. 

Blocking traffic does not cause change. Concerted efforts in well thought out reform make change.

~~~~~~~

My personal thank you to the Maple Heights Police Department and the Shaker Heights Police Department who would answer a call if a blade of grass was in the street - always ready to protect and serve. There at the door when you hang up.  These departments may even be a start to make a national change.  I know after hearing from the Shaker Heights Police Chief this past week, he has some practices in place that ensure positive community relations and protection. 

It doesn't matter if the community is a village or a metropolis.  A major change is feasible.

Crying out no money for reform regarding this matter is unacceptable.

tnd

So I Was Laying In The Bed Early This Morning With My Cell Phone In My Hand...

...and I was doing what I usually do when I have reached for the phone to see what time it is...

...going through the notifications and reminders of what I needed to do today. 

One of the reminders were to pay a bill.  Before I make any transaction, I check my account to view the balance and if the balance is where it should be. 

This morning it was less than what I had thought I had.

I got up, went to the desk, pulled out the registers....time for the daily reconciliation to stay on track.

Looked on the account - two transactions for a Kroger #587 - 43201.  Now, I stay in a grocery store and the first thing I'm wondering is what grocery store in Cleveland was bought by Kroger.  I hadn't seen Kroger in Cleveland since the 70s.  Looked up the store number and verified the zip - yep, in Columbus.

I called the bank.  They said that those two transactions were already flagged because they were transactions out of my ordinary mode of purchasing.  I asked the representative when did the transactions happen.  He told me the time and I told him that I was on a stage in Cleveland when these transactions occurred. 

Needless to say, all bank accounts and credit card accounts have been notified and I'm awaiting new cards for all accounts because there were times this week when I had all of my cards in my purse when my purse was not attended - albeit where I discreetly placed my purse during these times.

Minding the Benjamins is a daily task that I practice because some financial institutions do not refund your money or credit your account if the discrepancy is reported after 24 hours.

I reconcile each financial and credit account so that the financial institution and I are always on the same page.

I only bank with national major financial institutions so that matters like these can be resolved quickly with a phone call and if need be a follow-up visit to the nearest branch.

Took an hour and a half out of my morning with all the institutions, but well worth thwarting some low-life thief.

Mind your money cuz somebody else got their mind on it.

The No More Bananas Smoothie

Anything I put in the blender always has a banana in it...until I don't have anymore.

When I made a choccolate milkshake for my granddaughter on Thanksgiving she kept saying, "I taste bananas.  I taste bananas."  She kept on saying it until I finally said, "I put a banana in it."  She walked away and left the milkshake on the table.

Well, come Sunday morning I didn't have any more bananas.  I went to the store to get some more, but they were too green.  Still got them though. They'll be ready shortly. 


So for the No More Bananas Smoothie:

• 1 seedless orange - peeled
• 1 apple - with peel, but of course, core and seed removed
• Handful of baby carrots
• Little bit of water for the bottom
• Ice cubes on top
• No sweetener

1. Blend on low then increase speed and continue to desired consistency
It's amazing how natural food has its own sweetness without adding any kind of sweetener - artificial or natural.

Tasty, pretty, and healthy.

Time Management is a Process

Currently:

• I am a mother of a busy high school teenager
• I  play video games, Play-doh, and hide and seek with my grandchild every weekend
• I am in a musical that will run for about 19 performances with possible media appointments for the month of December
• I began rehearsal for another theater production last week that is set for January through February
• I assist people with real estate matters
• I am working on two new books
• I am booking engagements and holding seminars based on my latest book

There is more to the list, but this is enough to get the gist. Let somebody tell it, they would say, "That is too much to be doing."  Let another ask, "How is that possible?"

Through the years, I have attended a plethora of time management seminars either while in Corporate America or of the self-help variety. 

I incorporated the tools from all of that training from the Gantt chart, to an iPAQ (a PDA before the smart phone and iPad and in all honesty has some functions that the smart phone and other equipment STILL lack - hint), a Daytimer or Franklin-Covey planner or system, High Performance Academy a spreadsheet, Microsoft Outlook, iCal, or just a good ol' plain notepad and a pen - all to something that would best work for me.

Of all the things out there, it may be difficult to find just one tool or system to keep a busy person on track - thus, time management absolutely requires personal customization. 

I created a thorough comprehensive Things-To-Do List to make sure that I complete at least 85% to 95% of what needs to be done to:

1. minimize procrastination, 
2. avoid distraction, and 
3. avoid getting behind on any deadlines.

I found it easier for my Things-To-Do List to be broken down in the following steps:

• Priority List - The Main Things I Must Complete Today, No Matter What
• Call List - Organizations and People I Must Reach Out to Today
• Pending List - Things Pending or People I'm Waiting on Before Next Steps
• Money Matters - Daily Checklist of Things To Do To Take Care of The Benjamins (money)
• Project List - A list of projects accompanied with a list of the five big things that need to be done to move a particular project forward

All of these things are placed in a folder that I keep with me from the office to my desk at home to sitting in a waiting room.

This information is revisited nightly as preparation for the next day.

I created a form package that seamlessly assists me in staying on track throughout the day from step to step that may help you in managing your busy day.

Visit www.ladyintelligence.com to submit your request.

Have a great productive day.

tnd