Welcome to The Good Vibe Newsletter!

Happy New Year! It is an excellent time for new beginnings! 

Inside this edition:

What's New (News Flash)

How to Beat Your Post-Holiday Blues

Small Things You Can Do to Save More in 2022

Starting Your Business and Investing in 2022

 Enjoy the newsletter. 

News Flash!!!

In October 2021, Besty Vanausdeln was one of the first to enroll in Grant Writing Made Easy As 1-2-3. Within the fourth week of class, Besty decided to apply for a grant based on what she had learned from the course. Betsy applied and was awarded $10,000!

Congratulations Betsy!!

We at SmartWay Education are very happy for and proud of Besty!

The next "Grant Writing Made Easy As 1-2-3" class begins on

January 17, 2022.

Do not miss our Winter Sale of 30% off the price of the course through

January 17, 2022.

The 2022 grant list is here!  
USA Grant Applications 

Will you let funding slip between your fingers again?  

Enroll now!

How to Beat Your Post-Holiday Blues 

“Symptoms must last two or more weeks to be diagnosed as true depression,” they remind us. “Post-holiday blues usually don’t last long. But they can be compounded by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that appears with a change of season” (MSN, 2022 par 3).

According to Best Day Psychiatry, common symptoms of the post-holiday blues include:

• Feelings of sadness and anxiety
• Fatigue or agitation
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual
• Changes in appetite with weight gain or loss
• Difficulty concentrating

Talk to the right person (no, really talk). To combat the feeling of loneliness, call or see a friend or family member—and talk in person. 

Cut back on your alcohol consumption. During the holidays, alcohol is everywhere. Remember, alcohol is a depressant. Maybe for January, you may want to forego drinking.

Pay attention to your eating. A 2019 study shows, “evidence indicates a strong association between a poor diet and the exacerbation of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression” (MSN, 2022 par 9). 

Plan your next project or adventure. Give yourself something to look forward to like a new project, self-care, self-investment, travel, home improvement (MSN, 2022).

Exercise (and go outside). According to the Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, “aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression due in part to increased blood circulation" (MSN, 2022 par 11).

Reframe how you think about January and February. "With a perspective change, you can use these two months to catch up on home organization projects, books, family game nights, or anything else you do not have time for the rest of the year" (MSN, 2022 par 12). 

Reference

MSN Health, (2022). How to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues. Retrieved from How to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues (msn.com)

Small Things You Can Do to Save More in 2022

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." 

— Benjamin Franklin

Increasing your savings is just getting started. Below are some practical steps for developing a realistic and straightforward strategy for your short- and long-term saving goals.

Record your expenses

The first step in saving money is to figure out how much you spend. It is so easy to spend when using your debit card because you do not notice how much you are spending.

Keeping track of all your expenses—that means every coffee, household item, and cash tip. You need to know what is going out to keep up with your expenses. Once you have your expenses, organize the numbers by categories such as gas, groceries, mortgage, and total each category. Use your credit card and bank statements to make sure you’re accurate—and don’t forget any.

Budget for saving

Your budget should show how your expenses measure up to your income—so you can plan your spending and limit overspending. Be sure to include monthly reoccurring expenses such as the cell phone bill.

Tip: Include a savings category—aim to save 10 to 15 percent of your income. If already there increase to 20 percent. Remember you are paying yourself.

Find ways to cut your spending

Identify nonessential expenses that you can spend less on such as entertainment and dining out. Look for ways to save on your fixed monthly expenses like television streaming and your cell phone, too.

Here are some ideas for trimming everyday expenses:

• Use resources such as community event listings to find free or low-cost events.
• Cancel subscriptions and memberships you do not use—especially if they renew automatically.
• Commit to eating out or ordering in less; try family cooking.
• When ready to make a purchase, give yourself a “cooling-off period” With nonessential purchases, wait a few days. 

Set Savings Goals

Starting Your Business and Investing in 2022

When Robert Kiyosaki first published Rich Dad, Poor Dad in 1997, I bought the book right away. I wanted to understand the world of business and finance amid a vast amount of information and secrets of the rich that were not communicated.

 In 2022, there's never been a more significant divide between the rich and all other income classes. Some economists in California even noticed that about 95% of income gains between 2009-2012 went to the wealthiest people in the world– the one percent. Thus, showing that the most significant increases in income go to entrepreneurs and investors– not employees.

Robert Kiyosaki described the four ways to produce income in his cash flow quadrants.

Quadrant E: Employee. You have a JOB. The amount of active work determines income. Time=$$$ 

Quadrant B: Business Owner. You own the system or product. Income does not depend on active work. People work with you =$$$$$$$$ 

Quadrant S: Self Employed. You own a JOB. The amount of active work determines income. Time =$$$ 

Quadrant I: Investor. You own investments. Income does not depend on active work. Your money works for you=$$$$$$$$$

Some people are destined to be entrepreneurs. For others, starting a business is a scary proposition. When starting a business, there are too many unknowns to consider. But if you're considering becoming an entrepreneur, don't forget all the benefits that go along with it:

1. Flexibility. Work your hours.
2. More spare time (eventually). 
3. Pursue your passion. You can do what makes you happy.
4. Create something from scratch. Watch your organization grow from start to finish.
5. Meet new people. Network with other entrepreneurs and professionals.
6. Build a team. You decide who to hire and bring into your company.
7. Create jobs. Improve the economy with new job opportunities.
8. Help people. Use products and services to improve people's lives.
9. Become an expert. Learn the ropes of your industry through first-hand experience.
10. Invest in yourself. You take the risk, and you will gain the rewards.
11. Financial independence. No one else is signing your paychecks.
12. Build a personal brand. 
13. Be as creative as you want to be. Create your opportunities and your solutions.

Startup Risk

1. Capital Risk. The startup does not have enough capital to effectively start the business.
2. Design Risk. The risk is that the product or service design does not meet the required performance standard.
3. Economic Risk. The risk that the company's success is sensitive to external economic factors.
4. Economic Life Risk. The risk that the product or service's useful life in the marketplace is shorter than initially anticipated or projected.
5. Funding Risk. The risk is that funding will not be available at the level or timing required for the startup to succeed.
6. Cyber Security Risk.  As businesses digitized — and as the pandemic accelerated digitalization — cybercriminals rubbed their hands. A more digital world sees digital threats evolving at an unprecedented pace; there was a 64% increase in email threats in 2020, with 79% of organizations hit by their lack of preparedness (Diligent Corp, 2021, para 9).
7. Operations Risk. Operating costs are higher than budgeted or the projected costs.
8. Data Privacy Risk. As with 2022’s other key risks, a disciplined approach to tackling data privacy threats is essential.
9. Supply Chain Risk. Forbes has highlighted the need for “sustainable, resilient operations” as its number 1 business trend for 2022.
10. Technology Risk. Technology being underutilized.
11. Volume Demand Risk. The risk is that the actual market's demand for the product or service will not yield the projected sales volumes.

At the end of the day, starting your business is a dream realized.   A dream, that needs a purpose, a purpose that needs a plan, a plan that has a goal.  Start slow, write it down.  The success of your venture relies on how well it aligns with your personal and professional goals. It is important to set clear goals and determine how you will measure your progress towards achieving them.

There are three types of income: Ordinary earned, Portfolio, and Passive.  If you are still working, continue to take your earned income and invest while creating passive streams of income.

"The Key to Financial Freedom and Great Wealth is a Person's Ability to Convert Earned Income into passive and/or Portfolio Income" --Robert Kiyosaki

Reference

Diligent Corp. (2021). The Top 6 Business Risks you should Prepare for in 2022. Retrieved from The Top 6 Business Risks you should Prepare for in 2022 (diligent.com)

Entrepreneur Media (2022). 50 Reasons to Start Your Own Business.  

Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/

Funding Sage, LLC. (2021). 14 Startup Risks Entrepreneurs Should Consider When Launching their Startup. Retrieved from 14 Startup Risks Entrepreneurs Should Consider.

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Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad, Poor Dad 

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