May 28, 2014

Small Changes, Huge Results.



We're rapidly approaching the middle of 2014 and the end of the Australian financial year. The federal budget was handed down this week and no big surprises that it has been a tough one. But, and this is a very big but, we don't need to be drawn into the shock horror distraction that the budget and the media want us to.

Several years ago at conference in Perth, a highly successful American Dean Kosage spoke about getting left behind with the dramatic changes that are occurring on a global business front.

How's the year looking compared with how you thought it would back in January? Or any of the five years before that. For many of us the picture isn't quite the same. For a fortunate few it is actually much better.

So what is it that these fortunate few are doing that many of us aren't. They are obviously doing something different. They understand that definition of insanity that is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something different to happen.

Basically something has happened that's caused a shift in thinking, a shift in the way things are seen and done. Imagine that how different your life could be with extra income or more precisely cashflow. For many that means extra work and being already tired from what we're doing now.

Think too about the amount of change in the way thing are done and the regulations that govern our lives. A few years ago a federal politician said that if you have enough money (cashflow) it doesn't matter who's governing the country. In many ways he's right.

There is no formal training in handling our money and usually it's just bits and pieces we pick up along the way that forms our plans and ideas. The best way to succeed at anything is to learn from those who've already succeeded.

Economic Vision was written at the outset of the Global Economic Crisis in 2008 and provides a simple, understandable way of becoming financially secure.

I look forward to meeting with you and your community members in the near future.

Kim Stedman




May 13, 2014

Learning to Succeed

Writers sometimes experience a thing called 'writers block.' This is that time when you're stuck at a certain point and can't seem to move forward, not even a single step.

Many of us experience something similar at various stages of our lives. Fellow author John White (author of No Bars Hold) is also a counsellor and therapist. His view on things that stop us is generally a lack of skills. Once we have those skills we can overcome most things.

Kathleen O'Dwyer, former teacher and author of 'Stressed, One Woman's Story' says that in her teaching career the first objective would be to instil in students a passion for learning. Then teach them how to access the information.

Occasionally sitting in on classes that she was ran was insightful, often with there being many lessons within lessons.

All the time teaching skills that enhanced the students (5 to 12 year olds) aptitude and attitude. Learning is not a right nor is it something to be taken for granted either.

There is a lot of dialogue over the benefits of schooling in the various systems which are generally either run by government or vested interests, including religious orders.

Both have their place as one size doesn't fit all. One student, having made the transition from a regimented school to a more pastoral one, blossomed at age sixteen to go on to become highly successful in his own business in his chosen field.

Another apparent benefit of the pastoral system became apparent when he became a parent.

One of the greatest skills we can learn is the improvement of our minds.

My passion for learning came later in life and thankfully it was as a result of a dream and vision to lead a better life.

By products of a well rounded formal education, continuing to learn about ourselves, how we operate and interact leads to a much greater self assuredness in both the workplace and in society in general.

Knowledge is not hard to carry. From a pool of knowledge and experience we gain wisdom and eventually become intuitive. The great benefit of this is that it frees up time and thinking space. This in turn can lead to greater inspiration and creativity and ultimately a higher, more satisfying quality of life.

As little as twenty minutes a day means a book a month providing the ability to learn from others knowledge, experience and wisdom.

This is where real lifestyle begins.

Lifestyle, while it means different things to different people has certain elements that mean a richer quality of life. There's a familiar story of families falling apart through neglect brought about by an overemphasis on vocational activities.

Human needs are both broad and diverse and learning what makes us, our partners and families tick really well is largely about balance. Love is spelled 'q-u-l-i-t-y t-i-m-e'. Same goes for fun.


Quality time from the very young to the very old enriches the lives of all concerned. The added benefit is the two way passage of love and affection. It is the setting aside of the contents of our mind