How_to_Work_Out_Your_Electric_Bill

How_to_Electric_Bill_Spread_Sheet

This three part video is about how to set-up a spread sheet to
keep track and check your electricity bill. It can be modified to
suit gas and water too.

I searched for a template, but found none, so I built my own and
thought that you might be interested. I just recorded setting the
sheet up so that you can build one for yourself!

I also noted that there were several comments on the forums
and sites I visited whilst looking for a template. People are in
real desperate need of help with working out and understanding
their utility bills.

This should help! I intended only to release the video, but I
might do some more work on the spread sheet and put the
template up on Google docs for anyone to use.

I will have to see if I can make it more intuitive within the spread
sheet its-self, then people won't need the video to understand it!

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AndyGold.



© AndyGold 2011

Andy-Gold.com

TAGS:- Electric_Bill, Work_Out_Utility_Bill, Check_Utility_Bill, Check_Electricity_Bill,

Here we go Rant and Rave in May

Rant in May, Rave in May.

Here we go Ranting and Raving in May,

On a warm and sunny morning!

Yes! This bit is the rant!

Ref - I changed over my Internet and phone services into one package,

against my better judgment and gut feeling.

I get annoyed, (as we all do), when I am conned into doing something I don't want to do, against my better judgment, and then it turns out that I was right the first time!

The reason why I write my rants, (by the way), is that it is good therapy to get stuff out of your system. And, as it happens, it is also good to look back on my blog, (My Log- on the web, hence Web-log or Blog for short if you didn't already know). Looking back, reminds me and strengthens, (hopefully), my future resolve to.-

STICK TO MY GUNS AND DO WHAT I WANT TO DO!!

Yes, I'm shouting, sorry about that! (I'm shouting at myself here, not you)!

I must remember to go with my own decisions! What has made me kick-off, is two things really.
First my own lack of resolve and determination and second, people or companies who lie to you. I'm talking about utility companies. I've just had two bad experiences in this first quarter of 2011, perhaps by writing here, I could help others avoid my mistakes!

Being a creature of habit, I, (like most people as I understand it), don't like change. My Internet provider of many years, told me that I really should change to a newer tariff and in-fact, the tariff that I was on was actually no longer available. I was just one of their hangers-on.

They have been going on at me for years. Really, every month or so I get a call telling me that I need to up-grade, the savings I'll make and the speed benefits etc. Now, previously I had no limits on my downloading or uploading, a totally unlimited service separate of my telephone bill.

That's how I like things, un-integrated, uncomplicated, separate and simple. Even my mobile is a pay-as-you-go old brick of a Nok - and I love it. Especially when I can always get a signal when other more modern phones cannot. It has no camera, no-web surfing, no apps. Its just a phone!

Anyway, I digress. ..

I was assured that I could take-a-trial, then if the new service didn't work out for me, go back to how it used to be. Well, you can probably guess, that the service I found, was slower and more expensive, due to the fact that they added £10 onto the first months payment, because I went over the download limits! That's £39.99 + £15 for services that I already had for free on the old tariff and + £10 for exceeding my GB usage! Not amused!

I used to pay £20 a month for an unlimited service and although my phone bill was separate, it came to about £30 to £50 a month on average for my land-line. I used to save in a budget fashion, in a separate bank account for house-hold bills. With the quarterly phone bill being between £90 and £150 for the three month period.

I hate direct debits, I find that I cannot trust the companies to do as they say! Nor, trust the postal service that the companies blame when they are trying to shake responsibility for destroying your bank account!

Remember this- AndyGold. -

Always go with your own judgment and gut feeling. OK mate!

(You've probably guessed that I am my own best friend and adviser. (Except in this case)).

I should say at this point, that I believe that you are be in control of your own destiny and make your own luck. Controlling your own thoughts is the key to self-mastery, self-control and self responsibility. There's the crooks of it, RESPONSIBILITY!

So I am having to take full responsibility for my own actions, and I am having to pay the price of making those decisions. But, there are cases like this, when you shouldn't have to. I mean, like when people and companies lie to you!

I told the Internet company, that I wanted to go back to my old package!

True to form, I recorded the call, since I was uneasy with changing my Internet service. Here's the meat in the sandwich!

Internet Co. - That old package you were on doesn't exist anymore sir, surely you were told that when you changed?

AndyGold. - Yes, but 'she' also said that I could have a trial of the new combined service for up-to three months and change back at any-time!

Internet Co. - Yes, but that old package you were on doesn't exist anymore sir, surely you realised that you cannot go back to something that does not exist?

AndyGold. - But my friend and neighbour is still on the old package I was on.

Internet Co. - He can't be, because it doesn't exist anymore!

AndyGold. - But, that's what you've been telling me for the last few years too, although I was still on the old package till up to December!

Internet Co. - You are currently on the best package for your usage and pricing, there is no-better option.

AndyGold. - So, that's it then, you lied to me when you said I could go back to my old service if this new package didn't work out?

Internet Co. - We haven't lied to you, we would not tell you you could go back to a service that doesn't exist would we?

AndyGold. - Well you did, that's the only reason that I decided reluctantly to give it a try!

Internet Co. - Have you got the name of the person you spoke to?

AndyGold. - Not to hand, but I did make some notes, plus I recorded the call.

Internet Co. - We don't allow you to record our conversations, we should be made aware if we are being recorded and it is our company policy to not enter into call-conversations at this employee level. Are you recording this call now?

AndyGold. - Yes!

AndyGold. - But it's my call too! And I have a right to record my conversation for my own protection! I was actually just recording the call, because there were so many options that the sales person was going through, that I wanted to be able to clarify the services offered. I didn't start the recording till the person started going through all the details and I couldn't hardly get a word in edge-ways anyway.

Internet Co. - But did you tell them you were recording them!

AndyGold. - No!

Internet Co. - (The line went dead, not just hung up, cut off)!

I called on my mobile, finally getting my line back on an hour later. There was no explanation why my line was cut off except that it was an unusual fault, that can't be traced!

Later that day I got back to the company on the land-line. After I had to go through a similar conversation to that above all over again. They had no record or knowledge of that earlier conversation nor the person who I named from my own original recording when I was sold the service.

AndyGold. - Sandy Marshall.

Internet Co. - Who? We have no Sandy Marshall. (Would you have guessed it)? We don't give out last names here at XYZ Comms Company.

This is me, middle aged, switched on and in control of all my faculties fighting with these A-holes on the phone. I wonder; - What is it like for the older or more vulnerable, ill, person who cannot take all their crap!

I'm left fuming mad. To top that off, in December and January 2011, the company took £65 each time from my account, instead of the £39.99 that the combined service is supposed to cost. (i.e. no quarterly phone bill to save and pay for, and all inclusive of my monthly Internet cost)!

I did not know about the £65 amounts till two weeks into Feb 2011, when I received a statement from my bank as usual, and noticed the unusual amounts. I inquired, they said my previous phone service included caller-ID, a Ring-Back service, Paperless billing, a special call barring mode for mobiles and national and international calls and free evening national calls. However;-

All these services were also in the new package, but were charged for as extras! That's not what I was told. But I found out, the £65 was £39.99 for the package, plus £15 for those services I mentioned above, (and extra GB usage), although they are only one-off set-up fees, that they told me, that I was told about them in my welcome package. I never got a welcome package!

It was just a coincidence, that £65 was the amount including the one-off fees and extra GB usage, then £65 was also the amount in subsequent months, due to my exceeding the GB usage.

This just complicated the issue since the company did not spot this, and was the main reason I was confused about what I was paying for! I've worked out they still owe me £15 for one-off fees paid twice, but they won't return it! Its not about the cash amount for me, its the principle of the deceit!

ON THE PHONE.

AndyGold. - What welcome package, I have received nothing! - Besides which, we did the whole thing over the phone, and I was told that my new package would have all the same features! It did, but they neglected to say that I would have to pay for something I previously got for free!

Internet Co. - We will send out a new welcome package! End of Call.

I'd been signed up since 1st Dec 2010 for the new service to start on Dec 15th, when I paid up my last old-style account phone bill and it matched the Internet charging period of the 15th of the month! That first £65 came at the end of Dec 2010 and it was mid Feb 2011 when I realised that I had £65 bills instead of the expected £39.99, due to not receiving a bank statement in Jan.

Within seven days of my mid Feb call. I received a welcome package, AND ANOTHER BILL! But this was only the 22nd of Feb, they are not supposed to charge till the end of the month! I rang the company. They asked for a code on the front of the welcome pack.

Internet Co. - Ah, we welcome you as a new customer!

AndyGold. - But, I've been with you for years! What's this £65 for again?

Internet Co. - That is the set-up fees, for the services you requested.

AndyGold. - Yes but I understood that they were one off fees.

Internet Co. - Yes they are!

AndyGold. - So, why have you charged me £65 again this month?

Internet Co. - We haven't, this is your first bill.

AndyGold. - Arrrrrrrg! I've paid £65 twice in February one week apart!

Dec was my first month - I paid £65 but did not pay any attention to the bill, being busy over Xmas and the new year. The DD is set for the 30th but went out on the 2nd Jan. I did not get a bank statement on Jan 15th. On the phone I mentioned this; the phone Co said that that is what had probably happened to the original welcome pack. Lost in the Xmas post!

After about another 30 minutes of trying to get sense out of the person on the phone, it turns out that the last person I talked with previously had to re-start my account with a new application, in order for me to get a welcome pack, but did not tell me this!

Apparently, the first account I opened on Dec 1st was closed, and a new account opened in order to generate my welcome pack, (this came from another location elsewhere in the country).

That person did not realise that I had paid one-off fees and I would lose my one-off fees I already paid, (I didn't know about the one-off fees at that point, so I couldn't tell them about them either).

Now, I'm in a catch 22 situation, they cannot give me the money back for the one off fees that were charged, because I've had the services activated. Twice! I don't know how that works.

They did give me a credit of £39.99, for the first account and was going to hold onto the money I had already paid to cover that. - But immediately told me that I had again gone over my GiggerByte limit, and owed them another £65 anyway for the month and extra GB useage!

If I could swear on this blog, I'd fill the rest of the page with four letter words about this company! But, do you know what? ITS MY OWN FAULT!

I should have listened to my own advice and gone with my own gut feeling. That's why I blame myself! I have a few other 'sayings', that I believe in. Like:-

I AM ON MY OWN!

(No-one is coming to the rescue)! (and),

IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME!

(I call this my TEN TWO LETTER WORDS to remember).

My message to you, (and my-self this month), Trust your own judgment!

You know that no-one is coming to your rescue, there is only you. Nothing will change in your life, (except that things will just get worse for you without your attention. You have to actively take part in things). The only one who will really come to your rescue is yourself.

You will realise that you should always depend upon your first choice and instinct, for that is how we work as humans. It is something to do with the power of the universe, (if you like). You must believe that there is some greater power than yourself at work, be it nature or God or whatever you do believe in. Know this, your gut feeling is part of that mysterious thing!

I never did get the Internet and phone issues sorted, we are now in May 2011. I upgraded the Internet and phone package again to allow to the extra BG usage, but the bill is now a regular £65 (plus) a month. That's about what I was paying if you consider the monthly £19.97 a month I used to be charged for unlimited Internet access; And a maximum quarterly bill of about £130 for the phone. 3 x £20 + £130 = £190 a quarter, Div by 3 months = £63 a month approx.

But, I could have done without all of that hassle! My own fault!

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Now, that second thing - and I don't even want to get started on it!

I am a winner, not a whiner! So, I sorted this and you can see the result in the post called:-

How_to_Work_Out_Your_Electric_Bill

http://andy-golds.blogspot.com/2011/05/howtoworkoutyourelectricbill.html

So, you can probably guess from that, what I went through, when yes... (I must have been going through a mid life crisis or something), I decided to 'CHANGE MY ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER'.

What a load of messing about and crap that was! - In brief; My old meter was actually faulty, confirmed by the technician who changed it out for a new digital meter. The day side times had become stuck - What I have been saying for the last year. But each time a tech guy visits, he trips the time to night and day OK.

The problem is, it trips OK manually, but won't go back to the night-time, low-tariff on its own!

The tech guy who changed it, seemed more expert than the usual types of tech guys the company had been sending. He even drew me a little diagram to show why the meter clock was not tripping back on its own. Manually, it was OK. He understood exactly what I said and agreed.

The Electricity Co. should have just swapped the meter out when I first reported it, since the type of meter I have was renowned for this issue past a certain life-span. I got into an argument with the company after the meter had been changed because they refused to acknowledge the engineers report that the meter is actually faulty.

All I have is a card from the engineer with the reading from the old and new meters and a note to say the old meter was changed due to the fault he discovered! What more can I do?

He actually said, you'd be lucky to even get one successful switch-over out of the meter after it had been manually tripped. I've been reporting this problem for over a year; where, when I'm up and about in the night, I check the meter is on the correct tariff. It never was!

It takes the tech guys about three weeks to come, if they don't cancel, or even just shove a note through your door like one did one time. I was sat on the stairs in the hall reading an Internet Marketing book, and someone walked up and pushed what I thought was a leaflet for Pizzas through the door. He did not knock! I had been in all day waiting for him, the wife had to walk the children to school, since they said they would call between 8 and 12 lunch. This was 1pm!

The note said - 'We called today, as arranged, YOU WERE OUT!" Its a very rude note in its-self, whoever thought that that is how to treat your customers needs a lesson or two. But, not to mention the guy did not knock. That was Autumn of 2010. A complaint I made went no-where.

I changed company, not for the lower price, but for a better service! I've got all the 'sorry you're leaving us' literature from the old company and even calls asking why I'd left and if I'd consider returning!

My claim is that for over a year I've been getting charged at the Economy7's day rate, which is more expensive than a standard tariff during the day due to the exceptionally low night-time electricity that only costs 4.580 pence per unit. The day rate is 21.960 for the first so many units (it changes from bill to bill), then 16.450 for the remaining units!

The only resolve I can think of, is to re-work out all the past years bills, at the standard rate. Although that is probably going to be unfair on me, since the night time electric is going to have cost me the same amount throughout the year!

The only logical and most fair resolution, is to keep the issue open for a whole year from when the meter was changed and to then keep a regular check on the readings and then apply them to the past bills. Then recalculate and reimburse me!

But, you know what will happen? I'll have spent money in time and hours on the phone at the 0845 rate, about 2 hours logged up to now! Then I will still find out that their bill is not going to be changed! All I can really do is, keep a check weekly on my meter readings. Then, I can avoid this happening again!

To this end, I searched for a spread sheet to show exactly what my bills were at any point, or so that I could even estimate the bill accurately. I was so surprised to not find any templates for this subject. There are plenty of people asking where they can find such a template, or asking for help in designing one for themselves.

I have the skill, (I think), -and I really believe that it only matters what I think! That's the real message behind this article anyway. To stick to my guns and have belief in myself. I should have been more assertive when I first notice the erratic behavior of the electricity meter!

I should have kicked-off big style and demanded that the meter be changed! Now I have all this trouble to thank myself for! Again, - at the end of the day, ITS MY OWN FAULT!

AndyGold.

© AndyGold 2011

Success a step at a time

Hi - I always like to start by apologizing about not writing here for a while, but if you have been reading some of my other posts, then you should know by now, that this is par for the course for me. But the apology can still stand.

Keeping a Balance.
I wanted to say a few words; really this is aimed at one of my readers who has asked for more tips on how I manage to keep enough energy to keep a status-quo.

My answer would have to be, take life a bit at a time. You could spell that another way and it would have even more meaning. Re- Question:-

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer:- One 'bite' at a time.

I digress, I prefer the former description.

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To Do List.
A bit at a time, means - don't write out a massive list of everything that you have to do today, (although there is nothing wrong with that if you are getting it all done).

Maybe, like me, you could easily write out an A4 sheet of 30 plus things you need to do today. This is OK for planning, but you should take that list of, lets say 30 items and reduce it by choosing just 5 top things you need to do.

Then re-write those out on a separate fresh post-it type note! - then do a mental rehearsal.- You have probably heard of this before - its called visualization.

Just try it, you will be convinced I'm sure when you find that you are getting things done instead of procrastinating.

The first way you visualize this, is to go through the five things, thinking, of- 'If I do this first and start at, [time], (look at the clock and decide a time - thinking that you are also going to need enough time, perhaps 15 minutes to finish this visualization). Write the start time next to the item on the post-it note.

Visualization.
Imagine - see yourself doing it, it may be just doing the accounts - or writing for your blog, or doing the ironing, or feeding the pets, or setting up something on a web-page.

Think of what a logical and reasonable time would be to complete it, then, looking at the clock - add that time and write it in as a 15 minute break. Then move to the next item on your to-do list.

Here's my To Do list starting this morning, just in-case you are wondering! (Its Monday 20th Dec 2010).
I just need to mention that today - I am doing 10 minute sessions on my exercise-cycle, rather than my usual single session of 40 minutes to one hour.

Don't get caught up in time time specifics, if I say 10 mins on the bike but write 9.30 ex 10 then Accounts at 9.45 - (that's still only a minimum of 10 minutes on the cycle), just get over it!

To do list, started with 5 items chosen from my bigger list.
1, Accounts. - (book-keeping really) 1 hour
2, Email sign-ins. (2 hours - to deal with email).
3, Blog Post. (any one of several of my blogs - but this you are reading, is the one today).
4, Web-page alteration.
(I assess 2 - 4 hours - I'll do what I can today and carry the work over to another day).
5, Personal - shopping for xmas. - (non business, 2 hours).

Things like exercise and taking the kids to school etc - don't usually go on my To-Do-List as these are my daily activities that are not really too hard to find time for, they are already a part of my daily life - habituated.

You may want to make writing a To-Do-List a habit too!

If I say exercise 10 - this is where you could take a break - get it! - its easy ain't it?

9.30 ex 10 (this means exercise for 10 minutes at 140 BPM - I allow 15 minutes to allow for getting on and off - getting water etc).
9.45 Accounts.
10.15 ex 10.
10.30 Accounts continued (but I also started writing for this blog post).
11.00 ex 10.
11.15 I altered to Blog writing- since I got started as soon as I thought of this.
11.30 ex 10.
11.45 blog write continued.
12.15 ex 10. (I got distracted and engrossed in writing and totally missed 12.15 - I have a timer on my computer that pops up, but I just set snooze till the next time). - etc.

12.30 OK - enough said - you get the point!
I'm going to post this now and review it later, (using a - "its good enough - just get it done" attitude), I'm going to get on with the accounts!

The rest of the day should go like this:-
1pm Shopping trip with wife- till 3pm
3pm Kids -we pick-up from school
4pm - Home - TV on but I will be watching and working on web-page alteration - poss 2 to 4 hours. (Unless I get fed-up or stuck - I'll watch some videos on YouTube if I can find some covering my web-page alteration issue). I work from home and have a family room office computer as well as a private office area, so I can work and still be involved in family life.
5pm-6pm - evening meal with family.
6pm Continue as 4pm - and work in my email-sign-in's - -breaks for trips to take son to Army Cadettes at 18.30 and 21.00- etc -

What I don't get finished today goes on tomorrows list! - etc.

I'll stop there because it is now lunch, and I have to complete those accounts. I started this Blog post yesterday - ideas and writing today. This last bit above was put in after the end of the story below. I mention this just for your information, to show you how your plans change!

My day changes with how I feel and how I want to work.
- (I'm lucky that I've realized that I like to work from home and can make a living online).

If you are not so lucky, then you have to start to create your own luck. You can do this by looking around for things to inspire you. On this website there is usually a link to a program that I am on. My best and favorite is The Secret - found in the Millionaire Secret Code - Look for a banner somewhere on this site.

Here's something that motivates me - it is the thought that if I don't motivate myself to work and enjoy working for myself on my own time and schedule; Then someone else will motivate me - Someone like a boss, if I had to get a job.

What all this is about is this; - The only thing any human has true control over is the present - or more specifically your present thoughts. - It is this present thought that will determine how your future will be;- (but not specifically).

You cannot control the past - that has gone, done, over with - so do not waste time dwelling on past failures. You cannot really control the future ither, because things will always alter the best laid plans as I have said.

What you can do is control the future of how things will be on a whole, but not precisely. I know this is a difficult subject to comprehend, but I'll tell you was someone once told me. You don't have to understand it, just accept it and believe it. (Like, you don't have to understand how a car engine works to be able to drive the car). Just get over it!

I heard a speaker at a business meeting once say, that getting things done and planning and goal setting, is just like flying a plane, you cannot see the destination - because it is maybe hundreds or thousands of miles away, (just a dream or a thought right now), the pilot knows it is there, the destination and course is set.

There will be constant alterations required to keep the flight on-course. Wind direction changes and a whole host of other things conspire (it seems) to push the plane constantly off course.

Just like in your business or working day life. People around you have their own direction, which may not be exactly the same as yours. It's your objective to avoid the distractions and keep moving toward your own objective, a bit at a time.

The chap went on to say, 'it's like traveling at night on an unlit road'. Meaning, you can only see the 50 or 100 feet ahead of you, the 'bit' that you can see in the headlights.

You have your destination, your objective (your dream or goal). You might not be able to see your destination in physical reality, but you know where it is (or have the directions) and you have a plan to get there.

You only need to see a little bit ahead - (like the bit you can see in the headlights), all the time altering course slightly to avoid obstacles, turning at junctions, judging each obstacle or problem as it arises. You may have to take a diversion that takes you away from your chosen path for a while, that's OK so long as you keep your final objective in mind.

If this happens in your day, take the diversion if it is the only or best way round the problem that has arisen. Then re-do the short to-do list of five things.

e.g. - Fixing the car - parts not available to complete the fix today, order the part and do something else off your to do list. Its not rocket science, you just need to have a plan and know how to run that plan to make it work.

e.g. Making alterations to website, it appeared to be a simple thing to learn and do, but you discovered it was harder than you originally thought, if you cannot schedule more time, outsource the work or schedule more time to learn the skills you need to do the job.

e.g. A product ordered, I sent out, was not received (probably lost in the post). It was the last of the batch, I offered a refund, -not acceptable was the reply. I found a better more expensive product and sent that in its place. Job done. It cost me my profit, but it meant more to me to have a satisfied client!

These (above) were my obstacles recently - I overcome them! Your plan needs to be - to first make a plan and then to know that there will be obstacles that you cannot plan for, but you can avoid or get round them!

My method is as easy as -123 - 1Plan - 2Do - 3Review.
You can travel thousands of miles using this method; just as in business and life, you can reach any destination or goal you have, if you take it one bit at a time.

Let me finish with this, If you start your to-do list and don't manage to keep to time, don't give up. (That one of those unknown things that happen)! It takes practice, and remember that nothing has to be perfect, it just has to get done, and before it gets done, it has to be started.

Just keep starting things and don't give up. As the boxing fraternity says, its not necessarily how many times you get knocked down, its how many times you keep getting back up!

AndyGold.
Magic secret = 'Keep trying'. - I'm proud to say, people say, they find my very trying!

Rants and Raves - What's going on!

Hi - folks,
This is a 'rave' rather than a rant. Sitting at home with my family in and out of the house, its a sunny and warm day. I've seen the F1 qualifying at 7am and have worked through the night. I was going to bed at 3am but got lost in my work and then time fast-forwarded to 6am in the blink of an eye.

I'm still sat watching TV and working, but I am well-pleased with myself. I know I did over-do the work ethic yesterday and last-night.

Well, in fact, I over did the work ethic for most of this week actually! I've been helping a friend and client get his website and blog up and running, as well as looking after all my own stuff too. I work from home and its great! I can watch TV whilst I work, knock-off whenever I want to go out for a meal with my wife, (or take her shopping).

You can become as you choose to be.

I can choose how and what and when to work, when to take a break, how long that break is and choose not to work this-day, at my leisure. It's a far cry from the heavy welding work I last did, working 12 hour shifts and a two-hour round trip to get to work.

Being black as a coal-miner and taking an hour to get clean, but being so tired, that I often didn't bother with more than a good wash, then get my food and fall asleep, six and seven days a week!

Now I sit, clean and warm, well fed and exercised, happy and content that I am my own boss. I have the time to be with my wife and children on their schedule.

Now I realise that this is getting long, I don't want to keep you too long and I want to get back to earning money. I'm just so happy that I have found 'The Secret' and I wanted to share this with you.

It has been a two week existence of bed at 3am or 5am, (my own choice), and sleeping till taking the kids to school at 8.30am. Working on my own motivational stuff, exercise and meditation, then rest and relaxation through the day, with an hours siesta at mid-day.

I do a bit more work in the afternoon before picking the kids up from school 15.15 to 16.00 hrs, then xbox games and time with the boys, evenings manning Dad's Taxi Service, to and fro - Army Cadet's, Cinema, Shopping, Scouts, then back home and car away by 21.30hrs. Then I continue to work after the kids have gone to bed..

I'm not complaining - I'm happy!
I've been paid well for my time and I get an ongoing management fee, as well as a vocal point for my own ads as and when I please. It's a great business deal for me!

So, I'm having this little 'rave' here about how good my life is right now. It seems people are always going on about their problems, but I've tuned most, if not all of those 'bad vibes' out of my life now.

For those who know me personally, will appreciate that I have had a lot of adversity in my life in past times. For the last four years however, I have managed to make big changes in my life. I tell you this, not to gloat or be big-headed, after-all, you can leave now if you want, the door is over there and no-one is holding onto you!

I tell you this, because I hope that you will take a leaf out of my book! If you do, (by the way, this blog is my version of 'My Book'), you will become more relaxed and at ease with your life. Not because you can let things go, (but that is part of it), but because you will have a master plan that you are working toward.

This 'Master-Plan', will bring you peace, in knowing you are on the road to success! It will bring you calm, when things go to the wall occasionally, (as they do for everyone), because you know you have the time, patience, money, energy, strength, and dedication and will-power to get through it!

Most of all, you will gain respect for yourself that no-one can take from you.
You can become as you choose to be.
It is just your 'own-realisation' of 'that-fact'- that is holding you back from everything that you can be and all that you can have in your life, to fulfil your desires and live the life of your dreams.

So - how do I, (because my life is a work in progress), not 'how did I', achieve this point of euphoric-level of living. Well, hey, first I must point out that I have not 'made it' yet, because I have a lot of things still to achieve in my life and I am forever coming-up with more exciting ideas as I move forward with my life.

The Secret - is The Secret.. - Oh, you're thinking I'm one of those 'wind-up merchants', aren't you? No- well I'm trying to tell you, to-what I owe my life success!

I have 'A Secret', it really is 'A Secret', but I can show you 'The Secret', if you are willing to listen and learn and have belief in yourself!

Notice..That I did not say - have belief in 'The Secret' - or 'the system' or whatever it may be! The reason for this is that I know it works, I am living proof!

Also there are many thousands of people who have gone before you, from all walks of life, that have had much success already that they can definitely say, it is due to 'The Secret' and their application of it. And, there is the pivotal part of it! How you apply what YOU learn.

And, this is why I say and reiterate; if you are willing to listen and learn and have belief in yourself! It is down to your own application of 'The Secret', that once you know and understand it AND start to put it into action, that you can have everything your heart desires. (And perhaps you don't believe me)?

Well, again I have sourced an avenue for you, to try 'The Secret', for yourself and if you don't agree that this will help you achieve all that you desire to be and have, then you can simply return 'The Secret' and go back to whatever other plan you have for achieving your plans, goals and dreams in your life!

I cannot believe that you will find any better offer than that in the world!
Get 'The Secret' now... Click here!
AndyGold
Tags: Self Belief, Success, Rants and Raves, The Secret,

Frank Kern's - Complete Core Influence- Free!

Yo, Just a quick post about one of my mentors products.

If you don't know who Fran Kern is then you are either a newbie marketer, or you've had yourself buried in your own little world for about the last ten years!

Frank Kern is one of the most successful multi-millionaire marketers online today.

I thought you would like to know, he's giving away gifts again, just for the odd referral. Just check out his short video below to find out for yourself!


Get Frank Kern's Complete-Core-Influence free! -Click here!



AndyGold

TAGS: Frank Kern, Marketing, Complete-Core-Influence,

The Secret.

Success doesn't just happen, even if you win the lottery, you still had to do something by way of buying a ticket. If you're not 'in the game' you don't even stand a single chance to win anything! You've got to be in-it-to-win-it!

The same mentality should be applied to all areas of your life! If you are not actively seeking a better income, better lifestyle, to learn and grow, then you will just stand still or even regress. Jobs become stale, trends change and life moves on.

You've got to be ready to change with life, progress to the next level and always keep moving forward.






What will YOU do? TAKE ACTION NOW, or wait till 'something comes your way'?
It is said, that - those who wait for their ship to come in are always missing the boat!

Goal Setting and Achievement.

I want to talk about goal setting and achievement this month. I believe this is so very important because without goal setting you have nothing. Some people achieve plenty in their lives and are quite unaware of the goal setting part that seems to come natural to them.

Perhaps you are one of those natural achievers who don't actually plan and conspire to become successful, if so, imagine what you could achieve if you actually did set your goals properly.

This talk is really for those of you who can't seem to get things moving. This is going to sound strange; I get stuck all the time myself! That is why I feel well qualified to talk about getting moving and keeping momentum! Yes, I have to keep reorganising and re-starting, setting and re-setting my goals in order to get things done. This is all part of achievement but I didn't realise it at first!

I look back over my successes and ask myself how did I do that? I'll sometimes remember the A, B and/or C got in my way to stop me, but somehow I still achieved it. It comes down to persistence and, if there is one thing that singularly sums up this, it is that; Achieving your goals, the work that goes into it has to be done on a regular daily basis, it is just like getting washed, it only lasts a short time and then you have to repeat the process.

The 'just like getting washed, you have to do it every day' term, hits home with me, because I used to have negative people around me who used to say that I was getting brainwashed (being asked to read books and listen to tape recordings), by some of the many organisations I have been part of in years gone by. I used to say to those ney-sayers back then - Yes, I am getting brainwashed! I'm getting brainwashed to become rich and successful. Whats your excuse?

Most people will knock your dreams, plans and goals, if you let them know you have them. I'm not sure exactly why this is, I just know that it does happen. I could go into the many reasons why I think this is, but there is little point. Just suffice to say, don't tell others of your dreams, plans and goals if you really want to succeed. You may test the ground a little with a close spouse or business partner if your objectives are similar, but I wouldn't go further than that.

So, you need to set your goals realistically. Your first goals should be to get your current life in order, getting all your bills paid on-time and designing a health and fitness regime that you can stick to. Without this there is not much point to planning for big lifestyle changes. To set your goals properly, you need to read and learn much more than we have space or time to write down here. I suggest you look to reading as many books on self development and goal setting as you can lay your hands on. There are many methods and routs you can take and unfortunately, what works for one person will not always work for someone else.

The best advice I can give, is to keep reading and learning. You are almost assured to eventually find the method and route that is right for you. I hope you aren't one of those, "I've already tried everything" people. If so, you'd better just make the final decision to give up trying now, because subconsciously, if that's what you really believe, then you are already beat. Just say "that's it, I've tried everything and nothing has worked", just give up and put yourself out of your misery, stop trying and go back to a normal life of living day to day, you'll be happy.

If that last suggestion doesn't work for you, then great, there's hope for you yet. Listen, no-one in the world has ever tried everything. It's like this, even if you could life more than one lifetime, you still would not have the time to try all the myriad of different methods that have been devised, for becoming successful in life. Think about it, millions of people have written self help and- how to be successful books. Many will be repetitious of others in the market and many will be hybrid systems based on others, most will be biographical, in that, this is the way I did it. One person success stories and the like.

Not knowing you, the way I would suggest to anyone to start on the road to success is to do what I did, starting with reading any self-development books that you can get your hand on. My first was 'Think and Grow Rich', which is old but still relevant and is also available in audio formats now, so that you can listen whilst driving, exercising or working. That would be my next tip, to fit in your new education plan, so that it merges into you current schedule. I like multitasking. By putting on a tape or a video whilst exercising I am getting twice the benefit from my time. 'Time is my only limited resource' should be your new self talk statement that comes under the heading of realisations.

Self-Talk is an important step in becoming successful, having positive self-talk and reminding yourself of how things actually are, (realisations). Keep a small pocket book, that you can carry with you at all times and write your self-talk statements into it. Read it as frequently as possible. Even to this day, (Currently Aug 2009 as I write), I still carry a pocket book of self-talk statements. I read through the book daily, mainly as part of my main goal setting and repetition hour at 6 - 7 am everyday.

I was looking through it earlier today too, whilst waiting for my wife and youngest child Liam age 8, who went shopping to pick up a pair of roller-skates for Liam. I decided to stay in the car. I often use this type of time for this purpose. It is prime moments like this, alone, that I can meditate and think through my challenges and make my plans. When my wife and Liam returned to the car, I had been thinking and busily writing more thoughts into the pocket-book. It is exciting and easy to do and I can generate lots of good ideas and develop plans that otherwise would I would not be able to spend time on.

I think that that's enough for this post, I can easily get carried away, I do have a lot more to say on this subject and if you are interested in reading further about my life and how I accomplish my goals then please return from time to time. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading and I would like to help you achieve your goals too. I can offer to keep writing about the way my goals are achieved and what is important to me and what has worked for me. Perhaps, (I hope), that the things that work out for me, will also work out for you.

AndyGold.