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Over the past two weeks I have noticed a couple of polls and surveys where it is said that the independents that had moved a little bit to the left for the elections last year are now moving right. I don’t know about other parts of the country but in the area that I live that has a bit of a right leaning populous those individuals that had moved from right to independent are even more left leaning today than they were last year.

They are seeing the same thing that I am seeing and it doesn’t make since at this time in our country’s history; politics over policy, which seems to be the right’s game plan these days. Of course when you have a group of people struggling to keep our health insurance and keep credit coming into our businesses so we can continue to make a living, no one gives a crap about the politics. We need polices to be changed so we can afford to purchase a home, send our kids to college and eventually retire as we’ve been told all these years. So maybe some are moving back to the right but I don’t see it where I live.

Many people who have lost their jobs or been downsized this past two years are leaning toward starting their own businesses and there are times that means finding someone to partner with. When choosing a business partner there are definite things to consider that can make or break your partnership so it is imperative you deal with certain things upfront. One of those things is how you work and what you expect. If you were an executive with a company and had people to manage then you may not like the work you will have to do as a small business owner. If you and your partner like running the show who is going to do the actual work?

While you may or may not have employees when you start, a new business venture takes a lot of work and planning as well as a lot of patience and investment. That investment is not all money either. In most cases it is a time drain and if you and your family or your partner and their family are not prepared for that time drain you will not make it. Another mistake people make is going into business with friends. While there are successful businesses that are comprised of friends there are many more that fall apart; business and friendships. This is alos true of many family businesses. Make sure you have similar working habits and expectations before going into business with anyone.

What some realtors do when they list your home is stick a sign in your yard and put it on the local Multiple Listing System (MLS) and there it sits until it matches someone’s search criteria and pops up. Though this may seem like it’s enough, it’s not in today’s market.

Liz Davis at Liz Davis Homes shared with me an entire marketing strategy for today’s sellers that get their house seen, and hopefully sold within the first four weeks; if the price is set correctly. This marketing plan consists of getting the house listed on Realtor.com, the number one real estate search site in the US, Listed on RE/MAX.com, the areas MLS system, LizDavisHomes.com, Craigslist, See Realtor.com and Point2 MLS Portal that places your home on thirty five additional websites. This goes along with the traditional open house that is advertised in the local paper and a real estate agent tour. She also prepares a four color flyer with professional pictures for your front yard and home, emails a digital flyer to other realtors in the neighborhood, sends postcards to your neighbors and places ads in local newspapers! This is what Rock Start Realtor will do for you to sell your home.

Let’s face it, if people would look at the overall economy as if it were happening to their family they would agree that getting people to work is the answer. I know this because my spouse was laid off six months ago and has not had one bite on a job. The government cannot reduce our tax base or give me enough in tax breaks or credits to make up for the loss of income. This loss is also affecting our family since we have to make some very hard choices in who and what to pay.

This has caused a virtual cascading of emotions from feeling less than because no one will hire my spouse to having to say over and over again, “I am not my credit score”. Our government seems to be able to save the banks that got us in this mess but can’t get together and create jobs for those who need it. We need a way to generate income and replace what we have lost. We need incentives for companies to create more jobs not lay more people off. You try living on half your income with no credit and see how far you get? It’s harder than you think it is and we had savings. Many more were hit even harder than we have been but it’s time something gets accomplished. This is about people’s lives not a party winning or losing elections!

I had to take a trip recently where I was in a car for up to fifteen hours a day and slept in strange and uncomfortable beds every night. Though I didn’t realize how much I needed an adjustment until I got home, I did realize that I was not sleeping well and didn’t “feel” 100%. As soon as I got home I called my chiropractor and was glad I did. In just one session, my neck was back where it needed to be, hips realigned again and my back felt like I could go for another month!

When I shared this with a second cousin of mine I expected to get what I get from my mother, “You should go to a regular doctor, not one of those bone cracking guys!” However, what I heard surprised me! I found out that she and her husband have been going to their chiropractor for over twenty years and believe she has saved their lives and kept them out of the hospital over the years compared to people and relatives (my mother being one of them) that have had to be hospitalized over the past. They are in their mid seventies and neither one has been in the hospital since going to a chiropractor! What’s funny about that is they are considered the quacks in the family along with me and we are all okay with that!