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Fundraising is Like Building a Guitar

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:17:00 GMT

Really...building a fundraising campaign is very similar to building a guitar. Let me explain.

When building a guitar one needs to select the woods one will use for the sound board, the body, the neck and the peg head. In fundraising one needs to plan who they want to reach, when they want to reach them, how they will reach them and why they want to reach them. These are all fundamental considerations which when properly prepared will lead one to a successful fundraising experience.

The craftsmanship in building a guitar has to do with paying attention to the small details that must accompany properly prepared wood for assembly. If one were to take the required time in preparation then the result is a beautiful sounding instrument that will last. In fundraising, to rush into a campaign is a mistake and will likely produce more mistakes. For example, one might miss opportunities to invite certain people to participate in the campaign could be overlooked and the likelihood of leaving money on the table is very high, actually it is extremely high. By that I mean one might have raised more money if one had taken just a little more time and thought through each step and the desired results which one hoped to achieve.

For a guitar to sound properly it needs to be built carefully and setup properly. If the strings are too high it is difficult to play. If the strings are too low they will buzz against the frets. In either case, these results produce a poor quality guitar. In fundraising, if one does not carefully think about the 'ask' such as who should make the 'ask', when to make the 'ask' how to make the 'ask' and why to make the 'ask' the result will be a small cheque if any cheque at all.

We'll talk some more about this in greater detail in the blog comments to follow shortly.

And that's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Masterfinancial.com

They Blew It!

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:11:00 GMT

Well, the G8 and G20 extravaganza is finally over and none too soon. When the government had a chance to demonstrate great leadership they blew it.

It was in my opinion a complete waste of time and money. Governments need to be accountable for the money they spend and it is clear that government is to serve the selfish interests of a few elected people. For just a minute, think of what a billion dollars would do to feed the poor, provide housing for those who are on the streets, provide re-training programs, provide lower university fees, provide job creation programs, provide funds for hospitals, provide better education, lower everyone's tax bill, and provide new parks just to give you an idea.

Then there is the policing issue. Secret laws, Excessive force, brutality, and a lack of concern for peaceful demonstrators. Please tell me this is not Canada. It can't be the country where I grew up and paid my taxes is it? Detaining people for 10 - 20 hours. Well, the police sure did earn the title pigs last weekend. Any goodwill they had was gone in minutes and they don't care. Like the rest of the government the police think they are not accountable and can do what they want.

Oh you can be sure the police will rightly point out that these idiots in black were smashing store fronts and in-sighting everyone to accomplish what? So, why didn't they focus their efforts on them instead of people sitting in the street singing "Oh Canada".

There will be a number of law suits over these meetings and there should be. The damage done to store owners and small business men should be paid by the Federal Dictatorship located in Ottawa.

So, in the end, what was accomplished. The politicians will lie as usual and tell us that the face to face meeting were wonderful and accomplished much. Bull! The protests accomplished nothing, the meetings accomplished nothing, and the government built million dollar lakes which accomplished nothing.

Shame on our government leaders and police force. For the first time in my life I am embarrassed and not proud to be a Canadian!

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Masterfinancial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Really...Why Not Start Your own Business Now? Part 4-Products

Monty McKinnon — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:31:00 GMT

Product Research Part 4

So, you created a business name, something that people will remember and something that is easy to spell and a name that relates to what it is that you want to do.

At this point you probably have some idea of what product you want to sell or what service you want to provide. In either case, begin searching on the internet to determine the amount of competition you will have with the business. Also, be sure to check out the local competition because when you do your research on google you will get global answers to your questions. Speaking of questions, I have a few:

Is your product something that can be sold or provided over the internet? If so, your market just became the world. If you are providing a product is this something that will need to be shipped to your customers or is it something that they could download after the purchase procedure is completed? Are you computer literate and can you build a web site? Do you want to build a web site?

Is your product going to require you to carry inventory? If so, how much inventory will you need to carry?

Is your product something you will manufacture? If it requires manufacturing will the local bylaws allow you to use your home as a manufacturing plant while you get started? Do you have the facilities to manufacture and will the process interfere with your lifestyle at home? How long does it take to manufacture one product? Is this something you can create or will you need to consider hiring some staff to work with you?

Do you have the money to cover your start-up costs? Do you know how much it will cost to get started? Do you know the success and failure rate for a business such as the one you want to start? We are going to talk budgets in another article, so more on that in a little while.

There's the thing, I do not want to discourage you, rather I want to encourage you. But, you must take the time to investigate before you invest otherwise you could be headed for trouble and yes, there will be more questions.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Really...Why Not Start Your own Business Now? Part 3

Monty McKinnon — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:31:00 GMT

Registration Part 3

Do you need to register your business? Good question because a lot of people manage small businesses and don't register them with the government. If you are serious about having a successful small business then there is no question you should register your business.

So, where and how do you register this potentially next major business. If you are planning on operating as a sole proprietorship you can find that in Ontario you can register online with the Ontario government. I am sure it is the same with all the other Provinces and States as well.

A person operating a Sole Proprietorship really has no personal legal protection in the event of a law suit. Should the individual be sued over some business matter the settlement could reach into one's personal assets. In other words, depending on the circumstances an individual could potentially lose everything they own. I am not sure how often that has happened or the likely hood of it happening again.

A Corporation provides the owners with legal protection from damaging law suits during the course of conducting business. In the event of a judgement against a company the company in question could lose their assets but it would not touch the owners. However, the Directors of a Corporation can be sued. So why would you register a Corporation?

A Corporation has more tax benefits and it is a legal entity and files a Corporate tax return. With a Sole Proprietorship the owner takes the income of the company in his/her personal income less operating expenses. This has the effect of significantly increasing one's income level and subsequently placing the individual into a higher personal tax bracket. In short, the individual will end up paying more taxes.

A corporation and a Sole Proprietorship can be registered online as can trademarks and copyrights should these apply to your situation. Be sure if you register online to print out a receipt and proof of registration.

Should you use a lawyer or accountant in this process? Absolutely! It is always smart to get professional advice before you commit yourself to anything and especially if you are thinking of a partnership. The lawyer will get you set up your business properly and the accountant will provide immeasurable help in your daily business.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Really...Why Not Start Your own Business Now? Part 2

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:27:00 GMT

Step 2 Self Assessment

This is an important part of the process of starting your own business. Without taking a hard look at your own personality and entrepreneurial spirit you could be headed for a problem. Take the time to answer the following questions to help you understand what it means to own a business. Not everyone is destined to own a business but most everyone at some point in their lives dream or fantasize about owning a business.

Why do you want to be self employed?
Do you have a unique product or service?
Does your product have enough mark up to cover your expenses and leave you a profit and still be affordable to the consumer.
Do you have the correct education to support your area of interest in self employment?
Are you married and do you have children or other dependents?
How does your spouse feel about your business venture?
Are you healthy and prepared to work 40, 50, 60 70+ hours weekly to make your business successful?
When you tell your friends and family that you have started a business what will be their reaction to the idea?
Have you ever worked on your own before?
What was that experience like?
Are you well connected in your field of interest?
Do you know how or where to register your business with the government and what it will cost?
Do you know a lawyer and accountant who could help you establish your business.
Which banking institution would you use and will they be able to assist you in your business.
Do you know and understand the difference between a sole proprietorship and a corporation including the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Do you have money for investing in your business and are you prepared to possibly lose it?
Do you need to find investors to fund your business and if so, where will you look?
Most people under estimate the expenses and over estimate the sales when starting a new business. Have you prepared a sales forecast that is realistic, measurable, and attainable?
Do you know how and have you prepared a 'bare bones' budget to get you started in business?
Again, why do you want to become self employed?

Starting and managing your own business is not easy and requires careful planning and lots of adjustments. If you have the right temperament for it, owning your own business can be very rewarding.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Really...Why Not Start Your own Business Now? Part 1

Monty McKinnon — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:32:06 GMT

Start Your Own Business

Introduction Part 1

In an economy that is recovering from a tough recession finding a job could be difficult. Many employers were forced to lay off workers and look for ways to do the same amount of work without hiring back staff. That means the people left behind are doing more work and the folks who were laid off are out of luck if they are waiting by for a recall to work. So what to do?

Many people look for opportunities to re-train by going back to school or applying the the government for an opportunity to participate in one of the re-trainning programs offered. One thing is certain though...you must do something but what.

Well let's consider what you are good at. Answering the following questions should start to give you and idea of what areas you might investigate with a view to perhaps starting your own business. Let's begin:

How long did you work at your last (or current) job?
What did you do for your employer and what were your accomplishments. Be specific here.
Would you want to work in the same line of business?
What is your current level of education and do you have any specialties as a result of your education?
Do you have any business and managerial experience?
Have you ever owned a business in the past?
Are you computer literate?
Do you have web site construction experience?
What computer programs can you easily navigate without too much difficulty?
Are you up to date with your technology?
Which of the following areas do you have experience and sounds most appealing to you?
a. Retail b. Manufacturing
c. Service
d. Information Technology
e. Travel & Tourism
Is night school an option for you specialize in your area of interest?
What start up costs do you anticipate?
Are you thinking of a partnership? Why?
Do you have any money to invest in your business?

We will examine these questions and more in greater detail as we work to assist you in developing a strategic plan to start your own business. It will take some time but in the end it is well worth exploring the possibilities.

That's the way i see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Some Interesting Technology

Monty McKinnon — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:10:00 GMT

Well, last week Apple launched the iPad in Canada. It had already been available in the US for over a month before it came to Canada. The rumor for the delay was that Apple sold so many iPad computers they didn't have enough to launch in other countries.

It is interesting to read that the iPad came first and from it came the iPhone which seems to have caught on quite well. But, back to the iPad. I bought one when it was released in Canada. I thought that if it was selling so well that they would delay the launch in Canada for a month there must be more to it than I first thought.

It is a giant iphone without the phone part and more. I like the size of the iPad as it is somewhere between a computer and a book. And speaking of books, I downloaded an app (short for application) which was the ESV Study Bible. Oh my...is it ever a winner. All my other bible software that I have bought over the years is obsolete. This is so detailed with a ton of information that displays in a neat and clean window. You can bookmark sections that you want to go back to, you can highlight in multiple colors and write notes and attach your notes to any verse.

The screen can split with the bible in one section and the study notes in another. References and hyperlinks makes the depth of your reading far more enjoyable. The large keyboard allows for note taking during a sermon and any verse in the bible is only 3 clicks away. You open a small window that displays all the books of the bible. Click on a book, click on a chapter, click on a verse and you are there....fast.

Of course the iPad allows you to download ebooks and read them on the go. When you close your book it opens again right where you left off the last time you were reading.

This business tool will allow you to write documents in Pages and save them as a Word file and it is the same when using Numbers and saving it as Excel or using Keynote and saving it a PowerPoint.

Well, I could go on and on but you get the idea. I think Apple has another winner on its' hands.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

And The Blessings Keep Coming!

Monty McKinnon — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:58:29 GMT

Dt. 28: 7,8

“The Lord x will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord y will command the blessing on you in your barns and z in all that you undertake. a And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Don't you just find it so interesting that the Lord continues to bless people in spite of themselves. He even gives us a formula for successful living and tells us that if you will just follow His commands He will bless us. How you ask?

Well take another look at the verse above. What is the enemy you are fighting against. Is it debt, is it a new career, is it your family, is it your spouse, or is it your job? It really doesn't matter because what is important here is our continued obedience to the Word of God in our lives.

Everyone like to focus on blessings but there is a cost. Nothing is free. These blessings follow a template which the Lord offers us, requires us to give Him our time, to trust Him in our finances, to believe Him when He commands us to do something by following His commandments. If, and it is a big if, we follow His blue print for success we will enjoy so much more in our lives. That does not mean we will receive exactly what we want. What we want may not be good for us. What we want is what the Lords wants for us. Look at what is said in the first verse of Deuteronomy.

“And q if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set your high above all the nations of the earth. This applies to our stewardship, our leadership, our giving and basically every area of our lives.

How much more plain can it be? So, here is the choice...to obey God or to not obey God.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Money Management Made Easy...

Monty McKinnon — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:12:00 GMT

Money is an interesting topicbecause it affects all of us. It is mostly likely the number one source ofmarital stress and it is chief among reasons sited regarding causes of divorce.We must never be careless with our money. Either we manage our money or ourmoney will manage us.

Don’t waste time looking forhidden secrets to instant financial wealth. There isn’t any. If you look through our web site www.masterfinancial.com you won't find any quick solutions or get rich quick schemes. That's because there isn’t any quick fix.The good news is the money is a renewable resource and you will always getanother opportunity to improve your money management skills.

Ask questions and rememberthat while a common sense approach to finances may seem simplistic thetruth of the matter is that common sense is not common practice. If weconcentrate on the basics we will all be better off financially.

Here are a few ideas to helpus all manage the resources God has given to us a little better.

1.We’re In the Money…

Most of us have never had a lot of money. We workedpart-time to pay for our education and other necessities, but few of us hadunlimited money. When a couple marries and they are both working there is atemptation to spend money on items that generate temporary satisfaction.Marriage is an exciting time, lots of gifts, celebrations, holidays and havingtwo incomes can make life seem very good and this is where some couples getinto trouble. They do not:

Keep track of spending.
There is usually a lack of accountability to each other for money spent.
Not planning for the future.
Not sharing financial responsibility with each other.
Not saving for something special in the future…a house, a car etc.
Not controlling credit card spending.

So what should we do? Good question. Consider thesesuggestions for managing your money in a way that will pay huge dividends inthe future:

If you are both working, try to live on one salary, the smaller one, and save the other salary.
Agree to consult each other on expenditures over $150.00, or some other amount.
One person keeps track of all spending and then alternates the responsibility.
Begin your retirement savings plan.
Set financial goals.
Avoid credit if at all possible.

We have several examples in the Bible of making use of the good years in a manner that will allow for provision in the lean years.

Gen. 41:29,30 “Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will beforgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.”

Proverbs30:25 “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.”

When it comes to investing the money you are saving each month, be sure to go to an expert who has a successful track record. Never trust anyone to totally manage your money for you. Keep track of what you are doing.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Fun Raising

Monty McKinnon — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:53:00 GMT

Today, i would like to focus on the 'church' as an entity needing funding. First, it is understandable that churches need money after-all they need to pay people, pay heating and air-conditioning bills, building maintenance, electric bills, grounds maintenance and give money to missions.

A church needs to put a compelling case in front of the people in the congregation if it wants financial support. With people moving from one church to another, there must be a reason to give. To hang your hat on "giving to the church is the right thing to do" will absolutely leave money on the table. In short, the church looses because they could have had more money donated.

A compelling reason fro giving not only states what the money is going to be used for, but it explains how the money was spent and what was achieved. When people see their money being spent wisely and that there is a good ROI then, they are more likely to respond by giving more when it is needed.

Another thing the church needs to do is be generous with others. Give money to other causes instead of spending it all on the church and comfort in the pew. The church needs to give money to missions, para-church organizations, missionaries, other churches which are struggling financially. The church needs to give to the local community through donations to hospitals, sports teams, benevolence organizations and people in need.

Giving is one of the more important things to do because it not only helps others, and provides a multitude of reasons why people should give to the church but it would please Jesus...since He was all about giving.

Perhaps it is time to plan a summer retreat with the board of your church for the sole purpose of planing how you will tithe the church income to other organizations and churches. If you do this...you'll be amazed at the results.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Fundraising Fun

Monty McKinnon — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:49:00 GMT

Have you every wondered how many people will take advice and act on it? Well, let's examine fundraising for a moment.

Anyone who has done any fundraising will tell you the fundraising is hard work. I hear from people through our web site www.masterfinancial.com all the time seeking help with their fund raising activities. They are usually facing a deadline and when we talk you can clearly here the stress in their voice.

The first three letters in fundraising spell the word fun. It is way past the time to slow down and realize that the sun will come tomorrow and it will go down tomorrow night. Stop worrying about what you can't change or fix. Focus on what you can do and do it. But, somewhere along the process of donor mining to making the big ask stop and have some fun.

Today, why not order in Pizza for everyone in the office and stop what you are doing for 30 minutes. Find out what people are doing for the weekend and what they did last weekend. Better still, call your spouse and arrange a date night and go and see a movie after you take her to dinner.

There should be a lot of fun in our work and a whole lot less stress. You'll still get the job done but it will be done with a better spirit and you won't be so tired if you just have a little fun. Remember, fundraising always starts with fun.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Templates Help!

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:47:00 GMT

I have been thinking a lot about templates. I have written and re-written several capital stewardship fundraising manuals and I have placed templates within the manuals. The purpose was to help churches and para-church and non-profits work faster and save time with their fundraising by providing templates which they could customize. You can see these on our web site at www.masterfinancial.com if you want.

The idea of templates came up in a conversation with my surgeon a few years ago. After having cancer surgery I asked the doctor what he found. To my surprise he said the surgeons have a template they follow when they preform this surgery. It even included removing tissue surrounding the organ....weird, but necessary. Okay what does this half to do with fundraising.

Well, recently a client purchased our capital stewardship fundraising campaign manual and asked if there were any templates. I responded and told the customer that the templates were in the manual and if she checked our web site www.masterfinancial.com they would be there. Well, they were there all right but I realized that the customer couldn't customize the templates unless they re-wrote the entire template.

It would be like the surgeon going in to remove an organ and saying yup, I saw it all right but I couldn't change anything...crazy.

Well, the www.masterfinancial.com website has changed and if you check it out you will find templates which can be totally customized to suit the needs of each customer as they are now written in Word. Now customers will find their work load so much easier as we realize the importance for them to be able to customize templates to suit their needs.

We will keep you posted as we add more templates.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

Master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Financial Management

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:47:00 GMT

Well, it would appear that we are coming out of this recession. When the government begins increasing interest rates you can be sure that the banks will pass along those increases to consumers, businesses and anyone holding loans from banks and credit unions as well as your credit cards. Mortgage rates will begin to increase and anyone facing the opportunity to re-finance a mortgage and lock in for a while should give this option a serious look.

I remember when I was in high school and I had to read David Copperfield. As a teenager, I found the book boring but there was a line or two that I remember in principle. It goes something like this (paraphrased) : If a man spends one dollar more than he earns he will be miserable". The lesson is for one to learn to live within their means. It is time to get out of debt and this applies to the individual as well as business owners. The days of cheap money are coming to an end. When credit card companies charge 18% on outstanding debt the best return on your investment dollar just might be paying off your debts.

Living within your means is difficult when credit is still available and advertising continually tries to convince us to buy products now, and to buy on credit, and they promise just a few "easy" payments. News flash...there is no such thing as a few easy payments. Nope, there are no easy payments.

Small business owners and consultants need to watch their pricing of their products and services. Here is the bottom line, consultants generally speaking, charge too much for their services and this is especially true in the fundraising arena but it is also true in almost every area of consulting. Our web site www.masterfinancial.com is dedicated to assisting churches manage their own campaign and stop paying tens and tens of thousands of dollars to hire a consultant when they don't need to. It won't be long until the DIY campaign is being offered by all the consulting firms.

It is the same in the trades. Most of the trades, including plumbers, electricians, drywall professionals, roofers, air conditioning and heating firms, framers, all charge too much for there products and services. They are creating a new market because they are the reason for the exploding "do-it-yourself" industry forcing homeowners to do their own renovations instead of hiring the professionals indicated above. It might be true that the professionals do a better job, but they are losing a lot of money because homeowners can afford them.

So, the time has arrived for individuals and small business owners to review their personal and corporate finances and reign in expenses and get out of debt just as fast as possible.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Is it a Mistake

Monty McKinnon — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:42:00 GMT

I recently had a conversation with someone about our Capital Stewardship Campaign Manual. I was told that what we had was "overkill" meaning just too much information.

I must admit I was somewhat surprised at the comment. When this fundraising manual was created I assigned our team the task of investigating every capital stewardship fundraising program available to the churches at that time. There wasn't much out there.

I wanted to create something different, something that would work, something that was menu driven and something that was not expensive. The manual want given to pastors who reviewed the content and told us what they liked and what they didn't like. Changes where made and the product was reviewed yet again. The result was the first edition of the Capital Stewardship Campaign Manual, which has now had several revisions to update it and keep it current.

The problem we faced was the size of the church. We wanted a campaign manual that would work for a church on 80 to a church of 6,000 people. Hence, the birth of the menu driven program. The idea behind this, is that the leadership team would decide which committees they needed in their church to enjoy a successful campaign. Obviously, larger churches may need more committees and more members supporting those committees than a smaller church.

The manual can then be used a a resource document to guide the church, regardless of its' size, and provide the answers needed to make a successful campaign.

Actually, at the time, I thought this was a good idea as one manual could service any size of church. I still feel the same way about it and I would only change it to make improvements to the way a church arrives at their financial goal. I makes sense to have a resource document like this available when trying to raise money based upon stewardship principles.

So, is it a mistake to provide a complete solution to the fundraising problems facing both the small churches and the larger churches. The smaller churches will use some of the content in the campaign manual and the larger churches may use it all. So, I really don't think it is a mistake.

That's the way I see it.

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Increasing Personal Finances

Monty McKinnon — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:25:00 GMT

Well we find ourselves being warned by the Federal governments of both Canada and the United States. They have indicated that interest rates will likely increase sometime later this year. That is a bit of a concern when we are just easing out of a recession.

Our local government has announced it will be harmonizing the Provincial tax with the Federal Goods and Services Tax. This will have the effect of increasing the prices of what you buy in this Province by 8%. The Premiere of this Province is an idiot and does understand the consequences of his actions. His actions have the potential to stall our economic recovery....but I guessing he knows that. All this rant to say we have been warned. Now, what to do?

Here are 15 ideas which may help you increase your cash flow and help you find money now:

1. Stop spending money you don't have. Put the credit card in a bucket of water and put it in the freezer.

2. Consider what items in your household you no longer need and sell them on ebay.

3. Pay down your credit cards and other credit obligations as quickly as you can. The interest rate on credit cards is too high.

4. Give 110% at work and look for ways to educate yourself to give you more value with your employer.

5. Temporarily consider taking on some part-time work to pay down those credit obligations.

6. Save some of your pay for the future. It doesn't need to be a lot, but you need to save something.

7. If you are not working, update your resume and plan to drop off 15 resumes a day at companies where you would like to work.

8. Check to see if there are some government retraining programs where you live.

9. Reduce or eliminate unnecessary spending and this includes going out for dinner.

10. Prepare a family budget with your spouse and agree on expenditures and priorities.

11. If you can't find work, start a business. Provide landscaping services, clean windows, remove household junk for people, paint houses, baby sit, provide child daycare, walk dogs, shop for groceries for the elderly...do something.

12. Look for government and private seminars on how to start and manage a business.

13. Be careful of partnerships. They seldom work.

14. Call your creditors and tell them you have created a plan to pay off all your debt and ask them to stop charging interest for now.

15. If you become unemployed, you must apply for your government employment insurance immediately or you may not qualify.

There is little doubt that it is difficult to be out of work and have limited funds and lots of debt. But, you CAN dig your way out and it requires you to do something today. If there is only one item listed above that will help you go for it. If you have other ideas, send them to me and I'll include them in a follow-up.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Monty McKinnon master Financial Planning Services Inc. www.masterfinancial.com

Monty McKinnon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:38:00 GMT

Paul said "Run in such a way as to get the prize". 1Cor 9:24

Boy, does that ever apply to life as a Christian. If anyone is going to win a prize they usually find that a serious amount of training is involved. There are no short cuts, just hard work.

You might have guessed that the athletes who won the gold, silver and Bronze medals at the most recent olympics and all the olympic games past had at least one thing in common. They all trained for their respective events. They studied previous winners, they studied their competition, they listened to their coaches for hours on end. Then when they were exhausted they practiced some more.

For the Christian it is a little different. The increased pace of our society does not give one much time to sit and explore thoughts about Christ. We are bombarded on every side. There is the pressure our our job or the added pressure of finding a job. There is the rush to take our kids to school, hockey practice, basketball practice or some other sporting event. Then add to the mix the job of caring for your home and preparing meals and grocery shopping. All of this to say everyone is busy and that is why it is necessary to set times to meet with Jesus.

What happens in the fundraising community is that instead of being creative or trying something new, fundraising staff and professionals as well, will fall back on the past and do what they have done before. Our hurried pace is partly to blame for this but what has happened is laziness has set in. When one becomes lazy they settle for less and don't want to invest the time to do something different. Fundraising requires creative thinking and a willingness to try something different. That is not to say that one should abandon something that is working...just what is not working.

The training for a Christian usually comes from bible study, attending church and Sunday school classes. Training for fundraising staff in the Christian community usually comes from bible studies, attending church, attending fundraising seminars and courses as well as Sunday school classes.

Paul said. If one is to run to win the prize they must train and they must run. Athletes don't sit on the sofa and wish they were running the race. They get off the sofa or out of the chair and get moving....they do something. fundraising requires the fundraiser to 'ask' for money over and over again. If you don't train...you won't win. If you don't ask...you won't receive.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

On Her Way To a Gold Medal

Monty McKinnon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:36:00 GMT

Well, the Olympics are over and I wonder what is left to watch on the television. The Olympic games are filled with so much tension, excitement and passion for every sport represented. With Canada winning the most gold medals in winter Olympic history and the most gold for a host nation it is no wonder the nation of Canada is bursting with pride. It was a great two weeks of entertainment every day watching athletes from around the world compete to being honor to their country.

With the same amount of determination of an Olympic athlete, there is a lady in Colorado who is on her way to winning a gold medal for her endurance, long suffering, tenacity, courage and outrageous determination. This lady is dealing with Swine Flu...yes, the very flu we all feared last fall.Having spent more than 110 days in ICU, having doctors who were confused and not sure what to do next, this lady has stared down this illness and is showing signs of making a recovery. It has been a long and difficult road.

The road to recovery will be long and likely there may be some minor roadblocks. But, with a husband who is dependent upon the Lord for help and has modeled unbelievable grace, strength and courage as well as a family who adores her and prays for her continually a long with hundreds, if not thousands, of friends and strangers, she will win her battle and receive the gold medal.

When you look at all these young athletes and marvel at their strong, well developed bodies it is hard to think that illness or a freak accident, such as what happened in Vancouver at the beginning of the Olympics to the young athlete from Georgia. Everything can change forever in a nano second.

Real leadership does not fall away in the face of tragedy. Real leadership falls back on what the leader has been taught and what the has learned from the University of Life which is sometimes called experience and most importantly, the lessons learned from reading their bible.

When the situation looks like victory and the other team scores on you when you are only a few seconds away from your prize don't give up. Stare down your opponent and never give up! Even if everyone thinks you are defeated, don't quit because with Jesus on your team you are never going to lose.

This applies to illness, money matters, marriages, employment opportunities, business, schooling and every other opportunity in life. It is the essence of life and leadership to persevere.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Two Lives To Live!

Monty McKinnon — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:19:00 GMT

Two lives to live...now there's an idea.

My sister told me something I never heard my mother say. I am not overly surprised by the comment and it really is a sobering thought when you take a moment and think about it. Apparently, my mother said she wished that she had two lives to live...the first to gain experience and learn, the second was to apply what she learned in her first life to her second life.

Isn't that exactly what experience is supposed to be? Something, that we can take and learn from and then apply to our daily lives so that we don't make the same mistake twice. I am not sure about you, but I know I have made plenty of mistakes and I am not sure I learned all that much from them. It is a worthy goal for sure.

Relationships are a difficult thing and provide some hard life lessons. Sometimes people enter our lives for a season and then they are gone. On some occasions they return and provide enjoyable communication and times together. Sometimes, the relationship is broken forever as with divorce.

Divorce is a strange thing. People go from being madly in love with one another to hating one another with passion. I understanding that having an affair with 14 or 15 women can create serious problems in a relationship. But, apart from adultery what happens? Where does it break down to the point where two people can't even communicate? The people who win in a divorce are the lawyers. The couples can't win and if there are children involved they certainly don't win...in fact, they can be messed up for life.

Frequently, people make mistakes by making the wrong decisions in the first place. Out of the necessity for income, people often take a job they don't like and don't want to do. The result is a sloppy performance and irritation with management when asked to do something not so pleasant or boring. They leave work early, steal from the company and show up late for work. The bottom line is this: if you don't like the work quit and find another job.

So, experience and life lessons boils down to living with the consequences of our actions. If you do the same thing over and over again you will likely get the same results...so, don't complain. In this society, people do not want to live with the consequences of their actions.

Take politicians as an example. They want our vote and they all say...it is time for a change. Based on their track record they can not be trusted as they lie, have affairs and exist on a power trip, waste taxpayer money and they think will never come to an end.

Now, it seems to be commonplace to hear a elected official admit to an "indiscretion". Give me a break...call it as it is...adultery. The problem is the idiot doesn't want to live with the consequences of his/her actions. It has become so familiar, a candidate for mayor of a major metropolitan city in North America is now admitting to having numerous affairs in the past year and by admitting his "indiscretion" now he is counting on the public forgetting this six months from now when he is up for election. I guess is campaign brochure will say: Elect me; I've had fifteen affairs in the last six months.

If you rob a bank, embezzle money from your employer you go to jail. You live with the consequences of your actions.

If you cheat on your wife...you live with the consequences.

If you cheat on your taxes the government will fine you or throw you in jail.

If you lie, you will be found out and maybe even fired, never mind the humiliation.

If you cheat at golf, nobody will want to play with you.

If you drive too fast you will get a traffic fine or worse still...injure someone.

If you build a house without a proper foundation...it will fall down.

Maybe, my mother had the right idea after all. Maybe we should live one life so that we could learn to do better with the second one. But that is not going to happen. We get one shot at it...so it better be a good one.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Back To The Basics

Monty McKinnon — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:21:00 GMT

I once worked for a major company in their sales department. The company is a leader in their field and are known to provide the best training available. They do invest a lot of money in training their staff. I once walked in to visit a client and I was greeted with the company name. I asked how do you know I am with this company. The answer shocked me. He said it is the walk you walk. You are all the same. You walk the same, you talk the same and you tell the same jokes. I was shocked.

That level of training has mixed blessings. It stunts creativity on the one hand and it promotes a quality you can expect on the other. The key to this was to be found in our sales manager. He constantly reviewed the basics. We had 64 products which we sold by different sizes and weight. Every salesman knew them all. A salesman could quote a price for any sales question asked by a potential customer...I mean any question.

Imagine if we knew our bibles that well! How wonderful it would be to respond to stewardship questions with that ease. If one was to become that familiar with stewardship passages well stewardship would have certainly become a lifestyle.

I reconnected with an old friend who had moved away. I hadn't seen him in twenty years. It was and still is a blessed friendship, one where you pick up right where you left off and it seemed like it was only yesterday when I saw him last. Do you have any friends like that? Friends who have moved away or fallen away. Maybe this is a good time to think about making that connection before it is too late.

There is comfort in connecting with your roots and that is way it is so important to connect with Jesus. Whether your question pertains to leadership issues, marriage issues or financial issues, you can be sure that through regular prayer and reading of your bible you will hear from Jesus in the works that bounce off the page. Yes, it is true, there is comfort to be found in training when it involves connecting with your roots.

As for my old new relationship with my friend, I won't ever let that go again because true friendship is rare and hard to find.

That's the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.

www.masterfinancial.com

Raising More Money This Year

Monty McKinnon — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:21:00 GMT

The beginning of a new year is always exciting. It brings the promise of a new fresh start and it is a good time to present a stewardship series focused on tithing and generosity.

If your church has a shortest of funds for ministry then you need to change what you are doing to generate income. You won't get new results doing the same old thing. Make a change until you find the right program for your church. Here are 10 quick ideas for raising more money this year.

Preach a stewardship series twice in the year for two or three weeks each time.
Teach stewardship bible studies in your Sunday school classes. Have someone in the congregation lead this session.
If you have a special need then present the need to the congregation.
Have a special breakfast inviting key people in the church and present your need for funding at the breakfast.
Ask your board members to make a special gift to fund a need.
Present your vision for the church multiple times throughout the year. If you have no vision, you'll have no money.
Use technology where possible. Create a web site with a donation button.
Consider automatic bank withdrawal services. Talk to your bank because they can put this together for you.
Be bold in your ask.
Hire a stewardship pastor to teach Sunday School classes and preach stewardship messages.

Well, I hope there is something in here for you to grab a hold of and generate greater generosity in your church this year.

That's the way I see it.

Monty McKinnon

master Financial Planning Services Inc.