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By Rob Severson on June 27, 2013
I was in a convenience store today and someone was buying some tobacco. I asked the clerk when the tax increase was coming and she said Monday. She knew well because she was a smoker.
I was surprised to learn that there hadn’t been a run on tobacco yet, she was too and as a smoker herself was concerned about the extra $2 a pack. She also thought it was unfair to the lower classes as most wealthy people she knew didn’t smoke so wouldn’t be paying it. But she also said that when clothing taxes go up the wealthy will pay more as they buy more expensive clothing. That seemed to please her that the wealthy would be paying more eventually.
I didn’t get into any more conversation as I had to get somewhere, but later I thought about the conversation quite a bit. First, it occurred to me that the main issue to this lady was that someone should pay more than she does and that it should be the wealthy. Second, it seemed to satisfy her that when the clothing tax comes in that will make it equal again.
But!! The concept of % rates never came up! Just the $2 per pack and the extra dollars on clothes for the wealthy. Never mind that the rate was the same, the dollars they were going to pay were more and that was good.
It always amazes me how folks can go back and forth on %’s and real dollars, usually choosing which one best fits their cause. I didn’t bother to tell her that income tax would work the same way; that if we all paid the same rate that the high earners would pay more dollars. Not enough time to explain that.
But if people really are just concerned with total dollars for taxes, it makes a good case for a national sales tax to replace income tax. The wealthy would pay more (that makes people happy) as they buy more. The folks living under the radar on a cash basis would also be forced to pay when they buy stuff. Folks like high end drug dealers etc. would all pay sales tax. IRS could be vastly downsized or eliminated and life would be simpler.
Maybe more people would be happier too.
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, equality, fairness, financial prosperity, flat tax, make a living, money priorities, national sales tax, personal finance, taxpayers |
By Rob Severson on June 25, 2013
FAST GROWTH CAN BRING EVEN FASTER PROBLEMS!
In the last 40 or so years I’ve seen thousands of businesses, many of them with financing problems. I have made my living by helping businesses with problems find financing.
One common problem is high growth. Businesses that grow too fast often run out of working capital to sustain their growth and even though they are profitable, run out of cash to fuel the additional assets they are building. Their lines of credit ascend far above what traditional banking will provide and they must go elsewhere to get the money they need to stay in business. This problem can often be solved by accounts receivable financing and factoring, but it is more expensive than traditional financing. If managed properly though, it can solve the business’s problem. I am a specialist in this kind of financing and it has worked for many of my clients.
The other problem with fast growth is managing what the business already has, its assets and production. Rapid growth may spawn sloppy products, slow delivery of shipments and generally mass confusion. To be successful controls over all the processes and products must be in place in order to support new growth in business. If one can’t manage what they have more won’t be easier!
If this isn’t clear, just witness what is going on in government! High growth of programs has led to IRS not being managed properly, questionable practices at NSA, entitlement program frauds, rapidly increased spending on programs that aren’t working, and many other issues as well. Oh, and they are funding all of this with debt too. The solution of raising taxes is similar to banks asking owners to put more money into their struggling business, which the owners may or may not have available. That is where the higher rate accounts receivable lenders come in for businesses.
Government sells bonds to finance operations. The US government sets its own rates, contrary to banks pricing them for businesses. I wonder how long this can continue? I wonder if they will figure out how to manage what they have before growing even more? I wonder if they can learn from businesses?
Just thinking……….
Posted in General | Tagged banking, business finance, entitlement, finance, financial prosperity, government spending, taxpayers, tea party |
By Rob Severson on June 20, 2013
In this day of finding one’s dream job many are frustrated with the job they have. It isn’t what they want to do! Newsflash: you have to start somewhere!
I don’t think that is unusual to dislike one’s job, especially in an entry level job. Most of them are not in a dream job category, unless they are in the arena where your dream job exists. Like being in a job as an administrative assistant to a marketing executive which is what you ultimately want to do. Many folks do start at the bottom and work their way up to what they want, either in the company they work for or another company they find along the way. Being an admin to a marketing executive, while seemingly rote and boring, may be the stepping stone to your dream job!
One way to get where you want to be is to be a star where you already are! Even if you don’t like what you are doing! As parents used to say about broccoli: learn to like it! I heard that about scotch too and I did learn to like that. Along with anything else that I tasted as well………
As a former manager, I used to watch for stars to emerge. The keys were people who had good attitudes, did their current job well, and looked for more to do above and beyond their current roles. We especially noticed those who solved a problem for us, maybe contributing to solving some inefficiency or finding problems that may result in loan losses. Not everyone did these things.
We had auditors who went out and audited our borrowers per the audit program they were provided; they went down the list, checked everything off, did their report and came home. We had others who went on an audit, did the list, but went the extra mile investigating something that they had discovered in their process. Those people got our attention. The others mostly just survived but were not candidates for promotions or better positions. We could also tell if they didn’t like their job too much either. I can’t imagine promoting or transferring someone to a more responsible position if they don’t like their present one. They may not like the new one either and it will show up soon. And, on the side, I wasn’t sure if they really liked to work at all!
I heard a CEO of Norwest say once that every job is important, if it wasn’t it wouldn’t exist. That is probably even truer in this environment of cutbacks and layoffs. I would say that you can learn from almost any job, get better at it, and show management that you are capable of doing more for their company. Don’t give them any excuse for eliminating your job; they can find them anyway that’s what they do these days. Get their attention via your work and you will progress!
If you develop positive habits, show you like your job and company, and do exemplary work you may get that promotion you want. If not, the habits and references you develop will catapult to a new opportunity elsewhere. Being a star can be habit forming!
An old quote is pertinent: “Bloom where you are planted” When you do you will succeed!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, careers, entitlement, financial prosperity, make a living, relationships, social injustice, success, work |
By Rob Severson on June 19, 2013
I read in the news today that Vince Flynn had passed away due to prostate cancer. He will be missed for his books, and from what I have read his faith witness to his family and friends.
It was about 12 years ago that I met Vince Flynn. I had been invited to a book signing/reception at Wayzata Country Club hosted by the Wells Fargo brokerage group. I hadn’t heard of Vince, but my broker said he was a great author so I went. Plus Wells Fargo events usually are done well so I had nothing to lose and a few glasses of wine and treats to win!
When Vince stood up he told us some of his history that surprised me and really impressed me. He said that when he was a freshman in college that he had submitted a paper in his English class and that he hadn’t done well with it. He said it had red writing all over it by his professor and that at the end she told him that “the way he writes” that he should consider whether he should stay in college!
So he set out to figure out why he wasn’t writing well as he refused to accept failure. In the process he learned that he was dyslectic. He also learned that the solution for dyslexia was to train one’s mind by reading, so he read everything he could get his hands on to solve the problem. Obviously he did. He went on to be a very successful writer with his many books. He signed books for us at the event to and I read it very soon afterwards. Since then I think I’ve read them all. I will miss more Mitch Rapp adventures.
This is another story of someone overcoming problems and becoming successful, in this case very much so. As in many situations the solution to one’s problems can usually be boiled down by a simple process. First is to honestly diagnosis the problem which he did. When the problem is defined then one can go on to find the solution. In his case he found the solution by studying dyslexia and learning the solution, which was to work his mind by reading. It worked!
I could identify with his problems he had in English class. I received a C- and D- in freshman English at Luther, both were “gifts”. But I didn’t have dyslexia either, maybe just focus issues! But his story did get me thinking of writing a book. If he could do it why couldn’t I? But as we heard once somewhere else; Severson, you are no Vince Flynn!
We all have problems that can hold us back. We have a choice to find solutions or just accept our lot for what it is. Often we need to ask for and receive help from others. Many find the solution but choose to ignore it and do it their way even though they aren’t achieving their goals. Vince could have gone back to being a bartender again instead of solving his problem and completing school and eventually becoming an author. But rather than wallow in self-pity and defeat he conquered it.
God bless his memory!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, dyslexia, social injustice, success, Vince Flynn |
By Rob Severson on June 16, 2013
Like many others, I have a lot of memories of my father. Many of them deal with his teaching us to work and support ourselves and families.
He once told me about his return from WWII and his issues dealing with coming back. My brother had been born when he was overseas and I was born shortly after he returned from the war. I was born after he returned.
He told me about his early days after his return and my birth. I think he was depressed, maybe post war trauma as they would call it today. Very understandable, I can’t even imagine what they went through. He said he was sitting around the house, (probably feeling sorry for himself) and also going to the pool hall to drink some beer and play cards with his buddies. Just kind of existing.
Then he got up one day and said “this is silly, I have a family to support”! So he got his gas station back and went to work. And did quite well too for living in a small town like Harmony.
I don’t think owning a gas station and oil distribution business was his dream job. Growing up in the depression was hard and people just tried to put food on the table any way they could. I don’t think many even thought of what a dream job would be; their dream was to eat and sleep indoors.
When I was about 15 I was on my way to the golf course when my Dad caught me and said come with me, I have something that needs to be done. He took me to his bulk plant and showed me some weeds growing around the driveway. He handed me a scythe and said “Here, practice your golf swing here”! I didn’t like that too much at the time, nor many of the other things he had me do such as paint, do his books, or other things he would come up with. I did go on to have summer jobs elsewhere, maybe because it can be difficult to work for a father, but I learned to work and enjoyed the benefits of having some cash in my pocket. I paid for a lot of college that way too.
Today it seems to be the “in thing” to find one’s passion and dream job. I think that is fine if you know what your passion is and how to pursue it in a way that you can survive. But I wonder if we have gone overboard with that as it seems a little self-centered for my way of thinking.
I don’t recall my Dad ever complaining about what he was doing nor heard much complaining from other people around town either. They seemed to have fun doing what they were doing because it gave them a way to provide for their families as well as a way to interact with their friends and co-workers. The folks in the gas station enjoyed solving customer’s problems with their autos, same with the mechanics in town too. The store keepers enjoyed selling their wares and the doctors and lawyers also enjoyed their practices. I sensed that my Dad and the others had the passion to do what they could, when and where they could do it. I don’t think they focused on themselves; they focused on providing for their families.
I learned a lot of other things from him too witnessing his successes as well as his mistakes. But learning to work may have been the best lesson of all!
I’m glad I had a Dad who could show me that!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, careers, entitlement, fathers, financial prosperity, job dissatisfaction, jobs, life priorities, make a living, prosperity, relationships, success, work |
By Rob Severson on June 6, 2013
I was visited St Petersburg, Russia recently while on a Baltic Sea cruise. Of course it is a very interesting place to visit with such attractions as the Hermitage Museum and all the other palaces constructed during the Romanav dynasty. Very extravagant and beautiful gold laden places!
I had a brief conversation with one of our tour guides while waiting for the bus to board. She has been in a university and is working for the tour company, apparently while seeking a better job. She said that it is difficult to get a job as companies want someone with five or so years of experience and she has none. As usual, I asked her about banks since I know something about that field. Her answer was typical of anywhere, “I don’t want to be a banker!” I see her point, but she missed mine; are there jobs in banking that you could get to get started?
This always interests me from two perspectives. First, I never, ever, wanted to be a banker either but eventually spent 20 years in the field! I achieved success by working my way up. Second, and more important, she seemed frustrated by her economic lot and really needed a job according to her. I have no idea how she could be so picky in that country where opportunities seem limited and people seem poor. Some said their parents missed communism because it was easier to survive. I wonder if the young can figure it out?
I get the same answer when I talk with kids in the US too. “I don’t want to do that”. Whatever job it is that I suggest. Maybe they are better poker players than I was when I went to work for a bank in a low position. I didn’t have the luxury of “bluffing” because I had a family to support and that was my dream. Plus I learned that one can work their way up from that low job and do well if they work smart. And they can even move out of a field with some success listed in their resumes.
And, maybe you will find your dream job in the process, not in a search!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, banking, careers, entitlement, financial prosperity, job dissatisfaction, jobs, life priorities, make a living, prosperity, survival |
By Rob Severson on May 10, 2013
I tried volunteering at a couple of city high schools this year. It was an interesting experience for me in many ways.
When we had volunteer orientation it was pointed out that all we can do is show up, tell our stories, and hope that we have touched someone or many in the class. High school kids don’t seem to give much feedback, so we were cautioned to be patient and just do our thing; the results may manifest years later.
That was good advice as talking to a group of high school kids is challenging. It is hard to get and keep their attention. I don’t know if it is different in the city than in the suburbs, but my interest was in the city where kids may need more encouragement and motivation to continue their educations and find meaningful careers. The program is part of an organization called “Achieve Minneapolis” that brings us in to help make the kids become college and career ready. I think it is a good program although it may encourage college more than it should; trade schools are a great option for many of these kids.
I also participated in a couple of career fairs where we volunteers talked to classes about their careers or met with them in a career fair setting. This is needed at all schools I think, in order to get students thinking about different ways to make a living of which there are many. I liked the one on one setting best where the students would open up more.
Part of my interest is in passing on concepts I wrote about in my book; again, not my wisdom but wisdom I have collected from tried and true sources. The students perked up when I told them my story; I think we all like to hear other people’s stories. I also offered and sent free eBooks to any student who was interested, in hopes that it would help someone. That is the purpose of it.
Well I never heard from anyone so thought they didn’t read it, didn’t like it or didn’t care. Then last night I got this email from a student from South High School who I met at their career fair. I think any teacher will agree that the reward from teaching isn’t the money; it is those moments when you find that you have touched someone and made a difference.
So when I got this email it was like payday! I am sharing it to show other volunteers that they may make a difference too…if they try!
“Hey Rob, first off I will say that I enjoyed talking to the job fair that you attended at my high school, South in Minneapolis. I was the tall guy thinking about majoring in Finance in college. I learned a lot from talking to you and even more from the book you wrote. After you sent me the book I actually wanted to print it out so I did and carried a highlighter with me to highlight parts that I can go back to easily to remind myself of it. Your book helped me a lot. I’ve only got about 3 weeks left of high school and I am left with a lot of decisions that have to be made and will be made eventually and reading your book in my spare time from work and school I found that sorting out my thoughts became easier and your book helped me to organize them. Thanks again Rob for your advice, giving me access to your book, and simply sharing your story with me!”
Thanks again!
Zac Cruzen
Posted in General | Tagged Achieve Minneapolis, attitude, careers, financial prosperity, goal setting, high school jobs, prosperity, relationships, Roosevelt High School, social injustice, success, volunteer |
By Rob Severson on May 1, 2013
I m very impressed with my niece, Josi Severson, for her work in starting her fabric business. Any startup is difficult and this is no exception, maybe tougher than most.
Josi hand draws all of her designs and sells them to manufactures, retail stores and other places who appreciate her work. She was an art major at Luther College, a degree that many parents fear will have little future for making a living. Josi was creative in both the business aspects and the design aspects and has the vision to build a business. She also worked for Severson Oil a few years which I am sure has helped her with learning how to run a business, and more importantly, networking with people to build sales prospects and to just learn about the market. She fits right into my interests in how people learn to make a living and survive too. There are opportunities everywhere!
She opened a store in Minneapolis a few weeks ago and is having an open house to celebrate its opening. This event is for friends, family, customers and anyone interested in seeing what she has done. Luther grads will be especially interested to see what she has done with her art major for sure.
It would be great to see many of my friends there to help support Josi. Information is below:
STORE
OPENING
FRIDAY MAY 10th-
5-9pm;beer, wine, apps
1008 MARQUETTE AVE MODERN TEXTILE & PRINT DESIGN
Fabric yardage, home & fashion accessories, prints, & jewelry.
Street parking available 10am-4pm; after 4pm Marten ramp $5.
Hours: Tues- Fri, 10am-5:30pm. Lunch break 2-3pm. Sat, 11am-5pm.
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, business finance, careers, financial prosperity, goal setting, life priorities, Luther College, make a living, relationships, success |
By Rob Severson on April 20, 2013
Why do they hate us?
Why did they bomb Boston? Why did they do it? Why did they change from seemingly nice guys into monstrous, cruel terrorists? I think everyone has been asking that in the last few days.
The news commentators flooded us with these questions and some even offered answers. Some blame Al Qaida or some kind of radical Muslim group, some blame domestic right wing terrorists, some the tea party, the list goes on and on. Most are hoping to get answers from the living bomber as to why they did it and whether they had help. We all wait for that report. Most want someone to blame!
But I too have been thinking about this all week along with other issues that have come out. It was interesting to hear the bombers’ friends describing them from high school days. They thought the guys were as normal as them, and were surprised they could do this deed. Were they influenced by a foreign terror group and taught to set bombs? They may have, but I have another opinion to offer.
My question is why do people living here hate America? I believe many people right here encourage this hatred, not discourage it. Colleges are part of the blame. Columbia hired Kathy Boudin, a Weather Underground terrorist who just got out of prison, as a professor. Another terrorist, Bill Ayers is a retired University of Illinois professor and a “distinguished Professor” as well. Minnesota State in Mankato recently named him as that too and welcomed him to speak at the college. And he was a bomber too! Rev Wright, Obama’s pastor from Chicago, became famous for his remarks about America during his sermons.
Then I read some articles on high school education programs currently in place. Most notable was an article about a Corpus Christi elementary school doing a teaching on 911 to its students. The article had a sample question from the final quiz about the why they bombed us. The correct answer was that America has done some dastardly things to other countries and they are mad! We live in a country that has free speech so we allow all kinds of ideas. Education encourages exploration of ideas and hopefully develops the thinking skills to sort them out and find the best ones. Yes, I believe many educators have political ideologies that I don’t believe should be taught; they should be discussed from both sides. That could be explored further and is by many.
My thinking is that we may have part of the answer to our question of why? I fear that if you come to America from countries that hate us that you will only be encouraged to hate America more! If you are a young impressionable student, it may be in style to hate America too, even if you didn’t when you enrolled! If we teach kids that we America is bad some will believe it. They should add that even in spite of some things we have done wrong that we are still the best country in the world!
I shouls also add that we have right-wing America haters too. Timothy McVeeigh may be the best example of a right wing terrorist. And many right wingers make severe criticisms that hurt America too. Their intentions may be honest, as the others, but what do they promote?
I’m just thinking on paper. I hope this gets others thinking too!
Posted in General | Tagged America haters, Bill Ayers, Bombers, Boston, Colleges, Katrhy Boudin |
By Rob Severson on January 6, 2013
Thanks to my publcist Rachel Anderson, http://www.rmapublicity.com/ I was interviewed by Jordana Green on WCCO radio Friday night. Her topic was jobs for college graduates and she asked me about my experiences.
Jordana also pitched my book “Connecting Peace, Purpose & Prosperity” which has my persona experiences of jobs and how I overcame obstacles to be successful in life.
Just click on her name and you will get the interview: Jordana Green
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, careers, education, financial prosperity, job dissatisfaction, jobs, Jordana Green, make a living, relationships, WCCO RADIO AM, work |
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