Since the recent elections political pundits from the left and right have tried to label Obama’s health care legislation as a job killer or a job creator.  While there is little argument that conservatives have successfully made the bill less popular, with 52% of Americans saying they don’t support it that is clearly not all there is to the storey.

On the left, they point out that some of the 52% don’t like the legislation because it didn’t go far enough…which can be translated to; they wanted a single payer system like Medicare.  So too, when polled about individual parts of the bill such as no preexisting conditions clauses or kids on parents plans until 26 provided they are in college the approval goes way up. 

I am not sure whether any of this matters or not.  The House’s attempt at repeal is only to show their constituents that they did something about it…even if it was for naught.  But was it for naught?  In some ways since that exercise was announced the conversation has become deeper.  The republicans have even offered up some counter legislation. 

But to the question at hand.  The claim is that health care will slow growth in jobs for small businesses because, if a business has 50 employees or more they will have to provide a health care plan or pay a fine.  Therefore the assumption is that if a company is at say 49 employees and could really use another one or two or ten…they will not hire them because of the additional health care cost.  This might be true in the short term but long term if the company wants to grow they will hire the employees and pass those costs on as much as they can to customers and in fact the employees themselves.

Alternatively, I can only imagine the number of entrepreneurs who might have a spouse and kids that have not started a business because the cost of insurance is exorbitant.  Under the new legislation the entrepreneur would qualify for subsidized insurance due to their drop in income from starting a business.  And then, once successful, would pay the full premiums.  Sounds like a job creator to me.

That said, there is lots to not like about the plan such as the asinine 1099 requirement designed to capture more income and therefore more taxes.  But it goes too far when a small business owner who buys a laptop from say, Best Buy, would have to provide a 1099 to them because of that purchase.  Word is that they are considering eliminating this part of the bill but sources say it would leave an 18 billion dollar hole in the legislation which would violate Pay Go rules of the new majority.

They say that a plan is just a dream until you write it down.  That was the impitus for the creation of my last post but sharing it with you was to help keep me accountable.  Cause now it’s out there.  It’s a plan…not just a dream.

On the otherhand it’s January 7th and I have yet to implement any of it.  I am questioning my resolve.  I’m not sure I can make it. 

For example one goal is to loose 1/2 a pound per week.  So, I have been eating tuna kits for lunch and salads for dinner (and a few granola bars in between).  Until yesterday…  I had to get my car fixed.  The check engine light came on and my appointment was for 11:00 and it was going to take a couple of hours to fix.  So I rushed over to make my appointment and soon realized I had not eaten.  So, I walked over to Quiznos for a Prime Rib sub and Doritos and a pop. 

Then I had to drive to another town 100 miles away to teach a 4 hour class from 6-10 and of course the quick and cheep McDonalds drive through called me in for a McDouble and a small fry. 

So there goes my half pound for this week.  I wouldn’t be surprised if I gained a half pound.  So now my goal for next week is one and a half pounds…discouraging. Not to mention the car repair ate up the money I had set aside for one of my other goals, extra car payments. 

The worst though is that despite my excuses above I have only made small progress on my career goals.  When I get free time, I open up my laptop and login to my websites and draw a blank.  My chest feels heavy and my mind is blank.  I’m afraid I’m just tired of it and I think it’s because it feels forced. 

After 8 years of talking day in and day out about starting a business…I’m just burned out.  So, I guess it’s time to get personal.  Cause these self inflicted barriers are of my own making.  I don’t have to write an 800 word article on my blog.  In fact people don’t want to read that anyway.  People want to read quick inspirational snippets that are of little value but make them feel better or more capable or more inspired. 

But, for me my inspiration comes on quickly like the beginning of a forest fire…it burns so bright and rages up the hills and through the forest without regard for anything in it’s path.  And then, just as quickly the flame burns out and there is nothing left but charred remains.  Given enough time, the seedlings may begin to sprout and a new forest may begin but I am on to the next camp sight starting the next fire (metaphorically of course). 

So it is with resolution that for 2011 I am sticking to the plan.  SO WHAT that I took a day off and ate crap.  It doesn’t mean I have to quit the plan.  It’s time to get motivated and work day to day with resolve and purpose.

Just thought I would share my personal goal sheet for 2011 with you all.  Maybe it will inspire you to create your own.

2011 Goals

7 Areas with 5 Traits – Specific, Measurable, Your Goals (Accountable),  Time Limit,  In Writing

Financial – Debt, Income and Worth

1. Pay Off Car #1 by March 31^st – double payments for 3 months
2. Pay Off Car #2 by December 31^st – for 6 months Starting in April
3. Increase side income by $5,000 a year from websites, teaching and consulting.

Intellectual Goals – read 1 nonfiction book a month starting with:

1. QBQ – Question Behind the Question
2. Parenting Book – Scream Free Parenting / Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World
3. Read two relationship books.
4. Boundaries – Henry Cloud.

Family – Start dating your spouse and kids again.  Love is spelled TIME

1. Plan a winter break / vacation – Water Park before February 28^th.
2. Have “Dad and kid” and “Mom and Dad” night one time per month with each kid and wife.
3. Plan an week long Fall vacation with just our family for early August (not just going to the lake).

Spiritual Goals – Time and Prayer

1. Attend one small group meeting in 2011.  Alpha meetings?
2. Continue attending services during the summer.

Physical Goals – Exercise and Nutrition

1. Loose 1/2 pound per week by June 1^st 2011. 
2. Stop drinking pop except one diet coke every Sunday.
3. Cardio 2 days per week / weights 2 days per week.
4. Sign up for Novice Hockey league in Fall 2011.

Career Goals – Professional Development, Applications, Contacts

1. Hang real estate license by end of January. KW? 
2. Review and revise DIYBizPlan.com – Software revisions.
3. Launch www.TradeTurret.com – manage product end of the site partner to manage content.
4. Look at job openings once a week.  Meet with a career consultant.

Social Goals – Dinner Parties, Gatherings, etc.

1. Invite Friends #1 out for Dinner/Drinks or over with kids.
2. Happy hour with Neighbors one night a month.
3. Weekend with Old Friends out of town twice this year.

Going for broke people…what are your goals?

OK…I admit it. 

I’m a Dave Ramsey fan.  For the last year or two I have been an avid listener of the Dave Ramsey podcast and I even went to a couple of simlucast events: The Total Money Makeover Live and his new one EntreLeadership…which I guess there is a new book coming out for the latter in 2011. 

So, Dave’s big thing is “Debt is Dumb, Cash is King” and this translates well into business as well and personal finance.  Now, I have not quite drunk the kool aid enough to lecture my clients when they come in looking for help with a bank loan…but it has changed my thinking.  Now, I gently nudge them to find out, do they really need that loan?  Or, do they need that much of a loan? 

Anyway, during lunch the other day I was goofing around Googling random stuff and I came upon a pretty new blog about this very topic:  http://www.debtfreestartups.com/ 

What and awesome idea!  Putting together resources for starting a business without getting a loan.  And, the opportunity to create a community of people who want to thrive in business on their own merritt and resources, bootstrapping their way to the top!

So, I contacted Nate over at the site and shared our free business planning software with him as a tool for helping entrepreneurs get started on a tight budget so now I am a part of that community too. 

How about you?  Are you ready to start your debt free startup?  Well, head on over to http://www.debtfreestartups.com and get rocking…and don’t forget to come back to work on your business plan.

It’s probably been a year since I visited Matt @MrCashAtHand on youtube.com.  I liked his videos because they are usually real and raw and he never tries to sell you on some bologna MLM scam or some other get rich quick scheme. 

Here is one of my favorites, for example:

But now I find out Matt is multi-talented!  He can drop some sweet lyrics too:

Now here is someone putting in work and putting themselves out there to the wolves and succeeding.  Keep up the good work MrCashAtHand!