Thursday, January 19, 2012

Goal Setting - The Millar Way

Todd was at an all day goal setting workshop this week. It made me realize we are fanatic about goal setting. I'll outline our annual goal setting strategy all done on January 1:

*Five year goals that we push forward every year and review

*The year's goals of pleasure including travel, fitness and fun achievements. This year Ronan did his first set amongst them are stronger kicks in martial arts and catching a fish

*The year's business goals broken down into each month including targets and the reward for achieving them. These are taken from the 5 year goals

*90 day goals are taken from the yearly goals reviewed every 90 days

*A weekly goal sheet that corresponds directly to 90 day goals if goals aren't met we just keep rewriting them into smaller more doable chunks

The thing is it's lots of fun! Especially when you go back and look at what you've written.It's easier to reach goals once you set your mind to it, written them down and broken them into doable chunks.

"Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right." Aldous Huxley

"If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.
" Yogi Berra

The Keystone X-L Pipe Conundrum II

It's unfortunate that the Keystone pipe was shelved but it is merely one of many projects on the go. When Americans decide to import oil from a safe and friendly country at a greater discount perhaps we'll send them some.

I don't know anything about Congressman Rob Bishop's policies but I have to agree with this:

“As far as I can tell, the President’s energy agenda is simply to make it harder and more expensive for the American people to get by. Whether he likes it or not, the U.S. needs oil and since he won’t allow the U.S. to produce more domestically, we are forced to import it from other countries. Canadian crude oil refined by the U.S. is one of the safest and most affordable alternatives we have to meet our domestic oil demands, which currently outpace supply,” Congressman Rob Bishop

I

Monday, January 16, 2012

Stormy start to economic growth in 2012

This year is the year to build and refine your portfolio. To make sound investments and prepare for 2013 when things get going again. Low mortgage rates and a buyer's market in Edmonton and Alberta set the stage for a perfect investment opportunity.

We are still focusing on multiplex buildings that cash flow. See what our partners are getting here.

"Experts forecast restricted economic growth in most of the world in 2012 due to political waffling in Europe and the U.S., but financial markets could pick up in the last half of the year.

As TD Economics puts it, the year will be more naughty than nice.

Consensus is that emerging markets will continue to be good places to invest in, some solid American companies have been beaten up and represent good opportunity, there is movement in Canada to "invest in the west," and the best sources of fixed income will be corporate bonds and preferred shares." Read More



Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Year of the Dragon

Alberta Oil Sands Investment Real Estate News®
Glenn Simon Inc., Suite 1217, 5328 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Tel 1-888-780-5940 Fax 1-888-276-4517
www.glennsimoninc.com email: info@glennsimoninc.com


January 15th., 2012
Volume 11, Issue 8

Dear Friends and Partners,

Welcome back! So, how were the holidays - did you have a grand time? Are you excited about the year ahead? Of course there remain many question marks concerning the economy, pipelines, global-financial stability - but living pinned by fear, is not living at all. So many GREAT stories get drowned out when you listen to the news. You have to search for the bright ones.

I was driving through Nisku, an industrial area just outside of Edmonton. I saw 'help wanted' signs on the splotchy ice covered lawns of factories and brightly coloured signs touting 'good opportunity-apply inside' were sprinkled along the artery roads. Employers in Edmonton felt the labour crunch tightening six months back.

Last year the energy sector saw many large multi-billion dollar projects get the green light. The construction industry that builds the projects and material spinoffs, are already busy and anticipate 2012 to be the beginning of massive construction starts.

With BMO offering an insanely low 5 year fixed rate of 2.99%, it looks like 2013 is positioned to carry more main-stream optimism with a wider segment of the economy flourishing in Alberta and Western Canada. Of course nothing is guaranteed and any mix of local or international strife could derail a good thing, but over the next decade the growth will continue through the peaks and valleys.

When it comes to planning your year ahead (and the next 5) here are some critical questions to ask and a few links to help you measure along the way. The questions are courtesy of San Francisco based Career Coach Suzannah Scully's blog.

1. What are you most proud of in the last year?
2. If there were a newspaper headline describing this past year for you, what would it say?
3. What unfinished business do you want to resolve before the year end and when will you do it? (i.e. lingering relationships, apologies, goals yet to achieve)
4. When were you most excited about life in this past year? What were you doing? Who were you with?
5. Looking back, what would you have done differently in 2011?
6. What new dream for yourself did you achieve?
7. Where did you let fear hold you back from a goal you had?
8. What was boring to you this year that you hope to change for next year?

Now, get out there and make your dreams happen!


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South Central Edmonton: Cashflowing Two-Suiter in Capilano

Turbo charge your portfolio. Upgraded 1959 built 2-plex with separate entrance to lower suite. 2 stylishly finished suites; 1192 sqft upper 3 bedroom unit with beautiful hardwood, plus a spacious 2 bedroom 850 sqft. suite down.

The upper suite has newer windows, faux fireplace, fresh paint and original hardwood. There is a common laundry room in basement too. The lower unit has new paint, bathroom and toilet. Lower suite walks out to a shared fenced yard.

There is a 2 car detached garage with automatic door and opener, bringing in additional revenue. 20 minutes to U.O.A., 15 mins to NAIT, Grant MacEwan and Downtown. Fast access to Wayne Gretzky and on the bus routes.

These pictures show the detail and care that went into building this quality home.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient South Central area with easy access to transit and downtown. Excellent established neighborhood featuring many heritage homes; solid value and stable rents. HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this home in relation to Edmonton's ravine area.

Produces $264.75 positive cash flow per month using an investor's mortgage plan - taking advantage of current low rates.


Purchase price: $335K Total Investment: $77,300K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $42,810.67K. Your pre-tax Total ROI is 55% or 11% per year

Poised for massive growth. These 2 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: renovation costs, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!


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Alberta's Economy To Lead Nation: TD Report

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald. January 10th 2012

Alberta's economy is forecast to lead the country this year and next year, according to a report by TD Economics.

The provincial economic update also sees employment growth in Alberta topping Canada for 2012 and 2013 as well.

The TD Economics report predicts Alberta will see real gross domestic product growth of 2.6 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent in 2013 compared with 1.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively across the country. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE


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Alberta Rides Strong Job Creation Wave

Province's unemployment rate remains lowest in country

Alberta enjoyed a banner year for job creation in 2011, though new figures show employment changed little from November to December.

Data released by Statistics Canada Friday said the country added 18,000 jobs last month. Few of those came in Alberta, but the province tallied 77,500 new jobs for the calendar year of 2011. Of the past 15 years, more jobs were added only in 2006.

"There were job gains in just about every sector," said Darrell Winwood, public affairs officer with Alberta Human Services. "This was the second-best year for job gains since 1997." The main industries of growth, said Winwood, include construction, health care, social assistance, and both wholesale and retail trade. READ MORE HERE

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Real Estate Market Healthy, Agents Say

By Lewis Kelly, Edmonton Journal. January 5th 2012

Edmonton wrapped up a stable year in real estate in December, the Realtors Association of Edmonton said Wednesday.

"It is a relief to report on the stability and health of the local real estate market," said Chris Mooney, association president for 2011. "With prices and sales varying within a small range, there is a solid base going forward into the 2012 market."

Mooney mentioned the European debt crisis and a depressed housing market in the U.S. as major concerns, but emphasized that the energy-based economy of Alberta in general and Edmonton in particular keeps the local housing market buoyant. GRAB THIS STORY



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I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.

Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

"Difficulties come when you don't pay attention to life's whisper. Life always whispers to you first., if you ignore the whisper, sooner or later you'll get a scream." -Oprah Winfrey

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar


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