With the cost of gas prices sky high and random contaminated food scares making the rounds regularly, it just might pay to buy local now more than it ever has. When you buy from local farmers and merchants your dollar stretches farther, you reduce your carbon footprint, and you keep your neighbors (relatively speaking) in business. Now, to me, that is ROI. And, the fact that it is summer for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere it is the easiest time of the year to do so.

When is DIY Cost Effective? Ah, the power of being able to say "I Did it Myself!" and the feeling that somehow you have saved untold amounts of money is very seductive and empowering. Yet, doing it yourself is not always the most overall cost effective path both in terms of time, money, and opportunity cost. So, how can you best decide when to DIY and when to hire an expert?

So many sit in their day jobs and wish they could freelance so they could have more freedom, more free time, and control over their lives. Then once they strike out on their own they find themselves working 24/7 and tethered to every digital gadget imaginable and the dream of work life balance and freedom go out the window in the pursuit of gigs and income.

Having mentors for your career or business can be one of the best things you ever do. These people can help you get where you want to go and will share their lessons learned as they got to being successful in their own right. What exactly is a mentor and how is it different than a coach or consultant?

A few months ago I had lunch with some of my old colleagues from my most recent corporate job that I left 9 months ago. As they were busy stressing about having taken a lunch break (my boss will kill me!), shuffling papers for work (I just need to get this one thing done!), and generally apologizing for their human need for oh say food and connection, I could see much more clearly with the eyes of having been removed from that environment.