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The Power of Visualization

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“Successful people, such as professional athletes and other top performers, have used visualization techniques to visualize their desired outcomes for ages.”

Visualization is one of the most powerful tools you can use to accomplish any goal you set for yourself. Visualization can be applied to help you improve your performance and be successful in all aspects of your life.

Visualization works because when you visualize, your mind and body don’t really know the difference between what you visualize and reality. When you visualize your goal, you create the thoughts, focus and energy that will help to pull that goal towards you.

The Power of Visualization.When you visualize, your body and mind react as if they were true. Many people believe that when you believe something to be true, you attract it to you – you make it true.

However, believing something to be true doesn’t necessarily make it happen. For many people taking action is challenging due to lack of confidence or a lack of belief in their goal. Visualization, because it taps directly into these emotions, can strengthen your belief in yourself, in your abilities and in your goals.

Additionally, visualization helps paint the scene so you can better plan and prepare for success. When you visualize your success as reality you can also visualize your path to get there.

Before taking the stage to speak to a large audience, Matt Mayberry, Maximum Performance Strategist and a former NFL linebacker, always picture himself giving the “perfect” speech. He would begin weeks in advance by picturing the audience and the positive reaction from the crowd. 

Top performers, among many others, have mastered the technique of positive visualization and openly credit it as a success tactic. Practice makes improvement. Practicing visualization isn’t just a fun exercise – the better you become at visualization the faster you will achieve the success you desire.

When you think of a big goal or dream that you want to achieve, it’s natural to think of all of the obstacles that will come your way. 

All top performers, regardless of profession, know well the importance of and consistently practice of picturing themselves succeeding in their minds before they actually do in reality. It is extremely effective when harnessed and used correctly.

“The key to effective visualization is to create the most detailed, clear, and vivid a picture to focus on.”

Research shows that the more you focus on the things you desire, the better chance you have at getting them. For example, struggling comedian and actor, Jim Carrey used to picture himself being the greatest actor in the world. When Carey was still a “wannabe” during one of his appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, he spoke about his early days trying to make it in the entertainment business. He was broke and had no future. But he took a blank check and wrote out $10 million dollars to himself for acting services rendered and dated it five year in the future.

Subsequently, he carried that check in his wallet at all times and looked at it every morning, visualizing receiving $10 million. Five years after he wrote the check to himself, he found out that he was going to earn $10 million from the movie “Dumb and Dumber.”

Consider two other examples:

  • Boxing champion and legend Muhammad Ali was always stressing the importance of seeing himself victorious long before the actual fight. 
  • Michael Jordan always took the last shot in his mind before he ever took one in real life.

As the examples demonstrate, you to can visualize and create an image of what you most desire. You create a detailed mental scene of what it looks like as you achieve your goal. Visualize it happening now, and the scene that is playing out.

There is a big difference in imaging your goals and making them feel so real your mind believes it has already happened. The more you surround yourself with imagery or words related to your goal, the more real it will become to you.

To make any habit stick, you need to continue to do that habit. The same goes for visualization, the more you practice the quicker you will be in the frame of mind that helps pave the way to success.

Visualization is extremely powerful in helping you achieve success and realize your goals. However, you will still need to put in the hard work and dedication. Don’t forget to repeat, repeat, repeat!

  • Picture yourself victorious – If you can’t see it, then it’s not going to happen. In order to achieve your biggest goals and dreams, you have to picture yourself victorious. You have to look beyond your current circumstances and past failures. While visualizing, it’s necessary to visualize as many details as you can. Re-create any feelings that are in alignment with your dreams. Make it part of your daily routine. You will be amazed at the improvement in your life and astounded when your dream is realized.
  • Create a vision board. – A vision board gives you the opportunity to actually see your goals. This vision board can be a poster board, a piece of paper, the back of a cardboard box, or anything. On the vision board, put pictures that illustrate what you desire in your life. On your vision board, you can also post quotes that embodied what you want and read them every single day.
  • Utilize the power of a trigger card – Your biggest goal and dream can be placed on a note card to serve as your trigger card. From your 3×5 index cards, read daily the goal you desire most. Get in the habit of doing this every day. Each morning and each night, read those index cards, close your eyes, and imagine yourself accomplishing and following through on that major goal of yours.

Get in the habit of putting together a positive vision into your everyday life. Visualize yourself succeeding, achieving every goal, accomplishing every task. The key is to make your positive vision stronger than anything that can set you back. The more vivid you can get, the better it will work for you. Start thinking of your personal goals in life. Spend about 10 to 15 minutes picturing yourself achieving each one.

Get as detailed as possible. Picture what you will do once your goal is reached. How amazing does it feel? How will this change the course of your life? Remember, the little details increase the likelihood of the big picture.

It’s important to understand that visualization alone isn’t enough. But, it is an integral part of the process of you becoming the best version of yourself. That’s the power of visualizing your dreams. That’s the power of dreaming. That’s the power of relentlessly believing and working toward your vision every single day.

If you can’t visualize yourself being extremely successful, dominating your profession, and running a phenomenal business, then chances are you never will.

References:

  1. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242373
  2. https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/How_Visualization_Creates_Wealth_and_Success.html
  3. https://www.mbswithcalie.com/visualization-for-success/
  4. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/283241
  5. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242373

Wells Fargo rejected nearly half of their Black homeowners refinancing applications

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Only 47% of Black homeowners who submitted home mortgage loan refinance applications in 2020 were approved by Wells Fargo as opposed to 72% of white homeowners, according to a Bloomberg News analysis

While home mortgage rates in the U.S. hit an all-time low during the pandemic, African American homeowners did not have the same level of access to refinance and ultimately lower their long term interest costs as other homeowners.

“Only 47% of the Black homeowners who submitted refinance applications in 2020 were approved by Wells Fargo as opposed to 72% of white homeowners”, according to a Bloomberg News.

Wells Fargo rejected more Black homeowners refinance applications than it accepted.

While Black applicants had lower approval rates than White applicants at all major lenders, the data show, Wells Fargo lagged behind other major lenders in their approval rates for minority applicants and had the biggest disparity and was alone in rejecting more Black homeowners than it accepted. Overall, 71% of Black refinancing applicants in the country were approved in 2020, according to Bloomberg’s analysis.

Wells Fargo, the third largest bank in the United States by assets, was the sole lender that rejected more Black applicants than it accepted. Black homeowners faced more refinancing denials than other minority applicants such as Hispanic homeowners and Asian homeowners,

This remarkable wealth event has seen U.S. homeowners refinance almost $5 trillion in mortgages over the past two years. This refinancing has allowed White homeowners to save an estimated $3.8 billion annually by refinancing their mortgages in 2020, according to researchers at the U.S Federal Reserve. But it’s a door that barely opened for Black Americans, who make up 9% of all homeowners and locked in just $198 million a year, less than 4% of the savings.

Bias in Wells Fargo’s approvals for refinancing home mortgage loans

Wells Fargo approved a greater share of applications from low-income White homeowners than all but the highest-income Black applicants, who had an approval rate about the same as White borrowers in the lowest-income bracket.

The U.S. Justice Department has censored banks for lending practices that tend to elevate costs for minority borrowers. After the 2008 housing crisis revealed discriminatory treatment, authorities unleashed a wave of penalties against U.S. lending giants. Wells Fargo agreed in 2012 to pay more than $184 million to settle federal claims that it unfairly steered Black and Hispanic homeowners into subprime mortgages and charged them higher fees and interest rates.

References:

  1. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-wells-fargo-black-home-loan-refinancing/
  2. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/wells-fargo-rejected-nearly-half-of-their-black-homeowners-refinancing-applications/ar-AAVa7tL

Seven Steps to Success: John C. Maxwell

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“Attitude is the first quality that marks the successful man. If he has a positive attitude and is a positive thinker, who likes challenges and difficult situations, then he has half his success achieved.” John C. Maxwell

Although there is not a perfect formula to be successful, everyone has the capability to become successful. Success is a journey that you create for yourself if you strongly desire it and act on it. And, success can be learned and attained by you and everyone else. One ‘tried and true’ way to learn about becoming successful is to study the success of other people.

And that is what John C. Maxwell* has done. After over nearly fifty years of knowing successful people and studying the subject, John C. Maxwell has taught millions the principles of success and has embraced the following definition of success:

Success is…

  • Knowing your purpose in life,
  • Growing to reach your maximum potential, and
  • Sowing seeds that benefit others.

By this definition, success is a journey rather than a destination. No matter how long you live or what you decide to do in life, you will never exhaust your capacity to grow toward your potential, nor will you run out of opportunities to help others.

Additionally, Maxwell has developed a process of seven steps for success that are available to you and anyone else who desires to study and pursues the journey of success:

1. Make a commitment to grow daily.

“Success is… knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.” John C. Maxwell

Success comes from growing, not from achieving, acquiring or advancing. If you commit to growing each day, you will soon start noticing positive results in your life. Every action that you take towards growing will bring you closer to success, it doesn’t matter how small your action is or how slow you go as long as you keep going. As the poet Robert Browning said, “Why stay on earth except to grow?”

2. Value the process more than events.

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” John C. Maxwell

If your goal is to go to the next level in life, then strive for continuous improvement. Events in life are temporary, they teach you how to make better decisions. However, it is the process of change and growth that have lasting value. Choose to embrace the process and learn from both, the process and the event.

3. Don’t wait for inspiration.

“If you start today to do the right thing, you are already a success even if it doesn’t show yet.” John C. Maxwell

People who advance far in life find ways to motivate themselves and live the best they can regardless of how they feel. At times, they even have to push themselves to do something. Successful people persevere. Basketball great Jerry West said, “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”

4. Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity.

“Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” John C. Maxwell

There are two paths to follow: “You can play now and pay later, or pay now and play later. You choose whether you will first want to pay or play. Regardless of the path you choose to take, life will always demand a payment. If you choose “to pay first,” you will be more pleased with your results and enjoy greater and sweeter rewards

5. Dream big.

“Where success is concerned, people are not measured in inches, or pounds, or college degrees, or family background; they are measured by the size of their thinking.” John C. Maxwell

If you’re going to dream, dare to dream big. Dreaming small may keep you from discovering what you’re truly made of. Robert J. Kriegel and Louis Patler, authors of If Ain’t Broke, Brake It, assert, “We don’t have a clue as to what people’s limits are. All the tests, stopwatches, and finish lines in the world can’t measure human potential. When someone is pursuing their dream, they’ll go far beyond what seems to be their limitations. The potential that exists within us is limitless and largely untapped. When you think of limits, you create them.”

6. Plan your priorities.

“To Stay Focused in Life: You can’t know everyone. You can’t do everything. You can’t go everywhere. We have to pick and choose between good and a little bit better.” John C. Maxwell

Successful people have many things common and one of of them is that they have mastered the art of how to effectively manage their time. More than anything, they have organized themselves. Henry Kaiser, founder of Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Permanente Health Care, says, “Every minute spent in planning will save you two in execution. Time cannot be retrieved, so live every moment the best you can.

7. Give up to go up.

“One of the major keys to success is to keep moving forward on the journey, making the best of the detours and interruptions, turning adversity into advantage.” John C. Maxwell

Everything that has value comes as a result of making sacrifices. Life will present you with countless opportunities to trade something you value for something else. Keep your eyes open to identify those opportunities and once you do, make sure that what you decide to trade will be a trade up, not down.

In conclusion, “success is a journey” isn’t just a matter of words and ideas, it’s a matter of actions. It’s in you to act on what makes you achieve your success every day. Know that what may mean success to you may not mean success to others, and vice versa–and this is completely fine. Success implies diversity of thoughts, habits, behaviors, values, and attitudes.

“If you make it your discipline to do a little bit of growing every day, in just a few years you will be amazed by your transformation.” John C. Maxwell

References:

  1. https://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/what-i-believe-about-success/
  2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/seven-steps-success-john-c-maxwell-ivette-k-caballero

* John C. Maxwell is an International Leadership Expert, Speaker, #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 26 million books in fifty languages. As the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation, he has trained more than 6 million leaders. Dr. Maxwell speaks each year to Fortune 500 companies, presidents of nations, and many of the world’s top business leaders. For more information about him visit JohnMaxwell.com.

Albert Einstein Best Quotes

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“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, a German-born physicist, has been widely regarded as one of the greatest minds and physicists of all time. In December 1932, he emigrated to the United States, renouncing his German citizenship after Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany.

In 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to theoretical physics and discovery of the photoelectric effect.

Einstein was best known for developing the theory of relativity and the mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2, often dubbed “the world’s most famous equation”.

During his life, he made many sayings about science, education, religion and life that continue to resonate today:

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

“Logic will get you from A to Z, imagination will get you everywhere.”

“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

Einstein’s words have inspired generations around the world to live life fully, and in a more positive, self aware and rewarding manner.

References:

  1. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/remembering-albert-einstein-inspirational-quotes-of-the-nobel-laureate-on-143rd-birth-anniversary/ar-AAV19qr
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

Gratitude Rewires Your Brain

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Gratitude is good for your mind and body. A healthy mind = a healthy body.

Research shows that gratitude and kindness not only lifts your spirits and warms your hearts, but, it can also aid in fighting off, healing and sometimes even curing illnesses.

Acts of kindness and feelings of gratitude flood your brains with a chemical called dopamine.

When you are truly grateful for something (or someone) your brains reward you by giving you a natural high. Because this feeling (or natural high) is so good, you are motivated to feel it again and become more inclined to give thanks, to show appreciation and to do good for others.

Research on gratitude benefits shows that these neurological effects open the doors to many health and emotional well-being benefits.

Additionally, in the hypothalamus, which is the part of your brain that regulates a number of your bodily functions including your appetites, sleep, temperature, metabolism and growth, a 2009 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study showed that your hypothalamus is activated when you feel gratitude, or display acts of kindness.

This research on gratitude means that your existential bodily functions operate better with grace. That is a powerful thought.

References:

  1. https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/benefits-of-gratitude-research/

Patience is a Virtue

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“The most useful form of patience is persistence. Patience implies waiting for things to improve on their own. Persistence implies keeping your head down and continuing to work when things take longer than you expect.” ~James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Patience, along with effective habits, are a necessity and essential virtue in order to make changes and improvements in your life.

As James Clear points out: “Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits. Your physical fitness is a lagging measure of your eating and training habits. Your knowledge is a lagging measure of your learning habits. Your net worth is a lagging measure of your financial habits.”

Effectively, you get in your life what you repeat over the long term.

And, patience is imperative in investing.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett reminds investor regarding the importance of patience when he quipped that: “Successful investing takes time, discipline, and patience. No matter how great the talent or effort, some things just take time. you can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.”

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” ~ Arnold H. Glasow

References:

  1. https://www.purposefairy.com/75545/quotes-on-patience/
  2. https://bizadda360.com/quotes/warren-buffett-quotes

Building Wealth Doesn’t Have to Mean Sacrificing Happiness

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“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” King Solomon

A study published by the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated a strong correlation between income and life satisfaction, as well as income and “emotional well-being,” up to $75,000 in annual income. After that, the study finds that life satisfaction and happiness leveled off.

It is a common misunderstanding and widespread belief that high income are associated with success, contentment and happiness. But this belief is mostly illusory.

A lot of people believe also that accumulating significant wealth is somehow equates with success, contentment and happiness. Yet, people with above-average income and significant wealth are relatively satisfied with their lives to a point, but are barely happier than those who live paycheck to paycheck.

Moreover, the effect of income on life satisfaction seems to be exceptionally transient. People tend to exaggerate the contribution of income to happiness because they focus, in part, on conventional achievements when evaluating their life or the lives of others. King Solomon asserted a couple of thousands of years ago that, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.”

Several 2018 studies by the National Institutes of Health found that even among millionaires, more wealth can lead to more happiness. Interestingly, they found that the source of the wealth also mattered; self-made millionaires were happier than lottery winners.

Some people are quick to say, “Well, I’d rather be happy than rich.” Wealthy people wonder why anyone questions that you can be both. However, the happiness wealth brings alone is at best fleeting unless income and wealth are closely aligned with your life’s purpose, to your continued learning and growth, to your practicing gratitude and to your helping others.

And while wealth can’t “buy happiness” per se, it can buy you more time with your family and friends – which, presumably, would make you happier. You can use wealth to switch to a single-income household or to help you and your partner retire young and raise children full-time. For that matter, you can use it to reclaim more of your time to do anything you want.

Combine Building Wealth with Purpose, Growth and Helping Others

“I would rather have it said ‘He lived usefully’ than ‘He died rich.’” Ben Franklin

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin lived his life not in terms of how much wealth he could accumulate, but rather in terms of how many people he could help. To him, being useful and continuing to improve were more important and represented there own reward.

Wealth and income as forms of fulfillment and happiness in Franklin’s views were just an illusion. Franklin did not want his life to be measured by dollars and cents. He wanted to live a more meaningful one, one where he consistently improve himself and always positively influence other people. He live a life that counted to himself, others and a grateful fledgling nation.

Key takeaway is that high income and significant accumulated wealth alone does not guarantee a life of happiness and success unless it is closely aligned with your knowing your purpose in life, your continuing improvement and growth to reach your maximum potential, your gratitude and finally your strong desire to help others.

References:

  1. https://www.moneycrashers.com/wealthy-money-mindsets-financial-success/
  2. Kahneman D, Krueger AB, Schkade D, Schwarz N, Stone AA. Would you be happier if you were richer? A focusing illusion. Science. 2006 Jun 30
  3. https://www.success.com/john-c-maxwell-the-3-things-i-know-to-be-true/

In the book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and it’s All Small Stuff”, Psychotherpist Richard Carlson P.H.D talks about one hundred things in life that are seemingly insignificant yet they tend to take up our time, stress us and keep us from achieving our best results.

Carlson says that “Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that, upon closer examination, aren’t really that big a deal. We focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion. A stranger, for example, might cut in front of us in traffic. Rather than let it go, and go on with our day, we convince ourselves that we are justified in our anger. Try to have compassion for the person and remember how painful it is to be in such an enormous hurry. This way, we can maintain our own sense of well-being and avoid taking other people’s problems personally.”

Power of Dividends

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A dividend is a share of profits and retained earnings that a company pays out to its shareholders. When a company generates a profit and accumulates retained earnings, those earnings can be either reinvested in the business or paid out to shareholders as a dividend.

Dividends can create a rising source of income for a lifetime. They have proven to grow at twice the rate of inflation over the better part of stock market history.

Dividends are one of three ways for a company to return value of their profits and a portion of its free cash flow to shareholders. The other two ways are for a company to buy back its shares and to re-invest in the company.

  • A share buyback is when a company uses cash on the balance sheet to repurchase shares in the open market. This has two effects.
      • It returns cash to shareholders
      It reduces the number of shares outstanding.

    As a company increase the dividend on a annual basis, the amount may be small, but over time, it can become significant.

    For example, if you own stock in a company that pays a dividend of 57 cents per share, they may announce a dividend increase of 4 cents to 61 cents. That means you get and extra 4 cents for each share you own.

    Although, it’s only 4 cents, but 4 cents on 57 cents is am7% dividend increase on each share you own. If the dividend increased by this amount, 4 cents, every year, the dividend would double in about 10 years. Thus, over time, if you stick with dividends, the money will begin to grow.

    In S&P 500 Index companies alone paid out $485 billion in dividends to shareholders.

    Dividends outpace inflation

    Back in 1980, a $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 Index paid a dividend of about $421, or 4.21%, on the initial investment. Forty years later, the dividend income had climbed to $5,724, a 57% annual yield on the original investment. And, the original $10K investment grew as well. The original $10K invested in the S&P 500 Index in 1980 would have grown into more than $287K as the stock price increased. That’s not counting the dividends paid.

    The price-only-return (which excludes dividends income) is 8.75% per year. If you add in another 3% for the dividends you receive each year, you get a total average return of about 11.75% per year.

    Dividends have proven to be a more consistent source of growing income that has outpaced inflation.

    Dividends and Total Return over that 40 year period,

    Total return is one of the most important concepts in finance, and it involves more than just the dividends a company pays out.

    The total return of a stock is the total amount your investment changes in value, calculated by adding the amount of dividend or interest income received to the investment’s capital return (i.e. change in the investment’s price).

    Total return is driven by three components: earnings growth (which fuels capital gains and the underlying intrinsic value of a stock), dividends, and changes in valuation multiples.

    Dividends have been a major component of the stock market’s overall total returns throughout history and have contributed anywhere from 25% to 75% of the market’s overall total return over the past seven decades (the remaining portion of total return is accounted for by capital gains, or the market’s change in price).

    Takeaway, dividends are a powerful wealth building tool. If you invest in perennial dividend payers and consistent dividend grower companies, and then be patient, the dividends will add up significantly over decades.

    References:

    1. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/finance/dividend/
    2. https://www.wesmoss.com/news/the-power-of-investing-in-dividends-generating-income-from-stock-dividends-vs-bond-interest/
    3. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/paying-back-your-shareholders
    4. https://1.simplysafedividends.com/dividends-vs-total-returns/

    Baha Mar Resort, Nassau, The Bahamas

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    Baha Mar resort, Nassau, The Bahamas is the newest family vacation destination in the Caribbean.

    This blog post on travel and experiences deviates from typical posts that appear on this site. Typically, past blog posts have covered pertinent topics dealing with building wealth, healthy aging, well-being and finding life’s purpose.

    However, this blog post provides details of a recent March 2022, five night, six day trip and experiences of vacationing at the SLS Baha Mar Resort located in Nassau, New Providience, The Bahamas.

    Baha Mar is an integrated resort, casino, and residential development perched on Nassau’s storied Cable Beach. The destination features three renowned hotel brands and a variety of luxurious amenities including the largest casino in The Bahamas, a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a convention center, and a diverse collection of dining, nightlife, and retail outlets.

    Travel and Experiences

    New Providence, The Bahamas, is a 35 to 55-minute flight from most of Florida to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport. Baha Mar resort is approximately a 10-minute drive from the airport. Lynden Pindling International Airport offers U.S. Customs and Immigration pre-clearance in Nassau upon your return to the U.S.

    Traveling to The Bahamas during COVID-19 pandemic requires a little advance planning. U.S. citizens traveling to The Bahamas are required to be vaccinated and to have a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test within three days of arrival. Additionally, The Bahamas Travel Health Visa (BTHV) ($40 cost) is required by international travelers over the age of 2 in order to enter the island country.

    According to available government literature regarding travel to The Bahamas during COVID-19, individuals are required to wear a mask while indoors on the island. Although that is the stated policy of the island, what I observed was significantly different. Instead of people donning masks while indoors, I would estimate that less than one percent of the hotel guests actually wore masks indoor. In contrast, every Baha Mar associate worn their masks continuously, even outdoors.

    Additionally, the Baha Mar Resorts purports to operate their hotels during COVID-19 pandemic far less than their maximum occupancy for guest comfort and safety. However, the resort was at 99% occupancy during our stay. Thus, they’re effectively operating the resort occupancy-wise as if the pandemic is no longer a concern. However, they are still going through the motions of disinfecting high touch surfaces.

    Baha Mar Resort

    Baha Mar Resort is located on Cable Beach, which occupies the northwest part of New Providence Island. Within the massive resort, there are three hotel brands that share the property — The Grand Hyatt, SLS Baha Mar, and Rosewood. Many resort rooms provide spectacular views of Cable Beach from balconies and permit access to the experiences of Baha Mar, such as Baha Bay water park and the white sand of Cable Beach.

    We stayed at the considerably upscale SLS Baha Mar, which is advertised as “a new era of stylish, playfully sophisticated, luxe, high-design accommodations”. The hotel offers “sleek, well appointed rooms”. Also located on the property are Baha Bay water park and the casino.

    During your stay at Baha Mar, you learn quickly about the burdensome Resort’s service charge of 15% and The Bahamas’ value added tax (VAT) of 10%. Added together, the combined resort’s service charge plus VAT adds 25% of additional charges to every already premium priced purchase. For example, a $16 glass of red wine would lighten your wallet an additional $4 for a total of $20 after adding the service charge and VAT. A simple Resort cheese burger starts at $26 which inflates to $32.50 after service charge and VAT are included.

    Overall, the Baha Mar Resort has a plethora of amenities and activities to keep even the most acquiring guest interested. Starting with Baha Bay water park, there are death defying water slides named the “Devil’s Backbone”, which the floor drop out from under you before blasting through looping and twisting tunnels, and “Thunderball”, which is a freefall, straight-down slide that delivers an unforgettable experience. Both of these slides invoked fear into a few guests, who chose to walk back down the several flights of stairs instead of taking the faster water slide route down to ground level. Also, the water park contained The River, a typical lazy river with several interesting enhancements such as rapids and high waves. There are bail out points along The River before the rapids and several tubers did choose to abandon their tubes before making the turn to enter the rapids.

    Other water activities include kayaking, paddle board and snorkeling the man made reefs a short swimming distance from the Baha Mar white sand beaches.

    Dining

    Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House is a celebration of Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s food and beverage creations. At the restaurant, the 8 ounce ground beef brisket and beef short rib sandwich, and Chef Yes cocktail were a favorite. Additionally, T2 Cigar Bar was a great place to relax and watch the fire fountain display during evening hours.

    Resort guests are advised to make dinner reservations one week to ten days early at the most popular Baha Mar Resort restaurants like Shuang Ba haute Chinese and Fi’lia Italian restaurants. If you wait until after arrive on the Baha Mar property, it may be too late to attain dinner reservations.

    Off the resort, Twin Brothers restaurant located at Fish Fry is recommended for those interested in trying local dishes prepared by local chefs. One appetizer that stands out is the Tropical Conch Salad. The salad is served in a large plastic container and it was by far one of the best dishes on the island. But, avoid the mac and cheese at Twin Brothers.

    A local off-the-beaten path restaurant that is worth a visit is Sea Shell. The restaurant serves local Bahamian dishes prepared and served cafeteria style. It is well known and frequented by locals and taxi cab drivers, but it is located in an area of town few tourist would likely venture. Nevertheless, the Habanero Chicken Wings with sides of mac and cheese, and plantains, were truly memorable and well worth the short cab ride from the resort.

    Casino

    The Baha Mar Casino is the largest casino in the Caribbean. It was designed to remove money from every level of gambler, from casual players to high-stakes rollers, according to its literature. The casino offer several different types of gaming tables, a plethora of slot machines, live sports betting, and one of the Nassau’s top dining and nightlife scene.

    For resort guest, the casino offers a $25 free play card for the slot machines. The cards must be used by guests within twenty-four hours of activation or the cards will expire.

    References:

    1. https://www.onlinevisa.com/bahamas-visa/
    2. https://bahabay.bahamar.com/
    3. https://d3py87e0zuixsk.cloudfront.net/production/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09122331/BHM_FACTBOOK_20211025_CB.pdf

    Money Mistakes

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    “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” ~P.T. Barnum~

    Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum—American founder of Barnum & Bailey Circus—was renowned for being a showman who knew how to make a buck, which is how he became one of America’s first millionaires. His quote that “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant”,  sums up the importance of making your money work for you.

    Barnum points out that, if all you do is work for money, it essentially becomes your master. On the other hand, if you put your money to work paying bills and for life’s necessities, acquiring assets and other investments, etc., it serves you. So strive to be the master of your destiny—financially, anyway—by ensuring you’re the master of your money.

    How to Rectify Past Financial Sins

    Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to money. Find out how you can set yourself on a better financial path by atoning for some of your worst money missteps.

    Nobody’s perfect — especially when it comes to managing money. While you may try to keep track of your funds, budget wisely and spend well now, you may have made some serious money mistakes when you were younger. Since having money doesn’t exactly come with an owner’s manual, you may have had lackadaisical spending ways or gone wild with credit before you smartened up and started taking money seriously. Still, those past sins can come back to haunt you in the form of creditors or less-than-impressive credit scores. Your best bet is to face money issues head-on and atone for those missteps so you can move forward with better habits.

    Open up
    When dealing with past financial mistakes, it’s easy to turn a blind eye and hope that they simply go away. But when you owe money or default on loans, not only are those creditors still looking to get paid, it can affect your long-term ability to secure credit and enjoy future financial freedom. Instead, gather up all of your statements and go through them with a fine-tooth comb to give yourself a general picture of which mistakes you’ve made but can be easily rectified with dedicated work.

    Make a plan
    Once you know where you stand money-wise, it’s time to create a plan to pay back creditors, and remove any inaccurate information on your credit report. This may require some leg work on your part, so plan on working with creditors on settlement deals, checking your credit report and contacting your creditors or credit reporting agencies to remove inaccuracies that you may have found. Consider your plan like you would a work project: focus, then put your energy into accomplishing it.

    Start small
    No one is saying that you need to put all of your savings toward paying off an old debt to get rid of it. In fact, starting with smaller debts — an old credit card or small tax bill, for instance – helps you get rid of some of your smaller mistakes, and can also help provide a sense of accomplishment. Start with the most manageable issues. That way, you’ll have more of a leg to stand on when negotiating with larger creditors.

    Keep it rolling
    Once you’ve made headway on some of your smaller money mistakes, it’s time to get serious. Keep up the good work by taking a look at your current budget and cutting back spending to free up money for payment of other debts, or making settlement agreements with other creditors. When you have cash in hand, creditors may be more willing to settle, but you’ll need to be prepared to act immediately. While it might mean a few months of leaner living, having a clear conscience and rectifying the mistakes of the past can help you move forward with your future financial goals.

    References:

    1. https://www.creditonebank.com/articles/10-famous-quotes-about-finances-credit