This week has reminded me of 1984 all over again. Back in that year, Walter Mondale ran against Ronald Reagan for the presidency. During one of the debates and in an effort to challenge the president on his agenda, Mondale asked President Reagan “where’s the beef?”  This was a take off of the then  recent Wendy’s commercial. This week brought this back to memory.

This week Taco Bell is being accused of not selling beef, but only 35% of their meat is really meat. Where’s the beef?  Not sure if you are a Taco Bell fan or not, but an accusation like that, if it is validated, may make you want to reduce the times you make a run for the border.

Then we had the State of the Union address.  President Obama stood before the joint house of Congress and spoke on his take of the current state of our country.  After reading the speech, I am asking, “where’s the beef?”.  Our country faces some very uncertain times due to the financial mismanagement of politicians from both parties.  It appears, and I hope that I am wrong, that there is really nothing being done to curb the elected officials desire to continue to build our economic system on debt.

This week congressional budget officials estimate the 2011 deficit to be 1.5 TRILLION dollars.  In case you have not looked at that number it looks like this – $1,500,000,000,000.  Do you know how many tacos that would buy?

Seriously, something has to be done.  I do not recall the president mentioning how his administration plans to get some 15 million unemployed workers back to work.  I did not see anything tangible about spending cuts to get our budget and debt under control.  I did see that he is calling on a five year spending freeze.  Hello?  The spending has increased more than 80% over the last couple of years.  Where are the cuts or in increased income?

Honestly, this should make you mad – this is not a republican or democrat thing.  This is financial management and NOT SPENDING MORE THAN YOU HAVE COMING IN.

You need to manage your personal finances, your personal economy, better than those in Washington manage ours national finances.  Do not take your lessons from them!

Online banking is nothing new.  However, many people have yet to experience the ease of managing their bank account from their keyboard.  Many use online banking to simply check their account balance or, if they really feel daring, transferring money from one account to the another.  Online banking can be so much more and allow you to better focus on your finances, but only if you feel comfortable.

If you are like some that I meet you are not comfortable thinking about using the internet to access your money.  The thought of someone else doing something with your account or you messing something up weighs heavy on you.  For you, I do not suggest you participate or at least not till you are comfortable.

For those of you who feel ok and know that you are protected with firewalls and virus protection software you will find, or have found, that online banking can make life so much easier.

While you can check your balance and transfer between accounts you may also find that you can pay your bills from your checking account, have your bills sent to you electronically, and even get a complete picture of your finances on one website.

Online banking can be productive, but you need to make sure you are secure.  Make sure you change your password(s) frequently, have “tough” passwords, and protect your computer from outside hackers with a firewall and virus protection.

I am constantly meeting people who are looking to blame their situation on someone else.  Regardless of how they got into a situation, it was someone else’s fault or it would not be this way.  The government, a spouse, the children, mom or dad, the “big guy” you work for – what is your scapegoat?

In my role as a coach, I find those who are successful find that the only one they can blame is themselves.  Yes, all of the people above, and even more, may have had a hand in your situation, but successful people have decided to find how they can improve themselves.  They have stopped looking for a scapegoat.

I remember the man who sat in my office and blamed God because of his impending financial collapse.  After he pounded his fist on my desk,  I reminded him that God did not use any credit cards – not a single one.  Seeing the stupidity in his statement he began to backtrack.

The world is full of people trying to find a scapegoat.  You do not have to be one of them.  What do you need to fix in your life and who is stopping your from fixing it?

It seems like yesterday, but now 18 years have passed.  My youngest daughter turns 18 today.  Like you and your children, I remember 18 years ago today for several reasons.  First, we were so excited that she would be born within just a few miles of our house.  Second, it was the day my father-in-law swore he would never eat another Big Mac (they were 99 cents each and he got a bad one).

It is funny how you remember special events in your life, but you can not remember other things that have occurred more recently.  As I tell clients, almost 20 years have passed by and it is hard to recall where they have went.  Minutes into hours, hours into days, days into years – time waits on none of us.

I hope we have taught her well in all the areas of her life. Only time will tell.

What are you doing with the days, months, and years in your life and the lives of your family?

Happy Birthday Morgan.

Well, it is here.  2011 has made it on the scene.  After all the planning and anticipation, the new year has arrived.  Now what?  What are your plans in this year?  I mean, hopefully, you are not going to let this year fly by too are you?

I have some new goals of things to accomplish in 2011.  No, none of them are earth shattering, but they are improvements over where I have been.  I have them on a spreadsheet to monitor and measure on an almost daily basis.  Why?  Because I know it works.

What are yours?  Have you laid out a plan of achievement or are you waiting for the year to pass you by?  So many of you were saying last week, “WOW, I can’t believe this year is over…”.  It passed by so fast you missed accomplishing the things you said you were going to accomplish in 2010.    So you know, this year is already well under way.

Weight loss, career, lifestyle, personal relationships, a new business venture – what are your plans this year?  You need to get going.

Late last year I posted this blog that may help you in setting and accomplishing your goals for 2011. 5 Tasks To Complete In 2010.