How Can I Make Money With My Voice? ​

Jan. 29, 2015

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Dear Cathy:

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At a very young age, I was told I had a nice voice so now I am a voice-over artist. I do intros, radio and TV commercials especially on the internet, and work as a Disc Jockey (DJ) but this year I am looking to expand to other business opportunities.  Do you have any suggestions?  Nice Voice, New York

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Dear Nice Voice:

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Since you have been blessed with a nice voice instead of just doing what you currently do, next to taking singing lessons and becoming a Singer or voice lessons and becoming a Speaker, I would suggest that you investigate the possibility of becoming an audiobook narrator.  

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Many moviestars get into this field and many authors really would like to move their businesses to the next level by turning an e-book or paperback into an audiobook, but many don’t know how to go about hiring an audiobook narrator.

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You can set up your own home studio for less than $300.  We are in the age of technology, so this field is extremely hot at this time. Over 60% of people who graduate from schools today read at a 6th grade level so audiobooks should be a hot commodity especially for those who don’t like to read.

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Some authors should skip the e-book and paperback stage and go right into the audiobook stage.  You can find many of these writing groups on social media websites especially on facebook.com so I would seek out these groups today.  For a list of other businesses dealing with speaking read "The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs."  

Why Are So Many House Fires Labeled a Wiring Problem?

Jan. 29, 2015

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Dr. Cathy:  

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My cousin and his new wife who have always been my best friends moved into a new home that they had built from scratch.  He recently passed away from smoke inhalation when their house caught on fire.  He had come home early from work because he wasn’t feeling well and the house caught on fire when he was asleep.

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Even though the firemen were able to get him out before the fire reached him, since a neighbor saw the fire, he still passed away that night in the hospital from smoke inhalation.  The fire department eventually ruled it a wiring problem.  What exactly does that mean and what else should we be doing to investigate the fire?  Seeking Justice in the Carolinas

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Dear Seeking Justice:

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First of all sorry for your loss.  Many times when a house catches on fire, we (fire investigators, the police, media, the community, friends and family) write it off when they say “it was a wiring problem.”  

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When people pass away in these types of predicaments in used or new homes -- builders and contractors still need to be held liable even if it was a wiring problem.  ​

According to many whistleblowers, builders and contractors are committing fraud by putting up homes without permits and using cheaper materials such as less expensive sheet rock.  This could result in easier access for intruders, ceilings caving in on residents, and even house fires so naturally there will be issues with many homes today.

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Some builders do not install wiring in metal pipes, which could cause massive fires to spread rapidly. Often people are killed from the fire or smoke inhalation.  Families need to be proactive and seriously investigate the causes of all fires and determine if the builders or contractors are at fault.  

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Families should hire a private investigator to investigate these companies to see what other issues they have had in the past.  A lawsuit might need to be filed because accountability has to start somewhere.  

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Daughter Flunking Out of College Because of Party School

Jan. 27, 2015

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Dear Cathy:

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My daughter and I have always been close.  She is the first person on my side of the family that have ever attended college.  I never went to college so I had a hard time helping her get into a college away from home.  Now I found out that she is attending a party school and her grades are dropping as a Freshman.  What can I do now to help my daughter get back on track so she can finish school?  Party School Regret, California

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Dear Party School Regret:

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First of all don’t regret helping your daughter get into college.  You have already done what most parents will never be able to do.  On many occasions, students will have to prepare for college on their own because many parents don’t understand what it takes.  The fact that you assisted her shows you are a good parent.

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What you need to understand is that most college students will fail out of college the first year which is the hardest year.  So this is the time for parents to be hands-on with their children and remind them why they went to college in the first place.  

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Many will fail because they selected the wrong school especially a party school.  There are a ton of students out there who are spending every waking moment of their Sophomore, Junior and Senior years trying to compensate for the massive mistakes made during their Freshman year. 

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So try to reel your daughter back in by informing her that if she gets off to a bad start, she is asking for serious trouble all through college.  Tell her to commit to going to the library in a secluded spot for at least 4 or 5 hours a day and do nothing but studying.  Then let her know that she will have plenty of time for partying the rest of the day or on weekends but also remind her that she needs to use common sense for that too.  

You can also transfer her to another school or let her take some time off from college but remember when many students take too much time off, they never go back especially after they start buying the finer things in life.  To learn more about college life and how to avoid other mistakes read Chapter 12 of the book "Recession Survival Guide: How To Get Back Into the Driver's Seat" entitled "How To Get Into College."  

What Does Medicare Cover?

Jan. 26, 2015

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Dear Cathy:

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I had been with my partner for a long time but we were never married.  After he died I was not left with any benefits so at age 62, I am only living on my Social Security benefits.  I moved in with my daughter in order to make ends meet.  That way I can help her out with her children's daycare.

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My eyes are beginning to fail but I can't afford an operation.  I look forward to turning 65 so I can receive Medicare but many people are telling me it still won’t cover everything.  What does Medicare cover?  Senior in Idaho

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Dear Senior:

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Don’t count on Medicare when you reach 65 years of age.  In the U.S., Medicare.gov  is a national social insurance program, administered by the U.S. federal government since 1966, that guarantees access to health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older and younger people with disabilities as well as people with end stage renal disease and persons with Lou Gehrig's disease.

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Medicare covers about half of all health care costs for those enrolled in the program. For the rest, you’re on your own.  That means you’ll be on the hook for out-of-pocket costs for uncovered services such as long-term health care as well as dental, hearing and eye care, along with supplemental insurance costs.

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Don't wait to use these services to get cataract, glaucoma or some other eye surgery.  For instance, if you have lost some of your vision due to cataracts, because you only have Medicare, the doctor will quote you on prices according to your insurance.

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So if you want to see again or want your maximum level of vision restored, you will need the funds to do this.  Medicare gives you the cheapest service which might only restore your vision back 30%. The eye doctor will ask you "Okay you want to be able to read and play cards – right?"  

That will be all the services they will provide to seniors -- so Medicare will only give you the lowest level of treatment to do just that.  To learn more on your rights as a senior read "Golden Years: How To Age Gracefully and Take Care of Seniors."

Are We Setting Our Kids Up for Failure by Not Allowing Them To Become Business Owners?

Jan. 22, 2015

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​Dear Cathy:

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Ever since a business speaker came to our 3 kids school, who ages are 11, 12, and 13, they have nagged my husband and me about wanting to start a business.  Financially we are barely making ends meet and we are both ignorant to how business works.  If our kids could bring in some money, it would help the family out so are we setting our kids up for failure by not allowing them to start a business?  Financially strapped  

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Dear Financially Strapped:

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Yes you are setting your kids up for failure by not allowing them to look at the possibilities of becoming a business owner.  Because of the complete paradigm shift in most communities today, it's time to redefine the game of business ownership.  

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Children must be looked at in new ways.  We can no longer operate like we did in the past.  Therefore, families must seek to become self-sufficient by starting a business or allowing their kids to become business owners.

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Some of the reasons kids/young adults should open their own businesses include -- they should want to grow up into a responsible adult; they should want to grow up into a great humanitarian; They should want to help their family out financially; They should want to pay for their entire college education; They should want to improve the conditions in the community; and they have no other choice because of the economy.

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Our youth will succeed at business ownership because they have the energy and vitality to make this work; They don't have the baggage that adults have; and adults will support young people.

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My business book “The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs” lists 185 businesses in which your kids can choose from and "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Starting a Business (Series 2)" is an easy-to-read self-help guide for youth ages 12 and above which will lead any youth, young adult or adult -- through the entire process of starting and growing their own businesses.  

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Single Mother Feels Guilty Due to Lack of Funds

Jan. 21, 2015

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Dear Cathy:

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I had a very brief marriage, however, we became the parents of 2 beautiful children.  My ex-husband never paid child support despite the fact that I tried to collect it.  He would just keep moving around to a different state so he did not have to pay it and being a single mother, I did not have the funds to keep hunting him down. 

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The majority of the time when I was raising my kids on my own, we had very little funds so they never looked as good as other kids in school.  I always thought I did right by my kids.  So why do I still feel guilty today even though my kids turned out okay?  Feeling Guilty in Virginia

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Dear Feeling Guilty:

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Many mothers today are in your same position.  You feel guilty simply because you are a good mother -- and will be even a better grandmother.  Every mother feels guilty at one time or another because mothers are nurturers by nature.  

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What your ex-husband did was called ‘state-hopping.'  This is when men (or women) would go from state to state in order to avoid the legal system especially in cases of child support.  

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What happened in the past is in the past.  Mothers, especially single mothers, need to stop beating themselves up when they can't give their kids everything they would like to.  

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Just remember that kids are resilient and as a mother you did everything you could to protect them.  Once your children finish with high school, chances are they will never see their old classmates again so I am sure they have moved on.  So forgive yourself and move on.  

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Why Are So Many Children Today Born With Autism?

Jan. 20, 2015

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Dear Cathy:

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My sister’s son and three of my cousins have kids with autism. Why are there so many kids today born with autism and what should families do when they find out?  Curious, Iowa

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Dear Curious:

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The autism rate in this country has reached epidemic proportions.  If there is any inkling that a child has autism, they should start being treated as soon as possible at a very early age.

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Four years ago 1 out of every 120 persons were born with autism and today it's 1 out of 50 (or less).   It's estimated by health experts in the Non-GMO Health Movement that every other male child will be born with autism over the next 20 years. 

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It's a disease that affects mostly male children and many believe it's associated with mothers and families eating Genetically Modified (GM) foods which contains heavy metals or kids given vaccinations/shots which contains heavy metals.  

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Heavy metals are neurotoxins which causes the brain to give out. To learn more about heavy metals read the article “How To Gain Back Your Mental Clarity by Eliminating Heavy Metals.”