Third Party Hustle

Resist the “Third Party Hustle” 

This post was actually meant to be just a comment in a LinkedIn Discussion, lnkd.in/M2nvng but as you will see, I got a little too carried away, and decided to move it here. Besides the long winded-ness, I did not want to have to wait for LinkedIn hotshot to decide if what I have to say is what they want to hear. Seriously, the superficial B.S. is too stupid to be real, but I will admit, that once you weed through it all, it is by far the best networking website that I am aware of, and am naturally against conformity in a world where majority rules, so I really can’t Hate on LinkedIn...I found something else to give my two cents on…If you are offended, I say do not take it personally, I did not when  I dealt with those in your position, so I see no reason why you should when I speak about the reality of what I call the “Third Party Hustle”

•   If it sounds too good to be true, resist.
•  If they call you, resist.
•  If they tell you they can get you financed for a fee, resist.
•  If they say you can get a loan that is not based on your credit and then ask for money to  build your biz credit, resist.
•  If they say they will fix your credit for a small fee, resist. 
•   If you are asked for money to build D&B, resist.
•  If you are asked to pay for a DUNS report, resist.
•   If they say they can get you a 25,000 to 150,000 loan for only 389.00, resist.
•   If their financial advice ends in a for profit they are directly related, resist.

The "Third Party Hustle" is everywhere you turn, and their main target are those who have credit issues. if you think about it, if what they are offering is so wonderful, why are those in good credit standing not taking advantage of their services as well? 

Now, I imagine those who make a living in this line of work will have argument, but that is all talk designed to lead with truth that omits facts. Most of the time the person omitting the facts, does not know themselves, because if they did they surely they would not lead down a wrong way path, or would they? I am sure there is good and bad in any profession.

I have tried everything that is not advised here and then some, and at the end of the year, my credit was worse than when I started, and while each person who contributed to its demise, did come through with all they had promised, each one also left me saying "Well that sure was stupid."

You most likely qualify for a Government Grant, it is a process, that I would resist paying a third party to do, but that is me.. This will give you time to regain your credit, and then again paying someone to help fix your credit is not the only way. You can contest, settle, consolidate in as much time as you spend on the phone with the person you would pay to do it. if you get stuck there is far more free answers on Google than you could ever pay one person to give you.

http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/grants

Facts About Government Grants

SBA does NOT provide grants for starting and expanding a business.

Government grants are funded by your tax dollars and, therefore, require very stringent compliance and reporting measures to ensure the money is well spent.  As you can imagine, grants are not given away indiscriminately.

Grants from the Federal government are authorized and appropriated through bills passed by Congress and signed by the President. The grant authority varies widely among agencies. SBA has authority to make grants to non-profit and educational organizations in many of its counseling and training programs, but does not have authority to make grants to small businesses. The announcements for the counseling and training grants will appear on grants.gov. If Congress authorizes Specific Initiative Grants, organizations receiving such grants will receive individual notifications.

Some business grants are available through state and local programs, nonprofit organizations and other groups. For example, some states provide grants for expanding child care centers; creating energy efficient technology; and developing marketing campaigns for tourism. These grants are not necessarily free money, and usually require the recipient to match funds or combine the grant with other forms of financing such as a loan. The amount of the grant money available varies with each business and each grantor.

If you are not one of these specialized business, both federal and state government agencies provide financial assistance programs that help small business owners obtain loans and venture capital financing from commercial lenders.

Application Forms for Non-Construction Grants

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• Forms A-9 through A-12: Budget Detail Worksheet
• Cost Policy Statement
• Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
• FY 2010 Checklist of Required Documents for Non-Construction Projects
• FY 2010 Frequently Asked Questions
• FY 2010 Program Announcement
• SF 424A - Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs
• Standard Form 424: Application for Federal Assistance
• Standard Form 424B: Assurances - Non-Construction Programs
• Standard Form 3881: ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form

Application Forms for Construction Grants

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• Forms A-9 through A-12
• Cost Policy Statement
• Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
• FY 2010 Frequently Asked Questions
• FY 2010 Checklist of Required Documents for Construction Projects
• FY 2010 Program Announcement
• Standard Form 424: Application for Federal Assistance
• Standard Form 424C: Budget Information - Construction Programs
• Standard Form 424D: Assurances - Construction Programs
• Standard Form 3881: ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form

Related Articles: 

• article Research Grants for Small Businesses

Related About SBA Articles: 

• article Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

IF by Ruyard Kipling

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son! 

Rudyard Kipling

The Scapegoat

I recently read a story about a bad experience the author had when renting, what I presume was ‘Virtual Office Space.” In this story it was referred to as “a hired room.” The picture painted is one I can relate with, only from the other side of the rant. . . To read the full story visit: http://www.beyondnetworking.co.uk/customer-service-where-did-it-all-go-wrong/

Customer service – where did it all go wrong? Posted on May 10, 2013 by Jason Cobine

Good Point-Wrong Direction.

                I am not entirely sure if Cobine was actually asking a question in his opening line, but either way, I feel the need to give an answer [based on experience]. “This post is about customer service, or rather the lack of it, why people serving customers get it so wrong, and what can be done about it.” (Corbine, 2013)

                The reason why “people serving customers get it so wrong,” is because in cases like this, getting it right is not an option. “What can be done about it,” is targeting the proper assailant, for starters. It is a big waste of time publically ranting about it, if the rant says little about the actual problem. Not only does this story miss the mark, but it also did little to even scratch the surface. Chances are, those who fail to see the picture, are of like nature, to those who hold the blame.

                I am not going to waste my time defending the employee, to me it is obvious the worker/s were not who we should be evaluating. I would suggest considering the chain of operation, and where the true accountability lies. I also will not waste my time bashing the culprits, it is not my complaint. What I will do, is take the time to give ‘props’ to the worker who works the end of ‘the chain’.  

Parting words: “A scapegoat is as nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem” (unknown)

Quote retrieved from: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/scapegoat/