Introduction Employee Spotlight - Natalie Linstruth Calling All Open Minds - The Wisdom of Twenty-Five Years Go Green - God Save the Queen Practical Prosperity - Fall into saving Buy the Book - New Audio Book Available! Hear Me Speak - Upcoming Fall Seminar Series   Dear ,   What a wonderful 25th anniversary celebration!  Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us.  Kudos to Alicia Speed and Caryn Robertson for orchestrating the food, entertainment, invitations and all the many details that made it a grand party. Also a big thank you to the rest of the team for helping them pull it all together!     Today is the day of the new moon, a natural time for inner reflection.   In honor of the moon, this month's article is The Wisdom of Twenty-Five Years, written from the perspective of reflecting back over my 25 years in business. Enjoy the journey, Mackey back to top

Employee Spotlight - Natalie Linstruth   Natalie Linstruth, Senior Accountant at Mackey Advisors, graduated on September 27th from the YWCA's Rising Star Board Leadership Program. The eight-month program is designed to prepare the graduates to serve on local nonprofit and arts organization boards.  It also serves to identify and support professional women in pursuit of excellence in their careers.   Natalie is also the recent recipient of the Covington Business Council's President's Award. Natalie was presented with the award at the 2007 Annual Dinner on August 16 in recognition of her willingness to be involved, displaying integrity and leadership.  Natalie's commitment to the council has exceeded five years.   Everyone at Mackey Advisors is very proud of Natalie's accomplishments and Northern Kentucky is lucky to have her as another fabulous contributor to a great community.   by Alicia Speed  back to top

Calling All Open Minds - The Wisdom of Twenty-Five Years   Twenty-five years is a long time to do anything. In my case, that is how long I have been a self-employed entrepreneur.   It seems like yesterday that I got my first contract for CFO services with a small non-profit. I was 27-years-old and everything was new: the surprise and excitement of getting the contract; the fear and worry of doing a good job; the anticipation of the client's payment and what I would do with the money. Every step was rich with emotional content. Things that are easy today were big steps when I first began.   As part of my personal preparation for our 25th anniversary party this past weekend on Saturday, Oct 6, I spent some quiet time reflecting on what I have learned along the way. What pearls of wisdom have I gathered? What might I share to assist another young person in gaining their "sea legs" enough to launch a successful venture of their own?   Amongst all of the pearls of wisdom contained in my reflection, one stood out the most - Enjoy the journey.   Over the years I have found many causes worthy of worry: Would I get the new client? Was the client unhappy and what did I need to do about it? Was there enough cash flow? Was I hiring too fast or too slow? How to give staff feedback when something wasn't working. Worry took its toll on my body: sleepless nights, upset stomach, a tight jaw or a stiff neck. Worry became the roadblock to enjoying the journey.   As I reflect on it, what was there really to worry about? Either something was going to turn out as I had hoped or not. Whether I worried a lot or a little, the outcome was unchanged. That being the case, why fret over the outcome? All that worry was wasted energy that could have been channeled into something else... fun perhaps?   The key to not worrying required another change in perception. To enjoy the journey I had to release judgment of myself, the outcome and others. In every moment, I was doing my best given the skills, knowledge and consciousness I possessed at that particular moment. I had to expand the compassion I naturally had for others to myself so that I could first release my personal judgments.   Judgment of an outcome divides everything between two buckets, good or bad. Judge it good and you celebrate and move forward. Judge it bad and you look for someone to blame for the outcome. Judging anything keeps you stuck because it precludes possibility. The judgment acts as a wall blocking your view from other options.   As I learned to enjoy the journey, I saw that if an outcome did not meet my expectations, all there was to do was learn from it and choose again. When I stayed out of judgment, I had the energy, focus and attention to learn, see other possibilities and choose again. The freedom of expression I have gained from this one shift is immeasurable.   The "others" in my business are my team, vendors and clients. When conflict, disagreement or the inability to see things the same came about with others in my business my young self often spent a lot of time and energy making them wrong and me right. And to what end?   I came to see that making myself right and others wrong really accomplished nothing, other than to keep me separate from them. As I expanded my point of view to include the idea that either we were a good match or we were not, everything shifted.   Releasing judgment of others and myself allowed me to enter the role of observer rather than judge. This team member fit our culture or they didn't. This vendor met our needs or they did not. A client was a match for our services or they were not. Labels beyond this were useless. Better to use that time and energy for clarifying my intention of what kind of team member, vendor or client I really want and seeking them out!   Change requires practice and is easier when married with compassion. Be compassionate with yourself and others. And no matter what you are doing in this life, enjoy the journey by releasing judgment and removing worry.   by Mackey McNeill back to top

Go Green - God Save the Queen   God Save the Queen is a collaborative art show at the Leapin Lizard Gallery in Covington intended to raise awareness about importance of honey bees in our everyday lives.  Money raised will help fund research on the alarming rate of disappearance of honey bees, now known as colony collapse disorder.    In 2006-07, honey bee farmers reported 30-90% of their honey bees had disappeared, primarily in the US and Canada.  Reports have also been made from Greece, Poland and Spain.  The loss is unexplained and unlike any other honey bee population decline in history.  With the loss of the bees, not only will we have a shortage of honey but limited fruits and vegetables at an ever rising cost.   Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honey bee to pollinate that food said Zac Browning, Vice President of the American Beekeeping Federation.  It has been estimated that honey bees pollinate more than $14 billion worth of fruit, vegetable, seed and nut crops in the US annually.   The cause of colony collapse disorder is unknown, although it has been narrowed down to parasites, viruses, bacteria, pesticides or a combination of these threats.  All monetary proceeds and a percentage of artwork sales from God Save the Queen will got to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Honey Bees, Inc.   Please join Leapin Lizard Gallery this Friday, October 12 from 6-9pm to raise awareness and help insure the survival of the honey bee in our future.    back to top   Practical Prosperity - Fall into Saving   As the weather begins to cool down, most Americans tend to venture outside again.  Trapped at slippery pool sides, cool, dark movie theaters, and in artificial, icy air, for 4 months, it only makes sense that it be time for change.  The new season is also a time to become wildly prosperous or perhaps more so than usual.  The activities we choose in the autumn months can be cheaper, healthier, and have a much more positive impact on the planet.   No doubt summertime is expensive.  We vacation, we dine out, we buy bug repellent, and countless cold drinks.  Each time we purchase that huge, frozen Mochachino we shell out $3.00 plus, put a plastic cup, lid, and straw into a landfill, and probably gain some around the middle.  I challenge you to take a break from these activities and get outside.  The days are still warm and the nights are getting crisp.  Let's take a few minutes to explore how we might make it a prosperous fall.   Take a minute to compare the cost of a hotel room versus a campsite.  A $100 hotel room usually isn't much to write home about anymore, but a $15 campsite at a state park might just be worth a picture.  That is $85 you can use to join a health club, plant a new tree, donate to charity, or extend your camping trip for 5 more days.  If that isn't being prosperous, then what is?  A trip to a national park or recreation area like The Great Smoky Mountains or the Red River Gorge costs peanuts compared to a glamorous vacation. I also like to consider what else my decision to be outside might save me.  Well there might be a doctor visit or two down the line when I am in better shape than my hotel bound self might be.  Even if I choose the old camping tradition of sausage and eggs for breakfast, while I might not do my arteries a favor, the amount of chemicals, additives, and fat we find in so many restaurants would be left behind.  It's also easy to produce little waste in the outdoors.  A small amount of packaging is about all I leave behind other than a few footprints.  You can wash your camping dishes, and the carryout bags, plastic cups, and paper plates we associate with dining out disappear.  Just think of the money that could be put to better use, and the less we would put in a landfill if we all went camping one weekend.  I could bore you with statistics and put a dollar figure on this point, but instead I will just ask you to trust me. "Woah", you are saying right now.  "I hate camping!"  That may very well be the case, or perhaps it's some other family member/friend's case.  There are plenty of other options that abound this time of year.  Instead of dining out on Friday nights, grab a bite at home and go catch a high school football game.  Let the Panther, Tiger, or whatever animal in you, out.  Its great socialization, the dirt cheap cost of admission goes to support your local school system, and it gets you off the couch.  As we saw before, again dozens of dollars saved, a prosperous school and community, and maybe even a few pounds left behind. Allow your imagination to run wild with ideas this fall.  There are festivals every weekend that get you out and about, eating healthy foods (should you choose), and supporting organizations that make a difference.  You can also do all of these things and leave more money in your bank account. The list of differences like this we can make this time of year is endless.  In summary, consider if implementing some of these suggestions save you directly (or indirectly) $1000 between now and December.  The old financial "Rule of 72" tells us that grand would grow to around $20,000 in 30 years when you are ready to send kids to college, retire, or perhaps leave your mark on the world.  More money, cleaner air, healthier organizations, and better health.  I am watching the sunset over the mountains right now as I write.  Wildly prosperous?... I think so! by Andy Pulsfort back to top

Buy the Book   "Prosperity begins as a state of being and thereby must be initiated from within."   Mackey's new audio book, The Dynamics of Money, Using the Enneagram for Conscious Transformation gives you the power to discover your personal key, unlocking the door to your true potential for unlimited prosperity.Through the power of the Narrative Tradition of the Enneagram you will hear three exemplars of each of the nine personality types sharing their unique perspectives on the subject of money and prosperity. Do you find yourself worrying about money? Are you concerned about your current level of savings? Would you like more options in your money life? If you answered yes to any of these questions or simply desire to understand yourself and others in the realm of finances, this audio book will provide you with insights not found elsewhere.  Allow The Dynamics of Money to consciously transform your financial life to one of unlimited prosperity. To order your copy of this newest release from Prosperity Publishing by Mackey McNeill and Dr. Deborah Ooten, please click here!   back to top   Also from Prosperity Publishing, Mackey's first book, The Intersection of Joy and Money, exposes the fantasies and illusions that sabotage your money life, and then offers a step-by-step guide to create a life of prosperity and abundance.  To purchase your copy of The Intersection of Joy and Money please click here.   back to top Hear Me Speak Monday - October 22 - 6-8pm                    -OR- Thursday - October 25 - 6-8pm  Cultivating Your Personal Prosperity Fall Seminar Series - Fifth Street Center   Location: 1st Fl - 525 W. 5th Street, Covington, KY 41011                      Join Mackey Advisors as we explore how to make the most of our financial lives and the five secrets of building wealth!  Mackey McNeill, President/CEO of Mackey Advisors, is a highly acclaimed author and financial consultant, helping people cultivate their personal prosperity for the past twenty-five years.     Make your reservation for this special event today!   This is a free event that is open to the public, but space is limited.   Please RSVP for this event by calling Alicia at (859) 331-7755 ext. 107 or email her. back to top