Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Education Concept: Consumer & Financial Literacy Courses

Hello All,

I hope those of you in the States had a very "Happy Thanks Giving" holiday. Of which the shopper days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday were of paramount importance to retailers. Possibly faring whether this economic quarter of the year offers good tidings to the U.S. economy, or not. Today's concept has the shopper in mind in finding the best deals out there in the marketplace. However it would be offered as a certificate program accreditation to be called "Shopper Advocates".

Now what would this so called Shopper Advocate study program entail for potential students slash consumers?

Let's see if school courses like home economics are being cut out of public schools due to funding restraints. Not unlike the elective courses of the arts and athletic programs here in the public education system. Why not vocational schools if not some sort of community college campus offer a curriculum of consumer and financial literacy. Perhaps not to the scale of a full university degree nor a multi-year technical certificate program. Just something to arm consumers for the marketplace not to be fleeced like sheep by unscrupulous predators. Be they high pressure sales tactics or what brought us to this Great Recession. Such as the liar loans or predatory home mortgage lenders.

This curriculum can be taught either as a certificate program, lecture series, workshop series, study course (print or online), etc... How to foster being a savvy shopper and a sophisticated consumer in America or elsewhere in the world. That are driven by informing accurately pertinent issues facing the unprepared consumer in the marketplace of commerce. The course work which can include field trips to retail outlets or financial institutions be they banks, brokerage firms, or insurance companies.

For instance the Shopper Advocate program can teach topics of great concern and interest to the consumer. Be it shopper tips, tricks, and tactics to get the best possible price in retail or wholesale. Shopping for groceries (IE like the TV show of "Extreme Couponing"), electronics and computers, automobiles and recreational vehicles, clothing, home furnishings, travel, and homes as residences or investment properties. The financial literacy component can include how to shop for financial instruments. Be it for a safeguard in ones future such as insurance of all types. Or investments be it a brokerage account for retirement dealing with stocks, bonds, options, etc... There can also be study material covering how students can pursue scholarships and sources of eligible grants for higher education. Where the instructor(s) of such a curriculum aren't pushing endorsed products or services for a commercial related kickback as a commission.

Once a student completes such a course work of the "Shopper Advocate" program. They can go on to produce actual savings for their own household. Perhaps whilst even in the process of completing the program itself. Students upon completion will certainly spread their lessons to relatives and friends alike in a similar circumstance of making a major purchase. If a certificate program is offered that is geared towards professionalism. Those participates can provide formal or informal workshops with an entry level exposure to others. By being hired as a professional shopper in order to save money for their clients. Be it in savings for groceries, clothing, or in major purchases for their clients. The really entrepreneurial shopper advocate may even take tour groups of consumers. To retail outlets in order to save them money on products / services and how to pull it off in a mentor field trip capacity. A generous Shopper Advocate may even volunteer their time to shop on behalf of the local church food bank. For instance providing large amounts of groceries at pennies on the dollar via couponing. Or related purchasing tactics during sales at a grocery chain.

Why not offer a whole shebang cocktail of consumer education and advocacy to shoppers? Maybe retailers and financial institutions want their customers to be dumb as sheep for the slaughter? I would rather we that are lifetime consumers out of necessity are hawks and not sheep. It is up to a private or public school of higher education to provide such a robust curriculum of consumer and financial literacy. I hope this concept finds its way to passionate educators who truly seek to make a difference in our shared world.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Jewels of Truth Statements & Favorite Quotes of The Month

Hello All,

For those of us here in the States we're about to celebrate a major holiday of "Thanksgiving" next week. The rest I would assume continue their lives until there own major holiday season in December.

I'm also nearing completion of my Volume 2 of the Jewels of Truth series, with my publisher iUniverse. We're at the stage of doing revisions of the interior of the book. Where the book cover itself has already been finalized in preparation for the printer.

Today's trio of all original "Jewels of Truth" are on the topics of: Love, Bubbles, and Appearances. Written back in early May of the year 2009. So without a further adieu may you enjoy them.

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951) "Love & Life", are interchangeable much like "Fear and Death" in regard that one plays off the other in reality. Love is many things to many souls. Love is simple, elegant, purifying, nurturing, empowering, and most of all miraculous. Life likewise is many things to many people whether viewed with true eyes or not. Life is complicated, difficult, confusing, and with suffering. Fear leads to hate, anger, guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, and ultimately destruction be it of the self or the world. Death is final with discouragement for those who are not fortified for its journey in spirit and sense of character. By seeking unconditional Love there you will find the eternal life of your soul. Where God as the dutiful parent will stand ready to embrace you silently with thanksgiving.

Be still and listen intently until the spark of life murmurs within gently stirring your heart and mind. Setting you free by a personal choice from your own self imposed bondage. Thus allowing your spirit to soar as a child of God in his grace always. Amen.
---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.


952) We all live in a self-imposed Bubble of one sort of size or another. Some bubbles outgrow their former selves and become "Globes" in scope and utility. For the rest of us we are in the bubbles of the "Ego" of our own creation. Not all bubbles are bad, some heal us or our loved ones that set us on a course of redemption. Yet again most bubbles are short sighted and see only what they selfishly choose to see. Such close minded bubbles are in the proverbial "Ivory Tower" by seeking not to truly know the truth laid out before them. Willing instead to choose to maintain the status quo at nearly all costs. Whether they are the ruling majority in a society with a centralized authority. Or be they miserable souls who are in a state of constant denial.

Other bubbles are struggling to break free by popping their ego bubbles. Emerging as a new found globe in the circle of life, love, and within the prism of the Holy Light. To those we are thankful for their progress, no matter how slow it seems to all other doubters. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.


953) Those who solely judge by appearances are misguided if not worse yet shallow in disposition. A true reality of a circumstance is far deeper under the layers of the heart, mind, and soul. Be one an individual or extending to an entire people or a society at large. If one seeks a rightful outcome than put all your energy with a faithful intent upon a sincere audience with the "Will of God". Such a holy directive when beseeched without the ego of an entity. Allows many things beyond mortal sight of a flawed people to be revealed in totality. Harken back to the wisdom of Solomon and you will know when you are upon the sacred ground of the Divine. Where the pure and the inspired outcomes flow like riches with depth and promise.

Seek first the promise of the covenant of the Lord God. For all other creative avenues of solutions in the open ended realm of possibility are yours. Then the hallmarks of a continued path of opportunity that is not selfish for its own glory. Will be filled with goodness offered by the "Holy Spirit". Laid out at the steps of your mind, your heart, and placed in order for your soul to achieve. Look with only the eyes of the soul and not your own eyes of the flesh. Such is the truth when one is sincerely ready in seeking rightful outcomes based on grace everlasting. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

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Will you ever understand how near God is to you? ---Lalla, 14th century C.E.

All the way to heaven is Heaven. ---Catherine of Siena.

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder. ---E.B. White "Charlotte's Web".

Resolve to be thyself: and know, that he who finds himself, loses his misery. ---Matthew Arnold.

Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. ---Horace.