Most people don’t value their failures…but Bill Bartmann does. In fact, when it comes to failure and success, no one knows the ropes better than he does. If that seems a little exaggerated, it’s not. Among other life changes, Bartmann pulled himself from abject poverty to become the 25th wealthiest man in America.

“I’ve had a very interesting life,” Bartmann says. “I’ve gone from being unemployed and almost unemployable, to employing more than 10,000 people. I’ve gone from being a million dollars in the hole and bankrupt to being over a billion dollars to the good.”

And that’s just the beginning. Bartmann, who has earned recognition from numerous institutions, as well as a permanent place in the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of American History, says his mission is to share his success strategies with as many people as possible.

“I’ve seen both sides of success and failure, and I’ve seen both of them up close and personal,” says Bartmann. “It’s because I’ve seen them, and have learned some things during my journey, that I want to share the things I’ve learned with the hope that it will provide some value for the people in the audience.”

Because he’s known more than his share of hard times, Bartmann says he teaches people how to react to adversity in a way that makes their lives better.

“Most of us don’t know how to react to the things that happen to us. We go into shock,” he says. “We want to grab a bottle or grab a gun or grab a razor blade, because we fall into despair or despondency. I show people none of that stuff is necessary.”

Bartmann also says the way to dealing with adversity is deceptively simple.

“The simplest way to deal with adversity is to raise your self-confidence. If you can do that, then when things happen around you, you have the strength and the resolve to be able to deal with them honestly and straight-up,” Bartmann says.

While, Bartmann admits, he can’t fix everyone’s problems, he does want to help make their lives easier.

“I’m not a psychologist,” he stresses. “I’m not trying to cure all the ills of the world, but I do want to be able to talk to people one-on-one, to let them understand there is somebody out there who’s been through the stuff they’re going through, and there are some very simple things you can do that will make your life so much easier.”

“I’ve had more failures than anyone else I’ve met in my whole life, but I’ve also had more successes than most people, because I’ve learned how to deal with my failures,” Bartmann concludes. “That’s what I want to show people.”

Anyone involved in the chiropractic industry can download Dr. Patrick Porter’s free podcasts through iTunes or by visiting http://www.ParkerVegas.com. You can view Dr. Porter’s chiropractic support program at www.newreality.com.

Many people are of the opinion that investing in crude oil futures prices is a very sound financial decision. However, there are also a number of reasons why investing in something else may be a better fit for you and your situation. Here are some thoughts that may help you decide if oil is where you really want to invest.

One of the major points to consider when making an investment is what type of impact that investment may have on the future of your family and your community. From that perspective, you may feel that your money would be better invested in some other commodity that will have a lasting benefit to future generations. This may be something along the lines of a local business or something within the community that will generate revenue for the investors but perhaps benefit students or another sector of the community. These types of investments often have the advantage of seeing your money make a difference in the places where you live in a very short period of time.

There is also the need to address your feelings on environmental issues. For persons who have strong feelings about the need to develop alternative fuel and energy resources, the idea of dealing with crude oil futures prices may not be all that appealing to their sense of working to make the world a better place. In this scenario, investing in some sort of biofuel development project or perhaps even a company that is developing vehicles that will run on alternate fuels may be a much better option. Along with making an impact on energy consumption today, you also have the satisfaction of knowing that your efforts are going to pay off big dividends for your children at some point in the future.

Perhaps your main concern has nothing to do with the environment at all. It may be simple economics. There may not be enough extra funds on hand to allow you to take advantage of current crude oil futures prices. If that is the case, then find some safe investments that will return a modest and consistent return. With a little luck, the prices on oil stock will remain somewhat static and you will eventually be in a position to take advantage of attractive futures prices. Of course, when that day comes, you may find there are other places you would prefer to invest your money.

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://crude-oil.oil-universe.com. Please visit for information on all things concerned with Crude Oil Futures Prices

For persons who have a structured settlement, but do not want to deal with incremental payments, a structured settlement company may be the answer. Here are some guidelines to help you work with a company that purchases structured settlements and obtain a financial package that will be to your satisfaction.

First, you must investigate the company thoroughly before you ever sign any type of agreement with them. This means you will want to check with consumer agencies and business bureaus to see what type of complaints have been logged against the company and how the issues were resolved. At the same time, check online for any comments, positive or negative, about the way the Settlement Company conducts business. This research will tell you early on if you need to continue speaking with the company, or start to look elsewhere.

As part of your research, don’t forget to check for any reports to the Better Business Bureau or any formal consumer reports that may have been published about the company in question. News articles about the company and its officers are also helpful if you can locate any of them online or at your local library. The thing you want to make sure of is that any company you speak with is legitimate and ethical in the way they present themselves and the way they take care of their customers.

Should you find the structured settlement company to enjoy a good reputation and possess an ethical approach to business, you will then want to get an idea of how they go about paying for the purchased settlement. Many companies have a ceiling amount that they will pay out at one time. If your settlement is a large one, they may offer you a payment package that involves a lump sum up front and the remainder in annual payments. Since the idea is to get as much of the money at one time as possible, this may or may not be preferable to your current circumstances.

Also, keep in mind that you will only realize a percentage of the total face value of your settlement. What you want in a settlement company is the quickest pay out with the highest percentage you can get. Don’t settle for the first quote you are given, even if the deal looks like a good one. Get proposals from at least two more companies before you make a final decision. With a little research and by taking your time, you can come to terms with a structured settlement company and get the best payment schedule as well as an excellent percentage when you sell your settlement.

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://structured-settlements.wares-are.us. Please visit for information on all things concerned with Structured Settlement Company