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Dear Abby - DEAR ABBY: I am a woman living with a man, but "in love" with another man whom I formerly dated but broke up with because he's an alcoholic. "Spike" is a true biker -- exciting, funny and fun. Our lifestyles didn't mesh, so I made the decision we shouldn't be together. I miss him very much, and it keeps me from being totally committed in my head to the man I live with.

This week I had the opportunity to launch a new product at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Associations annual trade show in Orlando. This is an annual fair that brings together the manufacturers of all size to present and introduce new wares for the youth market. As in all industries, the competition is fierce, the innovations many and the marketing strategies are endlessly varied.

During lulls in the action I walked the floor and did a bit of networking. I had the good fortune to meet a woman, standing at the smallest, most sparsely merchandised booth in the show. As we chatted she opened up to me about what her goals were for her product, at this time and at this expensive, high-end show.

Her display consisted solely of a single prototype of her invention. She had no packaging, no graphics, no branding, none of the elements present in glowing abundance at every other booth on the trading floor. She was also scared. Her expressed fear was that she would be dismissed as a dreamer for attending such an event with no bullets in her gun.

Despite all of her perceived disadvantages, this lady had a really great product concept. Her invention was novel, a true product improvement over the existing universe of competitive brands currently being marketed. I thought she had an excellent chance to find a partner, a license or sell her patented concept and told her so.

Each day I would see this nice lady several times and I noticed a subtle change happening at each meeting. She was gaining confidence. She was seeing her product concept being exposed to a very tough crowd and people were confirming her assumptions about product potential. Her experience at the show was proving invaluable in energizing her for the task ahead of making her invention market ready.

The last time I saw this lady she was positively glowing. A senior executive from one of the largest companies in the industry had visited her stand. Then he returned with subordinates. She had been invited to corporate headquarters to formally present the prototype to the corporate team and commence negotiations for a license deal.

Now this is a great step for her but she realizes she has a long way to go before she closes a license deal. I know this after several days of exposure to this woman, if the deal does not happen I will see her at this or another show down the line with a fully branded product ready for sale. She will not stop until she achieves her goal.

My consulting firm looks at hundreds of new invention and product submissions each year. We actually engage about a dozen in an average year. A very high percentage of the items we pass on nevertheless have real commercial merit. What they invariably lack is a person such as the lady I have described in this article.

The ability to take an alternative path, expose your idea to a critical marketplace and take a risk is what separates successful entrepreneurs from dreamers. The word no is something all of us dread hearing. And yet, overcoming no is the hurdle every entrepreneur must learn to accept, understand and handle. I tell my clients, no just means not today.

I meet many people who simply give up. Their reasons, really excuses, are endless. I could not raise the money. I was misled. I have three kids. My partner took off with the plans. I cant sell. These, and countless other complaints are indicative of a fear of success. Not everyone is constructed with the right stuff to succeed as an entrepreneur.

I was personally and professionally re-energized after my brief, meeting with my new entrepreneurial friend. She had taken an uncertain, risky and novel road to launching her product. Her courage was to be admired. She confirmed my belief that the road to success is open to all with the drive, ambition and positive attitude essential to face and overcome the obstacles that inevitably must be encountered. Markets are brutally competitive. Only the strong will survive in this jungle.

Geoff Ficke has been a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his spending money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.

After putting himself through the University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and serving in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, he then launched a number of ventures, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.

Geoff Ficke and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. (http://www.duquesamarketing.com) has assisted businesses large and small, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in new product development, capital formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrep

Reuters - The U.S. government plans to put government sponsored mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers reported late Friday, in what could be the largest financial bailout in the nation's history.

So, how do you save for retirement?

Seriously, have you actually started to save?

Have you thought of where and how to come up with the money you need to support yourself in retirement?

No? That's pretty normal because it isn't something we usually think about when we've other more pressing matters at hand. Retirement? Well, it's another 20, 30 years down the road; plenty of time to start that saving.....

Well, before you know it, you've retired and you don't save enough to support yourself in retirement....

Don't fall into this "tragic" trap. Start to save as early as possible because the earlier you start to save, the more time your savings have, to compound over time.

I'm going to show you how to save for retirement, the "smart" ways:

• Estimate how much you need to save to last throughout your retirement years, with inflation built in. How much your expenses will be at retirement and your life expectancy at retirement (based on when you might retire) are the crucial measuring yardsticks to know how much you need to save.Multiply your estimated annual expenses at retirement by the years you can expect to live after retirement. You get a rough idea of what you need to save for retirement (P/S: Experts estimate that your retirement expenses will be 30% lower than when you were in the work force)
• Deduct the amount you expect to receive from Social Security. Contact the Social Security Administration at get your estimated benefits at retirement. On average, Social Security will account for less than 44% of your income (and if you're in a higher income bracket, the figure could be more like 15%). The rest must come from you, from your other sources of income - could be pensions, retirement savings plans, annuities, interest, dividends, rent....
• Learn about your employer's pension Or profit sharing plan - if your employer offers a plan, check to see what your benefit is worth. Most employers will provide an individual benefit statement if you request one. Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension. Learn what benefits you may have from previous employment
• Contribute to a tax-sheltered savings plan - if your employer offers a tax-sheltered savings plan, such as a 401k, sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy. Over time, compound interest and tax deferrals make a big difference in the amount you will accumulate
• Put your money into an individual retirement account (IRA). You can put up to $4,000 a year into an IRA and gain tax advantages. When you open an IRA, you've 2 options - a traditional IRA or the newer Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, you should know that the after-tax value of yourwithdrawal will depend on inflation and the type of IRA you choose
• Get familiar with basic investment principles. How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make affect how much you'll have saved at retirement. Know how your pension or savings plan is invested. It'll help to enhance your financial security
• Don't touch your retirement savings. You'll lose principal and interest, and you may lose tax benefits. If you change jobs, roll over your savings directly into an IRA or your new employer's retirement plan
• Start now to save and stick to it. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Put time on your side. Make retirement savings a high priority. Get a plan, stick to it, and set goals for your savings

Due to her strong yearning to retire early in life, Cecelia Yap has been researching on the subject of retirement. She has found the most "viral" way to grow her retirement nest egg and you too can do what she does, here: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/my-passion.html