(NNPA)—An entrepreneurial mindset is re-emerging in Black America. New-breed entrepreneurs are no longer obsessed with lack of opportunities, but with creatively creating their future out of nothing into something. Necessity is the mother of invention! Becoming self-made gives you a fighting chance.

Is it your dream to become successful, achieve financial independence, earn a lot of money and become a millionaire in five years? My advice? Become an entrepreneur. History is full of entrepreneurs who saw a need, met it and made a fortune in the process. More than half of the world’s self-made millionaires are entre­pre­neurs or self-employed professionals.

There is a natural tendency to procrastinate when it comes to stressful activities that you don’t enjoy. Combined with a busy, hurried lifestyle and competing demands, however, procrastination can create its own problems, such as stress, guilt and panic. Given the economic environment of the last several years—high unemployment, declining home values, escalating health care costs, complex tax law changes, and bitter economic scandals—many consumers approach finances with a sense of foreboding. Procrastination, here, though, can actually cost you money. The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers a few tips on how to keep from procrastinating on financial issues.

When you think of your life in retirement you imagine yourself traveling the world, spending quality time with family and friends, pursuing simple pleasures, and living the life of ease and luxury. With the children gone and various bills paid, it’s easy to assume that you’ll have sufficient income coming in to maintain your desired standard of living during retirement.

The lifestyle of the majority of senior citizens is anything but a life of ease and luxury. After 30 years of working hard, raising a family, and trying to maintain a quality standard of living, the thing that’s always procrastinated and oftentimes neglected is retirement planning. Creating your desired retirement lifestyle is going to take more than wishful thinking and groundless assumptions. It’s going to take proactive planning and purposeful execution.

Financial empowerment series

JULY 21—The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh will host a Financial Empowerment Series from 6:30-8 p.m. at the YWCA Homewood-Brushton, 6907 Frankstown Rd., Homewood. Every Wednesday, the four-session series will teach individuals how to create a successful strategy to improve one’s overall financial situation. The sessions will be focused on budgeting, using banks and credit unions, understanding credit-credit repair and saving-investing. The series will run through July 28 and a free copy of one’s credit report and free child care will be provided. Registration is required and the cost is $20 per person. Call 412-255-6749.