One alternative to the U.S. as a place to live, do business, retire or invest might have seemed like insanity just months ago…but given the whirlwind of current economic fluctuations that are driving us to become hardcore depression boomers, it might make sense to look south, very south, to get more "bang for your buck."

I hardly know anyone who hasn't been unaltered by today'stepid economic climate. As host of this weekly radio program, my goal is to provide a wide range of relevant data that can help minimize risk taking for small business owners. Thus, I'm excited about presenting this great opportunity in Latin America.

As a serious-minded businessperson, I began looking into the idea of living and doing business abroad to accomplish three things:

1. Lower my costs
2. Look for growing demand
3. Find an expanding middle class market

Though he never states it explicitly, "Four Hour Work Week" guy Tim Ferriss employs this smart strategy: He sells to the First World, hires workers in the Third World, and lives in Latin America, where costs are low and the lifestyle is high.

Corporate America has been doing it for years. Ask companies like Pepsi, Wal-Mart, Avon, Burger King and Pizza Hut where their growth is?

It's overseas…in the developing world.

So, what areyour alternatives?

One of my favorites, Ecuador, is an ideal country: moderately conservative, highly productive especially in natural products, a top five Latin America ranking in shrimp production, and many real estate bargains to be had.

Ecuador has a population that still knows how to work and how to grow its own food–including natural and organic–and is staying away from swallowing the "entitlement" pill for now.

Based on these criteria, Ecuador has a slight edge over my other favorite, Chile.

One of the benefits of covering the Natural Products Expo for HBR's Living Green segment in 2012 was that we made great connections with an array of small Ecuadorian businesses seeking U.S. distributors for their products and new investors.

If you're looking for offshore options, and would consider sharing in a high-demand business in the natural and organic industry, this video may get you to consider Ecuador as a viable choice.

All offshore opportunities are not created alike. You owe it to yourself to go beyond the current "comic book" advice available on the Internet and from mass-market seminars presented by companies like Agora (International Living.)

Latin America is not perfect by the stretch of anyone's imagination, but for now, the governments there employ a "live and let live" approach to their citizens and residents: You don't bother them and they don't bother you. Does that sound attractive to you?

For more information, visit the…

Months after being kicked out of their encampments, organizers of several movements are calling for a "Spring offenisve" to take place globally.  While it appears that it's died down, police arrest 73 or more protestors in Zuccati Park.  The occupy movement helped launch Occupy Our Homes, a group that assists citizens at risk of losing their homes to foreclosures.

The Stream just reported that "The Occupy movement has faced a financing problem in recent months, which has led some wealthy progressives to try to contribute funds. The Movement Resource Group, whose board is led by Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's, has so far raised about $300,000 in support of the Occupy movement."

Occupy Wall Street has begun a regular Friday training for activists planning to join the May Day actions.

What do you think? What has the movement achieved and what needs to change? Send us your thoughts and comments on Twitter using hashtag #hispanicradio.

Boost your productivity: Cripple your technology | matt.might.net

Plus additional advice from Carlos Andrew Reeder

This article summarizes a lot about the distractions this wonderful tool called the computeer creates. Some excerpts to ponder: For those that spend their working hours attached to a computer, distraction is never more than a few keystrokes away. It's too easy to switch from editing a document to blowing time on the web. For many of us, the biggest gains in productivity do not come from following a specific methodology for "getting things done." It comes from erecting transaction costs to nonproductive behavior.

The productivity paradox

The productivity paradox, popularized by economist Erik Brynjolfsson, notes that computational power has advanced exponentially for decades, yet growth in labor productivity remains modest.

While many factors explain the paradox, the one most relevant to modern knowledge workers is the dual capacity of technology to aid and to distract.

To resolve this paradox, my guiding principle for productivity applies:

Mold your life so that the path of least resistance 
is the path of maximum productivity.

Tips to consider:

#1: Use dry-erase boards and journals

If a large portion of your work involves playing with ideas, buy a large dry erase board. Step away from the machine.

Getting away from the computer makes it hard to subconsciously slip into autonomic procrastinatory tendencies.

#2: When outlining, brainstorming or calculating, use a journal instead of a computer.

#3: Block distracting sites; get an iPad

It's easy to sink hours into sites like reddit.

If you find yourself spending too much time on some sites, block them permanently them using tools like Leechblock for Firefox andStayFocusd for Chrome.

To browse these sites, use a dedicated device like an iPad instead.

When you need to get work done, remove that device from the room.

I haven't found a good site-blocking tool for Safari. If you need to disable Safari on a Mac, use:

 sudo port chmod ogu-rx /Applications/Safari.app

and to re-enable it:

 sudo port chmod ogu+rx /Applications/Safari.app
#4: 
Put yourself in airplane mode
Many find airplane flights unexpectedly productive.
For a few hours, the prime distractions of modern life are gone: coworkers, TV, email, phone, text messaging and time-draining web sites.
Spend a couple hours each day in airplane mode: disable the internet on your computer and put your phone in airplane mode.
#5:  Time Management your day in blocks.
Each different time management system is not necessarily suitable to all people or for all uses for which people need them. My approach, is to choose specific tasks or commitment assignments and assign a REASONABLE block of time to that task. (As hard to adhere to as my bootcamp  class at the gym) 
This might throw some of you off, but don't over prepare and give yourself some slack.  Resist the urge to "refine it" one more time, adhere to your cut off deadline and get to the next planned event. 
Lastly, if you require tools to help you structure a plan, there's a fabulous prioritizing grid in Richard Bolles's What Color is Your Parachute? that can be easily adapted to your daily schedule. 
 Just a thought!

I just had a really great conversation with John DeSantiago from ProvenSocial.com to discuss his views about the importance of Social Media.  I agree with him that having Social Media in today's market is a essential, no matter what kind of business you may own.  small and medium size business need to get out of the mind set that Facebook and Twitter is not going to last or that its for personal more than business use. Remember, our current President Obama was elected using the Social Highway!

There is no other way to market your business everyday and using a push marketing method instead of using a pull marketing method like magazine ads or yellow page ads. Social Media is best and cheapest way to stay in touch with current clients and prospects.  To hear the extended interview with John, click onto the Listen Live link and pick up some very valuable tips on growing your business through the Social Highway!