How save and make money

How save and make money

If you save money, the money will save you

The problem with most peoples finances today is that they are not getting enough income to satisfy their needs and wants. People are naturally going to buy things they want even if it means spending more than they have (credit cards), and they know in the back of their minds that they cant afford it, but they will get it anyway. I think people will develop their own budgeting scheme when their income meets their wants then they will be budgeting masters, all by their selves. But till then there will ALWAYS be people in debt no matter how much you preach!

I think a solution to some people money problem is to teach them how to make extra money first, and then teach them how to budget and save it. Americans really don’t want that much; it is the hobbies that get people in trouble, bills, spending too much on golf clubs, car parts, computers, things around the house etc.

I don’t know about you but this is how I feel about life. Right now, I am working a 9 to 5 job making $3200 monthly. I don’t want to be stuck knowing that I will be 'working' for the rest of my life, taking orders from bosses, putting up with BS and other peoples attitude, having to get up in the morning when I want to sleep in and that fear of getting fired. Currently, I am in this situation but will not be soon. There are people right now making well over $20,000/monthly working for their selves and they are everyday people that you see walking their dog, in supermarkets or even that person arguing with the McDonalds cashier. If these people ever do go back to work for someone else they can do it "stress free" even if the job is stressful (think about that). 

Before, you can work for yourself you have to decide one thing: If you really want that responsibility. If you said yes, you have gotten over the biggest hurdle and you will not be limited to the income your employer is giving you. I know what I am about to say will be over simplistic but I will save the details for you to research on your own. Here is a breakdown

1st: determine if you really want self-employment

2nd: decide what area of business you want or good at.

3rd: If step 2 requires money, their are program out there that can help you get started in internet business, selling or something else before you start in what you want to do. For example, "I want to own a photography shop but it costs $10,000 to get started. Well, if I sell product A for a year I can do it". You never know, whatever you get into before your dream business may make you $50,000 a month and you may forget all about that photography shop. I can help you here too.

4th Research, research and do more research. Find out what you competition is. Find out how much money they are making. Find out where they are advertising. Find out what it takes to get started. Find out where your customer are etc, etc, etc..research

5th EXECUTE!! I mean once you have confidence go do it.

They say that 90% of home businesses fail for the first time. And you may fail, but all you have to do is try and try again, please don’t give up. Believe me, you will get it right and when you do, you will be very successful. The percentage of people who fail for the second and third time is much lower than the first timers. Well sorry to talk yall half to death, I can go on and on about this stuff.

Easy Ways To Make Money

Easy Ways To Make Money

There are easy ways to make money in my opinion, but of course this means different things to different people. For example, do you want easy ways to make money right now, or ways to make the most over time with the least effort? These really are two very different things.

Easy Ways To Make Money Right Now

- Go get a job. Or just work more hours at your present job. Starting a business or learning to invest successfully isn't easy. A job is easier. To be able to go to work and get a paycheck every week or two guaranteed - that's easy!

- Sell things. An easy way to make money quickly is to sell whatever you don't need. Get rid of the second car, the boat you never use, etc.

- Reduce expenses. Stop smoking, and learn how to spend less for all the things you buy. If you can spend $14 less each day on unimportant things, you save over $5,000 per year. That's like making $7,000 more (you have to earn that much to have $5,000 after taxes).

Easy Ways To Make Money - Eventually

The job is easier than a business, but really only in the near-term. If you define easy as "the most money over time for the least effort," you need to invest or start a business, or both. I've got two stories to demonstrate that idea.

I bought my first home in my twenties, and it was just a mobile home on real estate, but I discovered that I could easily rent rooms. I was soon living for free as well as banking some of the money. This wasn't a "get rich quick" scheme, but I made as much as $7,000 per year extra from my investment. I had to work to pay off the mortgage, but in the end I was working much less than my friends were.

My second story has to do with this internet business. I spend a lot of time writing these articles now, and distributing them. People read them, click through to my web sites from the link at the bottom, and maybe buy a product that I get a commission on, or I get paid for the advertising clicks. Really, it is pretty easy now, but that's not how it started.

I worked full time from the start. Six months into it, I was making a net profit of about $2 per day. It was a bit discouraging. I had a lot to learn. Fortunately, I learned my lessons, and as it turns out, I was making something closer to $30 per hour for my time. I just wouldn't be paid for the first year. Now the business pumps out the money I made from those earlier efforts, and keeps doing so even when I am on vacation.

That's the way it is with money. If you want more money than a job will provide, you have to invest or start a business. That may mean you work for a dollar per hour to start, so that you can easily collect $100 per hour, years down the road. If that sounds too discouraging, then maybe there are no easy ways to make money.

Do Business Opportunities Still Exist For Budding Entrepreneurs?

Do Business Opportunities Still Exist For Budding Entrepreneurs

The world of business is moving forwards at a fast pace. Globalization, huge marketing exposure and low distribution costs over the recent years have had a huge impact on small businesses.  I have been told that opportunities for the adventurous and ambitious were in abundance only ten years ago but the 'markets have changed' and margins are tighter making new ventures all the more risky. 

Globalization, smarter IT systems and the intelligent analysis of information and the money to put this infrastructure in place gives the bigger player a distinct advantage with bespoke and selective marketing targeted to an ever demanding audience.  

Do the factors of opportunity remain constant in an ever shifting and almost slippery road for business people looking to capitalize on the next big hit?

I have had many discussions with business people and new entrepreneurs who state that the markets have become so fast and furious that only those with deep pockets can penetrate new areas that were once only an idea.  

Others say that where one door closes, many new doors open and that all you have to do is have foresight.   The market always has a knack of balancing the scales and where some exceed and drive out other players, they often leave a huge gap behind them in their wake only for to be capitalized on.

In today's age where fast food, massive shopping centers, online shopping and consumers demanding more and more for the market, is there any room left for that personal and local touch?  Does price and speed always dictate where you buy?

Bespoke and personalized marketing are the buzz words of today.  Electronic profiles of your buying habits are allowing selective marketing that claim to zone in on your interests.  

Have you noticed vouchers you receive through the post from your supermarket?  These vouchers are personally tailored to reflect your personal interests through analyzing what you have previously purchased through your debit or credit card.  You can only hide if you buy with cash.  They say that cash is king but if you want to hide your buying profile, do not use plastic!

How do new businesses compete in this fast moving market?  What have the giants left in their wake?  If you are thinking laterally, what new business opportunities exists and where?

The new breed of entrepreneur has to be one step ahead and the only advantage they have is that they can respond to demands quicker than the lumbering giants.  An example is that extra personal touch.  With small businesses you may be able to talk directly to the owner whereas with the big players you may end up talking to someone in a foreign country.  Does that count?  Do customers appreciate this?  

Is there a gap in the market for personalized solutions that only the small businesses can cater for? Could this create a new wave and movement?  Going back to basics and rewinding the commercial clock may be called for but you better be quick, the big guys are just behind you!

Entrepreneurial Holiday Guilt for Creative Professionals

Entrepreneurial Holiday Guilt for Creative Professionals

Guilt, guilt, guilt.  Guilt is a terrible feeling and is often self-inflicted by creative entrepreneurs, especially during the holidays. 

Most people who work for themselves say they chose to do so because they wanted to "control their time."  People who value time over money, recognize that time is a precious commodity that cannot be created, bought, or borrowed.  You have to use it wisely or else it is gone.

Having the luxury to control how, with whom, and where you spend your time is one of the bonuses of working for yourself.  So, why is it that an overwhelming number of female entrepreneurs also say they feel guilty when they are not working on their businesses or with a client between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm?  

To be truly happy and successful as an entrepreneur, you must break the corporate-created walls of time and learn how to set your day according to your needs and the needs of your clients.  There is no law chaining you to your desk eight hours a day between 9 am and 5 pm. 

Here's my advice: stop feeling guilty about when you are working and when you are not, and ditch the idea of playing by rules set up by other organizations.  Make sure you benefit from the freedoms of entrepreneurship and maximize your time by performing regular activities such as food shopping at off times like 10 am on a Tuesday or having your teeth cleaned at 2pm on a Monday.   You will spend less time waiting in line, you will be less stressed, and actually have more time to devote to your clients and other activities, then if you went on a weekend or during a busier time.

Of course, be sure to take a day or two off completely during the holidays to go gift shopping, ice-skating, or for decorating your home.  Give yourself permission to enjoy your life and do something for yourself, even if it is on a week day between nine and five.  You deserve it.

Happy holidays!

Becoming an Internet Entrepreneur - Tips and Tricks!!!

Becoming an Internet Entrepreneur

Hello, and congratulations on becoming an Internet Entrepreneur with your very own Web Business!!! To get you fast-tracked, we have included a vast selection of tips and tricks to make your online business a success that it deserves to be.

1) First of all, choose a domain name that is somehow related to the business you are in. For   example, if you are looking for a domain name for your pillow business, you might want to try using a name like www.SquarePillows.com or www.PillowSleep.com. It is important to use a “real” domain name. Your visitors will not take your business seriously if you use a free domain name like www.tripod.com/squarepillows , or www.angelfire.com/pillowsleep . A lot of the good domain names are already spoken for, but if you are patient enough, you will search and find one that is still available. If you think that you will need more than one domain name, get that one now too, as thousands of names are taken up each day. Do a search under “Google” using “cheap domain names” as your search words. You will find some very reasonably priced domain registrars. The cheapest one that I have found so far is at www.GoDaddy.com. They are a full service operation offering web hosting and cheap, cheap, cheap domain registration. 

2) You will need a hosting service for your domain name. The hosting service allows your domain name and all of its content to be viewed on the internet. This is easy to handle. You have basically two choices here. You can pay for the hosting service or get it for free. If money is not really a problem for you, then you may want to choose the paid version. Just do a search using “Google” with “web hosting” as your search words, and take your pick from the thousands of sites. You will find that the price charged varies wildly depending the services required. Now if you want to explore the free version…. There are a lot of free hosting companies on the internet. The problem with these free hosting companies is that they all require some sort of pop-up banner, static header or footer banner, or both, to be placed on each and every web page. These banners can contain all kinds of advertising, and some, or all of it, may not be welcome to the viewers on your web site. The free hosting option is certainly not the best one to explore. To save you time, I would recommend www.GoDaddy.com again for the most economical hosting of your web site.

3) Once you have your domain name and hosting service taken care of, you will probably need a way of uploading your web content to your site. Sometimes your web hosting service provider includes a site manager that allows this function. If not, then you might want to look into downloading some FTP software such as WS_FTP for example at www.ipswitch.com.  While you are downloading software, you may also want to add WINZIP – located at www.WinZip.com to your download list. WINZIP allows you to “unzip” your “PillowSleep” file for example. A file is initially “zipped” to compress it for ease of downloading. To use this download zip file, you will have to “unzip” it first.

4) Your “PillowSleep” site probably needs a little more customizing. Look at other pillow sites on the internet for comparison and see what could be improved visually on your site. Does it need any flashy graphics? There are many free graphics available on the internet  - just do a search with google. Once you are happy with the way your web site looks, it’s now time to focus on that fun part – html coding. Unless you are very comfortable using “html” coding, don’t touch the “html” coding on the “PillowSleep” pages at all. If you are comfortable using “hml”, then you could add things like Title, Meta Keywords, Meta Descriptions, etc., which would allow the search engines to find your web site much easier.  The use of “keyword phrases” is much more useful than just using “keywords”, because it makes your web site more search specific. Go ahead and add a “Pillow” links page too. Another tip is always keep a hard copy of your web pages somewhere, either on a floppy, cd, or dvd. There are few things worse than customizing a web site and if something bad happens to your computer or hard drive, losing the web content forever. 

5) At this point, you probably already have uploaded your web site and have it online. Now you need to “drive” visitors to your site. One popular way of bringing traffic to your site is to use a free link exchange or free link trading service. For the free link exchange service, you just sign up and put a little bit of code on your “Pillow” web site (this allows other Pillow web site banners to be viewed on your site and vice versa). The free link trading service is very simple also. You simply add another pillow’s link to your links page and vice versa. This trading of links increases your sites popularity greatly with the search engines. One of the most important things you can do to gain traffic is to get listed with the major search engines. Go to each search engine, or use a free service like www.AddMe.com and add your web site there. There is also what is called “pay-per-click” search engines where you actually pay for traffic sent to your web site. Other search engines require payment in order to get listed with them at all. “Yahoo” is one of these “pay” search engines.

6) Please be advised that is illegal to “Spam” on the internet or via e-mail. Spamming is sending unwanted e-mails or putting internet advertising material, or internet material in general where it should not be. That being said, another method of marketing and promoting your site is to add your site to casino and gambling message boards and free for all links pages. Please check to see if it is ok to post your info there first, and in which category, and anywhere else before posting there. If you “Spam”, you risk losing your internet service provider, and possibly your web host with all of your web content. It’s just not worth the trouble.

7) Another way of promoting your site is to add your web site address to your business cards, and/or make up flyers and posters. Don’t forget to get permission before you post anything anywhere. If you have other web sites, add a banner and/or link to your “Pillow” site there. Make a t-shirt with your “Pillow” graphic and web address on it (on both sides of the t-shirt) for yourself to wear. If you want, add your “Pillow” graphic logo and web address to different products like baseball caps and coffee mugs, and give them away as promotional items. Buy an ad on a bus stop, or a small classified ad in the local paper, or radio ad, etc. How about getting two of those “12 inch x 12 inch” sticky, bendable, removable, flat, “magnet ads” made up at your local printing store to put on the sides of your vehicle’s doors. When you drive around the city, every body will see your web site ad and when you get to your destination, simply take the sign off until you leave again. How about putting one of your “Pillow” flyers or small posters on the inside of your vehicle’s rear side glass areas. Just make sure it doesn’t obscure your vision. The idea is to use your creativity here.

8) I hope these pointers are of good use to you. Good luck with your online web business!!!

            

Sandy Johnson         

http://www.TemplatesCD.com

How Successful Entrepreneurs Handle Failure

How Successful Entrepreneurs Handle Failure

There are many differences that separate the winners in business and life from those who are struggling and falling by the wayside.

One big difference is how they handle failure.  Successful entrepreneurs have a positive mindset around the experience of failure.

When they fail, they look at it as a result.  They took "x" steps and produced "y" result.  "Y" didn't work, so it's back to the drawing board to change the formula and try again.

Many new business owners don't make it out of the gate because as soon as they fail, they figure, "Who am I kidding?  I knew it wouldn't work" and then quit!

If everyone had that mindset, we wouldn't have electricity, airplanes, vaccines ... actually, we'd have pretty much nothing!

Every single success in this world was preceded by one, two -- a thousand failures!

Babe Ruth set a record for the most home runs.  Did you know he also had the record for the most strikeouts?

Thomas Edison failed more than a thousand times before he perfected the light bulb.

If you're not failing, you're not pushing yourself enough.  You are remaining in your comfort zone and cannot expect to reach the level of success you're capable of.

Failure is what allows you to learn and grow.  If you quit as soon as you meet with failure, you will always remain exactly where you are.

Albert Einstein once said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it."

And, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

What these statements teach is, in order to overcome failure, you must think differently and act differently. It is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary!

You might have to seek out guidance from someone else who can offer the expertise you need.  You may need to inject new perspectives and talent by forming a team around your project.

Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles that hold new business owners back.  Failure should not be feared, but embraced because a life lived in fear is a life half lived.

If you're stuck and unable to move forward because of fear of failure or because you have failed in your previous attempt, bring someone else into the mix to offer support and guidance.

Tweak your plan and give it another go.

Engrave the words of the following masters into your mind and never, EVER give up.

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. - Albert Einstein

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. - Napoleon I

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. - Robert Schuller

2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source

Do Engineers Make Good Entrepreneurs?

Do Engineers Make Good Entrepreneurs

Today I'd like to talk about the skillset required to start a business.  Specifically, do you need to have a background in engineering?

I hear this used most frequently as an excuse.

"It's just too technical for me to understand."

"I was never good with numbers."

"Things have changed so much since I was in school."

But at the end of the day, these are just that: excuses. I'm here to tell you that engineering is not only NOT required to start a successful business, it could actually hurt your chances!  And this is coming from someone who has their degree in engineering!

1. Engineers are preoccupied with what is possible and what isn't.  Entrepreneurs don't care what others consider possible, and frequently attempt the impossible.

2. Engineers are focused on the present.  They have a problem in front of them and they solve it.  Entrepreneurs are focused on the future.  They see the problem in front of them as a minor distraction on the way toward a larger goal.

3. Engineers feel that if they can make the best product, the company will be successful.  Entrepreneurs realize that it is often the company with the best marketing and financial statements that wins, not necessarily the best product (sad but true).

I've never seen an official study done, but historically speaking, pure engineers who start companies don't do too well.  Nikola Tesla, the inventor of AC electricity and the radio, Charles Goodyear, who made the first rubber that could be used year round, and Johannes Gutenberg, who created the printing press, all died without a cent to their name.

If you happen to be clueless when it comes to technical subjects, don't despair.  You can always pay someone to do the things you don't know how to do.  And it's getting cheaper everyday. (check out www.elance.com or www.guru.com)

If you are a brilliant engineer who is interested in becoming an entrepreneur, then there is also hope for you.  Simply realize that technical work has very little to do with running a successful company, and devote yourself to learning the skills of business: marketing, communication, and cash flow, to name a few.  Your engineering background will still serve you as an advantage, but it won't be a key to your success.

Most entrepreneurs realize at some point that their time is much too valuable to be spent on the everyday technical problems.  Don't let your educational background (or lack thereof) hold you back from starting a business!

Empowering Your Manager

"So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work."
- Peter Drucker

Managing is often equated with controls rather than leading and developing a business.  The manager feels more comfortable and secure when they are able to put in strict controls on everything that happens in a business organization.  This is so especially of Senior Managements where the controls and directing becomes so severe that it erodes any creative freedom for the middle managers to work towards achieving the goals set out for them.

Here are a few simple prescriptions to get the best out of your managers.

Empowering Your Manager

Avoid Centralizing Decision Making

This is perhaps one of the best ways to achieve totals control.  You feel by centralizing decision making you will be able to avoid wrong decisions.  While this may be so to some extent who is to prevent your own wrong decisions.  Unless your managers are able to make mistakes and learn from them you will never be able to develop expertise through experience.  Centralizing decision making is also the surest method to kill your business growth.

Provide Working Space

The top management often entrust tasks and responsibilities to their subordinate managers.  More often than not any specific time frames which are comfortable to achieve the given responsibilities or tasks are discussed.   However in their anxiety or aggressiveness and sometimes over enthusiasm you start chasing your subordinate for action and results.  If you do it too soon and too often you are severely limited the working space of your managers.  They may be spending more time in complying with your commands rather than focusing on operational priorities and important tasks.

If you are not providing sufficient working space for your managers you are surely heading towards disaster as important tasks may be getting neglected to escape from your frequent and aggressive follow ups.

Listen to Your Managers

While experience is an asset it also makes one arrogant and conceited.  Sometimes one tends to believe because he is the superior, he always right.  The Boss Is Always Right principle looks good only on posters.  It doesn’t work if you want to build a Professional organization.

Cultivate the ability to listen to the voice of your managers.  Most times they know better as they are more familiar with the ground realities.  If you decide on their behalf and just issue orders, you will have clerks in the guise of managers as you have killed their initiative.

Don’t Get Into the Nitty Gritties

Once broad goals and objectives are set with specific time frames and key results are outlined leave your managers to perform.  If you get into too many details and meddle with the execution at every stage, you may be sure to mess up the entire process and ultimately the results.

The key to managing effectively is to empower people across the management structure so that they feel part of the responsibility and ownership.

Entrepreneurship A Leap Of Faith

 A Leap Of Faith

Entrepreneurship is a multifaceted adventure that, without a doubt, closely resembles a roller coaster ride.  When you begin an entrepreneurial journey or “ride,” you are aware of the gamut of experiences, both disappointing and rewarding, that you will encounter as you undertake this challenge.

Entrepreneurial challenges are not unlike most challenges in life.  Hard work, long hours, and anxious moments are just a few of the characteristics of the journey to most successful outcomes.

Reoccurring questions often roam the business mind, and---although they may be phrased in a variety of ways---are basically centered on these four primary issues: more sales, more cash, more time, and more of the “right” people.

Starting your own business is an undertaking that requires more than vision, inspiration, sweat equity, money and determination.  It is a leap of faith that demands that you let go of everything that is safe, comfortable, and proven.  It is getting “outside the box” in the biggest way possible.

Beginning a new business venture can be risky, dangerous, and harrowing.  However, with the proper preparation, the appropriate knowledge, and the counsel of a mentor or a trusted advisor, it can be a liberating and an extremely rewarding experience.

There’s a reason why many of America’s most successful people are entrepreneurs who started their own business and then saw them take off to unimaginable heights.  There’s a reason why the Horatio Algers of the world continue to inspire thousands of entrepreneurs every day.  

There is a reason why some of America’s greatest companies started with an idea, with meager seed capital, and with an individual who had a maniacal belief in the potential of an idea, and--- along with determination and perseverance--- saw it through to success.

However, for every success, there are hundreds of failures.  The statistics are not only sobering, but downright frightening. More than half of all businesses started today will fail. The failure rate is astounding.  Take a look at recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and this is what you will discover:  After two years, across all sectors, 44 percent of all new businesses are no longer in business.  After four years, 66 percent no longer exist.  And, these survival rates don’t vary much by industry.

What do the statistics tell us?  That most new businesses—whether they’re founded on the most brilliant idea since the theory of relativity or production of a mundane but exquisitely necessary manufacturing component—are making fatal mistakes that will ultimately lead them to bankruptcy.  This much is certain. If more than half of all new ventures fail, there are lessons that are not being learned.

Home Based Business Network Marketing

Home Based Business Network Marketing

Numerous businesses are going to offer you the opportunity to become a distributor of their products or service. While many offer this opportunity free of charge, others may charge a fee similar to a franchise fee, due to their willingness to set up a website with you name on it and by offering you instruction on how to make it succeed. 

Regardless of their motives behind the willingness to share their knowledge, you do have the opportunity to share in the wealth of internet business operations. Where many people make the mistake in getting involved in a home based business is they believe that just by filling out the online forms and paying the franchise fees they will start making money immediately. 

They do not think about they came to be involved in this opportunity, that someone was marketing this plan to them and in order to grow their new business, they are going to have to market it to others. 

There are numerous ways to do this, such as old-fashion advertising, handing out business cards or even putting you web address on the side of your vehicle to be seen while you drive to the grocery store. All that may be good to draw a half dozen people or so to your new business venture, but to help it really grow will take network marketing to succeed. 

Oil millionaire J. Paul Getty is often quoted as saying he would rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of his own efforts, and that is the basis of network marketing. The Kirby vacuum cleaner company devised its own form of network marketing as far back as 1935 before the word was oined and the concept totally understood. That company knew that to sell their sweepers, a personal presentation was needed.They had a few dealers with whom they shared the profits of their sales and using their proven methods they taught others to sell the sweepers and each person who was brought in a sales representative could also share in the profits off the efforts of others. 

While a few people may make a lot of money in a short period of time with network marketing, most grow their business slowly. First, they must learn the business and how to market it as their own home based business. By devoting a set number of hours every day or every week they learn from the company sponsoring them how to market the product or service they are selling. They can then train others to be successful, teaching them to market the product or service and make money from their sales as well. The more people they have working under them, the more money they can make.

How to Be a Creative Entrepreneur

How to Be a Creative Entrepreneur

There’s a great line in Alice in Wonderland when the Queen says, “Sometimes I think of 6 impossible things before breakfast.” I think you’ll agree that this has to be creativity at its best! As a small business owner this is an ideal you really need to strive for … but how on earth can you open up your mind to get to the point where ideas just spill out?

Small business owners are expected to be creative and inventive, otherwise how could they run their own firm? If you have a sneaky feeling that creativity is not one of your strong points what can you do to stimulate your brain and get it kicked-started?

Be Unlimited

Too many people are ‘limited thinkers’. They have their world placed squarely in a box and nothing can exist outside of that. If the newspaper reports something then it must be right. If Joe next door says that something is impossible then he must be right. As a small business owner, you cannot afford to be a ‘limited thinker’. You have to be an ‘unlimited thinker’. Get into the habit of seeing no boundaries; decide that there are no taboos. Have the belief that with a bit of focus you can find a creative solution to all of your problems. This is the foundation for a creative thought process.

Be Future-Focused

Creative ideas invariably come when you ‘look’ into the future. The feeling of propelling yourself forward and seeing the problem solved is a great motivator. Do you think you could achieve the same result if you were backward focused? I don’t think so! Train yourself to be future-focused, always looking ahead, not a traditional thinker who tries to find answers in today’s world.

Be a Writer

Once you open your mind to the joys of creativity the ideas will quickly start flowing, as if someone has opened the flood gates! Just like flood water, unless you catch it the ideas are lost for ever. Capture all your ideas by carrying a small pocket notebook with you. As soon as an idea pops into your mind, write it down. It doesn’t matter how outlandish it is, you can look at it in the cold light of day later on.

The fact you are responding to the ideas by noting them will further encourage you to be even more creative – good deeds encourage more good deeds!

Be Clutter-Free

If you are naturally an untidy person, then get out of the habit! A cluttered office will lead to a cluttered mind. You cannot expect your brain to work efficiently when all it’s doing is constantly reminding you how untidy your office is. To be creative remove all the clutter from your life and free your mind.

Be Action-Oriented

All of these points are great, but if you don’t take any action with your ideas, then you may as well not have bothered. An idea is nothing but a thought unless you take a specific action to help bring it to life. Periodically review your notebook and see if there are any hidden gems, or ideas which can be quickly actioned. A lot of your ideas may not suit at all but in there somewhere is probably an idea, which if acted upon, could change you or your business. Commit fully to move forward on as many of your ideas as you can.

Don’t be afraid to break down the boundary walls. As John Stuart Mill said, “That which seems the height of absurdity in one generation often becomes the height of wisdom in the next.”

Let me close with one question - can you be creative enough to be dismissed as a dreamer? No? Then get practicing!

Successful Business Entrepreneurs

Successful Business Entrepreneurs

Studies have shown that successful business entrepreneurs possess these characteristics:

1. Self-confidence 

This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities.

2. Achievement Oriented 

Results are gained by focused and sustained effort. They concentrate on achieving a specific goal, not just accomplishing a string of unrelated tasks.

3. Risk Taker 

They realize that there is a chance of loss inherent in achieving their goals, yet they have the confidence necessary to take calculated risks to achieve their goals.

Business entrepreneurs are people who will make decisions, take action, and think that they can control their own destinies. They are often motivated by a spirit of independence which leads them to believe that their success depends on raw effort and hard work, not luck.

So which of these three main characteristics is the most important? Believe it or not, it has to be self-confidence. Without self-confidence, nothing else is possible. If you don't believe in your abilities, then the first challenge that arises may knock you off the path to achieving your goals. Here are a few things to keep in mind for maintaining a higher level of self-confidence.

Positive Thinking 

Well, it all starts with a positive attitude, doesn't it? Believing that something good will happen is the first step. Negative thinking simply is not allowed. You must truly believe that there are no circumstances strong enough to deter you from reaching your goals. Remember too, that positive thinking can be contagious. When positive thinking spreads, it can open doors to new ideas, customers, friends, etc.

Persistent Action 

Now all of the positive thinking and believing in the world is useless if it is not applied towards a goal. You have to take action, no excuses are allowed. This action must also be persistent. Trying once and then giving up is not going to be enough. Keep at it one step at a time. If you can't get by a certain step, then find a creative way to try again or just go around it.

At the beginning of this article we identified a few traits that are common among successful business entrepreneurs. You should be able to look ahead and see yourself where you want to be. Now just maintain a strong belief in yourself and your skills, stick with it, and don't give up. If you can do that, you're already half way there!

Business Startup Funding - Are You Ready?

Business Startup Funding - Are You Ready?

Business startup funding is always a worry.  Do I have enough money to start? Can I quit my job to concentrate full time?  Will I be able to cover my monthly expenses?
   
When the time comes to actually launch your business you must have done your homework regarding your business startup funding needs.  You need to be prepared so that if the opportunity to accelerate your launch presents itself, you're ready.
   

Assess Your Personal Finances

Take out your checkbook and credit card statements and review all of your personal expenses. Find all the frills and eliminate them.  It's tough to do, but if you're really committed to getting this business of the ground you need to reduce your personal expenses.
   
Taking control of your business startup funding doesn't mean you have to quit enjoying life.  You just have to prioritize for now.  Skip the night show and catch a matinee instead.  If you're going out for dinner, clip a 2 for 1 coupon or go to the early bird. Hold off on that tropical vacation for one year.

Evaluate Your Business Expenses

Another element of business startup funding is your minimum business expenses.  Luckily, computer consulting is not a capital intense venture.  You will have business expenses to cover though, so you must analyze what those are and figure them into your business startup funding needs.

Do the Math

Total up your personal and business monthly expenses. To launch a successful business you need to have at least six months of cash in the bank OR an alternative source of affordable capital.  Many people won't have 6 months cash to cover their business startup funding needs.  If this is you, you will need to find, or keep, a job.  

Limit the job to 15 - 20 hours per week so you leave enough time to concentrate on building your business.  Whether it’s teaching some computer courses at the college or working at an electronics store, you have to be bringing is some reliable income.  This reliable income will give you the cushion you need to spend time building your client base.
   
Securing adequate business startup funding is one of the most challenging aspects of launching a small business.  You don't want to minimize its importance though.  Inadequate business startup funding is at the root of many business failures.
   
The Bottom Line on Business Startup Funding

Do what you need to do now, in order to do what you want to do in the future.  Having enough business startup funding means conserving your cash mercilessly.  You have to know where your money is going and have enough to cover 6 months of expenses.  If your business startup funding is a little short, a part time job is often the most practical means of securing the funding you need.

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Business Plan Outlines - The 5 W's

The 5 W's

Business plan outlines are all different.  The one common thread is that all business plan outlines help the writer answer the five W questions:  who, what, when, where, why.

If any of you ever worked in journalism or as reporters, what you want to do when you investigate anything is answer the 5 W's.  A business plan outline is a concrete method for investigating a business idea so answering the 5 W's makes sense.  

Business Plan Outline of the 5 W's

Who are you? Your business plan outline should detail your certifications, industry experience, and credentials.  List the business credential that you've already received or those that you're planning on getting in the early stages.  This part of the business plan outline also lists the staff you project needing and what their qualifications will be.  

What do you plan on sell?  In your business plan outline you need to include a discussion of what it is you are selling.  Are you selling products, services or both?  Once you know what you are selling you then need to discuss the revenue and profit associated with your products and/or services.  

This part of the business plan outline also includes your preliminary sales and marketing plan.  What will you be doing to gain your clients and how much time and money will you spend doing so?

When did you launch or when do you plan on launching? This information is critical to outside investors and it will also help to keep you on track.

Where are you located?  Here you will indicate the types of facilities needed to run your business. Will you work out of your home or rent office space? 

Why is your approach unique? This is a critical question that your business plan outline must address. You need to explain your number one differentiator. Somewhere in your business plan outline you must make space for detailing the proposition that sets you apart from everyone else in the market.

The Bottom Line On Business Plan Outlines

Business plan outlines help you structure your answers to the most important business planning questions.  These questions can be summarized as the 5 W's.  By answering these questions, your business plan outline will lead you to discover and detail the exact "how" of your overall business operations.

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Business Plan Outlines - The Very Basics

Business Plan Outlines

Business plan outlines vary in their complexity.  Depending on your situation you may just want to follow a very basic business plan outline.  Regardless, the process of sitting down, creating a business plan outline, and writing a business plan is one of the most valuable exercises you will do.

Basic Business Plan Outline

List your business credentials - why are you qualified to start this business and sell your products and services?

List your staff:  Is it going to be just yourself, or do you have a definite plan in terms of when you are going to hire sales, technical, or administrative staff?

Project revenue:  Will you be selling services, products, or a combination of both?

How much revenue will come from products?  How much profit will come from products?

How much revenue will come from services?  How much profit will come from services?

Sales and marketing plan:  outline your major sales and marketing activities - the things that you're going to do to bring in key, sweet spot clients. Talk about what you're doing on a month-by-month or week-by-week basis. How much time you think it’s going to take up and how much money you think it’s going to cost to execute. 

Operations: Where will you be located? Home office or rented space? How will you get to your clients' places of business?  Personal car or leased vehicle? Will you need to rent facilities from time to time for meetings, seminars, etc...

Finance:  What capital do you need to start?  Where will you get this capital? Where will you get additional capital during your first year in business?

Salary and Payroll:  What are your expectations for your personal salary or drawings.  Do you have to pay staff as well?

Expertise of principals:  What makes you and/or your partners qualified? What kind of skills and experience do you bring to the table that will be of valuable to this business venture and valuable to the clients you want to pursue?  

The Bottom Line On Business Plan Outlines

Business plan outlines can be as detailed as you want.  The most important aspect is that your business plan outline covers off the basics.  Make sure the business plan outline you adopt allows you to answer the five W's and provides you with a plan for how you will start and operate your business.

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Attention Entrepreneurs: Your Hobby Should Not Be Your Business

Your Hobby Should Not Be Your Business

America was built on the premise of following your dreams. Today, that maxim is applied to everyday life, especially careers. You’ve probably seen plenty of advice about turning your hobby into your job and making money doing what you love. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t translate well into business reality.

Look at it this way: the reason you picked up your hobby in the first place was probably because you enjoyed it. Hobbies are supposed to be fun. If your hobby becomes your business, you’ll have to work at it! Hard work is rewarding, but it can quickly douse the spark of fun you previously derived from your hobby.

Still not convinced? Here’s something else to consider – everyone I’ve met who own a golf, fishing, or scuba-diving business tells me they play, dive or get on the water less than before. Owning a business that is related to your hobby will not get you more involved in the enjoyable part. Instead, it will take you away from the fun of the hobby.

Objectivity is another major concern when it comes to translating a hobby to a business. For example, let’s say you enjoy fishing, so you decide to open a fishing supply store. You will typically stock your store with products you like – which won’t necessarily be what your customers want. Also, you may enjoy fishing, but sitting in a boat with a pole is not the same as running a store, and you may not have the skills necessary for retail management. See the problems?

Of course, your dreams and desires are important, and you need to be passionate about your company to be successful, but it is a mistake to let your interests and not your skills dictate the type of business you should own if you decide to become an entrepreneur. Now that you know what you should not do, it’s time to look at what you should do when getting into your own business:

* Consider looking to your current career instead of your hobby. What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most, and what kind of business would allow you to concentrate on those enjoyable aspects?

* Focus on your strengths, and be honest with yourself. Are you a strong manager? Good with people? Talented at a craft? Try to find a business that will let you capitalize on your strengths, while incorporating what you love to do.

* Do your research! Starting or buying a business is a huge investment, and if you buy the wrong business for your skills and fail, you probably won’t want to try again. Know what you’re getting into before you begin to give yourself the best chance of success.

You can run a business that you enjoy, as long as you are realistic in your decision-making process. You don’t have to give up on your dreams – simply refocus your intentions, and go for it!

Employee With Entrepreneur Mindsets

Employee With Entrepreneur Mindsets

Although I am working as an employee, but I always try my best to adopt the entrepreneur mind set. It is important for an employee to think like an entrepreneur. This way, you program yourself to think out of the box. You will do more than an ordinary employee do. You will always do your best and be outstanding.

Recently I have come across a concept on earning $10000 in one hour. Don’t be misunderstand, this is not to teach your how to earn $10000 in an hour. Rather this is a concept that we should adopt deep inside our mind. You see, normally we have the mindset of fix salary, simply because this is how we get our pay. This is especially true for employee. We are paid either hourly, weekly or monthly with a fix rate. For example we get paid $5000 per months, $20 per hours and so on. This has made our mindset fixed to what we get. For instance if we get paid $50 per hour, we are programmed to believe that what we do only worth $50 per hours. We like to get the pay regularly because we need the money to pay our bills. We are bound to the sense of security here because we get stabil income that enable us to live comfortably.

However this creates a problem where we totally neglect the possibility of earning more than that. We cannot believe that we are able to earn $10000 per month. But the fact is that there are plenty of ideas that allows us to earn more than $10000 per hours. We just need to conditions ourselves to be able sense and catch this type of opportunities. We need to have our minds open to be able to do this.

As an employee, I think a good strategy is to get a job, but at the same time try to look for opportunity and ideas that can generate big income. The point is not to limit ourself in the fix salary that we are getting now. Think of the fix salary an income that can be use to cover our daily expenses. At the same time, keep ourselves open to the opportunities or ideas that can make us rich.

While we are enjoying the regular income of $50 per hour from our job. Lets not ignore the posibility of earning more than $10000 per hour.

Entrepreneurship: Getting Started

Entrepreneurship: Getting Started

I started my company (EMJ) from the trunk of my car (and it was a small trunk so that’s a small business).  I grew EMJ to $375,000,000 in sales prior to selling it to SYNNEX.  I am now CEO of a $1 billion business.  My successful blog at (jimestill.com) generates a lot of comments and questions.  I want to share one of these thoughtful questions with you, and share my answer.

The question:

"First off I just want you to know all I'm asking for is advice, which is the most valuable thing I can get right now.

I have been working in a field of interest for many years now as a hobby. I've always had many very good ideas but I never had the resources to make them happen. I always figured it was because I was too young. Now I'm older, I have a job and I'm plagued with the same problem. I'll have a great idea but it will usually be out of my range because I either do not have the technical ability, the funding or resources to make the idea I vision happen.

My most recent plan evolved from my experience running similar websites, I found there was an un-fulfilled need. I decided to start judging the need for what I was offering so I did my homework and contacted over 130 other similar sites. Within a day I had 20 sites interested in what I had to offer. That's great and all but those 20 sites generate about 6 times the traffic I could handle. So once again I'm in the same position. I do not have the resources I need to properly execute my idea.

My basic question, what is the best route to take when you have a great ideal that is more then you can handle.

A little more about me, I'm 23 years old, I have been running web sites and involved in the industry for around 6 years. I have a good paying job in another industry which makes it even more difficult to make the "jump".

Thank you for your time."

My response:

1 - There is never a right time. Entrepreneurship involves risk. This means yous sometimes need to just jump. This said - I always say "fail often, fail fast, fail cheap" so I always look at the downside.

2 - It is very powerful to be under resourced. It will make you more resourceful and likely allow you to run a leaner more competitive business.

3 - I like to choose opportunities that are the right size for me now. This is a beautiful thing for business - there is always a right size business opportunity for everyone at every size. When you are starting from your basement, you can take a $100,000 opportunity and do well. Bigger companies cannot do this so will leave you alone.

4 - When the opportunity is too big for me, I consider narrowing my scope. Instead of being the biggest seller of bar code equipment, be the bigger in bar code for warehouses etc.

5 - Consider partnering. It is better to have 10% of something that is worth something than 100% of an idea.

6 - Ideas are a dime a dozen. It is the implementation that counts. How often do you see a restaurant with a line outside and the one next to it goes bankrupt. All the time. Ideas are easy. 

7 - I know a lot of people who almost start businesses. They are not successful. To steal from Nike - "Just do it". And do it now. Time is the enemy of ideas and business. Someone else has the same idea. It is the one who perfects it that wins.

Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business? The 4 Key Questions You Must Ask

Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business

Every year millions of people answer "Yes" to that question and every year that answer costs many of them money, time, confidence, and heartbreak. The Small Business Administration estimates there are 580,900 new small businesses opening each year and that number does not include the small one-person entrepreneurships that pop up every day. However even if you are your business's sole employee then there is still something to be learned from the SBA's numbers.

According to the SBA, two-thirds of new businesses survive at least two years and 44 percent survive at least four years. Two of the key factors in the businesses survival and ability to thrive: the owner's education level and the owner's reason for starting the firm in the first place.

How can you make sure that you are among the winners rather than the losers in this high stakes game? The answer is inside of you. You must ask yourself four key questions to determine whether your own small business will survive and thrive.

1. Are You Ready

Have you mentally prepared yourself for the switch from employee (or student or whatever label fits you currently) to boss. You are going to be the one making decisions now about everything from office products to product line. This total control is one of the driving forces behind many people who take the plunge into starting their ownbusiness but it is also one of the elements that drives new entreprenurs crazy. When you start out there is an endless list of decisions that need to be made and new questions crop up every day.

Even more important you will need to remember that in a small business you will wear many hats. Even if you manage to start out with one or more employees you will each fulfill more than one role in your new business. And if you are running a one-man or one-woman show then you serve in every capacity from file clerk to maintenance crew to salesman to CEO. Can you handle switching from task to task and role to role like that? Are you willing to make those switches?

Similarly, have you prepared your family and friends for this switch in attitude. Your life is going to change -- probably pretty drastically -- and that change can have a positive or negative impact on your family life and social interactions. It will make things much easier if your friends and family are supportive going into the process.

2. Where Is Your Niche?

Have you identified your niche yet? One of the reasons many businesses fail is that they fail to focus on a target audience. Yes if you are a major discount chain then you can sell everything from peanuts to wallpaper but this type of business requires vast resources that just aren't available to the small business. But small businesses dominate the marketplace (creating more than 50 percent of the private gross domestic product last year) by finding a different approach -- a niche.

Knowing your niche means you are better able to find, target, and maintain your customers as well as provide the best possible goods and services to that customer base. That focus is one of your best chances to not only survive but to thrive in a very competitive marketplace.

3. What Is Your Plan Of Action?

Another key factor in the survival and ultimate success of your business is how much planning you do before you open your electronic or physical doors.  You need to decide if your business will be based on the internet or include more traditional models. Are you going to work full-time or part-time at your new business? Are you going to hire help or go solo? Have you written (or at least outlined) your business plan? Dreaming, thinking and planning can save you much trouble and waste later when things are hectic and problems strike. Planning can also help keep you focused and to balance your spending and time.

4. Who Are You Going To Call?

At some point, no matter how experienced a business person you are, you will need help. You will need support, advice, tools, or information -- or all of the above. One of the beautiful, and most frightening, aspects of growth is that it can lead you to places you never imagined. No matter how much planning and experience you bring to your new position as CEO the unexpected will arise. How will you cope with this? It is important to recognize that no business is an island. It is not failure to seek help. Failure is when your business shuts down because you didn't get the help you needed.

The best way to get timely help is to work on your support system while you work on building your business. That way you will already have a ready list of resources available that you can quickly tap into when emergencies strike. In today's world there are many marvelous resources available to you no matter what your business model may be. These include:

~ Publications (newsletters, magazines, books)

~ People (professional advisors, mentors, teachers, consultants)

~ Networks (organizations and forums in your niche as well as general business and marketing)

~ Education and training (tutorials, courses, and seminars)

After you have answered these four key questions you are now ready to ask yourself that one big question again -- are you ready to start your own business?

Blogging – Is It Worth The Effort For The Home Business Entrepreneur?

Blogging

A few years ago all the gurus were screaming “You’ve got to have a web site” and they were right. Now we are being told “you have got to have a blog”. But is this true and are they really worth the effort?

At least blogs are easier and cheaper to set up than web sites thanks to the likes of Blogger.com and Wordpress.  But is it worth the time and effort writing the posts and keeping them  updated ?  My answer to this question produces a typical fence sitters reply. They can be. 

Sure if you just want to let the world know what an exciting life you lead or let the world know your views on the burning issues that is fine. You should not really expect to make much profit from your blog. It is a hobby, something you are just doing for fun but if you want to make it a marketing tool of your business then you must adopt a professional attitude regarding your blogs.

Before you post anything you must decide exactly what you hope to achieve with each blog you post. So what are the options?

You might want to sell something either your own or an affiliate product.

In which case you might consider a review or an explanation of how to use the product and or the benefits a buyer would receive. Your one purpose with this type of blog is to pre sell the product and get the prospect to click the link to the full sales page and hopefully make a purchase.

A blog can also be a great way to establish you within your specialised niche.

It can help you get your name known and increase your credibility. But this will only work if you write fresh thought provoking copy. A rehash of others work or hackneyed ideas will do little for your standing especially if your niche is small and close knit. 

Another option is to write a series of “how to”  blogs giving your readers information on specific aspects of your niche. This can often be a good introduction to offering them a complete “How to” e-book or program. I look on these as very similar to the e-courses that many Internet marketers offer.

Instead of setting them up on your auto responder you post them to your blog at regular intervals.

The bottom line is that if  you are to make posting blogs a worthwhile option then you need to have clear in your mind exactly what you want to achieve with your blog before you even write one word.

Entrepreneurial Transitions

Entrepreneurial Transitions

Once you undertake the development of a business you utilize a variety of entrepreneurial skills. You find yourself working hard to keep things going, but there’s a real sense of satisfaction in the work.

Recently I was told of a woman who had started her twenty-first business. In each case the business was related to cooking. The good news was this woman was a capable businesswoman and an excellent cook.

The problem for this woman was that she got tired of running a business very easily. She would get a business established and grow weary of the day-to-day grind and would set a date to close the doors. Her husband was a carpenter and had systematically refurbished twenty separate properties for his wife’s business ventures. 

This woman recently started a coffee shop with a variety of baked goods for sale. The business hadn’t been open 3 months when a separate coffee shop opened in the same retail complex. When she discovered the new business she threw her hands up in despair and asked the owner of the second shop if she could come to work for her.

You see, there is an invisible wall that is sometimes difficult to overcome. That wall is moving beyond the difficult work of day-to-day business where you are needed in the monitoring of all aspects of the business.  Some, like the lady in our story, simply get tired and go home to regroup their strength for a later attempt. Others will find ways to derive income that does not rely on their own efforts. These are the entrepreneurs that more easily move forward.

Passive Income

If you are a store that specializes in a product you have created, the sale of items that are available from other suppliers can provide income that is your simply because you supplied shelf space.

The sale of insurance provides a means of deriving an income based on commissions that require little attention from you. 

The use of affiliate programs can allow others to sell your products and provide you with an income on something you were not actively involved in selling.

The development of passive income is important to entrepreneurs because if you attempt to develop revenue exclusively on your own then your revenue stream goes dry the minute you need time off. 

Someone once said, “Work smarter, not harder.” That’s especially true as you continue to develop your business. Seek ways to allow others to help you sell and market your goods and services. This likely means there will be salespeople working at selling your business even when you’ve left the building for a much needed day off.