BlackEnterprise
Article by: Tomika Anderson
This is a powerpack article featuring Tennis Star Venus Williams it is a must read for all those entrepreneur who are inspire to build a name brand.
If you think tennis icon Venus Williams is a force to be reckoned with on the court, just peep her game off of it. This year alone the three-time Olympic gold-medalist released her first book, Come To Win (co-authored with Kelly E. Carter), which scored number five on the New York Times bestsellers list; debuted her own videogame, Venus: The Case of the Grand Slam Queen; and teamed up with EA Sports to launch an innovative new fitness program. Consider Williams’ already mile-long list of entrepreneurial achievements—including her interior design firm, V Starr Designs; fashion line, EleVen; and part-ownership of the Miami Dolphins—and she is easily one of the most successful African American sports/businesswomen on the planet.
But the multitasking “Queen of Wimbledon," who UNESCO recently named global “Promoter of Gender Equality,” didn’t push her brand to the forefront by being one of those celebrities who leaps at the first business opportunity to present itself. Williams tells BlackEnterprise.com that she attributes her stellar track record to her parents’ mentorship and the three guiding principles that inform any decision she makes.
“The first is preparation,” says the recent fashion design school graduate, who joined forces with former retailer Steve & Barry's in 2007 to establish the largest clothing line ever launched by a female athlete. “How prepared am I to do this and do it well?” she says. “I [want to] be the best—whether that’s the best in the world or my personal best.”
Another major factor Williams considers is how established and reliable her business partners are. “It’s important to surround yourself with people you can trust,” shares the 30-year-old world champion, whose historic 2000 deal with sneaker giant Reebok for a record $40 million—at the time the most lucrative endorsement deal ever for a female athlete—underlies her point. “Your partners have to share your vision,” she continues. “Plus the kind of relationship you have with them depends on who you are as a person. If you’re untrustworthy, you won’t have good things gravitate toward you.”
The third rule, Williams says, is to pick projects that appeal to her inner child. “I do things I enjoy,” she says simply. The tennis titan, along with sister Serena, became the first African American females to buy a share of an NFL franchise in 2009 when they invested in the Miami Dolphins. “Between [football, my other business ventures], tennis and charity work,” she says, referring to her work with The Owl Foundation Tennis Challenge and other philanthropic endeavors, “I’m living my dreams!”
But nothing, perhaps, has been more fun for Venus than developing her own videogame and being named global brand ambassador for EA Sports Active 2 earlier this month. “I’ve partnered with [EA Sports] to help people live healthier lives,” explains Williams, who last year was named one of the "Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities" by Forbes magazine. “I do all the workouts you see in the program—the squats, jumps and other moves,” she says of the interactive game, available on Xbox, Playstation 3 and Wii. “It’s a new way of helping people get fit. You don’t have to go to the gym. You don’t have to count calories. You just have to be willing to get up and move. And helping other people reach their highest potential is always fun for me.”
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires
7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires
by Jean Folger
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Carlos Slim Helu (Carlos Slim), a telecom tycoon and billionaire with well-known frugal tendencies, has a net worth of $60.6 billion, according to Forbes. Assuming no changes in his net worth, he could spend $1,150 a minute for the next 100 years before he ran out of money. To put this in perspective, he could spend in 13 minutes what a minimum-wage earner brings home after an entire year of the daily grind.
Granted, the world's billionaires (all 1,011 of them) are in the debatably enviable position of having, quite literally, more money than they can possibly spend, yet some are still living well below their means, and save money in surprising places. Even non-billionaires (currently 6,864,605,142 of us) can partake in these seven spending tips from frugal billionaires:
[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]
1. Keep Your Home Simple
Billionaires can afford to live in the most exclusive mansions imaginable -- and many do, including Bill Gates' sprawling 66,000 square foot, $147.5 million dollar mansion in Medina, Wash. -- yet frugal billionaires like Warren Buffett choose to keep it simple. Buffett still lives in the five-bedroom house in Omaha that he purchased in 1957 for $31,500. Likewise, Carlos Slim has lived in the same house for more than 40 years.
2. Use Self-Powered or Public Transportation
Thrifty billionaires including John Caudwell, David Cheriton and Chuck Feeney prefer to walk, bike or use public transportation when getting around town. Certainly these wealthy individuals could afford to take a helicopter to their lunch meetings, or ride in chauffeur-driven Bentleys, but they choose to get a little exercise and take advantage of public transportation instead. Good for the bank account and great for the environment.
3. Buy Your Clothes off the Rack
While some people, regardless of their net value, place a huge emphasis on wearing designer clothes and shoes, some frugal billionaires decide it's simply not worth the effort, or expense. You can find David Cheriton, the Stanford professor who matched Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to the venture capitalists at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (resulting in a large reward of Google stock), wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the furniture company Ikea, avoids wearing suits, and John Caudwell, mobile phone mogul, buys his clothes off the rack instead of spending his wealth on designer clothes.
4. Keep your Scissors Sharp
The average haircut costs about $45, but people can and do spend up to $800 per cut and style. Multiply that by 8.6 (to account for a cut every six weeks) and it adds up to $7,200 per year, not including tips. These billionaires can certainly afford the most stylish haircuts, buy many cannot be bothered by the time it takes or the high price tag for the posh salons. Billionaires like John Caudwell and David Cheriton opt for cutting their own hair at home.
[Stock Picks From the World's Greatest Investors]
5. Drive a Regular Car
While billionaires like Larry Ellison (co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation) enjoy spending millions on cars, boats and planes, others remain low key with their vehicles of choice. Jim Walton (of the Wal-Mart clan) drives a 15-year-old pickup truck. Azim Premji, an Indian business tycoon, reportedly drives a Toyota Corolla. And Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea drives a 10-year-old Volvo. The idea is to buy a dependable car, and drive it into the ground. No need for a different car each day of the week for these frugal billionaires.
6. Skip Luxury Items
It may surprise some of us, but the world's wealthiest person, Carlos Slim (the one who could spend more than a thousand dollars a minute and not run out of money for one hundred years) does not own a yacht or a plane. (Reducing the amount you spend is the easiest way to make your money grow.)
Many other billionaires have chosen to skip these luxury items. Warren Buffett also avoids these lavish material items, stating, "Most toys are just a pain in the neck."
What We Can Learn
Some of the world's billionaires have frugal tendencies. Perhaps this thrifty nature even helped them make some of their money. Regardless, they have chosen to avoid some unnecessary spending (at least on their scale) and the 6,864,605,142 non-billionaires out there can follow suit, eliminating excessive, keep-up-with-the-Jones style spending. No matter what a person's income bracket is, most can usually find a way to cut back on frivolous spending, just like a few frugal billionaires.
___
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
by Jean Folger
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Carlos Slim Helu (Carlos Slim), a telecom tycoon and billionaire with well-known frugal tendencies, has a net worth of $60.6 billion, according to Forbes. Assuming no changes in his net worth, he could spend $1,150 a minute for the next 100 years before he ran out of money. To put this in perspective, he could spend in 13 minutes what a minimum-wage earner brings home after an entire year of the daily grind.
Granted, the world's billionaires (all 1,011 of them) are in the debatably enviable position of having, quite literally, more money than they can possibly spend, yet some are still living well below their means, and save money in surprising places. Even non-billionaires (currently 6,864,605,142 of us) can partake in these seven spending tips from frugal billionaires:
[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]
1. Keep Your Home Simple
Billionaires can afford to live in the most exclusive mansions imaginable -- and many do, including Bill Gates' sprawling 66,000 square foot, $147.5 million dollar mansion in Medina, Wash. -- yet frugal billionaires like Warren Buffett choose to keep it simple. Buffett still lives in the five-bedroom house in Omaha that he purchased in 1957 for $31,500. Likewise, Carlos Slim has lived in the same house for more than 40 years.
2. Use Self-Powered or Public Transportation
Thrifty billionaires including John Caudwell, David Cheriton and Chuck Feeney prefer to walk, bike or use public transportation when getting around town. Certainly these wealthy individuals could afford to take a helicopter to their lunch meetings, or ride in chauffeur-driven Bentleys, but they choose to get a little exercise and take advantage of public transportation instead. Good for the bank account and great for the environment.
3. Buy Your Clothes off the Rack
While some people, regardless of their net value, place a huge emphasis on wearing designer clothes and shoes, some frugal billionaires decide it's simply not worth the effort, or expense. You can find David Cheriton, the Stanford professor who matched Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to the venture capitalists at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (resulting in a large reward of Google stock), wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the furniture company Ikea, avoids wearing suits, and John Caudwell, mobile phone mogul, buys his clothes off the rack instead of spending his wealth on designer clothes.
4. Keep your Scissors Sharp
The average haircut costs about $45, but people can and do spend up to $800 per cut and style. Multiply that by 8.6 (to account for a cut every six weeks) and it adds up to $7,200 per year, not including tips. These billionaires can certainly afford the most stylish haircuts, buy many cannot be bothered by the time it takes or the high price tag for the posh salons. Billionaires like John Caudwell and David Cheriton opt for cutting their own hair at home.
[Stock Picks From the World's Greatest Investors]
5. Drive a Regular Car
While billionaires like Larry Ellison (co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation) enjoy spending millions on cars, boats and planes, others remain low key with their vehicles of choice. Jim Walton (of the Wal-Mart clan) drives a 15-year-old pickup truck. Azim Premji, an Indian business tycoon, reportedly drives a Toyota Corolla. And Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea drives a 10-year-old Volvo. The idea is to buy a dependable car, and drive it into the ground. No need for a different car each day of the week for these frugal billionaires.
6. Skip Luxury Items
It may surprise some of us, but the world's wealthiest person, Carlos Slim (the one who could spend more than a thousand dollars a minute and not run out of money for one hundred years) does not own a yacht or a plane. (Reducing the amount you spend is the easiest way to make your money grow.)
Many other billionaires have chosen to skip these luxury items. Warren Buffett also avoids these lavish material items, stating, "Most toys are just a pain in the neck."
What We Can Learn
Some of the world's billionaires have frugal tendencies. Perhaps this thrifty nature even helped them make some of their money. Regardless, they have chosen to avoid some unnecessary spending (at least on their scale) and the 6,864,605,142 non-billionaires out there can follow suit, eliminating excessive, keep-up-with-the-Jones style spending. No matter what a person's income bracket is, most can usually find a way to cut back on frivolous spending, just like a few frugal billionaires.
___
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The world'syoungest Airline owner
I've always had entrepreneur in my blood since a child, I didn't connect with it the entrepreneur spirit until way in my adulthood. Better late then never right. Read this amazing story of 17 year old owning an Airline called HIAir.
Meet Joseph Hayat, the world's youngest airline owner. At 17, he recently launched HIAir, his own airline charter company in England, providing a bespoke service to customers (though he has yet to have a paying customer fly his airline), according to the BBC.
He is the youngest person ever to start an airline (Richard Branson started Virgin Atlantic at 34). Not only that, but he started an IT consultancy with a classmate last year.
He told the BBC that "anyone could do it, whatever their age is."
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Meet Joseph Hayat, the world's youngest airline owner. At 17, he recently launched HIAir, his own airline charter company in England, providing a bespoke service to customers (though he has yet to have a paying customer fly his airline), according to the BBC.
He is the youngest person ever to start an airline (Richard Branson started Virgin Atlantic at 34). Not only that, but he started an IT consultancy with a classmate last year.
He told the BBC that "anyone could do it, whatever their age is."
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Rev Al Sharpton on MSNBC 11:00a.m Eastern STandard Time
Tune in live at 11 10 AM EST to MSNBC this morning. I will be discussing some current issues.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
How can i manage a bongus internet review that's harming my business
How can I manage a bogus internet review that's harming my business?
My veterinary hospital performs humane euthanasias for a local municipality. While this is sad, sometimes it is necessary and it is legal. A local dog rescue group has posted false reviews online about my business.
Asked by Loramiller
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Found in Advertising & PR
More answers by Michael Kaleikini Answer by Michael Kaleikini
First off, if you truly wish to erase the awful comments that are being made, you may wish to invest in a paid listing on the reviews site for a couple reasons:
1. You'll be able to find the people that you are looking for.
2. You will have a paid listing for your business that could get you more good exposure and it may help get your rankings up in the search engines.
So here are a couple thoughts I have about this as I have had to deal with issues of this nature in the past with a couple of former clients.
If you are worried about getting rid of a bad review that someone has written on the bathroom wall, you're wasting your time. It's not coming off no matter what the cost. Once something has been indexed the only way to get it out of sight is to write article after article that promotes your business using the same keywords they are using to harass your business.
Let's face it, the internet is the easiest place to throw up anything you want in regards to a business. We actually had to hire writers to help create a ton of articles to stay ahead of the people that were trying to bang up my clients. It was nerve racking, but we got it done over a period of about six months. It may be much easier to just ignore it, and allow people to come see for themselves how it is humane and how you help animals legally find peace when necessary.
Another thing you can do is launch a PR campaign that will allow your story to get out on the news and into your community. Make sure you get a copy of it and post it to YouTube.
One more thing, I understand your concern, but sometimes this type of publicity makes more for opportunity than hardship. Look at this is for what it is. A mere smear campaign that won't really affect the smart, especially when you educate them with the truth.
Michael H Kaleikini is a business development consultant and VP of Marketing and Business development with Corporate Rain Makers, LLC in Las Vegas, Nev.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
My veterinary hospital performs humane euthanasias for a local municipality. While this is sad, sometimes it is necessary and it is legal. A local dog rescue group has posted false reviews online about my business.
Asked by Loramiller
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Found in Advertising & PR
More answers by Michael Kaleikini Answer by Michael Kaleikini
First off, if you truly wish to erase the awful comments that are being made, you may wish to invest in a paid listing on the reviews site for a couple reasons:
1. You'll be able to find the people that you are looking for.
2. You will have a paid listing for your business that could get you more good exposure and it may help get your rankings up in the search engines.
So here are a couple thoughts I have about this as I have had to deal with issues of this nature in the past with a couple of former clients.
If you are worried about getting rid of a bad review that someone has written on the bathroom wall, you're wasting your time. It's not coming off no matter what the cost. Once something has been indexed the only way to get it out of sight is to write article after article that promotes your business using the same keywords they are using to harass your business.
Let's face it, the internet is the easiest place to throw up anything you want in regards to a business. We actually had to hire writers to help create a ton of articles to stay ahead of the people that were trying to bang up my clients. It was nerve racking, but we got it done over a period of about six months. It may be much easier to just ignore it, and allow people to come see for themselves how it is humane and how you help animals legally find peace when necessary.
Another thing you can do is launch a PR campaign that will allow your story to get out on the news and into your community. Make sure you get a copy of it and post it to YouTube.
One more thing, I understand your concern, but sometimes this type of publicity makes more for opportunity than hardship. Look at this is for what it is. A mere smear campaign that won't really affect the smart, especially when you educate them with the truth.
Michael H Kaleikini is a business development consultant and VP of Marketing and Business development with Corporate Rain Makers, LLC in Las Vegas, Nev.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Michael Baisden Update
Twitter fans be sure to post on baisdenlive on FB and tell all your friends we're doing some serious networking on Facebook and twitter
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
President Obama
Information from the Commander in Chief President Obama check it out the link for further information.
Let’s put aside partisanship and work together for small businesses, employees, and the communities that depend on them. http://j.mp/dot0uc
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Let’s put aside partisanship and work together for small businesses, employees, and the communities that depend on them. http://j.mp/dot0uc
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
How Sweet It Is
What a very sweet business story, you must read from Black Entreprise Magazine by Alfred Edmond Jr feature with Angelique Westerfield interviewing . Andra Hall, founder and co-owner, along with husband Curtis Hall, of CamiCakes.
Not just a typical story of someone in a dead-end job needing another chapter in their lives. But a husband and wife who's daughter needs brought about a new chapter in their lives.
How Sweet It Is
A health hardship leads to cupcake commerce
Black Entreprise Magazine
Written By:Alfred Edmond Jr.
This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR Contributor Angelique Westerfield speaks with Andra Hall, founder and co-owner, along with husband Curtis Hall, of CamiCakes, a baked-goods company that generated $1.1 million in revenues in 2009. With locations in Orange Park, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla; and Atlanta, Hall shares how she launched her business while working the graveyard shift at a local hotel.
For Andra Hall, entrepreneurship was a matter of medical necessity. In 2004, her 1-year-old daughter underwent a string of surgeries to correct a severe case of sleep apnea. “I did major soul-searching to come up with something that would be flexible enough to let me be there when Camille needed me,” she recalls.
Settling on her longtime interest in baking, Hall created a business plan and by 2006, she and her husband, Curtis, refinanced their house to obtain the $40,000 they needed to launch CamiCakes Cupcakes (www.camicakes.com; 404-748-4288). The money allowed them to buy secondhand equipment, create marketing materials, and put down a security deposit on the Orange Park, Florida, space they would rent.
In 2008, another store opened in Jacksonville, Florida, and a third store the following year in Atlanta. CamiCakes, named for the couple’s daughter, generated $1.1 million in revenues in 2009 and anticipates $2 million by year-end. But Hall’s path to business ownership wasn’t all sweet.
With 18 cupcake flavors—the most popular being red velvet, sweet potato, and carrot cake—CamiCakes’ rapid growth was one of Hall’s greatest challenges.
The baking began each day at 6 a.m., and the doors were open to customers from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. When she opened the Georgia store, Hall drove the 350 miles between there and the Florida stores to oversee the baking and customer service in each store and handle all the paperwork. “I was just doing too much,” the 38-year-old recalls. “And then I got really, really sick and was down for more than two weeks.”
At that point, Hall knew she had to come up with a way to make sure each store could run without her constant attention. First, over the course of two months, she created a manual of operations so each store would have the same written standard operating procedures ranging from the recipes used to the steps to take if a register went down. “I’m more of a do er, so it was a challenge to have to stop and make sure everything was clearly documented for other people to understand,” Hall says.
Next, she chose one store to focus most of her energy on. Because Atlanta was the biggest market and the store there was the most profitable, Hall moved her family there and established it as CamiCakes’ headquarters. The third step, loosening the reins, was the hardest. Hall made the transition somewhat easier by hiring from within rather than seeking outsiders to manage the Florida stores. “I had faith that they could do the job,” she says.
Even with delegating some of the work, Hall has a lot to keep her occupied. She balances raising a now healthy 6-year-old Camille with managing her growing empire. By fall, she will launch a van that travels to festivals, parties, and conferences. Besides bringing the cupcakes to where the crowds are, it will give CamiCakes another mode of advertising and should increase in-store sales by at least 10%. “A store, excluding salaries, for us is about $7,000 or $8,000 a month,” she adds about the savings in overhead.
Hall is also scouting out other cities in the Southeast to expand the 30-employee firm. But no matter how much success she experiences, Hall says nothing is better than spending her days doing something she loves. “Being able to make a living from it is just the cherry on top.”
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Not just a typical story of someone in a dead-end job needing another chapter in their lives. But a husband and wife who's daughter needs brought about a new chapter in their lives.
How Sweet It Is
A health hardship leads to cupcake commerce
Black Entreprise Magazine
Written By:Alfred Edmond Jr.
This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR Contributor Angelique Westerfield speaks with Andra Hall, founder and co-owner, along with husband Curtis Hall, of CamiCakes, a baked-goods company that generated $1.1 million in revenues in 2009. With locations in Orange Park, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla; and Atlanta, Hall shares how she launched her business while working the graveyard shift at a local hotel.
For Andra Hall, entrepreneurship was a matter of medical necessity. In 2004, her 1-year-old daughter underwent a string of surgeries to correct a severe case of sleep apnea. “I did major soul-searching to come up with something that would be flexible enough to let me be there when Camille needed me,” she recalls.
Settling on her longtime interest in baking, Hall created a business plan and by 2006, she and her husband, Curtis, refinanced their house to obtain the $40,000 they needed to launch CamiCakes Cupcakes (www.camicakes.com; 404-748-4288). The money allowed them to buy secondhand equipment, create marketing materials, and put down a security deposit on the Orange Park, Florida, space they would rent.
In 2008, another store opened in Jacksonville, Florida, and a third store the following year in Atlanta. CamiCakes, named for the couple’s daughter, generated $1.1 million in revenues in 2009 and anticipates $2 million by year-end. But Hall’s path to business ownership wasn’t all sweet.
With 18 cupcake flavors—the most popular being red velvet, sweet potato, and carrot cake—CamiCakes’ rapid growth was one of Hall’s greatest challenges.
The baking began each day at 6 a.m., and the doors were open to customers from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. When she opened the Georgia store, Hall drove the 350 miles between there and the Florida stores to oversee the baking and customer service in each store and handle all the paperwork. “I was just doing too much,” the 38-year-old recalls. “And then I got really, really sick and was down for more than two weeks.”
At that point, Hall knew she had to come up with a way to make sure each store could run without her constant attention. First, over the course of two months, she created a manual of operations so each store would have the same written standard operating procedures ranging from the recipes used to the steps to take if a register went down. “I’m more of a do er, so it was a challenge to have to stop and make sure everything was clearly documented for other people to understand,” Hall says.
Next, she chose one store to focus most of her energy on. Because Atlanta was the biggest market and the store there was the most profitable, Hall moved her family there and established it as CamiCakes’ headquarters. The third step, loosening the reins, was the hardest. Hall made the transition somewhat easier by hiring from within rather than seeking outsiders to manage the Florida stores. “I had faith that they could do the job,” she says.
Even with delegating some of the work, Hall has a lot to keep her occupied. She balances raising a now healthy 6-year-old Camille with managing her growing empire. By fall, she will launch a van that travels to festivals, parties, and conferences. Besides bringing the cupcakes to where the crowds are, it will give CamiCakes another mode of advertising and should increase in-store sales by at least 10%. “A store, excluding salaries, for us is about $7,000 or $8,000 a month,” she adds about the savings in overhead.
Hall is also scouting out other cities in the Southeast to expand the 30-employee firm. But no matter how much success she experiences, Hall says nothing is better than spending her days doing something she loves. “Being able to make a living from it is just the cherry on top.”
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
How to get a Green E-Business Off the Ground
Just when you thought of all the businesses you can start or go into how about a Green E-business, Steffany from Entrepreneur Magazine offers lots information on starting an Green E-Business.
How to Get a Green E-Business Off the Ground
The keys are market research, a suitable partner and a reliable website.
Entrepreneur Magazine
By: Steffany Boldrini
08/15/2010
If you're thinking about starting a green e-business, the first thing I'd ask is: Are you really passionate about this way of life? Because if you're just doing it for the hype, you won't get very far. I constantly see companies "greenwashing," saying they're "green" when they're pretty much "black." This catches up with them sooner than they think.
Now that we're clear about that, let's get to the fun part: starting your green e-business. I launched EcoBold.com about seven months ago, when I posted my first video review of a green product. But I had been working on it for at least a couple of years from idea to launch. I expect to be profitable by the end of the year, through selling the products I review at a small profit, and charging companies that want to reach green-oriented buyers.
My initial idea (accompanied by a full-blown business plan) was to be the Amazon.com of green products. But it wasn't so easy: I searched for a partner who could do the website coding, but I couldn't find anyone as driven, hard-working and passionate about the subject as I was. When I thought I had found someone, he ultimately chose a different path. I didn't give up: I just shifted my focus to what I could do on my own.
Here's what I've learned about starting a green e-business and how to make your dream become a reality.
1.Market research. The first thing you'll have to do is conduct market research for the kind of service or product you're thinking of providing. Beware, ladies--there are many, many handbag, clothing and skin-care resellers out there already; these industries are currently oversaturated, even in the green world.
What you need to do is find a niche. Right now there are many opportunities and untapped markets, so your imagination can run wild. I recently came across a company that's making 100 percent natural and safe pesticides, and the product is already being sold at Home Depot and Walmart. It's the only safe pesticide I've seen to date.
Here are some additional ideas: What do you use right now that could be made with bamboo? Or with biodegradable materials? How about hemp, or recycled bottles? These are all sustainable materials that can be used to make exotic and eco-friendly new products.
If fashion or personal care is truly your passion, find something that hasn't been done before or where you'd have very few competitors. For example: I've never seen a bikini made out of recycled materials or a nail polish that's 100 percent safe.
2.Look for a partner. Before I started my business, I looked everywhere: high-tech meet-ups, green conferences, Craigslist and college competitions. I met with more than 25 people, and none of them felt like a good fit. As exhausting as the search is, you have to be as picky as you'd be marrying someone, because you'll likely be spending a lot more time with your business partner than with your significant other. And unless you have thousands of dollars to pay employees, you'll need to share the load with someone. There are so many things you'll be doing. I'm still looking for a partner because I truly believe it's essential to get your business to great places.
3.Hire someone to build your website. Make sure you know exactly what you want, where you want it, and what you want to happen when visitors click a link. If you have friends who can recommend someone reliable and inexpensive, that's ideal and will save you a lot of time. If not, you can post your job on Craigslist, Odesk.com and vWorker.com.
Make sure your ad states exactly what you want, and ask for a quote. I got quotes ranging from $200 to $5,000. Yes, I went with the $200, and everything I wanted was done. One last thing--if you can manage to work with someone here in the United States, I'd strongly recommend that. I've worked with people outside of the country, and the language barrier and time differences cost me a lot more than I thought they would. It wasn't worth it.
Now it's time to launch. Here are the first things I did when I launched:
1.Send all friends a personalized e-mail telling them what you're doing and asking them to support you and subscribe, and "Digg" it, Facebook it or tweet it.
2.Create a Facebook fan page (for a guide on how to create a page, watch this video), and invite all your friends to join.
3.Create a Twitter account and start following and interacting with people in the industry. An easy way to find them is to search for who's talking about green. You can find out through this site.
4.Send all of your other contacts a personalized e-mail (at the least, include their first name in the e-mail).
5.Start contacting people in the industry and get them talking about your website. Google "top 100 green blogs" and e-mail every one of them; try to find the reporter's contact information instead of sending an e-mail through the blog's "contact us" form.
6.Contact local journalists and radio stations and tell them how your site will be beneficial to their readers or listeners.
7.Contact companies that might be interested in your product or service. One of my favorite resources is the Green Festival. Find one near you and connect with the vendors there. You might even want to have a booth if you have the funds. You can also share a booth with another company and split the cost. One last hint: If you're in the San Francisco area, the best time to have a booth is at the November event.
With time, you'll see that you have too many things to juggle as an entrepreneur, and you need help. The problem will be money to pay for it. My solution has been to post offers for nonpaid internships at local colleges. That doesn't mean an intern will be your personal secretary. You have to be a teacher; you have to guide the intern and be a mentor to him or her. The current economy means it's a good time to find great interns.
A few last thoughts:
Remember that your biggest problem can become your biggest asset. Just hang in there and look for a solution. I searched for a partner for more than a year until I realized I just couldn't wait for a "marriageable" partner. That's when I came up with the idea of doing video reviews.
I researched the idea and realized no one else was doing it. So I found a student who was willing to shoot the reviews. I requested samples from the companies I'd been researching for the previous two years, and we shot about 20 reviews in a couple of weeks. When the videos somehow disappeared from the student's camera, I shed a few tears, then realized I had to buy my own camera equipment and learn how to edit. My website became a bigger success than it probably would have had I stuck with my original idea of simply providing a written description to sell the products.
First lesson learned: If there's a will, there's a way.
EcoBold is only a few months old, but it has come a long way from that first video. Recently, we launched green coupons. Since we're on track to become profitable by the end of the year, maybe one day we will become the Amazon.com of green products.
Steffany Boldrini is the founder of EcoBold.com, which does video reviews of green products and interviews green manufacturers. Boldrini's goal is to make all green products affordable for everyone.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
How to Get a Green E-Business Off the Ground
The keys are market research, a suitable partner and a reliable website.
Entrepreneur Magazine
By: Steffany Boldrini
08/15/2010
If you're thinking about starting a green e-business, the first thing I'd ask is: Are you really passionate about this way of life? Because if you're just doing it for the hype, you won't get very far. I constantly see companies "greenwashing," saying they're "green" when they're pretty much "black." This catches up with them sooner than they think.
Now that we're clear about that, let's get to the fun part: starting your green e-business. I launched EcoBold.com about seven months ago, when I posted my first video review of a green product. But I had been working on it for at least a couple of years from idea to launch. I expect to be profitable by the end of the year, through selling the products I review at a small profit, and charging companies that want to reach green-oriented buyers.
My initial idea (accompanied by a full-blown business plan) was to be the Amazon.com of green products. But it wasn't so easy: I searched for a partner who could do the website coding, but I couldn't find anyone as driven, hard-working and passionate about the subject as I was. When I thought I had found someone, he ultimately chose a different path. I didn't give up: I just shifted my focus to what I could do on my own.
Here's what I've learned about starting a green e-business and how to make your dream become a reality.
1.Market research. The first thing you'll have to do is conduct market research for the kind of service or product you're thinking of providing. Beware, ladies--there are many, many handbag, clothing and skin-care resellers out there already; these industries are currently oversaturated, even in the green world.
What you need to do is find a niche. Right now there are many opportunities and untapped markets, so your imagination can run wild. I recently came across a company that's making 100 percent natural and safe pesticides, and the product is already being sold at Home Depot and Walmart. It's the only safe pesticide I've seen to date.
Here are some additional ideas: What do you use right now that could be made with bamboo? Or with biodegradable materials? How about hemp, or recycled bottles? These are all sustainable materials that can be used to make exotic and eco-friendly new products.
If fashion or personal care is truly your passion, find something that hasn't been done before or where you'd have very few competitors. For example: I've never seen a bikini made out of recycled materials or a nail polish that's 100 percent safe.
2.Look for a partner. Before I started my business, I looked everywhere: high-tech meet-ups, green conferences, Craigslist and college competitions. I met with more than 25 people, and none of them felt like a good fit. As exhausting as the search is, you have to be as picky as you'd be marrying someone, because you'll likely be spending a lot more time with your business partner than with your significant other. And unless you have thousands of dollars to pay employees, you'll need to share the load with someone. There are so many things you'll be doing. I'm still looking for a partner because I truly believe it's essential to get your business to great places.
3.Hire someone to build your website. Make sure you know exactly what you want, where you want it, and what you want to happen when visitors click a link. If you have friends who can recommend someone reliable and inexpensive, that's ideal and will save you a lot of time. If not, you can post your job on Craigslist, Odesk.com and vWorker.com.
Make sure your ad states exactly what you want, and ask for a quote. I got quotes ranging from $200 to $5,000. Yes, I went with the $200, and everything I wanted was done. One last thing--if you can manage to work with someone here in the United States, I'd strongly recommend that. I've worked with people outside of the country, and the language barrier and time differences cost me a lot more than I thought they would. It wasn't worth it.
Now it's time to launch. Here are the first things I did when I launched:
1.Send all friends a personalized e-mail telling them what you're doing and asking them to support you and subscribe, and "Digg" it, Facebook it or tweet it.
2.Create a Facebook fan page (for a guide on how to create a page, watch this video), and invite all your friends to join.
3.Create a Twitter account and start following and interacting with people in the industry. An easy way to find them is to search for who's talking about green. You can find out through this site.
4.Send all of your other contacts a personalized e-mail (at the least, include their first name in the e-mail).
5.Start contacting people in the industry and get them talking about your website. Google "top 100 green blogs" and e-mail every one of them; try to find the reporter's contact information instead of sending an e-mail through the blog's "contact us" form.
6.Contact local journalists and radio stations and tell them how your site will be beneficial to their readers or listeners.
7.Contact companies that might be interested in your product or service. One of my favorite resources is the Green Festival. Find one near you and connect with the vendors there. You might even want to have a booth if you have the funds. You can also share a booth with another company and split the cost. One last hint: If you're in the San Francisco area, the best time to have a booth is at the November event.
With time, you'll see that you have too many things to juggle as an entrepreneur, and you need help. The problem will be money to pay for it. My solution has been to post offers for nonpaid internships at local colleges. That doesn't mean an intern will be your personal secretary. You have to be a teacher; you have to guide the intern and be a mentor to him or her. The current economy means it's a good time to find great interns.
A few last thoughts:
Remember that your biggest problem can become your biggest asset. Just hang in there and look for a solution. I searched for a partner for more than a year until I realized I just couldn't wait for a "marriageable" partner. That's when I came up with the idea of doing video reviews.
I researched the idea and realized no one else was doing it. So I found a student who was willing to shoot the reviews. I requested samples from the companies I'd been researching for the previous two years, and we shot about 20 reviews in a couple of weeks. When the videos somehow disappeared from the student's camera, I shed a few tears, then realized I had to buy my own camera equipment and learn how to edit. My website became a bigger success than it probably would have had I stuck with my original idea of simply providing a written description to sell the products.
First lesson learned: If there's a will, there's a way.
EcoBold is only a few months old, but it has come a long way from that first video. Recently, we launched green coupons. Since we're on track to become profitable by the end of the year, maybe one day we will become the Amazon.com of green products.
Steffany Boldrini is the founder of EcoBold.com, which does video reviews of green products and interviews green manufacturers. Boldrini's goal is to make all green products affordable for everyone.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Victor Hansen Self Publishing
Ever thought about going into self-publishing? I know I have in fact have heard great testimonies from self-publishing authors. Mark Victor Hensen offers some great advice to we inspired self-publish authors to be. Take a good read very helpful, encouraging and enlighting.
Self-Publishing
By Mark Victor Hansen
America Ambassador of Possibly
One of the biggest challenges a self-published author faces is generating awareness and demand for their books. This struggle is not unlike the struggle that many businesses are facing today. Chicken Soup for the Soul was born from humble beginnings as a self-published book. Jack Canfield and I had big dreams for our collection of inspirational and uplifting stories, but unfortunately, we didn't have a very big budget. It took two years for the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book to reach the best-seller list. Because it was self-published, Jack and I had to be very creative, innovative, and effective in how we marketed. Our families were depending on us, and we couldn't afford to fail.
During those two years we experimented with many different forms of marketing and advertising. These are the top 3 techniques that we used to attract the demand necessary to transform our humble self-published book into a dominating million-dollar business empire:
We spoke-up: Jack and I were both (and still are) professional speakers and always used Chicken Soup for the Soul stories during our talks to warm up the crowd and reinforce our lessons. After our talks were over, we would always hear the crowd buzzing about how great the stories were. Even if you aren't a professional speaker, you can utilize this subtle, yet powerful approach! Today, many people use social networking to spread the word, but I still believe that there is nothing more persuasive than an honest referral from a friend. Be sure to always keep a copy of your book with you. If someone finds advice the advice you have given, or a story you have told helpful, you can give them a signed copy of your book. If they enjoy it, they will be sure to tell a friend.
We made key contacts: During those two years Jack and I travelled A LOT. At the time, I did a lot of coaching for BIG sales departments at BIG companies. We inevitably met the who's who within the company. These key contacts helped us to get more speaking engagements and to gain traction with a more powerful demographic. When you begin to acquire high-powered fans (or clients) you will gain more credibility, which makes you instantly more in-demand. If you're in business, make friends with your top competitors, you never know when you'll be able to offer something they can't or vice-versa. You can also use these relationships to create symbiotic marketing campaigns. (Think: Restaurants offering discounts with a movie stub.)
We never compromised our quality: Every page in Chicken Soup for the Soul went through a screening process, even the cartoons. Our book was self-published, and we knew that if we wanted to be in the big leagues, we had to have a big-league quality product. We had to do more than talk Chicken Soup, we had to be Chicken Soup. We were consistent and authentic in how we represented our brand and our message in every aspect of our marketing, our lives and ourselves. Do you use the advice you give in your book? Does your book (or business) have the quality of your most successful competitors?
The truth is that only a handful of self-published books reach the best-sellers list, and only a handful of businesses will reach a Forbes list. This fact doesn't reduce the importance of every book that is self-published or any small business. Hard work, dedication, and passion can take you very far in this world. Don't give up because you don't see success immediately. Remember, it took us two years to reach our goal of best-sellerdom, but today, because of hard work and persistence, we hold the world record for having the most books on a bestsellers list at one time. Don't be discouraged if you don't reach your goal immediately, if you are seeing growth and progress, you will get what you want, just keep working and innovating!
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Self-Publishing
By Mark Victor Hansen
America Ambassador of Possibly
One of the biggest challenges a self-published author faces is generating awareness and demand for their books. This struggle is not unlike the struggle that many businesses are facing today. Chicken Soup for the Soul was born from humble beginnings as a self-published book. Jack Canfield and I had big dreams for our collection of inspirational and uplifting stories, but unfortunately, we didn't have a very big budget. It took two years for the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book to reach the best-seller list. Because it was self-published, Jack and I had to be very creative, innovative, and effective in how we marketed. Our families were depending on us, and we couldn't afford to fail.
During those two years we experimented with many different forms of marketing and advertising. These are the top 3 techniques that we used to attract the demand necessary to transform our humble self-published book into a dominating million-dollar business empire:
We spoke-up: Jack and I were both (and still are) professional speakers and always used Chicken Soup for the Soul stories during our talks to warm up the crowd and reinforce our lessons. After our talks were over, we would always hear the crowd buzzing about how great the stories were. Even if you aren't a professional speaker, you can utilize this subtle, yet powerful approach! Today, many people use social networking to spread the word, but I still believe that there is nothing more persuasive than an honest referral from a friend. Be sure to always keep a copy of your book with you. If someone finds advice the advice you have given, or a story you have told helpful, you can give them a signed copy of your book. If they enjoy it, they will be sure to tell a friend.
We made key contacts: During those two years Jack and I travelled A LOT. At the time, I did a lot of coaching for BIG sales departments at BIG companies. We inevitably met the who's who within the company. These key contacts helped us to get more speaking engagements and to gain traction with a more powerful demographic. When you begin to acquire high-powered fans (or clients) you will gain more credibility, which makes you instantly more in-demand. If you're in business, make friends with your top competitors, you never know when you'll be able to offer something they can't or vice-versa. You can also use these relationships to create symbiotic marketing campaigns. (Think: Restaurants offering discounts with a movie stub.)
We never compromised our quality: Every page in Chicken Soup for the Soul went through a screening process, even the cartoons. Our book was self-published, and we knew that if we wanted to be in the big leagues, we had to have a big-league quality product. We had to do more than talk Chicken Soup, we had to be Chicken Soup. We were consistent and authentic in how we represented our brand and our message in every aspect of our marketing, our lives and ourselves. Do you use the advice you give in your book? Does your book (or business) have the quality of your most successful competitors?
The truth is that only a handful of self-published books reach the best-sellers list, and only a handful of businesses will reach a Forbes list. This fact doesn't reduce the importance of every book that is self-published or any small business. Hard work, dedication, and passion can take you very far in this world. Don't give up because you don't see success immediately. Remember, it took us two years to reach our goal of best-sellerdom, but today, because of hard work and persistence, we hold the world record for having the most books on a bestsellers list at one time. Don't be discouraged if you don't reach your goal immediately, if you are seeing growth and progress, you will get what you want, just keep working and innovating!
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Art of Delegation
Richard Branson is one of my favorite business mentor. The Art of Delegation is a business read for your business, especially if you have employees.
Delegation is not easy for some people who thrive ego wise of doing things themselves, as your business grows that may not be a good decision or choice to run your company in that fashion.
Richard Branson owns multiple mult- million to billions dollar businesses, his advice and wisdom is priceless.
I am often asked how I manage to keep my finger on the pulse with so many different companies and ideas to think about. This is all about the art of delegation.
From a very early time, when we went from one company to two companies, I realised I couldn't do everything myself. I had to learn the art of delegation and try to find people who are better than me to run the companies – that wasn't that difficult!
Also, finding people who are more managerially-inclined rather than entrepreneurially-inclined was important. So from an early age I would always try to put myself out of business so I would be free to think about how to take the Virgin Group into a new era. One of the jobs was to find a great managing director for the Virgin Group, which I did in Stephen Murphy.
Another important task is to make sure the companies don't get too big too quickly. If anything, we have a bias to keep things smaller rather than larger. The feeling and the way that we run them, with delegation that we push down into the companies, is not a very corporate fashion. We tend to manage our businesses in a much more delegated style, where we empower the managements to manage.
The record company division was quite a good example. Where we had 100 people in a record company. I would go in and ask to see the deputy managing director, the deputy sales manager, the deputy marketing manager and say: "You are now the managing director, the marketing manager, the sales manager of a new company and you can take 50 people from this company and go to another building."
Then when those two companies got to another 100 people each we did it again. In the Notting Hill Gate area we ended up having 18 different record companies. 18 different switchboards too, we didn't try to save on central costs. With the combination of them put together, we had the biggest independent record company in the world – the fifth biggest overall.
We would have never got there if we just had one manager; we couldn't have been creative in that environment. It worked extremely well for us. We haven't managed to do that in all companies ever since, but we try to keep that general feeling as much as we can within the Virgin Group.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Delegation is not easy for some people who thrive ego wise of doing things themselves, as your business grows that may not be a good decision or choice to run your company in that fashion.
Richard Branson owns multiple mult- million to billions dollar businesses, his advice and wisdom is priceless.
I am often asked how I manage to keep my finger on the pulse with so many different companies and ideas to think about. This is all about the art of delegation.
From a very early time, when we went from one company to two companies, I realised I couldn't do everything myself. I had to learn the art of delegation and try to find people who are better than me to run the companies – that wasn't that difficult!
Also, finding people who are more managerially-inclined rather than entrepreneurially-inclined was important. So from an early age I would always try to put myself out of business so I would be free to think about how to take the Virgin Group into a new era. One of the jobs was to find a great managing director for the Virgin Group, which I did in Stephen Murphy.
Another important task is to make sure the companies don't get too big too quickly. If anything, we have a bias to keep things smaller rather than larger. The feeling and the way that we run them, with delegation that we push down into the companies, is not a very corporate fashion. We tend to manage our businesses in a much more delegated style, where we empower the managements to manage.
The record company division was quite a good example. Where we had 100 people in a record company. I would go in and ask to see the deputy managing director, the deputy sales manager, the deputy marketing manager and say: "You are now the managing director, the marketing manager, the sales manager of a new company and you can take 50 people from this company and go to another building."
Then when those two companies got to another 100 people each we did it again. In the Notting Hill Gate area we ended up having 18 different record companies. 18 different switchboards too, we didn't try to save on central costs. With the combination of them put together, we had the biggest independent record company in the world – the fifth biggest overall.
We would have never got there if we just had one manager; we couldn't have been creative in that environment. It worked extremely well for us. We haven't managed to do that in all companies ever since, but we try to keep that general feeling as much as we can within the Virgin Group.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Why, When and How to Move Your Business
Randy in this articles talk about business relocation, sometimes the spot your doing business maybe the ultimate location, and sometime you may need to seek out edition or different locations that will boost business in a major way. Take a good read, see if some of Randy's pointview on relocating suite your business needs.
Why, When and How to Move Your Business
Plan carefully to make the process as rewarding and stress-free as possible.
By Randy Myers
July 30, 2010
Print Email Share Get the Mag Weekly Updates Comment
Christine White knew it was time to find a new home for her spa products business, Scandle LLC, when a Japanese distributor reported that some of her candle tins were arriving with rust on them. The culprit? A leaky warehouse roof her landlord in Texas just couldn't get around to fixing.
Denise Mazan knew it was time to move her Culver City, California, dance studio when her landlord tried to raise her rent and Mazan, inspired to look for a better deal, found that she could lease space nearby that was almost three times bigger and cost $1 less per square foot.
Businesses move for lots of reasons--to accommodate growth, save money, get closer to customers or vendors, maybe just enjoy a nicer neighborhood. But it can be stressful for employees (who may balk if faced with a longer commute) and for customers (who may not find the new location convenient). Even a move designed to save money will trigger short-term costs, from hiring movers to finishing and furnishing the new space.
Moving can also be a logistical challenge filled with unexpected pitfalls. Junction Networks, a VoIP phone system provider based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was just about to move earlier this year when it discovered, at the last minute, that the building it had chosen was not wired for internet service. Costs for wiring were prohibitive, so it had to pull out of the deal and hastily find another space.
Business owners who've gone through the moving process cite three keys to a successful move. The first is to be realistic about what you can afford. "Make sure you have enough money," stresses Stephanie Somogyi Miller, president of public relations firm Spread PR , a Miller/Hamilton company in New York City. "Just because you have a good six months does not mean you can support a new space for a three-year lease."
Miller stayed in her 400-square-foot office in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood until it was "bursting at the seams." She moved her company in May to a 1,000-square-foot location on West 39th Street.
The second key to a successful move is to do your homework before settling on a new location. When Wendy Diamond, owner of Flag Fables Inc., a retailer of outdoor decorative products, realized that her previous location was becoming too small and the neighborhood too unsafe, she spent three years vetting alternatives. She finally moved to her current location in West Springfield, Massachusetts, in late 2007. Before uprooting her company, though, she drafted a list of requirements for a new location: a safe retail environment, better visibility from the street, more passing traffic, and room for her manufacturing, warehousing and shipping operations--all at a price that made sense for her budget.
To minimize the risk of choosing the wrong space, Diamond assessed as many hard facts as she could for each property she visited, including traffic numbers, proximity to major highways, price per square foot, NNN costs (real estate lingo for property taxes, insurance and operating expenses on buildings offering "triple net lease" terms), estimated build-out costs, the landlord's reputation, the presence of adjacent stores and businesses, and space for growth. She ultimately chose to lease a 3,300-square-foot facility that met all of her search criteria.
The final key to a successful move is planning the move itself. Prasad Thammineni, co-founder and CEO of OfficeDrop , a document-scanning company, created a Google Docs spreadsheet before moving his company from Waltham, Massachusetts, to nearby Cambridge. The spreadsheet "broke down specific categories and responsibilities for each employee, covering everything from coffee mugs to the change of our address on our website," reports Healy Jones, OfficeDrop's vice president of marketing. "We referenced this plan before, during and after the move, and it was an incredibly effective guide to keep things going smoothly."
To ensure uninterrupted receipt of its customers' documents, OfficeDrop arranged to have mail delivered to both its old and new locations for two weeks before and after the move. It also established internet and phone service to the new site prior to the move, and stationed an employee there--online and with live phone service--during the move itself.
Making sure phone and internet connections work before the move is important, confirms Joshua Kelly, chief operating officer of Fine Design Group , a digital branding and Web design firm with two West Coast locations. His company endured several months of sporadic video-conferencing and VoIP phone service failures after moving into its San Francisco office last year. "Do not skimp on the up-front cost of IT advice if connectivity is important to your business," Kelly says.
Moving your business can be an exciting and important step in its long-term growth, so plan carefully to make the move as rewarding and stress-free as possible.
© 2010 Business on Main
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Why, When and How to Move Your Business
Plan carefully to make the process as rewarding and stress-free as possible.
By Randy Myers
July 30, 2010
Print Email Share Get the Mag Weekly Updates Comment
Christine White knew it was time to find a new home for her spa products business, Scandle LLC, when a Japanese distributor reported that some of her candle tins were arriving with rust on them. The culprit? A leaky warehouse roof her landlord in Texas just couldn't get around to fixing.
Denise Mazan knew it was time to move her Culver City, California, dance studio when her landlord tried to raise her rent and Mazan, inspired to look for a better deal, found that she could lease space nearby that was almost three times bigger and cost $1 less per square foot.
Businesses move for lots of reasons--to accommodate growth, save money, get closer to customers or vendors, maybe just enjoy a nicer neighborhood. But it can be stressful for employees (who may balk if faced with a longer commute) and for customers (who may not find the new location convenient). Even a move designed to save money will trigger short-term costs, from hiring movers to finishing and furnishing the new space.
Moving can also be a logistical challenge filled with unexpected pitfalls. Junction Networks, a VoIP phone system provider based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was just about to move earlier this year when it discovered, at the last minute, that the building it had chosen was not wired for internet service. Costs for wiring were prohibitive, so it had to pull out of the deal and hastily find another space.
Business owners who've gone through the moving process cite three keys to a successful move. The first is to be realistic about what you can afford. "Make sure you have enough money," stresses Stephanie Somogyi Miller, president of public relations firm Spread PR , a Miller/Hamilton company in New York City. "Just because you have a good six months does not mean you can support a new space for a three-year lease."
Miller stayed in her 400-square-foot office in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood until it was "bursting at the seams." She moved her company in May to a 1,000-square-foot location on West 39th Street.
The second key to a successful move is to do your homework before settling on a new location. When Wendy Diamond, owner of Flag Fables Inc., a retailer of outdoor decorative products, realized that her previous location was becoming too small and the neighborhood too unsafe, she spent three years vetting alternatives. She finally moved to her current location in West Springfield, Massachusetts, in late 2007. Before uprooting her company, though, she drafted a list of requirements for a new location: a safe retail environment, better visibility from the street, more passing traffic, and room for her manufacturing, warehousing and shipping operations--all at a price that made sense for her budget.
To minimize the risk of choosing the wrong space, Diamond assessed as many hard facts as she could for each property she visited, including traffic numbers, proximity to major highways, price per square foot, NNN costs (real estate lingo for property taxes, insurance and operating expenses on buildings offering "triple net lease" terms), estimated build-out costs, the landlord's reputation, the presence of adjacent stores and businesses, and space for growth. She ultimately chose to lease a 3,300-square-foot facility that met all of her search criteria.
The final key to a successful move is planning the move itself. Prasad Thammineni, co-founder and CEO of OfficeDrop , a document-scanning company, created a Google Docs spreadsheet before moving his company from Waltham, Massachusetts, to nearby Cambridge. The spreadsheet "broke down specific categories and responsibilities for each employee, covering everything from coffee mugs to the change of our address on our website," reports Healy Jones, OfficeDrop's vice president of marketing. "We referenced this plan before, during and after the move, and it was an incredibly effective guide to keep things going smoothly."
To ensure uninterrupted receipt of its customers' documents, OfficeDrop arranged to have mail delivered to both its old and new locations for two weeks before and after the move. It also established internet and phone service to the new site prior to the move, and stationed an employee there--online and with live phone service--during the move itself.
Making sure phone and internet connections work before the move is important, confirms Joshua Kelly, chief operating officer of Fine Design Group , a digital branding and Web design firm with two West Coast locations. His company endured several months of sporadic video-conferencing and VoIP phone service failures after moving into its San Francisco office last year. "Do not skimp on the up-front cost of IT advice if connectivity is important to your business," Kelly says.
Moving your business can be an exciting and important step in its long-term growth, so plan carefully to make the move as rewarding and stress-free as possible.
© 2010 Business on Main
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Don't Lose Prospects to The Black Hole"
Everyone, I thought this read would be very helpful in assisting with maintaining current and new clients or customer. See if you agree or is this article right on the money.
Don't Lose Prospects to 'The Black Hole'
Implement a variety of strategies to ensure more prospects become clients.
By: Jill Konrath
07/26/2010
Have you ever had hot prospects who suddenly stopped returning your calls? Then you know how disconcerting it can be--especially when they'd expressed so much interest in your product or service only days before.
At first, you assume their lack of responsiveness is an isolated situation that will quickly self-correct. But after repeated failed attempts to connect, you start to question your own sanity.
You could have sworn they were interested, but their current behavior indicates otherwise. And, not wanting to appear too desperate or to come across as a real pest, you're stymied in terms of what your next steps should be.
Why They Disappeared
As a seller, it's always important to analyze what may be causing this behavior before taking action. Here are typical reasons prospects disappear into "The Black Hole":
1.They're totally swamped. Without a doubt, this is the most common reason. In virtually every company today, people have way too much to do and not nearly enough time to get it all done. They fully intend to continue the conversation, but not right now.
2.Priorities changed. This can happen overnight. Changing market conditions, bad third-quarter results and new leadership are just a few of the possible root causes. When this happens, it's nearly impossible to regain your momentum in the short term.
3.Lack of urgency. Sometimes sellers confuse a prospect's interest level with a desire to take action today. As such, they share all the glorious details about their offering instead of building a business case for immediate change.
4.Column fodder. Occasionally prospects just need comparative bids/pricing to justify their decision to go with another company.
5.They know everything. When prospects feel they have all the information they need, there's literally no reason to talk with you any further.
Different reasons call for different actions. Some you can prevent by doing things differently in your customer interactions. Always be open to this possibility, since prevention is your best cure.
In any case, you need answers. Is it "yea" or "nay"? Is the prospect still interested? Should you keep pursuing him or find new prospects?
What You Can Do
When you don't know what's behind a prospect's silence, figuring out how to respond can be a dilemma--especially since you don't want to be a pest. I suggest the following:
1.Just keep trying. Realize that prospects expect you to carry the "keep in touch" burden--so do it. It might take eight to 10 attempts before you reach them again. Don't panic. This is normal in today's business environment.
2.Make each connection valuable. Don't just leave a voice mail saying, "Hi, Eric. Just getting back to you as I promised about your xxx decision. If you have any questions, give me a call."
Instead, you might say, "Eric, based on our conversation last week, I know how important it is to you to shorten your sales cycle. There's a white paper on our website that addresses this issue. I'll be sending you a link via e-mail shortly."
3.Have a sense of humor. After four to five voice mails, leave a funny message such as, "Eric. I know you're swamped. But I also know that shortening your sales cycle is important to you. That's why I keep bugging you. I'm looking forward to finally reconnecting."
4.Leverage a variety of mediums. Mix up phone calls with e-mails, mailings, invitations to upcoming events, sending articles, etc. To position yourself as a resource, make sure each connection educates, informs or adds insights.
5.Create multiple entry points. Never let one person be your total gateway to a company. Identify and nurture multiple relationships concurrently. Just explain matter-of-factly to your contact, "It's how I can best serve your company's needs." When appropriate, reference others you're talking to in your messages and e-mails.
6.Assess whether they're really switching. To avoid being column fodder, find out if they're serious about making a change from the status quo. Ask, "What's causing you to look at other companies instead of staying with your current provider?"
7.Re-evaluate your initial connection. If you've told them everything about your offering, they have no need to meet with you again. To avoid this extremely common mistake, spend only a little time talking about what you do. Instead, focus on understanding their business issues, challenges and objectives. Then suggest a follow-up meeting to go over your ideas on how to help them in these areas.
8.Increase the urgency. Keep up-to-date on their current business priorities. If operational efficiency is a key driver, focus on how your offering can help in this area. If driving revenue growth is most important, align with that. This is essential in order to stay top-of-mind in their crazy-busy environment.
9.Plan your next step now. Never leave one meeting without a homework assignment (for you and the customer) and a firm follow-up appointment. If the prospect is unwilling to do this, it's an indicator that something may not be quite right--which should prompt you to explore the prospect's need and urgency in greater depth.
10.Let them off the hook. Send an e-mail stating that you thought they were interested, but perhaps you misjudged the situation since you haven't heard back from them in six weeks. Believe it or not, this strategy often gets a response and an explanation from a prospect who is feeling guilty about not reconnecting.
11.Reduce your contact frequency. If you haven't heard from a prospect after 10 touches, start contacting him less often. A quarterly schedule might be more appropriate. Or, you might want to keep on top of what's happening in the account and reconnect at a more appropriate time.
By leveraging one or more of these strategies, you'll often be able to re-engage a prospect who has disappeared into "The Black Hole." Not always, but often. And if you've continually provided value and focused on the impact your offering makes, that prospect will likely be ready to implement your solution yesterday.
Jill Konrath is a sales strategist, speaker and author. Her latest book is is SNAP Selling: Speed Up Sales and Win More Business With Today's Frazzled Customers. She also wrote Selling to Big Companies. Konrath brings you fresh strategies and practical advice that actually works when selling to today's crazy-busy prospects.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Don't Lose Prospects to 'The Black Hole'
Implement a variety of strategies to ensure more prospects become clients.
By: Jill Konrath
07/26/2010
Have you ever had hot prospects who suddenly stopped returning your calls? Then you know how disconcerting it can be--especially when they'd expressed so much interest in your product or service only days before.
At first, you assume their lack of responsiveness is an isolated situation that will quickly self-correct. But after repeated failed attempts to connect, you start to question your own sanity.
You could have sworn they were interested, but their current behavior indicates otherwise. And, not wanting to appear too desperate or to come across as a real pest, you're stymied in terms of what your next steps should be.
Why They Disappeared
As a seller, it's always important to analyze what may be causing this behavior before taking action. Here are typical reasons prospects disappear into "The Black Hole":
1.They're totally swamped. Without a doubt, this is the most common reason. In virtually every company today, people have way too much to do and not nearly enough time to get it all done. They fully intend to continue the conversation, but not right now.
2.Priorities changed. This can happen overnight. Changing market conditions, bad third-quarter results and new leadership are just a few of the possible root causes. When this happens, it's nearly impossible to regain your momentum in the short term.
3.Lack of urgency. Sometimes sellers confuse a prospect's interest level with a desire to take action today. As such, they share all the glorious details about their offering instead of building a business case for immediate change.
4.Column fodder. Occasionally prospects just need comparative bids/pricing to justify their decision to go with another company.
5.They know everything. When prospects feel they have all the information they need, there's literally no reason to talk with you any further.
Different reasons call for different actions. Some you can prevent by doing things differently in your customer interactions. Always be open to this possibility, since prevention is your best cure.
In any case, you need answers. Is it "yea" or "nay"? Is the prospect still interested? Should you keep pursuing him or find new prospects?
What You Can Do
When you don't know what's behind a prospect's silence, figuring out how to respond can be a dilemma--especially since you don't want to be a pest. I suggest the following:
1.Just keep trying. Realize that prospects expect you to carry the "keep in touch" burden--so do it. It might take eight to 10 attempts before you reach them again. Don't panic. This is normal in today's business environment.
2.Make each connection valuable. Don't just leave a voice mail saying, "Hi, Eric. Just getting back to you as I promised about your xxx decision. If you have any questions, give me a call."
Instead, you might say, "Eric, based on our conversation last week, I know how important it is to you to shorten your sales cycle. There's a white paper on our website that addresses this issue. I'll be sending you a link via e-mail shortly."
3.Have a sense of humor. After four to five voice mails, leave a funny message such as, "Eric. I know you're swamped. But I also know that shortening your sales cycle is important to you. That's why I keep bugging you. I'm looking forward to finally reconnecting."
4.Leverage a variety of mediums. Mix up phone calls with e-mails, mailings, invitations to upcoming events, sending articles, etc. To position yourself as a resource, make sure each connection educates, informs or adds insights.
5.Create multiple entry points. Never let one person be your total gateway to a company. Identify and nurture multiple relationships concurrently. Just explain matter-of-factly to your contact, "It's how I can best serve your company's needs." When appropriate, reference others you're talking to in your messages and e-mails.
6.Assess whether they're really switching. To avoid being column fodder, find out if they're serious about making a change from the status quo. Ask, "What's causing you to look at other companies instead of staying with your current provider?"
7.Re-evaluate your initial connection. If you've told them everything about your offering, they have no need to meet with you again. To avoid this extremely common mistake, spend only a little time talking about what you do. Instead, focus on understanding their business issues, challenges and objectives. Then suggest a follow-up meeting to go over your ideas on how to help them in these areas.
8.Increase the urgency. Keep up-to-date on their current business priorities. If operational efficiency is a key driver, focus on how your offering can help in this area. If driving revenue growth is most important, align with that. This is essential in order to stay top-of-mind in their crazy-busy environment.
9.Plan your next step now. Never leave one meeting without a homework assignment (for you and the customer) and a firm follow-up appointment. If the prospect is unwilling to do this, it's an indicator that something may not be quite right--which should prompt you to explore the prospect's need and urgency in greater depth.
10.Let them off the hook. Send an e-mail stating that you thought they were interested, but perhaps you misjudged the situation since you haven't heard back from them in six weeks. Believe it or not, this strategy often gets a response and an explanation from a prospect who is feeling guilty about not reconnecting.
11.Reduce your contact frequency. If you haven't heard from a prospect after 10 touches, start contacting him less often. A quarterly schedule might be more appropriate. Or, you might want to keep on top of what's happening in the account and reconnect at a more appropriate time.
By leveraging one or more of these strategies, you'll often be able to re-engage a prospect who has disappeared into "The Black Hole." Not always, but often. And if you've continually provided value and focused on the impact your offering makes, that prospect will likely be ready to implement your solution yesterday.
Jill Konrath is a sales strategist, speaker and author. Her latest book is is SNAP Selling: Speed Up Sales and Win More Business With Today's Frazzled Customers. She also wrote Selling to Big Companies. Konrath brings you fresh strategies and practical advice that actually works when selling to today's crazy-busy prospects.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Build a Professional Powerful Network
I enjoyed reading the ten ways to Build A Powerful Professional Network, most of the people, I already have on my professional team. It is never to late to build or rebuild your professional network.
How To Build A Powerful Professional Network
by Tai Goodwin
Want to get ahead? Here are 10 key people you'll need in your network to help you succeed.
It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.
Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:
1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.
2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.
Very good point. In each season of my personal and professional life, I have tried to have 3 key players: someone who knows more than I do, someone who is a partner, and someone whom I can mentor. He....
4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.
5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an e-mail or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people would overlook.
6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.
7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock down your dreams, rather they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.
8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.
9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities and information.
10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing that someone is watching.
Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, etc. … that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.
Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work or in your business? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
How To Build A Powerful Professional Network
by Tai Goodwin
Want to get ahead? Here are 10 key people you'll need in your network to help you succeed.
It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.
Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:
1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.
2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.
Very good point. In each season of my personal and professional life, I have tried to have 3 key players: someone who knows more than I do, someone who is a partner, and someone whom I can mentor. He....
4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.
5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an e-mail or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people would overlook.
6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.
7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock down your dreams, rather they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.
8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.
9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities and information.
10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing that someone is watching.
Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, etc. … that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.
Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work or in your business? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Trimming Payroll
Trimming Payroll is subject sometimes that unvoidable, whether large or small. This unique articles gives a suggest as to how to do it with tact.
Small-business owners looking to stay afloat in today's choppy economy have a lot riding against them. Raw materials are pricier. The U.S. dollar is worth less. Credit is harder to come by. And the cost of health care continues to rise. As a result, many entrepreneurs are slashing one of their biggest expenses: payroll.
In fact, nearly half of small-business owners polled in a recent survey said they plan to lay off workers, curtail raises or offer days off instead of wage increases as a result of the economic downturn. The survey was conducted by PayCycle, an online payroll service in Palo Alto, Calif.
While layoffs may be necessary at some small businesses, employers should avoid sharpening the ax. Here's why: Not only do employees contribute to the company's productivity and bottom line, they're often well-schooled (at a great cost) on your specific business methods. Conduct layoffs now, and you'll spend even more to train a whole new batch once the economy picks back up.
Content Continues Below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instead, consider these other payroll-trimming strategies:
Keep employees working. If there isn't enough work to go around, consider switching up people's duties, suggests Ray Friedman, a management professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "I have seen big companies make it through downturns by having factory workers do maintenance work [such as] painting, fixing tools" and the like, he says. Small companies, he adds, can receive similar cost savings by having current employees perform jobs that you would otherwise hire someone to do.
While such a role reversal will likely upset some workers, Christopher J. Collins, an associate professor of human-resource studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., says that "complete honesty is really important." If you articulate to your employees that such a job shift is only temporary, they may appreciate your resourcefulness and pitch in where they can.
Explore alternatives. As you converse honestly with employees about your business's struggles, ask them for their cost-reduction thoughts, suggests Collins. "They may have creative ideas that have to do with nonpayroll ways to save money." For instance, there may be some inefficient processes that an employee may have noticed that, if fixed, could save the company a bundle.
Ask for volunteers. You might also ask employees to consider a voluntary furlough, which is typically an unpaid temporary layoff or leave of absence. "Some employees may want time off," says Friedman. "It's better to let those who want, and can afford, time off to not work, rather than forcing it on everyone." Some employees might consider using the time off to take a vacation, spend time with family or work on a personal project if they're promised a job when the furlough is over.
Offer other incentives. Look into other forms of compensation, says Gene Marks, a small-business consultant in Philadelphia. For instance, providing stock options in lieu of payment may be acceptable for a short period. Additionally, if your company regularly provides bonuses but can't afford them this year, consider offering nonpayment incentives instead, Marks says. "If you have anything like a vacation home or a timeshare that you can give to an employee that doesn't cost you really anything, offer it," he says. Just make sure you're upfront about the switcheroo, as (understandably) many employees will chafe at having their bonuses disappear.
Install shorter work weeks. Reducing your employee's hours may do the trick as well. For instance, Tray-Pak, a custom plastic packaging maker in Reading, Penn., has for the past two years instituted a four-day workweek during the typically slow months from February until April. "In our slow period, we really don't need full staff," says Ken Ritter, the company's chief financial officer. Historically, he adds "we would have laid those people off." However, Tray-Pak has found that it's worth keeping the employees on because the training process, which takes three weeks, is so costly.
Reduce pay. If all else fails, consider reducing employees' pay, says Collins from Cornell. This is obviously going to be controversial. However, since a person's livelihood is on the line, a pay cut vs. a job cut, for many employees, may be preferable. The key to this predicament, he adds, is to "keep employees involved." It will be a difficult conversation, but after relaying to your staff that the business is being squeezed and its overall stability is in question, a pay cut may be an easier pill to swallow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Write to Diana Ransom at dransom@smartmoney.com.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Small-business owners looking to stay afloat in today's choppy economy have a lot riding against them. Raw materials are pricier. The U.S. dollar is worth less. Credit is harder to come by. And the cost of health care continues to rise. As a result, many entrepreneurs are slashing one of their biggest expenses: payroll.
In fact, nearly half of small-business owners polled in a recent survey said they plan to lay off workers, curtail raises or offer days off instead of wage increases as a result of the economic downturn. The survey was conducted by PayCycle, an online payroll service in Palo Alto, Calif.
While layoffs may be necessary at some small businesses, employers should avoid sharpening the ax. Here's why: Not only do employees contribute to the company's productivity and bottom line, they're often well-schooled (at a great cost) on your specific business methods. Conduct layoffs now, and you'll spend even more to train a whole new batch once the economy picks back up.
Content Continues Below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instead, consider these other payroll-trimming strategies:
Keep employees working. If there isn't enough work to go around, consider switching up people's duties, suggests Ray Friedman, a management professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "I have seen big companies make it through downturns by having factory workers do maintenance work [such as] painting, fixing tools" and the like, he says. Small companies, he adds, can receive similar cost savings by having current employees perform jobs that you would otherwise hire someone to do.
While such a role reversal will likely upset some workers, Christopher J. Collins, an associate professor of human-resource studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., says that "complete honesty is really important." If you articulate to your employees that such a job shift is only temporary, they may appreciate your resourcefulness and pitch in where they can.
Explore alternatives. As you converse honestly with employees about your business's struggles, ask them for their cost-reduction thoughts, suggests Collins. "They may have creative ideas that have to do with nonpayroll ways to save money." For instance, there may be some inefficient processes that an employee may have noticed that, if fixed, could save the company a bundle.
Ask for volunteers. You might also ask employees to consider a voluntary furlough, which is typically an unpaid temporary layoff or leave of absence. "Some employees may want time off," says Friedman. "It's better to let those who want, and can afford, time off to not work, rather than forcing it on everyone." Some employees might consider using the time off to take a vacation, spend time with family or work on a personal project if they're promised a job when the furlough is over.
Offer other incentives. Look into other forms of compensation, says Gene Marks, a small-business consultant in Philadelphia. For instance, providing stock options in lieu of payment may be acceptable for a short period. Additionally, if your company regularly provides bonuses but can't afford them this year, consider offering nonpayment incentives instead, Marks says. "If you have anything like a vacation home or a timeshare that you can give to an employee that doesn't cost you really anything, offer it," he says. Just make sure you're upfront about the switcheroo, as (understandably) many employees will chafe at having their bonuses disappear.
Install shorter work weeks. Reducing your employee's hours may do the trick as well. For instance, Tray-Pak, a custom plastic packaging maker in Reading, Penn., has for the past two years instituted a four-day workweek during the typically slow months from February until April. "In our slow period, we really don't need full staff," says Ken Ritter, the company's chief financial officer. Historically, he adds "we would have laid those people off." However, Tray-Pak has found that it's worth keeping the employees on because the training process, which takes three weeks, is so costly.
Reduce pay. If all else fails, consider reducing employees' pay, says Collins from Cornell. This is obviously going to be controversial. However, since a person's livelihood is on the line, a pay cut vs. a job cut, for many employees, may be preferable. The key to this predicament, he adds, is to "keep employees involved." It will be a difficult conversation, but after relaying to your staff that the business is being squeezed and its overall stability is in question, a pay cut may be an easier pill to swallow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Write to Diana Ransom at dransom@smartmoney.com.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Switch and Bate Business
I know I love the business side as owner preffered, but sometime you may need to have few jobs on the side until you become full time entrepreneur. I found this interesting read.
Business Group Accuses Obama of Neglecting Jobs
Published: Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010
10:02 AM ET Text Size By: ReutersDiggBuzz FacebookTwitter More Share
One of the most influential U.S. business groups accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of neglecting job creation and sowing economic uncertainty with burdensome tax and regulatory policies.
Photo by : Pete Souza
President Barack Obama
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress to shift their approach to "unlock frozen capital and jolt our economy back to life."
The group released the letter before a "Jobs for America" summit it is hosting and on the same day Obama's Council of Economic advisers is releasing a report that shows the president's policies are creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
The letter adds to growing criticism the Obama administration has faced lately from the business sector.
Four months before November congressional elections in which Obama's Democrats are struggling to preserve their dominance, Republicans have pounced on the criticisms to try to paint Obama as "anti-business."
The Chamber gave Obama credit for stabilizing the economy and heading off another Great Depression.
"But once accomplished, the congressional leadership and the administration took their eyes off the ball," the letter said. "They neglected America's number one priority — creating the more than 20 million jobs we need over the next 10 years for those who lost their jobs, have left the job market, or were cut to part-time status - as well as new entrants into our workforce."
The Chamber's jobs event, which takes place in Washington, will begin at 12:30 p.m. Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are among the speakers.
Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, leaders of a panel appointed by Obama on deficit reduction, are also scheduled to speak.
The healthcare reform legislation, financial regulatory reform and proposals to cap carbon emissions are cited by some in corporate America as examples of regulatory overreach. Business groups have also criticized Obama's fiscal policies, warning of the danger of high deficits.
Business groups also oppose Obama's plans to allow President George W. Bush's tax cuts on higher-income Americans expire at the end of this year.
A rift with the business community could pose other problems for Obama.
U.S. businesses are holding onto some $1.8 trillion in cash. The Obama administration wants to encourage them to invest some of that money to help jump-start the economic recovery.
Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Topics:Republicans
Democrats
Barack Obama
Economy (U.S.)
White House
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Business Group Accuses Obama of Neglecting Jobs
Published: Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010
10:02 AM ET Text Size By: ReutersDiggBuzz FacebookTwitter More Share
One of the most influential U.S. business groups accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of neglecting job creation and sowing economic uncertainty with burdensome tax and regulatory policies.
Photo by : Pete Souza
President Barack Obama
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress to shift their approach to "unlock frozen capital and jolt our economy back to life."
The group released the letter before a "Jobs for America" summit it is hosting and on the same day Obama's Council of Economic advisers is releasing a report that shows the president's policies are creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
The letter adds to growing criticism the Obama administration has faced lately from the business sector.
Four months before November congressional elections in which Obama's Democrats are struggling to preserve their dominance, Republicans have pounced on the criticisms to try to paint Obama as "anti-business."
The Chamber gave Obama credit for stabilizing the economy and heading off another Great Depression.
"But once accomplished, the congressional leadership and the administration took their eyes off the ball," the letter said. "They neglected America's number one priority — creating the more than 20 million jobs we need over the next 10 years for those who lost their jobs, have left the job market, or were cut to part-time status - as well as new entrants into our workforce."
The Chamber's jobs event, which takes place in Washington, will begin at 12:30 p.m. Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are among the speakers.
Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, leaders of a panel appointed by Obama on deficit reduction, are also scheduled to speak.
The healthcare reform legislation, financial regulatory reform and proposals to cap carbon emissions are cited by some in corporate America as examples of regulatory overreach. Business groups have also criticized Obama's fiscal policies, warning of the danger of high deficits.
Business groups also oppose Obama's plans to allow President George W. Bush's tax cuts on higher-income Americans expire at the end of this year.
A rift with the business community could pose other problems for Obama.
U.S. businesses are holding onto some $1.8 trillion in cash. The Obama administration wants to encourage them to invest some of that money to help jump-start the economic recovery.
Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Topics:Republicans
Democrats
Barack Obama
Economy (U.S.)
White House
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Another Business Venture
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Today, I attended hedge fund webinar for the first time Hedge Fund Cetificiation. This seminar was set up to answer the most asked questions about the hedge fund industry. I have attended other business webinar, but this was unique in I have been interested in entering the hedge fund field for some time. I was first introduce to this field through my favorite channel CNBC of course the national business channel.
I am still researching this company Hedge Fund Group out of Portland Oregon, Richard Wilson CEO works international as well and their Hedge Fund Certification online course. I checked with the BBB nothing came up as always do your homework and background check on any company or start of business. Check with attoryney too. But it still maybe worth your time to consider working or business in the hedge fund industry or security for tha fact of the matter.
I am also studying series 7, & 63 and whole lot more, You know me a constant business venture geek guru!!! Check out the website, let me know what you think, and is this a industry you want to add to your business portifolio.
Today, I attended hedge fund webinar for the first time Hedge Fund Cetificiation. This seminar was set up to answer the most asked questions about the hedge fund industry. I have attended other business webinar, but this was unique in I have been interested in entering the hedge fund field for some time. I was first introduce to this field through my favorite channel CNBC of course the national business channel.
I am still researching this company Hedge Fund Group out of Portland Oregon, Richard Wilson CEO works international as well and their Hedge Fund Certification online course. I checked with the BBB nothing came up as always do your homework and background check on any company or start of business. Check with attoryney too. But it still maybe worth your time to consider working or business in the hedge fund industry or security for tha fact of the matter.
I am also studying series 7, & 63 and whole lot more, You know me a constant business venture geek guru!!! Check out the website, let me know what you think, and is this a industry you want to add to your business portifolio.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Keep Your Business and Personal Finances Separate
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Are you guilt as Judas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are slipping and tipping back in forth in the business account to help pay for something PERSONALLLLLLLLLLLL. Well the article below, has some helpful hints to help refrain from commingling the two. In some businesses that is law breaking activity to mix personal and business account activity.
And we want everyone to be around to not only enjoy family and BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep Your Business and Personal Finances Separate
Peel the two away from each other--and avoid tax headaches--with these 4 tips.
By Karin Price Mueller
February 01, 2010
Business owners intertwine business and personal finances all too often. After all, you are your business, but muddling up the two will mean a mess at tax time.
Even if you're just starting out, it's essential to split up these two parts of your money life. Treat your business, big or small, like a viable entity.
"That starts with tracking your business expenses separately from your personal, even though initially it may feel like they are one in the same if you are a one-man shop," says Cynthia Heil, a certified financial planner with Cascade Financial Management in Tampa, Fla.
Here's how you can peel your business away from your personal finances.
1.Maintain separate checking accounts
Start with your bank. Open a business checking account.
"If there's ever a question as to whether it's a hobby or a business, the IRS looks to see if you have a separate checking account," says Richard Salmen, a certified financial planner with GTRUST Financial Partners in Overland Park, Kan.
If you use Quicken, Quickbooks or Microsoft Money, Salmen advises making sure you have two separate systems: one for personal and one for business.
Not only is having two accounts tax-smart, it will also improve your organization.
At the end of the year, all your income and expenses will be in one place, making record keeping and tax filing easier. If you try to separate all your records in March or April, you won't be able to accurately remember all the money moves from the prior tax year. Keeping good records year-long will give you proof of your business expenses if you do get audited.
2.Use a business credit card
Lending requirements are quite strict for small businesses. Still, try to get a business credit card. Like the separate checking account, a credit card will help your record keeping and give you something to show the IRS if you're audited.
The business credit card could give you an extra tax deduction too.
"If you need to carry a balance on a business credit card, that's the only credit card interest that's deductible as a business expense," Salmen says.
3.Make it official
Consider establishing a limited liability company (LLC) or an S Corp for your business.
Sit down with your team of advisors--attorneys, CPAs, financial planners and insurance agents--and determine what entity makes the most sense, how this business will impact your taxes and financial plan and what insurance coverage you should consider, Heil says.
These business entities will also give your personal finances a new level of liability protection, which could come in very handy of your business is ever sued.
4.When it's time to file
Having a checking account, credit card and record keeping software earmarked exclusively for business use will give you most of what you need to file your taxes and to prove to the IRS that your business really is a business. But there are other considerations, too.
If you use a home office, you're eligible for a deduction, but only if you do it right. Even then, you could be in for an audit.
Salmen shared the story of one of his clients. The wife was a salaried employee and the husband ran money-losing photography business out of a home office. He was eligible for the home office deduction, but because his business lost money, Salmen warned it might be a red flag for an audit.
It was.
They took photos of the office, which was used solely for business, and after the audit, they were able to keep the home office deductions.
"People are way too afraid to take the home office deduction because they don't want to be audited, but take it if it's legitimate," Salmen says. "The key is that it has to be used exclusively for business. You can't have a daybed in it for visitors."
Karin Price Mueller is an award-winning personal finance and consumer writer. She's a columnist for The Star-Ledger and regular Entrepreneur.com contributor. Mueller lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children, two guinea pigs and one Beta fish. Whatever they don't eat goes into her retirement savings accounts.
Are you guilt as Judas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are slipping and tipping back in forth in the business account to help pay for something PERSONALLLLLLLLLLLL. Well the article below, has some helpful hints to help refrain from commingling the two. In some businesses that is law breaking activity to mix personal and business account activity.
And we want everyone to be around to not only enjoy family and BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep Your Business and Personal Finances Separate
Peel the two away from each other--and avoid tax headaches--with these 4 tips.
By Karin Price Mueller
February 01, 2010
Business owners intertwine business and personal finances all too often. After all, you are your business, but muddling up the two will mean a mess at tax time.
Even if you're just starting out, it's essential to split up these two parts of your money life. Treat your business, big or small, like a viable entity.
"That starts with tracking your business expenses separately from your personal, even though initially it may feel like they are one in the same if you are a one-man shop," says Cynthia Heil, a certified financial planner with Cascade Financial Management in Tampa, Fla.
Here's how you can peel your business away from your personal finances.
1.Maintain separate checking accounts
Start with your bank. Open a business checking account.
"If there's ever a question as to whether it's a hobby or a business, the IRS looks to see if you have a separate checking account," says Richard Salmen, a certified financial planner with GTRUST Financial Partners in Overland Park, Kan.
If you use Quicken, Quickbooks or Microsoft Money, Salmen advises making sure you have two separate systems: one for personal and one for business.
Not only is having two accounts tax-smart, it will also improve your organization.
At the end of the year, all your income and expenses will be in one place, making record keeping and tax filing easier. If you try to separate all your records in March or April, you won't be able to accurately remember all the money moves from the prior tax year. Keeping good records year-long will give you proof of your business expenses if you do get audited.
2.Use a business credit card
Lending requirements are quite strict for small businesses. Still, try to get a business credit card. Like the separate checking account, a credit card will help your record keeping and give you something to show the IRS if you're audited.
The business credit card could give you an extra tax deduction too.
"If you need to carry a balance on a business credit card, that's the only credit card interest that's deductible as a business expense," Salmen says.
3.Make it official
Consider establishing a limited liability company (LLC) or an S Corp for your business.
Sit down with your team of advisors--attorneys, CPAs, financial planners and insurance agents--and determine what entity makes the most sense, how this business will impact your taxes and financial plan and what insurance coverage you should consider, Heil says.
These business entities will also give your personal finances a new level of liability protection, which could come in very handy of your business is ever sued.
4.When it's time to file
Having a checking account, credit card and record keeping software earmarked exclusively for business use will give you most of what you need to file your taxes and to prove to the IRS that your business really is a business. But there are other considerations, too.
If you use a home office, you're eligible for a deduction, but only if you do it right. Even then, you could be in for an audit.
Salmen shared the story of one of his clients. The wife was a salaried employee and the husband ran money-losing photography business out of a home office. He was eligible for the home office deduction, but because his business lost money, Salmen warned it might be a red flag for an audit.
It was.
They took photos of the office, which was used solely for business, and after the audit, they were able to keep the home office deductions.
"People are way too afraid to take the home office deduction because they don't want to be audited, but take it if it's legitimate," Salmen says. "The key is that it has to be used exclusively for business. You can't have a daybed in it for visitors."
Karin Price Mueller is an award-winning personal finance and consumer writer. She's a columnist for The Star-Ledger and regular Entrepreneur.com contributor. Mueller lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children, two guinea pigs and one Beta fish. Whatever they don't eat goes into her retirement savings accounts.
Will the iPad Wow Business Owners
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
I have brief read this articles, nothing really jump out at me. I recent saw articles on Steve Jobs introduce this new invention. I have yet to either experience myself or someone else in the business experince the iPad. Business owners speak up can this help business
Scott Steinberg: Shiny Objects
Will the iPad Wow Business Owners?
Apple's new tablet could soon prove both a vital launch pad and productivity tool for entrepreneurs.
By Scott Steinberg
January 29, 2010
Call it the Apple iPad, "Jesus tablet" as some media insiders have, or just Steve Jobs's latest high-tech obsession. Either way, there's no getting around the seismic cultural impact of the consumer electronics industry's latest high-profile launch. However, as many tech experts have been quick to note, hype aside, there's little compelling reason for everyday shoppers or business owners to make the upgrade. Or rather, there isn't quite yet--a fact it may take months to remedy, and that leaves a gaping void just waiting to be filled by legions of budding entrepreneurs.
At surface value, the iPad--a 9.7-inch LED touchscreen-equipped computer that offers multi-touch input, Wi-Fi/wireless broadband access and user-friendly multimedia storage, shopping and playback--promises power on par with a mid-range notebook PC. Debuting in late March in multiple configurations starting at $499 and up and ranging in size from 16GB to 64GB (3G high-speed cellular connectivity optional), Apple sees it spearheading a new category of mobile computing device. It sits somewhere between a smartphone and laptop in power and cost, and offering a 1Ghz Apple A4 chip that promises more advanced processing and graphics power than the iPhone. Consider, though: There's no telling yet whether this potential vertical exists.
Still, measuring up at just 0.5 inches thin and 1.5lbs in weight, yet offering a full range of productivity functions, respectable horsepower and support for "nearly all" 140,000 current iPhone apps, it's a curious experiment. Resembling nothing so much as an overgrown iPod Touch, a comparison some critics have made with derision, the big question mark is whether it can address small-business owners' needs. Blame a range of intriguing, but not necessarily must-have built-in features, and current lack of killer apps--two major issues that could ultimately torpedo the tablet PC's sales and market adoption rates.
Content Continues Below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not that the iPad isn't doing its best to swing for the fences. Going straight for e-readers' throats with its iBooks virtual bookstore, bookshelf and reading application, it's hard to see how pricier, single-function models such as the QUE proReader will compete. Not only should the iPad make browsing, purchasing and skimming business books and publications easier, it may also make the process much richer and more informative, thanks to digital literature's integrated support for multimedia audio and video content. The device further promises to offer an array of functions from word processing and spreadsheet composition to options for screening music, movies and TV shows--all for a fraction of the price of traditional e-book players.
In many ways, it's anticipated to do for aspiring business and non-fiction authors what the App Store did for legions of bedroom coders. Providing a ready means to connect with an audience, build a following and establish yourself or your brand as a subject-matter expert, potential marketing and advertising applications are boundless. Moreover, the iPad could grow the e-book audience to the point where small presses actually have the opportunity to readily experiment with new formats, packaging strategies and prices. Or, for that matter, shift copies of their latest works, compelling case studies and innovative methodologies in respectable numbers, or at least profitable ones, given the relative cost savings of digital versus physical content delivery.
Steve Jobs and company have also taken great care to demonstrate marked support for the professional user, as illustrated at the gadget's recent unveiling. Out of the box, the iPad doesn't just spare you the headache of having to purchase software programs you own on the iPhone again, many of which can also be "pixel doubled" to fit the device's display and take advantage of its enhanced visibility, brightness and larger screen real estate. It also has the capacity to run more advanced productivity apps (downloadable, bite-sized software applications) that offer better, more ergonomic touch controls, a greater range of complex features and expanded online connectivity options. Whereas current office suites for the iPhone provide limited functionality and a smaller feature set as compared with desktop alternatives, make no bones about it: The iPad is a true portable computer, not simply an enhanced smartphone (although the iPhone and iPad do share an underlying operating system), and software utilities for the iPad will better approximate full-fledged desktop cousins.
Among its main benefits to business users is enhanced Web surfing, with sites readily visible in either portrait or landscape mode, and user input facilitated via intuitive gestures and an on-screen virtual keyboard. The experience benefits from greater room to scroll by swiping a finger, zoom in just by pinching, and, at odds with smartphones' cramped screens, more closely resembles what you'd resemble from the traditional internet browsing process. Alas, support for the Flash software platform still isn't included, limiting access to certain videos, sites and online games. Nor can users multitask (switch between simultaneously running programs), which seriously calls into question its ability to serve working professionals.
Downloading and viewing standard or high-def online video through YouTube or iTunes is a much more enjoyable experience though, and may open a wider audience for digital footage, making it a ready platform for entrepreneurs to serve taped testimonials, webinars and commercial spots on. Extensive e-mail support is also offered (as is sideways or vertical message viewing) through a cleaner user interface than that found on the iPhone, whose split-screen views, drop-down menus and pop-ups make scanning your inbox and responding to queries a snap. Extensive support for multiple calendars and notes is also featured, and it's easy to quickly add and browse contacts, pull up important phone numbers or access full-color maps as needed as well. Far-reaching search options allow you to quickly skim the entire device for names, details and addresses.
Given the not inconsiderable price, which swells further when you consider the pressing need for a monthly data plan, more storage space and accessories such as a physical QWERTY keyboard and carrying case, let's be frank: The iPad is destined to directly compete with standard laptops. The most pressing issue is whether you'll consider it a worthy replacement for your current portable PC workhorse, especially if features like a dedicated 3-D video card, Web camera, high-end CPU, multitasking performance and Windows compatibility are potential sticking points.
On a positive note, Apple's put on a convincing show of demonstrating how its Microsoft Office-like iWork application suite--which consists of Keynote (slides/presentations), Numbers (spreadsheets) and Pages (word processing) programs--empowers small-business owners. At just $9.99 each for the motion-sensing applications, which support standard desktop documents and PDFs, it's a relatively simple matter to create and edit charts, graphs, functions, formulas, slides and documents. Multi-touch input further makes all intuitive to browse by tapping or dragging a finger. But as much as we appreciate the ability to access slideshow templates with a poke, shuffle pictures and text layouts just by swiping or scroll through marketing plans with a flick of the wrist, let's be honest: Gesture-tracking commands are nice, as is compatibility with Mac-built and Microsoft Office documents. Still, we find it hard to believe road warriors would be well served without owning a dedicated, real-world keyboard; options for easily swapping between multiple programs; or having the option to easily expand internal memory or processing hardware.
Because it's primarily a digital lifestyle device, we don't see legions of entrepreneurs making the switch in 2010. But once enterprising entrepreneurs begin to crank out productivity apps and other programs (social media clients, cloud computing tools, voice-over IP services, etc.) en masse, the device could quickly come into its own as an entrepreneur's best friend in the next 18 to 24 months. The iPad isn't the be-all, end-all portable computing device that tech experts envisioned. But as it's done with the MacBook, iPod and iPhone, Apple will surely continue to innovate on the hardware, while competitors such as HP, Lenovo and Microsoft toy with the possibility of introducing competitors of their own.
All of this could add up to a potential renaissance for the entire tablet PC category. In terms of features, convenience, value, price and performance, that's a potentially huge win for entrepreneurs and everyday consumers seeking a more portable, flexible and lifestyle- and value-minded solution for accessing treasured digital content.
I have brief read this articles, nothing really jump out at me. I recent saw articles on Steve Jobs introduce this new invention. I have yet to either experience myself or someone else in the business experince the iPad. Business owners speak up can this help business
Scott Steinberg: Shiny Objects
Will the iPad Wow Business Owners?
Apple's new tablet could soon prove both a vital launch pad and productivity tool for entrepreneurs.
By Scott Steinberg
January 29, 2010
Call it the Apple iPad, "Jesus tablet" as some media insiders have, or just Steve Jobs's latest high-tech obsession. Either way, there's no getting around the seismic cultural impact of the consumer electronics industry's latest high-profile launch. However, as many tech experts have been quick to note, hype aside, there's little compelling reason for everyday shoppers or business owners to make the upgrade. Or rather, there isn't quite yet--a fact it may take months to remedy, and that leaves a gaping void just waiting to be filled by legions of budding entrepreneurs.
At surface value, the iPad--a 9.7-inch LED touchscreen-equipped computer that offers multi-touch input, Wi-Fi/wireless broadband access and user-friendly multimedia storage, shopping and playback--promises power on par with a mid-range notebook PC. Debuting in late March in multiple configurations starting at $499 and up and ranging in size from 16GB to 64GB (3G high-speed cellular connectivity optional), Apple sees it spearheading a new category of mobile computing device. It sits somewhere between a smartphone and laptop in power and cost, and offering a 1Ghz Apple A4 chip that promises more advanced processing and graphics power than the iPhone. Consider, though: There's no telling yet whether this potential vertical exists.
Still, measuring up at just 0.5 inches thin and 1.5lbs in weight, yet offering a full range of productivity functions, respectable horsepower and support for "nearly all" 140,000 current iPhone apps, it's a curious experiment. Resembling nothing so much as an overgrown iPod Touch, a comparison some critics have made with derision, the big question mark is whether it can address small-business owners' needs. Blame a range of intriguing, but not necessarily must-have built-in features, and current lack of killer apps--two major issues that could ultimately torpedo the tablet PC's sales and market adoption rates.
Content Continues Below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not that the iPad isn't doing its best to swing for the fences. Going straight for e-readers' throats with its iBooks virtual bookstore, bookshelf and reading application, it's hard to see how pricier, single-function models such as the QUE proReader will compete. Not only should the iPad make browsing, purchasing and skimming business books and publications easier, it may also make the process much richer and more informative, thanks to digital literature's integrated support for multimedia audio and video content. The device further promises to offer an array of functions from word processing and spreadsheet composition to options for screening music, movies and TV shows--all for a fraction of the price of traditional e-book players.
In many ways, it's anticipated to do for aspiring business and non-fiction authors what the App Store did for legions of bedroom coders. Providing a ready means to connect with an audience, build a following and establish yourself or your brand as a subject-matter expert, potential marketing and advertising applications are boundless. Moreover, the iPad could grow the e-book audience to the point where small presses actually have the opportunity to readily experiment with new formats, packaging strategies and prices. Or, for that matter, shift copies of their latest works, compelling case studies and innovative methodologies in respectable numbers, or at least profitable ones, given the relative cost savings of digital versus physical content delivery.
Steve Jobs and company have also taken great care to demonstrate marked support for the professional user, as illustrated at the gadget's recent unveiling. Out of the box, the iPad doesn't just spare you the headache of having to purchase software programs you own on the iPhone again, many of which can also be "pixel doubled" to fit the device's display and take advantage of its enhanced visibility, brightness and larger screen real estate. It also has the capacity to run more advanced productivity apps (downloadable, bite-sized software applications) that offer better, more ergonomic touch controls, a greater range of complex features and expanded online connectivity options. Whereas current office suites for the iPhone provide limited functionality and a smaller feature set as compared with desktop alternatives, make no bones about it: The iPad is a true portable computer, not simply an enhanced smartphone (although the iPhone and iPad do share an underlying operating system), and software utilities for the iPad will better approximate full-fledged desktop cousins.
Among its main benefits to business users is enhanced Web surfing, with sites readily visible in either portrait or landscape mode, and user input facilitated via intuitive gestures and an on-screen virtual keyboard. The experience benefits from greater room to scroll by swiping a finger, zoom in just by pinching, and, at odds with smartphones' cramped screens, more closely resembles what you'd resemble from the traditional internet browsing process. Alas, support for the Flash software platform still isn't included, limiting access to certain videos, sites and online games. Nor can users multitask (switch between simultaneously running programs), which seriously calls into question its ability to serve working professionals.
Downloading and viewing standard or high-def online video through YouTube or iTunes is a much more enjoyable experience though, and may open a wider audience for digital footage, making it a ready platform for entrepreneurs to serve taped testimonials, webinars and commercial spots on. Extensive e-mail support is also offered (as is sideways or vertical message viewing) through a cleaner user interface than that found on the iPhone, whose split-screen views, drop-down menus and pop-ups make scanning your inbox and responding to queries a snap. Extensive support for multiple calendars and notes is also featured, and it's easy to quickly add and browse contacts, pull up important phone numbers or access full-color maps as needed as well. Far-reaching search options allow you to quickly skim the entire device for names, details and addresses.
Given the not inconsiderable price, which swells further when you consider the pressing need for a monthly data plan, more storage space and accessories such as a physical QWERTY keyboard and carrying case, let's be frank: The iPad is destined to directly compete with standard laptops. The most pressing issue is whether you'll consider it a worthy replacement for your current portable PC workhorse, especially if features like a dedicated 3-D video card, Web camera, high-end CPU, multitasking performance and Windows compatibility are potential sticking points.
On a positive note, Apple's put on a convincing show of demonstrating how its Microsoft Office-like iWork application suite--which consists of Keynote (slides/presentations), Numbers (spreadsheets) and Pages (word processing) programs--empowers small-business owners. At just $9.99 each for the motion-sensing applications, which support standard desktop documents and PDFs, it's a relatively simple matter to create and edit charts, graphs, functions, formulas, slides and documents. Multi-touch input further makes all intuitive to browse by tapping or dragging a finger. But as much as we appreciate the ability to access slideshow templates with a poke, shuffle pictures and text layouts just by swiping or scroll through marketing plans with a flick of the wrist, let's be honest: Gesture-tracking commands are nice, as is compatibility with Mac-built and Microsoft Office documents. Still, we find it hard to believe road warriors would be well served without owning a dedicated, real-world keyboard; options for easily swapping between multiple programs; or having the option to easily expand internal memory or processing hardware.
Because it's primarily a digital lifestyle device, we don't see legions of entrepreneurs making the switch in 2010. But once enterprising entrepreneurs begin to crank out productivity apps and other programs (social media clients, cloud computing tools, voice-over IP services, etc.) en masse, the device could quickly come into its own as an entrepreneur's best friend in the next 18 to 24 months. The iPad isn't the be-all, end-all portable computing device that tech experts envisioned. But as it's done with the MacBook, iPod and iPhone, Apple will surely continue to innovate on the hardware, while competitors such as HP, Lenovo and Microsoft toy with the possibility of introducing competitors of their own.
All of this could add up to a potential renaissance for the entire tablet PC category. In terms of features, convenience, value, price and performance, that's a potentially huge win for entrepreneurs and everyday consumers seeking a more portable, flexible and lifestyle- and value-minded solution for accessing treasured digital content.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Dirty Laundry Good for your Business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
I receive this email today and found it rather interesting, it is food for thought for all you home business entrepreneurs as well as other that work out of an office or your personal office. It is a good read, let me know what you think.
Dirty Laundry is Good for Your Business
By MaryEllen Tribby
"I love working from home. I get so much laundry done, and today I even cleaned out my refrigerator."
This was a comment I overheard the other night while waiting for the PTA meeting to start at my daughters' school.
Unfortunately, that was far from the first time I have heard a work-at-home mom say something like that in the last couple of months. And my first question is always, "How's your business going?" And inevitably I hear, "Well, I just don't have time to develop new products or work on my marketing plan."
Is it any wonder?
I know I did not start my business so I could get more laundry done. My goal was to turn my passion into income by helping other working moms make more money and live a healthy, more balanced life.
If you talk to successful entrepreneurs most will tell you there are three main reasons people start their own business. They are:
1. Money
2. Freedom/flexibility
3. Cause/passion
Of course there are other reasons. But nowhere on the list will you find laundry.
The reason most entrepreneurs fail is because they focus on the wrong tasks, usually those that don't yield revenue. It is human nature to work on things you can easily accomplish. These are generally the tasks that you don't fear or feel overwhelmed by. But by no means are they automatically important to your business.
In order to get your business soaring to the next level, you need to break out of your comfort zone. Take on new challenges that will bring you more revenue. This also means self-discipline and getting into good habits. By following just a few simple rules you will notice a big change in your productivity, which can increase profitability in your business significantly.
Seven Golden Rules for Productivity
1. Your business day starts the night before. Each evening after the kids are in bed, the school lunches made, and the dinner dishes clean, I plan my next day's business activities. I write out a good old fashion "to do" list. I do not put my list on my computer or BlackBerry. I use a note pad. I list everything I think I need to accomplish the next day. After I have done a complete "brain dump," I prioritize each item. Not only am I ready to go the next morning, but I also sleep a whole lot better at night.
As my day progresses I cross off my completed tasks, as well as write down any that may have come up unexpectedly that I need to address. This way I have a full record of how my time was spent.
2. Set an alarm clock. Many entrepreneurs think because it's "my" business they don't need a schedule - that they can do what ever they want. Wrong. I have seen this over and over. I hear complaints from people that their business is not where they want it to be. I ask a basic question like, "What time do you set your alarm?", and I hear, "I don't use an alarm clock, I just get up when I wake up." This is counter-productive. You need to take control from the start of your day.
3. Never work in your pajamas. Your mindset is one of the most important factors in determining your success. You need to respect yourself, your customers, and your business enough to dress appropriately. By doing so you will notice that you are more confident and assertive. And you'll even get more done in the same amount of hours.
4. Do not schedule meetings or take phone calls before noon. You are at your best first thing in the morning. Get the important things on your list done first. Scheduling meetings and conference calls in the morning is counter-productive. Interruptions are the biggest factor in not completing tasks. Let your employees, colleagues, and friends know that you will speak with them in the afternoon if need be.
5. Take a midday exercise break. A study by Jim McKenna from the University of Bristol showed that exercise during the workday improves job performance. And performance is also consistently higher, as shown by better time management and improved mental sharpness.
I like to take a 30-minute bike ride or speed walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. (I do my hardcore workout first thing in the morning). By this time my important tasks for the day are usually complete. I let my mind wander and this is when ideas hit me, ideas for content or marketing or new joint ventures deals. This is one of my favorite times of the day.
6. Have lunch with a mentor, colleague or protégé once a week. We can all get caught up in our own little world. We are so busy with our families and careers. But having lunch with someone smart and energetic will expose you to new ideas and different viewpoints. Your ideas become stronger, making them easier to implement. This one lunch will make a huge difference in your productivity, not only in your business, but in your family life as well.
7. Reconcile your "to do" list. At the end of your workday look at what you had planned to accomplish that day and note what you actually accomplished. If you completed 75% or more of the items on your list - you had a good day. We all have to adjust for emergencies, whether those situations arise in our business or our family life.
However if you fell below the 75%, you need to make some changes because you are likely not in control of your business. Instead your business is in control of you.
When you examine the list above what should be obvious is that these are very fundamental rules. These are guidelines that everyone can implement in one form or another. None of these rules require any monetary commitment, but they all call for a mental and emotional commitment.
Start today and in just seven days from now I bet you see a big difference in your productivity.
Check It Out!
Got It All? - You're grateful for what you have in life... but you still want more, right? More success. The ability to provide your family with financial freedom. And you really want to enjoy retirement. An early retirement, at that. But how are you going to get there? Do you have a plan? Bob does...
Quick Tip
Family time can be fun and productive at the same time.
As I alluded to in today's essay, I do not do household chores during the day. However, they still have to get done.
I like to turn these chores into fun challenges for my kids.
If we are watching a family movie in the evening, I will often divide laundry into individual baskets for my kids and have them fold it. Whoever has the neatest pile by the end of the movie wins.
Their prizes range from going first on the trampoline to a pass on clearing the table after dinner.
I receive this email today and found it rather interesting, it is food for thought for all you home business entrepreneurs as well as other that work out of an office or your personal office. It is a good read, let me know what you think.
Dirty Laundry is Good for Your Business
By MaryEllen Tribby
"I love working from home. I get so much laundry done, and today I even cleaned out my refrigerator."
This was a comment I overheard the other night while waiting for the PTA meeting to start at my daughters' school.
Unfortunately, that was far from the first time I have heard a work-at-home mom say something like that in the last couple of months. And my first question is always, "How's your business going?" And inevitably I hear, "Well, I just don't have time to develop new products or work on my marketing plan."
Is it any wonder?
I know I did not start my business so I could get more laundry done. My goal was to turn my passion into income by helping other working moms make more money and live a healthy, more balanced life.
If you talk to successful entrepreneurs most will tell you there are three main reasons people start their own business. They are:
1. Money
2. Freedom/flexibility
3. Cause/passion
Of course there are other reasons. But nowhere on the list will you find laundry.
The reason most entrepreneurs fail is because they focus on the wrong tasks, usually those that don't yield revenue. It is human nature to work on things you can easily accomplish. These are generally the tasks that you don't fear or feel overwhelmed by. But by no means are they automatically important to your business.
In order to get your business soaring to the next level, you need to break out of your comfort zone. Take on new challenges that will bring you more revenue. This also means self-discipline and getting into good habits. By following just a few simple rules you will notice a big change in your productivity, which can increase profitability in your business significantly.
Seven Golden Rules for Productivity
1. Your business day starts the night before. Each evening after the kids are in bed, the school lunches made, and the dinner dishes clean, I plan my next day's business activities. I write out a good old fashion "to do" list. I do not put my list on my computer or BlackBerry. I use a note pad. I list everything I think I need to accomplish the next day. After I have done a complete "brain dump," I prioritize each item. Not only am I ready to go the next morning, but I also sleep a whole lot better at night.
As my day progresses I cross off my completed tasks, as well as write down any that may have come up unexpectedly that I need to address. This way I have a full record of how my time was spent.
2. Set an alarm clock. Many entrepreneurs think because it's "my" business they don't need a schedule - that they can do what ever they want. Wrong. I have seen this over and over. I hear complaints from people that their business is not where they want it to be. I ask a basic question like, "What time do you set your alarm?", and I hear, "I don't use an alarm clock, I just get up when I wake up." This is counter-productive. You need to take control from the start of your day.
3. Never work in your pajamas. Your mindset is one of the most important factors in determining your success. You need to respect yourself, your customers, and your business enough to dress appropriately. By doing so you will notice that you are more confident and assertive. And you'll even get more done in the same amount of hours.
4. Do not schedule meetings or take phone calls before noon. You are at your best first thing in the morning. Get the important things on your list done first. Scheduling meetings and conference calls in the morning is counter-productive. Interruptions are the biggest factor in not completing tasks. Let your employees, colleagues, and friends know that you will speak with them in the afternoon if need be.
5. Take a midday exercise break. A study by Jim McKenna from the University of Bristol showed that exercise during the workday improves job performance. And performance is also consistently higher, as shown by better time management and improved mental sharpness.
I like to take a 30-minute bike ride or speed walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. (I do my hardcore workout first thing in the morning). By this time my important tasks for the day are usually complete. I let my mind wander and this is when ideas hit me, ideas for content or marketing or new joint ventures deals. This is one of my favorite times of the day.
6. Have lunch with a mentor, colleague or protégé once a week. We can all get caught up in our own little world. We are so busy with our families and careers. But having lunch with someone smart and energetic will expose you to new ideas and different viewpoints. Your ideas become stronger, making them easier to implement. This one lunch will make a huge difference in your productivity, not only in your business, but in your family life as well.
7. Reconcile your "to do" list. At the end of your workday look at what you had planned to accomplish that day and note what you actually accomplished. If you completed 75% or more of the items on your list - you had a good day. We all have to adjust for emergencies, whether those situations arise in our business or our family life.
However if you fell below the 75%, you need to make some changes because you are likely not in control of your business. Instead your business is in control of you.
When you examine the list above what should be obvious is that these are very fundamental rules. These are guidelines that everyone can implement in one form or another. None of these rules require any monetary commitment, but they all call for a mental and emotional commitment.
Start today and in just seven days from now I bet you see a big difference in your productivity.
Check It Out!
Got It All? - You're grateful for what you have in life... but you still want more, right? More success. The ability to provide your family with financial freedom. And you really want to enjoy retirement. An early retirement, at that. But how are you going to get there? Do you have a plan? Bob does...
Quick Tip
Family time can be fun and productive at the same time.
As I alluded to in today's essay, I do not do household chores during the day. However, they still have to get done.
I like to turn these chores into fun challenges for my kids.
If we are watching a family movie in the evening, I will often divide laundry into individual baskets for my kids and have them fold it. Whoever has the neatest pile by the end of the movie wins.
Their prizes range from going first on the trampoline to a pass on clearing the table after dinner.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Home Business Entrepreneurs (411)
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
My fellow home business entrepreneurs, read for ya to fine tune or tighten up on your business account to keep your businesses a float and successful
When Times Get Tough, Receivables Get Tougher To Collect
By Richard J. Maturi
With the current economic crisis, are your customers stretching out their payments or disappearing without paying off their debt to you? If so, it’s time to review the basics and art of collecting accounts receivable without damaging customer relations.
The cornerstone of your accounts receivable system is providing timely invoices and billing statements. First of all, remember the cardinal rule, “It’s your money and you needn’t be bashful about seeking prompt payment for your goods and services.”
Timely Invoices and Billing Statements
The cornerstone of your accounts receivable system is providing timely invoices and billing statements. Every day you delay, is another day you don’t get your money. It helps to know your customers’ payment cycle. If they pay once a month on the fifteenth, and you send out your invoices on the 20th, you missed their payment cycle. By timing invoicing by customer, you may receive payment early, improving cash flow dramatically. If your receivables are large enough, a bank lockbox speeds up collections by eliminating the time it takes to process receipts in-house and deliver them to your bank.
Clearly Spelled Out Terms
Make sure your terms are clearly spelled out on invoices and billing statements. The invoice establishes the existence of the debt and should contain several key bits of information to prevent any confusion should conflict arise. First of all, date your invoice. This helps your customer determine when payment should be made based on the terms (net 30, 2% discount if paid with 15 days of invoice, etc.), which should also be prominently placed on the invoice. Know the current Dun & Bradstreet industry norms for payment cycles so you do not make your terms too stringent and thus lose customers to competitors with more lenient payment terms. Make sure you provide an accurate and complete description of the goods and services received by the customer. Inventory code numbers are great for your computer but mean nothing to the customer.
Accounts Receivable Schedule
Keep a pulse on billing activity and accounts receivable. Prepare an accounts receivable schedule by customer and payment due date. When the payment does not arrive on the expected date, make a friendly call to let your customer know you appreciate their business and inquire what has delayed payment. This usually gets the check in the mail. It lets customers know that you expect payment on time and are not the one who will let things slide. It’s also a good tool to help determine if a particular customer is experiencing financial difficulty. If so, you might try to work out a payment schedule that satisfies both of you. Working with your customer through a rough patch, may make them a faithful customer for many years.
Solving Problems
Ask when you can expect payment or if there is anything you can do to help move payment along. If any problems exist, now is the time to get them solved. It may be as simple as faxing a copy of the delivery receipt or other piece of information. Although you certainly want to improve your collections, maintain a delicate balance between being vigilant and pushing too hard, thereby damaging your reputation and possibly losing a key customer.
So what do you do with the late payer? If the phone call did not generate a payment within a “reasonable” time period and you could not work out an acceptable payment schedule, don’t waste any time. Statistics prove that the longer an invoice goes unpaid, the more difficult it will be to collect and the greater chance it will remain unpaid…forever. Don’t let a late payment turn into a bad debt expense. Imposing interest/finance charges typically do not work. If the payment is late in the first place, what chance do you have to recover interest charges? I consider interest charges counterproductive to fostering good business relationships. Likewise, preprinted collection letters do little to generate payments. A personal note would be more appropriate.
If all of the above attempts to obtain payment fail, it’s time to turn to the collection agency or take action to collect your money with an attorney. Sure, these are expensive measures, but receiving 70% of your money is better than writing off the whole receivable as a bad debt. You can be sure you will lose that customer but what good is a customer that does not pay? It also serves as a warning to other customers that you are serious about collecting what is due your business.
My fellow home business entrepreneurs, read for ya to fine tune or tighten up on your business account to keep your businesses a float and successful
When Times Get Tough, Receivables Get Tougher To Collect
By Richard J. Maturi
With the current economic crisis, are your customers stretching out their payments or disappearing without paying off their debt to you? If so, it’s time to review the basics and art of collecting accounts receivable without damaging customer relations.
The cornerstone of your accounts receivable system is providing timely invoices and billing statements. First of all, remember the cardinal rule, “It’s your money and you needn’t be bashful about seeking prompt payment for your goods and services.”
Timely Invoices and Billing Statements
The cornerstone of your accounts receivable system is providing timely invoices and billing statements. Every day you delay, is another day you don’t get your money. It helps to know your customers’ payment cycle. If they pay once a month on the fifteenth, and you send out your invoices on the 20th, you missed their payment cycle. By timing invoicing by customer, you may receive payment early, improving cash flow dramatically. If your receivables are large enough, a bank lockbox speeds up collections by eliminating the time it takes to process receipts in-house and deliver them to your bank.
Clearly Spelled Out Terms
Make sure your terms are clearly spelled out on invoices and billing statements. The invoice establishes the existence of the debt and should contain several key bits of information to prevent any confusion should conflict arise. First of all, date your invoice. This helps your customer determine when payment should be made based on the terms (net 30, 2% discount if paid with 15 days of invoice, etc.), which should also be prominently placed on the invoice. Know the current Dun & Bradstreet industry norms for payment cycles so you do not make your terms too stringent and thus lose customers to competitors with more lenient payment terms. Make sure you provide an accurate and complete description of the goods and services received by the customer. Inventory code numbers are great for your computer but mean nothing to the customer.
Accounts Receivable Schedule
Keep a pulse on billing activity and accounts receivable. Prepare an accounts receivable schedule by customer and payment due date. When the payment does not arrive on the expected date, make a friendly call to let your customer know you appreciate their business and inquire what has delayed payment. This usually gets the check in the mail. It lets customers know that you expect payment on time and are not the one who will let things slide. It’s also a good tool to help determine if a particular customer is experiencing financial difficulty. If so, you might try to work out a payment schedule that satisfies both of you. Working with your customer through a rough patch, may make them a faithful customer for many years.
Solving Problems
Ask when you can expect payment or if there is anything you can do to help move payment along. If any problems exist, now is the time to get them solved. It may be as simple as faxing a copy of the delivery receipt or other piece of information. Although you certainly want to improve your collections, maintain a delicate balance between being vigilant and pushing too hard, thereby damaging your reputation and possibly losing a key customer.
So what do you do with the late payer? If the phone call did not generate a payment within a “reasonable” time period and you could not work out an acceptable payment schedule, don’t waste any time. Statistics prove that the longer an invoice goes unpaid, the more difficult it will be to collect and the greater chance it will remain unpaid…forever. Don’t let a late payment turn into a bad debt expense. Imposing interest/finance charges typically do not work. If the payment is late in the first place, what chance do you have to recover interest charges? I consider interest charges counterproductive to fostering good business relationships. Likewise, preprinted collection letters do little to generate payments. A personal note would be more appropriate.
If all of the above attempts to obtain payment fail, it’s time to turn to the collection agency or take action to collect your money with an attorney. Sure, these are expensive measures, but receiving 70% of your money is better than writing off the whole receivable as a bad debt. You can be sure you will lose that customer but what good is a customer that does not pay? It also serves as a warning to other customers that you are serious about collecting what is due your business.
Mom entrepreneur
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
A must read for those of you who are stay at home moms as well as stay at home dads!!!!!! What an incredible story. Another great books it also on Amazon Millionaire Mom By Joyce Boone,this book has not be release yet but you can preorder. Mommy Millionaire, by Kim Lavine, I have personal read through the book full of ideas and referrals too.
A Very Personal Story From MaryEllen:
I had my very first job when I was 10 years old.
I delivered our local newspaper. The papers would arrive in our driveway by 5:00 a.m each weekday. I was up by 5:30. I would load the papers on the back of my bicycle and by 7:00 a.m. when most 10 year olds were just waking and starting on their Captain Crunch I had already delivered the newspaper to 34 homes. More importantly by 7:00 a.m. each morning I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
In 1971 there were three main television stations, a few AM radio stations and NO Internet. The daily newspaper was the window to the world for most people in my hometown. It introduced us to people and places most of my townsmen would never meet or see in their lifetime. It brought excitement, intrigue and tragedy into their lives, making me the conduit between them and the rest of the world.
I knew all of my customers by name. I knew their kids names, their grandkids names. I even knew their dogs, cats and birds names; and all my customers knew me.
You may be thinking that, who the heck was up at 5:30 to meet and greet me. Well, there were a few during the week but it was on Saturday that my paper route turned into a party on wheels.
I Was Like a 10 Year Old Mayor
During the week, I could get my route done within in 75 minutes but on Saturdays it took about 2 hours.
The paper did not get to my house until 9:00 a.m. So when I would deliver the Saturday edition many of my customers were already out side; raking leaves, washing cars or cleaning out their garage. But what ever they were doing they always stopped to talk to me.
This did not bother me. In fact, I enjoyed talking to my customers. They told me fascinating stories about their lives. They invited me into their homes, and share life long souvenirs. Weather it was an exotic stamp collections or family photos, I felt honored that they wanted to share those moments with me. They would ask me in for breakfast. I sampled goodies I did not know existed. Treats like chocolate chip pancakes, croissants and crepes. Nothing like the oatmeal I was use to. And on a couple occasions they even washed my bicycle.
Here were people just a few months prior were complete strangers and now they were surrogate parents, grandparents, aunts an uncles; people that surprised me with birthday cards and welcomed me into their lives.
My customers were not only fascinated by this little ten year old girl who knew more about what was going on in the world then most of their friends, golf partners and colleagues, they actually cared about me, and I them.
I later realized the reason I enjoyed my conversations with my customers so much was because there was so little conversation in the home I was growing up in. In fact it seemed like all my brothers, sister and I did was listen. Listen to my parents, actually my mother complain. Mostly complain about money, that we did not have enough of , or about her job and how much she hated what they did for a living.
It was because of my mothers distain for her job and her considerable lack of discretion, that I asked if I could have a paper route in the first place.
The 5:00 Whistle Was The Devil in Disguise
Like most middle class families in the early seventies we played outside after school regardless of the season. Unless there was a severe rainstorm we were, jumping rope, playing ball, riding bikes or doing any numerous activities kids used to do. As long as we stayed in the neighborhood and were within “calling” distance we could pretty much do what ever we wanted.
The time between 3:00 in the afternoon and 5:00 pm. was what I labeled as my kid time. It was the only time during the day that I felt like a 10 year old. It was the only time during the day that I acted like every other kid I knew, or least I thought it was.
Once that 5:00 whistle blew I knew the daily saga was about to begin. There could be 25 kids from the neighborhood playing and in mid swing, jump or sentence, once that whistle blew everything stopped and all the kids scurried home. We were like little mice being chased by an oversized cat.
By 5:15 my entire family was seated at our dinner table prepared but not looking forward to the habitual rant about my mothers’ lousy day. It always started the same way with the horrible traffic. A ride that should take 30 minutes turns into 45 minutes because of the number of cars on the street. Even at ten years old I understood the irony of traffic and how miserable the daily commute could be. People would complain about it all the time yet they were part of it. Essentially, they were just complaining about themselves.
From that point it always got worse. My mother would complain about the sick kids. Again, I thought about the irony. You see my mother was the school nurse. Yet she did not particularly like children and she especially did not like sick ones.
One night I interrupted the daily monologue and stated what seemed like the obvious; that if there were no sick children she would not have a job. This did not go over well. Since I knew the outcome would not be particularly favorable for me I took it one step further. I had the audacity to ask why she had children in the first place and four of us at that.
I was prepared for immediate sanction to my room after a good smack. But what I got instead was an epiphany of a lifetime. My mother just looked straight ahead not at anyone of her 5 family members and simply said, “Because that’s what I thought I was suppose to do”.
That night at ten years old I vowed to myself that I would never have a job that I did not like and that if was ever blessed enough to have children they would know they were wanted and loved.
Money May have Started It..
I just wanted to save $1,000 dollars. For some reason in my 10 year old mind $1,000 was a lot of money. And if I had $1,000 I would be able to move out. Since $1,000 was a lot of money and if I wanted to move out when I was 18 I needed to start saving now.
The day after the infamous dinner, I asked my father if I could get a paper route. He told me that I could not because I was too young. That one needed to be 12 to have a paper route. Since I already knew this from an older kid at school, I was prepared. I said that since my brother was 12, we could register the route under his name but I would deliver the paper and of course keep all the money.
My father was born in 1929 in a somewhat undesirable neighborhood so he was impressed with my initiative to earn money. He too had started in the wonderful world of employment at they age of ten out of necessity to eat. Even though we had the essentials of food and shelter he thought I wanted the money for the extras that we rarely got. So he was thrilled that I had thought ahead and he agreed to register the route under my brothers’ name.
Within a week I had my route and was one day closer to my $1,000.
One Dime at a Time
I heard from the older kid at school that his tip was a dime a house. I had 34 houses on my route, which meant I could make $3.40 a week, $176.80 a year and in 8 years I would have $1,414.4, which exceeded my goal of $1,000, I was thrilled.
Because I knew what I was working for (or so I thought) I delivered that paper everyday with pride and enthusiasm. Soon my average tip went from $.10 a house to $.12 to $.15 to $.20 a house a week. I was making twice as much as the older kid doing the same job!
But so many other things were happening than just making money, things that were much more important though I did not realize it at the time.
For one, I read the paper everyday. But since my day started so very early I read it in the evening, which almost landed me as an outcast with my own family. Like so many other families after dinner, clean up and homework it was TV time. I guess watching TV was just easier than talking.
But soon I was giving up Bonanza, Laugh In and The Partridge Family to read the paper. (Ok, I’ll admit it I put the paper down when Keith Partridge sang, I was just ten after all.)
Next, I starting having conversations with people. I spoke with my customers, teachers and my friends about what was going on in the world. It was the first time I could talk about something other than our local football team score or who was on the TV Guide.
Finally and most importantly, I enjoyed getting up early and getting my day going. I loved what I did and I got paid to do it.
I did not realize it then but 1971 not only laid the foundation for my adolescences but for my entire adult life. It is profound to think that a single statement that caused me so much pain at the time is responsible for the success today.
Today I am the Luckiest Woman in the World
I did meet my goal of making $1,000 (actually I exceeded it by quit a bit) and moved out as planned. And because at the time I believed the money was a means to the end; for the next almost 25 years concentrated on making money and my career.
It wasn’t until I meat my husband Patrick, that I understood the difference between being rich and leading a rich life.
Today I am a CEO, Mom of three, Best Selling Author, Wife, Speaker, Sister, Daughter, Business Consultant, Aunt, Philanthropist and Friend.
On many days I play all roles on some days just two or three. But regardless of the day and the number of roles, everyday I believe that working moms have more responsibility for what world looks like today and more influence of what our world will look like tomorrow than any other group of people.
Which is why I wrote The Working Mom’s Only Thriving Guide: Secrets to Mastering a Wealthier, Healthier and Balanced Lifestyle.
Sure many of you know me as CEO and Publisher of Early To Rise where I grew that company from $8 million dollars a year to $26 million in just 15 months. Some even remember me as President of Weiss Research where I helped grew that company from $11 million to $67 Million is just 12 months!
But what many working moms may not know is that I accomplished these milestones while rising and nurturing three small children, traveling the world speaking and writing best selling business books!
And because of my impressive track record of generating revenues and profits I earned the nickname in the publishing world as “The Money Honey”.
At first, I was a little insulted – but after thinking about it – you know what? It’s GOOD to be THE MONEY HONEY!
And in The Working Mom’s Only Thriving Guide: Secrets to Mastering a Wealthier, Healthier and Balanced Lifestyle, I am going to give you my lessons learned. Because when you are making “lotssa” money, frankly it makes home life a little easier.
But guess what else? When you are “The Money Honey” you have got a lot more negotiating power. And that power allows for things like:
A must read for those of you who are stay at home moms as well as stay at home dads!!!!!! What an incredible story. Another great books it also on Amazon Millionaire Mom By Joyce Boone,this book has not be release yet but you can preorder. Mommy Millionaire, by Kim Lavine, I have personal read through the book full of ideas and referrals too.
A Very Personal Story From MaryEllen:
I had my very first job when I was 10 years old.
I delivered our local newspaper. The papers would arrive in our driveway by 5:00 a.m each weekday. I was up by 5:30. I would load the papers on the back of my bicycle and by 7:00 a.m. when most 10 year olds were just waking and starting on their Captain Crunch I had already delivered the newspaper to 34 homes. More importantly by 7:00 a.m. each morning I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
In 1971 there were three main television stations, a few AM radio stations and NO Internet. The daily newspaper was the window to the world for most people in my hometown. It introduced us to people and places most of my townsmen would never meet or see in their lifetime. It brought excitement, intrigue and tragedy into their lives, making me the conduit between them and the rest of the world.
I knew all of my customers by name. I knew their kids names, their grandkids names. I even knew their dogs, cats and birds names; and all my customers knew me.
You may be thinking that, who the heck was up at 5:30 to meet and greet me. Well, there were a few during the week but it was on Saturday that my paper route turned into a party on wheels.
I Was Like a 10 Year Old Mayor
During the week, I could get my route done within in 75 minutes but on Saturdays it took about 2 hours.
The paper did not get to my house until 9:00 a.m. So when I would deliver the Saturday edition many of my customers were already out side; raking leaves, washing cars or cleaning out their garage. But what ever they were doing they always stopped to talk to me.
This did not bother me. In fact, I enjoyed talking to my customers. They told me fascinating stories about their lives. They invited me into their homes, and share life long souvenirs. Weather it was an exotic stamp collections or family photos, I felt honored that they wanted to share those moments with me. They would ask me in for breakfast. I sampled goodies I did not know existed. Treats like chocolate chip pancakes, croissants and crepes. Nothing like the oatmeal I was use to. And on a couple occasions they even washed my bicycle.
Here were people just a few months prior were complete strangers and now they were surrogate parents, grandparents, aunts an uncles; people that surprised me with birthday cards and welcomed me into their lives.
My customers were not only fascinated by this little ten year old girl who knew more about what was going on in the world then most of their friends, golf partners and colleagues, they actually cared about me, and I them.
I later realized the reason I enjoyed my conversations with my customers so much was because there was so little conversation in the home I was growing up in. In fact it seemed like all my brothers, sister and I did was listen. Listen to my parents, actually my mother complain. Mostly complain about money, that we did not have enough of , or about her job and how much she hated what they did for a living.
It was because of my mothers distain for her job and her considerable lack of discretion, that I asked if I could have a paper route in the first place.
The 5:00 Whistle Was The Devil in Disguise
Like most middle class families in the early seventies we played outside after school regardless of the season. Unless there was a severe rainstorm we were, jumping rope, playing ball, riding bikes or doing any numerous activities kids used to do. As long as we stayed in the neighborhood and were within “calling” distance we could pretty much do what ever we wanted.
The time between 3:00 in the afternoon and 5:00 pm. was what I labeled as my kid time. It was the only time during the day that I felt like a 10 year old. It was the only time during the day that I acted like every other kid I knew, or least I thought it was.
Once that 5:00 whistle blew I knew the daily saga was about to begin. There could be 25 kids from the neighborhood playing and in mid swing, jump or sentence, once that whistle blew everything stopped and all the kids scurried home. We were like little mice being chased by an oversized cat.
By 5:15 my entire family was seated at our dinner table prepared but not looking forward to the habitual rant about my mothers’ lousy day. It always started the same way with the horrible traffic. A ride that should take 30 minutes turns into 45 minutes because of the number of cars on the street. Even at ten years old I understood the irony of traffic and how miserable the daily commute could be. People would complain about it all the time yet they were part of it. Essentially, they were just complaining about themselves.
From that point it always got worse. My mother would complain about the sick kids. Again, I thought about the irony. You see my mother was the school nurse. Yet she did not particularly like children and she especially did not like sick ones.
One night I interrupted the daily monologue and stated what seemed like the obvious; that if there were no sick children she would not have a job. This did not go over well. Since I knew the outcome would not be particularly favorable for me I took it one step further. I had the audacity to ask why she had children in the first place and four of us at that.
I was prepared for immediate sanction to my room after a good smack. But what I got instead was an epiphany of a lifetime. My mother just looked straight ahead not at anyone of her 5 family members and simply said, “Because that’s what I thought I was suppose to do”.
That night at ten years old I vowed to myself that I would never have a job that I did not like and that if was ever blessed enough to have children they would know they were wanted and loved.
Money May have Started It..
I just wanted to save $1,000 dollars. For some reason in my 10 year old mind $1,000 was a lot of money. And if I had $1,000 I would be able to move out. Since $1,000 was a lot of money and if I wanted to move out when I was 18 I needed to start saving now.
The day after the infamous dinner, I asked my father if I could get a paper route. He told me that I could not because I was too young. That one needed to be 12 to have a paper route. Since I already knew this from an older kid at school, I was prepared. I said that since my brother was 12, we could register the route under his name but I would deliver the paper and of course keep all the money.
My father was born in 1929 in a somewhat undesirable neighborhood so he was impressed with my initiative to earn money. He too had started in the wonderful world of employment at they age of ten out of necessity to eat. Even though we had the essentials of food and shelter he thought I wanted the money for the extras that we rarely got. So he was thrilled that I had thought ahead and he agreed to register the route under my brothers’ name.
Within a week I had my route and was one day closer to my $1,000.
One Dime at a Time
I heard from the older kid at school that his tip was a dime a house. I had 34 houses on my route, which meant I could make $3.40 a week, $176.80 a year and in 8 years I would have $1,414.4, which exceeded my goal of $1,000, I was thrilled.
Because I knew what I was working for (or so I thought) I delivered that paper everyday with pride and enthusiasm. Soon my average tip went from $.10 a house to $.12 to $.15 to $.20 a house a week. I was making twice as much as the older kid doing the same job!
But so many other things were happening than just making money, things that were much more important though I did not realize it at the time.
For one, I read the paper everyday. But since my day started so very early I read it in the evening, which almost landed me as an outcast with my own family. Like so many other families after dinner, clean up and homework it was TV time. I guess watching TV was just easier than talking.
But soon I was giving up Bonanza, Laugh In and The Partridge Family to read the paper. (Ok, I’ll admit it I put the paper down when Keith Partridge sang, I was just ten after all.)
Next, I starting having conversations with people. I spoke with my customers, teachers and my friends about what was going on in the world. It was the first time I could talk about something other than our local football team score or who was on the TV Guide.
Finally and most importantly, I enjoyed getting up early and getting my day going. I loved what I did and I got paid to do it.
I did not realize it then but 1971 not only laid the foundation for my adolescences but for my entire adult life. It is profound to think that a single statement that caused me so much pain at the time is responsible for the success today.
Today I am the Luckiest Woman in the World
I did meet my goal of making $1,000 (actually I exceeded it by quit a bit) and moved out as planned. And because at the time I believed the money was a means to the end; for the next almost 25 years concentrated on making money and my career.
It wasn’t until I meat my husband Patrick, that I understood the difference between being rich and leading a rich life.
Today I am a CEO, Mom of three, Best Selling Author, Wife, Speaker, Sister, Daughter, Business Consultant, Aunt, Philanthropist and Friend.
On many days I play all roles on some days just two or three. But regardless of the day and the number of roles, everyday I believe that working moms have more responsibility for what world looks like today and more influence of what our world will look like tomorrow than any other group of people.
Which is why I wrote The Working Mom’s Only Thriving Guide: Secrets to Mastering a Wealthier, Healthier and Balanced Lifestyle.
Sure many of you know me as CEO and Publisher of Early To Rise where I grew that company from $8 million dollars a year to $26 million in just 15 months. Some even remember me as President of Weiss Research where I helped grew that company from $11 million to $67 Million is just 12 months!
But what many working moms may not know is that I accomplished these milestones while rising and nurturing three small children, traveling the world speaking and writing best selling business books!
And because of my impressive track record of generating revenues and profits I earned the nickname in the publishing world as “The Money Honey”.
At first, I was a little insulted – but after thinking about it – you know what? It’s GOOD to be THE MONEY HONEY!
And in The Working Mom’s Only Thriving Guide: Secrets to Mastering a Wealthier, Healthier and Balanced Lifestyle, I am going to give you my lessons learned. Because when you are making “lotssa” money, frankly it makes home life a little easier.
But guess what else? When you are “The Money Honey” you have got a lot more negotiating power. And that power allows for things like:
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