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.
Monday, January 18, 2010
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:
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Identify a true business opportunity.
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!
Really really really like articles to help assistance with truly understanding business opportunities, I definelty looking for some in the new year. There are several precautions to take in any business venture in reference to the government and your personal finances, and against scams.
How to Research a Business Opportunity
Protect yourself by learning what a business opportunity really is, how the government regulates them, and the steps you should take to ensure you've found the best opportunity available.
Just what is a business opportunity? That question has plagued a great many people trying to decide whether to buy a current independent business, a franchise, or what we'll refer to in this text as a business opportunity. To allay the confusion, we offer a simple analogy. Think back to elementary school when your teacher was explaining the difference between a rectangle and a square. A square is also a rectangle, but a rectangle isn't necessarily a square. The same relationship exists between business opportunities, independent businesses for sale and franchises. All franchises and independent businesses for sale are business opportunities, but not all business opportunities meet the requirement of being a franchise nor are they in the strictest sense of the word independent businesses for sale.
Making matters even more confusing is the fact that 26 states have passed laws defining business opportunities and regulating their sales. Often these statutes are drafted so comprehensively that they include franchises as well.
Not every state with a business opportunity law defines the term in the same manner. However, most of them use the following general criteria to define one:
1. A business opportunity involves the sale or lease of any product, service, equipment, etc. that will enable the purchaser-licensee to begin a business.
2. The licensor or seller of a business opportunity declares that it will secure or assist the buyer in finding a suitable location or provide the product to the purchaser-licensee.
3. The licensor-seller guarantees an income greater than or equal to the price the licensee-buyer pays for the product when it's resold and that there is a market present for the product or service.
4. The initial fee paid to the seller in order to start the business opportunity must range between $400 and $1,000.
5. The licensor-seller promises to buy back any product purchased by the licensee-buyer in the event it cannot be sold to the prospective customers of the business.
6. Any products or services developed by the seller-licensor will be purchased by the licensee-buyer.
7. The licensor-seller of the business opportunity will supply a sales or marketing program for the licensee-buyer that many times will include the use of a trade name or trademark.
The laws covering business opportunity ventures usually exclude the sale of an independent business by its owner. Rather, they are meant to cover the multiple sales of distributorships or businesses that do not meet the requirements of a franchise under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule passed in 1979. This act defines business offerings in three formats: package franchises, product franchises and business opportunity ventures.
In order to be a business opportunity venture under the FTC rule, four elements must be present:
1. The individual who buys a business opportunity, often referred to as a licensee or franchisee, must distribute or sell goods or services supplied by the licenser or franchisor.
2. The licensor or franchisor must help secure a retail outlet or accounts for the goods and services the licensee is distributing or selling.
3. There must be a cash transaction between the two parties of at least $500 prior to or within six months after the licensee or franchisee starts the business venture.
4. All terms and conditions of the relationship between the licensor and the licensee must be stated in writing.
You can readily see that the sale of business opportunities as defined by the FTC rule is quite different from the sale of an independent business. When you're dealing with the sale of an independent business, the buyer has no obligations to the seller. Once the sales transaction is completed, the buyer can subscribe to any business operations system he or she prefers. There is no continued relationship required by the seller. Business opportunity ventures, like franchises, are businesses in which the seller makes a commitment of continuing involvement with the buyer.
Really really really like articles to help assistance with truly understanding business opportunities, I definelty looking for some in the new year. There are several precautions to take in any business venture in reference to the government and your personal finances, and against scams.
How to Research a Business Opportunity
Protect yourself by learning what a business opportunity really is, how the government regulates them, and the steps you should take to ensure you've found the best opportunity available.
Just what is a business opportunity? That question has plagued a great many people trying to decide whether to buy a current independent business, a franchise, or what we'll refer to in this text as a business opportunity. To allay the confusion, we offer a simple analogy. Think back to elementary school when your teacher was explaining the difference between a rectangle and a square. A square is also a rectangle, but a rectangle isn't necessarily a square. The same relationship exists between business opportunities, independent businesses for sale and franchises. All franchises and independent businesses for sale are business opportunities, but not all business opportunities meet the requirement of being a franchise nor are they in the strictest sense of the word independent businesses for sale.
Making matters even more confusing is the fact that 26 states have passed laws defining business opportunities and regulating their sales. Often these statutes are drafted so comprehensively that they include franchises as well.
Not every state with a business opportunity law defines the term in the same manner. However, most of them use the following general criteria to define one:
1. A business opportunity involves the sale or lease of any product, service, equipment, etc. that will enable the purchaser-licensee to begin a business.
2. The licensor or seller of a business opportunity declares that it will secure or assist the buyer in finding a suitable location or provide the product to the purchaser-licensee.
3. The licensor-seller guarantees an income greater than or equal to the price the licensee-buyer pays for the product when it's resold and that there is a market present for the product or service.
4. The initial fee paid to the seller in order to start the business opportunity must range between $400 and $1,000.
5. The licensor-seller promises to buy back any product purchased by the licensee-buyer in the event it cannot be sold to the prospective customers of the business.
6. Any products or services developed by the seller-licensor will be purchased by the licensee-buyer.
7. The licensor-seller of the business opportunity will supply a sales or marketing program for the licensee-buyer that many times will include the use of a trade name or trademark.
The laws covering business opportunity ventures usually exclude the sale of an independent business by its owner. Rather, they are meant to cover the multiple sales of distributorships or businesses that do not meet the requirements of a franchise under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule passed in 1979. This act defines business offerings in three formats: package franchises, product franchises and business opportunity ventures.
In order to be a business opportunity venture under the FTC rule, four elements must be present:
1. The individual who buys a business opportunity, often referred to as a licensee or franchisee, must distribute or sell goods or services supplied by the licenser or franchisor.
2. The licensor or franchisor must help secure a retail outlet or accounts for the goods and services the licensee is distributing or selling.
3. There must be a cash transaction between the two parties of at least $500 prior to or within six months after the licensee or franchisee starts the business venture.
4. All terms and conditions of the relationship between the licensor and the licensee must be stated in writing.
You can readily see that the sale of business opportunities as defined by the FTC rule is quite different from the sale of an independent business. When you're dealing with the sale of an independent business, the buyer has no obligations to the seller. Once the sales transaction is completed, the buyer can subscribe to any business operations system he or she prefers. There is no continued relationship required by the seller. Business opportunity ventures, like franchises, are businesses in which the seller makes a commitment of continuing involvement with the buyer.
Happy New Year -Happy New You-Happy New Business Year
A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!George Cloutier: The Turnaround Ace
Happy New Year, Happy New You
and Happy New Business Year, 2010 win win win. Read the article below to start your business year out right with a little MENTAL Check on your outlook for the business year!
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
5 tips to help you get out of your own way and commit to making your business a success
By George Cloutier
December 31, 2009
By George CloutierDon’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
You’ve heard it a million times by now: We’re in the midst of the worst recession any of us will ever live through and no one knows how long it will last, or how much harder it will hit.
I agree: It’s a lousy picture. But one of the biggest dangers of an economic downturn is the excuse it gives small-business leaders to lie down and do nothing.
Simply resigning yourself to the situation is self-defeating. Sure, you can tell yourself that everybody else is struggling, so you might as well go home at 5 p.m. and get in nine holes of golf before dinner. But it’s much better to ask yourself if you really want to commiserate with all the other losers on the ninth hole. Or do you want to make a profit?
Don’t become your own worst enemy by convincing yourself that it’s out of your hands and there’s nothing you can do. There’s always some way to make things better. Even a simple shift in attitude or a reshuffling of priorities can make the difference between just another struggling business and a resounding success. For example:
1.End denial
Stop deluding yourself all the way to bankruptcy court. Snap out of your coma, take a hard look at your financials, and do an honest self-appraisal in the cold light of day. Understand where the leaks are in your business and how, as the boss, it’s your fault. Look for red flags. Deal with the uncomfortable tasks you’ve been putting off. Denial is the small-business owner’s worst enemy. Wake up and end it now. Do whatever it takes to build a stronger business.
2.Love your business more than your family
Put business first. Always! If you’re not fully focused--if family, friends, community and church fill up your busy weekly schedule--you are probably failing to deliver real profits for your company. Your cell phone is for taking orders from clients, not storing grocery lists. Weekends are for work. Pray at your desk if you must. Your business is not a part-time job. Be there or be broke!
3.The best family business has one member
Face it, blood and business don’t mix. Profits will always be better when you’re not keeping an extra sibling, spouse, child or in-law on the payroll. More than 60 percent of the small businesses we work with are family-owned, and that’s where most of their problems start. Fire ‘em! Cancel your kid’s membership to the lucky sperm club. Keep your family squabbles at home, even if you have to pay relatives not to be there. Then change the locks on the office door. You’ll save money in the end.
4.Don’t treat sales like your mother-in-law
Don’t view sales as an unwanted guest. Focusing on sales is the easiest way to grow your business in good times and sustain profits in bad. Get out from behind your desk and shill. Take names. Build a customer database. Breathe down the necks of your sales team. Go out on sales calls. Foster your own relationship with top customers. The era of easy sales may be over, but there’s plenty you can and should be doing. Stop being fat, dumb and happy.
5.Give up golf, retreats, off-sites and trade shows
Golf is the biggest waste of time. Trade shows and retreats are just an excuse to goof off and schmooze on the boss’s dime. Ban any activities that take you away from the office or a sales call. Business owners kid themselves that hitting the fairway is an opportunity to network, but they’re wasting thousands in country club dues and missing important phone calls that could lead to more sales. Eliminate these distractions from your life. Let the competition play golf while you steal their customers.
Shake off your doldrums--recharge, refocus and re-energize yourself. Work harder, faster and smarter than the competition while they’re on the golf course grumbling about how business is down. Commit to doing whatever it takes to make your business a success, and everything else will take care of itself.
George Cloutier is the author of Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Advice from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru (HarperCollins, Sept. 2009). He is the founder and chairman of American Management Services, a management firm that specializes in turning around small and mid-sized businesses.
Happy New Year, Happy New You
and Happy New Business Year, 2010 win win win. Read the article below to start your business year out right with a little MENTAL Check on your outlook for the business year!
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
5 tips to help you get out of your own way and commit to making your business a success
By George Cloutier
December 31, 2009
By George CloutierDon’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
You’ve heard it a million times by now: We’re in the midst of the worst recession any of us will ever live through and no one knows how long it will last, or how much harder it will hit.
I agree: It’s a lousy picture. But one of the biggest dangers of an economic downturn is the excuse it gives small-business leaders to lie down and do nothing.
Simply resigning yourself to the situation is self-defeating. Sure, you can tell yourself that everybody else is struggling, so you might as well go home at 5 p.m. and get in nine holes of golf before dinner. But it’s much better to ask yourself if you really want to commiserate with all the other losers on the ninth hole. Or do you want to make a profit?
Don’t become your own worst enemy by convincing yourself that it’s out of your hands and there’s nothing you can do. There’s always some way to make things better. Even a simple shift in attitude or a reshuffling of priorities can make the difference between just another struggling business and a resounding success. For example:
1.End denial
Stop deluding yourself all the way to bankruptcy court. Snap out of your coma, take a hard look at your financials, and do an honest self-appraisal in the cold light of day. Understand where the leaks are in your business and how, as the boss, it’s your fault. Look for red flags. Deal with the uncomfortable tasks you’ve been putting off. Denial is the small-business owner’s worst enemy. Wake up and end it now. Do whatever it takes to build a stronger business.
2.Love your business more than your family
Put business first. Always! If you’re not fully focused--if family, friends, community and church fill up your busy weekly schedule--you are probably failing to deliver real profits for your company. Your cell phone is for taking orders from clients, not storing grocery lists. Weekends are for work. Pray at your desk if you must. Your business is not a part-time job. Be there or be broke!
3.The best family business has one member
Face it, blood and business don’t mix. Profits will always be better when you’re not keeping an extra sibling, spouse, child or in-law on the payroll. More than 60 percent of the small businesses we work with are family-owned, and that’s where most of their problems start. Fire ‘em! Cancel your kid’s membership to the lucky sperm club. Keep your family squabbles at home, even if you have to pay relatives not to be there. Then change the locks on the office door. You’ll save money in the end.
4.Don’t treat sales like your mother-in-law
Don’t view sales as an unwanted guest. Focusing on sales is the easiest way to grow your business in good times and sustain profits in bad. Get out from behind your desk and shill. Take names. Build a customer database. Breathe down the necks of your sales team. Go out on sales calls. Foster your own relationship with top customers. The era of easy sales may be over, but there’s plenty you can and should be doing. Stop being fat, dumb and happy.
5.Give up golf, retreats, off-sites and trade shows
Golf is the biggest waste of time. Trade shows and retreats are just an excuse to goof off and schmooze on the boss’s dime. Ban any activities that take you away from the office or a sales call. Business owners kid themselves that hitting the fairway is an opportunity to network, but they’re wasting thousands in country club dues and missing important phone calls that could lead to more sales. Eliminate these distractions from your life. Let the competition play golf while you steal their customers.
Shake off your doldrums--recharge, refocus and re-energize yourself. Work harder, faster and smarter than the competition while they’re on the golf course grumbling about how business is down. Commit to doing whatever it takes to make your business a success, and everything else will take care of itself.
George Cloutier is the author of Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Advice from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru (HarperCollins, Sept. 2009). He is the founder and chairman of American Management Services, a management firm that specializes in turning around small and mid-sized businesses.
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