Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs

Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these characteristics: 

1. Self-confidence 

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

2. Achievement Oriented 

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

3. Risk Taker 

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

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

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

Positive Thinking 

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

Persistent Action 

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

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

Strategies for becoming a highly successful business owner

I am a home-based entrepreneur. I own a tutor referral service in Southern California and have been a tutor broker for eight years. I just launched my second business. I authored a book about how to begin a tutor referral service and packaged it with a customized website and Accounting Software, support, ads, etc. and am selling it via the internet nationwide and in Canada. Having started two businesses, I have learned about small business planning and strategies for success. Here are my suggestions:

1) Outsource, outsource, outsource! 

Small businesses don’t have the capital to devote to entire payroll departments, legal departments, etc. Outsource to independent contractors whenever possible. In the long run it is cheaper and is definitely a smart business decision.

2) Network as much as you can. 

Join networking groups comprised of individuals who are entrepreneurs or small business owners. Not only might you find some professionals that will help you develop and grow your business, it is also an excellent way to spread the word about your company. Local networking groups usually limit the membership to one person per industry, so you will not be competing with anyone else for referrals.

3) Budget your expenses wisely. 

If you can initially work from home, do so. Save the money you would spend renting or leasing an office space and invest in a decent computer system or advertising. Cut your costs wherever you can and take advantage of less well-known but dependable service providers, i.e. Vonage phone systems and e-fax.com.

4) Find a good publicist/virtual assistant. 

It’s important to get the word out about your new business. Hiring a Public Relations firm is pricey and not always worth the money. Go online and search for a Virtual Assistant and publicist. Many will offer you a three month retainer at a lower cost than a fancy PR firm and the results can be extremely advantageous. Check out their references first and go with someone who has a proven track record. After the initial three months many VA’s will offer you an hourly or monthly rate.

5) Develop your negotiating skills. 

Knowing how to talk to advertisers and getting the best deals you can will pay off big-time, especially when it comes to advertising. Ask your sales representative to tell you about any special rate packages they offer. Quite often, you will not know unless you ask. Tell vendors you are a new business and ask if you can pay for big projects (like a professional website) with monthly payments. If you are dealing with small business professionals, most of them have been in your shoes and will be happy to extend a monthly payment plan to you.

As a small business owner you must be creative yet frugal. Take every opportunity you can to tell people about your business. Word of mouth and referral business is priceless. Carry your business cards at all times and don’t be shy to talk about what you offer. You never know whom you may meet that might just turn into a wonderful opportunity!

Characteristics of successful business entrepreneurs

Studies have shown that successful business entrepreneurs possess these characteristics: 

1. Self-confidence 

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

2. Achievement Oriented 

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

3. Risk Taker 

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

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

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

Positive Thinking 

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

Persistent Action 

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

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

A couple of examples of structure and boundaries that an ADD entrepreneur should establish

Managing and owning a small business can be very stimulating for the ADD adult. Many ADD entrepreneurs thrive on the fact that they can work on growing their business without all of the structure of being employed by someone else. While the structure of a 9 to 5 job might not be ideal for an ADD adult, an ADD entrepreneur should establish some structure and boundaries in order to be successful with their business opportunities and their personal lives. Here are just a couple of examples of structure and boundaries that an ADD entrepreneur should establish:

1. Keeping your personal finances and your business finances separate.

The larger your business is, the more important it is to separate your finances. Not only is it important for tax purposes, but recording all of your business transactions will give you or someone else all of the information necessary to analyze how well you are doing, and what you need to do to expand your business.

2. Set aside a regular time to pay your bills and to bill your customers.

I find that a lot of ADD entrepreneurs are more reluctant to bill their customers on a regular basis. The main reason is that they are so focused on pleasing the customer, that they don't focus on actually getting paid for a job. In order to develop a habit, you should decide on a regular set time that you are going to focus on sending out your invoice and paying the bills.

3. Schedule time and/or days each week where you not allowed to do anything related to your business.

In order to be a successful entrepreneur you need to spend a lot of time on your business. It is easy for an ADD entrepreneur to completely focus on their business and not focus on their other needs like eating properly, sleeping, physical activity, and spending time with friends and family. Without spending a little time on the other areas of your life your will burnout or breakdown.

How you are charging and how you are creating value in the mind of the client?

One of the biggest challenges with a creative business is getting paid what you are worth.  The root of the problem isn't that the client doesn't have the money and it isn't that the client isn't willing to pay you what you are worth.  The root of the problem is how you are charging and how you are creating value in the mind of the client.

First, you must create a business based on value pricing and not hourly pricing. The number one worst way to charge (and most creative businesses are charging this way) is by the hour. 

Frankly, it shouldn’t matter how long it takes you to solve the client’s problems or provide your service, it should matter that the client is getting what he needs and what he wants.  If you’re creating value and you’re giving them value, they’ll pay you for that value. They shouldn’t be paying you for your time. If you’re being paid for your time you’re essentially setting the ceiling to how much money you can make because you can only work so many hours. 

Therefore, you must determine, specifically what your value is to the customer, not how many hours you will work for that customer. 

To do this, ask yourself the following questions:

• How do you impact that customer or potential client? 

• What do you provide to them that will help them and helps solve their problems?  How will solving these problems impact the customer?  Is it a problem with high impact or low impact?  

• What is important to the customer?  Why is it important to the customer?  How important is it?

• Have they had experiences working with someone in your type of business before?  If so, was it a good or back experience?  Why?  Exactly what happened?

• Why is the client coming to you for this issue?

• What is the client's definition of success with this project?  Ask him to describe specific ways he will know he made the right choice in hiring you.

By getting the answers to these questions - not guessing what the client will say, but actually getting the client to answer these questions - you will have the information you need to create VALUE in the mind of the client.  If they perceive your work to be valuable, they will be thrilled to pay you.  If they do not perceive your work to be of value, they won't pay you no matter how low you go on the pricing scale. 

It's all in the mind of the client.  Get in their head and understand specifically what they want and, even more specifically, why they want it.  Once you do that, getting paid what you are worth is a piece of cake!

Step by step guide to how the patent process unfolds

Do you have an idea or an invention that you would like to get patented?? Are you confused or unsure of what to do to obtain an invention patent? The best place to go to get patent information is through the U.S. Patent Office. This patent information is available online at their website at uspto.gov. Here's a step by step guide to how the patent process unfolds. 

The first step to filing your patent is to determine what kind of patent you need. There are 3 types of patents. The first is a utility patent. A utility patent protects how the new article is used and how it works. The next is a design patent. A design patent protects the way the new article looks. The third is a plant patent which is used to protect asexually reproducing plants that have been invented or discovered. 

Once you have determined what kind of patent you need, you then start the application process.? The application must be filed with the U.S. Patent Office. The application describes the invention and it must state how to make use of the invention. It should also include why this invention should be protected by a patent. Documents, drawings, and testimonies should be included, along with the application fees. 

The second step is when the patent examiner does a patent search to be sure your invention is truly new and not a copy of someone else's patent. The patent examiner will communicate with the inventor or the inventor's patent attorney if any questions arise. This part of the patent application process can take some time.

The third step is for the patent examiner to decide if the invention is truly unique and therefore in need of a patent. If your invention is unique, you receive a patent. If not, your claim will be rejected and you will have to argue against it.

You may go through a patent attorney or submit your patent application yourself. Patent attorneys can be found online or in your local telephone book. You may submit applications online electronically at the U.S. Patent Office's website at uspto.gov.

Once you have obtained your patent, it will be good for a number of years. Even so, it is possible for other inventors to try to copy your patented idea. Your patent protection is of no use if it isn't enforced.? To help ensure enforcement, you may wish to get the help of an Invention Development Organization (IDO). They will help you to keep your invention safe and to market your product.

That's it! There's really not much involved in filing your patent. For resources and other questions you may have see http://patent101.com. With some tenacity and a clever idea, you should be able to get a patent for your invention in just a matter of time.

Ten tips to help you offer stellar customer service

If you're like me, you've had plenty of experience with BAD customer service.  Just think about the last time you had a bad experience with a product or a service. 

Perhaps the product or service did not live up to the sales pitch. Maybe the company was unresponsive to your calls or emails.  Maybe they did not do what they said they were going to do. Or they gave you the run-around when you called to report a problem or ask a question. 

If you think about it, all of these negative experiences boil down to one thing, a lack of customer service.  And a lack of customer service usually stems from a lack of customer focus.  It seems many businesses have simply lost sight of who they are really in business to serve.

Instead of the old saying, "the customer is always right," many businesses seem almost bothered by customers these days.  In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret from my early ad agency days. We used to have a saying, "this business would be great, if it wasn't for the clients." 

How ridiculous is that?!  We wouldn't have had a job if it weren't for the clients (I'm older and wiser now!). Yes, sometimes clients can be difficult, but they are the reason we are in business. Our job is to serve them. If they are upset, we should welcome the opportunity to find out why, and use that information to improve our product or service.

Yes, sometimes you'll run into some yahoo who is being totally unreasonable and you just have to deal with it. But very often, client complaints uncover a problem or something we can improve upon. 

So make it a point to really listen to your customers.  Make a commitment to treat all your customers well.  After all, giving great customer services is one of the best and cheapest marketing tools available.  When you treat your customers well, or even better, when you deliver beyond their expectations, you will be rewarded. 

Those happy clients are the same clients who will happily refer you. The opposite is also true. If you disappoint a client, or don't deliver what you promise, or you just plain treat them badly, they will likely tell everyone they know how horrible you are. In fact, those disgruntled clients are more likely to talk about you than your happy clients. Unfortunately, that's just the way it usually works.

The good news is, it's not hard to give great customer service. You simply have to be aware and make it a priority.  Following are 10 tips to help you offer stellar customer service.

(1)  Be accessible

Your customers should be able to get a hold of you, or someone in your company, if they have a question or if they need service. Provide multiple ways for your customers to get in contact with you, such as email, phone, mail or fax. 

(2)  Respond in a timely manner

Make it your policy to return all phone calls or emails within 24 hours. And, if you cannot commit to that, then determine what timeframe you can manage and let your customers know upfront they can expect to hear back from you within that amount of time. 

(3)  Listen to your customers

Often when a customer calls or writes to complain, they just want to be heard. In fact, sometimes, just listening is all you need to do. Take the time to listen to what your customers have to say before you start responding or defending your product or service. They may just have a point. 

(4)  Treat your customers with respect

Even if the customer on the other end of the phone is acting irrationally, or being rude, don't lower yourself to their level by reciprocating. Treat everyone with respect and you will be respected in return. Plus, you never know when someone's just having a bad day, and they happen to be taking it out on you (we've all done it). 

(5)  Don't argue with your customers

You can never win an argument with a customer. Because if you do win, you've more than likely alienated the customer and you've lost their business. We all know the customer isn't really always right, but instead of focusing on what went wrong and defending yourself, focus on how you can solve the problem or fix the situation. 

(6)  Honor your commitments

If you say you will answer emails, then answer them. If you offer a guarantee, then honor it.  Nothing spoils a customer relationship faster than being promised something and not getting it.

I got a nice email last week from a client that made me realize just how important this is.  Here's what he wrote:

"Many thanks for your prompt and comprehensive reply. Your personal interest, caring and enthusiasm is clearly apparent. Most company owners invite you to respond and promise to reply personally, they seldom do so ..."

Yes, it took me some time to respond to his email. But I promise email support to all clients who purchase my 10stepmarketing System and therefore it is important to honor that commitment. If I ever get to the point I can no longer respond due to the volume of requests or other time commitments, I will stop offering this service, not just stop responding. 

(7)  Do what you say

If you say you're going to call someone on Tuesday, call them on Tuesday. It's as simple as that. If you want your customers to trust and believe you, you have to follow through and do what you say.

(8)  Focus on making customer relationships, not sales

The long-term success of your business rests on your ability to make long-term customer relationships. If you sacrifice relationships to make short-term sales, your business will be short-lived.

(9)  Be honest

Don't exaggerate the results your product or service will provide. Don't promise things you cannot deliver just to make a sale.  I see hype all over the web these days; everything is a quick fix or a silver bullet. It suckers people into buying the product, and then the product doesn't deliver. Think that customer is ever going to make another purchase from that business?  Not likely.  Be honest and direct about what your products and services can deliver.

(10) Admit when you make a mistake

No one's perfect. We all make mistakes; it's part of learning. So when you do make a mistake, don't try to cover it up or deny it. Just admit it and if necessary, do something to make the situation right.  Your customers will appreciate it and they'll be more likely to stay customers.

So how does your customer service measure up?  Are you practicing these 10 steps and offering stellar customer service?  If not, I challenge you to take your service up a notch. Approach it like  Ken Blanchard and instead of just being satisfied with happy customers, create "Raving Fans" (a great little book if you haven't read it).

Commit to putting these 10 tips into practice. Get to know your customers.  Make them the focus of your business. It's one of the keys to marketing success and best of all, it doesn't cost very much!

(C) Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa

How to start a steam cleaning business?

Frequent Steam Cleaning can drastically improve the visual aspect of carpet and upholstery. One of the biggest advantages many folks do not associate with Steam Cleaning is the health benefits it provides to those who suffer from allergies and asthma. The EPA has discovered indoor air pollution as one of the top five urgent environmental dangers to public health. When your home is polluted with allergens and dust, your lungs are exposed to greater health risks. Your lungs can't process oxygen into carbon dioxide as efficiently as they should. Routine Steam Cleaning can actually reduce allergens and dust and help your lungs breath easier. 

One of the most trouble-free small business opportunities you can own is a Steam cleaning franchise. It's an easy business to run and business evaluation stability charts show steam cleaning franchises with a high rating. Because the investment level to start up a steam cleaning business is very low, it is a excellent small business opportunity for any person from any background. Many entrepreneurial minded individuals run extremely profitable steam cleaning businesses that were initially started with very low capital. These folks hold the knowledge that steam cleaning is a low investment business with the potential to earn a very high income. For those with access to minimal funds, starting a steam cleaning business can be a win-win situation. For those who are unfamiliar with business ownership, starting a small steam cleaning business can be a nerving situation. A lot of newly opened businesses fail because of mistakes that could have been avoided. Therefore, building a business plan before jumping into a new venture can mean either success or failure for your business. Subsequently, the two biggest fears for future business owners would appear to be job security and the failure of their new business. If one of the biggest fears people have about starting a small business is the fear of having no real security.

You can easily start a steam cleaning business with as little as $1000. It is feasible for some people to start the business with less than $500 under the right circumstances. If you own your own equipment and transportation vehicle, it will mean less money from your pocket. Realistically, most people who want to start a steam cleaning franchise don't own cleaning equipment. Alternatively, if you're just starting out and if you want to own an independent operation as opposed to a franchise, you have the option of leasing the cleaning equipment for a very small fee. Contrarily, Consider the benefits of a cleaning franchise. Although the initial investment to start a franchise may be higher, the benefits you will receive can have a huge impact on the success of your business. Brand-name recognition, an established customer base, and extensive training and support are fundamentally important to the success of any franchise. But the two most important are the training and support because they eliminate the guesswork that comes ever so often when starting a new business.

You can find several steam cleaning systems out on the market. Before starting your cleaning franchise, it is a good idea to research the various systems that are available. Some steam cleaning systems are more complex and more costly than others and achieve different results. Commercial cleaning companies commonly utilize truck mounted systems for their commercial strength and unique ability to cut down the time spent on a job. Many steam cleaning franchise companies utilize the truck mounted cleaning system.

A small steam cleaning business can turn some amazing profits. You won't find the flexibility and depth that the cleaning business holds in any other industry. And you can grow your steam cleaning home business as large as you want. Steam cleaning is a billion dollar a year industry and it's growing bigger every day. Deciding on a business with all the right properties is an important decision you will have to make if you plan to be your own boss. For every potential opportunity that presents itself, retain as much information about that business as possible to reduce problems in the future. A new business venture can be an exciting and rewarding journey. Sticking to your business plan staying focused can ensure the success of your franchise.

Three factors to consider when starting a business

There are a lot of factors to consider when starting a business. Primary among these are the three “P”s – Plan, Prepare and Persist.

Plan

After you have selected some ideas from your brainstorming to base your business around, create a plan of attack. List what you'll need before your business starts. What will your ongoing expenses be? Factors include rent, utilities, permits, licensing, legal fees, inventory, staff, design, marketing collateral, mailing lists, software, advertising and more. Get as much as you can out on paper and set deadlines to get things accomplished. This will allow you to evaluate your pace.

Prepare

Once you have a plan, carry it out. Preparing to start a business can be a lot of work. Tasks include getting an identity designed, creating business cards, brochures, web sites and other marketing material, consulting with CPA's, lawyers, and HR professionals, in some cases finding and renting or buying a storefront or office, furnishing the business space, getting utilities in place, receiving and organizing inventory, getting a database for your customers and leads and any number of other tasks. By running a home business, some of these steps will already be taken care of, yet opening a business of any kind can be an enormous task. While planning your business make sure to leave plenty of time to get up and running. Better to plan your setup time too long than too short and finding yourself running out of money.

Persist

This is the most important step of running a business. Without persistence, you won't even be able to finish your business plan. Hang on like a pit-bull. When the going gets tough, get tougher. Have worst case scenario plans to fall back on, as well as best case scenario plans.

Some businesses become over-night successes, while other take year to develop. If you plan, prepare and persist, you’ve got a very good chance of making it.

The Benefits of a Start Up Business Plan

Start up business plans are developed because the process of writing them creates huge benefits.  A lot of people resist writing a start up business plan.  They are under the false notion that start up business plans are an academic exercise that people are made to do in college or business school.

Another common misconception is that start up business plans are only needed if you are going to raise capital through pubic share offerings, taking on private investors, or looking for angel investors. The fact is, there are a tremendous number of benefits to putting together a simple start up business plan regardless of the type of business you intend to launch.

Even if the start up business plan will only be read by you or your spouse, the benefits are undeniable.  The things you will learn about your business by going through the process of writing a start up business plan far outweigh the time you will spend writing it.  

The Benefits of a Start Up Business Plan

Motivation:  your start up business plan can help you get back on track with your original business concept giving you wisdom and guidance. It helps you see your original vision.

Planning:  your start up business plan is a map showing where you are today and where you want to end up. Following it gives you confidence that you know where you're going. 

Analysis:  your start up business plan helps you to think about things you wouldn't normally consider. It forces you to analyze the relationships among different parts of your business. How sales ties together with lead generation, how that ties into services, delivery, profit margins, cash flow forecasting, etc...

Strategy:  your start up business plan highlights the relationship between your business and the local competitive marketplace. By writing it you will have tapped into the primary sources of information about the competition; sources that will be invaluable in the future.

Overall, the act of writing a start up business plan puts your ideas and concepts down on paper.  When things are in black and white like that you can see the inconsistencies and weaknesses much easier.  Then you have time to address these issues and resolve them before you enter the marketplace. 

The Bottom Line On Start Up Business Plans

Having a start up business plan is extremely valuable. The process of researching and compiling the information about your business provides motivational, organizational, analytical, and strategic advantages.  These advantages will continue to accrue long after your start up business plan is written.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Biz Tech Talk. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Six unusual ways for kids to make money

Most of us know the usual ways for kids to make money, which include lemonade stands, newspaper routes and mowing lawns. However, there are more unusual ways. Some of the ways listed below are from my own childhood, when I was always looking for another way to make money.

1. Be a chef. At about eleven years old, I used to sell meals to my brothers (I had four of them). I got 25 cents for scrambled eggs or a sandwich, and more for more complicated meals. My brothers preferred to stay in front of the TV and let me cook for them. Since the food was already provided by my parents, the income was pure profit.

2. Computer whiz-kid service. Many young kids know a lot about computers. My nephew was getting paid for programming by the the time he was fourteen, but even younger kids can show old folks how to use a computer and the internet for a fee. Learn a few more skills, and they can even set up computers for new owners who are using them for the first time. Letting grandparents spread the word would be a good marketing ploy.

3.  Household carnival. I charged my brothers five cents for a wadded up piece of paper selected from a bucket full of them. Most had a penny or two inside them, but a few had a quarter. It was just one of my "carnival" events. I also had them throwing pennies at a bowl across the room, which I kept, of course. If a penny stayed in the bowl they won a dime. I'm almost embarrassed to say how much of their hard-earned paper route money I took from them.

4. Collect returnables. We collected and returned cans and bottles for a deposit as kids. Now that more states have return laws, it's an even better way to make a little cash. During the Cherry Festival, when I lived in Traverse City, Michigan, adults came to town just to collect the cans that people threw all over. With a 10 cent deposit, they were collecting more than $100 worth per day according to several of them. If the kids wear gloves, leave broken cans and bottles alone, and use hand sanitizer, this is a safe way to make money.

5. Personal services menu. If there are many people in the family, a great way for kids to make money is to sell their services. They can make a menu of things they'll do and how much they charge for each. It might include washing windows for 50 cents each, for example, and maybe $1.50 to walk a dog. If the list is copied, it could be handed out to all relatives and possibly neighbors too.

6. Rummage sales and flea markets. If parents agree, kids can have rummage sales, selling not just household things, but arts and crafts and refreshments too. Parents might even take their kids to a flea market to set up a stand. I sold (as an adult) more than $1,000 of hand-made walking sticks one summer, while my wife sold hundreds of dollars worth in pewter figurines glued to rocks, sea shells and crystals. Cookies and drinks sell well too. It's a great way to learn about business, and a good way for kids to make money.

Skills and characteristic needed to make opening a new business easier

Several people that I know have made the statement that they would like to open their own business. This is a growing trend in our economy. People are opening business to become their own boss. Baby boomers are retiring and trying out new careers by opening small enterprises. To open a business, a person must realize that there is a lot of work and sacrifice to be given. Even when doing this, the odds are against you but the ride is one of the most fulfilling things that you will do. I will provide six things needed to make starting your own business easier.

Passion is Essential 

I have heard that to open your business you should do something that you are passionate about. I believe that person will not really understand this until he starts the process of starting his business. If you are doing something that you are passionate about and truly believe in it, it will help you through the rough times like people criticizing your idea, being turned down for loans, the frustration of finding customers and dealing with all the things that will be thrown at you. You have to be so enthralled with your business that you are saying things like “I cannot believe people are actually paying me to do this.” You have to have the fire to wake up every morning and can’t wait to start day.

If you start your business just to make money, you will have less chance of succeeding. The first big obstacle to be placed in front of you could break your spirit and some people will just pack up and quit. If you strongly believe that you have a great product or service and give excellent service, the money will follow.

Risk Takers are needed

An entrepreneur has not to be risk adverse. Opening a business is one of the riskiest things that a person will undertake. Everything is dependant on him to find customer, pay the bills and deal with the inventory and all problems. It is definitely easier to find a job and receive your paycheck every two weeks. I see these drones every day with no passion in their life. If you want to get the blood flowing, open your business and I guarantee you that you will have a lot less boring days. You will feel more alive and have a greater sense of accomplishment when you succeed.

With risk comes the possibility of great rewards. If you are a salaried employee, you can only make your base salary and maybe a bonus if you are lucky. As an entrepreneur, the ceiling is unlimited. The more money that your business makes the greater percentage will be returned to you as you have taken the greater risk. You should not be afraid of taking risk. For example, a guy at a bar sees a female that he is interested in. He is afraid to take the risk of approaching her because he is shy or afraid of rejection. What is the worst that can happen to him? She does not want to speak with him. If this happens, he is still alive and he is at the same position as when he started. But one thing that he gains is the experience of trying something new. He can now take this experience and apply it. By doing this, things will get easier and he will be less risk adverse. So go out there and try something new.

Skills are needed

Things are a lot easier if you have experience in the industry that you want to open your business in. I would love to open a restaurant but I have never worked in a restaurant. I have not taken any formal training in the restaurant industries. I could still open the restaurant but the cards will definitely be stacked up against me. My background is in computer and business. I have worked in the industry and most of my schooling has been in computer science and business. This is why I entered into consulting as I feel more confident in my skills that I can provide an excellent service to my clients. I have already learned my mistakes on somebody else dime. I know that I will still make mistakes but the major ones have been learned already in a safer environment.

Remember that you have to be more that just a technicians. If you only perform the technical skills of your product or service, you have only bought yourself a job. Your goal should be to open a business and grow it so that if you leave the business will still be there. If this happens, you have achieved the best situation possible. You can leave but still receive the profits from your business. This could take some years but you have to persistent and have to set out specific goals.

Life Learning is good to Have

An unquenchable thirst for learning will definitely help with your challenge of starting your business. You will need to be able to learn things quickly and properly. You should always be on the lookout on how to do things better and more economical. You should always strive to be more successful as you never know who will overtake you. This is done by reading and talking with people in and outside of your industries. You should be willing to try to new things. This quality should be emphasized throughout your enterprise. One goal for everybody should be to try to make every aspect of the business better.

Good Employees Wanted

Your employees will be the life blood of your enterprise. Businesses are always stating that their employees are their most important resource. I find this hard to believe with all the downsizing that occurs when the first sign of trouble appears. Also, managers are always complaining that motivating people is hard. To have great employees, always be truthful with them. There is no problem with telling the truth that you cannot promise them a job for life but that you will promise them a fulfilling workplace with great opportunities to learn. As a small or medium enterprise, this is sometimes the only promise that you can provide. On the motivation factor, find employees that are self motivated. If you find these people, your job will be so much easier. You will not have to motivate them and can place your effort on things that are more productive. How do you find these people? Ask some pertinent questions on their background. Find out if they volunteer for non-profit organizations or they have completed a college degree. These things show that they are motivated to complete a goal set out in front of them. Once you find these motivated people, provide them a specific goal like being number one in your city and then get out of their way. You will only have to supervise from an arm length and correct any unwanted behavior when needed.

Basic Accounting Skills will Keep You Sane

The entrepreneur should invest some time in learning basic accounting. I am not saying that you should become a certified accountant. You should know the difference between an AR account and the COGS account. By knowing this, you will be able to take the blood pressure of your business by looking at your Income Statement and the Balance Sheet. You will be able to see where there are issues and will be able to remedy them before it is too late. You would never hire a carpenter who did not know how to read a building plan or measurements. Being an entrepreneur without accounting skills is like our unwanted carpenter who is illiterate when building something. You will not know if somebody is cheating you which can happen. You will be better prepared to accept a big project when it comes as you will know if your cash flow is fine or not. By having this skill, your life will be less stressful as you will have the confidence to speak with your accountant in the same language.

Opening a business with be one of the most stressful and exciting time in your life. It is not for everyone. Lots of people are discouraged by all the hard work needed to just open your doors. But if you have the deep desire that you know that you can provide something that people will want, there should be nothing stopping you from achieving your goals. It will be the most fulfilling journey that you will take, I guarantee it.

Copyright 2006 Greg Doucet. All rights reserved.

Any suggestions or comments, please write to Greg Doucet at greg.doucet@caromat.ca

Opportunities in senior care franchises

New medical procedures and healthier lifestyles are letting people live more years than at any time in the past, putting many people trying to find ways to adjust to the demands of old age. Now that the hippie generation is soon reaching old age the number of elderly citizens is only going to get larger and larger. Owners of senior care franchises can take advantage of the population boom and be in place to join in the number one franchise market in a very long time. Senior care franchise opportunities can also be called in home care business opportunities because they also provide personal home care for adults that may have physical or mental problems not related to age, and the very sick, that require constant attention. With the thousands requiring caretaking there has never been a better time to buy into an senior care business than right now.

Almost all senior or adult care franchise opportunities can be home based franchising opportunities because often times specialized care is given in the clients own home. Care for seniors franchise companies are one of the best home based business opportunities that can be controlled at home in a simple office while still growing fast, possibly even more quickly, than any other type of home based business. If a person likes to stay home enough to work from it will know the importance to remain at their house in sick times, this understanding makes the adult care franchise owner better.

Part of owning and running a successful senior care business is to furnish company, and to a incapacitated person having someone to talk to is priceless. Many seniors often get tired of being old and sick and that hastens their move to leave home and go to a nursing home. When a person is talking and listening to them it removes some of the stress of lonliness. Many care taking services staffs multiple people for a clients care so the time together is more rewarding for everyone involved. Something to consider when running a business like this is the home care taking business is to match personalities to avoid conflicts.

Franchise companies desire for the entrepreneur to be successful so they provide top quality franchise education programs, and senior care franchises are no exception. As with any good business owners of companion care franchises must know business operation standards including, but not limited to, serve the customer, how to run the day to day operations, and record keeping. Another very important part of running a business is hiring honest workers, employees that will be going into the homes of customers. Before purchasing a franchise check to see that the franchise opportunity offers the best franchise training that includes plenty of time to learn the ins and outs of the business, good materials to learn from and to use when you need to look up something later, and first hand interactions. Before buying a franchise make sure it meets all training needs, and if a franchise does not offer first rate training it is terrible.

Things to look at are the marketing support departments and ongoing support. Marketing can be very difficult to understand, but there is little reason for an business entrepreneur to deal with the marketing precisely because a lot of franchises takes care of the advertising for their franchise opportunity owners. Franchise businesses usually will have data on the most dependable get the word out about a business locally also. With an adult care business referrals are a great way to get new jobs and by having a senior care franchise referrals are very common. a good support department comes with good franchising opportunity, including those that are in this category of franchise. The company is there to help and wants you to do well just as much as you do, that is why the franchise comapny assists the franchisee along the way as the entrepreneur finds new issues and obstacles.

There are not many opportunities that a person can put their money into that provides the chance to help those less fortunate. If you can be successful while at the same time making the world around you a little bit nicer you get the financial benefits. The long hours called for to make a business succeed are not as bad when every day you live with the knowledge that you've made the lives of individuals and families gentler. The aged population is is expected to grow by 100 percent over the next few decades it's time to to secure your own future and purchase an in home senior care franchise.

Santa's entrepreneurial spirit

Most people think Santa Claus only works one night a year. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, product distribution takes place on one magical night, but Santa's operation runs year round and is one of the largest manufacturing and distribution operations in the world. 

You've probably never considered the fact that Santa is the CEO of a large organization that not only distributes a vast assortment of products throughout the world, but does so in a single night with just a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. Sam Walton would have killed to have Santa's logistics manual. 

Do I believe in Santa? You bet your red longjohns I do. I especially believe in Santa's entrepreneurial spirit. Just consider all he does from an entrepreneurial point of view and I think you will start to believe, too.

Santa Is His Own Company Spokesperson 

Santa is a brilliant marketer and knows that his image is the best marketing tool he has. No other face is as recognizable and no other entrepreneur has inspired so many songs. You'll never hear "An Ode To Jack Welch" on the radio ten times a day. 

Santa's Customers Love Him

Just say his name around a group of kids and watch their little faces light up like Rudolph's nose. You will never see Bill Gates get that kind of reaction. Heck, he can't even make his own kids smile. 

Santa Sets The Bar For All Entrepreneurs

When you list the traits of the perfect entrepreneur, Santa gets the highest marks. He has passion for his work. He loves his customers and will go to great lengths to make sure they are happy. He has the ability to spot consumer trends and bring products to market quickly. He can lead a large organization with a wink of his eye. He inspires those around him. He is tireless. He is dedicated. He is loyal. He is persistent. And above all, he is jolly. Name another jolly entrepreneur (other than Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame). I bet you can't. 

Santa Is A Great Leader

Can you imagine trying to manage a few hundred giddy elves who are shut in year round and spend their off hours drinking spiked hot chocolate and doing who knows what with fairy dust? It would be enough to drive even the best of entrepreneurs to hide out at the North Pole. Somehow Santa manages the task without pulling his whiskers out. I expect he has a management system that promotes from within. The hard working elves get into management. The slackers are stuck cleaning up after the reindeer. 

Santa Perfected "Just In Time" Manufacturing

Santa heads up one of the largest, most diverse manufacturing operations in the world. His product lines range from rag dolls to toy trains to rocking horses to baseball gloves for the little kids, to iPods and cellphones and diamond rings for us big kids. Santa's factory runs year round, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and never, ever suffers from cost overrun or production shut downs. Santa perfected the "just in time" method of production that is used by many of the world's largest manufacturers today. 

Santa Pioneered Global Product Distribution 

Santa is the king of single channel distribution. How else could he deliver millions of presents to good little girls and boys all around the world on a single night? Santa's distribution process is a closely-guarded secret (elves and reindeer are required to sign iron-clad nondisclosure agreements), but I expect it involves a highly detailed logistics plan and the best CRM software on the planet. You never hear about Santa calling up a kid and telling them a present is backordered until July. 

Santa's Delivery & Tracking Systems Are Second To None

If you think FedEx is number one at tracking packages think again. Santa's track record is spotless. He has never, ever missed a single delivery or left a box sitting on the porch in the rain. Every package is delivered in perfect shape, right under the tree. 

Santa Wrote The Book On Customer Satisfaction

Santa proudly boasts a 100% perfect customer satisfaction rating. You never hear about class action lawsuits and Better Business Bureau complaints against St. NIck. Santa makes sure that his customers are happy and if they aren't, he'll come back next year to make things right. If JD Power could find him, I'm sure they would give Santa their Christmas Customer Satisfaction Award. 

Santa Claus Is Watching You

Not everyone believes that Santa is the perfect entrepreneur. There are those kids who complain that Santa never brings what they ask for, but we grown ups know that Santa brings the gift that is deserved, not necessarily the gift that is asked for. 

Here's a little Christmas tip from your Uncle Tim, boys and girls, ladies and gents: If you get a lump of coal in your stocking this year it's because you were bad and that's what you deserved. 

It was not because Santa dropped the ball. 

Merry Christmas everybody!

How can you run your business on limited resources?

When I first started my business, I went to the bank for a business loan. Simple enough, right? I had my business plan in order, an itemized list of everything that I would need to successfully run my business, and all the necessary documents. To put it plainly, I was turned down. Why? Not because I did not have the credit to back it up, or did not have a good business plan. The reason the bank man gave me was "because I did not understand that over 90% of businesses fail within the first year, and that I was not prepared in case mine did."

While I understand he was attempting to look out for my best interest, I felt cheated. He was not even going to give me the opportunity to fail. On some level, everyone that goes into business for themselves understand that chances are, the business will not make it past it's first year, and I was no different. The only thing was I had faith in myself that I would not give up trying. The loan processor took that as I would spend my life savings before giving up, and he did not want to see me financially ruin myself.

So what did I do? I set out on the adventure on my own, only using the limited resources and financial backing that I had. I bought second hand office supplies and furniture. I bought the small cheap laptop instead of the multi-thousand dollar computer specifically designed for what I would be doing. Without the proper money for advertising, I had to get creative. My advertising methods was unconventional, but they worked. I found that I did not need large amounts of money in order to get my business to the world.

So would I have been so successful had the loan processor gave me the business loan I asked for? I am not sure, because after all, I made it without the money, what would have happened if I would have had the proper money for advertising? Whatever the case may have been, I am glad he did not, because I am not better able to understand the limited resources that many small businesses face.

So how can you run your business on limited resources? Here are a few things that I learned along the way.

1) New vs. Used - When starting your business, you do not need everything to be "new." Second hand items cost substantially less then new items, and work just as well. Plus, if you think about it, customers will be more comfortable around your office if it feels "broke-in", rather then new and sterile. It gives them the feeling that you have been in business awhile.

2) Creative Advertising - You do not need the hundreds of dollars that it takes to place ads in papers or put commercials on TV.  It costs very little to design and print you own flyers and put them in places where your potential clients would gather. Turn your vehicle into a moving billboard by investing in a vinyl signage for your doors or windows. The best thing? Face to Face meetings with your potential clients do not cost a penny, so look for every opportunity to talk with our potential clients.

3) Work At Home - Depending on your type of business, you may consider working at home rather then renting office space. This will save you a lot of money on rent and furnishing an office. Once your business becomes more successful, then you can always rent office space later.

Overall, be thankful for the struggles that you go through now, because in the future, they will have been well worth it. Plus, it will give you a better understanding when it comes to other small businesses.

And, no matter what, never give up on yourself.

The retirement plans to solo-preneurs and small businesses

Saving for retirement is even more important for solo-entrepreneurs because you don’t have a company sponsored pension plan or matching 401K contributions to rely on.  There are many retirement plans available to self employed individuals and small businesses.  Which one is right for you?

Here is just a sample of the retirement plans available to solo-preneurs and small businesses: 

Roth IRA – although this is not just for solo-preneurs, this is the first place you should look to save if you are just starting to save for retirement (or resuming to save after starting a business).  Roth IRAs are low-cost, very flexible, and allow you to grow money tax-free as long as you follow the distribution rules.  Contributions can be made up to $4,000, and can be withdrawn at any time without tax or penalty (earnings withdrawn may be subject to penalty and tax if withdrawn before age 59 ½ and certain other conditions are not met).

SEP IRA – if you’re maxing out your Roth IRA, and are ready to save more, a SEP IRA allows you to save up to 25% of your compensation (20% of your self-employment income) for a maximum of $44,000 per year.  Contributions are tax-deductible, and SEP IRAs have low maintenance fees.  Contributions can be made for employees also, but employees cannot contribute to their own SEP IRA.  This is a good choice if you just have a handful of employees and are looking for a low-cost way to save for your own and your employees’ retirement.

Simple IRA – a Simple plan offers many of the benefits of a 401K, but with less IRS reporting requirements.  You can contribute up to $10,000 to a Simple IRA, with an employer match of up to 3%.  Contributions are tax-deductible, and Simple IRAs also enjoy low annual fees.  Employees are allowed to contribute to Simple plans, and a company match is mandatory.  If you have a lower salary (or self-employment income) in your small business, a Simple IRA allows you to put more away towards your retirement than other plans.

Solo 401K – for small businesses with no employees, the solo-401K allows you to put the maximum amount away, with less cost and less reporting requirements than a traditional 401K.  Similar to a SEP IRA, contributions max out at $44,000.  However, unlike a SEP IRA, participants in a Solo-401K can contribute up to 100% of the first $15,000 of compensation or self-employment income, and an additional amount up to 25% of your compensation.  This is important because it allows you to save substantially more than a SEP IRA, if your compensation is less than $220,000 per year.  A solo-401K is not appropriate for small business with employees or expecting to add employees.

There’s no one best plan for all small businesses.  The best plan for you will depend on many factors, such as whether you have employees or not, how much you want to contribute each year, how much time you want to spend administering the plan, etc.  To get more information about small business retirement plans, contact a no-load mutual fund company, a discount brokerage company or a fee-only financial planner.

The importance of franchising in the business world and tips on how obtain your own franchise

As people from all cultures began to arrive in The United States of America, their dreams have been to have an idea, start a business and become wealthy in the process. This movement continues to draw people in from all cultures to The USA, and all these folks are here to share one common goal; an improved way of life. The opportunity to own a new business and be successful has always been, and always will be, the American Dream.

In The United States of America today, more folks than ever before are realizing their dreams of financial independence since being the owner of a successful business, by today's criterion, is more easily accomplished than ever before. A lot of these fortunate individuals acquire financial freedom as owners of franchised businesses. Franchises offer the greatest opportunity to own a successful business for people interested in business ownership for the first time because franchises are based on a proven system. There are various reasons why franchising is the most effective type of operation for first time businesspeople.

As a franchise owner, you will not be needed to come up with a business plan; the franchisor has already done that for you. You will gain all the benefits of a proven system, training and ongoing support and reap the monetary rewards. 

How can a franchise opportunity give you a lifestyle of financial independence? Seventy five percent of people who have extreme wealth in America have a business- this indicates that your best shot at being wealthy is by having your own business. Starting a business from scratch, however, can be very risky and a complicated process involving a lot of time, resources and money. And new businesses do not always succeed. The rate at which new business succeed is quite low, probably due to bad planning and not having a tight hold on expenditures. being the owner of a franchised business offers far less risk than Owning an independently run business and offers all of the same advantages, if not more, of an independent business. Being the owner of a franchise takes away from the responsibility of having to draw up a business plan and puts you on the road to success promptly.

After evaluating different options you made a final decision to purchase a franchise, congratulations! You have made a decision to purchase the rights to sell goods or services from an established brand-name company with a proven business plan, training and ongoing support. Soon you will be on the road to financial independence. There are steps, however, that must be taken to insure that everything goes smoothly - from researching the right franchise to the opening of your new business. The most important being researching the right franchise opportunity.

Not every franchise is a guarantee of success. Franchise opportunities come in many flavors, each one as unique as an individual. To find a franchise business that meets all your needs, research different companies for the one that best suits your personality, skills and interests. Suppose that an individual with 15 years of financial planning experience decides to purchase a franchise. That person researches different franchising options and chooses to purchase a business income opportunity. Does this individual have the potential to make this business successful? Absolutely! Under different circumstances and disregarding the success rate of franchises in general, if that individual were to pursue a career as a restaurant franchise owner he/she may feel misplaced in that particular line of work. Choosing a business in which you have shown know-how can be an immense advantage in franchising. The point is that it's necessary to select a franchise that matches your character and expertise. When those conditions are met, you'll have a far greater opportunity at being successful.

Before you settle on any franchise, you will want take your research to the next level and gather as much information as possible on the company that appeals to you. Do the right research! Just because a franchise has been successful in other areas does not mean it will have the same success in your area. Get contact information and talk to current franchisees operating in territories with the same demographics as the area in which you will be operating. Exsisting franchisees are your best source of information for finding out what really happens in a business on a day-to-day basis.

A franchised business is like running any small business - you need capital. Building the right budget will allow you to incorporate a realistic cash-flow plan. The initial franchise fee will have the biggest impact on your finances. You need to have enough capital for the initial fee and enough to carry you through the first couple of months after opening the doors to your franchise. 

The most successful franchisees are known to take a less formal and more relaxed approach to selling. Successful franchisees genuinely enjoy talking to strangers and get involved in community events to find new ways of promoting their small business. although franchisees are often provided with standard corporate advertising programs and national exposure for the chain, being involved in the community and being perceived as part of the local family helps keep customers loyal.

Franchises influence the American economy beyond what was ever thought possible. As a matter of fact, the IFA estimates that franchising has had a $1.5 trillion impact on the U.S. economy. Owning a franchise is an amazing opportunity that comes with many wonderful benefits, but you must be very dedicated to your new business. Make sure you know what it takes to succeed and that you possess those qualities.

How to read your own personal and business financial statements?

As you consider which legal entity or entities--corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership--you want to use for your business structure, the decisions you make will depend heavily on your current financial situation, both personal and professional. But do you know how to read a financial statement on your own? Do you know how to read your own personal and business financial statements?  

Knowing how to do this is an essential skill not just for entrepreneurs but for everyone. However, for the entrepreneur having this skill can mean the difference between having a thriving business that continues to thrive and winding up in bankruptcy. The annals of the bankruptcy courts are strewn with cases of entrepreneurs who entrusted their accounting to others and, not knowing how to read the financial statements of their own businesses, were surprised when they found that the business was ultimately unsustainable. The purpose of this article is to help prevent this from happening to you--and to arm you with the skills you need to structure your business to your benefit from the outset. 

Your Two Major Financial Statements

There are two major financial statements that every entrepreneur should know how to read and (ideally) prepare or have prepared in their financial software (we recommend QuickBooks): 

The Income Statement

The Income Statement (also known as the P&L or Profit and Loss Statement) offers a dynamic picture of the ebb and flow of your finances. Briefly, income statement shows first: A. Your various sources of income Then subtracts from that, B. Your expenses To give you the net result: Net Profit or Loss Typically, it is the result shown on this statement that is the basis for your taxation by state and federal authorities at the end of the year. The net income or loss (revenue outgo) is carried over onto your second major financial statement: The Balance Sheet.

The Balance Sheet 

Offers you a snapshot of cumulative results of your financial activities. It is made up of two columns: 

On the left side you have your Assets

On the right are listed your Liabilities and Owners/Shareholders Equity (or ownership in the business). The two columns must be in balance, which is why this is called a Balance Sheet.

Assets = Liabilities + Equity

It's really quite logical how the Income Statement and Balance Sheet relate to one another.

If you have to use current or long-term assets to pay ongoing expenses during the current year, at the end of the year, the amount of your assets will be reduced by the amount of net loss. On the right hand side, your Equity has gone down too. If you borrowed, say $10,000 to pay current operating expenses, at year end, your assets remain the same, but your liabilities have increased by $10,000, lowering your net Equity or ownership in the company by that same $10,000. 

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you continue on this path, you will quickly be in a very painful situation, because Liabilities carry their own cost. The cost of borrowing money is Interest, and if you are fortunate enough to borrow at only 10% interest (on unsecured debt) today, a year from now, you will have to pay $11,000 to pay off the original $10,000 debt. This reduces your equity still further--unless you have used the borrowed funds to create more assets that increase in value at the same rate as the interest on your debt or, better yet--at a higher rate.

More to the point for deciding which business entities to use is that you need to work out both your personal financial statements and those of your business(es). If you find, for example, that that you have significant salary or wage income in your personal financial statements that is causing you to pay out high taxes (as reflected in your balance sheet), and you expect that your business will generate some significant losses for the first several years, it would be advantageous to you to use a business entity that is a flow-through entity. Losses incurred by your S-Corporation (or, if you prefer, your Limited Partnership or your Limited Liability Company) will flow onto your personal balance sheet to offset the salary or wage income and thus reduce your tax liability. 

Moreover, in general, if you want to draw up a roadmap to getting where you want to go, you need to know your point of departure. Thus, preparing and understanding your personal and business financial statements is an indispensable first step for your business planning.

©Copyright Azur Pacific Associates 2006

What does it take to plan like a champion for your business?

What does it take to plan like a champion?

Well lets take a look into our minds a little bit to answer this question.

For these next questions, I need you to be extremely honest with yourself. No need to lie, no one else but you will know the answers.

1) Are you afraid to fail your plan?

2) Do you regularly plan ahead?

3) Does your plans involve EVERYTHING you ever wanted?

4) Do you plan ahead with your business and family in mind?

5) Do you visualize your plan being achieved?

6) ** How far ahead do you actually plan???

=========================

That wasn't so bad was it???

It's important to always ask yourself these questions. Doing so will ultimately lay out what it is that you want in life. Business & Family should always be considered together.

=========================

So let's take a look at why all these questions help you to determine what it is in life and how it will affect you forever...

1) Are you afraid to fail your plan? 

Beating The Failure Blues:

Failure... ooooooo no one wants to fail. Unfortunately for many of us, we tend think of failing when we write out our business plans. The reason we do this is because we've all failed at something before. Everything we do starts with a plan. Most daily plans are sub-consciously planned out before they are executed. This process only takes a fraction of a second. The ones we tend to remember are plans that we've "consciously" created. Most of these are ideas we've never finished, and projects that never even got a change to start.

They key to beating the "failure blues" is simply to train your mind to visualize everything you want from your plans. Viewing something you want should always resemble a movie clip full with: sensory rich images, along with sounds, smells, and sense of touch. This combination is what make visualization a success. This is true because our minds think in images. Visualizing your plans consciously will better help your sub-conscious mind to remember what it is that you want to accomplish. This also tells your sub-conscious mind you serious about this one.

1) Do you regularly plan ahead?

Come-on, be honest, do you actually sit there and make a good attempt to plan out your future, every single day? NO? Why not? Is it not that important to you?

Failing to plan is the same as planning to fail!

Planning everyday may seem like a lot of work to do but in actual reality, once it becomes a habit, it becomes second nature.

Study shows that it takes an average of 21 times for something to become a habit. For example, once you've driven your car 21 times +/- it becomes 2nd nature to you. Your sub-conscious mind takes over and drives for you

Your "conscious mind" is the captain of your ship (the brain). If you don't consciously make a direct command to your "sub-conscious" (the crew), nothing will ever get done. You must be strict with the crew for 21 days to make sure they will do their duties on a daily basis. After time, the crew will automatically know their own task by heart and carry them out for you.

Planning out everyday will better define to your "Crew" what it is they are required to accomplish. It builds unity within your mind. This unity will ultimately be the staging point to reaching your goals.

2) Does your plans involve everything you wanted?

When I say everything, I mean everything. I have this little special note pad that stays on my desk at all times. Within it are countless ideas of everything I ever wanted at that very moment.

At that very moment meaning, whatever it was that I wanted to have in my life "at that moment" that would make me happier. Doesn't matter what it is. For you, exactly what right now would make you happy? A nicer car? $5,000 in your bank account? More clients? Better search engine ranks?

Writing exactly what it is that you want will give your mind a "TO DO LIST". Once your mind has its "TO DO LIST", your sub-conscious will search through your memory banks for an example of how to accomplish your "to do list". If your mind doesn't find anything within your memory banks, it will eventually start shooting out ideas and tips for your conscious mind to complete.

I should also note that writing down something is like etching it right into stone when it comes to your mind. It's like your mind is the piece of paper, you need to write something down in order for it to come back later and revise what it is that you wrote down.

3) Do you plan ahead for your business and family?

Well why wouldn't you? When I think about my business, I think of what it will do for me, my friends, and my family in the future. At the moment, I am currently not married nor do I have any children but that doesn't mean that I am not thinking about the future with a family in it.

Always consider business & family the same. They are a both part of yours and the their future.

4) Do you visualize your plan being achieved?

Visualization is the fruit of success.

Do you ever find yourself visualizing yourself in that car you always wanted? Who visualizes you and your family on some beach in Mexico somewhere? Who visualizes you winning the "entrepreneur of the year award"? ....YOU DO!

In order to be happier and more successful, you need to get better, you need to get better. I repeat, you need to get better.

Visualization should be a daily event. Take a moment everyday, even for 30 seconds and visualize all the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of everything involved with your daily plans.

For example, lets pretend that you have a presentation to do and like most people who have done a presentation, you are extremely nervous.

Take a moment about an hour before the presentation. Visualize yourself walking into the meeting feeling great, confident, and relaxed. Hear the people having a good time, see them smiling and paying attention to you. Try to smell a nice cologne within the room that makes you smile when taken in. Last but not least, see all the people around you congratulating you on a job well done after the presentation. See yourself having a nice, warm, rich tasting coffee while discussing your successful presentation with your boss, employees or even your potential clients.

I guarantee you that if you make it a habit to prepare yourself with visualization in that fashion before any presentation, you will have better, more vibrant feelings afterwards.

This very same technique applies for your goals. You must see yourself driving that car, the way the air feels in your hair, maybe the way the engine sounds. Whatever you can think of that will let your mind wander into your goals and dreams, use it!

5) ** How far ahead do you actually plan???

This is by far the most important. The most important only because it takes a little from all the above questions I've talked about.

What is the furthest you've ever planned ahead? I'll put money on the fact that it's not far enough. Dare to be bold, be strong in your convictions. Don't be afraid to think outside the box.

So how far do I allow myself to plan ahead??? 200 Years!

No joke, my goals have included a timeline of around 231 years ahead in the future. See I don't only think about how I want to improve my life, I concentrate on something higher than life. I concentrate on my family history that is yet to be written. We all would like to leave a family dinesty to our future family members. Well, why aren't you planning ahead for it???

Don't be shy, afraid, uncertain or embarrassed, just do it. Keep doing it within your note pad that you write in. Keep thinking about your children, their children, your great, great, great grand children to be.

Think about them. Wouldn't it be nice if they could look back and say wow, my great, great, great grand father had the vision, the dedication and the will to think of me. Think of the impact you could have on those to be. Even go as far as writing a letter to the individuals who will be in your families future. Tell them what you have planned and why.

What if what you do now, affects someone 4 generations down the line in such a positive way that they feel the need to pick up were you left off? If it wasn't for your vision, it would of never happened.

Better yet, it hasn't happened yet, so how about you pick up that pen and start your future right now, this very moment.

On that note, I won't keep you from writing your future.

Good luck & remember to see everything happen the way you want it to happen!

Are Formal Partnering Programs a Fit for Your Business?

Formal partnering programs. They can be good, bad, and indifferent. They just aren’t that huge. In this day and age, most people aren’t choosing to join partner programs just based on the benefits that they looked for 10 years ago.

Formal Partnering Programs Benefits

These benefits include: high margins, dedicated partner representatives, unlimited toll free support, four percent MDFs, market development funds, 30-day end user money back guarantee, no quotas, no inventory stocking. If, however, you are moving towards the service model, formal partnering doesn’t do as much for you.

Which Formal Partnering Programs are Best?

VAR BUSINESS, a trade magazine, does all kinds of studies and surveys on the best partner programs.  It rates them constantly on vendor satisfaction on all different issues: technical support, sales support, margins, business opportunities, perceptions of small business clients. They’re an incredible resource for looking into different partner programs. 

Naturally you can read about the big ones. You can read about the Microsoft Certified Partner Program, and IBM Business Partner, but you’ll also find out about some lesser known programs and what’s going on in general.  What you will find is that not a lot of consulting firms are putting a ton of stock and energy in advertising their vendor relationships anymore.  The tide is definitely turning more towards advertising yourself, your company, your brand, the expertise and service you bring to the table as opposed to advertising the brands that you represent.

Are Formal Partnering Programs a Fit for You?

Before you decide whether you want to invest any time or money with any particular programs, I would first think through what services and solutions you want to provide for your customers. These partner programs involve both a financial and time commitment. Be certain that the partner program offers your clients what you want to offer before investing!  

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}