Success Blog

Jury Duty - Your Commitment to the Community

2009-07-06T16:55:00.001-07:00

I spent the last 2 weeks as a jury member in a civil case, it was the best and worst days I have lived in a long time.

Choosing a Powerful Name for Your Company

2009-04-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

It has been said that one of the most agonizing decisions for many entrepreneurs is coming up with a name for their new business. Often, those drawn to the business world are not as strong minded when it comes to such seemingly creative tasks as giving a catchy name to their company. You might be interested to learn, however, that the best names have very little to do with creativity and imagination, and everything to do with business acumen and a thorough research of the marketplace. This should put some of you at ease, who feel as though they missed out by skipping that creative writing course in college and are now at the mercy of choosing a boring, unmemorable name you will hate before the paint is dry on your sign. Here are some things you can do to choose a powerful name for your company.

First of all, you’ll need to think about what you want to get across to people. What types of words or phrases could you associate with your business? You’re at the molecular level at this point, so just remember to take it one step at a time. Think about your business and the functions, products, and services it will provide. Think about your target audience and a few of the things they are likely to enjoy, other than your products. Think about some of your favorite business names and see if you can find a through-line that connects any or many of those names. Do they have a common theme? Think about not only your favorite names, but the names of those companies that are most successful. Consider Coca-Cola, Nike, and McDonald’s, for instance. Do you notice anything similar about these names?

Once you’ve thought about these things, take a while to simply brainstorm some name possibilities. Think of at least ten, and try to make them all fit in with the considerations above. If you’ve found a common element to those names you came up with, see if you can’t follow in kind with some of your own names. Don’t try to sit down and do this all at one time. Keep a notepad by your bed or on your desk and return to it anytime you happen to think of a good name to add to the list. Don’t stretch the task over the next year by any means, but it will be good to let your mind free to think about names and associate your task with different things.

After you’ve completed your list, it’s time to start crossing off the ones that won’t work and coming up with a final list of two or three from which to choose. One criterion for keeping or discarding is whether or not the name is too specific. For instance, if your business will be selling printer ink, you may not want to name your company Ink, inc., even though it is creative and catchy (and incorporates the hard K sound found in those businesses we brought up before). If a few years, you want to start selling a hundred other office products the name could be a limiter, don’t let it.

After you’ve narrowed the list, go with your gut. Choose the name you personally like the best and go with it, no matter what anyone else says. After all, in the end it’s your business, not your friends or family’s. If you like it, live with it. It’s your new business name.

Taking the First Step

2009-04-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

If there are no negatives in your life; if you never have a problem finding positive influences; if you are that rarest of individuals who, when faced with making a decision, immediately does the right thing and never looks back; if you never suffer from self doubt; then you can skip this week's blemails.

But if you are like me, and second guess your decisions time and again, especially in the darkness of an early morning after a night of too little sleep, then this series is right up your alley.

I know that the only thing I can really change today is my attitude. And after I've changed my attitude, all things are possible. But an attitude change is a totally inside job. And it's HARD WORK.

Getting started is the hardest part. But the old adage "a journey of a thousand miles begins with just a single step" is so true. If you are going to build a house, there are steps you'd take, and in a certain order. First, you'd have a dream, a vision. And then you'd put the plan on paper. And then you'd get the tools you need. Only after these are accomplished would you begin to build.

Building (or rebuilding) a life is a lot like building a house. And these are the steps.

1. Dare to Believe.
2. Position Yourself for Change.
3. Use the Keys for Breaking Through.

This posting a new three series step by articles from writer and author, Patricia Thibodeau

Dare to Believe!

2009-04-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

First of three articles by Patricia Thibodeau.

Fort Delaware; 3 December, 1864
Andrew was almost asleep when he heard a voice from the next bunk say "Jackson, what you aiming to do when you get paroled?" Andy raised his head and looked into the gloom. The boy who spoke was tall, and no doubt hearts broke quite regular over him at home, but the months in prison had made him gaunt, gray face bones sticking out in a permanently grim grin that did not extend to his eyes. Andrew shook his head, mentally correcting himself. No, not a boy. He was seventeen and had fought like a man. But at almost twenty-six, Andy felt a hundred years older than the youngster.
"Now, Jim, I told you over and over what I will do!" Andy wasn’t put out, just wanted to tease him a mite. God knew they had little enough to laugh about in that place, and took humor wherever they could find it.
Jim pulled himself up on his elbows a little, looked the other man up one side and down the other, and said, “Not like you had some place to go real quick, now is it? Talk to me, Jackson. It makes me forget where we are when you talk. Tell me again. Please."
Andy smiled at the boy. "Well, you know those mountains way over there, west of here?" Jim nodded his head a little, and now his eyes did smile. "Well, when I get out of here I will walk south 'til those mountains end. When I see Pulpit Rock, I will know I am home."
Jim sighed a little, lay down, and was quiet. Andy lay back on his own bunk, then, hoping to soon be lost in his own dreams. But he didn’t forget the conversation. Next day, when he had time, he took his pencil and added to the steadily growing stack of paper that contained his thoughts.
‘That is all we have to do in this place, remember and forget and dream. We do more dreaming than either of the other two. Our daytime dreams are, I suppose, a little easier to handle because of the daylight.
But when the dreams come at night, screams rip through the darkness, repeated a few minutes later from another raw throat, remembered hell using up the energy of men who can ill afford the loss.
We are, most of us, in bad physical condition. We need more than one good meal to put us back in order, but we survive on what we have each day.
That is the word. Survive. Most of us were hardy stock to begin with. We came from the mountains of Tennessee, the foothills of Alabama, the backwoods of Arkansas, and occasionally the muddy streets of cities. Most of us had worked hard all our lives.
Deprivation was nothing new to us, for none of us were wealthy. If we had been wealthy we would not have been here - we would either be at home with a substitute in our place or dead because we would have been well off enough to be an officer.
All us boys knew how to forage during the winter, and plant during the spring, and harvest the fruits of our labors. We could build houses and shoot squirrels and ride horses and love our families and pray to our God, but we cannot leave the hell we wake to each day.
Now our only harvest is when we collect the dead each morning and take them outside. They say the officer’s prison is even worse than ours. How that could be is hard to imagine. Best not to try.”

And so it was with great granddaddy. Even with the horrors of being a prisoner of war, he had a dream for a future; one that did not include death. A year after that conversation, when they turned him loose at the end of the war, he went out the gate with a glad heart and turned south. It was not an easy journey home, as you can imagine. Afraid to travel at night, because of unseen dangers on the road, and afraid to travel in the daylight, because all he had to wear was his uniform and some folks in the north were still smarting over the war, he walked early morning and late evening. What would take us, today, about 14 hours by car, took him three months by foot.

But the point is, he took that first step. He could have stood there at the gate, doubting his ability to walk; he could have sat down just over the hill, not believing that anyone wanted him to come home; he could have gone to the nearest town and become a stolen whiskey drunk. But he did none of those. He had made it through four years of war, two stays in prison (eight days shy of ten months the second time), and was determined to see the fields of home before he died. Eight hundred miles later, he arrived, unheralded. There were no marching bands, no crowds of people waving flags, only one old cow grazing in the meadow to greet him. But to him, that didn’t matter. His dream of seeing Pulpit Rock was realized. He married, fathered eleven children that lived, ran a successful business, taught school, wrote letters to the editor and was published several times in The Daily Hot Blast (forerunner to The Anniston Star), was a respected member of the community, and at 63, from his own bed and surrounded by the people he loved, said, “I just wanted you all to see how a man of God goes, and is not afraid, to meet his maker.” With his last breath, he tried to voice his favorite hymn. "Oh, sing to me of Heaven. When I am called to die, sing songs of Holy Ecstasy to waft my soul on high. When cold and sluggish drops roll off my marble brow, burst forth in strains of joyfulness, let Heaven begin below." And then he squeezed Merilza’s hand, smiled at his children, and left this world.

We can be like Andy. Despite trials and tribulations, despite prison walls either real or imagined, despite the lemons, we can live life to its fullest. But first we have to have a dream. Immediately after a layoff, or a divorce, or a death, going forward is the last thing we want to think about. Getting through one day at a time, five minutes at a time, is paramount. And the longer it takes, the worse it gets. Doubt and unbelief stand between us and total victory. But what God challenges us to do, we can do. If we want to. If we believe we can. If we will just take that first step.

You see, we have a promise, that we are armed with “incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ep 1:19) I challenge you today to shake off the double conditions of life. Forget the if onlys. Take the word “fail” out of your vocabulary. We are the children of a great and awesome Father, who wants only the best in life for us. Do not forget the sorrows of the past, but learn from them, have hope for tomorrow, and resolve that the future will be better, brighter, more wonderful than even your wildest dreams. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13)

Blessings and hugs,
Patricia Thibodeau

Position Yourself for Change

2009-04-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

Second Article in the series by Patricia Thibodeau

We know what we want to accomplish. We have a dream. But how do we get from here to there? How do we find what Joseph Campbell calls “our bliss.” First and foremost is to believe we can do it. Second is to position yourself for change.

Look hard at what you enjoy doing. But be realistic. Not just anyone can be a pilot at age 50. But if flying is your bliss, take those lessons, and get your license. You may not do it for a living with a major airline, but you can still hire yourself out for friends.

Not everyone, even though the spirit is willing, can design clothes for the masses. But if fashion is your bliss, make your own clothes (and be sure to sew in a label with your name on it). And then don’t be afraid to tell people you did it yourself. People who cannot sew are always looking for someone who can.

If travel is your thing, work part time for an agent; you’ll learn the business and may just wind up with a full time job.

If you enjoy talking on the telephone, sign on as a fundraiser. The pay isn’t much, but ASPCA and several other non-profit organizations in our area have yearly campaigns, and are always looking for help.

If you enjoy meeting people, go to work as a greeter at Walmart. I’m serious. Those people want to be there, and it shows in their smiles.

If you like tools, if you are a weekend carpenter, if you can teach someone to make cabinets, then Lowe’s or Home Depot is calling your name.

If you enjoy gardening, buy a good lawn mower, print up some business cards and drop them on doorsteps in your neighborhood.

If you like makeup, sell Avon.

True, working at a hobby is different from working to earn a living, but you still should find something you love to do. Find something that lets you feel after 8 hours just as good as you did when you started the day. Work is a four-letter word, but if it’s not work, then it’s bliss. If you had your dream job, what would it be?

If you like cutting hair, get some good shoes with strong supports, and go to technical college for a degree.

If you love to tinker with cars and have an innate sense for what “that strange little noise” is, search out automotive courses at the community college and start your own business working nights and weekends for people are off only during those hours.

If you love to make jewelry, do it in your spare time. There are several shops throughout the Metroplex that will agree to furnish an outlet (on consignment) for your merchandise.

If you simply love cleaning houses, do that. I’m serious. There is always a market for someone who doesn’t mind dusting and mopping and washing windows and doing laundry for someone else who doesn’t have the time, the patience, or the want to. Now this one will probably involve you being bonded, and that costs money; but there are cleaning services in our area that are currently hiring, and they’ll help you with it.

Are you an out-of-work accountant with tax experience but can’t find a tax service to hire you? Call your friends. Tell them you are available. At discount rates. You’ll be busy at least half the year. Matter of fact, if you’re an out of work accountant with tax experience, call me and I’ll hire you.

OK, so maybe you need something a little more lucrative than part time or minimum wage. It’s hard to feed a family of four on a fast-food-window salary. But without training, that’s about all you’ll ever have. But if you truly enjoy food and like people, take courses in restaurant management at the community college. Did you know that the D/FW area has more restaurants, per capita, than any other area in the United States? Get the training, and then get the job.

And that sounds pretty good, but what if you quit high school before graduation? GED classes are offered at regular intervals in our communities. The cost for the test is $65. After you’ve passed the GED, you can pursue higher education.

Do you like computers? Would you enjoy being an admin or an office manager? Again, community college.

But what if you like computers and would enjoy working with them daily but simply do not have the time (or money) to take formal classes? There’s an answer for that, too. Ask a friend to teach you. And then if you don’t have one at home, use the computer at your local library to practice what you’ve learned. Be diligent about it.

The rule for learning is this: tell me what to do and I may remember; show me what to do and I will remember; let me do it myself and I will not forget.

No, it’s not going to happen overnight. But it will happen. You just have to have a dream, dare to believe in it, and then position yourself for the change.

Blessings and Hugs,
Patricia Thibodeau

Keys to Breaking Through

2009-04-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Third and Final Article in the series by Patricia Thibodeau
OK, you have a dream, and you have positioned yourself for change.. So what’s stopping you? You don’t know what to do next? You just can’t seem to get it in gear? Well, let’s look at the keys to breaking through.

But before we begin, let me say that if you don’t believe in a Higher Power, you might as well stop reading right now, because the rest of this message is contingent on that belief.

1. Pray. Open your heart and ask for guidance. Ask for grace. Grace is God’s free gift, to do to us, through us, and for us, with love, what we could never do for ourselves. But we have to ask for it. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer, and don’t pepper it with thees and thous, just talk to God the way you would an earthly parent, or a close friend. God loves us and wants the best for us. Ask for what you want. And then listen for the answer. Too often prayer is me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, now, now, now, and then it’s off our knees and back to the same old thing. Prayer is us talking to God. Meditation is us listening for an answer. Spend time each day in both prayer and meditation.

2. Face the truth about yourself. The word of God confronts us. “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:12). Do you drink too much? Stop. It’s not easy, but it can be done. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. You can’t save your face and your ass at the same time. There are any number of support groups in this area that are willing to help. Ask your minister. If you don’t have a minister, ask your doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, google “sobriety.” And then go to a meeting and listen with an open mind to what they say. Are you mired in an addiction of another kind? Get help. Are you lost in grief and feel like you simply cannot live another day without that spouse, or that child, or that job? Get help. Are you so depressed in general that you have lost the will to live? I don’t believe it. You wouldn’t still be reading if it was so. Depression is anger turned inward. Get help with your anger. Facing the truth about yourself, your circumstances, your part in it, and your world in general may be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in life. But you can do it. You must. And then don’t repeat the old behavior. You keep doing what you’re doing you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.

3. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Poor me, poor me, pour me another. Pity parties are the easiest kind to throw but self-pity is idolatry. Guard against emotional impulses. Do you spend too much money when you’re feeling blue? Stay busy and out of the mall. And off the internet. Freeze (literally) your credit cards. By the time they’re thawed out, you’ll probably have realized that you really don’t need whatever the impulse drove you to buy. Volunteer at a hospital. Volunteer to teach English as a second language. Volunteer to type resumes for people who are looking for work. If you have the time and resources, volunteer to go on a mission trip. Help with Habitat for Humanity. Deliver meals on wheels. But whatever you do, take the focus off yourself.

4. Stop blaming everybody else. Ooooooooooooh, tough one. Oh, if only he hadn’t left me for another woman. Oh, if only they hadn’t laid me off. Oh, if only she hadn’t died. If only, if only, if only. Did you do something to cause the layoff? The death? The leaving? Then take responsibility for your own actions. I’m not saying you have to look like a fashion model, but quite frankly, ladies, if you can’t remember the last time you combed your hair, if you can’t keep yourself clean, if you can’t put a smile on your face, if you can’t be a “helpmeet” then don’t blame your significant other if they look elsewhere for those things. And gentlemen, you’re not off the hook; if you can’t treat your loved one with the same respect and consideration and admiration you want for yourself, don’t be surprised if that “loved one” turns into an “unloved one.” If the situation is something simply beyond your control, see step 3. If not, read step 4 again.

5. Don’t make a geographic change the answer to your problems. Because if you pick your troubled self up and move it someplace else, all that baggage will go with you, and you’re just the same old tired troubled person in a different location. And before you know it, it’s all back again. Doubled. Changes in attitudes, changes in latitudes works fine as a song, but only the change in attitude will get you where you need to be. Stop running from responsibility. You can’t repent if you won’t admit. Know the real problem. If you truly believe that a change in attitude will not help, that your problems are not of your own making, see step 1. If it’s you, say you’re sorry; mean it; and then resolve with everything that is within you to do better next time. And then do better.

Blessings and hugs.
Patricia Thibodeau

Life Is a Do It Yourself Project!

2009-03-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

If you have not realized it yet, no one is going to hand you the golden platter with your life’s forward path laid out on it for you to follow. You are the only one that can take the steps to improve your situation and life. Change is difficult; I’m here to help you take off. Get started with some very basic steps that will allow you to t can and I show some simple steps to follow in getting started. First let’s understand the three phases you are going to dive into; the what, how and when.

The *What* phase is digging into your self improvement psyche and brainstorming a list of areas to improve about yourself. This list should include anything about you requiring improvement. Dig deep and be honest.

The *How* phase is simply five steps that guide your through your list created the *What* phase, to actions you will take. Examples may include your desire to be a more creative and healthier cook at home, train for a 5k run, learn a foreign language.… the key is list than all. In this phase these five steps help me get going on my self improvement journeys; convince, create, categorize, prioritize and initiate.
1. Convince- you are the only person that can commit yourself to this whole process, if you can not convince yourself no one else can and you will fail. Why, because you will let distractions and setbacks stop you. Any doubts at this point, a close friend or partner may be able to review what you are engaging in a give you that push, I encourage you to talk with them as a way to convince yourself, *I can do this*.
2. Create – write out your list of improvement items, at this point put anything and everything you may think of on the list. Include areas specific to health, personal relationships, family, income, your job, education, sports, family, communication, relationships … the list is limitless as you can see.
3. Categorize – now that you have your list it is time to put the lists in common categories that are manageable. These categories should be such that some of the items may compliment each other. For instance, cooking or eating may fall under improving your health, walking, and swimming or running can fall under improve physical activity and appearance. You get the idea, simplify.
4. Prioritize – Take you categories and review them critically, pick out the top 3 or 4 ones that you seem the most interested in, put the others aside for now but do not throw away, remember this is a Life long journey. With your selection down to 3 or 4, now pick only two … you guessed it … now pick one. There may be more than one item under this category so you need to repeat this same prioritization exercise again until you have identified the one!
5. Initiate – What are the resources you can tap to learn about this subject, is it the internet, local continuing education, on-line universities, seminars ... seek out subject matter experts. This may take a little time a so be patient. A good starting point on the internet search is to identify key words regarding your subject; these will expedite the search and give you greater access to the resources that are available. I have found the resources at Success University to be among the best, here is a link for you - http://start.successuniversity.com/specialoffer.aspx

For just $2 you have 14 days of unlimited access, how great is that!

Next comes *When*, this phase creates milestones and a timeline for measuring your achievement towards the self improvement goals. Do not underestimate or overestimate the time it will take you to achieve some of these life changing activities. Understand and remember how long it took you to be where you are, it will not be easy, but you can do it.
Include in this milestone and timeline chart, specific tasks required to get you towards your ultimate achievement goal. Keep this list with you and visible, not only will this keep you focused. If you are a visual person, stick-up reminders everyplace you can on the specific task to be accomplished as well as you ultimate goal. Many tools can be helpful, calendars, day planners or PDAs are terrific.

You are in control; now just dedicate yourself to giving the 1st project a try.

A Good Memory Equals Greater Success

2009-03-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

If you can learn how to improve your memory you will certainly be able to become more successful. Just think of how nice it would be to be able to recall little nuggets of information from your last business trip. Sure you can write down a lot of information so that you can refer back to it later, but you will not always have the ability to take notes. In a face to face, personal conversation with a prospective client, you may not want to take notes. In this case you will be relying on your memory until you can translate the information onto paper.

There are two important parts to your memory: concentration and recall. These are the two areas that you are going to have to improve upon if you want to have a top notch memory. There are a few ways that you can improve your concentration and recall skills.

The first thing to do is make sure you get the information correct the first time. It is very difficult to obtain bad information, and then replace it with the correct information. Pay attention to the speaker carefully so that you get everything right the first time.

Next, make sure that you understand what you are learning. If you do not have any concept as to what something means, you are going to have a very difficult time recalling the information. If you do not understand something the first time, go over the information again until it is thoroughly understood.

Also, being selective can also help you recall information. Instead of trying to recall the entire conversation that you had with a business associate, concentrate on trying to remember the important points. The less information that you have to remember, the easier it will be to recall it at a later point.

Concentrate on what is important, and try to test yourself as you move forward. If you are reading a manuscript and want to remember the main theme of every page, test yourself at the end. This will let you know if you have fully understood the page. If you have trouble recalling the information read it again.

Finally, remember to take everything that you have memorized and write it down. The second that you leave a meeting or classroom you will want to translate your memory onto paper. This way you can repeatedly study the information at a later date.

A good memory can go a long way in achieving success and reaching your goals. You need a good memory for everything from the business world, to the classroom, to social situations. The above tips are a very good place to start if you need to improve your memory skills.

Goal Setting - Why You Should Do It Now!

2009-02-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

The only way to ever get what you want in life is by setting goals. Whether it is in the business world or in your social life, if you set goals you will have a much easier time getting what you want in the end. A lot of people do not set goals because they are afraid that they will never be able to reach them. But this is nonsense. If you know how to set a goal, and what to do to reach it, you will be able to accomplish what you set out to do. By following the five steps below you will be able to set effective and achievable goals.

1. Make sure that when you set a goal you know exactly what you want. It is helpful to write your goal down on paper so that you can outline the details of your goal. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is setting a goal for something that sounds good in theory, but would not actually fit their lifestyle and current situation. Be realistic.

2. More than likely you will have more than one goal in your life at a time. You have to remember that one goal cannot prevent your from obtaining another. If your goal is to buy a home on the beach it would not make sense for another goal to be receiving a doctorate degree from a university in Wyoming. Make sure that one goal does not contradict another.

3. Staying positive is an important part of writing any goal. Be sure to write your goals as something that you are striving to reach, not something that you are hoping to leave behind. Without recognizing it, many people set negative goals and while they are trying to achieve them they are just adding more negativity to their life. It is imperative to set positive goals.

4. Research every single detail of your goal before starting. Write down details. Instead of writing that your goal is to have a home on the beach, write down what beach you would like to live on, and how much you want your home to cost. This way you have exact details to work towards, instead of just a general idea. General goals are easier to abandon than detailed goals.

5. Even though you want to start out with goals that are attainable, you also want to make sure that you are getting something that is worth your time. It may be exciting to reach smaller goals, but after a while you will crave bigger achievements that make you feel like you are really getting somewhere. You owe it to yourself to aim for the stars. There is a great websit to help you get started on your succes oriented journey, it is just click away:
http://shortcut2success.subuilder.com

Why is Failure the Stepping Stone to Success?

2009-01-31T08:40:00.000-08:00

How does failure benefit you? I think it is quite simple, for every failure you experience you learn what does not work or a behavior you know not to repeat.
Do not be afraid of failure. The pervasive misperception is that failure is somehow bad for you.
I think failure is just the opposite and have identified 8 statements for you to think about on why failure is your stepping stone to success.

1. Failure fuels determination
2. Failure forces creativity
3. Failure makes you use your mind
4. Failure facilitates change
5. Failure separates the strong from the weak
6. Without failure you have no motivation to try again
7. Without failure there is limited opportunity to learn
8. Without failure you become complacent

The notion is basic, failure is the change agent to you becoming successful; do not let the negative perception surrounding it bring you down. You are in charge of your life and turning the failure into a positive experience.

Visit one stating point to success at:
Success University: http//www.shortcut2success.subuilder.com

The Effect of Positive Energy

2009-01-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

Positive energy can go a long way in ensuring that your home and work environment is calm and relatively anxiety free. If you have ever worked in an office with people who are constantly giving off negative energy, you surely know what it feels like. You feel suffocated by this energy, and often times it wears off on others.

One of our major social problems nowadays is negative people who are constantly talking about others and turning people against one another. This form of negative energy is one of the quickest ways to divide an office or your home. If you work with negative people, do not let them bring you down. Easier said than done, so what to do about it.

The best way to combat negative energy is to throw positive energy right back at it. In other words, if a person is constantly degrading someone, you need to step to the plate and throw a good word in about him or her. This will make the person realized that this type of attitude will not be tolerated. By letting this negative energy circulate around the home or office, you are doing nothing to help the situation. In fact, if you are not helping, you are just contributing to the problem.

Try to make it a personal goal to show up at your office everyday in a good mood. Often times, positive energy will pass on to your co-workers and family members. If you can get this sort of attitude started, pretty soon everybody is feeding off of each others positive energy. The end result, anybody who brings negative energy to the office or home will quickly be converted; they have no other choice!

The best aspect of positive energy is that it is FREE. You need to look no further than within yourself. Be aware, negative energy is easier to find in some ways. Remind yourself, it is vital to wake up everyday looking at what can go right, not what can go wrong. Try taking a positive attitude to be the night before; you will see a difference in the morning.

In everyday life positive energy seems to be ignored when evaluating successful business or home environments. Businesses or families that do not address the people who project negative energy are never going to reap the rewards possible in their quest for success. Be part of the solution, not an enabler to the problem.

Remember what Brian Tracy said, Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends.

The positive energy of making the internet work for you can begin in many different places. My lastest adventure begins here:http://shortcut2success.webprosperity.com/

Live Life Your Own Way in 2009!

2009-01-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Too many of us today rely on other people or services to make our lives perceptibly better and not reaching into our inner self to reach our goals, be happy and enjoy life. Are you one of these people? If you don’t know, maybe asking and answering one question may help. Do you really know and understand what makes you happy and fulfilled? The question is derived from the following quote by Julie Cameron:
*We don't always know what makes us happy. We know, instead, what we think should. We are baffled and confused when our attempts at happiness fail. We are mute when it comes to naming accurately our own preferences, delights, gifts, talents. The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people's expectations. The tongue of the original self is the language of the heart.*

If your answer was *yes I do*, then great you know yourself very well and probably have taken the following steps towards self enrichment and are happy. Please read on and you may glean another item you can use sometime.
Most of us at one point or another need to regroup and really try to and honestly answer the question about what it takes to make us happy and are we self fulfilling in doing so. Write this down, capturing on paper your thoughts is a great self improvement tool. I venture to guess many people are somewhere in the middle. There are many areas of our life that can make us happy; here are my most obvious ones for you to focus on.

Financial Stability. Most of us rely on a corporation or business run by someone else to provide our financial success. Sure we do our best to make the company better and thus reap the overall success a personal reward. If this makes you happy great, I think there is more of an entrepreneur in you than you might think if you just extend yourself. Be frugal with your income and try to develop a second or even third source if possible. You always want to have a second choice in case your current situation changes.

Family. As our society changes around us, we must all adapt in various ways to assure the basic roots of family are not severed, but continuously nurtured to assure growth. This is very challenging with all of life’s distractions and challenges each and every member faces. Keeping a family extended by geography or not together takes work and personal sacrifices. Even if you think all the giving is one sided, do it anyway. Time is your friend when it comes to family, because your actions today will reap rewards someday somehow. Think about the birthday cards you sent to a nephew or niece for years, that at some point in time your paths cross and the connection is grown on a different level because they are adults now, not children. Extend yourself in the family area if you have not already, when was the last time you spoke to your Grandfather or Grandmother, Sister or Brother, Uncle or Aunt, favorite cousin? Do it today.

Faith. Believe is a greater spiritual power of your choosing. Having the warm blanket of believing is a wonderful feeling to carry around with you everyday.
Remember don’t rely on someone else to achieve your happiness or success; they just might not be there when you need them most. Believe in yourself and your self reliance and determination to the person you truly are.

One web site I have found very helpful in discovering my own strengths and potential is just a click away, http://start.successuniversity.com/specialoffer.aspx.
Great information and training available if you know where to look.

Have you ever Dollarized Your Time?

2008-11-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Everyday we all end up waiting … waiting … waiting… so have you thought about what this wasted time is costing you in personal and professional productivity? Better than that, how about $$$$!

If you just stop and take a minute to figure out the amount of wasted time you spend waiting that accumulates during your typical day you might be shocked. Let’s be conservative but realistic, the easiest way to do this is take along a little notepad and just record you time in lines, car trips, breaks, lunch talking on the phone, you name it. Here are the steps to calculate the money you potentially loose due to wasted time.
Step 1. Decide how much 1 hour of your time is worth. Maybe you think it is what you are paid by someone at work; $10, $20, $ 100? I suggest to begin with keep this simple and figure out your hourly wage against you current paycheck.

Step 2. Figure up the number of wasted minutes per 24 hrs, yes include sleep.

Example: Time wasted
- 2 hrs driving to and from work (listening to music not being productive)
- 45 minutes waiting in lines
- 2 hours watching TV (morning news and news at night)
- 1 hour on the phone to home
Total without trying = 5 hours and 45 minutes
My time = $35/hr

5.75 x 35 = $201.25!! * Hourly wage (x) Hours wasted = Wasted money $/24hrs (day)

Incredible! Ok, where did the money go or where will it come from if I get back my 5.75 hours? This is a great question in which you need to things figure out. What am I telling you this for?

If you are happy with a single source of income or your current life as it is, do nothing.

If you are not satisfied, you can spend this time trying to stat an online e business, create a product to sell, get healthier, take self improvement courses, learn another language, read a book, learn yoga to relax … maybe you need some down time improving yourself, just do not waste it!

Look at my example; 2 hours a day I n the car, what if I got some CDs to listen to on improving my vocabulary, or how to make money on the internet (I did this), lean a foreign language series, that is productive! 2 Hours watching TV, zero productivity, why not formulate a plan to seek out a 2nd source of income?

Time is the only boundry during the day you have no control of. There are only 24 hrs in each and every day, however … you are the only person in charge of choosing how to spend those 24hrs being productive or wasted, it is within your control!

Pumpkin Carving Tips for Adults

2008-10-16T18:32:00.001-07:00

This article is a must read for anyone and everyone who is about
to carve a pumpkin. I call these 5 tips, my Simple Pumpkin
Carving Survival Guide. My advice is for you to read these tips
before you begin this endeavor end up with a disastrous event
again. We all have experienced good and not so good pumpkin
carving experiences. Well, here is all you need to know to have
a successful pumpkin carving experience. These 5 easy tips that
are guaranteed to make the day special and ease you mind:

1. Do a little prep work on the pumpkin carving design. The kids
want to have a cool pumpkin, but they also want to have some
design input themselves. Have a pumpkin transfer or template kit
available to start out the process. The kits are available almost
everywhere pumpkins are sold. Also, get the kids or adults for
that matter, to start designing ahead of time. Tell them ahead of
time, everyone must have the design ready for transfer to the
pumpkin prior anyone being allowed to carve their pumpkin.

2. Go out and get your self one of the pumpkin carving kits. The
kit will save your self from rummaging through the kitchen and
allocating “tools” for the people involved. If there are kids,
always handle the knives with strict adult supervision. Sure let
the kids try, but have an adult do the cutting, pumpkins are
tough. These tools can also be shared and can create some pretty
cool images when used correctly.

3. Have plenty of newspaper for the pumpkin guts. This is not
the most enjoyable for the kids, but you need to have them reach
in and get gooey! A large cooking spoon works very efficiently
to complete this job is a short amount of time. If you are the
adventurous type, clean the seeds, soak in salt water (to taste)
and bake until crunchy.

4. Make sure each person has a second pumpkin. Why, well how
many times has the “Oops factor” come into play? The knife slips
or the tooth gets cut off … the eye is crooked … having a backup
pumpkin plan saves the day. Even if you do not need them, send
them home with one of the guests or give away as a prize to
someone!

5. Take pictures of the whole process, it is a great time of year
and everyone is around in good moods. Take a bunch, because some
are destined for the scrap book!

Sorry, but you are on your own to bring light to the finished
pumpkin. Everyone needs to see what works for them, I can
recommend the simple glow stick, and they even come in a variety
of colors and last a good while. Be safe and have fun.

To your Success!

Hope is Not a Strategy When Your Trying to Start a Business!

2008-09-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone throughout their life has incorporated a belief in hope, or a chance that something desirable will occur to them or is possible. We all hope for things, all I’m trying to point out to you is there is no strategy behind hope when you are truly trying to get something tangible to occur. For instance, everyone can lose a little weight right? Well sitting around *hoping* the weight will trim itself from your body without you exercising or changing some eating habits is a great delusion we all share. Same theme translates to starting an online business to make money, money management or even trying to make sell a product you have created. Without a strategy behind what your expectation is, your chances of gaining a desirable outcome are negligible.

Ok, so what happens, next? We need to get you started with a strategy; it is all about defining what it is you want. Sounds simple, but in fact this is the hardest part. Why? Because you have to put down in writing exactly what it is you want to achieve, and then set out a tactical strategy to accomplish it.

Let’s focus on one aspect; you’re interested in trying to identify an alternate source of income on the internet because you hear all he success stories about internet millionaires. The first place to start is exploring what you think you’re strong and not so strong points are for accomplishing you desired state. Here are the basic 10 questions you can ask yourself when you are about to get started (I suggest you type or write this information out, because specific tasks will be needed to get started and you can refer your responses often):

1. Do I currently have the resources (computer, basic skills, subject matter knowledge) needed to start this project?
2. What type of online business are you thinking about? eBooks, affiliate programs, selling your product, creating a service … you get the idea.
3. How much time am I going to commit to this effort? This is very important; time is your Number 1 Allie or your Number 1 Enemy because you manage it!
4. How much money can I dedicate to this/? Yes, initially there may be some purchases you have to make depending on what you choose to do.
5. Do I try and set things up myself or outsource/purchase some of the items? This can be a simple as website design, initial set-up and linking, seeking out online experts. This can be frustrating and confusing for most people who do not know how to perform this task. I strongly suggest you research and find someone to help you with this.
6. Where do I go online to find out about my area of interest? forums or basic key word search engines are a great place to start.
7. Is the amount of time I have allocated sufficient to support my strategy?
8. Am I committed what are my desired outcomes or goals?
9. What will I do if this does not work out? (Try again is the only answer!)
10. What mistakes I have made in the past that I will not repeat again?

I have been through this process and will give you some sites I have found helpful that may expedite your success.

Product to reality site:
http://CafePress.com

Online magazine Directory:
http://Directoryezine.com

Online Outsource resources:
http://elance.com
http://guru.com

Resource and affiliate start-up:
http://start.successuniversity.com./specialoffer.aspx

Start Building Confidence Today!

2008-09-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Are you reading about building confidence because you seek
to improve your situation? Just remember, reading about
confidence will not gain you any confidence, action will.
You can read about it your entire life, but you won't have
it until you make a move to achieve it. Confidence is not
something that comes easily to a lot of people. Building
confidence is all about making mistakes, learning from them
and moving forward. You should want to make mistakes, that
is how we all learn remember … by doing, this is the way
towards building confidence and this should be expected.
Just like trying a new receipt, exploring the internet,
creating a business or riding a bike again, you'll burn a
few main courses but who really cares, scrap the pan and
start over.

Just jump in and do it, I don’t care what it is. Do not
become one of the outsiders looking in at all the fun … come
on join in! Watching and reading about it won't do any good
at all if you want to have confidence in life. The real deal
is that you're going to have to get on the saddle and start
to paddle. Why, you say? Confidence is not speculation, but
rather a sensation and state of mind. Start out with simple
confidence building milestones in a subject matter of your
choosing, again I repeat just do something.

Experience builds confidence, reading about it, asking
people about it or spending money on it won't buy get you
the truly innate confidence you desire. The only person who
can give you confidence is.... you got it right, yourself!
You see, the more times you do something (it doesn't matter
whether you fail more times at it than you succeed), the
more you try something the better at it you get. Writing is
a great example, people think sitting down and writing even
a simple article is easy, I challenge you to pick a subject
and write a 500 word article! Then send me your *Easy*
steps, I think writing is challenging, I’m not great at it
but I like doing it. Time and experience are in your
control, utilize them wisely.

I'm just starting out in this Internet world to see if I can
create content for people to use and benefit from. There are
unlimited resources we have available. My confidence is
growing through development of my Blog, what is next maybe
my own website … who knows. How confident you want to become
depends on yourself. You're in charge; you decide when
you're confident enough to take the next step in a career
or personal life, ultimately it boils down to experience.

Can you Fake confidence to build confidence and be
successful? Sure, if you fake it enough, your effort turns
into confidence, I don’t think you really want to go around
faking confidence but, role playing is sure fun sometimes.
And the behavior and feelings become so real and so natural
that you are confident by default!

Remember, whatever that is in your mind will one day
transform into something real and propel you into a
successful life.

Has Personal Responsibility Disappeared?

2008-08-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Where has responsibility disappeared to in your life and those around you? Do not cop out and say it is the societal norm … please. It is time for you to stand up and take responsibility back in your life and mentor those around you! You hear about responsibility every day, or better yet, lack there of. All we hear about is how no body takes responsibility for their actions … or their children have no responsibility or the parents take no responsibility and on and on.

I have not heard anyone to date offer up techniques to teach and mentor responsibility, so here here we are. Because I feel so strongly abut this, I offer to you my five simple techniques to re-train your self and teach those around you to be more responsible. These proven techniques cross all gender lines and age groups. Integrating these five proven techniques will foster discussion, action and ultimately greater responsibility for everyone involved.

Let’s start by grounding ourselves in what responsibility truly is. Responsibility is defined as; 1: answerable for acts or decisions 2: able to fulfill obligations. Wow, how much more simple can it get? Are you with me on this!!

Five Techniques to get responsibility back:
1. Start with yourself, baseline you daily tasks and conversations as well as commitments you engage in. Do you meet definition 1 criteria? Are you truly answerable for everything or do, or did you make up reasons why something did not get taken care of. Maybe you have too much on your plate and you over commit without realizing it; this is not an excuse but often a reality for people …simplify.
2. Simplify your commitments and responsibilities as much as possible. Start slow, take the time to recognize the signs that you are slipping out of the responsibility mode. This technique may require a little time, and only you can evaluate and eliminate the non value added portions of your day that my hinder your progression towards complete fulfilling the goal of *Taking Responsibility Back*.
3. Recognize the negative leading indicators in conversations or actions that drive you towards the *I’m not responsible for that…* plateau. These indicators are any action or decision you do not stand behind, go back to definition number 1. Remember how simple the definition is; guess what it still…is just practice it.
4. Lead by example, words are cheap. Live up to your commitment and commit to yourself to meet all the expectations. Act accordingly and you will soon realize people around you will follow your example. If they do not, don’t hesitate to call them out in a professional and non derogatory way. Simply reminded them of their decisions or commitments and if circumstance have changed fine, just communicate.
5. Mentor those around you who do not take responsibility as so defined in the dictionary. Professionally and non-derogatorily point out the facts (not your opinion) on a given decision or commitment. The person may deny your statement and become controversial, just state the facts and carry on. You can not make a person more responsible than they want to be.

Maybe the response to those without responsibility could be to send them a coy of this article. Best of luck and much success!

Be On Time Every Time !

2008-07-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Make it a habit to be on time to every appointment or meeting you have scheduled or accepted. How frustrating is it when an appointment or meeting is delayed due to one or two people who show up late. I know, very frustrating and also disruptive to the rest of your day, especially when you or your colleges were on time. A delayed appointment just delays the rest of your schedule. If a meeting has to start over, schedules get disrupted and again you spend the rest of the day in a catch-up or re-planning mode. Bottom line, it is very disrespectful to be the person who shows up late, so don't.

You can modify your behavior or those people who are late though a few simple actions.

If you are the person facilitating the meeting, curb late attendance by simply:
1.Start the meeting on time with the people in attendance.
2.Close the door, lock it or unlock it is up to you. I would not.
3.If someone shows up late, do not start the meeting over. This is important, even if it is your manager or peer. The missed subject matter discussion can take place after the meeting. More often than not, this step will not be necessary and the other people in attendance will appreciate your leadership and respect you for it.
4.Always have an Agenda
5.Establish a "Late Fee", this may or may not be practical in your situation. But, in small department teams it works well. Peer pressure is a good behavior modifier.

If you are the problem simply:
1.Understand and be truthful to yourself on why you are late.
2.Get a day planner or alternate organization tool and use it.
3.If you have an electronic device, set it to remind you of the appointment meeting 15 to 30 minutes early!
4.Try not to schedule appointments or accept meetings that are scheduled back to back.
5.Personalize the behavior, be the "On Time" example.

Sometimes we perceive being late to an appointment or meeting as acceptable because we convince ourselves whatever caused us to be late is more important than being on time. Don't believe this, the message you convey to people by being late is very negative. Punctuality is one of the easiest behavior modifications you can make in your life, get started today!

Are Your Customer's Satisfied?

2008-07-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Do you monitor how satisfied your customer’s are with the service or product provided to them? If you do great, if not, you definitely need to start. The reason to maintain customer loyalty is obvious, look at all the competition that is in the market place. Customer loyalty to you and your product or service is a key component to maintaining a successful business.

Where to begin? Begin by improving you & your companies listening skills at all levels. Every contact made by you or your personnel via the internet, phone or in person is a potential “Customer Moment” and can provide early indications of potential problems. I mean everybody, from the dock to board room; train yourself and personnel to listen. Listen to what may be considered a trivial or off the cuff comment, document it and discuss internally. These comments may actually become a real customer issue, and if dealt with sooner rather than later will build customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Next, develop a feedback system that supports the collection of customer information and can even provide a response mechanism when required. To implement this system, you will need to assign a person or small team to decide what is best for your business and customer base. You might even engage some of your faithful customers in this project.

Active listening to you customers is not easy at first, but you will recognize the power and monetary benefit of avoiding customer complaints and heading off problems before they escalate. Just remember the last time you were the recipient of poor customer service! Do not fail to act on what you information gained through your customers voice. If additional training is required seek out subject matter professionals and organizations to assist you.

The investment will be worth it, just ask your customers what they think!

Never Settle for Ordinary

2008-06-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a common attribute among successful people no matter the age, profession or location in the world … they never settle for ordinary.

Successful people in all walks of life at various ages discovered ordinary is not going to get them very far in life. Sure, being ordinary provides stability and the ability to fit in or adapt, but not get them ahead. If getting to the front is what you strive for, then stand out and never settle for being ordinary. Of course you are not going be the front runner in every venture you try, but the important aspect of your life is having the drive to not be ordinary.

Easier said then done? Sure it is, it is true that everything comes at a price, wow how many cliché’s can I get into one article, you get the point. Ok, here are my 6 how not to settle for being ordinary self checks for you.

Self Checks that will not allow you to settle for ordinary:

1. Take on a Leadership role at any age, task or activity. Step-up and start learning about your leadership skills. You probably already have a pretty good idea at this point what type of improvements are needed, this major step that takes experience and time.

2. Learn from your mistakes; do not make the same mistake over again.

3. Continuously Improve yourself mentally and physically. Find new and interesting subjects to learn about, searching out information online or better yet, reading a book provides a foothold into a wonderful habit.

4. Mentor those around you by exhibiting positive behaviors and habits. By teaching those around you about subjects within your span of knowledge you gain even more subject comprehension.

5. Set goals for yourself. Short and long term goals, easy goals or stretch goals … just set them and post them somewhere in writing on your computer, on the fridge in your office or car. Check yourself periodically on progress or lack there of.

6. Be Driven; do not let yourself become complacent or satisfied with where you are at or what you have achieved. When you reach some of your goals set new ones, tougher goals or some people refer to them as stretch goals.

If you do not know where you are going, how will you ever know when you get there?

Let me remind you what E.M. Cioran wrote – We are all geniuses when we dream!

Do Not Post Your Resume' Online - Until You Read This!

2008-05-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Do not post your resume' online until you understand exactly what you may be getting into. The internet is a wonderful tool to utilize when and if you are looking for a job or a change of career. However, there are some consequences of putting your resume’ out for the world to look at that you may not be aware of.

Some of these consequences has to do with the format of your resume’ and the content you include. Here are my top five items to address before posting your resume’ online and why.

1. Get a unique email address for your resume’. Why? Because you do not want you primary email account tied up with the responses or the spam spiders out looking for new email addresses. You can get additional email accounts from your current service provider or online for free most of the time. Believe me, if you do nothing else, take get a different email account and you may even want to consider getting a different account for each type of career you are searching for.

2. Include a professional summary at the beginning of your resume; the statement is about your qualifications and accreditations to date. This summary should be well thought out and only be two to three sentences in length. Why? In this summary you want to target the career specific key words appropriate for the job you are seeking.

3. Do not embellish or inflate the content included in your resume’. Be accurate and concise. Why? Simply you do not need too, just be yourself and promote the qualities and qualifications you have. Also you can be inundated with potential jobs that you may not be qualified for but have to sift through anyway. The resume’ is a first step in introducing and promoting yourself, do not jeopardize a great job because you fibbed a little…you will get trapped eventually.

4. Make sure the last page of your resume’ includes an additional 5 to 10 key words; hide the viewable color by changing the text to white (so these are not printed out). Why? The search engine spiders will find these key words, but they will not show up the print copy.

5. Keep the content specific to the career you or job you are seeking. Why? The effort to sift through the jobs takes time and you do not want to utilize this time wisely. I suggest if there are crossover jobs you use separate resumes for each and set up different email accounts to keep you organized.

One final piece of data you should be aware of, only 20 % of people actually find a job via the internet. Guess how the other 80% got their job? Through personal and professional networking! Think about it, the Human Resource person may get up to a hundred resume’s a day for internet posting, would it not be better to have someone on the inside that allowed your resume to be reviewed by the hiring manager and let them consider your qualifications first! Good luck and keep up the positive attitude on your path to success.

shortcut2Success.subuilder.com

Stop! Don’t Go to Your Interview Until You Read This!

2008-05-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

You got the interview now what? I’ve got the 10 Basic Tools You
need to have prior to your Interview. I Have a short prep list of
10 *must embrace* tasks for you to complete prior to your 1st
interview.

Task #1 Prepare a portfolio of your professional career.
Highlight the examples based on key words included in the job
description. This will be a good test to see if you really do
have what they are looking for. Or you may need to rework some of
the resume’ information you have to fit the job description in
preparation for the interview. Always include a *behavioral*
example; this has become popular method of interviewing. Here is
a quick link if you’re not sure what this type of interviewing
format is. http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_behavioral.html

Task #2 Research, Research & Research the company. Gather
information, search the web, check online forums and inquire with
other professionals on what the perception in the industry is
well in advance of your 1st telephone or personal interview.

Task #3 Understand and thoroughly investigate the position you
have applied for and are interviewing to get. If there is any
doubt contact the HR professional yourself, do not rely on the
headhunter or service you may be working with.

Task #4 Create as list of questions formed while performing tasks
2 & 3. Write these question out in a manner in which you can
categorically ask and write in the response. This will serve you
in two ways, keep you organized and establishes you organization
and pep skills to the interviewer. Also, if there happens to be
multiple people interviewing any contradictions can be quickly be
brought to light in a positive manner.

Task #5 Research salary ranges for the position. Balance your
perception of self worth vs. the marketplace. Business owners or
HR professions will normally have a number in mind and if you
exceed that number without backup … your out! On the same hand,
do not sell yourself short, you regret it and it may translate to
your job performance.

Task #6 Determine the type of benefits that are important to you
and prioritize each of tam because these may be the keys to
negotiating beyond just the money. Some companies are more
flexible at the beginning with vacation, flex schedules etc.

Task #7 Revisit your questions so you can add to, subtract and
re-categorize as necessary. Yes, this takes time!

Task # 8 Practice answering questions your friends and family
come up with. Nothing is out of bounds because you do not know
what some one will ask. The more you can do this the better off
you will be at it. If you get asked a question that throws you
off, just as the interview to repeat it or you ask the question
back to them.

Task # 9 Dress professionally, men this means a suit or as a
minimum a dress sport coat an, tie and slacks. Women, a pant suit
or appropriate dress/skirt. Overdressing is preferred, it also
shows respect to the people you are interviewing with. You can
not overdress, but do limit jewelry, shine your shoes and be
conservative with the make-up and colors you choose.

Task # 10 You must be yourself, be confident and try to have fun.
Practicing will help you out tremendously in this area.

One tip is that you should also carry a business card with
contact information such as phone number that you will answer and
an email you do check.

If you are looking for some self improvement courses and
programs, one online resource I utilize is Success University.
For just a small donation, you get 14 free days to check out all
the resources, great place. Check it out here:

shortcut2success.subuilder.com

Choosing a Powerful Name for Your Company

2008-04-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

Conscientious Planning Guarantees Home Business Success

2008-04-17T03:55:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to note just how careful the average American wedding gets planned yet how little, if any, preparation may be employed when contemplating the opening of a home business. Granted, the dream of the perfect wedding starts – at least for little girls – a lot earlier than the notion of running a business might, but by and large the fact that year after year endless scores of individuals are content with jumping head first into a venture which might, or might not, provide sufficient funds for the family to live on, is at times surprising and quite often downright alarming.

Yet becoming a small business entrepreneur does not have to be a roll of the dice or blind gamble; instead, conscientious planning guarantees home business success! Of course, the first step to any successful business venture is a clear understanding of the nature of the business and the talents and skill you bring to the table. For example, if you love your canine companion and would like to do something involving dogs, you will need to specify exactly what it is that you have in mind. The mistake many small home business entrepreneurs make is spreading out too quickly rather than appealing to a niche and then gradually expanding their goods and services. Therefore, consider if you wish to engage in a business that focuses initially on dog training or dog grooming; you decision should be based on your dominant skill set. Over time, you will be able to add in the other service as well.

Once you have narrowed the focus of the activity that is to become your new business, you will need to explore the legalities involved. Will you need licenses and permits? What are the ordinances with respect to business signage? Is your home zoned for this kind of activity or will you have to rent a store front? Research the answers to these questions well in advance to throwing open your doors to ensure that you have all your ducks, or dogs, in a row. This will protect you from having to shut down your business a week after the grand opening because the city administrator sent you a “cease and desist order” due to zoning violations. This is also a good time to investigate articles of incorporation to protect your personal and family assets should there be a legal action involving your business.

Last but not least are the financial questions that require answering. How will you finance your business and especially the start up? Do you have funds saved up for this momentous occasion or are you planning on some financial shenanigans that might be questionable? Consult a financial advisor for unbiased advice and also speak with a tax accountant to ensure that you will not put your personal finances and perhaps even your home and credit rating in jeopardy. This is also the time to confer with professional organizations that will be able to put you in touch with other entrepreneurs who may be willing to give you some information on getting started as a professional courtesy.

Use Advertising To Create Your Marketing Network

2008-04-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

When creating a business you need to remember that the only way you will get customers is by letting people know you are there. You may have the best business around with the best deals out there but if you do not let everyone know that it is there then your business will not succeed.

Advertising is the one tool that can be used for success with any business, however an internet business can present some added challenges. It can be difficult to find the niche that works well when your business is a dime a dozen on the internet. Often the high end marketing does little good on the internet and can be very costly. Choosing a strategy that works well for your business as well as for the internet world we live in is important.

One way to generate sales is to use affiliate marketing techniques. On the internet you may affiliate with other companies like yourself to advertise on their sites for a percentage of the sales that are generated from your advertising on their site. It is easy to see why you as the owner of a business would want other agents to market in such a way. If you own the business you will find that having many people spend a little bit of money each month to advertise for you can gain you a great deal of advertising for less money then if you had done it yourself. This is because you are generating sales from each individual who is advertising and each affiliate does not have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to do the advertising. Resulting in more sales for less money spent equaling a greater profit for each party involved.

Most internet sites will have several affiliate businesses advertising through their site at once. Keeping track of these is easily done, and can help determine where the most effective advertising is done. When looking at this data the company can determine which advertising affiliates are most effective and can remove the ones that are not effective enough.

Testimonials can be a great way to drum up business. They are used just like word of mouth would be used only these are customers that are sharing their word of mouth in a way that more people then the ones that they immediately know can see and hear. Paid endorsements often fall short with average everyday citizens and can thus hurt the company, but satisfied customers are often not paid for their rave reviews and are therefore more believable then a celebrity would be.

When thinking about advertising you should never count out how much word of mouth advertising can bring to your company. If you go to the store and buy a product you love, you go home call your 2 best friends who love it as well and tell their two best friends you have begun a network of advertising for the product you bought. Many companies count on this and it is the best way to generate sales with little money spent on advertising.