Although your income statement might show a healthy profit, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you have no cash flow.
One of the biggest mistakes made by new home business owners is allowing clients and customers to buy now and pay later. In other words, extending credit.
Although your income statement might show a healthy profit, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you have no cash flow.
One of the biggest mistakes made by new home business owners is allowing clients and customers to buy now and pay later. In other words, extending credit.
Integrate these seven simple rules to your operating strategies and enjoy the benefits of a steadily growing cash pool.
1. Request payment prior to delivering your product or service. If your service is delivered over an extended period of time and asking for a one-time payment in advance isn't realistic, divide the payment into segments and request payment in advance of each new time frame.
For example, if you provide weekly house cleaning, consider requesting payment at the beginning of each month in advance of providing your services - or suggest three or six months payment in advance and offer a discount as an incentive. A mere 10 percent discount over a three-month period could put an extra $100 or more into your client's pocket. Many will jump at that deal.
2. Pay every bill on time to avoid late payment charges and earlier only if special payment discounts apply.
As a hair stylist working primarily with cancer patients, imagine spending one thousand dollars a month on wigs. If the supplier offers 2/10, net 30 as payment terms, you will save two percent by paying your invoice within ten days. That might only be $20, but over a year, it adds up to $240.
Take advantage of this incentive with every supplier that offers it and you could keep thousands of dollars in your business that you would otherwise have spent.
3. Deposit payments as soon as you receive them. Instead of making one or two trips to the bank each month, make them daily or weekly. Letting checks lie around increases the risk of loss. Also, go to a teller when making your deposit. Using an ATM machine removes any evidence you deposited real cash or checks. An employee or technical error or internal theft could create problems you simply don't need.
4. Use a business credit card whenever possible for travel, meals, and minor expenses. This leaves more cash in your hands and defers payment. Using a card that awards travel miles also helps you cut future travel costs. I've enjoyed cruises and free flights to business conferences thanks to air miles.
5. Create continuity sales. Build a product or service into your business that your client could use on a continual basis. For example, if you run a bookkeeping business and your clients struggle with cash flow, recommend bank reconciliation services every month.
Many clients hand a box of receipts to their bookkeeper at the end of each year and cross their fingers hoping they did well. Helping your clients understand exactly where they are each and every month is an exceptional service that many will jump at. One client at $30 a month would give you $360. Ten clients at the same amount, paid in advance would give you $3,600 cash at the start of the year.
6. Create something that allows you to do the work once, but profit from over and over again. For example, many of today's business owners are creating e-books (electronic books) and audio recordings sharing valuable tips, information and knowledge that improve the health, happiness and prosperity of others.
Selling electronic products online removes production costs and provides a steady flow of funds into your business.
7. Invest your overflow. Once you have built a comfortable overflow, consider investing some of it to make it grow even faster for you. Letting a large sum of money sit in your bank account does nothing to accelerate growth. Talk to an investment professional and find out how you can make that money work for you.
Start with these seven simple rules and get creative. Brainstorm ideas for special offers, continuity programs, passive revenue streams and investment possibilities.
Get input from professionals, mastermind members and your coach. You can do it. They can help.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
What does it mean to work virtually?
You work on your own away from others. While you might have contact with others via phone, email, and these days Skype, you are alone in your work environment. You may or may not have a set schedule depending on whether you work for others or not. You will generally have more flexibility with your work. You will generally make your decisions. You can do your own research and you will be responsible for your own work.
What is good about working virtually?
No more commute! You are steps from your office. You are in surroundings which are comfortable for you. You can set your own hours. You can make up time you might lose during part of the day if running errands, going to the doctor, and so on. You have more time available! There is a sense of getting back a part of your life and having more control over your time. You gain all this time which is always wasted at the office on small talks, meetings, and other unnecessary interruptions. I would guess most office workers waste one to two hours a day with hallway conversations, coffee breaks, listening to co-workers telling about their weekends and upcoming vacations. There are no more boring mandatory meetings to attend in person and no more wasted group luncheons and, of course, no more of those afternoon birthday cake celebrations!
What is bad about working virtually?
You can get lost working without supervision. You can get lonely especially if you require people around you all the time. You can gain much weight if you are not on an exercise program as the urge to stop by the home kitchen many times a day is too tempting. You can get easily distracted by the things which occur at home such as people at your door, TV, random calls, and just the fact that when you work at home your family assumes that you are free! It is easy to get distracted by household chores and other things sometimes you would rather do!
Who can actually handle working virtually?
Those self-starters who work for themselves, who know how to motivate themselves and love handle their own calendar. Those who love the opportunity to work 15 hours a day whenever they feel like it! Those individuals who are disciplined, who are good at managing their time, planning their day and so on will do well working at home. Those people who are creative and love working with music and alone will especially love this arrangement.
Do You Have What it Takes to Work at Home?
by Craig Nathanson
What does it mean to work virtually?
You work on your own away from others. While you might have contact with others via phone, email, and these days Skype, you are alone in your work environment. You may or may not have a set schedule depending on whether you work for others or not. You will generally have more flexibility with your work. You will generally make your decisions. You can do your own research and you will be responsible for your own work.
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What is good about working virtually?
No more commute! You are steps from your office. You are in surroundings which are comfortable for you. You can set your own hours. You can make up time you might lose during part of the day if running errands, going to the doctor, and so on. You have more time available! There is a sense of getting back a part of your life and having more control over your time. You gain all this time which is always wasted at the office on small talks, meetings, and other unnecessary interruptions. I would guess most office workers waste one to two hours a day with hallway conversations, coffee breaks, listening to co-workers telling about their weekends and upcoming vacations. There are no more boring mandatory meetings to attend in person and no more wasted group luncheons and, of course, no more of those afternoon birthday cake celebrations!
What is bad about working virtually?
You can get lost working without supervision. You can get lonely especially if you require people around you all the time. You can gain much weight if you are not on an exercise program as the urge to stop by the home kitchen many times a day is too tempting. You can get easily distracted by the things which occur at home such as people at your door, TV, random calls, and just the fact that when you work at home your family assumes that you are free! It is easy to get distracted by household chores and other things sometimes you would rather do!
Who can actually handle working virtually?
Those self-starters who work for themselves, who know how to motivate themselves and love handle their own calendar. Those who love the opportunity to work 15 hours a day whenever they feel like it! Those individuals who are disciplined, who are good at managing their time, planning their day and so on will do well working at home. Those people who are creative and love working with music and alone will especially love this arrangement.
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What individuals can’t work virtually?
Those people who want to be in control of others will not like this arrangement. Those outgoing types who have a high need to be in constant contact with others in a fast paced environment will find working at home challenging. I would not recommend working at home for people who have a high need for praise and a hello from the boss, unless the cat or dog counts.
The best roles for working virtually
That should be creative roles for sure. Writing, editing, developing software, teaching, designing, reviewing, and making calls are all good roles for working at home.
Do you qualify?
First, as I always like to advise, is map out your own vision of your perfect vocational day, a day, which you could repeat as a pattern for the rest of your life. Where would you place yourself in this perfect day? Working at home or not? Working alone or with others? Or a combination of these arrangements would work best for you? Do you seek lots of quiet time alone or lots of collaboration and interruptions? Your life will start to turn out JUST the way you want once you start to plan for it and move in the direction which works best for you. Figuring out if working at home is right for you is a good place to start!
What is good about working virtually?
No more commute! You are steps from your office. You are in surroundings which are comfortable for you. You can set your own hours. You can make up time you might lose during part of the day if running errands, going to the doctor, and so on. You have more time available! There is a sense of getting back a part of your life and having more control over your time. You gain all this time which is always wasted at the office on small talks, meetings, and other unnecessary interruptions. I would guess most office workers waste one to two hours a day with hallway conversations, coffee breaks, listening to co-workers telling about their weekends and upcoming vacations. There are no more boring mandatory meetings to attend in person and no more wasted group luncheons and, of course, no more of those afternoon birthday cake celebrations!
What is bad about working virtually?
You can get lost working without supervision. You can get lonely especially if you require people around you all the time. You can gain much weight if you are not on an exercise program as the urge to stop by the home kitchen many times a day is too tempting. You can get easily distracted by the things which occur at home such as people at your door, TV, random calls, and just the fact that when you work at home your family assumes that you are free! It is easy to get distracted by household chores and other things sometimes you would rather do!
Who can actually handle working virtually?
Those self-starters who work for themselves, who know how to motivate themselves and love handle their own calendar. Those who love the opportunity to work 15 hours a day whenever they feel like it! Those individuals who are disciplined, who are good at managing their time, planning their day and so on will do well working at home. Those people who are creative and love working with music and alone will especially love this arrangement.
Do You Have What it Takes to Work at Home?
by Craig Nathanson
What does it mean to work virtually?
You work on your own away from others. While you might have contact with others via phone, email, and these days Skype, you are alone in your work environment. You may or may not have a set schedule depending on whether you work for others or not. You will generally have more flexibility with your work. You will generally make your decisions. You can do your own research and you will be responsible for your own work.
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www.sbtv.com
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Any type of Trade License, Complete Business Solution,
www.setbusiness.org
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What is good about working virtually?
No more commute! You are steps from your office. You are in surroundings which are comfortable for you. You can set your own hours. You can make up time you might lose during part of the day if running errands, going to the doctor, and so on. You have more time available! There is a sense of getting back a part of your life and having more control over your time. You gain all this time which is always wasted at the office on small talks, meetings, and other unnecessary interruptions. I would guess most office workers waste one to two hours a day with hallway conversations, coffee breaks, listening to co-workers telling about their weekends and upcoming vacations. There are no more boring mandatory meetings to attend in person and no more wasted group luncheons and, of course, no more of those afternoon birthday cake celebrations!
What is bad about working virtually?
You can get lost working without supervision. You can get lonely especially if you require people around you all the time. You can gain much weight if you are not on an exercise program as the urge to stop by the home kitchen many times a day is too tempting. You can get easily distracted by the things which occur at home such as people at your door, TV, random calls, and just the fact that when you work at home your family assumes that you are free! It is easy to get distracted by household chores and other things sometimes you would rather do!
Who can actually handle working virtually?
Those self-starters who work for themselves, who know how to motivate themselves and love handle their own calendar. Those who love the opportunity to work 15 hours a day whenever they feel like it! Those individuals who are disciplined, who are good at managing their time, planning their day and so on will do well working at home. Those people who are creative and love working with music and alone will especially love this arrangement.
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Business Trade Directory
Add Your Business/Products Free Find Buyers and Suppliers Worldwide
www.WorkKingdom.com
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www.brscope.com
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Wholesale Price from Manufacturers Join Us Today & Inquiry Directly!
Made-in-China.com
What individuals can’t work virtually?
Those people who want to be in control of others will not like this arrangement. Those outgoing types who have a high need to be in constant contact with others in a fast paced environment will find working at home challenging. I would not recommend working at home for people who have a high need for praise and a hello from the boss, unless the cat or dog counts.
The best roles for working virtually
That should be creative roles for sure. Writing, editing, developing software, teaching, designing, reviewing, and making calls are all good roles for working at home.
Do you qualify?
First, as I always like to advise, is map out your own vision of your perfect vocational day, a day, which you could repeat as a pattern for the rest of your life. Where would you place yourself in this perfect day? Working at home or not? Working alone or with others? Or a combination of these arrangements would work best for you? Do you seek lots of quiet time alone or lots of collaboration and interruptions? Your life will start to turn out JUST the way you want once you start to plan for it and move in the direction which works best for you. Figuring out if working at home is right for you is a good place to start!
Telecommuting: Five Ways to Find Your Next Job
The trend of telecommuting is on the rise as employers begin to see the savings involved in both gas and office space. With gas prices at an all-time high, many Americans are looking for ways to do less driving and more companies than ever before are offering telecommuting options to their current employees and searching for at-home employees to fill open positions. The question for the job seeker is now how to find these opportunities. Below are five methods you can use to find a telecommuting position.
First, check your local newspaper. When I began my search for an at-home career, I found my first employer through the Classified Ads section of our hometown paper. I was wary at first, but after thoroughly researching the company through means such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), visiting the corporate office and meeting some of their current employees I found the company to be legitimate.
Second, search online using websites such as Monster.com and Dice.com. However, listings found online must be researched carefully to avoid the scams that abound on the Internet. There are also websites that will you allow to do job research in your own community. One such website is Craigslist.com on which you can choose a city and then refine your search with keywords such as "telecommute."
Posting your resume on websites such as Hotjobs.com is a third way to locate at work-at-home job. Putting your resume online can bring employers to you, depending on your skills and qualifications. Another bonus of an online resume is that you can easily direct prospective employers to view it. It also makes life a bit simpler when applying for jobs, because you can attach your online resume instead of typing out your job history, qualifications, and so on, each time you apply for a job.
When posting your resume on the web, be sure to create an accurate and impressive representation of your abilities. You don't want to be wordy when describing past job experience, but you do want to be specific about the roles you've held as well as your accomplishments.
A fourth option when looking for at-home employment is to open a phone book and call businesses in your area. For example, if you're interested in doing administrative work, you might contact churches and small businesses in your area to see if they are looking for office help. Even if they are not currently seeking help, they may know of another business owner who is.
Along those same lines, the fifth way to become a telecommuter is to create your own opportunity. For example, instead of finding a company that will hire you as an administrative assistant from home, consider starting your own business as a Virtual Assistant. You can offer your services to many companies, which can both increase your income potential and allow you the flexibility of deciding which jobs you'd like to accept.
You can also create your own telecommuting position by talking with your current employer about work-at-home possibilities. More and more companies are finding that at-home employees are just as productive as those in the office, if not more. Companies also benefit financially by lessening office space and avoiding the costs of many office supplies. Many companies who are not ready to hire at-home workers will allow their current employees to work one or two days from a home office, so be sure to discuss this option.
The telecommuting field has become highly competitive as more and more people find that working from home is a possibility. Searching for a telecommuting position can be daunting, but by looking in strategic places such as online and in your local newspaper, you'll have a much better chance. No matter, how you find your telecommuting position, make sure it's something you would enjoy doing and also something you can make money at.
First, check your local newspaper. When I began my search for an at-home career, I found my first employer through the Classified Ads section of our hometown paper. I was wary at first, but after thoroughly researching the company through means such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), visiting the corporate office and meeting some of their current employees I found the company to be legitimate.
Second, search online using websites such as Monster.com and Dice.com. However, listings found online must be researched carefully to avoid the scams that abound on the Internet. There are also websites that will you allow to do job research in your own community. One such website is Craigslist.com on which you can choose a city and then refine your search with keywords such as "telecommute."
Posting your resume on websites such as Hotjobs.com is a third way to locate at work-at-home job. Putting your resume online can bring employers to you, depending on your skills and qualifications. Another bonus of an online resume is that you can easily direct prospective employers to view it. It also makes life a bit simpler when applying for jobs, because you can attach your online resume instead of typing out your job history, qualifications, and so on, each time you apply for a job.
When posting your resume on the web, be sure to create an accurate and impressive representation of your abilities. You don't want to be wordy when describing past job experience, but you do want to be specific about the roles you've held as well as your accomplishments.
A fourth option when looking for at-home employment is to open a phone book and call businesses in your area. For example, if you're interested in doing administrative work, you might contact churches and small businesses in your area to see if they are looking for office help. Even if they are not currently seeking help, they may know of another business owner who is.
Along those same lines, the fifth way to become a telecommuter is to create your own opportunity. For example, instead of finding a company that will hire you as an administrative assistant from home, consider starting your own business as a Virtual Assistant. You can offer your services to many companies, which can both increase your income potential and allow you the flexibility of deciding which jobs you'd like to accept.
You can also create your own telecommuting position by talking with your current employer about work-at-home possibilities. More and more companies are finding that at-home employees are just as productive as those in the office, if not more. Companies also benefit financially by lessening office space and avoiding the costs of many office supplies. Many companies who are not ready to hire at-home workers will allow their current employees to work one or two days from a home office, so be sure to discuss this option.
The telecommuting field has become highly competitive as more and more people find that working from home is a possibility. Searching for a telecommuting position can be daunting, but by looking in strategic places such as online and in your local newspaper, you'll have a much better chance. No matter, how you find your telecommuting position, make sure it's something you would enjoy doing and also something you can make money at.
Summertime Challenges For Work-at Home Moms
Summertime Challenges For Work-at Home Moms Solutions for Juggling Work and Kids During the Summer
Summertime presents a challenge each year for home-based working moms around the country. Continuing to run one’s business while keeping the kids entertained is a task too daunting for almost any super mom. Kids need attention. They want to have fun. They want to play, go to the park, have friends over, go swimming and so on. Meanwhile, clients are calling, the email box is filling up, and those day-to-day tasks are stacking up by the minute.
It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. So what’s a home-based working mom to do? Don’t despair. We have some great tips and advice from real home-based working moms to make your summer less stressful and more enjoyable.
Karen Snyder of Pipersville, PA, suggests:
* Have a teen come watch the kids while you work. Since teens are closer in age to the kids, they usually have a blast playing, and you can have some dedicated work time.
* Try to keep a regular "work" schedule, so that the kids know which days are fun days and which days are mom's workdays.
Eileen Richardson of Del Mar, CA (www.balancedbeing.com) advises:
* Set up various summer programs. The kids can choose which programs they want
* depending on affordability and location. Try to spread the sessions out evenly throughout the summer. Those weeks plan the bulk of your work. Plan workdays while the kids, depending on their age, arrange to have friend
over. The other days plan day trips and do not count on working. After all, being a Mom is the most important job.
Fran Fuerst of Brooklyn, NY suggests:
* Look for half-day activities such as swim lessons, tennis lessons or day
* camps. Send your kids on short family vacations to visit family who would love to
* spend time with them. Start a beach or play club with a friend and share watching the kids
while you bring along the laptop.
Dana Sacco of Ashburn, VA (www.outofthewoodwork.com) secret weapons are:
* Try to have everything planned out and let your current customers know if you
* are going to be "out of the office" (i.e. having a play day or going on vacation). Get a used laptop to take on vacations or outings.
* Work less during the day and more at night.
* Use an autoresponder to let customers know when you’ll be back in the office.
* Use a cell phone as your business line. But remember turn it off occasionally
when you have other important stuff to do (such as watch your three-year-old squish ants and bring them to you).
Sandra Hood of Newport News, VA (www.shaklee.net/sandra_hood) offers:
* Sign your kids up for recreational day camp. You can work three or four days
* on your business, then take one or two days to dedicate quality time to them. Look for enrichment programs such as museums and music camps.
* Set goals for your business, family and yourself. Balance is important. It doesn't do any good to be working at home if your kids get neglected and vice
versa. Set up your activities weekly or daily and prioritize.
Tricia Russell of Pfafftown, NC, (www.mymk.com/trussell1) suggests:
* Keep a couple of bags of simple crafts handy that the kids can do
* themselves. The bags should have everything inside they need to do the craft. Trade watching kids with a neighbor one or two mornings a week. Then each mom
* gets one full morning without the kids and it doesn't cost anything. Set aside kid time and work time so that you are able to focus on the kids
when you are together and focus on work when it's work time.
Mary Tobin of Wilmington, NC (www.storklady.com) says:
* Transfer your business line to your cell phone. Work while sitting on the
* beach with your family. Let the business follow you rather than sitting around waiting for calls.
Lesley Spencer, founder of the national association of Home-Based Working Moms (www.HBWM.com) of Austin, TX offers additional tips:
* Attend story time at the local library and trade weeks with other Home-Based Working Moms so that you can spend that time catching up on work
* Organize a babysitting co-op with other Home-Based Working Moms to trade
* babysitting with. Outsource some of your work to other HBWMs and take time to enjoy your
* children during the summer. Get your kids involved. Allow them to stuff and lick envelopes, open mail or
* apply labels. Set up a desk next to yours with their office supplies (crayons, paper, tape, kid scissors and an old phone). Get a used computer for your kids. Learning programs are great fun and they
* teach them while they play. Check out books at the library weekly. Reading or just looking at books helps your children’s mind and imagination grow. Also look for activity and craft
books to give your children other things to do with or without your help.
The key is balance and planning. Balance your work and your family by planning dedicated time to each. The reason many moms choose to work at home is for the freedom and flexibility it allows. Use that flexibility to your advantage. Look at it as a way to enjoy each stage and each day with your children. The summer will be over before we know it and those memories will be worth making.
Summertime presents a challenge each year for home-based working moms around the country. Continuing to run one’s business while keeping the kids entertained is a task too daunting for almost any super mom. Kids need attention. They want to have fun. They want to play, go to the park, have friends over, go swimming and so on. Meanwhile, clients are calling, the email box is filling up, and those day-to-day tasks are stacking up by the minute.
It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. So what’s a home-based working mom to do? Don’t despair. We have some great tips and advice from real home-based working moms to make your summer less stressful and more enjoyable.
Karen Snyder of Pipersville, PA, suggests:
* Have a teen come watch the kids while you work. Since teens are closer in age to the kids, they usually have a blast playing, and you can have some dedicated work time.
* Try to keep a regular "work" schedule, so that the kids know which days are fun days and which days are mom's workdays.
Eileen Richardson of Del Mar, CA (www.balancedbeing.com) advises:
* Set up various summer programs. The kids can choose which programs they want
* depending on affordability and location. Try to spread the sessions out evenly throughout the summer. Those weeks plan the bulk of your work. Plan workdays while the kids, depending on their age, arrange to have friend
over. The other days plan day trips and do not count on working. After all, being a Mom is the most important job.
Fran Fuerst of Brooklyn, NY suggests:
* Look for half-day activities such as swim lessons, tennis lessons or day
* camps. Send your kids on short family vacations to visit family who would love to
* spend time with them. Start a beach or play club with a friend and share watching the kids
while you bring along the laptop.
Dana Sacco of Ashburn, VA (www.outofthewoodwork.com) secret weapons are:
* Try to have everything planned out and let your current customers know if you
* are going to be "out of the office" (i.e. having a play day or going on vacation). Get a used laptop to take on vacations or outings.
* Work less during the day and more at night.
* Use an autoresponder to let customers know when you’ll be back in the office.
* Use a cell phone as your business line. But remember turn it off occasionally
when you have other important stuff to do (such as watch your three-year-old squish ants and bring them to you).
Sandra Hood of Newport News, VA (www.shaklee.net/sandra_hood) offers:
* Sign your kids up for recreational day camp. You can work three or four days
* on your business, then take one or two days to dedicate quality time to them. Look for enrichment programs such as museums and music camps.
* Set goals for your business, family and yourself. Balance is important. It doesn't do any good to be working at home if your kids get neglected and vice
versa. Set up your activities weekly or daily and prioritize.
Tricia Russell of Pfafftown, NC, (www.mymk.com/trussell1) suggests:
* Keep a couple of bags of simple crafts handy that the kids can do
* themselves. The bags should have everything inside they need to do the craft. Trade watching kids with a neighbor one or two mornings a week. Then each mom
* gets one full morning without the kids and it doesn't cost anything. Set aside kid time and work time so that you are able to focus on the kids
when you are together and focus on work when it's work time.
Mary Tobin of Wilmington, NC (www.storklady.com) says:
* Transfer your business line to your cell phone. Work while sitting on the
* beach with your family. Let the business follow you rather than sitting around waiting for calls.
Lesley Spencer, founder of the national association of Home-Based Working Moms (www.HBWM.com) of Austin, TX offers additional tips:
* Attend story time at the local library and trade weeks with other Home-Based Working Moms so that you can spend that time catching up on work
* Organize a babysitting co-op with other Home-Based Working Moms to trade
* babysitting with. Outsource some of your work to other HBWMs and take time to enjoy your
* children during the summer. Get your kids involved. Allow them to stuff and lick envelopes, open mail or
* apply labels. Set up a desk next to yours with their office supplies (crayons, paper, tape, kid scissors and an old phone). Get a used computer for your kids. Learning programs are great fun and they
* teach them while they play. Check out books at the library weekly. Reading or just looking at books helps your children’s mind and imagination grow. Also look for activity and craft
books to give your children other things to do with or without your help.
The key is balance and planning. Balance your work and your family by planning dedicated time to each. The reason many moms choose to work at home is for the freedom and flexibility it allows. Use that flexibility to your advantage. Look at it as a way to enjoy each stage and each day with your children. The summer will be over before we know it and those memories will be worth making.
Ready For Your Business Check-Up?
Ready For Your Business Check-Up?
by Laurie Hayes
In order to build and grow your home-based business, you need to give it regular inspections, kind of like your doctor gives your body a regular check-up or your mechanic runs a computer diagnostic of your car's engine from time to time.
When you're building your home-based business, you're "it". You're the mind, the pulse, the liver, the filtering system, the reproductive system and everything else in between. It's impossible to be objective and see the bigger picture when you're fully involved in all of its intricate workings.
The best way to make sure your business gets a healthy check-up is to put it under a microscope and examine it with a fresh set of eyes at least every three months.
You need to mentally extract yourself from your business and examine it from an outsiders point of view and to be even more thorough, get other sets of eyes to assist.
To begin, mentally put your business in a box. Hold that box in your hands and place it under a powerful microscope.
Next, sit in a comfortable chair with a notepad and pen by your side. Then, lean forward, look through the magnified lenses and start examining the individual workings of the organism in front of you.
What should you be looking for? Start with the fundamentals:
1. How many hours are you working every week?
2. How much work is left undone at the end of each day?
3. What tasks never seem to get done no matter how much you intend to get to them?
4. Is anything being shared, delegated or outsourced, or are you running the whole show?
5. How much time each week are you performing non-income generating tasks like designing posters, updating your web site, fixing your own equipment?
6. Are you working with your ideal clients or are you attracting people who want things given to them, at a discount or who want to nitpick over every detail?
7. What tasks drain you of energy?
8. Which customers drain you of energy?
9. What expenses take up the bulk of your cash flow?
10. How many projects are you running at once? Do you have several under way, but none complete?
11. Who are you leaning on for support, guidance and helpful resources?
12. Who helps you with brainstorming and trouble-shooting?
13. Who's there to hold a mirror to you, hold you accountable and be willing to tell you the truth when you need to hear it?
14. What's your greatest potential revenue source and what are you doing to ensure you focus the majority of your time and attention on that source?
15. What activities are proven time wasters, but you continue to do them anyway?
Again, this is just a preliminary check list. Get a trusted colleague or members of your mastermind group to help you create a more detailed list that's specific to your business.
If you work through your checklist with truthful eyes and an open mind, you'll discover weaknesses, inconsistencies and room for improvement.
And although this exercise might seem discouraging at first, it's necessary to help you stop doing the things that are hindering progress.
Examine your business thoroughly every three months, identify the limitations and turn them around. This practice will move you to where you want to be faster and easier. As a mentor of mine once said, "Discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs tons." Do what you have to do now and you'll get to where you want to go.
Commit to a regular check-up on the health of your business, be willing to change your habits and way of thinking and operating, and your business will grow in equal proportion to your personal growth and accumulated wisdom.
by Laurie Hayes
In order to build and grow your home-based business, you need to give it regular inspections, kind of like your doctor gives your body a regular check-up or your mechanic runs a computer diagnostic of your car's engine from time to time.
When you're building your home-based business, you're "it". You're the mind, the pulse, the liver, the filtering system, the reproductive system and everything else in between. It's impossible to be objective and see the bigger picture when you're fully involved in all of its intricate workings.
The best way to make sure your business gets a healthy check-up is to put it under a microscope and examine it with a fresh set of eyes at least every three months.
You need to mentally extract yourself from your business and examine it from an outsiders point of view and to be even more thorough, get other sets of eyes to assist.
To begin, mentally put your business in a box. Hold that box in your hands and place it under a powerful microscope.
Next, sit in a comfortable chair with a notepad and pen by your side. Then, lean forward, look through the magnified lenses and start examining the individual workings of the organism in front of you.
What should you be looking for? Start with the fundamentals:
1. How many hours are you working every week?
2. How much work is left undone at the end of each day?
3. What tasks never seem to get done no matter how much you intend to get to them?
4. Is anything being shared, delegated or outsourced, or are you running the whole show?
5. How much time each week are you performing non-income generating tasks like designing posters, updating your web site, fixing your own equipment?
6. Are you working with your ideal clients or are you attracting people who want things given to them, at a discount or who want to nitpick over every detail?
7. What tasks drain you of energy?
8. Which customers drain you of energy?
9. What expenses take up the bulk of your cash flow?
10. How many projects are you running at once? Do you have several under way, but none complete?
11. Who are you leaning on for support, guidance and helpful resources?
12. Who helps you with brainstorming and trouble-shooting?
13. Who's there to hold a mirror to you, hold you accountable and be willing to tell you the truth when you need to hear it?
14. What's your greatest potential revenue source and what are you doing to ensure you focus the majority of your time and attention on that source?
15. What activities are proven time wasters, but you continue to do them anyway?
Again, this is just a preliminary check list. Get a trusted colleague or members of your mastermind group to help you create a more detailed list that's specific to your business.
If you work through your checklist with truthful eyes and an open mind, you'll discover weaknesses, inconsistencies and room for improvement.
And although this exercise might seem discouraging at first, it's necessary to help you stop doing the things that are hindering progress.
Examine your business thoroughly every three months, identify the limitations and turn them around. This practice will move you to where you want to be faster and easier. As a mentor of mine once said, "Discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs tons." Do what you have to do now and you'll get to where you want to go.
Commit to a regular check-up on the health of your business, be willing to change your habits and way of thinking and operating, and your business will grow in equal proportion to your personal growth and accumulated wisdom.
How to Start a Cause-Marketing Campaign
Serving charitable causes in your community is not only good for your spirit, it can also become a deciding factor when customers choose where to spend their dollars. With consumers demanding higher levels of social responsibility from businesses, it's never been more important to focus your corporate giving into a cause-marketing campaign that motivates your target customer base. And when you create an ongoing strategy for giving, everyone wins -- the charitable cause you support, your customers and, ultimately, your business.
But the first step is to find the right cause-marketing strategy. Here are four ways you can share your corporate altruism with your customers.
1. Designate a product and donate a portion of its sales to charity. Also known as passive customer participation, helping a nonprofit this way is possibly the easiest and fastest way to jump into cause-marketing. It's essential to choose an organization your target audience will value and want to support. It can be a national nonprofit -- such as one that funds cancer research or cleans up the environment -- or a local charity.
It can be particularly advantageous to choose a local nonprofit to benefit from your cause-marketing efforts. Customers in your community are likely to feel more emotionally connected to a charity closer to home, which can result in higher sales.
2. Create and sell a symbolic item. This strategy asks the customer to take an active role in the giving process, and requires a more aggressive public relations and advertising campaign. It involves creating and marketing an item that allows customers to physically demonstrate their support for a designated cause. This can be an item they wear or carry, such as a tote bag, T-shirt or bracelet emblazoned with a supportive and inspiring message.
3. Sponsor a special event. If you're looking for a high profile way to support a cause, then creating a fundraising event could be the best strategy. Traditional events include everything from 10K runs and bike-a-thons to banquets. Keep in mind, the more creative you are with these events, the better your results are likely to be. For example, I recently co-produced and hosted an American Idol-style fashion show featuring local celebrity male "models" who created their own outfits and competed to earn audience votes. The sold-out luncheon attracted 300 attendees who voted for their favorite men and donated a significant amount of money. All proceeds benefitted a local homeless shelter for women and children, and my firm was spotlighted as an organizer.
4. Provide grassroots help. One tried-and-true strategy for lower-profile corporate giving is to donate staff time to make a difference in your community at the grassroots level. It's smart to align your giving with your company's primary business. This will not only aid the nonprofit you choose, but also help your customers remember what your company stands for. For example, each store in the Whole Foods Market chain donates food to area food banks and shelters and holds community giving days during which 5 percent of net sales are donated to a local nonprofit.
Finally, your cause-marketing campaign will require a dedicated public-relations effort to get the word out. This might include online and traditional media relations and the addition of a section on your website that highlights your corporate giving with links for tweeting and "liking” on Facebook.
When you let your customers know your business is caring and socially responsible, you serve your community and your company at the same time.
But the first step is to find the right cause-marketing strategy. Here are four ways you can share your corporate altruism with your customers.
1. Designate a product and donate a portion of its sales to charity. Also known as passive customer participation, helping a nonprofit this way is possibly the easiest and fastest way to jump into cause-marketing. It's essential to choose an organization your target audience will value and want to support. It can be a national nonprofit -- such as one that funds cancer research or cleans up the environment -- or a local charity.
It can be particularly advantageous to choose a local nonprofit to benefit from your cause-marketing efforts. Customers in your community are likely to feel more emotionally connected to a charity closer to home, which can result in higher sales.
2. Create and sell a symbolic item. This strategy asks the customer to take an active role in the giving process, and requires a more aggressive public relations and advertising campaign. It involves creating and marketing an item that allows customers to physically demonstrate their support for a designated cause. This can be an item they wear or carry, such as a tote bag, T-shirt or bracelet emblazoned with a supportive and inspiring message.
3. Sponsor a special event. If you're looking for a high profile way to support a cause, then creating a fundraising event could be the best strategy. Traditional events include everything from 10K runs and bike-a-thons to banquets. Keep in mind, the more creative you are with these events, the better your results are likely to be. For example, I recently co-produced and hosted an American Idol-style fashion show featuring local celebrity male "models" who created their own outfits and competed to earn audience votes. The sold-out luncheon attracted 300 attendees who voted for their favorite men and donated a significant amount of money. All proceeds benefitted a local homeless shelter for women and children, and my firm was spotlighted as an organizer.
4. Provide grassroots help. One tried-and-true strategy for lower-profile corporate giving is to donate staff time to make a difference in your community at the grassroots level. It's smart to align your giving with your company's primary business. This will not only aid the nonprofit you choose, but also help your customers remember what your company stands for. For example, each store in the Whole Foods Market chain donates food to area food banks and shelters and holds community giving days during which 5 percent of net sales are donated to a local nonprofit.
Finally, your cause-marketing campaign will require a dedicated public-relations effort to get the word out. This might include online and traditional media relations and the addition of a section on your website that highlights your corporate giving with links for tweeting and "liking” on Facebook.
When you let your customers know your business is caring and socially responsible, you serve your community and your company at the same time.
Hazard Material Safety Prevents Fires in Homes and Workplaces
Like a good number of small business people, I work at home.
I own a great, old, historic home in South Philadelphia. I have a large basement where I have my office and library in one walled section, a storage area in another walled area, and a tool room in a third walled area.
As my library is considerable (I’ve been collecting books since I was a preteen), I have to be more concerned about fire than most people. I’m very careful about storing flammables and combustibles in my basement, as my books would fuel a very big fire.
Unlike professional office buildings and industrial parks, a small businessperson’s home office is not regularly inspected for fire and safety. As a young sailor I was trained by the U.S. Navy in safety, fire fighting and fire prevention. Later as a Defense Department civilian employee, I coordinated security and safety programs for a field command, so I’m able to maintain a safe environment in my home, and in my home office.
But for those who don’t have experience or formal training, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) offers some sound advice on how to prevent fires in your home. This advice applies to the workplace as well.
USFA, a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, tells us that residential hazardous materials (hazmat) safety is vital in preventing fires in and around your home.
Hazmat safety involves the proper handling and storage of combustibles and flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, propane, oil, aerosols, certain household cleaning products and painting supplies.
According to the USFA, there are about a half million different products containing chemicals available for use in homes, and the average household contains between three and ten gallons of materials classified as hazardous.
The USFA warns that every home can be a warehouse of hazardous materials. Many homes contain cleansers, bleach, oil, paints, thinners, batteries, medicines and pesticides. All of these materials are classified as hazardous.
The USFA lists four major classifications of hazardous materials:
Corrosive materials are capable of dissolving or wearing away gradually. A few common corrosives include metal cleaners, drain cleaners, spot rust removers and oven cleaners.
Ignitable materials pose a fire hazard during routine handling. Items in the home that are ignitable include gasoline (or gas/oil mixture) kerosene, diesel fuel, propane tanks, home heating oil, lighter fluid, ammunition, matches, and any items containing alcohol.
Reactive materials are those that during routine use tend to react spontaneously with air and water. They are unstable to shock or heat and can generate toxic gases or explode.
Toxic materials are usually identified with a skull and crossbones. Toxic materials release poisons in sufficient enough quantities to pose a risk to humans.
To ensure that home hazardous material are stored and disposed of properly, follow the USFA tips listed below:
* To reduce the amount of hazardous materials in storage, buy only the amount that you need for the job at hand.
* Store hazardous materials in their original containers. If the label is peeling off, reattach it with transparent tape.
* Use proper storage containers for flammables and combustibles: buy products with safety closures whenever possible.
* Store flammable products, such as gasoline, kerosene, propane gas, and paint thinner in containers away from the house.
* Never store flammable products in direct sunlight or near an open flame.
* Because of flammability, store liquid pesticides containing a petroleum-based carrier or solvent in a garage or in a locked cabinet.
* Inspect storage areas regularly and be on the lookout for leaky containers, poor ventilation, and the smell of fumes.
* Store hazardous materials out of reach of children and pets.
* Aerosol containers are pressurized products that sometimes contain flammable or poisonous chemicals. If you dispose of these pressurized containers in the trash, they can be punctured and explode. They can also start a fire. A can is empty and safe for disposal if you no longer hear air being released from the container.
* If a household cleaner contains a solvent, do not dump it down the drain or put it in the trash. It contains solvents if the label includes the words flammable, combustible, caution, warning, and danger or contains petroleum distillates or aromatic hydrocarbons.
* Don’t store chemicals near food.
* The USFA further recommends that everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing fire escape plan.
I’ve witnessed the horror and destruction of industrial and residential fires. Fire takes a great financial as well as a great human toll, but by maintaining proper care of your hazardous materials you can prevent fire in your home and your workplace.
I own a great, old, historic home in South Philadelphia. I have a large basement where I have my office and library in one walled section, a storage area in another walled area, and a tool room in a third walled area.
As my library is considerable (I’ve been collecting books since I was a preteen), I have to be more concerned about fire than most people. I’m very careful about storing flammables and combustibles in my basement, as my books would fuel a very big fire.
Unlike professional office buildings and industrial parks, a small businessperson’s home office is not regularly inspected for fire and safety. As a young sailor I was trained by the U.S. Navy in safety, fire fighting and fire prevention. Later as a Defense Department civilian employee, I coordinated security and safety programs for a field command, so I’m able to maintain a safe environment in my home, and in my home office.
But for those who don’t have experience or formal training, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) offers some sound advice on how to prevent fires in your home. This advice applies to the workplace as well.
USFA, a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, tells us that residential hazardous materials (hazmat) safety is vital in preventing fires in and around your home.
Hazmat safety involves the proper handling and storage of combustibles and flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, propane, oil, aerosols, certain household cleaning products and painting supplies.
According to the USFA, there are about a half million different products containing chemicals available for use in homes, and the average household contains between three and ten gallons of materials classified as hazardous.
The USFA warns that every home can be a warehouse of hazardous materials. Many homes contain cleansers, bleach, oil, paints, thinners, batteries, medicines and pesticides. All of these materials are classified as hazardous.
The USFA lists four major classifications of hazardous materials:
Corrosive materials are capable of dissolving or wearing away gradually. A few common corrosives include metal cleaners, drain cleaners, spot rust removers and oven cleaners.
Ignitable materials pose a fire hazard during routine handling. Items in the home that are ignitable include gasoline (or gas/oil mixture) kerosene, diesel fuel, propane tanks, home heating oil, lighter fluid, ammunition, matches, and any items containing alcohol.
Reactive materials are those that during routine use tend to react spontaneously with air and water. They are unstable to shock or heat and can generate toxic gases or explode.
Toxic materials are usually identified with a skull and crossbones. Toxic materials release poisons in sufficient enough quantities to pose a risk to humans.
To ensure that home hazardous material are stored and disposed of properly, follow the USFA tips listed below:
* To reduce the amount of hazardous materials in storage, buy only the amount that you need for the job at hand.
* Store hazardous materials in their original containers. If the label is peeling off, reattach it with transparent tape.
* Use proper storage containers for flammables and combustibles: buy products with safety closures whenever possible.
* Store flammable products, such as gasoline, kerosene, propane gas, and paint thinner in containers away from the house.
* Never store flammable products in direct sunlight or near an open flame.
* Because of flammability, store liquid pesticides containing a petroleum-based carrier or solvent in a garage or in a locked cabinet.
* Inspect storage areas regularly and be on the lookout for leaky containers, poor ventilation, and the smell of fumes.
* Store hazardous materials out of reach of children and pets.
* Aerosol containers are pressurized products that sometimes contain flammable or poisonous chemicals. If you dispose of these pressurized containers in the trash, they can be punctured and explode. They can also start a fire. A can is empty and safe for disposal if you no longer hear air being released from the container.
* If a household cleaner contains a solvent, do not dump it down the drain or put it in the trash. It contains solvents if the label includes the words flammable, combustible, caution, warning, and danger or contains petroleum distillates or aromatic hydrocarbons.
* Don’t store chemicals near food.
* The USFA further recommends that everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing fire escape plan.
I’ve witnessed the horror and destruction of industrial and residential fires. Fire takes a great financial as well as a great human toll, but by maintaining proper care of your hazardous materials you can prevent fire in your home and your workplace.
Four Trends Startups Need to Know Now
Now that the New Year is well under way, I'm more convinced that there is no better time than now to start a new business.
For instance, if we look at business cycles as seasons, we can see that we are emerging from a deep "economic winter" and are headed into an "economic spring." Almost every market and industry has been cleared of the inefficient or overleveraged businesses, opening up new opportunities that didn't exist just a few years ago. As a result, both human capital and business tools are abundant and inexpensive.
Here are four ways you can leverage the current trends in the marketplace to help ensure a strong launch and thriving future for your startup.
1. Tap the international marketplace. As the U.S. has struggled, countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, as well as others in the Asian Pacific region, have been enjoying a long "economic spring" and "economic summer." Wouldn't it be great to tap into those booming markets? You can, and the Internet is your doorway.
But you have to plan and prepare for it. From taking orders, to managing different currencies to drop-ship deliveries, you'll need to make sure that you have the capability to handle international business. Begin examining web hosting options that will enable your site to process international transactions.
You also want to be sure to have enough cash and flexibility to handle any technical issues that will inevitably arise from having an e-commerce website.
2. Accept the new era of "creative credit." In recent years, the stagnant credit market has become one of biggest obstacles for small businesses, especially startups. The lack of available financing has forced entrepreneurs to become more creative in the ways in which they acquire startup money. This has included negotiating better terms with vendors, learning to fast-track cashflow and looking for ways to take advantage of the various types of purchase order or vendor financing.
Business owners this year will have to get used to this atmosphere of creative financing and be assertive in finding mutually beneficial ways to work with both suppliers and customers. Pre-paid contracts and flexible terms have a place in your credit and cash-flow arsenal depending on your company, your category and the relationships you may (or may not have) with your suppliers and customers.
3. Consider social media as an interactive database. Small businesses should have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, and if you are in any business-to-business category, LinkedIn as well. If you're still resistant, I suggest viewing your social media channels as interactive databases. You can use them to build an identity and persona around your company, your products and even your clients.
The more you can offer and build value, be it in terms of information, insight into your process or products, or even why and how you are owning and running your business, the faster (and more organically) your networks will grow. The people in these networks make up the contacts in your databases.
As with any marketing strategy, it's important to test and measure the return on your social media investment. Done right, your interactive databases will be as valuable and profitable as your conventional ones.
4. Adapt, don't just adopt. Instead of jumping on each new trend you hear about, evaluate how your business model can benefit from it in a low-cost way. For instance, the Baby Boomer generation is retiring in greater numbers. What can this mean for, say, your travel business? Depending on your type of business, perhaps you could offer retirement-themed travel packages for new retirees, or adventure-oriented packages for more active Boomers.
Likewise, Gen-Y is emerging as a buying, spending and cultural force all its own. If you have a unique twist on a conventional eatery or restaurant, maybe your strategy for attracting Gen-Yers includes coupons for after-hours specials delivered via mobile devices.
The key is to use your current business model to tap into trends rather than reorient your entire model. When you do that, your business will be able to ride the waves of change to become a more profitable startup this year.
For instance, if we look at business cycles as seasons, we can see that we are emerging from a deep "economic winter" and are headed into an "economic spring." Almost every market and industry has been cleared of the inefficient or overleveraged businesses, opening up new opportunities that didn't exist just a few years ago. As a result, both human capital and business tools are abundant and inexpensive.
Here are four ways you can leverage the current trends in the marketplace to help ensure a strong launch and thriving future for your startup.
1. Tap the international marketplace. As the U.S. has struggled, countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, as well as others in the Asian Pacific region, have been enjoying a long "economic spring" and "economic summer." Wouldn't it be great to tap into those booming markets? You can, and the Internet is your doorway.
But you have to plan and prepare for it. From taking orders, to managing different currencies to drop-ship deliveries, you'll need to make sure that you have the capability to handle international business. Begin examining web hosting options that will enable your site to process international transactions.
You also want to be sure to have enough cash and flexibility to handle any technical issues that will inevitably arise from having an e-commerce website.
2. Accept the new era of "creative credit." In recent years, the stagnant credit market has become one of biggest obstacles for small businesses, especially startups. The lack of available financing has forced entrepreneurs to become more creative in the ways in which they acquire startup money. This has included negotiating better terms with vendors, learning to fast-track cashflow and looking for ways to take advantage of the various types of purchase order or vendor financing.
Business owners this year will have to get used to this atmosphere of creative financing and be assertive in finding mutually beneficial ways to work with both suppliers and customers. Pre-paid contracts and flexible terms have a place in your credit and cash-flow arsenal depending on your company, your category and the relationships you may (or may not have) with your suppliers and customers.
3. Consider social media as an interactive database. Small businesses should have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, and if you are in any business-to-business category, LinkedIn as well. If you're still resistant, I suggest viewing your social media channels as interactive databases. You can use them to build an identity and persona around your company, your products and even your clients.
The more you can offer and build value, be it in terms of information, insight into your process or products, or even why and how you are owning and running your business, the faster (and more organically) your networks will grow. The people in these networks make up the contacts in your databases.
As with any marketing strategy, it's important to test and measure the return on your social media investment. Done right, your interactive databases will be as valuable and profitable as your conventional ones.
4. Adapt, don't just adopt. Instead of jumping on each new trend you hear about, evaluate how your business model can benefit from it in a low-cost way. For instance, the Baby Boomer generation is retiring in greater numbers. What can this mean for, say, your travel business? Depending on your type of business, perhaps you could offer retirement-themed travel packages for new retirees, or adventure-oriented packages for more active Boomers.
Likewise, Gen-Y is emerging as a buying, spending and cultural force all its own. If you have a unique twist on a conventional eatery or restaurant, maybe your strategy for attracting Gen-Yers includes coupons for after-hours specials delivered via mobile devices.
The key is to use your current business model to tap into trends rather than reorient your entire model. When you do that, your business will be able to ride the waves of change to become a more profitable startup this year.
Fast-Track Your Home Business Success
Fast-Track Your Home Business Success Using One Simple Word
A common characteristic shared by successful home business owners is the steadfast, almost fanatical way in which they guard their time.
Large corporations and businesses hire people and spread the responsibilities, and although I highly urge you to leverage your time by surrounding yourself with people who will take care of lower return activities, there is still no escaping the many interruptions and distractions that are a part of home business life.
People who play at the top of their game whether in business, sport or life, have learned how to either eliminate or reduce distractions by mastering the use of one simple word ... "No."
The inability and fear around using these two little letters has caused more home business failures, tears, stress, frustration and relationship troubles than any other.
And although many new home business owners insist their greatest weaknesses are lack of marketing and sales skills, the biggest obstacle that is blocking their ability to develop these skills is the fact they are not saying no to time-robbing activities so they can focus on building and growing.
Lack of time is the number one challenge every one of my clients brings to the table when we begin working together.
Learn to say "no" to doing everything yourself.
Oftentimes I'll hear, "But I'm in start-up, I have to guard my spending" and I respond with, "You can't save yourself into profitability. You have to focus on making money."
This mental block will never allow you to grow, especially at an accelerated rate.
Low pay-off activities can be delegated, bartered, given to volunteers, students and family members. Do some creative brainstorming with your coach, mastermind group or trusted colleague.
Learn to say "no" to the demands of daily living.
How many times have you said "yes" to the following even though you either didn't want to or knew it would take you away from your own priorities?
* taking care of your neighbor's kids after school because she had a hair appointment
* volunteering to cover the refreshments table at your child's high school dance
* loaning out equipment or items you know you won't get back unless you ask for them several times
* agreeing to listen to your friend rant for the third time this week about how his wife is trying to ruin him in a nasty divorce battle
* taking your mom to visit her friend across town every week because your brother and sister are too busy
* making Johnny and Sally's beds because they have to rush to school in the morning and don't have time
* going to every birthday and holiday dinner a family member hosts
* reading every single e-mail and taking every single call that comes in...
By not saying "no" to the hundreds of non-critical demands that are placed on you every month, you will not create the business success or freedom you want and deserve.
The two biggest obstacles in mastering the skill of saying "no" are fear and guilt. Fear that you will be loved less or rejected and feeling guilty that you may have hurt someone's feelings.
Saying "no" doesn't have to hurt anyone or cause you to be rejected and the way you deliver the message can make all the difference for you.
To refuse a request be honest and assertive in your reply by stating, "I'm sorry, however I have to turn down your offer/request at this time because I've been so busy with obligations, I've neglected my own priorities and have to give them my attention right now."
If others get angry with you or try to make you feel guilty for wanting to give yourself the attention you deserve, it's time to decide whether or not they're the kind of people you want in your life.
Start small. Build your "no" muscle slow and easy and work your way up to the larger demands. Like any skill, you can develop it and once you become a master, you'll enjoy quantum leaps in your happiness levels and business success.
A common characteristic shared by successful home business owners is the steadfast, almost fanatical way in which they guard their time.
Large corporations and businesses hire people and spread the responsibilities, and although I highly urge you to leverage your time by surrounding yourself with people who will take care of lower return activities, there is still no escaping the many interruptions and distractions that are a part of home business life.
People who play at the top of their game whether in business, sport or life, have learned how to either eliminate or reduce distractions by mastering the use of one simple word ... "No."
The inability and fear around using these two little letters has caused more home business failures, tears, stress, frustration and relationship troubles than any other.
And although many new home business owners insist their greatest weaknesses are lack of marketing and sales skills, the biggest obstacle that is blocking their ability to develop these skills is the fact they are not saying no to time-robbing activities so they can focus on building and growing.
Lack of time is the number one challenge every one of my clients brings to the table when we begin working together.
Learn to say "no" to doing everything yourself.
Oftentimes I'll hear, "But I'm in start-up, I have to guard my spending" and I respond with, "You can't save yourself into profitability. You have to focus on making money."
This mental block will never allow you to grow, especially at an accelerated rate.
Low pay-off activities can be delegated, bartered, given to volunteers, students and family members. Do some creative brainstorming with your coach, mastermind group or trusted colleague.
Learn to say "no" to the demands of daily living.
How many times have you said "yes" to the following even though you either didn't want to or knew it would take you away from your own priorities?
* taking care of your neighbor's kids after school because she had a hair appointment
* volunteering to cover the refreshments table at your child's high school dance
* loaning out equipment or items you know you won't get back unless you ask for them several times
* agreeing to listen to your friend rant for the third time this week about how his wife is trying to ruin him in a nasty divorce battle
* taking your mom to visit her friend across town every week because your brother and sister are too busy
* making Johnny and Sally's beds because they have to rush to school in the morning and don't have time
* going to every birthday and holiday dinner a family member hosts
* reading every single e-mail and taking every single call that comes in...
By not saying "no" to the hundreds of non-critical demands that are placed on you every month, you will not create the business success or freedom you want and deserve.
The two biggest obstacles in mastering the skill of saying "no" are fear and guilt. Fear that you will be loved less or rejected and feeling guilty that you may have hurt someone's feelings.
Saying "no" doesn't have to hurt anyone or cause you to be rejected and the way you deliver the message can make all the difference for you.
To refuse a request be honest and assertive in your reply by stating, "I'm sorry, however I have to turn down your offer/request at this time because I've been so busy with obligations, I've neglected my own priorities and have to give them my attention right now."
If others get angry with you or try to make you feel guilty for wanting to give yourself the attention you deserve, it's time to decide whether or not they're the kind of people you want in your life.
Start small. Build your "no" muscle slow and easy and work your way up to the larger demands. Like any skill, you can develop it and once you become a master, you'll enjoy quantum leaps in your happiness levels and business success.
Choosing the Home Business That's Right For You
Starting down a new career path can be both exciting and terrifying. There are a lot of tools on the market that can help you determine what type of career field you should enter. But what if your chosen "career path" is being an entrepreneur and running a home-based business? Do the rules change? Below are five questions to ask yourself to help you determine what type of business might be right for you.
Answer this question with the first thing that comes to mind: If money were no object and you could do anything, what would you do? You might have answered "be a writer", "speak at conferences," "bring my product idea to life" or any number of things. Whatever your answer, this most likely is your passion. I challenge you to take the time to ponder this and see if there is a way to bring your dream to fruition.
2. What types of things did you like to do as a child?
Many times the toys and games we loved as children give us a glimpse into who we have become as adults. If you loved climbing trees, you may now be an "outdoorsy" type of person. Think about how this might be incorporated into your business. For instance, you might enjoy setting up outdoor birthday parties for children or selling herbs from your backyard garden.
3. What type of products would you be interested in representing?
If you're looking in the direction of direct sales, whether that be your own product or an established home-based business option, you need to think through what types of products you'd be comfortable presenting to your customers. Take the time to do some research and find a product that truly excites you. Your customers will see your sincerity and that can sell a product just as easily as a fancy presentation.
4. What skills and experience do you bring to the table?
If you've left the corporate world in favor of working at home, you've undoubtedly brought with you a set of skills. There may be a way to market those skills in a new way and turn them into a profitable business. For instance, if you were an executive assistant you may be able to type 80 words or more per minute. You could set up shop as a Virtual Assistant and help other business owners in processing orders, transcribing documents and much more.
5. Are you thinking outside of the box?
Most of us have a fear of the unknown. We many times assume that if we haven't done something before it is simply out of reach. This carries over to the business world as well. We take our products or services and market them in the same way that we see other business owners using. However, it can be much more effective to find new and innovative ways to market. One home-based business owner I know sells stuffable toy kits. Instead of using the usual home parties and birthday party events, she works almost exclusively with children's hospitals doing fundraisers. She makes a great living and helps not only the hospitals, but the children as well. She is a great example of unique marketing and overcoming the mundane marketing methods that so many business owners resign themselves to.
Your home-based business should be unique to you. It should make you want to get up each morning excited about the possibilities of the day ahead. Take the time to thoroughly think through the questions above and you'll be on your way to making a great, well thought out decision that has your name written all over it!
Answer this question with the first thing that comes to mind: If money were no object and you could do anything, what would you do? You might have answered "be a writer", "speak at conferences," "bring my product idea to life" or any number of things. Whatever your answer, this most likely is your passion. I challenge you to take the time to ponder this and see if there is a way to bring your dream to fruition.
2. What types of things did you like to do as a child?
Many times the toys and games we loved as children give us a glimpse into who we have become as adults. If you loved climbing trees, you may now be an "outdoorsy" type of person. Think about how this might be incorporated into your business. For instance, you might enjoy setting up outdoor birthday parties for children or selling herbs from your backyard garden.
3. What type of products would you be interested in representing?
If you're looking in the direction of direct sales, whether that be your own product or an established home-based business option, you need to think through what types of products you'd be comfortable presenting to your customers. Take the time to do some research and find a product that truly excites you. Your customers will see your sincerity and that can sell a product just as easily as a fancy presentation.
4. What skills and experience do you bring to the table?
If you've left the corporate world in favor of working at home, you've undoubtedly brought with you a set of skills. There may be a way to market those skills in a new way and turn them into a profitable business. For instance, if you were an executive assistant you may be able to type 80 words or more per minute. You could set up shop as a Virtual Assistant and help other business owners in processing orders, transcribing documents and much more.
5. Are you thinking outside of the box?
Most of us have a fear of the unknown. We many times assume that if we haven't done something before it is simply out of reach. This carries over to the business world as well. We take our products or services and market them in the same way that we see other business owners using. However, it can be much more effective to find new and innovative ways to market. One home-based business owner I know sells stuffable toy kits. Instead of using the usual home parties and birthday party events, she works almost exclusively with children's hospitals doing fundraisers. She makes a great living and helps not only the hospitals, but the children as well. She is a great example of unique marketing and overcoming the mundane marketing methods that so many business owners resign themselves to.
Your home-based business should be unique to you. It should make you want to get up each morning excited about the possibilities of the day ahead. Take the time to thoroughly think through the questions above and you'll be on your way to making a great, well thought out decision that has your name written all over it!
A Real Estate Agent's Personal Safety Guidelines
A major concern for realtors is personal safety. Many times the realtor is working alone in showing a property, having an open house, or manning the model house in a new subdivision. Some personal safety issues should include:
On the first meeting of a client, always meet a new client at your office, never at a property. Get as much personal information as possible. A copy of the driver’s license is a good start not only for safety, but also for the client database.
During this first meeting, if you have any suspicions or uneasiness about a client, do not go to the showing alone, no matter what time of day. Ask another person to accompany you. If you are at an open house and you feel that you are in danger, leave the home and seek assistance.
Always drive your own car to the property as this might be the only means of escape. Keep your car locked while driving to the property and after you park it. On the way make notes on the type of car, color, and license plate number and call the office with this information. Once at the property do not park your vehicle where it can be blocked.
Always follow the prospect through the home and never let them get behind you. Your attention should be focused on the client, not on the house.
Here is a checklist to follow for safety:
1. When a person comes through the office to view your model homes have them complete a guest register that includes making a copy of their driver’s license. Get this information back to the office by fax or e-mail and let the office know it is coming.
2. Keep the keys to your vehicle and your cell phone with you at all times. Keep your handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle rather than in your desk.
3. When closing the model homes for the night never assume that the home is vacant. Be familiar enough with each home to know the exits. Check the interior of the house prior to locking the doors, working from the top floor to the bottom, back of the house to the front, locking the doors behind you. Be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to protect yourself.
4. Enroll in a self defense education course to assist you in protecting yourself until someone can respond to your call for help. Never assume that you can talk your way out of a situation. Look for and take the first opportunity to escape.
The DO list:
1. Take the safest and best-lighted route--day or night--while driving to appointments.
2. Always inform your office of where you will be, who you will be with and when you will next be in touch. Make sure the person you are meeting knows that you’ve given your office this information.
3. Be aware of the neighborhood in which you are showing a listing. If the neighborhood poses any possible threat to your personal safety, take another person with you.
4. Allow the client to proceed ahead of you while showing the property. Make sure you have previewed the property and know all of the accessible exits. Leave the doors unlocked for easy exit. Carry your cellular telephone with you.
5. Establish a method of being able to relate an emergency situation to the office or a contact person.
6. Have a secret phrase to notify the office you are in trouble such as “Pick up dog food” when you don’t have a dog.
The DON'T list:
1. Hold an open house alone, if at all possible. Working with a partner allows you the luxury of having someone available to call or go for assistance if needed, and someone to help monitor how many people are in the house. If you must do an open house alone, stay near the door and let the prospect look through the house alone. Keep all valuables--jewelry, money, guns, etc.-- locked away.
2. Host an open house at a property you have not already previewed. Know the location of all of the exits and how to contact the closest neighbors. Make sure that if you use the backyard as an escape route that there is an exit out of it. Make sure all of the exit doors are unlocked during the open house.
3. Wear expensive jewelry and, if at all possible, keep your handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle while you are hosting an open house. Have your car keys readily available by keeping them either in a pocket or clipped to a belt.
4. Assume everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking all of the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
5. Show a property alone at night, especially if it is vacant.
What the office can do to protect its agents:
1. Each office should keep a file on each agent’s vehicle — make, year, model, color and license plate number.
2. Each agent should leave a daily schedule of outside appointments with their office showing client names and times.
3. Always meet your client, prospect or buyer at your office and have them complete an information form, taking a photo of their driver’s license. The information form should contain vehicle information, also.
4. Have each agent carry a log to write down prospective client‘s name, driver’s license and vehicle information.
5. At open houses, a guest registry should be kept for all persons viewing the house. This registry should include vehicle information.
6. Never have an agent show a property as the result of only a telephone call. Always meet them at the office and have them complete an information form.
7. Do not list your home address or telephone number on your business cards.
8. All agents in your office should use only their first initial and last name on their “For Sale” signs to conceal gender and prevent anyone other than a personal acquaintance asking for you by name.
Many of these points may already in practice for the profession. Look to these procedures as also a safety concern. These safety tips should become second nature with little thought to be truly effective.
On the first meeting of a client, always meet a new client at your office, never at a property. Get as much personal information as possible. A copy of the driver’s license is a good start not only for safety, but also for the client database.
During this first meeting, if you have any suspicions or uneasiness about a client, do not go to the showing alone, no matter what time of day. Ask another person to accompany you. If you are at an open house and you feel that you are in danger, leave the home and seek assistance.
Always drive your own car to the property as this might be the only means of escape. Keep your car locked while driving to the property and after you park it. On the way make notes on the type of car, color, and license plate number and call the office with this information. Once at the property do not park your vehicle where it can be blocked.
Always follow the prospect through the home and never let them get behind you. Your attention should be focused on the client, not on the house.
Here is a checklist to follow for safety:
1. When a person comes through the office to view your model homes have them complete a guest register that includes making a copy of their driver’s license. Get this information back to the office by fax or e-mail and let the office know it is coming.
2. Keep the keys to your vehicle and your cell phone with you at all times. Keep your handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle rather than in your desk.
3. When closing the model homes for the night never assume that the home is vacant. Be familiar enough with each home to know the exits. Check the interior of the house prior to locking the doors, working from the top floor to the bottom, back of the house to the front, locking the doors behind you. Be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to protect yourself.
4. Enroll in a self defense education course to assist you in protecting yourself until someone can respond to your call for help. Never assume that you can talk your way out of a situation. Look for and take the first opportunity to escape.
The DO list:
1. Take the safest and best-lighted route--day or night--while driving to appointments.
2. Always inform your office of where you will be, who you will be with and when you will next be in touch. Make sure the person you are meeting knows that you’ve given your office this information.
3. Be aware of the neighborhood in which you are showing a listing. If the neighborhood poses any possible threat to your personal safety, take another person with you.
4. Allow the client to proceed ahead of you while showing the property. Make sure you have previewed the property and know all of the accessible exits. Leave the doors unlocked for easy exit. Carry your cellular telephone with you.
5. Establish a method of being able to relate an emergency situation to the office or a contact person.
6. Have a secret phrase to notify the office you are in trouble such as “Pick up dog food” when you don’t have a dog.
The DON'T list:
1. Hold an open house alone, if at all possible. Working with a partner allows you the luxury of having someone available to call or go for assistance if needed, and someone to help monitor how many people are in the house. If you must do an open house alone, stay near the door and let the prospect look through the house alone. Keep all valuables--jewelry, money, guns, etc.-- locked away.
2. Host an open house at a property you have not already previewed. Know the location of all of the exits and how to contact the closest neighbors. Make sure that if you use the backyard as an escape route that there is an exit out of it. Make sure all of the exit doors are unlocked during the open house.
3. Wear expensive jewelry and, if at all possible, keep your handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle while you are hosting an open house. Have your car keys readily available by keeping them either in a pocket or clipped to a belt.
4. Assume everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking all of the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
5. Show a property alone at night, especially if it is vacant.
What the office can do to protect its agents:
1. Each office should keep a file on each agent’s vehicle — make, year, model, color and license plate number.
2. Each agent should leave a daily schedule of outside appointments with their office showing client names and times.
3. Always meet your client, prospect or buyer at your office and have them complete an information form, taking a photo of their driver’s license. The information form should contain vehicle information, also.
4. Have each agent carry a log to write down prospective client‘s name, driver’s license and vehicle information.
5. At open houses, a guest registry should be kept for all persons viewing the house. This registry should include vehicle information.
6. Never have an agent show a property as the result of only a telephone call. Always meet them at the office and have them complete an information form.
7. Do not list your home address or telephone number on your business cards.
8. All agents in your office should use only their first initial and last name on their “For Sale” signs to conceal gender and prevent anyone other than a personal acquaintance asking for you by name.
Many of these points may already in practice for the profession. Look to these procedures as also a safety concern. These safety tips should become second nature with little thought to be truly effective.
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