If you have a good product or service…before signing a lease, hiring a graphic designer to make a fancy logo, or hiring anybody, you can gauge the future success of your business by prospecting, the process of obtaining leads for your product or service. So many people get caught up in the non-essentials of business because it’s fun. Prospecting, however, is not so fun, but it will determine whether or not you succeed as an entrepreneur. Customers disappear because they move to another place, switch to a competitor, or decide to make do without you for a variety of other reasons, which is why a steady stream of new customers is your life line.

Before you use one of the prospecting tools below you have to make sure that the leads you are pursuing actually want your service, can be contacted, have the power or authority to buy, are able to buy, and can buy in a way that makes them a valuable, profitable customer…

Network

You likely already have a network of people. Business partners, university professors, friends in the same field of business as you, etc. Use LinkedIn to help people with power and influence introduce you to new leads and/or other people of influence. Of course, in order to be introduced in a favorable way, you have to provide them first with value. At the very least, keep in touch with them through a phone call or email so that they have something invested in you.

Contact Current and Past Customers

If you have a database of satisfied customers stay in touch with them through email, social networks, or friendly birthday cards in the mail. You can also ask satisfied customers if they know of anyone else who may want to use your services. Satisfied customers are more likely to buy from you again because they’ve already had positive experiences with you. Furthermore, their praise can be used as testimonials in your promotional material.

Offer Something for Free

When was the last time you said yes to a salesperson asking if you wanted to buy a $100 product within the first 10 seconds of meeting you? We buy from people who we already trust. You can establish this trust by writing for prominent magazines, blogs, etc., conducting webinars or seminars, and/or giving speeches which relate to your product or service. You will gain leads and establish yourself as an expert, a reputation which you can use to sell your business in the future.

Aside from gaining trust through your perceived expertise you can gain trust among your prospects by offering something for free when you send a sales letter (free consultation), attend a trade show (give away free samples), or build a website (offer valuable advice to targeted traffic from PPC and/or organic traffic).

Nickolay Lamm is an internet marketing specialist who helps inventors determine the quality of invention promotion firms. See more at InventHelp Scam Help.

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We are all bound to make mistakes along the way, and there’s so much that we can gain from our mistakes. Some mistakes, though, are so deadly that they can cripple our business, so  obviously, we need to avoid them at all costs.

Below are some common mistakes that new entrepreneurs often make. See if any of them ring a bell, and do your best to correct your course as necessary to increase your chances of winning in the entrepreneurial game!

1. Unclear Goals – One very common, yet deadly, mistake entrepreneurs often make is not having clear goals and vision. Never venture into a business prior to giving thought to its implications. You need to know exactly what you want to achieve and have a good idea of how you’ll get there. Once you’ve got it all figured out, it’s time to take things seriously and take the time and make the efforts necessary to achieve your goals.

2. Failing To Admit Fault – We all make mistakes, but many people aren’t willing to admit and correct their mistakes. And there’s no chance you’ll correct a mistake you refuse to own up to. We all make mistakes and goof up here and there. When we aren’t willing to own up to our mistakes and do whatever is necessary to change them, we are defeating our initial purpose. It’s very important that when we discover a mistake we’ve made, we go back and do whatever  is necessary to correct the mistake. Doing this will help us avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble in the future. Don’t be afraid to listen to the input of others, and certainly don’t always assume you know better or what you think is more important. Simply admit the mistake, correct it, and learn from it so that you won’t be placed in the same situation in the future.

3. Greed – If your sole motivation for becoming an entrepreneur is focused around money, you are less likely to perform proper research prior to the start-up of the business. Often times, these are the same types of people who sell their start-ups at a very early stage – which can be another huge mistake. If your entire focus is on money, you are certain to fail. Never focus solely on the money that you’re hoping to make from your business. Instead, focus on the other, much more important things. Focusing on your vision for your business will help to keep you on the right track.

4. Impatience – Statistically, a whopping 60% of businesses fail. Do you know why? Lack of patience is the biggest culprit. The only thing impatience will ensure is that your business will not be successful. As cliché as it sounds, patience really is a virtue, and it will help you to build a successful business that you can be proud of. It’s also important to note how important it is that you not relent in the waiting process. You simply never know when you may stumble upon something that can change your business forever!

5. Refusing Help – A lot of people become entrepreneurs because they enjoy doing things on their own. Unfortunately, this can be a hindrance in the growth of your business. Get support from as many people as you possibly can so you aren’t wasting valuable time doing everything alone, when you could have some assistance. Never be afraid to ask for help. You may be surprised at the number of people who will be happy to help you, and also be happy for you when you succeed. Try networking with successful entrepreneurs and learn from them. Let them know how important they are to you, and that you, in turn, can be important to them.

Again, there is no silver bullet or magic pill when it comes to finding entrepreneurial success. But if you do your best to avoid the above mistakes, you’ll be on the right path, and your business will stand better chance than many!  What other mistakes should new entrepreneurs avoid? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Routines are activities that need to be repeated on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.  Systemize these by determining the best times, places and methods for getting them done, and then do them the same way every time.  If you do, you’ll be more efficient.

Rituals are personal techniques for putting yourself in the best state for accomplishing the tasks you are facing.  An example is driving negative head talk out of your mind with positive affirmations.  For example, “My presentation is going to go extremely well,” repeated over and over again.

Here are 3 common time management ruts and a new routine so you can create some new rituals.

The Rut: Not Planning

“He who fails to plan plans to fail.” This is the quickest way to experience frustration and overwhelm.  Starting our day without an attack plan is like flying an airplane without a flight plan.

New Routine: Planning

• Do your daily planning at the same time and same place every time.
• Spit your planning time in half. Spend 5-10 minutes creating your initial plan at the end of the day before you leave the office or the night before.  Then validate your plan the next morning with an additional 5-10 minutes of planning.

The Rut: Email Jail

If you are in Email Jail, then get out! Email is the largest single interruption in modern life. In a digital world, finding time in the day hinges on minimizing daily email.

New Routine: Schedule Email

• Schedule block time on your calendar and only check it 2-4 times daily, this takes discipline.
• Setup an auto responder notification with your phone number to deal with emergencies.
• Touch it once. Read, respond, and archive.

The Rut: Time Robbers

In today’s technology environment we are too accessible during are peak performance hours.  Time robbers are tools, technology, and people that steal bits and pieces of our time throughout the day.

New Routine: Focus Time

• Put up boundaries on yourself and others you engage with daily.
• No Facebook, LinkedIn or email during focus time.
• Change it up! Close your door, put up a sign or find a new location.

The Rut: YES Man!

Saying yes to every matter that pops up during the day is a surefire way to overwhelm and usually ends badly.  You need to break your habit of always replying to a request with an automatic “yes”.

New Routine: NO Man!

• “I’m glad you asked, but my schedule won’t permit me to.”
• “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.” (You seldom have to accept on the spot.)
• “Sorry, but that’s not something I do.” (That’s inarguable.)

About the Author: Mark Woods is an author, productivity trainer, entrepreneur, and triathlete. His latest book Attack Your Day! Before It Attacks You, is a time management and personal productivity book that provides fast, flexible, and easy solutions to deal with today’s time challenges. With a career that spans seventeen years in training, consulting, project management, marketing and sales, he is well versed when it comes to assisting organizations achieve peak performance. Find Mark on Facebook and Twitter.

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Once you have established yourself as an entrepreneur, you are aware that a lot of planning, development, and effective marketing have all got to take place, and you need to be prepared for all sorts of changes to come up at any given time. No matter what position you decide to hold in the company, trying times are sure to be had. By ingraining the following traits within yourself, you will stand a much better chance at success in the long-run!

1. Gain Respect From Your Peers

One of the strongest characteristics that can be seen working in almost every successful entrepreneur is the attitude that they are no better, nor any worse than anybody else. By possessing this type of attitude, you will gain respect from others. When a person treats another with complete respect, they are bound to receive the same level of respect in return.

2. Believe and Trust in Yourself

Always believe in yourself and trust your instincts as well as your ideas. A successful and wise entrepreneur will know that developing confidence in themselves is very important. When people see that you are very confident in yourself, they are more likely to be confident in you as well.

3. Follow a Plan

Jumping into things without having thorough plans is not something that a successful entrepreneur does. Having a well thought out business plan is very important. The plan doesn’t have to be lengthy, but needs to include things like goals, marketing ideas, your intentions, etc. Make sure to update your business plan once in a while so that it includes any new ideas that you want to implement.

4. Think in a Creative Way

Never let the fact that an idea has already been tried by someone else detour you. A creative entrepreneur knows that there are always better ways to do things – or at the very least, to market things. There isn’t an idea out there that can’t be expanded upon, improved, or enhanced. Making sure that you think outside of the box will ensure that you’re keeping things fresh and unique.

5. Explore Your Skills

Everyone has their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Successful entrepreneurs are always asking themselves what skills they’ve got that nobody else may have. Since the goal is to always be successfully moving forward, staying on top of your skill set is a must. When you’re continuously learning and exploring, you never know – you might find you possess skills that you didn’t even realize you had!

6. Visualize Your Success

Make sure that you take the time to really visualize your business and how you want it to look and function. Picture yourself and your business being truly successful. After all, you have the power to live your life the way that you want to live it, but in order to make your ideas realities, they will need to be visualized first.

7. Never Give Up!

The phrase “I give up” is simply not part of the vocabulary of a successful entrepreneur. Everyone has days when we feel discouraged and down on ourselves. The trick is to not let these times take hold and affect our outlook. In order to stay on the right track, gather support from people who know you and will encourage you through the rough times. Surrounding yourself by people who are enthusiastic about your ideas will not only help to keep your confidence up, but it will also give you a voice of reason and hope when you feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle.

By following general guidelines like the ones above, you will be well on your way to success in the entrepreneurial world! What other insights can you add? Share in the comments!

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1. Exercise gives you more energy

Numerous studies have shown that regular physical exercise boosts daily energy levels. The mechanism is simple. When the body is exerted, the natural response is an increase in heart rate and respiration, both of which help the cardiovascular system to deliver oxygen and nutrients to bodily tissues more efficiently. The net result is an increase in energy which can give you more hours of productive blogging per day.

2. Exercise promotes clarity of thought

Forget all those energy boosters in a bottle that can make you nervous and keep you up half the night staring at a blank computer screen wondering what to write. When it comes to achieving and maintaining focus and clarity of thought while writing for prolonged periods of time, regular exercise is the answer.

3. Exercise keeps you healthy

Another proven benefit of regular exercise is that it strengthens your immune system’s natural ability to fight off infection and disease. Since work related stress (yes blogging is work) can compromise the immune system, the benefits of regular exercise in helping you stay healthy, productive and on topic when writing are considerable.

4. Exercise increases stamina

Okay, you’re a blogger not a body builder. Still, regular aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, 3-5 times a week has been shown to be beneficial in improving strength and stamina. While this may seem more important for those whose workdays demand physical exertion, it’s also beneficial to those in more sedentary jobs, like bloggers who generally sit for prolonged periods of time.

5. Exercise improves sleep patterns

Let’s face it. Even under the best of circumstances the daily demands of being a successful blogger can lead to sleepless nights. Regular exercise has been shown to help people not only fall asleep faster but stay asleep in a more restful state. When you wake up feeling rested and refreshed, you tend to be sharper and more productive throughout the day. Just be aware that, depending on your writing schedule, it may be wise to exercise first thing in the morning, as exercising late in the day can keep you up at night.

6. Exercise helps improve your mood

Along with being a great way to combat stress, regular exercise has been shown to help promote feelings of well-being. The positive mood effects of regular exercise are mainly attributed to the stimulation of the production of chemicals specific to the brain which help to regulate mood and generally leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than if you didn’t exercise. A side benefit of mood elevation for bloggers who have a tendency to procrastinate is an increase in motivation, accompanied by a greater sense of confidence and self-esteem when tasks are completed successfully. Regular exercise may also allow you to get off of certain prescription drugs which can contribute to writer’s block by clouding the mind and hindering creativity.

7. Exercise promotes healthy routines

Think of the most productive and prosperous people you know. Chances are they are actively engaged in a routine of regular exercise. Those of us who have difficulty in this area know that exercising regularly takes will power and self-discipline. Although you can get a ghost writer to write for you when the juices just aren’t flowing, no one can exercise for you. By establishing a routine of regular exercise, you are adding structure to your day—the kind of structure that can help you to successfully tackle and solve difficult writing projects head-on.

Although it’s important to check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine, the next time you find yourself in a writing funk, you might want to stop blogging and start jogging.

About the Author: Jared Singler is a freelance writer for Acrobat.com. Acrobat.com has a form builder that allows you to create, distribute and analyze online forms.

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The truth is somewhat different. In reality, to become successful a person has to develop a number of characteristics that are all positive and will in fact help that person become a more rounded human.

The bottom line is that becoming an entrepreneur can assist personal growth in a number of ways that are key not just to successful business but also to the enhancement of an individual’s standing.

Sacrifice

To be a successful entrepreneur there is little doubt that sacrifices will have to be made. These could be a reduction in social life, getting up earlier than you might ideally like or working away from home. None of these situations should be forever, but many successful businesses require a much bigger commitment than the normal 9 to 5 of the world of the employee. Understanding and experiencing this can help the entrepreneur grow as an individual as they learn the importance of sacrifice in certain situations and how sometimes present hardships and inconveniences are not just inevitable but should be welcomed as they can help guarantee a brighter future.

Decision making skills

Another way in which the entrepreneur can develop their personal growth is through the process of decision making that is central to successful business. Being an entrepreneur means having to make a lot of decisions, some harder than others. This helps build judgement and a willingness to take those tough decisions when they come along. Becoming a person who does not shy away from decisions and can take control when others are hesitating can help personal growth.

Confidence

In many ways the one single attribute that separates those who succeed and those who do not is not money, influence or knowledge but confidence. This is not to be confused with over-confidence or arrogance, but rather is a core belief in oneself. After all, if someone does not believe in himself or herself how could they possibly expect others to believe in them? Self-belief translates into confidence that in turn equates to a more fully developed individual. Confidence in oneself is contagious and a person is much more likely to inspire trust and faith in others if they can see that person truly believes in what they are doing.

Planning

This may be somewhat of an umbrella term, but in the case of an entrepreneur it means the ability to formulate a clear, concise and robust business plan that is easy to explain to others (whether that be bank manager, investors or friends). The ability to have a clear plan means that the goals are always in site and a business is much less likely to go off the rails. This ability to plan well is a great way to build personal growth as it helps create clear thinking as well as the real-world benefit of making the most of time so friends and family do not suffer from a badly planned business.

Always Learning

Being a successful entrepreneur means never standing still. No one can know everything and therefore there is never any excuse to stop learning. The business world, just like the world in general is continuously changing and developing. It therefore does not just make business sense to keep abreast of new and interesting developments, but this thirst for knowledge can also be a great aid to personal knowledge that in turn will really benefit an individual’s personal growth.

Networking

A term that sometimes has a negative connotation, networking is in fact a great skill to posses. Not only in the business world where it makes the development of new businesses so much easier, but when these skills are transferred to the personal realm, they make for superb social skills which can make interactions much more pleasurable. As personal growth involves not just the inner being, but the ability to communicate as part of a community, the level to which an individual can engage with people from a wide selection of backgrounds can really help enhance the social experience.

Energy

Often overlooked, the ability to generate energy is of fundamental importance, after all, the greatest car in the world won’t go anywhere without fuel and the same applies to the entrepreneur. This should not be confused with caffeine or currently fashionable “energy” drinks. Real energy does not come from products, but from within. It is generated by a belief in what the business involves as well as its potential. This creates a sense of energy that not only powers the business forward, but also is infectious. This attitude can really enhance personal growth by helping develop a can-do attitude.

Overall, entrepreneurship can truly impact your personal growth in a positive way. Between learning from others through networking but also learned about yourself through the trials and tribulations of the field, being an entrepreneur is surely an educational experience.

How has entrepreneurship affected you?

About the Author: Jeremy Price is a freelance writer for Allstate.  Allstate provides affordable auto insurance. Jeremy lives in California with his wife and son.

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1. Paper and Pencil

The best ideas are often the ones that come to you when you don’t have a piece of paper ready.  Instead of feeling like the best idea possible just slipped from your mind, you need to have a ‘net’ in which to catch them.  Some ideas include:

• A small pad of paper and pen – Bring this with you wherever you go.
• Smart phone notes – Use a note-taking feature in your phone.

Whenever you have a new idea, write it down.  While this sounds simple, this will become a habit that will then become a book of ideas and brainstorming.  The next time you’re stuck on what to do next, all you need to do is to look at your notebook.

2. Mastermind Groups

If you aren’t already a part of a mastermind group, you need to find one and join.  This group will help you to check in with other people who understand your entrepreneur issues, but they can also listen to ideas, give you feedback, and then let you know what you can do next.  Though you won’t be able to spend the entire time in the group talking about your needs, this group is an invaluable resource.

3. Mobile Apps

Whether you have the latest iPhone or Android or a more simple model, there are applications that can allow you to create notes, outlines, or mindmaps.  Try out a few of these applications to see what works best for you.  Many of these can produce results that can then be sent to your email, so you can have your brainstorming in multiple formats, in multiple locations.  Your ideas will follow you everywhere and anywhere.

4. Digital Voice Recorder

Sometimes you might talk to yourself in the car or at home when thinking about a business issue or idea.  When your words move faster than a pen can, you will want to invest in a digital voice recorder.  Just turn it on as you talk, to collect your ideas and play them back later.  Or you can speak into a dictation software program to write down your ideas without picking up a pen.

5. Facebook and Twitter

Some people like to brainstorm on their social media accounts because you can receive instant and honest feedback.  The more you do this, the more people will look to help you and respond to your ideas.  Post an idea you’re toying with and see what others have to say.  You might be surprised at the angles others can find in your idea and the ways that you can improve your business as a result.

Brainstorming is something many people take for granted, but when you’re trying to develop or to grow your own business, you need to continue to think and to expand on your own great ideas.  And this means tracking your ideas, finding out where they will lead, and then using what you find in the process.

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Here are some ways that your business will benefit when you have self confidence:

You will go above and beyond

How do you attain true success? By having the perseverance to keep plugging along when it would be much easier to simply give up.  The majority of people get about 90% of the way through a mission-critical task before they decide to either finish it or to give up. Sometimes it’s okay to go ahead and call it quits at the 90% mark. If you want to create something extraordinary, though, you can’t ever settle for less. The last 10% is where the magic can really happen!

Hanging on and doing whatever it takes to go above and beyond is what separates the good from the outstanding.

You will do what really matters

Do any of these examples sound remotely familiar?

• They won’t like it, so I can’t do it.
• This problem is just too difficult to deal with.
• They expect me to be a genius.
• This is how it’s always done, so this is how I need to do it.
• I’ve got to be as professional as possible.

This is a very small sampling of rules you may have placed on yourself, or may currently be placing on yourself.  Whether these examples apply to you or not, certainly you’ve got a lot of expectations about things you can and can’t do.  Perhaps there are even things that you think you should or shouldn’t do. On top of that, you’ve got expectations of what others can and can’t do, and should and shouldn’t do. Worst and most mind-numbingly confounding of all, you’ve got expectations of what everyone else expects of you!

Being truly successful comes when you engage in the things that matter to you and then take continued, meaningful action. The only way this is possible is if you push aside the set of rules and expectations that actually work against you. Push the rules that don’t make sense to the side.  Make a strict decision to take on something which has personal meaning to you, and is on your own terms.

You will make better contacts and connections

Few would say that meeting people and building relationships is easy.  But, relationships are undoubtedly what build the greatest businesses.  Unless you move past your relationship worries and give yourself room to make sure you’re doing it in ways that work, you and your business will suffer as a result.  You may find yourself pulling back from meeting new people because you’re scared of being judged or rejected. You may even second-guess yourself.

Having natural confidence means that there is no reason to worry about having approval from other people. Beyond common manners and courtesy, don’t fret about how you’re coming across to others. With self confidence, you’re able to naturally connect with others by giving them the very best of yourself.  Not in an arrogant, flashy, obnoxious kind of way, but rather in a way that will honor you, who you are, and your abilities.

You will finally be able to say, ‘No’ to people

We’ve all said “yes” to something because it was so much easier than causing a conflict by saying “no.”  We usually do this in situations when we want to make someone else happy or because we think it is expected of us.  The truth is that there is only so much of you to go around.  Any time you spend on one thing means that it is time you are not spending on something else.  Making truly deliberate and enlightened decisions about how you spend your time is the key. Make your decisions based on your priorities and values rather than letting your insecurities lead you.

You will not be overly focused on success

Naturally, we all want to succeed in whatever we’re pursuing.  Otherwise, we wouldn’t be doing it, right? What if the focus you have on success is actually getting in the way rather than helping you? How do you measure success? It can mean so many different things to different people. If you are certain of what real success means for you, that’s terrific, but you are definitely in the minority.  So many of us choose an idea of success based on things that we’ve patched together from what we’ve read, observed, and thought.

Success can come and go just as easily as failure does. That being said, shouldn’t you base your self-worth on the way you play the game rather than the outcome?  Rather than just chasing after your idea of success, take meaningful action.  When you do this, amazing things can happen. You will dramatically increase the chances of achieving real success in your business ventures.

The bottom line is that once you have the confidence to trust yourself to make decisions, you will no longer need to beat yourself up, retreat, or reinforce negative self-images when something doesn’t go as planned.  You will be ready to make the next decision in a confident way, and be totally okay – no matter what the outcome is!

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1. Start blogging.

Even if you’re not a great writer, you really ought to blog, whatever business you’re in.  Not only is blogging a great way to connect with your customers, but it can be therapeutic too.  Start writing about your business and what you’re passionate about, and you just might start to again feel excited about building your business!

2. Use social media.

If you’re not already using social media to market your business, now is the time to start.  It’s another fantastic way to connect with your customers, and building those relationships can be fun at the same time.  Also, you’ll get a great sense of accomplishment and pride when you hear first hand how your business has filled a need or solved a problem.  And if you’re wondering if now is the time to take your business to the next level, the answer is almost guaranteed to be out there on the social networks.

3. Own your niche.

It’s time to recognize yourself for the expert you really are.  Whatever you do, you know more about it than the majority of people in need of your services, and that makes you an expert, whether you see yourself that way or not.  So get out there and start acting like an expert.  Participate in forums and discussions on blogs and on social media.  You’ll be surprised how much your expertise is needed if you look in the right places, and positioning yourself as the expert will help you own your niche.

4. Show appreciation.

In all the whirlwind of activity that can be an entrepreneur’s day, we can sometimes forget to show our customers how much we appreciate them.  One of the best things you can do for long term growth is to make it clear how much you appreciate the business your customers have brought you.  And when people feel appreciated, they’ll return the favor and spread the word, so it’s truly a win-win!

5. Start making a difference.

Whatever reason you had for getting into business in the first place, if you’re like a lot of entrepreneurs, the thought of making the world a better place in some respect probably came to mind at some point.  Unfortunately, many of us get so caught up in the day to day tasks of running our businesses it’s easy to forget about that piece of the puzzle.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or like you’re in a rut, a great way to change that feeling is to do something positive for society.  There are more than enough causes in need of people willing to help, so pick something that means the most to you, and do something – through your business – to make a real impact.  The feeling will override a whole lot of “stuck-in-the-mud-ness,” and it might just give you the kick you need to look at your work in a new way.

Have you overcome daily monotony to make your business thrive?  What other tips do you have for avoiding the rut and kicking your business into high gear?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

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The GET in “Getworking” is an acronym for:

“G” – Give to Get

Find an organization, group or charity to which you can volunteer your time, services or product. Partnering or sponsoring can build good PR for your company and brand. Serve on a planning committee for a prominent event in your community like a marathon or charity golf tournament. Ask to become a board member for a nonprofit organization. Volunteer for something that has meaning to you and encourage your staff and family to do the same. The contacts made will be invaluable. The positive feelings from doing something with no strings attached or expectations are in itself a reward, plus you may have some fun too!

“E” – Expect a Different Kind of ROI

Business is based on a profitable return on investment – making money – but money is not the only thing. Your personal and business relationships that you build can’t be estimated in dollars, bought, or sold. The people that you connect with while investing your time and energy outside of your office may not lead to an immediate sale but plant seeds for the future. It’s surprising how if you give your best and do it for the right reasons, people will remember you, and business will follow.

“T” – Train and Be Trained

If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, let’s assume you wouldn’t have turned it into a business. Sharing your expertise with others with seminars and training can make potential customers better appreciate your product or service and buy it. Gear your class to your product/service and your target market. When the customer has knowledge and confidence in your product or service, it’s much easier to sell and upsell.

Consider partnering with a vendor; use a conference room or a meeting room at a coffee shop; develop an adult education night class at local schools or at lunch time at the Chamber of Commerce. It should cost very little or nothing to get a training seminar going. Of course an informational blog like this one can also be beneficial to most demographics but will not appeal to everyone. When you put on a workshop or seminar, you become the expert – the go-to-company – in the view of the class. Face-to-face interaction, whenever possible, is the key to building those priceless relationships.

While you gain “students”, you acquire a focus group of their reactions and needs for your product or service – and that of the competition. Their ideas and requests may bring profitable ideas, easy to implement changes, and new offerings that will put you ahead of your competition.

After the seminar, a special offer or discount to the attendees is a great way to give and get.  Hopefully they will tell their friends, want discounts for them, and more referrals will follow.

Getworking is a level above glad-handing at events, joining professional groups, handing out your business cards, and trying to sell something. You are presenting an offer to help others before you ask for anything. The message of selling is implied, but not in your face.  Who can refuse that?  What networking or getworking tips do you have for the community?  Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Whether you accept evolution as fact or not, one thing is clear: In today’s world, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, there is certainly an “evolutionary” process that we must all undertake.  In other words, there are skills that we must each learn and hone in order to thrive in today’s business world, and we need to be able to adapt those skills to our surroundings, or be left behind with the “entrepreneurial Neanderthals.”   Below are 5 essential skills for today’s entrepreneur:

Decision Making – No one can deny that the ability to make decisions is a core skill that every entrepreneur must possess if he or she wants to be successful.  From the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, you must make sound decisions, first of all, about which business to go into.  From there, decisions on how to proceed with marketing, funding, product production (in some cases), vendor selection, and a host of other judgments need to be made.  The key is to be decisive and learn from mistakes, rather than fearing mistakes to the point that you avoid decisions.

People Skills – It’s often said that no matter what business you’re in, you’re in the people business. How true that is!  Even if you have a dog grooming business, it’s the people who bring their dogs to you who pay you and make the decision to use your service over your competition’s, so you’d better know how to deal well with people.  This is a skill that nearly every highly successful entrepreneur has, and those who don’t have recognized the need to hire a “face of the company,” often in the form of a CEO or COO, to represent them in the business world.  Whether dealing with customers, vendors, investors, the press, or employees, well developed people skills can mean the difference between success and failure.

Planning – Being able to project into the future and build a plan to accomplish your objectives is a skill that can take any entrepreneur far.  Effective planning is what will guide your company and ultimately define what you’re all about.  The skilled business planner knows that planning is only an effective skill when combined with action, so they don’t get bogged down in planning, and they keep their plans focused but somewhat flexible.  With so many facets to effective planning, it could be called as much an art as it is a skill.

Sales – Just as it is said that every business is a people business, it is also true that whatever business you’re in, you’re in sales.  You might not be a salesperson in the “What’s it gonna take for me to get you into this car today” sense, but if you are exchanging products or services for money, you’re selling.  And the more skilled you are at sales, the more successful your business will be.  It’s not just customers you need to sell to though.  Selling your business plan to investors, your job opportunity to potential employees, or your marketing to your target audience is all dependent upon your ability to sell your ideas.

Communication – If ever the term “last but not least” was appropriate, this is it. The skill of communication plays a role in the execution of all of the other skills above.  If you don’t have this skill, none of the other skills will be fully developed, no matter how hard you try.  You can’t be a great salesperson without great communication skills; your planning skills won’t matter if you aren’t able to effectively communicate your plans; you can hardly claim to have strong people skills without being a good communicator; and it won’t matter what decisions you make if they aren’t communicated properly to those who are in a position to execute them.  So of all the skills listed here, start working on your communication skills first, if they aren’t 100%.  It will pay off in immeasurable ways.

Of course there are other important skills to have as an entrepreneur.  What would you add to the list? Be sure to share with the community in the comments below!

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As a reminder, this is the event that features 60 inspiring entrepreneurial speakers, over 1,500 like-minded entrepreneurs, 50+ VC and Angel investors, and a lot more.  And don’t forget that when you use the Discount Promo Code: YE you get $50 off admission to the event!

Some of the amazing speakers who will be presenting in October are…

John Paul DeJoria - Billionaire founder of Paul Mitchell & Patron Tequila
Gavin Maloof – Owner of the Palms Casino & NBA’s Sacramento Kings
Tony Hsieh - CEO of Zappos.com (recently sold to Amazon for $1.2 billion)
Aaron Patzer - Founder of Mint.com (recently sold to Intuit for $170 million)
David Hunke - Publisher of USA TODAY
Isaac Tigrett - Legendary founder of House of Blues & Hard Rock Café

Check out this new promo video about the Summit, announcing the Conference Host!

You’re not going to want to miss this one,
so get your tickets ASAP, and we’ll see you there!

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The danger in buying into these myths is that they rob power from those who believe them.  If you believe people are only successful if luck is on their side, for example, you’re saying success is out of your control.  So look over this list of myths and realities and endeavor to eliminate these beliefs from your mind.  Your business and your life will be better for it.

The Family History Myth: Some people are successful because they were born into a rich or entrepreneurial family.

Reality: As with most myths, there can be a piece of truth in this one.  If a person’s family has the resources to support their entrepreneurial dreams, or if they grew up learning about business, they can be said to have some degree of advantage.  Stories abound, however, of people who inherited the family business only to run it into the ground and end up broke.  There are also plenty of stories about people who were handed family fortunes and squandered them away.  The reality is that even though it can be helpful to have the advantage of a family history of success, a person with such a heritage still has to do what’s necessary to be successful with those advantages.  The reality is, even with an advantageous family history, you still have to work for your success.

The R.P.R.T. Myth: Successful people make it because they’re in the right place at the right time.

Reality: It does help to be in the right place at the right time.  Many successful entrepreneurs attribute their success to this.  But that’s not the whole story.  First, any successful entrepreneur who was in the right place at the right time, had to be the right person in the right place, at the right time.  In other words, just being clued in on a trend, discovering an innovation, or getting a hot tip isn’t enough.  In fact there are opportunities coming at us – all of us – all the time.  We’ve all been in the right place at the right time at some point, and we will be again and again.  It’s those who recognize those opportunities and act upon them who reap the rewards.  Have you ever had a brilliant idea that you didn’t act on and then saw the same idea come to fruition for someone else years later?  You were in the right place at the right time for the idea to come to you, and so was the person who made it happen.  The reality is that “R.P.R.T.” can’t make it happen.  Taking the opportunity given to you in the right place at the right time and making it successful takes work, dedication and focus, not luck.

The Who You Know Myth: People are only successful if they’re lucky enough to know the right people.

Reality: Many stories of success can be attributed to the saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know.”  In fact no true success story happens with someone doing it all on their own with no support from anyone else.  Knowing the “right” people can indeed contribute to your success in many ways.  What this myth fails to take into consideration is how successful people go about getting to know the right people.  Successful entrepreneurs are networkers.  They attend conferences, workshops, business fairs, and anything else they can find where they’ll have the chance to mix and mingle with like-minded business people.  It isn’t luck that they know the right people, it’s their dedication to learn and grow through those relationships that has led them to the right people.  Is it lucky that they happened to be at a conference with the one person who could help them take their business to new heights?  Maybe you could say that, but they had to meet that person, talk to them, and do whatever it took to get them involved.  No luck involved there.

The Timing Myth: Many successful people just so happen to launch their businesses at just the right time.

Reality: “The right time” is when there’s a need, and the most successful companies become successful because there is a need for their product or service.  That’s kind of a no-brainer, isn’t it?  But this rarely has to do with chance.  Entrepreneurs watch trends.  They stay tuned into the market and the needs of their customers and consumers in general.  Most importantly, they take that information and act on it.  Successful people don’t let fear stand in the way of their dreams.  They take risks, and often those risks pay off.  This myth doesn’t take into account that most entrepreneurs have started several businesses during their entrepreneurial life.  Some might have been successful, and many might have failed.  The key is that they keep going.  They keep trying until they make it happen.

The Background Myth: People who build successful businesses have the right education, training, work experience, friends, family, and mentors.

Reality: This myth combines several of the other myths and says that the only way to be successful is to be “lucky” enough to have outside factors working in your favor.  The reality is that, almost without exception, successful entrepreneurs have realized their accomplishments because of what’s inside themselves, not because of their circumstances.  Indeed, many have realized success in spite of their circumstances.  We hear often about high achieving people with no formal training, little to no formal education, and very few if any advantages over “average” people.  The truth is, success comes not so much from where you’ve been as from where you know in your heart you’re headed.

Successful people define luck as when preparedness meets opportunity.  Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you that matters”?  Maybe we can consider the “what happens to you” part as luck.  Often we have little control over what happens, so maybe that’s called luck – good or bad.  But when it comes to success, the luck piece of the equation won’t take you far.  It’s what you do with your luck that determines your success.  So if you’re counting on luck to make you a successful entrepreneur, good luck with that!

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But even the most die-hard entrepreneurial spirits aren’t completely immune to discouragement, so what happens when that initial spark starts to become a fading memory as the challenges mount?  Whether you’re trying to get on track or stay the course, we can all use a little help sometimes to make the magic happen.

Here are 5 useful tips to keep your entrepreneurial flame burning strong:

1. Plan your work – work your plan. Much of the discouragement that entrepreneurs face, especially while first starting their business, or during a period of sudden growth, can come from feelings of being overwhelmed.  With some businesses, this is seemingly constant.  For example, if you have a business where strict deadlines are the norm, you might feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.  One way to avoid, or at least reduce, the pressures that might be dampening your entrepreneurial drive is to stick to a plan as much as possible.  This isn’t about your business plan.  It’s about a daily action plan that will keep you focused, not only on the details of your day, but on the big picture as well.  A great way to devise such a plan is to ask yourself, what you have to do on a daily basis to achieve your objectives.  Once you have the answer to that question, build your daily plan around those activities, and hire out or delegate as much of the other stuff as possible.

2. Guard against negativity – from others and from within. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to keep any spark alive while drowning in negativity and cynicism.  Unfortunately, it’s often our own friends, family and peers who are guilty of feeding us negative energy.  The answer is to think for yourself, stay focused on your dream, and get away when you need to.  It’s a matter of priorities.  No one’s suggesting you turn your back on a life-long friend and never speak to them again, but if they’re the type of person who only focuses on the negative, you have to decide if it’s worth spending less time with that person in order to stay in the frame of mind necessary to reach your goals.  If it’s in your own nature to look at the world through pessimistic eyes, go to the next tip…

3. Fortify your mind. The self improvement movement has been in full swing in our culture for over 35 years now.  Out of that has come enough material to keep you surrounded by positive words for the rest of your life.  A search for the term “self improvement” on Amazon yields over 60,000 books, not to mention DVDs and audio programs in MP3 and CD.  If books and audio aren’t enough, you can find countless seminars, retreats, workshops and camps, all designed to infuse your mind with positive energy and purpose.  The point is, you have an opportunity to control what goes into your mind, and if what you choose to focus on is positive, uplifting, and motivating, you’ll be able to overcome obstacles more easily, ignore the negativity of the world around you, and keep your spark alive.

4. Embrace change. The only thing that never changes is the fact that everything changes.  No matter how well thought out your business plan is, or how sure you are you’ve thought of every contingency, the unexpected will arise.  Whether it’s a turn in the economy or a new technology that changes the face of your industry, sooner or later something will happen that you didn’t plan for.  Often the difference between thriving or withering in these situations is an ability to embrace change and make it work for you.  So rather than feeling beaten when things don’t go as planned, think of how this new or different set of circumstances can work in your favor.  When you approach change this way, you’ll be surprised at what you can come up with.  It might even ignite a new spark you would never have recognized otherwise.

5. Let history be your guide. Every successful person, from the Wright brothers and Walt Disney, to Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump have experienced setbacks, disappointments, and internal doubt.  While all of these great people accomplished amazing things, each of them had to overcome obstacles, just like you do.  What they had, more than anything else, was a belief in their dream, an ability to focus on their goals, and most importantly, a sense of perseverance that pulled them through when they needed it most.  The great thing is that none of those qualities are reserved for a select few.  We can all access them.

Once you’ve used these tips, if you’re still having trouble staying motivated, do whatever you need to do – whether it’s reading an inspirational book, staring in the mirror and giving yourself a pep talk, or sitting on a rock meditating – to get back to that original feeling you had when the spark first hit.  Remembering that moment and getting back into that frame of mind will keep you going through any challenge you face.  No matter what the world throws at you, you do have the power to push through.  Now, go do it!

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A life plan is exactly what it sounds like.  It’s like a business plan in many ways, but far more important.  A well-developed life plan can apply context to all other decisions, and it can serve to guide you through the ups and downs of business and life.  We become entrepreneurs because of the quality of life we believe it will provide us, and a life plan helps us define exactly what that life will look like.  This is important because if you don’t even know the kind of life you want, it’s going to be hard to build it.  Also, let’s face it – you’re guaranteed to have difficulties and challenges as an entrepreneur, and a life plan can help you to not just make it through them, but to glide through them and come out better on the other end.  How?  When you take the time to build a life plan and then use that plan to guide your decisions about the work you will do, you end up doing what you love.  And when you’re doing what you love, challenges don’t seem as big.  You get through them easily and are even grateful for the learning they provided.  Ultimately, the more satisfied you are personally, the more success you will have.

Here are the 5 steps to building a Life Plan:

1. Define your current life. You have to know where you are to figure out where you’re going.  Evaluate and grade where you are in the important areas of your life – finances, relationships, health, business, etc. This can be a difficult step for many people, especially if you’re not anywhere near where you want to be.  It’s not a time to beat yourself up though.  Use this step to create a snapshot of your life and imagine looking at it years from now marveling at how far you’ve come.

2. Define your vision. This step can be a lot of fun.  Write a description of your perfect life.  Don’t hold back and don’t be afraid to be bold and daring.  Remember, it’s your perfect life.  This is no time for doubts or pessimism.  You have nothing to lose by dreaming big, so go for it.  Later, you’ll plot backwards in terms of finances, quality of life, and your business plan.  This will get you to a set of plans for achieving your ideal life.

3. Define your skills. You now have a picture of your ideal life, so what skills do you have that will help you get there?  What are you good at?  If you’re great at sales or management, you’ll put down how those skills will help you in your business.  If your talent is in design or writing, that might be your focus.  For now, simply list your abilities and experience.  While doing this, don’t overlook the value of the hundreds or thousands of hours you might have put in as an employee.  You’ve gained valuable life experience in and outside business, and this can all help you build your perfect life, so list everything.

4. Define your ideal work situation. If you could design the perfect business to work in, what would it look like? Would you work part time or full time; at home or in an office; close to home or traveling the world?  Would you spend time interacting with customers?  Would your perfect business involve you managing employees?  Would it stay small or grow to a large company?  Would you do it forever or retire in 5 years?  Describe your ideal work environment and conditions, and just like step 2 where you defined your perfect life, think about the possibilities – not why it won’t work.

5. Define yourself. In this step, you’re going to describe your personal mission, vision, values, and goals.  Write out who you are and what you stand for.  What you wrote for each of the previous steps was formed because of who you are, so look deep inside and figure out what you’re all about.

At this point, you’ve got all the elements of your life plan.  You’ve described where you are and where you want to be; you’ve examined your skills and your ideal business; and you know your personal vision.  Now it’s time to put it all together into a plan that will guide you in building your business and the life you want.  This isn’t something you do and then file it away.  Use your life plan and refer to it often.  You’ll find that writing your business plan and running your business become easier when your priorities match your life plan, so never stop reviewing your priorities and comparing them with your plan.  More than anything, following your plan will ensure you’re doing what you love, and isn’t that the point of being an entrepreneur?

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Successful people are…

1. Optimistic. People who have achieved success in life tend to be optimistic.  They are far more likely to be heard talking about solutions than problems, whether in their business or personal lives, and they don’t dwell on past failures but focus on future opportunities.

2. Passionate. Successful people look forward to doing whatever it is that they do.  While they’re excited about weekends with the family or vacations away, they aren’t the ones dreading Monday morning.  They have passion for work and for life, and if they find themselves doing something they dread, they won’t do it for long.  Instead they’ll find an alternative that drives them and inspires them.

3. Persistent. Those who have found true success have done so through persistence and tenacity.  Successful people don’t have fewer obstacles than those who have not experienced success.  They just keep going even after the obstacles come up.  They deal with challenges and move on, learning as they go.  They feel sick at even the thought of giving up just before a successful breakthrough.  And because of their passion, persistence doesn’t feel like a chore – it’s fun!

4. Flexible. Being able to change course when necessary contributes to success in big ways.  While successful people follow plans, they know that the unexpected will arise, and when it does they’re willing and able to adapt as needed and turn change into opportunity.  They don’t wish for the good old days – they relish progress and go with the flow. (Or they change the flow they don’t like!)

5. Educated. This isn’t exactly a personality trait, and it doesn’t have anything to do with schooling.  The personality trait that relates to education is a thirst for learning.  Look at any success story, from Walmart founder Sam Walton, who didn’t even finish high school, to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, who has degrees from Stanford and Oxford, and you’ll find someone who is committed to lifelong learning and improving him or herself.  Successful people are educated in their areas of passion, even if they aren’t “book smart.”

6. Focused. People who have experienced success in their business and personal lives have done so in part because they’ve been focused on success.  But more importantly, they’re focused on the long-term.  From managing personal finances to running companies, these people know that sacrificing now can pay off big in the future.  Successful people understand that while short-term victories are critical, they are only so important because they contribute to long-term success.  So they are not easily distracted by the lure of making a quick buck – or by the pretty secretary in the next office.

7. Altruistic. Contrary to the stories of greed and gluttony you sometimes hear about in the corporate world, politics, and elsewhere, truly successful people tend to be unselfish and often philanthropic.  That doesn’t mean they’re pushovers, but they are concerned about people and about contributing to the greater good.  In fact many of the most successful people in the world, both financially and personally, have found their true passions in helping and giving, more than in selfish pursuits.

Ask yourself how many of these seven personality traits you have.  If you’re seriously lacking in any of them, what can you do to change that?  And what other traits do you think a person needs to be a true success?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

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1. Exercise more than just your brain. As an entrepreneur, you’re continuously giving your brain a workout, but don’t forget about your body.  One of the best ways to reduce stress, and condition yourself to handle more stress, and handle it better, is to stay in good physical shape.  If you’re going to take time out of your busy day to participate in any activity, few will have a more positive, lasting effect than exercise.  And if you think you don’t have time for it, you might have some misperceptions about what it takes to stay in shape.  You don’t need to spend hours a day working out to reduce stress and feel better.  Just a few minutes a day, a few days a week will help a lot, and you’ll feel a difference quickly.

2. Watch what you’re putting in your gullet. Along the same lines as exercise, watching your diet is important for feeling your best and will help you deal with stress and burnout.  Busy entrepreneurs are often on the move, and need to grab a quick bite on the go.  Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, what you’re stuffing your mouth with isn’t always the stuff that will keep you feeling your best.  Something as simple as cutting down on high-sugar snacks and drinks can make a big difference in how you feel, and you’ll be far less likely to experience that common afternoon burnout, much less long-term burnout.

3. Don’t go it alone. Trying to do everything yourself is a one-way ticket to entrepreneurial burnout.  Unfortunately, it’s also very common among people building their own businesses.  Whether it’s our independent nature or the need to save money, we entrepreneurs are often reluctant to hire anything out, and it can end up hurting us in the long-run.  The good news is that we can maintain control of our businesses and actually end up saving money if we approach this problem properly.  Consider finding one or more virtual assistants or freelancers to help you out.  You’ll not only pay less than you would for employees, but the time you’ll free up will allow you to concentrate more on the things that are making you income.  And the best part is that you’ll avoid burnout by delegating those tasks that you’d rather not do anyway, which will make you feel better and will free up time to follow some of the other advice on this list.

4. Get social. A necessary ingredient in a truly fulfilled life, and a key to preventing burnout, is to set aside time to participate in activities that you enjoy and are completely unrelated to your work.  Going out with friends, attending a sporting event, seeing a movie, or hitting the beach with the family can all help to get your mind off your pressures for a little while.  The key is to have some fun while focusing on something other than your business.  That’s not to say you won’t think about work at all, but your concentration will be on your friends, family, and the activity you’re participating in.  When you do return to your work, you just might be surprised at how refreshed you feel, and the ideas and inspiration that come to you!

5. Manage the clock. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but we definitely don’t all make the most of that time.  A lack of time management skills can seriously contribute to burnout.  If you’re not managing your time well, deadlines creep up faster, you find yourself rushing everywhere, and you might end up dealing with the added stress of letting people down by not being able to follow through as you promise.  There are a lot of online tools to help you manage your time, and technology can make a big difference in this area.  Another way to improve in this area is to compartmentalize your tasks.  In other words, group all similar tasks so you aren’t hopping all over the place and can focus on one area until you’re ready to move to the next.  For example, set aside a specific time each day to focus on social media and a time for email, rather than checking them throughout the day.  This will increase your focus and ultimately save you a lot of time.

What other tips do you have for managing stress and avoiding burnout?  Or, what’s your biggest challenge with managing your business and avoiding burnout?  Share in the comments!

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But – You hear this word everywhere, including a lot from entrepreneurs.  Proof can be found in the comments of this or any other blog, where you’ll see things like, “Great post, but…,” or “You make some good points, but….” Unfortunately, you also hear “but” a lot when you’re telling your plans and ideas to others, and it can be discouraging.  The last thing anyone wants to hear is that something they want to do or that they did is good – BUT. And it usually comes from people whose opinions are important to you (friends, family, etc.), but who really don’t know what they’re talking about.  In other cases, we say it to ourselves – “I would start a business, but….”  In all these cases, the word “but” is being used to focus on the negative.  It’s negating the words before “but” and putting the focus on the negativity that comes after.  There’s nothing wrong with not agreeing with something, and it’s important to look at all angles, so different opinions and viewpoints can be valuable.  These can be addressed in a better way though.  How about, “I want to start a business, and I have this challenge, so let me figure out a way to make it happen” or, “That’s a great idea.  Do you know how you’ll handle…?”  These phrases get the thought process started rather than squashing it.  There is a good time to use “but”, and that’s when you intend to downplay the first part of your statement: “It will be a challenge, but I know I can do it!”  Oh, and if you think “however” is an acceptable alternative, think again.  It’s just a “but” in a tuxedo.

Should have – Ok, this is actually a two-word phrase.  The point is, it’s perhaps the most pointless phrase anyone can ever utter.  While it’s important to learn from the past, this phrase is filled with negativity, and until someone makes time travel possible, it serves no purpose, other than to point out a mistake.  Turn this around by focusing on the future.  Instead of saying, “You should have…” change it to, “Next time, try this….”  This simple shift changes the focus from negativity to possibility and helpfulness.

Can’t – Few words, if any, are more disempowering than the word “can’t.”  It’s so final.  When you say “can’t” you’re saying that something is literally impossible.  The thing is, that’s almost never really the case.  You might be up against a very difficult situation, and your challenges might seem insurmountable, but that doesn’t mean something can’t be done.  It just means it’s going to be very difficult.  And because of the level of difficulty, sometimes it makes sense to choose not to follow through with something or to start it in the first place.  Entrepreneurs frequently evaluate a situation and make a decision not to proceed.  This is often a prudent decision, and it shows maturity and professionalism, whereas simply saying it can’t be done is an excuse and not to be taken seriously.  So rather than telling yourself you can’t do something, think in terms of what it would take to make it happen, and then evaluate whether you want to proceed, and make a decision based on the facts.

The language you use really does matter.  Whether it’s internal talk or when you’re speaking to others, words have an affect on your thoughts, therefore your emotions, and therefore your actions.  So choose words well and eliminate those that don’t serve to keep your potential intact.

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1. I’m afraid I’ll fail. This is the mother of all excuses.  Many other excuses are actually this one in disguise.  People often say that they’re putting off their dreams due to lack of money or time, for example, when if they did some soul searching, they’d find that they’re really just afraid of failing.  The hard part is, there is always a risk of failure in business.  So if you’re hoping to somehow eliminate that possibility before you take the necessary steps toward success, you’ll never take them.  The people who are successful in life are not without fear.  They have fear, just like you.  The difference is, they act anyway.  A useful tool to push through this fear is to ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?”  You’re not going to lose your life, your family or your health by starting or growing your business, so even if the worst does happen, you’ll end up with the most important things in life.  Also, keep in mind that some of the greatest success stories include a lot of failures, so even if you do fail, that’s just one more step toward success.  One thing is true no matter what: If you don’t try at all, you’ve already failed.

2. I don’t have enough money. Another reason to keep up the status quo, this excuse is especially effective these days – what with the economy and all.  The truth is, while a lack of money might keep you from starting big, it doesn’t have to keep you from starting at all.  Any step you can take toward starting or building your business is a step in the right direction and will empower you to do more.  So take the steps that cost little or no money, like researching, networking, social media marketing, and planning.  In the meantime, eliminate things that aren’t as important as building your future and divert the money to your venture. (i.e. cable TV, video games, lattes, lunch out, etc.)

3. I’m too young or too old. This excuse is just silly, but many still use it to hold themselves back.  In reality, people of all ages have started successful businesses.  It’s never to early or too late to begin working toward your dream.  If you’re young, connect with people who are more experienced and ask whatever questions you have.  They’ll appreciate your courage, drive and enthusiasm, and you’ll be surprised how much help you’ll find.  If you’re older, play upon your life experience to drive your success.  Connecting is a key in this case as well.  If there’s something you don’t know or don’t understand, find someone who does, and don’t be shy about asking for help.

4. I don’t have enough time. It’s hard to justify this excuse when you know there are single mothers out there holding down full time jobs while taking on a full college course load.  Chances are, your challenge has more to do with time management than the amount of time you have.  After all, we all have the same amount of time in our day.  The secret to eliminating this excuse is getting rid of all the stuff that isn’t helping you to get where you want to be.  If you watch TV, play video games, or party every weekend, then you have time – you’re just not using it wisely.  Another challenge people have with time is in thinking they need huge blocks of time to accomplish anything.  If your schedule is such that you can only work on your business in bits and pieces, so be it.  Don’t let that keep you from doing what you can.  Again, every small step takes you closer to your goal, so take those steps.

There are a lot more excuses than these that people use to hold them down.  The point is, these really are excuses.  Each can be a legitimate concern, but often what it takes to get what you want is to see all the reasons it can’t be done and to do it anyway.  Remember, action begets action begets results.  In other words, do something in spite of all the excuses, and you might just start a chain of activity that will result in success.  Make ‘someday’ today!

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Step 1: In the “Account” dropdown on the top menu bar, click “Application Settings”. This will bring up a page with a list of your applications.

Step 2: On the resulting page, click “Notes”. Don’t click on “Edit Settings” or “Profile”. Just click the word “Notes”.

Step 3: The following page will bring up your current notes or state that you don’t have any. On the right side of the page is a box where you will click on “Import a blog”.

Steps 4-6: On the next page, enter the URL for your blog’s feed. Then click the checkbox to accept Facebook’s terms (basically saying that you’re entering your own blog), and hit “Start Importing”.

Important: Facebook is often glitchy at this step.  If you get an error, and you’re sure you’ve entered the right URL, keep trying. You might even have to close out of the process and go back in, but eventually it will work. (Hopefully Facebook is working on this.)

Note: If your entire site is a blog (rather than a page on your site), you can enter the primary URL here too. In other words, we could enter “http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogtrepreneur” or just “http://www.blogtrepreneur.com”.

Step 7: If all goes well with the URL you entered, you’ll be taken to a page showing a preview of your blog posts. Don’t worry that they’re not in order here. It’s because they all show as being loaded on the same day. From this point forward, new posts will show up at the top as you post them. If all looks good, click “Confirm Import”.

Once you’ve confirmed your import, you can view the feed in the “My Notes” tab. That’s it! Your blog posts will now update your Notes page in your Facebook account automatically.

If you have a Fan Page

You can easily accomplish the same thing on your Facebook Fan Page. Everything is the same as a regular Facebook page, except the first step. On your settings page, where all your settings are listed, click “Edit” under “Notes”. From there, everything looks the same as above.

If you have a blog (and everyone should) and you have a Facebook page (and everyone should), this will help you combine those tools to improve your marketing, enhance your SEO efforts, and connect with more readers and customers. All in about 5 minutes of your valuable time!

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I recently stumbled across this great little report called Secrets of Outsourcing Experts Revealed – and I had to let you know about it straight away.
You see, I come across SO MANY bloggers who are going out of their mind trying to do everything themselves – from building their blog to customizing their design. They get home from work at around 7.30pm, eat, touch base with the family – and sit down to work on their Internet marketing . . . sound familiar? I know – I’ve been there – and this little gem is specifically for those of you who do it all themselves – and wish you didn’t.

The Secrets of Outsourcing Experts Revealed is not just another report about outsourcing. It melds together leading experts such as Tim Ferriss, Jeff Mills and John Jonas, all of whom have outsourced their entire businesses and live the lifestyle they desire, working as little as 4 hours a week. The report is packed with insights from these leading Internet marketers – they reveal their screwups, and their successes – and what they’d wished they’d done in the beginning. They also wish they’d had the kind of knowledge about outsourcing delivered in this report – and these guys know what they’re on about. One of the things all of them agree on is they wish they’d outsourced more of their businesses earlier – and that struck a chord with me because, like you, I know what it’s like to be drowning in a ‘to-do’ list for my online business.

The report is by Tyrone Shum, a young entrepreneur who has already cracked the secret of outsourcing successfully and now rakes in a cool 6 figures a year while working only 4 hours a week. He has implemented the strategies covered in his report, and knows exactly what (and what NOT) to do.
This is a perfect example of learning from someone else’s mistakes without making them yourself – the report covers the pitfalls and ripoffs people like John Jonas have already experienced – so you don’t have to. Know exactly where to go and how to begin outsourcing from the start – and I recommend doing it as soon as your business can afford it; according to the report, you can begin hiring staff from as little as US$125 a month part time – and think of the time that will get back for you…

I was literally bowled over by the amount of information and knowledge in this report – the more so cause it’s absolutely free. I personally would be happy to pay for this sort of information, so grab it while you can. All of the information you need on outsourcing are in the report, so take a little time right now to download it. After all, if it’s good enough for John Jonas, Tim Ferriss and Jeff Mills, it’s worth your time to look into.

YOUR DOWNLOAD LINK TO THE REPORT

To download your own copy of Secrets of Outsourcing Experts Revealed
report, please visit the following page:

Free Report Click here

For best results, I recommend you print out the report and find a nice and quiet place to sit down and read it from start to finish without being interrupted. That way, you’ll get to enjoy the interviews and have a much better overview of what it takes to outsource your Internet business. You’ll probably get loads of ideas from these Internet marketing experts and start jotting down ideas right away – I know I did. So far I’ve noted dozens of ideas for my own business.

Not everything in the report will apply to all of you, but there’s a lot of information to work with as you grow your online business. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about leveraging your time. Think about the parts of your business you don’t really like, or that take you far too long (like technical stuff if you’re a copywriter – or content creation if you’re a techie). Do you spend time writing invoices, when you should be strategizing for growth? This is exactly the sort of thing you can outsource – and you’ll get stacks more ideas about leveraging your time in this value-packed report.

If you’re thinking about outsourcing, I recommend you read this report first – doing it the wrong way can cost you a lot in time, money and lost business revenue. Check out this report – you’ll be glad you did.

Free Report Click Here

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While you must always, fundamentally, protect your ultimate position as a decision-maker, you should engage your employees as much as possible. This can often be a subtle undertaking as you neither want to appear to be too dominant nor too submissive, yet the path to respect lies in the middle.

Always show that you are competent, understand your role and have a good grasp of the business fundamentals. There is nothing worse than a ship adrift at sea and before you can get the respect of your employees you must be able to counter their fears and show them that you are clearly in control of the business destiny.

You must be able to “walk the walk” as well as “talk the talk” and should establish yourself as the role model within the organization. Stand by your convictions and believe in what you say.

Never try and bluff your way through any situation. If you truly do not know, admit to it and move on to the next step, which is to try and find a solution to the issue and to educate yourself appropriately to do so. You can gain a lot of respect by engaging your employees to contribute their knowledge and possible solutions to the situation. This goes a long way to gather respect.

If you are new to your position as employer or supervisor, it is generally a good idea to allocate time to an inclusive meeting with all the staff, during which you may go through a “state of the business” discussion and outline the corporate goals, your goals and invite contributions to determine their goals. If you can establish that success is a joint initiative between all of you and that each employee has his or her significant part to play, then you can engage their support for your overall objectives.

If problems arise and decisions have to be made, understand that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do this. It is often better to suggest rather than to dictate, as this helps to involve the employee and should make for a more enthusiastic approach, as opposed to a mandate. This does not mean that you should be “a pushover,” and must be prepared to make a firm decision if detraction, for one reason or another, would not be in the best interests of the business as a whole.

In short, always be approachable, reasonable, inclusive, appreciative yet firm. You will find that this approach is far more likely to gain employees’ respect and lead to a successful and mutually rewarding relationship.

Speaking from first hand experience, do you have any suggestions?

Matthew Toren

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1. Plenty Of Fish

Far from the most glamorous of websites, and way behind when it comes to mainstream marketing spend, Plenty Of Fish is nonetheless our top pick. The site attracts an enormous number of monthly visitors, yet is still ably managed by its founder, Markus Friend, to this day. The service is offered free to all visitors, who receive a feature-rich platform. There are numerous forums, comprehensive questionnaires and the site is much less formal than some of the other top competitors. Markus seems to have hit on the right mix of presentation and promotion. For example, a popular feature is the “who loves me” feature, where you can check out who has checked you out.

2. OK Cupid

This site is a great mix of social networking, online dating and compatibility testing. Once again, the site is not as pretty as some, but is presented as a free service. Part of the attraction of this site is that it allows you to create your own compatibility matching questions, which we believe to be a unique feature. This makes you feel as if you really are narrowing your choices down to somebody who truly matches you. You may make contact, however, with anyone on the site, not just your “matches”.

3. E Harmony

E Harmony is probably the most avidly promoted, with regular advertising slots on network and cable TV. As opposed to the above mentioned sites, E Harmony’s compatibility matching methods are somewhat rigid, although the results are generally good. They have 29 different, predetermined selection categories, but their compatibility process does take time. Some criticize this aspect of their mix, and as the site is fee-based, your investment can take a little time to pay off. In addition, they only allow you to get in contact with those whom you have “matched” through their process.

So what do you think about our Top 3 Dating Websites? Have you had any experience with these sites, or others? We want to hear your thoughts about our choices. Who would be on your Top 3 Dating Website lists and why?

Adam Toren

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Accounting does not only tell you whether or not you’re making a profit, but also helps you to track your different sources of income and categories of expenditure and make important decisions based on this information. Within your system you will compose records, including a profit and loss account, a cash flow projection and a balance sheet, which will combine with numerous other reports to give you a good overall picture of your enterprise.

When it comes to setting up an accounting system you must first pick your accounting method. This gives you two choices – either the cash method or the accrual method. The cash method is the more popular and is usually adopted by small business. This method requires you to account for your income when you actually receive it, and your expenditure when you actually pay out. If you normally take immediate payment for a product or service through a check, credit card or cash, this is the method you should likely adopt. The accrual method requires you to account for a sale when it is consummated, not necessarily when you receive the money for it. Likewise, expenses are accounted for when you actually receive the product or service. Companies that use an invoicing system use the accrual method.

Most small businesses choose the cash method as it is much easier to maintain. For example, you do not have to establish records for “accounts receivable” or “accounts payable”, but if your company exceeds $5 million in annual sales you will likely be forced to use the accrual method by the taxation authorities.

Once you have settled upon your accounting method, decide how you are going to record all your transactions. While some people choose to do this by hand, as was common at one time in our history, the majority of people choose to use software. Many different software programs exist, the most prominent being QuickBooks.

Once you have determined your method and your recording platform, set up your chart of accounts. This is simply a listing of the various categories and subcategories. Most accounting platforms use the “double entry” standard, which means that when you make one record of a transaction, you must make a corresponding and opposite record to balance out. This is a highly accurate way of compiling financial records.

It is very important to use your new accounting system religiously. It is strongly recommended that you maintain the system every week, if not on a daily basis. Obviously, the more complex your operation, the more attention you should pay to accurate record-keeping. Always make sure that you record every transaction, be it a check, a charge, petty cash, or a bill.

As the old saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out”. Be careful when entering transactions and do remember to reconcile your accounts. Reconciliation is vitally important, and again should be done on a regular basis, or you will spend many nervous hours looking for your error. At the very least, you should reconcile your accounting system against your bank statements. Always reconcile to the penny, and you will have very accurate records and will be ready to provide the greedy taxman with his share at year-end.

Have you got any other tips on managing your accounts?

Matthew Toren

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Without a doubt, Twitter is an excellent business communication tool, allowing more efficient contact with customers. While it has all the makings for a great advertising vehicle, Twitter as of yet has no formal advertising program. So taking your Twitter use to the next level and starting a Twitter advertising program means finding a balance between a sales pitch and a tweet that will lead potential buyers to your website.

If you blog on Twitter and have a good number of followers, this becomes an appealing vehicle for advertisers. You can actually generate income for a blog you are already producing. Of course, you’ll have to be open to running an advertising pitch at the end of your message, which may or may not offend some of your followers.

Twittad is probably the most structured and established program where you can make money using your Twitter profile. One option is to sell ad space on your Twitter account. You list it on Twittad, name your price based on your followers, and if you accept the ad, it will be added to your Twitter profile. Each time the ad is clicked upon, you earn money.

The other Twittad option is its opt-in advertiser campaign. This is particularly useful for entrepreneurs on Twitter because you can send a tweet advertising a product and earn income by doing it.

While it appears Twitter has the makings for some substantial income producing opportunities, advertising gurus point out some of its potential downfalls. For example, Twitter’s retention rate is less than 50%, which means those who visit your Twitter profile once, may not return again. That makes it a bit more challenging to meet your goals for online audience reach.

While there is much hype surrounding Twitter right now, the question is whether it can maintain it long-term. Keep in mind that some find Twitter’s interface a bit confusing, which means many are still trying to figure out its intricacies, like trying to follow conversation threads and figuring out direct messages and retweets.

Whether or not the pros outweigh the cons is a personal decision. But considering the vast audience that Twitter attracts, it’s a sure bet it’s evolution will include an advertising program. For entrepreneurs, that could mean a promising addition to current online advertising opportunities.

If you’ve tried any income producing programs on Twitter or have your own ways of making money using Twitter, we invite you to share them with other entrepreneurs. Leave your feedback and suggestions in a comment.

Adam Toren

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As a unique, personal brand you can make a name for yourself over and above the company you work for.   Making a website, writing an ebook, and using social media are easy and fun; as you create your own following, it will add to your net worth as an individual and an employee.

In the groundbreaking book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim Collins, he describes one of the most important ways that a company can excel when others fail.  Hiring the “right people” doesn’t mean hiring them to fill a job description; it means hiring extraordinary people and letting them contribute to your company in innovative ways.  Corporations have begun to adopt more flexible, organic growth patterns which make them much more responsive to market demands and good old fashioned inspiration.

All this means that the focus must return to developing ourselves in the ways where we are naturally more suited to excel.  Ironically, this will not only make us better employees and entrepreneurs; but we’ll be much happier personally as we align our work with our personalities.

Me 2.0 is not just about building a career based on your individual abilities, however.  That is merely the first step.  This book is for marketing yourself—the next part of the success equation.  All the rules have changed, and that includes how you find work and promote yourself.  Obviously, the biggest role played in modern networking is the internet; and young people have an advantage when it comes to adaptability online.  They also have a much better grasp of how to use Web 2.0 effectively for marketing themselves and their products/services.

Me 2.0 is more than just an informative book, however.  It is a guide for building a personal brand which includes case studies; development and strategic planning exercises; and technical instructions for creating and promoting your online presence.  For anyone looking to succeed in the coming decades, it is a must-read.

Dan Schawbel is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success as well as the publisher of both the award winning Personal Branding Blog and Personal Branding Magazine.  You can stay up on Schawbel’s latest news and information on his popular blog: Personal Branding Blog.

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Hands-On Guide to Video Blogging and Podcasting: Emerging Media Tools for Business Communication

Author:  Lionel Felix

Video blogging is the next step in the blogosphere.  Already it is being adopted by the most savvy authors, and sites like YouTube which publish videos are insanely popular.  You can increase your blog traffic exponentially when you start producing video blog posts.   This excellent book is a basic but comprehensive look at the newest technology, tools and platforms for video blogging—and it’s cousin podcasting.

We the Media

Author:  Dan Gillmor

In this book, author Dan Gillmor discusses the rapidly blurring line between bloggers and journalists; and talks about the dangers and responsibilities both groups have to face when creating news and passing on information.  Information is now freer than ever before and individuals have become much more critical in their thinking when it comes to world events, the political process, and economic issues.  This book is an excellent look at the changing landscape of news and how it is reported.

Blog!:  How the Newest Media Revolution is Changing Politics, Business, and Culture

Author:  David Kline and Dan Bursetein.

Blogging is changing the way people stay informed and participate in politics, business, and culture.  In this book authors David Kline and Dan Burstein take a “big picture” look at blogging and its impact on these very important parts of our society.

Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers

Author:  Michael A. Banks

The best way to learn greatness is to listen to people who have achieved it themselves.  This book interviews some of the brightest stars in the blogosphere, including Peter Rojas, Robert Scoble, Gina Trapani, Richard MacManus and many more.

Publish and Prosper: Blogging for Your Business

Author: D. L. Byron

This book discusses blogging from the perspective of a business person and gives specific information on how differentiate your site from ‘hobby blogs.’  Get the lowdown on how to create, manage, and network your blog all with the aim of increasing your business.

No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog

Author:  Margaret Mason

Standing out from the crown in the blogosphere means being creative not only in your writing, but in the way you approach your entire blog from concept to execution.  This book offers unique ideas and a healthy dose of inspiration for individuals that are trying to make a name for themselves with their blog.

The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media

Author:  Paul Gillin

Marketing has changed, and those who cannot adapt will find themselves lost and confused in the new world of social networking and social media. This book helps traditional marketing people grasp the concepts that they need to make social media work for them; and gives specific examples of how to operate within this new system of marketing and networking.

The Corporate Blogging Book: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know to Get It Right

Author:  Debbie Weil

Blogging isn’t just for the “little guy” any more.  Now that they are convinced of the power of blogging, corporations are launching more and more blogs, many of them written by their CEO’s or other major players within their organizations.  This book helps corporate bloggers understand the world they are entering, and shows this how to avoid some cliché pitfalls which will set them back as they take on this exciting new medium.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly

Author:  David Meerman Scott

It is time for marketing people to give up their fast talking ways and get with the program.  The new era of marketing is here and it is about three things:  being genuine, providing information, and having a consistent online presence.  This book helps redefine marketing and public relations based on the social media phenomenon.

Blog Schmog: The Truth About What Blogs Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Business

Author:  Robert W. Bly

So many books have been written gushing about the joys of blogging that many writers feel a sense of letdown when their blogs don’t perform miracles for them.  In this book, Robert W. Bly gives readers a realistic view of what blogging is all about, and what it can do for your business in the long run.

Do you have a recommendation that didn’t make our list?  Leave a comment and let us know!

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[am-bish-uh n]
–noun

An earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.

Ambition is at the heart of all true success stories.   That’s because success is based on one thing:  achievement.  Sure there are plenty of people with fame and money who have never had to work for it—but rarely are they considered a “success.”  Rather, it’s the people who have had to make sacrifices; who have worked tirelessly and been resourceful who we look to as our icons of success.  And the thing that drives those people is ambition.

The question I have for you today is:  how ambitious are you?  The answer will determine the level of success you will attain in your business venture, because it will define exactly what you’re willing to do to make it succeed.  Obviously, unchecked ambition can be dangerous because it ignores everything else but the sought-after “prize” of money, fame, or whatever you’re after.  But a strong, healthy sense of ambition is absolutely necessary if you’re going to overcome the obstacles that stand between you and your goal.

There are millions of people who start up a business each year; yet only a small percentage of them actually establish themselves and continue to grow after the first few years.  Even less become more than just a steady source of income for the owner.  Of course, there are some cases where disaster strikes and a business fails because of things outside of the owner’s control, and every once in a while there’s a business idea so ridiculous it is simply not sustainable.  But for the most part, the failure of a business is about not having the chutzpah to keep it going no matter what comes up.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart.  The blood, sweat and tears that goes in to starting up a business are done so not for money, but for creative achievement that every entrepreneur has as part of their personality.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  not everyone can be an entrepreneur.  It takes a very special person with not only talent, knowledge and ability but a powerful ambition to see their work take root and flourish.

Ambition requires that you have enough faith in yourself that you won’t back down in the face of criticism or discouragement.  It means that you are resourceful enough to come up with solutions when all hope seems lost.  It means you’re not above rolling up your sleeves and working all night, or asking for help when you really need it.  Ambition means that you believe in your company enough that you are ready to talk about it any time you have an opportunity.

Throughout history there have been a small percentage of people—men and women—who have risen to the top, regardless of where they’ve started out in life; people who have taken the flash of inspiration and carried it through to a concrete reality; individuals with the ability to create their own vision so clearly that they manifest it in everything that they do.  They are the ambitious.  Are you?

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But even though working from home has many benefits, there are also challenges.  It can be difficult to stay motivated, organized, and efficient when you are working in the same place you sleep.  So I have compiled a list of seven tips that you can use to make your work-at-home experience positive and productive:

1.     Set Your Alarm

Even if you don’t have to be to the office at a certain time, you should set your alarm at the same time every day, and be ready to work by a certain time.  Maintain “office hours” for yourself, preferably during the times that the rest of the world is doing business, so that are accessible to your clients and/or employers.

2.    Take a Shower

This is just as much for your benefit as it is for anyone who might be living with you.  Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can sit around in your sweats for two weeks.  You should get up every day, take a shower, and get ready as if you were going to meet someone.  This will help you stay alert and help you feel motivated to make phone calls and make other kinds of contact.

3.    Create Space

Don’t plan on working from your lounger.  Make sure you have a space that is set up for real work.  That means supplies, equipment, work space, and a comfortable, ergonomic chair.  Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your job seriously.  Keeping a space dedicated just for work will help you put on your game face when it is time to buckle down.

4.    Draw Lines

Make sure everyone in your home knows when and where you work.  Your desk is not a place for the kids to do their homework or your spouse to fold and stack the laundry.  Let everyone living with you know that you have certain times that you must be able to work without interruptions.  When you work from home there is a tendency for people to think that you can drop what you’re doing.  While flexibility is a great benefit of working at home, you’ll find yourself plagued with requests to do things at all hours and your work momentum will suffer if you don’t explicitly tell people that you are simply not available during certain times.

5.    Know When to Stop

One of the biggest risks in working from home is not being able to stop and walk away.  Your computer is staring at your 24/7, and there is always something else you can do.  Being able to turn your computer and cell phone off and just relax is as important as being able to stay productive at work.

6.    Turn off the TV

It is easy to flip the TV on and keep it on all day for background noise or news updates, but it can actually be very disruptive to you when you are trying to focus on your work.  Plus, if clients or co-workers call and hear Days of Our Lives or Wheel of Fortune in the background, it doesn’t exactly instill faith in your professionalism.

7.    Go Outside Every Day

When you work from home, days can go by without you leaving the house.  This is simply not healthy.  You need to take at least an hour a day to go outside and get some fresh air and sunshine—no matter how busy your schedule is.  Don’t just roll out of bed and start working for 12 hours, ordering a pizza for nourishment.  Take walks, go to the gym, play ball with your kids for an hour after school.  You’ll find yourself feeling refreshed and much more focused after you do.

As you can see, the key to being productive when you work from home is keeping yourself focused and able to maintain a sense of business when it is time to work.  Do you work from home?  If so, what are some of the ways you have found to keep organized and productive?

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