Forex trading, or foreign currency trading, has become a bit of a craze of late, especially since it is something available to anyone who owns a computer. And anyone who is willing to put in some training time can profit from forex trading.
The forex market finds traders from all around the globe monitoring currency fluctuations, not unlike the way a day trader may monitor a stock's fluctuation on the Dow Jones.
In forex trading, a trader will pair two types of currency, for example the U.S. dollar and the British pound. As it requires more of one currency to purchase another, that currency loses value. Not unlike, stock trading, forex traders try to accumulate currency when it weakens in hopes of selling it when it goes up in value. Forex trading is not unlike the buy low, sell high approach found in stock trading.
The way a trader on the forex market exchange goes about acquiring currency is by giving a bid/ask quote, saying he is willing to buy, for example 1.6 marks per dollar and sell them at 1.625 per dollar. One must be a market trader to have access to this process. So most people who are forex trading on line buy the currency through a bank, where they'll pay a commission, then have to figure the commission paid to the bank into the calculation of their spread, or profit margin, when they sell it.
Forex trading is not an easy path to riches. And some people have lost considerable money in miscalculating the market. With its increased popularity, on some days the forex market exchange can see more than one trillion dollars exchanged. Packages for teaching a new forex trader how to invest in the market can range in price.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
How to Run a Forex Business From Home
Running a Forex, or FOREX (which means Foreign Exchange Market), business from home is not only easy but profitable. You can test how you will do by opening a practice account, or you can jump right in and start trading. Whatever you choose, this is a great home-based business.
1 Sign up for a free practice account at a Forex website (see Resources below). Most of them have this option so that you can learn how to begin. Some of these sites also have online courses and information about Forex workshops in your area. If you're already an active trader, then open an account and start trading.
2 Begin trading when you feel ready. Then start with small amounts until you are confident enough to take on bigger trades. You can open or close your account at any time you want, and you don't have to buy any currency to trade it.
3 Download a program called Forex Killer. After you've set it up, it can automatically do trades for you while you're away from your computer or sleeping.
4 Take your time and let your business grow. Within time, it is quite possible that this can become your full-time career, and you can be a professional and well-qualified trader.
Tips & Warnings
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The largest financial market in the world is FOREX (the Foreign Exchange Market). FOREX is the trading of one world's currency for another. For example, you can trade U.S. dollars for Japanese yen.
*
FOREX is part of the 24-hour Interbank Market, which is a bank-to-bank currency market. This market actually follows the sun around the world as it moves from one major banking area to another.
*
Since you are using your computer to work from home, you can write off what you pay for Internet access as a business expense.
1 Sign up for a free practice account at a Forex website (see Resources below). Most of them have this option so that you can learn how to begin. Some of these sites also have online courses and information about Forex workshops in your area. If you're already an active trader, then open an account and start trading.
2 Begin trading when you feel ready. Then start with small amounts until you are confident enough to take on bigger trades. You can open or close your account at any time you want, and you don't have to buy any currency to trade it.
3 Download a program called Forex Killer. After you've set it up, it can automatically do trades for you while you're away from your computer or sleeping.
4 Take your time and let your business grow. Within time, it is quite possible that this can become your full-time career, and you can be a professional and well-qualified trader.
Tips & Warnings
*
The largest financial market in the world is FOREX (the Foreign Exchange Market). FOREX is the trading of one world's currency for another. For example, you can trade U.S. dollars for Japanese yen.
*
FOREX is part of the 24-hour Interbank Market, which is a bank-to-bank currency market. This market actually follows the sun around the world as it moves from one major banking area to another.
*
Since you are using your computer to work from home, you can write off what you pay for Internet access as a business expense.
Things To Consider Before You Start An MLM Business
Everyday thousands of people get turned on to the idea of starting an mlm business. Although it may sound like a dream come true the reality is that most people wind up failing and quit soon after. If you want to start an mlm business you have to get into the right state of mind and be prepared for some tough challenges down the road. This can be a very lucrative business, but it is still a business and is going to require your time and effort. Luckily in today's world, starting an mlm business has become much easier to run and automate utilizing the Internet. I want to go over a couple things with you that you should consider before you start an mlm business.
Find Some Business Partners
If you are interested and want to get involved with the mlm industry you should not go it alone. Too many people fall into this trap of doing it by themselves and wind up quitting because they have lack of focus and support from fellow team members. It's a good idea to find a couple of friends or family members who might be interested and have them join under you. You can than make it a goal for each of them to go out and find two more people or business partners. This will get your duplication system off to a head start and build your downline quick.
Make A Business Plan
It is very important that you outline from the start how you are going to start an mlm business and operate it. Many people fail because they do not have goals or a plan to follow. It is important that you keep track of your spending and organize meetings with your downline and focus on their needs also. Remember that the people in your downline are like your employees and if they leave you will make no money. Going into mlm without a business plan will ultimately result in failure.
Think About Marketing It Online
With the advanced technology the Internet offers, mlm online is becoming very popular and it might be an option you want to consider. There are many great marketing tools and duplication systems you can implement online and build you mlm business on complete auto-pilot. The Internet is also a great place to find mlm leads and prospects. There are thousands of forums online with people looking to get involved with network marketing. Using the Internet is also good if you have a limited advertising budget or little time to network.
Be Prepared For The Long Haul
Before you start an mlm business you have to recognize that this business is not as easy as people make it out to be. Many recruiters sell you on fancy compensation plans and the appeal of doing very little work and making lots of money. This is all very true but it is what you put into it which is going to determine your success. Once you become an active recruiter you can never stop and get lazy. If the most successful mlm person stopped recruiting today his empire will crumble in a year. This business will not build itself overnight and could take years to build depending on your skills and dedication.
If you decide that mlm is for you than you could be in for some nice income and lifestyle changes. Many people everyday start an mlm business and enjoy the lifestyle of being their own boss and making retirement style income for themselves and their families. Take some of these things into consideration before you start an mlm business and you can be well on your way to becoming the next big mlm superstar.
Find Some Business Partners
If you are interested and want to get involved with the mlm industry you should not go it alone. Too many people fall into this trap of doing it by themselves and wind up quitting because they have lack of focus and support from fellow team members. It's a good idea to find a couple of friends or family members who might be interested and have them join under you. You can than make it a goal for each of them to go out and find two more people or business partners. This will get your duplication system off to a head start and build your downline quick.
Make A Business Plan
It is very important that you outline from the start how you are going to start an mlm business and operate it. Many people fail because they do not have goals or a plan to follow. It is important that you keep track of your spending and organize meetings with your downline and focus on their needs also. Remember that the people in your downline are like your employees and if they leave you will make no money. Going into mlm without a business plan will ultimately result in failure.
Think About Marketing It Online
With the advanced technology the Internet offers, mlm online is becoming very popular and it might be an option you want to consider. There are many great marketing tools and duplication systems you can implement online and build you mlm business on complete auto-pilot. The Internet is also a great place to find mlm leads and prospects. There are thousands of forums online with people looking to get involved with network marketing. Using the Internet is also good if you have a limited advertising budget or little time to network.
Be Prepared For The Long Haul
Before you start an mlm business you have to recognize that this business is not as easy as people make it out to be. Many recruiters sell you on fancy compensation plans and the appeal of doing very little work and making lots of money. This is all very true but it is what you put into it which is going to determine your success. Once you become an active recruiter you can never stop and get lazy. If the most successful mlm person stopped recruiting today his empire will crumble in a year. This business will not build itself overnight and could take years to build depending on your skills and dedication.
If you decide that mlm is for you than you could be in for some nice income and lifestyle changes. Many people everyday start an mlm business and enjoy the lifestyle of being their own boss and making retirement style income for themselves and their families. Take some of these things into consideration before you start an mlm business and you can be well on your way to becoming the next big mlm superstar.
How to Start an Auto Business
Which part of the auto business is of interest to you and do you have enough money to pursue that interest. This is the first question that people thinking of getting into an auto related business must answer for themselves. There are many auto related businesses that a person can consider. The range can start with auto repair or care and go to a new dealership. There are several areas that are different and yet are some how auto related.
The business types that fit into these categories have significant differences in start up cost. A new car dealership will cost more to buy than a small repair shop. A used car dealership may have a lower start up cost than a large multi-bay repair shop. A brand name muffler shop can have a large price tag if started from scratch. With these money considerations a person that wants to own a business in the auto field must be realistic about those areas they can afford to start or buy. There is a huge difference in the price tag of these different operations. The prospective owner of one of these businesses must make an early decision of what they can afford that they also would like to do. If is not logical that a non-mechanic would do well in with a repair shop. A non-sales person is not likely to own a car dealership. The point is that personal traits, likes and dislikes will lead a person to the likely businesses that they should consider.
How do you find auto businesses are for sale
Business brokers as a group are very good sources of businesses that are on the market. There are brokers that specialize in certain types of business, who would be very good people to contact about auto related businesses. The Internet is an excellent source for finding brokers and businesses that are for sale. Any large city is going to have brokers that specialize in buying and selling existing businesses. Brand name auto related businesses could also be contacted to see where and what they have to offer. If you have a passion for hot cars or just making them run right, maybe a car repair shop or a custom car shop could be your cup of tea. The cost to start one of these shops would be less than a new car dealership. On the other hand if you are a terrific sales person, a car sales company either new or used would be a logical choice if you have the money to buy one or get a new one off the ground. There are brokers and brand name auto companies that could help you find the answers you need for this niche area of the auto business. One other factor that must be looked into is there are many types of used car businesses. There are companies that only carry certain brands and there are businesses that restore certain cars. The variations which are found within the auto related entities is so profuse, that a person would be wise to see a list of all of the businesses in the area they wish to work. There are just so many possibilities that a person may consider when looking for a business to own.
If you have the money, the old owner will have the time
If you have the money, the old owner will have the time to listen to your offer to buy their business. This does not mean that you have all of the cash yourself, it just means that you can make a cash deal happen. I f you can get pre-approved for a credit line or loan, you can get a better price typically with a cash price offer. Most sellers will lower the price if they can be totally cashed out at the time of sale. If they do have to carry back paper, the price will be higher than an all cash deal. Using the sources that are easily found on the Net can help arrange this loan. By using a good search engine to find companies that make loans to buy a business, you will be surprised at how many sources make these business loans.
Other money sources are partners, friends or relatives. Each of these will have different pros and cons associated with them. Relatives may be willing to make a loan, but they will probably want it to be very short in time. A partner can bring all other sorts of difficulties, as someone has to be the boss. Friends may be okay if they can truly afford the loan. In any event a disinterested third party is the best of all sources if for no other reason than peace of mind.
A substantial down payment may ease the reluctance of the seller to carry back paper. At this point in the sale, it is all about negotiating the deal. Terms can be fair to both parties and that is the way it should be or the deal may ultimately fail. If the seller will not cooperate and the other money sources are not willing to help you, it is time to walk away. Sometimes not doing anything is the best course of action by all concerned. It may be that a year would make all the difference in the world.
This business purchase cries for a broker’s help
Because there are so many aspects to the auto business, this area is one where a knowledgeable broker with solid lists of businesses for sale would be of real help in finding a situation that is perfect for the buyer. They could give a quick over view of what is available in the categories that make up the auto businesses. This could save time and maybe even generate a new idea for a business. This is just one of the many services that a good broker can provide in the search for a business property.
Conclusions
The auto related business is an interesting area of possibilities for the person that wishes to own a business connected to cars. There is an area for just about every interest or personality that wants to earn his or her living in these areas. If you like working on cars or selling cars or caring for cars there is a business for you. It truly is about what you like to do with your time and finding an area that will allow you to enjoy yourself and make money at the same time. Finding a property that fits your interest or your skills is easily accomplished by using an experienced business broker. They will know the businesses in a geographical area that are for sale. They can give you a run down on the prices and the profitability of the businesses on their lists. This is a great time saver and speeds up the gathering of information that you will need to make informed decisions on the business you would consider owning. You may find two or three possibilities and this would be better for you as you could see which would be the best to buy based on many factors. Profit versus price would be a first consideration. You could find whom you could make the best deal with and have the best terms of purchase. And of course that is very important in buying an existing business.
Ford To Sell Global Crossover SUV Designs
Ford’s global product strategy has been focused on three main products—the next Focus; the Fiesta, which debuts in the U.S. next year having already made splashes in Europe and Asia; and the next generation Fusion that will be the same design as the next European Mondeo. [Can Ford’s “World Car” Bet Pay Off?]But Ford is actually taking this global product design strategy further. According to my recent interview with Ford’s top global marketing executive James Farley, the global design scheme will extend to crossover vehicles as well. Yup. Same crossovers and multi-activity-vehicles in Dearborn Michigan as in Milan, Dubai and Shanghai.
Farley, in our chat, talked about the Honda Fit, a car he clearly admires. No wonder, then, that I saw a European Volkswagen Golf Plus parked outside his office. The Golf Plus, like the Fit and Ford C-Max (pictured above) in Europe represent a product niche that Farley and Ford is ripe to take off in the U.S.—the small, thrifty car with high fuel economy and great practicality.
Other than the pickups and big SUVs, there is little reason, says Farley, why crossovers built off the engineering platforms that support the Focus, Fusion and Fiesta can’t be the same the world over. There just isn’t that much difference any more between what Americans want in these product segments, and what Europeans and Asians want. Pickups and big SUVs…yes. But not cars and crossovers.
This is the way, Ford reckons, it will achieve true global scale and efficiency to take on Toyota and Honda in the future—not only for market share, but profitability.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Six Business Lessons I Learned from “Beauty Shop”
by: Patricia Simoneau
I discover a lot of business and life lessons in movies. While I don’t get out much these days, and I rarely have occasion to kick back and watch them at home, I value the nuggets of wisdom that I take away from them.
One night I actually put my feet up and watched Queen Latifah’s movie “Beauty Shop”. I missed about 20 minutes of the movie, between her walking out on her old job and starting her own business. Still, I noticed lessons that we entrepreneurs can keep in mind as we build our own businesses and our brands.
1. Be your Authentic Self.
Queen Latifah’s character, “Gina” was an honest, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is woman. And while her pretentious boss (“Jorge”, played by Kevin Bacon) did not appreciate this, her customers certainly did. So when Gina walked out the door, many of her customers went with her.
This genuine nature carried through to her new business. Because it was not an act, because she was true to herself first, customers got exactly what they expected, their Gina. Had she tried to emulate ‘Jorge’, it’s doubtful that level of loyalty would have followed her out his door. Copy-catting doesn’t work. Be true to YOU.
2. No one said this would be easy.
When Gina walked out, she jumped without a net. She knew she had the skills, she just had no plan. By staying true to herself, she worked it out. She set up shop in an area where the rent was more affordable than the “uber-salon” she left. Even when the overhead and costs at times felt as though it would all bury her, support from friends and family helped her to soldier on.
She never, never, never quit. And neither should you. If you believe in what you’re doing, then you can find a way to make it work.
3. Hire good people, treat them well, and stand by them.
In her old job, Gina wanted to give junior staff opportunities to grow, and they appreciated that. She brought one of these staffers (Alicia Silverstone’s character) with her to her own shop, because she knew this girl had what it took to be a good stylist. And when an abusive customer demanded Gina fire one her employees for defending a co-worker, Gina fired the customer instead!
This ties back into Lesson #1 about being your authentic self. Gina knew that clients come and clients go, but her staff would stick by her through thick and thin, as long as she was prepared to do the same for them.
If sticking to your personal values costs you a customer, then trust me… you are FAR better off without them.
4. Don’t sweat the competition – just keep your radar on.
Gina focused on her family and her business. She didn’t give a sniff as to what her old boss was up to, or how his business was doing. She didn’t call up his customers and “steal them” even though he accused her of doing so.
Even so, Gina kept her radar tuned in. She took note of things that were said. She kept her ducks in a row and kept good records. It’s highly unlikely that your competition will vandalize your place of business as in the movie – surely they’re not THAT stupid! There will be those who resort to mudslinging, however. In those situations, do like Gina did: pick up the pieces, hold your head up and move on.
Put your focus on YOUR customers and YOUR business. Do not stoop to the accuser’s level. As the lovely and brilliant Sales Diva, Kim Duke says: “People who throw mud are the ones with the dirt on their hands.”
5. Create products that serve your customers and fulfill their needs.
Gina cooked up some homemade conditioner in her kitchen and quietly used it on her customers. She never made a fuss about her conditioner; she simply believed that her product would help her customers. THAT was what mattered to her. The ladies at her salon affectionately called it “Hair Crack” because customers kept coming back for more! They were addicted to it because they too believed in its ability to help their damaged hair.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we strive for as entrepreneurs… having happy customers who keep coming back for more – because they LOVE it and BELIEVE it can help them. Creating your own products can go a long way to entrenching on-going customer loyalty and building your brand.
6. Treat every customer like they are your saving angel.
In this age of continuous bombardment of marketing messages, NOTHING is as effective as good word-of-mouth referrals. People put more credibility to a personal reference than they ever will in a big advertising campaign. And best of all, the cost to you is NOTHING. Zip. Nadda. Just be yourself, do good work, and create great products your customers love and want to buy again and again.
If you treat every customer as through they were the most important person on earth (and they ARE in that moment), then they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on…
I discover a lot of business and life lessons in movies. While I don’t get out much these days, and I rarely have occasion to kick back and watch them at home, I value the nuggets of wisdom that I take away from them.
One night I actually put my feet up and watched Queen Latifah’s movie “Beauty Shop”. I missed about 20 minutes of the movie, between her walking out on her old job and starting her own business. Still, I noticed lessons that we entrepreneurs can keep in mind as we build our own businesses and our brands.
1. Be your Authentic Self.
Queen Latifah’s character, “Gina” was an honest, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is woman. And while her pretentious boss (“Jorge”, played by Kevin Bacon) did not appreciate this, her customers certainly did. So when Gina walked out the door, many of her customers went with her.
This genuine nature carried through to her new business. Because it was not an act, because she was true to herself first, customers got exactly what they expected, their Gina. Had she tried to emulate ‘Jorge’, it’s doubtful that level of loyalty would have followed her out his door. Copy-catting doesn’t work. Be true to YOU.
2. No one said this would be easy.
When Gina walked out, she jumped without a net. She knew she had the skills, she just had no plan. By staying true to herself, she worked it out. She set up shop in an area where the rent was more affordable than the “uber-salon” she left. Even when the overhead and costs at times felt as though it would all bury her, support from friends and family helped her to soldier on.
She never, never, never quit. And neither should you. If you believe in what you’re doing, then you can find a way to make it work.
3. Hire good people, treat them well, and stand by them.
In her old job, Gina wanted to give junior staff opportunities to grow, and they appreciated that. She brought one of these staffers (Alicia Silverstone’s character) with her to her own shop, because she knew this girl had what it took to be a good stylist. And when an abusive customer demanded Gina fire one her employees for defending a co-worker, Gina fired the customer instead!
This ties back into Lesson #1 about being your authentic self. Gina knew that clients come and clients go, but her staff would stick by her through thick and thin, as long as she was prepared to do the same for them.
If sticking to your personal values costs you a customer, then trust me… you are FAR better off without them.
4. Don’t sweat the competition – just keep your radar on.
Gina focused on her family and her business. She didn’t give a sniff as to what her old boss was up to, or how his business was doing. She didn’t call up his customers and “steal them” even though he accused her of doing so.
Even so, Gina kept her radar tuned in. She took note of things that were said. She kept her ducks in a row and kept good records. It’s highly unlikely that your competition will vandalize your place of business as in the movie – surely they’re not THAT stupid! There will be those who resort to mudslinging, however. In those situations, do like Gina did: pick up the pieces, hold your head up and move on.
Put your focus on YOUR customers and YOUR business. Do not stoop to the accuser’s level. As the lovely and brilliant Sales Diva, Kim Duke says: “People who throw mud are the ones with the dirt on their hands.”
5. Create products that serve your customers and fulfill their needs.
Gina cooked up some homemade conditioner in her kitchen and quietly used it on her customers. She never made a fuss about her conditioner; she simply believed that her product would help her customers. THAT was what mattered to her. The ladies at her salon affectionately called it “Hair Crack” because customers kept coming back for more! They were addicted to it because they too believed in its ability to help their damaged hair.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we strive for as entrepreneurs… having happy customers who keep coming back for more – because they LOVE it and BELIEVE it can help them. Creating your own products can go a long way to entrenching on-going customer loyalty and building your brand.
6. Treat every customer like they are your saving angel.
In this age of continuous bombardment of marketing messages, NOTHING is as effective as good word-of-mouth referrals. People put more credibility to a personal reference than they ever will in a big advertising campaign. And best of all, the cost to you is NOTHING. Zip. Nadda. Just be yourself, do good work, and create great products your customers love and want to buy again and again.
If you treat every customer as through they were the most important person on earth (and they ARE in that moment), then they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on…
Little Investment, Great Rewards: How to Start a Party Rental Business
by: Lily Twinn
Today, lots of business experts recommend getting into a business that needs very limited investment and yet returns to you twice or even thrice of what you first put in. With very minimal start-up capital, you could start your very own party rentals business and earn a heaping income every month or so.
1. Begin by building your business identity by researching or finding out the best deals and prices in your area. First and foremost, research what people are selling or leasing in your area, the package offers and the like. It will be easier for you to name your prices and products if you know what your competitors are providing. You’d want to be a more affordable option; however, you must also know the right products to feature.
2. If you know what the right prices are for party equipment in your city, it will be easier for you to make a more affordable price list. Customers are more attracted to cheaper and more reasonable solutions so try to make your services exactly what they are looking for.
3. Know what to feature. You must know what products to invest in and what to lease, as well as what to feature and what to buy first. Know what parents are most willing to get for their children or what children prefer to play with.
4. Know your capital. The capital is one of the most important amounts that could help in starting your business. Since you are planning to start a home based business with limited financing, it is important to know what you should rent first or what products to start off with. The easiest way to calculate how much to shell out is by being able to identify what to lease first; hence, once you know what your first few products should be, it will be easier for you to calculate your start up capital.
5. Set up your company’s reservations and delivery system. If your company follows an orderly manner when recording deliveries and reservations, it will be easier for you to meet your customer’s demands. Good planning and an organized system can help your company greatly.
6. Make it easier for you and your customer to agree to the terms in renting products by preparing a clear contract. These kinds of files will make it easier for you to keep up with costs and responsibilities in case complicated situations occur.
7. Tell the world. It is important to get the word out to your neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers and to everybody else in the city. Advertise your services with the use of various mediums like business cards, flyers, getting a good website and the like. Also, nothing beats the conventional way of telling all your friends.
8. Offer exemplary service. To be able to win and keep good customers, always provide them with the service they will love. Be a good party rentals company and they will keep coming back to you. Also, they will tell their friends on how good your services are.
Succeed in your party rental business by learning from party rental business experts like Cheryl Pierce. Start earning big today with a trusty party rental guide in hand, and witness seeing your small business grow into a big company. With the right attitude and work skills, you will be able to grow and expand your business easily.
Today, lots of business experts recommend getting into a business that needs very limited investment and yet returns to you twice or even thrice of what you first put in. With very minimal start-up capital, you could start your very own party rentals business and earn a heaping income every month or so.
1. Begin by building your business identity by researching or finding out the best deals and prices in your area. First and foremost, research what people are selling or leasing in your area, the package offers and the like. It will be easier for you to name your prices and products if you know what your competitors are providing. You’d want to be a more affordable option; however, you must also know the right products to feature.
2. If you know what the right prices are for party equipment in your city, it will be easier for you to make a more affordable price list. Customers are more attracted to cheaper and more reasonable solutions so try to make your services exactly what they are looking for.
3. Know what to feature. You must know what products to invest in and what to lease, as well as what to feature and what to buy first. Know what parents are most willing to get for their children or what children prefer to play with.
4. Know your capital. The capital is one of the most important amounts that could help in starting your business. Since you are planning to start a home based business with limited financing, it is important to know what you should rent first or what products to start off with. The easiest way to calculate how much to shell out is by being able to identify what to lease first; hence, once you know what your first few products should be, it will be easier for you to calculate your start up capital.
5. Set up your company’s reservations and delivery system. If your company follows an orderly manner when recording deliveries and reservations, it will be easier for you to meet your customer’s demands. Good planning and an organized system can help your company greatly.
6. Make it easier for you and your customer to agree to the terms in renting products by preparing a clear contract. These kinds of files will make it easier for you to keep up with costs and responsibilities in case complicated situations occur.
7. Tell the world. It is important to get the word out to your neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers and to everybody else in the city. Advertise your services with the use of various mediums like business cards, flyers, getting a good website and the like. Also, nothing beats the conventional way of telling all your friends.
8. Offer exemplary service. To be able to win and keep good customers, always provide them with the service they will love. Be a good party rentals company and they will keep coming back to you. Also, they will tell their friends on how good your services are.
Succeed in your party rental business by learning from party rental business experts like Cheryl Pierce. Start earning big today with a trusty party rental guide in hand, and witness seeing your small business grow into a big company. With the right attitude and work skills, you will be able to grow and expand your business easily.
Keeping Your Business As Fit As Your Clients
by: Peter Kelly
Too often trainers are stretched thin between keeping clients healthy, providing moral support posting class schedules, collecting payments, communicating with clients and managing their businesses. Many trainers are experts in mental and physical health and do wonders for their clients….but often at the expense of running a smooth business operation.
In simpler times, with smaller client rosters and fewer classes, it was easy to manage things with a phone, a spreadsheet and email. For some trainers this may still be the case, but for many trainers its getting more difficult to balance personal time, client time, workout time and still manage to put in time to keep your business running smoothly. Things can get very complicated very quickly.
As with workouts, there are tools that can help you manage your business and keep it healthy. Email is a wonderful tool and a great way to stay in touch with clients as last minute details may change, but how do you handle 4 or 5 classes with 20 clients in each class, with some who haven’t paid yet, some who have, some who want to cancel, new clients that want in on a class that’s full? Add to that updating your website, collecting payments, knowing when to issue a refund or not, juggling discounts, passes, health registration forms. Keeping your business running smoothly can eat up any time you have left!
Luckily, there are tools available to trainers that can help. Here are some things to look for;
Posting classes online - How do you let current clients know what classes are available? Post them online. Web developers are expensive, and when class times change, it can cost a bundle. A service that lets you post your own schedules is your best option.
Letting clients signup and cancel classes online - With busy schedules running classes, who has time to take phone calls and get clients signed up for classes, reschedule clients, contact clients to remind them of a class, etc. A good service will allow your clients to sign up or cancel online directly from your website. Automatic class reminders are imperative as people these days have more on their minds and less time to remember previously made commitments.
Class limits - Look for a service that will provide a way to limit how many clients can signup for a class. You can’t be effective if you have too many clients to work with at a single time. A service that provides a waiting list for full classes is a plus.
Accept payments online - A super convenient way to manage client payments. A good tool will provide a way for you to let clients pay for classes online…right into your bank account plus keep track of which clients paid for a class, which owe you a payment and how much they paid.
Providing announcements - Email is a great way to go. Look for a service that keeps track of which clients are attending which classes so you can easily email the right attendees with late breaking announcements. Better yet, a service that sends automatic email to clients to remind them of classes they signed up for, classes that you may have to cancel is even better.
Reports - How many class signups have you had this month? How about a list of clients that have signed up for classes but haven’t paid you yet? A service that provides you with reports will let you know how well your business is doing and if it’s growing.
Automatic registration - Before anyone can signup for a class, it’s important to have them fill out a health registration form. Whether you provide a downloadable form for clients to fill out, or an online form that they can fill out before you allow them to signup for a class is a very important feature for any service.
Technical Support - When clients need help they come to you as the expert. With any service, expect support when you have trouble or need a new feature that will help you. The best services provide free support.
Service costs - Keep in mind that any service will cost you. Look for services that you can afford given your monthly training income. Be aware of costs such as development fees, monthly subscription fees, hosting fees, hidden service charges, setup fees, technical support fees, etc. These “hidden” costs should be taken into account before you signup for any service.
In short, any service you might use to help manage your business should easy to use, be flexible, and provide all or some of the above features at a cost you can afford.
Too often trainers are stretched thin between keeping clients healthy, providing moral support posting class schedules, collecting payments, communicating with clients and managing their businesses. Many trainers are experts in mental and physical health and do wonders for their clients….but often at the expense of running a smooth business operation.
In simpler times, with smaller client rosters and fewer classes, it was easy to manage things with a phone, a spreadsheet and email. For some trainers this may still be the case, but for many trainers its getting more difficult to balance personal time, client time, workout time and still manage to put in time to keep your business running smoothly. Things can get very complicated very quickly.
As with workouts, there are tools that can help you manage your business and keep it healthy. Email is a wonderful tool and a great way to stay in touch with clients as last minute details may change, but how do you handle 4 or 5 classes with 20 clients in each class, with some who haven’t paid yet, some who have, some who want to cancel, new clients that want in on a class that’s full? Add to that updating your website, collecting payments, knowing when to issue a refund or not, juggling discounts, passes, health registration forms. Keeping your business running smoothly can eat up any time you have left!
Luckily, there are tools available to trainers that can help. Here are some things to look for;
Posting classes online - How do you let current clients know what classes are available? Post them online. Web developers are expensive, and when class times change, it can cost a bundle. A service that lets you post your own schedules is your best option.
Letting clients signup and cancel classes online - With busy schedules running classes, who has time to take phone calls and get clients signed up for classes, reschedule clients, contact clients to remind them of a class, etc. A good service will allow your clients to sign up or cancel online directly from your website. Automatic class reminders are imperative as people these days have more on their minds and less time to remember previously made commitments.
Class limits - Look for a service that will provide a way to limit how many clients can signup for a class. You can’t be effective if you have too many clients to work with at a single time. A service that provides a waiting list for full classes is a plus.
Accept payments online - A super convenient way to manage client payments. A good tool will provide a way for you to let clients pay for classes online…right into your bank account plus keep track of which clients paid for a class, which owe you a payment and how much they paid.
Providing announcements - Email is a great way to go. Look for a service that keeps track of which clients are attending which classes so you can easily email the right attendees with late breaking announcements. Better yet, a service that sends automatic email to clients to remind them of classes they signed up for, classes that you may have to cancel is even better.
Reports - How many class signups have you had this month? How about a list of clients that have signed up for classes but haven’t paid you yet? A service that provides you with reports will let you know how well your business is doing and if it’s growing.
Automatic registration - Before anyone can signup for a class, it’s important to have them fill out a health registration form. Whether you provide a downloadable form for clients to fill out, or an online form that they can fill out before you allow them to signup for a class is a very important feature for any service.
Technical Support - When clients need help they come to you as the expert. With any service, expect support when you have trouble or need a new feature that will help you. The best services provide free support.
Service costs - Keep in mind that any service will cost you. Look for services that you can afford given your monthly training income. Be aware of costs such as development fees, monthly subscription fees, hosting fees, hidden service charges, setup fees, technical support fees, etc. These “hidden” costs should be taken into account before you signup for any service.
In short, any service you might use to help manage your business should easy to use, be flexible, and provide all or some of the above features at a cost you can afford.
How to Pick a Strategic Partner for Business Success
by: Sherese Duncan
It wouldn't take a lot of energy to look around and find tons of information on small business help, small business resources, those who can help small businesses and what those people can help you actually do to improve your small business.
What is a “strategic partner?” My definition: the Entrepreneur’s Strategic Partner is a “trusted resource,” that will give you advice, tools, and resources that will drive execution that bring about results. Effició’s tagline says it best…“getting to the CORE of business.”
Not only are we considered the Entrepreneur’s Strategic Partner, we also understand how hard it is to find the right strategic help. Here are the top ten things you need to know about getting the right strategic help for your small business:
1. Know that you make the choice and that choice should be a person and company you respect, admire and feel comfortable with. In order to achieve the goals you set, you have to work with someone who you can trust, and feel comfortable with revealing all of your proprietary information to. Don’t just choose a strategic partner because a celebrity uses them or your best friend uses them - You want to work with someone who takes your business just as seriously as you do. Take the time to evaluate and choose the right strategic partner based on your needs.
2. Don’t get caught up with the trends or latest thing. Instead get caught up with what’s best for you and your business. There are new ideas and programs’ sprouting up every day and it’s easy to get excited or overwhelmed. It’s Ok to stay abreast of the trends, just don’t try them based on your excitement; base it on your strategic direction and most importantly your business model.
3. Only use one resource at a time for business development (infrastructure) help. It’s important to stay focused and not use many different techniques; you have to stick to your vision and apply any advice you get to that vision. Keep in mind that if you’re using three different philosophies coming from three different sources then possibly nothing will work. Don’t make the mistake of trying something without completing it before moving on to the next. Pick a strategic partner, and stick to their philosophy based on the time frame you choose. Give the program a chance before deciding to utilize other programs.
4. Be realistic about the budget you have to hire strategic help. Roughly it will cost you between $75 - $250 per hour to hire a good strategic partner for basic services. For a monthly program your cost will range from $79 to $1200 for a consistent program. If you don’t have some type of budget allotted before you contact a potential strategic partner, it will probably be better to invest in self-paced programs or free local workshops until you can pull together a nice budget.
5. You have to master the art of asking for exactly what you need. When determining the right help from the right source you must do your research so that you can ask the right questions based on what you need. We tend to allow others to dictate what to do, where to go, how to do it, and even tell us why we should do it. Don’t get me wrong these are things that we need and will continue to need; but on the other hand it’s hindered our ability to think for ourselves.
Before you contact a potential strategic partner make sure you know why you’re calling and what you need. If you’re not sure what you need, make sure you tell them exactly that!
6. Realize that you need to build a success team not just a pool of vendors. Try not to only focus on building a list of resources that can help with all aspects of your business. Focus on building a team of experts that understand your vision and what value you bring to your customers. Make sure they get what you do and really understand where you want to go. There are a lot of people out there who are just in it for the money; if you’re not satisfied or are not getting what you signed up for, move on to the next expert. **make sure to get everything in writing when hiring outside resources.
7. Determine and analyze your weaknesses related to your business. As a business owner, it’s imperative to get your skills up to date and to create a format for keeping them up to date as your business evolves. This is not only beneficial for your business but also personally. The top three that I get most of the time when I ask, “What are your weaknesses,” are procrastination, laziness, and ‘I don’t know.’
In reality, these are things that people choose to do or be. We choose to procrastinate, we choose to be lazy, and we choose to say ‘I don’t know.” The point is we never spend enough time on our weaknesses so we end up developing those skill sets, mindsets, etc. that don’t benefit us the most. Take the time to correctly determine your weaknesses as it relates to owning a business. Quick Tip: To make sure you’re determining your true weaknesses; after you name a weakness ask yourself this question, “Is it a choice?”
8. Determine the type of help you think you need. There’s strategic help and there’s advisory type of help. In order to reach your goals and be successful on your terms you need to decipher which help you need and when you need it. An advisor can be on your Advisory Board, they can be your personal coach, or they can be a group of business colleagues you discuss challenges with. Effició has an Advisory Board and a Strategic Partner.
If you choose to have advisors in addition to your strategic partner, keep in mind that you have to maintain control over the advice you get from your advisors and the direction you receive from your strategic partner. Remember, don’t just do something because someone else had success with it; be strategic with your choices and actions and know the difference between how your advisors will help you and how your strategic partner will help you.
9. When you get to where you’re going, where will you be? If you can’t answer this question, you may need to ask yourself a different question: Why are you in business? I’ve said this many times, anyone can start a business, but to succeed and flourish isn’t so easy.
As a small business owner, it’s essential that you establish a vision for your business in order to create the profitable path to your vision. Also, how far do you really want to go? This can be defined on several levels, i.e. how big you want to get, how many employees you want to manage, do you want to be local or global, do you want to retire with this business, how long you want to work in this business, etc.
In order to execute your strategic goals and work efficiently with a strategic partner you have to have some idea of where you want to go and how far you want to take it.
10. Focus on securing a Strategic Partner not just an advisor. As the business world continues to evolve and change, it’s imperative to follow a strategic path that is easily upgradeable, expandable, and flexible. In order to have focus and achieve your ultimate vision you need a good success team; at the heart of this team is your strategic partner.
This person is different than your graphic designer, your attorney, or your accountant. Your strategic partner is not someone who just gives advice and leaves you on your way. Your strategic partner should be someone who holds you accountable for the profitability in your business, someone who holds you accountable for the barriers you need to overcome, and someone who can guide you down a business path that allows you to continually exceed your definition of success. Bottom line, your strategic partner should help you Execute not just make plans and collect information.
If you’re currently working with a coach or a consultant and you’re not achieving the profitability goals you’re seeking, re-think the relationship and determine if they’re really a strategic partner or just an advisor.
If you’re able to celebrate that you’ve found that Strategic Partner that can help you plan and ultimately Execute Profitably then we have no doubt that you are exceeding your definition of success!
It wouldn't take a lot of energy to look around and find tons of information on small business help, small business resources, those who can help small businesses and what those people can help you actually do to improve your small business.
What is a “strategic partner?” My definition: the Entrepreneur’s Strategic Partner is a “trusted resource,” that will give you advice, tools, and resources that will drive execution that bring about results. Effició’s tagline says it best…“getting to the CORE of business.”
Not only are we considered the Entrepreneur’s Strategic Partner, we also understand how hard it is to find the right strategic help. Here are the top ten things you need to know about getting the right strategic help for your small business:
1. Know that you make the choice and that choice should be a person and company you respect, admire and feel comfortable with. In order to achieve the goals you set, you have to work with someone who you can trust, and feel comfortable with revealing all of your proprietary information to. Don’t just choose a strategic partner because a celebrity uses them or your best friend uses them - You want to work with someone who takes your business just as seriously as you do. Take the time to evaluate and choose the right strategic partner based on your needs.
2. Don’t get caught up with the trends or latest thing. Instead get caught up with what’s best for you and your business. There are new ideas and programs’ sprouting up every day and it’s easy to get excited or overwhelmed. It’s Ok to stay abreast of the trends, just don’t try them based on your excitement; base it on your strategic direction and most importantly your business model.
3. Only use one resource at a time for business development (infrastructure) help. It’s important to stay focused and not use many different techniques; you have to stick to your vision and apply any advice you get to that vision. Keep in mind that if you’re using three different philosophies coming from three different sources then possibly nothing will work. Don’t make the mistake of trying something without completing it before moving on to the next. Pick a strategic partner, and stick to their philosophy based on the time frame you choose. Give the program a chance before deciding to utilize other programs.
4. Be realistic about the budget you have to hire strategic help. Roughly it will cost you between $75 - $250 per hour to hire a good strategic partner for basic services. For a monthly program your cost will range from $79 to $1200 for a consistent program. If you don’t have some type of budget allotted before you contact a potential strategic partner, it will probably be better to invest in self-paced programs or free local workshops until you can pull together a nice budget.
5. You have to master the art of asking for exactly what you need. When determining the right help from the right source you must do your research so that you can ask the right questions based on what you need. We tend to allow others to dictate what to do, where to go, how to do it, and even tell us why we should do it. Don’t get me wrong these are things that we need and will continue to need; but on the other hand it’s hindered our ability to think for ourselves.
Before you contact a potential strategic partner make sure you know why you’re calling and what you need. If you’re not sure what you need, make sure you tell them exactly that!
6. Realize that you need to build a success team not just a pool of vendors. Try not to only focus on building a list of resources that can help with all aspects of your business. Focus on building a team of experts that understand your vision and what value you bring to your customers. Make sure they get what you do and really understand where you want to go. There are a lot of people out there who are just in it for the money; if you’re not satisfied or are not getting what you signed up for, move on to the next expert. **make sure to get everything in writing when hiring outside resources.
7. Determine and analyze your weaknesses related to your business. As a business owner, it’s imperative to get your skills up to date and to create a format for keeping them up to date as your business evolves. This is not only beneficial for your business but also personally. The top three that I get most of the time when I ask, “What are your weaknesses,” are procrastination, laziness, and ‘I don’t know.’
In reality, these are things that people choose to do or be. We choose to procrastinate, we choose to be lazy, and we choose to say ‘I don’t know.” The point is we never spend enough time on our weaknesses so we end up developing those skill sets, mindsets, etc. that don’t benefit us the most. Take the time to correctly determine your weaknesses as it relates to owning a business. Quick Tip: To make sure you’re determining your true weaknesses; after you name a weakness ask yourself this question, “Is it a choice?”
8. Determine the type of help you think you need. There’s strategic help and there’s advisory type of help. In order to reach your goals and be successful on your terms you need to decipher which help you need and when you need it. An advisor can be on your Advisory Board, they can be your personal coach, or they can be a group of business colleagues you discuss challenges with. Effició has an Advisory Board and a Strategic Partner.
If you choose to have advisors in addition to your strategic partner, keep in mind that you have to maintain control over the advice you get from your advisors and the direction you receive from your strategic partner. Remember, don’t just do something because someone else had success with it; be strategic with your choices and actions and know the difference between how your advisors will help you and how your strategic partner will help you.
9. When you get to where you’re going, where will you be? If you can’t answer this question, you may need to ask yourself a different question: Why are you in business? I’ve said this many times, anyone can start a business, but to succeed and flourish isn’t so easy.
As a small business owner, it’s essential that you establish a vision for your business in order to create the profitable path to your vision. Also, how far do you really want to go? This can be defined on several levels, i.e. how big you want to get, how many employees you want to manage, do you want to be local or global, do you want to retire with this business, how long you want to work in this business, etc.
In order to execute your strategic goals and work efficiently with a strategic partner you have to have some idea of where you want to go and how far you want to take it.
10. Focus on securing a Strategic Partner not just an advisor. As the business world continues to evolve and change, it’s imperative to follow a strategic path that is easily upgradeable, expandable, and flexible. In order to have focus and achieve your ultimate vision you need a good success team; at the heart of this team is your strategic partner.
This person is different than your graphic designer, your attorney, or your accountant. Your strategic partner is not someone who just gives advice and leaves you on your way. Your strategic partner should be someone who holds you accountable for the profitability in your business, someone who holds you accountable for the barriers you need to overcome, and someone who can guide you down a business path that allows you to continually exceed your definition of success. Bottom line, your strategic partner should help you Execute not just make plans and collect information.
If you’re currently working with a coach or a consultant and you’re not achieving the profitability goals you’re seeking, re-think the relationship and determine if they’re really a strategic partner or just an advisor.
If you’re able to celebrate that you’ve found that Strategic Partner that can help you plan and ultimately Execute Profitably then we have no doubt that you are exceeding your definition of success!
Financial Security and the Perfect Business for the Average "Joe" or "Jane" with Credit Spreads
by: Jason Stuart
Who else wants to know how to work the hours of a retired person doing something to keep busy while being able to generate an executive salary? Once you take advantage of the Credit Spread training education I will tell you about, you will be amazed how easily do-able it is to understand and follow. This is not DAY TRADING! This is a low-risk, income-producing strategy, and I don’t mean a few lousy bucks, either.
By now, unless you have been off the planet or away from all forms of communication and information, you are aware of the dramatic changes the market and many people’s portfolios have been through.
By now, you are also aware that many people have suffered financial set-backs as a result of these changes.
If you're feeling the cold crush of fear caused by the unrelenting financial catastrophes slinking around you at every turn... then this may be some of the most important information you will ever read...
Also by now, or some time in the not too distant past, you have wondered: Why Some People Almost Always Make Money in the Stock Market? Look back through history and see that even during the Great Depression - many, many people made a decision to prosper, to grow wealthy - and DID SO. The difference being that they knew how.
Here's some really amazing news for you... Thousands of people are quietly earning a six or seven figure income from cashing in on one of the few recession-proof businesses called Credit Spread Trading, while only working 4 hours per week... if that!
Credit Spread Trading is an income-producing strategy known by an elite group of winning investors who receive monthly paychecks from Wall Street. The good news is this strategy isn’t reserved for just the elite or rich. Anybody can take advantage of it and it truly has the ability to dramatically change your financial life forever.
Anyone -- literally anyone -- can become a highly successful Credit Spread Trader no matter what their skills, education or background. Regular Joe's (and Jane's) who are housewives, chefs, IT technicians, sales people, plumbers, and on and on, can all take advantage of this knowledge and have it change their lives in ways not believed possible.
The Internet has leveled the playing field and allowed the small entrepreneur to play on the same field as the big players, which means the earning potential is enormous!
It’s the Perfect Business
Credit Spread Trading done online from the comfort of your home has the ability to dramatically change your financial life forever. No boss, no commute, no company to work for, but you receive significant tax advantages associated with running this special type of home-based business. This is that needle-in-the-haystack opportunity that will make a true impact on your life and make you consistent and realistic money online!
This is not one of those "get rich quick" schemes
If you're looking to make a million bucks this year...then please leave this page now! That overnight millionaire system does not exist and this is not about hype. BUT, if you are willing to put in a bit more than a few hours to learn Credit Spread Trading techniques, if you can imagine building an income of $50-$200 or even $300-500 a day and then growing it from there -- then please read on...because this information will be critical to your personal and financial freedom!
So, if you're interested in making very healthy profits - without the anxiety of today's stock market - please pay special attention to what I have to say. I strongly suggest you investigate this for yourself NOW.
INVESTIGATE NOW, GO TO
JasonStuartSolutions.com/credit-spread-option-trading-strategy/
Many deeply experienced investors believe that annual stock market returns will average 5% or less over the next several years. If you understand Credit Spreads you will be averaging, with all reasonable probability, 5-20% per month or more, month in and month out.
Stockholders panic over earnings fluctuations... analyst downgrades... economic reports... news headlines... and just about anything. All that becomes a thing of the past when you understand Credit Spreads and how to do them properly.
Imagine if you had a system of your own... a system so powerful that once you understand a few fundamentals, you will expend no more effort than simply looking at a market to know Instantly where the money is hiding...
Is This Too Good To Be True?
You will not have to be glued to your computer screen. Once you place your trades you can turn your computer off for the day!!
With a Credit Spread education you have an opportunity to generate tremendous market returns with minimal market risk. In fact, by using this strategy on every trade, you can have an 85% probability or 3 to 1 odds in your favor, to make a conservative 8% per month.
Ask yourself, if you could go into a casino with an 85% probability and 3 to 1 odds in your favor with proper money management, do you think you could be profitable? You bet you can.
You don’t have to be exactly right on the direction of the stock to be Profitable. The stock can go up; it can go sideways and even pull back a little to still be profitable. It doesn’t get any better than that!
You will make a lot of money, even when many others are losing theirs.
Credit Spreads are a low risk, income-producing, trading strategy that can consistently provide monthly cash flow.
So why buy stocks in today's market, when there is an alternative that can return even more, with barely a fraction of the risk?
Think this is hype? Not even close. I would have nothing to do with such a thing and can offer you enough proof so you do not have to take my or anyone’s word for it. And, if you’re thinking, why should I care to tell anyone? The answer is simple. I believe what comes around goes around, I believe in “paying it forward”, and I enjoy teaching others.
Everything is Revealed in a Free Trial.
That’s right -- FREE. This very same education has been sold for well over $1000 – I know because that’s what it cost me when I got started in this very lucrative business. But, you get it 100% free for the whole trial period.
Allow me to introduce you to the man who will lead you to life-changing income with 8-20% returns per month without the traditional stock market risk... All that's between you and a wonderful new reality is one last step... And that is to take advantage of a potentially life-changing generous offer. All you have to do is take action. It’s a Free Trial – at least investigate it
Who else wants to know how to work the hours of a retired person doing something to keep busy while being able to generate an executive salary? Once you take advantage of the Credit Spread training education I will tell you about, you will be amazed how easily do-able it is to understand and follow. This is not DAY TRADING! This is a low-risk, income-producing strategy, and I don’t mean a few lousy bucks, either.
By now, unless you have been off the planet or away from all forms of communication and information, you are aware of the dramatic changes the market and many people’s portfolios have been through.
By now, you are also aware that many people have suffered financial set-backs as a result of these changes.
If you're feeling the cold crush of fear caused by the unrelenting financial catastrophes slinking around you at every turn... then this may be some of the most important information you will ever read...
Also by now, or some time in the not too distant past, you have wondered: Why Some People Almost Always Make Money in the Stock Market? Look back through history and see that even during the Great Depression - many, many people made a decision to prosper, to grow wealthy - and DID SO. The difference being that they knew how.
Here's some really amazing news for you... Thousands of people are quietly earning a six or seven figure income from cashing in on one of the few recession-proof businesses called Credit Spread Trading, while only working 4 hours per week... if that!
Credit Spread Trading is an income-producing strategy known by an elite group of winning investors who receive monthly paychecks from Wall Street. The good news is this strategy isn’t reserved for just the elite or rich. Anybody can take advantage of it and it truly has the ability to dramatically change your financial life forever.
Anyone -- literally anyone -- can become a highly successful Credit Spread Trader no matter what their skills, education or background. Regular Joe's (and Jane's) who are housewives, chefs, IT technicians, sales people, plumbers, and on and on, can all take advantage of this knowledge and have it change their lives in ways not believed possible.
The Internet has leveled the playing field and allowed the small entrepreneur to play on the same field as the big players, which means the earning potential is enormous!
It’s the Perfect Business
Credit Spread Trading done online from the comfort of your home has the ability to dramatically change your financial life forever. No boss, no commute, no company to work for, but you receive significant tax advantages associated with running this special type of home-based business. This is that needle-in-the-haystack opportunity that will make a true impact on your life and make you consistent and realistic money online!
This is not one of those "get rich quick" schemes
If you're looking to make a million bucks this year...then please leave this page now! That overnight millionaire system does not exist and this is not about hype. BUT, if you are willing to put in a bit more than a few hours to learn Credit Spread Trading techniques, if you can imagine building an income of $50-$200 or even $300-500 a day and then growing it from there -- then please read on...because this information will be critical to your personal and financial freedom!
So, if you're interested in making very healthy profits - without the anxiety of today's stock market - please pay special attention to what I have to say. I strongly suggest you investigate this for yourself NOW.
INVESTIGATE NOW, GO TO
JasonStuartSolutions.com/credit-spread-option-trading-strategy/
Many deeply experienced investors believe that annual stock market returns will average 5% or less over the next several years. If you understand Credit Spreads you will be averaging, with all reasonable probability, 5-20% per month or more, month in and month out.
Stockholders panic over earnings fluctuations... analyst downgrades... economic reports... news headlines... and just about anything. All that becomes a thing of the past when you understand Credit Spreads and how to do them properly.
Imagine if you had a system of your own... a system so powerful that once you understand a few fundamentals, you will expend no more effort than simply looking at a market to know Instantly where the money is hiding...
Is This Too Good To Be True?
You will not have to be glued to your computer screen. Once you place your trades you can turn your computer off for the day!!
With a Credit Spread education you have an opportunity to generate tremendous market returns with minimal market risk. In fact, by using this strategy on every trade, you can have an 85% probability or 3 to 1 odds in your favor, to make a conservative 8% per month.
Ask yourself, if you could go into a casino with an 85% probability and 3 to 1 odds in your favor with proper money management, do you think you could be profitable? You bet you can.
You don’t have to be exactly right on the direction of the stock to be Profitable. The stock can go up; it can go sideways and even pull back a little to still be profitable. It doesn’t get any better than that!
You will make a lot of money, even when many others are losing theirs.
Credit Spreads are a low risk, income-producing, trading strategy that can consistently provide monthly cash flow.
So why buy stocks in today's market, when there is an alternative that can return even more, with barely a fraction of the risk?
Think this is hype? Not even close. I would have nothing to do with such a thing and can offer you enough proof so you do not have to take my or anyone’s word for it. And, if you’re thinking, why should I care to tell anyone? The answer is simple. I believe what comes around goes around, I believe in “paying it forward”, and I enjoy teaching others.
Everything is Revealed in a Free Trial.
That’s right -- FREE. This very same education has been sold for well over $1000 – I know because that’s what it cost me when I got started in this very lucrative business. But, you get it 100% free for the whole trial period.
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A Sales Lesson From Mt. Everest
by: Jim Meisenheimer
How To Stay Up, Even When You’re Down.
This past weekend I was going through some old newsletters when I came across a letter that might help you to deal more effectively with the recession and the tough times you're facing.
So - enjoy the updated version of my Mt. Everest Newsletter.
Sixteen years ago I did a sales training program in Colorado. The meeting was held about two hours north of Denver, in a lodge situated in Roosevelt National Park. My client was, Low Alpine, a manufacturer of outdoor gear. Specifically, they made the stuff that Mt. Everest climbers use to trek up that mountain.
My two-hour sales training presentation was scheduled right after lunch. The speaker, who preceded me before lunch, had an extremely interesting topic. He had a slide presentation showing his various attempts at climbing the incredible MT. Everest. As you might imagine it was a powerful and extremely insightful presentation about the skills and dangers of mountain climbing.
I was sitting on the edge of my chair during his entire presentation.
There were 25 salespeople at this meeting. Their climbing gear was sold to retailers. So they knew all about the climbing business.
They also new, by reputation, many of the names the speaker referred to. He talked about the climbers who made it to the top and also talked about those that didn't survive the ordeal. Throughout his presentation everyone was glued to his seat with anticipation. He did a terrific job of mixing his stories with his slides, which was extremely effective.
Just before he ended his Mt. Everest presentation he asked the group a question. He remarked, “There's a time when you're climbing, when you can almost feel depressed. You just feel so low and down. Do you know when that is?”
My imagination started to run wild, especially since the highest I ever climbed wasn't even climbing, it was an elevator ride to the top of the Empire State Building. I thought surely the salespeople in the audience would know the answer to his question.
They responded with things that I imagined; when you first begin the climb, when you only have 100 yards left, when you reach the top, and when you begin your descent. The speaker’s body language and facial expression gave it all away - no one was even close.
I was surprised by his answer - maybe you will be too. He said, "Climbers get down when bad weather sets in." He went on to explain that when bad weather sets in you can't see the peak - you lose sight of your GOAL and become easily distracted and sometimes even depressed.
You might be wondering, what if anything does this have to do with selling? I see a very clear correlation. You see, like a mountain climber who can't see the peak, salespeople and entrepreneurs without clearly defined goals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) are more susceptible to daily interruptions and distractions, and more likely to waste your precious resource called time.
This could be hazardous to your selling results during the best of times. Not having written and specific goals during these tumultuous times is just plain stupid. It borders on strategic suicide.
Why would you do that to yourself?
Why would you dare to start a day or begin a week without having your written goals in full view?
Put your written goals on paper and then get it laminated.
Put one copy on your desk.
Put one copy in your brief case.
Put another copy in your car - on the sun visor.
Tape another copy onto your bathroom mirror.
Hey - I didn't just fall off the back of a turnip truck.
My written goals helped me to achive record sales during two earlier recessions. And this recession is no exception because my sales are up this year too.
My feeling is, if I can do it, so can you.
You need a crystal clear picture of what the peak of your mountain looks like - clearly defined written goals.
First things first. Establish written goals.
Then create a list of all the action steps you need to achieve your goals.
You'd be amazed at how easy achieving goals are as soon as they are set in writing.
I say screw the recession. You can get up, even when you're down - if you maintain your focus and concentrate on achieving your written goals.
Being distracted isn’t your ticket to achieving your GOALS – being focused is. You don't have to climb Mount Everest to appreciate how important keeping your eyes focused on your goals is to achieving your ultimate success in sales.
Now let’s go achieve some goals . . .
How To Stay Up, Even When You’re Down.
This past weekend I was going through some old newsletters when I came across a letter that might help you to deal more effectively with the recession and the tough times you're facing.
So - enjoy the updated version of my Mt. Everest Newsletter.
Sixteen years ago I did a sales training program in Colorado. The meeting was held about two hours north of Denver, in a lodge situated in Roosevelt National Park. My client was, Low Alpine, a manufacturer of outdoor gear. Specifically, they made the stuff that Mt. Everest climbers use to trek up that mountain.
My two-hour sales training presentation was scheduled right after lunch. The speaker, who preceded me before lunch, had an extremely interesting topic. He had a slide presentation showing his various attempts at climbing the incredible MT. Everest. As you might imagine it was a powerful and extremely insightful presentation about the skills and dangers of mountain climbing.
I was sitting on the edge of my chair during his entire presentation.
There were 25 salespeople at this meeting. Their climbing gear was sold to retailers. So they knew all about the climbing business.
They also new, by reputation, many of the names the speaker referred to. He talked about the climbers who made it to the top and also talked about those that didn't survive the ordeal. Throughout his presentation everyone was glued to his seat with anticipation. He did a terrific job of mixing his stories with his slides, which was extremely effective.
Just before he ended his Mt. Everest presentation he asked the group a question. He remarked, “There's a time when you're climbing, when you can almost feel depressed. You just feel so low and down. Do you know when that is?”
My imagination started to run wild, especially since the highest I ever climbed wasn't even climbing, it was an elevator ride to the top of the Empire State Building. I thought surely the salespeople in the audience would know the answer to his question.
They responded with things that I imagined; when you first begin the climb, when you only have 100 yards left, when you reach the top, and when you begin your descent. The speaker’s body language and facial expression gave it all away - no one was even close.
I was surprised by his answer - maybe you will be too. He said, "Climbers get down when bad weather sets in." He went on to explain that when bad weather sets in you can't see the peak - you lose sight of your GOAL and become easily distracted and sometimes even depressed.
You might be wondering, what if anything does this have to do with selling? I see a very clear correlation. You see, like a mountain climber who can't see the peak, salespeople and entrepreneurs without clearly defined goals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) are more susceptible to daily interruptions and distractions, and more likely to waste your precious resource called time.
This could be hazardous to your selling results during the best of times. Not having written and specific goals during these tumultuous times is just plain stupid. It borders on strategic suicide.
Why would you do that to yourself?
Why would you dare to start a day or begin a week without having your written goals in full view?
Put your written goals on paper and then get it laminated.
Put one copy on your desk.
Put one copy in your brief case.
Put another copy in your car - on the sun visor.
Tape another copy onto your bathroom mirror.
Hey - I didn't just fall off the back of a turnip truck.
My written goals helped me to achive record sales during two earlier recessions. And this recession is no exception because my sales are up this year too.
My feeling is, if I can do it, so can you.
You need a crystal clear picture of what the peak of your mountain looks like - clearly defined written goals.
First things first. Establish written goals.
Then create a list of all the action steps you need to achieve your goals.
You'd be amazed at how easy achieving goals are as soon as they are set in writing.
I say screw the recession. You can get up, even when you're down - if you maintain your focus and concentrate on achieving your written goals.
Being distracted isn’t your ticket to achieving your GOALS – being focused is. You don't have to climb Mount Everest to appreciate how important keeping your eyes focused on your goals is to achieving your ultimate success in sales.
Now let’s go achieve some goals . . .
7 Tips on Starting a Business After You Have Lost Your Job
by: Feargal Byrne
1) Change your mindset. It’s natural for people who leave employment and start a business to carry with them some of the culture from their previous job. However, you must realize that you are changing gears. You are moving from being an employee to being a boss. You are moving from being a follower to being a leader. This requires you to make the appropriate mental adjustment. In many ways, this is the most difficult thing that you must do when starting your business. It’s also one of the most critical.
2) Become fanatical about keeping you cash burn as low as possible. Cash is the oxygen for you business. As a start-up you can’t operate like a traditional established business. You must have enough cash to stay in the game long enough to learn from your mistakes. At the beginning your business success depends heavily on how well you can reduce operating costs. There are some simple ways that you can do this. For instance use Skype or another VOIP operator instead of a traditional landline. Use free software such as OpenOffice and Google Docs. If you don’t need office space then start up in your garage. By keeping your cash burn low you increase your scope for failure. In other words, you can have more rolls of the dice. After all, learning from your mistakes is the best way to learn in the real business world.
3) Get a part-time job. I know this is strange advice for anyone who is starting a business but hear me out. You need income to survive. You may have savings and a redundancy package but it’s good not to eat into these too much. By getting another job you are providing yourself and your family with income until your business gets off the ground. There are also some good psychological benefits to this as well. Because your time will be limited you will become more productive in your business time. You will also not be forced to make rash decisions for your business due to financial pressure. That’s right, it will help you avoid an “all in” moment.
4) Leverage the Internet. The internet offers the best value for you to promote your business. As a start-up you should be looking for early adopters in your market segment. The Internet is a great place to find these. Using social networks and participating in online communities is a great way to do market research and make early sales for a start-up. Every start-up should leverage the Internet as much as possible.
5) Realize that you must bootstrap and self fund first before you will get investment. This is particularly true in the current economic climate. Investors want to see traction. This is the most important thing. If you can bootstrap to early sales or even better, early profits you will find it much easier to unlock the door to investment.
6) Realize that you probably won’t be an overnight success. It’s important to understand that you are more likely to succeed if you approach your business from the perspective of making incremental improvements that will accumulate into ultimate success.
7) It’s a bit like gambling. Making real world business decisions is really making educated guesses at what you think might work. A lot of the time your decisions won’t work. It’s important to test and measure each decision so you fully understand which ones work and which ones don’t. This is the key to doing more of what works and less of what doesn’t.
There are many other factors you should consider when starting your business. Much of them relate specifically to your industry niche. However, there are a number of mistakes that you can avoid making.
1) Change your mindset. It’s natural for people who leave employment and start a business to carry with them some of the culture from their previous job. However, you must realize that you are changing gears. You are moving from being an employee to being a boss. You are moving from being a follower to being a leader. This requires you to make the appropriate mental adjustment. In many ways, this is the most difficult thing that you must do when starting your business. It’s also one of the most critical.
2) Become fanatical about keeping you cash burn as low as possible. Cash is the oxygen for you business. As a start-up you can’t operate like a traditional established business. You must have enough cash to stay in the game long enough to learn from your mistakes. At the beginning your business success depends heavily on how well you can reduce operating costs. There are some simple ways that you can do this. For instance use Skype or another VOIP operator instead of a traditional landline. Use free software such as OpenOffice and Google Docs. If you don’t need office space then start up in your garage. By keeping your cash burn low you increase your scope for failure. In other words, you can have more rolls of the dice. After all, learning from your mistakes is the best way to learn in the real business world.
3) Get a part-time job. I know this is strange advice for anyone who is starting a business but hear me out. You need income to survive. You may have savings and a redundancy package but it’s good not to eat into these too much. By getting another job you are providing yourself and your family with income until your business gets off the ground. There are also some good psychological benefits to this as well. Because your time will be limited you will become more productive in your business time. You will also not be forced to make rash decisions for your business due to financial pressure. That’s right, it will help you avoid an “all in” moment.
4) Leverage the Internet. The internet offers the best value for you to promote your business. As a start-up you should be looking for early adopters in your market segment. The Internet is a great place to find these. Using social networks and participating in online communities is a great way to do market research and make early sales for a start-up. Every start-up should leverage the Internet as much as possible.
5) Realize that you must bootstrap and self fund first before you will get investment. This is particularly true in the current economic climate. Investors want to see traction. This is the most important thing. If you can bootstrap to early sales or even better, early profits you will find it much easier to unlock the door to investment.
6) Realize that you probably won’t be an overnight success. It’s important to understand that you are more likely to succeed if you approach your business from the perspective of making incremental improvements that will accumulate into ultimate success.
7) It’s a bit like gambling. Making real world business decisions is really making educated guesses at what you think might work. A lot of the time your decisions won’t work. It’s important to test and measure each decision so you fully understand which ones work and which ones don’t. This is the key to doing more of what works and less of what doesn’t.
There are many other factors you should consider when starting your business. Much of them relate specifically to your industry niche. However, there are a number of mistakes that you can avoid making.
Internet Home Business- How to Succeed
by: Laura Cosse
If you want to succeed in an Internet home business, there is nothing stopping you but the limitations you set for yourself. These limitations are not your skill level, as many people who have become millionaires online knew absolutely nothing about having a home business or Internet marketing when they began. Your limitations are in your head. If you want to become successful in an Internet business, you need to go into the business with the attitude that you are going to make money online, and will not stop trying until you do.
A positive attitude is one of the primary personality traits you need in order to succeed in any type of home business. If you go into the home based business with the knowledge that others before you have done it and made money online with less skills and knowledge than you, then you can stay on track as you go through the inevitable ups and downs of owning your own business, and eventually become financially successful. It’s not fast or easy and there is a lot to learn, but just remember that it is possible for you to make more money than a doctor or lawyer makes, with significantly less time and effort invested in your training.
If you go into the Internet business with the idea that you are probably going to fail - guess what? You are probably going to fail. This is why you have to have a winning attitude before you can expect to succeed with your own business.
Another attribute that you need when you are seeking to make money online is persistence. Many of those who fail at businesses, both online and off, do so because they give up. If you continue to follow a pattern that is set out for you, continue to duplicate the efforts of those who have found success already, you will become financially independent. A good online opportunity for a home business will give you all of the tools that you need in order to market your opportunity, and give you a turnkey system to step into that takes the guesswork out of home business. You just have to be willing to make use of those tools and system in order to get to the success level you want.
You should shoot for the stars and not settle for anything less than complete financial independence. If you have come from an outside job and are now seeking to make a living online, you may have to learn the discipline necessary to be a self-starter and work hard and consistently without supervision. While it is good to work hard to achieve you goals, you also need to set aside a schedule so that you have time for yourself and your family. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they either overdo it and get burned out, or do not work hard enough and think that money will magically appear. If you set up a work schedule and are persistent in your efforts at your home business, you will be giving yourself the best chance at achieving your financial goals.
Self-reliance in a home business opportunity is one of the best things for your self-confidence level as well as your pocket. If you persist in your home business opportunity with the plan that is laid out for you with regard to marketing, you will not only achieve financial success online, but you will also achieve a sense of personal satisfaction as you continue to work and grow with your home based business. Find a home business opportunity with growth potential and go into it with a positive attitude and there is no telling how far you can go when it comes to achieving financial and personal goals.
If you want to succeed in an Internet home business, there is nothing stopping you but the limitations you set for yourself. These limitations are not your skill level, as many people who have become millionaires online knew absolutely nothing about having a home business or Internet marketing when they began. Your limitations are in your head. If you want to become successful in an Internet business, you need to go into the business with the attitude that you are going to make money online, and will not stop trying until you do.
A positive attitude is one of the primary personality traits you need in order to succeed in any type of home business. If you go into the home based business with the knowledge that others before you have done it and made money online with less skills and knowledge than you, then you can stay on track as you go through the inevitable ups and downs of owning your own business, and eventually become financially successful. It’s not fast or easy and there is a lot to learn, but just remember that it is possible for you to make more money than a doctor or lawyer makes, with significantly less time and effort invested in your training.
If you go into the Internet business with the idea that you are probably going to fail - guess what? You are probably going to fail. This is why you have to have a winning attitude before you can expect to succeed with your own business.
Another attribute that you need when you are seeking to make money online is persistence. Many of those who fail at businesses, both online and off, do so because they give up. If you continue to follow a pattern that is set out for you, continue to duplicate the efforts of those who have found success already, you will become financially independent. A good online opportunity for a home business will give you all of the tools that you need in order to market your opportunity, and give you a turnkey system to step into that takes the guesswork out of home business. You just have to be willing to make use of those tools and system in order to get to the success level you want.
You should shoot for the stars and not settle for anything less than complete financial independence. If you have come from an outside job and are now seeking to make a living online, you may have to learn the discipline necessary to be a self-starter and work hard and consistently without supervision. While it is good to work hard to achieve you goals, you also need to set aside a schedule so that you have time for yourself and your family. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they either overdo it and get burned out, or do not work hard enough and think that money will magically appear. If you set up a work schedule and are persistent in your efforts at your home business, you will be giving yourself the best chance at achieving your financial goals.
Self-reliance in a home business opportunity is one of the best things for your self-confidence level as well as your pocket. If you persist in your home business opportunity with the plan that is laid out for you with regard to marketing, you will not only achieve financial success online, but you will also achieve a sense of personal satisfaction as you continue to work and grow with your home based business. Find a home business opportunity with growth potential and go into it with a positive attitude and there is no telling how far you can go when it comes to achieving financial and personal goals.
Foolproof Method to Hit Your Goal Every Time!
by: Nancy drager
Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Believe me it’s not. I know firsthand it’s my real life story and now I coach other people to hit goals they never dreamed possible!
Here’re the facts: In less than a year I went from 0 (actually less than zero, I had debt) to a new sports car, a newly furnished beautiful home, and yes, a trip to Disneyland! It’s a very simple method I developed and I’m going to give you the Coles notes version to do it for yourself!
Early in my career I had achieved a good financial status by applying my own brand of goal achievement, time management, and sales 101. My results were good, I was comfortable and not motivated to work any harder, I was enjoying life! Then came the moment my life changed dramatically and I lost everything! Needless to say I was now motivated to produce some different results! I had to make money fast, pay off debt and find a home. This opportunity set me up for a lifetime. (At the time it was an opportunity I would have gladly passed on!) Here’s how I quickly got results. It’s a very simple and easy plan that works for me and our clients:
1. Create a crystal clear objective of the goal you want and steps of how to get there. List every detail and document it so you can review the goal objectively and make any needed revisions.
2. Time management makes achieving the goal real. Block time; be cognizant of working those actions that will produce results needed and not waste time. It takes all out massive action! You need to make decisions quickly and step it up both your pace, and your expectations.
3. By forecasting the success ratio of closing deals you can accurately calculate how much activity it will take to get to the goal line. Forecasting lets you know what action will be required.
4. Being flexible and measuring results is critical! Change your plans when new opportunities arise and measure those results. Then change and measure again if needed. Be flexible.
Getting results doesn’t have to be complicated but needs to be consistent in its approach. Therefore do it ALL the time (when you play hockey, you don’t just play for the first period you finish the game).
1. Let’s start at the beginning, crystal clear objective. In other words, begin with the end in mind. For me, the end result was to make X amount of dollars. That can be overwhelming and even make you want to stop before you begin! Keep going – anything worth having is worth the effort. (By the way, I use this same formula for business goals as big as acquisitions, and I admit, for fitness goals when summer gets closer!)
It helps if you break your crystal clear goal down two ways, by asking yourself these questions:
A) How much activity do I need to hit my goal?
B) How much revenue do I need to pull in monthly, weekly and daily?
(In this example revenue, it could be exercise, business tasks, etc.)
Once you back in, you can identify the steps needed to achieve your goal. Take it step by step, make it simple and you will achieve it. Don’t over analyze it or you won’t take action.
If this is causing you screams of pain and horror seeing how much activity is needed, there are some choices:
1) Get better at what you’re doing so you close more often and faster – yes it can happen!
2) Develop excellent time management skills.
2. Time management, the greatest enemy of anyone trying to achieve their goal is time. There’s never enough of it and more than enough things to absorb it!
Keeping on the revenue attainment goal, it’s a good tip to identify your time in categories. Such as:
Revenue Producing Time (RPT) = time to sell, close deals, work completed to get hard results.
Non-Revenue Producing Time (NPT) = time to check correctness of paperwork, drive to meet a customer, handle a complaint.
Use different time allocation titles depending on the goal. Know how much time you need and book it into your schedule. (BPA – Business Plan Activities or GOBA – Going Out of Business Activities) – It’s a real eye opener to look at your last week and see where your time went!
One client, a Fortune 100 sales team, was frustrated with the lack of sales growth they were getting. We identified their RPT (Revenue Producing Time) was only 17% actually selling to customers. They were handling all kinds of non selling activities.
3. Forecasting, surprisingly this is not defined as your best guess. You’ve already backed into how much activity is needed to hit your goal. Here’s an adjustment you may need to consider:
* If you’re in sales realize no one closes 100% of every deal every time.
* If your goal is fitness, it’s possible to have to adjust goals and get back on track.
* If it’s a business goal, things can get delayed resulting in needing more time.
Yes, we need wiggle room! Let me explain. In sales, if you had a close ratio of 75% meaning you close 75% of the time you will need 25% more activity to hit your goal every time. So your wiggle room is your goal activity x 25%.
For business goals consider what steps need more time or manpower to smoothly deal with any setbacks.
4. Pull it all together by measuring the results. Look at what is working, what is not and be flexible to change. When you measure you have the ability to get things back on track now instead of wondering what happened at the end of the month. Measure at least weekly, professional athletes watch their performance with an eagle eye daily, watching for what, how and when to improve what they’re doing. It’s the same for all of us who want to deliver professional results.
“The problem is not that we set goals too high and fail to achieve them. The problem is we set goals to low and do achieve them.”
Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Believe me it’s not. I know firsthand it’s my real life story and now I coach other people to hit goals they never dreamed possible!
Here’re the facts: In less than a year I went from 0 (actually less than zero, I had debt) to a new sports car, a newly furnished beautiful home, and yes, a trip to Disneyland! It’s a very simple method I developed and I’m going to give you the Coles notes version to do it for yourself!
Early in my career I had achieved a good financial status by applying my own brand of goal achievement, time management, and sales 101. My results were good, I was comfortable and not motivated to work any harder, I was enjoying life! Then came the moment my life changed dramatically and I lost everything! Needless to say I was now motivated to produce some different results! I had to make money fast, pay off debt and find a home. This opportunity set me up for a lifetime. (At the time it was an opportunity I would have gladly passed on!) Here’s how I quickly got results. It’s a very simple and easy plan that works for me and our clients:
1. Create a crystal clear objective of the goal you want and steps of how to get there. List every detail and document it so you can review the goal objectively and make any needed revisions.
2. Time management makes achieving the goal real. Block time; be cognizant of working those actions that will produce results needed and not waste time. It takes all out massive action! You need to make decisions quickly and step it up both your pace, and your expectations.
3. By forecasting the success ratio of closing deals you can accurately calculate how much activity it will take to get to the goal line. Forecasting lets you know what action will be required.
4. Being flexible and measuring results is critical! Change your plans when new opportunities arise and measure those results. Then change and measure again if needed. Be flexible.
Getting results doesn’t have to be complicated but needs to be consistent in its approach. Therefore do it ALL the time (when you play hockey, you don’t just play for the first period you finish the game).
1. Let’s start at the beginning, crystal clear objective. In other words, begin with the end in mind. For me, the end result was to make X amount of dollars. That can be overwhelming and even make you want to stop before you begin! Keep going – anything worth having is worth the effort. (By the way, I use this same formula for business goals as big as acquisitions, and I admit, for fitness goals when summer gets closer!)
It helps if you break your crystal clear goal down two ways, by asking yourself these questions:
A) How much activity do I need to hit my goal?
B) How much revenue do I need to pull in monthly, weekly and daily?
(In this example revenue, it could be exercise, business tasks, etc.)
Once you back in, you can identify the steps needed to achieve your goal. Take it step by step, make it simple and you will achieve it. Don’t over analyze it or you won’t take action.
If this is causing you screams of pain and horror seeing how much activity is needed, there are some choices:
1) Get better at what you’re doing so you close more often and faster – yes it can happen!
2) Develop excellent time management skills.
2. Time management, the greatest enemy of anyone trying to achieve their goal is time. There’s never enough of it and more than enough things to absorb it!
Keeping on the revenue attainment goal, it’s a good tip to identify your time in categories. Such as:
Revenue Producing Time (RPT) = time to sell, close deals, work completed to get hard results.
Non-Revenue Producing Time (NPT) = time to check correctness of paperwork, drive to meet a customer, handle a complaint.
Use different time allocation titles depending on the goal. Know how much time you need and book it into your schedule. (BPA – Business Plan Activities or GOBA – Going Out of Business Activities) – It’s a real eye opener to look at your last week and see where your time went!
One client, a Fortune 100 sales team, was frustrated with the lack of sales growth they were getting. We identified their RPT (Revenue Producing Time) was only 17% actually selling to customers. They were handling all kinds of non selling activities.
3. Forecasting, surprisingly this is not defined as your best guess. You’ve already backed into how much activity is needed to hit your goal. Here’s an adjustment you may need to consider:
* If you’re in sales realize no one closes 100% of every deal every time.
* If your goal is fitness, it’s possible to have to adjust goals and get back on track.
* If it’s a business goal, things can get delayed resulting in needing more time.
Yes, we need wiggle room! Let me explain. In sales, if you had a close ratio of 75% meaning you close 75% of the time you will need 25% more activity to hit your goal every time. So your wiggle room is your goal activity x 25%.
For business goals consider what steps need more time or manpower to smoothly deal with any setbacks.
4. Pull it all together by measuring the results. Look at what is working, what is not and be flexible to change. When you measure you have the ability to get things back on track now instead of wondering what happened at the end of the month. Measure at least weekly, professional athletes watch their performance with an eagle eye daily, watching for what, how and when to improve what they’re doing. It’s the same for all of us who want to deliver professional results.
“The problem is not that we set goals too high and fail to achieve them. The problem is we set goals to low and do achieve them.”
Conducting Local And International Background Investigations In The Middle East
by: Zafar I. Anjum
In the complex world of employee background screening, no two countries are alike. In the United States International investigators have a web of databases at their disposal and a vast network of local resources that provide a wealth of information at the mere click of a mouse.
It’s a different world in the Middle East. Technology is limited in many parts of the region. Privacy legislation varies from country to country and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Cultural differences can impact the flow of information. Language barriers can contribute to inaccurate reporting.
Instead of database-driven investigations that are generally conducted in the United States, professionals in the Middle East must conduct large parts of their investigations literally on foot, traveling to remote regions to scour records and interview sources.
Simply put, if you’re looking for accurate, reliable information in the Middle East you need to turn to qualified, professional sources that are familiar with the countries, cultures, terrain, languages, resources and – most of all – the laws that govern personal privacy.. In this part of the world your contacts and resources are your greatest asset.
Discovering Hard-to-Find Facts in Hard-to-Reach Locations
The biggest challenge to conducting background investigations in the Middle East is collecting reliable information in the most efficient manner. This requires a well-trained and diverse group of professional investigators who are multilingual and multi-cultural, are familiar with those geographic regions and can easily traverse the obstacles that often impede international investigations. Those obstacles include:
• Working with local customs offices;
• Complying with data protection laws and mandates;
• Knowledge level of local investigative researchers;
• Lack of centralized information resources and databases; and
• The proliferation of multicultural environments that are particularly influenced by locals who vastly differ in their approaches to investigative screening and public record searches, particularly with information collected via database sources.
To address these obstacles, successful background investigators in this part of the world are often required to work deep in the field, travelling to remote destinations to conduct interviews, develop resources and enlist local assistance to verify information.
Progressive screening firms will conduct investigations that regularly involve a thorough review of local press records, using online and proprietary databases augmented by manual field research to locate the appropriate public records. This in-depth investigative approach is necessary to bring to light any instances of malfeasance or notable, publicly aired criticism.
These professionals will also research all public records that are available within the respective government institutions such as a region’s trial courts, police and SEC sources, and global sanctions lists.
The goal of providing this level of investigative legwork is to collect timely, well-documented and substantiated information which will measure up to the high standards often required by our U.S. partners.
Examples of Privacy Laws in the Middle East
While reputable screening firms in the United States comply closely with the Fair Credit Reporting Act to conduct domestic background investigations, foreign investigations are much more complex.
Middle East countries have no prohibitive legislation that governs the employment screening process. At the same time there is no cooperative legislation and regulation to support background screening services for employee due diligence. However we, as industry professionals, must adhere to strict data protection requirements (such as the European Union data protection directive) to process consensually based personal information.
In our region local police departments provide “Good Conduct Certificates” for employees for immigration purposes, while the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) awards a “Police Clearance” certificate for employee due diligence work.
In the United Arab Emirates, data protection laws permit investigators to process sensitive personal information such as criminal history data. As a DIFC licensed entity, the CRI Group (as well as other reputable background screening firms) must maintain strict adherence to the region’s Data Protection Law of 2007 in order to fulfil our ongoing DIFC licensed status. As in the United States, the procurement of personal data in this region – and any subsequent transfer of data outside of the DIFC – may only be attained with the written consent of the individual being investigated.
Reputable screening firms in the Middle East will also comply with regional privacy laws (such as the EU data protection directive) by appointing an internal Data Protection Officer (DPO) whose primary responsibility is to conduct independent audits of the firm’s various information processing operations which handle customer and employee data. The DPO ensures that personal data is handled in accordance with all relevant data protection provisions covering online and offline data procurement while complying with local and regional regulations pertaining to individual privacy standards.
How to Locate and Partner with
Reputable Screening Firms in the Middle East
So how does one go about securing a reputable background screening source abroad? The following checklist may be helpful.
1. To begin, it is highly recommended that you research the listing of expatriate background screening firms provided by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) or PreemploymentDirectory.com in the International Section. The list can be found at napbs.com/content.php?id=250 or at PreemploymentDirectory.com.
2. Ask your provider how they comply with local and regional laws governing individual privacy protection and the methods they utilize in protecting information.
3. Make sure your service provider’s physical address is in the region they’re conducting investigations. If not, they could be simply outsourcing their cases to a third party.
4. Ask about the manner in which your service provider conducts investigations. Stay away from firms that investigate exclusively through media searches.
5. Inquire about the internal policies and procedures the service provider uses to monitor the protection of data, and if it conducts regular audits to ensure compliance with regional privacy mandates.
6. Don’t settle for firms that say they specialize in providing checks of the International Terrorist Watch List and the OFAC watch list. Those lists are available online to anyone at no cost.
7. Stay away from firms that won’t supply you with the source of the records they obtain. Also, be sure to ask how old the information collected is.
8. The truly reputable firms will combine in-depth field investigations with routine public records searches. Make sure your provider is doing both.
9. Service delivery is critical in foreign investigations. Ask about average turnaround times and get commitments for delivery in advance of the investigation.
10. Find out what other U.S. companies use the service provider. Ask for references.
As the world economy shrinks and the pool of foreign job applicants expands, a partnership with a reputable international background screening service provider to conduct investigations abroad is essential for maintaining a safe hiring program for your clients. To ensure you’re using the best providers available, a little investigating of your own will result in big benefits down the road.
In the complex world of employee background screening, no two countries are alike. In the United States International investigators have a web of databases at their disposal and a vast network of local resources that provide a wealth of information at the mere click of a mouse.
It’s a different world in the Middle East. Technology is limited in many parts of the region. Privacy legislation varies from country to country and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Cultural differences can impact the flow of information. Language barriers can contribute to inaccurate reporting.
Instead of database-driven investigations that are generally conducted in the United States, professionals in the Middle East must conduct large parts of their investigations literally on foot, traveling to remote regions to scour records and interview sources.
Simply put, if you’re looking for accurate, reliable information in the Middle East you need to turn to qualified, professional sources that are familiar with the countries, cultures, terrain, languages, resources and – most of all – the laws that govern personal privacy.. In this part of the world your contacts and resources are your greatest asset.
Discovering Hard-to-Find Facts in Hard-to-Reach Locations
The biggest challenge to conducting background investigations in the Middle East is collecting reliable information in the most efficient manner. This requires a well-trained and diverse group of professional investigators who are multilingual and multi-cultural, are familiar with those geographic regions and can easily traverse the obstacles that often impede international investigations. Those obstacles include:
• Working with local customs offices;
• Complying with data protection laws and mandates;
• Knowledge level of local investigative researchers;
• Lack of centralized information resources and databases; and
• The proliferation of multicultural environments that are particularly influenced by locals who vastly differ in their approaches to investigative screening and public record searches, particularly with information collected via database sources.
To address these obstacles, successful background investigators in this part of the world are often required to work deep in the field, travelling to remote destinations to conduct interviews, develop resources and enlist local assistance to verify information.
Progressive screening firms will conduct investigations that regularly involve a thorough review of local press records, using online and proprietary databases augmented by manual field research to locate the appropriate public records. This in-depth investigative approach is necessary to bring to light any instances of malfeasance or notable, publicly aired criticism.
These professionals will also research all public records that are available within the respective government institutions such as a region’s trial courts, police and SEC sources, and global sanctions lists.
The goal of providing this level of investigative legwork is to collect timely, well-documented and substantiated information which will measure up to the high standards often required by our U.S. partners.
Examples of Privacy Laws in the Middle East
While reputable screening firms in the United States comply closely with the Fair Credit Reporting Act to conduct domestic background investigations, foreign investigations are much more complex.
Middle East countries have no prohibitive legislation that governs the employment screening process. At the same time there is no cooperative legislation and regulation to support background screening services for employee due diligence. However we, as industry professionals, must adhere to strict data protection requirements (such as the European Union data protection directive) to process consensually based personal information.
In our region local police departments provide “Good Conduct Certificates” for employees for immigration purposes, while the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) awards a “Police Clearance” certificate for employee due diligence work.
In the United Arab Emirates, data protection laws permit investigators to process sensitive personal information such as criminal history data. As a DIFC licensed entity, the CRI Group (as well as other reputable background screening firms) must maintain strict adherence to the region’s Data Protection Law of 2007 in order to fulfil our ongoing DIFC licensed status. As in the United States, the procurement of personal data in this region – and any subsequent transfer of data outside of the DIFC – may only be attained with the written consent of the individual being investigated.
Reputable screening firms in the Middle East will also comply with regional privacy laws (such as the EU data protection directive) by appointing an internal Data Protection Officer (DPO) whose primary responsibility is to conduct independent audits of the firm’s various information processing operations which handle customer and employee data. The DPO ensures that personal data is handled in accordance with all relevant data protection provisions covering online and offline data procurement while complying with local and regional regulations pertaining to individual privacy standards.
How to Locate and Partner with
Reputable Screening Firms in the Middle East
So how does one go about securing a reputable background screening source abroad? The following checklist may be helpful.
1. To begin, it is highly recommended that you research the listing of expatriate background screening firms provided by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) or PreemploymentDirectory.com in the International Section. The list can be found at napbs.com/content.php?id=250 or at PreemploymentDirectory.com.
2. Ask your provider how they comply with local and regional laws governing individual privacy protection and the methods they utilize in protecting information.
3. Make sure your service provider’s physical address is in the region they’re conducting investigations. If not, they could be simply outsourcing their cases to a third party.
4. Ask about the manner in which your service provider conducts investigations. Stay away from firms that investigate exclusively through media searches.
5. Inquire about the internal policies and procedures the service provider uses to monitor the protection of data, and if it conducts regular audits to ensure compliance with regional privacy mandates.
6. Don’t settle for firms that say they specialize in providing checks of the International Terrorist Watch List and the OFAC watch list. Those lists are available online to anyone at no cost.
7. Stay away from firms that won’t supply you with the source of the records they obtain. Also, be sure to ask how old the information collected is.
8. The truly reputable firms will combine in-depth field investigations with routine public records searches. Make sure your provider is doing both.
9. Service delivery is critical in foreign investigations. Ask about average turnaround times and get commitments for delivery in advance of the investigation.
10. Find out what other U.S. companies use the service provider. Ask for references.
As the world economy shrinks and the pool of foreign job applicants expands, a partnership with a reputable international background screening service provider to conduct investigations abroad is essential for maintaining a safe hiring program for your clients. To ensure you’re using the best providers available, a little investigating of your own will result in big benefits down the road.
12 Tips For A Quick House Sale
by: Steve Teta
Selling your home can be a scary process, especially if this is your first time. But don’t worry, you have several options that allow you to be as involved or as passive in the process as you want. Before you select the best option for you, decide what is important in the sale. Is it more important to get a higher price or to sell as quickly as possible; do you want control of the sale, or do you want someone else to handle the details; how much money can you afford to pay to locate a buyer?
This report is designed to help you evaluate your options, and make the best selection based on your individual needs and desires. It will provide you with tips for a faster sale, and show you the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.
You should spend time reading this entire report, then sit down with any other decision makers to decide your best course of action. Remember, the only way to get your house sold is to start the process.
Reasons You Might Need To Sell Fast
There are a variety of reasons that homeowners may require a quick sale of their home. You may have just found your “dream home” and you want to move fast before someone else snatches it away. There may have been a death of a relative. The home they have left you is eating up all of your spare cash and time. Finding a buyer is hard and you don’t really want to bother with all those details.
Your boss may have decided that you must move to another location and it’s either: live out of a suitcase or sell your current home to buy another. Another reason could be divorce. You are splitting up with your partner and need the equity from your current home to buy another. Living in the same house during this process is not an option.
You may be a landlord and your tenants have become deadbeats and you just can’t deal with it much longer. There may have been changes in your financial picture have caused you to get behind in payments and edging closer to foreclosure status. Another reason could be that home repairs are getting the best of you and you just can’t keep up with them all. Natural disasters are no t always fully covered by insurance and those out-of-pocket expenses are eating you alive.
You may have bought that cute second home when your income was great, but with the current downsizing in your job you can no longer afford it. Or, the 100% loan the bank was so generous in offering has also kept you from gaining any equity in your home. You may need to get out of that trap and move on with your life.
Do any of these sound familiar? If so, then it is time to follow through on your decision to sell. This report will help you make an informed decision.
Tips For A Quick Sale
Take a step back and look at you r house from your buyers’ perspective. What do you see? Is it appealing? Would you have bought this house if it looked like this when you were buying? Walk across the street and look at your house. Is it attractive? Will buyers race to set an appointment to see the house, or race to get away?
The point is to make your house as appealing as possible. Fix it, paint it, clean it. Here are some tips to consider:
1. Remove clutter. You want your house to appear as spacious as possible. The more clutter, the less spacious it appears.
2. Are you afraid of your closets? Well, grab some trash bags, a few boxes, and then clean them out. Use a rummage sale, used clothing store, community donation center, resale shop, or just take stuff to the dump if it is no longer usable. You can organize your closets in such a way that they appear roomy b y limiting the amount of clothing on the rods.
3. Has the floor of your garage seen the light of day recently? If not, then it is time to do some serious hanging up, throwing out, and rearranging.
4. Is there a side to your house that seems to collect stuff? If so, get rid of it. Make your entire yard a pleasant scene.
5. Make sure your house is clean and organized before each showing to potential buyers. You’ll be amazed at all the stains, fingerprints, pet hair, and dust that have accumulated over the years. Have your entire house professionally cleaned. At the very least, have the carpets steam cleaned.
6. Repair broken items so they do not become a concern for your prospective buyers.
7. Remove personal items from walls and tables as these block buyers from seeing your home as their future home.
8. Be sure that children’s rooms are kept neat and tidy. Remove posters of the walls, keep the beds made, closets cleaned (see above), clothes in the hamper, and the floor clear with nothing lying around.
9. During a showing, it may be best if your children are not in the house. This could be a very stressful time for them as they see strangers looking through their private space.
10. Be sure there is a clean, fresh smell when you enter the home. A trick is to use vanilla scented air fresheners, or how about the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies? The sense of smell is a surprisingly powerful persuader; use it to your advantage with food, candles, flowers, and/or a potpourri pot just before a showing.
11. You love your pet, but not everyone does. During a showing, keep your pets away from the house if at all possible. Plus, you don’t need more hair to clean up on sofas, carpets, stairs, etc.
12. Be sure that your pet is not intimidating your buyers. For instance, don’t let your barking pooch prevent your buyers from enjoying the beautiful back yard scenery.
The idea is to create an atmosphere where your potential buyers can easily envision themselves living in your home. Your house is your best investment. Show it off to its best advantage and you will reap the greatest financial reward.
Selling your home can be a scary process, especially if this is your first time. But don’t worry, you have several options that allow you to be as involved or as passive in the process as you want. Before you select the best option for you, decide what is important in the sale. Is it more important to get a higher price or to sell as quickly as possible; do you want control of the sale, or do you want someone else to handle the details; how much money can you afford to pay to locate a buyer?
This report is designed to help you evaluate your options, and make the best selection based on your individual needs and desires. It will provide you with tips for a faster sale, and show you the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.
You should spend time reading this entire report, then sit down with any other decision makers to decide your best course of action. Remember, the only way to get your house sold is to start the process.
Reasons You Might Need To Sell Fast
There are a variety of reasons that homeowners may require a quick sale of their home. You may have just found your “dream home” and you want to move fast before someone else snatches it away. There may have been a death of a relative. The home they have left you is eating up all of your spare cash and time. Finding a buyer is hard and you don’t really want to bother with all those details.
Your boss may have decided that you must move to another location and it’s either: live out of a suitcase or sell your current home to buy another. Another reason could be divorce. You are splitting up with your partner and need the equity from your current home to buy another. Living in the same house during this process is not an option.
You may be a landlord and your tenants have become deadbeats and you just can’t deal with it much longer. There may have been changes in your financial picture have caused you to get behind in payments and edging closer to foreclosure status. Another reason could be that home repairs are getting the best of you and you just can’t keep up with them all. Natural disasters are no t always fully covered by insurance and those out-of-pocket expenses are eating you alive.
You may have bought that cute second home when your income was great, but with the current downsizing in your job you can no longer afford it. Or, the 100% loan the bank was so generous in offering has also kept you from gaining any equity in your home. You may need to get out of that trap and move on with your life.
Do any of these sound familiar? If so, then it is time to follow through on your decision to sell. This report will help you make an informed decision.
Tips For A Quick Sale
Take a step back and look at you r house from your buyers’ perspective. What do you see? Is it appealing? Would you have bought this house if it looked like this when you were buying? Walk across the street and look at your house. Is it attractive? Will buyers race to set an appointment to see the house, or race to get away?
The point is to make your house as appealing as possible. Fix it, paint it, clean it. Here are some tips to consider:
1. Remove clutter. You want your house to appear as spacious as possible. The more clutter, the less spacious it appears.
2. Are you afraid of your closets? Well, grab some trash bags, a few boxes, and then clean them out. Use a rummage sale, used clothing store, community donation center, resale shop, or just take stuff to the dump if it is no longer usable. You can organize your closets in such a way that they appear roomy b y limiting the amount of clothing on the rods.
3. Has the floor of your garage seen the light of day recently? If not, then it is time to do some serious hanging up, throwing out, and rearranging.
4. Is there a side to your house that seems to collect stuff? If so, get rid of it. Make your entire yard a pleasant scene.
5. Make sure your house is clean and organized before each showing to potential buyers. You’ll be amazed at all the stains, fingerprints, pet hair, and dust that have accumulated over the years. Have your entire house professionally cleaned. At the very least, have the carpets steam cleaned.
6. Repair broken items so they do not become a concern for your prospective buyers.
7. Remove personal items from walls and tables as these block buyers from seeing your home as their future home.
8. Be sure that children’s rooms are kept neat and tidy. Remove posters of the walls, keep the beds made, closets cleaned (see above), clothes in the hamper, and the floor clear with nothing lying around.
9. During a showing, it may be best if your children are not in the house. This could be a very stressful time for them as they see strangers looking through their private space.
10. Be sure there is a clean, fresh smell when you enter the home. A trick is to use vanilla scented air fresheners, or how about the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies? The sense of smell is a surprisingly powerful persuader; use it to your advantage with food, candles, flowers, and/or a potpourri pot just before a showing.
11. You love your pet, but not everyone does. During a showing, keep your pets away from the house if at all possible. Plus, you don’t need more hair to clean up on sofas, carpets, stairs, etc.
12. Be sure that your pet is not intimidating your buyers. For instance, don’t let your barking pooch prevent your buyers from enjoying the beautiful back yard scenery.
The idea is to create an atmosphere where your potential buyers can easily envision themselves living in your home. Your house is your best investment. Show it off to its best advantage and you will reap the greatest financial reward.
Top Tips To Hire A Business Leadership Speaker
by: Colin Turner
You have calked out the plan, the dates scheduled and the seminar center reserve. And now you need to hire the business leadership speaker. You want to make the event a success. Here are some tips that can facilitate you as follows:
o At the very outset, you need to recognize the purpose of the seminar. What type of information are participants in quest of? Be careful the word “motivation.” If motivation and energy aren’t tied with content and a plan, the participants will lose their enthusiasm shortly after arriving back at work. Always look at the results you want.
o Another very important thing is you need to talk to speakers from previous years. Professional business speakers are always more than happy to pass recommendations and advices on future speakers. Professional business leadership speaker will not talk negatively about another speaker. They will be cheerful to steer you the best person who can meet your needs.
o Talk with various event planners about business leadership speakers who have been providing exceptional services. You should to produce a “preferred” list that can be used in your niche industry.
o Look at the background for the business leadership speakers. Check the credentials of a business leadership speaker on your chosen topics. You should look for membership in professional organizations like the National Speakers Association and the American Society for Training and Development as well. Professional business leadership speakers who are serious about their own growth belong to one or both of these organizations. Also verify whether the business leadership speaker is a Certified Professional Speaker or CSP.
o Always ask for testimonials and feedbacks. This can be letters from satisfied clients or a reference list. You should call to some phone numbers given in the reference list.
o Also, preview the speaker in action. Great business leadership speakers are busy speakers and have many local and national bookings. While the presentation or subject may not be what you had in mind but still you can evaluate their platform skills and the response of a live audience.
o Beware of the speaker who is egotistical and/or arrogant. The best speakers I know are very humble and are focused on the audience not themselves.
The bottom line is great business leadership speakers do their own research by reading annual reports, checking on-line, and reading up in the industry. Some speakers use pre-program questionnaires to congregate information. Great business leadership speakers are keen to be a part of the entire event. You need to feel free to contact them to discuss details other than just their presentation
You have calked out the plan, the dates scheduled and the seminar center reserve. And now you need to hire the business leadership speaker. You want to make the event a success. Here are some tips that can facilitate you as follows:
o At the very outset, you need to recognize the purpose of the seminar. What type of information are participants in quest of? Be careful the word “motivation.” If motivation and energy aren’t tied with content and a plan, the participants will lose their enthusiasm shortly after arriving back at work. Always look at the results you want.
o Another very important thing is you need to talk to speakers from previous years. Professional business speakers are always more than happy to pass recommendations and advices on future speakers. Professional business leadership speaker will not talk negatively about another speaker. They will be cheerful to steer you the best person who can meet your needs.
o Talk with various event planners about business leadership speakers who have been providing exceptional services. You should to produce a “preferred” list that can be used in your niche industry.
o Look at the background for the business leadership speakers. Check the credentials of a business leadership speaker on your chosen topics. You should look for membership in professional organizations like the National Speakers Association and the American Society for Training and Development as well. Professional business leadership speakers who are serious about their own growth belong to one or both of these organizations. Also verify whether the business leadership speaker is a Certified Professional Speaker or CSP.
o Always ask for testimonials and feedbacks. This can be letters from satisfied clients or a reference list. You should call to some phone numbers given in the reference list.
o Also, preview the speaker in action. Great business leadership speakers are busy speakers and have many local and national bookings. While the presentation or subject may not be what you had in mind but still you can evaluate their platform skills and the response of a live audience.
o Beware of the speaker who is egotistical and/or arrogant. The best speakers I know are very humble and are focused on the audience not themselves.
The bottom line is great business leadership speakers do their own research by reading annual reports, checking on-line, and reading up in the industry. Some speakers use pre-program questionnaires to congregate information. Great business leadership speakers are keen to be a part of the entire event. You need to feel free to contact them to discuss details other than just their presentation
Why Most People Lose Money in MLM
by: Wayne Wu
An important attribute of every successful business is that of cash flow management. Cash is the oxygen, or the life giving blood of every business. Without it, a business cannot survive. Unfortunately, a lot of network marketers don't make money simply because they don't understand the concept of cash flow management.
Let's look at a very bad example of cash flow management. General Motors. General Motors has been very poorly managed for quite some time. Right now, as I write this, it is on the verge of bankruptcy, despite receiving about $20 billion in Federal assistance. Without going into too much detail, GM's problems stem from its complacency and the continued payment of wages and benefits to people who are no longer employed.
This auto giant has been basking too long in its past successes, it has failed to embrace and adapt to change and failed to give buyers the cars they want. GM's cars are simply not good enough. As a result, in the recent years, it has been literally hemorrhaging money. In November 2007, GM reported the second largest quarterly loss in US history of $39 billion, or roughly $427 million a day. When you're losing money that fast, you are going out of business!
I've learned from reading Robert Kiyosaki's books that when he purchases investments or businesses, he must make money from those investments from day one. In other words, he invests for cash flow, by his own definition of an asset and a liability. That is, assets feeds you (gives you money, whether you like it or not) and liabilities eat you (takes your money, whether you like it or not).
This has to be same philosophy that network marketers apply to their businesses. To get into profit as soon as possible. Afterall, you're trying to build a cash flow asset that feeds you right?
As an entrepreneur you must evaluate every activity your are doing, the money you are spending and what returns they are producing on your business. This is called understanding your business metrics.
Let's say you're a traditional network marketer, building your business like most other network marketers. You're on the monthly autoship program for your company's products, which is costing you money. You're on the monthly educational program, which includes motivational CDs and books. That's costing you money. You diligently go to meetings every week, which cost you money. And you attend a major function every month, which costs you money.
Now let's say that you've secured a one-on-one appointment with a prospect to show him your business plan. Now this prospect, like most MLM prospects is just a business opportunity seeker. In other words, he's just kickin' tyres. He's not a serious entrepreneur.
So you meeting him for an appointment. You whip out your trusty MLM prospecting system, your business support materials which might include CDs, books and a DVD of people taking nice holidays. These materials have of course, cost you money. But nonetheless, they've worked. After reviewing the material, your prospect is excited and joins up.
In the first few weeks, he tries some of the products and likes them. He shares the business opportunity with his friends, using the same MLM prospecting system you did. None of them want to join him. Like the typical business opportunity seeker, when he gets no results for the first several months, he quits.
Now, think about the return on investment you've gotten from this prospect. Obviously you've lost money. What's worse than that, think about all the time and energy you've spent recruiting this prospect. Time that you'll never get back.
This is why it is so important show your business to the right people. Prospects who you have qualified. People who seriously want to make a change for a better life.
Now, I'm not saying that autoship, your monthly educational program, meetings, business support materials and the like are not important. They are. But you must objectively stand back and evaluate your returns on your expenditure.
Here's where network marketers should take a leaf from the books of direct response marketing. Successful direct response marketers first find the right market for whatever they have to sell. That's a big hint. Then track the costs of every bit of advertising they do and then evaluate how much they've spent on advertising per customer acquired.
They have also learned to evaluate the lifetime value of a customer. That is, the return on their advertising investment of each customer. They are always testing in order to try to reduce the cost to acquire a customer.
I'm not saying that you have to go to the nth degree in evaluating your costs, but doing some objective analysis into the costs of running your business can really provide you with some insights into the long-term profitability of your efforts.
An important attribute of every successful business is that of cash flow management. Cash is the oxygen, or the life giving blood of every business. Without it, a business cannot survive. Unfortunately, a lot of network marketers don't make money simply because they don't understand the concept of cash flow management.
Let's look at a very bad example of cash flow management. General Motors. General Motors has been very poorly managed for quite some time. Right now, as I write this, it is on the verge of bankruptcy, despite receiving about $20 billion in Federal assistance. Without going into too much detail, GM's problems stem from its complacency and the continued payment of wages and benefits to people who are no longer employed.
This auto giant has been basking too long in its past successes, it has failed to embrace and adapt to change and failed to give buyers the cars they want. GM's cars are simply not good enough. As a result, in the recent years, it has been literally hemorrhaging money. In November 2007, GM reported the second largest quarterly loss in US history of $39 billion, or roughly $427 million a day. When you're losing money that fast, you are going out of business!
I've learned from reading Robert Kiyosaki's books that when he purchases investments or businesses, he must make money from those investments from day one. In other words, he invests for cash flow, by his own definition of an asset and a liability. That is, assets feeds you (gives you money, whether you like it or not) and liabilities eat you (takes your money, whether you like it or not).
This has to be same philosophy that network marketers apply to their businesses. To get into profit as soon as possible. Afterall, you're trying to build a cash flow asset that feeds you right?
As an entrepreneur you must evaluate every activity your are doing, the money you are spending and what returns they are producing on your business. This is called understanding your business metrics.
Let's say you're a traditional network marketer, building your business like most other network marketers. You're on the monthly autoship program for your company's products, which is costing you money. You're on the monthly educational program, which includes motivational CDs and books. That's costing you money. You diligently go to meetings every week, which cost you money. And you attend a major function every month, which costs you money.
Now let's say that you've secured a one-on-one appointment with a prospect to show him your business plan. Now this prospect, like most MLM prospects is just a business opportunity seeker. In other words, he's just kickin' tyres. He's not a serious entrepreneur.
So you meeting him for an appointment. You whip out your trusty MLM prospecting system, your business support materials which might include CDs, books and a DVD of people taking nice holidays. These materials have of course, cost you money. But nonetheless, they've worked. After reviewing the material, your prospect is excited and joins up.
In the first few weeks, he tries some of the products and likes them. He shares the business opportunity with his friends, using the same MLM prospecting system you did. None of them want to join him. Like the typical business opportunity seeker, when he gets no results for the first several months, he quits.
Now, think about the return on investment you've gotten from this prospect. Obviously you've lost money. What's worse than that, think about all the time and energy you've spent recruiting this prospect. Time that you'll never get back.
This is why it is so important show your business to the right people. Prospects who you have qualified. People who seriously want to make a change for a better life.
Now, I'm not saying that autoship, your monthly educational program, meetings, business support materials and the like are not important. They are. But you must objectively stand back and evaluate your returns on your expenditure.
Here's where network marketers should take a leaf from the books of direct response marketing. Successful direct response marketers first find the right market for whatever they have to sell. That's a big hint. Then track the costs of every bit of advertising they do and then evaluate how much they've spent on advertising per customer acquired.
They have also learned to evaluate the lifetime value of a customer. That is, the return on their advertising investment of each customer. They are always testing in order to try to reduce the cost to acquire a customer.
I'm not saying that you have to go to the nth degree in evaluating your costs, but doing some objective analysis into the costs of running your business can really provide you with some insights into the long-term profitability of your efforts.
Obama's Stimulus Plan: We Need Mandates to Spur Demand
by: Butch Grimes
For those 9 million Americans classified as struggling homeowners the idea that $275 billion is being pumped into the housing sector through President Obama's recently unveiled stimulus plan gives an initial ray of hope. But from where I sit as a long time realtor, business owner and community activist, it looks like the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
Here are the details. Of that $275 billion being pumped into the economy the expectation is that about 5 million homeowners who have little equity or are upside down in their mortgages will be able to refinance through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. $200 billion has been allocated to back these entities. The other $75 billion is supposed to encourage lenders to make loan term modifications for those in foreclosure, or who are at risk of going into foreclosure. So what's missing?
Missing: No Cohesive Plan, No Mandate for Industry
Basically, there are 3 things missing here.
1) It's not enough.
Ok- I understand that some of the money needs to go to drive jobs in other sectors of the economy. But when it's going to bailouts that fund already failing car manufacturers, that just takes money away from where it would be most effective. There are a lot of folks angry at the idea of helping out an individual homeowner who got in over his head. Yet we're bailing out CEOs of major businesses instead of funneling that money to keep the housing economy viable.
2) No mandates for Creditors
What good will any of this do if qualified people still can't get home loans? Every day I see banks and creditors refusing to make loans or modify loans. I see people with high credit scores waiting months for loans. This hurts us all!
What about the whole credit rating system? Why don't we hear anything about how Equifax, Experian, Transunion are impacting this crisis? There should be mandates that require these organizations to report credit accurately. Where do they play in the scheme of things? I've heard that there is a new scoring model coming out for FICO. No one understood the rules on the last one. Is this any different?
Frankly, until there are mandates to make adjustments the banks and creditors and credit raters aren't going to do it. More houses will sit empty and more folks will continue to lose their homes. It's a vicious circle.
3) No Cohesive Plan
I heard HUD secretary Shaun Donovan the other night explaining how the stimulus plan will help bring some "underwater" homeowner payments down to 31% of income, if they are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. What I didn't hear was how the mortgage insurers play into this whole deal. That's why I feel that this whole plan is so one sided. Incentives are just a drop in the bucket.
From Where I Sit
Here's my unique perspective. I host a real estate talk show at WeTalkRealEstate.com and sponsor a social network for real estate professionals at WeTalk247.com . Everyday I hear from the people most impacted by this whole situation. The callers to my show and podcast are homeowners, people facing foreclosure, and realtors all trying to make it through this crisis. Some of Obama's stimulus incentives will help some of these folks. What it won't do is enable many who want to buy to do so.
Without a cohesive plan that includes the mortgage insurers, bankers, and creditors, credit scoring organizations and requires some sort of mandate on loan modifications and lending rates it just won't be a long term solution. The housing portion of the economic stimulus plan just doesn't subsidize interest rate reductions for borrowers in a way that will spur demand and recreate a housing economy that will benefit everyone in the long run.
For those 9 million Americans classified as struggling homeowners the idea that $275 billion is being pumped into the housing sector through President Obama's recently unveiled stimulus plan gives an initial ray of hope. But from where I sit as a long time realtor, business owner and community activist, it looks like the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
Here are the details. Of that $275 billion being pumped into the economy the expectation is that about 5 million homeowners who have little equity or are upside down in their mortgages will be able to refinance through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. $200 billion has been allocated to back these entities. The other $75 billion is supposed to encourage lenders to make loan term modifications for those in foreclosure, or who are at risk of going into foreclosure. So what's missing?
Missing: No Cohesive Plan, No Mandate for Industry
Basically, there are 3 things missing here.
1) It's not enough.
Ok- I understand that some of the money needs to go to drive jobs in other sectors of the economy. But when it's going to bailouts that fund already failing car manufacturers, that just takes money away from where it would be most effective. There are a lot of folks angry at the idea of helping out an individual homeowner who got in over his head. Yet we're bailing out CEOs of major businesses instead of funneling that money to keep the housing economy viable.
2) No mandates for Creditors
What good will any of this do if qualified people still can't get home loans? Every day I see banks and creditors refusing to make loans or modify loans. I see people with high credit scores waiting months for loans. This hurts us all!
What about the whole credit rating system? Why don't we hear anything about how Equifax, Experian, Transunion are impacting this crisis? There should be mandates that require these organizations to report credit accurately. Where do they play in the scheme of things? I've heard that there is a new scoring model coming out for FICO. No one understood the rules on the last one. Is this any different?
Frankly, until there are mandates to make adjustments the banks and creditors and credit raters aren't going to do it. More houses will sit empty and more folks will continue to lose their homes. It's a vicious circle.
3) No Cohesive Plan
I heard HUD secretary Shaun Donovan the other night explaining how the stimulus plan will help bring some "underwater" homeowner payments down to 31% of income, if they are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. What I didn't hear was how the mortgage insurers play into this whole deal. That's why I feel that this whole plan is so one sided. Incentives are just a drop in the bucket.
From Where I Sit
Here's my unique perspective. I host a real estate talk show at WeTalkRealEstate.com and sponsor a social network for real estate professionals at WeTalk247.com . Everyday I hear from the people most impacted by this whole situation. The callers to my show and podcast are homeowners, people facing foreclosure, and realtors all trying to make it through this crisis. Some of Obama's stimulus incentives will help some of these folks. What it won't do is enable many who want to buy to do so.
Without a cohesive plan that includes the mortgage insurers, bankers, and creditors, credit scoring organizations and requires some sort of mandate on loan modifications and lending rates it just won't be a long term solution. The housing portion of the economic stimulus plan just doesn't subsidize interest rate reductions for borrowers in a way that will spur demand and recreate a housing economy that will benefit everyone in the long run.
Earn Extra Income Online
by: Blair Ireland
Many people are searching for new ways to earn extra income online. There are a number of new business opportunities for the home based person that appear almost daily. Almost all of them offer the ability to earn extra income online if you have a product idea to sell. They also require you to continually chase potential customers instead of attracting new leads. This approach can result in less than the amazing results promised by their marketing. Blair Ireland and the Infinity 800 team at http://www.AllTheMoneyYouWant.com/4123.php have implemented a proven internet business that attracts leads and allows you to earn extra income online. This approach skips the complexity of product development and focuses more on instant success by driving traffic to your web site. This simple marketing system results in quick success and you can start to earn extra income online literally within days or even hours of signing up.
No gimmicks, free giveaways or other tricks
Traditional online marketing systems also require giveaways or free incentives to drive traffic to their web sites and earn extra income online. The Infinity 800 system doesn’t need you to create any of these giveaways or free products. The system already has the basic product for you to offer and it gives you everything you might need for marketing the product and to earn extra income online, right from the comfort of your own home. You do not need to travel anywhere and you do not need to sell any products to individual people in a face to face setting. This includes having to call up your friends and family members and tell them about your “new opportunity”, which tends to scare them off. The system is based entirely online, and can be operated 100% from your kitchen table. Even people with no prior internet experience can find immediate success and earn extra income online with this simple system. At a low cost to enter, the entire approach is easy to use, focused and an affordable way to earn extra income online for anyone.
Marketing Strategies that work
The Infinity 800 system offers the marketing education that not only helps earn extra money online with Infinity 800, but can be used to sell any product or service. The easy to follow strategies and the basic business plan help the new business owner build their customer list quickly. They can start to earn extra income online with the Infinity 800 system, generating multiple cash payments as often as weekly. Later, once the all important customer list is built by capturing both prospects as well as team members who sign up the business owner who wants to add more products or services (either their own or some other affiliate), can easily do so to earn extra income online over and over again. The customer on that list, have already shown their desire and ability to purchase, so adding on additional products on the “back-end” can be very profitable, using the techniques taught in the Infinity 800 system. Starting a new line of products or services, when you already have a built up list, multiplies your success and ability to earn extra income online. Also, the success tends to feed on itself, so the more success attracts more customers, partners, and opportunities. With each working strategy and product building upon the entire approach to earn extra income online, your life and wealth continues to expand and prosper.
Don’t Wait: Get Started Today
There is money hidden in time. The business world likes and rewards speed and the action taking habits that many entrepreneurs have. With the low upfront investment, the team leverage concept, the easy to follow marketing strategies, there aren’t many other opportunities out there to earn extra income online as effective as the Infinity 800 system. If you are even thinking about starting your own business system from home then the Infinity 800 tools and marketing strategies ought to be worth some investigation. To find about more about this opportunity, visit Blair Ireland’s website at: http://www.AllTheMoneyYouWant.com/4123.php. This easy to implement, low cost, home-based business will help you earn extra income online and lead you down the path to a better life, even while you continue to work at your existing job if needed.
Many people are searching for new ways to earn extra income online. There are a number of new business opportunities for the home based person that appear almost daily. Almost all of them offer the ability to earn extra income online if you have a product idea to sell. They also require you to continually chase potential customers instead of attracting new leads. This approach can result in less than the amazing results promised by their marketing. Blair Ireland and the Infinity 800 team at http://www.AllTheMoneyYouWant.com/4123.php have implemented a proven internet business that attracts leads and allows you to earn extra income online. This approach skips the complexity of product development and focuses more on instant success by driving traffic to your web site. This simple marketing system results in quick success and you can start to earn extra income online literally within days or even hours of signing up.
No gimmicks, free giveaways or other tricks
Traditional online marketing systems also require giveaways or free incentives to drive traffic to their web sites and earn extra income online. The Infinity 800 system doesn’t need you to create any of these giveaways or free products. The system already has the basic product for you to offer and it gives you everything you might need for marketing the product and to earn extra income online, right from the comfort of your own home. You do not need to travel anywhere and you do not need to sell any products to individual people in a face to face setting. This includes having to call up your friends and family members and tell them about your “new opportunity”, which tends to scare them off. The system is based entirely online, and can be operated 100% from your kitchen table. Even people with no prior internet experience can find immediate success and earn extra income online with this simple system. At a low cost to enter, the entire approach is easy to use, focused and an affordable way to earn extra income online for anyone.
Marketing Strategies that work
The Infinity 800 system offers the marketing education that not only helps earn extra money online with Infinity 800, but can be used to sell any product or service. The easy to follow strategies and the basic business plan help the new business owner build their customer list quickly. They can start to earn extra income online with the Infinity 800 system, generating multiple cash payments as often as weekly. Later, once the all important customer list is built by capturing both prospects as well as team members who sign up the business owner who wants to add more products or services (either their own or some other affiliate), can easily do so to earn extra income online over and over again. The customer on that list, have already shown their desire and ability to purchase, so adding on additional products on the “back-end” can be very profitable, using the techniques taught in the Infinity 800 system. Starting a new line of products or services, when you already have a built up list, multiplies your success and ability to earn extra income online. Also, the success tends to feed on itself, so the more success attracts more customers, partners, and opportunities. With each working strategy and product building upon the entire approach to earn extra income online, your life and wealth continues to expand and prosper.
Don’t Wait: Get Started Today
There is money hidden in time. The business world likes and rewards speed and the action taking habits that many entrepreneurs have. With the low upfront investment, the team leverage concept, the easy to follow marketing strategies, there aren’t many other opportunities out there to earn extra income online as effective as the Infinity 800 system. If you are even thinking about starting your own business system from home then the Infinity 800 tools and marketing strategies ought to be worth some investigation. To find about more about this opportunity, visit Blair Ireland’s website at: http://www.AllTheMoneyYouWant.com/4123.php. This easy to implement, low cost, home-based business will help you earn extra income online and lead you down the path to a better life, even while you continue to work at your existing job if needed.
How to Start Your Own Commercial Cleaning Business
by: Jeremy Gray
The recent economic crunch has forced thousands of small business enterprises to close down, leaving millions of people without jobs, and thus a way of supporting themselves. If you, like many of those people, are feeling the pressure of the changing economic environment, or if you've already fallen victim to it - you are probably wondering how to find creative ways of augmenting your income to be able to comfortably and securely support yourself and your family.
Fortunately, there is an answer... The way you need to look at this economic climate is that it's an amazing opportunity to progress yourself to the next level. With the help of technology these days the opportunities for taking charge of your own income are endless. You can now easily start your own business at home, on full or even on a part-time basis. One of the popular business trends now is starting up your own Commercial Cleaning Business.
OK - I know that this might sound intimidating to someone who has no entrepreneurial experience. But believe me - even a novice can have his own cleaning business in no time, if he knew the process and if he had the "winning formula".
Here is a step-by-step guide - i.e. a shortened version of a "winning formula" - that will help you understand how you can start your own Commercial Cleaning Business:
1. Decide what kind of operation you will run.
You can start a cleaning business independently or you can franchise a cleaning business, which already has a proven track record of success. Each has its pros and cons...
If you start your business independently, the upside is that your profits are yours alone. Also, you will not be tied down to regulations and rules that might not be compatible with your own business goals and vision.
The downside is that you have to start with a blank slate. You have to do careful planning and research, you have to have business knowledge (or at least be willing to learn), and you would need to find at least the initial capital, because the financial risks may be quite big.
If you decided on a franchise, on the other hand, you will find that you'll be given a 'head start'. You'll have a business model that is proven to work. You should be given a clear set of processes, and action plans - so all you'll have to do is put in the work to make it work!
The drawback to choosing a franchise is that in most cases the 'mother company' will take a big cut from your profit margins - so not everything you work for will come back into your pocket. So make sure you weigh up the PROs and CONs and decide for yourself - choose the best option according to your skill set, your funds, and depending on what you want out of owning your own business.
2. Choose what type of cleaning service you will provide for your clients.
This might seem like a silly question, but there are many different services for consideration - and you have to be clear from the start what it is that you want to do. You can choose from the following: maid services, janitorial services, or carpet and upholstery cleaning services.
3. Make sure you know what it will cost you.
There are just a few costs involved in starting up your own commercial cleaning business - advertising costs, cleaning materials costs, and business setup costs. So you need to investigate what each could be, and plan accordingly - it makes sense right!
Luckily, there are *many ways in which you can fund your business without dipping into your own savings. You can sell your assets for cash or use as collateral for loans. You can ask trusted friends to invest in your business. As with all businesses requiring investment - make sure you present a very convincing business proposal.
As an aside - it doesn't take much initial capital to get started. So even if you have to take out an initial loan, you should have covered it within a few weeks, and then you start making profit. Compared to a lot of other types of business start-ups - this is a relatively fast turnaround by any means.
4. Decide how you will get your customers.
To save costs, you can do 'guerrilla' type marketing, like handing out fliers, or doing cold calls (door-to-door or on the phone) to promote your business. You can target your marketing efforts quite easily.
The bottom line is that businesses need cleaning, and all businesses are listed either in the Yellow Pages or in online business directories like YelloBook, YellowPages, WhitePages, Google Local Business Directory, and Yahoo! and MSN local business directories. There are thousands of businesses that you can target and approach with your service offer.
You might need to make a few deals at first to get some customers on board. But once you get your 'foot in the door', your satisfied customers will be your new marketing 'weapon' through the word-of-mouth power of referrals.
On top of all that, the internet has provided us with an extra channel through which you can get new clients at a small cost, compared to any offline mediums - you just need to decide which ones work best for you.
5. Take good care of insurance, licenses, and taxes.
This would not cost you as much as you might think. A business license will cost you around $50 a year. As for insurance, there are a lot of prepaid plans that ask for small monthly installments. You will most likely cover all your costs with the first deal you get and then you start making profits.
I probably don't need to say this as it is common sense - do your taxes... Don't try and skip this step - or you may find your business battling if the tax office queries your books.
At the end of it all, the key to building a successful Commercial Cleaning Business is to know your market inside and out, have a clear idea of what your are offering your clients, scope out the potential costs, and define clear business goals with a solid marketing plan.
The biggest hurdle for you would be getting your first client. After that you will have a 'winning formula' and it will be just a matter of doing 'what works best' and refining that process to maximise your profits. But don't forget - planning and researching a project (or business opportunity) thoroughly before starting is a crucial part of succeeding...
The recent economic crunch has forced thousands of small business enterprises to close down, leaving millions of people without jobs, and thus a way of supporting themselves. If you, like many of those people, are feeling the pressure of the changing economic environment, or if you've already fallen victim to it - you are probably wondering how to find creative ways of augmenting your income to be able to comfortably and securely support yourself and your family.
Fortunately, there is an answer... The way you need to look at this economic climate is that it's an amazing opportunity to progress yourself to the next level. With the help of technology these days the opportunities for taking charge of your own income are endless. You can now easily start your own business at home, on full or even on a part-time basis. One of the popular business trends now is starting up your own Commercial Cleaning Business.
OK - I know that this might sound intimidating to someone who has no entrepreneurial experience. But believe me - even a novice can have his own cleaning business in no time, if he knew the process and if he had the "winning formula".
Here is a step-by-step guide - i.e. a shortened version of a "winning formula" - that will help you understand how you can start your own Commercial Cleaning Business:
1. Decide what kind of operation you will run.
You can start a cleaning business independently or you can franchise a cleaning business, which already has a proven track record of success. Each has its pros and cons...
If you start your business independently, the upside is that your profits are yours alone. Also, you will not be tied down to regulations and rules that might not be compatible with your own business goals and vision.
The downside is that you have to start with a blank slate. You have to do careful planning and research, you have to have business knowledge (or at least be willing to learn), and you would need to find at least the initial capital, because the financial risks may be quite big.
If you decided on a franchise, on the other hand, you will find that you'll be given a 'head start'. You'll have a business model that is proven to work. You should be given a clear set of processes, and action plans - so all you'll have to do is put in the work to make it work!
The drawback to choosing a franchise is that in most cases the 'mother company' will take a big cut from your profit margins - so not everything you work for will come back into your pocket. So make sure you weigh up the PROs and CONs and decide for yourself - choose the best option according to your skill set, your funds, and depending on what you want out of owning your own business.
2. Choose what type of cleaning service you will provide for your clients.
This might seem like a silly question, but there are many different services for consideration - and you have to be clear from the start what it is that you want to do. You can choose from the following: maid services, janitorial services, or carpet and upholstery cleaning services.
3. Make sure you know what it will cost you.
There are just a few costs involved in starting up your own commercial cleaning business - advertising costs, cleaning materials costs, and business setup costs. So you need to investigate what each could be, and plan accordingly - it makes sense right!
Luckily, there are *many ways in which you can fund your business without dipping into your own savings. You can sell your assets for cash or use as collateral for loans. You can ask trusted friends to invest in your business. As with all businesses requiring investment - make sure you present a very convincing business proposal.
As an aside - it doesn't take much initial capital to get started. So even if you have to take out an initial loan, you should have covered it within a few weeks, and then you start making profit. Compared to a lot of other types of business start-ups - this is a relatively fast turnaround by any means.
4. Decide how you will get your customers.
To save costs, you can do 'guerrilla' type marketing, like handing out fliers, or doing cold calls (door-to-door or on the phone) to promote your business. You can target your marketing efforts quite easily.
The bottom line is that businesses need cleaning, and all businesses are listed either in the Yellow Pages or in online business directories like YelloBook, YellowPages, WhitePages, Google Local Business Directory, and Yahoo! and MSN local business directories. There are thousands of businesses that you can target and approach with your service offer.
You might need to make a few deals at first to get some customers on board. But once you get your 'foot in the door', your satisfied customers will be your new marketing 'weapon' through the word-of-mouth power of referrals.
On top of all that, the internet has provided us with an extra channel through which you can get new clients at a small cost, compared to any offline mediums - you just need to decide which ones work best for you.
5. Take good care of insurance, licenses, and taxes.
This would not cost you as much as you might think. A business license will cost you around $50 a year. As for insurance, there are a lot of prepaid plans that ask for small monthly installments. You will most likely cover all your costs with the first deal you get and then you start making profits.
I probably don't need to say this as it is common sense - do your taxes... Don't try and skip this step - or you may find your business battling if the tax office queries your books.
At the end of it all, the key to building a successful Commercial Cleaning Business is to know your market inside and out, have a clear idea of what your are offering your clients, scope out the potential costs, and define clear business goals with a solid marketing plan.
The biggest hurdle for you would be getting your first client. After that you will have a 'winning formula' and it will be just a matter of doing 'what works best' and refining that process to maximise your profits. But don't forget - planning and researching a project (or business opportunity) thoroughly before starting is a crucial part of succeeding...
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