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Are You Dreaming?

From guest blogger: Victoria Garrison

 

"A dream is a wish your heart makes..." These words represent the first lines of the popular Disney song from the movie Cinderella. They tell the story of how a dream turned a young woman from an indentured servant to a princess in what is easily one of the most well-known fairytales ever told. Ah, but I know what you're thinking: life isn't a fairytale. And the lyrics to that song are little more than just a catchy tune that replays in our heads and reminds us of childhood. Well, I'm not suggesting we all head outdoors to sing and dance with the birds and solicit help from the mice to complete our house chores. But I do wonder, how many people have given up on "the dream"?  How many people no longer believe in the power of  a dream, a wish, a prayer, or a hope? It's no wonder we lose our dreams; just watch the news for about ten minutes and you'll be halfway to depleted of all hope. But what if people stopped allowing outside influences to affect or dissuade their dreams? Imagine the overflow of purpose and drive that leads to the ultimate freedom of an abundant life!

It's safe to dream again. It's safe to open yourself up to the limitless possibilities of life, to make a wish in your heart, say a prayer in your spirit, lift up a vision for your life. It's safe! Drop your baggage, your past, and your skeptical outlook on life at the dumpster of a dissatisfied life. It's time-- now more than ever-- to take action on your dreams. Pick one, find one, develop one, or just keep one. A dream leads to a prayer, which leads to an answer, which leads to an action, which leads to a lesson, which leads to success, which leads to ABUNDANT LIFE, which leads to FREEDOM! To those of us who are willing to take that path....

Here's to the JOURNEY, Victoria

 

Dream again! http://www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

http://www.busy925.com

Photo taken from DebraWarren.com

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Act Your Wage

Interesting title right? Well think about it. Do you act like what you are worth? When you step out of your house do you look like a potential billionaire :0? Do you look like a professional? Do you look like someone others would want to work with??? Ask yourself these questions and if you can answer "NO" to any of them, then "Houston, we have a problem!" Even if you just started yesterday, you need to realize you now have a responsibility to build your business (if you want to be successful). And the only way that happens is through YOU.You have to think about how you present yourself when talking about business or having people rely on you for business services.This is also important for those that have a 9 to 5. If you want a raise but wear jeans everyday...even if there is no dress code, they probably won't take you too seriously. If you want a promotion but you come late everyday, you probably haven't even been considered for a promotion. When you purchase a franchise, MLM or any type of business venture, you then have a responsibility to grow it and show people what you have to offer. If you have a cosmetics company but never wear any of your products, why would people want to buy anything from you? If you own a health and wellness business, but don't appear "healthy", why would people want to use your product? If you don't look like anyone that can be successful in business, then it might be hard to get your feet off the ground. So think about it....do you act your wage??

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Personal Brand Kung Fu - The SWOT Analysis

iStock_000006195022XSmall.jpgOkay, yes the title may tell you I know a little something about martial arts...but no, I don't. Only as much as the last Karate Kid movie
(which is one of my kids' favorites) and the line from Kung Fu Panda
which says that Kung Fu stands for "excellence of self".


I was thinking about that today after having watched the main character, a Panda named Po, one of 50 jillion times. I think personal brand work is like working out your Kung Fu - it truly stands for mining
and understanding how to portray your self excellence.


I thought I'd share how you can strategically do some kung fu kicks with identifying your personal brand strategy below. One approach is using the SWOT analysis.


SWOT Analysis is a well-known method of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, while also examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. All four areas can help you clarify your personal brand and your
distinctive and unique value.


Often carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework will be enough to reveal changes that need to be made in your plan.


Try to work through the following questions and think about what insights you have from this focused work:

Strengths -

  • What do you do well?
  • What can you do better than anyone else?
  • What comes naturally for you?

Weaknesses -

  • What could be improved?
  • What might you do poorly?
  • What comes with more difficulty for you?

Opportunities -

  • In what areas do you see possibilities?
  • What resources or circumstances can you leverage?
  • What trends might you use to your advantage?

Threats -

  • What obstacles are in your way?
  • Who is your competition and what are they doing well?
  • Are you financially challenged?
  • What else do you find yourself up against?


About the Author: Tanya Smith, Career & Personal Brand Coach, offers women professionals, with dual roles in a corporate career & solo side business, access to cutting-edge strategies to help them thrive
and promote themselves as experts in a progressively competitive work and
marketplace. Claim your free instant access to two fill-in-the-blank brand templates and a special report, The Beginner’s Guide to A Successful Career
Brand
at: http://www.bepromotable.com.

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Many of us walk around marketing our personal brand by the seat of our pants. It may not be intentional, but there are things we do daily that demonstrate who we are to prospective clients, co-workers, managers, and colleagues.

I have really begun to mentally process how the discipline of marketing a business and many of the principles that come with it are just as critical for personal success.


There is great value in developing a personal brand marketing strategy that helps you stand out, and that makes you more credible in the eyes of your select audience. Unfortunately, it is way too easy to ignore because of competing priorities for our time.


Here is a short list of though provoking questions and action plans for you relevant to your personal marketing strategy:

  • Do you have a personal brand marketing plan or do you personally market yourself unintentionally?
  • If you have a brand marketing plan, does it include specific promotional activities and are these tied to events?
  • Have you taken the time to identify a target customer, or employer? What desired characteristics have you named?
  • Does your personal brand strategy identify ways to sell to and maintain your current clients while attracting new ones?
  • What are the demographics of your key prospects? What makes you distinctly different, or unique as compared to your competitors?
  • What is your personal brand marketing budget? How will you distribute these funds?
If any of these stump you, now is a great time to consider your next steps. Creating a personal brand strategy can be just as important for you in this day and age, as a company’s marketing strategy.


About the Author: Expert-ize your personal brand. As a Personal Brand & Marketing Coach, Tanya Smith offers female professionals with dual career & entrepreneurial roles access to cutting-edge strategies to help them thrive and promote themselves as experts in a progressively competitive work and marketplace. Claim
your free instant access to a special report at: http://www.bepromotable.com.

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Maplewood, NJ February 2010-On Tuesday February 9, 2010 Ms. Boss Academy whichis a collaboration between Ms. Boss International and My SistahzKeeper held a small ceremony for Zoey Wiggins who was the first personto graduate from the pilot entrepreneurship program. Zoey attends MySistahz Keeper in Jersey
City, New Jersey through the AWEP/CWEP program for women who are onpublic assistance. There were 13other women who also attended the program and who were enrolled in Ms.Boss Academy, but only Zoeycompleted the 8 week business start-up program. Thewomen who are also on public assistance dropped out of theentrepreneurship program for a variety of reasons. The program walkedZoey through the basics of starting a business right up to creating apresence on the Internet bysetting up a website.


By some standards some may view the entrepreneurship program as a failure because only oneperson graduated,but to Audrey Bell-Kearney who is the CEO of Ms. Boss International andthe creator of the Ms. Boss Academy program she views that one graduateas a success. She states that you have to understand the population thatyou are working with. The goal here is tohelp these women learn how to become self-sufficient so that publicassistance is no longer needed. By helping one person learn how to startand run their own business successfully, this will open updoors of employment for others. Small businesses fuel the economy andright not that economy needs some fuel with thenational unemployment rate around 10%. Kiwan Fitch who is the ExecutiveDirector of My Sistahz Keeper has gone a step further by turning one ofthe office spaces inside the My SistahzKeepers headquarters into a small business incubator for the graduatesof Ms.Boss Academy. Kiwan who is one of the co-founders of My Sistahz Keeper anon-profit organization understandsthat small businesses need to be nurtured so that they can grow. This iswhyshe has opened up another door for these women offering them the spaceso that they can stay connectedto positive people who have goals and dreams that they want to see cometrue. To keep the graduates connected there will be ongoing mentoringfrom Audrey and also from Stephanie Wilson who is theProgram Director at My Sistahz Keeper. Zoey who has only been anentrepreneur for about two months already understandfrom going through the Ms. Boss Academy program how important mentorsare that is why she has stepped up to be amentor with GEN (Gurls Empowerment Network) another program offered byMySistazh Keeper for teenage girls.


The next Ms. Boss Academy is scheduled to start on March 2, 2010. Audrey who created thecurriculum andfacilitates the program hopes that more women take advantage of theprogram this time, but if they don’t as long as we can graduate at leastone the program is still a success.


To find out more aboutthe Ms. Boss Academy contact Audrey at 888-229-1238 or email her at Audrey@msboss.net. For moreinformation about the programs thatare offered by My Sistazh Keeper call 201-706-2107 or email Kiwan atKFitch@MySistahzKeeper.org. You can also visit the websites for bothcompanies at http://www.mysistahzkeeper.org and http://www.MsBossInternational.com
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New Year...New Strategy

Out with the old, in with the new is a term you often hear as we leave one year and enter the next. If only it was that easy. The truth is, it takes more than a clock striking twelve, a kiss with a love one or few fireworks to change a current challenging circumstance.Whether you are looking to change a business practice or personal situation, it is going to take a lot of work and much planning accomplish that dream or goal. Is your problem lack of focus? Motivation? Commitment? What are you going to do differently in 2010?I heard a powerful statement from a family member. He said, "Choose to make adjustments in your personal, mental and spiritual disciplines." You have to make a conscious decision to change. Yes, there may have been outside factors in your life that caused you to get off track. BUT you can either continue to waste time dwelling on what was or wasn't or you can make a CHOICE to let it go and move forward.It is up to you. Are you ready to pursue that dream of owning a home? Is starting your own business on the list? What steps do you need to take to make those dreams a reality?Here are a few tips to get you started.Write the VisionThere is a saying in the bible that says without a vision the people perish (Proverbs). Dreams keep you alive. If you have nothing to look forward to, you will just be. I encourage you to get a journal (or dust off the one you already have) and outline what you want to do. Be very specific. If you want to change careers, write what that career will be. If you want to increase your income, write down how much you want it to be.The key to this is that you write what ever it is with authority. Use words like I am going to, or I will make, etc. Writing the vision serves a few purposes. It allows you to see what is in your mind and becomes more real. You can also share it with one or two people that you trust, so they can hold you accountable. But be very selective in choosing who that person will be. Not everyone will believe in your vision.Research, Research, ResearchOne mistake many eager entrepreneurs make is that they do not conduct enough research in the project, career or business they are trying to get into. If you are looking to quit your corporate job and become a home based business, you need to establish a transition plan that includes having a start up budget. What will your home-based business be? What is going to be your niche? Who is doing what you would like to do already and could they be a mentor to you in some way? These are just a few things to consider, but no matter what you are trying to do, be prepared to put in many hours of research. As you establish a foundation, you will see the benefits of this preparation in the long run.Connect with Like-Minded PeopleIt is very very important to surround yourself with people who are looking to succeed and working in their passion. You need to be around people that are positive and excited about their gifts and talents. Friends and family can be great, but they can also be dream destroyers.Join groups that cater to the type of work or idea you are looking to do. If you enjoy event planning, go on Facebook, Linkedin, Yahoo Groups or some other sites that may host groups dedicated to that field. You will gain a tremendous amount of insight as you look to venture out on your own. Ask questions and don't be afraid to join into discussions. You may connect with a future colleague or client!Knowledge is PowerAs you move through the above steps and begin to get a solid idea on what you are doing and where you would like to go with it, keep your knowledge and skills up to date. Sign up for some training course, subscribe to online ezines or blogs that cater to your topic of interest. If paying for a course is not in your present budget-no worries, the internet has a host of free information for you to help keep you in the loop! For example, using a tool like Google Blog Search will give you the most current information for whatever it is you need to know.Following these simple steps are a sure way to help put you on the track of success in this new year.Natasha RubinVirtual Assistant/Social Media Marketing ProfessioanlOwner of Gifted Assistant Management Serviceshttp://www.thegiftedasssistant.netFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/giftedassistantLinkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/natasharubinFollow me:http://www.twitter.com/giftedassistant
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Doing You In 2010

All year long I was thinking about my business and how I put myself in a box. I was feeling stuck in my business and felt like I should have been further along than I was, that's when I realized that I had put myself and my business in a box. I am out of the now and I want to share how I got of the box. I am not stuck anymore I am sure that my business will hit the goals that I have planned. I am offering a FREE CD, so if you are interested in getting unstuck you can get your copy by going to http://www.Ilivelifeonmyterms.com

I would like to wish you Much Success In 2010Audrey Bell-Kearneyhttp://www.MsBoss.net
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Celebrating Life

Hello Ladies. I just want to let you know that I am in a great mood this year, not that I wasn't last year, but I'm in a better mood this year. The reason I am in such great mood is because I decided after realizing that I did not celebrate life that I wanted to celebrate life. So I am giving away some really nice gifts this year to the women of this network to help you celebrate life. No I'm not trying to sell you anything I just want you to join me in celebrating your life. There is one catch though, you have to post a video to the site about how you intend on celebrating life. Don't be camera shy or feel like you need a professional video. You can use your web cam or a flip whatever you want. You can shoot from kitchen or your living room. After I review the videos I will be choosing one winner each month. Each winner should submit another video letting us know how they enjoyed their gift of celebrating life. Just note that the gifts won't be t-shirts, or mouse pads or coffee mugs, but they will be real gifts that will allow you to take time out for yourself. So come on submit your video and celebrate life with me. Submit videos to http://www.MsBoss.netp.s. I also have a FREE CD titled I Live Life On My Terms. To take advantage of this go to http://www.Ilivelifeonmyterms.That's it for now.Make It A Great Day!Audrey
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Biz Enlightenment: Start a Service Business

Who can sell a service? The answer is simple--anyone and everyone. Everyone is qualified because each of us has skills, knowledge or experience that other people are willing to pay for in the form of a service; or they're willing to pay you to teach them your specific skill or knowledge. Selling services knows no boundaries--anyone with a need or desire to earn extra money, work from home, or start and operate a full-time business can sell a service, regardless of age, business experience, education or current financial resources.What Are the Advantages of Selling Services?There are many advantages associated with starting your own business selling services. Perhaps the biggest advantage is you become your own boss, take control of your future, and in effect become the master of your destiny. I've been self-employed for a number of years, and for me the lure of self-employment is the freedom and independence that calling the shots affords, which can be difficult to achieve when you work for others.Operating your own business also gives you the potential to earn more money, in some instances two, five or even ten times more than you're currently earning. Why? Simple duplication. When you work for someone else, there is only you and only so many hours in the day to work for an hourly wage or a salary. When you operate a business, you can duplicate yourself by hiring employees and salespeople to increase revenues; you can duplicate your customers and find more just like them to purchase your services; and you can duplicate your business model and open in new geographical areas to service more customers and earn more profit. These are all things you can't do when you work for others, and if you do, chances are it will financially benefit the boss a lot more than you.Capitalize on Your SkillsDon' t worry if you lack business skills and experience in areas such as time management, personal-contact selling, negotiating, bookkeeping and the ability to create effective advertisements. There's no question these are all important skills to have, but at the same time they're also skills that with practice can be learned and mastered. More important is the question, "What skill(s) do you have that can be sold as a service?" Any skill(s) you possess can be your best, and by far your most marketable, asset. If you know how to safely walk a dog, that's a skill people are willing to pay you for. If you know how to plan and throw one heck of a party, that's also a skill people are willing to pay you for as their event and party planner. If you know how to play the piano, this is a skill other people will pay you to teach them. If you know how to sell products and services online, once again that's a skill that people are willing to pay you for as an online marketing consultant. All are examples of skills that people pay other people to perform, or teach them how to learn.Every person has one or more skills other people are prepared to pay for in the form of a service provided to them, or to learn. However, with that said, most people have a tendency to underestimate the true value of their skill sets and experiences. You have to remember, what may come naturally to you may not come so naturally to others. Likewise, you might think your particular knowledge or expertise may be of little value, but if someone else needs or wants to learn about that knowledge, it's very valuable to them.Selling Services Part TimeThe first option is to start off selling your services on a part-time basis, which is a good idea because it enables you to eliminate risk by limiting your financial investment. It allows you to test the waters to make sure that being self-employed is something you enjoy and want to pursue. If all goes well, you may decide to transition from your current job, devoting more time to your new enterprise each week, all the while decreasing the time at your current job until you're working at your new business on a full-time basis. There are many advantages to starting off part-time, including keeping income rolling in, taking advantage of any current health and employee benefits, and building your business over a longer period of time, which generally gives it a more stable foundation. If it turns out you're not the type of person who's comfortable being the boss, you've risked little and still have the security of your job.Of course, if your ambitions are only to generate extra money to pay down the mortgage, save for retirement, put yourself through school, or pay off credit cards, selling services part-time is the perfect choice. It's important to do what you want to do and what best suits your individual needs. If selling services part-time works for you, then go for it.Selling Services Full TimeYou can also jump in with both feet and start your new business selling services full-time. This option would appeal to people without a current job or people who are confident about being the boss and operating a business. There's nothing wrong with starting off full-time, especially if you take the time required to research the business, industry and marketplace. You must also develop a business and marketing plan, and have the necessary financial resources to start the business and pay yourself until it becomes profitable.The main downside to starting full time is risk. If you jump ship and leave your job, you risk loss of current employee benefits and have no guarantee of steady income, contributing spouses or partners excluded. The upside to starting off full-time is potential rewards, including the opportunity to make more money than you can at your current job, and to gain control of your future. Your decision to operate your new business on a full-time basis will largely be determined by your current financial situation, your own risk-reward assessment, and your goals and objectives for the future. Jumping in full-time will appeal to the true entrepreneurial mindset--people who prefer to blaze the trail rather than follow behind in the wagon train.Selling Services SeasonallyAnother option is to start a seasonal business selling services, which can be operated with a full- or part-time effort. But most are run full time to maximize revenues and profits over a normally short time span. Examples of seasonal businesses selling services would include snow removal in winter, yard maintenance in summer in northern climates, income tax preparation service in spring, and serving as a vacation property rental agent. Just about any business can be run seasonally or occasionally, but some are obviously better suited than others.A seasonal venture will appeal to people who want the ability to earn enough money during part of the year in order to do as they please with the remainder of the year--travel, pursue education, or work a job in another season. The potential to earn a very good living operating a business only part of the year is a genuine opportunity, as proven by the thousands of people who are currently doing it. The main downside to a seasonal business, especially one that can be operated year-round, is that you don't want to spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours promoting your business only to shut it down for half the year, sending current and potential customers running to your competitors while your business is closed. It may prove very difficult to lure them back when you reopen for business.Selling Services to Supplement Your RetirementThe fourth option is to sell services to supplement your retirement income or just to have fun and stay active in your golden years. Retirement businesses have become extremely popular in the past decade, mainly because the cost of living has dramatically increased, often outpacing wages and retirement savings. The result is that many people head into retirement needing a little extra income to cover expenses and provide an adequate lifestyle or to maintain their pre-retirement lifestyle.People are living longer and much healthier now than in decades past, and because of this many are seeking new challenges; starting and operating a business is a way to stay active physically and mentally. Older people also have a proverbial ace up their sleeves when it comes to starting a business and selling services: a lifetime of knowledge and experience that can only be acquired by spending lots of time on this planet. Because of the value of these skills, many people are willing to pay big bucks for them. This is why many people who are reaching or have reached retirement age have chosen to start a consulting business selling their experiences, knowledge and skills for the benefit of their clients.Before you decide to get into business for yourself selling services, there are two issues to consider regarding financial compatibility--income and investment money. First, when deciding what type of service to sell, you have to consider how much money you want to earn and how much money you need to earn. If you need to earn $75,000 per year to pay your personal expenses, there is little sense in starting a dog-walking service. Perhaps there are a few dog walkers earning this much, but it's not a realistic expectation. How much money do you want to earn--that is, how ambitious are you? Again, you must be realistic and relatively sure the service you choose to sell has the potential to generate enough income to live on in the short-term, and the potential to match your income goals in the longer term. Income doesn't have to factor into the business startup equation for everyone. If you want and need to earn only a little money from a part-time or retirement business, the income equation will not factor as heavily as other issues.The second big financial compatibility issue affecting your decision about which business to start or purchase is the amount of money needed to start or purchase the business. Not only will you need to have or have access to the investment needed to get rolling, but you'll also need extra money for working capital to cover day-to-day operating expenses until the business achieves positive cash flow. This can take a week, a month or even a year.Ultimately, financial compatibility is important when starting a business and deciding what services to sell. If you cannot afford to start the business and don't have the financial resources to pay operating expenses and your wages until the business can break even, you'll probably have to look at alternative options, such as starting part time, choosing a different business to start, or waiting until you have acquired the money needed to get started.By James Stephenson
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Let me start off by saying that this is not an easy task. If you don't work hard you won't get results. There is no such thing as an overnight success; so don't believe the ads that tell you I made over $40,000 in one day. The question you should ask them is; how long did it take before you made over $40,000 in one day? It's all about advertising and getting people to buy the product. We live in a "must have it now" society and these advertisers know this.I say all this to say don't give up because you tried something and didn't make money as soon as you hoped. Just be patient and it will happen for you. When you do the right thing you will see results. The results may not be when you want them but when the time is right. I believe we have to put in every ounce of sweat into our business to appreciate the success. So don't worry keep working and you will get there. Always remember anything worth having is worth waiting for.Bridget Harriswww.9-5freedom.comLearn how to start a Home Based Internet BusinessFind drop shippers. Wholeslaers. Light Bulk Wholesaler.Specials for your business needs
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5 Ways to Create the Life You Want!

Who are you and what is it that you want out of life? These are questions that we should all seek the answers to and examine frequently. It is when we are honest about what we are feeling and what we want to experience that we can begin to live a more fulfilled life.As I experience the blessing of getting older, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that the more authentic you are with yourself the more meaningful and joyful life becomes.My grandmother use to say, "If you live long enough you will have problems and challenges, good times and bad times". Of course, when I was younger the true meaning of that statement didn't give me an "ah-ha moment", but now that I have lived life a little longer I now welcome those wise words.Life becomes more meaningful when you know what your vision is and the choices and decisions you make are all contributing to the fulfillment of that vision. Yes, it will take hard work, persistence and a focused mind-set and you'll deal with obstacles and challenges along the way, but learning to overcome them and creating the life you want is worth it!We must learn to become authentic with ourselves by discovering who we are, what we like and what we don't like. We must be willing unveil all of our dreams and goals and love ourselves enough to embrace and accomplish them.We must stop hiding behind excuses and find the courage to create the life that we really want!Here are five ways to get started:1. Ask yourself,"What is it that I want out of life?" Sounds simple right? Well, it's not a simple question and don't be surprised if you really don't know!2. Ask yourself, "What is it that I don't want out of life?" This might be easier to answer than the first questions and can often help you with discovering what you do want.3. Write your vision. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 to 5 years? What will you be doing and experiencing? What's most important to you to accomplish in life?4. Identify the skills you will need to be successful. Personal development is the cornerstone of success and if you don't work on areas that need improvement in your life - you can't create the life you want. Commit to spending 45 minutes daily on personal development.5. Surround yourself with positive thoughts, people, places and things. "You are what you take in." The negative influences of television, friends, family and others can all have a negative impact on you and it can cause you to loose focus on what's really important in your life. Make a commit to surround yourself with things that contribute to you having a positive and joyful experience.Life really is what you make it and you have the choice to make it a joyful one or one that is full of despair, fear and mediocrity. What will your choice be?About the Writer:Trina Newby is founder of Women About Biz an online small business education and connection network just for business women. For more than 20 years, she has helped thousands of women start and grow their small business.
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by Trina NewbyFounder, Women About Biz

I believe the process of questioning is one of the greatest skills a business woman can have when it comes to staying in touch with how your business is performing and how you are doing as the CEO of your company.Asking yourself the right questions and finding solutions and answers to them will not only help you to stay on the road of being real with yourself, but it will also help you to see the necessary changes that need to be made for business growth.Below are 12 questions you can use to start the evaluation process:1. Have I completed a current cash flow analysis to measure my business financially?2. What are the weak areas in my business that need improvement?3. Have I implemented a consistent marketing strategy?4. Is my marketing strategy working?5. What is my sales ratio (the # of prospects you convert into customers)?6. Do I stay “sticky” (in consistent communication) with my current customers/clients?7. What skill sets do I need to improve in as a business owner?8. What business services and/or products do I need to eliminate?9. How are my competitors marketing?10. What is the latest information and updates about my industry?11. Does my business support my overall vision and goals?12. Am I willing to make the changes necessary to help my business to grow?Ask yourself the above questions on a quarterly basis and Keep records for comparison and positive changes. Also, create your own questions that will help you to better evaluate yourself and your business. Once you have identified processes that are not working positively in your business, it will be important to make a sound decision on how to eliminate or change them.About the Writer:Trina Newby is founder of Women About Biz an online small business education and connection network just for business women. For more than 20 years, she has helped thousands of women start and grow their small business.
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Becoming An Expert In Your Field

Building Expert StatusBy Audrey Bell-KearneyWhen you are in business you want people to look at you as an expert in your field. If you are just starting out you may not see yourself as an expert yet. There is a way to build this status and you can do so by writing. You maybe saying what am I going to write? If you are doing something that you love and it is your business and your passion, I am almost sure that there is something that you can write about to help you start to build your status as an expert.Here are few ways to build expert status very easily.1. Write a column on your subject for a local paper. Most local papers are looking for good content and you will be surprised how easy it is to get your article published. If the article is really good you may even get your own column.2. Write articles and submit them on the Internet to article directories. There are thousands of publishers out there looking for good content for their website or their online newsletter so what you have to say may be of some interest to thousands of readers on the Internet.3. Set up a blog and start writing about what you know. This is a great way to build expert status and to also get others involved with the conversation when they leave comments on your blog. The key to blogging is to blog consistently. This means that you should be blogging at least once a day and even more if possible.4. Publish a report. You can create a report about something pertaining to your industry. The report does not have to be more than 24 pages. Your report could be your observation about a specific topic.5. Write a book. This is one of the absolutely best ways to become an expert. When you become a published author you are looked at differently and receive a different kind of respect and you will feel wonderful to have accomplished something as grand as writing a book.I do all of these methods and more. You don’t have to do them all at one time, but if it is important for you to become an expert in your field you should definitely try a few of these.Until Next TimeMuch SuccessAudreyAudrey Bell-Kearney is the President of Sister Inc Network and the author of The Sister Inc Blueprint For Starting And Running A Successful Business. She can be reached at 973-313-3121 or Audrey@Sisterinc.com http://www.sisterinc.com
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So you think you want to build a business on-line? That’s great, but do you know how to go about selecting the kind of business that will succeed on the Internet? And, do you know where and how to start?I now have a successful business on-line, but when I got started I knew nothing about how to begin. I floundered for a while until I found the right way to go about it.The first thing I learned was that the most important principle you need to understand is WHAT DRIVES THE INTERNET. You may think you know, after all you have searched a ton of successful sites and it all looks fairly simple. But building a business on the Internet has its own set of rules and principles.What then is the best way to build the kind of business that will succeed on-line? Well, success on the Internet all begins with a critical mind-set shift. This means replacing that well known off-line strategy of location, location, location with.....INFORMATION, INFORMATION, INFORMATION.That’s right, Information. Most of us use the Internet as a searching tool. We search for credible, high value information or solutions, anything that can fulfill a wish that we hold dear or solve a troublesome problem that we are experiencing. So, then, it is clear that we are all searching the Internet for information and solutions. Well, guess what, that is exactly what you are going to give them!With that in mind, here is your first guiding principle: “GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT” How do you go about fulfilling this principle? Simple. You will accomplish this by building a THEME-BASED CONTENT WEB SITE. What does that mean? It means building a simple site that contains information based upon a MAIN SUBJECT. Where each page focuses upon a single topic that is related to the overall theme or subject.By providing your visitors with high-value content, over delivering on the information they were seeking, visitors start to like and trust you. Your content-rich site builds trust and credibility.......which leads to an OPEN-TO-BUY MINDSET. Good content encourages your visitor to think about you as a friend or expert rather than as a stranger. People buy from those they know and like. They resist sales efforts from everyone else.So it's clear that by creating a relationship with your readers and giving them the solutions or information they are seeking leads to MONETIZATION opportunities, which of course translates to MONEY!Easy enough to understand, but what type of web site should YOU build? What will be PROFITABLE to YOU and how do YOU get started?Good Questions.... Download Ken Evoy's Free e-book, Make Your Site Sell. It will provide you with the basic principles and steps that will help guide you to your goal of building a successful business on-line.Produced by Bluetribe
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As entrepreneurs we all know that balancing your day job with your new startup is never easy. Sitting and waiting for the day that one can fire their employer to pursue their business fulltime is an entrepreneur’s dream. There are days I come home from work just exhausted and tired, but I push myself to go work on a new jewelry design or create that new marketing campaign for an upcoming jewelry line.I was talking to one of my childhood friends the other day, who happens to be a new author, and we discussed trying “find time” to complete tasks for our businesses after coming from a long day at work. I told her my motivation is that I am so focused that I try to find the time everyday to do something for The Pink Locket, even if it means going to sleep past midnight. Everyday when I get up and go to my 9 to 5, it’s a reminder that I need to stay focused because I made the decision that this venture is going to work for me, not that I “hope” it works, but it’s “going” to work.We’ve all heard the saying “Birds of a feather flock together.” I believe that this is especially true when starting up your business that by keeping other successful and determined entrepreneurs in your circle will help you to achieve the objectives and goals of your very own business. I was once told people need to have 3 sets of friends, your regular circle of friends, your work friends and friends who are more successful than you. With that being said I’m definitely working on the later.
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