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Many people limit themselves to doing only what they think they can do. When considering limits I envision boundaries that get in the way and keep you from moving forward. These obstacles show up in many ways and it helps to know what they are so that you can plan to get past them. They show up everywhere in business and may be in the form of barriers to entry, fear of public speaking, or a declining economy. Whatever distracts you from going as far as you can go is a limit. But the truth of the matter is that no limit can really stop you. In fact, I prefer to call them temporary roadblocks. Why? Because they are only in the way until you find the path that moves you past them. Yes, they can slow you down from time to time but the goal is to keep your destination in mind and use alternatives that will put you back on track.

Being in business requires you to always have a backup plan. It is like the GPS system in you car that alerts you ahead of time to take a different route when roadblocks are coming. Knowing in advance where the roadblocks are helps you maneuver successfully along the road but success depends upon your perspective.

There is a song whose lyrics I love called, �The Sky is the Limit.� It reminds me that as far as the sky is from the earth if you set goals on reaching that level, you will never be satisfied with limiting what you can accomplish. In my own experience, I have learned that each success is just a precursor to the many others that are up the road. When you remember that there is always more that you can do to create change, more people you can serve, more solutions you can provide, then you will stop limiting your potential. You must never stop at where you are today. If you keep reaching for higher peaks then, sure enough, one day you are bound to reach them.

Assignment:

You can either accept limits as permanent or resolve to find solutions to the challenges that get in your way. Think about what you have allowed to limit your success. How would the situation look if you changed your thoughts toward limits? What new ideas come to mind? What resources do you have to work with? What things will you need? See it. Write it. Be confident and do it.

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Coach Elizabeth

Nothing happens. But, that's what everyone starting a business does, isn’t it? Print out some brochures, tell everyone how great you are, and wait for the money to roll in.

Stop right there. You have just made several of the top 5 startup mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting a business.

Startup Mistake # 1: First, being a "carpenter" is too general. There are a million carpenters in the world, but the only successful ones have something to concentrate on. Wood carving, house renovation, specialized pieces. Like the old saying goes, "Jack of all trades, master of none."

Startup Mistake # 2: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. An idea is not a business plan, or a marketing plan, or even just a goal. It is simply an idea. Although the planning process may seem long and tedious now, it will benefit you more than you could imagine in the future. For example, when you are seeking funding, when you are joining an association of professionals, when your goals change, when your business changes, or if you take on a partner or investor. Your plan should guide you, but not constrain you. If something in your plan doesn't fit just right, change it. Your business plan will never have a final draft.

Startup Mistake # 3: Brochures and business cards are garbage to startup businesses! You will spend far more producing them than they will produce for you. Ignoring the high cost of printing these materials, and the costs associated in designing them if you aren't proficient yourself, most startup businesses change too quickly for these materials to be effective for more than a short period, sometimes as little as days.

If it costs $1000 to print these the first time, and $1000 to design them the first time, imagine how much you will pay if your brochures beat statistics and last two months. If alterations to design cost $500, it costs $1500 every time your business changes. If your business changes every two months, you can expect to spend at least $9000 that year on brochures and business cards. Yes, that is nine thousand dollars in lost revenue, over something that is less effective than graffiti. Don't waste your time, or your money, on brochures and business cards until you can keep your typical sales presentation the same for at least six months. Otherwise, for business startups, these things aren't worth the trouble.

Startup Mistake # 4: Okay, the Yellow Pages. Let's take a look in the Yellow Pages and see how many other trillions of carpenters there are. Which ones stand out? Definitely not the tiny ad in the corner. Probably not the one-liner. And as a business startup, that is all you would be able to afford. For the one or two clients per year this would bring you, it is better to wait until your marketing budget can afford to buy large, extravagant and eye-catching ads.

Startup Mistake # 5: Six hundred dollars for a website and domain name? A website and domain name before a marketing plan? This scenario is already causing headaches for those of you "in the know". Best idea for a business startup, design your own website for free if you can. Second best idea for a business startup, get a friend or relative to design it for free. Third best, pay a minimal fee for the complicated stuff and the rest can be done by yourself and a relative.

Only if no one in the world can help you, do you want to hire a professional to do the whole thing for you. And when you do, try and get it on 30 or 60 days post. That way, the new website will be generating money for you before you pay. If you do pay upfront, and can't get around it, ask if they do free updates. You are guaranteed to change a thing or two, probably at least once a week as you test out your new site. If you pay $600, it had better be a good website – because your entire marketing budget just paid for it.

New data released last week by the Labor Department shows the continuing consequences of the Great Recession for unmarried women. This group continues to experience high and extended unemployment as well as underemployment, and this underscores the urgent need for Congress and the administration to continue to focus on job creation and policies to spur demand and assist the unemployed.

High unemployment poses enormous challenges for all kinds of workers, but it can be a tragedy for unmarried women. Unmarried women already face higher-than-average poverty, many are responsible for family members including children and elders, and they frequently do not have a partner to rely on during times of economic distress.

Last month, 10.8 percent of unmarried women (age 16 and over) were unemployed (data by marital status is not seasonally adjusted). Of unmarried women who had , 8.1 percent were working part time but said that they wanted to work full time. Nationally, unemployment was at 9.9 percent and 6.6 percent of workers worked part time but would prefer full-time work (part-time data is not seasonally adjusted). Women who head a household without a spouse (with a child, parent, or other dependent household member) faced a slightly higher unemployment rate than other unmarried women, at 11.0 percent in April.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/05/unmarried_women_unemployment.html

To you the Business Women keep doing what you are doing. These kinds of reports can either cause panick or the importance in how networking and building each other up through our individuals missions does have the potential in creating jobs, opportunities, collaborations within our own systems.

A real estate agent is similar to having a personal shopper, and what good is a personal shopper if they don’t get your personal taste and style? For example if you tell 3 different personal shoppers that you need a blue dress for a birthday party this spring and you’re looking to spend no more than $100, you’ll undoubtedly be presented with 3 different dresses and while each of the dresses may meet your basic criteria all of them may not be to your personal style or taste.

Tonight Nicole Beharie's movie American Violet is on TV. Please watch this made for television movie on BET 8pm EST. Also starring Alfie Woodard. (Shared by author Carleen Brice). Nicole Beharie played lead role in the TV movie "The Sins of the Mother, based on Carleen Brice's novel "Orange Mint and Honey)
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Writers!!! Celebrate the men with us in June. In June From A Writer's POV magazine will be celebrating the men. We have several events scheduled for our guys. We are opening the door to anyone that would like to submit a writing in celebration of men.

Your writing will be displayed on our blog The POV Lounge. If you are interested, check out more details here: http://fromawriterspovcommunity.spruz.com/mens-celebration.htm

Can't wait to read your great work!!!