February 9th, 2010
We all hear it and read it every day – your work/job should be something you’re passionate about. As much as we all want to follow our bliss, many people don’t know what that is for them. This is understandable. Throughout our lives we’re told what it means to be successful, and which paths will lead us to fulfillment. But upon arrival, we realize we were following the path of someone else’s dream. So how do we switch directions and head toward our dream?
First, you have to remember what makes you happy. Go back as far as your memory will allow. You will find clues in the games you liked the most, and the kids you played with. Did you create neighborhood newspapers, or set up elaborate lemonade stands during the summer? Did you like putting on plays with your friends? We’re you the actor? Or the producer, joyfully bossing your friends around? Did you draw and paint pictures, or create costumes from your mom’s discards? What you loved doing as a kid is what you still love, just maybe in another form.
Once you determine the “what”, spend some time figuring out why you liked these activities. Was it the problem solving, the creativity, the organizing? It may take a little time, but as you get closer to the truth, you’ll know it, because you’ll feel energized and engaged.
The final step is simple, but not necessarily easy. Step onto your path. Changing the direction of your life is scary, but it can be done. Approach the process as if it were a marathon, not a sprint. Maybe take on a hobby or side job that reflects the true you. That may be enough for you to be fulfilled. As your comfort level increases, though, you may find yourself wanting more. And now that you’re on the right path, you’ll know what to do, because when we’re in touch with our true desires, we’re also in touch with our instincts. So take the first steps, and the rest will fall into place.
Tags: bliss, entrepreneur, follow your dream, homebased business, micro business, small business, startup
Posted at 8:00 AM in Approach, Small Biz | No Comments »
February 4th, 2010
Tags: economy
Posted at 8:00 AM in Small Biz, Video | No Comments »
February 3rd, 2010
As 2010 gets under way, business owners struggle to make progress,as each day brings more discouraging news about unemployment, and credit continues to elude many. The signs of battle fatigue are apparent.
It is important to realize, though, that throughout the country’s history, the economy has undergone a number of structural changes. These shifts were brought on by both negative and positive circumstances. Of course, the stock market crash in 1929 is an obvious example of a negative occurrence. But technological advances have also wreaked economic havoc. Established industries (and their jobs) have disappeared or shrunk dramatically and quickly. And the new industries taking their place needed a few cycles before they substantially contributed to economic growth.
No matter what the cause, over time, the economy has reorganized and stabilized, just like it will again. And I can tell you that this is the time to push your hardest. As some people close their businesses, it clears the field and provides you an opportunity to increase your customer base. Also, because of general angst and burnout, companies want a change and you can be the person to provide that fresh outlook. When things do improve – and they will – you will be out in front of the crowd.
Keep in mind that things are always changing, in all aspects of our lives. As a business owner you need to be prepared for the upswings, as well as the downturns. The less you fear change, the more easily you’ll adapt. And that is the key to survival.
Tags: economy, entrepreneur, homebased business, micro business, small business, startup, structural change
Posted at 8:00 AM in Approach, Small Biz | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010
As we all know, PR and marketing plays an essential role in the growth of your business. One thing that surely brings attention is a special honor for your company. Awardsync is an online resource that lists awards programs. Whether you are posting and promoting awards programs, or looking for award programs for your company, registering is free.
As you market your company, it definitely helps if you have something that sets you apart in your field. An award as one of the top new eco-friendly companies, for example, adds to your company’s positive reputation and builds your customers’ confidence is what you have to offer.
Make sure you only submit for award programs that are appropriate for your company. This will enhance your chance of winning. Also, make sure the award program reflects the values of your company. Winning just to win is not the point. The potential award should strengthen your brand identity. You can read more at AwardSync.com
Tags: awardsync, entrepreneur, homebased business, marketing, micro business, small business, startup
Posted at 8:00 AM in PR/Marketing, Websites | No Comments »
January 27th, 2010
I know almost everyone has seen Dominos Pizza’s new ad campaign. The company is painfully honest about people’s comments about their pizza, which include comparing the crust to cardboard and the sauce to ketchup. They are offering a 100% money-back guarantee on their new and improved pizzas. They also have a website with a live feed of Twitter comments about their new pizzas.
The internet is filled with people’s opinions about this approach and its potential success or failure. This may or may not help the company overcome its many recent PR nightmares. But it has been reported in The Brandweek Buzz Report by YouGov that Dominos’ positive buzz score has increased from 2.3 to 35.3 (out of 100), since the campaign began. Whether this leads to a permanent shift in perception for the brand is yet to be seen.
What is interesting, though, is that Dominos is taking this risky approach. I think they realized they had to. Since the dawn of man, bad news has always traveled a million times faster than good news. Dominos experienced this with the unfortunate YouTube experience last year. Maybe that social media lesson is what led to their current campaign.
Beyond the stark honesty, they are actively incorporating social networking sites into their ad campaign. While many large corporations have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, the communication is frequently one-way – toward the customer. Dominos is encouraging communication from the customer, and they are acting upon what they are being told. As things continue to evolve, companies are going to have to interact this way. If a customer feels screwed over, trust me, everyone that follows them and has friended them, will hear about it.
By going on the offensive, Dominos is giving the customer (or potential customer) the chance to support them with positive comments. If that’s what happens, it will should help Dominos, because a third-party endorsement carries a lot of weight. If it goes the other direction the damage will be huge.
The world is continuing to change. Keep this in mind when making decisions or reacting to problems. If your company does everything right, people may tell their online community, but if you do something wrong, they will tell them.
Tags: dominos pizza, entrepreneur, marketing, micro business, Public Relations, small business, startup
Posted at 8:00 AM in PR/Marketing | No Comments »
January 26th, 2010
I have recently talked to three different people on three separate occasions that had the wrong idea about filing for a DBA. So I’m going to (hopefully) clear things up.
When your business has a name that does not include your legal name you must file a fictitious business statement (also known as a DBA – Doing Buisiness As). For example if your name is John Johnson and your company name is John Johnson Plumbing Services, you do not need to file for a DBA certificate. But if your company name is On Time Plumbing, you need to file, and notices need to be placed in local area newspapers. This does NOT give you legal rights to the name On Time Plumbing. Filing a fictitious business statement is all about the right of the public to know with whom they’re doing business.
In order to gain legal ownership of a company name you must register your name as a trademark. The registration fee is $325. You can conduct a trademark search and file yourself, or you can use one of the gazillion websites out there. Some will do it for you for a reasonable fee, and some for an outrageous fee. No matter what route you choose, though, protect your name and logo up front. It could save you time, money and heartache.
This should clear things up, but if you have additional questions, just ask.
Tags: DBA, entrepreneur, homebased business, micro business, small business, startup, Trademark
Posted at 8:00 AM in Admin Help, Small Biz | No Comments »
January 20th, 2010
Constant failure may be nothing more than a bad habit you picked up, like biting your fingernails. This is great news, because it is simple to change a habit. Of course, simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy.
Have you, over the years, set goals for yourself and then repeatedly not followed through? If so, your brain has come to expect you to give up, and will even assist you in doing so. Over the years you have created a strong neural pathway that your thoughts follow; thoughts of quitting before achievement, thoughts that are reinforced by your negative self-talk.
It is commonly accepted that it takes about 30 days to create a new habit. This ishow long it takes to strengthen a new neural pathway. So, to overcome a habit of failure, you must stick with your new goal for 30 days before it starts to feel normal to you. If you want to start exercising daily, or you want to start actively networking to find new customers, go into it knowing that your subconscious will be fighting to stay on its familiar old pathway. If you know the source of that urge to quit, and that it is temporary, this should help you to forge ahead.
I just read that our will power is weaker as the day wears on, and it’s negatively affected by emotionally upsetting incidents. With this in mind, perform your new task as early in the day as possible, before other issues can get in the way.
Another tip to help keep you on the path is, stay positive. Pay attention to your thoughts. When you think “I just can’t do this”, stop that thought in its track and replace it with a supportive statement. You can accomplish anything, but you’ve got to give yourself a chance, and about 30 days.
Tags: entrepreneur, form habits, homebased business, micro business, small business, startup
Posted at 4:00 AM in Approach | 4 Comments »
January 19th, 2010
When I started my t-shirt business 6 years ago, I forged ahead on my own. My accounting background was a huge help with many of the required tasks. As far as finding resources and marketing, though, it took about me 18 months to get my footing. Everything I learned, I learned through trial and error (mostly error). That is why I believe whole-heartedly in joining a networking or mastermind group.
If I had been involved in such a group 6 years ago, I would have saved myself thousands of dollars and countless hours. To be fair to myself, online social networking hadn’t evolved, yet, and there wasn’t the variety of groups that there are now.
These days, women can choose from Savor The Success, Smarty, or Ladies Who Launch, just to name a few of the larger organizations. And social networking has grown beyond anyone’s expectations, with Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and myriad specialty networks on Ning. The online and offline groups feed each other and there is tremendous value in participating. There is so much you can learn from others’ experience, and people are very willing to tell you about mistakes they’ve made, so you can avoid the same pitfalls.
If you can’t find an existing group in your area, set up a casual meeting of local entrepreneurs, yourself. Visit local businesses and talk to the owners. Having a group of diverse members will be beneficial. If you aren’t up for that and can’t find a way to participate in any other live meetings, become an active participant in online discussions. I know there are people who say online relationships aren’t “real” relationships, but that’s just not true. There are several people I’ve met online that I speak to regularly. We support each other and share information. Some I’ve since met in person, and a few I haven’t (yet), but I feel like I know them, because I do. And I’ve come to trust their input.
Working for yourself is challenging and rewarding, but at times it can be overwhelming and cause feelings of isolation. Participating in group meetings and events (online and offline) will alleviate these feelings, and offer you the chance to build valuable professional relationships.
Tags: entrepreneur, homebased business, ladies who launch, mastermind, micro business, networking, savor the success, small business, smarties, startup
Posted at 4:00 AM in Approach, Social Network | 2 Comments »
