Design your tickets so that you can continue to "sell" to your prospects after you leave

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Why Are YOU "Really" In Business?

"I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn't really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going" - Richard Branson

If you are a true entrepreneur, you will know that to succeed, it helps that you enter a line of business that you naturally enjoy, and would gladly do even if you did not get paid(as tends to happen during start up). The truth however is that you are(I hope) in business to make money in a manner that is profitable - which will in turn enable you stay in THAT business you enjoy, for the long term. To achieve the foregoing purpose, you will need to do cost-effective and results-focused business marketing. One very important - but I believe grossly underutilised tool - for doing that is the Business Card.

I discuss in this article how you as a business owner, can better design your own business cards, to significantly improve your ability to market yourself to those who really need your services and/or products.

Marketing is about creating an impression - a positive impression - in the mind of your intended customer - that YOU or YOUR BUSINESS are more capable of meeting his/her perceived need or want than any others. The more successful you are in creating this impression about yourself/business in the mind of your target audience, the greater the chances that they will choose you over others who may offer the same products and/or services you do. This in effect means, you will be better able to achieve your major business goal of making MORE money, MORE profitably.

This Article Is Meant MAINLY For Non-Employees

Just before I continue, I wish to make the following clarification. The ideas I offer here are mainly for use by self-employed individuals (independent contractors, consultants, entrepreneurs/business owners) - i.e. people who are their own bosses and therefore take decisions that affect how their company is perceived or operates.

For those who work as employees in companies, it is likely that decisions about the type and design of business cards used will be taken with considerations relevant to the company's preferred mode of operation and business vision. I will therefore only say that persons who fall into this latter category, if they find what I say here of potential usefulness to their organisation(e.g. sales/marketing personnel) explore the possibility of bringing it to the attention of appropriate decision makers for consideration.

Is There A Rule Book For Business Card Design?

I am not aware of any rule book that actually spells out what information or details should or should not be on a business card: But if you know of any, I would appreciate your sending me a note about where to find it. :-)

It appears instead, that most people seem to have come to some tacit agreement on the most relevant pieces of information and features to adorn their cards with. Or maybe they just adopted what they found others doing when they entered into business for themselves. Either way, the point I'm making is that I believe each person needs to try and design a business card that works for him/her.

What Does The Conventional Business Card "Say"?

What I would call the conventional business card typically contains information that "says" the following(in addition to some graphics such as a logo, or artistic effects for aestetic appeal):

1. Who you are: Your name/title/business name, and possible qualifications that lend credence to your claims.

2. Contact Info: Phone numbers, postal/physical address, web URL/email(you do have these don't you?).

3. A Tag Line: Punchy phrase about your biz. BUT will these help achieve your purpose?

But the question could be asked: Does the conventionally designed business card work as well as it could be made to? I say NO. I say NO. In fact, after thinking about this issue, I have come to the conclusion that one word best describes the conventional business card - and that's "Passive". It's contents are not designed to be response-generating or action-inducing. I however believe one can adopt a card design that is more "Active" -- hence my efforts at finding an alternative that works, which eventually led to this article being written.

I have always been a bit of a non-conformist - with a penchant for "playing devil's advocate", "rocking the boat", "stirring things up" etc in a bid to challenge others to re-evaluate accepted norms for possible refinement - or total replacement. :-) If I find that the status quo does not offer me what I consider optimal returns towards achievement of a set goal(s), I immediately begin exploring alternative options to adopt, till I find something that gives me the results I want.

Based on the above, the question, for me - as a performance enhancement advocate - on the issue of business cards and how to get the most value from them is: What information do business persons NEED to put on their business cards, to help them MORE successfully achieve their intended purpose for handing such cards out to prospects ?

By the way, with a few possible exceptions, I assume here that the reader - like most people who give out business cards - does so because s/he expects that the cards will further impress(or remind) the recipients to make contact at a later date in relation to the product or service discussed. In my view the business cards many business persons give out are not properly equipped to achieve the full marketing impact potential they possess. Business cards, I believe, can be designed to play a more active - even though silent - role in the marketing and/or selling process.

Think about it this way. Someone you speak with about your work could say "Can I have your card?", possibly because your conversation is interesting enough to them, that they want to be able to contact you at a later date to take it further. However, whether or not you do end up closing a sale with that person could depend on what your card "says"(if at all it has anything to say) to him/her AFTER you've parted ways.

Now, if s/he runs into ANOTHER person who "appears" to offer something similar to what you told him/her you could, s/he might just give that OTHER person the job. But if your card is THE type that "tells"(or reminds) her about specific unique benefits you provide that the OTHER person may not be able to match, s/he is likely to tell the other seller "NO", and come back to you. I say the foregoing here on the assumption that you do actually have a Unique Selling Proposition(USP).

In essence, my argument is that business owners can do a little more thinking to MAKE MORE OBVIOUS, the TANGIBLE BENEFITS they offer, which prospective - and existing - clients would find attractive, and therefore be willing to take ACTION to get. The business owners can then highlight those benefits in form of keywords and phrases on their business cards. Such business cards would subsequently have a greater marketing "impact" on those who receive them, increasing the chances of the prospects making contact at a later date.

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Similar Restaurants With Different "Sales Pitches"

Let's do a little comparative analysis. Say it's 12.30pm and you are driving on a major highway to the next city to do a presentation scheduled for 2.00pm. If you keep driving at the same speed, you estimate you should get into the city in another thirty minutes, leaving you just enough time to check into "Clear View International Hotel", take a shower, change clothes and move into the conference hall on the ground hall of the hotel where the presentation will hold. But you are feeling a bit thirsty and hungry, and worry that there might not be enough time to quickly order something to eat at the hotel(Please bear with me: for some reason, I could not think up a better "excuse" :-)).

Suddenly you get to a junction and notice road signs for two different fast food outlets poisitioned next to each other. For the purpose of this example, we assume that both places actually offer equally quick services and more or less the same variety of foods and drinks. The difference is in the way they describe - on their road signs - what they offer the prospect(traveller), who needs to make up his/her mind.

One sign says "Quik-Caterers! Get Our Quik Travel Meals & Drinks Pack(TM). Wait Max 15 Mins - Or We Pay!". The other says "Welcome To Jazzy Jaff's Fast Foods Restaurant And Bar".

You will agree with me that if many travellers - who are in a hurry - had to decide which fast food restaurant to stop at, they would pick "Quik Caterers" - not because the name sounds better, or more appropriate, but most likely because their road sign offers MORE information - using catchy keywords/phrases - about TANGIBLE BENEFITS the prospective customers can relate to.

Customers are likely to PERCEIVE that "Quik-Catering" is more capable of meeting their NEEDS than "Jazzy Jaff's". Now, imagine the information said to be on the road signs(or some of it) is used on business cards given out by the respective owners of the two restaurants. Chances are that Quik-Catering MD's business card would raise more eyebrows, and probably result in one or two additional queries or comments to him/her(regarding the service described) - creating "openings" for sales conversations to take place.

Look at it this way: Wouldn't you be curious to know(and test?) if Quick-Catering could really deliver on its Wait Max 15 Mins - Or We Pay! promise? It's an attractive - though unusual - offer, but if Quik-Catering only put it on flyers placed on the drinks counter in the restaurant(and not on the road sign or on business cards), less people would get to know about it and stop over.

What Does Your Business Card "Need To Say"?

A business card that keeps "selling" you to your prospect long after you're gone, needs to say what you do in a way that makes those fitting your customer/client profile more likely to realize they actually NEED your product(s) and/or service(s).

You can design your business cards such that they cut down the amount of "work" you need to do to generate potentially valuable sales leads. This is particularly important because many times we come across people who qualify to be our "perfect customers or clients" in first time meeting situations that do not permit lengthy discussions or interactions. So, often times we end up using an elevator speech, answering one or two questions that arise from it, then exchanging business cards.

Some days later, the executive you gave your card to(and who at the same event went on to receive not less than four additional ones from "others like you"), sits in his/her office staring at your card. Among other things, s/he may struggle to recall where/when during that cocktail dinner s/he met you, and what again it was you said you could do for him/her that sounded so good!

This kind of dilemma faces many people who receive the conventional cards I earlier described. Of course s/he sees on the card that you are a CPA, or Certified Coach etc. What s/he does not see on THAT type of card is something(keywords, phrase etc) to help him/her see or recall the "slant" in your offering that sets you apart from others who may offer anything like you do. The result? S/he puts the card back in the desk drawer(or worse: the round filing cabinet - aka "Waste Paper Bin") and (probably) forgets it. Why? Because s/he cannot find a compelling enough reason to take the relationship further by giving you a call.

Think back to the two fast food restaurant signs comparison I did earlier and imagine you are a decision maker for a large company that's trying to choose a caterer to supply snacks to be served at their Annual General Meeting. Looking at the business cards given to you by the MD of Quik-Catering and that of Jazzy Jaff's, all other factors being fairly constant, you are likely to get the "impression" that Quik-Catering will be able to meet your needs more readily, because they sound (from what they say on their road signs and business cards) that they're already thinking along the lines of proving the value YOU seek.

What It Could Look Like: A business card that "sells" you looks different from any your prospect has seen, and creates a lasting impression that sets you apart from the crowd. You can print your information on the front - and leave the back blank, or print on both sides. From testing various designs, I have found that it is useful to leave some blank space on the back for writing answers to "Date We Met?", "Where We Met?", "Notes/Comments" etc prompts that are printed on it.

Actually Jeffery Meyer([http://www.succeedinginbusiness.com]) suggests that you write answers to the earlier listed prompts on the back of cards you get from others - so YOU can remember them, and what they are about. I have taken it a step further and designed cards that let me, "the giver", write that information on the back of cards(which I take with me, as Meyer advises, to important meetings/events) I'm giving out, so as to "help" my prospects remember ME.

Click here to view a web page showing images of sample business card designs that incorporate the features I have discussed in this article(I also offer a FREE downloadable copy of the Corel Draw template I used to create them). Incidentally, my business cards have sort of "evolved" over time as I played around with the ideas I had - until I settled for a particular design/layout. You may also find it useful to let your creativity loose so as to arrive at the best design for your work.

A Business Card That Works Will Help You Market More Effectively & Efficiently

Jeffery Meyer once wrote that to avoid the "feast-famine" syndrome that can plague a business which fails to ensure steady inflow of new work, one must continually search for new customers - and "weed out" hopeless prospects who cost you marketing effort, time and expense, but give you no jobs. For instance, he advises that you take the repeated non-return of your phone calls by a prospect as a sign that s/he does not feel a compelling need for your product or service. Instead, divert that marketing energy and expense towards recruiting NEW prospects.

I believe a business card with the right balance of USP information and aesthetic appeal, can help a business owner use his/her business marketing time/effort more effectively and efficiently. This is because s/he will be able to use the card to create opportunities for discussions about useful benefits of the products and services s/he sells, in a way that will impress a prospective client or customer who happens to be looking for such returns.

It is true that "buyers" tend to be undecided when considering a purchase, but when the "seller" points out the USP s/he offers, AND IF they coincide with the buyer's felt needs, the buyer can become quite "sure" of what s/he wants, to the point that other "sellers" would be unable to influence him/her. Think about some products or services that many people use year in and year out(inspite of the presence of many competing brands), and you will find that they do so because certain needs they consider important are being met through the continued use of those products and services.

Designing your business card the way I describe is more likely to result in the card continuing to "sell" you to a prospect, even after you've parted ways with him/her. The card - each time s/he looks at it - will through its contents remind him/her that you offer THAT unique benefit s/he wants or needs. Of course not everyone you give your card to, will call you back to give you work! Life itself is about percentages. So, what I am saying is that a higher percentage of those you give out your cards to, are likely to get a better understanding of what you can do for them(or for someone they know), and so call(or recommend you). You'll consequently get more sales leads, and/or opportunities to close more sales.

Your Cards Cost Money - Aim To Get A Return On Your Investment In Each!

Print Them Cost-Effectively: I believe most individuals who work for themselves might find it more useful to design and print their own business cards in the quantities they require them. Due to the unpredictability of business generally, one or more bits of information on the card you use may change in a way that will make it necessary for you to re-print another set. If you already have thousands of cards printed, and suddenly discover a need to re-print, all the money spent producing the obsolete set would effectively go down the drain.

You can avoid this. If you have a template setup in Corel Draw to print ten standard size business cards on an A4 sized embossed card paper, for instance(and have used colors economically in the design) your home/office printer should be able to generate a set of cards for your use over a few weeks at a time. As your business operations grow, and you become more certain for the long term about the information you have to put on the cards, you may be able to more safely produce larger quantities of cards.

Think Before Giving Them Out: Considering that you would want the cards you give out to have a pleasing appearance, that complements the USP information printed on them, one expects they will not be "cheap" to produce. That's why you may want to make sure every one you give out counts.

If you can form the habit of thinking of your business card units in monetary terms(each of mine costs approximately $0.143 US Dollars equivalent), it might help you decide whether or not to put it in an envelope to just about anyone you're mailing something to, even when you don't know who they are or what they do. That would be like shooting in the dark - only this time you would be doing so, with MONEY!

If I send out twenty five letters in envelopes to different prospects for instance, and put a card in each, I know it implies I have spent at least $3.575 US Dollars(aside from the cost of envelopes, paper, stamps etc).

Business marketing yields better results when properly targetted at the right audience. You could for instance staple your business cards, to letters you are sending out to CEOs of certain organisations you hope will find your products and services potentially useful. Every time I want to give out a card, I ask myself: Am I sure this is going to help me get increased marketing exposure for my work, that could lead to more business? You might want to ask yourself a similar question periodically.

ONE LAST THING: Read Michel Fortin's Ten Commandments E-book

What I have proposed in this article will require anyone who wishes to try out my ideas to re-visit his/her business concepts and philosophies with a view to distilling the "value" s/he is truly capable of delivering to customers. To do this successfully, I want to seriously suggest you download and READ Michel Fortin's "Ten Commandments of Power Positioning" e-book.

Visit his website at http://www.successdoctor.com and learn how you can get a copy of his excellent e-book(I got mine about 4 years ago). It offers many very practical and tested ideas about how you can market yourself or business more effectively to customers, so that they see you as their preferred provider of your product and/or service range.

To accurately define keywords and phrases that best capture the VALUE you can deliver to your customers, the "Divide and Conquer" concept described by Fortin in his e-book, when properly applied, will help you arrive at the most appropriate ones. Fortin also provides practical real-world relevant tips for crafting YOUR OWN tag lines and elevator speeches; developing press kits etc.

Read that e-book(I actually printed mine out and had it sprial bound) from first to last page as many times as you need to fully understand it, and try applying what you learn to your business through the exercises suggested. By the time you are done, you will know what to say about your business(and also HOW to say it) in your speech, and on any of your business marketing media such as business cards, signs, flyers, letterheads, website etc.

Question: How will you judge whether it's working or not?

Answer: (1). If more prospects make contact with you as a result of your re-vamped business marketing - which incorporates your re-designed business cards - THAT will be evidence that it's working. (2). When your newly acquired clients/customers continue to patronise you and DO NOT express any regrets for doing so(by way of product returns or unwillingness to give referrals/repeat business), THAT would reasonably suggest they are satisfied you deliver the value you "promise".

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably. Download your copy of his 25 Articles Ebook from http://www.lulu.com/content/268555. You get full reprint rights for each article.

Visit Tayo's Creative Business Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site - http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net - to learn how you can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet Automation Services.

Your own business: first steps

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What an exciting feeling you must be having at this time. You have finally made the choice to "chuck it all" and go into business for yourself. You dream of the freedom from your unreasonable boss and the wonderful feeling of writing your own paycheck. It's a lifelong journey that has to start at the first step - the very beginning.

It is my goal to take everything all those books say and boil it down to a real action plan that is a simple as it can be. Basically making it like a recipe. You really don't need all that filler; you just need to know how to get started. A bunch of fluff isn't going to help; in fact it slows you down. Instead of reading, you should be doing!

This section will be those most difficult first steps of just getting started. Effectively launching your business and then growing it for success are their own unique steps in the future. For now, I'll have to assume you have an idea already and have researched it enough to know that it is a good idea and has a bunch of customers clamoring for your product or service. Please be sure you have a good quality product and/or superior service. You are not trying to make a quick buck; you want to have a business that lasts.

I also have to assume that you already have some sort of support network in place, trusted friends, professional advisors like accountants and/or lawyers, and a maybe a mentor with excellent opinions. If you don't have them, you can pick them up along the way. But you'll need them all at some point.

You probably want to know what qualifies me for writing about this. Academically, I have an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Professionally, I have been a consultant for many entrepreneurs, I worked at a home business franchise company for several years, and I have a few successful entrepreneurial ventures of my own. I even helped my own family launch a very successful online business selling premium pashmina and cashmere products. I'm not a super rich entrepreneur, but I'm successful and happy. My key expertise is online ecommerce, but the following ideas are relevant to starting any type of business.

How to Establish Your Business

This first part is really what most people don't know how to do. It's the fundamental process of actually setting up the business. All the good ideas in the world have to start at the beginning. It's not the fun part, but it has to be done.

It may seem elementary to you, but why haven't you done it yet?

So, let's start from the start.

1) Giving Your Business a Name

Your business' name is important. It is your customers' first impression and your public identity. You probably want to choose a name that is professional, but also may hold some meaning to you and your potential customers. My personal and professional opinion is to not get too elaborate with your name. Make it simple and direct so you don't have to waste a lot of time branding or explaining to your customer just what it is you do or sell.

For example, for my family's business selling pashmina products, we decided to go with The Pashmina Store. There is no question what the business is. Simple and direct...and the URL was available (which is very important).

Most people have a desire to name their business after themselves, using something like their family name, their first name, or their initials. This is a perfectly acceptable; as long as you get the idea across about what it is you are selling. For example, if you are selling raincoats and your name is Smith, you may call your business Smith's Raincoats or even Raincoats by Smith.

Take the time you need to select on a business name that you're happy with, says what you do, and has a good URL for a website. You should run your name choices by your friends and family to gauge their reaction and to get their thoughts.

2) Register Your URL

I know, you just decided on a name and have nothing close to a legal business yet. But I suggest snapping up the best available URL (or web addresses) as soon as you can. In this day and age, your website and the URL will be a large part of you business identity. It will also be the source of your email addresses, so getting a good URL matters. We were lucky enough to get http://www.thepashminastore.com for the pashmina and cashmere business, I hope you are as fortunate for your venture.

It is best to investigate available URLs even as you decide on a company name. Try to get the URL of your exact business name, or as close as possible. I suggest getting a ".com" rather than ".net" or other since that is what most people know.

You can research names and register at websites such as Register.com and GoDaddy.com. There is a small fee, but it is worth it if you are serious about your business. These two services even will help you inexpensively set up and host a website and email service.

3) Your Business' Legal Organization

Next, you will have to determine what legal structure is best for your new business. Early in a business' life, a sole proprietorship is most common. However, it is beneficial to know the different types of legal business structures before you decide for certain. You'll need to know all about them as you grow, in any event.

You'll most likely want to discuss the options with your accountant and/or attorney as well. To get you started, here are the three most common forms of business.

1. Proprietorship. As mentioned earlier, this is the most popular structure when starting a new small business. It is also the easiest to start. In most states and cities, all it typically requires is a D.B.A. ("doing business as") and a tax ID number, which would likely be your Social Security number.

A proprietorship provides you the maximum amount of control over your business...but it also leaves you the most potential liability. In short, you are personally accountable for your business and all of its debts and legal issues.

2. Partnership. This form of business is common if your business requires you to take on a business partner for expert knowledge or financial needs. A partnership is a legal definition of your business relationship and defines which party is responsible for what aspect of the business venture.

For example, you may be the engineering type who can make the product. Another person may be the talkative type who can sell sand in the desert. Yet another person may be the main financial backer. Whatever your circumstances, a partnership allows you to define each person's part in the business and put it down on paper in a legal manner.

3. Corporation. This is the most official and potentially complicated legal form of business. This is also the most expensive type of business entity, but it does provide everyone involved the least amount of liability.

It is very common to start as a proprietorship or partnership and then change to a corporation after the business is established and growing.

4) Business Registration

Again, most likely you will start as a sole proprietorship. The process is very simple and inexpensive. But the process can vary a bit between states and even cities and counties.

The goal here is to get your business name registered as a D.B.A, or "doing business as". You will need this in most areas to open a business checking account. The fees are typically minimal, but vary on your location. Your County Registrar is most likely to be the office you will need to contact to ask about what the process is to get your D.B.A. The methods will vary by location and in some rare instances you may not even have to register. Just be sure to ask about all of the steps to make sure you're covered.

After you have made some calls or used the Internet to find out the steps in your area, you will most likely need to go fill out paperwork at the government office that handles the registration. The good news is that the paperwork is generally light and the wait is not too long. They or you will be responsible for checking to make sure the DBA name is not already taken, and in many cases you will be able to check on the Internet before you even go.

After the paperwork and name check, you will have to pay a fee, which is generally small. Once it is all done, be sure they give you a notarized copy of your registration as you will need it at the bank to open a business bank account and possibly for other things.

I wish to remind you that what I offer are general guidelines and information to help get you started. It is always a good idea to discuss your options with an accountant or lawyer to determine what is best for you and your individual circumstances.

5) Obtaining a Business Address

This is a step that you can skip if you simply plan to use your home address or an existing business location as your address. But in most cases, you'll start working out of your home and probably wish to protect your privacy and create an aura of having a larger business by getting a new business address.

This process is as simple as going to the post office or a private mail box center (PMB) such as The UPS Store. I suggest a PMB over the post office because you can usually use a street address and list your box number as a "suite" to help create a more positive image versus having your address be a P.O. Box number.

6) Your Business Phone Numbers

Like the business address, you can skip this step if you plan on using an existing phone number. But you should consider adding a second phone number to your home or office to be used just for your new business. You can even get what is called an "overlay" and put a new phone number on top of your existing phone. It will go to the same phone as you have now, and in most cases you can assign a different ring tone so you know it is for the business.

A toll-free number is also an important item to have, but you don't have to have it right out of the gate. But studies show that customers are more likely to contact you if you have a toll-free number. They are not that expensive to set up and the charges are based on usage, so if you use it a lot you should be getting more than enough business to cover the expense.

Remember that you phone voice is important. Talk with a smile - the customer can hear that smile. Be sure you have a pleasant and professional sounding message for your voice mail as well. And call back your customers who leave messages as fast as you can. Your competition probably isn't taking care of them fast, so you should.

7) Business Banking Account Formation

Having a separate business banking account is advised since it will help you keep your financial records straight. It will save you a lot of time during tax season to keep your business and personal spending separate. I suggest using a larger bank, such as Bank of America or Wells Fargo, which serves the business community. They will offer a wider range of services and possibly be a good source of business loans to help fund your growth.

You may want to call several banks in your area to compare their small business service options and the associated fees. Once you decide on the right bank for your needs, make sure you know what paperwork to take when you open the account. In most cases they will require at least your notarized D.B.A certificate.

8) Logos, Business Cards, Letterhead and Such

Some people may tell you to invest lots of money upfront to develop a great logo and then put it on expensive letterhead. These people have never started a business on a budget. While you do want to appear professional, you can do just fine with your own computer and printer while you wait to grow big enough to afford such materials.

Most likely your word processing program or other such program already has a letterhead template. That is fine to use for now. Choose a nice font for your new "logo" and use some color for it, if you wish. Do purchase some nice paper to put it on. Then simply print out as needed.

On your letterhead, make sure you get all of your important information across in a professional way. In general, you'll want to include your business name, mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address.

The same goes for business cards and envelopes. You can buy nice envelopes and business card stock and use your existing program templates to create professional materials as needed.

Having a designed logo or company motto on your letterhead is a personal choice. Make sure it looks good and reflects the business. Also make sure it looks good when it is made very big or very small since it will be used in various formats.

The Next Steps

Once you finish Step 8, you're in basic business shape. It is difficult to tell you what to do next since there are so many types of business and different ways to go about it.

In general, you'll need to start letting people know about your business and getting customers. This may mean developing a website that sells products or promotes your services. It can be as simple as handing out business cards to everyone you meet. Or maybe it is "pounding the pavement" and meeting people to tell them what you are doing.

But there are a few things to keep in mind that relate to any business. The Nike slogan has it right when they proclaim "Just Do It." Nobody is coming to you, so you have to reach out to them. And it takes time and effort. Yes, you do have to "work" and "sell" no matter what those advertisements may promise for their wonderful business opportunity.

Here's the "secret" to success: You will have to work harder than your competition, treat your customers better than your competition, offer a better product and or service than your competition, just plain be better than the rest. Yes, that is the secret!

My first job out of college was as an executive recruiter, a headhunter. I was successful at this job. In fact, I was one of the tops in the nation. It wasn't because I was naturally better than anyone else, it was because I worked harder and I worked consistently. Have a plan for the day, the week, the month, the year...and do it consistently. Get into a routine and stick to it. You'll get sidetracked along the way, of course, but keeping your efforts consistent will pay off. You'll make you own "luck."

Since you are your own boss, you do have a little luxury to make a schedule that fits your lifestyle. If you want to start at 10:00 AM, or play golf for lunch, or work late at night, that is fine. But stick to the schedule and make it your routine. This will help you get over the initial feelings of being scared and overwhelmed and start getting you comfortable with your new professional life and on your way to success.

Along the way, you'll start to discover what your strengths and weaknesses are. You don't have to be an expert at anything really; you just have to be average to above-average at a lot of things as an entrepreneur. If there are glaring weaknesses in you business skills, you simply have to work at them. You can read a book, take a class, whatever...but you'll naturally get better each and every day just by doing your business.

Finally, do not get so frustrated in the beginning that you quit before you even get started. Depending on what you start with and what (or who) you already know it is going to take some time. Even minimal success is probably going to take several months and maybe a year or more. Make sure you are mentally and financially ready for at least a year.

If you're not ready now, don't worry. You now know the steps and what to expect to even get started. It is better to take you time and be well-prepared than to rush off and make a mistake that you will regret for years to come.

Launching and growing your business are the essential main steps 2 and 3. But those are whole other beasts that are best discussed at another time. Until then, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your new business is an incredible success.

Blair Rhodes is an entrepreneur himself and has helped several people launch their own successful business. After earning an MBA at the University of Texas at Austin, Blair worked as a headhunter, in the movie business, at several successful Internet startups, at a franchise marketing company and as an importer. He currently focuses on his own ventures, including The Pashmina Store and is developing several other ecommerce businesses.

Discovering work ethics in business home

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The Work at Home Nightmare

The work at home entrepreneur has many obstacles to face. Typically the notion begins as we are heading off to a disgruntled job, leaving our kids behind to face a day that we are simply fed up with. It strikes us how wonderful it would be to leave behind the work a day world and provide for our families at home. Once the notion strikes, and it tends to strike hard, we begin the exhaustive search for the perfect work at home business.

How frustrating! There are literally thousands of businesses on one single website that are promising us time and fortunes. If we want to know what they are all about, we have to fork over some hard earned cash only to discover that the business plan is out of our reach or the product is marginal, or it just simply isn't something we can do.

I love those work at home business plans that promise success in one month. You fork over your $49.95 to find out that if you want to make any money you have to chunk down thousands of dollars in advertising, seminars, and product. They guaranteed your money back, didn't they? Ever try to get your money back from one of those work at home business plans? You have to provide proof that you did everything they told you to do, and often a few of those things can never be proven. How do you prove you followed the script when you finally got your first prospect, if you ever get there?

In the end you do what they wanted you to do in the first place and you eat the initially cost as well as any other cost you incurred and you are still stuck with the job you resent. Unfortunately, you can spend a lifetime going through the same revolving door while trying to find a better way. Yet you refuse to give up because you know that there is an answer out there somewhere.

The Work at Home Business Plan Success

You are right. There is a work at home business plan out there that will allow you to work your way to freedom in a relatively short period of time. In fact, there are many. The work at home industry has wised up a bit and the truly competitive business will give you all the information you need to know without forking over a dime.

These particular work at home business plans have discovered that people are tired of being ripped off and lied to, and they decided to do the right thing and actually talk to people. Informed people who make a solid business decision are more likely to stick around and build their work at home business. It just makes sense. Selling people information they can't use only runs for so long before the general work at home industry becomes wise to the scheme.

Here's a basic work at home business plan theory. It's completely my own but I have found that it works. Anything that comes in through your inbox will make someone money. That person needs to have a lot of start up capital and be fairly internet business savvy, but all of those programs are making someone money. I have discovered they won't make me any money. Unless you have ample start up capital they probably won't make you any money either.

Home based business plans that you leave the comfort of your e-mail and go out onto the web searching for are harder to determine. They might make you money but chances are that most will not. Anything that is making promises and then asking for money up front is not a good way to go. How can you be expected to buy something without knowing what it is that you are purchasing? They are giving you no information except that they made some whopping $35,000 last month and you can too if you just follow their simple instructions. If a sales person showed up at your doorstep and tried to sell you something in a brown box but wouldn't tell you what it was, would you buy it? Of course not! Why keep sending money into these programs that are making promises without giving you any information? Because there's a touch of desperation for the person who really wants to build a home based business lifestyle. So we talk ourselves into taking chances.

Any solid home based business will at least tell you what it is they do to make their money. Some will tell you whether they are flipping properties (by the way check your local laws if that interests you, some states or counties have critical laws that make that impossible) or if they are marketing on e-bay or if they are selling candles. Most are learning to at least let you know the product or service up front.

That's a start. The Work at Home Nightmare

The work at home entrepreneur has many obstacles to face. Typically the notion begins as we are heading off to a disgruntled job, leaving our kids behind to face a day that we are simply fed up with. It strikes us how wonderful it would be to leave behind the work a day world and provide for our families at home. Once the notion strikes, and it tends to strike hard, we begin the exhaustive search for the perfect work at home business.

How frustrating! There are literally thousands of businesses on one single website that are promising us time and fortunes. If we want to know what they are all about, we have to fork over some hard earned cash only to discover that the business plan is out of our reach or the product is marginal, or it just simply isn't something we can do.

I love those work at home business plans that promise success in one month. You fork over your $49.95 to find out that if you want to make any money you have to chunk down thousands of dollars in advertising, seminars, and product. They guaranteed your money back, didn't they? Ever try to get your money back from one of those work at home business plans? You have to provide proof that you did everything they told you to do, and often a few of those things can never be proven. How do you prove you followed the script when you finally got your first prospect, if you ever get there?

In the end you do what they wanted you to do in the first place and you eat the initially cost as well as any other cost you incurred and you are still stuck with the job you resent. Unfortunately, you can spend a lifetime going through the same revolving door while trying to find a better way. Yet you refuse to give up because you know that there is an answer out there somewhere.

The Work at Home Business Plan Success

You are right. There is a work at home business plan out there that will allow you to work your way to freedom in a relatively short period of time. In fact, there are many. The work at home industry has wised up a bit and the truly competitive business will give you all the information you need to know without forking over a dime.

These particular work at home business plans have discovered that people are tired of being ripped off and lied to, and they decided to do the right thing and actually talk to people. Informed people who make a solid business decision are more likely to stick around and build their work at home business. It just makes sense. Selling people information they can't use only runs for so long before the general work at home industry becomes wise to the scheme.

Here's a basic work at home business plan theory. It's completely my own but I have found that it works. Anything that comes in through your inbox will make someone money. That person needs to have a lot of start up capital and be fairly internet business savvy, but all of those programs are making someone money. I have discovered they won't make me any money. Unless you have ample start up capital they probably won't make you any money either.

Home based business plans that you leave the comfort of your e-mail and go out onto the web searching for are harder to determine. They might make you money but chances are that most will not. Anything that is making promises and then asking for money up front is not a good way to go. How can you be expected to buy something without knowing what it is that you are purchasing? They are giving you no information except that they made some whopping $35,000 last month and you can too if you just follow their simple instructions. If a sales person showed up at your doorstep and tried to sell you something in a brown box but wouldn't tell you what it was, would you buy it? Of course not! Why keep sending money into these programs that are making promises without giving you any information? Because there's a touch of desperation for the person who really wants to build a home based business lifestyle. So we talk ourselves into taking chances.

Any solid home based business will at least tell you what it is they do to make their money. Some will tell you whether they are flipping properties (by the way check your local laws if that interests you, some states or counties have critical laws that make that impossible) or if they are marketing on e-bay or if they are selling candles. Most are learning to at least let you know the product or service up front. That's a start.

An ethical home based business will give you contact information, whether it's just an e-mail address or you receive a full address with a phone number. Some ethical home based businesses are starting to encourage people to ask questions before making their decision. That's a benefit for everyone of a Work At Home Businesses.

An ethical home based business may have lead capture page where you are required to insert you name and contact information before entering their website. This is a good thing. By doing this you will receive a phone call from an actual human being who can then answer your questions and give you a feel for whether this is a business that is right for you.

I ran a little test before writing this article. We'll call it the ethical home business test. I entered my name and phone number in forty different lead capture pages and sat back to see how many people would return my call. Within two weeks I had received thirty eight phone calls regarding my interest in an ethical home based business. Out of those thirty only one of them was unprofessional and even in fact rude to me on the phone. The other thirty seven spent the time to answer my questions and all of them gave me both the company's contact information as well as their own.

This is important because we are typically hesitant to enter our personal information on lead capture pages. However, while I did receive follow up e-mails, I did not receive any harassing phone calls or spam related to the experiment. Some of the ethical home based businesses were out of my price range and others did not interest me. But each and every one of them was up front about advertising costs.

Advertising your home based business is vital. You will not be able to get into internet marketing without factoring at least some advertising costs. Depending on the home based business you choose, some encourage fairly high advertising costs, but some are willing to show you ways to advertise with very little out of pocket. It might take a little longer to build your home based business, but the low cost and free methods do work. Advertising your home based business should be something you can comfortably fit into your budget. You are not looking to break the bank, you are looking to find a profitable home based business.

When factoring in your advertising costs for your home based business, also factor in the assistance you will receive from whomever is introducing you to the business. Are they really in it for the long haul or are they simply making promises to you based on what you want to hear? Talk to someone several times before deciding whether or not to join their home based business.

Just because a home based business doesn't offer contact information or charges up front doesn't necessarily mean they are unethical, but the unethical ones definitely don't offer any information and always charge up front. The ethical, solid home based businesses out there that are still using old methods of recruiting are slowly making the shift to better methods because they are seeing that it works well for other. For you that means better quality decisions when looking for the perfect home based business for you.

That, after all, is the whole key to this picture. Most home based businesses will work, but finding the one that will work for you is an entirely different game altogether. A little patience and research will certainly improve your odds of finding the best home based business for you and your family.

Finding the Ethical Home Based Business

Where are the honest and ethical work at home businesses? In my experience, which involves wasting thousands of dollars and years of my time just like everyone else out there, I have found several work at home businesses that are honest, ethical, affordable, and realistic. I'm not going to promote any of them here because I'm not here to influence which business you decide on. But I will tell you where to find the lot of them.

The allworkathomeguide website has some of the best and most solid information available on finding the ethical home based businesses we are talking about. There are nd articles that actually explain the entire business to you before you even click on their link. It is a solid place to start the search for the business that can change your life.

An ethical home based business will give you contact information, whether it's just an e-mail address or you receive a full address with a phone number. Some ethical home based businesses are starting to encourage people to ask questions before making their decision. That's a benefit for everyone.

An ethical home based business may have lead capture page where you are required to insert you name and contact information before entering their website. This is a good thing. By doing this you will receive a phone call from an actual human being who can then answer your questions and give you a feel for whether this is a business that is right for you.

I ran a little test before writing this article. We'll call it the ethical home business test. I entered my name and phone number in forty different lead capture pages and sat back to see how many people would return my call. Within two weeks I had received thirty eight phone calls regarding my interest in an ethical home based business. Out of those thirty only one of them was unprofessional and even in fact rude to me on the phone. The other thirty seven spent the time to answer my questions and all of them gave me both the company's contact information as well as their own.

This is important because we are typically hesitant to enter our personal information on lead capture pages. However, while I did receive follow up e-mails, I did not receive any harassing phone calls or spam related to the experiment. Some of the ethical home based businesses were out of my price range and others did not interest me. But each and every one of them was up front about advertising costs.

Advertising your home based business is vital. You will not be able to get into internet marketing without factoring at least some advertising costs. Depending on the home based business you choose, some encourage fairly high advertising costs, but some are willing to show you ways to advertise with very little out of pocket. It might take a little longer to build your home based business, but the low cost and free methods do work. Advertising your home based business should be something you can comfortably fit into your budget. You are not looking to break the bank, you are looking to find a profitable home based business.

When factoring in your advertising costs for your home based business, also factor in the assistance you will receive from whomever is introducing you to the business. Are they really in it for the long haul or are they simply making promises to you based on what you want to hear? Talk to someone several times before deciding whether or not to join their home based business.

Just because a home based business doesn't offer contact information or charges up front doesn't necessarily mean they are unethical, but the unethical ones definitely don't offer any information and always charge up front. The ethical, solid home based businesses out there that are still using old methods of recruiting are slowly making the shift to better methods because they are seeing that it works well for other. For you that means better quality decisions when looking for the perfect home based business for you.

That, after all, is the whole key to this picture. Most home based businesses will work, but finding the one that will work for you is an entirely different game altogether. A little patience and research will certainly improve your odds of finding the best home based business for you and your family.

Finding the Ethical Home Based Business

Where are the honest and ethical work at home businesses? In my experience, which involves wasting thousands of dollars and years of my time just like everyone else out there, I have found several work at home businesses that are honest, ethical, affordable, and realistic. I'm not going to promote any of them here because I'm not here to influence which business you decide on. But I will tell you where to find the lot of them.

The allworkathomeguide website has some of the best and most solid information available on finding the ethical home based businesses we are talking about. There are nd articles that actually explain the entire business to you before you even click on their link. It is a solid place to start the search for the business that can change your life.

Bobby Ryatt: If you enjoyed reading this article then you must visit my website where I have lots more free to use interesting material. After you have finished going through all the information you will certainly be able to claim yourself fully informed in the work at home arena. You will also have a huge choice of programs to chose from. Be sure to read all the material before picking the ones you like. Click on the link below to have access. Website: . http://www.allworkathomeguide.com blog http://allworkathomeguide.blogspot.com

Are you ready to purchase your business e-commerce?

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Starting a business is exciting and nerve-wracking. It will be one of the biggest investments you'll make during your lifetime. Not just financially, but emotionally as well. Doing it right will mean taking on a lot of responsibilities and making a lot of sacrifices. It will also mean working harder than you ever have before.

For these reasons, business ownership is not for everyone. If you don't have the right skills, personality, and commitment to operate a business, you'll be in trouble before you make your first sale. So before you begin planning your E-Commerce business, you need to take a hard look at yourself, your family, and your finances, and give honest answers to some very important questions.

The following questions will help you weigh your personal characteristics and beliefs against the realities of business ownership. Don't worry if you find that a few of the questions reveal doubts or weaknesses. Nobody is a perfect match for any profession. But if you find many of the questions troubling, you may want to rethink your decision to go into business.

1) Are you willing to take the responsibilities of operating your own business?

Forget the tidy little set of responsibilities that came with a position in corporate life. When you run a business, you're in charge of everything--from opening the doors in the morning to cleaning up at night. Then when you go home, you worry.

The hours are long, there is a high degree of stress, and there is always too much to do and not enough time to do it. You'll have to deal with your customers and your employees. You'll be responsible for the finances of the business and dealing with taxes. And you'll need to fill out a lot of forms and sign a lot of checks.

Make sure you understand what you're getting into. As a business owner, you'll have more responsibilities than you have had before, no matter what your previous jobs have been. If you understand this simple fact, you'll be ready to take your responsibilities on.

2) Are you comfortable making hard decisions?

As the owner of a business, you'll also have to make many decisions that affect the business, your livelihood, and that of your employees. Many times thev/11 is tough to make, including the decision to lay people off if your business falls on hard times. It will require decisiveness, mental toughness, and resolve. If you have trouble when faced with tough choices, this could be a problem area.

3) Do you think owning your own business is the road to easy money?

Think again. Many people actually end up sacrificing income to open their businesses, at least at first. That's the price they're willing to pay for independence.

If you're thinking of giving up a promising career and a lucrative income to start your business, be realistic about what your financial needs are and whether or not the business will meet those needs. Remember, you're building a business.

It may take you a number of years to get to the income level you want or need. On the other hand, you may decide that you're willing to sacrifice some money for the reward of being your own boss. Many people have found it to be worth every penny.

4) Are you starting a business out of desperation?

This is a very real concern, particularly in light of the huge number of experienced businessmen and businesswomen who have been cast adrift in the job market through corporate downsizing in recent years. If you're one of these people and are thinking about starting a business because you think it's your only option, be very careful. Yes, it can be the answer to your future security, but only if you're willing to make the necessary commitments and sacrifices. The world of business ownership is vastly different from the corporate world. Make sure you recognize the differences before you make the move.

5) Are you well organized?

The day-to-day operation of your business is going to require you to assume many responsibilities. Let's consider an average day. You may need to do the payroll, talk to suppliers, pay a few bills, work on a new advertising pamphlet, and prepare some tax forms. At the same time you'll be filling orders and making sure they get sent out on time. Then there is always the unexpected--your computer bombs or the air-conditioning conks out.

As a business owner, you'll need to keep many balls in the air at one time. Your ability to juggle all these responsibilities will directly affect your success. If you're well organized, you'll have a list of the things you need to do, and you'll methodically go through it during the course of the day. If you're interrupted, you'll pick up where you left off after you have dealt with the problem. If you're still not through at the end of the day, you'll sit there and work until you have finished. Procrastinators do not do well in business. If you get behind, you're sunk.

6) Are you creative?

It's an asset to any business. No matter how great your product, you're not going to be the only one selling it. Marketing and advertising are critical to getting customers' attention and encouraging them to buy. If you have a creative streak--whether it be copywriting, graphic design, or even an offbeat sense of humor--it will be an invaluable asset to your business.

His is doubly true in e-commerce. Since your customers can't see the items they're purchasing "in the flesh," so to speak, they need to be enticed by the visual presentation and written description in your promotional materials.

7) Are you flexible?

In business, if an idea or plan doesn't work, you can't let yourself waste time, energy, and emotion bemoaning its failure. You need to quickly come up with an alternative solution. Flexibility and adaptability are the key. You'll need to stay focused to achieve your goal, but you may need to try several different paths to get there.

In e-commerce order, for example, one marketing approach may work for a while and then stall. At that point you'll need to come up with something new. Remember, every business plan and every business

Can benefit from a fresh look every once in a while, even when things seem to be going along just fine.

8) Are you goal oriented?

This trait is obviously helpful in all parts of life, but it's particularly helpful in business. As a business owner, your goals will be defined in very simple, concrete terms--gross sales and net profit.

A good businessperson approaches each year with new goals and uses them as motivating forces throughout the year. Let's say gross sales for your first year of operation were $500,000 and your net profit was $ 100,000. For the following year, you might set as your goal a 20 percent increase, or $ 600,000and $ 120,000. Achieving or surpassing those figures will drive you day after day.

Goal-oriented people also plan for the future. Eventually, you may want to expand your product selection and your target market. You'll have a long-term plan that includes the timing of your expansion and what every aspect of your business will do to accommodate increased volume.

9) Are you an optimist?

Having the right mental attitude is important for every aspect of life. When you run into hard times, keeping an upbeat attitude and looking for the positive side of things is critical to riding out the storm.

This is particularly true in business. By nature, it's a trip with peaks and valleys. For instance, the hardest time for any business is the first year or two. You may spend months getting things ready to go, carefully selecting the merchandise you'll carry, and getting your advertising strategy together. Then you'll send out your first e-mailing and wait anxiously for the phone to begin ringing off the hook and your mailbox to be jammed with orders.

But nothing happens. Maybe a few orders trickle in, or you get some phone calls with questions about certain items. This isn't unusual, but even knowing that, you'll still worry. If you're the type of person who gets down when things don't quite go the way you would like, you might have trouble with the roller coaster ride that any business will take you on. Keeping a positive mental attitude is essential to weathering the bad times and working hard to make the good ones arrive that much sooner.

10) Have you experience you can use in running the business?

If you have, it will make learning the business a lot easier. Experience in sales, accounting, advertising, marketing, personnel management, taxes, or any other business-related.

Responsibility is a definite plus for a potential business owner.

Experience with computers is mandatory since in e-commerce of course computers are your lifeblood.

You have to have hands on experience with computers both hardware and software and not be intimidated by computer experts and geeks but rather be able to work with these often eccentric individuals who command often unique skills.

11) Do you enjoy working with people?

One of the painful realities of being in retail is the fact that the customer is always right. Granted, running an E-Commerce business distances you from your customers in the sense that there is rarely face-to-face contact. But that doesn't mean you don't owe them the same service and courtesy you would if they were standing right in front of you.

As an e-commerce retailer, you'll have the same problems with customers that storefront retailers experience. You'll have complaints about your merchandise, your prices, your service, your policies, and your employees. Believe me, no matter how well you think you have things organized, someone will find fault with them.

This is where tact, patience, and understanding come in. When a customer is unhappy, you must put up with their behavior and try to amend the situation. The last thing your business needs is a bad reputation. If you allow a customer to go away unsatisfied, you can be sure the person will tell all their friends how terrible you are. That, in turn, will keep a lot of potential customers from becoming regular customers.

So there will be times when you'll have to bite the bullet and make amends quickly and courteously when you would really like to tell the customer to take a hike. Because you're dealing with someone who may be halfway across the country, it may take a personal phone call, an overnight special delivery, or a refund with a handwritten note saying you're sorry the purchase did not work out but you look forward to helping them in the future. Just make sure you leave the customer happy. .You'll also have to deal with the people who work for you. As the owner of a business, your behavior will set the standard for your employees' behavior. If you're negative and critical, they'll be negative and critical. But if you're cheerful and upbeat, that will also be reflected in their behavior.

You'll have to be tough at times. Managing people isn't easy. If you're lucky, most of your employees will be pleasant, will work hard, and will contribute positively to the business. But you'll also have a few who will turn out to be unpleasant, lazy, incompetent, or even dishonest. Motivating them will be a challenge. If you can't change their behavior, you have to be able to fire them.

12) Are you comfortable dealing with money?

Some people are terribly inept at finances. Others can do it but hate it. Like it or not, financial management is an inescapable fact of business ownership. You'll be dealing with complex monetary issues, from financing the business to handling the day-to-day receipts. You'll be responsible for paying the bills, making the bank deposits, doing the payroll, and sending in withholding taxes and quarterly reports to the IRS and the state. You may be handling substantial amounts of cash, and there are certain risks inherent in that responsibility.

You'll also be making business plans. These are detailed projections of your income and expenses for a given period of time, usually three months, six months, or a year. In some ways, they're quite simple--you want to maximize your income and minimize your expenses. But they take careful planning and budgeting. What are the minimum staffing expenses going to be to operate the business? What will your overhead and utilities be? How much money can you spend on advertising? When are the taxes due? How will you determine the price of your products? What will you charge for shipping and handling?

Any financial experience you may have had will help you with this aspect of your business. And if you like this type of activity, it will be to your advantage. But if you find it burdensome, you'll have to be ready to deal with it.

13) Are you financially prepared to open a business?

Starting any business requires money. The nice thing about E-Commerce is that you can make it about as bare-bones as you care to, particularly if you're starting a small operation that you'll operate in your spare time. Many people have started E-Commerce businesses for just a relatively small amount of capital.

But the bigger your dreams, the more money you're going to need. If you're planning a full-time E-Commerce business with numerous products, the start-up costs will be considerably higher. Then a whole new batch of considerations comes into play. Do you have the financial reserves to support you and your family for a period of time until business picks up? Some business advisers say you should have enough on hand to survive for a year with no income whatsoever. While that may be an unrealistic goal, you do need to consider what happens if the business fails altogether. Do you have the resources to weather such a catastrophe?

Before you begin planning your business, you need to take a careful look at your finances. How much of your available capital are you willing to risk? Are you willing to personally sign for a business loan? What do you have to offer as collateral? How much cash will you have in reserve for emergencies? If you don't have enough to start the business yourself, are you willing to take on a partner or partners? Are you staking your entire financial future on the business?

Not having enough working capital is often the main cause of failure for small businesses in the United States. Yet many people, caught up in the entrepreneurial fever, continue to start businesses on a shoestring, woefully unprepared to deal with the bad times. If you can't start your business with a comfortable financial cushion beneath you, you may be taking a risk you can't afford.

14) Is your family ready to make the commitment?

Whether your family is actively involved in the business or not, business ownership is going to have a huge effect on them. If you're the only one involved in its day-to-day operation, the rest of the family isn't going to see you very much. If they're used to having you around on evenings and weekends, this may cause problems.

Your spouse may be unhappy having less time to go out to dinner or the movies. Your absence may also mean he or she is going to have to assume a lot more responsibility at home-- chauffeuring the kids here and there, helping with homework, doing the shopping, cooking the meals, cleaning the house, paying the bills, and all the other odds and ends that are part of day-to-day life.

Your kids may have to make some big adjustments, too. You might not be available for Little League games, dance recitals, school plays, and all the other events of childhood.

There may also be some financial adjustments for your family. If you're like most fledgling business owners, you'll be running a tight ship for a few years. Your family will have to realize there might not be money for some of the luxuries they used to take for granted.

It's extremely important to think about potential family problems early in the process. Sit everyone down together and tell them what you're thinking of doing. Make sure they know what it will mean to the family's day-to-day routine and find out how they feel about it. Their support will make your life a lot easier. You're going to have enough stress just handling the business. The last thing you'll need is a family crisis.

The other side of the coin is having your family members working in the business with you. The dynamics of family businesses can be quite volatile, and you'll want to make sure everyone can get along. A major question will be who is the boss? Are the lines of authority clearly drawn? Are you and your spouse going to be equals in ownership and operation of the business? If so, are you able to work together cheerfully and consider each other's opinions? If you are, you'll probably have no problem running the company together. But if you can't even agree on what kind of soap to use, you may have trouble.

15) Can you handle stress?

It comes with the territory. Long hours, endless responsibility, dealing with customers, worrying about money--these can take a huge emotional toll. Some people thrive on stress. It actually makes them perform better. They stay calm in a crisis and can react quickly to change. Others fall apart when things get too hectic. Which kind of person are you?

16) Are you in good health?

Running a business can be physically taxing as well. You may have to spend a lot of time on your feet and not get as much sleep as you would like. You may not have as much time to eat properly or exercise regularly. There may be activities in the business that require a fair amount of physical strength. Take an inventory of your physical health. Do you have any chronic problems that might prevent you from operating the business efficiently? Remember, when you own the business, you have to be there day after day. A long absence because of a serious illness could spell disaster.

These questions may be heart wrenching and difficult to consider but are essential if you are to consider whether you are ready willing and able to run your own e-commerce business?

Bill Piker
Senior Employment Analyst / Counsellor / Labour Dispatcher. Ace Employment Services Winnipeg
Extensive experience in the labour as well as financial field.

Business plan-the rut of success

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Experts say that a strong business plan is one sure step in the direction of success. So, what is a business plan in the first place? It is defined as a document that outlines the functional and financial objectives of a business. It also contains details of the budget involved and the goals to be achieved.

Everything on earth is tending to become compact. Gone are those days when a sea beach was described in a thousand words. Today, a similar description is possible with a powerful visual and a string of strong adjectives in only a few words. A mobile phone today is slightly bigger than your thumb. Similarly, a business plan is no longer a document of a hundred pages. Nobody wants to know your business. They want to know your views, your goals, your objectives and your plan of action.

How Well Can A Business Plan Be Implemented?

o Simplicity of a business plan - is it understood by one and all? Are its views and objectives clear?

o Specificity of a business plan - are the contents measurable? Are all the activities dated (initiation to completion)? Are all the actions distributed among personnel clearly?

o Real nature of a business plan - are the objectives and targets real? Are the goals set within a specified time achievable?

o Totality of a business plan - is the plan complete? Does it have all the necessary elements to outline your business goals?

A business plan has multiple uses. It can be used to start a new business enterprise, take a loan or to find good investors. There are many other reasons for which you need a business plan. You should first find out why you need a business plan.

Why Do You Need A Business Plan?

o Outline objectives and set goals to achieve them

o Prepare regular business review outlines

o Start a new business enterprise

o Decide on a value on a business for sale and legal issues

o Outline agreements between business partners

If business plans are conceived for different purposes, there must be different business plans for different kinds of ventures. Business plans are also known as growth plans, internal plans, investment plans and so on and so forth.

If your business plan is for internal study and revision, there is no need of background details of your organization because you are already aware of them. You need to add that only if your business plans are meant for banks and other institutions.

What Are The Different Types Of Business Plans?

- The most basic of business plans are the start-up plans that clearly outline the steps for a new business venture. They include details of service provided or product offered, market value of the same, implementation strategies, market and financial analysis. The basic structure consists of a summary of the company, ending with details of financial transactions and expectations for the first year.

- An operational business plan contains details of dates, deadlines and milestones. It is often referred to as an internal business plan.

- A strategic business plan aims at higher levels of target and does not deal much with dates and deadlines. This business plan is more of future and growth oriented and focuses less on facts of the company.

- A growth or expansion business plan focuses more on one or more subset of the business. There are variations of this kind of business plan. If it is meant for a new investment, it will obviously include the background of the company.

- A feasibility business plan is your entire business in bulleted form. It includes the summary, the mission and the vision of the company, the USP of the business enterprise, expected financial outcomes etc. The main purpose of this business plan is to test whether this business is worth a venture at all.

The Seven Points Of Business Plans

Business plans usually cover the following 7 points. Of course, they will vary in detail, depending on the purpose of the business plan.

- Mission Statement - your business plan must explain clearly why you want to start a particular kind of business in the first place. It doesn't have to be long, but it needs to convey the message clearly.

- Business Description - this is the place where you talk about your business. What is it that you are trying to sell or provide? What is the USP of your business?

- Goals in view - here, you describe both your short term and long term goals. Short term goals may include your plan to acquire office space, provide a proper business name, apply for a business license etc. Long term goals include answers to where you see your business ten years down the line, opening new stores etc.

- Prospective Customers - who is your target audience? Why will they need your service or product? How well do you understand their needs?

- Competition Analysis - this helps you rank your business venture in the market. Who are your competitors? If their focus area is too competitive, try for a niche market that is comparatively less competitive.

- Financial Considerations - be realistic and optimistic about your finances. Make sure to spend only that much with which you are sure to receive returns. Or else, go in for a small business loan till your business can take care of its own expenses.

- Marketing - sell your ideas before you sell your products. Advertise your products everywhere you can think of. Don't miss out on both offline and online publicity. If you get a chance, exhibit your product or service at local communities and organizations.

Do's And Don'ts Of Business Plans

Your business plan should:

a) Set concrete goals and deadlines

b) Distribute work among people and departments and set deadlines to achieve the goals

c) Maintain a steady ratio of implementation to strategy to 10:1

d) Provide a platform for regular review and discussion

Your business plan should not:

a) Display your knowledge about your field of expertise

b) Be too lengthy - people lose interest easily

Not all businessmen and women are good planners. It has often been seen that a business fails because of the lack of a good business plan. That is one of the cardinal mistakes for an entrepreneur.

Business Plan Mistakes

Experts have identified some common mistakes regarding business plans. They are:

- No business plan - many business ventures begin without any plan. Plans are written out in a rush only if the clients or banks or investors ask for the same. It is often seen as unnecessary because the business is more important. Imagine the condition of a house without a plan. You will get lost midway in heaps of concrete and steel. Similarly, you will get lost in ideas and desire to implement them.

- Cash is more important than profits - business is not the same as profits. Cash is the main player. Only if you have cash to spend in the beginning, will you get profits at the end of the day.

- Ideas don't sell - your business sells because of hard work, perseverance, cash and a lot of common sense. Your idea does not have to brand new. Old wine is better than new ones. Why? People trust age and experience.

- Fear factor - a business plan is as necessary and as routine as making a travel plan. You don't need to be Einstein to chalk out a business plan. You just need to think straight and pen your thoughts.

- Specificity wins - focus on tangible results, instead of trying to be the best. Results matter and they tell you everything.

- Fit all business plans - your business plan should work for bankers and investors as well as internal review and corrections. Don't make individual business plans for individual purposes. Rather, concentrate on your business.

- Everything cannot be important - you can have only a few priorities. 20 priorities are vague and they clearly show lack of strategy and of goals.

A business plan is the first step of starting a business. It is neither easy nor difficult. What is a business plan about? How do you implement a business plan? What do you include in a business plan? What are the 'must have's' and 'have not's' of business plans?

Whether it is travel, study, cooking or any other activity involving a process, planning is usually the first step. The same holds true for business. Business plans are probably more important than the business itself. For example, the plan for a house is more important than the house itself, though it is the house that people remember and not the plan. But the house wouldn't stand without the plan, would it?

Swati Banerjee is the owner of Writing Ink, a web content management firm based out of India, that services clients from across the globe. Please take a minute to visit http://www.writing-ink.com to experience how the bright young minds here make magic with words!

Golf business: the person questions to ask yourself

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Why do you believe in what you believe?

I am not talking about your Religious beliefs. I am talking about the belief people have in something that will work, or not work.

Let's take business practices you believe are successfully to doing business. Or, the procedures you take in doing business because you believe it will work.

Granted, there are some really sound business practices business people should follow that are more than a belief and are more proven to work, or not.

But, there are some proven business practices that could be improved.

Let me ask you a question EVERY business person should ask themselves when it comes time to improve your business' bottomline.

What is the one thing you do that is successful in doing business?

Usually the answer will consist of several things you do to secure business because you believe you need these several things to be successful. See, you have a belief that needs improving...

Why? Well, 'Why' is the question you should ask yourself more than any other question. For, to understand 'Why' something is done builds your belief in that 'something'.

If the answer to 'Why' is something you did not know, then you learned something. So, learning the answer to 'Why' is the first step to believing in something.

Lets get back to the original question of the one thing you do that successfully brings in business, improves your business or, even better, elevates your business' image.

If you answered the questions with something like 'the most important thing I do to successfully do business is to get to know my customers better' then you have either read my book on How To Play Business Golf, or you have figured out the most important thing you need to do in business.

Now, ask yourself, 'does knowing your customers better really make your business successful?'. The answer is simple, 'Absolutely'. If you believe that it is the most important part of you doing business and you believe you are going to continue to make an effort everyday to talk and visit with at least one customer a day, then you have established a belief.

Now, let me answer the question 'Why'.

Getting to know your customers is more than sending them an invoice with 'Thank You, Have a nice day' written on the bill, or mailing out Holiday Cards once a year.

Getting to know your customers is taking the time to personally visiting with them at least three times a year; to get to know them as a person, not as a client. Even in the legal and medical professions, there is a need to learn more about the client than their legal or medical problems.

As is the case in every business, getting to know your customer is getting to know the problem before it happens.

What you learn when visiting with a customer is their likes and dislikes. This is very important information you will need in order to do business with them. It also provides you knowledge of a problem before it gets out of hand.

Knowing your customer allows you to prepare your business to keep your customer, or to compete in the market for your customer.

Also, the time spent with your customer allows the customer to get to know you. This really pays off, especially when it comes time for your customer to decide who to do business.

On the same note, when your customer gets to know you they are more than likely going to refer their friends to you. When you let your customer know that your intentions are to get to know them better so you can better serve them they are going to pass that on to their contacts.

So, the direct answer to the question 'Why do I need to get to know my customers' is this..

The more you know about your customer the more you know how to do business with them. And the more you know what your customer thinks of you, and your business, the more you are prepared to improve your business.

And the best answer to the 'Why' is, If you are doing well with this customer he is going to let his contacts know how you do business, which brings you more business.

Now, let me take this a step further. From taking the time to visit with customers to learn what they think about your product or services you have eliminated the time you would have had to take to do damage control on the way your business would have been running. So, you get to use your time more effectively building solid business relationships instead of spending even more time constantly making apologies for the way your business is going.

Having already solved problems before they happen will open up more time to think of things to do to improve your business.

So, now, the answer to 'Why' has developed your belief in something.

Now lets take the other side of the coin on the answer to the original question, 'what is the one thing you do to successfully do business'?

There are many of you who work for someone or have a position in a company that has nothing to do with customer contact. Being from that environment I can truthfully say that companies who do not support these operational employees in providing them an opportunity to periodically get on the frontline with the customers are very, very short sighted and are missing out on some great opportunities to increase their business and corporate image.

If your business has 100 employees, you have 100 business representatives. No matter if they are the stockmen in the warehouse or receptionist in the front office, they are your business. When someone asks them who they work for, they are telling that person they are working for your business. This instantly makes them one of your company's representatives. The businesses that take advantage of this are the businesses who know how to be successful.

Every business that has employees should encourage each of them to take part in building relationships with customers.

Why do I believe it can be done? Well, that is because I know it can be done.

Many years ago, when I was stuck off in a sea of cubical, typical to corporate America workplace, I received a call from one of the company's many disgruntled customers. How he got my office number is still a mystery, but I suspect that someone I knew personally provided him with the information. And, why he was calling me was simple, he could not get a live person on the 800# that all large companies are providing their customers to call to air their concerns.

What this very upset gentleman wanted was to talk to someone. Just anyone in the company to talk to him and hear what his concerns where. The gentleman had little expectation that anything was going to be done to fix the problem he was having, he just wanted to air his concerns in hopes that someone would understand his situation and fix the problem so more customers are not miss-communicated to...

Now, my job then was to process reports and coordinate with internal departments to make sure they got the information they needed to do their job. Usually this responsibility would take about 10 hours each day to get the work processed. So, needless to say, I did not have the time to take to talk to a customer about his problems.

But, after an hour and half of listening to the customer's concerns I found it very disturbing what he had been told by the company's representatives who are responsible for making customer contact. Being a good corporate citizen I needed to address his issues so other customer would not had to go through what he had to go through.

After completing the conversation with the gentleman I compiled my notes and looked for the root problem that was causing the gentleman's concerns. What it boiled down to was there was not relationship built with the gentleman when he contacted the company to do business.

There was nobody interested in knowing that the gentleman was handicapped and was taking care of his ailing mother. Nobody even wanted to know if the services he wanted to purchase would help his situation...nobody wanted to know his likes and dislikes...

Knowing how this corporation worked I knew that getting a change made would take a long time and would not meet this customer's needs right away. And I also knew letting my superiors know what had taken place would just be half heartily taken seriously.

I was more than likely going to be asked 'Why' I talked to the gentleman. It was not my job to talk to customers!, or 'Why' did I not hang-up on the gentleman?, or 'Why' did I not forward him on to someone in Customer Service?

Knowing then how powerful getting to know a customer's needs where, I did what I thought was correct and called the customer's sales rep and explained what took place. The sales rep was totally shocked and committed to contacting the gentleman.

What I believed to be a situation where nothing would get done to save a customer turned out to the contrary. A few days later I received a call from the gentleman thanking me for taking action and he reported that the sales rep did call and the situation is on its way to being taken care of...

So, as you see, I had a belief in one thing would happen, which after asking why does it have to be that way, changed my belief in that it didn't have to happen that way...a prime example of how w belief can be changed or improved.

If you are one of the many, many business people from very large companies, who answer the question with 'there is no way I can take the time to talk to any of my company's customers' then you probably are spending all of your time in damage control or fixing problems instead of keeping the business under control You are not getting to a point where you are seeing the problems before they occur.

Lets take a look at this problem, because if you are having this problem of not having any time, or feeling that 'talking to a customer' as not being important, than you have build a belief that needs to be changes.

How do you go about getting this belief changed? Ask the questions 'Why'.

Why is it you do not have the time to take to pick up the phone and call a customer?

Is it because you are sitting in a cubical shuffling paper doing the work of what use to take five people and have a duty that does not require any customer contact?

Is it because you are in the warehouse filling customers orders and are jumping through all kinds of hoops to get the orders filled on the schedule?

Or, is it you are actually talking to customers, but what they have to say is confirming a problem they have with your business you believe you cannot change?

See, in a way, I have asked 'Why' in an attempt to better understand your belief. And what I learned is that your belief is based on something that should have been done from the very beginning...getting to know your customers better.

OK, so you do own a business, or you are part of a company that needs to change its belief in how to successfully do business. How do you go about making the change?

First, when you start asking 'How' questions, you are taking steps to making the change in a belief. Asking a customer the 'How' question is the fastest way to finding out How to change your belief in being successful.

But, before you make the changes need to get to visiting with customers and asking them questions, lets talk about what needs to be done to prepare for those visits.

No matter if you are a one person business or you own or work for a company with 100 or more employees, the first thing that has to happen is in your acceptance of CHANGE. Yes, change is hard for some people to do.

Change means you will have to stop what you are currently doing and move towards doing something different. Change means you have to take some time to retool the way you do business. Change means your employees are going to have to learn something new, or learn to do something different.

What you have to understand is that change causes friction. Anytime someone has to stop what they were told to believe was the things to do to get their job done you are going to get friction. Just like when you push the brakes on your car to hard, your tires are going to screech against the pavement.

The same thing is going to happen with you and your employees. So, 'How' do you deal with it?

To deal with change is to expect un-acceptance of the change. If the change you have to make is that everyone in the company is going to take one day a month and take a customer out to get to know them, expect that someone is not going to be un-comfortable with this.

Think out what it is you want to change and how you want to change it. Then sleep on the changes. If they feel as good or better when you wake up the next day, then you can expect that the rejection to the change by your employees to be minimum.

The most important thing is to believe in what you are changing to will be successful. If your employees see your confidences in your words and actions they will follow. If not, then you may need to find a few new employees who are willing to make the change and believe in what your company believes in.

So, now that you have prepared for the change let's talk about some of the changes you should make.

The direction of the changes you need to make in your SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) should stay consistent with all of your company's policies. If your goal is have each person in your company make a call on a customer one day each month, then there needs to be a well written and though out policy you promote as part of your SOP.

Being an operations manager, I know that if you have 100 employees you are going to have 100 days of lost productivity, and you are going to have as many as three employees out visiting with customers each day. This not counting the employees who call in sick, of are on vacation.

Overcoming these logistics is why you have to plan your change. Maybe you make your policy to each employee take a customer out each quarter. This would spread out the time away from doing their jobs.

You then start asking the What if questions.

What if you do not have 100 customers for your 100 employees to call on? Then make it where employees take one day each quarter to go to a Networking Function to make new contacts for your sales force. Or, ask your employees to find a potential customer amongst their personal friends and take them out for the day to let them know what your business is all about.

I am sure you are now seeing how much more your business has already grown by doing this. If nothing else, the word is going to get around that you allow your employees to take one day each quarter to spend with customers or potential customers. When it comes time to grow your business you are not going to have any trouble finding qualified employees.

OK, so you have done all of your homework and you have walked out a number of scenarios of how you want the change to work and you have developed an even stronger belief. It is now time to schedule the change.

This might be the toughest part of the change. Anytime you ask a 'WHEN' question, you are asking one of the hardest questions of all.

You are going to have to face it. There is no good time to make a change. Some would thing that the first of the year is good. If that feels good then do it. If you want to wait until the summer, then do it then. Whenever you chose, make it part of your belief that it is the thing to do.

Not we get to the decision making questions. ..the 'What' questions.

What can I do to make the change more comfortable?

The best thing to do is organize something special. Use your imagination. Make it fun. Most importantly, present the message that gives your employees confidence that the change is for the better...

OK, you have made the announcement and the change is in place. Now 'What'..

What are some events, functions or activities your employees are encouraged to do to purposely allow enough time during a day to find out the most they can about a customer's likes and dislikes.

Well, have you heard about Business Golf? Yes, I have asked a Have question. A question starting with the word 'Have' is one of the most powerful questions that can be asked. That is because any question that starts off with the word 'Have' is providing you a solution, or something that could improve your belief.

Business Golf is more than just playing golf. If is playing golf with the sole purpose of building the most solid of all business relationships.

Now that you have made the change in your business to get to know your customers needs, Business Golf is a perfect business tool that offers your employees the opportunity to know your customers.

Business Golf also can be used to get to know potential customers as well. A very real simple solution to a real big problem.

So, let's recap.

I have discussed why people believe in what they believe and how sometimes beliefs need to be improved upon. I talked about the WHY, How, What , When and Have questions in learning how to change, or improve, a belief. And I told you about Business Golf and why you should use it to enhance your belief in your business.

Now, it is all up to you.

Scot Duke is a no nonsense entrepreneur whose mission is to show everyone how golf can be a fun way of doing business.

Using his 31 years of experience in operations management, business marketing and years of organizing golf events, he outlines his approach to bring golf into business as one of the tools to use to gain success

Recognized by his peers for his keen ability to manage towards success, Scot lays out the plan to follow to secure successful business opportunities through playing business golf.

Scot is President of Innovative Business Golf Solutions, LLC, a service company providing businesses with assistance in finding solutions to securing their valuable customer and employee base through using business golf.

Scot lives in Dallas, Texas with wife, Kat.

He enjoys golf, writing, business consulting, playing blues guitar, helping junior golf programs and getting involved with anything that has to do with golf.

Scot is also co-founder of Screen Door Open Charity Golf, Inc, a 501c3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to raise funds for junior golf