Monthly Archives: ‘ July 2008 ’
Building your home business can truly be a costly one. Each time you turn around you seem to spend every dollar you have on advertising and not getting ahead in your business.
It basically will nickel and dime you to death.
You really can’t get ahead in your business if you have to spend a ton on advertising, especially when you are first starting out.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could show you basically step by step how you can build your home business without spending a ton of money while doing it?
Well, there is some good news.
I recently came across something that I think will really help your business as it has mine.
It is a videos series by a guy named Mike Dillard called “Building On A Budget”.
In these videos Mike shows you how to build any home business for $500 or less.
I took these free videos and purchased his ridiculously low priced book, and within two weeks of applying the techniques he teaches and am now getting as many as 10 new qualified prospects per day.
The best part is that I did not spend much money while doing it.
Now I have the tools to grow my business without getting nickel and dimed to death.
You can get free access to these videos by going here…
http://www.buildingonabudgetnow.com
(copy and paste the link into your browser)
Enjoy your new found wealth,
Charlotte Howard
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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A great deal has been written about the group thinking concept.
Members all participate in solving problems, coming up with new
ideas or dreaming up new products. (Many heads are better than
one?)
They discuss the product, idea, or problem with each person
throwing out their thoughts on the subject regardless of how
ridiculous it may seem. This is supposed to generate a vast
pool of knowledge, including the answer to what the group is
trying to find.
Each idea is written down by one of the group and eventually the
puzzle is supposed to fall in place and the solution found.
Another method is for you to do your own private brainstorming,
using a tape recorder. When it is played back, it just may have
the solution for you.
Generally, however, neither method produces any better results
than if you study the matter thoroughly and look at it from
every possible angle. After you have “busted” your brain
capacity in this manner, sleep in it and let your “subconscious”
find the solution.
To your success,
Charlotte Howard
http://www.charlottehoward.ws
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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A few years ago there were millions of “mom & pop”
businesses across the country. Not a few of them were
stores with living quarters attached. There were stores
along the highway with houses in back and on city streets
with apartments upstairs.
This practice has largely gone by the wayside with our
modern living standards. Comfort and separation of the
“unpleasant and unsightly” work place from home have made
the business-residence unpopular.
Our concept of what is and what isn’t “accepted” has changed.
Not many brides want to live over the :deli”; most of them
prefer a “cottage with the white picket fence” — which today
translates to a condo or tract house — just like everyone
else.
Yet no one can dispute the fact that the business-residence
concept is a practical, cost effective and SMART alternative.
Tract housing is the least likely type of all home investments
to appreciate in value. If the price does go up, it is almost
always due SOLELY to inflation (which affects everything). The
property value doesn’t go up; the value of our money goes down!
Aside from being easy to purchase, the only real financial
benefit from a tract house is an inefficient method of equity
building.
Even so, equity building in a constant value asset (like a
tract house) is far less productive than building equity in
something that increases in value (like a “going” business).
In many residential neighborhoods, it’s either illegal or
impractical to operate a business (put up signs, display wares
and have customers coming and going).
Most people who live in housing developments and want to start
a business must buy or rent a second location and commute to
and from their homes, all of which costs money that could be
invested in their business.
There are exceptions such as take-home work and residences that
lend themselves to certain types of businesses like word
processing or a photo lab, but few people actually seek out
residences that can be used for business as well.
A young Texas couple rented a small house along a fairly well
traveled state highway some three miles outside the city limits.
The rent was considerably lower than it would have been inside
the city because it ways “a ways out.” It was a nice enough
little house with a front yard. Whenever you drove buy their
place there was always something in the front yard with a For
Sale sign on it; a chest of drawers, lawn mower, picnic table.
The husband had a full time job and the wife also had a full
time job taking care of two little rascals. To help make end
meet, they bought some of their furnishings at garage sales and
local auctions. After furnishing their place, they kept going
and started buying things just to sell from their front yard
“store” (for about double their cost).
They wouldn’t lie, but were perfectly happy to allow buyers to
assume the things were their own. These people technically did
buy each and every item “for themselves” and merely sold what
they no longer needed (often, the next day). Although the never
said how much they made they did admit that they made enough to
cover their rent and utilities.
This is but one of thousands of possible businesses that can be
operated from a business-residence. Houses on well traveled
streets in business zones have an excellent potential from a
small service or retail shop… So do large lots with business
building in the front and room for a house or mobile home in
the back. These businesses have the additional advantage that
they can be operated by the family — even the kids can help!
Many excellent business-residence locations cost no more
(even less) than a conventional residence. They can often be
purchased on similar terms. In fact, “business” property notes
are sometimes carried by the owners at better rates than
offered by conventional home lenders. These “loans” may be
easier to get and can sometimes virtually make their own payments.
In addition, they appreciate into a business asset (well above
the land and building value alone). They save the cost of an
extra business investment, transportation to and from home,
labor and even insurance costs.
Another major advantage is that the cost to start a business
in a business-residnce situation is a tiny fraction of what it
would cost to start the same business at a separate location.
In the “real world” many people who like to start their own
business and buy a home usually buy the home and never get
around to starting their own business. They work for someone
else all their lives.
If one were to give their best home investing advice to a
young couple today, it would probably be to invest in something
that would most likely to go up in value. Something that would
produce income and expedite their climb up the ladder to
prosperity.
Most will agree it is better to buy a duplex than a single
tract house, so the income from one will help pay for the
other. The duplex will probably not increase in overall value,
but the rent income represents a definite plus that increases
the young couple’s income builds faster equity.
A genuine business-residence, on the other hand allows the
couple to make extra income from a residential business and
the odds are that as a business site, its monetary value will
increase considerably more than either a single residence or
a duplex.
Specifically, the young couple ( or an older one, for that
matter) would be advised to buy or rent (with option to buy) a
residence with a business potential. The option to buy clause
shouldn’t cost much and could become very important should the
business really take off!
Business-residence property can increase in value, for its
business or residential value or both. Then, the advice would
be to operate some kind of business at the location, even if
it is putting one or two “For Sale” items on the lawn. The
objective is to establish the business potential future buyers
to see; another is to prevent zoning changes before a business
is started.
Once a business location is established, it is very difficut to
change the zoning laws to remove businesses that existed before
the ordinance was enacted — due to the “grandfather” factor.
This means new laws do not effect businesses that existed prior
to a newly passed law because it predates the law.
Interestingly, unless there are building changes, setting up a
business in your home normally does not increase your property
taxes, another interesting benefit!
If our young (?) couple invests in the business-residence,
establishes and builds a successful business at the location,
the chances are great that in a comparatively short time they
will be able to sell the residence and business for a nice
profit.
When they do sell out, they are very likely to do the same
thing again– because they will have tasted the “honey” of
free enterprise and found it sweeter than “staying with the
group”!
To your success,
Charlotte Howard
http://www.JoinITVPlatinum.com
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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The popular notion about being a leader is that of being tough and firm. Being strict with a number of rules and policies is often prioritized, and the need to be consistent with displaying authority is thought to be uncompromised. Despite the need to be tough, good leaders are also known to be gentle and forgiving.
No one said it was easy to become a leader, and being both tough and gentle can actually be a challenge especially since it can be quite a confusing and ironic task. There are ways to do both however, and it is said to be all about balance.
A balancing act
Perhaps the best way to learn how to be a gentle leader is to know exactly what being gentle means and how it is important in leadership. Being gentle means that you are able to assert yourself and the things you want to enforce on your people in a manner that isn’t harsh or threatening. You don’t go around screaming like a banshee as you give our orders and you certainly don’t try to frighten your people.
After all, how can you expect your people to function well if they are actually shaking from fear of you? Then again, fear of the boss or the leader isn’t a bad thing but there is a certain level of fear that is considered good and any excess may be considered bad and ineffective in people management.
To know the difference between the two, you must be able to develop a personal relationship with your people but at the same time maintain a distance where it is clear to your people that you mean business and you won’t tolerate any disrespect or mediocrity at work.
Kindness in being gentle
Often, being gentle is displayed with a certain humane quality known as kindness. You are gentle when you are kind and just. You don’t enforce any rule or law that may offend any of your people nor do you go out of your way to make their lives miserable. Be sure that you know where to draw the line of being firm and strict, and that it is merely on a professional level.
It is all about instilling discipline in your people and you must be able to do this without resorting to drastic measures. Remember, you are an effective leader if your people continue to do as they are told despite your absence.
To your success,
Charlotte Howard
http://www.charlottehoward.ws
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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Are you tired of the old school network marketing techniques? You know the 3 foot rule, hanging flyers, bugging your family and friends, and holding hotel meetings.
I know that when I first joined my first network marketing company, I was told to use these same techniques. I was told to make a list of 100 people that I knew and basically call every one of them to ask and see if they would be interested in making some extra money.
I was only faced with questions I wasn’t able to answer, getting hung up on, and faced with nothing but rejection.
When I was officially shunned by everyone that I knew, all my upline told me to do was to go out and buy some opportunity leads.
This only led me to some more rejection and spending a bunch of money.
Now I was out of money, and had nothing to show for it.
Then just as I was going to give up, I found what I consider to be the “life saver” for my business.
This life saver I speak of was Mike Dillard’s 7 Day Free Video Boot Camp.
In these 7 free videos Mike explained how I could attract an endless stream of prospects to me ready to join and actually get paid to prospect.
These videos have really changed the way I do my business, and I think they can help you too.
You can get free instant access to these free videos here…
http://tothetop1.magneticsponsoringonline.com
(copy and paste the link into your browser)
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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Most, if not all, aspire to be promoted and eventually become leaders and managers of the company or business they are connected with. However, only few people get to realize that dream. Only a number have learned how to advance in their respective professions in order to be a leader.
If you want your dream of becoming a chief executive, managing director, or even president of your organization to become reality, read on and follow the tips below:
Set Goals
When we don’t know where we are going, we often use maps or Global Positioning Systems to guide us where we need to go. The same is true with our professional life. We need objectives and goals to help guide us to where we want to be in the future. If you don’t have goals and aspirations, you will just be content to float around and go wherever the wind takes you.
To help you visualize where you want to be in the next five or ten years, you have to make a personal mission statement. A mission statement is necessary in helping you focus on what and where you want to be in the next few years.
Never stagnate
Employees who have become so comfortable with what they are doing and earning are usually the ones who aren’t selected to become leaders. You need to develop and grow. In order for your superiors to notice you, you need to show that you are ready for change and take on new challenges.
You can develop your skills and personality through seminars and workshops. Be sure to sign up for personality development, time management and other courses that will help you improve the way you are doing your job. You should also try to master new skills that you think will be relevant in your target position in the future. For instance, you could enroll in an Advanced Microsoft Excel class to help you do your job well.
Be proactive
Leaders aren’t content with performing what is expected of them. If you want to advance in your profession, you have to be proactive and exceed the expectations of your superiors. No one will notice your work if your work is mediocre. However, if you go the extra mile and consistently excel in what you do, your bosses will start to notice you and will start to trust you with more challenging responsibilities.
To your success,
Charlotte Howard
http://www.charlottehoward.ws
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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One of the reasons why employees leave their work despite high compensation is the attitude of supervisors or managers. Instead of motivating and leading their teams to accomplish the groups’ goals, a lot of supervisors and managers are busy enforcing their power over their followers. Instead of helping their teammates to grow and achieve the objectives, such leaders are only bossing their subordinates around and are unwilling to share and pass their knowledge and skills to others. If you have supervisors and managers like this in your company or group, you will notice a high turnover of employees.
Kings, princes and even sultans can be born rulers. However, great leaders are developed and made. Nobody has a birthright to become a good leader. You have to understand that rulers aren’t necessarily great leaders. In order to become a great leader, you need to be a follower first.
Here are the three reasons why a leader should be a follower first:
A leader who came from the ranks usually knows and understands the plight of his or her underlings. You won’t only be able to empathize with your teammates, but you will also know the tricks under their sleeves. You will know when to show compassion and when to be strict. It is a known fact that employees or followers have tendencies to procrastinate, look for ways to make their jobs easier even if the quality isn’t good, and try to steal company resources, such as time and supplies. Thus, a leader who is familiar with the ins and outs of the company or group has a better advantage of taming his or her crew.
Leading by example
Many employees look up to supervisors and managers who know how to lead by example. If you want your subordinates to follow the rules of the organization or the company, you should be the first to follow such edicts or orders. For instance, bosses who are always tardy and absent can’t expect their subordinates to willingly arrive on time. On the other hand, if bosses go to work early, employees will have no reason to arrive late regularly.
Getting respect and awe
Many people believe that respect is earned. Thus, if you are a leader or the chief executive of a company, employees won’t necessarily respect you if you don’t give them any reason to do so. In order to gain respect, you need to be a humble leader. You need to accept your mistakes and graciously hear other people’s suggestions.
To your success,
Charlotte Howard
http://www.charlottehoward.info
Business Building Simplified,
Business Strategy
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