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5 TIPS for Home-Based Entrepreneurs

5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs
By [Perry Gage

5 TIPS for Home-Based Entrepreneurs

5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs
By [Perry Gage

Have you ever heard that only a small part (5%) of 'all'
Home-Based Business entrepreneurs achieve success?

Do an online research on your favorite Search Engine
and you will understand what I mean.

In this article I'm going to show you the KEY to Home-Based

Business entrepreneurs success; you'll find out what makes
an
entrepreneur succesful in the home-based business field.

Below are 5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs:

1. It's their mindset that brings success

Serious entrepreneurs have 'programmed' their mind to
succeed no matter what. They don't lack focus on their
home-based
business and let nobody stop their plans in achieving what
they want.

They know what they want and they have the DESIRE to
succeed. If you don't know exactly what you want when it
comes your
home-based business, think about it again and re-consider
your
plans, what you want to achieve, a get-rick-quick or a
profitable, long term business.

2. It's their start-up plan that brings success

Smart entrepreneurs know that it takes time to set-up and
grow a profitable home-based business. They plan to succeed.
They
have a start-up plan that might fail but they never give up
and
start again with a better plan.

Serious entrepreneurs know that it takes discipline and
time to build a strong and solid home-based business, which
delivers ongoing income through many years to come.

3. It's their initial RESEARCH that brings success

Smart and serious entrepreneurs know the importance
of market research. They know that in order, for a
home-based business to succeed, they have to research their
target market (their potential customers) and study their
competitors.

Research your target market and study your competitors
in order to have a long-term, profitable home-based
business.

Know what your customers want and give it to them.
Keep an eye on your competitors, study their offer(s)
and make sure you come up with a better deal than
them.

4. It's their marketing strategy that brings success

Study each successful entrepreneur in your marketing
field and you'll notice how they market online / offline.

Each of them have their own 'unique' marketing strategy
but they use the same basic principles.

Don't re-invent the wheel. Use the main marketing concepts
that are proven to work but try to improve and adjust them
to your own situation. Make them work for your home-based
business. Make your offer better and unique than your
competitiors if you want to WIN in this business, or simply
quit (I know that's no what you really want!)

5. It's their investment that brings success

Smart entrepreneurs know that the KEY is to work SMART, not
hard. If you don't have the required skills to develop a
NEW marketing tactic for your home-based business why not
hire a consultant who knows his stuff?

If you have 'enough' money why not invest in someone who
can help you grow your home-based business and give me
something to work at too?

What is more valuable to you, your time or your money?

A serious entrepreneur is ready to invest (both time and
money). He knows that he will build a long-term successful
business for him and the one he loves (friends, family,
children, etc.)

The final (or first?) STEP you need to take in order to
succeed
is to act (take ACTION!). Yes, put into practice what I have

told you above (the 5 TIPS for Home-Based Business
Entrepreneurs) and you'll succeed, no matter what. Trust
me!

STOP! Perry Gage publishes a NEW, Special *free* Ezine.
It comes loaded with an eclectic Collection of Tips and
Suggestions on Health, Finance, Goodies for you to Have
Fun & Profit. Sign-Up Now at :
http://www.Over50Resources.com

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5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs

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Six "F" Words Entrepreneur should know
updated 2011-08-05

Six "F" Words Entrepreneur should know

The Six "F" Words Every Entrepreneur Should
Know
By [Paul Furiga

Six "F" Words Entrepreneur should know

The Six "F" Words Every Entrepreneur Should
Know
By [Paul Furiga

Start your own business, and soon enough, you find yourself
in a situation
where there are many things you want to say, all of them
unprintable.

It happens to every entrepreneur - a moment of extreme
challenge that causes
you to wonder why you started the (expletive) business in
the first place. I've
had my share of those moments since starting our public
relations firm in
March 2002.

But while trading notes with a fellow entrepreneur recently,
I started to think
about all the moments of extreme challenge I left behind
when I decided I no
longer wanted to be somebody else's employee.

That got me thinking about what really matters to me as an
entrepreneur. As I
shared my thoughts with my friend, a new list developed -
the "F" words I
believe every entrepreneur should know. They've done the
job for me so far,
keeping me rooted, married and talking to my kids while we
build a successful
business. I hope they have the same effect for you.

1. Faith: I'm not a street corner preacher, but I have a
deep and abiding faith
that starting my business is what I was meant to do in life.
I also have a strong
faith that I've been given the tools to do the job - even
in a moment of extreme
challenge. Without faith in yourself, in your business and
in your purpose, how
can you succeed as an entrepreneur?

2. Family: My wife and daughters are the most important
people in my life.
Starting my business has enabled me to put them at the
center of my life,
where they belong. Oh yes, I work long and hard, but today,
it's with a clear
purpose. The generations of entrepreneurs who built this
country understood
this principle. Their businesses often bore the family name,
and generations of
people who were born, lived and died together managed to
build great
businesses together.

3. Friends: Fortune 500 companies have boards of directors.
Entrepreneurs
have friends. When no one else will listen, friends will.
When others fail to see
the beauty of the product or solution, friends will. And
when no one else will
talk straight to you about a dumb business move, friends
will. And they won't
send you a bill.

4. Focus: It's nice to say you're an entrepreneur, that
you are your own boss.
But do you have the commitment to turn that idea into true
success? The
ultimate measure is your ability not only to set a goal, but
stick with it, despite
those moments of extreme challenge. You may have to change
course along
the way, but like a good sailor, you focus, keeping your
business pointed to the
right shore.

5. Finances: Let's face it - most of us strike out as
entrepreneurs because we
believe we can improve our financial situation. I know I
have not missed the
constraining limits and miniscule salary increases of
corporate America. How
much do I want to make this year? There is only one answer:
How hard am I
willing to work? And there is only one reason to ask that
question: to make
good on my commitment to all the "F" words that
rank ahead of money on my
list.

6. Freedom: This may be the greatest gift of
entrepreneurship. But it is the one
that comes only after you can act on all the other
"F" words in your
entrepreneurial vocabulary. So many entrepreneurs strike out
to find success,
which they define as freedom from all the things they hated
about working for
someone else. Unfortunately for these folks, they lack a
true entrepreneurial
vision - they're merely running away from something. True
entrepreneurial
freedom comes from a vision that encompasses what's really
important to you.

Are these the only "F" words an entrepreneur
needs to know? Obviously not.
But in moments of extreme challenge, remembering these
"F" words may help
you weather a moment of extreme challenge without resorting
to the
unprintable variety. And if you're like me, they may also
help you remember
why you started the business in the first place.

Paul Furiga is president of WordWrite Communications LLC, a
Pittsburgh-based public relations agency that harnesses the
timeless power of storytelling to share its clients' great
untold stories. He is the former editor of the Pittsburgh
Business Times, and has also covered Congress, the White
House, edited magazines and written for
publications ranging from Congressional Quarterly to
Frequent Flyer magazine.

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The Six "F" Words Every Entrepreneur Should Know

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Compensating Your Entrepreneurial Style
updated 2011-08-05

Compensating Your Entrepreneurial Style

Compensating for Your Entrepreneurial Style-or Lack of
Style
By [Glenn Beach

Compensating Your Entrepreneurial Style

Compensating for Your Entrepreneurial Style-or Lack of
Style
By [Glenn Beach

I recently took an entrepreneurial quiz which evaluated my
answers and informed me I would do best as a hired hand! So
why am I a successful home business owner? Because I've
learned to fill the holes in my entrepreneurial style, and
compensate for my deficiencies.

Let's start with a list of qualities that might benefit
someone working for him/herself:

1. Ability to see the big picture and plan accordingly;.

2. Self-discipline;

3. Ability to use time wisely;

4. At minimum, a moderate drive to achieve;

5. Adaptability;

6. Autonomy;

7. Decisiveness;

8. A feeling of control over your own destiny;

9. Having (energy) drive and enterprise;

10. Motivation to grow;

11. Sense of intuition;

12. Ability to spot opportunities;

13. Perseverance;

14. Problem-solving abilities;

15. Risk-tolerance;

16. Self-confidence;

17. Social skills.

As an example, let's look at John Doe. John has an
excellent nose for a good opportunity; he drives his wife
crazy with always turning everything into a new business
idea. He's not afraid to make a decision and take the risk.
He has a huge drive to achieve; he wants to be rich! John is
confident that he can accomplish everything he sets out to
do.

Then the reality of the rest of John sets in. He's not real
good in the follow-through; as a matter of fact, he starts
one business only to come up with another, and yet another,
idea over and over. He writes up proposal after proposal,
and always stumbles over the concrete details, such as
turning goals and visions into action plans, and projecting
budgets. He starts and stops, never stopping long enough to
evaluate and plan ahead for the success of the next
venture.

John could benefit from postponing his next decision until
he hones his problem-solving skills a bit. He needs to
understand where he's gone wrong and plan for success the
next time. John also could put his vision for his work and
his life down on paper, and learn to use this vision to help
choose opportunities that are in sync with his financial and
career goals.

John is confusing working hard with getting ahead. He needs
to continually evaluate the tasks he is engaged in to
determine if he is, indeed, using his time wisely.

And lastly, John would learn a lot from finding a business
opportunity that would combine teamwork, successful
strategies and skill building to encourage him to apply his
abundant perseverance to ONE business until he succeeds.

John can look at this list and see how one strength could
compensate for another weakness. If he wasn't very
decisive, he could be spared many a bad quick decision, and
strong problem solving skills could bring an eventual
understanding of the right path for HIM. What he lacked in
self-confidence could be made up for with social skills that
enabled him to work well with a mentor or a knowledgeable
team. Lack of enterprise or drive could mean he isn't cut
out for over-the-counter or door-to-door retail sales. But
he might shine in the backroom day-in-day-out details of
getting a job done, or in website-based business.

Oh yeah...and John could also listen to his wife, and just
give it all a rest at least one day a week...

About the author:
Glenn Beach is a poet, writer and home business entrepreneur
in Nova Scotia, Canada. Free newsletter, more articles, and
business start-up info at: <a target="_new"
href="http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com/">http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com</A>

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Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs
updated 2011-08-05

Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs

Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs
By
[Gene
Griessman, Ph.D.

Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs

Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs
By
[Gene
Griessman, Ph.D.

Entrepreneurs are a special breed of high achievers. They
create things, get things started: businesses, clubs,
churches, associations, even nations. Their motivations
vary. Not all want to be rich. Not all want to produce a
Fortune 500 company. Some are motivated by pleasure or civic
pride or the desire for fame. Mary Madden, president of
Information America, told me she and Burton Goldstein
started their company because it gave them freedom and
flexibility.

Entrepreneurs see a world that is incomplete. It probably
does not yet have what they intend to create. If it does, it
needs something else they just thought of.

They differ markedly from one another. But there are
similarities. One of the most prominent similarities is the
ability to perceive clearly. The ability to perceive clearly
is important to many high achievers, but essential for the
entrepreneur. Here is what the entrepreneur perceives:

Voids. A college student, Frederick Wallace Smith, conceived
of a dependable overnight delivery system for letters and
small packages. It would require a vast network of planes,
trucks, messengers and electronics that did not then exist.
That perception led to Federal Express.

Defects. A cartoonist perceived that most amusement parks of
his day were shabby and boring. Why not create something
that was improved - a theme part that was sparkling clean
and exciting? That perception led to Disneyland.

Opportune time. Ted Turner was watching Home Box Office one
evening and realized that time had come for his small
Atlanta-based station to go on satellite too. That
perception led to the SuperStation and later to CNN.

Syntheses. Parker H. Petit, CEO of Healthdyne, say his
success as an entrepreneur comes from his ability to
synthesize data. Petit believes he "can look at a set
of circumstances, the market, a product or whatever and see
order and opportunities in those variables that other people
seem to see and just don't piece together."

Continuing education. When Burton B. Goldstein, chairman of
Information America started the company, one of his board
members told him: "If you are still in business three
years from now, you'll be in a different business."
Goldstein says that observation has turned out to be true.
"You have to be comfortable with the fact that you are
on a road, a learning curve and you are going to learn stuff
and you are going to change."

Continuing education is really is an extension of the
process that brought about the entrepreneurial venture in
the first place. That first vision may be 20/20, but it is
more likely that the first vision is only a rough
approximation or the "shape of the answer," as
author Horace Freeland Judson puts it.

Continuing education is essential because of changing
technology. A group of managers recently told me that the
technological competence of the average college graduate
today will be obsolete within three years or less. What they
said is true in most fields because of the pervasive impact
of the information revolution. If you don't keep on
learning, somebody else will, and put you out of business.

Continuing education is essential because the target
audience is changing. No creative activity is more
audience-driven than entrepreneurship. If people do not buy
the new product or patronize the new store or join the new
organization, the venture dies. The target may be a moving
one or a fickle one. Tastes may change. People may move
physically. So, the entrepreneur must keep on learning about
the target audience.

Still another similarity: the ability to do mundane tasks
well.

What separates entrepreneurial activity from other creative
acts is its emphasis on the practical. Entrepreneurial
activity is a creative act, and, as such, is cerebral. It
may even grow out of pure research. But entrepreneurs must
do the thousand-and-one tasks involved in transforming an
insight into something tangible.

Xavier Roberts of Cabbage Patch fame told me that people
continually approach him with ideas they believe will make a
fortune. "I don't need more ideas," he said.
"I need people who can implement ideas." He
knows from experience, Roberts was selling his loveably ugly
little creatures at flea markets and financing his business
on credit cards long before the idea became a national
craze.

"Think small," an entrepreneur by the name of
Fred P. Burke once told me, "Many people who have
these grand visions never can take their eyes from the sky
and put them down to the little-bitty takes that have to be
done right here, right now, this minute."

Gene Griessman, PhD, is an Atlanta-based author, workshop
leader and speaker. His books include Time Tactics of Very
Successful People and The Words Lincoln Lived By: 52
Timeless Principles to Light Your Path. To learn more about
Dr. Griessman's products and speaking engagements, visit
him online at
[http://www.presidentlincoln.com]www.presidentlincoln.com.

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Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs

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Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur
updated 2011-08-05

Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur

Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur
By
[Sue
And Chuck DeFiore

Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur

Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur
By
[Sue
And Chuck DeFiore

Want to know why certain people succeed and others don't.
Well successful people have certain traits? Do you have
them?
Business has changed a great deal over the years. We now
have computers, the internet and because of the internet -
web pages, email and everything else that comes with it.
Our telephone system has changed dramatically with the
advent of cell phones and  voice mail. However, even with
all the technological advancements the traits that make a
person successful in business can be traced way back when to
our grandfather's day. So before you decide you want to go
into business for yourself, check and see if these traits
are part of your make up.
Are you a person who sets goals? Most successful people have
always set goals. They started at a very early age. They
might have set the goal to be the best in a certain sport,
or in a specific subject in school. Or if they wanted
something, and knew that their parents couldn't afford it,
or wouldn't spend the money for something, they earned the
money themselves. They did this by setting up the lemonade
stand, mowing lawns for neighbors, or delivering newspapers.

This is the same person, who as they got older, developed
other goals and worked for them. Maybe they haven't reached
all of their goals, but they have always known what they
wanted out of life. They have a vision for their future and
they never lose sight of it. They keep revising and setting
new goals for themselves. It is incomprehensible to them
that everyone doesn't do the same. They wonder how other
people can live without striving for certain things.
The next trait is that the successful entrepreneur knows
their strengths and weaknesses. They also face up to their
fears. This means that they don't let their egos get in the
way. They know when they need to learn new skills or take
other steps to make their business or themselves better. Due
to the technological advances over the years, the skills and
steps they need to take might be different; but the attitude
has not. So do you have the attitude of a successful
business person. To have this attitude you must realize that
you are never done with the learning process, and you have
to welcome any chance to improve your skills and knowledge.
Another trait is that they are always looking for
opportunities. They could be in business or just getting
started. In either case they know there are opportunities
out there waiting for them. They also know that they need to
find the opportunity that will work for them. Even those
already running a business, are still open to possibilities.

Successful people will see opportunities other people miss.
They also look at things objectively and ask the following
questions: 1. Is this really as good as it sounds? 2. Is
this something I really want to be doing? 3. Do I have the
required skills or can I develop them? 4.Will this help me
to reach the financial goals I have set for myself? 4. What
impact will this have on my family?
A particularly important trait of the successful person is
they will grab at an opportunity and take advantage of it,
however they do not act impulsively. They take advantage of
opportunities that come their way because they don't want
to be a shoulda, coulda, woulda type person. They don't
want to look back later in life and say I wish I had.
The next trait successful people have is that they like to
know where they stand. They know their own business inside
and out. However, they also know about their competition.
They also know how well their own business measures up. And
since they set goals they know exactly where they are in
regards to reaching the financial goals they have set for
themselves.
Successful people know how to handle budgets and finances.
This is a very important trait. They are very cognizant of
all phases of their finances. How much they owe, how much
they have borrowed, interest rates, and anything else that
can effect them. They always save for a rainy day. They are
very much aware that they need to spend money to make money,
and will put off expenditures for themselves (house, car,
vacation) until they can afford it.
Another trait that successful people have in common is that
they also don't settle for second best.  They like things
done in a certain manner. They have standards that must be
met for themselves and their product. If they work with an
outside company and that company sends them something that
is not up to their standards, they will return it. They look
for the best products and the best workmanship in the price
category they are working within. They would never put out a
half hearted effort for a customer. If they realize they
haven't done a good job or haven't done it right, they
will do it again or set things right with the customer. This
is why their customers are loyal to them and want to
continue to do business with them again and again. Remember
repeat business is why you are in business. If you don't
make a good impression the first time, you won't get a
second chance.
The successful entrepreneur has fun doing what they do.
While they might not enjoy every aspect of their business,
they enjoy the work that they do. One common theme you will
find among them is that they enjoy it because its theirs,
and they know they are building something for the future.
They also don't mind putting in long hours because they
know that this time is necessary in order for them to move
forward. The owner wears many hats: sales calls,
bookkeeping, and making sure that customers are satisfied
and happy with their product and/or service. They also need
to set up appointments, meet deadlines. However, they also
know when playtime is over and it's time to get down to
business.
Another trait they all have in common is they get help when
they need it. They will contact other professionals when
warranted. They would rather be safe than sorry. They
realize they are not experts in everything. They also
realize at some point in their business that they can't do
it all, and that they have to delegate responsibility to
either an outside source, independent contractor, or that
they might have to hire an employee.
So, do you have the traits to become a successful
entrepreneur?
Copyright 2003 DeFiore Enterprises

Interested in having your own successful, home based
creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have
been helping folks start successful home based businesses
for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how,
visit <a target="_new"
href="http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com/">http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com</A>
for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products
and coaching in creative real estate investing and home
based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to
our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest,
it's like having your own personal coach: <a
href="mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com">mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com</A>

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What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?
updated 2011-08-05

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?
By [Julia Tang

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?
By [Julia Tang

It is only natural that when you start a business, you are
doing something different than most people. They not only
will look at you because you stick out like a sore thumb _
but human nature will cause people to naturally ridicule
what you are doing. They will tell you all types of things
like: "You're not business material."
"You can't make a  living working for
yourself." "You'll fail because nobody  can
ever make any money that way."
Entrepreneurship is not just about having a lot of ideas  or
business sense. It is also about having a lot of guts. You
have to build self-confidence in yourself. You have to  only
be concerned with pleasing yourself and your Creator  (God)
_ not mankind. Then, when (and if) you should fail  with
this particular venture, you'll just dust yourself  off and
start again. It doesn't matter if people
"think"  you're nuts!  They aren't paying your
rent and running  your life. Don't be concerned with what
people "think" you  should be. Just please
yourself and do what you feel  is right. People are too busy
competing with society and  "keeping up with the
Jones's" that they do things they are  not
comfortable with just to appease them and look
"normal" (whatever that is.)
And if you have to start out small in building your
self-confidence. I used to be so self-conscious that I
would never eat at a restaurant alone because I thought
people would believe I was lonely and had no friends.
Unbelievable, but true. But, everyday I worked on walking
into a restaurant, taking a magazine to read and eating
alone. I would glance around, and to my amazement, no one
ever looked at me. No one cared that I was eating alone.
Then _ it dawned on me; "Who cares what these people
think? I'll never see them again." Besides, there
were a  lot of other people eating alone also and I could
absorb  myself in the magazine I had took to read. Now, I
can eat  in restaurants and not give any thought to the
people  around me.
But back to business _ when most people do fail in  business
they try to "save face" by telling everyone they
are "just in a slump" and everything will be
back to  normal soon. Besides, they don't want people to
say: "I  told you so" and destroy any pride they
are still hanging  onto. Unfortunately, this only delays the
problem and  creates even more false hope for the people in
your life  as well as yourself.
The best thing to do for anybody in this catastrophe is to
swallow their pride and admit they screwed up. Just face  it
head on! Admit that you were so proud of your
accomplishments that your mind became diluted with
"visions of sugar plums and fantasyland."
If your small business is beyond repair, go out and find a
job and begin working on your next small business in the
near future. Keep your family fed and your financial
obligations met but look forward to the day when you WILL
succeed with your new business venture.
And why should you try again? Simply because you won't
make the same mistakes you made this time. If you built
something successful before (but failed), you are certain
to build the next business stronger and wiser. Even if you
fail the second time, it won't be because of mistakes you
made the first time. You'll learn more and more _ and
eventually be successful. It's inevitable!
With Internet's help, you can get a lot of ideas by
searching from google.com and overture.com, yahoo.com. In
today's information world, you are in a much better
position to be successful if you really want to succeed.

---------------------------------------------------------
Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business
opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet

marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: <a target="_new"
href="http://www.best-internet-businesses.com">http://www.best-internet-businesses.com</A>
----------------------------------------------------------

Note: Feel free to publish it with the resource box and
content unchanged

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Raising Entrepreneurs: your kids
updated 2011-08-05

Raising Entrepreneurs: your kids

Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to
Think Differently
By [Sam Rosen

Raising Entrepreneurs: your kids

Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to
Think Differently
By [Sam Rosen

Adolescence brings with it many challenges - for both
parents and kids. Young people, still new to the world, are
embarking on a journey to discover their passions, joys, and
authentic self-images. More often than not, however, their
journey more closely resembles an elongated stampede of
enraged elephants than it does an innocent soul-searching
endeavor. But no one said growing up would be easy.

And there are young entrepreneurs out there who see the
world in a truly positive light. Sure, they have their ups
and downs like most teenagers, but they are motivated,
focused, and want to make a difference.

Who are these kids? How were they raised? What do they have
in common with one another? At the risk of making some
sweeping generalizations, I will paint the picture of the
young, confident entrepreneur - with the knowledge that this
over-idealized portrait often comes in many colors and
hues.

While entrepreneurship was never common in my family, many
young entrepreneurs had experiences early on in life that
lead them towards an entrepreneurial path. In general, there
are two possible ways young people feel compelled towards
entrepreneurship: inspiration and avoidance. Both can act as
powerful catalysts for taking action.

In the case of inspired action, the young entrepreneur most
likely grew up in an environment where individuality,
responsibility, and financial literacy were encouraged. Even
if the parent made little money to support his or her child,
the underlying message often centered around taking
initiative and following one's own path.

On the other hand, in the instances where avoidance is the
primary motivator, the child usually wants to avoid becoming
like their primary caregiver, who was most likely a negative
influence. Friends of mind who have exhibited this type of
motivation often have a very strong drive to succeed, yet,
in part, base their motivation on what they don't want to
become - and must overcome even greater adversity in life.

In order to facilitate the spirit of entrepreneurship in
your family, there are many steps you can take. While these
steps are particularly geared towards entrepreneurship, they
apply toward creating any harmonious relationship between
parent and child:

-Teach your child in creative, 'outside-the-box' ways. In
a recent article with 19 year-old CEO Cameron Johnson, he
told a story about how his parents gave him stocks -
literally, shares in a company - in his stockings for
Christmas. There are many ways you can teach your child
about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and
individuality.

-Make self-awareness and wealth consciousness the highest
priorities. This entails a significant amount of
soul-searching. And while many adults are adverse to the
concept of change, often letting go of fear and facing your
demons can be the most inspirational model for your child. I
have a friend who, after years of living in a fear-based
reality, she learned to let go and allow herself to forgive
and love others. She has never enjoyed better relationships
with her children.

-If your kid acts up, stand in your truth. Don't beat
around the bush or overreact. Of course, you want to be
sensitive to your child's feelings and come from a place of
authentic compassion. But when it comes down to it, tell it
like it is - they'll appreciate it in the end.

-Give your child ample opportunity to discover independence
for him or herself. It's critically important that your
child learns the process of creating one's own experience
of reality from a first-hand perspective. Sometimes this
requires being more firm or lenient than one would like. Yet
remember that you grew through making mistakes, and so will
your child.

If you see your child exhibiting entrepreneurial behaviors,
make sure you show your support throughout his or her growth
process. And if your kid is struggling to find motivation,
don't worry - as long as you follow the guidelines above,
you will instill the characteristics of greatness and, in
due time, inspire the leader within.

Sam Rosen is a full-time college student at the University
of Pennsylvania, entrepreneur, and author of the Succeed
Young Total Success System, available at
[mailto:sam@succeedyoung.com]sam@succeedyoung.com
[http://www.succeedyoung.comwww.succeedyoung.com>[http://www.succeedyoung.com</a>].
He founded Succeed Young Enterprises with the goal of
empowering young entrepreneurs to get a head start in life
and master the principles of success. To contact Sam, email
him at <a href=].

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Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to
Think Differently

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10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves
not yet updated

10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves

10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot
By
[Catherine
Franz

10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves

10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot
By
[Catherine
Franz

Entrepreneurs and their businesses have a tendency to
ambush
themselves when they aren't looking.  This affects how
much
revenue they can generate, how fast their business rises,
and even if they survive after the first few years.  If you
feel there is a possibility you are getting in your way to
success, review these elements to see if any of these items
might apply.

1.  Imagine investing time and money into a product or
services, only to find that it isn't selling.  Or at least
it doesn't have the results that you expected.  Now, I'm
talking realistic here, and not some grandiose vision.
It's
hard to give up something when you have invested your
resources into something, more importantly, you have spout
off to the world (okay, friends and family) that you were
doing it.

Gluing yourself to an idea, product, or service that isn't
making any money or enough money to support the business
isn't smart.  Ego and pride don't make money. Getting
hitched to any one idea, or even two, that isn't
profitable
isn't smart.  Every product climbs and falls -- even
McDonalds drops a product when it doesn't test strong.
Ideas
are the currency of entrepreneurs, make money with them or
let them go.

2.  Be proud of being an entrepreneur.  DFor some reason,
the title entrepreneur seems to have caught a disease, but
that shouldn't be the case. Be proud of being an
entrepreneur. when someone asks you, don't mumble, and
don't
call it by another name, as if being an entrepreneur was
somehow unprofessional. The same applies to the title of
independent professional -- which is another name for
entrepreneur. Stand tall and proud.

When I ask people at networking events if they're an
entrepreneur, they often respond with strange body
language.
Some shift their stance uncomfortably, sometimes their hand
goes over their mouth and they let out a barely audible,
"yes," and sometimes they even correct me, using
some other
title.

3.  No bologna (or b.s.).  Entrepreneurs can be naturally
excited and optimistic about what they are doing.  Don't
let
the excitement sound like hype.  Because of this people
don't trust you.  Don't just tell the pros, add the cons.
Let people know, who is the best person for this service -
not everyone, or what circumstances are best for the
product.  People aren't stupid but if they have to figure
the cons of the product or service, you will most likely
lose the sale.

4.  Being in denial of your cash position.  Not balancing
the checkbook, not knowing what your accounts receivables,
payables, or what the break even cost is for a product or
service, isn't smart business.  If you don't know what it
is, get a book on the topic or talk to an accountant.
Denial creates fear, and fear creates denial.  It's a
vicious circle that creates stress and ulcers.  Short term
projects turn around short term dollars.  Long term
projects
never turn around short term dollars.  Be realistic with
all
your resources.

5.  Accepting weak any bodies.  Whether its weak staff,
weak
clients, weak strategic alliances, or anyone else in your
support realm.  If you are attracting weak people, you are
giving weak signals.  Change your signals and you will
change what you attract. To attract strong people, you need
strong signals.

6.  Confusing possibility with reality.  One of the main
characteristics of an entrepreneur, and this could be one
of
the reasons people may not like using the name, is their
gift to see everything in possibilities, yet spend money in
the world of reality.  Money is always reality.

7.  Selling or trying too hard to explain what you sell.
If
you find yourself pushing what you're product or service
does, it is time to change your "success
formula."  Common
causes are:  (1) You are trying to sell to someone who
isn't
your target, or (2) If you have the right target and you
don't know what you are selling.  You can only handle this
in two ways, know what the customers are buying, or know
the
benefits of what you are selling.  Benefits in the terms
customers need to hear and understand, not what you choose
to say.

8.  Lack of any or adequate support structures.  If it
takes
a village to raise a child, what do you think it takes to
raise a business.  Surely, not a lone ranger.  Work with
others to help handle your many business and personal
needs.
Entrepreneurs need support, even if it's only a feeling.
Arrange to have a support structure for every part of your
business.  Keep in mind tip number five above for this as
well.

9.  Over or under delegating.  It is so hard for
entrepreneurs to begin to delegate.  Yet once they do they
seem to swing the pendulum completely to the opposite side
and over delegate.  Over delegating is "dumping"
on people.
Even paid people, don't like being dumped on.  Feeling in
control is a need of most people, entrepreneurs aren't any
different.  They look at it as a money or trust issue, when
in actuality it's usually a control issue.  Delegate
appropriately and with people that think you can trust.
Let
the trust build over time.

10.  Stop giving up so easily.  Successful entrepreneurs
don't see failure.  They see learning lessons.  They pick
themselves up, dust themselves off, change and adjust, and
keep moving.  Being an entrepreneur, during the early years
of a business -- that is under five years for most
professionals, takes more work than being an employee.
Even
if you are a graduate with an MBA in business.  Don't
include your learning curve time in with the rest of your
time.  Everyone has a learning curve of some kind.

Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing &
Writing Coach, specializes in product development,
Internet
writing and marketing, nonfiction, training.  Newsletters
and
articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

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10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot

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Make Money Selling Global Brands
not yet updated

Make Money Selling Global Brands

How Entrepreneurs Make Money Selling Global Brands On and
Off-line
By [Thales
Panagides

Did you know that thousands of companies from all over the
world are looking for enthusiastic individuals to represent
their products overseas?  That person can be you.  From
Chinese toys to Brazilian bikinis people are making money
reselling all kinds of products for a profit.

Don't fret if you're new to the Internet!  Thousands of
"ordinary people" leverage the Internet to sell
global brands on and off-line.  I say ordinary people as a
reference to the rest of us, those who log online simply to
read email, check the latest headlines, and to look
something up on Google.  Does this describe you?  If so, you
can literally start earning money representing firms from
all over the world who are eager to establish contact with
motivated entrepreneurs.

Having lived and worked in three continents, I can assure
you that there are thousands of great companies with awesome
products or services anxious to promote their goods
overseas.  Don't be intimidated if you think you don't fit
their professional profile.  You probably do and proof of
that is my remarkable experience with successful
representatives reselling Brazilian Bikinis.

--Case Study--

I often receive phone calls and emails from men and women
all over the world wanting to know more about importing and
reselling Brazilian bikinis. We get requests from students,
single moms, shop owners, and entrepreneurs who work
full-time but would like to make some extra money on the
side.

--Getting Started:  From Concept to Execution.--

Selling international brands is easier than you think! To
help you better understand the process we've compiled a
list of commonly asked questions that have empowered
representatives to take the plunge and become successful
international sales representatives.  We list 10 questions
you should ask your potential supplier but this shouldn't
prevent you from requesting more information.

--10 Questions to ask your Supplier--

1. Can I trust doing business with you in Brazil or a
country I can't even pronounce?

2. I'm worried about buying online. How do I pay for the
goods?

3. Okay, now that I'm convinced that you're a reputable
supplier of premium brands, what's the next step?

4. Which samples should I order? How do I pay for them and
how much does it cost?

5. I find your prices higher than others.

6. What about import duty?

7. How much should I price your product in the market?

8. The samples arrived and they are absolutely gorgeous!
What next?

9. The reaction has been positive. Friends and others want
to buy. What next?

10. Are you flexible with payment terms?

Note: Answers to these and other questions can be found on
our site.

Armed with answers to these and other questions you're now
well on your way to making money selling global brands on
and off-line.  Remember, the Internet serves as a powerful
tool, as a means to reach your objectives.  It should be
used in conjunction with offline sales efforts in your
respective markets.  If ordinary people with little online
experience can do it you can also.

Thales Panagides has an MBA in Entrepreneurship.  Thales has
12 years of international sales experience having
represented firms in Europe, the United States, and South
America.  He's the founder of
[http://www.brazilian-bikinis.net/]http://www.brazilian-bikinis.net/,
a website that encourages individuals to embark on the
entrepreneurial route by representing Brazilian brands, such
as bikinis and lingerie, on and off-line.

Article Source:
[
How Entrepreneurs Make Money Selling Global Brands On and
Off-line

Make Money Selling Global Brands

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Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team
not yet updated

Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team

Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team
By [Helaine
Iris

Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team

Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team
By [Helaine
Iris

I hear it all the time. "What should I do about . .
.?" As a business owner you're faced with the
daunting task of making all the decisions that affect your
business. Should I remain a sole proprietor, become an LLC
or is an S Corp better? Should I start using an electronic
PDA or stick with my trusty, but out-dated, Day Runner? In
what direction should I take my marketing? Is the color
right on this logo? PC or Mac? Paper or plastic? Aargh! Big
decisions. Little decisions. It can be overwhelming,
especially when you consider how each decision has a bearing
on the success of your business.

It can be difficult to make decisions for a number of
reasons. Sometimes it's a matter of not having enough
information. Other times, it's simply a lack of confidence.
If you're a very small business or solopreneur, chances are
you work alone most of the time. The upside to your solitary
confinement is two fold. First, you hold all the power and
control to make the business your own. Second, the success
or failure of your dream is squarely in your hands.
Paradoxically, the fact that it's just you calling the
shots is also the dreaded downside of the micropreneur
lifestyle.

Agonizing over decisions or constantly second-guessing
yourself is a tremendous waste of energy. Energy you
probably can't afford to spare. How do you know when
you've spent too long on a decision? It's hard to say
exactly, but if you catch yourself ruminating over you
options longer than a couple of days, be suspicious. Or, if
it's 2:00 a.m., and you're wide awake questioning a course
of action, there's a good chance you may be temporarily -
if not permanently - decision-impaired.

When I occasionally find myself in just such a
non-productive loop, I'm grateful when I finally remember
to ask for help. After a diligent, but debilitating drag
through decision darkness, getting someone else's input is
the radiant ray of sunlight that nurtures my soul. My world
brightens. My heart lightens. And I realize the light at the
end of the self-employment tunnel is not a freight train
about to make mince-meat of my professional future, but
instead, is a friendly, familiar, fellow professional
wielding a torch to help guide me home.

It's also in those moments that I congratulate myself for
having had the wherewithal and initiative to create an
entrepreneur dream team for myself. This is my personal and
professional circle of friends, colleagues, cohorts and
fellow entrepreneurs who's advice, support and opinions are
just a mere phone call, email message or short drive away.

Take my advice here. Create your own entrepreneur dream
team. Would you rather have a well-known and trusted advisor
at your fingertips or thumb through the yellow pages and
pick someone you've never met and know nothing about.

Building your dream team is easy. It's simply a collection
of people you know and trust. To get started, make a list of
the professional services you've needed in the past or
anticipate needing in the course of doing business. For
example, a lawyer and accountant are staple members of your
team.

Next, think about all the possible people you'd trust to
help you solve a problem. Not only do you want these people
to care about you and your success, but you also want people
who can be objective and act as a sounding board when you
request it. Think about different people for different
categories of problems. For example, someone who's good
with personal issues might be different than someone who's
good at helping you process systems questions.

Once you've made a list of your potential dream team
members, contact each individual, and ask them to be a
member of your team. For the professional candidates, such
as lawyers or accountants, make an appointment for an
initial consultation. Introduce yourself, and establish the
relationship so when you need to access their services
you'll both be up to speed and ready to engage.

For the non-professional people on your list, invite them to
participate on your team as an advisor. Let them know what
type of support you may be needing from them, and if
they're willing to participate, find out the best way to
access them when needed. Should you just phone them, email
them, drop by their home or meet at the local coffee shop?
Bring intention to the relationship, and set boundaries to
support the success of the alliance. In my experience,
people like to be asked for support, guidance and opinions.
It feels good to know someone trusts and respects you enough
to ask for help.

Finally, when you've chosen your team members and they've
agreed to participate, compile a list with everyone's
contact information, and post it where it's easily
accessible. Make it easy to use your team. Let it pull you
forward out of solopreneur solitude and into the bright,
beautiful world of human connection and synergistic success.
It sure beats losing sleep.

It's YOUR life...live it completely!

Helaine is a professional coach. She helps entrepreneurs and
professional women accelerate their professional success,
while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal
life. For a free consultation, call 603-357-8546. Visit her
website,
[http://www.pathofpurpose.com]http://www.pathofpurpose.com,
or email
[mailto:helaine@pathofpurpose.com]helaine@pathofpurpose.com.

Article Source:
[
Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team

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Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans
not yet updated

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans
By [Jan B. King

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans
By [Jan B. King

Lenders and investors may see hundreds of business plans in
a single day. Make your business plan stand out against the
rest, and avoid these common mistakes.

1. Not proving that you have the management expertise to
make it happen. The quality of your people will lend
credibility to your ideas and even to your financial
projections. If your management team is not as strong as it
could be, join forces with a great board of advisors.

2. Not demonstrating where your revenue will come from -
what customers pay you and why they pay you. Don't be too
aggressive in setting revenue projections or you will
undermine your credibility.

3. Not proving that your business model and long term cost
structure is good enough to make a real profit. How will
your business make money - what is your margin structure,
what are your costs?

4. Not being clear enough in your product description to
allow the reader to quickly see the need and the niche for
this product. It may seem obvious to you, but not so to the
reader not educated in your business.

5. Not proving that the market opportunity is big enough to
get interested in. How big is your market now and what will
it look like in 5 years?

6. Not adequately acknowledging your competition. Investors
know that if there is no perceived competition, there may be
no market for what you are offering. The better you can
describe your competition, the better you understand your
market, and the more likely you will dominate it.

7. Not writing for the target audience. Although the core is
the same, the plan should be written for the perspective of
banks, equity investors, and others. Go as far as you can to
tailor each plan to the audience's specific interests to
show you've done your homework and know to whom you are
talking.

8. Starting with a boring, unenthusiastic executive summary.
This is the first section to be read, and if it isn't
exciting the rest may never be seen. Make it fun and be
enthusiastic. It should stand alone and generate interest
for more. It deserves all the thought you would put into a
professionally done promotional piece for your customers.

9. Poor presentation. If you have typos and grammatical
errors in your business plan, the reader will assume the
work you do in your business is sloppy too.

10. Saying too much. Keep the entire plan to a maximum of 30
pages, with an executive summary of 3 pages or less. If
investors are interested, they will ask for any other
information they need. Amateurs talk in the business plan
about unimportant details because they don't know what they
should say and what they shouldn't. Hire a professional
editor to reduce the page count and help you emphasize your
strengths.

About The Author

Jan B. King is the former President & CEO of Merritt
Publishing, a top 50 woman-owned and run business in Los
Angeles and the author of Business Plans to Game Plans: A
Practical System for Turning Strategies into Action (John
Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition). She is a publishing
strategist who helps aspiring authors create marketable
books and get them published in ways that benefit the
author. See http://www.janbking.com for more information.

[mailto:jan@janbking.com]jan@janbking.com

Article Source:
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Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans

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