"Joan, I'm working so hard and I'm not getting anything done!" I have heard some version of this cry of frustration by many an entrepreneur. It's a common complaint voiced by those of use who sought the freedom to have complete authority over our schedules, only to find ourselves unwittingly shackled by old ways of operating. It does not appear to matter that we are independent professionals or business owners, we live in a world shaped by the...more
Steps and tips on marketing your business to the government.Fact: Federal, state and local governments buy over $450 billion combined in goods and services each year.Part of that can be yours if you know how to get it.Fact: Federal procurements under $25,000 never go through the bid/RFP process. The only way to earn these government procurements is to market your business wisely. You probably know there are huge opportunities for any business...more
Outsourcing has become a controversial issue and a hot topic among presidential candidates this year. But have you stopped to think how your business can benefit from the efficiency, functionality and cost savings of outsourcing? If you have, you might find that, like many others, you are already outsourcing-and enjoying its benefits.What is Outsourcing?Outsourcing simply means "contracting out" various functions of your business. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will be contracting out work to foreign countries because there are many American companies that provide outsourcing services i.e.. commercial printing services and cleaning services, among others.) The vendors who supply outsourced services may be self-employed contractors, consulting firms, temporary employee services or professional service firms. One common example of outsourcing is payroll processing. Other commonly outsourced functions that can be provided by professional services firms include: Succession planning Accounting and tax preparation Information technology (IT) Consulting (i.e. due diligence, business planning) Distribution services Pension management Manufacturing Assembly Staffing Grounds...more
There are four different ways that audience members assimilate information. They are: visual, auditory, auditory digital, and kinesthetic. While all members of the audience will process information utilizing all four of these approaches at different times, each audience member will individually will individually tend to rely on one of ...more
al debt load and ROI, whether the industry as a whole is in a slump, whether there are too many partner or legal problems, whether future demand will materialize and so on and so forth. While these questions are certainly relevant, the most important question that a small or medium-sized business owner should ask him/herself is: "How else can I...more
If you are already in business it is hardly likely that you will agree with my title. Aren't all businsesses different?When you think in broader terms, yes, of course you're right. I want you, however, to look , for the moment, only at the basics.All businesses are about turnover, profit margins and overheads. Basically that is all there is to it. All three must come together in perfect harmony for a business to succeed.No matter what the experts say, and no matter what anti spam filters are in place, running a business on the web is basically the same as running any other business.TurnoverIn any business, turnover comes from the numbers who buy the goods or services. With a small retailer, the numbers that walk past the shop. An accountant, the numbers that find him in the yellow page, or whatever.So despite the difficulties of modern internet marketing, we have to drive sufficent numbers past our premises. If less e-mails get through, you have to send more e-mails. To send more e-mails, you need to find more prospects and that means doing more advertising.Recently, I started a new campaign. I had no list; I started from scratch. Five days later my list numbered over 400. If I am...more
The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as the bachelor from the first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?"...more
If we want to fill our heads with the doom and gloom society seems to thrive on, all we need to do is turn on the local news at night. To make that quantum leap toward personal happiness and success in life, sometimes we just need to do what so...more
When I made the decision to do free workshops and book signings for my latest book, Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, I thought it would be easy to draw an audience. I had, after all, done all the right things to prepare for this big event: I...more
Okay Friends,It's time for a 'check up from the neck up'! It's time for an evaluation in each area of your life. Some of you may be saying 'I don't need one!' Well, you may be right. And you may not be. But you know what they say? The best time to go...more
Today's business environment isn't getting any easier, nor will it get easier anytime in the future. I'm not psychic but I have learned that business NEVER gets simpler. More competition, shrinking profit margins, increases in fixed and operating...more
There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was young and agile with many years of life to hunt the open ranch lands. In a nearby field, a mouse scurried about the ground. The hawk saw the hurried motion and swept speedily toward the rodent.Just...more