Friday, 28 November 2014
Conquering Fear To Start Your Own Business ...
In just 3 minutes, marketing expert Seth Godin explains why we are programmed to fear failure ... and that the only person stopping you from starting your own business is YOU ...
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Selling Is About Human Connection ...
The thing I found the most interesting about his approach to getting more business, was that it focused much more on getting 'out there', nurturing relationships, interacting with people face to face, putting energy into actively marketing your business offline, as well as online.
He talked a lot about your energy representing you and that is it your energy and your passion that people will buy in to. He said "selling is about human connection". You don't always get that online !
He also said that if you want your business to grow more, you've got to make room for it ...
It is important to be laser focused and to say no to things that are not the best use of your time. Delegate jobs that you don't need to do, or are not your strengths or just drain you.
And invest time in your existing clients - that is where most of your referrals will come from.
Check out his business growth programme at www.thebusinessbooster.co.uk
Monday, 24 November 2014
Wear The 'Failure Scars' With Pride
So many great speakers at the Southampton Business Show last week. If you are starting up in business, or want to grow your business, I think it's really important to look to others who are already doing what you want to do. If you can get a mentor - fantastic - but at the very least grab every opportunity to get inspiration from those who have made the journey, made the mistakes, worked through the tough bits and are now willing to share their stories, tips, advice and experience.
Brad Burton walked out of his job £25,000 in debt. He started up a marketing business, but had to deliver pizzas at night to keep the business afloat. Nine years on he is the founder and Managing Director of 4Networking, an award winning author of three business books and a sought-after motivational speaker.
The keys bits of advice he shared with us were :
- Work at 100% - most of us are actually operating at around 50%
- Believe in yourself 100%
- Insufficient funds when starting a business is OK ... insufficient desire is NOT !!
- Your past does not define you, don't keep living that story
- Making mistakes is fine and, ultimately, they are what will enable you to be successful, so ....
- Wear the scars with pride, and
- Keep focused on your destination - both in life and in business
Make today a great day !
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Think Running A Business Is Tough ? Imagine Losing Your Eyesight Whilst Setting Up Your First Company ....
I attended the Southampton Business Show yesterday - and what an inspiring (and informative) day it was. I managed to get along to 8 of the 10 talks ... and had the pleasure of hearing inspirational entrepreneur Liz Jackson MBE share her extraordinary story from start-up to appearing on Channel 4's 'Secret Millionaire'. She lost her eyesight whilst setting up her first company, Great Guns Marketing, but did not lose her vision to become a success in business and to make a difference.
She said that "achieving big dreams means stepping outside the comfort zone, doing things you haven't done before, to get results you haven't got before !
She also said it is important to start every day with your glass half full. She starts every single morning by thanking God for all the wonderful things she has in her life.
And her three top tips for entrepreneurs were :
DON'T RELY ON LUCK - there is no such thing ! Concentrate on what you can do and what you have - not on what you can't do and don't have.
GRAB OPPORTUNITIES - and don't let go. Don't quit. Learn from your mistakes and grow. Sometimes it will be painful, it is not for the faint hearted.
DON'T BE A 'NEARLY' PERSON - and she told a story of a man at a networking meeting who said to her "me & the wife nearly bought a boat last year and sailed around the world". "But" she said "he didn't. He didn't buy a boat. He didn't sail around the world. And one year later he's still telling people about something he DIDN'T do" !
Make sure you start every day with a glass half full, and make today a great day ...
Monday, 17 November 2014
Four Things Women Should Consider Before Starting A Business
By Lisa Nicole Bell
Starting
a business can be daunting. I’ve often said that if you want to know
what you’re made of, there are three ways to find out: have a child, write a
book or start a business.
For women in particular, there are special issues to consider
before taking the plunge. Here are four key things that every woman should
do and consider before she starts a business.
Define Success for Yourself
The comparison trap presents massive temptation in business. With
social media, press and events, you may find yourself jealous of the traction
and attention other people are getting in business. You have to define what
success looks like for you. Maybe you want to be able to pick your kids up from
school every day or maybe your business idea is massive and will take many
years to build.
Remember that your business should fit into your vision for your
life, not the other way around. Before you begin your company, think about
whether you’re truly interested in living the life of an entrepreneur and what
fits into your vision of success.
Consider Family and Kids
Women are usually the primary caregivers to children and ill
family members. If you’re starting a business, think about what the time
commitment and uncertainty may mean for those around you. You might have to
delay having another baby or you may decide to move to a city where you have
more support for your existing family structure. Some of the stress that comes
with being a working woman and working mother can be alleviated with careful
planning and forethought.
Prepare Your Mind for Battle
Starting a business is trial by fire. You’ll be tested, stretched, and
challenged in unimaginable ways, but the reward is very much worth it. Taking
proper care of your mind, body, and spirit becomes increasingly important when
you’re responsible for the direction and success of a company
and team
Choose Your Team Carefully
When I started working on my latest venture, I sat down and made a
list of things I wanted in a partner. Having worked with a wide range of
personalities throughout my career, I learned the hard way that teams have to
be complementary in order to be functional. As a woman, I don’t want to be
perceived as difficult to work with, but there sometimes just isn’t a way to
set a boundary without making someone upset. Be prepared to make decisions that
other people may not like. Most importantly, I wanted a partner who had a great
attitude, a strong work ethic, and a flexible approach to problem solving.
These are traits I share, and they’re traits that make for strong co-founders.
The more clear you are about what’s important to you personally
and professionally, the easier it will be to start and run a successful
company. Make the tough decisions now so you can have peace of mind later.
Friday, 14 November 2014
4 Reasons Why Working For Someone Else Won't Get You Rich !
A lot of people have big dreams of running their own business and being their own boss, especially in this economy where small businesses are flourishing. Do you have an idea for a business, store, or service you’d like to start? I’ve had many ideas, but something always keeps me from acting on them. Usually, it’s initial capital. I always feel like I need to bide my time working at my current job, saving up as much as I can, then try to launch my own business once I have my savings built up.
This seems like a practical approach, right? So why am I still not working for myself? Because I’m not taking risks. To get rich, I have to be my own boss. And to be my own boss, I have to take a risk, put myself out there, and make my money work for me.
Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to start a software company. He was in school, learning technology without a definite study or career plan, until his friend wanted to open a business with him. So Bill became a partner in a company; then… well, you know the rest. You know what happened because he became one of the richest, most successful people in the world, all because he took a risk. He left one of the best universities in the world to start a business, and look how that paid off!
So here are 4 reasons why working for someone else won't make you rich ...
1. You become too comfortable to take risks.
My main problem is that I have a job, which means I have income. I can pay my bills. I have a little left at the end of each month to put into savings. It’s comfortable! I don’t need to change anything. Which means I haven’t. You have to push yourself to make a change in a comfortable lifestyle. If I lost my job, I’d have no choice but to kick-start my dream in order to have a job and income! So do something to shake up your life, and see how one change can push you to take charge and change everything.
2. You’re building someone else’s assets.
When you’re working for someone else, you’re helping them. This is well and good if you believe in the cause and just want to get by in life; but if you want to get rich, you’re only hurting yourself. You’re spending at least forty hours a week focusing on someone else. What about you, and what you want to do? Imagine if you have 40 free hours to work on something for yourself. It’s a lot of time, right? Once you get out of your comfortable career rut, you’ll have those forty hours to dedicate to yourself and your own assets. Everything you put into yourself and your business will come right back to you. The money you spend for the business can be deducted from your taxes, and any income is yours alone!
3. Time is more valuable than money.
Money is something you can save, something you can get more of (if you know how). But time is fleeting. You’ll never be able to make up time you’ve already spent. And, as we just mentioned, when you spend time working for someone else, you’re not able to use that for yourself. Sure, you’re making money while you work, but what if you finish your duties before lunch? You’re wasting the other hours of the day doing nothing, just to get that paycheck. Or, if you’re on salary, you might be working way more than forty hours, and not getting paid what you’re worth. The company you work for is in charge of your time. They dictate your schedule, they tell you when you can leave early or have to stay late, and they tell you if you can take vacation time. When you work for yourself, you might have to work harder, but you’re working for yourself, in charge of your own time.
4. You grow too focused on saving for a rainy day.
Saving is smart. We’ve all learned that, and it makes sense. But saving money isn’t helping you make money. Skipping Starbucks and making coffee at home might save you 5 bucks, but did it earn you 5 bucks? If it did, I want your coffee maker! You’re making a fixed income, and just putting money aside. Invest your money in your business, instead! Or if you’re not ready yet, invest in the stock market to watch your money grow.
Yes, it’s hard to get something started, but you have to take the chance! And maybe it won’t take off immediately, but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Be patient, let your business find its footing and and follow through on things that will help you grow. Don’t expect everything to happen all at once, and don’t get discouraged — you can do it!
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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