Be Your Own Boss - The Five Questions By Harold Thompkins

Republished by Asep Setiabudi.

Millions of people dream of being successful and wealthy by working for themselves. Starting a business is the best way to become successful and financially independent. It provides personal fulfillment as well as financial rewards. However many never realize the dream of business ownership due to the challenge, risks and the level of financial and personal commitment required.
Increasing numbers of people are making the step into business ownership due to the dynamic opportunities that are being created in so many different areas. The playing field is being leveled and there is no better time than now to start your business and become your own boss.
These five questions provide a clear realistic picture of what it takes to become your own boss. Getting started right requires a high level of personal honesty and focus. Success in business requires individual responsibility and a realistic approach. If you are serious about becoming your own boss consider these questions.
1. Can you develop a marketable service or product that captures your passion? Doing something you love provides automatic freedom because it is not work or a job when you engage in it. Doing what you love eliminates stress, work and monotony. Finding a business of passion that has solid profitability can make becoming an boss exciting and realistic.
2. Can this business be structured to compliment and develop a suitable lifestyle? The business should have the potential to provide time and revenues to pursue your personal interests and accomplish your goals.
3. Are start up costs at a reasonable and manageable level? the first step in business is the investment. A dream does not build a business and expenses can not be overlooked.
4. Am I willing to take a risk? There is risks in starting a business. The key to a successful business is disciplined and controlled spending.
5. Does my business venture have growth potential? A business with no growth is a hobby. The success of a business requires profits and the ability to expand.

Harold is a passionate and skilled multipreneur committed to simplifying success strategies for the beginner and the inexperienced marketer.

Be Your Own Boss - How to Start Your Own Small Business by Acting Locally & Thinking Globally

Many people have jobs that they would love to leave and bosses they would rather do without. Starting a business of one's own can be a way out, but it's very expensive. So, how does a person extricate him or herself from a paycheck-to-paycheck existence if all the avenues of doing so seem closed? Granted, most small business start-ups take anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over several hundred thousand dollars to get off the ground, but there are business opportunities out there that require little if any investment and can be run on a part time basis. This doesn't mean, however, that these opportunities are less valuable--they are just less money to initiate. Here are some tips on where to find them.
There is a saying that we all have heard many times over in our lives: "The grass is greener on the other side of the hill." Well, as most of us know by now, the grass is greenest in our own backyard, and if it isn't, we just have to water and cultivate it to male it so. There is no sense going anywhere else to find the wellspring of wealth when it can be mined right where we sit. I am referring here to a business that many people call network marketing. Network marketing sometimes gets a bad rap because of all the people who have tried it before and failed, but it is one of the best wealth building business models that can be found anywhere. Similar to franchising, these companies give their independent contractors the power to create business networks of customers and like-minded entrepreneurs, who in turn, can develop their own organizations. In traditional business, one store or shop grows its revenue base and that's where the profit usually stops. In a job, an individual has to trade hours for dollars and is limited by the amount of time that he or she can work in a week. Check out network marketing companies online. You can start a small business and be your own boss from the comfort of your home or office by acting in your own local backyard, and build a business by connecting with other people around the world. Act locally and think globally, and you can have a business that virtually stretches around the world. Believe in yourself and start fleshing out your dreams today.
Steve Boston is an author, television producer and marketing specialist living in New York. He offers free tutorials on how to start a business with little or no investment, and how to advertise it all over the internet for free. You can visit his site at http://www.opportunityworldwide.net

Entrepreneurship Tips - Your Business' First Impression Matters By Jyotsna Ramani

An art form that provides meticulously manicured gardens and lawns for the business' backdrop is known as professional landscaping. The subtle and delicate use of lawns, tree lines, flowerbeds and shrubbery are the first thing both employees and clients will notice. To ensure you provide a favorable image of your company to prospective clients and employees, proper maintenance and upkeep of the business premises is vital to your success. ( enterpreneur blog )

Though sometimes clients and employees may overlook aesthetic arrangements made in your business premises, for those who notice them, it will speak a thousand words about your business. Make sure you hire landscape contractors to take care of the premises. Their duties are watering the flowerbed, making sure the grass is properly trimmed etc. You must also let them know of the magnitude of keeping well kept premises and that they have an enormous responsibility on their shoulders.

It is the business owner's responsibility to ensure adequate assistance is available on all floors and that the receptionists have good diction and are well trained to handle queries. If you neglect the overall upkeep of the premises, there are high chances your business will be spoken poorly of during meetings and small conferences. Like they say, "first impressions are last impressions" and the role of a landscaper and receptionist is as important as a top level management executive. Sometimes, the subtle things can have a drastic impact on bigger, more important things and these subtle things could be a weed free lawn, an aesthetically designed flower bed, adequate customer support mechanisms and knowledgeable receptionists.

Join a business advice forum for great business tips, ideas and boosting your knowledge of the world of business!

How to Start an Online Business - 10 Steps to Building a Business on the Internet Quickly and Easily By Connie Ragen Green Platinum Quality Author

Getting started online is the toughest part, I believe. There is so much to learn and so many people giving you their input. Remember that you must sell something in order to make money, and I still teach that affiliate marketing is the very fastest and best way to do this. This enables you to make some money while you are spending time figuring out exactly what you will offer others with your own products and services. Here is my list of the 10 steps to take to start building your online business.

• Choose a niche to work in. You don't have to stay in this area forever, but commit to building it up for 6 full months so you can make some money.
• Do some keyword research to see which phrases people use when they are searching for your topic.
• Start a blog on your niche topic. Give excellent information in each post so readers will find value in what you have to say.
• Set up an opt in page to start building a list. Offer a free report or checklist to those who sign up.
• Find some affiliate products to promote. These must make sense to your market. If your niche is organization for your business, don't promote products on how to hold teleseminars. You get the picture.
• Write some articles on your topic to start finding qualified leads. The articles will bring you readers from around the world.
• Get involved with Twitter and Facebook. Interact with others and get the word out about what you do. We tend to be secluded when we work from our computers, so use social networking to fill that void and meet new people.
• Hold teleseminars where you can talk about your topic. Again, give people your very best information.
• Be persistent. Don't give up. Most people quit in the first three months, so don't be like most people.
• Create your own products and services. I have put this at the end of the list because that is where I believe it belongs. By doing everything else on this list, you will then know exactly what your market wants from you.

Take it day by day and move forward with your business. Building an online business is definitely worthwhile, so learn as much as you can while you are taking action. ( enterpreneur blog )

Remember that the reason to start an internet business is to give you the time and money to live the life you choose. Download a free teleseminar on building your online business by visiting http://MakeTechnologySimple.com to learn how to write articles, blog, become involved in social networking and learn the technology needed to build a profitable online business. Connie Ragen Green has been online since 2005 and teaches people how to build their own online business in record time, offering free teleseminars weekly, as well as online courses in a workshop environment with webinars. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green

Entrepreneurs - My Spouse Doesn't Support My Dreams - 7 Tips to a Great Entrepreneurial Marriage

Twenty years into our marriage I suggested to my husband that we start a business together in real estate investing. I've always had an interest in partnering up with him because together we had excellent skills, creative talent and loads of fun, depending on what we were doing. The draw back to this idea was that this was my perspective not his.
After rehabbing a few homes we agreed it could be more than a hobby so I jumped to action and started our first small business. While I worked with innovative ways to create the business, my husband began to reject moving forward with it. There was some underlying issue that he couldn't explain and over time he closed up rather than help me run our company.
Can you see what was happening?
I took something that he felt was a fun hobby and turned it into a full time responsibility. We worked together in that business for a few years but not without many hurdles of adversity through closed minds or attitudes. My husband had every right to be upset, and even though his lack of communication didn't help us to process the right decisions, it was time for me to see the big picture and accept responsibility for it.
I knew I had to make changes that meant either going it alone (which I was adamantly opposed to doing at that time) or convince my husband to change his attitude. Which do you think was easier?
If this sounds like your situation, its time to get it sorted out before any more time is wasted. Below are a few ideas I want to share with you in hopes you can avoid some of the "Entrepreneurial Marriage Mess" we fell into.
1. Remind yourself you are worth it - If you want to own your own company but your spouse doesn't seem supportive, sit down alone and come up with your reasons of why you believe it is worth the risk to follow your dreams and do what you are meant to do. The more time you give to your personal sustainability (spiritually, mentally, emotionally & physically) the more you will be able to give to others and this includes your spouse.
2. Be willing to understand - Your spouse may not want to take the risk. Find out what the underlying reasons are, perhaps they were hurt by someone else who made them feel unworthy or unloved when they had a previous business. Perhaps they are fearful of the financial commitment. Give them permission to feel the fear and lovingly help them move through it over coming a fear of lack, fear of being a victim of loss, of being out of control or out of balance. If your spouse is open to it engage in educational materials to combat the fears.
3. Be patient - Any change you are wanting to see, whether in yourself or your relationship, will only come with time.
4. Be responsible for your feelings, what you say and how you act - You cannot be responsible for your mate's feelings, thoughts or actions but you are responsible for your own. Recognize the difference.
5. Be accountable to your mate - Ask them on a scale of measurement (1 - 10) if they feel listened to, loved and respected by you and ask them to help you stay accountable to them no matter how busy you get.
6. Keep a date night at least once a month - No talk of work, just you and your spouse. Keep it light, be sure to know what their likes and dislikes are so you are thinking of them and not yourself.
7. Know you can do it alone - You don't need your spouse on board in your business, but you do want them on board with the idea of supporting you in your business. There is a huge difference. Ask your spouse how they would like to be supportive of you and allow the flow of that conversation to come naturally.
My husband and I now have two completely different companies; he is in still investing in our old company and I opened another business that was more "ME" and developed my purpose. We also feel we have a terrific marriage and if we didn't before going through those few years of trials, we might not have survived.
The head must learn to bow to the heart if your business, your parenting, or your marriage is going to last.
Receive a free audio and Ebook by subscribing to Connecting LLC at http://www.kelliefrazier.com

The Secret to a Low Risk and Profitable Small Business

You, as most of the people I know, have probably flirted with the idea of having your own business. This is not only natural, this is the way to go if you really expect to grow financially.

Now, since we are no billionaires, we usually think of business options that qualify as small businesses, which will often translate into an initial investment of several thousand dollars instead or millions.

However, if the small business you have in mind requires $50,000 to start you are still looking at a very considerable amount of money, money that you will be putting at risk (because there is not such thing as a 100% fail proof business) without even having it (assuming that you are financing your business).

This is why a lot of people think about having a business, but in the end stick to the same old way of doing things (keep your job, save a few bucks and retire with a few thousand dollars in the bank), because they do not have the kind of money needed to start a traditional small business, and even if they do, they cannot afford to risk it nor they want to entangle themselves in a web of loans and debt problems.

Does this mean that you should quit on the idea of having your own business and settle of a 9 to 5 job salary for the rest of your life?

The answer is a big NO. Anyone -and I emphasize this- can start a business of their own with little to no money and take it to heights that few small businesses within the traditional business model can dream of.

The way to go in order to start a low risk yet very profitable small business (where you will be putting only a couple of hundred dollars at stake instead of several thousands) is to take your venture online, where the world is virtual but the results are as real as they get.

There are many ways to start a business operation entirely online, such as internet or affiliate marketing, online trading, e-tail and more. The reason for the low cost, low risk and high profit potential of a small business that you build and run online is that:

1. You do not need a physical location or infrastructure. This means your initial investment is nearly zero.

2. Therefore, you do not have heavy expenses of any kind, so almost 100% of what you make is a profit.

3. Your local market -if you will- is the whole wide world, or at least the whole internet surfing world, which translates in several hundred millions of people you can reach right from your computer.

4. You have no limits as to how far you can take your business, because expanding it will never pose the challenges of turning a traditional small business into a massively big and profitable one.

When you hear about people saying that they make a six figure income online, it is not fiction, it is a reality, but what is often kept from new online entrepreneurs is the fact that a small business, even if it is an internet business, is hard work and it requires time to develop and make it profitable.

However, it is a fact that anyone, absolutely anyone can do it because it is a lot easier than any of the traditional small business models and you need very little money to start, which means you will be risking almost nothing but some of your time and effort.

To learn about proven ways to successfully start a profitable small business online I advise you to read all the information provided at the: specialonlinebusinessreviewauthority.com with regards to actual tools and resources designed to do serious business using only your computer.

Small Business Plans - Top Tips

One piece of advice that is given to people regardless of the type of business or industry they want to get into is to create, and stick to, a business plan. Your business plan helps keep you on track, organized, and gives you written goals to work toward as you make decisions for your business.

When writing business plans, many people focus on the long-term, and write plans that span five years, or even longer. However, your plan can be shorter. You can write 30 60 90 day business plans to give you short-term goals for your business and help you to be more successful.

Regardless of the length of time your business plan covers, there are key elements in plans that make it comprehensive and successful.

Your business plan should start with an executive summary. This is an overview of your entire plan, and a history of your company. Next is a marketing analysis and strategies, which is your knowledge about your business's industry, any market research highlights and conclusions you have, and your marketing strategies for your company. This section may be shorter in 30 60 90 day business plans. Following the marketing analysis is a company description, including your service or product line, and the organization and management of your company. The business plan will end with your funding request, your financial statements, and an appendix that includes any other relevant information.

Though many people prefer to write longer business plans, there are advantages to writing 30 60 90 day business plans for your company. Shorter business plans allow you to take smaller steps toward your goals, which is more effective for some people. Sometimes, having bigger long-term goals can be a bit overwhelming, especially if owning a business is new to you. It can also help you keep better track of where you are in your plan, as well as where you're going.

On the other hand, there are also advantages to writing more long-term business plans. A five-year business plan, for example, allows you to think a little further into the future and think about where your company is going and your goals for its success instead of simply getting through your 30 60 90 day business plans. Some people work better if they have long-term goals they can move toward instead of feeling intimidated by the close deadlines of shorter business plans.

The important thing is to find a plan that works for your company and can help your business be successful, whether that be five-year or 30, 60, 90-day business plans.

For more information on 30 60 90 day business plans, you can visit the Business Planning page on the PracticalBusinessInformation.com website.

Helen Abbott is a full-time mum, leadership coach, internet marketer and business owner. A firm believer in 'The Secret' and living her dreams, Helen is currently on track to reach her first goal of establishing five six figure business incomes. To see what Helen is up to visit http://www.practicalbusinessinformation.com/business-management/-small-business-plan or http://www.learnfromthewealthy.com.au