There is a lot of discussion about the difference between preparing for a disaster so you can recover, and planning to continue to stay in business no matter what causes a business interruption. Many people ask what the difference is. Do they mean the same thing? Isn't the end result the ... Views: 1293
Homeowners make decisions every day. Often these decisions can adversely impact the cost of their homeowners insurance policy. As the economy continues to change, it is wise to shop for your insurance at least every two years. Often you'll find that your current insurance agent or insuring ... Views: 1110
Small business owners are known for juggling projects, doing multiple tasks at the same time and rarely having enough time in the day to do everything they know they should do. This results in many items getting placed on a to-do list that rarely receives attention. An asset inventory is one of ... Views: 1084
People often remark that they have trouble with time management. They don’t have enough time in the day. They are always running behind. They rarely meet deadlines. If only they could manage their time better.
Saying one short little word – no - can be the most important time management skill ... Views: 2711
My six-year-old grandson is a huge NASCAR fan, and can name most of the drivers and their numbers. As most kids his age do, he enjoys his make-believe world and lives there often. He becomes anyone he wants to be, any time he chooses. One day, he was - shall we say - in the moment, pretending to ... Views: 949
If you’re looking for a business where you don’t have to work, quit reading this article and keep searching.
If you’re still reading, I will tell you I don’t know of such a thing as not needing to work at a business. You and I both know that you have to work – you have to do SOMETHING – to ... Views: 1007
As more people face being laid off, downsized, repositioned, forced into early retirement - or all the other familiar phrases that mean losing your job or fearing you might - many are choosing to take control of their destiny. Many are choosing to start their own business. Entrepreneurship... ... Views: 1010
Why do people need a home inventory? That is a question that was posed often seven years ago when my husband and I started our personal property inventory business, and still asked of us today. Thus began our mission to educate anyone who would listen.
Speaking engagements are one method to ... Views: 1581
There aren’t many industries that have been around for a couple decades and still be in – what would appear to be – its infancy. But the home inventory industry is one of those.
In the fall of 2008, I published an article titled Home Inventory Service – A Growing Industry. It was true then, ... Views: 1465
When you decide to start your own business, there are many choices that must be made. First, you must decide what you want to do. That “what” has to be something that meets a need within you. You must have an interest in what you’re creating. If you don’t, it will be just a job. In that case, ... Views: 887
Success can be, and probably is, something different to each one of us. But the road traveled to reach that success, whatever it is to you, will most likely be a long journey. This journey will have sharp curves,steep hills, narrow shoulders, deep ruts, many detours, and possibly even some dead ... Views: 1805
We all have the same amount of time in each day – 24 hours; no more and no less. Why is it, then, that some people can get so much more accomplished than others? It’s called Time Management. But it’s not really managing time; it’s managing the activities that take up your time.
Small ... Views: 1279
Small, medium-sized and home-based businesses often state their number one concern is cash flow and solvency. Therefore, purchases – especially unexpected ones – can cause havoc on your budget.
There are so many makes, models and styles (of everything!) from which to choose, it can become ... Views: 861
When thinking of starting a business, there are levels that many people find themselves passing through. First, owning your own business or becoming an entrepreneur is a thought, which leads to a serious idea, which turns into contemplation, and eventually ends up with a major decision. This ... Views: 904
My family moved to Sandusky, Ohio, when I was 10. Living on the shores of Lake Erie, my dad thought I should learn to fish. So one Saturday morning we bought a new fishing rod and reel and headed to the dock on Sandusky Bay. Dad carried my new fishing gear and I tagged along, with minnow bucket ... Views: 1267
When people hear I am a home-based business owner, their first comment is usually a funny remark about working in my pink fuzzy slippers (actually, they’re purple). I must confess, many winter days would find this to be a true statement. Coming from the corporate environment, there has been a ... Views: 1018
Each day when you drive to work, do you have a feeling of restlessness? Or maybe it’s just feeling unsettled or uncomfortable. And while at work, does every little thing frustrate you? Sometimes these feelings are mental, sometimes physical and sometimes both.
When you feel this way, it’s ... Views: 943
Preparing for a catastrophic disaster (fire, tornado, etc.) is essential for every business owner. The Ad Council reported that, based on a recent national survey, only 38% of businesses have an emergency plan in place. Strangely, 90% said that it is “somewhat” or “very” important for businesses ... Views: 1043
Most sales people - business owners included - place cold calls high on the list of things we would rather not do. It is so much nicer for businesses to rely on referrals. Having people call you and give you a name to contact is a wonderful thing! But, unfortunately, there are times that a cold ... Views: 933
A born leader. We hear that statement frequently, but what does it really mean? In the corporate world, is every boss a leader? And is every leader a boss? The short answer is “no” to both questions.
Let’s look first at the definition (the noun) of the two words. According to ... Views: 3300
New business ventures are started on a daily basis. People want to set their own hours, work for themselves rather than for someone else or make the decisions that only the top executives can make.
Are you one of those who just know that you could make better choices than your boss does? If ... Views: 986
Think positively! Think good thoughts! Be “The Little Engine That Could” and think you can! We hear people make these types of remarks on a continuing basis. Why? What does thinking positive thoughts have to do with anything? Why is it so important to rid yourself of negative thinking?
Your ... Views: 2355
If you’ve decided this is the time to start your own business, you might be considering a franchise. If so, you will also want to research and compare a lesser-known business model - a turnkey business package. Though not a franchise, there is a remarkable comparison.
With both of these ... Views: 1657
The great news is that the recession is slowly recovering. Unemployment bottomed out at the end of 2009 and we’re seeing steady improvement, inching up at a snail’s pace. This recovery will be long process and it’ll be a few more years before we can say all is well.
Many are still unable to ... Views: 1008
Have you been thinking about starting a business, but think you’ve missed your window of opportunity? Think again. Being older is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be one of the best things you have on your side.
My husband and I started our home inventory business when we were in our early ... Views: 945
The personal property inventory service industry is growing at an amazing rate. In 2004, there were only about 20 service providers in the United States. There are now over 500 !
I believe the main reason for this growth is due to the increasing number of disasters. This has created more ... Views: 3127
According to police reports, burglaries are continuing at a high rate of occurrence. Continued high unemployment is one of the situations attributed to this statistic. But no matter what the economic environment, we’ll (unfortunately) always face the chance of being burglarized. So, what can a ... Views: 1257
Being an executor of an estate is a responsibility few really hope for, but one that normally is not declined. You’ve most likely chosen one of your adult children to serve in this capacity for your estate. Have you considered what you can do to make this easier on them?
One responsibility ... Views: 1175
Do you feel lost and insignificant in the corporate world? Do you have an independence that screams, “I want to do my own thing!”? Then possibly owning your own business is the answer.
But where do you start? Can you do it all on your own, do you need constant assistance, or are you somewhere ... Views: 2990
Salad was flying in one direction while spaghetti went another. Voices were getting louder and louder as a hard-crust roll came in contact with a right cheek. Sounds like a college fraternity, doesn’t it? Would you believe it was a middle-aged couple who were also business partners?
What ... Views: 1383
Time to do what you want - when you want - is one of the top benefits of owning a home business. Unfortunately, failure to manage that time can be one of the biggest negatives.
Working from home brings a sense of relaxation, a contrast to working in an off-site setting - no matter how casual ... Views: 891
There are many people who choose to start their own business. Most know they need some type of help, so they seek opportunities that will assist them. Two options are start-up kits and turnkey business packages. Let’s look at why people want to start a business; then we can see which option is ... Views: 1180
When people hear I am a home-based business owner, their first comment is usually a funny remark about working in my pink fuzzy slippers (actually, they’re purple). I must confess, many winter days would find this to be a true statement. Coming from the corporate environment, there has been a ... Views: 994
Have you heard about the kids who live across the street from the school and are always running in as the bell rings? Or about the employee who lives just around the corner and is always the last to arrive each morning?
Strangely enough, the same can be true for an entrepreneur who has chosen ... Views: 991
Insurance policies are very hard to understand. They are long, so that factor in itself deters us from reading them. They also speak a language that seems foreign. By the time you look up every unknown word in the dictionary, all comprehension of what you’re reading is lost. Because of this, ... Views: 1383
It is so important to have an inventory of your personal property. People who don’t have a lot of fine art, collectables or expensive, high-end electronics often think they don’t have enough to warrant an inventory. You’ll see it’s well worth your time or money to have this information available ... Views: 1144
It’s moving day! You packed all your contents into boxes and labeled the boxes according to what room they go in when arriving at the new house. But you didn’t list the individual items as you packed – you didn’t create a thorough inventory. What if some of the boxes are missing when you arrive, ... Views: 1343
You’ve worked hard for decades, making sound investment decisions to ensure your future is just as you planned. You’re making sure there is enough money for the kids’ college and also for you to enjoy your retirement years. Then imagine that a disaster occurs (fire, burglary, tornado, hurricane ... Views: 1162
Downsizing, companies closing their doors, early retirement options and just wanting to leave the corporate world are reasons people choose to start their own business. In today’s economy, this is becoming an even more frequent choice.
When weighing the options of business ownership, many ... Views: 1646
Are you one of the many people wanting to start your own business, but concern over the economy has encouraged you to hold off for a while? If so, consider a turnkey business package to assist you.
So, exactly what is a turnkey business package? First, let's discuss what it is not. Similar to ... Views: 1109
How quickly can your company get back to doing business after a tornado, fire, flood or computer crash? Every year, thousands of companies are unprepared. The US Department of Labor states that over 40% of small businesses that experience a disaster never reopen, and of the remaining companies, ... Views: 1010
The decision is made! You're going to start your own business. Most likely you've put pencil to paper to see where you are financially, to know what you can afford and where you will get the necessary funds. You've spent hours upon hours thinking about what you want to do. You've thought about ... Views: 1124
Achieving success comes from within. We read books and listen to CDs which give us the opportunity to motivate ourselves. These ideas from others encourage us to create our successful universe - both personal and professional. I believe in creating our own destiny, of visualization, of ‘seeing’ ... Views: 1189
Fires in homes, businesses and churches are in the newspaper headlines on a daily basis. Wildfires are lead-in stories on the evening news. And just a short time ago, hurricanes were the main topic of discussion. Disasters don't stop because of a slow economy!
And now, you’re most likely ... Views: 1024
Catastrophes happen on a daily basis, and all companies must have a plan in place to stay in business. You might be a new company, with just a few months under your belt, and having invested your life savings to pursue your entrepreneurial dream. Or possibly you are a well-established, extremely ... Views: 1018
Creating a business plan for a small business is like laying a path to success, building it brick by brick. Starting from nothing but a planned destination is the hardest part. But once started, each brick, strategically placed, takes you one step further with great thought and determination. ... Views: 1067
There are promising signs that the economy is beginning to turn. There are also some indications that we have another tough year ahead. Either way, there is something you can do about your own economic situation. You can take control by owning your own business.
Many say this isn’t a good ... Views: 984
Recently down-sized, company closing, early retirement, tired of making other people rich. Whatever the scenario, those with an entrepreneur mind-set eventually make the decision to start their own business. Some people are young, while others don’t make the transition until their late 50s or ... Views: 1020
According to the SBA, fifty percent of all small businesses fail within the first five years. Wow! That’s scary! Think about it this way – you’re standing in a room with another small business owner, and most likely one of you will close your doors. Who will it be? There’s a fifty percent chance ... Views: 1232