Special Speech

I often wonder how the practice began of pretending to be someone else in order to market your business. You know what I’m talking about — it’s the marketing face, the selling voice, that you often put on in order to attend a networking event or make a sales call. Who taught you to do that?

I have a suspicion where we learn this behavior. Most of us spend a lifetime observing showroom salespeople, product spokespersons in the media, and hucksters on street corners. What we see demonstrated there is artificial enthusiasm, manipulative use of language, feigned interest, and in some cases outright deception.

Sounds awful, doesn’t it? So why copy any part of this distasteful way of selling?

Psychologist Abraham Maslow said, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Perhaps we believe this is the only way we can sell because it’s the only way we know. I’m not accusing anyone of consciously deceiving prospective clients. What I’m suggesting is that what we do unconsciously and automatically is to behave nauthentically around them.

Intuitively, many of us feel as if something is wrong with this way of operating. When we have to sell ourselves, we find it unpleasant, disagreeable, even repulsive. But what if all those negative feelings were simply because we hate the artificiality and manipulation we think must be a part of selling?

Imagine what it would be like to go to a business networking event as yourself. No facade, no pretension, just plain you. When someone asks your reason for coming, you tell them the truth. You don’t have to claim you wanted to hear the speaker (if you didn’t). You can come right out and say, “I’m hoping to make some contacts that will lead to business for me.”

You wouldn’t have to invent reasons to start a conversation. You can walk up to someone who looks interesting and say, “Hi, I haven’t met you yet.” If you’re shy around strangers, you can tell the first person you meet, “I’m sort of a wallflower and feel awkward at events like this. Could you introduce me to some folks?”

Now imagine placing a follow-up call to a prospect where you are completely honest. You could say, “I have some days open on my calendar soon and I’m wondering if this would be a good time for that project we’ve been discussing.” Or, “We haven’t talked in a while and I’d like to find out if you’re still planning to start the new training program this year.”

I see so many professionals and consultants struggle with trying to find an “excuse” to call a prospect. You don’t need some manufactured excuse. You know the reason you’re calling. Most of the time THEY know the reason you’re calling. Just say what it is.

Let’s extend this same principle to making a cold call. Instead of stumbling around awkwardly trying to make a polished — but unnatural — sales approach, imagine yourself saying, “I’m not much of a salesperson, but I’m really good at what I do. Can we have a conversation about what you need and see if I’m the right person for the job?”

If you’ve been working from a cold-calling script that makes you flush and get a tight throat every time you read it, throw it out. Come up with one really good opening line that feels authentic and gets directly to the point. Then decide how you will answer — honestly — some of the typical questions prospects ask you. My bet is that your calls will immediately get easier.

In fact, the more you become honest, direct, and authentic in all of your marketing, the more appealing selling will be to you, the more effortless it will become, and the more success you will ultimately achieve. Because most business results from building relationships, and how can you develop a relationship with someone when you never reveal who you really are?

About The Author

C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients NOW! Since 1992, C.J. has been teaching business owners and salespeople to make more money with less effort. She is a Master Certified Coach and leads workshops internationally. Read more of her articles at http://www.getclientsnow.com

Today, a big part of our life is regulated by the Internet and by computers. Of course, weddings couldn’t be, any lesser and the Internet is actually becoming a perfect home to find people that can organize your wedding. On Line wedding planner is a recent trend, but we must add, very effective, especially when it comes to practicality and comfort. Browsing wedding websites, it is possible to come across some of the best online wedding planners and see what they are capable of, without having to actually speak to them.

Online solutions are good, because in the comfort of your home, you have the opportunity to look at pictures and books and make your final decision in peace and calm. Only once you have peaked your online wedding planner, then, you can proceed with a formal meeting and hiring. Chances are that you find many referrals online and even pictures featuring other weddings. Do not disregard such features, because they can give you a very good idea on how good that wedding planner actually is. Finally, an online wedding planner is like buying any other products or service online. Use your judgment, and when the time comes, ask for a face-to-face meeting. This way, you can in person make sure that the person your like to hire is right for you.

Are you dead sure about receiving of all the important emails that is sent to you?

“The chances are that you are among the 42% of the people who ARE NOT receiving the genuine emails and newsletters that you requested for”.

Why this is so?

Increasingly, ISPs are using filtering systems to try and keep S/p/a/m out of customers’ inboxes. Being automated, these filters are not perfect. Many authentic emails get caught in these filters.

Sometimes, they accidentally filter that “All-Important-Email” you were waiting for. And you have no way to know which of your emails is filtered. The end result is, you end up losing critical info that may prove to be vital to your business.

Is there a way to solve the problem?

Fortunately for all of us, there exist simple solutions. But the action has to come from you to make sure that these critical communications reaches your mailbox - Unblocked.

Six of the most common and easy solutions are given below. It’s simple to implement.

#1. *The HOTMAIL User*: You can ‘Safe List’ an email ID in hotmail. Here’s how:

1. Choose the ‘Options’ tab from the top

2. Select ‘Safe List’ ( Given under the head -Mail Handling-)

3. Now type the email address that you want messages to be received without filtering in the one line form.

4. Now choose ‘Add’

#2 *The AOL User*: Place an email ID in the ‘Address Book’ in AOL. Here’s how:

1. Go to Keyword Mail Controls

2. Select the screen name to which the newsletter is send (e.g. “HomeBiz Tip E-Mag”)

3. Now choose ‘Customize Mail Controls’ For This Screen Name

4. For AOL v7.0, include in the section: “exclusion and inclusion parameters”, the domains from which email is send. For e.g. @learnhomebusiness.com, @learnhomebusiness.net. For AOL v8.0, choose “Allow email from all AOL members, email addre^sses and domains”

5. Choose ‘Next’.

6. Choose “Save” displayed at the bottom.

Important Note On AOL 9.0 : AOL 9.0 has become more complicated. The best way is to place an email ID to the “Person I know” buddy list. All mail you receive from this email ID will pass through the filters. So, make sure that when you join for a newsletter, it is ADDED to your buddy list.

#3 *The YAHOO User*: Correct the ‘Bulk’ Folder in your Yahoo. Here’s how:

1. Newsletters gets mistakenly filtered to your Yahoo ‘Bulk’ folder. Go to your ‘Bulk’ folder; locate the filtered newsletter and choose, “this is not S^pam”, next to the “From” field.

Also, to ensure that you do not miss on important emails to your Yahoo Inbox, do these steps:

1. Open your Yahoo mailbox

2. Choose ‘Mail Options’ (Given at the right corner)

3. Choose ‘Filters’

4. Choose ‘Add ‘ button.

5. Now, in the top row - From header: Choose ‘contains’.

6. Type the domain from which the newsletter is sent. For e.g. learnhomebusiness.com

7. Finally, at the bottom -Move the message to: Choose Inbox.

8. Choose ‘Add Filter’ button.

#4. *For OTHER Users*: Meant for email programs like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora and Netscape Mail. Here’s how:

Inform your ISP or the person responsible for your email that you want to receive all communications from a particular domain.

For e.g. a member of http://www.learnhomebusiness.com, asks them to white-list the eZine “HomeBiz Tips-EMag’ so that he can continue to receive our Zero-cost products without a break.

#5. *For Own Filter Software*: Many times the filter software installed in the computer is the culprit. Here’s how to prevent it.

Look for “Options” in the filter software that you have installed in your computer. Then give permissions for all emails from a particular email ID or domain.

#6. *Two Additional Tips To Prevent Loosing Important Emails*:

Tip #1 : You may be currently receiving all your email messages without a hitch. But, it’s still advisable to white-list and prevent future problems.

Tip #2 : No matter what the email system you are currently using, add the email ID of your opt-in Newsletters’ to the ‘Address Book’ of your particular email system.

Currently, white-listing is the ONLY way to ensure that you receive all your important emails. Do not ignore this important aspect of email communication.

From a personal angle, the major chunk of what I learned so far is from small, nifty newsletters that arrives in my mail box with a welcome smile. I can never block these little capsules of vital info.

If I do, I am blocking myself from the ‘tit-bits’ that adds to my knowledge. Ultimately, Integrating these ‘tit-bits’ into my website http://www.learnhomebusiness.com, keeps it live and current - Everyday.

About The Author

Copyright 2003: S. Kumar, http://www.learnhomebusiness.com

Author of eBook:”Become A Global Homebusiness Pro…”

Direct Download Here At Zero Cost - http://www.learnhomebusiness.com/HomeBiz.htm

I am probably not the norm, maybe I am. I spent many years in corporate America and went through all the lay offs unscathed, except for the big finale. It was part of the corporate scandals and the downfall of the stock market. So what happens, the little guy gets let go. Since then it’s been an up and down hill battle. My savings has dwindled. My patience has been tried, but overall still in a good frame of mind.

While sitting in front of my computer looking for something to do from home, an opportunity appeared. I booked marked the page and must have read it well over a dozen times. The time finally came when I jumped on it and went wild. It’s been the best thing I’ve done in the last few months.

If you feel the same way, it is possible for you to make the same journey. I followed the tried and true tips from the newsletters I received. Then, after my website was set up, I saw how it was all possible. This can be done very modestly until you are ready to make the next step.

You do not have to be a Guru or Webmaster as I have learned. There are many forums about working at home or online business’s filled with great people who love to help others and the advice is endless.

The key is to stick with what you know and choose a business that reflects your interest or hobby. Do not over extend your finances and take it in little steps till you have a handle on it. Then expand it at a rate you feel comfortable with and enjoy the ride. The best part of the job is being able to call yourself “CEO”, it’s your call.

Good luck and remember to have fun.

Daniel Milam publishes Home Business articles and an informative newsletter. If you are looking for home business opportunities, time saving tips and helpful support. Please stop by and get your F.R.E.E subscription today at http://www.dcmilam.com

One of the greatest pitfalls in e-commerce is Field of Dreams thinking, the notion that all one has to do is “build it (a web site) and they will come.”

“I can’t think of anything further from the truth,” Ron Scott, a Riverside, California web designer, says. “Even if we develop an attractive, content rich web site, that is no guarantee that our client will generate enough sales, let alone traffic, to justify the expense.

“There has to be a market for a company’s products and/or services in the first place, and then it has to be properly promoted”, he went on to say.

This is why the firm recommends their small business clients answer a number of questions directly related to the development of a sound business plan before they open their checkbooks.

1. Have you adequately defined your market reach? Do you offer products and/or services that will be of interest to an international, national, regional, or local community? The larger your target audience, obviously the greater your probability of success. Could you add one or more products or services that would broaden your reach?

2. What is the global demand for your product and/or service? Do you have any idea how many internet inquiries are made about your product and/or service? For an answer to this question, Scott recommends visiting the “Pay for Performance Search” page listed under the heading “Products and Services” at Overture.com. Enter a keyword or keyword phrase you might use to find information about your product and/or service in the search engine suggestion window at the bottom of the page. In addition to finding out how many inquiries were made the previous month using that keyword or keyword phrase, you may find a dozen or more related terms and the number of inquiries made about them as well. Add the number inquiries and this will give you an idea just how much interest there is in your product and/or service.

If your reach is local or regional, be sure to incorporate the names of cities in your search terms. Pay-for-performance programs sometimes do not allow local or regional advertisers to use generic terms because their services are irrelevant to a more global audience.

3. How many of these inquiries actually come from your target market? Let’s assume you do business in Los Angeles and your target market is Southern California. If 85% of all inquiries originate in the United States and that 7.1% of those live in Southern California , then the potential market in Southern California represents 7.1% of 85% (6.1%) of all inquiries using any given keyword or keyword combination.

To calculate the proportion of inquiries in any market area, visit the U. S. Census Bureau’s web site. There you will find population projections you can use to estimate the number of inquiries that are likely to be emanating from within your market area.

4. What is your likely market share? Of those consumers actually making inquiries from your market area, how many are likely to visit your site, let alone make a purchase? Assuming that the content of your web site is inviting enough to motivate visitors to either purchase your product/service or to at least make an inquiry, what percentage are actually going to become customers? A 1% return is reasonable expectation if you are in a competitive market and you have a competitively priced product and/or service. Obviously, the more unique your product, the more the higher this percentage is likely to be..

5. How many sales will you have to make to recoup the cost of development and promotion, if only 1% of your visitors take advantage of your offering? For arguments sake, let us assume that it will cost you at least $100 to reserve a domain name and to secure a host, $500 to get a 10 page site designed, and that you budget at least $100 a month on promotion. How many net sales will you have to make to recover these costs? Put another way, how many sales would you need to start making a profit?

6. Do you know who your on-line competitors are? If you don’t, go to any search engine, enter a few keywords related to your industry and see who appears on the first page. Visit a few of them. What is their message? What do you see as their strengths and weaknesses.? What do you like or dislike about their sites? How could you make your offering more attractive or enticing?

7. Can you be competitive? Knowing what your competitors are offering, can you realistically expect to compete with them, especially when it comes to pricing? Internet inquiries generally come from individuals looking for a deal so they are price sensitive. Do your competitors actual provide pricing or to they ask visitors to make an on-line inquiry or to call for a quote? If you are in a service related business, what are you going to have to do to compel visitors to act once they visit your site? What can you do to separate you from your on-line competition?

8. How unique is your product and/or service? Do you have a unique offering, or are you in a highly competitive industry? Obviously, the more unique your offering, the easier it is going to be to get exposure and the greater your potential is going to be for success.

9. How are you going to promote your site? One of the greatest misconceptions in e-commerce is the notion that to succeed all one has to do to is submit a site to search engines. This, unfortunately, is the full extent of marketing for far too many web sites and rarely gets the job done.

One of the primary considerations when it comes to search engine placement is popularity. The more sites linking or referencing your site, the higher page rank it will earn. It is fairly inexpensive to get a link on a wide variety of permanent directories, but it takes more than directory links to significantly increase a site’s popularity. If you or your webmaster don’t take the time to negotiate link exchanges with non-directory related sites, especially those who have high rankings, you are not likely to gain favorable positioning in any but the most insignificant search engines.

10. What have you budgeted for promotion? If you cannot afford to promote your site, you might as well forget spending money on its development. To get a quick idea what it might costs to promote your product or service on line using a pay-for-performance advertising program, visit Overture.com again. Enter one of your industry related keywords in Overture’s internet search window on the company’s home page.

When the results appear, click on “View Advertiser’s Max Bids” link that appears to the top and right. The highest bidder wins the top sponsored position on Yahoo, MSN, CNN, Alta Vista, InfoSpace, Overture and a dozen or more minor search engines. The top three sponsored listings will appear above normal search results at the top of these search engines whenever the surfer uses keywords or keyword phrases the advertiser has bid on.

These questions are not all inclusive, but they do provide food for thought. Hopefully, they will help those interested in establishing a web presence a better idea of what will be needed to achieve a predictable degree of success as well as a reasonable return on investment.

If you would like more information, visit http://www.websitetutoring.com.

About The Author

Ron Scott is a web designer who spends half his time teaching small business owners how to design and maintain their business web sites in-house.

rs@websitetutoring.com

Oily skin is not only shiny, dull-colored, and coarse, it is also acne-prone, which means that a host of more serious problems can develop: blackheads, whiteheads, enlarged pores, redness, and potential scarring. If your skin is oily or you have combination skin, take control with oily skin care before the trouble escalates. We all want to have beautiful, clear skin.

Causes of Oily Skin

The cause of oily skin is not fully understood, but it is very likely that hereditary and lifestyle choices play a part. As well, those pesky hormone imbalances that occur most often in the teen years and also at menopause are a big part of the problem. Since the skin is the largest organ on the body, it also reflects the state of our general physical and emotional health, and problems on either front will have a negative impact on the skin. Pregnancy and birth control pills, which alter hormonal activity, also affect the oiliness of the skin, as will diet, humidity, and the use of cosmetics.

Skin oil is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are more active in the nose area than anywhere else on the face, and the nose area is also the site of larger pores. If you have combination skin, it means the skin on your face is generally dry or normal, but excessively oily around the nose, often extending down to the chin and up into the forehead. Sebaceous glands are also more active on the chest, back, and upper arms than on other parts of the body. The amount of oil generated by these glands is out of your control and oily skin care simply means coping with the amount of oil produced and the problems it can cause.

Oil is important for moisturizing the skin, and you can take comfort from knowing that oily skin delays wrinkling, age spots, and fine lines, and sebaceous glands become less active as we age. In the meantime, the problem remains that oil clogs the pores of the skin, and the effects are, naturally, the production of blackheads and pimples, as well as enlarged pores and redness. Oily skin care treatments involve taking steps to keep pores from getting clogged and blemishes from appearing.

The Best Diet for Oily Skin

The treatment for oily skin should start internally. This means, take care of your physical and mental health and your skin will benefit. Eat balanced meals, and make sure that you receive the necessary nutrition for good health each day. Forget the starvation diets and the food fads. Normal weight and good health are served best by diets that include daily servings of all the food groups. The B vitamins are especially important for skin health and are found in wheat germ, egg yolk, Brewer’s yeast, organ meats, nuts and beans. A lack of vitamin B2 will actually cause oily skin. Reduce the amount of fat, oil, and sugar in your diet, and you will be repaid with fewer skin problems, but that is because your general health will improve. Sebaceous glands operate independent of diet.

Because food grown in nutrient-depleted soil can be depleted of essential vitamins and minerals, it is important to add a supplement or two to your diet. Start with a multivitamin suitable for your age and sex, and then add some extra vitamin A (so that you are consuming about 10,000 IU daily) and the vitamin B complex. Primrose oil (500 milligrams) and flaxseed oil (1,000 milligrams) are both very beneficial for the skin.

Drink lots of water to help flush toxins out of your body with the help of your kidneys and liver rather than leaving it to your skin to bring toxins to the surface and eliminate them through perspiration. “Lots of water” is generally defined as eight glasses a day, and this amount also serves to hydrate your skin properly.

Since stress aggravates skin problems, it is wise to reduce your stress level through meditation or relaxation techniques.

Rosacea, a chronic skin disorder that looks a great deal like acne, will improve if you follow these same health recommendations, and an anti aging diet includes all these elements as well.

Tips for Caring for Oily Skin

Keep oily skin very clean so that pores do not become clogged and cause breakouts. On the other hand, you can have too much of a good thing here, and skin must not be treated too harshly nor washed too often. Chose a mild cleanser that promises to clean without drying, and wash with lukewarm, not hot, water. You can try a mild medicated soap or an antibacterial cleansing lotion. If your skin become dry and taut, it means the outer layer has shrunk and the oil will not be able to flow freely and more pores will clog. Aim for washing your face two or three times a day, and, between cleansings, wipe away excess oil with either an antibacterial astringent or one containing acetone, which dissolves oil. Using a clay or mud mask once a week is another good way to cleanse your skin and combat the oil production. Be gentle. A facial sauna with lemongrass, licorice root, and rosebuds is good for oily skin, but use caution if you have acne. Saunas, like high humidity, can intensify breakouts.

Moisturizers for oily skin might contain antiseptic or simply be oil-free.

Noncomedogenic moisturizers do not clog pores, and nonacnegenic moisturizers do not irritate pores. Look for the chemical benzyl peroxide, which helps reduce the amount of oil your glands produce and is a useful ingredient in lotions and creams designed for oily skin. Make sure all makeup as well as all moisturizers, cleansing lotions, astringents, and sunscreens are chosen with oily skin in mind, and are water-based rather than oil-based products.

Effective treatment for oily skin involves cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin with products created to provide oily skin solutions. Although there are no natural cures for oily skin, you can certainly manage the problem and keep it from worsening. The Internet is the perfect place to search and find information about products and diet supplements needed to provide the best oily skin care possible. The Internet offers the opportunity to shop, compare costs, and order whatever you need online from the privacy of your home. Most online merchants offer discount pricing to attract customers which helps save you money. You don’t have to put up with oily skin problems; relief is just a few clicks away.

About the Author
Scott Gray is currently a freelance writer and enjoys providing information and advice to online shoppers who are in the market for anti aging options, acne treatments, and general skin care.

Contrary to what myriad Internet sites would have you believe, there is much more to small business planning than a good marketing mix and solid financials. Whether you want to sell the next big thing or you simply want to rev up sales and profits for an existing operation, no business plan template will adequately address the complex psychology of being an entrepreneur, especially a successful one.

To illustrate what I mean, let’s pretend you aspire to be the next coffee shop ingénue. You have articulated a comprehensive business plan; you have chosen your product lineup, location, promotion plan, and pricing strategy; and you have snagged some decent financing to keep you running for at least a year. On paper, you are a coffee empire in the making. “Great!” you think to yourself. “Let’s get started!”

You proceed to sign the lease, shell out some bucks to a lawyer and an accountant, order a few gazillion pounds of coffee beans in anticipation of your success, and open for business.
About six months and a few hundred lattes later, you realize that you do not possess high tolerance levels for the teen angst, high turnover, and sleep deprived yet incredibly nitpicky about extra-hot-no-whip-non-fat-double-mocha-latte-now-or-I’ll-go-postal cranky clientele that have suddenly become an intimate part of your life. You despise this situation but also realize that it will probably be your reality for many years to come, or at least until you can make enough margin to take a day off and enjoy a five-dollar coffee poured for you across the street at Starbuck’s.

Perhaps this all too common scenario points to one explanation for the alarmingly high failure rate of small business start-ups in North America. The Business 101 textbook explanation of this phenomenon would state that failure to plan is the root cause of most small business shutdowns. Indeed, without some kind of road map, inspiration can quickly turn to chaos if not complete financial ruin. But even the most well crafted business plan cannot cement the road to success, and an entirely fabulous product is no guarantee either.

Work-at-home business gurus, Paul and Sarah Edwards, cite two independent studies involving a number of successful entrepreneurs. Both studies concluded that business plans are overdone in many cases and their importance even overemphasized. What is needed, the Edwards say, is a succinct plan that uncovers key aspects of the market you wish to pursue and a simple roadmap for pursuing them (www.workingfromhome.com/pages/faq.htm). Of course, in approaching the planning process this way, you are more apt to make strategic changes when necessary because you will be less “invested” in the document itself and more interested in doing whatever it takes to succeed.

Failure to plan is a symptom, not a root cause, of small business collapse. The true “illness” lies within the heart of western entrepreneurship and the bizarre twists and turns it has taken in the information age. Get-rich-quick schemes abound in magazines and on the Internet, yet the only ones getting rich from these programs are the passionate individuals who envisioned the intricate pyramid of wealth in the first place. However, one need not take such an unethical path of deception toward financial independence.

My overpriced but thankfully small “l” liberal education taught me something I have not seen in any business textbook: Determine the correct questions before seeking answers. In saying this, I am not at all trying to sound literary, highfalutin or Stephen Covey-esque (loved 7 Habits by the way). I write only what I know from observation and experience, and it would seem to me that you cannot derive health, happiness, or wealth from something that does not reflect your personality, your vision of your best self, or your basic code for living.

Money in the hands of an entrepreneur who does not know himself might as well be lumps of coal. And a business plan written by such a person is not worth much more. No bank loan or angel moneys can replace the value of introspection. Some questions you must ask yourself:

-> What are my reasons for pursuing this venture?

-> Will those reasons be enough if I don’t turn a profit in the first five years?

-> What will I have lost if the business fails? What will I have gained?

-> Does this venture reflect who I am? Or am I only trying to be someone I think I “should” be?

Such questions should be fleshed out long before you begin typing up that business plan. How you honestly answer those questions should subsequently color every element of your marketing mix. Passion must precede planning. This authenticity will shine through in everything you do and say thereafter, andin this daythere is nothing so irresistible to your prospects as authenticity.

******
Karri Flatla is a business graduate of the University of Lethbridge and principal of snap! virtual assistance inc., a small business consulting firm providing online marketing services to the progressive entrepreneur. Karri also produces Outsmart, the newsletter for small business with big purpose. Visit http://www.snap-va.com for more information.

>From the very moment people began migrating to America, their
dreams have been to have an idea, start a business and become
rich in the process. That has always been the American dream.

In The US today more people are realizing their dreams of
financial independence than ever before because owning a
successful business is easier than ever before. A good majority
of these people gain financial independence as owners of
franchised businesses. Franchises offer the best shot at owning
a successful business for first-time entrepreneurs because they
operate on a proven system. And there are many reasons why
franchising is the best type of operation for the majority of
first-time business owners.

As a franchisee, you will not be required to draw up a business
plan; that has already been done for you. You will gain all the
benefits of a proven system, training and ongoing support and
reap the monetary rewards.

How can franchising
make you wealthy? 75% of the people who are extremely wealthy in
the The US own a business. This indicates that your best shot at
creating extreme wealth is by owning your own business. Starting
a business from scratch, however, can be a very risky and a
complicated procedure. Newly started businesses experience a
very high failure rates, most likely due to
bad planning and not having a tight hold on expenditures.
Franchising offers less risk than starting an independent
business and offers all of the same benefits of an independent
business. Franchising eliminates the need to draw up a business
plan and gets you on the road to success quickly.

If you have put all your efforts into buying a franchise,
congratulations! You have made a decision to buy the right to
sell goods or services from an established name-brand company
with a proven business plan, training and ongoing support. Soon
you will be on the road to financial independence. There are
steps, however, that must be taken to insure that everything,
from researching the right franchise to the opening of your
business, goes smoothly-most importantly, researching the right
franchise
opportunity.

Not every franchise opportunity is perfect for every individual.
Franchises come in many flavors and each is as unique as your
own personality. To find the right franchise opportunity,
research different franchises for the one that best suits your
personality, skills and interests. To clarify this point even
further, imagine an individual with 15 years of financial
planning experience that decides to purchase a franchise. He
researches different franchising options and chooses to purchase
a financial consulting franchise. Does this individual
have the potential to make this business successful? Absolutely!
Imagine the same individual, but this time around decides to
peruse a restaurant franchise. Does he have a chance? Not
necessarily! Someone with 15 or more years of financial planning
experience would probably feel lost running a food
franchise. Pick a business in which you have demonstrated
expertise. The point is that it’s necessary to own a franchise
that matches your personality and skill level. When those
conditions are met, you’ll have a greater chance at being
successful.

Once you have settled on a franchise, you will want take your
research to the next step by gathering as much information as
possible on that particular company. Do the right research! Just
because a franchise has been successful in another part of the
country does not mean it will experience the same success in
your community. Ask for contact information and talk to current
franchisees operating in territories with the same demographics
as the area in which you will be operating.

A franchise is like operating any small business - you need
capital. Build the right budget that will allow you to
incorporate a realistic cash-flow plan. The initial franchise
fee will probably have the most significant impact on your
finances. You need to have enough capital for the initial
franchise fee and enough to get through the first few months
after opening the doors to your business.

The most successful franchisees are the ones that take a less
formal and more relaxed approach to selling. Successful
franchisees genuinely enjoy talking to strangers and get
involved in community events in hopes of exploring new ways of
promoting their business. although franchisees are often
provided with standard corporate advertising programs and
national exposure for the chain, being involved in the community
and being perceived as part of the local family helps keep
customers loyal.

Franchises influence The United States in everyday life. As a
matter of fact, the IFA estimates that franchising has had a
$1.5 trillion impact on the American economy. I hope it is clear
to you that franchising offers an amazing opportunity to own
your own business and a little piece of the American dream.

I took a small group of friends to see John Lee Hooker, Jr. at a local jazz club. Hooker, son of the great John Lee Hooker, released his album Blues with a Vengeance in 2004. It scored a Grammy nomination and won the distinguished W.C. Handy Award for Best New Artist Debut. My friends enjoyed the music and had a great evening.

At the club, Hooker and his group were announced and the music began. Everyone was clapping and enjoying the fusion of jazz and blues. The keyboardist introduced the band members as they each did a solo. My friends assumed the person on keyboard was John Lee Hooker, Jr. Not so. Hooker was in the back of the room at the soundboard. He was making sure that the audio was absolutely perfect. When he was satisfied, after about fifteen minutes, he was once more announced and he went on stage.

I’ve seen that kind of behavior more than once. Bo Diddley, whom I’ve video taped before, and Chuck Berry are both extremely careful about how their music sounds. Bo Diddley inspects everything. And, every time I think of Chuck Berry I visualize him in the documentary Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll. He painfully instructs Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones on the proper way to play a Chuck Berry riff. Keith Richards, a fellow member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, did not take the lesson well, but he learned to play like Chuck Berry . . . to Chuck’s satisfaction. These musicians are so very careful about how they sound, because their music is what they are. They are professionals. Their music represents them. In essence, they are their music. Isn’t this true of small business as well? Or shouldn’t it be?

If you are a small business person, don’t you call the tune? And, shouldn’t professionalism be your rallying cry? Big business can afford a little slack in quality and service, but the small business operator must put in extra hours and take special care that their product is as perfect as it can be.

If you don’t care about your business, who will? You are your business. You are THE representative. You have the most to lose, if people are dissatisfied. But, if you take extra care, people may be as excited about your products and services as you are.

Being meticulous should produce the best example of your business. This is almost it’s own reward, but not completely. Take the time. Make sure everyone sees and hears the best. Correct any problems. You won’t be left singing the blues, but should leave everyone else singing your praises.

Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which provides business training products. Don also owns Human Resources Radio (http://www.humanresourcesradio.com), which provides business training programs and previews 24-hours a day.

Pros and cons to three hot topics

Invited to be officer on the boardflattering or dangerous?
Officer and director liability is staggering. If a friend of yours is starting a company or charity and she asks you to sit on the board, carefully make your decision to accept or decline the position. If a mistake happens and the shareholders file a lawsuit, you could be named in the lawsuit because you’re a director or officer of the company; you are also personally liable for the salary of any salaried employees (if you’re an officer of a company). Before you casually accept an offer to become an officer or director of a company, make sure you have insurance, which is called “director of liability policy.” If you’re not pursuing the position and it’s something you’re invited to accept, you may want to ask them to pay the premiums on your insurance.

Limited partnership vs. general partnerships
Limited partnership: Your liability is limited to the amount of your investment
General partners: You have unlimited liability. Because you have the day-to-day control of the company, the trade off is more liability.

Smile. Some debt can be great
Good debt verses bad debt is another way to say credit verses debt. Not all debt is bad. Credit that entitles you to invest is good, such as your home mortgage (assuming your house has appreciated), starting a business, or purchasing investment properties. What determines if it’s good or bad is what you do with it. If you’re buying depreciating assets, you’re not incurring good debt.

During my years of law school, I completed an internship with a New York Supreme Court Justice and second legal internship with a law firm and also began investing in real estate. Immediately upon graduating law school and passing the bar exam, I opened my own law practice. From 1988 to 2001, I practiced with my partner under the name Miles and Gillard, where I concentrated in the area of real estate and business law.

Drew Miles

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