Posts filed under 'Business Advice and Tips'
Want to become a networking giant? You can’t afford to miss these tips:
- Develop as many contacts as you can. If you add one new contact each day, that will be 20-30 contacts in a month.
- Tell people about one thing you personally feel you do best. Don’t tell them about all the things that you do, it would only serve to confuse them (not to mention it would make the conversation seem one-sided). Be clear and concise about what you do, and let the other person speak.
- Be a leader, show initiative, and introduce yourself. Don’t start handing out business cards unless you have at least established a verbal connection with you potential contact.
- Cultivate your contacts. Don’t use the situation to get immediate business, instead ask to meet privately later on. No one likes to feel pressured, and it only makes you look desperate.
- Keep in touch. Email or fax articles that might be of interest to your contact; it would show that you listen to what they have to say, and would establish good rapport in between.
July 15th, 2007
Finding time is one of the biggest challenges of a part-time business owner. It all too often seems that there are not enough hours in the day, especially when a business owner isn’t there full time. The key to not run around like a wreck on wheels is good time management. You can then take a breath and manage your schedule with a little more ease and not feel as if you’re running around all day and not accomplishing anything.
- The first thing any business owner needs to do is begin their day with a “To Do” list. Lists are extremely important for keeping things organized, making sure nothing is forgotten, and letting your brain rest without a million things running through it all day. Prioritize your list and only keep things on there that absolutely must get done. Organize the list in order from the most important to the least important and start with the most important first. If other tasks come along that are not on your list, put them on the next day’s list.
- Another important thing to remember is to use a time management system. These systems include computer software and hardware such as Blackberries and Palm Pilots. These systems are very good at doing their job of keeping you organized. They most often will even remind you of appointments. The downside to these systems is that many people never know how to utilize them to their full potential because they don’t understand the software or all the features and functions. They then become frustrated and stop using the system altogether. Before you purchase an item like this, research the product to see what will give you exactly what you need. Once you have bought it, make the time to read and fully understand the software instructions.
- One thing part-time business owners absolutely must do is ask for help. Because the business owner is not there at all times, other people will need to do the tasks when they are gone. It’s crucial to communicate well and make them understand what you need. But you must ask for help. There is not enough time often for full-time business owners to do everything themselves and it is impossible for a part-time business owner to accomplish the same things on their own.
- Learning to say “No” is extremely important when it comes to time management. A part-time business owner simply does not have time in the day, week, or month to do everything that everyone will ask of him. There’s no need to feel that saying “no” will leave a dent in any relationship or that the person will no longer want to do business with you. There are ways of gently saying “no” without jeopardizing a relationship. Try and offer an alternative for the person so they’ll have someplace to go and they won’t feel as though you’ve just left them stranded. When you just can’t say “no” make sure you keep your commitments. It’s far worse to commit yourself and then fail to meet your commitment than to just say “no” in the first place.
Time management is essential to the part-time business owner. With some strategic planning, a business owner can make their business a success without feeling stressed and anxious all the time.
July 15th, 2007
You know the best thing about owning your own business is that IT’S YOUR BUSINESS. When things are going all fine and dandy, it’s easy to stay positive and believe yourself to be the King (or Queen) of the world. Though there are times when you will feel downright beat down, usually due to the lagging sales and cash flow that comes around periodically.
Fear not my friends! I have compiled a list of things to do when those dark clouds hang over your heads:
- Write down all the good things that happened to you in the last month, and reflect on them. You will really learn to appreciate some of them, and remember that good times come and go, just like the bad times.
- Put motivational quotes around your work desk, computer (on stickies) or wherever so you choose to work, heck put a few opposite of the toilet seat. I found motivational quotes to always refresh my mind, and they usually offer support to me in ways that are not so apparent at first.
- Concentrate on opportunities you still have. Don’t spend your time on negative thinking, it’s not healthy. Focusing on the future will keep you from ignoring the potentially great opportunities you have missed while wallowing in your sorrow.
- Surround yourself with positive people. If you have friends and family in business, support each other in times of despair. Offer encouragement to those who need it, and accept it when it’s given to you.
- Visualize where you want to be. Usually we are so caught up in the moment, we forget why we started a business in the first place. Take some time to visual your objectives while clearing your head of all other worries and thoughts. You would be surprised how much this helps in clearing your mind and making you more productive.
- Don’t give up! Even the most successful entrepreneurs have had their bad times, so never think you’re alone. Be brave and go on!
July 13th, 2007
