BabyBoomersBlueprint

So you have a business idea.  In fact you have more than an idea, you have a business model and plan thought through, researched and documented.  Now you are brainstorming that perfect name for your new business.  Here are a few considerations while you go through the process:

1.  Write your mission statement. As you get really clear on what service or product you will deliver, it will be easier to concentrate on a name.  Then you have even more options to explore.

2.  You can use your own name as your business name, but the downside of that is it will always be linked to a real person.  But then it’s worked for people like Trump and Oprah!  Generally, you need to have a following or a fan base.

3.  If you really want to be identified with the company, choose a business name and then Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the continuation (Part 2 of 2) of how to assess your skill set and whether you are best as an entrepreneur or as an employee…..

You will need an Understanding of Basic Technology or the basic understanding of the process of producing goods and services is a necessary skill. Combined with creative thinking skills entrepreneurs will then have the ability to use that information with purpose and develop a business concept that motivates them.

Lastly, an obvious skill is Basic Accounting and the Ability to Make Financial Decisions. No matter how much you hate it, working with numbers is going to be part of the whole “taking responsibility thing.” Entrepreneurs definitely need to know how to track numbers and then use that information to evaluate the direction their company will move in. If there is a lack of basic accounting knowledge, consider enrolling in some none credit college classes, continuing education classes or, better yet, locate a self-study course. But this is one area that cannot be compromised. It is essential if a reasonable amount of success is to be attained.

Evaluate Your Skills – 10 Questions

1.    Are you able to motivate yourself? Yes      No
2.    Do you like dealing with people? Yes      No
3.    Are you a leader? Yes      No
4.    Are you a “take charge” person? Yes      No Read the rest of this entry »

This is truly the age of the entrepreneur. (Part 1 of 2) Today there any number of businesses that can be launched with little or no capital. With high-speed Internet access available just about anywhere, more and more home and Internet businesses are springing up. We often hear about highly successful endeavors that spark our internal entrepreneurial spirit. But don’t be too anxious. Do you have skills indiginous to entrepreneurial endeavors. The first step is to make an assessment your skills to identify if you are truly an entrepreneur or better off being an employee!

Numerous studies have been conducted to show that there are crucial differences in the mindsets of entrepreneurs and employees and many claim to have identified a set of common traits and characteristics present in entrepreneurs. Others have focused entirely on characteristics found only in successful entrepreneurs, excluding those who have failed.

Regardless of success or failure, overall, there are common traits present that distinguish entrepreneurs in general from employees. In general these common traits are thought to predispose a person to taking on the challenge of launching their own business. Following are skills commonly accepted.

The Ability To Tell It Like It Is – Although very different in lifestyles, political and religious affiliations, and perspectives on life, those predisposed to entrepreneur-ism are very different in one particular area. Studies have consistently shown that these individuals are much more likely to Read the rest of this entry »

I have recently been introduced to Basecamphq.com, and as a project manager who has used a variety of tools, I’ve got to tell you – I LOVE this site, so wanted to share it with you!  (No it’s not a typo – the “hq” does belong.)

If you are working with a team and particularly if you’re collaborating with a team remotely, this is probably one of the easiest systems I’ve seen to stay connected and keep everyone in the loop without getting buried in emails.  I was thrilled when one of the web design teams I’m working with asked me to submit all of my project tasks to them using this site.

Here are some of the basic features on the dashboard:

• An overview of the entire project that you can sort by who is responsible for a task
• A message board, so your questions don’t get stuck under a pile
• To-Do section that you actually enter your project scope in – high level down to Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you have a brick and mortar business or do all of your business online – I bet you’re always looking for new and creative ways to generate leads.  Check out this video by Seth Stevenson.  He shows and explains how he tested a new lead generation method.

If you took the time to really focus on a target market, rather than doing a general ad like Seth did (of course it was just a test), you could be on to something really big!

Check it out and then leave a comment about what you thought about it…..