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
5.    Are you organized? Yes      No
6.    Do you have “stick-to-it”tiveness? Yes      No
7.    Can you make decision without hesitancy? Yes      No
8.    Are you a hard worker? Yes      No
9.    Do you tend to keep good records? Yes      No
10.    Are you trustworthy? Yes      No

Your Score and What They Mean

If you scored “Yes” for at least eight to ten questions, congratulations! You are considered predisposed to running your own business! Get started immediately.

If you scored “Yes” for five to seven questions, then you have some qualities but you must develop a stronger skill set in areas that resulted in  “No” answers.

If you scored “Yes” for less then five questions, don’t consider trying your hand at being an entrepreneur. At least not just yet. It’s just not in you. And don’t consider quitting your job anytime soon, after all, there is nothing wrong with working for someone else. In the meantime, work on your weaknesses if the ‘drive’ is still there and reevaluate in the future.

For those that scored “Yes” for five to ten questions, seriously consider what opportunities present themselves as a possible business model. Once this is established then reach for the stars, pursue your dreams, set goals and achieve them!

After taking this step you will never want to turn back. You will soon reap the rewards of being an entrepreneur and begin to visualize a world of possibilities and opportunities that you may have never dreamed of before. And by using your creative thinking these will be limitless. So enjoy being an entrepreneur!

Until next time,  J.

“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

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 possess strong opinions and and express those without hesitation. It is the ability that allows them to face challenges despite naysayers.

“I Need To Succeed!” – Channeling these feeling into something positive is a great asset. For instance, these individuals can use that strength to develop a healthy “Need for Achievement”. Psychologists use this term to represent motivation. This “Need for Achievement” is essential if you are to succeed. Starting a new business is always challenging and risky, but the “Need for Achievement” will get you past these initial obstacle and help you not obsess excessively. Instead you will be capable of visualizing ways to take advantage of the things you can control.

Creativity and Analytical Thinking Skills are imperative. All entrepreneurs need to recognize and take ownership of opportunities in their life. This requires creative thinking on your part. If you have very little experience, education or capital you won’t let these hinder you. You will see the possibilities. For instance, an individual will recognize and consider a variety of Internet-based or
Home-based business models. Or explore freelancing work or consulting services related to the profession they that possess experience in or that is related to a lifelong hobby.

Willingness To Take Responsibility is one of the most important skills. Entrepreneurs must be willing to face the fact that they must take responsibility for their life… not someone else. This means avoiding the “blame game” as if it were the plague.

All entrepreneurs need to possess Great Communications and Social Skills or emotional stability and the ability to communicate through verbal and written words. This is necessary if you are to thoroughly understand your clients or customers. You must be able to comfortably converse any variety of people since selling in any form requires little bit of psychology and a lot of personality. This goes hand-in-hand with developing and maintaining personal relationships through cooperation and tactfulness for great customer service.

Come back to see what Part 2 discusses, including  10 questions to evaluate your skills!

Until next time, J.

“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

If every time you turn around there’s a new technology, a new sales tool, a new program ~ and you just don’t have time to take it all in and digest it ~ you don’t want to miss this!

Really ~ check out how to eliminate information overload once and for all by visiting:  EasyMarketingInfo.com

One of the industries best has outdone himself.  Save time and money by checking this out….you might find that time to play an extra round of golf, or go on a road trip!

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

Being a self employed entrepreneur and working from home has so many benefits.  Have you ever thought about the freedom you could have waking up without an alarm clock?  Working for awhile and taking an exercise break?  Coming back to work and not fighting traffic or paying for gas?  And now here’s another huge benefit… being able to work from anywhere?

Right now I am working from the patio of an apartment I’ve rented for a couple of weeks in Zihuantanejo, Mexico. You’ve got to love my office view!  What’s stopping you?

Until next time,  J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

This weeks ABC is O for Organic SEO ~ If expensive online campaigns are not your style, then you might like to check out Organic SEO which allows you to build a digital presence without breaking the bank.  Content driven, contextual promotion requires a bit of patience but has a long lasting impact on your online endeavour.  Organic SEO is a combination of high quality content, through articles, press releases, blogs, (commenting & posting), video marketing, Twitter…. I think you get the idea – it is when your name and/or brand over time “go viral”and show up naturally in the search engines.  Good keyword usage is critical.  This method takes longer than Google campaigns, but it is very effective over time.

Come back next week for more ABC’s of Online Marketing!

It is no surprise whether you are retiring and looking for another career, or whether you’re stuck with this economy, more and more people are looking to start home based businesses.  This article by Cheryl Kimball and Entrepreneur Press list 55 business startup ideas. These are separated into 3 categories:

• Startups under $1500
• Startups under $3000
• Startups Over $3000 (but might not exceed $5000)

It’s worth looking at because they don’t just list the idea, but provide a short comment on how to get started.  It was interesting though, that I didn’t see much having to do with online marketing, most were service related.  Lots of great food for thought though!  Visit: www.businessonmain.msn.com

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

I wanted to remind you about a brand new complimentary call that Ali Brown is hosting that will help your small business get off to a spectacular start for the new year.  (I’m a big fan of Ali’s and strongly suggest that you consider following her as one of your “teachers” as well.)

It’s called, “Your 11 Best No-Cost to Low-Cost Marketing & Business Strategies for 2010!” and it happens Wednesday, January 6 at 8pm Eastern.

(In a hurry? Sign up for this complimentary call now at
http://www.HowToLiveAbundantly.com)

Both Ali and her award winning guest marketer Lorrie (of Red Hot Copy) have been watching what’s changed in marketing and online businesses during the past few years, and after much discussion, they want to share their recommendations with YOU.

On this call you’ll discover:

• how to best leverage social media applications such as Facebook and Twitter for business results (without wasting all day online)

• the online system you’re likely already using that you are NOT maximizing to your advantage — and how to do so at no additional cost

• how to plug your marketing money leaks and make full use of all the opportunities you’re missing online and offline to get more leads and sales

• teleseminars vs. webinars vs. podcasts: which pull BEST right now and why

• today’s NEW protocols for scoring the best joint ventures and affiliate relationships you’ve ever had

• best lead-generation (list-building) practices for 2010 specifically for highest-quality leads

Again, learn more and register for this complimentary preview call on January 6 at
http://www.HowToLiveAbundantly.com

Don’t miss out on this powerful one-time call that is sure to help you clarify and simplify your marketing strategies for the best results in 2010!

See you on the call!
Until next time, J.

“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

P.S. – Feel free to forward this email to your friends and associates

It seems almost absurd for baby boomers to think about retirement as the next stop in their long and eventful lives.  But the absurd has become a reality.  As the baby boomer generation moves into their mid fifties and sixties, that specter of retirement looms ever closer.  So it’s natural and appropriate to sit back and review exactly what that means to each of us. (Especially since times may be more trying than in the past).

For many, the traditional attitude toward retirement has been one of joy.  The concept of laying down your worries and bringing your work life to a comfortable end is something to look forward to.  The image of a life of sleeping late, golfing as much as you wish, taking up two or three hobbies and living a life of leisure is an idyllic vision in our minds for sure.

But the reality of retirement can also be a source of anxiety and fear.  If the baby boomer who approaches that threshold is not financially prepared or the affairs and concerns of their work lives are not ready to be set aside, the idea of having go retire simply due to age seems to be a harsh and an unpleasant prospect.  In both of these visions of a future retirement, we are probably working under as much myth as we are reality about what it will be like to retire.  But one thing baby boomers are good at is debunking myths and defying conventional wisdom and defining each era of their lives in their own terms.

We can expect the same as baby boomers move into retirement.  This is a generation that did not have the benefit of employers who were loyal to employees and kept the same staff from college through their retirement party and from whom they could expect a hefty retirement package.  But boomers are not the kind of generation that lets things sneak up on them.  Working with such excellent organizations as AARP, there are resources and options baby boomers can tap into to create a secure financial future despite the lack of participation by past employers.

But as with all other phases of life however, financial security is not what makes life worthwhile all by itself.  And as baby boomers see retirement coming at their next stop, another myth that has to go is that retirement is the end of the productive part of life.  This image of living a life of leisure, never working and letting others take care of us is not necessarily a healthy approach to retirement any more than it would be at any other phase of life. Many of us want to continue working and stay productive, but now it’s redefined as wanting to make our “work count”, and we’re either volunteering more, or turning our passions into income generating businesses.

Human beings are at their best when they are useful, creative, productive and pursuing a dream.  It has been shown time and time again that when a senior citizen can no longer be part of something larger than themselves and see themselves as productive in life, their will to live declines with the inevitable result of an end of life that is earlier than it has to be.  So the financial demand that some baby boomers face that they may have to work on into what is considered to be the “retirement years” may have a hidden blessing of extending their lives in a healthy way because these will the baby boomers who know they must stay fit and active because, just like always, they have to get up and go to work.

For those who do lay down their labors at retirement age, second careers are often a great way for aging baby boomers to not only create a second revenue stream but to pursue a career path that had always been a dream in life.  Another alternative as well for staying active and useful in retirement is to become passionate about a cause in life that has always been important to you.

Baby boomers have always been a people driven by causes.  So what better way for baby boomers to use their retirement than to become activists to make a difference in the world, just as they did in youth when they did so much to make a difference?

If you’re considering the option of continuing to work, have you thought about increasing your skill set and learning how to market online?  If not, you’re missing a huge opportunity…. To see how you can get started with an incredible education that you can use for any venture you pursue, check this out!

“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”
Until next time, J.

As baby boomers are rapidly approach what used to be defined as “retirement age”, a big concern often comes up about whether there will be enough retirement savings in place to be able to live a comfortable life later in life.  There have been plenty of rumbles from Washington that the Social Security system will not be able to bear up under the huge demand the boomer generation will put on it.  So few baby boomers are looking to depend on that money being there, even though we are all paying into it every month.

On top of that worry, the method our parents used of working for the same company for 50 years and retiring with a hefty financial package and a gold watch has gone the way of the dinosaurs.  Long ago corporate America began to eliminate retirement packages as a straight forward benefit.  So many baby boomers find themselves approaching retirement age with insufficient retirement monies to support them.  What is needed is a solid plan to attack this problem while boomers still have a good 10 to 15 years of working potential in them.  Some principles of that plan might be…

Simplify Your Life.

When the kids finish college and get out on their own, you may find your life could be simplified considerably.  You might not need as big a house and many of the extras that were important when you raising a family in that house.  Do a thorough review of your assets and your expenses.  You will find you can cut costs significantly and even begin to cash in on some of the extras you have had all these years and put all of those savings into the bank as a hedge for the day when you are ready to retire.

Pack the Bank Account Now.

The empty nest syndrome isn’t all bad.  There are some real benefits to returning to a lifestyle of just you and your spouse discovering life together.  You have conquered many challenges raising a family in this tough world and you deserve to be proud of your life of accomplishment.  But now you and your spouse can take on a big challenge that is just for you which is to get out there and generate income for retirement.

Both members of the union can take on as much work as can be found.  Often in the mid to late fifties, the primary bread winner may be able to retire from that job they have held down for several decades.  But instead of beginning to live off of retirement funds, get another career going that can generate another ten to fifteen years of income.  With good budget management, it’s very likely you will be able to bank at least one entire income if not more and put all of that money back into retirement.

Working with your investment counselors you can find ways to shelter that extra income so it stays out of the tax system until you are ready to use it.  The good news is that this push for productivity and revenue generation late in life can lead to a healthy retirement budget that can benefit you well as you finally sit back to enjoy your leisure years in the rocking chair taking care of the grandkids. (Or traveling to places you’ve dreamed of and writing postcards to the grandkids!!)

Identify a Money Generator that Can Stay With You

There are second careers that you can find that will become a good source of supplemental revenue even after you retire.  Start now looking for a potential “retirement career” which will be a line of work you can do even after you retire to generate additional income for you.  Writing or internet marketing is a good way to set up a home based business that you can continue to work at as long as you can type, see reasonably well and your thinking capacity is sound.  (Plus, this can be done from anywhere – even while you’re traveling and writing postcards to the family!)

Retirement jobs have the double benefit of adding to your revenue resources and keeping you active and enjoying life in your retirement years.  And that is what all of us want.

Take control of your destiny or someone else will
Until next time, J.

Welcome back to the last part of how to start a side business without quitting your day job….

6.    Plan to act.

You now have all of the tools needed to get create a plan of action for your business idea(s). You may have 3 options or more on your list. Continuing with the exercises presented in this article learn more about what’s needed for your business. See what additional skills are needed to get started. Find out what fees and licensing if any are needed to get started with your business. Add additional columns if needed to your checklist so you can visually see the results.

Start a second page to make notes of your plan of action after completing your research. This is where you will list all of your tasks needed to achieve your objectives. You’ll also want to set small milestones for yourself so you can chart your progress.

As you are starting your side business share it with your immediate family as you’ll need their complete support. Only start sharing your plans outside of your immediate family when you are clear on what you want and have mapped out a plan. Most people don’t get started in business because of fears: fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of success. Imagine if you shared your excitement about your business idea with someone who was in this category.

They may try to talk you out of it or make you think your idea will not work. There are many multi-million dollar businesses that would have never taken flight had they shared the idea early on. Remember we pay for bottled water when it comes freely out of the faucet. Whoever initiated this business idea could have easily been discouraged because why would people pay for something they can get for free. You get the idea!

Here are the six critical steps to get you on your way to starting a side business without quitting your day job:

• Exercise #1: Create list of things you are passionate about.
• Exercise #2: Determine what time you have available to commit to your business.
• Exercise #3: Determine what funds you have available to invest in your business.
• Exercise #4: Rate your business ideas on a scale 1 to 5 with 5 being the most time needed. And rate your business ideas on a scale 1 to 5 with 5 being the most money needed to start.

• ·  Make a list of skills you need in order to start your business.

·    Exercise #6: Create a plan of action.
Being a business owner is not easy, yet it is most rewarding when you have carefully selected the business that works best for you, your family, and your lifestyle. With these steps you can identify business opportunities that work best for you and allow you to keep your day job. It is possible to start a side business and work full-time. In today’s economy building your nest egg is now up to you and the only way to make it grow the way you want is to start your own business.

I wish you much success in determining what your new venture may be, and if I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”