Longboards and the entrepreneurial spirit | SummitDaily.com

I stumbled on this article online by Vince White-Petteruti that I thought you would find interesting. What I love is the author's emphasis on the myth that people get into business just to make money. In my many months of web advertising, I have created a presence online and it's amazing how many posts I get about how to make tons of money doing their great idea. I delete post after post about getting rich, and discovering the secrets of the millionaires...ooohhh. What I have to say to them is "You are missing the point, guys!"

Entrepreneurs who make it are those that do what they do to create something that solves a problem. They feel good about what they do at the end of the day. They want to leave a footprint in the sand, teach their kids good business and even better ethics. The point is to make a difference and do what you love and STILL make money! I used to make a ton of money in a industry I did not believe was doing the right thing for my customers and I got out and started over. I do what I do now to help people find an idea they love, and make the money they want while doing THAT SPECIFIC THING. This is what I believe God intended for me to do and that is what I now do for money.

So, check out the article below. Pay close attention to the myths and take it to heart... they are myths. Also "research"! Do your homework, and never believe that your dream is impossible or that it's too late.

Lastly, leave me feedback! Tell me what you think and tell me how I can help you.

Longboards and the entrepreneurial spirit SummitDaily.com

To your success!
Jenn

Hey

Hi there People! Just wanted to let you know I have not forgotten about this site :p there just has not been all that much to post about. Wicked is approaching its 7th anniversary on Broadway! How exciting!

There will be a new feature on the site. I will begin interviewing both cast members and fans of the show, and posting it on here. If you wish to be "fan interviewed" please email me at www.flyinghighwithwicked@yahoo.com and I will send you the questions. I need your first name, but that is really all of your"personal info" I need:) Thanks Guys!

Succeed in the Marathon of Life by Harvey MacKay

Check out the latest by Harvey MacKay about succeeding in the marathon of life.
He always has some inspiring things to say.
Enjoy!

'Succeed in the marathon of life'



business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities
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Great Article by Fortune

Check out this article titled:  11 Great Green Ideas by Fortune Magazine.


business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities

Be An Innovator!

I love it when I stumble across an entrepreneur that makes a successful business and a lifestyle out of an idea that, simply put, came out of nowhere.  Innovative ideas are the basis for all successful business, but those that actually create a concept that sticks are the ones that make it big.

One such example is Facebook.  Who would have thought that an online social forum would have reached such amazing proportions.  Or how about Yahoo and Google... Given the shear size of our Internet, who would have thought to tackle organizing of the plethora of information. 

Some entrepreneurs are putting together tours to the moon.  The pet rock concept - was that too far off?  There is so much out there left to be discovered, created and explored and for some reason we see so much of the same in small business.  Not to put down the everyday business idea you are passionate about, but where is the creativity? 

Years and years ago, problem solving was at the root of new business.  Levi Strauss created a company out of shear need in a time of turmoil and war.  Creating a means of transportation, better communication, and improved, scalable technology platforms have made many a millionaire.  The common thread is they all solved a problem not many were thinking about, but most felt existed in a very uncomfortable way.

A great site to visit for inspiring ideas is http://inventorspot.com/.  I call it the "Believe it or Not" of the business world, where inventors and innovators come together to make the unlikely successful and in many cases, profitable!  Check it out and let me know what you think.  There are some pretty amazing business concepts and actual businesses which may inspire you to do something a little different from the rest of the entrepreneurs out there!

So, the lesson of the day is "don't be afraid to step outside of the box".  You might be pleasantly surprised at how many people step outside and join you!

To your success!
Jenn

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Never stop learning life lessons by Harvey Mackay

This is a must read.  I always love what Harvey has to say.
http://www.harveymackay.com/columns/column_this_week.cfm


business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities

So, what is my business to do?

You've decided to start your own business.  You want to spread your wings and think you have what it takes to run your own show.  Now you just need an idea of how to get the business started.  Well, there are several ways you can start a business, but most of them are dictated by how much you want to invest from day 1.

1.)  Buy an existing business.  This is a great idea in a down economy because there are a lot of businesses that possibly did not get off on the right leg.  With the right business know-how and some dynamic changes, these ventures could do really well.  Business brokers manage the purchases and sales of businesses, and they can provide a wealth of information on how to purchase one that is already producing revenue, but maybe not yet a profit.  Some websites such as http://www.businessbrokers.com/ actually have a list of active business for sale by type and location, and even offer the service of appraising the business for you, so you know if you're getting a good deal.  Buyer beware, though... turnkey businesses may cost a lot of money and good deals are seldom published.  You may need to visit businesses in your local area that you know are either struggling, dated or owned by people who just want a break.  Maybe you can make them an offer?

2.)  Buy a franchise.  Franchises are businesses in a box.  They can include basic concepts or they can provide complete start up assistance, location procurement and even provide all of the equipment and suppliers for one fee.  Most franchises have some kind of monthly fee or stipend that you pay whatever organization owns the franchise and terms can vary greatly.  You definitely want to read the fine print and make sure you are aware of what you can and cannot do as a franchisee.  Some, very established and profitable franchises may be extremely restrictive about the areas in which you choose to operate, and may cost between $200,000 to $500,000 to get started.  However, most are profitable within relatively short periods of time, which is worth the start up money for some.  Entrepreneur Magazine recently performed a review of the Franchise 500, Top 10 Franchises which you can find at http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500/index.html.

3.)  Start from your home or garage.  Home based businesses can become profitable quickly, especially if they are service businesses.  The start up costs can be minimal and overhead can be shared with your household.  If you are providing a service at a customer's location, then location for you is not as important and a home business can be the best way to go.  However, if you have customers that will need to come to you, be aware that come cities and counties have restrictions for home businesses, license requirements and signage.  Some people are also apprehensive about dealing with businesses that are not established, trackable and at a commercial location.  The solution to this can be to rent an executive office or virtual office where you meet customers when needs be.  One company that provides this is http://www.corporateofficecenters.com/.  They offer everything from offices to meeting rooms to answering services mostly in the South, but there are others found on Google that are nationwide.

4.)  Network marketing.  This option is a hybrid between a franchise and a home business and has been endorsed by experts such as Warren Buffett, Donald Trump and the Harvard Business Review.  For a fee, the company enables you to become a distributor, allowing you to essentially start your own leg of their business and recruit your own sales team.  Their compensation packages can be lucrative and depending on the products, you could grow your business rather quickly.  You are able to duplicate your efforts through your sales team, so you do less work eventually.  However, be aware that there are a lot of companies that pose as legitimate companies, but can be scams.  When you are doing your research, please make sure that the company is listed as a member of the Direct Selling Association http://dsa.org/.  Members have to adhere to ethical standards and are ranked annually by the organization.  Make sure and stay amongst the most established, top 50 ranked companies and you should be fine.  Also, make sure to read about the cost of start up, method of training, pricing of products, return policy, and monthly minimum volume requirements before making your decision.

5.)  Start your own traditional business.  This is the good, old-fashioned way to start a business.  You save  up your money, you lease a storefront or office space, you get a phone system and you put a sign on the door.  The costs can be high at first because you will be unlikely to get a credit line in your first two years.  Therefore, if you have inventory you may need hundreds of thousands to get started.  If you need equipment, you may be able to take out some short-term equipment loans, but will have to make a substantial investment and will need to personally guarantee the loan with your own assets and credit.  The small business administration may be able to approve you for an SBA subsidized loan for equipment, start up costs and location financing.  One essential for any type of business, but especially a traditional business is a good business plan.  You need to ensure that you are taking into consideration all of the things that can go wrong, such as injury, disability, legal costs, legal defense and employee theft or misconduct.  You then need to factor these into your start up costs.  Check out the Small Business Planner at http://sba.gov/

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are well informed.  Read everything you can, talk to other business owners, find a great CPA and an even better attorney, join networking groups, read books, take classes and do research online.  You can never have too much information.

I welcome any and all of your questions regarding what your plans are for your business. 
To your success!
Jenn

business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities

'Downturns can be fair weather for business liftoffs'

'Downturns can be fair weather for business liftoffs'




business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities

Getting started - hobby or home business?

I heard an interesting comment a few weeks ago about how to tell the difference between a true business and a hobby.  What I heard was that the difference is a business "makes money", and a hobby "costs you money". 

I thought that was fascinating because oftentimes in the first months to several years of a new business, it does cost us money!  So are we taking our businesses seriously?

It's interesting that the IRS has it's own stipulations for determining the difference between a hobby or a business at this link to determine if you can take the necessary business deductions.  So, I decided to use IRS' questionnaire to help me - and you - determine if you are taking your "business" seriously:

Does the time and effort put into the activity indicate an intention to make a profit?
This was an interesting question because it's not always the case.  Some of us say we are in business, we pass out business cards and we mail a few things, but we are afraid to approach people, ask for the sale or pick up the phone.  We think it is supposed to be easier than it ends up being.  We underestimate the impact a new business has on our daily lives.  A business is all about activity.  Do your actions speak louder than words? 

Does the taxpayer depend on income from the activity?
Well, not really... Most of us start our sideline business on the side so that we can still pay the bills and put food on the table, right?  Well, not depending on the money sometimes means we take it for granted and do not take it seriously.  The IRS seems to think so, too.  When we are financially vested and we stand to lose something, we tend to place a higher value on it, work to keep it, fight to build it.  What does your business mean to you?

Has the taxpayer improved the method of operation to improve profitability?
Wow, now there's a question!  Did we implement change?  Most of us have trouble with this one because we keep doing what we are doing and expecting different results.  I have heard that mentioned as the definition of insanity.  I guess the IRS thinks so, too!  When you do something and it doesn't work, give it a minute and then move on to something else.  Not everything is going to work for everybody.  Be persistent and try different things and determine for yourself what works for your business.  No matter what, keep moving!  The only thing that is certain is change.

Does the taxpayer or his/her advisers have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business?
I think this one might be the most important one of all.  Most of us enter business because we are experts in our fields.... but are we experts in business?  Do we know how to market ourselves and our business?  Do we have what it takes to pound the pavement if necessary?  Are we humble enough to downsize our lives to spend the money we need to spend on advertising and promotion?  Do we truly know how to lead, coach and manage people?  Are we ready to learn and are we teachable?

There are a few more, but I think you probably got the picture.  So, is your business a hobby or a business?  If you are leaning in the hobby direction, you may want to take a look a how you can make a positive impact, how to spark some daily activity, how to learn all you need to know, and how to get to profitability.  Hopefully, this blog will help you get there.

To your success!
Jenn

http://jenniferquinteros.myarbonne.com/
jenniferquinteros@myarbonne.com

business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities

Welcome to my blog

Hi Everybody!

This is my new place and I am glad you have come to visit.  Years ago before the computer age, I used to keep a diary and I haven't done that in a while.  So, I will consider this blog my diary.  I have a lot of business experiences...some good and some not so good... so I would love to share that with you to lead you to the right path and steer you clear of the disasters.  My passion is to help "entrepreneurs with potential".  I say "potential" not because there is anything that would disqualify you from achieving business ownership, but so that it is 100% clear that you own your opportunities and you have to MAKE your potential.  This is a tough world in the midst of a tough time.  If you want success, you can still have it and I would love to show you how.  The rest is up to you.  Just understand it will never be easy and it's not going to happen overnight.  So if you're interested in everything from how to get started, to marketing, Internet presence, networking, conceptualizing, raising capital or even working from home... this is the place to be. 

My specific tool or medium at this time is skin care.  It's what I am personally passionate about and includes cosmetics, wellness and weight management.  All of these things are crucial to life and to our self esteem and I am passionate about the lives I change with amazing products partnered with business savvy.  I will be discussing both in my blog.  Feel free to chime in, say "Hi", disagree, and contribute thought provoking conversation.  Just keep it professional and pleasant, even when we agree to disagree.

So, thanks for being here! 
To your health and success!
Jenn

http://jenniferquinteros.myarbonne.com/
jenniferquinteros@myarbonne.com



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business start up idea,home business franchises,business start up opportunities,lucrative small business,home business opportunities