tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25701540675398297672024-03-19T03:52:15.102-07:00Bless My Bonesfor you are the backbone of the familymentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-38355742068965672822012-09-06T10:55:00.000-07:002012-09-06T10:55:43.636-07:00Top 10 Best Investment Ideas for Beginners That Can Make You Money<div style="text-align: justify;">Are you an investing beginner? Do you want to learn how to start investing and how to make money in the stock market? Then read on as I share with you the top 10 best investment ideas for beginners that can make you money both in the short and long run.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are a beginner investor, the thought of parting with your money for investment options is quite hard; and even scary at times. But with the help of these top 10 investment ideas for beginners, the entire process of investing will get somewhat easier. So to help you figure out what to do in terms of investments, here are, in no particular order, the top 10 best investment ideas for beginners that can make you money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before I proceed, I want to state clearly that each of these investment ideas has its own fundamental principles and strategies that you must know. Secondly, you don't need to invest in all of them to achieve success; just pick one or two that you are willing to learn through and stick with it. Having noted these points, let's proceed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Top 10 Best Investment Ideas for Beginners that can Make You Money</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>Real Estate</b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for well-protected investments, then you should invest in real estate. Even in developing nations, the real estate sector thrives and flourishes thus making them excellent investments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>Gold</b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whether in the form of jewelry or in bars, it is always a good idea to invest in gold. Unlike most of the other investment options, gold's value is continually on the rise as the dollar keeps depreciating in value.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>Forex</b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When compared to the other forms of investment, it is forex trading that yields the best returns; not to mention that you can start forex trading with a small capital. If you have a sound strategy, it is possible to make a tidy sum of money in forex trading.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· <b>Insurance</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone needs insurance so investing in a plan or two will make sure that you are well taken cared of in cases of emergency or when you grow old and retire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Your company's 401k</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lots of companies offer "safe harbor" or other similar retirement plans. The way safe harbor contribution programs work is that the entire amount paid by your company are vested to you entirely; this means that even if you choose to resign from your job, the funds will still be in your name.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Top 10 Best Investment Ideas for Beginners that can Make You Money</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Treasury Bonds</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are safe investments, mainly because it is the government that issues them. You can buy treasury bonds for as low as a thousand dollars each and they yield upwards of 5% after maturing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Stock Market</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you like a bit of excitement while earning some money at the same time then you should try dabbling in the stock market. Just take note of the risks involved in trading stocks so that you do not lose too much money if your stock picks take a dive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Mutual Funds</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you want a simpler way to invest then mutual funds is more up your alley. You only need to choose a particular type of fund and then direct them to your fund manager and he will do the rest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Penny Stocks</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for an investment option that can possibly make you a lot of money in just hours, try trading penny stocks. These are volatile stocks that are so cheap that they can actually double or triple in value within a span of a couple of hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">· Time Deposits and Other Bank Products</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can always talk with a representative of your local bank and ask about their fixed deposit schemes. Most banks offer really generous returns on time deposits, certificate of deposits and the like, making them worthwhile investments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And just before I drop my pen, if you need Expert Investment Ideas for Beginners with respect to stocks, real estate, commodities, etc; please feel free to visit our blog. We also provide free tips, strategies and Top Small Business Ideas.</div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-31188836815147582552012-09-06T10:51:00.000-07:002012-09-06T10:51:23.413-07:00Market Forecasting for Profits<div style="text-align: justify;">The purpose of Market Forecasting is to determine, with a high degree of accuracy, when the market is likely to start a new leg up or down. In other words, the plan is to 'when' the market is likely going to make a new top or bottom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Now why is that important?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trading is all about probabilities and risk. You first determine the probability for the direction of the market, and then you must determine the risk exposure if you were to take the trade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What Market Forecasting attempts to do is to find the right time to enter the market where the risk exposure is as low as possible while the profit potential justifies the risk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since 1988, I've dedicated thousands of hours and dollars in pursuit of sharpening my market forecasting skills. Has this paid off? Absolutely! The payoff occurred early on in my trading career, following my first account wipe-out. Having to replenish my trading account following one very bad trade back around 1991, I was at a point where I could not afford to take big risks due to the small size of my account. Trading the futures markets back then, we did not have the luxury that many beginning traders have today, such as opening mini-Forex accounts. So realizing that just one futures contract could put you in a deep hole fast if you are not immediately correct in your timing, I focused all my efforts on learning the skills and secrets to precision market timing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Market Forecasting became the vehicle that provided me with high probability "turn points" in which to plan my trades around. When the calculations were such that signaled a high probability for a new top or bottom, I looked for an opportunity to trade in the new direction expected.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of what is needed to be good at Market Forecasting is actual experience. While there are many ways to isolate high probability turn points, knowing how to deal with these turning points is also very important. The reason for this is that each turning point presents its own set of questions that must be answered.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For example, if the turn expected is a bottom, you need to ask yourself whether your suspected bottom is at known support. Is the market currently oversold? Is the trend currently bullish, or am I trying to catch the very bottom of a bear market? Are there any other indications that support my assumptions? If I were to take this trade, where would be the logical price to put a protective stop-loss? Is the amount of risk exposure justified for the amount of upside potential I suspect is available?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While predicting market tops and bottoms has its obvious advantages, it is how these predictions are actually used for trading that will determine whether you are profiting or not from your calculations. It is the foolish and inexperienced trader that thinks he/she can just find some useful market prediction method and immediately become a trading phenom. The smart <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>trader</b></a> is the one that realizes that, along with a very good forecasting (timing) method, practice and patience, along with good old fashion experience, is also a major requirement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every market behaves in predictable ways. While this may not be obvious at first to a new chart reader, simple technical techniques such as trendline analysis, even oscillator indicators (Stochastic, MACD, %R, etc.), can give you insight as to 'when' the market is 'likely' to change direction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While no method is 100% foolproof, consider the simple Gann or Fibonacci retracement method. By first determining the trend of the market for the time frame you are currently analyzing, any time the market moves against that trend, you look for it to move 37%, 50% or 62% against the last move that was with the trend. In other words, if the trend is bullish and the last move up from a top to bottom was 100 points, you would then look for price to move down about 37 points, 50 point or 62 points. These 'support' levels, if they happen to also coincide with a trend line you have along previous bottoms upward, can often signal a turn point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another simple method is to count price bars. From any significant top or bottom, count forward 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 270, 360 trading days and calendar days. This is something that was taught by W.D. Gann, amongst other methods. When these time periods arrive, see if you get other indications to support a top or bottom likely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whatever method you learn and use, keep in mind that profiting from Market Forecasting requires you address each turn point with the seriousness it deserves before you trade it, as discussed earlier. Enter the trade only when your assumptions have been proven correct, and place your protective stop-loss where your assumption has proven wrong.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By taking advantage of Market Forecasting methods and methodically filtering each calculation with other supporting factors, along with good old fashion practice and experience, you can really extract excellent <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>profits</b></a> regularly from the markets with low risk exposure.</div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-15888226715682969042012-09-06T10:48:00.000-07:002012-09-06T10:48:28.571-07:00Money Fund Regs Deserve A Stake Through The Heart<div style="text-align: justify;">A top federal regulator's effort to reform money market funds - reform them into uselessness, that is - is dead. But don't celebrate yet; this bureaucratic monster may still try to rise from its crypt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For four decades, money funds have served investors well as a place to park cash that they might need on short notice, usually at somewhat higher interest rates than are available at a federally insured bank. The funds are not insured, and their value is not guaranteed, though their share price is held constant at $1 per share by design. Only twice has a fund "broken the buck" by allowing its shares to fall below $1. (Shares will never rise above that value, because the funds can simply issue new shares.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro wants to change all that. She has backed a rule that would force money market funds to allow their share prices to fluctuate. The fluctuations would be tiny, and would cause fund <a href="http://blessmybones.blogspot.com/"><b>investors</b></a> a major bookkeeping headache as they tracked and reported gains and losses for tax purposes. But somehow these small fluctuations will supposedly remind investors that the money funds are not backed by the federal government. And this reminder is supposed to prevent future panic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even worse, Schapiro's proposal would require funds to hold back some of an investor's money when the investor wants to make a big withdrawal. The idea is that if a fund's share price is at risk of declining, investors should not be able to avoid the loss by selling beforehand. Imagine if we applied that rule to the entire stock market. However, widespread opposition did not deter the SEC chief from scheduling a vote on her new rules.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But something unexpected, or at least unexpected by Schapiro, happened. In late August, Schapiro was forced to cancel the five-member SEC's vote, because she was going to lose. Commissioner Luis Aguilar - like Schapiro, a Democratic appointee - had decided to join the SEC's two Republicans in opposition, according to The Wall Street Journal. (1) Aguilar called for further study to determine whether money market funds, whose regulation has already been tightened after a large fund broke the buck during the 2008 financial crisis, require any further steps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's great news, but not great enough. The Federal Reserve shares Schapiro's misplaced perception of money funds as a source, rather than a victim, of the 2008 troubles. The Fed continues to focus on possible constraints in order to clamp down on money market funds' utility, as well as their perceived risks for investors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are steps the Fed could take that would be reasonable, if not necessarily useful. The central bank is, after all, responsible for the health of the U.S. banking system. American and foreign banks have historically raised a lot of money from money market funds. This makes the funds a potential route to carry foreign (read: European) banking problems into the U.S. banking system, though the money funds themselves have already pulled back substantially from buying paper issued by foreign banks. The Fed may decide to restrict American banks from raising money from the money funds, which is its prerogative.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the Fed has already taken upon itself the task of providing banks virtually all the money they want at virtually no cost, which is why neither you and I nor money market funds can generate much income by lending money to U.S. banks today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bigger problem would result from more overt Fed regulation of the money market funds, should it conclude that the funds represent a systemic risk to the national or international global machinery. The funds, incidentally, pose no such risk. Schapiro and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke are misreading what happened in 2008.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Money market funds did not cause the financial panic of 2008. They were not even part of the cause. Federal officials had to step in after the failure of the Reserve Primary Fund with a temporary backstop of other funds (doing so ultimately cost the government nothing, because no other fund broke the buck) only because the entire financial system was on the verge of collapse following the failure of Lehman Brothers. Money funds had nothing to do with Lehman Brothers' collapse, except that the Reserve Primary Fund became a victim of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In September 2008, after Lehman collapsed, nobody knew which financial institution was safe - with the exception of the U.S. government, which can print all the dollars it needs. Money funds did not face a crisis of solvency or of liquidity; they faced a crisis of confidence that grew directly out of how the government regulated other institutions, not the funds themselves. Only the government had the ability to restore confidence, which it did, to our collective relief. Now, instead of recognizing their success and avoiding a recurrence of the underlying problems, wrongheaded regulators want to put investors on notice that in any future crisis of confidence, they should have no confidence.</div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-46530192769092614602012-08-04T12:37:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.853-07:00Business Networking International<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93geF7RWZBTPHkZ2TibAYmH2VjS_LJk985nt-e0-vaypc36ROetelcNBS_Iq5gPUxlLJJDDkAtJA3TU6aUtrbauC5MxHVkTFzL4iAv1kbbpjbqAWZDURtOzgWTjU-RjzTTL69BhZNmnzC/s1600/Business+Networking+International.jpg" title="Business Networking International"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93geF7RWZBTPHkZ2TibAYmH2VjS_LJk985nt-e0-vaypc36ROetelcNBS_Iq5gPUxlLJJDDkAtJA3TU6aUtrbauC5MxHVkTFzL4iAv1kbbpjbqAWZDURtOzgWTjU-RjzTTL69BhZNmnzC/s320/Business+Networking+International.jpg" alt="Business Networking International" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5772904406063226562" border="0" /></a><a href="http://ssselena.blogspot.com/2012/08/business-networking-international.html"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" title="Business Networking International">Business Networking International</span></a> is honored on becoming the world's greatest affiliate business. Chapters consist of one fellow member for each profession. Like a co-founder as well as previous us president of an BNI South Florida part, I'd like to reveal a number of our suffers from with you in order to assist you in creating any business decisions in connection with business.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">BNI was launched in the middle 1980's by Medical professional. Ivan Miner along with started in California. One of the primary ideas from the business is "givers gain". Medical professional. Miner increased the organization with a nationwide and shortly a global drive in business networking.<br /><br />What is all this concerning?<br /><br />Whether you start a whole new phase involving BNI or sign up for a per-existing one, your purpose, because it refers to your section, is two crease. The 1st important things you may be performing, is keeping the eyes and also hearing wide open with regard to business testimonials with users inside chapter. The opposite crucial operate is actually prospecting various other business professionals for regular membership.<br /><br />How can regular membership assist you?<br /><br />An individual benefit when you move testimonials and referrals for the reason that folks acquiring people recommendations will certainly really feel a responsibility to return the particular prefer. Think of it this way, how do you feel whenever you receive a gift within the holidays and also you lack someone to return to the one that offered that for your requirements? Same task costs business testimonials.<br /><br />To conclude<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" title="Business Networking International">Business Networking International</span> is an extremely properly set up as well as worthwhile corporation. A number of chapters have a problem as a consequence of an attitude regarding rigid sticking towards the bylaws, other folks benefit from all of them. Usually the one member every profession can typically be deemed a durability from the corporation.<br /></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-70308052512164959872012-07-03T03:34:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.853-07:00Business Networking in 5 Simple Steps<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1&show_year=2011&show_month=02&blog=642&page=0"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JUM7dkKrkrJqS9mSC19Gi1JRztne27awZhl1xEduVeT_qHnjgthV3hp9k96W05F5EF2dgIYs-4cjkoVA0zn4DGPMG1sd4V-zrxGOk5ElDQt8iaFoUNli7eDKwcD97uLh0gT2nfQb9jw6/s1600/5steps.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">There are 5 essential steps to building business through business networking;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">1. Set your networking objectives</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">2. Identify your target market</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">3. Develop your proposition</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">4. Define your inner network</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">5. Build your advocates</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">Go to the full article, <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1&show_year=2011&show_month=02&blog=642&page=0">Business Networking in 5 Simple Steps</a>, for more and a complimentary ebook to help you build a plan based on these 5 steps.</div><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>!<br /><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a><br />ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-68230905981455996812012-06-26T15:01:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.245-07:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Who Do You Trust For Business Advice?<b>Who would you trust to give you good advice on how to best function as a Baby Boomer Entrepreneur?</b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Washington Post was interested in finding the best business wisdom hidden in classic movie quotes.</b></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">We asked entrepreneurs which famous lines from the silver screen offer the greatest insight and advice for running a business. The top 15 are below, but we want to hear from you, too. Which other movie quotes do you think offer valuable business lessons?</span></blockquote>Of the choices presented, my favorite was from Cynthia Kay:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtniUIcYr1pRoGiKn0Hd2CWWP67Vj7eZ-X5D1O2jmJTyq-9QI_FcK6jpbfN9DVJvcQ4BLPiD0CnUL4USSCA1K_JWqOoJYwUtkJYrT6tPsszNS5VZeGavXM216zW2FX0kMQOJu1ulFPZJ4U/s1600/m62212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtniUIcYr1pRoGiKn0Hd2CWWP67Vj7eZ-X5D1O2jmJTyq-9QI_FcK6jpbfN9DVJvcQ4BLPiD0CnUL4USSCA1K_JWqOoJYwUtkJYrT6tPsszNS5VZeGavXM216zW2FX0kMQOJu1ulFPZJ4U/s200/m62212.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="heading4 title" style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 7px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." -- The Wizard of Oz (1939)</div><div class="cut-line" style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetics, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">"Small business owners today know that doing business can be fraught with a whirlwind of uncertainty. We can end up in places we never intended. This famous line provides small business owners with the inspiration to think beyond their own little worlds, to step out of traditional ways of doing business and explore what is possible. Yes, we are small businesses, but we have big ideas that can take us on an amazing journey." -- Cynthia Kay, president and owner of Cynthia Kay and Company in Grand Rapids, Mich.</div><div class="by-line padding-bottom" style="background-color: #111111; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetics, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="name"></span><span class="organization">WARNER HOME VIDEO</span></div></blockquote>I have actually used this quote many times over my career to point out that times have changed. I think it is particularly relevant to baby boomers establishing themselves as entrepreneurs. Regardless of your prior life situation, you are trailblazing a new frontier as you move toward being a baby boomer business owner.<br /><br />Most of us have had experience with the technical aspects of our work. Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, gives us the classic examples of cooks opening restaurants, mechanics opening auto repair shops, and carpenters becoming home builders. The problem for us is that we may not have the managerial skills to hire and train people to do that work. Even more rarely do we have the entrepreneurial skills to organize and market such a business.<br /><br />Whoever you select to provide you with advice must understand what you will need to perform the full range of duties you will have in organizing your business. Plus they must have the understanding of how to teach you the business development skills required to grasp how all the pieces fit and interact with one another in the various stages of getting your business up and running.<br /><br /><b>To help you with a vision of what you face as you move out into a new frontier,</b> I have prepared a video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSVLQUTxYs">Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - You Need A Guide.</a><br /><br />To see more of the cute suggestions offered by the Washington Post, please check out this link:<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/the-best-business-wisdom-hidden-in-classic-movie-quotes/2012/06/25/gJQATVgg2V_allComments.html?ctab=all_&" style="background-color: white;">The best business wisdom hidden in classic movie quotes - The Washington Post</a><span style="background-color: white;">:</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">The article has quotes that you can build upon...if you can use them in the right context. You have to know if you are still in Kansas.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Shallie</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-11695968742660695162012-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.245-07:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs, 70% of Great Businesses Do NOT Start With A Plan.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F9SPxSeJMbA" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><b> Do great businesses start with a plan? </b>The answer is "no" according to Anthony Tjan.<br /><br />Tjan says that 70% of businesses with a successful exit (that is, an IPO or sale to another firm) did NOT start with a business plan. Tjan, CEO and Managing Partner of the venture capital firm Cue Ball, discovered this information while researching the forthcoming book that he is co-authoring --<i>Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck. </i>He and his colleagues interviewed and surveyed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs around the world to see what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and build a really successful business.<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...their business journeys originated in a different place, a place we call the Heart. They were conceived not with a document but with a <i>feeling </i>and <i>doing </i>for an authentic vision. Clarity of purpose and passion ruled the day with less time spent writing an idea and more time just doing it." </blockquote> This conclusion has sparked quite a controversy. You can see 158 comments at the time I am writing this post.<br /><a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2012/05/great-businesses-dont-start-wi.html?awid=6705632995402906805-3271">http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2012/05/great-businesses-dont-start-wi.html?awid=6705632995402906805-3271</a><br /><br />Though I believe in business plans,<b> I believe that the dream must come first</b>. It is the vision that leads to the development of the business plan. The well written plan, with well defined systems, leads to successful implementation...which results in a successful business. This pathway avoids the 80%+ failure rate of the typical entrepreneurs.<br /><br />Though this sounds radical, you will hear much the same thoughts from Michael Gerber, author of<i> The E-Myth Revisited. </i>In the above video, Gerber describes how the entrepreneur goes through a four step process that starts with a dream and ends with implementation.<br /><br /><b>What do you think?</b> Please share your comments below.mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-70742982137682643352012-03-07T06:34:00.000-08:002012-09-07T00:52:47.853-07:00ssselenassselenamentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-78407115043696793302012-03-04T12:40:00.000-08:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00Privacy PolicyPrivacy Policy for ssselena.blogspot.com<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at brakassiti@gmail.com.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At ssselena.blogspot.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. 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More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">So far, we have created ... 351,853 Privacy Policies.<br /></div><br /> <b><a href="http://www.serprank.com/privacy-policy-generator/html-policy1.php?url=ssselena.blogspot.com&emailaddress=brakassiti@gmail.com&cookie=does%20use%20cookies%20to%20store%20information%20about%20visitors%20preferences,%20record%20user-specific%20information%20on%20which%20pages%20the%20user%20access%20or%20visit,%20customize%20Web%20page%20content%20based%20on%20visitors%20browser%20type%20or%20other%20information%20that%20the%20visitor%20sends%20via%20their%20browser.&adsense=Google%20Adsense%3Cbr%3E&cj=&kontera=&adbrite=&wb=&clickbank=&azoogle=&chitika=&linkshare=&amazon=" target=""> Grab the HTML for this Privacy Policy</a></b><br /> <b><i><a href="http://www.serprank.com/privacy-policy-generator/index.php" target="_top">Create another Privacy Policy</a></i></b>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-59508756230983119252012-03-02T06:52:00.000-08:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00Making Friends in Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIBAP66CauE9Jm6ddHve6jN9o7oOZNdLKeNJQkvXbWO5NcyzgOVslGrykd-JmIAjJWKQ3ILTUmQIhZB3zg2FFUil9UqDtRf8TBGfMgBXvk8HMija8vpGU5TEKu3amdLsR2LftvPPo2ZQa/s1600/Netski.png" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have recently returned from a week skiing in the Swiss Alps on what is now the annual <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/NetSki/240293759388474">Netski</a> trip organised by <a href="http://www.warrencass.com/" target="_blank">Warren Cass</a>. The party was made up of 18 business people who have become friends through organised networking. This year they included leaders from <a href="http://www.angelsden.co.uk/">Angels Den</a>, <a href="http://www.business-scene.com/" target="_blank">Business-Scene</a>, <a href="http://www.directorscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">Directors Centre</a>, <a href="http://www.ecademy.com/" target="_blank">Ecademy</a> , <a href="http://www.taxadvicenetwork.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tax Advice Network</a> and <a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com./" target="_blank">NRG-networks</a> </div><br />In the organised networks we run we help business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop business through networking. This works if you focus on building relationships first with the right people. Do the right things and business follows. Nobody on the skiing trip was selling to each other yet business was done and referred. Relationships first, business second. <br /><br />I overheard a conversation between one of our party and someone else on a lift. The other person had asked what organised business networking was all about. After the reply he said, "I see, you're in the friends making business." <br /><br />Friends are people you know well and like. They show loyalty, affection and offer help and support. All things that you need in running your business! <br /><br />Friends first, business second. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>!<br /><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a><br /><br /> ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-58222618784215444712012-01-28T03:55:00.000-08:002012-09-07T00:48:09.245-07:00What Will You Do With YOUR Next Five Years?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrp3XMrKo">The Five Book Video - YouTube</a>: "<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dDnrp3XMrKo" width="420"></iframe>"<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a> You are an aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur. What will you do with the next 5 years?<br /><br />This video takes you on an inspirational tour of your mind as you explore what you will do differently over the next 5 years. It is based upon the book, 5, by Dan Zadra.<br /><br />Shalliementarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-57371722593165921002011-12-14T21:20:00.000-08:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00What The Mint Taught Me About Marketing<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204336104577096893162350800.html#articleTabs%3Dvideo">The Buck Stops Here: $1 Coins to Be Curtailed - WSJ.com</a>:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a><object height="315" id="wsj_fp" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/main.swf"> <br /></param><br /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <br /></param><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <br /></param><br /><param name="flashvars" value="videoGUID={29C9B4E1-907F-496B-9A17-226EDD2DC0F1}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/"name="flashPlayer"> <br /></param><br /><embed src="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/main.swf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"flashVars="videoGUID={29C9B4E1-907F-496B-9A17-226EDD2DC0F1}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/" name="flashPlayer" width="512" height="363" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />Early this morning, I awoke to an e-mail from a friend, Ed. Ed wanted to know what I thought about the Mint stopping production of coin dollars. Of course, my friend was aware that as Superintendent of the United States Mint (Philadelphia), I was involved in the first production of the Susan B. Anthony coin dollar in 1979.<br /><br />As I watched the coverage, I was transported back to the early discussion of smaller coin dollars in the late 70s.<br /><br />I recalled going into my office many mornings and finding mail bags with drawings from elementary school children from across the country. Many teachers inspired their students to participate in government by sending their suggestions for who should appear on the front of the new coin. As always, the students were quite creative. Their suggestions ranged from historic individuals to pop culture icons, perhaps even their mother, father, teacher, themselves, or their new puppy. I recall that Elvis Presley was particularly popular. As there is essentially only one law limiting who can be on a coin...the person cannot be currently living...many of their suggestions were possible.<br /><br />Of course the real decision required hearings in Washington where people appeared to present their opinions. There was a big battle about whether it should be the Statue of Liberty or Susan B Anthony. Then the battle shifted to what image of Susan B Anthony. Should it be her in her early life as in the case of most coins? Or should it be in her later life after the victories for which she is noted?<br /><br />When the decision was made, we sighed as we came to the end of the debate. Then, the next morning, we awakened to remember that a coin has two sides...the debate was just half done.<br /><br />Of course there were many decisions to be made before the official First Strike Ceremony in 1979. The next day after the first striking , the process of getting them to the Federal Reserve Banks began. Then there was another "next day" involving getting the coins into local banks.That was followed by getting them into stores, followed by getting them into the hands of people. This was followed by the first person spending one thinking it was a quarter...followed by the first reporter warning people not to spend the coin dollar thinking it is a quarter.<br /><br />That battle has raged for 32 years and the discussion is still the same. This leads to what the Mint taught me about marketing:<br /><br />1. People make decisions on how they feel. The decision are about emotions. Then we select the facts that support our emotions.<br />2. Everyone has an opinion. For the most part, individual opinions don't matter. It is the collection of opinions that determines if there is a <i><b>problem that needs to be solved</b></i>.<br />3. The fact that there is a problem to be solved does not mean that everyone wants the same solution. Many people awaken in the morning wanting corn flakes. <i><b>Some of them want Post Toasties and some of them want Kelloggs Corn Flakes.</b></i>That is not duplication of effort or wasting resources. We call that free market.<br />4. Marketing is about finding a solution to a problem that enough people want and are willing to pay for, to make it profitable for the person providing the solution. We call that a niche.<br />5. Business is about serving the niche over and over. <i><b>Success is in finding your niche.</b></i><br />6. <i><b>Government has niches too.</b></i> We call them special interest groups. Government has no way of making every niche or interest group happy by giving them what they want. Government tends to hold it's nose and select one solution that "fits all".<br />7. Aren't you glad that as an entrepreneur, all you have to do is find the right niche and serve the people in it well?<br />8. There is always a <b>"next day"</b> unless you fail.<br /><br /><br />mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-62513768762661357792011-10-02T10:23:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00Baby Boomer - You Don't Have to Learn Entrepreneurship Blindly Or Alone<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JV8G3NvcA&feature=player_embedded">A personal and educational introduction to Michael E. Gerber </a>: "<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w6JV8G3NvcA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>"<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>As an aspiring baby boomer entrepreneur, you want to convert your business idea into a reality. <b>There is approximately an 80% failure rate of people trying to accomplish your same goal.</b> Yet, renowned business adviser Michael E. Gerber says that <i><b>no small business owner has to fail.</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>In this video, Gerber talks with small business coaches. He shares what coaches must understand <span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>to help small business owners bring the dream back to America</b></span>...in fact to small business owners around the world. Here, you can get that advice straight from his mouth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gerber explains that <i><span class="Apple-style-span" >small business owners fail for reasons other than what they think is the cause of that failure.</span></i> As a baby boomer making a transition to an encore career, this is valuable information for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>He begins with what it means to have a dream. <b>He explains the process for converting your dream to reality and how to get clarity from the onset.</b> If you want to understand <i>what needs to be done</i>...and <i>then what needs to be done next</i>, you want to watch this 29 minute video.</div><div><br /></div><div>You will learn there is a road map to your journey. You will learn that there are people prepared to help you with the task of designing your baby boomer retirement business. You can increase your chances of success by looking for the people who can help you. <b>You do not have to do it blindly or alone. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Shallie</div><div> </div><div><br /></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-35828355908625861782011-09-22T07:43:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00Networking is about people not numbersRecently I wrote a guest blog for Warren Cass, '<a href="http://www.warrencass.com/networking-is-not-a-numbers-game-by-dave-clarke/" target="_blank">Networking is not a numbers game</a>'. In a reply on <a href="http://twitter.com/RobertaWard" target="_blank">Twitter, Roberta Ward</a> summed it up quite neatly, "<i>No, its a people game!</i>".<br /><br />In the article I wrote about how some people approach networking as a numbers game. Meeting as many different people as possible at different events. Or collecting the maximum number of connections or friends on social networking websites.<br /><br />The people who really make networking work for them and their business build strong relationships with a smaller number of people. They don't need to go out and meet new people all the time. Their introductions to new people and opportunities come via this group.<br /><br />Constantly meeting new people all the time leaves no time for relationship building. It's like starting from scratch every time or the Networking equivalent of Groundhog Day!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>! <br /><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a><br /><br /> ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-518829267009886582011-09-18T11:11:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Are You Smarter Than An Old Walrus?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xDkhTzJ496Q" width="420"></iframe> A number of my closest friends have received this video recently with the caption "My New Exercise Routine". And though my stomach could benefit from some sit ups, that is not what I am really talking about.<br /><br />Much of what it takes to become a successful baby boomer entrepreneur involves behavior modification. You have to learn how to go from being an employee to being an owner. We often call that obtaining the entrepreneurial mindset. <i><b>This is a new mental exercise routine</b></i>.<br /><br />Learning to make that change is a radical shift in your thinking and behavior. But if an old walrus can have his behavior shaped to accomplish new things, so can you.<br /><br /><b>Your task is to learn what behavior is required for success in the business of your choice</b>. Then you must begin shaping that behavior a step at a time. That is the exact process the trainer used to teach an old Walrus to do sit ups. You can do it. <b>You are smarter than an old walrus, aren't you?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>Be sure to sign up for our mailing list in the upper right hand corner. I will share with you what you need to help you become a successful baby boomer entrepreneur.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Shalliementarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-65526600428409327512011-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00You Are Not Alone - Most U.S. workers want to be entrepreneurs - UPI.com<a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/09/05/Most-US-workers-want-to-be-entrepreneurs/UPI-67391315278109/?spt=hs&or=bn">Most U.S. workers want to be entrepreneurs - UPI.com</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a><div><br /></div><div>If you have a secret dream of quitting your job and becoming an entrepreneur, you are not alone. UPI reports that "Three-quarters of U.S. full-time and part-time employed adults say they want to leave their job and become an independent entrepreneur..."</div><div><br /></div><div>Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs seem to have an edge in the effort to have a balance in life. This balance is often described as having the ability to set one's hours, spend more time with friends and family, not have to deal with office politics and/or not have to endure a daily commute. You can take this advantage by retiring from your current job and starting a semi-retired life as a business owner. This is sometimes referred to as an "encore career".<br /><br />For other aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs, the solution may be in developing a part time business. In this case, you begin developing the business on the side until it can sustain your needs.</div><div><br /></div><div>In either case, you must take action. You must take steps to make your version of the "American Dream" your American Reality. Smarter Small Business Blog is here to help you.</div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-88520906649600622722011-08-30T08:14:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00Are you networking with the right people?I met someone recently at one of my regular networking groups. When he explained what he did I advised him that the group may not be great for him and his business. He sold cosmetics direct to consumers and was there to generate leads for his business. The group was made up of professionals and providers of business services.<br /><br />He said, rightly, that everyone there either used or knew people that used the types of products he sold. I said that was true, but they were all there because they shared the same target market. They were not selling directly to consumers of domestic products so the best network for him would be with others selling directly to the same domestic consumers.<br /><br />Successful networking for business development is all about building relationships with the right people. A good place to start when selecting a networking group for business is to find one where the other members sell to the same target market as you. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>!<br /><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a><br /><br /> ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-35953895216030020502011-07-31T18:27:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00Twitter - My Magic Carpet Ride<iframe width="400" height="264" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ekEieEeEwPw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br />My father was a born in 1899. He lived in that rare time where he was barely old enough to serve in World War I and barely young enough to serve in World War II. He did both.<br /><br />Full of curiosity and adventure, he decided to visit every one of the fortyeight states that then made up the USA. He rode the rails to realize his dream, passenger cars when he had money and freight trains when he didn't. He realized his dream between the wars. In 1949 he had his first born son and began a new journey, <b><i>teaching me to dream.</i><br /></b><br />Having inherited his taste for adventure, I wanted to do life at a bigger scale. I wanted to visit every continent of the world. I visited some continents, but was behind the pace I had hoped.<br /><br />But three years ago today (July 31, 2008) a magic moment happened in my life. I had already decided that I wanted to begin sharing my business coaching skills with aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs. These are the people born between 1946 and 1964, about 78 million in the United States alone. Many of these people have a taste for adventure and do not want to retire in the traditional manner. Many have a passion for something that they want to share with the world in the form of a business. Many also need help in developing the skills to convert their dreams into reality.<span class="Apple-style-span" > <i><b>My dream is to help them them reach their dreams.</b></i></span><b><br /></b><br />Three years ago today, that magic moment happened while listening to Ed Dale...I learned about Twitter.<br /><br />Ed is the face of a free training that happens each year called <a href="http://www.challenge.co/">The Challenge</a> (formerly the 30 Day Challenge). He teaches aspiring entrepreneurs to use the Internet at a tool to research business opportunities, a tool to market those opportunities, and a networking process to find others with a similar passion. I couldn't travel to every continent by rail, but I had something better, Ed helped me discover<i><b> a magic carpet ride.</b></i><br /><br />Twitter has taken me to every continent, except Anarctica...that will happen in time. I 've learned about people's passions and shared mine. I've made genuine friends during this three year journey. Thanks Dad, Ed Dale, and Twitter. To everyone else I extend this invitation:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>RIDE WITH ME</b></span></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-47691566759351762092011-07-15T10:21:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00What is a Business Networking Group?I wrote this after a dinner party when one of the other guests asked me what I do. I used the phrase 'Business Networking Group' in my reply and she said, "What's a Business Networking Group?"<br /><br />I was a little thrown at first, but realised I shouldn't be. I think we often assume that everyone knows more about whatever it is we do than they actually do. I once met someone on a Referral Institute training course who had written technical manuals. He said that the instructions included the advice to write so that an 8 year old can understand.<br /><br />Wikipedia describes Business Networking as '<i>a socioeconomic activity by which groups of like-minded businesspeople recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities. A business network is a type of social network whose reason for existing is business activity</i>'.<br /><br />A little complicated so I realised that I needed to explain a little bit more. I explained that there are now many more people running their own business than ever before. Many of them are specialists in what they do and do not have any marketing or sales people. They rely on personal recommendation or word of mouth for their business. Their main problem is that they need more of these opportunities than they currently have. Many of the older business support services in the public and private sector do not really help these business people with generating positive word of mouth. As a result specialist business networking organisations have emerged. <br /><br />Any club or group group exists because the members share and are committed to a common cause. The common cause for the members of a business networking group will usually be helping each other in business. This may be around sharing business, support and information (or all 3). It is mainly the need to generate more business by recommendation that has lead to the growth in the market of specialist business networking groups.<br /><br />A business networking group is a club where the common cause is helping each other become more successful in business.<br /><br />The most important thing in an effective business networking group is that the members don't just share the same needs. They must be in a position to really help each other. That will often mean that the members share similar target markets and provide similar value services. Success is then down to the commitment and contribution they make.<br /><br />Would an 8 year old understand how you describe what you do?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>!<br /><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a><br /><br />ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-61797773854704440082011-07-05T12:28:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:52:47.854-07:00The small business advantage in the Digital AgeI wrote this on a train heading into London earlier this year and it was first published at the <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">new home of the business networking blog</a>. I was on my way to a 'Digital Mindset' workshop from Ecademy founders Penny & Thomas Power. The idea that Ecademy website was about 'Learning, networking and business development for the digital age' got me thinking about whether things have really changed. <br /><br />If we are in a 'digital age' what does this mean for the Owners, Directors and Partners of small specialist businesses and professional firms? It is mainly these people who go networking as their primary route to market. <br /><br />Most of the people I meet in this category are passionate about what they do and are open and transparent about what they do and why. It is this passion, openness & transparency that gives them an advantage in this digital age. It is exactly the right approach online.<br /><br />Contrast this with the news furore at the time about wikileaks. Whatever the rights or wrongs of leaking the information the revelations showed some of our politicians, diplomats and representatives of big business taking the opposite approach. Saying one thing in private and another thing in public. The internet has made it easier to judge openness, honesty and transparency. The very things that small business is mainly better at that big business. <br /><br />You may have heard the expression 'people buy people'. The approach for the digital age is the same as what came before. <br /><br />Be yourself!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nrg-networks.com/nrg-10tips.html">Good Networking</a>!</p><a href="http://daveclarke.tv/">Dave Clarke</a></p><br />ps Visit <a href="https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1">the new home of the business networking blog</a> for the latest postsmentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-51011473060455880402011-07-02T05:05:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00What 3 Issues Must You Master To Be A Successful Baby Boomer Business Owner?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWsI8eLA36M&feature=related">YouTube - Behaviors of Successful Business Owners</a>: "<iframe width="400" height="264" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tWsI8eLA36M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>"<div><br /></div><div>All businesses have certain things in common. Business coach Ron Finklestein suggests that you greatly increase your odds of success as an aspiring baby boomer entrepreneur if you master the three issues every business leader faces:</div><div><ul><li>Making more money</li><li>Having more time</li><li>Having productive employees</li></ul><div>He also suggests that YOU must have certain things to achieve mastery of these issues:</div></div><div><ul><li>Attitude</li><li>Strategy</li><li>Discipline</li></ul>Check out his video for more insights.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Make sure to sign up for our list to get information that is not shared anywhere else. Just give your contact information in the form in the upper right hand corner.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-30845980227298063462011-06-05T13:06:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00You Are Probably Not A Natural Born Baby Boomer Entrepreneur<iframe width="400" height="264" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/593RhUkEybI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br /><b>Should being a baby boomer entrepreneur be your encore career goal?</b> Are you a natural born entrepreneur? Should owning your own business be the next step for you?<br /><br />Many people feel that they have what it takes to be a baby boomer entrepreneur. YOU might be convinced that it is the logical next step because YOUR goals might be:<div><ul><li>To have more freedom in general in semi-retirement,</li><li>To have better financial control over your life,</li><li>To have greater control over how you use your time,</li><li>To have more control over your intellectual or creative life.</li></ul><div><b>All of these are great goals.</b> But they don't require becoming a baby boomer entrepreneur. Plus becoming an entrepreneur has around a 90% failure rate. You are probably not a natural born baby boomer entrepreneur. <b>You might want to explore your alternatives to accomplishing such goals.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>My first suggestion to you is visiting the creators of the above video, <a href="http://www.encore.org">encore.org </a> They will show you how to think about "combining purpose, passion, and a paycheck". However, they will show you alternatives, <b>including</b> the possibility of becoming a baby boomer entrepreneur.<br /><ol><li>If you determine becoming an entrepreneur is still your goal,</li><li>If you decide that you are committed to developing a business that aligns with your needs, values, and beliefs,</li><li>If you decide owning a business is what you want, not what someone else wants for you,</li><li><b>COME BACK AND SEE ME!</b></li></ol><div><i>You can accomplish what you want. But be sure what you are trying to accomplish IS what you want.</i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Shallie</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Sign up for my list to get special access to helpful information. It is in the upper right hand corner.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-71392739603631986892011-05-07T05:36:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.246-07:00Why Do Veterans Choose To Become Entrepreneurs?<a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110506005750/en/Veterans-Choose-Entrepreneurship">Veterans Often Choose Entrepreneurship | Business Wire</a><div><br /></div><div>Can aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs learn from veterans? In a study released yesterday, May 6, 2011, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration published new information about veterans who become entrepreneurs following completion of military service. The study reveals that veterans are 45 % more likely than those with no active duty military experience to be self employed.<br /><br />I am wondering if there is a correlation between veterans moving into civilian life and former employees moving into semi-retired life. SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy Winslow Sargeant said, "Knowing more about the factors behind veteran's self -employment offers the opportunity to lay the groundwork for future success."<br /><br />At this point, we know from the study that it does not appear that military training is the factor that drives entrepreneurship. Those with four years or less of service are more likely to choose entrepreneurship. However, there seems to be a high correlation of military retirees becoming entrepreneurs. It is believed that this may be the result of higher degrees of wealth and life stability. The research shows that with each additional year of age, the probability of becoming an entrepreneur increases by 7.5%.<br /><br />Retiring baby boomers share many of the same characteristics of retiring veterans. Can we learn more about promoting successful transition to entrepreneurship by studying these veterans who transition from the military to civilian entrepreneurship? Take a look at the study and the research summary for yourself: <a href="http://www.sba.gov/content/factors-affecting-entrepreneurship-among-veterans">Factors Affecting Entrepreneurship Among Veterans</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shallie</div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-79855862461266911232011-04-30T10:05:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.247-07:00Lemonade Stand Day - Inspiring Future Entrepreneurs<a href="http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/30/prepared-4-life-inspiring-entrepreneurs-one-lemonade-stand/">Prepared 4 Life: Inspiring Entrepreneurs, One Lemonade Stand at a Time - AOL Small Business</a><br /><br />For years, the lemonade stand has been the symbol of entrepreneurship. With that thought in mind, Houston-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Holthouse inspired the creation of National Lemonade Day. It happens on May 1 for the purpose of teaching youth about business.<div><br /></div><div>As aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs, we can think back to our experiences with lemonade stands from our youth. We can reconnect to what we believed before we became workers. We might have been trying to buy streamers for our bikes or a new pet. We knew we could solve our problem by solving the thirst problem of those around us.<br /><br />If you need to reconnect with that time in your life, click the link and re-experience the moment through the eyes of today's youth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shallie </div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2570154067539829767.post-51386010618257272232011-04-23T02:25:00.000-07:002012-09-07T00:48:09.247-07:00How Coachable Are You?<a href="http://ingridelfver.com/coachable/">How Coachable Are You? « Ingrid Elfver</a><div><br /></div><div>Just how coachable are you? Are you prepared to learn and expand to make the transition to being a baby boomer entrepreneur? Or, are you stuck on the situations that developed in your former career from which you are seeking semi-retirement?<br /><br />Recently I became familiar with the work of Ingrid Elfver. She is a coach who works with other coaches to help them expand their abilities to serve their clients. She asked this same question, "How Coachable Are You?", in one of her recent blog posts. It stimulated me to think about how coachable I am personally and how coachable I expect my clients to be. You fan find my assessment of myself by reading my comments on her web page. Just click the title to this post and it will take you there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, it is your turn. As you make the transition from being an employee to a baby boomer entrepreneurs, how coachable are you? Here is a video, <a href="http://youtu.be/JzSVLQUTxYs">Baby Boomer Entrepreneur- You Need A Guide</a>, that may help you evaluate yourself.<br /><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JzSVLQUTxYs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div>mentarim3http://www.blogger.com/profile/06845106969795853754noreply@blogger.com