Resource Review:Clocking It!

One of the hardest things to do when running a business is finding a way to manage that ongoing to do list that seems to continue growing even as you mark stuff off. Clocking It is a free project management tool that allows you to keep track of all projects, list tasks, assign tasks to others, add deadlines, send email reminders and more. This tool is great for collaborating with a team or just working by yourself. It's easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere. If you are looking for way to keep track of that lengthy to do list, meet deadline and manage project progress, Clocking It could be your answer. Try it out.

“Every day is an opportunity to be creative – the canvas is your mind, the brushes and colours are your thoughts and feelings, the panorama is your story, the complete picture is a work of art called, ‘my life’. Be careful what you put on the canvas of your mind today – it matters.” — Innerspace

New Practice of the Week: Separating Business and Personal Money

There is defiantly a benefit from separating money. Think about it- when you take money out of your checking account and put it into your savings account or transfer money into your IRA or 401K it all of a sudden becomes "untouchable." There is something psychologically that causes us to think different when money is put into several pots vs allocated money for various things from one pot. This week I challenge you to separate your business money from your personal money and see what a difference it makes in your progress. Come back and share it with the community. Read more...

They did it for $150 or less!

I'm still trying to figure out how I want to end the week. I'm not sure if we should explore successful business owners,  look at fun things we can do over the weekend, have a moment of reflection- I'm just not sure. So for the first "Upbeat Friday" post, I've decided to combine two of the possible options. Below is a quote for you to reflect on and also a story about some peers who have successfully grown their business with a very little. Read more...

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison

EMP-Entrepreneur Meal Plan

Your to do list is already too long. Let me scratch "find something to eat" off for you.

Note: I think it's important to fuel your body with good food to get the best results. The majority of my suggestions are healthy. Feel free to comment so I can adjust as needed.
 



Breakfast
Bowl of Oatmeal with Raisins, Cinnamon and Walnuts

Snack
A piece of fruit (apple, grapefruit or orange)


Lunch
Turkey Sandwich on Wheat Bread with Lettuce and Tomatoes
A Bowl of Soup

Snack
Yogurt
Nuts

Dinner
Baked Chicken
Wild Rice/Brown Rice
Sauteed Spinach

New Practice of the Week: Set office Hours

When I first started my company, I was always available. I took clients everyday of the week at anytime thinking this was good service but when I started to feel a bit of resentment towards I asked myself why. I love what I do but realized I didn't have any down time to renew myself.  I decided to set office hours and this was the turning point in my productivity and overall energy. Boundaries are very important for new small businesses and entrepreneurs. We are so used to working a day job and then coming home to run our business that we have conditioned ourselves to work all the time. However, when you are building your business you need to dedicate time to your clients and time to yourself. Your clients and your body will thank you for it. Read more....

5 Tips to Jump Start a New Business

Below are a few steps I found on the SCORES site I thought were worth sharing. Let me know what you think!

By Christine Banning, SCORE VP Corporate Relations Create a brand. Spend a little money to create a professional logo, business card and stationery. Present a professional image. Ramp up Online. Make creating a Web site a top priority. A Web site is today’s calling card. You really shouldn’t do without one. Give people a place to go to learn about your business. Make Your First Sale. This is key. Get that first sale even if it’s friends or family at a discounted rate. This counts as getting started, so go for it. Promote Testimonials. Get testimonials from your first sales. Start building credibility for your business from day one. Build Buzz. Be creative. Look for a special promotion, big event, email campaign or something out of the norm for your business to get people talking about you, your product or service.