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.

Motivation- Quote

"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or out. There's no such thing as a life in-between." -Pat Riley

Getting More Customers

More customers mean more revenue but sometimes getting customers can be a bit pricey. This article suggests some inexpensive ways to get more customers. Its easier than you think. Read more...

Keep More Money in Your Pocket

These days holding on to money continues to be a challenge, especially for small business owners. With the costs of gas, food and rent raising daily, any tips to save money are welcomed. This articles identifies 27 ways to keep more money in your pocket so you have more to invest in your business.  Read more...

The Difference Java Makes

Motivating employees is sometimes a challenging task, especially for small business owners with limited resources who can't surprise the team with a weekend trip to Vegas for a job well done. We are usually lucky if we can offer dinner and a cab ride home for working late, its usually one or the other. That being said, it doesn't look like we need to spend more than $10 to keep employees motivated and productive. According to this article, a coffee maker is the best investment you can make to improve the mood of your staff.

Don't put your business on sale

As a new business its important to price your services and products properly. This will effect how potential customers view your company.  Deciding how to price is usually one of the more challenging task since in the beginning attracting customers is the main focus. This following article walks you through the pricing process and gives you tips on how to decide the right price- Read more...