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	<title>Work at Home Entrepreneurs &#187; Entrepreneurship</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.sazkul.com/category/entrepreneurship/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.sazkul.com</link>
	<description>Personal Blogging, Entrepreneurship, Earn Money From Home</description>
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		<title>Tips on how to choose a business name</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/tips-on-how-to-choose-a-business-name/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/tips-on-how-to-choose-a-business-name/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:11:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=654</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s very important to get the right name for your business. Here are some things to think about when choosing a business name:
1 Make it easy to remember
2 Make it easy to pronounce
3 Make it easy to spell
4 Stir the customer&#8217;s interest &#8211; make them want to ask more
5 Make it positive sounding &#8211; optimistic
6 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s very important to get the right name for your business. Here are some things to think about when choosing a business name:</p>
<p>1 Make it easy to remember<br />
2 Make it easy to pronounce<br />
3 Make it easy to spell<br />
4 Stir the customer&#8217;s interest &#8211; make them want to ask more<br />
5 Make it positive sounding &#8211; optimistic<br />
6 Make it changeable<br />
7 Make sure it doesn&#8217;t confuse you with someone else<br />
8 Make it attract the kind of customers you want<br />
9 Make it fun<br />
10 Make it quirky </p>
<p>Here are some suggestions to help you choose a name:</p>
<p>1 Brainstorm &#8211; think about how you want people to feel when they see or hear your name<br />
2 Think of humorous aspects of what you do<br />
3 Check other names and trademarks on the internet<br />
4 Check domain names<br />
5 Does your name sound cheap or expensive<br />
6 Think about picking a name that starts with &#8220;A.&#8221; That could be important for Yellow Pages</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>College Students and First Time Entrepreneurs Business Planning</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/college-students-and-first-time-entrepreneurs-business-planning/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/college-students-and-first-time-entrepreneurs-business-planning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:05:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=650</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Students, both in undergraduate and graduate institutions, are deciding to launch their own ventures upon graduation rather than taking the traditional route of working for another firm. 
While these ventures may ultimately be very successful, they face certain challenges in their business plans and capital raising processes. The foremost challenge is overcoming the lack of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Students, both in undergraduate and graduate institutions, are deciding to launch their own ventures upon graduation rather than taking the traditional route of working for another firm. </p>
<p>While these ventures may ultimately be very successful, they face certain challenges in their business plans and capital raising processes. The foremost challenge is overcoming the lack of experience of the management team. A classics chicken-and-egg problem presents itself &#8211; the management team has no past company successes to point to, and can&#8217;t prove itself unless given the opportunity to launch the business. While this problem is nearly always the case for graduating students, it also presents itself to many entrepreneurs, particularly those who are launching their first ventures.</p>
<p>To overcome this challenge, these ventures must represent themselves as having a great team by attracting a stellar management team and/or advisors. By attracting a quality management team, even if the team will not start until after financing, it gives investors that confidence that the plan will be properly executed. It also proves that the entrepreneurs have the ability to &#8220;sell&#8221; others on their vision. The management team need not be complete before seeking capital, since additional members will most likely be added after capital is raised. </p>
<p>Attracting high-quality advisors builds great credibility since if respected individuals are willing to risk their reputations by taking an advisory position, the venture must have some merit. Advisors can also help with the execution of the business and sometimes will also provide the needed capital. </p>
<p>Even if the venture is able to attract quality management teams and advisors, it will always be at a disadvantage versus other ventures headed by entrepreneurs who have &#8220;been there, done that&#8221; successfully in the past. To compensate for this, these ventures must really know their customers, know their market and know their competition. By possessing an in depth knowledge of the external factors that will effect the company&#8217;s success, the entrepreneurs can both create a solid business strategy and convince investors that an opportunity really exists. If the opportunity truly exists, then investors know that even if the venture is initially mismanaged, then they can hire additional managers later to put it back on course.</p>
<p>In summary, when students or first time entrepreneurs, begin developing their business strategies and plans, they must compensate for the management deficiencies they possess versus established entrepreneurs. By doing this and showing a comprehensive knowledge of their market, these ventures can level the capital raising playing field. Fortunately, these ventures can point to a long list of other successful companies which were launched by students and/or first time entrepreneurs, most notably Google and Microsoft.</p>
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		<title>9 reasons why students should start a business</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/9-reasons-why-students-should-start-a-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/9-reasons-why-students-should-start-a-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:37:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=646</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the economic downturn, students in all the major business schools have been dropping out of their entrepreneurship classes and transferring back to classes where they think they have a secure future. Students and professionals who were once planning to start businesses now have decided to go back to their previous jobs and everything is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the economic downturn, students in all the major business schools have been dropping out of their entrepreneurship classes and transferring back to classes where they think they have a secure future. Students and professionals who were once planning to start businesses now have decided to go back to their previous jobs and everything is going back to normal or at least. Below are nine reasons why any student should start a business.</p>
<p><strong>You gain experience</strong>. Owning and running your own business is an incredible way to gain experience and credentials regardless of whether you decide to stay in business once you graduate. Starting a business helps in getting a better job when you graduate.</p>
<p><strong>You have nothing to lose</strong>. I think it&#8217;s safe to say that most students dip into their parents&#8217; checkbook when it comes time to pay the bills. In general, students aren&#8217;t paying child support, rent, utilities and many other expenses. The worst thing that could happen if your business fails is that you get a job, have an incredible credential on your resume, and have experience that will increase your chances of success in the future.</p>
<p><strong>Two-thirds of millionaires are entrepreneurs</strong>. If it&#8217;s the money you want, then consider entrepreneurship. You receive not only a salary, but also a lot of money if you&#8217;re lucky enough to sell your company or take it public. </p>
<p><strong>You develop networking skills</strong>. You&#8217;ve likely heard that your network increases your net worth. Consider the fact that by running a business and constantly being in a business community, you will develop excellent contacts.</p>
<p><strong>You increase your value</strong>. Put simply, starting a business in college increases the value of &#8220;the brand called you&#8221; and gives you more options. For example, an entrepreneur with a large brand value can publish a book, star in a documentary movie, or go straight to the top of another company.</p>
<p><strong>Operating a profitable business in the long term is less risky than being an employee in the long term</strong>. For example, just look at the recent economic downturn. Tens of thousands of people have been laid off. I can guarantee the owners of profitable businesses are still with the business. They will be the last people to go down with a ship. Business owners can have multiple streams of incomes from different customers.</p>
<p><strong>You will learn more about yourself and what they don&#8217;t teach or prepare you for in school</strong>. Furthermore, entrepreneurship is the combination of all the disciplines of business. It includes knowledge of marketing, accounting, management and operations. Already having knowledge of these topics before you take classes on them allows you to see more clearly how everything applies.</p>
<p><strong>It is yours</strong>. You make the rules, create your own hours, work from wherever you want and choose who you want to work with.</p>
<p><strong>You&#8217;ll grow</strong>. You personally will grown a lot from owning a business.</p>
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		<title>Small businesses need logo and an identity system</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/small-businesses-need-logo-and-an-identity-system/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/small-businesses-need-logo-and-an-identity-system/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:38:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=443</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Small business owners need to brand their business by using logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. Here&#8217;s a list of some of the benefits to having a professionally designed logo and marketing package:
Attract more clients &#8211; Some clients look for a well-defined company look-and-feel for making a purchasing decision.
Brand yourself &#8211; You need [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Small business owners need to brand their business by using logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. Here&#8217;s a list of some of the benefits to having a professionally designed logo and marketing package:</p>
<p>Attract more clients &#8211; Some clients look for a well-defined company look-and-feel for making a purchasing decision.</p>
<p>Brand yourself &#8211; You need a logo in order to build an image and a brand.</p>
<p>Convey that you are established &#8211; A logo and professionally printed materials show that you are committed.</p>
<p>Give clients a sense of stability &#8211; You may not have been in business &#8220;Since 1908&#8243;, but if you&#8217;ve invested in an identity, you&#8217;re much less likely to fold in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building the all-important &#8220;trust&#8221; factor.</p>
<p>Be more memorable &#8211; having consistent graphics on your business materials make you more likely to come to the forefront of potential clients&#8217; minds.</p>
<p>Explain your company name &#8211; the logo gives visual clues to its meaning.</p>
<p>Endear your company name to your clients &#8211; reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they&#8217;re more likely to remember that hard-to-recall name, and to pick up the phone and hire you.</p>
<p>Explain an unusual line of business &#8211; If your business is nontraditional, or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to explain exactly what it is that you do.</p>
<p>Show what practices differentiate you from your competition &#8211; tell the story of how you do business &#8211; what special practices make you stand apart from the competition.</p>
<p>Stand out in your field &#8211; can put you far above the competition.</p>
<p>A logo is just expected &#8211; In the creative services industry, especially, having a logo is an industry standard.</p>
<p>To do it for yourself! &#8211; To show your commitment and for the sense of personal pride it will add to your practice.</p>
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		<title>Business idea: Start your own carpet cleaning company</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/business-idea-start-your-own-carpet-cleaning-company/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/business-idea-start-your-own-carpet-cleaning-company/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:06:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business idea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cleaning business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=438</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


Opening a carpet cleaning business is a abundant way to acquire money as your own boss. This is a almost simple business to start, with low overhead, and little acquaintance required. Start up costs can be minimal, if you shop around. Additionally, there is a steady market for superior work.
Most carpeting cleaning equipment can be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="float:left; margin-right:7px;">
<a href="http://www.sazkul.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cleaning_business.jpg" ><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-439" title="cleaning_business" src="http://www.sazkul.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cleaning_business-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="157" border="0"/></a>
</div>
<p>Opening a carpet cleaning business is a abundant way to acquire money as your own boss. This is a almost simple business to start, with low overhead, and little acquaintance required. Start up costs can be minimal, if you shop around. Additionally, there is a steady market for superior work.</p>
<p>Most carpeting cleaning equipment can be purchased for about two thousand bucks. If you just now own a car that will transact your equipment, thereupon you are on your way. Researching absterge machines and other equipment can be done succulent on the Internet, as there are countless cobweb sites afire to carpet cleaning supplies.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Small Business Plan in Ten Easy Questions</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/small-business-plan-in-ten-easy-questions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/small-business-plan-in-ten-easy-questions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=353</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn&#8217;t accept to be a alarming project. If you can acknowledgment 10 aboveboard questions about your business, you can be accessible to go.
The key to success is to acknowledgment all of the questions in abundant abyss that if a acquaintance asked you to advance in this [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn&#8217;t accept to be a alarming project. If you can acknowledgment 10 aboveboard questions about your business, you can be accessible to go.</p>
<p>The key to success is to acknowledgment all of the questions in abundant abyss that if a acquaintance asked you to advance in this business, you&#8217;d say yes. Most importantly, accomplish abiding you almanac your business plan somehow&#8230;whether you address it by hand, blazon it into your computer, or put it on stickie addendum on your wall. Keep it achieve accessible area you can accredit to it if you are authoritative important business decisions. And, accomplish abiding you analysis it monthly&#8211;or, even better, weekly&#8211;and amend it at atomic annually.</p>
<p>1. Your Dreams: What do you wish your business to accommodate for you? (think time, money, freedom, who you plan with) Be specific&#8211;how abundant money, how abounding hours, if do you wish to &#8220;retire&#8221;.</p>
<p>2. Customers: Who are your barter and what do they want/need?</p>
<p>3. Articles and Services: What products/services will you accommodate to accommodated customer&#8217;s needs?</p>
<p>4. Markets: Area are your barter and what do you apperceive about them as a group? &#8220;Where&#8221; ability be geographic, it ability be what affectionate of places they adhere out, or area they go to acquisition articles or casework like yours. What is their age, income, gender, hobbies, ancestors structure, etc.</p>
<p>5. Your Style: How will you ability barter and what will you say? Your methods of extensive barter needs to bout with area your barter are&#8211;and with a bulletin that they can chronicle to.</p>
<p>6. Competitors: Area abroad are your barter acceptable to get this charge met? Acquisition out all you can about how your competitors price, market, and accommodate service.</p>
<p>7. Your Uniqueness: How will your product/service accommodated customer&#8217;s needs abnormally than your competitors? Consider how your claimed character impacts that.</p>
<p>8. Your Abilities: Of the abilities all-important to run your business, what do you do well, and what do you charge advice with?</p>
<p>9. External Resources: What people/technology/services will abutment you in the abilities you charge advice with?</p>
<p>10. Fulfilling your Dreams: How will your business accommodate the affectionate of alive ambiance you desire, both in how abundant time you spend, how you accomplish your work, and how abundant money you make? Here&#8217;s area the elastic meets the road&#8211;make abiding you can appearance how you will advertise X bulk of artifact or account at Y price, awning your expenses, and ability the goals you set in 1. above.</p>
<p>Once you can acknowledgment all these questions, accept it advised by some trusted, accomplished professionals who will accord you cold feedback. Consider a business coach, as one such resource!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The basics of small business loans</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/the-basics-of-small-business-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/the-basics-of-small-business-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:56:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business loan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=331</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many undersized businesses would not exist if small business loans were not available. These advances are ideal for helping start a company from the ground up or for aiding an existing organization. There are some basics that people applying for these loans for businesses should know.
The requirements are among the most important aspect of small [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many undersized businesses would not exist if small business loans were not available. These advances are ideal for helping start a company from the ground up or for aiding an existing organization. There are some basics that people applying for these loans for businesses should know.</p>
<p>The requirements are among the most important aspect of small business loans. Each lending institution will have its own specific guidelines and qualities that they want to see in their clientele. Some of the requirements are pretty standard across the board.</p>
<p><strong>Common Requirements for Small Business Loans</strong></p>
<p>An individual’s personal credit history will have a profound effect on the lender’s decision. Applicant should demonstrate a capacity and willingness to pay his debts. These qualities are commonly reflected in his past credit history. If the individual has a good track record with other creditors, he will most likely be a good candidate for future loans.</p>
<p>A good credit history is no guarantee that the bank will approve small business loans. The ability to pay back the debt is often contingent on the success of the endeavor. The debtor may be willing to pay but she may not be able to if the venture falls flat.</p>
<p>Many banks require a business plan outlined and presented by the applicant. This helps the lender make a sound decision according to the probably success or failure of an enterprise. The plan can cinch the deal in many cases. However, there are other considerations that the lender makes as well.</p>
<p>The applicant’s experience and education come into play during the process. These factors are a little for tipping the scales in one direction or another. However, they are not as influential as the business plan and the applicant’s credit history. A feasible business that is either expanding or beginning is the core of the loan.</p>
<p><strong>Preparing for a Loan Application </strong></p>
<p>Preparation for application may seem a little like overkill. Nevertheless, it is imperative that applicants approach this process they way they would a job interview. There are a handful of questions that need to be considered before the aspirant begins the application process.</p>
<p>Of course the applicants will typically have a target figure for their small business loans. These figures need to be backed with data including estimated start-up costs. It helps to have a clear, concise outline of how the money will be used.</p>
<p>Clear communication, a decent credit history report and a sound business plan work together to help lenders make a decision. It is necessary to have a succinct explanation of how the additional money will help the companies flourish. Applicants that are well organized and confident in the feasibility of their enterprises are the prime candidates for small business loans.</p>
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		<title>A disappointing truth for youth entrepreneurship</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/a-disappointing-truth-for-youth-entrepreneurship/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/a-disappointing-truth-for-youth-entrepreneurship/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:46:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=330</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The psychology of entrepreneurship can be very rewarding to one who dreams of starting their own business. The freedom of being your own boss has billions of people seeking financial independence and other entrepreneurial expectations. But is entrepreneurship for everyone? Are their any restrictions on who can become entrepreneurs? Sadly, the answer is yes. Many [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The psychology of entrepreneurship can be very rewarding to one who dreams of starting their own business. The freedom of being your own boss has billions of people seeking financial independence and other entrepreneurial expectations. But is entrepreneurship for everyone? Are their any restrictions on who can become entrepreneurs? Sadly, the answer is yes. Many people turn their heads when it comes to assisting young people with business projects, they believe age plays a vital part on the success of an entrepreneur, this in some cases causes the entrepreneur to abandon their dream.</p>
<p>Youth entrepreneurship has great wealth to it; it keeps youth out of trouble, adds growth to the economy, and establishes the opportunity for a better future of business to come. Youth is the age of anyone who is looked upon as young. Young entrepreneurs face many weighty problems such as obtaining start -up capital, leasing property, equipment and so on. When in grade school students were taught to plan for the future because they were the future. But if the present fails to make way it would be destroying the upcoming economy at an early start.</p>
<p>Many people have spoken on the importance of youth entrepreneurship, but few are planning for improvement. Most youth focused entrepreneurial organizations only educate on the &#8220;how to &#8221; portion of entrepreneurship. These organizations lack the resources needed to help youth secure start-up loans after their books close. What good is having an entrepreneurial education if there are no start-up funds to reward it? Locally to nationally youth entrepreneurship still battles for the headlines, hoping the discrimination would someday end.</p>
<p>Now let&#8217;s not assume all youth or even most, have come across these problems. There have been many successful young entrepreneurs who have not encountered such setbacks and have made history. Everyone will not look upon youth as incompetent, just some who might have neglected themselves because they lacked skillful knowledge back when they were younger. The point is, help youth today so they will be able to help you tomorrow and the cycle will continue.</p>
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		<title>The nine keys of successful solo entrepreneurs</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/the-nine-keys-of-successful-solo-entrepreneurs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.sazkul.com/the-nine-keys-of-successful-solo-entrepreneurs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:47:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=329</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As you incorporate these 9 key distinctions into your life and business, you will create a key shift in how you think, how you evaluate, and how you approach any situation. You can never go back to the old way again &#8211; unlike the old paradigm of &#8220;habits&#8221;.
What are the 9 Key Distinctions of Successful [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As you incorporate these 9 key distinctions into your life and business, you will create a key shift in how you think, how you evaluate, and how you approach any situation. You can never go back to the old way again &#8211; unlike the old paradigm of &#8220;habits&#8221;.</p>
<p>What are the 9 Key Distinctions of Successful Solo- Entrepreneurs?</p>
<p><strong>1. Force vs. Power</strong></p>
<p>When you are forcing something, you are pushing and shoving to get things to work out the way you want. There is a great deal of effort involved, and usually struggle.</p>
<p>Power, on the other hand, implies a strength that goes beyond what you might be able to exert. You experience power when you align your inner energies, beliefs, and emotions with your outer actions. This will propel you forward toward your goals, with much less effort and fewer toes being stepped on.</p>
<p>Some people talk about this as flow, but it is really much more than that. It is a sense of energy and multiple dimensions working in tandem so that with each step you actually move ahead many paces.</p>
<p>For solo-entrepreneurs, who don&#8217;t have a large corporate machine backing them, this distinction becomes even more important. Power, rather than force, becomes the name of the game.</p>
<p>Remember a time when you felt confident, in flow, and successes seemed to just come to you. What were you focused on? How were you being? What actions were you taking?Use these answers as a self-prescription for tapping into this power state so that you no longer have to rely on force.</p>
<p><strong>2. Accomplish vs. Attain</strong></p>
<p>Accomplishment has a sense of finality, an end point, and refers more to a task. Accomplishments often feel meaningless once you&#8217;ve accomplished them. Have you ever worked hard in order to get something, and then once you had it, it didn&#8217;t seem so important or meaningful any more? There was a bit of a letdown.</p>
<p>Attainment, on the other hand, has no end. It is based in a spiritual or inspired knowing that what you are doing is meaningful at a level that goes far beyond just you or your company. A sense of attainment provides inspiration and comfort.</p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs indicate that when they were in &#8220;accomplish&#8221; mode, they got a lot done, but it didn&#8217;t always move them closer to their grander vision or mission. When they made the shift to attainment, it expanded their capacity to create the life they wanted.</p>
<p>Do you focus more on accomplishing or attaining? When you finish or complete something, does it inspire your forward and connect you with your reason for doing what you do, or does it feel exciting briefly and then go flat?</p>
<p><strong>3. Gaining Information vs. Using What You Learn</strong></p>
<p>While it might seem obvious that to simply gain information is not sufficient for producing incredible, solo-e success, there are a lot of business people out there reading and acquiring information without really putting it into practice. Until you use what you learn, you haven&#8217;t really learned it. You&#8217;ve just expanded your storehouse of information.</p>
<p>By putting it into practice, applying what you learn, you are able to distinguish useful information from irrelevant, and tweak approaches or systems so that they work for you.</p>
<p>What have you learned about today/this week that you can put into action now?</p>
<p><strong>4. Segmented vs. Integrated</strong></p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs say that before they became incredibly successful, they thought of their lives in compartmentalized segments. Even within their businesses they had a segmented approach to their services, products, and even their efforts.</p>
<p>The shift for them came when they created a synergy by integrating their work and their lives. When you have an integrated approach, activity in one area directly benefits goals in another area. This is part of how you can move three paces ahead with only one step.</p>
<p>Write out all the different projects or components of your business. Then identify the patterns or themes that emerge. Where can you leverage your efforts so that work in one part directly improves the work in another?</p>
<p><strong>5. Working Hard vs. Working Joyfully</strong></p>
<p>Working hard brings with it all the &#8220;must do&#8217;s&#8221; and &#8220;to do&#8217;s&#8221;, plus all the heaviness that those lists entail. Working joyfully, on the other hand, brings with it ease, fun, inspiration, and a light, powerful sense. When you work joyfully, you are working in tandem with spirit, in tandem with your true desires, whereas when you work hard you are usually pushing against something. (See Force vs. Power.)</p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs often learned this the hard way. They spent years working hard, only to see their goals slipping away &#8211; along with their health and their energy. Often they &#8220;hit bottom&#8221; before they decided to try it a different way. When they did make the shift to working joyfully, they found themselves thinking, &#8220;Is it really this easy?&#8221; or &#8220;Wow, this is great! I can have fun, make money, and make a difference!&#8221;</p>
<p>What is it that you absolutely love doing in your business? When was the last time that time seemed to just disappear (in a good way)? How could you create more of that in your business?</p>
<p><strong>6. Structure vs. Environments</strong></p>
<p>Structure is a good thing. You need some structure in order to get things done &#8211; even if your structure looks vastly different from someone else&#8217;s. Structure is focused on tasks and specific outcomes.</p>
<p>Environments, on the other hand, go beyond structure to setting up entire systems of support that enable you to continue making progress without even &#8220;working&#8221; at it.</p>
<p>The distinction is that an environment works for you, while a structure requires you to do the work. An environment makes the structure YOURS.</p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs say this is one of the most important distinctions. When they could transform their structures &#8211; or lack of structure &#8211; into environmental supports, they were able to consistently move ahead with far less effort.</p>
<p>Where are your environment(s) currently supporting you to be your best, do your best, and experience your best? Where are the drains or stumbling blocks that slow you down? What can you change so that you automatically do the right thing without having to overcome inertia?</p>
<p><strong>7. Behavior Change vs. Shift</strong></p>
<p>A behavior change is just what it sounds like. You either stop doing or start doing something. It can be simple, and may or may not be lasting.</p>
<p>A shift, on the other hand, is powerful. It usually comes as the result of an experience of some sort (perhaps from the behavior change), and results in a deep, cellular change in how you approach things. It is often accompanied by an identify shift as well.</p>
<p>Think of those &#8220;aha!&#8221; moments and epiphanies you have had &#8211; the times when you all of a sudden &#8220;got it&#8221;. That is a shift. You can try to go back to the old way of doing things, but there is a part of you that always knows you&#8217;re not participating at your full potential.</p>
<p>For example, once you realize that what you think about and focus on affects your results, you cannot pretend it isn&#8217;t so. You might temporarily think less than helpful thoughts, but your internal set point has changed and you will be inspired back to what you know to be the truth.</p>
<p>In order to get to this shift point however, you might have to practice it as behavior change until you get the evidence of how it works.</p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs make key, internal shifts, not just behavior changes. They are constantly looking for what shifts are needed in order to make their businesses &#8211; and their lives &#8211; even more successful.</p>
<p>If you were already as successful as you want to be, what shifts would you have made?Now that you know what they are, what can you do to begin making these today?</p>
<p><strong>8. Pessimism vs. Optimism</strong></p>
<p>This distinction probably seems obvious. What&#8217;s not always so obvious to people is WHEN they are being pessimistic. People who are struggling with their businesses often describe themselves as being &#8220;realistic&#8221;, seeing what&#8217;s really going on. The truth is, they are only looking at a portion of what&#8217;s going on, and chances are they are making that worse than it really is.</p>
<p>Optimism is not just a state of mind or an approach. It is a commitment to looking for what&#8217;s working, looking for the good in a situation, and building on that. It is based on spiritual and scientific principles that when we focus on what&#8217;s working and looking with vision and passion toward what we want, that we are actually more resourceful and creative.</p>
<p>Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs have MASTERED this distinction!</p>
<p>When you evaluate your business, your decisions, or even yourself as your own solo-CEO, what do you focus on more &#8211; what&#8217;s working, or how much is going wrong? What would happen if you committed to looking for what&#8217;s working for the next 72 hours? Just three days. Try it!</p>
<p><strong>9. Focusing on the Gap vs. Honoring Where You Are</strong></p>
<p>While wanting more is not a bad thing, when most people talk about what they want, what they are really doing is focusing on the gap between what they want and what they have. By doing this, they actually activate the &#8220;not having&#8221; more than the &#8220;having&#8221;, so it sets up a bit of a catch-22.</p>
<p>Honoring where you are is being fully present, loving each moment, knowing that each moment is already full and perfect, regardless of whether you have accomplished or attained. It is tapping in to the power of NOW.</p>
<p>Honoring where you are doesn&#8217;t discount that you might have dreams and desires, but in really honoring, you activate trust, celebration, and good feelings that allows in more of what you are wanting.</p>
<p>As you&#8217;ve noticed, these key distinctions of Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs are grounded in inner and outer attitudes, beliefs, and actions. They require an inner mindset shift, as well as an external, or action, shift.</p>
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		<title>The top 10 ways to increase profitability</title>
		<link>http://www.sazkul.com/the-top-10-ways-to-increase-profitability/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 20:37:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sazkul</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.sazkul.com/?p=323</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Go back to basics.
Take a couple of steps back and address the fundamental facts or principles of your business. Going back to basics can mean cleaning the slate and focusing on basic elements that create success.
Come from a place of Integrity.
As the saying goes &#8221; Honesty is the best policy.&#8221; Base all your decisions and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Go back to basics.</strong><br />
Take a couple of steps back and address the fundamental facts or principles of your business. Going back to basics can mean cleaning the slate and focusing on basic elements that create success.</p>
<p><strong>Come from a place of Integrity.</strong><br />
As the saying goes &#8221; Honesty is the best policy.&#8221; Base all your decisions and actions on integrity. What do you know to be true?</p>
<p><strong>Look for Profit holes.</strong><br />
These are expenses or areas where money is often spent unnecessarily. Don&#8217;t ignore the intangible profit holes. Examples may include : Unproductive staff, wrong media, wrong message, wrong agency. Others includepaying late or missing discount deadlines.</p>
<p><strong>Constructive Communication.</strong><br />
Miscommunication cause&#8217;s misunderstandings. Encourage your team to communicate clearly with each other and with clients. Ensure that all communication is constructive and supportive.</p>
<p><strong>Apply the Pareto Principle.</strong><br />
The value of the Pareto Principle for a manager is that it reminds you to focus on the 20 percent that matters. Of the things you do during your day, only 20 percent really matter. Those 20 percent produce 80 percent of your results. Identify and focus on those things. When the fire fighting of the day begins to sap your time, remind yourself of the 20 percent you need to focus on. If something in the schedule has to slip, if something isn&#8217;t going to get done, make sure it&#8217;s not part of that 20 percent that counts. 80 percent of your clerical time is wasted of activities that produce 20% on your income. 80 percent of your sales comes from 20% of your existing client base.</p>
<p><strong>Focus on what is working and capitalise on that.</strong><br />
Where is there a natural flow in your business? What works well for you? These are your strengths and if you keep doing what comes naturally, you will have success. Take the path of least resistance, Don&#8217;t reinvent the wheel &#8211; less can be more.</p>
<p><strong>Think outside the box Think differently!</strong><br />
If what you&#8217;re doing now isn&#8217;t working, change direction -explore. Look at alternatives and keep asking &#8221; What opportunities have we available to us right now?&#8221; If you do something different you will resolve the problem quicker. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting the same results.</p>
<p><strong>Create some short term wins.</strong><br />
Identify areas within your current environment that need to be focused on to achieve your desired end result. Create three short term wins to be achieved in a specific time frame. What three short term wins can I put in place for the immediate future ? How do you feel when you win ?</p>
<p><strong>Look for your &#8220;Acres of Diamonds&#8221;.</strong><br />
There is a story about a farmer who lived in Africa and through meeting a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. He was so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, constantly searching for diamonds and wealth which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of an egg and put it on his mantle piece in his lounge. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle piece was just about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, &#8220;Heck, the whole farm is covered with them&#8221; &#8211; and sure enough it was. The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine, the richest the world has ever known. The original owner of the farm was literally standing on &#8220;Acres of Diamonds&#8221; and he never knew.</p>
<p><strong>Accelerate your growth.</strong><br />
Hire a coach to help you facilitate this change. If you keep doing what you have always done , you will keep getting the same results. A coach acts as an independent catalyst for change and is an asset to any organisation looking to accelerate their growth.</p>
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