So 2008 is here. Now what? I believe that in both your business and personal life you need to have a map to guide you along the way. Because of that I have decided to share with you what I call my ten principles to success and achievement. It is my belief that if you have and apply these principles to your life you will achieve all of the resolutions that you have set for 2008 both personally and professionally.
Optimism - The ability to control our thoughts and emotions, optimism is the only thing in life over which you have complete, unchallenged and unchangeable control.
“Direct your thoughts control your emotions and ordain your destiny”
Faith
- Is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans and purposes are translated into their physical or financial equivalent.
“You can do it if you believe you can”
Planning – The highest form of self-discipline, the act of coordinating all your mind’s faculties and directing their combined power to a given end.
“You can keep your mind working for you, even while you sleep, with controlled attention and planning”
Determination – Is your mind’s exercise for challenge and adventure. It uses old ideas and establishes facts to reassemble them into new combinations and put them to new uses.
“Determination is the workshop for the soul”
Vision – The starting point of achievement is knowing what your goal is and knowing what you want.
“Successful people move on their own initiative, but they know where they’re going before they start”
Attitude – A pleasing personality helps you master the major cause of failure; the inability to get along with people harmoniously.
“Your personality is your greatest asset or liability. It embraces everything you control: mind, body and soul”
Goals – The inner power that starts all action; the power that inspires the completion of all that one begins.
“No man is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own personal initiative”
Perseverance – Requires you to recognize all the facts of life, both good and bad, and assumes the responsibility of separating and organizing the two, choosing which serve his needs and rejecting all others.
“You are what you think”
Knowledge - Hardship and adversity are a common language of nature in which she speaks to all living creatures and teaches them things they would not learn in any other way.
“Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit”
Enthusiasm - A contagious state of mind that not only helps you gain the cooperation of others but, more importantly, inspires you to draw upon and use the power of your imagination.
“Real enthusiasm comes from within and is faith in action”
I personally apply these principals to my own life on a daily basis. It is my hope that you do the same in order to become the successful person and entrepreneur that you deserve to be!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
Are You Prepared?
When most people set out to start up a business they forget about all of the details that go into play besides the financial aspect. The cost of starting a business is more than just dollars and cents. It also includes time, energy, stress, sleepless nights, strained personal relationships, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. While some of these things simply can not be avoided, a lot of them can with a detailed business plan and plan of action.
If you're read any of my other article or my book then you've heard me rant about how you need a plan of action and a business plan. While it’s important that you have both, the two are totally different. With the new year approaching, so many people have set resolutions to start their own business but in the usual fashion, they have neither a business plan nor a plan of action. I will give you a piece of advice, if you plan to start a business; you need to have both - a business plan and a plan of action in order to become successful.
For those of you that have forgotten what the difference is, I will refresh your memory.
A Business Plan: This includes setting goals and how they will be achieved. Defining obstacles and outlining strategies to overcome them. Stating the legal and organizational structure of the business. Quantifying your financial needs and making some financial projections.
A Plan Of Action: This includes a marketing budget, source of consistent leads or clients, training and skill development. Defining a time frame in which you will dedicate time and energy to your business. Determining how you will meet the objectives that are on your business plan. Most importantly, making sure that your desire is in line with your dedication so that you can see the project through to the end.
To build a strong, lasting business, you must build it on a solid foundation. These are just a few of the tools that will help you to help you get things off the ground!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
If you're read any of my other article or my book then you've heard me rant about how you need a plan of action and a business plan. While it’s important that you have both, the two are totally different. With the new year approaching, so many people have set resolutions to start their own business but in the usual fashion, they have neither a business plan nor a plan of action. I will give you a piece of advice, if you plan to start a business; you need to have both - a business plan and a plan of action in order to become successful.
For those of you that have forgotten what the difference is, I will refresh your memory.
A Business Plan: This includes setting goals and how they will be achieved. Defining obstacles and outlining strategies to overcome them. Stating the legal and organizational structure of the business. Quantifying your financial needs and making some financial projections.
A Plan Of Action: This includes a marketing budget, source of consistent leads or clients, training and skill development. Defining a time frame in which you will dedicate time and energy to your business. Determining how you will meet the objectives that are on your business plan. Most importantly, making sure that your desire is in line with your dedication so that you can see the project through to the end.
To build a strong, lasting business, you must build it on a solid foundation. These are just a few of the tools that will help you to help you get things off the ground!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
Myths Vs. Facts When Starting A Business
Most people think that when they start a business they will become wealthy and everything will just fall into place for them. Not true. There are certain things that you need to know before you take that leap of faith into entrepreneurship and to help you out I’ve listed some of them below.
MYTH: You can get rich working for someone else.
FACT: 1% of the U.S. is WEALTHY and 74% of them own their own business! The vast majority of people in the United States earns less than $2,400 per month and will retire off of less than $800 per month. This is after they have worked for a company for 40 years! That’s right, I said 40 years! Remember: Everyone is a part of free enterprise - you're either in it or you work for someone who is!
MYTH: You must be smart, well-educated or an experienced entrepreneur to be successful in your own business.
FACT: The best and most efficient way to create wealth is to find someone who has already done it and duplicate their process. Starting your own business requires no skill or education, just the desire to work smart and hard! In the last decade, literally thousands of new millionaires have been created by starting their own empires. Studies have shown that one of the fastest ways to create wealth is through owning your own business.
MYTH: You must work long hours for many years to get wealthy.
FACT: While it is true that it may take some time and serious commitment, the fact remains that you are in control of you own destiny. So how much time it will take to get where you want to go will depend on you! Keep in mind, the average person will start a business, then over time try to expand it and then allow it to continue to grow. Some people who start their own companies fail to even make back their initial investment while others go on to earn a significant income on a monthly basis. What’s the difference between the ones that succeed and the ones who do not? EDUCATION. Not school book education, but industry education.
A doctor has to go to school for 8 years and still must do an internship before he or she can start practicing medicine. When you start up your own company, you can earn as much as a doctor or more and you don't need to go to school for 8 years or even 1 year for that matter, but you still need to go to school. Most people jump right in and hope for the best (97%). The smart ones take time to get trained and study so that they can master the basics of their business (3%). Now ask yourself: What percentage will you be in?
MYTH: Once I open up my company I will start making a ton of money every month, even from home, doing absolutely nothing.
FACT: Starting your own business can be simple but it’s not that simple! The truth is you may not make a ton of money or any money at all for a while. Again, be prepared and know what you’re getting yourself into. Check out the different trade associations that are affiliated with your industry and go to support groups. Try to find a mentor that’s in your industry that may be willing to help you out. Join some different organizations that cater to small business owners.
Even when you join these organizations, the key is to always remember that because it is a business you must always, always treat it like a business. You are in charge of marketing, promotion, distribution, etc. Your success, as with anything you do in life, depends greatly on your drive, commitment and motivation. Only you can determine how much, or how little, you will earn.
MYTH: First I'll get the money and then I'll figure out how to spend it and start doing the things I love to do.
FACT: You must first know WHY you want the money before you can get it and keep it. What's the last letter in M-O-N-E-Y? It's Y! Figure out WHY you want the money or else you'll end up like 80% of all lottery winners - broke again in 5 YEARS. You must have goals set in place. You must have the desire to be successful and you must be willing to believe in yourself and most importantly, invest in yourself.
MYTH: I will take each day as it comes and everything else will work out.
FACT: You must have a clear plan of action. This would include a marketing budget, source of consistent leads or clients, training and skill development. You must have a burning desire to change your situation, the desire to earn above average income and most importantly be hungry. You must be dedicated and have the desire to see the project through, constantly studying your craft and re-investing in your company so that your business can flourish.
By applying a few basic principles and having a clear, defined plan of action, you can be successful in whatever endeavor you choose!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
MYTH: You can get rich working for someone else.
FACT: 1% of the U.S. is WEALTHY and 74% of them own their own business! The vast majority of people in the United States earns less than $2,400 per month and will retire off of less than $800 per month. This is after they have worked for a company for 40 years! That’s right, I said 40 years! Remember: Everyone is a part of free enterprise - you're either in it or you work for someone who is!
MYTH: You must be smart, well-educated or an experienced entrepreneur to be successful in your own business.
FACT: The best and most efficient way to create wealth is to find someone who has already done it and duplicate their process. Starting your own business requires no skill or education, just the desire to work smart and hard! In the last decade, literally thousands of new millionaires have been created by starting their own empires. Studies have shown that one of the fastest ways to create wealth is through owning your own business.
MYTH: You must work long hours for many years to get wealthy.
FACT: While it is true that it may take some time and serious commitment, the fact remains that you are in control of you own destiny. So how much time it will take to get where you want to go will depend on you! Keep in mind, the average person will start a business, then over time try to expand it and then allow it to continue to grow. Some people who start their own companies fail to even make back their initial investment while others go on to earn a significant income on a monthly basis. What’s the difference between the ones that succeed and the ones who do not? EDUCATION. Not school book education, but industry education.
A doctor has to go to school for 8 years and still must do an internship before he or she can start practicing medicine. When you start up your own company, you can earn as much as a doctor or more and you don't need to go to school for 8 years or even 1 year for that matter, but you still need to go to school. Most people jump right in and hope for the best (97%). The smart ones take time to get trained and study so that they can master the basics of their business (3%). Now ask yourself: What percentage will you be in?
MYTH: Once I open up my company I will start making a ton of money every month, even from home, doing absolutely nothing.
FACT: Starting your own business can be simple but it’s not that simple! The truth is you may not make a ton of money or any money at all for a while. Again, be prepared and know what you’re getting yourself into. Check out the different trade associations that are affiliated with your industry and go to support groups. Try to find a mentor that’s in your industry that may be willing to help you out. Join some different organizations that cater to small business owners.
Even when you join these organizations, the key is to always remember that because it is a business you must always, always treat it like a business. You are in charge of marketing, promotion, distribution, etc. Your success, as with anything you do in life, depends greatly on your drive, commitment and motivation. Only you can determine how much, or how little, you will earn.
MYTH: First I'll get the money and then I'll figure out how to spend it and start doing the things I love to do.
FACT: You must first know WHY you want the money before you can get it and keep it. What's the last letter in M-O-N-E-Y? It's Y! Figure out WHY you want the money or else you'll end up like 80% of all lottery winners - broke again in 5 YEARS. You must have goals set in place. You must have the desire to be successful and you must be willing to believe in yourself and most importantly, invest in yourself.
MYTH: I will take each day as it comes and everything else will work out.
FACT: You must have a clear plan of action. This would include a marketing budget, source of consistent leads or clients, training and skill development. You must have a burning desire to change your situation, the desire to earn above average income and most importantly be hungry. You must be dedicated and have the desire to see the project through, constantly studying your craft and re-investing in your company so that your business can flourish.
By applying a few basic principles and having a clear, defined plan of action, you can be successful in whatever endeavor you choose!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
Thursday, November 2, 2006
You Can Miss Out On Opportunities By Seeking Security...
“The more you seek security, the less of it you will have. And the more you pursue opportunity, the more security you will achieve.” Brian Tracy
I talk to people all the time who tell me that want to start a business or leave their job because either they hate what they do, are miserable or both. Even though they despise where they work and what they do they are still too afraid to leave! The reason I hear as to why they are afraid to leave their job, time after time is because they need the security. Well, if you think you’ve got job security just ask some of these folks who, after working at major corporations for 15-20 years and were suddenly laid off, if there’s any such thing as job security. You’ll quickly find that the answer is no.
When I talk to people about becoming self sufficient and operating their own business I always say that it will come with risk. Sometime the risks are calculated but in most cases they are not. I mean, you can have the best laid out business plan that details out the who, what, when and why and still fail. Why? Because nothing in life is guaranteed.
For all of the business ventures my husband and I have started, some have done well while others have failed miserably. Sometimes things sound great on paper but do not work in the real world. There are also times that you will do something and will find that it may work for a while and then suddenly, it begins to slow down or worse – it stops altogether. Unfortunately, that’s one of the joys of being a business owner and it’s a part of life! Businesses have their ups and downs and as I have told you before, in the beginning you may have mostly downs. The important thing to do is to keep going and not give up.
I think when we started out, we weren’t necessarily seeking security. We were seeking an opportunity to control our own destiny. As we get older, my husband and I now find ourselves seeking security however; we don’t want to miss out on opportunity. I guess that being said – that’s the true makings of an entrepreneur. The only difference is we now know that with risk comes security. It just takes time!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
I talk to people all the time who tell me that want to start a business or leave their job because either they hate what they do, are miserable or both. Even though they despise where they work and what they do they are still too afraid to leave! The reason I hear as to why they are afraid to leave their job, time after time is because they need the security. Well, if you think you’ve got job security just ask some of these folks who, after working at major corporations for 15-20 years and were suddenly laid off, if there’s any such thing as job security. You’ll quickly find that the answer is no.
When I talk to people about becoming self sufficient and operating their own business I always say that it will come with risk. Sometime the risks are calculated but in most cases they are not. I mean, you can have the best laid out business plan that details out the who, what, when and why and still fail. Why? Because nothing in life is guaranteed.
For all of the business ventures my husband and I have started, some have done well while others have failed miserably. Sometimes things sound great on paper but do not work in the real world. There are also times that you will do something and will find that it may work for a while and then suddenly, it begins to slow down or worse – it stops altogether. Unfortunately, that’s one of the joys of being a business owner and it’s a part of life! Businesses have their ups and downs and as I have told you before, in the beginning you may have mostly downs. The important thing to do is to keep going and not give up.
I think when we started out, we weren’t necessarily seeking security. We were seeking an opportunity to control our own destiny. As we get older, my husband and I now find ourselves seeking security however; we don’t want to miss out on opportunity. I guess that being said – that’s the true makings of an entrepreneur. The only difference is we now know that with risk comes security. It just takes time!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
10 Principles & Strategies For Success In Business – Any Business!
I think in order to achieve the things you want in life you have to have a strategy. Some people become successful in life and business because they set up some basic principles that they follow on a daily basis. Below, I have outlined some of the very principles and strategies that I used to become a successful entrepreneur. Implement these strategies into your life and business and watch things change!
#1 What You Think Is Important: Always be positive. As a man think, so is HE. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment; it will surely extinguish your positivity.
#2 Decide Upon Your True Dreams: Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. Write a plan of action and follow it.
#3 Take Action: Goals are nothing without action. Don’t be afraid to get started now. Just do it! You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started if you want to be great.
#4 Never Stop Learning: Go back to school or read a new book. Attend seminars often or get training and acquire a new skill.
#5 Be Persistent And Work Hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to be in it for the long haul. Never give up!
#6 Learn To Analyze Details: Get all the facts and use them before making a decision. Learn from your mistakes and then you will not easily repeat them.
#7 Focus On Your Time And Money: Don’t let other people or things distract you. You can replace money that is lost, but you can never replace lost time. Make every minute count!
#8 Don’t Be Afraid To Be Different: Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. Step out on faith and dare to make something happen. It’s OK to totally confuse others if it works for you.
#9 Learn To Communicate With People Effectively: Learn to understand the motives of others. Building lasting relationships is a sure way to expand your horizons. There are values in differences. Take knowledge that you receive from others and apply it to your situation to help you in your quest to fulfill your own goals.
#10 Be Honest, Dependable And Take Responsibility: Or else, numbers 1-9 won’t matter!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
#1 What You Think Is Important: Always be positive. As a man think, so is HE. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment; it will surely extinguish your positivity.
#2 Decide Upon Your True Dreams: Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. Write a plan of action and follow it.
#3 Take Action: Goals are nothing without action. Don’t be afraid to get started now. Just do it! You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started if you want to be great.
#4 Never Stop Learning: Go back to school or read a new book. Attend seminars often or get training and acquire a new skill.
#5 Be Persistent And Work Hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to be in it for the long haul. Never give up!
#6 Learn To Analyze Details: Get all the facts and use them before making a decision. Learn from your mistakes and then you will not easily repeat them.
#7 Focus On Your Time And Money: Don’t let other people or things distract you. You can replace money that is lost, but you can never replace lost time. Make every minute count!
#8 Don’t Be Afraid To Be Different: Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. Step out on faith and dare to make something happen. It’s OK to totally confuse others if it works for you.
#9 Learn To Communicate With People Effectively: Learn to understand the motives of others. Building lasting relationships is a sure way to expand your horizons. There are values in differences. Take knowledge that you receive from others and apply it to your situation to help you in your quest to fulfill your own goals.
#10 Be Honest, Dependable And Take Responsibility: Or else, numbers 1-9 won’t matter!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
To Build A Business You Must Have Customers...
In order to make any business thrive you must have customers. What most people don’t realize is that in most instances, customers will not just walk through your door. You have to understand, there are basic principals that you must follow to get customers and the most basic of all of the principals is prospecting.
Prospecting is the act of searching out leads or potential customers. Through practice you will find that prospecting or getting news customers will become much easier for you. If you learn the basics you will find that overall it will help you to become more effective in your business because the reality is you will always need to prospect. However keep in mind that your success will not be instant. You will be challenged; and fall down and get scrapes and bruises. You might even wimp out before you even start! If you do, then you have lost! So try not to get too intimidated in this process of asking others for their business.
If you are truly serious about building your business (and I hope that you are) you must make a commitment to yourself and your business to learn these basics of prospecting and implement them in your action plan (you do have an action plan don't you?).
Prospecting or gathering customers can be fun. When prospecting becomes fun, you become an effective business person. But if you make it a task you don't want to do, procrastination will take over your mind and you will find yourself frustrated because your business will not be growing.
Regardless of the type of business you have, all businesses are based on sales and in order to make money you will have to make sales. Part of the selling process is prospecting. In fact, prospecting or gathering customers is the most important step you must take in the sales cycle. Without prospecting, you will not have any customers. Without customers, you will not make any sales. With no one to sell your product or service to you have no business and therefore you will make no money! I guess you see my point or at least I hope you do!
Remember - Prospecting is your first step toward building your business.
Prospecting is an important element to any and all businesses because it’s where you get your business. I know, prospecting sucks! I don’t know anyone who loves to do. I personally hate prospecting. But let me ask you a question:
If you don't prospect for your business, who will?
- Your friends?
- Your family?
- Your kids?
Face the facts! Those people will never build your business for you. You must take a proactive approach to building your business and that proactive approach begins with prospecting. Effective prospecting does take time, effort, and a bit of patience. Always remember, you are in business for the long haul so if you learn this important step you business is guaranteed to prosper for years to come!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
Prospecting is the act of searching out leads or potential customers. Through practice you will find that prospecting or getting news customers will become much easier for you. If you learn the basics you will find that overall it will help you to become more effective in your business because the reality is you will always need to prospect. However keep in mind that your success will not be instant. You will be challenged; and fall down and get scrapes and bruises. You might even wimp out before you even start! If you do, then you have lost! So try not to get too intimidated in this process of asking others for their business.
If you are truly serious about building your business (and I hope that you are) you must make a commitment to yourself and your business to learn these basics of prospecting and implement them in your action plan (you do have an action plan don't you?).
Prospecting or gathering customers can be fun. When prospecting becomes fun, you become an effective business person. But if you make it a task you don't want to do, procrastination will take over your mind and you will find yourself frustrated because your business will not be growing.
Regardless of the type of business you have, all businesses are based on sales and in order to make money you will have to make sales. Part of the selling process is prospecting. In fact, prospecting or gathering customers is the most important step you must take in the sales cycle. Without prospecting, you will not have any customers. Without customers, you will not make any sales. With no one to sell your product or service to you have no business and therefore you will make no money! I guess you see my point or at least I hope you do!
Remember - Prospecting is your first step toward building your business.
Prospecting is an important element to any and all businesses because it’s where you get your business. I know, prospecting sucks! I don’t know anyone who loves to do. I personally hate prospecting. But let me ask you a question:
If you don't prospect for your business, who will?
- Your friends?
- Your family?
- Your kids?
Face the facts! Those people will never build your business for you. You must take a proactive approach to building your business and that proactive approach begins with prospecting. Effective prospecting does take time, effort, and a bit of patience. Always remember, you are in business for the long haul so if you learn this important step you business is guaranteed to prosper for years to come!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
Happy Employees Equal Happy Customers...
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “If mom isn’t happy then NOBODY will be happy!” Well that also applies to your business. If your employees are not happy, they will not do a wonderful job at making or keeping your customers happy. When you really think about it, no one really wants to work for a living. No one wants to sit behind a desk or counter all day dealing with other people’s issues, answering the phones, and having to deal with “problems” day in and day out. Right?
In a perfect world we’d all have plenty of money were we’d never have to work. Picture it: You’d wake up on your yacht in a new part of the world every other day. Today it may be St. Tropez and the next day it may be Italy. Who knows! Everyday would be an adventure and we’d all have no cares or worries. Who wouldn’t love that type of life style? I know I would! The reality is most people may not even know where St. Tropez is, and may never have an opportunity to go there. All they have to look forward to is their crummy job where the boss is always gone, where the tension is so intense that you can cut it with a knife, where they can barely afford to pay their bills with what they make and the benefits; if they even have any; are almost non-existent. As small business owners we think that’s about the best we can offer. Well, that’s not true.
In the summer of 2006 Oprah Winfrey took her entire staff of 407 plus their families (more than 1000 people total) to Hawaii. You may not realize it but Oprah’s company Harpo, Inc. is considered to be a small business. And even though this should come as no surprise, she has an excellent retention rate. Most of her staff have been with her from the start. Why? Well this trip probably was not the first thing she did for her staff to show then how much she appreciated them and their hard work. Maybe you can’t fly your entire staff to Hawaii but there are certain things you could do to keep them happy.
Tip # 1: If you can’t take them to Hawaii then bring Hawaii to them! Several years ago we had a Christmas party for our staff at our home. We wanted a Hawaiian-themed party so we played island music and put a lei around their neck when they came through the door! We served tropical drinks. Ate foods that had island themes. We had a blast!
Tip # 2: Everyone loves a good meal. Especially when it’s free! Once a month we would take our staff out to lunch for our meeting or if the schedule was too tight we would have lunch catered or brought in. It wasn’t terribly expensive but our staff knew that we appreciated them and they appreciated the free food.
Tip # 3: Randomly give someone the day off or have your employees earn points for customer service kudos they get and some time off. The prize may be a Friday afternoon off, a full day off or you might even get creative and give them a gift certificate, or maybe even a weekend trip. You will quickly see that your employees will go above and beyond the call of duty to provide such an excellent level of customer service that it prompts the customer to call in on their behalf. It’s a fun program and great morale booster!
Tip # 4: Keep an open line of communication. Actually ask your employees what they think would improve their productivity and/or work environment then sit back and listen. You may find that not only are you able to take care of some of their requests but you may also get some great ideas and find some untapped talent at the same time.
Tip # 5: Give complements and pay raises accordingly. Value their contribution regardless of their education or experience. You must remember - the receptionist who answers the phones is responsible for making sure the calls go to the sales people. The salespeople are responsible for making sure the customer has their questions answered before they place their order. The order fillers are responsible for making sure the customers get the correct orders. The shipping department is responsible for making sure that the orders get sent to the correct location in a timely manner. All of their contributions individually and together make it possible for you to do what you need to do which is run your company.
Keeping your employees happy is not just got for them, it’s good for you. Your turn over rate will decrease and your productivity level will increase. Your employees are happy, your customers are happy and most importantly you are happy. Everyone wins!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
In a perfect world we’d all have plenty of money were we’d never have to work. Picture it: You’d wake up on your yacht in a new part of the world every other day. Today it may be St. Tropez and the next day it may be Italy. Who knows! Everyday would be an adventure and we’d all have no cares or worries. Who wouldn’t love that type of life style? I know I would! The reality is most people may not even know where St. Tropez is, and may never have an opportunity to go there. All they have to look forward to is their crummy job where the boss is always gone, where the tension is so intense that you can cut it with a knife, where they can barely afford to pay their bills with what they make and the benefits; if they even have any; are almost non-existent. As small business owners we think that’s about the best we can offer. Well, that’s not true.
In the summer of 2006 Oprah Winfrey took her entire staff of 407 plus their families (more than 1000 people total) to Hawaii. You may not realize it but Oprah’s company Harpo, Inc. is considered to be a small business. And even though this should come as no surprise, she has an excellent retention rate. Most of her staff have been with her from the start. Why? Well this trip probably was not the first thing she did for her staff to show then how much she appreciated them and their hard work. Maybe you can’t fly your entire staff to Hawaii but there are certain things you could do to keep them happy.
Tip # 1: If you can’t take them to Hawaii then bring Hawaii to them! Several years ago we had a Christmas party for our staff at our home. We wanted a Hawaiian-themed party so we played island music and put a lei around their neck when they came through the door! We served tropical drinks. Ate foods that had island themes. We had a blast!
Tip # 2: Everyone loves a good meal. Especially when it’s free! Once a month we would take our staff out to lunch for our meeting or if the schedule was too tight we would have lunch catered or brought in. It wasn’t terribly expensive but our staff knew that we appreciated them and they appreciated the free food.
Tip # 3: Randomly give someone the day off or have your employees earn points for customer service kudos they get and some time off. The prize may be a Friday afternoon off, a full day off or you might even get creative and give them a gift certificate, or maybe even a weekend trip. You will quickly see that your employees will go above and beyond the call of duty to provide such an excellent level of customer service that it prompts the customer to call in on their behalf. It’s a fun program and great morale booster!
Tip # 4: Keep an open line of communication. Actually ask your employees what they think would improve their productivity and/or work environment then sit back and listen. You may find that not only are you able to take care of some of their requests but you may also get some great ideas and find some untapped talent at the same time.
Tip # 5: Give complements and pay raises accordingly. Value their contribution regardless of their education or experience. You must remember - the receptionist who answers the phones is responsible for making sure the calls go to the sales people. The salespeople are responsible for making sure the customer has their questions answered before they place their order. The order fillers are responsible for making sure the customers get the correct orders. The shipping department is responsible for making sure that the orders get sent to the correct location in a timely manner. All of their contributions individually and together make it possible for you to do what you need to do which is run your company.
Keeping your employees happy is not just got for them, it’s good for you. Your turn over rate will decrease and your productivity level will increase. Your employees are happy, your customers are happy and most importantly you are happy. Everyone wins!
I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. It is my hope that the information I've provided will help you to get there!
To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Pam Lawhorne
Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.
Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.
The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.
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