Chairman Greenspan and the FED, learn more you will be glad you did (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

So many people work their whole life to make money, but they know so little about out monetary system. They know so little about the Federal Reserve Bank and so very little about the brilliant minds, which make it all work. To get a better insight to the behind the scenes strategic planning and the intense thought which goes into making it all work I recommend you read a few books on the subject. Let's start on an easy one for your on-going education as an Entrepreneur; I recommend you first read:

Cut to the Quick - What is an Entrepreneur? The Inside Story (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Enjoying the title of entrepreneur is a hollow feeling.

If you have ever been out of work and joined a multi level marketing outfit, or joined the ranks of "commission only" sales reps you are considered to be an entrepreneur.

Health Insurance for Solo Entrepreneurs (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

One of the most important benefits employed people enjoy is health insurance coverage. It is also the single most costly expense for self-employed entrepreneurs. So what can you do to reduce ever increasing costs of health care coverage? Here are a few tips.

Motivation and Commitment (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Why do people start small businesses? The most frequently cited motivation for business start-ups is to allow the entrepreneur to achieve independence; money is secondary. Is this surprising? The other reasons named most often are that an opportunity presented itself, a person took over the family business, or the person simply wanted to be an entrepreneur. Identify your motivation.

Leadership Attributes for Business Success (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Business success is essentially the result of successful leadership. Contrary to the popular myth, leaders are not just born. Leadership skills can be learnt and developed. A business is a distinct reflection of the leader, who may be the owner or manager. A business is never successful despite the leader, it is always successful or otherwise because of the leader.

The 7 Major Reasons Businesses Fail and How to Overcome Them (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

This year, over 800,000 of the approximately 2,000,000 start up businesses will fail!

Nearly 1,000,000 of those remaining will fail within 3 years. Why do so many businesses fail? Many studies show that approximately 98% of all failures occur because of the owners. The other 2% are a result of acts of God. Here are the key reasons and actions owners can take to avoid and overcome business failure:

Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to Think Differently (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Adolescence brings with it many challenges - for both parents and kids. Young people, still new to the world, are embarking on a journey to discover their passions, joys, and authentic self-images. More often than not, however, their journey more closely resembles an elongated stampede of enraged elephants than it does an innocent soul-searching endeavor. But no one said growing up would be easy.

Business Development: The Basic Ingredients (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Cooking isn't much different than building a business. You have the basic ingredients all laid out on the counter and if you put them together in the right way - you have a nice meal to nourish your heart, body, and soul - and the pocket too. With a little creativity, it even comes out looking pretty too.

Entrepreneurial Emotions or It Seemed Like a Great Idea at the Time (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

It's your first business or the next Great Idea in your ongoing business, online or offline, it doesn't matter. The roller coaster ride is a theme and variations on the same experiences. First the exhilaration -- THIS idea, or THIS business is THE one. It'll put you on the map with lots of money in your bank account. It can't fail. It's just too good. Have you said this? More than once? I have, and several times during my life, with numerous businesses and varying levels of success.

Veteran Entrepreneurs Are Growing In Ranks (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

When I'm not running my own business, writing articles about business, speaking to groups and organizations about business, or consulting with companies who want my advice about the running of their business, I teach a weekly class on the subject of (care to guess?) starting and running a business.

Goals and New Venture Creation (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

More and more corporate workers are leaving their jobs to start new ventures. When taking this leap, it is important that the goals of these entrepreneurs are solid, as these goals may ultimately determine the success of the new venture.

Top 10 Business Plan Myths of Solo Entrepreneurs (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Don't let these stop you from having a business plan for success!

A recent study of 29,000 business startups noted that 26,000 of them failed. Of those failures, 67% had no written business plan. Think that's a coincidence?

PR That Entrepreneurs Often Overlook (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

If that sounds like you, here's what you may be missing once the new enterprise is launched

Public relations that really does something about the behaviors of those key outside audiences that most affect your new enterprise.

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick? (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

It is only natural that when you start a business, you are doing something different than most people. They not only will look at you because you stick out like a sore thumb _ but human nature will cause people to naturally ridicule what you are doing. They will tell you all types of things like: "You're not business material." "You can't make a living working for yourself." "You'll fail because nobody can ever make any money that way."

Starting Your Business: It All Boils Down To Making Money and Saving Money (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Bootstrapping in the context of business start-ups refers to the use of creative financing approaches such as leveraging personal savings, credit-card debt, loans from friends and family, bartering, and other means to launch a business. Some business founders use bootstrapping because they have no other choice. Just about anyone who has approached a bank has learned that "only established businesses need apply." Bankers typically look for cash flow, assets, an established customer base, and a successful track record on the part of the business that is seeking a start-up loan. Obviously, this is a short list that is impossible to fulfill when you are just getting started.

Financial Issues in Business Startup (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

A primary inhibitor of business start-up is that few people have the financial cushion to give up a job for the uncertain income of a start-up venture. In a recent survey, about 30% of new business founders identified inadequate funding as their biggest hurdle, and a similar amount said lenders were too conservative. About 15% reported being unable to find investors, and a similar amount claimed a lack of collateral.

The Magic of Thinking Small (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Hey!

Many of you might disagree and I'm prepared for that.

Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Discovering Your Gifts (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

What are the unique gifts that differentiate you from other solo entrepreneurs? The path to discovering your gifts may take a lifetime, but you can use the exploration process to begin to use your gifts NOW!

Focus is the Key to a Successful Startup (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

The definition of a startup means you have very few resources to employ and little time to get them to do something valuable. The clock is always ticking, and the money (if you even have any) is running out by the day. With so little to leverage, you need to make sure that the focus of your company's product offer is as razor sharp as possible.

Differentiation - Smart Marketing Strategies for the Solo Entrepreneur (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Are you ever frustrated or hesitant when you talk to prospective customers because you can't readily explain why they should come to you rather than go to your competitors? Sure, you might have your 30-second elevator speech, but then they ask you that dreaded question, "So what makes you different?" Then, all those self-doubts creep in, and you just aren't sure what to say. Differentiation can boost confidence--yours in yourself and that prospective customer's confidence in you!