The benefit of a Thank you card

The benefit of a Thank you card
In 1940, Dale Carnegie wrote a classic entitled "How to Win
Friends and Influence People". That book is still worth
millions today. Become genuinely interested in others and
take note to appreciate their business. In today's
competitive world differentiation is what sets you apart
and being genuinely interested is a key differentiator in
selling client value. Clients devour conducting business
with those they can trust and respect.

One of the simplest methods to appreciate clients is a
simple and personal thank you note. In this article I speak
of a clearly written hardcopy note. Prospective clients are
overwhelmed with a myriad of notes, letters and other
ridiculous correspondence. Ironically, the influx of
electronic communication has pained many. As such, direct
mail is on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor and
Statistics direct mail in the United States has increased
so the suggestion is to follow the trend. Use the United
States Postal Service to send correspondence to clients.
Refrain from all the electronic correspondence to clients.

Professionals that are different are memorable. Electronic
mail comes and goes but hardcopy notes last. Although you
might save imperative email, they are do not remain in
sight since many of your file your emails. However,
handwritten notes are placed on credenzas, bookshelves and
desks- within view of the prospective client, management,
even competitors! These intimate economical cards provide a
level of differentiation in today's competitive market.

You have three options in sending a card:

1. Commercial Printing - If you want to make an impression,
have cards professionally designed and die-cut with your
corporate name and logo. These are inexpensive and
illustrate professionalism bar none.

2. Home - Office Printing - Most home computers and their
printers are extremely durable and reliable. Ensure
professional design yet also invest in good quality paper.

3. Stock Commercial - Commercial retail provides stock
cards for general business and personal use. While not
recommended this is a good alternative initially.

In addition to thank you notes, other personal written
gestures include:

1. Introductory letters prior to a cold call

2. Follow letters for proposals and contracts

3. Notes for receipt of letters of recommendation

4. Follow up to information when the client does not respond

5. Any imperative data that provides a conduit to a
valuable relationship

If you truly illustrate your genuine interest in others and
desire more sales with less labor send begin some form or
hardcopy written correspondence. I know that what I suggest
requires altering behavior, however, if you truly desire
more business and want clients to find you- there is a need
to be different. Selling is not about money- it is about
creating a cadre of clients that speak highly about you
creating a flow of business in your direction. Like all
things in life, departing the comfort zone requires change.
However, if you desire more business then remember this
quote from Mahatma Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see."
Take the time today to implement this change and watch your
competitive gap widen to increase your sales!

----------------------------------------------------
Drew Stevens PhD is known as the Sales Strategist. Drew
assists organizations to dramatically accelerate business
growth. He is the author of seven books including Split
Second Selling and Split Second Customer Service and Little
Book of Hope and is frequently called on the media for his
expertise. Get a FREE download Drew's White Paper on
Selling Effectiveness or Business Building e-book at
http://www.gettingtothefinishline.com

Coaching Skills Training: Coaching knowledge

Coaching Skills Training: Coaching knowledge
In considering what knowledge is required in order to be
able to coach effectively, we need to look at two areas.
Firstly how much subject matter expertise do we need and
secondly, how much do we need to know about coaching itself.

Subject Matter Expertise

There is still some debate around whether coaches need a
detailed knowledge of the matter in hand or underlying
subject in order to be able to coach another person
effectively.

Some argue that it is impossible to coach without subject
matter expertise, as without it we can't show another
person what to do or give our advice or guidance. However
it's clear that telling people what to do is fraught with
danger; do I understand how I get results myself? Can I
find a way to express that to another person? Will they
remember what I've told them if I do? We've also come to
recognize that, these days, knowledge is out of date within
a few months and it is highly risky to approach any
situation with out of date knowledge. Far better then to
coach in a way that allows other people to develop their
own solutions and to do so in a way that encourages them to
become self-reliant in the future.

That being said, as far as being a manager coaching in a
work situation is concerned, in reality we probably will
have some background in the situations being discussed, but
we should resist the temptation to jump in with our own
quick fix solutions.

Knowledge of coaching itself

This is a far more important area of knowledge for
effective coaching and breaks down into four main areas:

1 What coaching is

We need to understand - and may often need to explain -
that coaching is NOT about telling people what to do and
how to do it. Instead coaching is about communicating with
others in a way that raises awareness, generates
responsibility and builds trust.

2 How managers can incorporate coaching in their own style

We all have our own style of communication with some of us
preferring a more directive approach and others a less
directive one. Managers who coach need to develop a
knowledge and understanding of incorporating coaching
principles into their natural style.

3 The principles of awareness, responsibility and trust

Before I can change and improve anything I must first
become aware of how it is now. In the end I am ultimately
responsible for making change and improvement. I must trust
myself to try new things and I must trust my coach to help
me do them. The best coaching managers are those that
understand and apply these principles.

4 The impact of questioning and active listening

Questions evoke awareness, responsibility and trust
infinitely better than instructions or advice, but even the
best coaching questions are meaningless without effective
listening.

----------------------------------------------------
Matt Somers is a coaching practitioner of many years'
experience. He works with a host of clients in North East
England where his firm is based and throughout the UK and
Europe. Matt understands that people are working with their
true potential locked away. He shows how coaching provides
a simple yet elegant key to this lock. His popular
mini-guide "Coaching for an Easier Life" is available FREE
at http://www.mattsomers.com

How to Have a Lousy, Miserable, Failed Tenure as a Volunteer Board Member

How to Have a Lousy, Miserable, Failed Tenure as a Volunteer Board Member
Does that sound like a crazy headline coming from a
management consultant? Well, after a long vacation, I'm in
the mood for a little silliness.

Nearly all leaders extend their leadership beyond the
workplace to head volunteer organizations throughout their
lives, often as board members.

It doesn't take long in your first volunteer leadership job
to realize things are different from your paid leadership
job, the most obvious being that you can't use compensation
as a motivator and absolutely nobody has to do their job
for fundamental reasons like paying the mortgage.

The following tips are gleaned from years of experience,
and the pain of trial and error. Don't make the same
mistakes other leaders, including this one, have made.

There are seven root causes of poor volunteer organization
leadership. It's not complicated and anyone can identify,
understand, and prevent them. I've phrased them as tips
just for the fun of it:

1. Don't plan ahead. That way, you can't involve many
people because so few of them will be available on short
notice. Then you can enjoy the pleasure of being a martyr
who's always overworked and moans about how no one helps
out.

2. Don't define the specific roles and responsibilities of
each volunteer position. That way, few people will
volunteer, since they will be leery that they'll get
everything dumped on them.

3. Don't get to know one another personally. Make it all
business, so that when conflict erupts and there's no
personal financial motivation, people have even fewer
incentives to stick around and work things out.

4. Talk with only your fellow board members at meetings,
since you don't have much time together and it feels so
good to catch up with the people you know instead of
risking rejection by talking to people you don't know. By
not talking to strangers, you can keep the volunteer
pipeline empty, so not only will you have no volunteers to
help you out this year, you'll have no one to take over
your position next year.

5. Once you do get a volunteer, it's enough to just think
about how much you appreciate their help. No need to
actually tell them, but if you do, certainly don't tell
them very often. When you do communicate, make sure it's to
correct all of their mistakes. It's their fault, after all.
Throw in a little annoyance for the complete leadership
package.

6. Miss most of the Board conference calls and especially
any face-to-face Board retreats, so that you can always
work as an individual instead of with the full support of a
strong team.

7. Make sure that you think of recruiting your successor
as the unpleasant task you'll get to during the last month
of your tenure. By all means, never assume you should
invest time now in identifying suitable successors, slowly
building relationships with them, recruiting them to test
out their interest by volunteering on your team, and then
asking one of them to step into your role in a well-planned
transition.

That was fun. I love doing backward lists.

Now, please, get out there and do the opposite and have a
wonderful, satisfying, successful tenure as a volunteer
board member!

----------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Selby Long, Founder and Principal of Selby Group,
provides executive coaching and organizational development
services. Jennifer's knack is helping clients navigate the
leadership and organizational challenges triggered by
change and growth. She knows firsthand that great plans
often fail because companies don't take into account the
human factors that come into play when implementing them.
Visit Jennifer at: http://selbygroup.com

40 Ways To Improve Your Business That You Can Act On NOW!

40 Ways To Improve Your Business That You Can Act On NOW!
We are always hearing how we should have a business plan,
right? But, seriously, what busy street-fighting
entrepreneur actually has time to create one of those 1,000
page monstrosities?!

But, you know what? Many of the things that are covered in
one of those formal plans are important to consider. So -
we've created a little checklist in the form of 33
important questions for you to answer about your business -
if you're about to start a business - and even if you've
already got a going enterprise.

So, sit back, read the questions, and see if you can answer
them. If you get snagged on one - consider stopping and
doing whatever research or considering you need to do.
Write some of this stuff down and - guess what - you'll
have many of the elements of a good business plan!

Why did you decide to enter this business?

What was attractive about the opportunity?

What market need did you see that you wanted to exploit?

What have you accomplished so far?

What stage of development is your company at right now?

What milestones have you reached?

What kind of company do you want to build?

What brand image are you seeking to establish?

What strategic position are you trying to occupy in your
market?

What is your sustainable competitive advantage?

What is the long range objective? For example, "To build
revenues to $50 million within 5 years."

What are your products/services? (Think about this one -
it is not as simple as you thing...)

Can you explain the technology involved to create them?

When will they be ready for introduction?

What benefits do your products/services provide that are
clearly superior to the competition?

What are the proprietary aspects of your products/services?

What is your sustainable competitive advantage?

What is the size of your market?

How is the market changing and evolving?

What is the driving force behind market growth?

Who are your competitors?

What are their strengths and weaknesses?

How do you think the competitive environment will change in
the next 3-5 years?

What are the barriers to entry in your industry?

Who will your targeted customers be?

How are you going to reach those markets?

Specifically, how will you distribute and promote the
products/services?

How much will it cost to reach these markets?

Who are the key individuals in your management team and
what have they accomplished in their careers?

Who owns the company today?

Who will own it the future?

What exit strategies are available to you and your
financial partners?

What prior experience does the management team have that
will lead to success in this venture?

How will the product be manufactured?

What type of facilities and equipment do you need?

Where will your office(s) be located?

What risk factors could keep you from achieving your
forecast results?

How much capital do you need and what will it be used for?

What is the company's financial history?

What are the projected revenues, expenses and profits?

If you can answer each of these questions you've done a
great job of thinking through your business - and you've
got the essential content for a business plan. You have a
well thought out clearly explained plan for your business
in the upcoming years.

----------------------------------------------------
Henri Schauffler, The CEO Coach, has dedicated the last 20
years to helping small businesses like yours to "Outmanage,
Outhire, Outsell and Outprofit All the Competition." For a
FREE business assessment and tune up to see exactly how you
are doing in all Eight Essential Areas for Business
Success, go to http://www.QuickBizQuiz.com

Boost Your Productivity By Clearing Those Shelves!

Boost Your Productivity By Clearing Those Shelves!
Just like my solopreneur coaching clients, I know that it's
always a challenge to fit in all the activities you dream
of for building your business. With work, family and a home
to keep up, let alone trying to stay fit, who has time to
'give your all' to growing your 'company'?

It's not only our To Do lists that can preoccupy our
attention.

At times I've notice a distracting whisper like mice
chewing in the walls. It diverts my attention to such an
extent that I get barely one-half of my goals accomplished
for hours, even days...This past week, I uncovered its
source!

I've been distracted by 15-plus years of books, binders and
papers that I treasure.

Much like the nibbling of those mice, these precious things
call to me from the shelves in my office: books that
exemplify the best thinking on leadership, management,
teams, and individual productivity.

And there are the 12 shelves of binders and files drawers
of paper. Articles that people have said are 'must read'
and are not yet read. These are 'resource' materials I hold
onto 'in case I ever want to refer to them.' For years,
I've added to them, tucked neatly on shelves, or out of
site behind closet doors and drawers.

When I use them, I'm profoundly grateful that they're right
there, at my fingertips. They hold techniques that have
improved my business owner client's planning and execution
of their business. They offer processes that have improved
my financial advisor clients' work with their partners and
clients.

After years of wanting those resources right where I know
to find them, I did a calculation. I've used less than 8
percent of them. Ever.

I figured out that I spend 10 percent of my time in my
office running over the question of 'keep or toss' very
consciously. And likely another 10 percent of the time, in
the back of my mind unconsciously, I pick at them, look
through them, asking my self that question over and over.

You can probably guess my assessment about all of this. The
information I use the most is material I already know very
well. AND I continue to read voraciously so I know that new
ideas will be available on a regular basis. So this
cherished material is seldom referred to, and a major
distraction.

So, I'm taking a stand to recover all that distracted
attention. Right NOW! I'm going through all of the books
and papers, and using the following criteria for what to
keep and what to let move on:

Criteria 1 - Do I recall ever referring to this?

I've had many people say to me "Oh, don't worry about it
you can find it on the internet." NOT true. If you cannot
remember the topic, or the author, you can hardly go
looking for it to find it again. The more important reason
to keep it is that you WILL use it because you know you
have it.

If I cannot remember having the contents, let alone the
topic, it's going on the 'sort it' pile.

Criteria 2 - Is this something I'm actively interesting in
using?

Don't even ask about the shelves of art materials I have in
the other room's closets. Expensive brushes and paints and
more. I'm sure I'll use them one day, just not now.
However, with materials about business topics the issue is
heightened.

There are lots of topics I'm interested in, and I love the
materials I collected. That's why I kept them. Yet I have
no intention of building a reputation as an expert in even
28 of the 34 topics on my file tabs in the top drawer of
the file cabinet.

So they're being emptied into the 'use it or lose it' pile.

Criteria 3 - Will I use it in the next 30 days?

After this many years of consulting to business owners and
professionals, I know the issues that come up and the
techniques that work well to solve them. What reference
material would refer to that will fill no more than 12
linear inches of space?

Everything else I'm putting in the 'let it go' pile.

They're going to new homes - colleagues and the library -
in the next 2 weeks, so that I can stop ignoring the call
and focus on what I already know and the business I'm
building.

Join me and let's free up attention for our High Payoff
activities now.

----------------------------------------------------
Management expert, consultant, and coach Linda Feinholz is
"Your High payoff Catalyst." Linda publishes the free
weekly newsletter The Spark! to subscribers world-wide and
delivers targeted solutions, practical skills and simple
ways to build your business. If you're ready to focus on
your High Payoff activities, accelerate your results and
have more fun at it, get your FREE tips like these visit
her site at http://www.YourHighPayoffCatalyst.com

What Tax Dangers Should You Be Aware Of?

What Tax Dangers Should You Be Aware Of?
Whether you own a small business or not we all dread the
IRS. They always seem to want more money and if you fail to
pay them or pay them late they'll penalize you straight
into the poor house. But as a small business owner your
worries about the IRS are compounded by the fact that you
may now or in the future have employees to deal with also.

With employees comes more taxes to pay and returns to file.
It seems to be never ending. Death and taxes as they say
are the only two inevitables in life. Oh how true. But
besides having to pay those taxes and file those returns
there are a couple of other stipulations that also come
with those responsibilities that you may not be aware of.

For those of you that are new to running a business and
having employees I'll give a quick rundown of how employee
taxes work. Once you opened your doors and started doing
business you put yourself in position to pay payroll taxes.
When you hire your first employee you'll be responsible for
witholding taxes from checks, sending in those taxes to the
IRS, filing 941 quarterly tax returns, W-3 yearly returns,
and issuing W-2's.

What you might not realize is just how far the IRS will go
when holding you responsible for those taxes. A
responsibility that can extend past even the closure of the
business. Of course paying the taxes late will result in
some hefty penalties. And as the number of employees in
your business grows the larger your tax bill becomes.
Because not only do you have to send in the taxes you
withheld but you have to pay the matching taxes as well.
And as your tax bill grows the IRS will require you to send
those tax payments in more often. You'll go from paying on
a quarterly basis to a monthly basis, down to a biweekly
time frame. So as your tax burden grows the amount of time
your given between payments shortens up by a lot.

Not that you can't handle all that pressure though right?
Well as if that wasn't enough we have one more piece of
good news for you. Even if your business was to go bankrupt
and you still owed taxes you can be held personally liable
by the IRS. The bankruptcy court won't necessarily protect
you from having to pay those taxes.

I know of a case a few years ago about a small business
owner that ran into such a problem. Due to cash flow
problems trouble arose in paying bills. Eventually the
trouble extended to paying the payroll taxes on time.
Finally the owner was forced to file for bankruptcy
protection and close the doors. Once the paperwork was
filed the bankruptcy court took control of all the assets.
As there wasn't enough money in the bank account to pay the
taxes in full anyway they went unpaid and were listed as
the top creditor in the bankruptcy court filing. The
problem though seems to be the IRS bureaucracy. You see the
court notifies creditors of the bankruptcy and requires
them to file a claim. If they don't then they cannot
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of assets. Now
since the IRS was owed taxes they are supposed to receive
all the proceeds up to the point of the taxes being paid.
But they are still just a creditor and must file a claim.
In this case no claim was filed. Most likely the court
paperwork was lost in the system.

So what does the IRS do? They hold the person that signs
the 941 tax returns responsible. In this case it was to the
tune of about $28,000.00. Now this could have been avoided
if the taxes had been paid before the court took possession
of the company but of course the owner didn't have the
means to pay anyway. There is a silver lining to the story
though. The taxman that is normally the big bad bully in
most cases was not here. Besides needing to provide copies
of the bankruptcy paperwork and some other documents the
IRS allows you to show whether you actually have the
ability to pay the amount back yourself. Due to the fact
you just filed bankruptcy and most likely lost your own
livelyhood you may not have to pay any of it. Of course
each situation is different .

The main thing to learn here is that you need to be aware
of your responsibilities as an owner when it comes to
payroll taxes. The consequences of not knowing or
fulfilling your obligations could ruin not only your
business but you personally.

----------------------------------------------------
Cash Miller is an experienced entrepreneur and speaker who
has spent over a decade as a small business owner. His
years of experience in small business cover such topics as
planning, management, marketing, human resources,
ecommerce, and taxation. If you are looking for more
information on this subject and others related to starting
and running a small business you can visit his website at
http://www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com

Conscious Business: The Secret Internal Ingredient of Business Growth

Conscious Business: The Secret Internal Ingredient of Business Growth
When was the last time you heard someone talking about the
proverbial "next level" in their business? Probably in the
last 24 hours! Well, I don't know about you... but I'm a
little tired of hearing this phrase over and over again.

When I was in Las Vegas recently with my mastermind
colleagues, we originally thought we were there to take our
businesses to the "next level." After all, isn't that what
mastermind groups are all about? Progress in your
business! But, I soon began to notice something each time
a colleague stood in front of the room to share... the
realization of which leads me to third gift I received in
Las Vegas.

Gift #3: The only "next level" is within YOU.

Colleague after colleague, each time someone stood in front
of the room and started talking about where they were in
their business, it became crystal clear that the only
journey we were there to take was the journey within.

Many entrepreneurs (myself included) have made the mistake
of thinking that business growth is something that you
experience on the outside in terms of increased clients,
more money, more web traffic, more referrals, more
invitations to speak, more of whatever you desire in your
business. And, yes, those things are all outward
expressions of growth... but the only thing that SUSTAINS
the external growth of a FULFILLING business is the
internal growth of your soul.

Sustained, fulfilling growth does NOT come from what you DO
in the external world; rather, it comes from the work you
do on the inside. Sustained growth and the progress of
your business' evolution is less about the business than it
is about YOU. As a conscious business owner, the only
thing stopping you from all the success you desire is you,
not your external circumstance.

Please forgive me if I'm coming on strong here, but I speak
from my own experience. If you've been following me for
any length of time, or have read my new book, you know that
I have been through some very challenging times in my
business... on the edge of bankruptcy and struggling to pay
my rent. It wasn't until I stopped TRYING to make my
business work, (and started to INQUIRE WITHIN about where I
needed to grow so that my business COULD grow)... that my
business drastically changed for the better. So, now when
I catch myself focused on the external aspects of my
business, it's a reminder for me that the growth isn't
going to occur "out there", the growth is going to occur
inside of me. Then, and only then, do I experience the
results I desire on the outside.

So, the next time you find yourself wanting to get your
business to the "next level"... it's a sign that the time
has come for you to go to the next level within yourself.
Where do YOU need to go? What's working? What's not
working? Why are you unfulfilled with the current state of
your business? What would "light you up?" What old
thoughts no longer serve you? It is this self-inquiry that
leads you down the path to REAL, sustainable and fulfilling
success.

----------------------------------------------------
Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps
small business owners put soul in their business and money
in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven
business and a soul-satisfying life, send for my free
special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by
Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my free audio, 7
Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know... Before
Writing a Word, both of which you get when you request my
Conscious Business Success Kit at
http://www.LoveYourLife.com .

What Benefits Do You Offer to Your Clients?

What Benefits Do You Offer to Your Clients?
To find your most profitable clients the first small
business tactic that needs to be done is to figure out what
exactly you have to offer to potential and current clients.

Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that what's
important is their expertise, credentials, processes, or
their products and services.

Yes, all of these are relevant but they are not the true
motivator for your prospects and clients in determining
whether or not to do business with you. Their biggest
concerns are all about themselves - what they need and what
they want.

They want to know what you can offer to them in terms of
solving their problems and making them feel good. Anytime
you can help a prospect feel better, avoid pain, be
smarter, save time or money - then you are truly providing
a benefit.

The benefits of your products and services need to answer
the eternal customer question: "What's in it for me?"

Of course, before you can figure out what benefits and
solutions you are offering - you need to really have a
clear understanding of what your target market/niche market
wants.

You can ask yourself questions about your target market
such as the following:

* Are they in financial stress?

* Do they have relationship problems?

* Are they in pain?

* Are they not reaching their full potential in business?

* Are they disorganized?

* Do they have too much to do and not enough time to do it?

* Is their pet sick?

* Are they having trouble selling/buying a home?

* Are they overweight?

Your target market shares commonalities in the struggles
and frustrations they face and you need to determine what
solutions and benefits your company can provide to help
them out.

Another way to think about the benefits you offer your
prospects and customers is to think about what you are
really selling. Copywriters don't sell pretty words; they
sell communication and connection. Eye doctors don't sell
frames and glass; they sell vision. Financial planners
don't sell investments; they sell peace of mind and freedom.

So what do you help people be?

* happier?

* a profitable business person?

* richer?

* less stressed?

* healthier?

* an expert in their field?

* more organized?

* a better spouse, parent, boss?

* more financially secure?

* a better cook?

* more successful?

There's a reason why this is the first step in the
marketing process to find and keep your most profitable
clients. If you haven't got a clear understanding of what
you have to offer in exchange for what people want, then
you'll have a difficult time trying to make a marketing
relationship work.

The effort you put into this first step impacts all of your
marketing efforts. So take some time today to think about
what exactly you offer to your clients, and you'll have a
strong foundation for successfully marketing your business.

----------------------------------------------------
Jody Gabourie, The Small Business Marketing Coach, delivers
simple, innovative and powerful marketing strategies to
help business owners find and keep their most profitable
clients. To learn more about how she can help you take your
business to the next level, and to sign up for her FREE
special report, ezine and articles, visit her site at
http://www.JodyGabourieMarketingCoach.com

Home Baking Business Equipment

Home Baking Business Equipment
My mission in this article is to give you a feel for the
kind of equipment that's usually required by the health
department and equipment that's traditionally used in a
personal kitchen but can also be used to get your business
started. I've also included a few helpful tips that can
make your work a little easier, less time consuming and
more profitable.

Here's your first money-saving tip: used commercial
equipment will more than satisfy your needs. Commercial
equipment tends to have a long operating life when it's
taken care of properly.

The following equipment list will be especially helpful if
you're operating on a shoestring budget. It will also be
useful if you are uncertain about operating this type of
business and want to test the waters.

Ovens - The health department has no requirements
concerning the size, type, or make of oven used in your
business. You can use the same type of conventional stove
that you have in your personal kitchen if it bakes properly
and produces the results you need. But you should be aware
that conventional ovens limit the quantity you can bake at
one time and the speed of baking.

To increase production and keep up with demand, you'll need
a commercial oven, preferably convection. Convection ovens
bake fast and efficiently. Before purchasing a commercial
electric oven, inquire about wiring and outlets needed for
operation. Before purchasing any type of gas oven, make
sure you have enough space for a hood fan and proper
ventilation.

Mixers - If you have budget concerns, a home-style stand
mixer will work perfectly to get you started. I recommend
KitchenAid mixers. If you have product demand and the
budget, definitely invest in a commercial mixer. A used
twelve or twenty-quart commercial mixer will get you off to
a great start.

Refrigerators/Coolers - Are you watching the budget? If so,
here's another tip that will save you many dollars.
Home-style refrigerators will work perfectly for your
start-up and established business. Commercial refrigerators
(referred to as coolers) can be expensive, even the used
ones. So consider carefully the amount of space you have,
the amount of product to be chilled, and your budget for
refrigeration. Before purchasing a commercial cooler,
inquire about the necessary electrical wiring and outlets
needed for operation.

Proofing Cabinets - If you're making large quantities of
yeast breads, you will benefit from having a proofing
cabinet. This cabinet maintains a warm temperature that's
perfect for the stage of bread making when the dough needs
to rise and double in bulk.

Work Sinks - A stainless-steel compartment sink is usually
a requirement of the health department. Even if this type
of sink is not required, you should consider buying one.
The convenience and ease of washing large sheet pans, large
mixing bowls, and other oversized pieces make it well worth
the cost.

Work Tables - The health department usually requires a
certain kind of work surface for food preparation and
protection. Stainless-steel tables are the most popular
because they can be easily cleaned and do not absorb germs
and other contaminants. There may be other tabletop
surfaces that meet approval. Ask your health department for
more information. The size table you buy should be
determined by available space and the task to be performed.
Rolling Pan Racks (Shelves) These heavy-duty metal racks
are made to hold both half- and full-size sheet pans. They
vary in height and the number of pans they hold. They are
excellent space savers. Use them for cookies and cakes
(before and after baking), ingredients, supplies, and more.
One of the great convenience features is mobility. They can
be moved to wherever you're working. A pan rack is not
required by the health department, but it should be near
the top of your list of necessities. Used racks will work
perfectly.

Storage Shelves - You'll need lots of storage space for dry
ingredients, packaging supplies, and other items. It's
always a great idea to make the most of your work space
from floor to ceiling.

Hand Sink - A hand sink is generally a small sink used to
wash your hands before and during work. This sink is
usually required by the health department. You can save on
cost by purchasing a fiberglass sink (called a utility
sink) at most building supply stores.

Ingredient Bins - It's not necessary to buy commercial
storage bins for items like flour and sugar. Just go to a
building supply store and purchase large thirty-two-gallon
trash cans with lids. They must be new, of course. These
cans will store a fifty-pound bag of flour or sugar and
more. Do not empty the product directly into the trash can.
Instead, drop the unopened bag into the can, and then open
the top of the bag and dip out the product as needed.

More Tips: Before purchasing any large equipment, measure
all doorways that the equipment has to pass through before
it can be placed in the work area.

Always ask for a warranty. Most companies offer at least a
thirty-day warranty on used equipment.

----------------------------------------------------
For more on starting your home-based baking business PLUS,
alternatives to starting a business outside of the home,
creating a budget, writing a business plan, purchasing
equipment, marketing, setting prices, turning your baked
goods into gourmet gifts and more, visit
http://www.BringingHometheBaking.com .
Quincella C. Geiger, business owner and author of "Bringing
Home the Baking"--
How to Start a Licensed Home-Based Baking Business.

To Turn More Prospects Into Paying Clients, You Must Motivate Them!

To Turn More Prospects Into Paying Clients, You Must Motivate Them!
When talking about their business, most solo-preneurs make
the mistake of describing exactly what they do, in boring
detail. "My company has been in business for X number of
years and we use the newest technology systems. We use a
complicated series of... blah blah blah." Many coaches and
consultants talk about coaching ad nauseam, "What is
coaching, are you coachable, what is your coachability
index, who is the coach, blah blah blah".

I know, because I did it too in the beginning and it didn't
work.

Hate to say this, but... SO WHAT! Nobody cares! When I hear
someone talk to their prospects this way, it sends up a big
red flag for me: these people don't really KNOW what they
DO for clients and they're losing potential clients every
time they open their mouths and every time someone reads
their materials! The problem is that they're clearly not
connected enough to their client base to see what real
benefits they bring their clients.

There's a saying that goes "People don't care how much you
know, until they know how much you care." And until you can
tell someone what's in it for THEM to work with you, they
won't pay attention to you or what you're saying.

Now, there's nothing wrong with you if you've been doing
this, but it's something that you'll want to work on
quickly so you don't let any more ideal prospects slip
through your fingers. It just takes asking yourself what
you really DO for clients, what results and benefits you
get for them and then to articulate that so that a
prospective client looking for that solution will want to
work with YOU.

Let's look at exactly what your ideal prospects are
motivated by: The Motivators. Below is a list of the top 10
reasons, results or benefits that make people buy,
according to Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel in the ebook
entitled "Ebook Secrets Exposed"
www.EbookSecretsExposed.com that I read a bazillion years
ago:

Here, according to them, are the most powerful motivators:

Make mo-ney Save mo-ney

Save time

Avoid effort

Get more comfort

Achieve greater cleanliness

Attain fuller health

Escape physical pain

Gain praise

Be popular Now, not every one of these fits your business,
and most likely, yours fall into the top 4 motivators,
unless you're in healthcare or image, then it usually falls
within the last 6. Either way, it's time for you to narrow
yours down into motivators from the Top Ten list above.

What's so powerful about using "motivators" in your
marketing is that you position yourself as their ultimate
SOLUTION, the one they would do anything and pay relatively
anything to get. When you can show prospects how you can
help them achieve one of them, they'll immediately pay more
attention to you.

They'll want more. You'll PULL them in. They'll call YOU,
as opposed to you chasing THEM. It's such a beautiful thing
to watch when that begins happening in your business.

Your Assignment:

Circle the motivators that fit your business from the list
above and then list an example of how this has already
happened using real client examples. Then, sprinkle this
throughout all your marketing materials, your elevator
speech, your website, your signature talk, etc. You'll have
people coming out of the woodwork wanting to work with you
and your income will increase dramatically, in a very short
time.

----------------------------------------------------
Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is
founder of the Client Attraction System™ and
http://www.ClientAttraction.com , the proven step-by-step
program to attract more clients, make more m'oney being
self-employed, while having more time off to enjoy it all.
To receive your F.R.E.E. Audio CD by mail and get weekly
how-to articles on attracting more clients, visit
http://www.ClientAttraction.com .

Painting Business - How To Get Customers To Always Say YES To You!

Painting Business - How To Get Customers To Always Say YES To You!
Whenever dealing with painting business customers a good
thing to remember is to get them to start saying "yes" to
you right off the bat. A good way to do this is by asking
questions that they can never reply "NO" to. No is a
negative word.

For instance, when you were a kid and you wanted to go out
and play you were probably very creative at getting your
mom or dad to say yes to you.

The art of getting "yes - yes" answers to anything you ask
people keeps them open minded during the sales process
whereas a "no" answer to any question you ask them may
begin to close their mind due to the negativity of the word
"no".

Now I know that when someone calls me to have some painting
done that they really want the work done and this yes-no
stuff doesn't really matter all that much. But I still use
this technique to make my phone calls and estimates run
smoothly. I just want to let you be aware of this handy
little trick for your people handling skills.

When someone calls me for a painting estimate I always give
him or her a choice of two days and two different times of
day for me to come out and do the estimate.

To set up an appointment I always ask them, "Would Monday
or Tuesday be better to come over and do the estimate for
you?" and "Would mornings be O.K.? Or I can do an afternoon
estimate for you."

Doing this helps to keep your painting business customers
open-minded and from saying that awful negative "NO" word.
Plus, it:

a.) Eliminates any stress or pressure on your part away
from the customer and

b.) It also helps them to make an easy decision (something
most people hate to make).

You are basically guiding them through the whole marketing
process because they don't know anything about doing
estimates or setting appointments anyway. You are the
expert in that department.

Once on the job, they will tell you what they want painted
and from their you can give them further choices.

Getting people to always say yes to you is like the story
about the army cook that had a surplus of stewed prunes to
get rid of. He couldn't get anyone going through the chow
line to take any stewed prunes so he started asking, "Do
you want ONE or TWO helpings of stewed prunes? They would
answer "just one please". Case in point, nobody said "no"
to him!

Now you don't have to go around trying to be overly-clever
or manipulative. And you don't have to use this approach
all the time. But I do use it for setting up estimates and
it always makes everything run smooth and professional.

One more technique I use in my painting business is saying
things in what is called the "third person". Sometimes you
may have to convince a customer that you are right about a
certain painting application. I will say something like
"this is how the old-time Dutch painters told me to do it".
Or "One of the older painters always told me that this is
the best way to...".

Sometimes people won't believe what you tell them. But if
you say that "The Benjamin Moore Company says to..." or
"According to the makers of Zinsser Primers...". This is
called saying things in the third person and it works like
a charm. How did I learn it? I learned it from the book
called "How To Win Friends and Influence People" - an
all-time best seller! See, I just did it again.

----------------------------------------------------
Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful
painting business since 1991. He has also helped many
others to start their own painting business with his "Paint
Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising CD-ROM".
Lee also offers a new free report titled "How To Quit Your
Day Job This Week and Double or Triple Your Income". To get
it go to http://www.Painting-Business.com

Business Owners! - Are Your Competitors Stealing Your Customers Right From Under Your Nose?

Business Owners! - Are Your Competitors Stealing Your Customers Right From Under Your Nose?
In these days of fierce competition, if you haven't got a
website for your business, you haven't really got a
business!

A bold statement? Well maybe, but it's becoming
increasingly the case that whatever business you happen to
be in, you really do need a website in order to stay one
step ahead of your competitors (or at least to compete on a
level footing with them).

There are large and small business owners alike who still
suffer from what I call 'Dark Age Thinking' whenever the
subject of having a website to promote their business is
mentioned. "Why do I need a website?" they say, innocently.

Well, a better question might be, "What if I don't have a
website for my business?" Well, here's why your competitors
who DO own a website will be stealing your business right
from under your nose!

Potential customers are searching for local products and
services online.

That may be a butcher, a hairdressing salon, a bar, a
restaurant, a nightclub, a DIY store, a plumber, a
carpenter, an electrician, someone to look after their
swimming pool, a shoe shop, a jewellers, a dress shop, an
accountant, a furniture store etc. The list is endless and
if you haven't got a website and your competitors have,
guess who is going to grab that business?

When you own a website, you are open even when you are
closed!

Whilst your actual business hours may only be 9-5 or
whatever, your website goes on working for you 24 hours a
day. It's like having your very own salesman working around
the clock for you!

Remember, just because you are closed doesn't mean that
people aren't going online and trying to find a business or
service just like yours. They can often be searching after
they have finished work themselves, or late at night or on
a weekend. They are deciding who to shop with, whose
service to use. And they are making that buying decision by
visiting your competitors website, because you haven't got
one! Every business has to promote themselves with
advertising. Right or wrong?

Their are two types of business, those that invest in
advertising to promote their business and those that lose
potential business hand over fist!

Well, let me tell you, your competitors who DO own a
website are getting double the benefit from every penny
they spend on advertising. Why? Because every time they
place an advertisement in a local newspaper, or magazine or
yellow pages etc they can mention their website right there
in every ad they place!

This means that readers can read the advert and then go and
visit your competitors website and get all the extra
information they need. So your competitors get two shots at
the same target audience, once from the newspaper or
magazine ad and then again from their website, while you're
left trailing in their dust because you didn't have a
website where you could answer all your buyers questions,
show them pictures etc. Your website owning competitors
are putting forward a professional image.

Potential customers have more confidence in and prefer
doing business with companies that they know something
about. With your own website you can keep potential
customers informed about the latest products and services
you offer, the new menu you have, the latest discount you
are offering, your newest line, or just explain to them in
as much detail as you want why they should do business with
you and not your competitor. You can show them pictures or
even talk to them via a video on your site!

Like I said at the beginning of this article, "In these
days of fierce competition, if you haven't got a website
for your business, you haven't really got a business!" - So
get your business out of the dark ages and stop letting
your competitors steal your potential customers right from
under your nose!

----------------------------------------------------
You May Be Surprised At Just How Little Your Own Business
Website Could Cost! You Can Find Out At
http://www.WebDesignersCyprus.com And It Doesn't Matter
Where In the World You Live!

The Practical Reasons for using a White Heavy Duty Tarp

The Practical Reasons for using a White Heavy Duty Tarp
Whether you need pvc tarps, or "poly tarps", for use as ice
rink liners, canopy tarps, a tarp shelter, snow covers,
boat covers, wedding tents, reception canopies, vendor
booths, work area shade or weather protection, outdoor
party covers, carnivals, lumber covers, or any other
applications, white poly tarps with special UV treatment
can be the perfect match to meet your poly tarp needs--even
when that need is just to match the color of the tarp with
that of the event's color scheme.

Poly tarps are also sometimes referred to as "valance
tarps" these are used for replace canopy roofs and often
available in white heavy duty tarps and also supplied in
white/blue stripes

Due to their coloration, white poly tarps can be the most
effective poly tarps for reflecting back the Sun's UV rays,
keeping covered materials or inside conditions cooler and
less at risk to receive sunlight damage such as warping or
discoloration. Yet at the same time, they allow some
sunlight to filter through, so that a covered interior or
area can be brightly lit enough for you to see while inside.

White high-density poly tarps, according to
long-experienced industry expert Simon Page, are the very
best poly tarps that you can buy in most situations from
the combined perspectives of utility and economy.

When buying these tarps, Page highly recommends considering
those that weigh in at about six ounces per square yard.
Features and benefits to be found in these affordably
priced white poly tarps include: rust free grommets spaced
out every 18 inches; resistance to water, mildew, and acid;
double-sided UV protection treatment; heavy duty strength;
Arctic flexibility; and resistance to tearing. Other
benefits with the white heavy duty tarp are rope reinforced
hems, washable, and rot proof. Also most good quality white
heavy duty tarps are supplied with black plastic corner
reinforcements providing the tarp with extra durability
when it is tied down.

As previously mentioned both white & silver heavy duty poly
tarps are the coolest and most light reflective of all poly
tarps. This is largely due to the fact that the mesh within
the inner material is made from very thick tight mesh
material, as well as the fact that white and silver tarp is
so highly reflective. There is very little ultra violet
light that is possible to pass through the various layers
of the white heavy duty tarp, unlike the lighter blue,
green budget tarps that are much thinner and are not
usually made with a ultra violet inhibitor added to the
tarp.

Depending on their dimensions, well-priced white poly tarps
can be sold individually for anywhere from a few dollars to
well over a thousand dollars.

High quality white poly tarps should be able to last even
the most demanding owner or user for at least three years,
this is of course depends on weather conditions making
their actual cost only a few dollars per year

----------------------------------------------------
Bob Page has worked in the poly tarps industry for over
twenty years and during this time has gained a wealth of
knowledge of the tarpaulins community.Bob can be reached on
239 919 2923 or email bob@tarps-togo.com
http://www.tarps-togo.com

7 Signs That You Are a Workaholic

7 Signs That You Are a Workaholic
While most of us have professional goals and ambitions, the
way we go about achieving them differs greatly. For many,
the drive to succeed leads them to work long hours, lose
sleep, and generally neglect their personal life. Others
achieve success by prioritizing, delegating and
organization. So, which type of achiever are you? If you
suffer from any combination of the following symptoms, you
just might be the former, otherwise known as a "workaholic".

1. You work evenings and week-ends in addition to your
regular work hours. Determine what impact these extra
hours are having on your family life, and decide whether it
is really worthwhile for you to be missing out on family
and friends.

2. You seldom take vacation and when you do, you work.
Everyone needs some time off to recuperate and refresh
their mind. In fact most of us work better following a
vacation because we feel less stressed and more focussed
upon our return.

3. Your thoughts are consumed with work. You can't make it
through a school play, or an evening out with friends
without checking your email, voicemail or blackberry.

4. You are missing out on the lives of your family and
friends. Do you know the name of your child's much-loved
teddy-bear, or your spouse's favourite book or television
show? When was the last time you had dinner with your
best-friend?

5. You don't have any time to relax. When was the last
time you took a bubble bath, read a book, or went to a
movie? Without taking time for yourself on a regular
basis, all you are sure to achieve is burn-out.

6. Relaxing stresses you out. When you do decide to read a
book, or see a movie, you find you can't relax because you
feel that you should be working.

7. You are having family troubles because of your
persistent absences. If your spouse or children resent you
because you aren't around, it is time to make some changes.

Workaholics are in reality not more likely to achieve
success. They are in actuality much more likely to reach
burn-out status before that happens. In fact, experts
agree that the vast majority of successful individuals are
not workaholics, but that they have learned how to
prioritize and delegate. If you are a Workaholic, it's not
too late to change. Letting go of some of your lower
priority tasks does not mean the end of your work-related
ambitions and in fact may just help you to attain the goals
that you have been striving to realize.

----------------------------------------------------
Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and Owner of Virtually
There VA Services. To find out if you need to simplify
your life, please take the "Simplify Your Life" quiz at
=>http://www.virtuallythereva.com/quiz.html . While you are
there, don't forget to register to receive her new free
mini e-book, "How to Add 2 Hours to Your Day: Lessons in
Efficiency". The Virtually There VA Services can be found
on the web at =>http://www.virtuallythereva.com .

Why The Customer is Always Right' is Right, Even When It's Wrong

Why The Customer is Always Right' is Right, Even When It's Wrong
You are, no doubt, familiar with the saying, 'The customer
is always right!' Well, there are all kinds of reasons to
believe that 'the customer is always right' is wrong. And I
have to agree with people who say that it's wrong. But
here's the rub. If your interest is bringing about positive
change between employees and customers, it's still right!
Let me explain.

In 1909, American business man Gordon Selfridge opened his
Selfridge Department Store in London with the idea that
shopping wasn't just something people should do when they
have to do it, but because they might want to do it if they
enjoyed doing it enough.
The business logic was inescapable. The more a customer
enjoyed the experience of shopping, the longer they might
engage in it, and therefore the more they might spend in
the doing of it. Using the pleasure of shopping as the
means to this end, Selfridge designed his store to be user
friendly in its layout, attractive in its decoration. warm
and welcoming in that he staffed his store with people
whose purpose was to help people, not sell products.

He took an advertising phrase that was then in use by the
Ritz Hotel in London, the customer is never wrong, and
turned it around to say, proactively and positively, that
the customer is always right. This phrase, and the idea it
stood for, soon found its way back home to the US where it
caught on as an advertising slogan. The intent was to
convey to customers that their business was welcome and
they would be treated well in exchange for it.

There are at least two very good reasons to account for the
widespread adoption of the Selfridge business directive
that "the customer is always right." First, we're all
somebody's customer, and we all want to be treated well.
It's a great comfort to be able to tell oneself, in the
presence of bad service and unhappy service reps that "They
ought to treat me better, I'm right about this! And without
me, they're going to go out of business!"

Here is a second and more compelling reason to pay
attention to customers as if they are always right: It's
because the customer has power. The power to walk away. The
power to takes others away, through word of mouth. And in
the case of the public sector, the power to stick around,
become a crank, and make life for the people in that
business difficult.

When you look at the source of bad customer behavior, you
almost always find an event or incident in which the
customer felt dissed, dismissed, or disrespected by a
service provider. It's possible, too, that in almost every
incident, if you looked into the relationship of the
service provider with their own company, you'd find an
event or incident in which the employee providing the
service felt dissed, dismissed, or disrespected by a
coworker, supervisor or manager.

While it may be true that as many as 10% of unhappy
customers and employees are just unhappy no matter what, a
more useful approach to service is to decide that unhappy
customers and employees are a true testing ground for all
of us to develop our skills, our stamina, and our service
ethic.

The option remains in any business to say "We're sorry
you're not happy. We wish you well," and admit that the
relationship isn't working for either side. The option
also often exists to pleasantly refer unpleasant people to
a competitor. This may be what Herb Kelleher intended, when
he wrote to the chronically dissatisfied customer of his
Southwest Airlines that 'Dear Mrs. Crabapple, We will miss
you. Love, Herb.'"

But at the end of the day, ending the relationship with an
unhappy customer ought to be your last line of defense, not
your first or even second resort. When all else fails, it
can be a comfort to know you have this inevitable fall back
position. Still, I think it better to fall forward (learn
everything you can, apply it and keep going!). Otherwise,
getting rid of unhappy customers by deciding to be right
that they're not right could become the easy way out with
difficult consequences. That said, if you were my customer
and disagreed about this, I just might let you be right.

After all, won't your business be better served to find
reasons to love your customers than to make excuses for
losing them?

----------------------------------------------------
©Dr. Rick Kirschner, a bestselling author, speaker, trainer
teletrainer and coach. Speaking and training clients
include NASA, Starbucks, Texas Instruments. Dr. Kirschner
is author of the 'Insider's Guide To The Art Of
Persuasion.' For a limited time only, get a $49 value 1
hour audio on Dealing With Difficult People absolutely
free! Visit http://theartofchange.com/promo for details!