Senin, 23 Maret 2009

Memahami 9 Aspek Penting Sebelum Memulai Usaha

21 November, 2007 05:40:00 wirausahacom
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Memulai bisnis bagi kebanyakan orang bukanlah hal yang mudah. Hal yang klasik, banyak pertimbangan di sana sini sehingga tak jarang membuat orang urung memulai bisnis. Semestinya memulai bisnis tidak menjadi salah satu sumber ketakutan bagi setiap orang. Untuk menghilangkan ketakutan dalam memulai bisnis, seseorang bisa membuat persiapan bisnis yang matang sehingga dapat menjalaninya dengan optimistis.

Salah satu seminar Gerald Abraham salah seorang penasehat bisnis pada sebuah firma hukum, juga pemilik dan direktur sebuah konsultan keuangan di tahun 2006, berisi tentang menjadi sukses dengan memahami 9 aspek penting sebelum memulai usaha.
1. Memahami konsep produk atau jasa secara baik
Sebelum memulai suatu usaha maka hal yang terpenting adalah pemahaman kita akan konsep produk atau jasa yang akan menjadi bisnis inti. Kita perlu memahami bukan hanya secara teknis produksi tetapi juga pasar dan prospek mulai daripada lingkungan yang terkecil kepada lingkungan yang terbesar. Dalam topik ini dibahas secara menyeluruh aspek-aspek yang penting dalam melakukan analisa atas kelayakan dan prospek produk termasuk produk-produk yang sama sekali baru dengan melihat sisi human behavior, kebutuhan pasar dan lainnya.
2. Membuat visi dan misi bisnis
Setiap orang yang mau memulai bisnis harus mengetahui visi dan misi yang akan menjadi panduan seseorang untuk tetap fokus kepada tujuan bisnis dan organisasi yang awal. Seringkali suatu usaha pada saat mulai berkembang pada tahap berikutnya mengalami kegagalan karena organisasi tersebut tidak memfokuskan diri kepada peningkatan kemajuan bisnis awal tetapi terlalu banyak mencoba mengembangkan bidang usaha lain yang baru. Dalam topik ini setiap orang akan belajar bagaimana membuat visi dan misi dalam kaitannya dengan latar belakang pribadi dan pengetahuan usaha yang akan anda rintis.
3. Perlunya winning, positive dan learning attitude untuk menjadi sukses
Sikap mental merupakan kunci keberhasilan atas usaha anda selain daripada pemahaman usaha anda. there is no over night success sesuatu yang harus dicamkan daripada setiap calon “entrepreneur” karena dibutuhkan waktu, sikap tidak menyerah, proses belajar secara kesinambunga, dan melihat permasalahan secara positif yang tidak membuat anda menjadi patah semangat namun melihat setiap peluang dan belajar atas setiap kegagalan.Anda akan belajar untuk mengembangkan sikap-sikap diatas untuk menjadi “bisnis entrepreneur” yang sukses.
4. Membuat perencanaan dan strategi bisnis yang efektif akan menghindari usaha daripada risiko bisnis dan keuangan.
Secara statistik hampir seluruh kegagalan bisnis kecil dan menengah disebabkan karena tidak adanya atau kurang efektifnya perencanaan bisnis yang anda buat. Asumsi-asumsi seperti kapasitas produksi, tingkat utilisasi produksi, proyeksi kenaikan harga dan biaya dan aspek lainnya dalam perencanaan bisnis haruslah menggambarkan secara akurat realitas pasar atau praktek yang ada dalam suatu industri. Sistematika perhitungan dan proyeksi pendapatan dan biaya harus dibuat secara tepat sehingga membantu setiap calon pengusaha untuk menghitung secara akurat kebutuhan modal investasi dan modal kerja termasuk struktur biaya untuk persiapan awal, tahap percobaan, produksi secara komersial, inventori, distribusi, pemasaran, administrasi, sumber daya manusia dan juga komponen pendapatan usaha yang terdiri dari pendapatan inti dan tambahan. Pemahaman yang baik atas hal ini juga akan membantu calon entrepreneur untuk dapat mengindentifikasi potensi resiko bisnis, manajemen dan keuangan dan membuat langkah-langkah pengendalian untuk dapat menghindari setiap resiko tersebut.
5. Pengetahuan dasar manajemen, organisasi dan sistem akan menghindari usaha daripada risiko manajemen.
Setiap usaha dari yang paling kecil sekalipun membutuhkan manajemen yang baik untuk memastikan proses pemasaran, produksi, distribusi dan penjualan berlangsung dengan baik. Sistem manajemen yang buruk akan mengakibatkan adanya biaya yang tidak perlu seperti bahan baku yang terbuang, pekerja yang tidak produktif karena pengawasan yang tidak efektif dan deskripsi pekerjaan yang tidak jelas, koordinasi dan komunikasi antar pegawai yang tidak efektif sehingga banyak keputusan yang terlambat, perekrutan pegawai yang tidak efektif sehingga banyak pegawai yang keluar masuk dan membuang banyak waktu dan biaya, pelatihan yang tidak baik sehingga produktivitas pegawai yang rendah dan masih banyak lagi permasalahan organisasi. Dalam topik ini kami akan memberikan pengetahuan dasar dan aspek-aspek yang sangat penting yang harus dipelajari oleh calon bisnis entrepreneur untuk menghindari resiko manajemen yang dapat menyebabkan kegagalan usaha.
6. Optimalisasi sumber daya manusia maka 50% usaha Anda sudah berhasil.
Sumber Daya Manusia atau SDM merupakan salah satu kunci keberhasilan usaha yang sangat penting. Banyak pakar yang menyadari bahwasanya untuk memulai usaha seringkali apabila kita merekrut pegawai yang tepat dan berpotensi sangat baik dapat menutup kelemahan manajemen, organisasi dan sistim dalam jangka pendek. Dengan SDM yang tepat maka kita sudah setengah jalan untuk menjadi sukses. Topik ini akan membantu kita untuk memahami kriteria pegawai yang baik dan sesuai dengan kebutuhan usaha, manajemen SDM secara umum termasuk sistim penilaian kinerja pegawai sehingga setiap pegawai akan merasa puas dan juga bagaimana memotivasi pegawai baik secara psikologi umum maupun dengan sistim insentif untuk mengoptimalkan kinerja pegawai.
7. Mengapa kreativitas, kepemimpinan dan proses pembuatan keputusan sangat penting?
Dalam memulai usaha umumnya setiap calon entrepreneur akan mengalami banyak permasalahan dan krisis. Banyak kegagalan terjadi karena kurangnya kreativitas, kepemimpinan dan pembuatan keputusan yang tepat untuk mencari solusi yang baik. Kreativitas seperti “thinking outbox” atau kemampuan melakukan analisa permasalahan di luar pemahaman yang sudah ada dan mencari alternatif solusi yang kreatif akan sangat membantu usaha anda untuk berhasil. Kreativitas juga akan sangat membantu anda untuk menyesuaikan produk-produk anda agar dapat diterima oleh pasar dan juga melihat berbagai peluang dalam membangun usaha anda. Kepemimpinan sangat penting dalamkrisis untuk membuat setiap pegawai dan semua orang yang terlibat dalam usaha anda percaya bahwasanya anda tidak panik, menjadi tempat last resort solusi atas semua permasalahan dan menjadi panutan. Proses Pembuatan Keputusan akan membantu anda dalam mencari alternatif solusi dan memilih yang terbaik untuk usaha dan organisasi anda. Dalam topik ini anda akan mendapatkan cara-cara mengembangkan kreativitas usaha anda, ciri-ciri kepemimpinan yang cocok dengan latar belakang pribadi anda dan bagaimana proses yang benar dalam membuat keputusan dalam setiap permasalahan.
8. Pengetahuan dasar pengelolaan keuangan dan pembiayaan
Pemahaman atas aspek ini adalah sangat penting dalam perkembangan usaha anda. Seringkali produksi terganggu karena pengelolaan keuangan yang tidak baik seperti kekurangan dana untuk pembelian bahan baku, alat-alat produksi dan lainnya. Dalamtopik ini akan dibahas pengetahuan dasar atas cash flow atau arus kas yang seperti darah dalam tubuh manusia, biaya pendanaan, pembiayaan modal kerja dan investasi, struktur modal, aset perusahaan, penyertaan modal dan lainnya.
9. Pemasaran, pelayanan dan product brand
Pemasaran merupakan ujung tombak keberhasilan penjualan produk atau jasa. Sebaik apapun produk atau jasa tanpa pemasaran yang baik maka akan sangat sukar untuk meningkat penjualan dan keuntungan usaha. Di lain pihak tanpa pelayanan yang baik kepada pelanggan maka akan sangat sukar suatu usaha untuk memperoleh pelanggan yang loyal yang merupakan kunci perkembangan usaha. Dengan pelanggan yang loyal maka pekerjaan pemasaran akan lebih mudah karena pelayanan yang baik akan menciptakan product brand yang baik kepada calon pelanggan baru. Dalam topik ini akan dibahas secera menyeluruh semua aspek penting dalam membuat strategi pemasaran, identifikasi pelayanan yang dibutuhkan pelanggan dan bagaimana menciptakan product brand dan efeknya kepada keberhasilan usaha.
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Senin, 02 Maret 2009

Wealth Management Advice in This Economic Recession

There's a lot of noise in the media on different ideas on how to manage money.The reality is there are different factors in wealth management.What works for one person doesn't necessary is going to work for the next.That's why if people are looking for the media for advice in wealth management they are looking in the wrong place.
People need to have a personal consultant who understands an individuals problem or goal in having their money in all the right places.Money doesn't disappear it just moves to a better market.Several of the wealthiest people have lost their fortune due to bad choices and investments.The way to avoid big financial looses is to have a personal plan of action that is the perfect fit for an individual.This can be the difference from transforming debt into wealth.

Middle and Lower class people have more debt than they can handle.A good example is the spending on products for instant gratification rather than how can I save or invest to purchase that in the future. Bad economic education has been the reason for several Bankruptcy cases.

Becoming financially educated can have a real impact in peoples life and bank account.The more people realize how to manage their money the less bad choices they will make in the future.A personal consultant will help you in financial and wealth management to better yourself and your assets.A good solid plan is recommended to become a better investor,Look back and see what has worked for you and what hasn't.Of course avoid what's not working and customize or have a consultant customize a solid plan especially for you.

It gets even better,what if your personal consultant helped you in wealth management and you trusted him/her for future advice.After some time in being financially advised you become comfortable and want to help others on what you have learned.Yes there's such a place.

To further educate yourself in wealth management visit website:

http://www.lifechangingmarketing.com

My name is Carlos Anastacio and I'm an Internet Network Marketer who enjoys sharing marketing tools to help others build long term success in any business .The information I provide has been tested and it's proven to help anyone in Internet/Network Marketing.This is not a free ride whatsoever, but a true path for anyone to brand themselves and stand out from everyone else trying to pitch you their opportunity. Only you are responsible for your success, and as long you have the training,knowledge and commitment to have success, you will then be one step ahead of those people that are jumping from one opportunity to another trying to find answers all in the wrong places.

Knowledge is more powerful and valuable than any Breakthrough product or ground floor opportunity.
http://EzineArticles.com Read More ..

Wealth Management Advice in This Economic Recession

There's a lot of noise in the media on different ideas on how to manage money.The reality is there are different factors in wealth management.What works for one person doesn't necessary is going to work for the next.That's why if people are looking for the media for advice in wealth management they are looking in the wrong place.
People need to have a personal consultant who understands an individuals problem or goal in having their money in all the right places.Money doesn't disappear it just moves to a better market.Several of the wealthiest people have lost their fortune due to bad choices and investments.The way to avoid big financial looses is to have a personal plan of action that is the perfect fit for an individual.This can be the difference from transforming debt into wealth.

Middle and Lower class people have more debt than they can handle.A good example is the spending on products for instant gratification rather than how can I save or invest to purchase that in the future. Bad economic education has been the reason for several Bankruptcy cases.

Becoming financially educated can have a real impact in peoples life and bank account.The more people realize how to manage their money the less bad choices they will make in the future.A personal consultant will help you in financial and wealth management to better yourself and your assets.A good solid plan is recommended to become a better investor,Look back and see what has worked for you and what hasn't.Of course avoid what's not working and customize or have a consultant customize a solid plan especially for you.

It gets even better,what if your personal consultant helped you in wealth management and you trusted him/her for future advice.After some time in being financially advised you become comfortable and want to help others on what you have learned.Yes there's such a place.

To further educate yourself in wealth management visit website:

http://www.lifechangingmarketing.com

My name is Carlos Anastacio and I'm an Internet Network Marketer who enjoys sharing marketing tools to help others build long term success in any business .The information I provide has been tested and it's proven to help anyone in Internet/Network Marketing.This is not a free ride whatsoever, but a true path for anyone to brand themselves and stand out from everyone else trying to pitch you their opportunity. Only you are responsible for your success, and as long you have the training,knowledge and commitment to have success, you will then be one step ahead of those people that are jumping from one opportunity to another trying to find answers all in the wrong places.

Knowledge is more powerful and valuable than any Breakthrough product or ground floor opportunity.
http://EzineArticles.com Read More ..

Minggu, 01 Maret 2009

The Best Recession Proof Home Business For Economic Hard Times

Is there really any such thing as a "recession proof" business? Can you earn a good living--even during an economic meltdown? The good news is, yes you can. In fact, many people are making a high six-figure income from it. What is this business? It's Internet Marketing. The hottest trend in the home business landscape. Think about it. We are currently experiencing a financial tsunami. Entire industries are being wiped out. Working in the localized job market is no longer viable in today's rapidly shifting economic times. Many families are really beginning to feel the crunch--And it's predicted to only get worse!
However, this in only "one side of the coin." Not everyone is suffering in this recession (others would say depression). Even in the Depression back in the '30's, there were the rich, as well as the poor. There is a whole different world out there. It's called the Internet. Many people are discovering the ease and fulfillment of an Internet based marketing business. With the Internet based home business, you can work from the comfort and security of your home. You do not need to sacrifice a sizable portion of your income on fuel, or a wardrobe, or other hidden costs involved in commuting to work.

Furthermore, you don't have to put up with disagreeable bosses or fellow employees. Nor do you need to waste a sizeable portion of your valuable time on these issues. Thus, the time you need to develop and maintain your business is much more streamlined and efficient. This in turn leads to less stress and more fulfillment. This inevitably leads to success. Financial as well as personal. This way, you are in charge of your destiny. You are no longer being driven by "circumstances beyond your control". The best part is, by getting involved in the Internet marketing business, you are tapping into a much broader economic base. One that is not dependent upon ever changing local markets, job strikes, and other unpredictable factors. The best way to stay ahead of the game, in these uncertain times, is to embrace this new pardigm shift. Tapping into markets that are statewide. Nationwide. Even Worldwide.

This way, if a certain area is suffering economically, you simply direct your efforts to another region or sector. The only other alternative is to face taking a potential financial hit. The economic upheaval is beginning to rumble and this could be the "big one". A "10" on the economic Richter scale! Why risk it? Begin to put in place a financial plan of safety, now, before it is too late. The good news is that it's never been easier to get involved with Internet marketing. There are thousands, even millions, of goods and services to market. With numbers growing daily. This trend is expected to create a new, middle to upper-middle, class for those who can make the change.

Those who can't will be forced to continue to eek out a living in the archaic method of working several dead-end jobs to get by. This paradigm shift will continue to broaden and create real class differences between the "haves" and the "have nots" in the coming months and years. Make sure you're on high ground when this tsunami hits. Don't let it wipe you out. Take action now before the herd does. And discover what the other half already knows about the exciting world of internet marketing!
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Why a Multilingual Writing Service is of Considerable Importance to Today's Marketing Firms

The rise of online communication, an ever growing global financial beak down, and expanding global competition have all forced companies to change their approach to everything from off shore distribution, to hiring practices and most importantly confronting the issue of across border communication. In today's global economic market it is imperative for a business of any substance to understand and have a multilingual approach to business communications and web content.
New world power shifts global communication trends

There are many start-up businesses ready to lead the charge to adopt multilingual writing services as increasing Chinese, Arabic and Hispanic internet user's log-on. Traditionally English has been the chosen language for global commerce, for a long time now it was up to companies across the globe to provide English speaking and writing services or risk losing lucrative business leads and contracts. Now the business growth focus is no longer on English speaking countries. Countries like China, Russia and India are financially expanding and whose population speaks English as a secondary language. Also, these new world economies have established themselves and now wanting global partners to come to them and part of this means learning to communicate their native languages.

The U.S. people and companies especially have struggled with understanding the new rules of international commerce and the advantages of a multilingual approach. With new, expanding markets opening up all over the world almost daily the U.S. and its once mighty dollar are not so attractive, or worth going for, as they once were. At this moment China's economic future growth focus is on Africa and it's easy to exploit resources. Between the continent of Africa and the sub-continent, that now is China, a diverse and wildly different mix of languages are crossing paths creating flat communication channels that traditions and customs are side-stepped to make way for economic and industrial plans and expansive conversations. Again, history has shown that if any party, worldwide, allows the globally familiar economic language of English to guide financial planning and discussions, things will run more smoothly. China's approach though is changing that presumption and approach.

Two worlds collide

China's vast amount of economic and diplomatic assistance for the emerging markets in Africa has brought along a change and approach to business conversation. Multilingual writing services and automated online translation programs are just two tools that have made it much easier for diverse people and groups to communicate. China's approach is forcing markets and service industries to cater to the large Chinese population in each individual person's first language. China's population alone has more than 5 major languages each holding customs and traditions that can only be understood by the native speaker.

At one time the internet and online communication was a disaster to language diversity. Not too long ago users were limited to how many languages were available and understood widely enough for people across continents and oceans to express complex business ideas and solutions. English, Italian and Spanish: only a few languages were chosen early on in the internet's history to be the focus of business conversations internationally. Slowly, as markets emerged, Russian, Mandarin and Hindi began to be used. These languages were used mainly because they were the native languages of a huge and densely populated group or country. That approach still took lots of work; imagine someone in Mainland, USA trying to trade with someone in St. Petersburg, Russia, both sides would have to of had a physical person as a translator. That was then, today, companies especially in the field of multilingual writing services have made diverse international business conversation easier than ever. Multilingual writing services allow any original web content to be created in most major languages. In this business environment ideas and innovations are allowed to be shared faster and are better understood than at any other time in history.

The human touch

The ability for businesses and industry to communicate openly does not always lead to marketing and sales success. Take the recent United States housing market crash. International buyers were told, mostly through unrefined automated translation programs, about complex financial ideas and U.S. home ownership laws. Automated translator programs sometimes miss the use and diction subtleties of individual languages and help contribute to a lack of understanding, worldwide, as to how dangerous and volatile the market could get.

One way for companies to avoid this pit fall in the future is to opt for a 'human only' content creation and translation policy from multilingual writing service providers - particularly if they are constantly updated internet communications in multiple languages. In some cases writer and translators from these companies are native speakers and have studied in great linguistics, literature and marketing communications in great detail. Today, the difference between great financial gain and bust can hinge on the meaning of one word and how it relates to laws, taxes and governmental over sight. Any company that takes the importance of quality content to heart has the best chance to outmaneuver competitor that are taking a lower quality approach.
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Performance Management Assists Lean Manufacturing By Jesper Ruben Hansen

This is a short introduction to how performance management can support the implementation and succes with lean manufacturing.
The 5th principle of the 5 lean principles, is the concept of continuous improvements.
But how do we handle this in a structured and controlled manner?

One of the most important tools to drive continous improvements is performance management.
In many organizations, working with performance management is natural, while this can be very difficult, and even scary for others.

When working with goals in a lean organization it is essential to involve the employees in the proces.

Also visualization of goals should be given attention together with a process for frequent meetings and follow up on goals.

But how do you define goals, that are effective and drive improvements?

First of all we need to define what we want to measure, but more importantly take into consideration on what level in the organization the goal shall be implemented.

On the executive level, goals should be related to the strategy of the company, but when we move down in the organization we need to diversify the goals to achieve ownership.
For example net operating margin, can be a relevant goal on executive level, while it doesn't make much sense on the shop floor.
So we need to define goals that will support the top-level goals, but can be influenced and are relevant by teams elsewhere in the
organization.

When implementing performance management in a lean organization we often need to define goals that are very close to the primary
core processes of the company.

In general we can use the SMART model when defining goals.
So what makes a goal SMART?

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Accepted

R = Realistic

T = Time

Specific, means that the goal must be defined accurately and simple enough to make sure that everyone understands what we measure.
Measurable, means that we need to define goals that can be quantified and expressed in a simple number
Accepted, means that you need to build acceptance of the relevancy of the goal in the team
Realistic, means that the target should be set at a reasonable level, while still stretched to drive improvement
Time, means that it must be clear, and part of the definition of the goal, when we expect the target to be reached.

If you use the SMART check-list when defining goals you should be in pretty good shape.

When you start the process of using goals in the daily management process on the shop floor, management must be prepared to
work closely with the team to ensure that goals are measured and that corrective and preventive actions are defined and implemented.
This process is best driven by stand up meetings, preferably every day.
When implemented correctly, performance management can be an extremely effective way to get ahead of your competition.

You can find tools on the net to facilitate the process, check out this place with Lean games and tools

Jesper R. Hansen, co-owner and consultant with the company thy:innovation which is also the owner and operator of leanshopping.
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Common Sense Ways of Surviving Today's Economy

Today's current economic meltdown is coming as a shock to two generations of Americans who have never seen a recession before. Not only is the news on the economic front unsettling, they, like the majority of Americans, don't have a clue as to the steps they should be taking to help make ends meet.
Most of the following suggestions are things you can start doing to help you keep your lives as balanced as possible.

1- First and most important, set up and start following a family household budget. Your budget should include all your major expenses (mortgage, car payments, credit card payments, etc).

It also has to include things like groceries, insurance payments, phone expenses, utilities, cable TV and eating out. In other words, all your expenses for living in your home. Only after you've subtracted all your expenses from your take home pay can you begin to understand how important a good budget really is.

2- For one week keep track of every penny you spend during the day. The vast majority of Americans haven't a clue as to how much real money actually flows through their hands every month or how much control over their money they really have. The amount that people spend on a daily basis tend to be small and it's easy to lose track of how much everything costs. But to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin: "Small pennies add up to large pounds".

If you are honest with keeping track of every penny you spend daily you will be amazed at what the total amounts to. Getting control of the spending you do without thinking can add up to a considerable amount of cash.

3- Start your own campaign to use energy and resources more wisely. It's no longer about being green - now it's all about saving money! You can take a huge bite out of your electric bill by changing the way you use your air conditioner without really changing your lifestyle. Begin by contacting your electrical supplier and signing up for their "interruptible" service plan.

You can save lots on your electricity by simply letting the power company take your air conditioner off-line for about 10 minutes/hour whenever their demand reaches a certain level. Chances are you will never notice any difference in comfort level - only in your electric bill! Install the energy saving light bulbs where ever you use lamps the most. They not only will last longer but the cost/per kilowatt hour is significantly less.

4- Buy and install flow restrictor shower heads in all of your showers. The average shower uses about 10 gallons of water/minute. The flow restrictor reduces that rate to less than 5 gallons/minute with no noticeable reduction in the quality of the shower. Talk to your hardware person about the best type to get and the ease of installation.

5- This is a tough one that you've probably already started on. You have to go over your budget (see Step 1 above) and determine which of your non-essential activities you can either cut down on or eliminate.

These include things like health club memberships, facials, massages, manicures, hairstyling, kids athletics, golf memberships and all the other things that quietly take your money.
You might be shocked at how much you can save by changing the way you decide to recreate.

6- Now the biggie. You have to do everything possible to eliminate credit card debt as fast as possible. The average family has way too much and most people never fully realize how much it actually costs to use credit instead of paying cash.

Start looking at the amount of interest you are paying every month and imagine what you could be doing with that money if you weren't paying it to your credit card company. How much gas or how many groceries would that amount buy for your family? Begin looking at those interest payments as the penalty your family is paying for the "convenience" of using your credit cards.

7-The thing your Grandmother clipped and used regularly to save money is making a big comeback. Coupons are here again and you don't even have to clip them! You simply go to a site like http://www.CoolSavings.com/couponsite , find the coupons you're interested in, print them out and take them with you when you go shopping.

How much you save will depend on you. But if it worked for Grandma there's no reason it won't work for you, too. These are just the beginning of things you can start doing to help you cope in our changing world. Starting with these simple ideas will lead to more things that will save you money. And keep in mind what good ole' Ben said.
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Why Budding NetPreneurs Fail

NetPreneurs fail all too often because they wrongly assume that marketing on the Net is a no cost business when, in reality it is simply a low cost or targeted cost business.
The most successful NetPreneurs invest either targeted advertising dollars AND/OR targeted "sweat equity" in order to generate a steady flow of traffic to their websites. Without traffic, NO product ever sells.

Many would be NetPreneurs understimate the amount of traffic that is actually required to create and sustain a business though. They will join free "safelists" and blast away often ill conceived or "me too" messages to thousands of names without realizing that, for the most part, participants on the list are all looking to sell - not buy.

If asked, any honest businessperson would admit they want a clientele of affluent, repeat buyers who may one day even become joint venture partners not the "dollar store entrepreneurs" who make no effort to grow as business people. (We all have to start somewhere...some though are unwilling to move beyond humble beginnings and invest in themselves!)

They design (or use cloned) websites and then think that every hit should become an instant "sale".

In reality, thousands of hits may only translate into a few sales (at best). NetPreneurs should be seeking thousands of hits per day... budding netpreneurs who fail though routinely think that they'd have it "made" if they received a thousand hits per month and give up when that paltry number of hits does not produce instant wealth.

Then as hosting bills start to mount and the affiliate commissions don't roll in like a tidal wave, reality sets in!

The key for the budding NetPreneur is to target a niche.

Identifying buyers when they are ready to buy requires an altogether different strategy of allowing prospects with money to spend to FIND YOU.

That involves a long term strategy of dailing activities designed to 1) create significant CONTENT that is 2) Search Engine Friendly and Buyer Friendly while 3) "monetizing" the site so that it generates several streams of income from both advertising AND affiliate sales.

Keywords niches analyzed.

Articles written.

Pages posted and optimized.

Blogs blogged.

Press releases submitted.

Message boards visited.

Customers served.

Joint ventures pursued.

Subscriber bases built.

Ads judiciously targeted.

Etc.

Only by constant tweaking and promotion will the budding NetPreneur get the Big Boys (and Girls) at Google, Yahoo!, Inktomi, and to send search engine referrals their way.

Most give up well before succes is achieved. Don't be one of them!
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Prospecting - The Importance of Repetition #2

When we describe our BLITZ CALL® prospecting system one of the phrases we use is that it is repeatable. We feel that any system for prospecting that you use should be something that is repeatable.
Sales professionals always ask me why? In this age of creativity and spontaneity, wouldn't any system that is repetitious become boring or monotonous?

Not really.

•First of all, we sales people are not really very creative.

•Secondly, spontaneity is fun for parties and social atherings, but it seldom benefits sales situations.

•Thirdly, the value of doing something over and over begins to show value very quickly.

When we teach prospecting we literally have the participants learn a 5-7 sentence Script! They practice it over and over so it is memorized.

We feel there are a lot of benefits to doing this.

•As a sales professional you are fully prepared to make a prospecting call at any time without having to prepare, therefore, you will prospect more often.

•Also, when you have a memorized presentation, you don't have to think about what you are going to say next, therefore, you can pay attention to what the prospect is saying and doing.

•With a memorized presentation you will customize each one by the inflection, pause, and speed of delivery you use, so it will never seem monotone.

Think of the alternatives. If you don't prepare your prospecting wording before making the calls what can happen.

•You may not prospect at all, in which case you won't have to worry about being monotone or boring. You will need to prepare your resume', however.

•Or you will create your words extemporaneously. I have worked with literally hundreds of sales people in the field, none were good extemporaneous prospectors, despite what they claimed. At least most admitted it after a few attempts.

One of the biggest errors I see when a sales person prospects "unprepared" is they introduce themselves and then ask a question such as, "how are you?" This is nearly always death on a prospecting call. Think about it. You are unexpected and interrupting the prospect's day. When you ask that question, what are you doing? Giving the prospect the opportunity to simply say, "I am really busy." Good bye!

We like to go right into and out of our BLITZ CALL before allowing the prospect to say anything. It only takes me 35 seconds to say. I have done this in virtually every major city in North America in a wide variety of industries to all sized companies, so I know that it works.

One thing that many of our graduates tell us is that the 3rd sentence (" I know you weren't expecting me so I won't take any of your time...") seems to relax the prospect and eliminate the defenses.

This makes the entire process more comfortable for both you and the prospect.

When you have a prospecting method that is well prepared and rehearsed you will begin to do it very very well. And, ironically, the better you get, the less you will have to do it, since you will become more successful with every new call.

Remember, if anyone says that they will not do "canned presentations" remind them that we in the US spent $20 Billion on canned presentations last year. We call them TV and Movies. We see actors saying words they didn't write, playing roles that aren't their lives.

If we can be entertained like that, why shouldn't we try to bring our skills up to that level? After all, we write the words and it really is our life.

So as you prepare to make prospecting an even more important part of your sales duties, remember the importance of repetition.
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Prospecting - The Importance of Repetition #2

When we describe our BLITZ CALL® prospecting system one of the phrases we use is that it is repeatable. We feel that any system for prospecting that you use should be something that is repeatable.
Sales professionals always ask me why? In this age of creativity and spontaneity, wouldn't any system that is repetitious become boring or monotonous?

Not really.

•First of all, we sales people are not really very creative.

•Secondly, spontaneity is fun for parties and social atherings, but it seldom benefits sales situations.

•Thirdly, the value of doing something over and over begins to show value very quickly.

When we teach prospecting we literally have the participants learn a 5-7 sentence Script! They practice it over and over so it is memorized.

We feel there are a lot of benefits to doing this.

•As a sales professional you are fully prepared to make a prospecting call at any time without having to prepare, therefore, you will prospect more often.

•Also, when you have a memorized presentation, you don't have to think about what you are going to say next, therefore, you can pay attention to what the prospect is saying and doing.

•With a memorized presentation you will customize each one by the inflection, pause, and speed of delivery you use, so it will never seem monotone.

Think of the alternatives. If you don't prepare your prospecting wording before making the calls what can happen.

•You may not prospect at all, in which case you won't have to worry about being monotone or boring. You will need to prepare your resume', however.

•Or you will create your words extemporaneously. I have worked with literally hundreds of sales people in the field, none were good extemporaneous prospectors, despite what they claimed. At least most admitted it after a few attempts.

One of the biggest errors I see when a sales person prospects "unprepared" is they introduce themselves and then ask a question such as, "how are you?" This is nearly always death on a prospecting call. Think about it. You are unexpected and interrupting the prospect's day. When you ask that question, what are you doing? Giving the prospect the opportunity to simply say, "I am really busy." Good bye!

We like to go right into and out of our BLITZ CALL before allowing the prospect to say anything. It only takes me 35 seconds to say. I have done this in virtually every major city in North America in a wide variety of industries to all sized companies, so I know that it works.

One thing that many of our graduates tell us is that the 3rd sentence (" I know you weren't expecting me so I won't take any of your time...") seems to relax the prospect and eliminate the defenses.

This makes the entire process more comfortable for both you and the prospect.

When you have a prospecting method that is well prepared and rehearsed you will begin to do it very very well. And, ironically, the better you get, the less you will have to do it, since you will become more successful with every new call.

Remember, if anyone says that they will not do "canned presentations" remind them that we in the US spent $20 Billion on canned presentations last year. We call them TV and Movies. We see actors saying words they didn't write, playing roles that aren't their lives.

If we can be entertained like that, why shouldn't we try to bring our skills up to that level? After all, we write the words and it really is our life.

So as you prepare to make prospecting an even more important part of your sales duties, remember the importance of repetition.
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Online Money Making Myths - How to Overcome Myths and Find Success

There are many ways to make money online. Cut through the hype and learn the truth about making money online.

Online Business Myth #1: You can quickly make large sums of money.
This statement is relative. How much is a lot of money? How fast is fast?

I know five millionaires under 30 years old. They did it in just 2-5 years. That is fast. Tradionally it has taken a lot longer to reach these levels of success. Online marketing and technology can fast-track you to success. While it isn’t overnight, it certainly is fast compared to other ways of creating wealth.

What most people mean when they talk about making money online fast, is that it's fast compared to offline businesses. Traditional businesses take a lot of time and money to start. You have to raise capitol. You need a business plan, employees, and a product or service to sell. You also need office and/or warehouse space.

The price you pay for an online business succes isn’t as much money as it is education. The internet changes all the time. If you want to really succeed at making money you’ll have to read and learn constantly. You must become a lifetime learner.

Be sure to read ebooks, blogs and newsletters about your industry. Listen to podcasts and watch videos that relate to what you want to learn. Go to conferences and meet people who are successfully do what you want to do. Find experts and learn what has made them successful.

Online Business Myth #2: You don’t have to spend any money to start an online business.

To start out, you’ll need a computer and software. They aren’t free. You’ll also need an internet connection. There will be other costs such as paper, a printer, and yes, some advertising costs (most of your advertising will be online).

Online Business Myth #3: It’s too late to earn money online.

Other variations on this theme: We’ve reached the top and it’s all downhill from here. Or, a related idea: the people who were going to make money have already done it. Only really big or very unique ideas will work. All the other ways have been taken already.

Did you know that the biggest complaint from online merchants is not finding enough successful salespeople of their product? Affiliates promote other people's products online. There's an almost limitless demand for successful affiliates.

If you were an online merchant, would you say STOP! Please don’t send me any more business? As long as there are products to sell there will be affiliate programs to do it. That’s because the demand for sales is unlimited.

Online Business Myth #4: If I find the right thing, it is simple and easy to make money online.

One thing I love about affiliate marketing in particular, is that it's one of the easiest way to make money online. Once you do the work you can make money with very little additional work. Put in time and effort at first so that in the future you can relax and make money in your sleep.

Choose something you love or are interested in. The internet is all about niches and innovation. There are endless niches. Find your niche and success will come easier and be more fun for you.

The one thing you can count on online is change. New businesses, ideas, and services are formed all of the time. But you must learn to spot good ideas and you have to work at it.

Here’s to your journey to making money online! The rewards and potential are huge. Once you eliminate the common myths and beliefs that stop you, you’ll be on your way to starting a successful business on the internet.
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Your Life Map - Are You on a Road to Success?

Stop and think for a moment, where is your life going? Are you satisfied with your life or do you want something more? Do you feel successful or should you be doing better? Succes is more than having wealth or titles after your name. A trully successful person will also have a sense of well being, of satisfaction with their life. They will be happy.
If you aren't entirely happy with your life, then you need a plan to reach that goal of happiness. Call it a “life map” if you will. A plan that sets you on the right path to the life you really want. Like any useful map, this plan will need to consider the following details, your point of origin, your destination, your vehicle for getting there, your luggage, any landmarks on the way, and what is the best route for you?

Origin: Where are you now?

Your plan must have a starting point. It doesn't really matter where you have been before. Sure, your history has led to you to your current position but now you are about to start a new journey. Don't dwell in the past, it's time to step forward

Your origin is where you are right now. Identify yourself. If you were to introduce yourself to somebody right now, what would you say, “Hi, my name is .............., I live in ................. I'm a ..........” Something like that would be a start but there is much more to describe who you really are. Look beyond your economic status and where you live. Look at your beliefs, your values, and principles. What is important to you?

Don't just look at your strengths, look at your weaknesses too. What would you like to be different? What areas of your personality are lacking? Create a complete picture of who you are, positives and negatives.

Consider the example of my friend John. He might introduce himself in this fashion: “Hi, I'm John, I'm a 20 year old student and I live with my parents”. That tells you a little about John and you may already have some pre-conceived notions about who he is. However there is much more to John. He is actually a highly motivated and generous person. He tends to be impatient. He is interested in helping other people and he detests violence. He has some first aid training and enjoys “patching up” injuries. He has a strong spiritual belief system and considers war to be degrading and destructive to humanity.

Destination: Where do you want to be?

Where do you want your life map to go? What are your goals? Now that you know who you are , who do you want to be? Identify the things in your life you would like to change and use them to set goals for your destination. If there are major changes needed, identify them, then break them down into smaller goals. These smaller goals can be considered as “landmarks” (more on those later) along the way. Consider all aspects of who you are, physical, spiritual, economical, intellectual and emotional.

In John's case, he realises a career serving others would meet many of personal goals.

Vehicle: How will you get there?

Your vehicle is your means of transport to reach your destination. It is the means to an end. It may be your vocation. It may involving education or improving other areas of your life. You may need a physical or mental development program. Knowing where you are now and where you want to go, you need to devise a plan that will carry you there. Think of your ultimate goal as your “Mission” and devise a “Mission Statement” clearly stating your intended destination.

After assessing where he is now, his current abilities, and his destination, John decided he should be a medical doctor, and importantly, he also wanted to be one. His Mission Statement that encompassed all of his goals was “To become a medical doctor and serve his fellow men living in conflict areas.”

Luggage: What do you take with you?

What do you take with you on your journey? Any of your current skills, education, personality traits, etc, that will assist you to reach your goal. Anything that can be further developed to help you on your journey. You need to assess what you have now that will be useful to you along the way.

What do you leave behind? Anything that will be a negative influence. You don't want to be dragged down by excess baggage. For example, if your mission involves a change in career path, start taking the steps needed to leave that old job behind. If you need to develop a more positive outlook, start a an educational program to remove your negative tendencies.

John knew he would need further education to develop the knowledge he already has. He also recognized his impatience and knew that he would have to keep this in check. He knows it will take time for him to reach his ultimate goal and impatience has no part in that plan.

Landmarks: Plan for stops along the way

When planning any journey always set targets for landmarks along the way. Aim for these special points of interest not only for the satisfaction you get when you reach them, but because they keep you on the right path to your final destination. The same is true for your life map. You know what your final destination will be but also prepare to visit those important smaller goals along the way. Breaking down your journey into a series of smaller trips, from goal to goal, helps you to prevent feeling overwhelmed.

These stops along the way also allow you to re-evaluate your progress. Are you happy with the progress of your journey so far? Have other opportunities opened up that will give you a faster route to your goal? Have you encountered any hurdles that need to be overcome? At each step, reflect on what you have accomplished, then look ahead to the next goal.

John's landmarks included completing his degree in biology by the age of 22 and his medical degree by 27. He could specialise in the area of infectious diseases, becoming recognised as expert in this field by age 30. He would seek service in public hospitals, gaining experience until the age of 35, when he would then move on to work as a doctor in war-torn areas.

Following these steps will set you on the path to becoming who you want to be. There may be unforeseen detours or potholes along the way that need to be considered. As long as you keep your your goals in mind and keep working towards them any obstacle can be overcome. Deal with any situations as they arise and then get back on the path to the next landmark. Start planning your journey now, plan your life-map, and be the successful person you want to be.
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Prospecting - Keep Good Records and Follow up

Studies have shown that in commercial and industrial sales, the initial sale doesn't come until after the fourth or fifth call. Therefore, we must assume that you have to make at least four or five calls on a new prospect in order to get a sale. Now that may seem simple logic and not require saying, but the conduct of many sales professionals belies that logic.
When I am in the field making cold calls (I call them BLITZ CALLs®) with a sales professional, I always tell them to keep good notes on the calls so we know how and when to follow up. They often look at me like I must be nuts, because they know what to do.

"If we get an appointment or a request for information, I will simply do what needs to be done."

That sounds reasonable, but it does not show up in reality.

When I start training a sales team to make Prospecting a regular part of their weekly activities, I find several things.

• The first thing I find is that they suddenly have plenty of time to do the Prospecting that is needed. One of the standard excuses for not Prospecting is, “I simply don't have the time." Our Prospecting system was developed for that specific situation, so that problem is eliminated.

• The second thing I find is that the sales person is not used to Prospecting on a regular repeatable basis and therefore is not very well prepared to handle the requirements of their new found proactive endeavors. The result too often is delayed follow up or no follow up at all.

I was Prospecting with a salesman in Toronto a couple of years ago with the specific assignment to get him some new customers. He had just been made a salesman, and had not been able to get any new customers in almost 60 days on the job.

I said to him that I would make all of the Prospecting calls; he was to watch me and be sure to keep good records. My mistake was to assume that his understanding of good records and mine were the same.

We spent about 4 hours in the field and made 13 cold calls, which resulted in 5 appointments and several call backs. Then we went back to the office to debrief and get him ready for the appointments. I would not be able to go on those appointments with him.

When we started the review of the calls he had one of the appointments written down, he remembered two of the others, but the first two were a total blank in his mind. You see he thought he could remember anything of significance that happened when Prospecting. He couldn't. Fortunately, I had kept a few notes and we were able to reconstruct the meetings we had had and then the appointments. Imagine how it would have been if he had not shown up for those appointments!

Since that experience I have been amazed to see how many sales people rely on their memories for so many important facts. And almost universally they forget too many details.

Follow up is one of the most important factors to successful Prospecting. Simply making those four or five Prospecting calls a week can get you many more customers. That is why you prospect. If you don't keep good records, however, and don't follow up, your Prospecting will result in a lot of wasted time for you and a bad reputation for your company.

There are a host of resources for record keeping and follow up available to the sales profession
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Online Money Making Myths - How to Overcome Myths and Find Success

There are many ways to make money online. Cut through the hype and learn the truth about making money online.

Online Business Myth #1: You can quickly make large sums of money.
This statement is relative. How much is a lot of money? How fast is fast?

I know five millionaires under 30 years old. They did it in just 2-5 years. That is fast. Tradionally it has taken a lot longer to reach these levels of success. Online marketing and technology can fast-track you to success. While it isn’t overnight, it certainly is fast compared to other ways of creating wealth.

What most people mean when they talk about making money online fast, is that it's fast compared to offline businesses. Traditional businesses take a lot of time and money to start. You have to raise capitol. You need a business plan, employees, and a product or service to sell. You also need office and/or warehouse space.

The price you pay for an online business succes isn’t as much money as it is education. The internet changes all the time. If you want to really succeed at making money you’ll have to read and learn constantly. You must become a lifetime learner.

Be sure to read ebooks, blogs and newsletters about your industry. Listen to podcasts and watch videos that relate to what you want to learn. Go to conferences and meet people who are successfully do what you want to do. Find experts and learn what has made them successful.

Online Business Myth #2: You don’t have to spend any money to start an online business.

To start out, you’ll need a computer and software. They aren’t free. You’ll also need an internet connection. There will be other costs such as paper, a printer, and yes, some advertising costs (most of your advertising will be online).

Online Business Myth #3: It’s too late to earn money online.

Other variations on this theme: We’ve reached the top and it’s all downhill from here. Or, a related idea: the people who were going to make money have already done it. Only really big or very unique ideas will work. All the other ways have been taken already.

Did you know that the biggest complaint from online merchants is not finding enough successful salespeople of their product? Affiliates promote other people's products online. There's an almost limitless demand for successful affiliates.

If you were an online merchant, would you say STOP! Please don’t send me any more business? As long as there are products to sell there will be affiliate programs to do it. That’s because the demand for sales is unlimited.

Online Business Myth #4: If I find the right thing, it is simple and easy to make money online.

One thing I love about affiliate marketing in particular, is that it's one of the easiest way to make money online. Once you do the work you can make money with very little additional work. Put in time and effort at first so that in the future you can relax and make money in your sleep.

Choose something you love or are interested in. The internet is all about niches and innovation. There are endless niches. Find your niche and success will come easier and be more fun for you.

The one thing you can count on online is change. New businesses, ideas, and services are formed all of the time. But you must learn to spot good ideas and you have to work at it.

Here’s to your journey to making money online! The rewards and potential are huge. Once you eliminate the common myths and beliefs that stop you, you’ll be on your way to starting a successful business on the internet.
http://EzineArticles.com Read More ..

Your Life Map - Are You on a Road to Success?

Stop and think for a moment, where is your life going? Are you satisfied with your life or do you want something more? Do you feel successful or should you be doing better? Succes is more than having wealth or titles after your name. A trully successful person will also have a sense of well being, of satisfaction with their life. They will be happy.
If you aren't entirely happy with your life, then you need a plan to reach that goal of happiness. Call it a “life map” if you will. A plan that sets you on the right path to the life you really want. Like any useful map, this plan will need to consider the following details, your point of origin, your destination, your vehicle for getting there, your luggage, any landmarks on the way, and what is the best route for you?

Origin: Where are you now?

Your plan must have a starting point. It doesn't really matter where you have been before. Sure, your history has led to you to your current position but now you are about to start a new journey. Don't dwell in the past, it's time to step forward

Your origin is where you are right now. Identify yourself. If you were to introduce yourself to somebody right now, what would you say, “Hi, my name is .............., I live in ................. I'm a ..........” Something like that would be a start but there is much more to describe who you really are. Look beyond your economic status and where you live. Look at your beliefs, your values, and principles. What is important to you?

Don't just look at your strengths, look at your weaknesses too. What would you like to be different? What areas of your personality are lacking? Create a complete picture of who you are, positives and negatives.

Consider the example of my friend John. He might introduce himself in this fashion: “Hi, I'm John, I'm a 20 year old student and I live with my parents”. That tells you a little about John and you may already have some pre-conceived notions about who he is. However there is much more to John. He is actually a highly motivated and generous person. He tends to be impatient. He is interested in helping other people and he detests violence. He has some first aid training and enjoys “patching up” injuries. He has a strong spiritual belief system and considers war to be degrading and destructive to humanity.

Destination: Where do you want to be?

Where do you want your life map to go? What are your goals? Now that you know who you are , who do you want to be? Identify the things in your life you would like to change and use them to set goals for your destination. If there are major changes needed, identify them, then break them down into smaller goals. These smaller goals can be considered as “landmarks” (more on those later) along the way. Consider all aspects of who you are, physical, spiritual, economical, intellectual and emotional.

In John's case, he realises a career serving others would meet many of personal goals.

Vehicle: How will you get there?

Your vehicle is your means of transport to reach your destination. It is the means to an end. It may be your vocation. It may involving education or improving other areas of your life. You may need a physical or mental development program. Knowing where you are now and where you want to go, you need to devise a plan that will carry you there. Think of your ultimate goal as your “Mission” and devise a “Mission Statement” clearly stating your intended destination.

After assessing where he is now, his current abilities, and his destination, John decided he should be a medical doctor, and importantly, he also wanted to be one. His Mission Statement that encompassed all of his goals was “To become a medical doctor and serve his fellow men living in conflict areas.”

Luggage: What do you take with you?

What do you take with you on your journey? Any of your current skills, education, personality traits, etc, that will assist you to reach your goal. Anything that can be further developed to help you on your journey. You need to assess what you have now that will be useful to you along the way.

What do you leave behind? Anything that will be a negative influence. You don't want to be dragged down by excess baggage. For example, if your mission involves a change in career path, start taking the steps needed to leave that old job behind. If you need to develop a more positive outlook, start a an educational program to remove your negative tendencies.

John knew he would need further education to develop the knowledge he already has. He also recognized his impatience and knew that he would have to keep this in check. He knows it will take time for him to reach his ultimate goal and impatience has no part in that plan.

Landmarks: Plan for stops along the way

When planning any journey always set targets for landmarks along the way. Aim for these special points of interest not only for the satisfaction you get when you reach them, but because they keep you on the right path to your final destination. The same is true for your life map. You know what your final destination will be but also prepare to visit those important smaller goals along the way. Breaking down your journey into a series of smaller trips, from goal to goal, helps you to prevent feeling overwhelmed.

These stops along the way also allow you to re-evaluate your progress. Are you happy with the progress of your journey so far? Have other opportunities opened up that will give you a faster route to your goal? Have you encountered any hurdles that need to be overcome? At each step, reflect on what you have accomplished, then look ahead to the next goal.

John's landmarks included completing his degree in biology by the age of 22 and his medical degree by 27. He could specialise in the area of infectious diseases, becoming recognised as expert in this field by age 30. He would seek service in public hospitals, gaining experience until the age of 35, when he would then move on to work as a doctor in war-torn areas.

Following these steps will set you on the path to becoming who you want to be. There may be unforeseen detours or potholes along the way that need to be considered. As long as you keep your your goals in mind and keep working towards them any obstacle can be overcome. Deal with any situations as they arise and then get back on the path to the next landmark. Start planning your journey now, plan your life-map, and be the successful person you want to be.

Article By Steven Cousley
http://steven-cousley.com

Steven is a writer and publisher of information products especially relating to online marketing and motivation

Permission is given to copy and republish this article as long as this resource box is included.
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