minihir blog

Whether you are just starting out in a business or a seasoned “professional” you should have a contract when doing business - if not for your own safety, but for the safety of your clients.

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear horror stories about misunderstandings on projects that could have easily been prevented with a simple contract.

Simply, they state the work you are providing and the cost involved. They should also indicate what is not included, such as incidental material costs and excessive copy changes, etc. Always put into writing your intent and email it to the client.

His or her email response, along with the “deposit” is an contract of the agreement. For added security, have them sign a copy of the contract and mail or fax it to you. My policy is that I do not begin any work until the down payment has been paid and the contract is signed and delivered. This not only protects my business, but also shows me that the customer is serious about his or her intents.

When you have developed a good, solid relationship with your client, then monthly billings are the norm. But until then, 50 % down is not unheard of. After all, you are taking a risk doing work - and more often than not, monies owed are not paid based upon the client “not liking the design.”

Remember, you are hired to do a job - and it is up to the potential client to research your design ability and make the decision to hire you, based upon the findings. You are not hired to “make them happy.”

Now that may sound cold-hearted, and I care about each and every one of my clients, and the work I do for them. However, when I am hired, for example, to do a logo - I am hired to design a logo - based upon their specifications. After a reasonable amount of time, if they just don’t like the designs I come up with - they are still obligated to pay for my service. I do attempt to rectify the job and pinpoint the “problem”, but unless the client can somehow convey their desires, I just haven’t perfected “reading minds.”

And I do expect to be paid for my effort. But a Professional Designer will be able to work with the customer, and eventually, completing the project to the clients’ satisfaction. In the 23 years I have been providing marketing and design, there have only been 3-4 instances where I just wasn’t able to design the project to the satisfaction of the customer - and on one occasion, they refused to pay, as they decided to close the business. I eventually had to sue for the $100! Can you imagine, tarnishing your credit, not to mention your reputation, over such a small sum of money!

The main reason I was able to collect the money easily is because I had a written and signed agreement for the project. I also had documentation that the logos were delivered - it was basically “no contest”.

I was able to satisfy the other clients, by hiring outside of my office. I found a compatible match for their needs and all were happy in the end. And that is your ultimate goal: Satisfaction and service.

In closing, remember art is relative. You cannot be everything to everyone. And not everyone is going to like your design style - but many will. So, remember to be professional, and confident in your work. Have a portfolio of samples to display your design style, and above all, have a contract ready for the signing!

About the Author
Suzanne Fyhrie Parrott owns and operates OneWay Advertising and Design. OneWay is a full-service Christian Advertising agency providing marketing, advertising and graphic design services for on and off the Internet. Email: [mailto:info@onewayadv.com]info@onewayadv.com

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THE STRUGGLE — I was recently talking with one of my entrepreneur friends. He has started three businesses in the last several years-a budding entrepreneur. He was relating some of the joys he has experienced in those enterprises: a sense of freedom from the corporate world, pursuing his dreams and passions, setting his own schedule, controlling his destiny and a large potential for financial rewards.

However, he did mention a few downsides: little to no outside accountability, lack of consistent capital, feelings of loneliness, no steady revenue stream, feeling disconnected from others who don’t understand his drive to succeed, constant struggles to survive and a severe lack of work-life balance. Sound familiar?

I think most entrepreneurs struggle with similar issues, especially balance. There are many reasons they can give for their lack of life balance and low satisfaction: “I have too much work to do. I just need a few more hours to finish this project. I need more money. I have bills to pay. My business depends on my hard work. My family needs more income. I am solely responsible for developing, marketing, selling and servicing my product or service.”

Any or all of these reasons may be true, which might lead entrepreneurs to find great difficulty in managing the two sides of entrepreneurship-balance and success. How often do you struggle with working longer hours than you know you should to try and secure the next sale? How many times has your family and friends tried to pull you away from your office this last month? Take a moment and count up the actual hours you have spent working this last week or month. There is always the temptation to do a little more, work a little harder, talk to one more potential customer in hopes of making one more sale.

What specific things are you doing to take care of yourself: physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Many entrepreneurs overlook these vital areas of life in search of professional success, yet these areas are full of potential for sparking the creative, outside of the box thinking that leads entrepreneurs like yourself to discover life changing products and services and find a new perspective on your business venture.

ASSESS WHERE YOU ARE

Take a moment and write down these 8 life areas:

- friends and family

- fun and recreation

- physical environment and home

- romance and significant other

- fitness and health

- career

- finances

- personal and spiritual growth

Next to each area assess where you currently are. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being “completely dissatisfied” and 7 being “completely satisfied” mark how currently you are satisfied in each area. Add up the totals of all eight areas before reading further. The scoring is at the end of this article.

DEVELOP A PLAN

As you look at your current level of satisfaction what patters or themes do you see? Where areas are you the least satisfied with? The most?

For you who recognize a change is in order, here are a five simple steps to help you start finding the work-life balance that leads to success:

1. Choose 1 area that you are dissatisfied with and would like to see some immediate improvement in. This should not be your worst or best scoring area, but somewhere in the middle. Take a couple minutes and write down in detail what balance would look like for you in that area.

2. Now, get out your planner and make a note to yourself one week from today. In the note, write down:

- the area that you want to improve your level of satisfaction in

- the “score” where you are now and the “score” you want to be at the next week

- 2 things you are going to do to move yourself towards that goal over this next week

3. Tell someone about your goal and ask them to hold you accountable-whether it’s a friend, a mentor, or your coach. It’s easy to make “new year, new leaf” promises to yourself, but more difficult to follow through with unless you know someone is holding you accountable to reach your goal.

4. Set up a time to talk with your accountability partner the next week. Did you reach your goal? If not, talk about what kept you from reaching it and what will you do differently this next week. If you did reach your goal, congratulate yourself. Do something simple to celebrate your achievement.

5. The final step is to go back to step 1 and do it over again.

Creating life balance is never easy and it’s never complete. There will always be room for improvement. The point is that you can make your life more balanced by taking small steps in the right direction. Like most worthwhile things in life, creating life balance is a process, not an event!

SCORING RANGE

8-16 Wow! Things must be pretty rough right now.

17-30 Average score of many small business owners

30-45 There are some very satisfying and very dissatisfying areas in your life

45-56 You recognize the importance of life balance to life success

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Being a leader must be one of the most rewarding careers you can ever do. Not only is the work interesting and challenging, but you are impacting the direction of many people and the direction of your company. You are able to see that you are making a difference in something very big.

In this report, you will learn key areas for women leaders to be aware of in order to achieve success inside organizations. This condensed report provides general trends identified from research of women and men in the workplace. As with any general trend, there are exceptions. You may not align with some of the information provide, and you are invited to read with a curious mind to see what new ideas you might explore in your own development process.

Secret #1 — Build networks internally and externally

This is important for both men and women.

This is one area that is a derailer for many mid-level management individuals who don’t take this seriously. It is important to build networks internally to develop allies and externally to increase your value to the company. You may think you don’t have time, but it can actually save you time when you need to call on that ally for support on a big project with a tight deadline. The higher up you go in an organization, the more important it is for you to have strong networks. At higher levels, the emphasis of work is done more through people and your ability to effectively influence and communicate with others.

People with large networks can easily access and receive timely, useful information to help them accomplish their goals. It is best to identify individuals where there is a mutually beneficial relationship based on common goals and interests. Who are two or three people you need to develop a stronger relationship with?

Secret #2 — Sell yourself effectively, not aggressively

One of the things I see over and over again with women is how they undervalue their achievements and they believe that their good works will be obvious. Or, they think: “this is easy and anyone with half a brain could do this.” Many women do not see their key productive strengths and talents. Women need to learn how to first see their strengths and second effectively sell themselves and how their specific accomplishments connect to the business drivers.

Identify two or three of your key accomplishments. What strengths and skills can you identify from these accomplishments? See the full report for tips on how to identify your strengths and effectively sell yourself.

Secret #3 — Select a mentor within your company

This is a very important one! Don’t wait on the company to institute a program or if there is one and you’re not part of it, then seek out individuals you value and begin to build a relationship. This may be more critical for a woman’s success than it is for her male colleagues. In a study of individuals who made it into the senior ranks of organizations, the authors of Breaking the Glass Ceiling found that only 38% of successful men had mentors, but all of the women executives had them.

A mentor can give you advice on what you need to do next in your career to move forward, how to get visibility and recognition, and how to play the game of your particular organization. You can do this informally without necessarily asking the person to be your mentor. A mentor can encourage you to take more risks and be an advocate for you in those closed door meetings at the executive level. Who is someone you respect and might be available as an informal mentor for you? When and how will you approach this person?

Secret #4 — Ask for the stretch assignments

Women must often explicitly signal their interest and willingness to take on unusual or challenging assignments. Otherwise, managers may assume they are not interested. You can use the work you’ve done in Secret #2 to identify your key strengths and pitch your ‘qualifications’ or readiness to take on more challenging assignments. Women can get caught in a double bind of being seen as too ambitious. So, you wouldn’t necessarily want to tell your boss you want her job. But, it would be generally acceptable to voice your interest in taking on more responsibility and demonstrating your ability to do so.

You could volunteer for visible projects that require you to stretch and accomplish tasks you haven’t had the opportunity to do in the past. Other ideas include: volunteer to speak on a program or at a conference, volunteer for a cross-departmental committee, go to company social events and talk with people you don’t know. What action will you take in this area?

Secret #5 — Develop strong communication skills and mastery of your emotions

Developing strong communication skills, mastery of your emotions, and the ability to effectively handle conflict is another very important area for success. Once you reach management level, your ability to effectively influence and relate to others is more important than your technical skills.

There has been enough research out now on the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI), which is a current term for a person’s ability to manage their emotions and relate effectively to others. In a 1990 study (by Hunter et al), 200 companies and organizations were examined. It was found that top performers were 127% more productive than average performers. The competency research indicated that about one-third of the difference was due to technical and cognitive (IQ) ability, while two-thirds was due to competence in the area of EI. In top leadership, 4/5th of the difference was attributed to EI competence. All this is to say that having EI competence is one of the most important determinants of your success, and especially so if you are in leadership.

Secret #6 –Learn the rules of the game of business and how to play for success

Business is still played by the rules of team sports. The games we play as girls and boys influence how we ‘play’ at work. Organizations are still strongly influenced by the male culture. So, in order for women to be effective in this arena, they will need to visibly see the rules of the game and understand how to maneuver within that framework.

Growing up, girls learn dependence and boys learn independence. Competition is one of the key principles in the game of business where winning is all important. Even if you grew up playing with boys, those experiences are minor in comparison to the influence of social norms. Growing up, girls learn how to be competent interpersonally and develop and sustain relationships. Boys, on the other hand, learn how to subordinate relationships to aggressiveness, competition, and winning.

Research shows that behaving like a man will backfire. Women have a narrower band of acceptable behavior. The one important piece to remember is that for most men, business is a game. If you understand that it’s not personal, you will be able to choose your strategies and approaches wisely to your success.

Secret #7 — Know what it takes to successfully transition each leadership passage

In the book, The Leadership Pipeline, by Charam, Drotter and Noel, the authors identify six passages which require a different focus and attention to navigate successfully through the passage. The six passages are 1) from Manage Self to Manage Others, 2) Manage Managers, 3) Functional Manager, 4) Business Manager, 5) Group Manager, 6) Enterprise Manager (CEO). Not only is understanding this critical for your success in progressing upward, but it is vital for you to understand how to focus the development for those under your span of control. The skills, time application, and work values are different for each passage and there are signs of possible derailment at each turn. For example, passage number 4 from Functional Manager to Business Manager requires an ability to deliver inspired communication, assemble a strong team, grasp how the company makes money, and develop strong leadership at multiple below you.

Secret #8 — Know and manage your image

You will want to manage how you are perceived. Some questions to ask yourself are: How do people perceive you in your organization? What kind of reputation have you established? What image are you portraying through your dress?

As a leader it is more important to be respected than liked. You are called upon to make tough decisions that everyone will not necessarily like. This is another difference in the male and female culture that can create tension. As young girls we are taught to get along and being liked is important.

A word about business attire. Make sure your business attire is tasteful but does not draw more attention to your sexuality, such as tight skirts, sweaters, low cut blouses, or frilly clothing. The way you dress determines the overall message you send. If your makeup, hairstyle, or clothing stands out, then what you are saying in an important conversation will be secondary. The general rule of thumb to follow is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Notice what successful women at the top of your organization are wearing and adapt to that style. You can still have your own style, just remember the unspoken dress code is akin to the team uniform and is another ‘test’ of how well you fit into the team.

Secret #9 — Hire an experienced coach

Hire a coach who’s familiar with 360 tools and other personality and work style assessments so you get the vital objective feedback and how to use it into your development plan.

If you have never worked with a professional coach, you might consider doing a little research and contacting some experienced coaches for a sample coaching session. Many coaches offer a free 45-minute coaching session so you get to know them and what to expect in the coaching process with them. Working with an experienced coach can expedite your development and save you a lot of hard lessons.

Secret #10 Know your long-term goals, maintain work/life balance, and support other women

Be clear about your long-term goals and how you will maintain the work/life balance that’s right for you. If your goal is to reach the upper executive levels, then find out what commitment it will take, how it will impact your personal life, and what support systems you will need to put in place. There are many ways to be in leadership and have a powerful impact. You may decide that you enjoy being at a mid-level management position with the ability to influence many people and groups within the organization. Or, if you are better suited to be a senior level individual contributor such as VP of Investor Relations, then go for that.

It’s important for your own happiness and satisfaction in life that you identify your key productive skills, your long-term goals, and your personal quality of life to determine the best career path for you.

In a Catalyst study with interviews of executive women, women pointed out that you cannot have it all. You have to decide the priorities for your life and make choices. If you are married, it is important to have a supportive spouse. Many women pay for hired help to support childcare, home maintenance, etc. Women are so skilled at multi-tasking and handling many things for themselves and others in their lives that they often neglect to take care of themselves. You will need to be proactive in doing things to take care of yourself.

Support other women who are coming up through the ranks to create networks of collective support for all women. This is key to shifting the culture to be more in balance between masculine and feminine ways of approaching business.

Lynn Matlock Hicks is a professional certified coach specializing in the leadership development of corporate women. For a free download copy of the full Special Report with specific coaching exercises and more in-depth information, visit her website http://www.transformbydesign.com
Lynn Matlock Hicks

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The problem with some business ideas is their cost.
To manufacture and market a product you have invented
could cost you millions of dollars. The investment in
machinery, buildings, inventory and other expenditures
could bankrupt you before your first sale ever occurred.

For this reason, many prefer to run a paper business.
Paper businesses do not require large investments of
capital for expensive equipment, inventory, and
buildings. Many paper businesses can be run from your
own home.

A paper business is a business that can be
operated mainly using pieces of paper, such as
contracts, invoices, shipping documents, et cetera.

Here are some excellent paper businesses that you can
operate.

1. Consulting

Consultants charge large fees for their knowledge, expertise,
skills, connections, experience, and other assets. This
business can be operated from home with little more than
standard office equipment and supplies.

Consulting is a paper business because your product is an
intangible service. Your results are often summarized in
a written, paper report and you use written contracts to
protect your interests.

For further information and resources about consulting,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/consulting.html

2. Finding

A professional finder finds something needed by a business or
individual for a finder`s fee. The finder doesn`t invest in
product inventory because he`s not selling it. He simply
collects a fee for arranging to introduce a buyer to a seller.
The finder conducts his business using contracts and other
written documentation.

For further information and resources about finder`s fees,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

3. Drop Shipping

Another business (or method of business) where you don`t
invest in product inventory or retail space is drop shipping.
When your customer buys from you, perhaps through the mail,
by phone, or on the internet, you simply contact your
supplier, who then ships it to your customer. Your paper
business involves taking the order, billing and collecting
from your customer as well as ordering, giving shipping
instructions, and paying your supplier.

For further information and resources about drop shipping,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

4. Affiliate Programs

With affiliate and associate programs, you collect
commissions from the sale of other peoples` products. Again,
you have no investment in product inventory or expensive
facilities.

For further information and resources about affiliate programs,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html

5. Webmastering

Another knowledge-based paper business is webmastering.
Whether you design websites, perform internet marketing,
or render other needed services, your business is again
mainly intangible services backed up by paper records and
contracts.

For further information and resources about webmastering,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/webmstrbus.html

6. International Trade

Many times import and export transactions can be conducted
on a commission basis. It is also possible to buy, sell
and ship merchandise without ever having even seen it.
Letters of credit, bills of lading, and other agreements
are needed in this paper business.

For further information and resources about import-export,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

7. Licensing

Instead of trying to finance the manufacturing and marketing
of your invention, why not license it to a company with the
expertise and capability required? You will then receive
royalties in return for your idea.

As well, you could become a licensing agent, arranging
licensing deals on behalf of other companies and individuals,
taking a percentage of sales as compensation.

For further information and resources about licensing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/licensing.html

There are many other paper businesses that you could consider
including mortgage brokering, commission sales, equipment
leasing, real estate, and franchising. This is by no means an
exhaustive list. With some thoughtful consideration, you, too,
could make your fortune from a paper business.

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.

For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

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I run a small meeting, event and conference planning company based in the New York City area. As an entrepeneur and small business owner with a limited advertising and marketing budget, developing business partnerships has been really helped me to get the word out about the services that I offer. For example, I have aligned myself with a DJ company as the preferred planner for their clients and am actively receiving business and referrals from this source. Also, due to my partnership with a travel agency, I am now handling meetings, conferences and events for inbound corporate groups from abroad. Forming strategic alliances has been and will continue to be a significant part of my long term business plan and model for exponential growth.

I have practiced the proverbial “art” of building non-competitive alliances with like minded companies, not just as a new entrepeneur, but also as a business building tool in all of my previous positions. While, on the whole, this strategy has yielded very positive results and significant revenue, there have been some negative consequences. So, I would like to share with you a very basic list of “do’s and dont’s” for creating successful business partnerships.

Do seek out companies where your services would be a natural addition to the resources currently offered. For example, if you are a catering service specializing in healthy cuisine, you might want to partner with health club to offer special incentives to gym goers.

Do choose organizations whose business ethic and overall image are at least generally compatible with yours. The last thing you want is to be associated with an organization who has questionable business practices. Although you may financially gain from such a partnership in the short term, that type of “bad business karma” can only affect you negatively in the long term.

Do determine beforehand whether you will be operating under the aegis of your own company or your partner’s organization. If you are ABC company and your partner is XYZ corporation, will you be marketed seperately as ABC company or an extension of your partner XYZ Inc.? Are you looking strictly for access to new clientele or for an opportunity for exposure as ABC company?

Do specify how referrals will be passed to you. Will clients be contacting you directly or will the initial inquiry pass through your partner?

Do specify your payment structure in writing. Will you paid directly by clients that come to you or will the billing process take place through your partner’s organization? If you are not being paid directly, what is the billing and payment cycle through your partner’s company? What percentage of commission, if any, will you owe to your partner for business that comes in through their company?

Don’t dismiss partnerships with companies, organizations or individuals with whom you don’t have an immediate and obvious synergy. Be open! Be creative! Explore! For example, I am in the process of working with several business coaches to create seminars on how to host successful product launches for home based businesses.

Don’t neglect to do your research. Ideally, partner with an organization that you are familiar with and whose services you have either used personally or in a business setting. (Or, get at least three referrals from others familiar with your potential partner’s services and business style.)

Don’t accept verbal assurances, particularly where commission and payment structure is concerned. Even if you know and trust your partner, having a formal written agreement is insurance against misunderstanding.

Don’t hesitate to question a partnership that is not living up to your expectations. Strategic alliances are a two way street. If your counterpart is following your business agreement, politely remind them of their reponsibilities.

Don’t reveal any information, resources, benefits etc. that make your value proposition unique until you are 100% sure how that information will be used and presented by your business partner.

In short, strategic alliances can be an effective method of marketing, advertising and sharing resources. Whatever form your business partnership will take, be sure that expectations are clearly defined on both sides.

Andrea Pellettiere has ten years of experience in the meeting, events and hospitality industry. She recently founded Eleganza Meeting, Event and Conference Planning Services Inc., a full service planning company located in the New York area. For further information about Eleganza, please visit http://eleganzaevents.tripod.com

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How many times have you had an employee quit and then immediately feel desperate to fill the slot that was just vacated? Unfortunately, it’s an all too common occurrence in today’s workplace.

There are a number of things you can do to help you get through the trying times while hiring a replacement but there is also the danger of hiring just about anyone that walks through the door just to get the job filled. Don’t do this!

Take the time necessary to hire the right person for the job. The actual cost of turnover is much greater than most employers realize so the first line of defense should always be to make every effort to retain your current employee, assuming he/she was performing their duties at an acceptable level.

If you aren’t successful at keeping your present employee, the following tips will help guide your selection:

Make sure that your other employees are aware of the job opening. Referrals from current employees usually are better candidates than cold prospects coming through the door.

If the position is above entry level, look at your current employees and determine if one of them would be a good applicant for promotion. It’s much easier to fill entry-level jobs.

Be sure to use some type of general IQ or aptitude test. There is absolutely no way to sit and talk with an applicant and know whether they can actually read, write and perform mathematical calculations. (I always recommend the Wonderlic Personnel test for this purpose)

Punctuality is a key indicator of how an employee will act once hired. If an applicant is late for an appointment, dismiss them from consideration unless they have an incredibly good reason.

Appropriate attire should always be worn to an interview. Dirty, scruffy clothing, rags or hats, and other unsuitable clothes should immediately dismiss an applicant from consideration.

Listen carefully as the applicant explains why they left their previous job(s). Someone that continually has problems with supervisors and/or co-workers will probably have the same conflicts with your company. Don’t hire an obvious problem no matter how desperately you need help.

Always hire someone that you find likable. You don’t need to become bosom buddies but you must be able to work with them in a harmonious environment.

Create a job description that you can give to your applicants. A properly written job description will answer a great deal of questions and eliminate later problems if the person is hired.

Take the time to check references. Previous employers can give you a much clearer description of an applicant’s ability, a great deal more than personal references.

Always make your job offer in writing. This will preclude any misunderstandings.
Take the time to make quality hires and your business will reflect your time and effort in the performance of your employees and your company’s bottom line.

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In the first article (first in a three part series) we explained the little known science of Axiology, the Value Profile and how it is helping CEO’s obtain the greatest leverage from employee’s strengths.

We described how a CEO (we called him Richard) can accurately measure and compare candidates for a specific position or work on a specific project.

In this article we continue on to discover additional and deeper critical distinctions the Value Profile provides Richard to aid him in his decision to select the best candidate.

The insights revealed in the fourth section of the report provide Richard with an in depth understanding of a candidate’s abilities for planning and organizing. People can keep working on a project until they get it right, or they can plan and get organized before they start.

Not everyone has the ability to determine what is required to accomplish a project and have it completed on time. Some people have difficulty with directions they have been given or taking on responsibility for a project.

Richard does not have time to “wait and see” if a person will be able to complete the project. He wants to know in advance whether or not the candidate has the ability to logically plan and organize a strategy and carry it out. Using the Value Profile, Richard eliminates the gut-wrenching process of trying to determine who would be best to work on a crucial project. The Value Profile provides him with a roadmap.

A person’s ability to set realistic goals, implement plans and achieve them within a certain time frame can be determined and calculated. The results are plotted on a chart so Richard can see at a glance exactly which candidate excels in this area.

Richard has at his fingertips vital information about a person’s ability to keep focused on the planning details and activities needed to reach the desired outcome. It is one thing to plan and organize, it’s another to be self motivated to take action.

Right now, stop and think about your key people. Can they set realistic goals? Are they reaching those goals within a specified time frame? Is it important to you and the company for your key people to take action right away? Isn’t it crucial for you to know which people have these capabilities?

Wouldn’t you want to be certain your key people have a drive to stay on course despite obstacles and regardless of circumstances?

Let’s get back to Richard. Now he knows which candidates can plan. Then, he can check the report to find out the attitudes of the different candidates and their level of commitment to the company.

Companies are becoming more aggressive in attracting top talent. Richard wants to know how his key people feel about the company. He wants to reduce the risk of handing someone a project, then finding out after the fact that the person does not have the drive or desire for the project, loyalty or commitment company.

Richard has started to narrow down his list of candidates as he looks to the future of the company. Which of the candidates has the capacity to become a manager? Who could take a long-term role and excel at leadership?

A unique aspect of the Value Profile is that it provides Richard with accurate assessment of a person’s intuitive insight or “gut feeling” about issues. More and more, executives are admitting they use and rely on their “gut feelings” to make important decisions. Using intuitive insight, leaders are becoming more proficient at distinguishing which opportunities are best and which to avoid.

Top people are looking for challenging, meaningful and rewarding work. They seek positions where they use their talent and make a difference. They look forward to creating new opportunities for their company. These are the kind of candidates Richard searches for.

Other important considerations when considering candidates for a specific project are stress factors, sources of motivation and communicating with others.

We will share insights on these three areas in the third article of this series.

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If you operate a small business, you may feel that your income potential is quite limited. However, you can increase and diversify your income through international trade.

1. Importing

Retail store owners can find additional products to sell from foreign manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers.

Advantages of importing include increased product selection, lower costs, and increased income.

You may even decide to go exclusively into the import business and become a wholesale distributor.

2. Exporting

Manufacturers can find new customers for their products in foreign countries.

Perhaps consumers in your country have lost interest in your product. It may have become obsolete because of technological advances. A foreign market, however, may be desirous of that very product.

Maybe there is an economic slump in your country. Another country may be experiencing a boom. Sales from customers in that country may help stabilize your income.

Exporting can also help smooth the peaks and valleys of your income. For instance, if you sold winter sporting goods, you could sell to both northern and southern hemispheres to help offset the seasonal nature of your business.

Of course, you might also consider selling sporting goods for all the seasons and still export to other countries to increase and diversify your income.

You could also become an Export Management Agent. Arrange for other domestic companies to sell their products to foreign corporations and earn a ten percent commission.

You would think that selling to foreign customers would be quite risky. However, use of letters of credit can protect all parties. An Export Management Agent might actually arrange for ninety percent of the sale to be paid directly to the domestic supplier and ten percent to be paid directly to himself.

3. Licensing

Consider becoming a licensing agent. Earn royalties by arranging for foreign corporations to manufacture and sell the products of domestic companies.

To learn more about making money as a licensing agent,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/licensing.html

4. Finder`s Fees

Imagine the possibilities for earning finder`s fees in
international trade!

You can earn fees from domestic companies for finding
foreign buyers (or for finding suitable imports from
foreign suppliers). You can also earn fees from
foreign companies for finding domestic corporations
that will buy their products (or for finding suitable
suppliers and products from domestic corporations).

To learn more about how to earn finder`s fees, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

5. Drop Shipping

Visualize receiving an order from a customer based in a foreign country and not having to be bothered with shipping and handling the product. No customs declarations or brokers are required by you. This is because your drop ship supplier is handling those details.

You might collect $100.00 plus shipping of $15.00 from your foreign customer. You then simply send your customer`s order to your drop ship supplier with your payment of $65.00 (consisting of $50.00 wholesale cost plus $15.00 shipping). Your drop shipper will now fulfill the order. Congratulations! You just made fifty dollars.

To learn more about how to make money drop shipping, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

6. Mail Order

Add a mail order service to your existing business operation. Manufacturers, retail stores, and other businesses can increase their sales by using this additional method of selling that is very conducive
to international trade.

To learn more about mail order, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/mailord.html

7. Internet Marketing

You can also extend your reach to worldwide customers by means of the Internet. Methods of obtaining foreign business include affiliate marketing, online auctions, online stores, and websites.

To learn more about Internet marketing, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/netmrktg.html

Yes, to increase and diversify your income, consider international trade.

To learn more about international trade, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.

For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

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Although there are advantages to selling your own
proprietary products and services, there are also
drawbacks. For example, the time and investment
required to produce your own book, invention, or other
product could mean a long delay in receiving profits
and cashflow essential to your business survival.

For this reason, you may decide to sell other people`s
products and services, either exclusively, or to
complement your own product line.

You could stock an entire retail store with products,
buy a franchise or other business, or obtain a
distributorship or dealership. However, this could
require a substantial financial investment.

Here, then, are just a few, low-cost ways to profit
from selling other people`s products and services.

1. Commission Sales

Act as a sales representative or agent of a company
and sell their products or services for a percentage
commission of the sales price.

Many companies on the Internet offer associate or
affiliate programs that you can join to earn
commissions selling their products and services.
Sometimes you can even make money from the efforts of
other affiliates who sign up through your website.

Thus, without having a product of their own, some
persons are earning their sole but substantial income
from affiliate programs.

To learn more about affiliate programs, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html

2. Consignment Sales

You can take other people`s products on a consignment
basis, making your commission when you sell the item.
Many second-hand shops, arts and crafts stores, and
other retailers operate this way.

You can also sell products of others through Internet
auction sites such as eBay or Yahoo! Auctions.

To learn more about online auctions, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/auctions.html

3. Drop Shipping

You could buy inventory wholesale and try to sell it
retail, but what if it doesn`t sell? Even if you do
sell, do you really want all that money tied up in
stock? For these reasons, many businesses use drop
shipping as a method of doing business.

Whether from your home, retail store, directly from
your website or through an online auction, you can
arrange to sell an item before you purchase it. That
way you have nothing invested in inventory and won`t
get stuck with stock that won`t sell.

For example, let`s assume that you have just sold a
product to a customer for $100.00 plus shipping
charges of $15.00. Having received the customer`s
payment, you now need to e-mail or fax your order to
your drop ship supplier. You will need to pay your
supplier your cost of $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping,
leaving you a $50.00 gross profit. Your supplier
will now ship the product to your customer.

To learn more about drop shipping, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

4. Finders` Fees

Did you know that you can earn fees simply by
introducing buyers and sellers?

For example, a mining company may need to buy certain
hard-to-obtain equipment for their operations. You
could negotiate a percentage finder`s fee for finding
this equipment for them.

Conversely, you could also obtain a finder`s fee from
a company that is trying to sell off their excess
machinery but is having difficulty finding a buyer.

To learn more about finders` fees, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

5. Joint Ventures

Joint venture arrangements can be profitable. As an
example, you could arrange to feature someone else`s
product in your e-zine or newsletter in return for a
commission, even if they don`t presently have an
affiliate program.

To learn more about joint ventures, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/joint-ventures.html

The above list of low-cost ways to make a profit from
other people`s products and services is by no means
exhaustive. However, it certainly illustrates that,
with some effort, other people`s products could make
you rich.

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping
clients to earn maximum business profits for over
twenty-five years.

For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Technorati tags: products sell product visit people`s

The curse of every hard working manager. Love or hate them, with geographically dispersed teams and travel restrictions, conference calls are here to stay as a communication medium in the workplace. If you want to stand out from your work colleauges, then follow these simple do’s and don’ts of effective conference calls.

Here are my favourite conference call experiences;

- a barking dog drowns out the key discussion point, bad enough, but the owner then starts shouting at his pet.
- a thirsty caller uses the hold button whilst slipping out to get a drink, unaware hold music starts playing to everyone on the call.
- a talkative colleague uses the mute button to moan about the call, stopping you answering the question from the senior manager you are trying to impress.

Obviously I would discourage all these career limiting behaviours, so what are the do’s and don’ts of effective conference calls?

Do get comfortable with the fact you will be talking in front of a group and receiving no visual cues or feedback.

Do use the right phone in a quiet, undisturbed room.

Don’t use cell phones or phones that pick up background noise. Calling from an open plan office is the equivalent of having a conversation in a nightclub. If you really can’t find a quiet room, use the mute button until you are required to speak.

To avoid a Homer Simpson style “Doh” moment, do learn to use the mute button and other phone technology. Your intelligent contributions mean nothing if no one can hear them.

Do set up the meeting in advance and communicate the dial in number, passcodes and other information. “Spring forward, fall back” is something to keep in mind for your timezone crossing colleagues. Don’t work out time differences on your fingers - check on the internet or even phone a colleague in that country and ask what time it is!

Do start the meeting absolutely on time; don’t reward latecomers’ bad behaviour by waiting for them. Take a role call at the start of the meeting, highlighting the missing attendees. Go on, get tough, people will love you for it!

Do treat the conference call as if it were a meeting. You know the routine; prepare and circulate an agenda, take notes ya-de-ya-de-ya.

Do get each caller to say hello and introduce themselves. Even though you may never meet in person, it’s a good relationship builder and gets the shyest of people to at least say their name.

Don’t assume everyone recognises your voice. Unless you are dis-respecting the boss and want to stay incognito, say your name before you speak. This is particularly important for the poor soul taking meeting notes.

Do make use of guest speakers. Invite a special or important guest and get them to say a few words at the beginning of the meeting. No one will know they slipped out after five minutes and you’ll get the benefit of undivided attention and best behaviour.

Don’t allow the topic to wander. Be an iron fist in a velvet glove - polite but firm if people talk too long or over each other. If your callers are at home sitting in their pyjamas nursing a hot chocolate, be considerate that all they want is to go to bed.

Do ask for input by using a person’s name. People will pay more attention to avoid the embarrassment of needing the question repeated.

Don’t shuffle papers; scrape chairs, pencil tap, hum or other distracting, noisy activities. It…….drives…………people…………mad!

Do close the meeting formally, thanking everybody for their time. That little bit of recognition will make them feel good about talking to you again.

And that’s about it. Apart from one very personal tip. Do not sit on a leather chair. Ever. The problem is each time you move around, an embarrassing noise that’s at just the right frequency to carry well over the phone is emitted. Either you brazen it out and suffer the comments about your defective digestive system, or sit rigid until the call is over. If you only take one piece of advice make sure it’s this - do use fabric covered seats!

Lyndsay Swinton is an experienced team leader, people manager and business coach. Her website is www.mftrou.com - ‘Management for the rest of us’. Subscribe to her free no-nonsense Management Tips newsletter at mftrou.com today.

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