Category Archives: Attention entrepreneurs!

Focuses on author’s experiences with the process of developing a business.

A Book for Entrepreneurs

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One of the precepts that I have always believed in is that if you want to be successful in something, find out what the people who are already successful are doing.  Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of talking with those people face to face so we have to resort to other available means to find out what actions the successful people have taken so that we have an example to go by.  This mainly consists of videos, online articles and books.

 

I am currently reading “The Midas Touch” by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki.  These

Robert T. Kiyosaki

Robert T. Kiyosaki (credit: www.last.fm)

two names in the entrepreneurial world should need no introduction.  Even though I am not finished with my reading of this book for entrepreneurs, I have thus far been so impressed with it that I wanted to share my current findings with you.  The two points covered in this book that I have most impacted by are that of focus and what Mr. Trump calls the “B-I” (for business integrity) triangle.  The term focus is described as an abbreviation for “follow one course until successful.”  Too often people allow themselves to be distracted by a myriad of other things without keeping their priorities in line and as a result find themselves not achieving the results they desire.  The business integrity triangle is an illustration of the eight essential components of a business and outlines where the entrepreneur should place themselves in order for the business to have a greater chance for success.  It is mentioned why successful entrepreneurs are generalists that have specialists working for them.  The thing that makes “The Midas Touch” a must-read is that the authors describe why most entrepreneurs end up failing while only a few actually become rich.  Priceless advice and counsel from two who know!

Also given great emphasis in the book is the importance of relationships.  Trump goes to

Donald Trump enters the Oscar De LA Renta Fash...

Donald Trump (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

length explaining how strong relationships with professionals in a variety of fields can go a long way to helping a business succeed.  He also goes on to mention that learning as an ongoing, lifelong process is essential to help ensure both personal as well as professional growth.

The book contains a multitude of other traits that prospective entrepreneurs need in order to round out their overall makeup.  I am going to keep this post short with the intention of leaving you to want to find out more about this book.  In closing, I recommend “The Midas Touch” wholeheartedly and without reservation.

Here’s to you!

 

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The Importance of Focus in Business

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In order to achieve the business results you desire, it is essential that you possess a strong sense of focus.  By this I mean that in order to stay on track towards the accomplishment of business goals, consistent and dedicated effort must be carried out towards them.

Keeping this in mind, one must also organize their time management skills so that efforts are not carried out in an inefficient manner.  You don’t want to start your day with no sense of direction with regard to what you wish to get accomplished.  In today’s fast paced environment, it is far too easy to get distracted with a myriad of things that can pop up.  If you already have a regular day job and are investing time in your business during your off hours, focus is all the more important.  I admit, at the end of a long day, I like to relax and play video games.  On many occasions I have found that before I knew it, the evening has been gobbled up without having achieved anything useful and it’s time for bed.

What really made me aware of the need for focus was a book co-authored by Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump called “The Midas Touch” which discusses the elements needed for success as an entrepreneur.  In this book, Kiyosaki details his time spent while training to be a Marine Corps combat helicopter pilot.  In effect, Mr. Kiyosaki stressed the paramount needs for prioritizing, staying on task and not becoming distracted as skills essential for increasing the odds for surviving in a hostile environment (referring to the war in Vietnam).

The business environment can also be a hostile one.  Granted no one is aiming a weapon at you on a daily basis (hopefully) but if you pursue business without focus, you will effectively be “killed” by your competitors in addition to your own inefficiency.   Your time will be ineffectively spent, results will be minimal at best and you won’t be staying abreast of what is needed to survive in the current business climate.

So how does one go about attaining or increasing their focus?  A very good question.  For the individual who is accustomed to a regimented routine and holds themselves accountable, this can be an easily attainable task.  For those who are vulnerable to becoming easily distracted and have no one to hold them accountable, this can pose quite a challenge.  Also, for those who have limited time to devote to business for whatever reasons such as family obligations or due to employment, keeping oneself on track to the accomplishment of business related tasks can be a significant mental hurdle.  Here are some things one can consider that may help:

- Draft a mission statement of what your business goals are.  You may also include things or beliefs that you consider to be important components of your business makeup.  It is also good to list a timeline you wish to follow for the accomplishment of your goals.  Be sure to make your goals realistic but don’t be afraid to “raise the bar.”

- At  the end of each day, write down what you wish to accomplish the following day. If you don’t know what you want to get done, how can you expect to accomplish anything? That way, you already know when you get up the following morning what your tasks are and you won’t need to stop and ponder about what you want to get done.  I find it personally useful to keep a small notepad with me for ready reference.

- Find a partner!  As the saying goes; “Two heads are better than one” especially holds true.  Working with a like-minded individual can go a long way to help you achieve success.  This will allow you to exchange ideas and come up with solutions to problems more quickly.  You will also have someone to whom you can be accountable.

- “Keep your eye on the prize”  Always be aware of why you are pursuing success.  See yourself enjoying the fruits of your labors.

- Believe in yourself!  If you have achieved partial results in a certain area, don’t let anyone make you think that you can’t do better.  Think of Thomas Edison in his quest to develop the electric light bulb.  Take a look at the picture below to see how Robert Kiyosaki responded to some hecklers:

Robert Kiyosaki Flipping Off the Haters

Robert Kiyosaki Flipping Off the Haters (Photo credit: Casey Serin)

Here’s To You!

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Are You Really an Entrepreneur?

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I had to ask myself this question recently.  While reading “Nothing To Lose and Everything to Gain” by Ryan Blair, mention was made of the enormous sums of money involved, the risks, vast amounts of time required to develop a business and get it started and numerous other factors.   The author even mentions to the effect that if an individual dedicated six months out of the year to entrepreneurial pursuits, it would take about 10 years to be a professional.

Now I have to admit that with my current schedule (day job), it would take me at least 100 years to get to the pro point.  But being as how I deal with comparatively miniscule amounts of money, my risk taking is comparatively negligible and I do use much of my free time to focus on my family life; I have to ask myself do I rate being able to describe myself as an entrepreneur?

I took a look at Wikipedia’s definition of entrepreneur and it described the term applying to a person who is willing to undertake a new venture or enterprise and accept full responsibility for its outcome.  Now granted my undertakings would not even show up as a proverbial blip on the radar compared to those of Ryan Blair but going by this definition (which seems legit to me), I am comfortable in describing myself as such.

How about you?  Are you one who thinks in the “9-5, Monday to Friday” mode or do you think for yourself and set your own path?  Do you think of new ways to do things or is whatever comes your way good enough?  Only you can accurately decide for yourself or you may be one of those people who needs someone to reveal to you what lies within.  I will also say this; If you truly feel that you are an entrepreneur, you most likely are!

Once again, Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside of The Box!”

 

 

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Are You Ready to be an Entrepreneur?

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Many people dream of entrepreneurship.  The thought may come up while at work if the person is unhappy with their job for whatever reason.  The reason could be due to dissatisfaction with the commute, the work environment or the obligation of committing one’s time on a daily basis to meet the requirements of another person.

The notion of being able to work your own hours, be answerable only to yourself as well as more freedom in your personal schedule can be powerful lures.   But how does one know if they are truly ready to assume the role of entrepreneurship?  Needless to say the whole proposition can pose a substantial amount of various risks such as financial, emotional and physical.

I came across an article recently written by well known blogger Yaro Starak.  In his blog, entrepreneurs journey.com, he lists what he calls the 7 signs of not being ready to be an entrepreneur.  The article contains very good tips and relevant guidance on what to consider should you be contemplating the jump over to the entrepreneurial side of things.  Click on the link –>>  7 Signs You Are Not Ready

After you read it stop to pause and ask yourself where you fit in.  Are you ready?  Are you already there?  Did you think you were ready but discovered that you really weren’t?  Only you can decide.  My thanks to Yaro Starak and I encourage you to spend some time checking out his blog www.entrepreneurs-journey.com.

Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”

 

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The Need for Authenticity as an Entrepreneur

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Right now I am reading “Nothing To Lose Everything To Gain” by Ryan Blair.  In his book he mentions what he refers to as the need for authenticity.  By this I interpret him to mean that people who are in business need to be upfront and truthful with their customers since people in the today’s marketplace have a keener sense than ever before when it comes to seeing that something looks fishy and suspect.

I myself could not agree more.  Since coming onto the online seen, it has become so apparent when people present you with rhetoric that you could swear has been used by numerous other individuals.   The promises of quick profits, massive website traffic, skyrocketing sales conversions are triggers that make me instantly say to myself “Yeah, Right!”  People doing business in today’s marketplace need to endeavor to present themselves as genuine as well as being truly interested in the needs of their customers.  When this takes place, customers will see it right away and be more inclined to do business with you.  You will not be perceived as just another online marketer peddling their wares.

Now how can you go about doing this?  Well, since you don’t want to be seen as being “just like one of the others,” you want to think about what you can do to make yourself stand apart from the crowd.  In other words, figure out what you can do to brand yourself and make yourself stand alone.  You can start out by just being yourself, acting with sincerity (if there is something you don’t have an answer for, say so and let the person know when you will get the answer) and conveying true interest in the needs and wishes of those who you want to attract to your business.

Another thing you can do is to strive to provide true value to your customers.  Provide service that is of greater value in relation to the compensation you are receiving.  This doesn’t mean that you have to give the shirt off of your back but you will not go wrong by providing top-notch service to your clients.

As always, Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”


 

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How Hesitation Can Result in Missed Opportunities

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When it comes to those situations where you find yourself at a loss for what action to take, it may end up that when you decide what it is you want to do, the opportunity will have slipped away.  Also, if you know what it is that you want to do but procrastinate in taking the action, it may also move beyond your reach.

Now granted there are those situations that come up where if one acts hastily, a less than desirable outcome may ensue.  I think it is safe to say that when Trump Tower was built, it was not the result of marking the spot with a piece of chalk and beginning construction the next day. But sometimes we just need to go with our inner feelings and trust that they will give us the guidance that we need for taking the right actions.  So the next time something presents itself to you, you may be left with nothing else than trusting your intuition and using that to make a choice.  If it turns out to be the incorrect choice, see what you can learn from the experience and take it from there.  Make an effort to see the good in whatever you are faced with.

A recent experience of mine dealt with having to write content for when I received an offer for a sponsored review on a product that I liked using.  I was given a three-day deadline for submitting the content but kept on putting it off and putting it off.  By the third day at the time when I decided to start writing, I saw that the offer was withdrawn and no longer available.  So as a consequence, I was out some good money.  But the lesson learned was a good one hence the reason I wanted to share this with you.  One might think that they can do something another time, but it may turn out that this was the only time.

Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”

 

 

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Amazon reestablishes affiliate program in California

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Early in 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation imposing a tax upon affiliates of Amazon.com which resulted in Amazon suspending affiliate operations in that state.  Amazon took the stand that it should not have to collect sales tax based upon not having a physical presence in the state.  California in turn felt that since Amazon was involved with a startup company called Lab126 in Cupertino, California, that in fact a physical presence did exist and therefore the sales tax could be imposed.

With the suspension of some 25,000 affiliates in California, the state cut itself off from another source of revenue.  This would have been the tax on income that would have to have been reported form the affiliate commissions that were generated and paid to California based affiliates.  I did come across instances where people were going to Nevada and other states so that they could maintain the business relationship with Amazon.

Months after the bill was enacted, it was later repealed and Amazon reestablished it’s affiliate operations in California.  I must admit I was happy to see this because I enjoy promoting Amazon products.  It also gives people an avenue to pursue business ventures in the online arena even when the time constraints of a regular job can get in the way.  With this new development having taken place, let us all continue to be thankful for any opportunities to pursue business success that come our way.

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Traits of an Entrepeneur

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As advertised in Amazon.com

Today I had the pleasure of coming across an article that talks about Ryan Blair, the author of “Nothing To Lose & Everything To Gain.” Despite not having made it past the ninth grade, being a gang member and spending some time in juvenile detention, he went on to be a multi-millionaire entrepeneur who started his first company at the ripe old age of 21.

In this article, he provides his take on what it takes to succeed in business, the need for authenticity and his views about the public education system.

Now I personally have not read his book yet but I am most certainly adding it to my list after I get done with Napoleon Hill’s “Outwitting The Devil.”  Sounds like I myself will have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reading his book!

But don’t let me hold you up anymore.  Click on the link below to find out more about this extraordinary individual Ryan Blair!  Many thanks to the author, Dan Schawbel for writing the article contained in the link below.

Entrepeneurship: Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

 

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Removing Unwanted Text from Blog Posts

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When it comes to removing unwanted text or links from your blog posts, you are usually able to accomplish this merely by going to your blog site and performing simple edits on the post.

But what happens if something unwanted text displays and you are not able to find the exact part of your blog that is causing the unwanted text or link to display? This happened to me recently and I must admit it was a bit frustrating. I would right click a page, select “view page-source” and I would see the HTML code plain as day. It was almost as if I were confronting some phantom code that was daring me to find exactly where it was hiding.

Immediately I put to use any knowledge that I possessed when it came to using HTML and PHP editors and I even started using a program that would scan search files listed in directories.  But searching through a blog is different.  A blog site is not only a folder (or directory if you prefer), it is a folder that contains many subfolders; each holding a multitude of various coded information as well as images.  This type of search for me was a new experience.

It got to the point where I even added a new plugin that I thought would help and I even started going through individual files.  Needless to say much time and effort was spent on this.  After awhile, I even contemplated just saving the blog files, deleting the blog and perform a reinstall.  Having done this before, I knew that there would be much additional work involved since I had to reinstall the plugins as well.  If you know of a way to get around this, please email me and let me know!

But lo and behold, good fortune was upon me!  After performing many searches on Google and Bing, I came across a blog post that had just the information I needed.  It involved going into DOS and typing in some commands that would find the text I was looking for in addition to naming the file containing the unwanted text.

I proceeded with the instructions listed on the blog post and things worked beautifully.  Instead of editing the file itself in order to remove the unwanted text and link, I took a more drastic measure and just deleted the plugin directory that was causing the problem.  If you happen to come across this same situation, I would recommend just inactivating the plugin itself, review your blog and see if that works.

To get more information on this unorthodox way of identifying and subsequently removing unwanted text and links from your blog posts, click on the link below.  Many thanks and much gratitude to the author (programmer grrl) for sharing this awesome information!

Find and remove phantom code from your blog posts!

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An Account of “First Million”

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The Las Vegas Sign.

Image via Wikipedia

Late this afternoon I arrived home after attending the “First Million” seminar hosted by featured speaker Marshall Sylver in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For this trip to Las Vegas, I elected to drive instead of fly and I ended up seeing some parts of the “Silver State” (is this a reason why Marshall Sylver lives there?) that I had not seen before.  Going down Hwy 95 from Reno to Las Vegas proved very interesting.  Even though the western part of the state is fairly desolate, the small towns that you pass through have much historical folklore.

By the time my wife and I arrived at our hotel after a 10 hour drive; we were very much ready to get into our room and relax.  The JW Marriott hotel where the event was hosted is very upscale and we thoroughly enjoyed the amenities.  After a few hours of R&R, my wife persuaded me to drive her down to Las Vegas Boulevard (a.k.a. “The Strip”) where she got to catch some glimpses of the glam and glitter.

On Saturday morning the seminar kicked off with Marshall Sylver discussing millionaire skills and mindsets, personality traits and the topic of personal charisma.  The next topic of presentation was on priority management by noted speaker Chuc Barnes who went into great detail on discussing the need for the clear establishment of priorities.  One of the main points highlighted by both speakers was the significant importance of time and the need to use it effectively.  Do you wish for more time?  Sorry, what you get is what you get and we each get a different amount.

Over the course of the two days the seminar also covered persuasion techniques, reinforcing statements, presentation skills and distinguishing features of poor and good leadership.  Mr. Sylver went on to describe the content and structure of the “Irresistible Influence” and “Financial Prosperity” seminars and offered some pretty enticing bonuses as an incentive for people to register while they were attending the event in progress.  Mention was also made of the opportunities to become a trainer with his company “Prosperity Alliance” and the potential looks very promising for those who are interested in work involving public speaking.

Due to having a lengthy drive ahead of me after the conference, I elected to leave at the halfway point on day two of the event.  As a result I missed the segment on Internet Marketing techniques and I hopes this does not prove to my detriment.  I would have been very interested to see what was covered but I also wanted to get a jump-start on my return home.  Next time I attend First Million, I will stay for the duration and fly home instead!

Outside of the discussion on personal charisma, I especially benefited from hearing Mr. Sylver refer to what he calls “Achilles Heels.”  These are defined behavioral traits that if not corrected, can contribute to poor business outcomes.  Two were mentioned that rang clear with me so I am endeavoring to get these modified PDQ!  I must also acknowledge the extreme generosity displayed by Mr. Sylver in that he purchased lunch for all attendees on both days.  The food was delicious!

All in all, I am very glad that I attended and would recommend this training to anyone who is pursuing success as an entrepeneur.  It was very energizing to be in the presence of like minded individuals all sharing a common purpose.  To learn more about First Million as well as the other Marshall Sylver training seminars, go to www.sylver.com. Attending the “Turning Point” seminar is encouraged prior to attending First Million.  I have also attended Turning Point and was very satisfied with the experience.

If you decide that you would be interested in attending a Turning Point seminar, I have a limited number of tickets that I am in a position to offer at significant savings.  The two venues where “Turning Point” is held are Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida.  The normal price for attending is $3000 but I can offer what I have on hand for $495 while they last.  For what you walk away with after attending, this is a very good deal.  Email me at erik(at)erikvonwerlhof.com for more information.

Best Wishes and Here’s To You “Making It Happen!”

 

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