Posts Tagged ‘keys to business success’

April is focus on money month.  This month’s guest blogger is Antonina Geer, CEO of Simplistic Financials…  Here’s what she has to say about making next year’s tax season STRESS FREE!!

I know you’re glad tax season is DONE!!  So often, it’s can be overwhelming and stressful.

But it doesn’t have to be — the key is year round tax planning!

As an entrepreneur, almost everything  you do in business has some sort of tax implication. So, why should you wait until the tax crunch time to start planning and preparing?

That is not the best use of your time and it could be costing you thousands of dollars in the long run!   It’s better to implement a tax plan that you can work all year!   The ideal situation is a tax plan set up and ready to go by December 31st of the year before the new tax year starts.

I know this may sound a little scary!  Now, take a deep breath in and exhale!  LOL!

Here’s a secret:  Your tax plan doesn’t have to be a complicated one, but it should be a plan that makes sense, compliments your business structure and operations, one that you can commit to, and one that is developed to keep as much net profit in your business as legally possible.

What Does It Mean to Have a Tax Plan for Your Business?

Simply put, it means to implement tactics and strategies throughout the year in an effort to minimize potential tax liability (the amount of taxes you owe to the IRS as a result of having a profitable business) and to increase your tax savings.  A tax plan can also help you in taking advantage of tax breaks that you may be legally entitled to.

Here are some daily habits you can adopt now that will get you started with your effective tax plan for 2013!

1.) Always have organized financial records.  Also develop a filing system or process of keeping track of your expenditures and invoices.

2.) Create a regular schedule for accounting and financial management responsibilities such as bookkeeping, filing receipts, and other financial documents. Commit to how often you will tend to these responsibilities – Weekly? Monthly?  Quarterly?

3.) Monitor your net income/net profit on at least a monthly basis.  This way you can assess whether you are on track to meeting your financial and revenue goals.

4.) Don’t comingle transactions – keep your business and personal financials separate.  Not only is this bad bookkeeping practice, it’s just too hard to effectively monitor cash flow from each account.  It’s even harder to remember to “pay this or that account” back.

5.) Schedule time in the middle or end of the tax year in which you make wise spending on “necessary” equipment, computers, software, etc.; contributing to a retirement plan or benefits plan; paying wages to family members or implementing growth strategies.

6.) Always meet with your CPA or other trusted financial consultant to determine what is the best tax plan for your business.

About our guest blogger: Antonina D. Geer, MBA, owner of Simplistic Financials, LLC is passionate about serving and inspiring people to experience abundance in business and in life. She is a wife, a mother, works alongside her husband in ministry, and an entrepreneur. As a finance consultant and strategist, Antonina empowers women entrepreneurs to develop more profitable and sustainable businesses by taking control of the money matters in business. Through proven customized finance strategies, money relationship improvement solutions, and simple financial literacy, Antonina inspires women to make more money and keep more of the money they earn so that they can genuinely serve and live from their overflow! http://www.simplisticfinancials.com

Your business blog is probably the single most important tool you can use to build and grow your business.

Whether your business blog is part of your website, or a separate entity, it is important to know how to focus your blog to help attract more potential clients and customers to your business.

What is a focused blog?

A focused blog is one that has a specific purpose: to get others to want to buy your products and/or services.

How?  It all starts with knowing what to blog about to begin and maintain an ongoing “sales conversation.”

Here are some helpful pointers:

1.  Keep your blog focused on business.  This means you want to limit the amount of personal stuff you share. Some is good and valuable, as it connects your customers to you, but you want to avoid venting about your personal life, family members, and so on.

2.  Talk about what sales or specials you have going on. It’s important to always keep your readers abreast of what’s current, what’s new, and what’s discontinued.

-  Be sure to add a call to action with a link to the sales page of your services, products and programs.

- Write a single blog post about the launch of an upcoming program.  Be sure to highlight how your program can help them (e.g. focus on benefits).

- Create a series of posts about various product options. The more your readers know about your offerings the more apt they are to purchase.

3.  Let your readers and customers know you are there for them. The whole point of your business, of any business for that matter, should be to help others in their personal or business lives.

-  Talk about what you have to offer as being a way to help them succeed in achieving what they desire most.  By doing this, you’re creating clients that will continue to return to not only your blog, but your business as well. Your blog will become a primary place they frequently visit on the web.

Why?  They know they can count on getting information and finding solutions that are most relevant and highly beneficial.

Overtime your readership and following will grow.  So will your traffic.

4.  Use specific key words in your titles and posts.  This is another important element of driving traffic to your business blog.   Essentially, as you continue to build your blog, you will be building your business as well.

5. Write about topics that are both  relevant to your reader but also consistent with your core  message (e.g. your belief statement about what it takes to get your  ideal client from where they are to where they want to be).

The reason why your core message is so essential is because it’s foundational to every business decision you  make: what products you will develop, who you will pursue as jv partners, what services and programs you will offer.

Not to mention it will foster consistency in the topics you write or speak about.  In building your brand, it’s important that people draw the right kind of association with you and your business.  As a result you can attract the right clientele and jv and strategic partners as well.

Blogging is a key strategy for getting your message out there in a big way and making a greater difference in the hearts and minds of others.

There are other powerful ways to use your knowledge and expertise to build your business. Ready to use what you know to attract ideal clients, build your list and make money now?  Here’s a free gift to learn how.

Each weekend is filled with wrestling matches and tournaments, as this is the winter sport for both my boys.  It’s one of the hardest sports around — just you and your opponent, one-on-one.  There’s no one to blame but yourself if things don’t go well.

It occurred to me the other day as I was watching them just how much the sport reminded me of business, which similarly isn’t easy to do.

The following are 5 instructions I typically hear my son’s coach yelling from the corner during a wrestling match that I couldn’t help to relate to success in business:

“Get to your feet.” In wresting one thing that is critically important is to stay on your feet because this is where you are strongest.

In a business sense, this is a lot like staying true to core:  your business vision, mission, what you do really well, and niche focused.

There is so much competition in the marketplace. When things don’t happen for your business as quickly as you would like, it’s tempting to change your course and become something else for whomever is willing to hear, listen, and respond to your message.

However this “make it up as you go along” approach leaves you scattered with no sense of purpose or direction.  And as a result you will struggle to establish your brand and jeopardize your position in the marketplace.

Although there are times when you feel “lost in the wilderness” with aimless pursuits, you can always find center and get back on track when you stay grounded and “get to your feet.”

“Pop your head out.” Sometimes when a wrestler gets tangled up, their head can get trapped in an awkward, downward position.  This keeps the wrestler from executing other moves because their eyes are focused in the wrong place – down at the mat.

In business it’s important to keep your head up and eyes open to new possibilities, and pay attention to new trends in your industry and/or niche. With this global perspective coupled with your own knowledge and expertise, will not only elevate your expert status, but also position you as a thought leader and the one to watch in your niche.

Rising to a level of prominence and influence sets you apart from all the rest, as well as attracts other potential JV partners and prospective clients too.  So stop looking down – pop your head out!

“Shoot.” This is when both wrestlers are standing in neutral and one reaches or drops low with the intent to grab the leg of their opponent for the take down. What’s critically important about shooting successfully is focus, speed, and precision; otherwise you end up in a vulnerable position for your opponent to score points.

It’s so important as a business owner to take risks and be decisive. Seeing an opportunity and going for it (even if you’re not 100% sure it will pan out) is an important success trait to adopt.

Sometimes you can self sabotage by over thinking and over analyzing a situation.  Meanwhile, as you sit and ponder, should I or shouldn’t I, the opportunity could pass you by.

Focus on what it is you want and make the decision to go after it.  Realize of course your aim should always be calculated; but once you’ve determined that it’s the right thing for you and your business, trust it, and go for it – full throttle, no hesitation.  Shoot now!

“Circle, circle.”  Whether on your feet or down on your knees, you’ve got to move constantly or risk getting called for staling.

Long term sustainable business success requires stamina, consistent devotion of time and attention to avoid stagnation. Remember small consistent steps can sometimes get you to where you want to be faster overtime than bigger, more sporadic activity.

The small wins you experience every step of the way are what affirm yes over and over again, and provide you with  the motivation to keep moving forward toward your goals and executing your action plan without fail.   It’s time to achieve more of what you really want for your business – circle, circle!

“Grab a wrist.” This is what allows a wrestler to get control of their opponent so that they can “set up” their next move.

The fatal mistake for so many new solopreneurs is spending so much time on preparation and planning of an upcoming teleseminar, webinar, launch of program, etc. (the set up), but failing to focus on the backend  (what comes next).

The objective should always be to keep the sales dialog going so that you retain subscribers, and foster loyal customers and clients over the life of your business.

Before you finish planning your next event or program, remember these three steps: begin with the end in mind, offer next steps that your target market wants, needs, desires; create calls to action that will lead them down your sales funnel.   So “grab a wrist” and lead them to YES over and over again over the life of your business.

Wondering what else you can do to improve your bottom line, stop sabotaging your success, attract more clients, earn the revenue you really want, and build a better business in 2012?  Join me for teleseminar, Ready to Launch 2012. http://www.launchwhileyouwork.com/readytolaunch2012

Establishing strategic and referral partners are the most effective ways to build your business faster.  Listen to learn why and how you can begin forging powerful connections even if you are starting from scratch.

For more helpful start up success tips, obtain a copy of my free7 day business start up mini course today.

How would you feel if you could:

Stop giving away your services for free & start getting paid what you’re worth?

Pull more clients toward you instead of chasing after them?

Make money while at work during the day, or in your sleep?

Establish loyal followers and fans and full paying clients over the life of your business?

I have been thinking a lot about the distinction between a thriving solo business, and one that is starved for clients and not making any money.

Why is it that some solopreneurs are able to establish their credibility, get their name out there in a bigger way, get prospects to join their list and take the next step with them, while others chase after prospects, discount their services or give away their services for free in hopes that someone will hire them.

The answer:  Those with a sound business model beyond working one-on-one with clients, and a keen sense of marketing are seeing more optimal results. They are elevating their success by choosing smarter more leveraged approaches to build their business faster.

And the same can happen for you.

Introducing,  my new FREE 3-part video training series, My First Info Product Now, designed to teach YOU how you can attract ideal clients, build your list, and make money now — even if you still haven’t landed your first full paying client.

http://bit.ly/nSsyHd

Are you ready to  get going with creating more money, meaning and purpose that  you desire for your life right now?

Grab a copy of this high content, high value information. You should know that it won’t be up for very long, as I am only allowing access to it for a short amount of time.

I am excited to share this with you!  Please leave your comments and thoughts. I am looking forward to your feedback.

http://bit.ly/nSsyHd

I remember when I started my practice as a business coach, I didn’t have a clear idea who I wanted to serve. “Come one, come all” was my motto. I was open to helping anyone with their business as long as they were willing to pay me.

Sound familiar?

How do you go from excited about FINALLY getting the help you’ve been needing to move your business forward, to disappointed and dissatisfied that the work is STILL not getting done?

When you don’t have an outsourcing plan, it’s easy to get there and FAST!

There’s a solution, listen how.

If you are looking for how to get critical to do’s off your list — the right way and in the shortest time possible, here’s your 4 step plan to make it happen.

Which step is missing from your plan at this time? What else would you add to the script? Please leave your comments and thoughts. Thanks so much.

My son is 14 years old is a handsome (of course),  fun loving, easy going teenager but he’s small in stature and often times mistaken as a middle schooler.  And worse when he’s with his brother, many believe he’s the younger instead of the older.

“I’m so tired of this.  I feel like people see me as this little kid who is just kinda hanging around.  I don’t feel like a teenager because I don’t look like everyone else, I don’t think like a lot of my other friends think. I am going to look back over my teenage years and feel like I completely missed out on so much fun.”

These were just a few sentiments my son shared with me that afternoon as tears strolled down his face.

As he spoke I heard the phrases -  I don’t feel like, I don’t look like, I am not, I am going to miss out…

And as I sat and listened to him intently I understood that what he was really saying was “I’m not enough!”

And boy did that strike a chord.

I find this issue of being enough is an underlying issue that we all face at different times in our lives. We all want to feel a sense of belonging, and sense of worthiness.  Sometimes we feel it and sometimes we don’t.

In business this issue of worthiness is a real one.  Because if you don’t feel worthy, you won’t feel empowered. And if you don’t feel empowered you won’t inspire. And if you’re not inspiring others, then you are not sharing your message and greatest gifts with the world!

If this is you today I declare today that you ARE enough.

I left my son with three thoughts, that also applies to you as a business owner:

• Feeling like you are enough starts on the inside and manifest on the outside; no one validates your worth but you.

• Start manifesting what you desire by celebrating who you are — all of it  (accomplishments, achievements, joys, mishaps, failures, and trials).  Don’t expect others to embrace or accept you for who you are,  when you’re not comfortable in your own skin.

• If you want to attract more friends (or clients), be more attractive (or client attractive) by exuding confidence.  No one wants to be around someone (or hire someone) who appears desperate or clingy.

Consider these four strategies to reaffirm your worth:

Find the right circle of influence.  Although there are times you feel good about who you are on the inside, your ego and conscious still needs reinforcements, reminders, and validation.

Who are your biggest fans?  Seek ongoing support and encouragement from those who lift you up instead of drag you down. This will undoubtedly be your base of support that will carry you through the life of your business.

Stop comparison despair.   There’s always going to be someone who is ahead of building their business or more successful than you — more money, more clients, more brand recognition, etc.  Get over it!   It’s a fact of life and business!

It’s important to aspire to be more.  But keep that desire in check so that it doesn’t become later develop into jealousy or manifest into a lack of self confidence in your abilities.

Instead use it as a motivator and fuel to keep your passion for what you love to do alive and take your business to new found levels of success.  Take note of where you are relative to when you first started.  Anticipate you will get to where you want go and stay the course.

Positive self talk. Nothing is more powerful than affirmations.  Take time to speak aloud and into existence who you are, who you are becoming, what is and what will be. And then seal the deal with unshakeable faith and believe that all things are possible.

Take action. It’s hard to celebrate wins if you aren’t taking action on your most important goals.  Without it, you cannot measure success or create new benchmarks to move to the next level.

Fear of failure is one of the reasons you are getting in your own way.  Use the tips above to combat fear and stop it dead in its tracks from achieving all that you desire for your life and business.

Sometimes as a business start up you don’t know what you don’t know.  As a result it may be difficult to take the next step.

It’s helpful when you are among a network or community of likeminded individuals to share and exchange ideas.  It’s also imperative to enlist mentors and invest in coaches and consultants who can give you the perspective you may be missing.

Often times, the cost of such services are prohibitive for new solopreneurs…until today.

You can hire your own team of business consultants to provide the guidance and perspective you are probably seeking for a little less than $2/day.  You may be wondering how.  Click here to learn more.

I hear newbies saying, “Everyone is doing video in their business, I guess I’d better do it too!”  And yes, in many ways video can enhance your brand, get your name out there in a big way, and span your reach to ideal prospects.

Video provides an instant ability to connect authentically with your audience in a way that audio and written words can’t.  So should you use video — absolutely!  When used properly, it’s golden — a short cut to establishing the know, like and trust factor.  But when used improperly it can hurt your business and your brand.

Remember :  Be intentional in what you do…don’t create a video just to get one out there.  Have a strategy for how you will incorporate it into your business to reach results.

75 experts were asked for advice on how to make video work for their business.  Below are tips and strategies from experts across different industries.  Never be clueless about how to use video in your business again.

http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=5560

Check me out at  # 71.  Leave me a comment below. I want to know your thoughts.

Many start a new business with passion and a dream about what’s possible. However, many new solopreneurs fail to get their business off the ground in the truest sense of the word within the first 5 years, and ultimately cease to exist.

It’s critical to learn from the mistakes of others and glean knowledge and wisdom from those who have already been where you are and know where you’re going to minimize missteps as much as possible.

But the reality of the matter is you don’t always know what you don’t know, so it’s difficult to know what to ask at times or what to pay attention to in the start up process.

Here are 5 common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Insufficient Startup Capital. Starting a business on a shoestring is very risky. Make sure you have the capital in place to get through the projected startup phase.

2. Missing Contingency Plans. You always plan for success; however, you should have contingency, alternative, or fall-back plans in case sales do not materialize as projected, the economy goes into recession, or other unexpected events affect your business.

3. Spending Carelessly. Overspending on networking memberships and other extraneous training opportunities that don’t yield a fast return on your investment, can burn up any working capital you would otherwise invest toward marketing or outsourcing needs for your business.  Also you want to project a professional image and attract customer traffic, but be realistic and conservative with your financial resources.

4. Low Energy. Don’t start a business unless you are prepared to devote the time and effort to make it successful. Business ownership can offer many perks and benefits in the long-run, but starting out you will be working very hard. Without this energy and enthusiasm, remaining may be better business choice.

5. Lack of Product Testing. Don’t start a business without market testing and confirmation of customer demand for your products and services. Many businesses have failed because they were based on product or service success in another market or other subjective reasoning or assumption of consumer interest.

With careful attention to these common mistakes that lead to business failure your new solobusiness can thrive and sustain for long term success.

This entry was adopted by gosmallbiz.com.  Click here to learn more about how to hire your own team of experts to help you manage all start up phases of your new solobusiness for less than $2 per day.