Success Leaves Clues

by Patricia Twitchell
How often have you thought of running your own business because you assumed it would be easy? Or if you currently have your own business, you thought, “There’s got to be an easier way to do what I do.”

Fact is, often there is not an “easy way” to achieve business success. It takes time, commitment and most importantly realizing that success leaves clues.

The clues are available if you are willing to look for them. As the owner and operator of a unique retail store in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, I have experienced the ups and downs that come with being an entrepreneur.

Fortunately, there are far more ups than downs, but it was during the low points, I have had to evaluate the choice I made in the early 90’s to open Just Bears and Stuff in a town of little more than 3,000 people.

What I have learned over the last decade is enough to fill not only one book, but several. For the sake of space, I will share with you the high points of what has allowed me to be one of the most successful teddy bear and specialty item gift store owners around.

As I share my strategies with you I do not do so to impress or gloat. I do it to impress upon you the importance of studying success and then determining if the path of business ownership is for you.

Vision - Every journey begins with a vision. Without vision it is virtually impossible to stay on target.

Plan – As the saying goes, you must plan for success or you are planning to fail. Have a plan in place that is your road map. The plan will allow you to stay on course with your vision. Of course, there will be times when the plan must change due to unforeseen circumstances. Which leads to the next point. ..

Flexibility – Life is not set in stone, nor is business. There will be occasions the best laid plans will not work. In a moments notice you will have to do something else. The key to flexibility is a solid foundation.

Foundation – The more you have a solid infrastructure in your business the more likely you will make it through the times of economic downturns, fickle customers, new competition, personal tragedy and the absolute unforeseen obstacles that can and do occur.

Hard work – It never ceases to amaze me how many people say they want to start their own business because they think it will be easy. Fact is, owning your own business is probably one of the most difficult things you will ever do and yet, one of the most rewarding. If you are not committed to hard work, you are not committed to your success.

Financial backing – Key to your success is to make sure you have enough money to start your business, buy necessary supplies and stock and carry you through the slow times. We would all like to think that all we have to do is open our doors and hang a shingle and the rest takes care of itself. Fact is, you have to build a client base and nurture the client base. That takes money and time. Additionally, as you grow, you must have the capital to grow.

Creativity – Business is about systems and it is about being creative. Be willing to take risks and introduce new products and services as the market demands it. Although my business originally began as a strictly brick and mortar teddy bear gift shop, it has grown beyond that. I now generate a great deal of revenue from Internet buyers. This was made possible by me being willing to create a web presence that is a great match for my market. Additionally, I began a corporate gifts division about a year ago that serves the needs of busy professionals who simply call or email their request for a client or staff gift. Both of these changes have been instrumental in strengthening my bottom line.

Enjoy yourself – Though some of what I have shared might seem bleak, the truth is, owning your own business can be one of the most enjoyable experiences you will ever have. Yet, there will be times you may forget that. Always remember what it felt like with every minor and major milestone you achieved. Also remember what your dream was when you began your business or what your dream is as you venture into ownership. It is in the remembering the commitment is renewed on a daily basis.

Serve – Above and beyond everything else, your job is to serve your customers. They do business with you because you create an experience for them. What is the experience you are known for?

Patricia Twitchell is the proprietor of Just Bears and Stuff, a unique gift shop located in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. When you are seeking the perfect gift for someone special, Just Bears and Stuff is the answer. Receive “Beary Special Moments” a free online teddy bear facts and tips e-zine by visiting http://www.justbearsandstuff.com Call 1.541.863.6037

Are You Seeing a Vision?

by Caterina Rando
\As we look at bringing your business to the next level, I ask you a very important question: do you have a vision—a Technicolor snapshot in your mind of what your ideal life looks like? If not, create one. Not a goal; goals come later. Visions are more powerful than goals because visions have an emotional component. When you see a picture, it evokes emotion—involving your heart, not just your head. This is far more powerful than only writing down an idea.

For example, if you were to say, "I want a bigger house," that is a good goal. However, that simple statement by itself is not significant—not strong enough to get you to figure out everything you need to do, to support you through sacrifice, to get you to take risks, to have you learn new skills to overcome your "friends" telling you to forget about it.

If, instead, you create a compelling vision in which you see yourself standing in front of your yellow house with a two-car garage on a sunny street lined with trees, with a rose garden in front and a lemon tree and hammock in the back, and with a chef’s kitchen and master bedroom with a view of the ocean, you now have an idea that is not only in your head; it is in your heart, too. That is where the motivation happens; that is where your desire lives, and that is where you will connect with your internal power—the power that will pull you through all the challenges you have to address to create your compelling vision.

Do not let the busyness and immediate needs of your life prevent you from stopping to create what you want your life to look like at this time next year.

Follow these steps to create your compelling vision, and watch it work for you.

1. Get clear about your compelling vision. Write it down on paper; be specific, use visual language.
2. Share it with someone else. Ask them if they can see the snapshot. If they cannot, you are being too vague.
3. Read your vision every day and continue to clarify it when new ideas come in.
4. Create a physical image—a drawing, a real photograph, or a collage—that represents your vision. Put that vision where you will see it every day.
5. Create an action plan to realize your vision, and take even some small action every day.
6. Get the help you need. You do not have to do it alone.

Once you have your vision, ask yourself: Are you more committed to your compelling vision, or are you more committed to your current situation? Our reality interferes with our vision because we see what is not ideal around us—and that is far more vivid than a vision of what we desire that still lies only in our head and heart. That is why it is important to follow these steps and spend time with your vision every day, gradually bringing it more and more into focus and finally into reality.

Caterina Rando, MA, MCC coaches women entrepreneurs and direct sellers to succeed with ease. She is a sought after speaker, master certified coach and author of the national best-seller Learn to Power Think. Caterina is also the Success Center Director for the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance and contributing author to the soon to be released book Build it Big- 101 Secrets of Top Direct Selling Experts. Caterina can be reached at 800 966-3603 or by email at cpr@caterinar.com. Visit her website http://www.caterinar.com for more articles and a beautiful, colorful downloadable daily inspiration card.

Joe Vitale Reveals 4 Hidden Secrets To Writing Hypnotic Articles To Drive Millions To Your Website

by Rick Miller
According to Dr. Joe Vitale,"the World's First-Ever Hypnotic Copywriter," writing and distributing articles is a fantastic way to get visitors to your website. Would you like to quickly write articles that'll drive readers to your website and have your hit counters begging for mercy?

In a recent interview for the List Crusade program, Dr. Joe Vitale revealed many secrets for using articles to promote your website.

(Note: To hear Joe Vitale's complete audio interview, click here:
==> http://www.ScientificInternetMarketing.com/joevitale2 )

Joe's main promotional activity is writing articles and he's been doing it for years.

He claims that articles provide instant credibility, documenting that you are indeed the expert in your subject matter. What's even more important is that your readers will become "addicted" and crave more information about you and your products or services. Your articles act as secret salesmen who covertly sell your readers.

The key to making article writing profitable is to write articles that have four main qualities.

1) Useful--You must provide useful and relevant content to your reader. What are your readers problems? Can you provide solutions that will ease their pain?

2) Riveting--Your writing style must bite like a shark and not let go until the reader has read every word of your article. As your visitor devours every word of your article, they are being covertly sold on you and your product.

3) Engaging--You must engage the reader in the article. One good way is to ask questions, wouldn't you agree? Another is to use stories and images. Use all the senses of your reader. When you talk about what the reader will gain from using your advice, have the reader project him or herself into the future when they are reaping the benefits. What do you plan to buy with the additional money your website produces from your article promotions?

4) Beneficial--All that matters to the reader is WIIFM-"What's In It For Me?" You are not writing for yourself alone, it must address the wants, needs, problems, and everyday life of your reader. Will your article help the reader have more money, better relationships, or increased health?

If you're at all involved in Internet Marketing, I can't think of a more knowledgeable person to learn from than Joe Vitale. You can listen to Joe's entire interview at:

==> http://www.ScientificInternetMarketing.com/joevitale2

Joe also revealed:

•Instant hypnotic list-building tricks that'll pull in subscribers like mindless zombies

•What is Karmic Marketing?

•Mental techniques to make writing killer money-pulling copy a breeze

•How to use an "ethical bribe" to get subscribers to your ezine

Take these secrets from Joe Vitale's interview and use them today. The more you use them, the more you'll find that they'll become automatic and your articles will drive tons of buyers to your website.

Rick Miller is a Certified Master of Web Copywriting and co-founder of List Crusade. For free access to Joe Vitale's entire interview, along with 51 other audio lessons from top Internet Marketing and Self Help Gurus--go to:
==> http://www.ScientificInternetMarketing.com/joevitale2 For additional reprint articles, email mailto:articles@scientificinternetmarketing.com

The Only Option is to Succeed

by Kathleen Gage

With the end of the year fast approaching, now is a great time to take stock of 2004. It is likely that your company set specific goals at the beginning of the year. As you review the past year, the question that must be asked is, "Have I achieved my goals? Has my company achieved the outcomes we set?" If your answer is yes, congratulations! If not, what stopped you?

There are always unplanned occurrences that prevent us from accomplishing all the goals we set. However, our roadblocks are often as simple as getting caught up in the day to day activities of running our business.

Without constant reminders of our vision and goals, they probably won’t materialize. It’s as simple as that.

The difference between those who achieve a desired outcome and those who don’t is evident. The most common causes of failure in achieving a desired outcome are a lack of goals and focus, lack of direction, lack of appropriate action and lack of being willing to risk – and risk big. On the other hand, those who seem to get the desired result have specific goals, clearly visualize what they want, have clear direction, take massive action and are willing to take incredible risks.

One of my goals for 2004 included writing and publishing another book by year’s end. In creating my newly released book, 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door, this goal was accomplished. As my co-authors and I were in the initial planning stages of the project we all expressed our desired outcomes or goals. First, the book had to convey quality to the art of selling. Second, we wanted it to be unique, like nothing else currently on the market. Lastly, we wanted to have little, if any, out-of-pocket expenses on what is normally an extremely expensive proposition.

With these goals clearly stated, we set out to create something from the seed of an idea. We were all confident we could achieve the first two goals based on our over 100 years of combined sales knowledge.

It was the goal of achieving as close to a debt free product that would add even more excitement to an already high energy project. The fact is, once we made a public announcement of our book release we had to figure out how to make it work. We did what many high achievers do - we gave ourselves no option but to succeed. We would have to figure out a way to make it work.

Although there are people who would buy simply because they know us, that was not our objective. Our objective was to reach multiple markets where we weren’t necessarily known.

In a moment of high creativity, we decided to sell the book before it was published. We knew if people were willing to buy the book sight unseen we either had to deliver on our promise or lose all credibility in the marketplace and with clients who trust us.

We had to develop an incentive for buying the book before it was printed. As an information products specialist, I know that people value great information. My co-authors also know this to be true. Based on this information we decided to host a complimentary bonus training session for anyone who bought the book before it was published.

The response we received was more than we anticipated. Right from the start the bonus session created quite a few sales. This helped us to pay for a portion of our production costs up front. It also forced us to stay within our stated timeframe for delivery. After all, we couldn’t very well promise hundreds of buyers they would have something on a specified date and not deliver it. Our reputation and credibility was at stake.

With these clear goals, focus, creativity and action, 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door was released on December 2nd. I’m proud to say we achieved all our goals.

As you review the past year, what accomplishments are you extremely proud of? What would you have done differently? What roadblocks got in your way?

The New Year is right around the corner, and with that the opportunity to focus on your personal and business goals. What are the outcomes you truly desire for 2005? Are you willing to give yourself no option but to succeed?

Kathleen Gage is an award-winning keynote speaker; business advisor and author who helps others gain visibility within their market. Visit http://www.kathleengage.com to learn more about Gage’s newest release and to receive a FREE report entitled “Learn How a Salt Lake City Based Business Consultant Made over $100,000 From One Idea.”

http://www.marketingsource.com/articles/view/1981

Lighten UP!

by Sam Glenn
Having a sense of humor is a choice. If we just choose to lighten up a little and look around ourselves and at ourselves, we will discover some healthy humor. The sign of a healthy attitude is when we can laugh at ourselves. Someone once said, “The ability to laugh is God’s gift to us. To act on that ability is our gift to ourselves, and to share that laughter is our gift to others.”

I was a recent guest at a friend’s house and went to go brush my teeth. I forgot my toothpaste and noticed a tube on the counter. I loaded up my toothbrush and began to brush but noticed it did not have a minty fresh taste. I picked up the tube to read what kind of toothpaste these people were using. To my surprise it read Preparation H!

I like a lot of full contact sports, so recently when I was bowling, my fingers got stuck in a 15 lb ball. I didn’t know it till I threw the ball as hard as I could down the lane. “Houston, we have lift off!” I began to travel with my bowling ball down the lane at a very embarrassing speed. That was a big gutter ball.

I recently learned you should label things. I was showering at a friend’s house. They had these dispensers in the shower. I figured, “Oh, shampoo”. When I got out of the shower, my hair began to fall out – little pieces of it. I had just used hair remover. I knew the shampoo was really tingly, but didn’t know it was uprooting my hair. By breakfast, I was looking close to the Gerber Baby!

You should also label food in the refrigerator. I got home late and noticed there was meatloaf in some Tupperware. I got some crackers and began to eat it…ALL. It tasted weird, but I will eat anything when I am hungry enough. The next morning, I heard someone yell, “Who ate Buck’s dog food?

Somehow it latched on as I walked out of the bathroom in the Atlanta airport. You guessed it – toilet paper. I didn’t know I had an 8-foot long banner waving off my backside. Yes, it was that long. I could have sold advertising on there. I walked to my gate, which took 15 minutes to get to and nobody said a word. What do you call a 6’’7 man walking through an airport with eight feet of toilet paper streaming from the back of his pants – ENTERTAINMENT!

I recently flew off a treadmill backwards. It had a button that says stop when you want to stop, so I thought when I hit that button, the machine would simply stop. Nope, it takes a while to slow down. I stopped, the machine didn’t. Sammy flew backwards into a wall.

Ever have static cling? I was recently wearing black corduroy pants that I pulled out of the dryer. Later, a crowd of people in the mall started laughing at me because I had underwear stuck on the back of my pants. I pulled them off, swung them around and said, “I am just saving those for later.”

A healthy attitude is when we can laugh at ourselves and the crazy things we do or that happen to us on a daily basis. It takes some practice, but so worth it. Make humor a healthy habit in your life. The benefits, you will feel good and look good! That’s worth it to me right there.

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

18 Profitable Principles That Create a Healthy and Successful Balance in Our Personal and Professional Lives

by Sam Glenn

1. Ask to get what you want..
2. Make Healthy Choices.
3. Have a Positive Attitude.
4. Have a Sense of Humor…Lighten Up.
5. Persevere.
6. Give.
7. Be a Person of Excellence.
8. Care.
9. Be Grateful.
10. Live with Purpose.
11. Be Responsible.
12. Be Respectful.
13. Practice Self-Control.
14. Be Balanced…Know your Priorities.
15. Serve the right way.
16. Communicate.
17. Have Integrity.
18. Believe in You!

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

How to Profit on the High Road

by Sam Glenn
What is the high road? The high road is the path that we choose to walk every day. It’s a road filled with amazing rewards and benefits. It’s the narrow road. It’s not a very crowded road. Some don’t even know it exists. It’s a road where we are guided by principle over feeling. The high road is paved with principles that offer us more freedom and fulfillment than the low road. It takes work and effort to walk this road, but it is definitely well worth it. It's not always the most popular way to go, but deep down you know it’s the right way. You understand that the gains are not always quick, but the long-term rewards are beyond imagination.

The low road is paved with compromise. It is where the principles are not as important or valued. It’s where feelings deceive and the consequences can be drastic. There might be short term gain, but there always follows long term pain.

Some call it a gift; others call it a power. We all make hundreds of them daily…choices. Choices determine who we become, what we get, where we go. You are who you are because you have chosen to be that. You feel the way you feel because you have chosen to feel that way. It’s the choices we make that will put us on the high road or low road.

Think about the choices you make on a daily basis. Do you feel confident that they are taking you on the path of the high road? Is trust destroyed or built when you make choices? Are people lifted up or knocked down because of your choices?

It does not matter where you are or where you have been, but rather where are going to go from this point on. Maybe you have done things that you are not proud of. You cheated, lied, or did something unethical. If you have realized that what you did was not right, learned from it, attempted to reconcile it and move on…that is the key to walking the high road.

Take an inventory of the principles that rule your life and lead you onto the high road.

Here are a few principles, Integrity, Self-Control, Responsibility, Balance, Sense of Humor, Care, Understanding, Courage, Persistence, Honesty, etc.

Every day is an opportunity to walk the high road. to make decisions based off the principles listed above or positive ones not listed. When you make healthy choices based off solid character principles, you will benefit yourself and others. You will find yourself walking the path of greatness. You will leave an awesome path for others to follow and grow in your footsteps. It’s important to know, the temptation to walk the low road is always there. Simply put, to compromise. Some people will build a sufficient and logical case to lure you to the low road. You may even suffer criticism from those walking the low road. There are times that things may seem just unfair. But fear not, walking the high road is the only road that greatness a profit. A profit of trust, honest wealth, healthy relationships, business and professional success and peace of mind.

The Key to Making “High Road” Choices: When faced with a choice that requires you to choose between the high road of character or the low road of compromise, you place the principle (example Integrity) in front of the choice. You seek the wise counsel of others. You ask questions. Will this hurt others or myself? Is this the right thing to do? Am I making my choice based off feeling or principle? Then you make your choices.

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

How to Keep a POSITIVE and PROFITABLE Attitude in Times of Uncertainty

by Sam Glenn

Attitude is best defined as a state of mind, perception or an interpretation regarding a situation. Things in life often have the meanings we give them. Right now, we are encountering times of uncertainty. Our country has been hit hard by economic challenges, acts of terrorism, and constant downsizing. Situations like this can cause us to adopt a less than empowering attitude. The good news is, there are specific things that we can do to keep a positive and profitable attitude that will benefit us and others in measurable ways, no matter how confusing or challenging times may become.

First, do a personal evaluation. What is the state of your current attitude? On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being low and unhealthy, and 10 being very positive and healthy, where would you rank your attitude? Do you find yourself complaining a lot, losing your temper, treating others with less respect, not caring, being impatient, reacting negatively when you hear bad news, handling situations in ways that seem to hurt you and others more, have suffering relationships, or hear discouraging words coming out of your mouth?

If you answered yes to any of these, you may need what Zig Ziglar calls, “A check up from the neck up.” It simply means we acknowledge our current attitude and give it the attention it needs so that it will empower us rather than defeat us.

There are no benefits to you or anyone around you to live life in a state of self-defeat or mediocrity. Your world around you will be a reflection of that attitude, a self-fulfilling prophesy. Your perceptions and meanings will determine how you do your work, treat others, and deal with challenges that come your way.

Evaluate your influences. Influences affect our thinking. They are what we read, watch and who we associate with. Influences can be any things that go into our minds. If you want to change your behavior, you have to start by changing your influences or input. What this does is change your thoughts, and when you change your thoughts, your perceptions change, your meanings about situations change and your overall outlook changes. So if you have negative input, you will produce negative output at work, with family, in relationships and in your health. But conversely, if you have positive input, you will have positive output and more dynamic and beneficial results in all areas of your life.

Take a mind shower. Health experts tell us to drink eight glasses of water a day. Why? Because it's fun to go to the bathroom all day? No. Because it gives the body oxygen, which gives us energy. It also flushes unhealthy toxins out of the body. The same concept is true of the human mind; we have to flush out unhealthy, self-defeating thoughts. Research experts estimate that close to 80% of our non-verbal or self-talk is most of a negative nature. So literally we are beating ourselves up all day with poor thinking. The key to change is a desire to change, a willingness to change, taking the right actions that will create right and positive change for our life and then following through. Take a mind shower and get the toxins out. Put good stuff in your mind, read good material, watch less TV, get around encouraging people. What happens when we do this is that we begin to let go of limiting beliefs about ourselves and what we are truly capable of achieving in life.

Treat your body right. Our attitude is most tested when we are tired, hungry and stressed. To prevent a defeating and out of control attitude from coming on, we have to eat right, rest right and exercise right. The way we feel will also have a dramatic affect on our attitude. If your attitude is not right, this is your fault and yours alone. Having the right attitude is a choice. What you are willing to do determines what you are ready to get.

Never underestimate the power of the right attitude. The right attitude is what causes a person to rise or fall in life. It's what can take a person from being a cancer patient to a cancer survivor. It's what can get you the sale, build the relationship, overcome challenges and maximize your life. A study was done of 3,000 top achievers, and 85% of them attributed their success to their attitude. Companies are bombarded with resumes from people are have the education, experience and qualifications, yet what is the one thing that will make some stand out from the crowd? The right attitude. Yes, skills are a necessity today, but what will make those skills work more effectively and serve you and others better is the right attitude working through them.

Having a positive attitude won’t take away the challenges of the world or what you encounter personally. What a healthy and positive attitude will do is empower you to deal with challenges and situations in a quicker, more effective and healthier way. The right attitude will lead you to the right meanings, perceptions and solutions that would not otherwise come if you had a negative and defeating attitude.

The results you desire come with consistency and commitment. See what is working and what is not, and change your actions accordingly.

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

How to Create Balance in a CRAZY World!

by Sam Glenn
One thing is for certain - today we have more responsibilities, more stress and more things going than what we can sometimes handle. If one area of our lives is off track, it has a huge affect on every other area. It's easy to get out of balance with work, family, and our health. The good news is, there are certain and simple things we can do to regain balance and improve the quality of who we are and what we do. When we get better, life gets better, what we do gets better, and relationships get better. And that’s what we really want, isn’t it? Know this: a balanced life begins with balanced choices.

First, we need to do a personal evaluation. What is causing our life to be so unbalanced or overwhelmed? Is it work, health, finances, family or certain activities of involvement? Identifying possible roots to the challenge will be important to determining a plan to deal with it.

Your success and failure to balance will be in your daily routines…

Take the time.

We all have the same amount of time in a day. How we spend that time will determine where we gain or lose balance. So we really have to evaluate where our time is being spent. Is there an area where it is being wasted? Are there certain routines you have that are defeating you? Here are some quick suggestions regarding time: Plan your day out. Plan your actions and to-do’s. Work at it the best you can. Prioritize. What needs attention first?

Focus. Even with distractions and interruptions, be proactive about focusing on one thing at a time. Give what has priority attention, focus on it and accomplish it.

A balanced life begins with balanced choices….here are just a few:

Maintain healthy relationships. Relationships will either increase us or decrease us. They will give us energy or take it away. What we sow into a relationship we will reap in that relationship. So, if your family needs attention, they should be high on the priority list.

Maintain your health. We need energy to do all the things we have to do. Eating right, getting enough rest and exercising daily will be the key to keeping our energy and attitude at an empowering level. This will also be key to releasing stress. If the stress you have goes beyond a certain point, it becomes unmanaged stress and you become unhealthy in your actions, choices and in your attitude.

Maintain a healthy perspective about yourself. Many of our actions in life reflect the way we feel and what we think about ourselves. If we don’t feel good about ourselves, then we will not perform in a manner that is consistent with who we really are. Remind yourself that you are a worthy person, here for a reason and that what you do has value, purpose and meaning.

The benefit of a balanced life is that when you make balanced choices you will get immediate results in what you do and who you are. The evidence of a balanced life is effective stress management, met priorities. improved relationships, better health and extra time to spend your way. Translated into business terms, it means increased sales, outstanding customer service, dynamic teamwork, improved leadership, job satisfaction and more productivity.

The question is, are we going to get off track here and there? Yes. That’s a part of life and the fast paced world we live in. The good news and empowering news is we can harness our life and regain control at any moment. The quality of our lives will be in direct proportion to the attention we give. If we lose sight of who we are and what we do, then we lose site of a balanced and healthy life. Our ability to take responsibility is always with us in all situations. There are no excuses, because excuses don’t receive rewards or create balance. They only enhance limitations.

So, if you find yourself off track, take the time to evaluate your situation, and discover what actions and new choices you can make to get balanced, stay focused and be empowered to life to the fullest.

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

Turbulent Times Force One Man To Discover and Live His Dream

by Sam Glenn
It is no secret that the state of our economy can affect the course of any man’s life. Sam Glenn, a 32-year-old native of Naperville, IL., was broke, depressed, and getting by working as a nighttime janitor and delivering newspapers just to pay the bills and put food on the table. The only place he had to sleep was on the borrowed floor space offered by friends and family, or often in his car… until he made a few small changes that made a big difference.

In 1995, Sam took ownership of a company that sold wild bird products throughout the United States. It seemed like a lucky break, until the warehouse that stored and assembled his products burned to the ground. Just about everything Sam owned, including his pride, went up in flames. No longer able to pay his bills, he took a night job as a janitor. Depression seemed to grab the best of Sam, until he made an amazing discovery-- a discovery that he now travels America sharing.

With almost no money or dignity, Sam had little more to lose. So he thought about where he was, and where he wanted to be. He realized that he was where he was in life because of his choices. These choices would powerfully determine where he would go, and what he would achieve. He decided he wanted more. He wanted his life to be filled with meaning, value and purpose. Life wasn't being unfair to him; it was giving him the information he needed. Life was more deserving than what he was giving it. It was up to him to pay attention to it, and adapt his choices for a better outcome. So he began to change the way he made decisions, paying extra attention to the outcome of each, and adapting them if they did not produce the effect he desired. The results snowballed. And in the process, he became convicted with the knowledge that our choices build momentum and move us in the direction of our dreams, bringing wealth, and inspiring amazingly fulfilling relationships. But we must make a commitment to discern which choices will bring the best results, moment by moment. We are our own project, and we require constant monitoring.

Today, Sam Glenn has taken this lesson on the road. He is the CEO of his own prosperous speaking and seminar company. Sam is regarded as among the top motivational speakers in America. He has worked with hundreds of organizations, professional athletic teams, and such esteemed groups as the Billy Graham Association. He was the closing speaker for the 2002 National Speakers Association Conference. Sam delivers from 100 to 150 speeches in a given year. He has been compared to such personal development experts as Tony Robbins and Zig Ziglar. Sometimes he is even compared to Jim Carrey. But Sam is his own person.

When asked why there is as such a demand to have him speak, he stated, “People are hungry for assurance. People have allowed themselves to be hypnotized by their circumstances. I see myself as one who lets people know how valuable they are and puts a call to action in their hearts-- a call to act on their dreams and stop living a mundane life. We all need to be reminded of the little things. For example, I walk into Wal-Mart and walk out 10 minutes later, forgetting where I parked my car. How much more apt are we to forget how to make our lives truly great? Being reminded of what we know is simply bringing what’s deep within us to the surface and giving it life action.” Sam credits his success to many things. “I credit success to my faith in God, amazing relationships and perseverance. Sometimes we sell ourselves short before our time comes. We hit the wall or a dead end and think it’s a sign to give up. Hardship is how you see it. I see it as a sign to become greater and grow. The most successful people in the world are successful because they fail more than anyone else, yet they are what I call good failures. They don’t personalize failure. They make a choice to rise again, no matter what the odds are. The key is letting go of the excuses, looking beyond our current circumstances, and being willing to make our life count for a worthy purpose. When we do that, we discover our meaning and value, the reason why we showed up on Mother Earth.”

Sam Glenn is a national speaker and author who empowers people from all walks of life to achieve profitable results through having the right attitude. Visit him at www.samglenn.com

Bouncing Back

by Anne Marie Baugh
"It's not how far you fall, it's how high you bounce when you reach bottom."

I wish I knew who said that, because I have spent the last two years testing this theory and now know I have plenty of bounce in me. Two years ago when the Internet began to rock and rumble on an economy rollercoaster I thought that would be my biggest struggle. Staying on top and moving forward in the ever changing economy became my focus. Then life laughed at me by throwing me a bigger curve. I discovered that my biggest struggle wouldn't be about business but about life. I got cancer. The big "C" word that even with today's medical miracles brought fear and trepidation to my soul.

At first I thought, "Okay, no big deal. I'll have chemo, I'll run my business, everything will be fine." Keep in mind that I was a 17-hour a day working war horse that had workaholic stamped on my forehead. I was proud of that. I was…until the real war started. The war with my body and soul that gave me back my life and taught me a great deal about running an efficient business along with having a real life.

Okay I admit, as it goes, I'm not the fastest learner in the west. It did take nearly two years for all the lessons to really sink in. First, I pretended it was no big deal, then I thought, "It's a huge big deal", then….I found my pace and started to learn which is when I started to heal both body and soul. And now I'm back, having bounced a few hundred times and the better for it. So…here is what I learned about running a better bouncing business having survived a two-year struggle to live.

1. First On The List, Time Off Is Not A Sin, But A Necessity. If you don't decide to get this now, your body will decide it for you sometime in the future. Sometime when it's sick and tired, literally, of putting up with you. Time off isn't just necessary for good health, good relationships, it's also good for your business. Some of my best ideas came to me after I had been bed-bound for almost three months. The first month I fought the inner turmoil of having to be in bed, the second month I was just plain sick, and the third month as I started to get rested my creativity returned. A creativity that I hadn't experienced since my twenties. If you are not taking time off and your patting yourself on the back for it? Stop. Your only kidding yourself and your business IS suffering for it.

2. Anger Isn't Worth Toting Around. Business comes with its levels of anger. Those client's that "never" get it, the complainers, the accusers, the cowards who turn brave in email. Anyone in business on the Internet knows what I'm talking about. The trouble is, if you're internalizing all of this riff raff your stifling your business energy. Bottling it all up will only build a bottle bomb set to go off at the most inconvenient times. Learn to process those frustrations. The best advice ever given to me was to write an email to the "accused" and then mail it to myself. Preset your subject lines so that when that email returns to you it automatically goes into the trash. This way you keep your professionalism, but get it out at the same time and no one gets hurt.

Let other people be responsible for their emotions. If you have an angry client, give them room to deal with it, and then look to find solutions. Just because your client is angry does not mean that you are at fault and it certainly does not mean you have to join them in their emotional roller coaster. Be kind to yourself. Be in control of your emotional harmony.

3. Families Are Forever, Money Isn't. If your family never sees you, you can bet they aren't in love with your business. If your laptop seems to be an umbilical cord to your brain, it's time to step back and realign your priorities. Set business hours so that your family knows when you are off and when you are available. Then spend those off hours with them so that they can support you during your working hours. Let's face it….all that money your making…is going to them when you die anyway and they'd prefer to have you than a bank account.

4. Persistence ISN'T Just A Good Idea. You've heard over and over again that you have to have persistence. However, until your life depends on it, you might not really understand that persistence isn't just a good idea, it's an action verb. Persistence means sticking with your goals. Sticking with your goals doesn't mean dreaming about them, but working toward them. WORK is the four letter word you are allowed to say. Make it a mantra. Mine is, "I won't live a lazy life". Don't just think about persistence, do something about it.

5. Follow Up Or Fall Out. Okay, this is a biggie. In the Internet world, there is a great deal of silence between you and your client. There generally isn't an office they can pop into to check you out, so follow up becomes even more important. I had amazing doctors through my sickness and what they had in spades was the follow up. I never felt alone, and it was then that I knew my client's should never feel alone either.

6. Passion Equals Courage. Passion comes from the most unlikely sources. I didn't realize until I had gotten sick that I had lost my passion. Oh, I was working long hours, and putting everything I had into my business, but I didn't feel anything anymore. I had lost myself in my work. After my second round of chemo I discovered my passion again, my passion for life. And with that passion came courage. The courage to risk, the courage to feel, the courage to believe. Once I had that back, I started making changes to my online businesses that brought back my energy and enthusiasm. In order to find the courage to take new risks, you need to find your passion again.

7. Fight Like Your Life Depends On It. Never say die. No one has said it better than that. That includes your business. If your business is important to you, if you love it but it's struggling, dig your heels in and fight, fight, fight. Find out what you need to do to stabilize your business by learning from others. Ebooks, online experts, ezines, books, hardcopy magazines, online courses and more can help you gain the knowledge you need to push your business forward. Dig out everything available and don't stop until you succeed.

8. Listen To Instincts Instincts really kick in when you get sick. I'm not sure what it is, but life's real trauma's energize your instincts and suddenly what you couldn't hear comes in sounding like a megaphone from your soul. Your instincts are you inner road to success. I had lost touch with mine until I got sick and then all the things that weren't working for me suddenly became clear as glass. I recently read a book called "The Joy Diet". It's intended to help you find more joy in your life. One tool is to spend 15 minutes a day in complete silence. Once I started practicing this, I realized that my instincts were also becoming more and more honed. It's such a simple exercise that can make a huge difference in your life and your business.

9. Whiners Never Win. This is a hard one. Quite frankly there are times when I love to whine. I wish I could say differently, but it is so. However, after my diagnosis and weeks of treatment, followed by remission, and then sickness again…I came face to face with the whinner in my mirror. I faced my own facts, that whinning wasn't going to get me out of this, wasn't going to make it better, and wasn't going to help anyone around me, including me. The sooner you cancel the order for cheese with your whine, the better off you'll be. Only then will you discover your own real power.

10. Cancer Teaches You About Life, and Yes Work is Part of That. Some people are going to say "Geesh Anne, you got cancer, almost died and all you learned is how to run your business better? Nope. I learned that life is about all the degrees. Familiy, passion, inner-peace, breakfast, lunch, dinner, paying the bills, and yes…business. It'd be great if after a bout with cancer we could all give up work and just be with our families, or join a monastery and commune, but the fact is real life requires all sorts of responsibilities and if you're a business owner running that business is part of it. It's okay if your business is important to you, it's even better if it's a passion in your life, but if it's all you have then your life is out of whack and you aren't giving your business all that you could. Balance is key to a long, stable, healthy business as well as a long, stable, healthy life. Better to learn it now, than have life teach it to you. ________________________________________________________ Anne Marie Baugh is a noted online publicist and e-commerce marketing expert. She owns Nine Successful, Self-Propelling, Online Businesses grossing over half a million dollars a year. She can help YOU do it too.To propel your business into overdrive,please visit:http://www.Write-Promotion.com

How to Become a Winning Sales ACE And avoid getting shot down!

by Lt . Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman

If you want to test the true character of a person, see how they respond to adversity. Watch how they handle the pressure of a lost sale, an angry client, or a difficult boss. What do they say? How do they act? What is their emotional state? Do they freeze up and get angry, or do they buckle down and increase their focus and commitment?

The same holds true for those who would assume the mantle of leadership in business. When adversity hits, how they respond in the market will determine their ability to stay in business and win. Leadership – both on a personal and organizational level – ultimately drives the actions taken amidst crisis and change. Today’s economy is full of adversity. I call them “missiles of business and life.” It seems we are being fired at every day. Rising costs of fuel, shrinking budgets, demanding clients, and a lack of qualified (and loyal) employees all create an intense and constantly changing environment. As soon as we think we defeated one missile…BAM! Another one is fired. As soon as profits start coming in…BAM, another competitor enters the fight.

The missiles will come and you will be fired upon. It’s not a matter of if, but when and how often. The key is NOT to get shot down!

This week we saw one of the most reputable giants in the financial industry – Lehman Brothers - get shot down. Just a few years ago, who would have thought such a thing could happen? But it did. And it will happen again. It’s just the nature of business…and life.

In fighter combat, the best pilots who are able to adapt to adversity and change are called ACES. They prepare relentlessly and are the most focused and committed under pressure. They are the respected and accomplished leaders in their squadrons because they don’t run away when fear knocks on their door. They buckle down and ultimately take action.

The right action.

Here are a few WingTips that can turn you into an ACE and help you avoid getting shot down on your next mission:

A: Attitude + Action. Attitude does not determine altitude. Attitude plus Action does. Being positive and enthusiastic is a critical component of success, but your customer ultimately rewards your actions, not your positive attitude! An attitude that breeds confidence is a by-product of disciplined preparation and mission rehearsal. When dealing with a price objection, last minute competitor, or late product shipment, it’s the commitment, focus and sense of urgency you have to fix the problem, provide value, and deliver results that counts.

C: Customer: Success in business is not about you, your company, or your product. It’s about your customer. Prior to each meeting, gather the latest, up to date intelligence (from multiple sources) and commit yourself to meeting the needs of your customer. Be original. Come prepared with questions. Learn about the person you’re meeting. If you’re not focused 100% on your customer – your target – you shouldn’t strap on your jet to fly. (By the way, it can’t hurt to learn about your Competition too …but only after learning about your customer.

E Environment: Every mission is unique. What works with one client or industry, may not work with another. The environment in which you and your customer operate will ultimately determine your tactics. Was there a recent merger or perhaps some lay-offs at the company you’re meeting? How’s their stock price? What’s the nature of the industry you’re operating in? Who are you meeting? Who is the decision maker? What resources (wingmen) do you have that can help you prepare for your meeting? Never sell by the seat of your pants!

Take it from somebody who’s been shot at in real combat, the winning ACE’s in business and life prepare for the worst, but then expect the best. They acknowledge adversity and develop the confidence to overcome it by hard work and focus. But being an ACE is not easy. You can either “push it up” on your throttle and defeat the missile, or pull it back and risk getting shot down. It’s your choice.

I hope you’ll push it up!

Your Wingman!®
Lt . Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman

Waldo Waldman builds team unity within organizations as a high-energy leadership and inspirational speaker. A former combat-decorated fighter pilot with corporate sales experience, Waldo brings an exciting and valuable message to organizations by using fighter pilot strategies as building blocks for peak performance, teamwork, leadership and trust. His clients include AFLAC, Hewlett-Packard, John Hancock, Nokia, Bank of America, NY Life, and Home Depot. To download Waldo’s Top Gun Motivation mission briefing, visit Motivational Speaker (http://www.YourWingman.com ) or call 1-866-925-3616.

Courage: The Tail That Wags the Cowardly Man

by Nicholas Dixon
Courage: The Tail That Wags the Cowardly Man

Written by Nicholas Dixon The HighGrade Marketer Article Description: A look at how a lack of courage creates financial, as well as mental and moral difficulties in one’s life

Courage is the backbone of man. The man with courage has persistence. He states what he believes and puts it into execution. The courageous man has confidence. He draws to himself all the moral qualities and mental forces which go to make up a strong man. Whereas, the man without courage draws to himself all the qualities of a weak man, vacillation, doubt, hesitancy, and unsteadiness of purpose. You can therefore see the value of concentration on courage. It is a most vital element of success.

The lack of courage creates financial, as well as mental and moral difficulties. When a new problem comes, instead of looking upon it as something to be achieved, the man or woman without courage looks for reasons why it cannot be done and failure is naturally the almost inevitable result. This is a subject well worthy of your study.

Look upon everything within your power as a possibility instead of as merely a probability and you will accomplish a great deal more, because by considering a thing as impossible, you immediately draw to yourself all the elements that contribute to failure. Lack of courage destroys your confidence in yourself. It destroys that forceful, resolute attitude so important to success.

The man without courage unconsciously draws to himself all that is contemptible, weakening, demoralizing and destructive. He then blames his luck when he does not secure the things he weakly desires. We must first have the courage to strongly desire something. A desire to be fulfilled must be backed by the strength of all our mental forces. Such a desire has enough commanding force to change all unfavorable conditions. The man with courage commands, whether be is on the battlefield or in business life.

What is courage? It is the Will To Do. It takes no more energy to be courageous than to be cowardly. It is a matter of the right training in the right way. Courage concentrates the mental forces on the task at hand. It then directs them thoughtfully, steadily, deliberately, while attracting all the forces of success, toward the desired end. Cowardice on the other hand, dissipates both our mental and moral forces, thereby inviting failure.

As we are creatures of habits, we should avoid persons that lack courage. They are easy to discover because of their habits of fear in attacking new problems. The man with courage is never afraid.

Start out today with the idea that there is no reason why you should not be courageous. If any fear-thoughts come to you cast them off as you would the deadly viper. Form the habit of never thinking of anything unfavorable to yourself or anyone else. In dealing with difficulties, new or old, hold ever the thought, "I am courageous." Whenever a doubt crosses the threshold of your mind, banish it. Remember, you as master of your mind control its every thought, and here is a good one to often affirm, "I have courage because I desire it; because I need it; because I use it and because I refuse to become such a weakling as cowardice produces."

© Nicholas Dixon Nicholas Dixon works full time in addition to running his online businesses part time and encourages others to start taking control of their lives by starting their own enterprise. You can learn more about how he makes money online by logging on to http://Adollars.blogspot.com

Tips to Increase Your Self-Esteem and Confidence

by Thomas Bekkar
Whenever one is beset by a situation that he or she is unsure of – facing someone admired, having to perform in front of an audience, or simply talking to others – he or she is facing a goodly amount of stress. Confident people are usually able to face these situations without blinking; but the rest of us will probably melt away and try to run away from the situation.

For most people facing this kind of low self-esteem, these situations present an opportunity for them to make fools out of themselves. This is a very embarrassing prospect.

If you are one of the millions of people that would like to stop fidgeting in front of others, trying to squirrel out of such situations, and being so unsure of yourself when facing presentations, here are a few tips to set you on your way.

1. Competence is Confidence - Some organizations, like the Toastmasters, help those afraid to speak in public toughen up by stressing this credo – and it really works. One secret to confidence and self-esteem is to be able to trust what you are able to do. This comes with a lot of practice and study. Whenever you practice a given skill, you increase your own confidence in your capability to perform even in front of other people.

Before a big presentation, study up. Try to know everything about the topic before you step in front of the audience. If you have practiced way before the presentation, you will be in a better position to knock their socks off.

Practicing in front of supportive people you trust will help you get feedback on how to improve your performance.

2. Believe in Yourself - One of the reasons people are not confident in themselves is the fact that they are already convinced that they will fail even before anything happens. Never underestimate the power of the mind. If you believe you will fail, you indeed will! A better exercise would to be to believe that you can succeed. Set your mind towards succeeding and you probably will!

3. Take Criticisms, whether Good or Bad - Most people are bad at taking criticisms. Instead of taking the criticisms personally, use every comment and suggestion to make yourself better. However, you will also have to look out for some criticisms that were never meant to benefit you. Ignore them and move on.

4. Remain Calm at All Costs - Panicking never benefited anybody. If you are suddenly in a situation where you are unsure of what to do or what will happen, keep your composure. If you don't know the answer, say so calmly. If you do not know what to do, it would not be bad to admit it. However, beneath your cool façade, always try to keep a deliberate, quick thinking, demeanor. This itself could take a lot of practice, but it is well worth it.

5. Don't be Afraid to Fail - Many people are afraid to fail; they quit trying because they are not confident in their skills. If you are afraid to try, you will get stuck where you are. Failure can only make you better. Remember that every great man took risks and failed a lot before arriving at greatness.

6. Don't Base Your Confidence on What People Think Of You - While other’s opinion of you can be important, it should not sway you from thinking that you are important. They do not know you better than you do. If you free yourself from the shackles of peer opinion, you will be free to try new things and learn new skills. It does not matter if they think you cannot accomplish anything – take whatever good that can be gleaned from their advice and move on.

Thomas Bekkar is the publisher of Self-Confidence-Secrets.com.
Claim your 100% Free eCourse: "The Easy Way to Improve your Self confidence" and boost success in your personal as well as professional life quickly and easily. . .Guaranteed! Click here : www.self-confidence-secrets.com

What's Your Excuse for Not Being Successful in Life?

by David Neese
Excuses! Excuses! When we fail to do something we are expected to do, we almost always have an excuse for it. However, if we analyze it closely, an excuse is a self-destructive alibi for having failed to do something, especially when it involves attaining a goal. Instead of trying to persevere in finding ways to continue achieving a goal, some of us resort to excuses.

Even a handicap cannot be used as an excuse. Many handicapped but determined people have become achievers and champions. Instead of using a handicap as an excuse, let us turn it into an asset. Let us explore this further.

A handicap need not be a reason for failure. On the contrary, a handicap can be a reason for success. People with a handicap always have an offsetting strength that allows them to overcome problems better than others.

A person with a handicap has one obsession - to lead a normal life. Depending on the handicap, a person would prefer to be as independent as possible. So he struggles and finds ways to overcome his impediment. When he is able to achieve his goal, this raises his self-esteem. In turn, he inspires others.

Everybody has handicaps in varying forms and degree. That is why; it requires effort and determination to overcome them. Handicaps can either be physical, financial, or emotional. And they can either be real or imagined.

Whenever we look at a handicap, we almost always look on the negative side only. It’s about time we take a look at the positive side of it. The positive side may be the difficult side, but it’s the one worth looking into. It’s the side that is going to lead us to excel in life.

If you think your handicap is physical, like having a weak body, you can counteract this through proper diet and training exercises. As long as the physical parts of your body are intact and mobile, there’s no reason why you cannot make it strong and useful. Why? Even those without a leg (for example) can be made to walk or run normally. With the advancement of science, artificial legs can help a handicap function with great mobility.

It your handicap is financial, then the more reason you have to rise above your present status. And if your financial status limits your educational attainment to improve your life, the school is not the only place to learn. Certainly, there are help centers to get you started even from zero level. Once you are initially warmed up with the basics of an education, the rest is up to you. Make use of libraries. Once you are educationally equipped, use your brain and come up with creative ideas to improve your life.

If you are emotionally disturbed with negative thoughts, it is like you are sitting on a chair with wobbling legs. Try sitting on a chair with sturdy legs; meaning, look at the bright, positive side of life. Put aside negativity and start thinking positively. The only one who can stop you is yourself.

If your handicap is a combination of any of the physical, financial, or emotional type, congratulations. You should strive more to overcome them, because a double layer of perseverance results to more than double the achievement. Where the odds are greater, the prize gets much bigger. After all the efforts you have exerted, the prize of success shall be a well-deserved one.

So what’s your excuse for not being successful?
David offers a free E-course on quick start strategies for getting started in real estate investing that is delivered free via email and tele-clinic at: http://www.FreeRealEstateInvestingCourses.com David Neese is a real estate investor, hard money lender, entrepreneur, ecommerce marketer, writer, motivator, father and athlete and you can find more information about David at: http://www.DigitalSuccessCoach.com and http://www.RealEstateTeleClinic.com.

David offers a free E-course on quick start strategies for getting started in real estate investing that is delivered free via email and tele-clinic at: http://www.FreeRealEstateInvestingCourses.com

Motivation ABC’s: Tune Up Your Booth Staff

by Susan Friedmann
Are your sales people burnt out? You may want to check. Have they clocked too many twelve hour days? Do they have enough frequent flier miles to charter a jet to Mars? Are their faces permanently skewed into perpetual smiles from chatting with hundreds of thousands of trade show attendees?

Answer yes to any one of these questions – or even chuckle at a situation a little too close to home – and you’ve got a problem. Working a trade show is hard. Keeping your team motivated can be even harder, especially during a busy exhibit season.

However, it is vitally important that your sales team is not only at the show, but excited about being there. Enthusiasm is contagious – and absolutely central in creating positive word of mouth about your products and services. When your sales staff are fired up and genuinely motivated to share what they know about your products with the buying public, they are more effective salespeople.

Luckily, creating this enthusiasm is as easy as ABC!

Address the Individual

Selecting the proper people for your booth staff is the first step toward a great show. These people are your company’s ambassadors. Pick employees who are helpful, courteous, and professional. Make sure they have excellent product knowledge and customer service skills.

They must also have a positive attitude about working the trade show. Attitude is everything – and it manifests on an individual level. Walk around a trade show floor, and study the people staffing a number of booths. Body language alone will show you which employees don’t want to be there. Simmering resentment plays out in tense posture, negative facial expressions, and sour attitudes – none of which help generate sales.

Why might your staff be averse to attending the show? It may come down to cold, hard cash. Sales staff frequently feel that working a trade show interferes with their normal selling routine. Commission-based employees may actually be losing money by attending the show. Address these concerns proactively, resolving scheduling and compensation issues so your staff are free to concentrate on the show.

Give each staff member an individual goal. This could be generating a number of quality leads, a target number of new contacts, or something similar. Having a goal increases accountability, forces unproductive habits out of the picture, increases productivity, and builds motivation.

Bring In the Brass

Do whatever it takes to involve your management team in trade show activities. You may have to pry them out of their corner offices, but it’ll be worth it. Having upper management participating in training programs, pre & post show activities, and the actual show validates the trade show’s worth. It also generates an in-house enthusiasm which will carry over onto the sales floor.

Many employees value the opportunity to build personal relationships with upper management. Mingling together in the trade show environment can help create a culture of recognition and appreciation. Never underestimate the power of personal recognition. A compliment from the boss carries a lot of weight, and can spur your staff to even higher achievement levels.

Tangible rewards also provide an effective way of encouraging higher levels of performance and can encourage friendly competition amidst your booth staff – with the end result benefiting your bottom line.

Create a Team

For best results, everyone in the booth should be working together as a team. Having a group that helps each other wherever and whenever necessary doesn’t just happen. Great teams don’t serendipitously occur -- they are made.

Designate your teams before the show. Pre-show time is needed to give team members time to get acquainted, develop trust, and learn each other’s strengths. If you’ve got a large staff, split them up, mixing technical and sales staff. That way, you’ll always have customer service and product knowledge skills on the sales floor. Have them establish plans of action for working the show, and promote a certain level of autonomy within the groups. This creates a sense of collective responsibility.

Be sure that the whole team is aware of and fully understands the company’s goal for the trade show. Additionally, teams should set goals for the show. These will dovetail nicely with the personal goals set by individual staff members. Offer incentives for those teams that meet – or surpass – those goals. When you have good team chemistry, you’ll find team members coaching each other and striving to keep the collective morale up.

Revisit your team roster throughout the show season. If a certain group doesn’t click, mix it up. Switching team members may enhance overall performance. If you have a staffer that doesn’t work with any team, perhaps utilizing them at the trade show is not the best use of their skills.

Don’t forget the Details

Rewards and recognition should be constant – and they don’t have to break the bank. A small gesture like morning coffee costs next to nothing, yet shows you care about your team. One creative manager provided gel insole inserts for her sales staff – a thoughtful present for folks on their feet twelve hours at a go. Which brings us to E – for Enthusiasm. An Enthusiastic booth staff will turn in a top notch performance. It’s as easy as ABC!

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: “Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies,” working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. For a free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week, e-mail: susan@thetradeshowcoach.com; website: http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com

I Care … But not that much!

by Paul Shearstone

A simple thesaurus-search on the word ‘Care’ reveals the following:
Mind,
Concerned,
Worry,
Think About,
Be Bothered

A quick look around the workplace, or anywhere else for that mater, reveals a world of Mindful, Concerned, Worried, Thinking and Bothered people. On the surface, it would appear we all care a fair bit. Taking into account the exponential increase over the last couple of decades in diseases like Chronic Fatigue, Depression and stress related Emotional Burnout, the question that begs to be answered is, Do we, as a generation, “Care Too Much?”

In a word, Yes! …The statistics on stress and the ramifications from it are far too compelling as is the evidence we see in society today. I, a Chronic Fatigue [CFS] Survivor, have lived it! To overcome it, I also had to learn from it. For example, the new – albeit subtle – way, in which I Care. In his best selling book, “You can Negotiate Anything!” Herb Cohen espoused that to appear too concerned during any negotiation, was to put one’s self at a disadvantage. Simply put, if the other guy knows you really, really, want it, he then know you’ll pay a premium for it. To prevent this, Herb suggests we say to our self before any negotiation, “I care… But not that much!”

His strategy is simple. To appear aloof – caring just enough but not too much – we maintain a position of strength. The good news is, it works. On closer inspection, however, we can learn a great deal more from Cohen’s stratagem. The most important being the use of the Mantra, I care but not that much, as a ‘Behavioral Trigger’.

A behavioral trigger is a tool used by people to instantly modify their conduct, attitude or actions. Many parents teach a form of behavioral triggering to their kids at a very young age. Counting to three can give the child who is acting-out in a negative way, enough time to reevaluate his/her behavior and make the necessary changes to avoid parental retribution. Most of us are taught the technique of counting to ten to calm one’s self in a moment of tension. The majority would agree, both counting-strategies work well in the right circumstances.

What, though, has that to do with caring or the lack thereof?

The fact is, most people genuinely care about their jobs and want to do their best at most everything they do. Another fact is my observation that there are only two types of people these days: The Un-Employed and the Over-Employed. A quick look at any corporate or medical environment clearly demonstrates everybody – absolutely EVERYBODY – is pushed to the max, regardless of their standing or vocation and, as a matter of course, are forced to perform under stressful pressure and responsibilities unlike any generation before. It’s just a byproduct of the times. Another byproduct of our times is, as already alluded, the devastating price we pay in stress-related and emotionally damaging consequences.

The reason for this is not all that mysterious. Prolonged exposure to stress will eventually break down even the best of us. The human body can work under pressure for periods of time but not continuously. Stress will eventually emerge the winner, making us the loser.

What then, can we do to combat this if the reality is; our jobs and responsibilities are not likely to get any less stressful?

The answer is, we need to:
a) Become more acutely aware of the times we find ourselves under the most stress, and
b) Learn how to pull back – Diminish the stress.

How can this be done? One way is by learning to use a Behavioral Trigger.

In the recent movie, “Meet the Fockers”, Robert Dinero’s uptight character used the word Muskrat, any time his blood pressure was about to blow. The mere mention of the word by him or his wife would immediately trigger a ‘stand-down’ or ‘relax’ response. The important lesson here is how the word Muskrat was utilized as a tool or a trigger resulting in an abrupt positive attitudinal reflex. A letting go, if you will, of the stresses that fill the moment allowing calm to reestablish itself. This procedure is a learned technique and must be practiced for best results.

The word Muskrat is not the only word to choose from, however, which brings us back to how Herb Cohen’s mantra, I care… But not that much!, works so well in stressful circumstances.

Note that Herb is not for one moment, suggesting he doesn’t care. In fact, he does care. Here, however, is the subtle but powerful lesson we need to learn from the last part of his statement ‘But not that much!’

To make the point more clear, allow me to finish his sentence: I care… But not that much…“To let it Hurt Me!”

People need to understand that self-preservation is a good thing. Doing a great job or being the best we can be, is also a good thing – but not if the price we pay is our health, happiness or long-term quality of life. That is too high a price to shell out.

In the same way we are taught the skills necessary to do our jobs well and maintain our dedication to responsibilities, we must also learn how to manage ourselves under prolonged pressure such that our health and happiness are maintained.

To get into the habit of saying, I care, but not that much, when we experience stress or unrest, we learn how to trigger the proper, life-balancing response that does diminish the problem.

Often, people use more than one mantra to achieve the desired results. For example, Bobby McFerrin’s song, Don’t Worry… Be Happy! Those words are an excellent follow up to Cohen’s I care…. But not that much!

Bottom Line:
In a world where today, stress and pressure are systemic, people have a life-sustaining obligation to better understand how and what circumstances serve to denigrate their health and wellbeing. They owe it to themselves to learn the benefits of techniques like Behavioral Triggering. The best way might be to Care… But not that much!

Paul Shearstone aka The ‘Pragmatic Persuasionist’ is one of North America’s foremost experts on Sales and Persuasion. He is also founder and President of The CFIDS Foundation of Cda Inc [A registered Charity]. As an International Keynote Speaker, Author, Writer, Motivator, Corporate Ethics, / Time & Stress Management / Life Balance, Paul enlightens and challenges audiences as he informs, motivates and entertains. To comment on this article or to book the Pragmatic Persuasionist for your next successful event we invite to contact Paul Shearstone directly @ 416-728-5556 or 1-866-855-4590 www.success150.com or paul@success150.com www.paulshearstone.ca.

The Power of Beliefs

by Kathleen Gage

Years ago I had the opportunity to meet a woman who reinforced my understanding of the power of beliefs. A woman who is probably one of the most powerful individuals I will ever encounter. I met Chris in 1986 while taking the Dale Carnegie course in Santa Rosa, California.

Although not in class the first week of a twelve-week training; Chris showed up during the second week. Class was well under way when Chris walked into the room. Actually, she didn’t really walk into the room; she dragged herself in, supported by a pair of metal crutches. Chris has Cerebral Palsy, which she lived with all her life.

Chris had an extremely difficult time communicating with others. This was not due to lack of desire, but because for most of her twenty-one years of life she had been kept in a room with no more than Elvis records and tapes to entertain her. No one had taken the time to assist her in developing the ability to communicate. No one except Bonnie, her current caretaker. It was Bonnie who knew there was much more to Chris than anyone ever gave her credit for.

When asked by the instructor what her goal for the twelve-week course was, Chris struggled to respond and became frustrated and angry in the process. Chris had a very short fuse when it came to frustration because for most of her life no one would listen to her. The only way she knew to get someone to listen was through temper tantrums.

We discovered her goal was to be able to stand, by herself, in front of forty-five people and tell us about herself. With Bonnie as her interpreter, Chris conveyed this desire to a room full of business professionals.

To the amazement of everyone in the class, on the twelfth week, Chris stood in front of the room and shared with us, in her own words, what her life had been like for her. It was one of the most beautiful and enlightening experiences I have ever witnessed. Here was a woman who had, in many ways, been thrown away. And yet, she had a determination, commitment and belief that she could accomplish more in her life and she did. She also had the love and support of forty five friends, who weeks before had been strangers complete strangers.

What we all witnessed through Chris’ courage, is that life is created moment by moment based on our beliefs. Beliefs that can empower beyond our wildest dreams.

Our beliefs are developed on both a conscious and subconscious level. As our beliefs change our experiences change. And as our experiences change, so do our beliefs.

Beliefs are relevant to both our personal and professional direction. What are the beliefs that will carry you to places you have yet to explore?

Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Message of Hope, Inspiring Thoughts for Uncertain Times. To sign up for Kathleen’s free weekly inspirational thoughts visit http://www.turningpointpresents.com/messageofhope.htm

Regret or Passion? Which Will Be Yours?

by Kathleen Gage
I once attended a retreat on how to live with passion and fulfill one’s life’s work. The facilitator posed the question, “If money was not an issue, yet you had to work full-time, what would you do?” Answering this question was a turning point for me. Now - years later - I am doing much of what came up in my answer.

How would you answer this question? Ask yourself, “What am I good at? What do my friends say I am good at? What do I enjoy and feel passionate about? What do I think is important?” The key to your happiness may well be held in the answers.

The answers may not provide you with something you would do on a full-time basis, but it is a wonderful way to discover what will make your life more complete. The willingness to acknowledge and act on the answers may well create the opportunity to live with more passion and joy than you ever thought possible.

In the answers lie your dreams. They will provide you with a road map of where you can put your energy in order to move closer to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Perhaps for you the answers will be an indication of where you can volunteer your time. Living with passion and joy means we don’t have to have a monetary gain for everything we do. Many a career has been launched through the experiences gained from volunteer efforts.

Far too many people have dreams they have given up on. We often blame others or outside circumstances for the fact we are not accomplishing all we desire. Granted, there may be some outside circumstances that create real limitations. However, in many cases we may be using imagined limitations as an excuse to not move forward. It can be easier to blame other people and situations as the reason we have not achieved our potential than to walk through the fear of the unknown.

Limitations appear in many ways. Experience. Money. Time. Education. You name it, it is bound to be there. One of the greatest limitations is that of the mind. Determine which obstacles are real and which ones are imagined. Which excuses have been used over and over so that you will not have to face the fear of the unknown? Once you identify your real and imagined limitations, you will be able to work with them and move forward.

Granted, there is a lot that can dampen our spirits if we allow it. However, there are many opportunities to achieve your dreams if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, put effort into your vision and move forward little by little.

In order to break through your boundaries you must first realize what they are. Knowing what they are allows you to take action. Look for others who may have had similar roadblocks. Find out what they did to move forward. In their strategy may be your formula for success.

Are you secretly wishing you would do something with your life other than what you are doing, but fear holds you back? If you ask most people what their greatest regret is, more times than not they will say it is what they didn’t do rather than what they did.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to others and ourselves is to unlock the talents we have been blessed with and to have the courage to use them. Ask yourself, “How well do I use my gifts to contribute to the well-being of myself and others?”

Will your life be filled with regrets or will it be filled with passion?

Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Message of Hope, Inspiring Thoughts for Uncertain Times. To sign up for Kathleen’s free weekly inspirational thoughts visit http://www.turningpointpresents.com/messageofhope.htm

Speakers and Trainers - The Internet is Your Biggest Megaphone

by Dr. Lynella Grant
Speak to an Audience that Reaches across the Globe

As a professional at home on the platform, you’ve spent years polishing a compelling message. The presentations you make are honed to perfection. Your delivery style draws raves and repeat bookings. So why don’t you deliver a taste of your best stuff to the whole world?

Easily done! Send articles that provide a sample of your message and speaking personality to numerous Internet directories and ezines. The biggest auditorium couldn’t contain all the people exposed to a single article widely posted online. While the cost is minimal (mainly your time), the impact from articles can be gigantic! Consider the benefits. http://www.promotewitharticles.com/benefits.html

Internet Exposure is Crucial for Name Recognition

A spokesman at the National Speakers Association ( http://www.nsaspeaker.org ) indicated that, "Nearly all our members have a website, anymore. It’s a huge part of their differentiation." Information that can be posted on the speaker’s website is miles ahead of a traditional brochure to highlight their message and qualifications. Websites can be kept up to date, and eliminate the delays of mailing materials to prospects. Not to mention, people can find you through search engine queries related to your specialized topics.

A typical speaker isn’t satisfied to appear only on their own site. Many promote their services on other websites, too - expert sites, websites maintained by their agents or publishers, and resource sites related to their forte. The Internet shines when it comes to reaching targeted groups - the very people you want to know about you. Also, you can control the niches or organizations you reach by where you submit your material.

A speaker’s well-placed articles accomplishes the same thing. Posting even one multiplies the number of sites where your name appears. Repeated in-depth articles on a theme build momentum. Your unique spin on a topic will draw readers to your website so they can delve deeper.

Adopt a Speedy Delivery Method

Simply listing your topics or programs can’t convey the depth of your message. The 600 to 800 word length is longer than a sound-bite, providing a realistic sample of your expertise - like a mini-speech. Your signature (Sig) at the end provides your short ad.

Imagine this. The article you write this morning can be submitted to hundreds of places this afternoon. And within a few days it appears on numerous websites, ezines, and search engines. Before a world-wide readership!

Rebecca Morgan is sold on marketing one’s speaking through online articles. "Although it’s hard to quantify some of the results, it’s a great boost when people keep telling me, ‘I see your name everywhere.’ Some of my articles have shown up over 100 places." Her weekly ezine and forum http://www.speakernetnews.com is a storehouse of insider advice to profit from speaking. Subscribe for free.

Articles Attract Speaking Bookings

Frank Candy, American Speakers Bureau, http://www.speakersbureau.com looks at online articles from the agent’s perspective. "It [posting articles] absolutely works to position yourself as an expert in the marketplace. The problem with the Internet is, there’s too much fluffy stuff out there. Getting your articles widely placed lets people see the depth of your knowledge."

Speaker and public relations professional, Michele Wierzgac says, "Writing assures that I spend more time refining my message. My two monthly columns expose me to 300,000 readers every month. And that leads to more speaking opportunities." She credits her articles with broadening her niche much faster than she expected. http://www.micheleandco.com

Speaking to the aviation industry accounts for over 30% of Ralph Hood’s speaking dates. An added bonus comes from turning columns into books sold from his website http://www.ralphhood.com When he started speaking full time (1985) he didn’t want to waste his career connections. So he stays visible as a columnist for six monthly trade publications.

To quote him, "Being a columnist doesn’t eliminate marking, but it’s an extremely helpful part of it. And they pay me for each column - besides them showing I’m an expert."

Package your Content for the Web

It’s often said, "On the Internet, content is king." As a speaker, you’ve got content - up to your knees in it. You can pass it out all day long (and often do). Your challenge isn’t what to write about, but deciding what to do with the articles once they’re written.

Develop your Customized List of Places to Post Articles (besides the well-known article directories):

1. Search Google for your name or company. Any website already mentioning you is probably willing to receive your fresh material

2. Websites/ezines of companies or groups where you’ve spoken

3. Anywhere you’ve sent promotional material " your prospects. Use in your own ezine or as a stand-alone, "Thought you’d be interested" piece

4. Search Google for your field or targeted niche. In the Search Within Results box type "Submit articles," for a list of places receptive to submissions

5. Places that publish any article of yours receive future ones

6. Identify a prolific article writer who speaks to your same market. Search on their name, and submit your material to places where their articles appear

As you routinely send articles, they’ll begin appearing in places besides where you submitted. And it just keeps building... Discover how to maximize the power of articles at http://www.promotewitharticles.com Or if you want the rewards without the effort, let me write and submit your articles for you http://www.promotewitharticles.com/system.html

Long Copy Secrets - Keys To Mental Engagement

by Daniel Levis
Master copywriter Robert Collier often used a technique to get people to read more of his sales letters. You can use this same technique right now to increase the readership of your web pages and emails.

I'll get to it in a moment. For now, let me tell you a couple of things about readership in general, and the importance of using long versus short copy, in most cases.

If you're one of those marketers that rebel against the idea of long copy, and insist that people don't read it, listen up. If you're copy is boring, or unsubstantiated, or fails to promise the delivery of an expected benefit, then you are absolutely right.

But if you promise the expected benefit, and use engaging copy that's firing on all cylinders, effectively attracting attention, building interest, desire, and action, have no fear.

Your prospects will read as many words as necessary to convince themselves to become buyers. That could mean thousands of words, depending what you are asking them to do.

If the price is significant, or the thing you are selling demands a significant change of behavior, or even if you are operating in a very mature, hotly competitive commodity market, you just cannot expect people to decide favorably with minimal information.

They need enough sound reasons to buy, and they need those reasons appropriately substantiated. Too many marketers paint pretty pictures, but fall down when it comes to demonstrating proof.

Anyway, getting back to that little technique that Robert Collier used that I was telling you about.

Collier observed that human beings possess a couple of inborn traits that he used to get them to read his letters. I'm assuming you're one, so I'm going to include you in this ;=)

A) We're naturally curious. We have an inborn "desire to know" hard wired into our brains. It's instinctive, part of our survival program.

B) We just can't stand having a half baked thought or idea, hanging around waiting to be finished. If there's an open loop, we want it shut.

So how did the legendary Collier use these to his money making advantage?

He would set up a story, and build up a primary point, and then before taking that primary point to it's logical conclusion, head off in a secondary direction, while promising to return to the first one momentarily.

His readers hung on his every word, because they were curious about how the story would end, and they could'nt stand to leave the first thought unfinished.

You can use this same technique to great effect online. Or you can turn it upside down like this in an autoresponder series.

Instead of introducing the secondary point toward the beginning of the copy, you introduce it toward the end, leave the thought unfinished, and promise to close the loop in the next installment. Collier did this constantly to create a sense of anticipation in the minds of his periodical subscribers, and you can see the same technique used frequently in the theatre and in soap operas.

To give you an idea of how powerful this idea is, get this...

Psychologists took to studying the behavior of wait staff in Restaurants. At regular intervals they would question the waiters and waitresses about the orders they had taken.

Almost without fail, the waiters and waitresses could remember what the people who were still in the Restaurant had ordered, with a high degree of accuracy. But almost always, they totally forgot what the people who had already paid their bill had ordered, even though those patrons had left the Restaurant only minutes before.

Because the mind hates unfinished business, it remains engaged until the event or subject of attention unfolds and resolves itself in a logical conclusion. In this case, the payment of the check.

And in the case of your sales letter or email sequence, the close. That's a big deal, because that's where you ask for the money, right?

Daniel Levis is a top marketing consultant & direct response copywriter based in Toronto Canada. Recently, Daniel & world-renowned publicist & copywriter Joe Vitale teamed up to co author “Million Dollar Online Advertising Strategies – From The Greatest Letter Writer Of The 20th Century!”, a tribute to the late, great Robert Collier.
Let the legendary Robert Collier show you how to write words that sell...Visit the below site & get 3 FREE Chapters!
http://www.Advertising-Online-Strategies.com/ad-strategies.html

Small Business

• Star a business - Getting started
• Star a business - Determine how to organize your n...
• Star a business - Develop a business plan
• Star a business - Funding your business
• Star a business - Regulations: Government regulati...

Star a business - Regulations: Government regulations and your business

It may be inconceivable to you that your home-based consulting service or handknit sweater business would have to comply with any of the numerous local, state and federal regulations, but in all likelihood it will. Avoid the temptation to ignore regulatory details. Doing so may avert some red tape in the short term, but could be an obstacle as your business grows. Taking the time to research the applicable regulations is as important as knowing your market. Below is a checklist of the most common requirements that affect small businesses, but it is by no means exhaustive. Bear in mind that regulations vary by industry. If you're in the food service business, for example, you will have to deal with the health department. If you use chemical solvents, you will have environmental compliance to meet. Carefully investigate the regulations that affect your industry. Being out of compliance could leave you unprotected legally, lead to expensive penalties, and jeopardize your business. Business Licenses There are many types of licenses. You need one to operate legally almost everywhere. If the business is located within an incorporated city limits, a license must be obtained from the city; if outside the city limits, then from the county. For more information contact the county or city office in your area or try these state web sites that offer business license information You should also go to the website of your home state and hometown and search for "business license" or "county information" to review local regulations.

Certificate of Occupancy

If you are planning on occupying a new or used building for a new business, you may have to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy from a city or county zoning department. For more information contact the county or city office in your area. You should also go to the website of your home state and hometown and search for "certificate of occupancy" or "county information".

Business Organization

There are many forms of legal structure you may choose for your business. The most common structures are Sole Proprietorships, General and Limited Partnerships, C and S Corporations and Limited Liability Companies. Each legal structure offers organizational options which are appropriate for different personal situations and which affect tax and liability issues. You should research each legal structure thoroughly and consult a tax accountant and/or attorney prior to making your decision.

Fictitious Business Name

Businesses that use a name other than the owner's must register the fictitious name with the county as required by the Trade Name Registration Act. This does not apply to corporations doing business under their corporate name or to those practicing any profession under a partnership name. For more information contact your state or local government. You should also go to the website of your home state and hometown and search for "trade name registration" or "county information".

Protecting Your Idea

If applicable to your business, you may want to apply for trademarks, patents and your copyright.

• Trademarks: Trademarks are names or symbols used in any commerce that is subject to regulation by state government or the U.S. Congress.
• State Registration of a Trademark: Trademarks and service marks may be registered in a state for a term of ten years. For more information about Applications for Registration of Trademark or Service Mark in your state, contact your state government.
• To register a trademark contact:
  

U.S. Department of Commerce
Trademark Office
2021 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, Virginia 22202
(703) 305-8341 or (800) 786-9199

• To register a patent, contact:
  

Asst. Commissioner for Trademarks, Patent Applications
Washington, D.C. 20231
(800) 786-9199

Also, visit their web site at http://www.uspto.gov
Caution: Federally registered trademarks may conflict with and supersede state registered business and product names. Businesses are encouraged to check for conflicts with federal trademarks.

• Patents
  

Contact:
Superintendent of Documents
P.O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15250-7954
(412) 512-1800
New and useful inventions can be protected by a U.S. patent. Professional assistance from a patent attorney is strongly urged because patent procedures are detailed and technical. A patent search is performed to see if a patent currently exists on the same or nearly the same device and, if not, to make proper application with the Patent Office.
Note: Only attorneys and agents registered with the U.S. Patent Office may represent inventors in related matters. The office has geographical and alphabetical listings of the more than 11,000 registered agents. Only these agents may perform patent searches in the patent office. Inventors or their attorneys can make arrangements with one of those agents. U.S. patents are issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.
Additional information is provided in the publication, General Information Concerning Patents and other publications distributed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

• Copyrights
  

Contact:
U.S. Library of Congress
James Madison Memorial Building
Washington, D.C. 20559
(202) 707-9100 (Order Line)
(202) 707-3000 (Information Line)
Copyrights protect the thoughts and ideas of authors, composers and artists. A copyright prevents illegal copying of written matter, works of art or computer programs. In order to ensure copyright protection, the copyright owner should always include notices on all copies of the work.

Tax Information

Business owners are required by law to withhold the following from the wages paid to employees: federal income taxes, state income taxes and FICA (Social Security) Insurance.
Income taxes will also be levied by the federal and state governments on earnings of any business. Therefore, each business must file an income tax return with both agencies. Businesses may be required to file estimated tax returns and pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis.
For federal tax information, contact:
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
You can go to IRS's website area for business taxes or call your local IRS office to receive a number of publications that are available upon request to small businesses. One of the most helpful is Your Business Tax Kit, which includes data and forms for a Federal Employer Identification Number and a tax guide for small businesses that can be ordered by calling Forms and Publications at (800) 829-3676 or through a visit to your local IRS office.
You may want to contact your local Social Security Administration Office for (FICA) Insurance information or visit one of these helpful SSA web sites:

• Employers' Information
• Social Security Forms

For State tax information, try these state web sites for tax information, call your state government or visit your official state Web site.

Federal Self-Employment Tax

Everyone must pay Social Security Tax. If you are self-employed, your Social Security contribution is made through the self-employment tax. You will need to calculate how best to report earnings and pay your business taxes. Contact the IRS at (800) 829-1040, visit your local IRS office, go to the Official IRS Web site for more information. The IRS may seem like a complicated maze, but there are publications, counselors and workshops available to help you sort it out.

Business Insurance

Like home insurance, business insurance protects the contents of your business against fire, theft and other losses. Contact your insurance agent or broker. It is prudent for any business to purchase a number of basic types of insurance. Some types of coverage are required by law, other simply make good business sense. The types of insurance listed below are among the most commonly used and are merely a starting point for evaluating the needs of your business.

• Liability Insurance -- Businesses may incur various forms of liability in conducting their normal activities. One of the most common types is product liability, which may be incurred when a customer suffers harm from using the business product. There are many other types of liability, which are frequently related to specific industries. Liability law is constantly changing. An analysis of your liability insurance needs by a competent professional is vital in determining an adequate and appropriate level of protection for your business.
• Property -- There are many different types of property insurance and levels of coverage available. It is important to determine the property you need to insure for the continuation of your business and the level of insurance you need to replace or rebuild. You must also understand the terms of the insurance, including any limitations or waivers of coverage.
• Business Interruption -- While property insurance may pay enough to replace damaged or destroyed equipment or buildings, how will you pay costs such as taxes, utilities and other continuing expenses during the period between when the damage occurs and when the property is replaced? Business Interruption (or "business income") insurance can provide sufficient funds to pay your fixed expenses during a period of time when your business is not operational.
• "Key Man" -- If you (and/or any other individual) are so critical to the operation of your business that it cannot continue in the event of your illness or death, you should consider "key man" insurance. This type of policy is frequently required by banks or government loan programs. It also can be used to provide continuity in operations during a period of ownership transition caused by the death or incapacitation of an owner or other "key" employee.
• Automobile -- It is obvious that a vehicle owned by your business should be insured for both liability and replacement purposes. What is less obvious is that you may need special insurance (called "non-owned automobile coverage") if you use your personal vehicle on company business. This policy covers the business' liability for any damage which may result for such usage.
• Office and Director -- Under some circumstances, officers and directors of a corporation may become personally liable for their actions on behalf of the company. This type of policy covers this liability.
• Home Office -- If you are establishing an office in your home, it is a good idea to contact your homeowners' insurance company to update your policy to include coverage for office equipment. This coverage is not automatically included in a standard homeowner's policy.

Sales Tax Number

In your state there is a percent sales and use tax which applies to the retail purchase, retail site, rental, storage, use or consumption of tangible personal property and certain services. In other words, sales tax must be collected on just about every tangible item sold.
A sales tax number is required for each business before opening. The number, plus instructions for collection, reporting and remitting the money to the state on a monthly basis, can be obtained from your state government.

Other Considerations

All businesses with employees are required to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the protection of employees. For information on state labor laws, work force availability, prevailing wages, unemployment insurance, unionization, benefits packages and employment services contact your state government (See: Smallbusiness.com Directory: State online resources). Federal information can be found in a number of places, including a site maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor (See: Smallbusiness.com Directory: Federal online resources).

• Unemployment Insurance Tax -- Businesses are required by the state to pay unemployment insurance tax if the company has one or more employees for 20 weeks in a calendar year, or it has paid gross wages of $1,500 or more in a calendar year. The taxes are payable at a rate of 2.7 percent on the first $8,500 in annual wages of an employee. Go to your state home page to check the figures for your state. Unemployment insurance must be reported and returns made to the state.
• Immigration Act -- The Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires all employers to verify the employment eligibility of new employees. The law obligates an employer to process Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. The Immigration and Naturalization Service Office of Business Liaison offers a selection of information bulletins and live assistance for this process through the Employer Hotline. In addition, INS forms and the Employer Handbook can be obtained by calling the Forms Hotline. For Forms: (800) 870-3676, Employer Hotline: (800) 357-2099
• Health and Safety -- The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines specific health and safety standards employers must provide for the protection of employees. Many states have similar standards.
• Workers' Compensation -- If a business employs three or more people, workers' compensation insurance must be carried to provide protection to those injured in on�the�job accidents. The State Board of Workers' Compensation aids people who need claim assistance. For more information contact your state government.
• Minimum Wage -- Virtually all business entities are subject to the federal minimum wage, overtime and child labor laws. Information on these laws and other federal laws, may be obtained from: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
• Bar Coding -- The Uniform Code Council, Inc., (not a government agency) assigns a manufacturer's ID code for the purposes of bar coding. Many stores require bar coding on the packaged products they sell. For additional information contact: Uniform Code Council Inc., P.O. Box 1244, Dayton, Ohio 45401, (513) 435-3870.

http://www.smallbusiness.com/wiki/
Starting_a_business#Regulations:_Government_regulations_and_your_business