Where are your strengths?

Finding your strengths will involve more than just naming off the things you know you are good at. Sometimes your own mental images of yourself aren't really as on-target as you might hope. So, in addition to some self-study, you'll also need to ask your friends, family, or current co-workers to tell you what they see as your strengths. If they consistently say you're a real "people" person then you might want to explore businesses that will make use of that quality. If they consistently say you're strength is in problem solving then maybe some type of consulting would be the best route to go.

Here are some questions to consider in this time of self- and peer-based evaluation...

• What do you like to do?


• What do you have experience doing?


• What do you think you are good at?


• What does everyone else think you are good at?


• Do you have special education in the area(s) you are interested in?


• Do you have the right mindset to run your own business? (i.e. Do you have expectations of challenge, hard work, long hours, and little money to begin with?)


• Are you willing to put in 60 hour weeks to make your business work?


• Are you resourceful?


• Are you a high-energy person?


• Are you a dreamer or more down-to-earth?
  
• Can you bounce back from criticism and rejection? (More than just a few times?)

Use the SELF-EVALUATION WORKSHEET to help you.

What is marketing?

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, "I am very rich. Marry me!"
That's Direct Marketing.

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.
One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says,"He's very rich. Marry him.
"That's Advertising.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and get her telephone number.
The next day you call and say, "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me.
"That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.
You get up and straighten your tie; you walk up to herand compliment her hair.
You open the door for her,pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her a ride,and then say,
"By the way, I'm very rich "Will you marry me?
"That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.
She walks up to you and says, "You are very rich...
"That's Brand Recognition.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, "I'm rich. Marry me"She gives you a hard slap on your face.
That's Customer Feedback. =D

The Top 10 Quotes for Living Well!

Over the years many people have offered their models of the "Good Life", and some have left quotes that nicely summarize important truths. The following are ten of my personal favorites.

1. Know Thyself – Socrates.
From ancient Greece comes this reminder that introspection, keeping a journal, paying attention to the heart of things, comes first. Before we can know the world around us, and make wise choices, we must first come to grips with who we are and what we value.

2. To Thine Own Self Be True – Shakespeare.
In life there is no substitute for integrity. My grandmother was fond of saying, "We either stand for something, or we'll fall for anything." Integrity is about going beyond the truth to full and complete honesty, openness and fairness.

3. And the Greatest of These is Love – St Paul .
He also observed that "without love I am just a clanging symbol or a noisy gong." Without love, caring relationships, and compassion, life is indeed a dry and shallow thing.

4. Imagination Rules the World – Albert Einstein.
The good life is at least partly based on dreams that are worthy of us, dreams that elevate and challenge and inspire our best. Bobby Kennedy noted, "Others look at the world and ask, 'Why?' I dream of a world that never was and ask, 'Why not?'" Martin Luther King's defiant cry, "I have a dream!" will live long after most of us are gone and forgotten.

5. Too much of a good thing is just right – Mae West.
The good life is about living large, about expressing the joy and love of life. It's about song, exuberance, and about taking chances, and "going for it".

6. Opportunities multiply as they are seized – Sun Tzu.
Success depends on the courage to act, and courage in turn requires a level of faith that every opportunity acted upon will lead to more and better ways to serve, learn, grow and prosper.

7. Do, or do not. There is no "try". – Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back).
Life requires action, boldness and decisiveness. Mae West also observed, "He who hesitates is a damned fool."

8. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away – Antoine de St. Exupery.
Henry Thoreau recommended, "Simplify, simplify, simplify. Let your concerns be as 2 or 3, not more." Friends, work, the media and this thing called the Internet, along with our own "wish lists" try to seduce us to complexity, busy-ness and anxiety. Keep it simple!

9. The artist is nothing without gift, but gift is nothing without work – Emile Zola.
Only focused, intelligent, diligent effort turns potential into reality. Without creative effort, talent and "gift" seem to atrophy and die. Truly a case of "use it or lose it".

10. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. – Albert Einstein.
I highly recommend practicing the attitude of gratitude. What else is there?

Do You Have the Mindset and Skills to be an Entrepreneur?

You probably already know that starting a small business requires extensive research and analysis of many factors. But the one requiring the most critical assessment is often overlooked by many entrepreneurs. And, it’s as close as the nearest mirror.

That’s because wanting to be an entrepreneur is one thing; being one is quite another. You will take on responsibilities and commitments far different from those of an employee, even if you have management experience. It’s a challenge that can be exhilarating and rewarding. Unless you’re prepared mentally and emotionally, however, it can also be overwhelming.

Before you study financing options and plan store layouts, sit down and conduct a probing interview with yourself to see if you’re the right person for the all-important job of entrepreneur-owner-boss.

Are You a Self-Starter?
Nothing in business happens by itself. As the owner, you’re responsible for everything from establishing your firm’s vision to setting the daily work schedule. The fact that you’re exploring small business ownership and asking questions is a good sign.

Are You a Positive Thinker?
The moment you become a business owner, you represent yourself, your business and your expectations for success. What you say and do must convey confidence and commitment to moving forward. Employees who sense these qualities will share that determination to succeed, even under difficult circumstances. If you work alone, there will be days when you have to be your own cheerleader.

Are You Disciplined?
Your days of the “9-to-5 routine” are over. Running a small business requires a continuous commitment to quality and detail. You cannot afford to cut corners, miss deadlines or make promises beyond your capabilities. If you plan to run the business from home, you must be able to resist temptations and distractions in order to get your work done.

Are You a Lifelong Learner?
Entrepreneurs who continually seek information, new ideas and sound advice have the best chance for success. Being attuned to market trends and issues makes it easier to adjust products and services to customers’ needs and preferences. You’re also in a better position to enhance your competitive advantage and efficiency, and address potential problems before they harm your business.

Can You Market Yourself and Your Business?
Some people have trouble with this one because of the negative (and often unfair) connotations associated with being a “salesperson.” No business, no matter how good, will succeed without some kind of marketing. The good news is that promoting your business is easier than you may think as long as you know what to do and how to do it. After all, we all enjoy saying good things about ourselves. When you craft and tell your story in the right way, more people will be willing and eager to hear it.

Can You be Objective?
Your ideas and practices may seem “bulletproof,” but reality may be far different. Is there really a need for a particular product or service in your area? Are the hours of operation fair to your employees? Is renting equipment better than owning it? A good business owner knows how to examine an issue from many perspectives and understand that strengths and limitations of each.

So how did your “candidate” for entrepreneur-owner-boss do? If every answer was a “yes,” your small business dream is on its way to becoming a reality. For areas of concern, the solution may be business counseling, management courses, or a concerted effort to discard some unproductive habits in favor new ones.

Finally, make it a point to conduct regular self-reviews. Thinking and approaches that worked in the start-up phase may not be as appropriate for a thriving concern, or if a major market shift occurs. When you work for yourself, you want to be confident the entrepreneur-owner-boss knows exactly what he or she is doing.