Not only is owning a home an integral part of the American dream, but our home is likely the biggest purchase we will ever make and the biggest asset - or liability - we will ever have. Until about a year ago, of course, no one would have imagined that a home could be a liability. That's when housing prices started to drop and relatively new homeowners realized that it was only a matter of time before their adjustable rate mortgages would...more
Today's marketplace is extraordinarily competitive. Whether you sell merchandise online or in a brick-and-mortar retail store, the prices you pay for inventory can mean the difference between profit and financial ruin. Sole proprietorships and small, family run businesses often have the most to gain - or lose - in the game of inventory acquisition and resale. Thankfully, liquidators have stepped in to fill the gap by providing businesses with...more
What would you think if you saw a sign that read, "Entrepreneurs Wanted"? Many people would see such a sign as a rare opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. They've long envisioned a life where they could make their own hours, follow their passions, and not have to feel as though the people above them are trying to keep them down. Others would view such a sign with suspicion. They might ask, "What's the catch?" They might even come up with a list of reasons why they can't take a chance, begin a new self-made career, and become more successful than they ever thought possible.While a degree of skepticism can be healthy, all too often people talk themselves out of a business opportunity because, well, they're scared. They might even look at the lives of successful people and think that those people were simply lucky; that they were at the right place at the right time. In fact, the difference between those people who are incredibly successful and those who grind it out in an unfulfilling job day in and day out is that the successful people seize opportunities that come their way. The nine-to-fivers may look longingly at opportunities, but let them slip through their fingers. Truth...more
When it comes to business most of us take one side or the other: Business owners are either viewed as helpful visionaries or evil devils. The evil view feels that the heads of major corporations exist to fleece our pockets and take our money. They'd roll us in the alley given the chance. If you're looking for a bad guy, few compare to the faceless...more
Looking back I can't believe how long it took me to truly understand what a business was for. I'd heard it repeated countless times, albeit for the most part by parrots and non-believers. I'd seen it portrayed in posters and articles all around me, but somehow I remained blind to the message. Like many of us, I was brought up believing that to make...more
To run a successful business, you have to understand the reasons that people have for going to a business to satisfy their needs instead of taking care of their problems on their own. When trying to carry out a particular task or satisfy a particular need, a business can have a significant advantage over the individual. Let's look at some simple business management tips that illustrate how a business has an advantage when it comes to satisfying certain types of needs. We can divide the reasons that people look to businesses to help them into five general categories. These categories are that people sometimes: do not know how to do something, do not have the time to do something, do not have the tools or resources to do something, do not want to do something, or think that it would be more efficient for someone else to do something. People use businesses for each of these reasons. Here are some examples on a case by case basis.First, people sometimes go to businesses for help because they do not know how to do something. By buying a microwave dinner, someone who does not know how to cook can enjoy a high quality meal just by putting a box inside the oven and waiting for a couple...more
In today's high-paced, competitive workforce an effective office manager is key to successful business operation. As an effective office manager you need to understand your role, and your key objectives.The key responsibility of any office manager is...more
Fundamentally there are only two ways to grow your business: increase the amount of money coming in and cut costs. If you are just starting out your cost cutting opportunities are small so you need to turn your focus to taking in more money.Here are...more
Since the primary purpose of a successful business is to help customers with their problems it stands to reason that a business would be organized around the way customers look at problems.The Customers PerspectiveThe typical problem solving cycle of...more
We know why people want things:1. to meet basic needs,2. to save time or effort,3. to get peace of mind,4. it appeals to their image or ego,5. fun or enjoyment,We also know why people go looking for help with these things:1. ...more
Could evil corporate America actually be helping us?When it comes to business most of us take one side of the other: Business owners are either viewed as helpful visionaries or evil devils. The evil view feels that the heads of major corporations...more
If you want to design your business so that it provides the best possible experience for your customers, you have to think about the customer process. People go through the same steps every time that they look for a product to help them satisfy one...more