JUNE 2005 Greetings & Salutations: As I have said before, there are only two ways you can have additional income ... either get a second job or start a business of your own. There aren't any other ways. That means you must study the doing of business - but ... Even as you begin studying the doing of business, you need to go ahead with your plans by setting yourself up as a "business" ... just as though you were getting another job. Establish the days and hours you will work. -- You will be working for the best boss in the world ... yourself ... but, just as any other boss does, you MUST have a specific time for your best employee ... you ... to work. Be fair but make it an absolute requirement that your employee be on the "job" at those times ... with exceptions for special occasions, emergencies, etc., just as any other good boss would. It doesn't matter whether you establish 2 hours each evening; Monday thru Friday ... or 1 hour each evening; Monday, Wednesday and Friday ... or, 6 hours each evening; Monday thru Saturday ... it MUST be specific hours. Don t say, "I'll work 2 hours each evening." -- Instead, set specific hours to accomplish your work ... say, "I will work from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., each evening." That way, you will KNOW when you are supposed to be at work and when your work day will end. (No fudging.) With time ... as your business grows ... you might be able to set your hours like mine. I work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday thru Friday. Sometimes I come to work a little early or stay a little late - but - unless there is a special occasion, emergency, or whatever, I am at "work" from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (My boss ... he's a great guy ... understands those special situations.) Give your best employee a specific work place ... demand that your employee keep their work tools in that area AND that other projects not related to the business be relegated to some other area. --You wouldn't go to work in a machine shop with a television sitting next to your lathe (a good way to lose some fingers), would you? -- Be as adamant about maintaining your work area as any other boss would. The ONLY things you should have in your work area ... whether it is the corner of your bedroom, or a separate room, or a rented space across town ... are the things you need to do your business. -- If it doesn't relate directly to your doing of business, it should be put somewhere else ... even if that somewhere else is just across the room on top of the TV; which is never on during your business hours. Assign your best employee a series of tasks that must be performed each time that employee enters the work area ... at first, you might have to write down a list of things that MUST be done first, before anything else, upon entering the work area. After a while, it will become almost instantaneous. When your best employee ... you ... has completed ALL of the mundane, but required, tasks, only then may your employee move on to further assigned tasks in order to build the business. But, since the boss and your best employee are so closely related, where do those further assigned tasks come from? Here s how I do it for my best employee ... As I go through my emails, if I find something that may improve my business, I grab a yellow sticky-note from the pad on my desk and make a note to myself to check it out ... I might just write "check email msg: subject" ... then I stick the note along the edge of my computer screen, or on my desk. NOTE: I used to just "flag" the emails I wanted to refer back to but, with incoming email all the time, too many of them got lost - SO - I created a new Mail Folder labeled "Alpha." When I encounter an email I want to follow up on, I simply move that message to my "Alpha" file. Then, when one of my sticky notes refers to an email message, I know I will find it in the "Alpha" file. Beyond that, any time I am reading anything about business and I come across something I think will increase my business ... in any way; even by adopting and adapting it ... I, once again, reach for my sticky-notes and write myself a note about what I need to do or investigate. -- Some of those notes may only have a brief idea on them (such as: "change headline on xyz page to new headline") ... or, the note may direct me to "check out: www. xyz. com" ... or, "find: new source of printer ink" ... or, "search for: web sites about whatever." ... or, "new email subject for xyz product: new subject"" NOTE: I also keep note pads everywhere ... on my bed side table, next to my recliner, in the car, by the telephone, in the bathroom. When an idea flashes across my itty-bitty brain; rather than forget it, I jot it down. I collect those notes and take them to my desk; where I transcribe them to yellow sticky-notes. Each of those sticky-notes get stuck to my computer; or on my desk, until I have a chance to do them. -- Once they are done, that note goes in the round file so I don t inadvertently redo things I have already done. The one big thing you MUST keep uppermost in your mind is that, when you are in your work area; during your specified work period, you must complete your "required, daily" work duties, before you move on AND you must NOT leave your work area until the end of your specified work period ... even if you have nothing more on your list to do. Spend the time surfing the web for new ideas, or reading a report, book or article specific to the accomplishment of your business. REMEMBER: Your work area is for working and your work period is for working - to do otherwise would violate your boss trust ... even if the boss won t fire you.
JUNE 2005
Greetings & Salutations:
As I have said before, there are only two ways you can have additional income ... either get a second job or start a business of your own. There aren't any other ways. That means you must study the doing of business - but ... Even as you begin studying the doing of business, you need to go ahead with your plans by setting yourself up as a "business" ... just as though you were getting another job. Establish the days and hours you will work. -- You will be working for the best boss in the world ... yourself ... but, just as any other boss does, you MUST have a specific time for your best employee ... you ... to work. Be fair but make it an absolute requirement that your employee be on the "job" at those times ... with exceptions for special occasions, emergencies, etc., just as any other good boss would. It doesn't matter whether you establish 2 hours each evening; Monday thru Friday ... or 1 hour each evening; Monday, Wednesday and Friday ... or, 6 hours each evening; Monday thru Saturday ... it MUST be specific hours. Don t say, "I'll work 2 hours each evening." -- Instead, set specific hours to accomplish your work ... say, "I will work from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., each evening." That way, you will KNOW when you are supposed to be at work and when your work day will end. (No fudging.) With time ... as your business grows ... you might be able to set your hours like mine. I work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday thru Friday. Sometimes I come to work a little early or stay a little late - but - unless there is a special occasion, emergency, or whatever, I am at "work" from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (My boss ... he's a great guy ... understands those special situations.) Give your best employee a specific work place ... demand that your employee keep their work tools in that area AND that other projects not related to the business be relegated to some other area. --You wouldn't go to work in a machine shop with a television sitting next to your lathe (a good way to lose some fingers), would you? -- Be as adamant about maintaining your work area as any other boss would. The ONLY things you should have in your work area ... whether it is the corner of your bedroom, or a separate room, or a rented space across town ... are the things you need to do your business. -- If it doesn't relate directly to your doing of business, it should be put somewhere else ... even if that somewhere else is just across the room on top of the TV; which is never on during your business hours. Assign your best employee a series of tasks that must be performed each time that employee enters the work area ... at first, you might have to write down a list of things that MUST be done first, before anything else, upon entering the work area. After a while, it will become almost instantaneous. When your best employee ... you ... has completed ALL of the mundane, but required, tasks, only then may your employee move on to further assigned tasks in order to build the business. But, since the boss and your best employee are so closely related, where do those further assigned tasks come from? Here s how I do it for my best employee ... As I go through my emails, if I find something that may improve my business, I grab a yellow sticky-note from the pad on my desk and make a note to myself to check it out ... I might just write "check email msg: subject" ... then I stick the note along the edge of my computer screen, or on my desk. NOTE: I used to just "flag" the emails I wanted to refer back to but, with incoming email all the time, too many of them got lost - SO - I created a new Mail Folder labeled "Alpha." When I encounter an email I want to follow up on, I simply move that message to my "Alpha" file. Then, when one of my sticky notes refers to an email message, I know I will find it in the "Alpha" file. Beyond that, any time I am reading anything about business and I come across something I think will increase my business ... in any way; even by adopting and adapting it ... I, once again, reach for my sticky-notes and write myself a note about what I need to do or investigate. -- Some of those notes may only have a brief idea on them (such as: "change headline on xyz page to new headline") ... or, the note may direct me to "check out: www. xyz. com" ... or, "find: new source of printer ink" ... or, "search for: web sites about whatever." ... or, "new email subject for xyz product: new subject"" NOTE: I also keep note pads everywhere ... on my bed side table, next to my recliner, in the car, by the telephone, in the bathroom. When an idea flashes across my itty-bitty brain; rather than forget it, I jot it down. I collect those notes and take them to my desk; where I transcribe them to yellow sticky-notes. Each of those sticky-notes get stuck to my computer; or on my desk, until I have a chance to do them. -- Once they are done, that note goes in the round file so I don t inadvertently redo things I have already done. The one big thing you MUST keep uppermost in your mind is that, when you are in your work area; during your specified work period, you must complete your "required, daily" work duties, before you move on AND you must NOT leave your work area until the end of your specified work period ... even if you have nothing more on your list to do. Spend the time surfing the web for new ideas, or reading a report, book or article specific to the accomplishment of your business. REMEMBER: Your work area is for working and your work period is for working - to do otherwise would violate your boss trust ... even if the boss won t fire you.
Now, let's do some ... Questions & Answers, Comments & Other Good Stuff! Philip Camacho wanted to know ... "I'm about to purchase your R.E. Option program. What is your take on auctioning off, on Ebay, something you have an option on, be it real estate or whatever else it may be?" Philip: If you can get an option on anything, you can sell it before you buy it.
Now, let's do some ...
Philip Camacho wanted to know ...
"I'm about to purchase your R.E. Option program. What is your take on auctioning off, on Ebay, something you have an option on, be it real estate or whatever else it may be?"
Philip: If you can get an option on anything, you can sell it before you buy it.
Dusty was wondering ... "When a client of mine refers another client to me I pay her $25 for a $400 service. -- Is my finder's fee is too low? -- Not all of my clients are interested in this program because some of them are very rich and they don't really care for this program." Dusty: Rich people don't care about the $25 - but - a $xx discount coupon is another animal. What I suggest is that you give referral cards to your customers upon which they can write their name. If someone they give the card to comes in and gives you their card, you will automatically send them a $xx (or %) discount coupon for their next purchase of your services. -- I would make the referral card with a value of $xx (or %) discount on their first visit ... that way they will give you the card to get the discount and you will have the card to issue your current customer's discount. It works ... I've used it myself. Here's something I found that might interest you ... it IS great stuff -- LEARN TO THINK LIKE EINSTEIN! Your mind is the ultimate tool for success. -- Einstein was so dyslexic he struggled to learn to speak and read, yet he became one of the great thinkers of the century. He was not born brilliant -- he actually developed his intelligence using a special method of "scientific visualization". Using the insights of modern neuroscience, now YOU too can develop a powerful creative intelligence -- FAST! Find out all about it at: Einstein You'll also find a ho'bunch of other very, very good self-help products on the same page. -- From what I've read so far, all of them are well worth your time ... to improve your life and your business.
Dusty was wondering ...
"When a client of mine refers another client to me I pay her $25 for a $400 service. -- Is my finder's fee is too low? -- Not all of my clients are interested in this program because some of them are very rich and they don't really care for this program."
Dusty: Rich people don't care about the $25 - but - a $xx discount coupon is another animal. What I suggest is that you give referral cards to your customers upon which they can write their name. If someone they give the card to comes in and gives you their card, you will automatically send them a $xx (or %) discount coupon for their next purchase of your services. -- I would make the referral card with a value of $xx (or %) discount on their first visit ... that way they will give you the card to get the discount and you will have the card to issue your current customer's discount. It works ... I've used it myself.
Your mind is the ultimate tool for success. -- Einstein was so dyslexic he struggled to learn to speak and read, yet he became one of the great thinkers of the century. He was not born brilliant -- he actually developed his intelligence using a special method of "scientific visualization". Using the insights of modern neuroscience, now YOU too can develop a powerful creative intelligence -- FAST!
Find out all about it at:
You'll also find a ho'bunch of other very, very good self-help products on the same page. -- From what I've read so far, all of them are well worth your time ... to improve your life and your business.
Mark Hendricks wanted me to tell you ... "I have a site where we develop some pretty good pro-line marketing software, and would like to know if you thought your subscribers would like to know more about them." Okay, gang, here's the site: http://www.market-soft.com The link to all the products is found at: http://www.market-soft.com/home.html
Mark Hendricks wanted me to tell you ...
"I have a site where we develop some pretty good pro-line marketing software, and would like to know if you thought your subscribers would like to know more about them."
Okay, gang, here's the site:
The link to all the products is found at:
Are you making enough money on the Internet? If you're not hitting the sales targets you've been hoping for, I've got news for you ... it may not be your fault. There could be an "invisible force" holding you back, that you're not yet aware of it. Whilst largely unknown and rarely discovered, this "force" is responsible for creating truly huge success and abundance ... and massive failure, too. What is this "force"? Find out at... theforce May the force bring you everything you want and need, in the fastest possible time! To be completely honest, I'm a little scared to share this. -- I'm not sure how you will react to it, or if you're even ready to discover it ... it's something that very, very few people know about, and even fewer use to their maximum advantage.
If you're not hitting the sales targets you've been hoping for, I've got news for you ... it may not be your fault.
There could be an "invisible force" holding you back, that you're not yet aware of it. Whilst largely unknown and rarely discovered, this "force" is responsible for creating truly huge success and abundance ... and massive failure, too.
What is this "force"?
Find out at...
May the force bring you everything you want and need, in the fastest possible time!
To be completely honest, I'm a little scared to share this. -- I'm not sure how you will react to it, or if you're even ready to discover it ... it's something that very, very few people know about, and even fewer use to their maximum advantage.
Greg Walding wanted you to know ... "I have developed a multi-level eBay affiliate program. -- I am the originator of this program. -- I checked with eBay ... their only problem would be if we paid people to sign up with them. Othere than that, they said I was free to get active registered users any way I wanted to. -- I have tried many times to sell things on eBay ... now I will just sell eBay." You can check it out for your own self, at: http://www.grow-rich-overnight.com
Greg Walding wanted you to know ...
"I have developed a multi-level eBay affiliate program. -- I am the originator of this program. -- I checked with eBay ... their only problem would be if we paid people to sign up with them. Othere than that, they said I was free to get active registered users any way I wanted to. -- I have tried many times to sell things on eBay ... now I will just sell eBay."
You can check it out for your own self, at:
Ron was looking for something that doesn't exist ... "I am looking for a business that runs it self. Something I can do from home. Wherever home might be. I am looking to start NOW!!! -- Have any ideas?? -- I need something real." Sorry, Ron ... There ain't no such animal as a business that "runs itself." But ... There are a multitude of businesses you can do from home ... such as the 17 little businesses in the Free Report you downloaded at: Al Paskie needed to find a source ... "I want to buy flower bulbs from Holland to re-sell at flower shows across the country. -- Other than google, is there a way to reach companies that will wholesale them to me directly? -- What would it take to import what I want from Holland myself without going there? -- I know which varieties I want to sell, I'm just having a hard time finding them." Al: Go to your local Public Library and ASK the librarian to see an International Directory of Periodical Publications ... you won't be able to take it out of the library, so take a pen and paper with you. Look in the directory for Gardening and Horticultural publications published in "The Netherlands" ... that's the name for Holland. Contact those publications and tell them you are interested in advertising in their publication. ASK them for a "media kit" which will usually include an issue or two of their publications. When you get the publications, look through them for ads for tulips. Contact those advertisers and tell them what you want. NO ... you don't have to go there. Just tell the suppliers what you want. To learn what you need to know about importing, check out my article at: May02.html
Ron was looking for something that doesn't exist ...
"I am looking for a business that runs it self. Something I can do from home. Wherever home might be. I am looking to start NOW!!! -- Have any ideas?? -- I need something real."
Sorry, Ron ... There ain't no such animal as a business that "runs itself." But ... There are a multitude of businesses you can do from home ... such as the 17 little businesses in the Free Report you downloaded at:
Al Paskie needed to find a source ...
"I want to buy flower bulbs from Holland to re-sell at flower shows across the country. -- Other than google, is there a way to reach companies that will wholesale them to me directly? -- What would it take to import what I want from Holland myself without going there? -- I know which varieties I want to sell, I'm just having a hard time finding them."
Al: Go to your local Public Library and ASK the librarian to see an International Directory of Periodical Publications ... you won't be able to take it out of the library, so take a pen and paper with you. Look in the directory for Gardening and Horticultural publications published in "The Netherlands" ... that's the name for Holland. Contact those publications and tell them you are interested in advertising in their publication. ASK them for a "media kit" which will usually include an issue or two of their publications. When you get the publications, look through them for ads for tulips. Contact those advertisers and tell them what you want. NO ... you don't have to go there. Just tell the suppliers what you want. To learn what you need to know about importing, check out my article at:
Bill McNichols wanted to share this with you ... "In a future Business Lyceum you might mention http://www.sba.gov -- the "Library" link on the left side of the page. A lot of information is available for small businesses, for example exporting and microloans. A word of caution would probably be in order because some of the information is written by Government Service people who have never had to make a payroll or a profit." Thank You, Bill ... I shared it with everyone.
Bill McNichols wanted to share this with you ...
"In a future Business Lyceum you might mention http://www.sba.gov -- the "Library" link on the left side of the page. A lot of information is available for small businesses, for example exporting and microloans. A word of caution would probably be in order because some of the information is written by Government Service people who have never had to make a payroll or a profit."
Thank You, Bill ... I shared it with everyone.
Well ... that's it for this month. -- In order to make every issue responsive to YOUR needs, please send me your questions; or tell me what sources or resources you need to build your business; or give me any thoughts you want to share with your fellow members. Believe it or don't ... I ain t a mind-reader. -- If n you doesn't tell me what you need, I may never touch upon the information, sources or resources you need. This is your publication for you to use to your benefit ... I am just your moderator. Until next month, keep well ... J.F. (Jim) STRAW Grande Panjandrum
Well ... that's it for this month. -- In order to make every issue responsive to YOUR needs, please send me your questions; or tell me what sources or resources you need to build your business; or give me any thoughts you want to share with your fellow members.
Believe it or don't ... I ain t a mind-reader. -- If n you doesn't tell me what you need, I may never touch upon the information, sources or resources you need.
This is your publication for you to use to your benefit ... I am just your moderator.
Until next month, keep well ...
J.F. (Jim) STRAW Grande Panjandrum
Thoughts For The Month! "The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want." -- Ben Stein "Nothing tells more about the character of a man than the things he makes fun of." -- Goethe
Can you stump the old master? -- Betcha can't! Over the past 40 years (man and boy), I have made bundles of money in direct selling, service contracting, wholesale merchandising, entertainment (I was a professional Trumpet player, vocalist & Radio Announcer), freight forwarding, import/export, retail merchandising, warehousing, real estate, electronics manufacturing, finder's fees, closeout merchandising, financial brokerage, business consulting, steel fabrication, gold and coal mining, offshore banking, mailorder, writing, and publishing. -- That being the case ... No matter what business you're in ... whether you're just starting, well on your way, or at the top of the heap ... I've probably been where you are, done what you are doing. -- So ... Anytime you have a question about 'how' to do something in your business - or - if you have any comments about anything I've said in issues of this e-Letter; or if you want to add your 2 cents worth ... just "ask" me or "tell" me. Send your Questions, Comments or 2 Cents Worth to ... with "Question" - "Comment" - or, "2 Cents Worth" in the SUBJECT. If I, personally, don't have an answer to any question you may ask, I will contact some of the professionals in your field of endeavor (I will probably know one or more personally) to get the real 'skinny' for you. Note: If you want to ask a question anonymously just tell me so when you send in the question. -- Nobody but you and I will know who asked the question.
Over the past 40 years (man and boy), I have made bundles of money in direct selling, service contracting, wholesale merchandising, entertainment (I was a professional Trumpet player, vocalist & Radio Announcer), freight forwarding, import/export, retail merchandising, warehousing, real estate, electronics manufacturing, finder's fees, closeout merchandising, financial brokerage, business consulting, steel fabrication, gold and coal mining, offshore banking, mailorder, writing, and publishing. -- That being the case ...
No matter what business you're in ... whether you're just starting, well on your way, or at the top of the heap ... I've probably been where you are, done what you are doing. -- So ...
Anytime you have a question about 'how' to do something in your business - or - if you have any comments about anything I've said in issues of this e-Letter; or if you want to add your 2 cents worth ... just "ask" me or "tell" me.
If I, personally, don't have an answer to any question you may ask, I will contact some of the professionals in your field of endeavor (I will probably know one or more personally) to get the real 'skinny' for you.
Note: If you want to ask a question anonymously just tell me so when you send in the question. -- Nobody but you and I will know who asked the question.
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