Rachel Chippendale – Ruby’s Closet
January 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated, Young Entrepreneur Profiles
Have you ever met someone at an event who is oozing with passion, courage and personality, so much so that you just must go and introduce yourself? That’s what it was like meeting young entrepreneur Rachel Chippendale, 27, winner of the NSW Young Biz Star Competition 2007 in the Regional category.
Her passion for her biz, Ruby’s Closet, even seeped through into her interview for IGNITE, read on to find out what I’m talking about!
Tell us a bit about yourself – your interests, what you are up to in life, experiences…
I presently live in Orange NSW after spending the past few years traveling on and off to over 30 countries – traveling is my passion! On my biggest trip, which lasted 1 year, I traveled from Asia right through Europe over to Morocco, the UK and then South America visiting artisans, designers and manufacturers of accessories. I was on my own and it was the most amazing adventure – everything from bikinis in Brazil and gorgeous leather bags and shoes in Italy and Argentina, to bohemian glass in Czech Republic and jewellery in Paris. I made some very interesting friends!
How do you describe your business?
My business is a combination of working with the things I love and the things I have skilled expertise about.
My launch product is a patent pending and registered design jewellery storage device that solves all problems people have complained of when storing their fashion jewellery. It’s unique, can be hung on the back of a door or in a wardrobe, keeps jewellery separated, easily accessible and free from tangles and tarnish. I aim to have an online store that sells the most unique jewellery, accessories and gifts from all around the world.
Did you always want to run your own business? / What were you doing before you were running
your own business?
Yes, I started “Trendy and Co” when I was seven years old going door to door selling scrunchies and headbands around the neighborhood I sewed myself- I think I made a dollar here and there!
Before I started this business I was working overseas in events and marketing, designing jewellery and operating smaller business ventures on the side during university.
How did the idea come about and what inspired you to get into action?
When I returned from overseas I came back with the most amazing samples of boots, jackets, jewellery and the like – the compliments when I wore these things were never ending. But I knew the industry was very competitive and that I needed to differentiate myself first by inventing unique base products to develop my brand. I constantly noticed jewellery storage was a real problem for so many people – a lot of research, sketches, an engineer and prototypes later my jewellery hanger is a reality.
in.profile continued on next page…
What are some of the things you enjoy most about running your own business?
I love the challenges every day presents, seeing an idea come to life, receiving feedback from customers who love the product and the freedom. I am a country girl at heart but I love to travel and want to live back in a capital city. So, having an online business that can be operated remotely gives me the freedom to do all these things and continue to source amazing products abroad. I also love the fact that you get out what you put in – rewards are only capped by your own efforts.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to make your ideas a reality?
Finding a reliable manufacturer that could bring my idea to life with the highest quality I envisaged, as well as marketing with limited start-up capital. It is incredibly frustrating having a great product that customers rave over and yet not being able to reach enough people to tell them about it yet.
How do you market your business?
I launched at an industry trade fair for jewellery and the response was fantastic. I try and get as much PR as possible which has been great so far as I have a lot of leverage having recently won my category of the NSW Young BizStar competition.
I am presently negotiating with distributors and larger media companies interested in featuring my product. Search Engine Marketing and Google Adwords are great ways to drive website traffic but I believe my service and quality will generate the best advertising – word of mouth.
Do you have any role models you look to for ideas on how to run your business?
I attend business development seminars when I can, which is great networking. I think it’s important to surround yourself with positive like-minded people – because there is always someone who’ll tell you it can’t be done. I often ask my uncle for advice who has been very successful in business for 50 years – he keeps me motivated with his stories of how he started and the similar challenges he faced early on.
I also have a great advisor in the Middle East who has done some amazing things with business and new ideas for his age. He has given me valuable advice on the legal side of things, marketing and dealing with big businesses.
I am presently looking for a mentor in NSW who will help me develop my business further.
What are your favourite things to do to outside of running your biz?
I love traveling and would love to visit Central America, Canada, USA and see more of the Middle East and South America. I also love walking my dog Toby, hiking, shopping, art, reading and having a great night out with my friends.
What advice can you share with other people trying to start a business?
Be prepared to work very hard and make sacrifices, believe in yourself and have a contingency plan for absolutely everything.
Finding a market before you develop a product or service is a great idea. I found a problem and developed the solution, and solutions to problems are good business!
Never give up – I have always been a firm believer that if you work hard and smart and want something enough, eventually it will happen. But it takes time and determination.
Most of all never lose sight of the big picture – success in life is not measured in dollar signs. You will only be good at what you do if you are happy with what you are doing.
Check out Ruby’s Closet
Jamie Glazier – Dare2Dream
January 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated, Young Entrepreneur Profiles
Jamie Glazier has quite a story to tell… and it is this story that motivated him to start his business,
Dare2Dream. Jamie is also one of those young entrepreneurs who has always created his own job – running a few businesses.
Wanna be inspired by a young entrepreneur oozing with passion, courage and determination? Read on…from our IGNITE interview with Jamie.
Tell us a bit about yourself – your interests, what you are up to…
My interests include sports, health & fitness and just in general living everyday to the full. I am currently in the process of building a brand (Dare2Dream) that will help inspire people to believe in themselves and to go for the things in their life that they want to achieve.
I run Dare2Dream Peak Performance which is a mental conditioning business to help people create a mindset for success and to knock down those barriers that are currently in their way to achieving success.
I have also begun Dare2Dream Threadz, that is a clothing label out there to inspire and invigorate the younger generations in Australia through our unique and fresh designs.
How do you describe your job to people who ask what you do?
I describe it by saying I help people understand how the human brain works and how we as humans have been programmed to use it on an unconscious level. We then look at being able to make some positive changes that will result in some more empowering outcomes for a happier life.
I call myself a Peak Performance coach.
Did you always want to run your own business and What were you doing before you were
running your own business?
I have always run my own business.
I ran a tennis coaching academy when I was 20yrs old and before that I worked as an assistant tennis coach for a few years. But for the most part, I have always worked for myself and wouldn’t have it any other way.
How did the idea come about and what inspired you to get into action?
The whole Dare2Dream idea came about when I was preparing to become a professional golfer and I woke one morning in excruciating pain that I couldn’t move. I had slipped 2 discs in my lower back and spent the next 15 months on the ground. I was told I will never play sport again and most likely need a walking stick to walk with or end up in a wheelchair.
For the first time in my life, I realised there and then that everything I had achieved and not achieved in my life before this was totally up to me, I had failed to become a professional tennis player because I didn’t believe in myself and the same went for my golf.
All of a sudden, I had no other option than to dive in head first and get my life back on track, against the odds.
I threw myself into my vision of getting my healthy life back and enjoying the sports I loved playing, my mind was so focused on this happening that I realised that NOTHING was going to get in my way. I soon realised that I had created the mindset that ALL successful people had and that was my motivation to start
Dare2Dream, to help teach and inspire people to believe in themselves and just totally focus on what it is they want.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Everything. The whole process to me is amazing, the set backs, the No’s, the ability to help people achieve their dreams is amazing. You are always going to have doubters and people that don’t believe in your vision, as long as you are not one of them, you will be fine.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to make your ideas a reality?
Getting society to understand that although you do things differently, it may just be as powerful or more powerful than what we are use to. I realised many years ago, that if you look at what the masses are doing and go the opposite way, you will be successful.
How do you market your business?
I market it in many different ways. I write articles for national magazines that help get my name out there. I sponsor specific people that will help showcase our clothing and help create interest. Lend our clothes out for fashion shoots and in general just try and create as much as word of mouth as possible.
Where do you catch some fresh and new ideas for your designs?
Most of the ideas just come from my mind. As I just mentioned, a lot of people think that different is bad, but I believe different is good, especially within the clothing industry. We stand for more than great clothes. Our brand is about not just wearing the clothes, but living the clothes. We can do that as our brand stands for something, and that is extremely important we believe.
Do you have a role model that influences the way you do business?
No not really, because I understand that everyone is different. I take pieces of successful people’s journeys and then put my own flavour on it to help Dare2Dream go and grow in its unique way. You need to separate yourself from the crowd to stand out.
What advice can you share with your people trying to start a business or community project?
Be extremely specific with where you want to finish and then make sure every day you focus on the tasks to make that become a reality. I have a saying that I lived by everyday through my back injury, and that is “Plan your work and Work your Plan!”
It may be painful at times and not so enjoyable, but focusing on what it will bring you will help keep you inspired and motivated to work hard.
Check out these Dare2Dream websites for more info or some funky tees!
www.myspace.com/dare2dreamapparel
www.dare2dream.net.au
http://shop.dare2dream.com.au
Vanessa Cullen – Forward Thinking Design
January 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated, Young Entrepreneur Profiles
We want to let you into the mind of a great young entrepreneur we know…Vanessa Cullen, 27, from NSW.
She started her business after a bad experience in the design industry, and hasn’t looked back since!
How do you describe your business to people who ask what you do?
At Forward Thinking Design we create unique and effective interior and graphic design solutions for retail, hospitality, commercial and public applications. We look after everything from interior concepts, architectural drawings, logos and branding, organising Council approvals, designing business cards and website graphics, overseeing construction and printing through to final hand over of the fit out or graphic outcomes.
Our point of difference is our integrity – we believe that design is a service, that every project is about the success of our client’s business and is not about our own self aggrandisement. We’re not about ego, we respect the skills and know-how of the trades people we work with, we maintain a strong code of ethics and we aim to always exceed client expectations.
How did you come up with the idea?
I had some bad experiences as an employee within the design industry – I witnessed, first hand, some appalling ethics and downright dirty practices. I couldn’t live with being a party to what was going on so I asked some trusted friends whether they thought I could make a success of doing things my way. Their feedback was positive so I summed up the courage to take the chance and I haven’t looked back since.
How long have you been working on it?
I applied for an ABN in 2003 (when I was 22 years old) so that I could do some freelance work on the side, whilst being employed full time as an interior designer. I didn’t really dive into running my own business full
time until late 2005/2006 and only made my intention 100% concrete when I registered the new business name in Jan 2007.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Every time I think I’ve conquered the biggest challenge, a new one arises! So far I’d have to say that overcoming the initial fear of working for myself full time was a big one – I was terrified that I was leaving behind a secure and successful career path for a chance that could send me broke and damage my chances of future employment.
Looking back, I’m actually glad that life seemed so bad at the time that such a big risk seemed worth taking. My success since then has taught me that if you don’t take the leap, you’ll never know what could have been. I’m glad I embraced this challenge – there aren’t words to describe how much more awesome my life is as a result.
What do you like most about being in business?
Actually the challenges are the most fun. Sometimes tough moments make me grumble and feel stressed but I love learning from every situation. It’s a wild rollercoaster ride and every experience is enriching, all serving to assist me in overcoming future challenges. What do they say, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger? – totally!
When I first went into this I thought I’d love the design bit but the business side of things would be hard and not fun. But business is a great game that teaches you so much, from diplomacy and psychology, to enhanced financial and time management. I think I love the challenge of business itself as much as the creative challenges of design.
I think I’m also addicted to the tingle of apprehension, the adrenalin of not knowing what’s going to happen next – the suspense of the future, and knowing that you’re shaping your destiny in every moment that you live it.
What do you like least about being in business?
Sometimes my brain gets tired, especially when I’m doing my accounting. People think you have more freedom when you’re in business but as you become more successful you come to a cusp of expansion when you’re doing it all and can’t just take to your bed when you get the flu. That’s the time when you’ve got to look at hiring/expanding/delegating/outsourcing and that’s where I am at right now – it’s a great problem to have but it also ties your stomach in a knot as it’s another leap into the new and unknown. I obviously have a love/hate relationship with challenges!!! LOL
How do you market your product?
Most of our work comes in through referrals, word of mouth. I do a lot of networking as people are unlikely to risk a $250,000 fit out on you if you haven’t developed some sort of relationship with them. I’ve tried some print advertising but it hasn’t worked for us.
Our marketing is most successful when it is very targeted – our services aren’t required by every man and his dog. It has come as quite a surprise to me that we’re starting to have considerable success with attracting clients via our website though – I never expected we could pull this off without having big bucks
to spend.
What advice do you have for young people out there trying to start a business or community project?
Be open minded, surround yourself with the right people – people you can learn from, who don’t have ulterior motives and who give good advice – think critically about the advice they give, it’s all valuable but you may sometimes decide to take a tangent. Arm yourself with as much info as possible and join relevant networks.
Think creatively – marketing on a budget will work if you aren’t afraid to be a little cheeky.
Promote yourself and your product – no one else is going to do this for you.
Don’t hold back – once you make the decision to start a business or a project throw yourself at it 110%.
Always be guided by your target market – listen to what they’re saying and what they’re not saying (read between the lines).
Every moment only happens once – grab every second with both hands and make the most of it.
You can visit Vanessa’s at Forward Thinking Design
Juicy Branding with Tim Pethick
January 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Homepage, Marketing, Start Up Marketing
If you couldn’t be at the Sydney young entrepreneur event for young people currently running (and
interested in running) their own biz that The Frank Team organised, then you missed a fab talk from Tim Pethick, inventor and chief nudie, of nudie fruit juices.
But fear not, we’ve captured some of the highlights for you here so that as a young entrepreneur you can use them in your own business right now!
Here’s the story… Tim loves fresh juice. But he didn’t always have time to make his own, especially when travelling for work, so he conducted some in-depth research and started experimenting in his own kitchen with different blends of fruits and different sized bottles.
In their first week on the market in 2003 nudie sold 40 bottles! nudie now employs 86 people and nudie’s are available in 4,500 outlets around Australia – that equates to 150,000 bottles sold every week!
Here’s some random thoughts Tim shared with us about his journey to help give you an edge on branding your new products and projects.
The principal elements of Tim’s nudie success:
* Integrity of the product
* Product difference
* Brand
* Passion
* I didn’t know what couldn’t be done – industry outsiders think differently
Tim’s insights on marketing:
People are too busy and not listening
Cutting through the clutter is increasingly difficult
You can waste a lot of money on ineffective advertising
Consumers are looking for something else
For decades marketers have known “consumers have become more discerning” yet they treat them the same way
Marketers talk AT consumers rather than WITH them
Consumers are “trading up” – they want mini-indulgences
Get people talking – “word of mouth”
Getting the BRAND message across
Australians are “increasingly unhappy with, and ignoring, advertising”
81% say they are taking less notice of advertising
66% said advertising was boring and repetitive
75% say stereotypes proliferate
Source: Eye on Australia 2003
The lessons Tim has learned:
To challenge conventional wisdom
Just do it!
There are always more reasons not to Think big!
If you don’t think you can you can’t
Enjoy the ride (and others will too)
Focus on the customer
Be the best – don’t compromise
Size doesn’t necessarily matter
Don’t focus on the competition or you will lose
Branding the nudie way:
Make your product remarkable
Make it fun
Make it positive
Don’t rely on traditional advertising
Give it (positive) attitude
Engage the consumer – maximum dialogue;maximum involvement
Buddhism Principles And Business
January 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated, Homepage, Management
With Western culture increasingly being influenced by Eastern thinking, we attended a three-hour seminar on applying the principles of Buddhism to the business world. Here’s food for thought.
1. We’re Connected with everything around us
When you harm the things or people around you, it harms you. When you help others, you help yourself. Observing that ‘life’ is interdependent inspires altruism – having regard for the wellbeing or best interests of others – and is the basic principle behind the concept of karma where everything you do and think in your business and in life has consequences.
2. Your Mind is Powerful
Your life is a reflection of your thoughts, as the saying goes, ‘nothing is good or bad, thinking makes it so’. In other words, your opinions on the world around you are your interpretation, only one possible point of view. If you abandon your harmful thoughts and actions, that is, eliminate negativity and cultivate altruism, you can shape and inspire your workplace, and your world.
3. The Importance of Understanding
Working on yourself is the highest contribution you can make in life because if you understand yourself, you can understand others and therefore have compassion. If you care for yourself and the people who work with you, they are more likely to respond in kind. It’s your role as a leader to help build those around you by genuinely looking after their wellbeing.
4. Compassion in Business
Compassion for yourself and others is a benefit to you. But how do you act compassionately in a competitive business world? Consider there are two types of competition – wanting to be on top at the expense of others, and accepting that others want to be on top then working harder and smarter to get there.
Real success is built on strength, which comes from endurance, clarity and compassion. Strength rarely comes from losing your cool or forcing a harmful short-term win when faced with conflict or competition. When you have strength, you become someone to reckon with, someone who wins others over. But compassion doesn’t mean letting others walk over you, it requires earning a reputation of respect and integrity over the long-term.
So perhaps re-examine the values by which you measure your business ‘success’ (ie: not solely by your bottom line and market share) and consider introducing an extra distinction and measure – altruism.
5. Going Global If you keep your mind still, you’ll find peace. Living in a world where the three biggest killers of our time are anger, anxiety and depression, we’re constantly adding our own emotions, stresses and ego to the stillness of the day. By learning to quiet your mind, and give up or release the stress, and breathe slowly and deeply, you’ll quiet and clear your mind. You can then gain an awareness of the bigger picture and see things from all points of view.
On a global level, when we find inner peace, barriers between people are dissolved and the world no longer seems so hostile because your perception has greater insight.
Some great principles to bring into business.
Building a Great TEAM – First Steps
January 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Homepage, Homepage-Growing, People
Finding the right people to work with – whether for your own business or the various projects you’re running – is less about warm and fuzzy feelings of ‘teamwork’ and more about generating productivity and values alignment.
Let me explain.
It’s one thing to get a group of volunteers or staff together to participate in a team building adventure course that identifies the leaders and followers of your team. It’s a whole other story to take serious time out to really investigate the skill gaps of your team and then fill those gaps with people who share the same
values and business vision.
So STEP ONE to building a great team is to conduct a ‘skills audit’ of your existing team (which may only
consist of one person so far – you!). Do you and your team have all the vital business roles like accounting,
marketing, strategy, IT etc, covered? If it’s time to expand then it’s time to fill some of those gaps.
Start
plugging the holes where your business or project will most benefit – either in terms of sales/income or
productivity/delivery/service. No use hiring a web guru to build a funky new website if your main product is
denture cream for over 60′s!
STEP TWO – don’t choose staff based on their skills alone. You need to create a ‘values match’. Not unlike
the perfect match of dating, you need to hire people who value the same things as you and your biz/project.
So think about your biz/project’s vision … can this potential new person help you to reach that goal? Are
their dreams and ambitions aligned with yours – both personal career goals and the goals of the biz? There’s
no use hiring a great finance guy who could care less about animal rights if you’re trying to find homes for
stray pets.
On a less obvious level, if you value integrity, freedom and creativity, you want to find teammates who share
those similar philosophies. A clash of values is one of the key reasons people quit their jobs or become
de-motivated and unproductive.
The other key to building a great team around you to help you achieve your goals – and this applies in
business as well as life – is the value of networking.
Networking is still a bit of a dirty word, implying
endless sessions of Friday night drinks and self-absorbed schmoozing. Not so. Effective networking is
about accepting invitations to events and opportunities that directly help you to build your own skill set and
mix with like-minded people who you can learn from and share experiences with.
The more people you meet and genuinely share your experiences and contacts with, the more business
opportunities naturally come your way. The key word there of course, is ‘genuine’. If you’re just attending
networking events to plug your own biz people will quickly lose interest. If you’re interested in learning new
skills, swapping ‘war’ stories, and helping others out, ‘biz karma’ brings it right back to ya.
So before you draw up contracts and job descriptions, think about what you need and what values you are looking for.
Getting Money from Customers – Your Payment Options
January 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Homepage, Homepage-GettingStart, Money
There are lots of different ways that you can get your customers to pay you. It is a matter of thinking about what works best for your customers and you, as well as what you can actually set up and use.
What payment methods will you offer your customers?
CASH
This is probably the easiest, to begin with. Cash works if you are in front of your customer at the point of purchase, like at the markets. Always make sure you have change!
CHEQUE
You can allow customers to pay you via cheque. They will make the cheque out to you (your full name) or your business name, depending on how your business is set up. If you are running as a sole trader under your own name and your bank account is under your name, then ask your customers to put your name on the cheque. If you have a business bank account under the business name then ask your customers to put the name of your business on the cheque.
You will need to go to the bank and deposit the cheque to then get the money transferred into your account. This can take a few days to “clear” (ie: where they check the other person has the money in their account and takes it out to then put into your account).
Sometimes people make write cheques when they actually don’t have the money; which you wouldn’t know. And so their cheque will “bounce” (your bank will tell you that the cheque was dishonoured and they could not get the money from the person’s account ) and your bank will charge you a fee for this. It is then up to you to chase up the person to ask for your money, again. However, most of the time cheques are totally fine and quite easy for your customers.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
You supply a Tax Invoice that outlines to your customer what you are charging them for with your ABN (Australian Business Number) and your bank account details (Account Name, Bank, BSB Number) to your customer and they use internet banking to deposit the money directly into your account.
This is a very popular method now with internet banking. It means you don’t have to set foot in a bank – yey, no lines! Plus it is quite instant, you can sometimes have your money within 1 day, if your customers are super nice and pay you straight away.
CREDIT CARD
You may like to offer your customers the option of paying by credit card. This will mean that you have to set up a Merchant account with a bank, which will cost you money. And the bank will take a fee for each transaction that you put through. You will need to do your research to get the best deal from a bank.
PAYPAL
If you don’t want to go through the banks and set up a Merchant account, particularly at the beginning, then use PayPal. through PayPal you can take payments online, as well as orders from people using their credit cards which you then put through the PayPal system.
Yes, PayPal does take a fee on each transaction, so do your research and see if that works out for you and your pricing structure to ensure you are still making money.
Here at The Frank Team we take cheques & Direct deposits for our workshops that we do with various clients (schools, uni’s, community groups, local councils, government departments & young professionals). But for our products we use PayPal which means we can take credit card payments, which is great flexibility for us and our customers.
With any payment method always be totally up front with your customers about your payment terms; when you expect to be paid, how & how much. Here at The Frank Team we take a 60% deposit before the workshop and then 40% after the workshop, and have 14 day terms (ie: our customers have 2 weeks to pay).
Making Money Online from Your Skills
January 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Homepage, Homepage-IdeasAndOpps, Ideas, Start Guide
As full time “normal” jobs become harder to come by, it is the perfect time to jump online and start to make money from your skills & start your own business in the process! Plus online no-one has to know how old you are, which is perfect for young entrepreneurs…..cos it is all about the quality of your work instead.
If you are like many under 20s who have gone to uni, you have a degree (and are slowly paying it off) but may be finding it hard to get that first “real” job. Or you have made your way through a few contract jobs, which are great while they last but means cashflow is up and down. Or you are contemplating putting off the job search altogether and keeping on studying!
Or perhaps you are like my friend Cristina – she is originally from Venezuela where she completed her under graduate degree in international relations. She then travelled to Japan to study her Business degree while also perfecting her Japanese. Over the past 6 months she has been knocked back for work on over 20 occasions, despite all of her degrees and enthusiasm. But she can speak 4 different languages fluently; English, Portuguese, Spanish & Japanese.
Have you thought about MAKING MONEY ONLINE using your skills? Your language skills, your professional skills from your degree (if you are a lawyer, accountant etc) and even your technology skills……these are quite valuable online!
Quit complaining about not being able to find a job and it is so tough out there….and start being entrepreneurial and use what you already have; your skills!
If you speak languages fluently, think about doing ONLINE TRANSLATION. There are websites that list the profiles of online translators (where you can set up your profile & really talk yourself up!) and people who are looking for translators come to and “pick” someone to work with.
So far I have found:
- Multilingo
- Elance
If you have a professional skill, like you are a qualified lawyer, accountant, counsellor, psychologist, mechanic, web design – then you can use all of that knowledge and get paid for it. Answer people’s questions online, and get paid for your time in answering those questions. Here are some sites to check out and use to take your professional knowledge (that you have spent a lot of money to get!) and start to make some money from and of course build profile & experience through as well.
- Guru.com
- Elance
If you are a really great writer, have just completed studies in communication of some sort, enjoy writing & like the idea of making money from your writing then that is possible as well.Start by checking out these sites….and yep, putting up a profile for yourself and bidding for work.
- Guru.com
- Helium
Even get paid to write reviews of blogs, books, movies, websites…….on and on it goes!
….there are heaps of sites where you can get paid to write reviews. This blog post I found is very helpful.
If you are a designer; graphic design, web design, coding, programming etc….then there is a HEAP of opportunity online to start making money. Although all of the coders and programmers should already know that right?! Try these places out….
- Elance
And finally – for odd jobs & other ways for making money online try….
- Craigslist classifieds for job ads
- Start up an ebay business selling stuff online
A great tip (I got from an insider who has been making money online since he was 15!) is to get onto forums online, forums where people are discussing your area of expertise. See what questions people are asking about, answer those questions & then offer your services for further help. The more niche the forum, the better quality people you will find.
I have not used any of the above sites myself – so I would suggest some of your own research to find the BEST ones to go with first. Do some research (online of course) and look for recommendations from other “freelancers” about the better sites to post your profile and bid on work through. And also research how to put up profiles on each of these sites that get you results.
But basically, quit complaining about “tough economic times” and “I can’t find a job” and start making money online using skills you already have!
And for ultimate in how to MAKE MONEY ONLINE guide then check out this blog post.
If you know of any other great ways to make money online, good & reputable sites to use…then tell us all about it and spread the good news!
ru an entrepreneur?
January 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated, Homepage, Start Guide
Pick me…I am….Pick me!!!
When most of us think of an ‘entrepreneur’ we picture high flying, high powered, business suits driving wheels n’ deals with stacks of cash in their fat, unethical wallets. And trust me, this can be the case – but not always!
Entrepreneurs are people who are ‘enterprising’ – they’re someone who sees a great new idea that could positively impact a business, the environment, or a social cause, and who are determined, daring and energetic enough to make the idea a reality.
So are you an entrepreneur? Take our quick quiz…
- you think a financial crisis or recession is just another way of saying “REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY”
- you want independence
- you’ve created or invented something
- you’ve identified a niche or gap in a market
- you look at things differently and regularly ask ‘why’
- you have a passion for what you do & for seeing your ideas become a reality
- you want to be your own boss
- you enjoy risk taking
- you don’t know the meaning of the phrase ‘that can’t be done’
- you want to determine how you spend your time
- you want to build something from scratch
- you see economic empowerment and financial independence coming through business ownership
Ok, so if you ticked ‘most or all of the above’ then you sound like someone who could be, or already is, an
entrepreneur!
And if you’re under 35 then you are a YOUNG entrepreneur; by age anyways!
Now there’s lots of pros and cons to running your own biz – long hours, loneliness, frustration, not ‘fitting the norm’
- but if you haven’t experienced it already, the benefits of freedom, control over your destiny, self-expression, and
hard-earned achievement pay off big time.
So what next? How do you get those brilliant ideas you’ve got in your head out into the real world?
Writing a business plan is a great first step but one that can be a little overwhelming. Start by writing down your
responses to the following questions…
1. Got a name for your business or the product/service you’d like to create?
2. Describe your idea in three bullet points.
3. Who do you think will benefit most from your idea?
4. What would you like to achieve by implementing this idea?
5. Why is this idea important to you?
6. What help do you think you’ll need to make the idea happen?
You’re on your way…..check out more articles in GETTING STARTED to move forward with your business
Tips for Keeping on Track with your Goals
January 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Get Motivated
Got some goals you’re determined to reach?
Make a note – If you haven’t already, take time right now to write a list of your goals for this year/month. This list will remind you of your priorities and things you want to achieve – and don’t forget to be specific, the clearer your goals, the easier they are to accomplish!
The only more important thing is to make a start!
“The most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, move.” ~ Brian Tracy
Baby steps – Next, it’s a good idea to break each goal down into manageable steps – this makes things seem a lot more achievable, and it also helps you to define a more realistic timeframe for your goals later.
So, for example, if your goal is to organise your workspace, break it down – you need to:
- clear the space,
- remove items you haven’t used recently,
- clear through drawers/trays and remove old documents…etc.
Now, you can clearly see the steps involved in achieving the goal so you have a reliable plan of action!
Easy there tiger – Getting too eager at the start of the year can be a set back. Setting too many goals at once can be distracting and overwhelming, making it difficult to achieve any one of them.
Look at your list…is it realistic for you to achieve all your goals in one year? If so, you’re in luck! If not, prioritise your goals by writing a number next to them to indicate which is: 1- most important, 2- second most important and so on. Then eliminate goals from your list that aren’t achievable this year – and keep them for next year!
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” ~ Lao Tzu
Take the time – A timeframe is important if you don’t want to find yourself postponing things this year!
Look at all the steps you’ve written down – how long is a reasonable amount of time to get them done?
Set yourself a timeframe for each step and then an overall timeframe for each goal – mark this on your calendar, diary or your mobile and try to keep as close to possible to that timeframe! Remember The Milk is a great way to keep track of this stuff online and with reminders.
Go one step further; schedule time on a weekly basis, to help you continue working on your goal amongst other commitments.
“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something… Find it and keep it lit!” ~ Mary Lou Retton
Tell others about your goals – This is so they can keep you motivated and accountable to your goals.
A funny thing happens when you tell the world, outside of your head, something you are going for……opportunities and assistance starts to come your way. The people who you tell your goals to will help you get there, and not just in words of encouragement but also in terms of contacts, information and all sorts of other helpful stuff.
Reward yourself! – It’s hard work remaining focused all year to achieve change, maintain progress and develop yourself. So, why not reward yourself at the end?!
Here’s the fun part – go out and grab yourself a gift! Wrap it up and keep it somewhere visible, like at your workspace or on a bookshelf. As you complete a goal, give yourself a reward! OR get a picture of the thing or experience you will get once you achieve your goal – place that image where you can see it everyday to remind yourself what are you working towards.
This self encouragement will get you ready to take on your next goal!
Good luck!! 
