7 Tips to Starting a Successful Small Business
Getting a small business off the ground is challenging to say the least. Here are some tips which will prepare the ground for running a successful small business.Have GoalsThis is where it all starts – the foundation for success. Know exactly where you are heading. What will the business ‘look’ like in the future? How will you know when your business is a success? When you wake up in the morning, do you know what actions you have to take to get you on the road to success?Take ActionThe difference between success and failure is down to the actions you take. The failures in life are the people who know what they have to do but never do it. The successful small business owners are people who take action on their ideas, ones who never say, “I wish I had done …”Seek FeedbackThere is a saying that feedback is the breakfast of champions. During the early days of your business you must continually seek feedback about all aspects of your business. What works? What doesn’t work? What needs changing slightly? Speak to customers, suppliers, your bank manager, your accountant - anyone who can provide you with a fresh perspective.Find Out What Do You Don’t KnowYou can’t expect to know everything about running a business. Undertake your own skills analysis and find out your areas for development. Once you know your knowledge gaps seek out courses, books and advice, which will get you on track.Be FocusedLet no one distract you from achievement of your goals. At the start of every day get yourself into the frame of mind that you will only do tasks which will get you closer to your goal – nothing else matters.Take Risks!You will never achieve anything if you’re not prepared to jump off the cliff a few times! We’re not talking about risks which will put the business in jeopardy

Counter-Offers: Do They Merit Consideration?
You are one of the fortunate few who have not been downsized. However, your current job isn’t exactly fulfilling. Perhaps it isn’t what you enjoy doing. Maybe the hours are too long. Perhaps you are having some conflicts with your supervisor. Your salary may not be on par with average job salaries for the same type and level of position, or not come close to what you feel you are worth. Whatever the reason(s), you have decided to enter into a job search.So you begin your job search. You work hard and spend quite a bit of time searching for your new job. Your efforts are finally rewarded; you have received an offer. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part. Wait a minute! Did I just say “now comes the hard part”? What am I talking about? The hard part is finding your new job, isn’t it?If you are employed while searching for a job, you must inform your present employer that you have received an offer of employment elsewhere. When you give notice, two things can happen. Either your present employer will accept, with regret, your decision, or they will do whatever they can to persuade you to stay.Your present employer probably spent a lot of time and money hiring and then training you. They are accustomed to your work habits and abilities, and know you work in harmony with your peers. You have achieved a number of accomplishments during your tenure there. To find your replacement at this juncture would be costly.Your company will most likely attempt to retain you with a counter-offer.A counter-offer represents the company’s monetary sense of what it’s going to take to retain you as an employee. It will be fashioned as an offer difficult to refuse, and include a substantial increase in your compensation along with whatever other perks are deemed necessary to win you back. What should you do?The answer can be found in the

Your Fundraising Letter P.S.: 10 Ways to Write Powerful Postscripts
Your postscript is one of the most important parts of your fundraising letter. It usually stresses the point of your letter and asks for action. Some donors read it first. Some professional writers write it first.Since the P.S. is one part of your letter that you can be confident your donors will read, you need to write something there that will motivate donors to send you a gift or take your desired action.A donor reading a P.S. is a donor looking for information. And that’s your opportunity. So don’t treat your postscript as an afterthought. Here are some ideas to get you started on finishing your letter.1. SHOW WHAT A DONATION “BUYS”“Remember, your gift of just $25.18 will provide a hot supper every day for a week. Please give today.”2. MAKE YOUR DONOR MAD (AT THE PROBLEM YOU SOLVE)“I’ve included a rather sad photo of a giant panda—a mother who’d been nursing her new baby—who was killed by poachers. Take a look. Then give some gift, of any amount, to stop tragic panda deaths and help save these harmless and wonderful animals. I am waiting to hear from you.”3. MENTION YOUR FRONT-END PREMIUM“By the way, the enclosed 2006 calendar is a gift of thanks for your support this year, and your continued support next year.”4. MENTION YOUR DEADLINE“We must have your responses to the enclosed National Survey in our hands within 10 days. Please complete and return it to us in the enclosed postpaid envelope provided. If you’d like to join the Rails to Trails Conservancy, simply mark the appropriate box on the Survey form and mail it with your check in the enclosed envelope.”5. SUGGEST A LARGER GIFT“Your last gift was $250. If you could match it again (or even increase it a little), I’d be mighty grateful to you.”6. DRAW ATTENTION TO AN IMPORTANT ENCLOSUREl hurray, here's the bad news. They are reincarnating as web sites. Changes the whole picture, doesn't it?

For those who've never seen an infomercial, it is a program-length TV commercial touting easy ways to make money in a variety of ways.

Real estate is probably the most often run program. Others include low-interest government loans or grants to start a new business or go to college.

Then there are the old standby classified advertisement sections in newspapers or magazines promising "big money" business opportunities and/or work-at-home schemes. The companies behind these infomercials and print ads claim that by using their products and services, you can learn how to increase your wealth or start a business from

mercial touting easy ways to make money in a variety of ways.

Real estate is probably the most often run program. Others include low-interest government loans or grants to start a new business or go to college.

Then there are the old standby classified advertisement sections in newspapers or magazines promising "big money" business opportunities and/or work-at-home schemes. The companies behind these infomercials and print ads claim that by using their products and services, you can learn how to increase your wealth or start a business from

new business or go to college.

Then there are the old standby classified advertisement sections in newspapers or magazines promising "big money" business opportunities and/or work-at-home schemes. The companies behind these infomercials and print ads claim that by using their products and services, you can learn how to increase your wealth or start a business from

-at-home schemes. The companies behind these infomercials and print ads claim that by using their products and services, you can learn how to increase your wealth or start a business from the comfort of your home.

These infomercials and advertisements make it very clear you can make the big bucks only by purchasing their books, audio and video tapes, or computer hardware and software. The materials range in price from less than $100 to several thousand dollars.

To clinch the sale, some promoters include a toll-free telephone consulting service with your purchase and offer a money-back guarantee. The fine print in the guarantee is what gets most people.

Web sites promoting these same type of "opportunities" look like an infomercial. Hype, glitz and promises of big money adorn the screen. On the other hand, contact details, other than ordering information, is scant if existent at all.

On televis