Have a Solid Plot — Then Change It
Most business start-up tales say that you have to have a business plot. And you do. But that’s not the beginning and end of figuring out your start-up costs.
Jeff Shuman, who directs entrepreneurial studies at Bentley College, says, “The conventional wisdom is that an entrepreneur sees an opportunity, comes up with a business plot to capitalize on it, determines the capital that needs to be raised, raises the capital and then applies it to building the business described in the business plot. “
There’s one major problem with that model, says Shuman. It all hinges on getting the business right the first time, and that doesn’t often happen. “In reality, it’s likely that some of your initial assumptions are pretty excellent and others aren’t going to be worth the paper they’re written on,” he says.
Shuman and others say that figuring out your small business start-up costs means regularly reviewing your assumptions and changing your initial model. Writing a plot is excellent because it forces you to write down everything you are going to need to start your business.
But that initial plot is likely to change repeatedly as you learn new things and incorporate them into the plot.
Be Willing to Pull Back
It’s tempting to add up everything you need for the full-fledged business you imagine, and choose it’s what you need to start out.
But pulling back and looking for a smaller model can give you a way to get started while also saving money. Shuman uses the example of someone who calculates the total cost of starting a retail business in a local shopping centre.
“You could start that way and write a business plot based on that amount,” he says. “But maybe you’d be better off renting a stand and testing what the demand is for your products at that location. “
This consumer testing reduces your initial small & medium business start-up costs. The result is that the initial cycle of your business is dedicated not so much to generating profits as to generating information. “With this, you can fund your business on a cycle-by-cycle basis,” Shuman says. “When you go for the second cycle and for expanding your business, the numbers are now based not on focus groups or surveys but on real-world experience. “
Calculate Prices and Time Correctly
Calculating your initial cash flow is part of figuring out your start-up costs. It’s an area where businesses are sometimes less optimistic than they should be. “Small business owners may under-price their product or service, thinking they have to come in at the lowest price point to compete,” says Barbara Bird, who chairs the business management program at an American university. “They don’t necessarily need to do that. “
Correctly Estimate Your Start-up Time
Yes, when beginning a business, time can be money. Let’s say you’re going to have fixed costs such as a monthly lease. If you have to make improvements to a space before you can really open for business, those fixed costs are going to be additional start-up costs until you can really open for business. I’ve watched many entrepreneurs draw up a timeline for their ventures and get tripped up on the safety and inspection requirements imposed by local agencies.
For that reason, I reckon one of the first places a prospective new business owner should go is to the local government plotting or license department. Construction permits and inspections can push a prospective opening date back by months. If you fail to take into account the cost of this time, you could be small of working capital right at the start. In order to help all small businesses Microsoft launched low cost Small Business Products.
Be Realistic About the Cost of Money
Many small business owners finance their ventures by running up huge balances on their personal credit cards. Others tap the equity in their homes.
But self-financing isn’t a practical option for larger ventures. Tom Emerson, who directs the entrepreneurship centre at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, says small business start-ups should figure in the cost of capital when determining initial expenses and cash flow. “The cost is usually based on what the interest would be, were that cash invested in something with similar risk on the market” Emerson says. “It’s usually a figure that is a few percentage points or more above the prime rate. “
 

 
Windows Vista:
Microsoft Windows Vista – the new version of the flagship Windows product from Microsoft, delivers fantastic value to businesses by addressing key needs – improving security and compliance, optimizing the desktop infrastructure, enabling their mobile workforce, and finding and using information more efficiently. Dive deep into these resources to get an insight into these value enhancing features.
Top Benefits
Protect your PCs and data; Built-in security features automatically help protect your PCs so you worry less about spy ware and other threats.
Never lose your work; Retrieve older versions of documents you accidentally delete or overwrite and schedule automatic backups of your files and hard disk.
Delight in seamless computing; Windows Vista Business is compatible with thousands of software applications, hardware devices, and services.
Work virtually anywhere; Access your office PC remotely from a home computer or your laptop while on the road.
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 is the latest release of the award-winning server solution designed to meet the networking needs of smaller organizations and those stepping up to their first server. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 is a robust, flexible platform that can be customized to your needs. Small businesses need to access, update, share and store ever-increasing amounts of information. Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 those capabilities and more. SBS 2003 R2 comes with a collection of features that can help you make a secure small business network and meet your storage, printing, collaboration, e-mail, Internet connectivity, and faxing requirements. It also supports workers who need to access your network using mobile devices. You can connect up to 75 workstations to an SBS 2003 R2 network.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is the newest and most powerful version of the industry’s leading server for e-mail, calendars, and unified messaging. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 has been designed specifically to meet the challenges of e-mail security threats and address the needs of the different groups who have a stake in the messaging system.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is comprehensive, integrated data management and analysis software that enables organizations to reliably manage mission-critical information and confidently run today’s increasingly complex business applications. SQL Server 2005 allows companies to gain greater insight from their business information and achieve quicker results for a competitive advantage. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a powerful tool for turning your enterprise data into a competitive advantage. Industry-leading support for enterprise data management, developer productivity, and business intelligence includes all the functionality customers expect from an enterprise-class database management system. Learn more about the hundreds of features added or updated in SQL Server 2005.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization. In addition to new functionality, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 provides powerful improvements to the base operating system over Windows Server 2003. Notable improvements include those to networking, advanced security features, remote application access, centralized server role management, performance and reliability monitoring tools, failover clustering, deployment, and the file system. These improvements and many others help organizations maximize the flexibility, availability, and control of their servers.

Have a Solid Plot — Then Change It
Most business start-up tales say that you have to have a business plot. And you do. But that’s not the beginning and end of figuring out your start-up costs.
Jeff Shuman, who directs entrepreneurial studies at Bentley College, says, “The conventional wisdom is that an entrepreneur sees an opportunity, comes up with a business plot to capitalize on it, determines the capital that needs to be raised, raises the capital and then applies it to building the business described in the business plot. “
There’s one major problem with that model, says Shuman. It all hinges on getting the business right the first time, and that doesn’t often happen. “In reality, it’s likely that some of your initial assumptions are pretty excellent and others aren’t going to be worth the paper they’re written on,” he says.
Shuman and others say that figuring out your small business start-up costs means regularly reviewing your assumptions and changing your initial model. Writing a plot is excellent because it forces you to write down everything you are going to need to start your business.
But that initial plot is likely to change repeatedly as you learn new things and incorporate them into the plot.
Be Willing to Pull Back
It’s tempting to add up everything you need for the full-fledged business you imagine, and choose it’s what you need to start out.
But pulling back and looking for a smaller model can give you a way to get started while also saving money. Shuman uses the example of someone who calculates the total cost of starting a retail business in a local shopping centre.
“You could start that way and write a business plot based on that amount,” he says. “But maybe you’d be better off renting a stand and testing what the demand is for your products at that location. “
This consumer testing reduces your initial small & medium business start-up costs. The result is that the initial cycle of your business is dedicated not so much to generating profits as to generating information. “With this, you can fund your business on a cycle-by-cycle basis,” Shuman says. “When you go for the second cycle and for expanding your business, the numbers are now based not on focus groups or surveys but on real-world experience. “
Calculate Prices and Time Correctly
Calculating your initial cash flow is part of figuring out your start-up costs. It’s an area where businesses are sometimes less optimistic than they should be. “Small business owners may under-price their product or service, thinking they have to come in at the lowest price point to compete,” says Barbara Bird, who chairs the business management program at an American university. “They don’t necessarily need to do that. “
Correctly Estimate Your Start-up Time
Yes, when beginning a business, time can be money. Let’s say you’re going to have fixed costs such as a monthly lease. If you have to make improvements to a space before you can really open for business, those fixed costs are going to be additional start-up costs until you can really open for business. I’ve watched many entrepreneurs draw up a timeline for their ventures and get tripped up on the safety and inspection requirements imposed by local agencies.
For that reason, I reckon one of the first places a prospective new business owner should go is to the local government plotting or license department. Construction permits and inspections can push a prospective opening date back by months. If you fail to take into account the cost of this time, you could be small of working capital right at the start. In order to help all small businesses Microsoft launched low cost Small Business Products.
Be Realistic About the Cost of Money
Many small business owners finance their ventures by running up huge balances on their personal credit cards. Others tap the equity in their homes.
But self-financing isn’t a practical option for larger ventures. Tom Emerson, who directs the entrepreneurship centre at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, says small business start-ups should figure in the cost of capital when determining initial expenses and cash flow. “The cost is usually based on what the interest would be, were that cash invested in something with similar risk on the market” Emerson says. “It’s usually a figure that is a few percentage points or more above the prime rate. “
 

 
Windows Vista:
Microsoft Windows Vista – the new version of the flagship Windows product from Microsoft, delivers fantastic value to businesses by addressing key needs – improving security and compliance, optimizing the desktop infrastructure, enabling their mobile workforce, and finding and using information more efficiently. Dive deep into these resources to get an insight into these value enhancing features.
Top Benefits
Protect your PCs and data; Built-in security features automatically help protect your PCs so you worry less about spy ware and other threats.
Never lose your work; Retrieve older versions of documents you accidentally delete or overwrite and schedule automatic backups of your files and hard disk.
Delight in seamless computing; Windows Vista Business is compatible with thousands of software applications, hardware devices, and services.
Work virtually anywhere; Access your office PC remotely from a home computer or your laptop while on the road.
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 is the latest release of the award-winning server solution designed to meet the networking needs of smaller organizations and those stepping up to their first server. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 is a robust, flexible platform that can be customized to your needs. Small businesses need to access, update, share and store ever-increasing amounts of information. Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 those capabilities and more. SBS 2003 R2 comes with a collection of features that can help you make a secure small business network and meet your storage, printing, collaboration, e-mail, Internet connectivity, and faxing requirements. It also supports workers who need to access your network using mobile devices. You can connect up to 75 workstations to an SBS 2003 R2 network.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is the newest and most powerful version of the industry’s leading server for e-mail, calendars, and unified messaging. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 has been designed specifically to meet the challenges of e-mail security threats and address the needs of the different groups who have a stake in the messaging system.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is comprehensive, integrated data management and analysis software that enables organizations to reliably manage mission-critical information and confidently run today’s increasingly complex business applications. SQL Server 2005 allows companies to gain greater insight from their business information and achieve quicker results for a competitive advantage. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a powerful tool for turning your enterprise data into a competitive advantage. Industry-leading support for enterprise data management, developer productivity, and business intelligence includes all the functionality customers expect from an enterprise-class database management system. Learn more about the hundreds of features added or updated in SQL Server 2005.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization. In addition to new functionality, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 provides powerful improvements to the base operating system over Windows Server 2003. Notable improvements include those to networking, advanced security features, remote application access, centralized server role management, performance and reliability monitoring tools, failover clustering, deployment, and the file system. These improvements and many others help organizations maximize the flexibility, availability, and control of their servers.

If you have come up with a new thought or just want to finally start that business of your own, finding the capital you need to get started may be the thing getting in your way.   It is no secret that many new business ventures fail because of insufficient starting capital. Well, you will be pleased to know that there is help available for startup businesses.   In order to support the development of new business, the government and various organizations offer grants to new or expanding businesses. While this may sound very generous, it only makes sense since it is in the best interest of the country, and other businesses as well, to encourage new enterprises by investing new venture capital; thus giving life to the dreams of entrepreneurs and continuing to promote advancement in business and technology. Finding the right grant for your new business is an vital first step and may be the only way to get your business operational. You will be surprised once you start down his road that it is not as painful as you may have imagined.   There many resources along the way to guide you through the process. When figuring out your starting costs and the type financial help you will require, you need to consider many different factors. Grants are specialized and your specific needs dictate the place you should look. Location, future plans, and total dollars needed are all factors in deciding which type of funding you will need and which source is the best bet for your business. There are many Small Business Start Up Grants available at the local level, the state level, and the federal level. There are also grants provided by industry and large corporations. Doing thorough needs assessment will help you determine where to start looking. You not only need to know where to apply for a grant for your new business, but you also need to learn how to apply for the grant once you find a source.   There are online sites that give free information to those looking for grants for a startup business. Many of these sites take will take you through the entire process, including required research, business types, business plans, startup costs, business licensing, taxes, and funding. For any grant to be considered an application must be filled out and written requests and descriptions must be provided. You will need to place in writing your business proposal, a summary of your business, grant justification, a project description, a yearly budget, your qualifications, and any outsourcing that may be done. There are places that you can visit on the Web that will educate you in the process of applying for a grant. There are also sites that will teach you how to write a grant application step by step. small Business website Grant Steps Management is one such place.   They can help you in learning how to spend your time, writing business proposals, assessing your company’s needs, getting business clarity, and learning how to avoid scams. Another site you may want to check out is called Women Owned Business Grants.   This site is designed especially for women starting their own business, whether a home-based business or an office-based business. The site gives many suggestions as to where to look for government funding.   It also provides information on start up thoughts, setting up small business management. Another place to check out is called Small Business website Investment Company or the SBIC Program. Since 1958, this program has provided approximately $30 billion in both loans and equity investments to 90,000 small businesses since 1958. They represent a successful partnership between the Federal Government and private investors. There are SBIC offices nationwide.   Each SBIC defines its own area of interest, specializing in specific industries or locations. Some of the most well-known businesses in America got their startup money from SBIC, Apple Computer and Staples for instance. Specialized Small Business Investment Companies, SSBIC, specialize in applications from economically or socially disadvantaged new businessmen. Another well-known source of new business capital is The National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, also called NASBIC.   This is another venture capital organization, really, the oldest organization its kind. Any startup business owner may be wise to checkout out this source as a way to buy the necessary funding for their new enterprise.

Have a Solid Plot — Then Change It
Most business start-up tales say that you have to have a business plot. And you do. But that’s not the beginning and end of figuring out your start-up costs.
Jeff Shuman, who directs entrepreneurial studies at Bentley College, says, “The conventional wisdom is that an entrepreneur sees an opportunity, comes up with a business plot to capitalize on it, determines the capital that needs to be raised, raises the capital and then applies it to building the business described in the business plot. “
There’s one major problem with that model, says Shuman. It all hinges on getting the business right the first time, and that doesn’t often happen. “In reality, it’s likely that some of your initial assumptions are pretty excellent and others aren’t going to be worth the paper they’re written on,” he says.
Shuman and others say that figuring out your small business start-up costs means regularly reviewing your assumptions and changing your initial model. Writing a plot is excellent because it forces you to write down everything you are going to need to start your business.
But that initial plot is likely to change repeatedly as you learn new things and incorporate them into the plot.
Be Willing to Pull Back
It’s tempting to add up everything you need for the full-fledged business you imagine, and choose it’s what you need to start out.
But pulling back and looking for a smaller model can give you a way to get started while also saving money. Shuman uses the example of someone who calculates the total cost of starting a retail business in a local shopping centre.
“You could start that way and write a business plot based on that amount,” he says. “But maybe you’d be better off renting a stand and testing what the demand is for your products at that location. “
This consumer testing reduces your initial small & medium business start-up costs. The result is that the initial cycle of your business is dedicated not so much to generating profits as to generating information. “With this, you can fund your business on a cycle-by-cycle basis,” Shuman says. “When you go for the second cycle and for expanding your business, the numbers are now based not on focus groups or surveys but on real-world experience. “
Calculate Prices and Time Correctly
Calculating your initial cash flow is part of figuring out your start-up costs. It’s an area where businesses are sometimes less optimistic than they should be. “Small business owners may under-price their product or service, thinking they have to come in at the lowest price point to compete,” says Barbara Bird, who chairs the business management program at an American university. “They don’t necessarily need to do that. “
Correctly Estimate Your Start-up Time
Yes, when beginning a business, time can be money. Let’s say you’re going to have fixed costs such as a monthly lease. If you have to make improvements to a space before you can really open for business, those fixed costs are going to be additional start-up costs until you can really open for business. I’ve watched many entrepreneurs draw up a timeline for their ventures and get tripped up on the safety and inspection requirements imposed by local agencies.
For that reason, I reckon one of the first places a prospective new business owner should go is to the local government plotting or license department. Construction permits and inspections can push a prospective opening date back by months. If you fail to take into account the cost of this time, you could be small of working capital right at the start. In order to help all small businesses Microsoft launched low cost Small Business Products.
Be Realistic About the Cost of Money
Many small business owners finance their ventures by running up huge balances on their personal credit cards. Others tap the equity in their homes.
But self-financing isn’t a practical option for larger ventures. Tom Emerson, who directs the entrepreneurship centre at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, says small business start-ups should figure in the cost of capital when determining initial expenses and cash flow. “The cost is usually based on what the interest would be, were that cash invested in something with similar risk on the market” Emerson says. “It’s usually a figure that is a few percentage points or more above the prime rate. “
 

Top Internet Business IdeasThe Internet offers many business opportunities. You can become a part of someone else’s enterprise or make a business of your own. There are many advantages to starting an Internet business. Here are the top Internet business thoughts to help you find that appropriate niche you are looking for. Every day people search the Internet for all sorts of opportunities. With this economy, the number one search is for ways to make money with low startup costs. Many of the basic equipment needed to start Internet businesses are in your home right now. If you have a computer with a high-speed Internet connection, a telephone, a desk, and a printer, you can get going straight away. 1. Blogging. This is the way to make an online presence without the technical issues of owning your own website (that comes later). Most blogs are offered with free hosting and come with already installed features so set up is simple. Blog about anything that you find fascinating and will be fascinating to other readers. A blog with a niche will perform better a personal one. Blogs can also make money with programs like Google Adwords and AdSense. Pay per Click advertising also works for generating revenue. 2. Internet research. Anyone who can navigate the Internet and find out nearly anything, can market themselves as an Internet researcher. Large and small companies will pay you to find out information for them, make reports from the research. 3. Selling products. If you have a leisure activity like making and selling crafts you can expand your business online with a website. Set up a website that caters to your product offerings. Market these products online to drive traffic to your website. 4. Selling on eBay. With this thought, you set up shop on the Internet. You can sell products you made or items you own that you want to sell. Many now make a living selling on eBay. As your business grows, you can expand to involve other product markets. 5. Freelancing. Many online and offline businesses are looking for help. Freelancers lower the overhead of the company thus becoming more profitable for many jobs than hiring someone to work in the office. Depending on your talent, hire yourself out at a freelance writer, graphic artist, website designer or programmer. 6. Virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are the going trend for many businesses. In the beginning, virtual assistants performed the administrative duties of a company from their home. Now, VA’s can be found in all career specialties like medical, real estate, marketing and publishing. They perform tasks above administrative such as website administrator, report creation and Internet research. 7. Membership sites. You see more of these around these days. With a membership site, you choose a niche, such as online marketing. Customers pay to join at a certain level (gold, silver, bronze) and are rewarded with certain perks for their membership that include newsletters, videos or articles on marketing and services to help expand their own business. You make the website and supply the materials yourself or through outsourcing each month to your members. Do you have an thought of what your Internet business thought might be? This list should get you started.

 
Windows Vista:
Microsoft Windows Vista – the new version of the flagship Windows product from Microsoft, delivers fantastic value to businesses by addressing key needs – improving security and compliance, optimizing the desktop infrastructure, enabling their mobile workforce, and finding and using information more efficiently. Dive deep into these resources to get an insight into these value enhancing features.
Top Benefits
Protect your PCs and data; Built-in security features automatically help protect your PCs so you worry less about spy ware and other threats.
Never lose your work; Retrieve older versions of documents you accidentally delete or overwrite and schedule automatic backups of your files and hard disk.
Delight in seamless computing; Windows Vista Business is compatible with thousands of software applications, hardware devices, and services.
Work virtually anywhere; Access your office PC remotely from a home computer or your laptop while on the road.
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 is the latest release of the award-winning server solution designed to meet the networking needs of smaller organizations and those stepping up to their first server. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 is a robust, flexible platform that can be customized to your needs. Small businesses need to access, update, share and store ever-increasing amounts of information. Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 those capabilities and more. SBS 2003 R2 comes with a collection of features that can help you make a secure small business network and meet your storage, printing, collaboration, e-mail, Internet connectivity, and faxing requirements. It also supports workers who need to access your network using mobile devices. You can connect up to 75 workstations to an SBS 2003 R2 network.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is the newest and most powerful version of the industry’s leading server for e-mail, calendars, and unified messaging. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 has been designed specifically to meet the challenges of e-mail security threats and address the needs of the different groups who have a stake in the messaging system.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is comprehensive, integrated data management and analysis software that enables organizations to reliably manage mission-critical information and confidently run today’s increasingly complex business applications. SQL Server 2005 allows companies to gain greater insight from their business information and achieve quicker results for a competitive advantage. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a powerful tool for turning your enterprise data into a competitive advantage. Industry-leading support for enterprise data management, developer productivity, and business intelligence includes all the functionality customers expect from an enterprise-class database management system. Learn more about the hundreds of features added or updated in SQL Server 2005.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization. In addition to new functionality, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 provides powerful improvements to the base operating system over Windows Server 2003. Notable improvements include those to networking, advanced security features, remote application access, centralized server role management, performance and reliability monitoring tools, failover clustering, deployment, and the file system. These improvements and many others help organizations maximize the flexibility, availability, and control of their servers.

Is your “Huge Thought” for your business in line with God’s thought for your life?  Many of us hope and pray that our dreams of starting a business will be successful and we question for God’s help and guidance as we launch our huge thought for a successful business.   But what if our plans aren’t in line with God’s Huge Thought for what our business should be?  How can we tell?
 
We have two options for starting a business.   The first is speculation, which is where most people start.   We take risks and just hope that things will work out for the best.   The second way is to question the Creator to show us the way – and that’s a sure-fire path to success.   It may not happen overnight and it may not be on your timetable, but it will be the kind of success that God wants for you – the kind of real, right success that matters.
 
Start and grow a business that follows God’s Huge Thought, not yours!
 
Focusing on ourselves will never fulfill our life’s purpose because it consumes us and takes us down the incorrect path.   The more we focus on ourselves and the trappings of worldly success, the farther we are from God.   But everything starts and ends with God – or it should.   Remember, it’s not about you!  People have made this mistake for thousands of years, searching for meaning and purpose in their lives and not finding it despite the accumulation of wealth and fame.
 
The Goal Isn’t As Vital as How You Get There
 
The mistake made by many people who are starting a business is in thinking that the real purpose is to achieve an ultimate goal.   They reckon they will achieve happiness when they make a certain amount of money, open so many stores or are able to buy an expensive house.   They reckon the end result is the measure of their success.   They are so incorrect!
 
The right measure of success – especially in the eyes of God – is how you achieve the results!  Did you delight in yourself and use your gifts and talents wisely while you were working towards your goals?  Did you achieve anything worthwhile for others during your climb to the top?
 
There are lots of self-help books on the market that suggest ways to learn your life’s purpose.   Being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose aren’t the same thing.   You can be successful by this world’s standards and still miss the right purpose for which God made you.  
 
If the starting point of your business thoughts are self-centered questions like, “What type of business do I want to start?”  “How can I become successful quickly?” and “What do I want to do with my life?” it may be time to start a dialogue with God and focus on where your gifts and talents could take you.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for my life. ” 
-Psalm 138:8                                                                       
 
 
Question Him, “Lord, how can I use my talents for You?”  “What kind of business thought would use my gifts best?” and “What would I most like to do that would glorify you and  bless others and give me personal satisfaction?”
Remember that personal satisfaction doesn’t mean monetary gain.   To learn God’s purpose for your life you must turn to God’s word and learn what He has in store for you.    God has given each and every one of us talents, skills and gifts.   When we learn our destiny and do what we’re excellent at naturally, life becomes a pleasure we can share with others.   Don’t take this precious gift for granted.   We should all like what we are doing and wake up every day with enthusiasm and passion for what we do.   That is the right measure of success.
 
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…let him use it in proportion to his faith. ”
-Romans 12:6
 

Starting a business with a spouse or excellent friend can be very advantageous, as long as some basic issues are worked out beforehand. Knowing your business partner very well means it should take less time to hammer out who does what and each of you are already familiar with the other’s quirks and habits. It should be simpler to provide each other moral support, especially during the dark days of startup (and there will be some). You will be aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and be in an brilliant position to keep each other, and the business, on the right track. On the downside, partnering with someone you are close to can place strain on the relationship, especially if you fail to work out both the personal and practical ground rules for expanding your personal relationship into a successful business partnership. The practical issues are honestly simple to negotiate but very vital, especially if you live with your business partner. First, both parties must agree on set work and personal schedules, with time blocked out for focusing on the separate aspects of your lives together. Starting a business isn’t a leisure activity, it’s a job, and should be treated as such. If it is possible to establish separate workspaces, consider doing so. Everyone has their own style of organization and each partner is likely to be more productive if their workspace is their own. Network the computers if possible, and consider installing wireless internet and printer technology so time isn’t wasted switching around cords. Before the actual startup work starts, responsibilities should be divvied up by skill and interest, and methods for dealing with huge decisions to be made together should be established. You and your partner will have disagreements, and ground rules for resolving conflict should be hammered out while you are getting along. Schedule daily check-in meetings, perhaps over a cup of coffee away from the home office, to review each other’s progress and bounce thoughts off one another. Getting away from the work desk, even for a small time, can be rejuvenating and one of the fantastic pleasures of working with someone who knows you well is their ability to help you see another side of things. On the personal side, working with a spouse or close friend requires a mutual respect, trust and ability to communicate in order to keep the relationship on track while building a business together. Respect does not mean always allowing the other person to be right. Rather, respect stems from recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and looking to complement your partner, not exploit them. This means not using one’s weaker areas as weapons to control or manipulate, but rather pulling from the other’s strengths to fill any gaps. Acknowledge areas in which your partner is more skilled and appreciate the opportunity you have to use those skills to balance yours. Choose not to compete internally over business issues, but rather to team up to compete externally in the marketplace. Don’t allow control issues or power struggles to overshadow the mutual goal of building a successful business. Trusting your partner in both business and personal arenas is a must. Trust issues can ruin a business before it even gets off the ground. In sorting out the responsibilities of the business, each partner should be absolutely comfortable with any decisions to turn over full control of one area to one partner. If not, a checks and balances system should be place in place so that both partners are satisfied. It is vital that neither partner take offense to the other’s need to be involved in every aspect, but it is also vital that both parties are able to let go of some control and trust the partner to handle their assignments correctly. Any business owner must acknowledge that different work styles can be equally effective, and this understanding is even more vital among business partners. Practicing trust on the level of how work gets done is really fantastic training for delegation skills, which both partners will need as the business grows. In addition to mutual respect and trust, business partners who also have a close personal relationship must have brilliant communication skills in order to keep both relationships in excellent shape. The best partnerships share a excellent sense of humor. A excellent laugh can relieve stress. . . and there is plenty of stress to go around during a startup. It doesn’t matter whether your humor is silly or dark, as long as both partners can lighten the load with laughter. Effective partnerships often use humor to help work through disagreements, as well. Conflict will happen, arguments will ensue, but the ability to laugh at yourself, each other, and the quandary you are in will make resolving the inevitable issues far simpler. Successful partnerships also require open communication about problems, expectations, and their visions for the future of the venture. There are many huge decisions, as well as hundreds of small decisions, to be made before a business thought can even get off the ground. Partners in business, and in life, must be able to articulate their positions clearly and be willing to hear and know the other side. There are times when you will have to just agree to disagree. . . these are the times when the clear division of responsibility becomes critical. Someone has to be able to make a final verdict, so even if you have reservations about a choice that does not fall under your responsibilities, it is vital to respect and support the final choice of your partner. Still, the largest decisions should be hashed out together. “Huge decisions” will vary depending on your particular business, but you will know when they arise. Hopefully, you and your partner have a shared vision of the future of the company, so agreeing on the best course of action should be based on that vision. It is also vital that you both have realistic expectations for your business. Before you get started on the plotting phase, a heart-to-heart about the possible and likely outcomes of your efforts is worth your time. If one partner has thoughts of slow, methodical growth over a period of years while the other is looking to explode into the market, those clashing perspectives can cause problems if not dealt with beforehand. Working through a startup with a close partner can be a remarkable experience and can really enhance your personal relationship. But without a solid foundation and established ground rules, the pressure of developing a business thought can also be destructive. Talk out all the major issues before you get down to work and you and your partner will find that two heads in business really can be better than one.

Another creative industry designed to separate the entrepreneur from his money are the startup consultants. While some provide legitimate services for particular circumstances, the industry is expanding rapidly with ridiculously expensive consultants, most charging $150 or more to tell you the next few steps to take in your startup. Given that even the most basic startup requires a couple hundred steps to do it right, those fees can add up quick! There are also consultants to help you choose a business name, pick your branding colors, write your business plot, evaluate your marketing plot, and review your financial statements. As the owner of your business, shouldn’t you maintain control over these aspects? Turning over every detail of your business to an outsider makes no sense. . . you might as well work for someone else. If your intention is to grow your business thought into a thriving company, you will need to know the hows and whys of all business decisions. Therefore, you are again far better off spending your time than your money to get the work done. Some entrepreneurs consider the consultant route because they are more concerned about the operations of the business and just don’t want to deal with the details. Unfortunately, that is a recipe for disaster. Not knowing the details of all aspects of your own business will come back to bite you, one way or another. And, taking the simple route of outsourcing every aspect of your business that you don’t like will likely spiral out of control to the point that you won’t know what is going on with the bulk of your actual business. The reality is that no matter what type of business you want to start, the fundamentals are the same. The business of all small business is, well, business, first and foremost. During the startup stages, it is critically vital for entrepreneurs to learn all they can about how each factor of the business works and how they all work together. Some entrepreneurs choose to use startup consultants because they find it advantageous to have someone holding them accountable for their progress. Instead of paying a consultant, use your networking skills and find another new business owner to compare notes with and provide mutual accountability. A once per week breakfast to review each other’s progress is far more helpful (and cheaper) than paying a consultant. Another option for in-person help with your business startup is your local SCORE office. Their volunteers are highly qualified (and free!) If you have no previous small business experience, your best bet is to work through your startup one step at a time, absorbing as much information as possible. The keys to focus on are thorough plotting, effective marketing, timely financial management, and how to evaluate the efficiency of each. Outside consultants do not have the same stake in your business as you do, so no matter how excellent they are at their job they can’t be as vested in the outcome as you are. Save your money and spend your time working on your startup.

Starting up a business is a huge daydreamfor many people. To get ready to embark on your business but, takes time, preparedness, patience and hard work. So, you have your thought ready and you have done your market research. Some people may have savings or family donations that they may be tempted to use. This is not always wise, but, as it’s not a excellent judgment to diminishany backup funding you may have. Another place to consider for funding can be a small business startup loan. But, an often left out source of funding instead of a small business startup loan might be a federal grant for business owners. A grant is much better than a small business startup loan because they can be very accessible to get hold of, especially for minorities. Here’s an example, there are some agencies that offer just small business grants for women. Also, some places may have a special offer for people that are looking for a small business startup loan or grant in particular areas. Furthermore, there can be agencies that specialize small business startup loans and/or grants for minorities or those wishing to start much-needed businesses. You will {need to do your homework|want to be prepared with information about your area before applying for your grant, as the agencies that will be responsible for approving your startup loan or grant will want to know that you have place thought and effort into your plans. To check if you can get a small business startup loan, or even better, a grant that will not have to be repaid, visit this site and answer their few questions. They will pre-evaluate your situation and check to see if you can qualify and can even offer some advisement to starting entrepreneurs. After you have obtained your grant (you can get started with the link above), you are ready to start on your business. Having your own business can really be the most gratifying occurrence of your life. Small Business Startup Loan and Grant Information – Click here!

For many people with a fantastic business thought, the delay in taking the plunge into entrepreneurship is because of the lack of time or money to get their thought off the ground. In most cases, there are viable means to modifying the business thought into something that can be started part-time and with less capital than the original plot. Starting out smaller can be very advantageous, allowing you to keep your current job, bootstrap the startup to fit your out-of-pocket budget, learn more about the industry, and test the market for your product or service with limited risk. There are very few business thoughts that cannot be modified into a simpler, more niched startup. Sometimes, though, it is hard to see or accept a smaller piece of an thought when you are certain your huge thought is going to succeed! There are several ways to look at it — for some, not being able to launch the whole plot at once seems futile and a waste of time. Some worry that starting out with a smaller thought will leave them stuck in that niche for the duration. But really, if you can’t start up your original thought because of financial or other restraints, at least getting a smaller piece of it up and running puts you on the right road. You can plot around the success of that smaller endeavor to get you where you want to go. If money is a problem, keep your day job and launch a part-time venture that will earn enough to eventually fund your grand plot. If you have several smaller thoughts, launch all of them and work your plot to grow the pieces together into the company you want to run. If time is an issue, keep in mind that committing a mere three hours per week equals nearly a month of full-time work over a year! The time is going to pass whether you get started on your own business or not, but starting now will get you that much closer to working only for yourself. There are a million excellent reasons to get started sooner rather than later, but few excellent excuses to wait! So, how do you miniaturize your business thought into something you can start on a smaller budget or part-time? First, consider all the components of your business thought. For example, if your dream business is to be a real estate developer, that venture can be divided into multiple steps, each of which offers several viable small businesses, such as: Site Selection — Write a how-to manual, offer consultant services Site Inspection — Obtain an inspection license for PT work, consult with property owners or other developers in preparing a site for inspection, manage Tax Incentives — Write informational product about how and where to find tax breaks on specific development projects, consult with developers to maximize tax benefits Demolition — Provide demolition services, site cleanup services, Rehabilitation — Provide any number of specific construction services, such as drywall, painting, floor installation, and the like; make a contractor review service, provide quality inspections; independent salesperson representing construction materials Cost Management — Provide consulting services as a CM (construction manager), consult for CM software Filling the Space — Get Real Estate license, broker’s license; start property management firm As you can see, a huge dream like running a property development firm can provide dozens of smaller startup thoughts that allow you to gain experience, knowledge, connections, and, most importantly, capital to eventually build your own development firm. This method can be used to break most huge business thoughts down into smaller opportunities that will get you on the right track to your entrepreneurial goals. Reckon about opportunities under various business models — selling products, providing services, online-only, etc. — and consider any “problem” areas that you could develop a solution for. Another option is to start up any smaller thought you might have that will earn some capital to build up your resources for your huge thought. Reckon about the work experience you have had or subjects that you are particularly knowledgeable about. One young entrepreneur started an online video game help service — customers paid a small fee to receive hints and tips for conquering the newest video games — and over one year saved enough of the profits to startup the mobile detailing business he wanted to own! The most successful entrepreneurs tend to be very flexible and creative in getting where they want to go. Keep your eye on your ultimate goal, but be willing to modify and change directions as opportunities present themselves. Whatever you choose to do, get started on your plotting as soon as possible!

The road to entrepreneurship offers plenty of opportunities to waste money. Unless your rich uncle is bankrolling your entire startup without concern for what and how you spend, you need to keep your expenditures under control. The top five ways that entrepreneurs waste money, but shouldn’t, are: Startup Squander #5 – Franchise or MLM Fees Don’t bother with these business models. Franchises, even the best ones, are too expensive for what you get, and MLMs are just a terrible thought. The money you place out for either only provides you pieces of the operations side…you are still at square one as far as your overall startup. Your franchise and MLM fees buy only the operations thoughts or access to brand products, you still must complete all your own plotting, fund all equipment, location, staff, etc. , and figure out how to get the product sold. You are far better off coming up with your own business thought, learning what you need to know, and really working for yourself. And anyway, why share your profits with your franchisor or upline? You are doing the work, you should reap the rewards. Franchise fees range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands, plus a cut of your profits through the life of the business. MLM buy-ins range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Startup Squander #4 – Grant Seekers and Consultants There are very few, if any, government direct grants for domestic startups. There are no secret grants, and there are no tricks to applying for grants if your business thought does happen to qualify for one. The Federal government does earmark millions each year for small business, but the majority is distributed through SBA programs which are used to guarantee bank loans or provide small-term working capital to existing businesses. Some money ends up with local economic development NFPs who may provide training or microloans to first-time entrepreneurs. If you qualify for any help through these NFPs, their staff will help you through the process for free. Grant consultants charge a wide range of fees, but most are in the thousands. Startup Squander #3 – Entity Registration Service If you have a straightforward situation, you can easily do it yourself. If you don’t, you need an attorney. Paying for these services make no sense – if you know enough to fill out their questionnaires about how you want your LLC or Corporation set up, you can just as easily set it up yourself. Most Secretary of State websites now provide a simple online form to fill out with clear explanations for each section. Templates for the Articles of Organization and Owners’ Agreement are simple to find, and writing them yourself means you will know exactly what you are agreeing to. Even if you have your attorney review them, it will be cheaper than the average service. The toughest part is deciding whether an LLC or Corporation is the better choice for you…and nobody but you should be making that choice. If you have complicated issues involved in your organization or have specific concerns about partnerships or assets, or you are plotting an IPO, work with a competent attorney in your state. The entity registration services available charge fees from one to several hundred dollars, plus your state’s entity registration fee. Startup Squander #2 – Startup Consultants Startup consultants are available to do everything from naming your business to writing your business plot. Some newer breeds offer services to walk you through the startup process, charging $150 to tell you the next three things to do for your startup. Even the most basic startups require over 100 steps, so the fees add up very quickly. As for the specific service consultants (name your business, conduct market research, write your business plot) – It’s your startup, so why would you leave critical basics to somebody else? You will be running the business, so it only makes sense that doing most of the preparation work yourself will greatly increase your odds of success. Startup consultant fees can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending in the service. Startup Squander #1 – Perks Some first-time entrepreneurs are under the delusion that simply becoming a business owner means you drive BMWs, frequent expensive restaurants for every meal, and take exotic vacations at will. The reality is that although entrepreneurship is just about the only way to achieve that lifestyle, it doesn’t happen overnight. For all new businesses, the first goal is Ramen-profitability – making enough money to keep yourself and your family in Ramen noodles. Plugging most of the profits back in to building the business is the only way to become rich. Spending your limited startup cash on frivolous luxuries is a sure route to failure. Watch the pennies during startup and the early stages, and the dollars will appear. It is common for entrepreneurs to blow through their entire startup budget on basic perks – eating out, overspending on gadgets, and improving their personal “image” with clothes, cars, and accessories. Conclusion Be conscientious about how you spend your startup capital – stick with only those things that are absolutely necessary to get you to the next step. Anything that will make your startup quicker, better or stronger can be excellent, as long as the benefit is worth the cost.

The “grant help” industry is booming — not because they are really securing any grants for anyone, but because potential entrepreneurs with excellent business thoughts and in need of capital want to believe the hype these scammers are putting out there. In fact, there are NO federal direct grants to help start a domestic business. Also, there are no secrets grants, or any secret to applying for grants that are available. Don’t waste your time or money dealing with grant seekers — at best they are overcharging for a simple job you can do yourself or find free help with, at worst they are just ripping you off. The federal government does, in fact, release over 500 billion dollars in grant money each year. Unfortunately, it is not aimed at individual Americans. Rather, state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations of all sorts are entitled to apply for those grants that fit with the agency’s mission. For example, cash is set aside for small business, but it is distributed to state SBA offices and economic development not-for-profits to use to promote small business in their local areas. The money is then used to fund loan programs or training programs to encourage small business development. Very rarely do NFPs opt to offer grants. This is because by using the federal money for low-interest loans or training they are able to help far more people on the road to entrepreneurship. Another vital fact about grants is that they have significant restrictions on how they can be used. The local economic development NFP cannot do whatever they want with the cash. The legislation behind the grant is typically very specific about how the money can be spent, and they conduct periodic audits to ensure the NFPs are in compliance. Even the few direct grants that are offered by the federal government are extremely restrictive. For example, if you are plotting to open a manufacturing facility in the former Soviet Bloc, there may be matching funds available to help you do so. But the cash must be used specifically for building the facility, and not for salaries, marketing, or any other aspect of the business. Basically, the few direct grants available from the federal government are for very specific purposes, most of them overseas business opportunities, frequently require matching funds, and your run-of-the-mill grant seekers do not have any secret access to them. The SBA (Small Business Administration) gets a significant part of the small business funding that comes from the federal government. They offer a number of small business loan guarantee programs — meaning if you are approved, they will promise the bank to secure up to 80% of the amount you need to borrow. Some cash also ends up with local Microloan programs, where well-plotted startups can apply for low-interest loans up to $35,000. As with all other SBA programs, the applicant’s personal credit will need to be in excellent shape, and the business plot will have to realistically show the ability to repay the loan. Also, each SBA loan program sets specific uses for the loan proceeds — one can be used only for working capital, one for only land and building. If you are concerned about finding funding for your startup thought, don’t count on grants. Certainly do not spend what startup capital you do have on the grant finder industry. Save that money, and any other you can scrape together, to really get your thought launched.