Thursday, December 22, 2011

Work That Matters And A Six Figure Income Go Hand In Hand

Some people are so money-hungry that they will do anything to earn a buck. Though their careers may be lucrative, they are often not fulfilled. They push that feeling aside, thinking it is the price to pay for financial success. They could not be more wrong. The truth is, anyone can create six figure income by doing work that matters.

The world will not benefit from another company offering a slightly cheaper product or service in a slightly faster amount of time. These businesses pop up every day and consumers are not highly motivated to deal with them. What consumers really want is a business that does something out of the ordinary, something very special…something that matters.

Doing work that matters means doing the right things at the right price. Think about what you would do at no charge if you could afford it and make business decisions in that mindset. This requires courage and risk-taking but it can be life-altering. We only get one chance at life so why spend it doing something that makes us unhappy? Make the company something to be proud of from all perspectives.

Most business owners stay within a box defined by the competition. They offer the same types of products and services, attract average customers, and make average profits. Only a small number of entrepreneurs perform work that really matters. They assess the marketplace, see what is needed, and take a unique approach to providing it.

Steve Jobs was a great example of someone who did work that mattered. He took the traditional business model for a computer manufacturer and threw it out the window. There is no guide for doing work that matters- each method is customized. It involves incorporating your values, beliefs, passions, imagination, goals, and dreams and provides rewards beyond your wildest dreams.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Maintaining A Professional Image Is Important

Many people start a home business for the flexibility it offers. Freedom to make your own hours and do something you enjoy can be very appealing. However, just because you are your own boss does not mean that professionalism should go by the wayside. It is just as important to maintain a professional appearance when you work from home, perhaps even more so.

Remember, it is your name listed next to the title “Owner.” If prospects or customers form a negative impression, it is because you provided it to them. A home business should be just as legitimate and ethical as an international corporation. Company letterhead, envelopes, business cards, and an attractive Web site establish the credibility of a home-based venture.

Though many home entrepreneurs deal with customers and prospects online through the telephone or email, a professional demeanor is still important. Customers feel more comfortable calling a separate business telephone line with a professional voice mail greeting than the home phone number with a greeting recorded by the children. Email communications should contain a signature line and an out of office message should be used when traveling for business or pleasure.

Some home business owners meet with customers in person. If their residence is not a suitable meeting place, they should consider renting conference space in an office building or meeting at a nice restaurant. Attire should be suitable for the business and venue but jeans and sneakers are never acceptable.

A home business owner must wear many hats, which increases the chance of making a mistake. If the entrepreneur does not have enough time to devote to functions like accounting or customer service, the work should be outsourced to a professional independent contractor. This frees the owner to work on marketing the business without causing the operational duties to suffer.


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Last-Minute Holiday Savings Tips From Dani Johnson

The holiday budget may be bursting right now, but never fear, Dani Johnson has come to the rescue. She recently appeared on the Fox & Friends show on Fox News Channel, offering helpful tips for earning money during this season of spending. The author of First Steps To Wealth shared her rags to riches story, which has a holiday twist.

At one point, Dani was homeless and had just two dollars in her pocket. By Christmas time just two years later, she was a millionaire. She started a business from the trunk of her car and a payphone booth, making $250,000 her first year. Dani can identify with consumers in desperate financial situations because she was one of them. Now, the multimillionaire offers tips on how others can improve their situation.

Using tips that Dani provides on her website, people can make more money during the holiday season. Some of her clients have even tripled their income during the holidays doing part-time jobs like decorating for holiday parties or shopping or baking for others. As a holiday “elf,” people can earn money for holiday spending rather than putting themselves into debt.

Sometimes, people get so hopeless that they become unmotivated. At this point, they must stop feeling sorry for themselves and blaming others. Instead, they must step up and do something to better their circumstances. Dani knows how people can get out of this difficult situation. With her latest book and her website, she offers them advice on how to do it.

This information continues to be useful long after the holiday season has passed. As people begin to get themselves on more solid financial ground, the future looks brighter because they see their dreams becoming reality. Dani is there every step of the way, guiding others toward a life of wealth, success, and fulfillment.


Monday, December 19, 2011

Dani Johnson Offers Advice For Paying Off Holiday Debt

Millionaire Dani Johnson is on the move again, recently appearing on Better TV to provide tips on paying off holiday debt. This nationally syndicated television show advised people how to better their lives. In addition to segments on decorating, fitness, and trends, it covers finance-related subjects, making it the perfect venue for Dani to offer her advice.

Many people will enter 2012 in debt and Dani offers ways to eliminate it. She says that people are literally throwing money in the trash can when it comes to grocery items. By not visiting the grocery store until they have eaten all the food in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, people can save big bucks.

Purchasing only the amount of food needed in the near future prevents items from going stale or spoiling. Dining in rather than eating at restaurants immediately adds hundreds of dollars per month to the household budget. Packing a lunch for work each day and preparing coffee at home rather than buying the items can also save substantial cash. The money saved should be used to repay debt, diminishing those high credit card balances from holiday spending.

Living a more frugal lifestyle does not mean sacrificing all the luxuries. Dani recommends that people evaluate these indulgencies to determine if they are really worth it. They should also review their bank statements for errors because oversights occur all the time. Dani offered the example of one client who was being charged for four gym memberships.

Dani mentioned another client who saved $60,000 in just 2 ½ years by following simple tips like these. Another was able to pay off a quarter of a million dollars in debt by following the techniques outlined in Dani’s book, First Steps To Wealth. You could be the next person she features in a book or talks about on a show, but ONLY if you take the first step!


Friday, December 16, 2011

How To Avoid Common Social Media Marketing Mistakes

Many work at home business owners include social media in their promotional efforts. A consumer revolution is occurring and businesses are being required to change their business models to roll with it. Digital media is influencing nearly every segment of industry and companies who do not embrace it are bound to fail. On the flip side, there are also ways to use social media improperly. Avoid them by following these tips.

While some home business owners loath technology, others embrace it. They can get so excited that they overextend themselves in an effort to jump on the latest technological trends. Home business owners must realize that they cannot and should not be everywhere. They should participate only in social media arenas frequented by their prospects and customers.

Social media efforts do not end with establishing a presence. The business owner must engage with prospects and customers in order to make the company and its offerings look attractive. A Twitter follower or Facebook “Like” is nice but it will not pay the bills. Using social media to meet sales goals requires a plan to engage people and get them to purchase what you are selling.

Being authentic and transparent to customers and prospects is not enough to engage these audiences. Social media efforts must deliver value and create a presence that makes people want to learn more. By implementing its mission and vision through these efforts, the business owner connects authenticity with the core of the company, engaging others.

Listening is an important part of social media strategies but so is talking. Before starting a conversation with customers and prospects, business owners should determine a purpose for the communication. This should involve replying to people familiar with the brand and engaging those who are not, so they can be converted to customers.


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Creating The Perfect Home Business

Many of you have been considering working from home for years. The daily commute, uncomfortable work attire, and inflexible schedule are becoming a burden. Some of you have family obligations that too often must be sacrificed due to work. Before getting too frustrated, make the move and start a home based business. But first, think carefully about what that business will be.

There are many legitimate home business ideas online but not all are suitable for each person. Some people enjoy developing networks of sales teams and will find multi level marketing exciting. Others have been working on their own products or services and would like to sell these online. For other people, the idea of promoting someone else’s products or services is appealing.

Think about your strengths and weaknesses when reviewing online business opportunities. Not everyone is naturally a salesperson, so a business that requires hard selling may not be suitable. People skilled at writing may instead prefer to use article marketing and blogging to promote their business. Others opt for pre-established advertising programs like pay-per-click, which are easy for anyone to use.

All online businesses require time and effort but vary in the degree of both. Some allow work to be performed any time of day, while others have certain time requirements. People starting an online business because they need a flexible schedule should consider this when exploring their options. The best opportunity will make it easy to balance the professional and personal life.

Finding a mentor can make the transition to online work much smoother. This individual can help you avoid the common pitfalls during startup and the early years, shortening the time to profitability. Someone more experienced is also a useful sounding board and can help you identify the best ways to promote the business to its target audience.