Archives for January 2019

Be Your Own Boss: Forge A Career Online

January 15, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.“ – Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple

If your current career has taken a turn for the worse, enough to imagine packing up your belongings and telling your boss what you really think of them before storming out in a dramatic haze, perhaps it’s time for you to leave and move on to a new career. One that doesn’t entail working in a like for like environment, with the same office politics, while trying to manage an overflowing workload as the companies goals are consistently edging higher beyond attainability. Not to mention the same daily negotiation with Sue from sales over the thermostat setting and consistently boring meetings filled with suits, buzzwords, and charts. Is there really any wonder why more Americans are becoming entrepreneurial to escape the routine 9 to 5 slogs, uniforms, restricted creativity, and red tape?

Alternatively, perhaps you don’t yet have the cynicism of a well-versed employee who has worked years for the man and felt it’s added little to their life, other than a pension and healthcare plan of course. But maybe you have a dream to take a different path beyond working for someone else and helping them to reach their dreams.

Going online isn’t the only way to be your own boss, no, but it’s one of the best ways to launch your career as self-employed. To help you arrive at a conclusion on whether you can take the heat of being your own boss and whether you have the potential to forge a career and accelerate your business’s potential online you need two things;

To get a real perspective of the pros and cons of working for yourself and online;
And then, of course, finding something you can actually do online and are passionate about enough to make a living from it.

Let’s begin with the pros and then the cons of moving your career online.

Pro’s

Work from anywhere in the world – so long as you have a laptop and an internet connection. Which means whether working in the comfort of your own personalized home office or traveling the world, as long as you have these your laptop and the internet you have all you need.
Flexible – Your schedule is what you make it which means you work when you want. Forget the regular 9 to 5 working hours, you might choose to work 7 am until 2 pm 3 days a week it’s up to you.
You’re The Boss – Which means you make the rules, PJ’s every day? Sure, work on the sofa today? Of course.
No More Office politics – Eventually you can pick and choose who you work with, avoiding the usual office fails of interacting with and working with people you literally can’t stand.
Investment – building your own online empire and establishing your own brand means you are not working for the man anymore, you are the woman or man making your own path, with your personal mission and goals to work towards.

Cons

Prepare for a lot of work and a lot of failures – part and parcel with starting any business, you will not succeed at any given opportunity, it’s not easy, and you will be pushed out of your comfort zone mostly all of the time.
You need to be incredibly self-motivated and can no longer shimmy by on a salary with the perks of holiday and sick pay.
You are responsible for every decision you make, there is no fall guy as with corporate settings.
You miss an automatic enrolment into a 401 k and healthcare plan. Meaning you need to divide your business earnings to pay for a private pension and healthcare insurance.

If you think the pros of being an entrepreneur online far outweigh the cons, the next step is to find the job that will fit in with your skills and personality, plus give you the lifestyle you are looking for.

“If you’re starting something on your own, you better have a passion for it, because this is hard work.” -Sallie Krawcheck, Co-founder of Ellevest

Career Options Online

Initially thinking about your strengths, skills, work experience, education, and interests will help towards establishing a career online that’s right for you. Here are few online careers for you to consider;

Writer

If you have a passion for words and a flair for writing, writing online could be the career to suit you. With content writing jobs, in particular, becoming increasingly popular online as companies want and need fresh quality content on their business websites to receive validation on Google in the search rankings. As a sidestep from content writing, you may wish to launch and monetize your own blog with google ads and /or affiliate marketing. Or alternatively, you may choose to apply for jobs with online publications. Either way, your CV will need to be overhauled to succeed in the realm of writers which is currently a highly competitive market. It’s important you stand out, and this doesn’t necessarily mean completing an english literature or journalism degree. For instance, if you have knowledge and skills from a particular field such as IT, you can apply this and use this to your advantage by applying to companies who require technical writers within this sector. Owning expertise within a specific area is a desirable attribute for writing about subjects that require in-depth knowledge and research.

Virtual Assistant

Perhaps you currently work as a PA, secretary or executive assistant, and like the structure of being assigned different jobs, however, would prefer to have the power to pick and choose the tasks you want to do by becoming self-employed. A virtual assistant wears many hats and can work for one or multiple people at a time depending on the size of each task and your availability. Jobs might include requests to answer emails, schedule travel arrangements, book meetings, provide research for a presentation and so forth. It’s an advantage if you have experience in similar roles and you should apply these to your CV, LinkedIn profile in pursuit of moving your career online. You can find an abundance of Virtual Assistant jobs advertised on freelance websites such as Freelancer and Fiverr.

Ecommerce Store

Perhaps you love the idea of owning and running your own store online, but you’re unsure where to begin and how to choose a product and supplier. The initial process takes a lot of research for you to launch your business, as you must decide on the product, the audience, the branding, and marketing strategies. If you have experience in sales, web design, marketing, and product selection then this shall work in your favor. However, if you don’t have any relevant skills but are still passionate about building your own online store don’t let the lack of training prevent you from taking matters into your own hands and seeking the knowledge you need to set up a successful online e-commerce store. You don’t necessarily need to do a course, but a lot of reading and research is beneficial. Following research, you need to put the knowledge you have accrued into practice by continuously trying and testing methods to set up your store and attract an audience.

With website designers such as Wix, it’s far easier to create a site that’s professional and includes the necessary tools to sell products online.

Enter Online Business Idea Here

To discourage the notion that all careers online are structured and need to tick a specific box, they don’t, as this completely defeats the object of leaving a tick box job in the first place. You define what you want to do as a career online and you are in no way limited to the options above. You may choose to brainstorm ideas, research a gap in the market, devise a solution present in your own life, choose to offer a unique service, rebranding of an innovative product, act as a middle person to source specific desirable products for people, such as registration plates or use expired domain finder software to sell desirable web domains for a profit. With the world wide web at you fingertips the world is your oyster, leave no idea or opportunity unturned and try and test different paths until you find or create one that is most fitting to you.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” (Abraham Lincoln)

With all of the careers above mentioned a common theme that packages each option is the dedication and perseverance, each requires as with starting any new business venture. The prospect of unpaid work, the time it takes to try and test ideas, to research and consistently acquire more knowledge on a given subject, and of course to overcome and excel through and beyond the copious amount of mistakes and failures you will experience becoming an entrepreneur. All of these components are unavoidable in your endeavors to run a lucrative business online, which is why you must persevere if you want to become your own boss and forge a career online.

Entrepreneurial Ways To Turn Your Small Business Into A Medium Or Large Business

January 14, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Every small business owner is dreaming of bigger things for their empire, but it’s hard to turn that dream into a reality. With so much competition in the marketplace, you might feel a little outmatched by some of your bigger rivals in your respective industry. But the truth is that up-and-coming businesses are often more grounded than huge national or international corporations. If you want to take your company to the next level then here are some entrepreneurial ways to turn your small business into a medium or large business.

Collaborate with other businesses.

This might completely contradict every entrepreneurial instinct you have, but collaboration can be hugely beneficial on certain occasions in the business world. You don’t have to put yourself in constant competition with similar companies in your industry. Obviously, we’re not suggesting that you tell your customers to buy a product from one of your competitors rather than your own company. We’re talking about working with the competition to support your industry and your local community. Local restaurants might work together to raise money for a food bank in their town or city, for example. You and your rivals just need to find common ground. It’s about collaborating to achieve a win-win outcome. Maybe you could arrange a networking event for your business and other businesses in the marketplace.

Of course, another option is to merge with another small business. This isn’t always a move that two companies make when either or both of them is failing; it’s often a move that’s made when two companies want to become more successful in their respective marketplace. You might want to do some research on the subject before proposing such a deal to another company, even if you’re already on collaborative terms with local businesses in your industry. If you’re wondering “what is M&A strategy?” then you should get some help from experts in the matter. There are plenty of skilled professionals out there who can help you develop smart strategies for merging with other businesses. It could be a great way for your small business to grow into a medium or large-sized business.

Keep your current customers satisfied.

One of the best ways in which to keep your current customers satisfied is by delivering caring and dedicated services. If you keep your current customers satisfied then you’ll be able to grow from there. After all, your business needs stable foundations before it expands. You can’t build a customer base unless you focus on lead retention as well as generation. In other words, you need to work hard to maintain a happy client base so that you can get good reviews and grow from there. Otherwise, what incentive will potential customers have to choose your business? People want to see that your company has made an impact on previous customers who have purchased your goods or services. Additionally, satisfied customers talk, and you really want your clients to spread the word about you if your small business is going to grow into a medium or large business.

That being said, it’s not guaranteed that your business is going to go viral on social media or suddenly increase its client base simply by impressing its customers. Plenty of companies keep their customers happy. If you really want to encourage your existing client base to start telling their friends and family members about your business then you need to give them a reason to do so. It’s about rewarding your customers for helping you out. Maybe you could offer points or deals on products and services for every customer that successfully refers your business to one of their friends or family members. People will be much more inclined to help you with the expansion of your business if they know that they’ll be rewarded for doing so. This is well worth considering if you want your small business to evolve into something much bigger.

Be a better leader.

Another way in which you can expand your business is to become a better leader. After all, the boss of a company is the person who helps to guide it forwards. If you want to grow then you need to be a catalyst for change. You need to encourage your employees to work harder, for instance. If you can increase productivity then you’ll be able to increase your daily output. As a result, your company will be able to cater its services to a wider audience. That’s a strong step towards expanding your small business into a medium or large business. You should hold regular meetings to bring your team together and make them feel passionate about the business. That’s the key to growth.

These Bad Habits Will Slay Your Productivity

January 11, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

You only have so much time in the day, right? Right, so you need to ensure you are as productive as possible when you’re in the workplace. But if you aren’t getting your work done on time, then you may not be as productive as you should be. The following bad habits may be to blame.

Bad Habit #1: You are not getting enough sleep

We need around 8 hours sleep a night, so if you’re burning the candle at both ends, and not getting enough shut-eye, then you are going to feel sluggish and tired throughout the day. You might even fall asleep at your desk in extreme situations! Do yourself a favor then, and get to bed at a decent time. These sleeping tips may be useful to you.

Bad Habit #2: You are not eating properly

A poor diet will bring down your energy levels, and this will, in turn, make you less productive. Therefore, look for ways to eat better at home and at work. Start with a healthy breakfast (it really is the most important meal of the day), eat fruit in place of less healthy snacks throughout the day, and prepare something nutritious at home for your lunch. Make use of wholesale vegetable suppliers too, as well as any healthy takeout options from local stores, so you always have something nutritious to eat at home and at work.

Bad Habit #3: You skip exercise

Where can you find time to exercise during the day? Surely you have too much to do! Well, you could try getting out of bed earlier, for a start. A brisk walk or jog around the block will set you up for the day. You might do the same thing during your break times. You might also walk or cycle to work instead of using your car. There are even exercises you can do at your desk. Always make time to do something rather than nothing, as while you might resent the time it takes, your renewed energy will power your productivity.

Bad Habit #4: You don’t delegate enough

Here’s the thing… you can’t do everything! You want to be the master of everything, but you might become the master of nothing! If you have a team around you, delegate to them, especially those tasks you shouldn’t be doing anyway. There are also things you should outsource in your business, as this will give you more time to concentrate on aspects of your business that you are better at. Otherwise, you will have too much to do, and your ensuing workload and tiredness will scupper your productivity.

Bad Habit #5: You fall prey to distractions

This encompasses a number of bad habits. You might waste time looking at Facebook for personal purposes, for example. Or you might get involved with office gossip and banter, to the detriment of your mounting workload. And there will be distractions that are personal to you, each one of which will counter your attempts to be productive. You need willpower; the ability to say ‘no’ to these things, as you will never get your work done otherwise.

Are you guilty of any of the bad habits we have mentioned? If so, follow our suggestions, as your productivity and your business depend on it. Let us know what you think, and if you have any suggestions of your own, be sure to let us know.

Have You Got a Business Exit Strategy?

January 11, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

If you have been running your business for a while to build up your assets, and to retire early, you might need to start thinking about your exit strategy. To successfully pass on, sell, or create a residual income off your business, you will need to plan your finances, protect your assets, and create value in terms of knowledge and reputation. Below you will find a few tips on how to get started with creating an exit strategy for your business.

Your Books

To successfully exit your business at a profit, you will need to ensure that your books are in order. After all, it is crucial for investors and potential buyers to know that there are no hidden risks in buying a business. You should always consult with a financial planner and an accountant who will tell you what you need to improve on if you would like to exit your business and get more money for it.

Your Strategy

Without a clear strategy, a buyer will not know what to do with your business. You should always create an exit strategy and showcase how you are looking to build more assets based on opportunities you have spotted. This will make your company more appealing to other people in your industry, and you can create a valuable asset to pass on. If you are thinking about planning your succession and carrying on with the current strategy, you will need to train people to do your job.

Market Share

The greater your market share is and the better you can demonstrate your brand’s strengths, the more money buyers are likely to pay for your company. Even if you would like to retain the shares in your company and get profits on the trading income, your influence after the transition will be limited, so you should improve your brand’s strength and visibility continuously. If your business is struggling to maintain its market share and you need to exit early, you will need to get in touch with a commercial litigation lawyer to get an overview of your different options.

Organizational Knowledge

One of the main assets of your company will be the organizational knowledge you built up. Your experience and skills have a lot to do with the success of the business. Passing this on and sharing knowledge in the organization will help you maintain the operations even after you take a step back from your company.

Reputation

Another valuable asset you can turn into cash when exiting your business is your reputation. You need to protect it at any price. No matter if you are no longer taking an active role in day-to-day management, you will need to monitor what is going on in the industry and check whether or not the company is still holding on to its original value and mission.

There are several ways you can build an exit strategy, but your financial standing, your brand visibility, and the market share will determine the success of your project.

3 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Farming Business Before It Grows

January 9, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Starting your own farm is a big decision and there are a lot of challenges to face along the way, but there is also a lot of government assistance available to help you get it started. It’s also a very good industry to get into if you’re fed up with the business world. If you can build a sustainable farm, you can make a decent living from it fairly easily. Everybody needs to eat after all. However, farming is a skill that you have to learn and there are a lot of things that you can get wrong in those first few months and years. If you’re considering starting your own farm, make sure that you avoid these basic mistakes.

Buying The Wrong Farm

Choosing a farm to buy is the first step and if you get it wrong, you’re never going to get anywhere. Finding somewhere that has a good amount of land and a decent property (if you plan to live there) is the bare minimum. What a lot of people don’t realize is that they need to find out what they’re actually going to be able to grow there. You can’t assume that every farm is fertile because it might not be. Before you agree to anything, you need to have soil testing carried out on the farm. That will tell you which crops are going to thrive on your farm, if any. Then you need to look at the markets for those crops and make sure that you can actually build a business on them. If you just blindly buy a farm without checking the soil, you might end up with a very expensive plot of land that you can’t do anything with.

Location is important too because you need to think about how you’re going to distribute your product once you’ve grown it. It’s always a good idea to find a farm that has a town or city fairly close so you’ve got a local market for your produce.

Disease Prevention

If you’re farming livestock, you need to be aware that they’re prone to disease. Outbreaks of disease are one of the biggest causes of financial disaster in the farming industry so you need to know how to prevent it. Usually, it comes down to how you manage your livestock; keeping them indoors is a more cost effective way of farming but it does increase the chances of disease outbreaks.

Spreading Yourself Too Thin

You might think that it’s a good idea to start planting 3 different crops and farming cows at the same time. For an experienced farmer, that’s manageable, but for a beginner it’s going to be tough. In most cases, if you spread yourself too thin like that, you’re not going to end up with a good end product. Start slowly with one simple crop for the first season or two and then gradually build it up as you become more confident.

Another way you might find yourself being spread too thin is by over-using materials and equipment, which can cost you a lot more money than you might have thought, and end up bringing your farm into a troublesome position. In order to avoid that situation, you are going to need to make sure that you are keeping stock of everything you have, from the smallest piece of baling twine to your tractors and other larger machinery.

As long as you do that, you’ll find that you are in a much better financial position with regard to your farm.

Any one of these mistakes could kill your farming business before you even get it off the ground so make sure that you avoid them.