3 Rules for 2017 Success in Business

As I close my third year in business, I reflect on 2016 with a lot of lessons learned. Now I don't want to bore you with lots of writing (and hence lots of reading on your part) but I do want to start by saying, if you want to be successful in your business in 2017 you will need to ask YOURSELF these questions RIGHT NOW!... and be honest with your answers.

Do YOU want to be out of DEBT?

Do YOU want to STOP struggling in BUSINESS?
 
Do YOU want more clients/customers?

Do YOU want more visibility and recognition for YOU and YOUR business?

Do YOU want to increase your income 10 times or MORE?

If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above like I did then you will need to MAKE UP your MIND that serious work needs to take place in 2017 and from the jump.

I will be the last person to fool anyone into thinking that running your own business is easy. Trust me it's not... but the old adage is TRUE! The risk is worth the REWARD because it is ALL YOURS.

Here are my TOP 3 RULES:

1. Set your mind that you are going to succeed no matter what.

The biggest hurdle in business is overcoming the limitations in your head. One of my biggest limitations was believing I could do everything by myself. 2016 was the year I brought in 3 new professionals into my business to help keep me on track and to help me increase my bottom line. With the addition of each new person I could visibly see progressive movement in my business... milestones being reached. But the biggest benefit has been in the renewed energy I feel.
Stay inspired and keep your thoughts focused on your dreams and why they are important to you.

2. Devise a comprehensive plan.. (and write it down)

Imagine you are throwing a baby shower for a friend and you want it to be an event that she will remember fondly years after. Imagine that you will have one of a kind games, serve great appetizers that your guests will rave about, the great decorations and atmosphere, and the wonderful conversation. Now think of putting that all together without a plan. You need to "plan" who is coming, what they will be eating, who is bringing what etc.
A business plan ensures that you:
Have clarity and helps to define your purpose.
It keeps you accountable.
It solves problems.
It lets you know what you can and can't do financially and helps you schedule your activities.
It helps you devise a PLAN B... just in case your PLAN A doesn't work out.

3. Stay in gratitude

I love this quote:
To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kindness that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude. -- Albert Schweitzer

Everyday that you are given life give thanks. Not only be thankful for the big things but give thanks for the smaller stuff. I say thank you EVERYDAY for parking, my car, the internet, my students, places to teach, a choice of shoes to wear, mentors, family and friends. Nothing is too big or small to give thanks for and when you get to a space of gratitude your life becomes more abundant.

We need to WAKE up, SHOW up and DON'T GIVE UP! My factors for success are not complex and they have worked for me. You need to be serious about your business in 2017 if you want to see it grow. All the best for 2017...

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Debbie-Ann_Jollie/2307107

Seven Success Tips for Entrepreneurs

Nobody starts up a business with an intention to fail. Nevertheless most businesses stop to exist within a few years of start-up. Here are 7 tips to help you succeed as an entrepreneur.

VISION STATEMENT
Entrepreneurs should note that a well written vision statement is critical for business success. A Vision Statement outlines the direction/long-term goals of a business and also serves as a tool for strategic decision making. It should also provide the basis for everything that a business does. Operational policies and plans should align with the vision statement of a business.

MISSION STATEMENT
Entrepreneurs should endeavor to ensure that their business has a mission statement as a mission statement states how a business intends to achieve its vision in practical terms.

A mission statement makes a business focus on what really matters to itself / its stakeholders and should be reviewed periodically to meet evolving needs.

CORE VALUES
The core values of a business are very important as they are what guide a business's code of conduct as well as its relationships with its stakeholders.

To succeed every entrepreneur should have these as his/her personal and business core values.
• Hard work
• Honesty
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Discipline

CREATING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Every entrepreneur must continuously create and identify new opportunities to remain competitive.

Business opportunities could come about by expanding your market geographical base, taking advantage of the internet, developing new products/services, partnership with other entrepreneurs.

DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS
Entrepreneurs should have delighting customers as top priority. Customers are the reason why businesses are set up.

Wikipedia defines customer delight as 'surprising a customer by exceeding his or her expectations and thus creating a positive emotional reaction'.

Delighting customers is a critical success factor for any business as it creates customer satisfaction which leads to brand allegiance, business development and profitability.

ENTHUSIASM
Nothing great can be achieved without enthusiasm.

To be successful an entrepreneur must be passionate what he/she does. It is the enthusiasm/drive to succeed that will make you persevere even when things don't seem to work out.

Most successful businessmen have had their companies fail in the past. It is the drive to succeed that kept them going.

READINESS TO TAKE RISK
Entrepreneurs should be ready to take risk in order to succeed.

Some entrepreneur people don't take risk because of the fear of failure and miss big business opportunities. Fear of failure also stifles initiative.

Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to fail. They analyze and take action.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts" - Winston Churchill

Contact Aguolu Kenechukwu via email: kenerek1@gmail.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Aguolu_Kenechukwu/2362935

What You Need To Do To Make Your Startup A Success

If you plan on striking out on your own to start a new company, you'll find that there are ample resources that are designed to guide entrepreneurs through this process. Starting a company is cheaper and easier than ever before given the ability to leverage the Internet in order to effectively connect with people while minimising your operational and outreach costs. There are, however, a few important things you have to do to ensure that your startup is a success.

Although starting a business is currently cheaper and easier than ever before, it is still important for business owners to have a secondary and steady source of income throughout their first year of operation. This will take the pressure off of your company to succeed immediately. You will have sufficient funds for covering your ongoing operating costs and your basic living expenses and will not have to function in a constant state of panic.

Establish a solid working schedule so that you are devoting an appropriate amount of time to your new organisation. A lot of new business owners expect that they can earn massive sums of money overnight, without having to invest a whole lot of time or effort. In reality, however, must successful entrepreneurs work long days and nights, particularly during the earliest stages of business development.

Make sure that you have a functional and attractive website for connecting with your prospects and customers. This will likely serve as your primary sales platform unless you will be maintaining a blog to sell affiliate products, using third-party classified or auction sites to host your wares or opening up a brick and mortar store that people can visit in person.

Get help with the web design process so that your pages are both viable and accessible on a broad range of devices. You want people to be able to connect with you irrespective of the tools that they are using to search the web. Professional web development will also make it easier for you to optimise your pages for search engines.

Create a solid business plan that will serve as your guide during the most formative stages of your endeavors. It is important to have a clear strategy for how you will get things done and a cohesive outline of what you hope to accomplish. This will make it easier to properly allocate both your business development monies and your time for optimal returns.

Seek help when you need it but avoid over-staffing your company so you don't run into any serious financial troubles before your profits become consistent. It is a good idea to work with people who are skilled in the areas you are not. It is also prudent to limit the number of financial obligations you take on, until you have sufficient money in savings for covering your operating expenses during slow periods.

Take the time to get the training you need in various technical areas in order to run your office efficiently and according to the requirements of your chosen industry. These can include Microsoft Office courses, training in human resource management and instruction for receiving any professional licensing your company requires. The more skilled you become, the less trained talent you will require to hire in order to establish a fully-functional organisation.

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Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/VS_Singh/2182324

5 Attitudes You Should Have When Starting Your Own Business!

Not every entrepreneur is the same. Some are born rich, some have university degrees, while others have none of these. Having a lot of money and a degree is not a requirement to be a successful business owner though. There are those who are not so wealthy and do not very impressive educational backgrounds that have succeeded as well. It's just a matter of having these five characteristics. Make sure you develop these when starting your online business.

1. Thinks Clearly

You need a clear mind so you can absorb information about many different home business ideas. Learning as much as you can is a very important aspect of starting your own business. More so, you should avoid having a worry-filled mindset. If you always think about what can go wrong, then you can't sleep well at night, and you can't think clearly. Worrying too much will greatly affect your efficiency in managing your business.

2. Communicates Effectively

As a business owner, you should have good communication skills. You should be able to share your ideas to your clients and employees in ways that they will easily understand. Otherwise, how can you convince people to buy your products or to support your small business? If you can't communicate well, you will miss a lot of opportunities to turn your online business ideas into reality. Business owners need to talk to people often. It's part of their job to get clients, business partners, and many other activities that will help to grow the business. Thus, you really have to be a good communicator to succeed.

3. Pushes Himself / Herself

You can't just rely on others to push you forward. Most of the time, you have to motivate yourself to keep going on the path towards success. Your friends and family are not always there, and more often than not, they'll be less dependable when you're facing challenges with your business. There could even be a few times where you're all alone. Not everyone shares your vision and wants to realise your dream as much as you do. With that in mind, you should be able to keep pushing yourself forward without needing help from others.

4. Performs Consistently

Making your business take the "number 1" spot is hard, and keeping it on top is even harder. For this reason, consistency is your friend. If you are unwavering in carrying out your plans to grow your business, then you'll most likely stay on that top spot for long. It doesn't mean that because you're now number one that you should slack off and give up. That's not how business works. Anytime, someone else can dethrone you from the top rank. You should be committed to continue working hard for your business.

5. Really Wants to Succeed

Undeniably, the best way to succeed is still through passion. Having that burning desire to succeed in your home based business is a powerful thing that will drive you towards your goal of success. It doesn't matter how many times you fail; you can always get up and move on. Keep your eyes on the prize and keep pressing on. Don't be afraid about what others will tell you, and don't mind them if they ridicule you. Just focus on your business, your vision for it, and what you want to achieve out of it!

If you have these five characteristics, then you are well on your way to be a smashing success! Your efforts will surely pay off soon. Keep the dream alive, and keep on going with your online business!

To learn more tips on starting an online business from home, head over to http://mybiztips.co.uk and sign up for your free newsletter! Also, you may want a copy of a proven online business idea. Just go to http://icopyit.co.uk

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peter_Bright/2270259

How to Gather Information for a Proposed Business

Sufficient Information is needed for business success. An organization or economic structure where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money is referred to as business.

Most businesses requires ample form of investment and adequate customers to whom its products can be sold on a steady basis in order to regulate constant profit flow.

Businesses can be confidentially owned, not-for-profit or Government owned. A typical example of a commercial business is Goodneeed, whereas Jaykool foodies business is a private project. In order to gather information for a proposed business, the following steps must be followed according in no particular order.

1. Conduct market studies and surveys. You can do this yourself, either formally or informally to obtain feedback on your product or service, and if you have the money you can pay someone to do it for you.
2. Spy! That's perfectly right. If you want to know about prices/performance ratio at another store, outlets or the number of customers a competitor has, simply visit his visit empire/blog or store and walk around to know more about the tools your competitor is applying or using.
3. Attend trade shows, events, conference, expos and business fairs. These are excellent sources of information and personal contacts that can propel your business to a level of unconditional success.
4. Network with colleagues, friends, or associates. Everyone knows someone else who can help them with some aspects of their intended business. Use these friends, associates and their knowledge to the best of your possible advantage. some will be glad to give advice or help
5. Follow the local and National news. Keep abreast of trends and fads. Often, newspaper and online journals contain a wealth of small business information and possible ideas that can make the difference.
6. Don't be silent; silent kills.Talk to members of your local chamber of commerce or NGOs that are into employment issues. Again, they will probably be open to help you along since they were once in your situation.
7. The internet is always and readily available for access. Use the internet to open the door to business websites. The beauty of the internet is that one site often leads to another in terms of connected resources. There is virtually nothing that can't be located online. Make use of the internet and gather useful data's needed.
8. Do you know any successful entrepreneur within your community? Talk to entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses for advice, information, and even encouragement. Many small business owners will gladly tell what they went through. Their experiences matters a lot. Words of encouragement from their successes can catalyze your footsteps and guide you towards achieving success. Make friends with them and learn from their mistakes.
9. Write to companies and request information on how they started out. Most companies will help you out here. They have detailed information about their startups and how to achieve success faster.
10. Ensure to buy your competitors goods/products to compare with yours and make notes on how they advertise. Most of them have their key secrets. For you to achieve success and surpass them you need to carry out products comparison and possible ways of improvement. This can be achieved purely by effective business research.
11. Talk to competitors, friends, colleagues, your former employers, if you know any. They may give you insight into how your competitors operate. This is very important.
12. Use your own noggin and that of a business partner/investor, friend, or spouse to come up with your own unique answers and information.
13. Listen to radio and television shows and talks on business and attend business events. Never walk alone. Always enhance connection by interacting with the speakers on radios.

Final Word 
According to Collin Powell," There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure". Honestly comprehend that even after gathering useful information about your proposed business, you might discover that you still need more facts or answers. If ask why? You will realize that your research will inevitably raise fresh questions that requires adequate answers. My candid advice is not to be dispirited, this is normal. Starting a business can bring lots of headache and can also be time consuming as well, so you have to be flexible for maximum success.

Research Chemist and Tech blogger who makes money online from his blog and other investments. He runs his own Science and Tech website http://www.jaysciencetech.com and Teaches/Inspire Newbie Bloggers on how to Create & Make money Online at http://www.akwaonline.com.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ofonimeh_J_Joseph/2407179

4 Simple Business Methods for New Online Entrepreneurs

So, you want to be a successful entrepreneur. But which business strategy should you choose? There seem to be so many out there, with each so-called guru touting a different philosophy, that it can be very difficult to narrow down a business strategy that actually works.

However, when you remove all of the window dressing and break the strategies down to the basics, there are only three that make up nearly all of the entrepreneurial ventures that are out there. Which one you choose will depend on your personal preference, your unique skills and where you see a hole in the market.

#1 Service Providers

The first of our three top strategies is providing some type of service. There are many occupations that provide a service where someone can become an entrepreneur.

Graphic design is one good example; freelance writing is another. Whenever you are doing a service for somebody else and they are paying you for it (while not in the employee of another person or company) you are an entrepreneur.

#2 Affiliate Marketing

Another big boom in online entrepreneurship is affiliate marketing. With the creation of websites like ClickBank, the affiliate programs offered by leading retailers like Amazon and the big profits that could be potentially earned, affiliate marketing is one of the most popular entrepreneurial ventures today.

With affiliate marketing, you find the customers, send them over to the seller to buy the product and the seller pays you a commission. Of course, you have to find the right product and a solid strategic plan because getting your offers in front of people can be difficult nowadays.

#3 Info Product Creation

Rather than being the person that receives the commission when someone buys a product from someone else, you could be the person that they are buying that product from. You could create an info product of some kind that you'll be able to sell to the Internet at large. One of the more popular ways to do this is by publishing Kindle content on Amazon, but the products on ClickBank can also be part of this strategy.

#4 Combining Strategies

Of course, you don't have to just stick with one. You can always combine any two or all three if you like. There are no rules when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you can create something that sells, or add value to someone else's life in exchange of money, you are an entrepreneur.

By the way, Keye Wu is on a mission to transform 1 million guys into the most productive, masculine and purposeful men. If you REALLY do not know the 5 Little Known Ways To Double Your Productivity For Men yet, we need to fix that. Join hundreds of other men already using it right now FREE in my value-packed productivity blog here. Alternatively, check out one of my most popular flowstate video here.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Keye_Wu/2314157

5 Ways To Be The Best Online Service Provider

If your online business venture is more focused on providing services, you definitely want to provide the best service possible and be the number one person that people go to when they need your particular service.

There are lots of service providers on the Internet these days, things like freelance writing and editing, grammar proofreading, voiceover services, graphic design, animation videos, programming, website creation, link building or any other service.

There are professionals with huge price tags and sites like Fiverr that make some services incredibly cheap but no matter which part of the spectrum you're at right now, there are a few ways to be the best service writer possible.

1. Don't charge prices based on the market, especially if you're trying to undercut the competition.

Price your services based on what you think they're worth and don't worry if some people are willing to pay the price because you'll find people looking for quality work like yours that are willing to pay good money for it.

2. Be consistent with all of your clients even if they don't know each other.

Charge the same basic prices to all of the clients that you have, promise the same deadlines and don't pick and choose policies based upon the client. If they ever do encounter each other, you may lose both of them.

3. Double and triple check your work before you send it out.

Even catching one or two minor mistakes could mean the difference between a client coming back or not, or telling other people about your services. Take a few extra minutes with every single project and make sure it is 100% what the client wanted and that it is your absolute best work.

4. Be okay with saying no.

There may be some projects that you don't want to work on and it doesn't really matter what the reason is. You could have a moral objection or could be just too much work for the price that the person is willing to pay.

The point is that you should be willing to say no to clients. They will respect you and not ask for unreasonable expectations in the future.

5. Figure out what people's problems are and then try to solve them.

If you can come up with solutions to people's problems other than your regular services, you could make a great deal more money and could spark a business idea that will take you to the big-time.

These are the 5 simple yet powerful ways when you start your service-based online entrepreneurial endeavor. Use them and differentiate yourself to be the best go-to expert in your industry today!

By the way, Keye Wu is on a mission to transform 1 million guys into the most productive, masculine and purposeful men. If you REALLY do not know the 5 Little Known Ways To Double Your Productivity For Men yet, we need to fix that. Join hundreds of other men already using it right now FREE in my value-packed productivity blog here. Alternatively, check out one of my most popular flowstate video here.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Keye_Wu/2314157

Why Entrepreneurs Need To Workout And Get Fit And Healthy

You wake up to the sound of that not-so-beautiful alarm.

It's early.

Still dark outside.

But, hey, this is what you signed up for when you decided to become an entrepreneur. So you soldier on.

Quick shower. Then you grab a bagel or some other sugar-laden or fatty snack on the way to work.

You arrive at work.

...

10am comes. You're hungry. And you're losing focus. Can't concentrate.

But it's all good. Why? Because you get your coins out and head straight to the nearest vending machine.

You buy your Mars bar, grab another double coffee, and get straight back to work.

Happy days.

Well, for another hour or so. Then it's back to feeling hungry and lethargic until lunch.

Lunch time arrives.

You get a bacon butty. Or something else nice and greasy. And a doughnut for dessert.

Back to work.

The sugar coursing through your veins. You feel great. Full of energy.

Until the post-sugar crash hits you.

HARD.

And guess what? It's only 2pm. You can't really afford to take another break. After all, you've got work to do. And you've already been so unproductive.

The thing is, now you're gonna be even more unproductive. You're just shattered. No energy. Can barely think.

How the hell you gonna come up with a new strategy? Or make an important sales call? Or conduct that interview? Or do whatever it is you need to do to make more money?

The answer?

There isn't really much you can do.

Sorry for sounding harsh. (Well, actually I'm not sorry. Best you hear the truth, right?!)

But at the end of the day, if your body and brain are living off junk food, then it's literally gonna be impossible for you to function anywhere near your best.

(In fact, I might have to get in touch with Tom Cruise... Could be his most impossible mission yet... )

Anyway, the point is this:

If you poured olive oil into a car, would you expect it to move?

Course not.

And the same applies to your body.

If you don't feed it properly, then you're not going to be at your best. And as an entrepreneur (or an executive, or just someone's who's very career-minded and ambitious) then that's gonna be a killer for you. Ultimately, it's gonna mean less money. And even complete failure.

Yet now imagine this scenario...

You wake up naturally after a good solid 8 hours sleep.

You feel refreshed.

You then put on your workout clothes, go downstairs into the lounge, and do a 20-minute workout.

Something quite challenging. Something that's gonna help you lose weight, whilst helping you tone up. Something that's gonna get you feeling great after you've done.

You then shower, before grabbing a nice healthy breakfast. Let's say oats with some blueberries, and a scoop of your favourite protein powder (which tastes just like milkshake by the way).

You then go to work. You're feeling great still.

And guess what?

You get a LOT done!

In fact, you don't even think about food again until lunch. You then eat a healthy lunch of your favourite meat in a wholemeal roll, with a side salad draped in your favourite dressing (you've gotta make a salad taste good, after all!).

You then go back to work. Now feeling even more energetic. Meaning you get even more work done.

You then have a quick snack. Either a smoothie with a few bits of veg and your favourite fruits to sweeten it, or a protein flapjack or something.

Carry on with work. Still feel great. Still getting lots done.

You then finish, go home, and have a meal with the family. Something healthy, but ending with a dessert of whatever the hell you fancy (you gotta stay sane after all!).

Then after spending the evening having fun with your spouse and kids, you decide to call it a night.

You get to sleep nice and relaxed.

Ready to have another great day tomorrow...

So, they're your two options in life.

Which are you gonna choose?

Tom Andrews, "The Executive Fit Coach"

PS- If you want to get a proven nutrition strategy that will show you how you can drop a belt/dress size in just 21 days, then click the link below.

http://www.executivefitcoach.com

Once you've clicked it, type your name and email address into the box at the bottom of that page. You will then get sent a FREE webinar where I will share this strategy with you.

Like I say, it's completely free. So what are you waiting for?

Hurry, go!

http://www.executivefitcoach.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tom_Andrews/2298168

How To Make Money In 2017

Three tips on how to make money in business in 2017

The year 2017 is already upon us. It is time to start making resolutions and start searching for ways to fulfill these resolutions. Every businessperson makes one common resolution every year, and that is he or she will strive to make more money in 2017 than he or she made in 2016. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious. Without ambition, no one in the world can prosper. Here are some tips for the business community on how to make money in 2017.

This is the age of digital marketing. Therefore, the top ranking tips should be on this aspect of business. Business entrepreneurs should do well to develop the following digital marketing tips on how to make money.

Analyze data:

In this day and age, Information is easy to obtain. The internet is the biggest asset you have today. Use the internet judiciously to analyze the available data. This data analysis can help you take informed decisions, understand customer preferences, conduct campaigns to ensure customer retention, and a host of other beneficial activities. This is not an optional skill anymore. Digital marketing can be done easily with the right campaign.

Content Marketing:

Manufacturing the best items in the world or providing excellent services cannot guarantee you success on its own. You need an effective marketing campaign to create awareness among the customers. Unless people are aware of your products or services, there is no way they are going to buy them. Therefore, place more emphasis on content marketing. An effective content marketing plan can definitely help you earn more money than you did in 2016.

Master SEO Skills:

The roadmap for success in business in 2017 is the digital route. It is natural to have a tremendous level of competition in this field. You have to be ahead of the rest in order to make more money. Achieving a higher SEO ranking than your nearest competitors on the search engines can ensure that more people access your website. This can obviously result in more inquiries. Automatically, this will convert into a higher number of leads thereby transforming into a higher volume of conversion to business. Of course, you should have the products or the services to match the demand. Otherwise, it would not take much time for your ranking to plummet down too.

We have just seen three tips for you to succeed in business in 2017 and make money.

For more information on how to make money

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marc-Eddy_Drouinaud_Jr/2289154

Entrepreneurs and Ideas

Who is an 'Entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is that fellow who, rather than working as an employee, runs a small business and assumes all the risks and rewards of a given business venture, idea, or good or service offered for sale. An entrepreneur is a business leader and innovator of new ideas and business processes.

Entrepreneurs play a key role in any economy. These are the people who have the skills and initiative necessary to improve any economy. The reward for taking the risk is the potential economic profits the entrepreneur could earn.

Yes, I know that's hard. It's a lot of work. And that, folks, are what makes entrepreneurship so friggin' hard. And so friggin' necessary. What can I say, that's life. Besides, look on the bright side: You get to do what you want and you get to do it your way. There's just one catch. You've got to start somewhere. Ideas and opportunities don't just materialize out of thin air.

The only way I know to get started is by learning a marketable skill and getting to work. In my experience, that's where the ideas, opportunities, partners, and finances always seem to come from. Sure, it also takes an enormous amount of hard work, but that just comes with the territory.

If you want to do entrepreneurship right, let me share the story of an African lady you've probably never heard about, her name is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, 34, grew up in Zenabwork, a poor village in the suburbs of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

She came up with her business idea after she noticed most of the artisans in her community, who made beautiful footwear, remained jobless and poor.

Today, her company, SoleRebels, is one the most popular and fastest growing African footwear brand in the world! It sells its 'eco-friendly' brand of footwear in more than 50 countries including the USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland.

SoleRebels' footwear is unique because it is 100 percent made by hand using locally-sourced and recycled materials like old car tyres and hand-loomed organic fabrics.

A few years ago, SoleRebels became the first footwear company in the world to be certified by the World Fair Trade Organization.

By using local craftsmen, Bethlehem has built a global brand and a hugely successful business that has created jobs and improved livelihoods in her local community.

She started SoleRebels in 2004 with less than $10,000 in capital she raised from family members. Today, the company has more than 100 employees and nearly 200 local raw material suppliers, and has opened several standalone retail outlets in North America, Europe and Asia.

Despite its very humble beginnings, SoleRebels now makes up to $1 million in sales every year, and according to her projections and expansion plans, the company could be making up to $10 million in sales by the end of this year (2016).

Buoyed by her success with SoleRebels, She recently launched Republic of Leather, a new business that trades in luxury leather products like bags, belts and other non-footwear leather accessories.

Bethlehem was selected as the Young Global Leader of the Year 2011 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and was a winner at the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship in the same year. Bethlehem and her inspiring success story with SoleRebels have been featured severally on Forbes, the BBC and CNN.

As an entrepreneur, the sky is your limit. You can achieve anything you want! We can all be Bethlehem, start thinking and creating...

See you at the top!

Femi Adefioye is an Investor, A business man and Internet marketer, a motivational speaker, a financial consultant. He is also an Analyst. He has wealth creation blog http://entrepreneurship-skills.blogspot.com where he writes life transforming articles on entrepreneurship and wealth themes.

Notice - You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact, active and included with every reproduction.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Femi_Adefioye/271306

Entrepreneurship Misconceptions

Don't let what others think about entrepreneurs hold you back from greatness,

Misconception is a thought or opinion that is incorrect based on the faulty thinking or understanding of people. Here, we want to clarify some of the misconceptions in entrepreneurship.

They work for money

Entrepreneurship isn't all about money, it's about solving problems for people and love what they do. Also, it's about creating a name for themselves and making a positive impact in the world.

Money is also a way to do bigger and more exciting deals. The motivation of a new idea, and the risks involved have far more power to motivate the entrepreneurial spirit than money. In entrepreneurship, your business and success become an obsession not the money.

They lack courage

I've never seen anyone that is as courageous as an entrepreneur.

It takes courage to forego the predictability of a corporate job, It takes courage to take the risk of failure, It takes courage to make your dreams into reality.

And it takes courage, lots of it to hand over the reins when your startup grows beyond your ability to manage it.

That's why entrepreneurs are rightly the true heroes of our modern world.

They are professionals

Most successful entrepreneurs are not highly qualified fellows, but are success driven. Surprisingly, attending an elite university or higher education doesn't provide a significant advantage in entrepreneurship. What matters is that the entrepreneur gains a degree; the choice of major or college doesn't play a big role in success. However, the greater the education of the entrepreneur, the lower the rate of business failure and the higher the business's profits, sales and employment.

They sometimes have overnight success

It may seem to you that entrepreneurs made the huge amount of money, but do you know that there is a lot of handwork before he made it.

Overnight success is possible; entrepreneurs are inspired to start their own business by witnessing successful and established entrepreneurs. They study the success stories, the beginning of those success stories, which often includes massive struggle prior to the breakthroughs. As a matter of Fact, it takes years to become an overnight success in entrepreneurship!

Many entrepreneurs needlessly worry that they haven't perfected their ideas. No idea is ever perfect. When you have an idea, go ahead and build a prototype or two, tinker with what works, make refinements as necessary, but by all means get it out there! You can always improve on a good idea. Let the market help you improve.

You don't have to be a Harvard graduate to be an entrepreneur, but you do need to understand the characteristics of entrepreneurial. See you at the top!

Femi Adefioye is an Investor, A business man and Internet marketer, a motivational speaker, a financial consultant. He is also an Analyst. He has wealth creation blog http://entrepreneurship-skills.blogspot.com where he writes life transforming articles on entrepreneurship and wealth themes.

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Skills Needed As An Entrepreneur

Polishing your skills as an entrepreneur can help you be a better entrepreneur. Here are the skills every successful entrepreneur has in common:

Doggedness.

The ability to be persistent in time of trial. Not every business will achieve that immediate success. The determination, knowing how to handle the ups and down is vital. Success does not happen overnight, some of those successful entrepreneurs out there failed again and again before finally achieving that remarkable success. Winston Churchill said: "success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm". What you need to know is that failure isn't the end but a step closer to achieving that success. This skill enables the entrepreneur to keep going when the outlook is bleak.

Stay Focused.

You have to be ready to give it all it takes, when success in the business is your priority, you will find yourself ready to tackle any kind of challenges along the way. After setting a goal, knowing how to "laser focus" on the very next step to get closer to the ultimate goal. There are so many distracting forces when trying to build a business that this skill is not easy to master.

Productivity.

This is a sensitive topic, the fact is there is no one right way to be productive that works for everybody. Learn about your peak energy times, your routines, and the productivity tools that work for you in order to create your own plan for success.

Sales.

Some entrepreneurs get stuck here, every entrepreneur is a sales person whether they want to be or not. They are either selling their ideas, products or services to customers, investors or employees. They work to be there when customers are ready to buy. Alternately, they know how to let go and move on when they are not. If you're always nervous about selling, try enrolling in a sales workshop to learn this much needed skill.

The ability to manage people.

You need to know how to manage people well. Early on in your business, you will be everyone's manager, so it pays to be effective. Entrepreneurs should know how to motivate and encourage the employees. Only by learning to leverage employees, vendors and other resources will an entrepreneur build a scalable company. They need to learn to network to meet the right people. Entrepreneurs strive to guarantee they will get honest and timely feedback from all these sources.

Adapting to change.

Change they say is constant! Successful entrepreneurs realize they don't know everything and the market is constantly changing. You have to be willing to go with the trend or change. You know what brilliant entrepreneurs does? They stay up to date on new systems, technology, and industry trends.

Strategy implementation.

You need to dedicate your time to simply dreaming about what you want for your business. Where would you like to take it? What's your vision for it? Now, how can you get there from here? Set your goals, and then develop an actionable plan to make them a reality. Then, don't forget about those goals. Keep them at the front and center to everything you do.

Take your time.

You don't need to rush things. Most entrepreneurs are not patient; they sometimes focus only on what comes next, rather than where the company needs to go. Overnight success may take 5 years or more. Entrepreneurs need to stop, pause and plan again at several intervals. Take a step at a time!

Don't be discouraged, you can learn some of these skills. Your eventual success depends on it.

See you at the top!

Femi Adefioye is a financial consultant. He is also an Analyst. He has a wealth creation blog http://entrepreneurship-skills.blogspot.com where he writes life transforming articles on entrepreneurship and wealth themes.

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5 Tips for Creating a Profitable Business Idea

Recent studies and surveys reveal that there's never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. But for some reason though, most people presume starting a new business is a mysterious and a rather risky process. Although they might want to start a business, they fail to take the leap in fear of the risks involved. Honestly, treading on a new territory is only risky as long as it remains unknown; for once you know what you're up to, you 'll also know the ways to master your way around. While the estimates might vary by a small margin, on an average; nearly 600,000 start-up businesses are initiated each year in Canada and the United States alone. However, for every individual who conquers the initial resistance to actually start a business, there are a million others who vow to start their dream business but fail to do so for the lack of conviction and a profitable business idea.

So, how do you land up with a brilliant idea for your business anyway?

Blend in the right juice!

Brainstorm on your strengths.

Brainstorm on your strengths; the reasons you want to start up a business in the first place. The key to a successful business lies in its originality and personal touch. Therefore, it's important you identify your inherent calling. Now, your list might include "I love meeting people, I love playing with numbers, I am a computer geek, I am passionate about great food, I love kids, I am connected to a social cause, I am good with marketing concepts, or I thrive under pressure and perform best when tested". Whatever your strengths might be, simply document everything that flows through your mind.

Take notes.

Next, write down the things you think you need help with. For instance; you are great at your job but don't have the PR skills to market yourself well. You could therefore do well with a PR who'd make you visible and noticed. Understand that there might be people who think like you and therefore are in the lookout for a good PR to market their skills. On the other hand, there could be several other people who are probably just the opposite of you; so they might be great with their PR and communication skills but do not have the technical skills to talk about a product or service as such.

The Market trend.

Now, you might also want to think about the current trend in the market too. List down 5 products and services that you think would make your life easier; make you more productive, efficient and happier in general. This list can range from your personal to your professional life. In the end, you want to identify the top 5 factors that you think could make a world of difference to your overall way of life.

Strengths & Weaknesses | Opportunities & Threats.

Analyze all your strengths and weaknesses along with your driving factors to start a business in the first place. Find a common thread and understand the role it plays in the current scheme of events. How effectively do you think it can utilize your strengths and elevate your pitch in the marketplace? If you think you've got the perfect blend of a cocktail and can back your strengths to serve it well; you've got yourself a game-changing business idea for sure!

Gauge the current worth of your product or service.

No matter how niche or unique your idea is; it can only transform and translate into numbers and profits when you enough and more people willing to endorse and pay for it. Determine who your target consumers are. Recognize who your competitors are while gauging their products, services and presence in the market. Use surveys, promotions and consumer feedback to gauge the current market trend and your space in the marketplace.

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Turning Your Hobby Into Profit: A Guide You Must Read

In the event you get pleasure from everything you do, it is possible to change a passion into an enterprise. Appraise the amount of pleasure you get from your interest and afterward find out if you can remodel that right into a small business. When you appreciate everything you do daily, then finding up and doing do the job might be far more like entertaining instead of a hobby.

If you are not the most innovative type of human being, however, you would love a new hobby, take into consideration trying out counted cross-stitch. Within this piece of needlework, you just follow a pre-printed graph exactly where each and every so. Consists of a symbol that pertains to a particular color of thread. Follow the figure entirely plus an excellent image is a close outcome.

To assist you to keep stress-free take up a hobby. Hobbies give you a way to escape the daily delight in and grind yourself. For those who don't have a pastime, take into consideration everything you love doing. Would you love artwork? Take a painting class or even a sculpting course to understand a new pastime if that's the case.

Do not limit your hobbies to what you've explored inside the earlier. At times you should press on your own in new instructions, and hobbies are perfect for doing just that. In fact, try a thing out that you just would have hardly ever deemed in advance of. You might be shocked at how pleasant a different pastime is usually. If your hobby is riding electric scooters, why don't you write about razor dune buggy reviews.

If knitting is just not your cup of tea, however, you like to work with wool, why not try a bit of crochet. It truly is stated to become a lot much easier than knitting and continue to as progressive when admiring the top outcome. From dresses to granny squares for any blanket, there exists a whole lot that can obtain employing a crochet hook.

Studying is an enjoyment hobby that anybody might take up. As you can visit your local library and borrow guides without cost, it can be a cheap pastime way too. It's also possible to acquire guides at discounted price ranges at property book and product sales swaps. An interesting strategy to share your love of publications will be to sign up for or start off a reserve club.

There is certainly a natural alternative for trying to keep it in check when you have a hobby that requires making use of glitter. Very first, obtain a plastic tray. Then, spray that plastic tray with some nonstick cooking spray. It's going to slide ideal off for those who have any glitter that may be free. This could prevent far more glitter that you can use for long-term tasks.

An interest which you like may help you decrease a lot of the stress should you feel nervous following a hard day's worth of labor. Keep in mind that a pastime hardly ever has to become a job path, so you're able to opt for something that you do not have experienced abilities in.

Aim on your remarkable new hobby to help you reduce strain. Anytime you can give your widespread interest to an activity you delight in, it's going to be a lot easier to suit your needs to forget about individuals points inside your daily life which are causing you strain. Decide on a passion that exploits your capabilities and abilities when still presenting a challenge.

This is Christina a professional blogger written lots of exciting reads like, Razor dune Buggy reviews for Rich and Posh.

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Overcoming the 6 Biggest Fears of Business Ownership

1. Sailing the Ship Alone 
I'm sure you have seen the Honest cleaning products in recent commercials, but did you know Jessica Alba, famous actress, founded it? During the 2015 Forbes Women Summit Jessica commented on how people saw her as only being capable of acting or endorsing products, not creating them when she commented, "It took three and a half years of condescending nods and pats on the back of 'good luck,' or 'go back to endorsing things' or 'go do a perfume'." Had she decided to rely on any fear-based assumptions that she wouldn't be successful because of non-support, she probably wouldn't now own a billion dollar company. What she did do was seek out business people and manufacturers that could help make her dream come true.

2. Not Being At the Master Level 
Whether you think you're not good enough at your craft to start your business, or that your product or service isn't at the professional level of others in your line of work undermines your goal of business ownership. Start small with your best item and improve upon it over time while continuing to introduce new items or services. All start-ups experience learning curves. Progression leads to perfection, most businesses don't start at the top.

3. Not Knowing Where to Start
There are so many people that want their own business but just don't know where to start. They look at others successes and feel defeated before they begin. Instead, follow those you admire who are doing what it is you want to do. Read up on them. Research their beginnings or better yet, reach out directly via Twitter, Facebook or see if they will do a Skype interview.

4. Fear of Failing
We all fail, but the key is getting back up and dusting your self off. It took Thomas Edison 1,000 unsuccessful tries to invent the light bulb, but he pressed on and didn't give up. He's been quoted as saying, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." "Great success is built on failure, frustration, even catastrophe." What tenacity, what great faith he possessed!

5. Not Attracting Enough Loyal Customers 
It's common to think, "What if people don't buy my product or value my service?"
Being in business for your self is a risk, but seasoned business owners wouldn't have it any other way. Keeping a job is a risk. Focus on delivering exactly what you are promising and overtime the customers will come.

6. Not Having Enough, or Running Out of Money 
I'm willing to bet that almost everyone would be a business owner if all it took were to walk into the bank and say, "Show me the money," and the banker hands you a check for $100,000 and no terms for the payback. But, it doesn't work like that and entrepreneurs oftentimes use their own savings or depend on friends and family members to finance their business ventures. Losing a close friend or family member's money can be scarier than defaulting on a bank loan. If personal investment loss is stopping you from starting your business, consider alternative funding, like business credit cards. The application and qualification process is less stringent from traditional banking, and you can get a funding estimate within 24 hours of applying.

In Conclusion 
Being an entrepreneur isn't just for the courageous. It's for those who are willing to embrace their fears and work through them. Knowing that obstacles lie up ahead, but victory, aka the sweet spot, is just a round the corner on the road to success.

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Why the Mindset of an Entrepreneur Is Important

Various emotions and thoughts cross your mind when engaging in the idea of owning your own business. Many entrepreneurs get a sense of excitement while also feeling overwhelmed. You then relish in the idea that you can be your own boss that writes and cashes your own checks. However, shortly after all the initial excitement has passed, you begin to wonder will my product or service work, will it sell, or will I be able to take care of myself? With so many questions that you establish a great response for, doubts and uncertainty often formulate an antithesis in the shadows of our mind. Preparing and reframing your mindset about yourself and your business will determine how you operate and make your business successful.

I once heard Bishop T. D. Jakes say in his sermon entitled "A Changed Mind," you can never change your reality without first changing your mind. This statement has stuck with me ever since. It sounds so simple, but when you think about it, it is powerful. How often have you had preconceived notions about someone or something until you interacted with it or them and all a sudden, your perception is no longer the same from before your encounter? For instance, getting on a roller-coaster is frightening (especially the Fury 325 at Carowinds) but once you get on and scream to the top of your lungs when it stops most people want to ride it again. It wasn't that the ride got less scary it's just your mindset changed. What you believe will determine how you respond. If you're constantly thinking, I cannot do this or I know "it" will fail, it is more likely that you will not be successful. It's not because you did not have a good idea, or you weren't capable, but you could not see past your doubt to see the success that could have been.

When starting a business, you must understand that there will be natural deterrents that may arise, whether it be capital, office or storage space, or even market potential if you are trying to create a demand. Nevertheless, how you view these obstacles makes all the difference. Having limited capital may require you to utilize every possible resource you may have. Do not be afraid or too prideful to ask for help. Not having enough office or storage space will make you strengthen your organization skills. Creating a demand for your product or service will cause you to be more creative than you ever been. It's all how you perceive a challenge to be. Even with the unknowns do not allow fear to cripple you, instead let it be a motivator. We have an innate ability to fight or flight in any given situation. Choose to fight! Refuse to give up because of your past mistakes. In fact, reframe those mistakes as learning opportunities and never doubt your ability to break bad habits.

I would also like to stress the importance of having confidence in yourself. Think of it this way, if you had to buy a product or service from Eeyore or Tigger (characters from Christopher Robbin's Winnie the Pooh) who would you patronize? Eeyore, the humdrum individual who was not sure of himself and found every opportunity to tell you how miserable his life was or Tigger the jovial, outgoing, charismatic who loved to laugh and have fun even when working? I would go for a Tigger every time. How you view yourself is how others will view you. Be your own motivator and surround yourself with cheerleaders. Having a good support system is very integral in the pursuit of turning your dream into a reality.

Finally, as the adage goes, birds of a feather flock together. Surround yourself with successful entrepreneurs. Glean from their past business mistakes and triumphs. Read entrepreneurial magazines and books, network by joining professional groups or clubs, and engage and talk with potential customers about the product or service you are trying to offer. Be unyielding in your pursuit of changing your mindset when it comes to yourself and your business. What you believe is how you will succeed. Believe the best, speak life into your business, and shut down the voice of your insecurities. After all of that take the leap of faith and fly.

Tosh R. Comer is a proud graduate of North Carolina Central University, presently working at Fayetteville State University, and actively building EPICS Small Business Consulting. She is also currently enrolled in the Masters of Entrepreneurship Degree Program at Western Carolina University. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as this article in its entirety, author's information, and any links remain intact. Copyright 2017 by Tosh R. Comer. You can reach her via email at epicssbc@gmail.com or her website http://www.epicssbc.com.

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Why Entrepreneurship Is the Ideal Career Choice for Millennials

If you have ever taken a second to look at the founders and creators of your favorite businesses and brands, you will find that many are under the age of 34. Even in my local community, the entrepreneurial landscape is thriving with twenty and thirty-somethings all out to create a future for themselves. I plan to join the ranks of being an entrepreneur. When asked why I wish to do so, I have realized it was never really a choice for me, but a notion that was always there, a trait that was embedded within in somehow long before I knew it was there. This, then, begs the question; why are so many Millennials flocking to entrepreneurship as a career choice?

What is a Millennial?

To answer why Millennials are choosing a life in entrepreneurship, you first have to know what a Millennial is. There aren't set start and end years for this generation, but the consensus typically places this group at being born in the 1980's and 1990's, coming to early adulthood in the early 2000's. Business dictionary defines Millennials (or Generation Y) as such, adding that it consists of the offspring of the Baby boomers (Generation X, and that having access to technology at an early age has not only forced businesses to incorporate use and updates of technology at a faster rate, but also to update hiring strategies. So, how Millennials view the workplace and a career?

Millennials Behavior Towards Careers

Needy, entitled, arrogant, overly relaxed, are many of the terms you'll find used to describe the Millennial generation, and in all fairness, they can be true, but what I think the more seasoned workforce veterans perceive as negative attributes could be a misunderstanding of what each generation is looking for in their lives and a career.

Jeff Fromm, Forbes contributor and author of "Millennials in the Workplace: They do not Need Trophies, but They Want Reinforcement" learned the average tenure for Millennials was only two years, while the average for Baby Boomers was seven, with Generation X decreasing that to about five years. In the same article, Fromm explains the cause for this low retention rate to Millennials putting the focus on growth. If growth does not seem evident to a Millennial, they have no problems changing jobs to get it.

Why Millennials Rather Forge Their Own Path

Fromm shares that Millennials growing up in an era where resources are virtually infinite, have gained and embraced an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to always be on the hunt for opportunities. MindTickle, exploring the "10 Millennial Personality Traits HR Managers Can't Ignore", listed number one on their list millennials' need to find a job or career that has "meaning", with a Fast Company article uncovering that to include: having the ability to share their gifts, making an impact on other's lives, and living a life they desire. Millennials have also had the privilege of growing up with role models who are entrepreneurs, allowing the idea of starting a business the expected logical thing to do, rather than an exception. ( https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/269995 ).

Millennials Traits

So, what traits do Millennials have that makes entrepreneurship an appealing career choice and a successful one?

For starters Millennials are an open and collaborative bunch. I believe this is primarily from growth into adulthood with social media. Being willing to share and receive feedback from peers allows Millennials to naturally transition into a transformational leadership style that is key to successful innovation, a skill needed for corporations and entrepreneurs alike to thrive.

Jim Moffat, Chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting, in his article "The Seven Positive Qualities of Millennials That Can Help You Improve Your Business" found Millennials to be motivated, natural leaders and innovators, thinking of innovation as a science, while also noting our inherited entrepreneurial spirit aiding in our ability to build a business.

Will Millennials be the Best Entrepreneurs Yet?

It is hard to determine, but the tools and mindset of a Millennial might make it possible. With the focus being placed on growth and opportunity, and business role models fashioned after entrepreneurs the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs. Big ideas coupled with the impatience of a career to reach them is what drives a Millennial and what makes a career in entrepreneurship a perfect choice.

Darius Thompson is an aspiring entrepreneur, and one of the needy millennials described above. He is currently enrolled in the Masters of Entrepreneurship Degree Program at Western Carolina University. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as this article in its entirety, author's information, and any links remain intact. Copyright 2017 by Darius S. Thompson

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