If you have been thinking about making a big career move like changing roles, companies, or industries, then you have probably experienced a fair amount of stress concerning this life-altering choice. This stress is most likely stemming from your fear of the unknown, but fear not, there are many different ways to help you assuage that fear.

In an article written by Sean Ogle and published on TheDailyMuse.com* he outlines his three-step process for making a major career change and how to overcome your fear of change. … Continue reading »

1. Phase one: Fear of uncertainty

Being afraid of change is a natural human emotion and that fear can cripple the person trying to make the change.

I’m a small business owner, a contractor, a writer, a wife, a daughter and a mom, among many other things. To say that I wear many hats is to say that summers in Arizona are hot. It’s not even summer here and I’m sweating, and yes, I wear more than a few hats. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to work from home, manage your own team, direct your own course and, well, be your own boss. Being a small successful social media strategists and business leader instills efficiency, quickness, and multitasking super-powers. It also can shorten your patience and thicken your skin.… Continue reading »

When you go to start a new business, simply being able to provide a customer with a product may not be enough to keep your company in the black. There are five particular skills that any entrepreneur should hone if they want to compete in a crowded market. Some of these skills may seem simplistic, but will be extremely valuable as a company grows in size and scope.

Analytical Risk and Reward

Any entrepreneur is automatically a risk-taker, since they are investing a likely significant amount of their own capital and savings into the idea that they are capable of turning a profit from the effort.… Continue reading »

Not going to college is now a very viable option. College is overrated anyway. A lot of people go to college looking for an education when in fact, college is not the best education for entrepreneurs. Just ask Richard Branson, Pete Cashmore, Seth Godin, the list goes on and on.

So let me ask you this: Are you really going to waste time in an institution that’s not known to produce world-class entrepreneurs? In addition, college is expensive. Are you really going to waste money when you’re better off investing in a business venture or even stocks?

I Don’t Have Student Loans to Pay

I know the importance of building credit and equity, but getting a loan for school is not a viable option to do so.… Continue reading »

Running a small business is hard. I mean really hard. Whether you’re the only employee, or you have a few people helping you out, the process is difficult. Think about all the day to day activities that need to be taken care of, and you’re basically the only one doing them. After all, your company is just a smaller version of a fortune 500, right? Okay, maybe not the exact same, but procedures like HR, accounting, sales, and business development exist in every firm. This fact makes it apparent that there is a need to be your own leader in your small company.… Continue reading »

Much has been said about mixing business with family but every working mother knows that running a business part time and keeping a household full time can be the most difficult career of all. The responsibilities of managing a business often overlap those of motherhood, so the challenge among mothers-turned-entrepreneurs is knowing how to run a successful business and take care of a growing family. Is it truly possible to have the best of both worlds? Many female entrepreneurs think so and have shown it is achievable.

The following are just a few approaches and strategies that successful ‘mompreneurs’ have used.… Continue reading »

The Education Section is the most uncomplicated part of your resume. It is where you list down your education background. More than just displaying a list of all schools you attended and degrees that you completed use this crucial section to your advantage. Here are some strategies that will help put your education to work on your resume:

1. Which Level Should You List First?

It is typical that you start the list with the most recent education that you had. Your recent attainments will be counted as the most relevant information. The employer will first check on the highest level of education that you had.… Continue reading »

A common thread runs through all entrepreneurs; each has a vision for a product or service that has the potential to impact the world we live in. So we make personal and financial sacrifices in order to move closer to our vision, hire really great people who can help accelerate execution, and start to grow companies. And then many of us make a tragic mistake – one in which I nearly made as well.

We give away our vision to the very people we brought on board to help us achieve it.

When that happens, the vision usually grinds to a halt or withers up altogether, a victim of group-think.… Continue reading »

Starting a new business, particularly in this economic climate, can be a risky venture, but if you have the right traits and attitude, you can succeed. The key ingredient to entrepreneurial success is discipline – an attribute that will greatly impact each and every aspect of your new venture.

Discipline is more than simply telling yourself not to spend the proceeds from your first big sale on a new TV for your Super Bowl party – although that is part of it. You will need to use discipline in every aspect of your new business including:… Continue reading »

1. Defining your goals
People who are disciplined believe that luck is not something that just happens.

Now, more than ever, it is a challenge to balance your personal and professional life, especially if you are a leader or business owner. The days of coming home at 5:00 and leaving work at the office are long gone. In fact, more and more people only have a commute of walking down the hall since they work from a home office, and it makes juggling everything even trickier. Technology helps us out so much, but it also makes it harder to find that balance.

Here are some tips to help through this struggle:… Continue reading »

Define what balance means to you (and your family).

One person can handle only so much. Even the hardest working, most dedicated solo entrepreneurs will some day hit that wall. There aren’t enough hours in the day to take on more work, but the startup stands to grow substantially. At that point entrepreneurs are faced with a fork in the road, though not everyone sees it as a choice.

At that critical juncture, there is one question every entrepreneur has to ask herself: am I ready? Not everyone will answer yes. Others will answer yes even though the answer is no. The plain truth is that not every entrepreneur is cut out for expanding enterprises.… Continue reading »

It’s a common problem – in fact studies show procrastination affects around 95% of all people. Even top entrepreneurs fall prey to it every so often – but that doesn’t make it acceptable. The TRUTH is, it’s bad news for you and VERY bad news for your business.

Procrastination is the evil, dirty troll that sits in the corner glowering at you, sucking your time and energy – and unless you do something about it, he will drain you dry and eat your business for breakfast.

The reality is this: Being productive and getting quality results is achieved by completing tasks and projects in as short a time frame as possible to the best of your ability.… Continue reading »

The beauty of becoming a successful entrepreneur is that there are no real requirements. There is no mandatory degree or exam to pass. No official job description to fit. Previous experience or background is not necessary. By definition an entrepreneur is a person who organizes and manages any enterprise with considerable initiative and risk.

No two entrepreneurs are alike but there are several characteristics entrepreneurs often share in common. Entrepreneurs are often dreamers, risk takers and able to clearly communicate the story behind their vision. A few of the characteristics most entrepreneurs share in common include:

Passion

Passion lies at the root of the success of any start-up.… Continue reading »

There are many deadly sins that managers can fall prey to if they are not careful, which can be really damaging for the business and for their team – such as failing to give feedback, being overly critical and micromanaging – but project managers in particular can also be in danger of committing the following sins within their role.

1. Mistaking The Map For The Land

If a project plan calls for something to happen in a certain way, and that is not how it is happening, revise the plan to reflect reality. Do not try to force reality to conform to the plan.… Continue reading »

Sit! Roll over! Beg!
I’ve got a pretty clever pooch – these are a taste of her party trick repertoire.
But what I only realised the other day is that she is WAY more clever than I EVER gave her credit for.

The truth is my furry little friend has taught ME a TON of important lessons about business.

And these lessons are SO important that I felt I had to share them with you. Here are Rococo’s (for that is her name) Top 10 wise woofs for business:

1. Be Loyal

Dogs practically invented loyalty. My pup trusts me. She ALWAYS loves me no matter what mood I’m in, and she’s always by my side as my partner in crime – and in return?… Continue reading »

Trust is essential if one is to have solid, viable, fruitful and long-lasting relationships – this is a truth we all know and accept. We need to trust and be trusted by our family members and friends and we need to be able to trust and to be trusted by our employees, co-workers, managers and business partners as well. Trust is of the essence in formal and informal, in vertical and horizontal relationships, alike and the more competitive the context, the more difficult it becomes to earn and to give that trust.

In business communication, both inside the company and in the relationship with our partners, holding or losing trust can be synonymous with the success or the failure of the enterprise.… Continue reading »

If you are looking to start your own business, a good idea would be to consider applying for college because education is really an investment. Even if you think you don’t need a college diploma at the moment, it might be required in the future, you never know. Yet, if you do not have time for both, you can always enroll online and study either at home or some other place where you feel more convenient.

Truth is, there is no right or wrong answer. You must follow your instincts. However, knowledge is important. While a degree can open doors, you can still grow as a person and financially without it.… Continue reading »

Entrepreneurship is a rewarding career that many dream about but only a few turn into action. Launching your own business and becoming your own boss can be an exhilarating step, and good time management is an important skill for success.

Small businesses have numerous responsibilities, and it can become overwhelming. You are the idea person, the action person, the follow-up person, the sales person, the accountant…and time is of the essence for every client.

Make the most of your valuable time and take your business to the next level by maximizing your time.

1. Track expenses

The easiest way to keep business and personal purchases separated is by opening a business checking account.… Continue reading »

“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”Henry David Thoreau

Leveraging is crucial if progress is to be made. I will even take the liberty to state that leverage is mandatory for growth. While running a business the mind wishes to take over every job. Jobs, irrespective of administrative or clerical positions, seem enticing. I was no exception and considered taking on every work as a way of saving money. Unfortunately, I lost more than I saved. While saving every penny by taking on every job I was losing time; a priceless entity.… Continue reading »

Writers are always told ‘write what you know.’ My journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship began in a similar vein in 2001 with a rather familiar task – clearing out unwanted items from my house. I wanted my son to get rid of the video games he had long conquered, and he suggested selling them to make money for some new ones. It was a no-brainer to at least list the video games on eBay – why not make a couple of bucks while we cleared out some clutter? When those games sold for far more than I expected, some quite close to their retail prices, selling online also became a natural solution to the near-universal need for more closet space.… Continue reading »