How To Make Freelancing Worth It

Many people think freelancing is a glamorous job -- working at home, in your pajamas, in full control of your time. Sure. But you MUST plan your freelancing career as carefully as you'd plan a new business, or else it's going to be a nightmare! Here's how to make freelancing worth the move.

First, Choose Your Projects Wisely.

Freelancing becomes fun when you're doing something you love. So look for projects you KNOW you want to work on. Don't be tempted to accept a project simply because "it's there" or "the money is too good to turn down" -- you'll pay for it in stress. Trust me.

Second, Work With Clients Who Think Like You.

Try to avoid clients who pay too low for your tastes, or those who demand unreasonable deadlines. These clients tend to NOT treat freelancers well, so only look for clients who are willing to do things on YOUR terms.

Otherwise, you might find yourself keeping Skype logged off simply because you don't want to catch a toxic client online!

Third, Decide Your Preferred Income.

Let's face it -- freelancing isn't easy. And to make it worth it, you'll have to receive a good enough income to keep you happy. Check how much your corporate-hired counterparts get paid, and start there. No sense freelancing when you could get a better pay with a job!

And Lastly, Plan Your Lifestyle.

Want to keep your weekends clear? Want to have breakfasts at your favorite cafe? Want to take quarterly vacations with your family?

Decide! The "lifestyle" part of freelancing is precisely what makes freelancing worth it. Remember, the most successful of today's freelancers left their jobs for greener pastures. And it's up to you how "green" you want your freelancing career to be.

So plan your lifestyle -- your freelancing career depends on it!

By : Mike_Madrazo

Guidelines to Hire an Expert Witness

Dave McDonald from the National Expert Witness Network (NEWN) has developed and released an excellent (and free) instructional program to explain the best methodologies for finding, assessing the credentials of, and hiring an expert witness.

Although created with an obvious tilt toward the interests of attorneys looking for the right one, many of the training slides are equally valuable for experts seeking to appreciate the process. In fact, many slides appear to emphasize IP cases primarily, but the reality of the legal arena is such that the material on these slides applies equally well to many different types of cases, and to the decisions made by lawyers in these matters as well.

Mr. McDonald covers everything from the definition (Rule 702) of a witness to the differing roles played by them as either a defendant or plaintiff expert. His program spans such fundamentals as finding the expert, fees for experts, and the necessary skills of an effective witness. He discusses retention agreements, payment responsibilities, and, from the business perspective, considerations related to managing witnesses during a case.

In the later stages of retaining an expert, he also explains elements of confidentiality as well as parameters for reports, and even some admissibility considerations. He also includes suggested rules for responses during depositions, such as his 5-second rule for pausing to answer questions, and his 30-second rule for limiting the time used for elaborate answers.

Finally, he discusses the Supreme Court's Daubert case and the risks of expert disqualification that should be understood by both experts and attorneys before any case is actually offered to or accepted by an expert.

Since many experts have never actually testified at trial, Mr. McDonald includes some valuable slides on advice and preparations of an expert witness for trial proceedings. He further includes some suggestions for both the expert and his attorney regarding opinions and objectivity.

For the larger cases, such as many intellectual property matters become, this training program also provides information for effective management of the eventual work product and of a possible team of multiple experts.

Mr. McDonald's course is available at the National Expert Witness Network's website, http://www.newnexperts.com in the About main menu choice, and in the 'Training' submenu choice.

By : Judd_Robbins

Sure Fire Steps to Profitability

"Any successful relationship, whether personal or business, is unique to every pair of individuals and evolves over time. It starts out tentative, fragile, full of unfulfilled possibilities and expectations. It grows stronger with experience and familiarity. It matures into trust and commitment.

As it deepens, it evolves through three phases: visibility, credibility, and profitability" states Dr. Ivan Misner along with David Alexander & Brian Hilliard in the New York Times Best Selling book, Networking Like a Pro Turning Contacts into Connections.

In my recent interview on my Navigating Change Radio Show, Dr. Misner explains a process of creating relationships in networking. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, growing relationships are essential to building a sustainable business. Many business owners make the mistake of meeting someone and immediately trying to get a sale before they've nurtured the relationship.

There are two really important steps before you jump to profitability suggests Dr. Misner. It's a process called VCP:

Visibility

Visibility is about awareness. That is, you're visible to each other or a potential customer becomes aware of the nature of your business. You two begin to communicate and establish links. The greater your visibility, the:

• More widely known you become.
• More information you obtain about others.
• More opportunities you will be exposed to.
• Better your chances of being recognized as someone to whom others can or should refer business.

In this step, it's important that you obtain information about the other person with whom you are establishing visibility. Many entrepreneurs want to do what I call the verbal vomit, that is, they want to share all about their business with others and the other person doesn't get in a word. In this step, it is important to find out about the other person first. As the relationships deepen, you'll have your turn.

Credibility

The next step in this process is Credibility. Only when you and a new acquaintance begin to form expectations and those expectations are fulfilled, your relationships enter this stage. Credibility is gained through reliability. In this stage you want to keep appointments, promises and do what you say you're going to do. This can also be gained through third parties. Here's where others you've done business with can create credibility, like through testimonials or even references.

Profitability

When you've mastered visibility and demonstrated credibility, it is then you move into profitability. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of confusing direct selling and networking. In networking it is necessary to cultivate the relationships (as outlined in visibility and credibility.) It's when you've created a solid foundation in those two steps you move on. In profitability, the relationship is mutually rewarding and both partners are gaining satisfaction. The relationship probably won't endure if it doesn't profit both partners, states Dr. Misner.

With every process or formula there is an important element: time. It can happen quickly or take a year even three years. If you want a real life inspiration to the practicality of this process, listen to learn how Dr. Misner through one relationship went on to meet Chicken Soup for the Soul Author, Jack Canfield and music mogul, world adventurer and owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Sir Richard Branson.

One change in the way you network today yields giant leaps later.

By : Lisa_Mininni

Experts Can Still Have Their Testimony Rejected by Courts Even If Their Work Is Proper

Do you know if standards and accreditations exist in your field? Do you meet the standards in your field as an expert? Did you obtain available accreditations in your specialty? Did you earn the license required in your specialty?

Did you obtain expected and available certifications in your specialty? Consider additional work to prepare yourself. Lawyers and the courts they serve want expert witnesses to look good on paper, sound good in court, and legitimately have the qualifications to be there.

You will hear the term 'admissibility.' A judge determines whether to 'accept' you, your credentials, and your work into the court. The judge has the 'gatekeeper' role and decides whether to allow you to present your work and your opinions in the courtroom. The opposing attorney may successfully present legal reasons why the judge should not admit your work into evidence.

Inadmissibility may not indicate that your work was poor, but it does declare that your work did not meet legal standards. This can be a damaging loss to your side and a great victory for the other side, and will successfully keep your work from ever being considered by the jurors.

Your retaining attorney has to deal with legal considerations regarding admissibility. However, you can help provide your opinion with a strong foundation by performing your work carefully, preparing it to meet standards, and presenting it well.

You cannot scrimp on care, and your work must meet the norms and standards of your industry. If you express an opinion that seems straightforward to you, it still may sound ridiculous in court if you based it on incomplete, poorly documented, or otherwise shoddy procedures.

A combination of regulatory agency, academic, and industry expertise will strongly support you in your role as an expert witness. Academic expertise alone, without hands-on work, can seem only theoretical and may lead to rigorous cross examination. Attorneys may capitalize on this weakness by presenting hypothetical questions that can be unpleasant during testimony because of your lack of real-world background.

Lack of industry background can come across as 'ivory tower syndrome,' a weakness found frequently in academic expert witnesses. Jurors may find you less believable and your opinions less acceptable.

Extensive industry qualifications will help you most when making a transition from just an industry expert to a litigation consultant. Jurors will easily recognize your expertise if they find out that you have worked as an industry expert for years. Attorneys will then find it unpleasant to discredit your credentials.

If you have worked for a law enforcement agency or governmental commission, at the state or federal level, you may have a built-in acceptability to jurors. While some jurors may have a bias against you because you worked for the government, government employ does bring a notable credential to the table on your behalf.

By : Judd_Robbins

Why Aren't You Getting Things Done?

As I mentioned is a previous post, I am a bit of a productivity systems junkie. I've tried just about every system and philosophy out there. All work for a while - but none have really stuck until now. I've finally settled on a two-tier system.

I keep my to do's in a project collaboration system and use a mind map for day-to-day project management. I've been thinking about why I haven't been able to find something that works until now. Here are what I think are some of the major reasons people get stuck in a productivity rut.

1. Lack of a Workflow -- In an ideal system -- tasks move from idea to implementation to done. But, anyone who works *with* anyone else knows that it is rarely that easy. The more people involved in getting things done the more tasks move back and forth on the completion timeline.

The key to managing this seems to be having a great communication and collaboration system that tracks tasks and input so anyone on the team can pick up where others leave off. I recommend basecamp for this type of collaboration.

2. Too Many Items On Your List This problem actually stems from problem #1. If you don't have a good handle on your projects -- you can't know how much time you have for new projects. The other major cause of too much on the list syndrome are not being willing to delegate and not being able to say no (which when you think about it are the same thing).

3. Lack of Control Over Inbox OK this is another outgrowth of numbers 1 and 2. I used to feel that I had very little control over my workflow. My clients would send me work to do and set deadlines. What experience has taught me is that if my schedule looks full - it is much easier to "just say no" and offer an alternative date than it is to promise to meet a deadline that you can't make - and then do a poor job.

4. Poor Communication Ultimately your success in any service business depends on how well you can communicate with your clients. If you don't communicate well, you end up wasting more time asking for further clarification. You also run the risk of burning the midnight oil to meet a deadline that it turns out is not all that important to your client.

5. Lack of Confidence One of my clients has an excellent course called Productivity Mindset Mastery which presents a unique angle on the productivity puzzle. She presents procrastination as basically due to a lack of confidence. Either we don't release the final product because we are afraid of what people are thinking *or* we spend so much time re-hashing prior conversations and worrying that we don't get things done. Lack of confidence can also lead to perfectionism which does not lead to projects being finished. A great way to build your confidence it to get things "good enough", release them, get feedback and then tweak them more.

Why don't you get things done?

By : Meredith_Eisenberg

5 Alternatives to Seller Finance When Selling Your Business

The need to use seller finance when trying to sell your privately held company has come back into vogue due to the lack of third party finance being readily available. Some techniques less known and used, however, are available but require a clear understanding between the seller and buyer and may then need good legal agreements to clarify, protect and define the responsibilities of each of the parties. Here are five options both a seller and buyer may want to consider.

Option One: Allow the buyer to assume the sellers credit. Both parties need to be clear on their roles and responsibilities, but if the buyer is able to run the business and continue to buy all inventory or other items the seller always bought and paid so they earn a high credit rating, this can make the transition of the business easier to the buyer.

If this method of financing is considered, an agreement should include a separate indemnification clause between the seller and the buyer making the debt the ultimate responsibility of the buyer. Using a good attorney is best to prepare this legal document.

Option Two: A similar idea to the one above but of the buyer assuming the sellers credit, the buyer is allowed to assume capital notes and leases. The seller is allowing his good credit to again be exposed to future decisions of the buyer, but can help the buyer to build their credit worthiness.

Option Three: A popular approach where the seller of the business has conceived an idea or the business would experience strong growth by either a capital injection from a buyer or merging with a much strong business is an earn out.

An earn out basically is an agreement that the seller will receive a portion of the sale price based on the sales or profit achievements of the business in the future. This can be attractive to both parties where it is clear the business will grow once the buyer and seller come together.

Some buyers like to use an earn out as an incentive to the seller to make sure the business transitions cleanly to the buyer. This can be difficult to negotiate; especially if the seller has little to no control over the buyer and the operation of their business and its employees.

Option Four: If a business has a large amount of inventory that the seller owns outright, the use of a consignment sale for this part of the transaction may be useful. Under this scenario, the seller retains title to the inventory but allows the buyer to sell it in the business and pay the seller for the inventory as it gets sold.

This saves the buyer having to get inventory from other businesses while it allows the seller to get his money from the inventory and be exposed to the market.

Option Five: A very common option when selling a business that also includes real estate owned by the seller is for the buyer to lease the real estate from the seller for a period of time and have the first right of refusal to buy the real estate if at some point the seller wishes to sell.

Seller finance does not have to be restricted to purely a seller note on the transaction. A seller can be used to receiving many business 'perks' they have enjoyed from owning and operating their business. Allowing the seller to continue enjoying those 'perks' can be a good strategy when buying a business.

By : Andrew_Rogerson

What Is the Essence and Emotion of Your Business?

Many people try to accomplish their goals by talking action. Taking action without the proper mindset or mental preparation is often minimally effective as well as unpleasant. The time and effort you put into deliberately directing your thoughts will greatly improve your effectiveness in achieving your goals, as well as your joy in the journey.

The most effective way to replace a thought that is not serving you is to deliberately choose a thought that feels better. One effective tool is the Abraham-Hicks process "Wouldn't if be nice if..." Examples: When you can't think of a solution-wouldn't it be nice if ideas came to me easily? When you are feeling anxious-wouldn't it be nice if everything worked out just fine?

When you're feeling lonely-wouldn't it be nice if I made a new friend today? This lets you realize that you do have the option to choose a different thought. There are other possibilities out there besides what you have been predominantly thinking. "Wouldn't if be nice if" increases your positive expectations and raises your vibration.

Ultimately, everything we think we want is not because we want the object or experience itself, but because we want a particular feeling that we think the object or experience will give us. For instance, if I asked you why you do the job you do, you will probably tell me it's because you want to make money. But you can make money in lots of ways-why did you choose this particular profession?

What is the essence of what you want to accomplish with your work? Do you want to help people relieve stress and feel more content? Do you want to help women feel important and pampered? Do you want to show people ways to beautify their surroundings? Do you want to inspire others to their greatness?

Once you have identified the essence or mission of what you do, identify the primary emotion you feel when you carry out your mission. Do you feel delighted, or fulfilled, or connected? Maybe you feel creative, or playful, or empowered. Perhaps you feel expansive or appreciative or hopeful.

This is so crucial: the essence and the feeling behind your business is where your focus should be. This is really the only thing that matters. If your focus is there then your actions will be in alignment with achieving this mission and this feeling, and the money will come because you are acting in accordance with your mission and you are deliberately doing things that feel the way you feel when you pursue the essence of your business.

Let's say the essence of your business is to help people feel less stress and more content, and the feeling you get when you accomplish that is appreciation that you were able to provide that relief for them. What can you do today that always makes you feel appreciation? You can take a walk and focus on how much you appreciate your beautiful surroundings.

You can go to the grocery store and appreciate the bountiful selection that is so easily available to you and all the people who had a hand in bringing it there. You can call a friend and tell her how much you appreciate her friendship. Then ask yourself, "What can I do today to help someone feel less stress or more content?" and do that.

This may have nothing to do directly with your business-or it may. The important thing is that you are true to your mission in whatever form that takes today, and that you do something today the elicits the feeling you identified as the primary one you feel when you accomplish your mission.

When you have identified the one thing that is the essence of your business, plus the one primary feeling you get from carrying out that mission, and you deliberately focus there each day, you will become like a lighthouse that is a beacon for those who resonate with that message. Your business process will revolve around the essence and the feeling.

What are all the ways you can accomplish the essence of helping people feel less stress and more content? If you are considering a new product or new process, ask if it will help your clients feel less stress and more content. You are then being true to the essence of why you are doing your business.

The more clearly you can state the heartfelt mission of your business, the more easily everything in your business will flow. Discover the essence of why you have chosen your profession and the emotion you want to feel as you shine that light to others, live it every day, and you will experience success and satisfaction beyond your current experience.

By : Sara_Blumenfeld

Things To Ponder Before Deciding To Become A Solo Professional

Business is a very broad, serious and mind blowing topic. When you talk about it, you need to have a full understanding about economics and all of its basic theories. You need to adjust, make careful plans and decisions especially when your company is facing too many problems. If you are not prepared, then you will never succeed and win the battle in the business world.

There are many instances wherein an individual decides to go on solo after he has learned the basics and has already saved a large sum of money to open up his new business. Going solo is not a bad idea after all.

It will enable you to do things the way you want it to be unlike when you are in a group, you always have to worry about the decisions of others whether they will like your idea or not. In short, you never have to compromise your ideas when it comes to going solo.

When you decide to go solo, you have to take into consideration few important things. Firstly, you have to assess yourself whether you can already stand on your own. Remember that the business world entails a lot of challenges, rivalries or competitions, risking and gambling.

The top businessmen could not have achieved the zenith of success if it weren't for the hard work and the extra effort that they have shown the same as how the different tazer guns would not have been able to give you ultimate protection if it weren't for their fast immobilizing features. If you think you can handle everything by yourself, then go for it and make your own place in the business world.

Another thing that you should also consider is the things that you enjoy to do and what you would want to do. An individual only becomes successful if he does the things that give him pleasure and enjoyment.

It is hard to work when you do not love the career or when you do not love the line of business you are under with. So before going solo, ask yourself what are those things that makes you happy, those things that interests you most and those things which best fit your talents and expertise.

Being self employed simply means that you have to exert effort and that you have to rely on your own abilities for you to win the attention of prospective clients. That is why it is all the more important that you assess your interests that way you will not have much problem with regards to introducing products or services to your clients.

You need to be confident since you will stand on your own similar to when you are using the pepper spray gun as your self defense tool wherein you have to remain confident for you to shoot the right aim. You need to be determined most especially when you are just beginning with your new project as a solo business professional.

Lastly, in becoming a great solo professional, you must accept failures, rejections and learn to adjust. No one reaches success if he does not learn to accept downfalls. The downfalls will serve as your inspiration to continue on making innovations, it will serve as a challenge and will also remind you to improve more and prove to them that you can do it on your own. Solo professionals should all be determined and should have one aim and that is to hit success.

By : Joseph_Pressley

I Was Told a Secret, to Do Something for Myself!

What If, someone told you a secret?

Somebody came to me when I was 'down', and that somebody also told me the 'secret to a balanced way to live! So, on your side, what if somebody taught you how to make money, through what you are good at; without sacrificing too much of your social life and time?


ME? I can? How?

I am fighting cancer, which meant that the health section of any job application form is going to have 'the black mark' for me! In fact, almost all private sectors in a cost sensitive economy WILL not employ a worker like me with a medical bill in sight!

So, he told me that the truth hurts, but ironically, I excel at another form of work. He told me that I needed to have an open mind and start small, before growing to bigger sizes.

I asked; "me? I still have a future to create?"


Invest, in yourself

He told me that the road to success is blurred, but I must have a clear vision before even making decisions to go!

I attended free seminars, and frowned, as I felt that my mind was triggering me to do something about the current state I was in. Then, I made a decision with a clear vision, I will 'take a sneak preview at Public Speaking training sessions!"

I felt the skill in this training was not some specific job skill, but a skill that was essential in life itself! I was pondering over the odds, weighing the pros and cons of making such a purchase decision. Then, the big question 'popped up', from the Speaker.

1. Paying, registering and reserving a spot to be trained in Public Speaking now is around 1,500 dollars
2. Whereas, payment for registration after 'this date' will be a non discounted cost of 3,000 dollars.

I sunk in my chair for a little while, when some people in the audience began to ask questions related to the course, and the mode of payment. I knew that this is it, I had to do it, after all, the fact is 'value for money', cost only made me understand the quality of the product!


You are coming too?

This must have got many readers thinking, as this the most important part, this is an investment in education for you!

By : Stanley_Lai

A Web Services Developer and the Benefits of Hiring an IT Recruitment Agency

The need of a web services developer is growing with the growth in the industry and finding the right developer is often a challenging task. Organizations today prefer to hire IT recruitment agencies to help in recruiting these professionals as they can help to find the right developers in a timely manner.

The web services developer provided by the IT recruitment agency suits the requirement of the organization and the agency ensures the developer recruited matches the requirement of the organization.

The agency can provide an organization with the choice of hiring a web services developer on a contract basis as well as on a permanent basis. These developers can help organization to face the competition in the business world, exchange information and provide efficient communication which is most important at organizations.

With the growth in the IT industry; the need for a web services developer has increased as they can help to provide more efficient services and can help to provide exchange various information which is selectively visible and can prove beneficial to the organization.

These services can ensure the organization can communicate with the employees and can access a particular data with restrictions. These developers can provide security to organizations by protecting data which is vital for any organization.

The revolution of the computerizing services has increased the demands for these professionals and more and more organizations require customized services which can meet the specific needs of the organization.

These services include a number of software and applications which can suit the specific requirements of the organization and can help the organization to achieve growth and success.

The IT recruitment agency can provide a web services developer who can provide interactive solutions to various business to business communications and can provide the ability to link up with various solutions and applications.

These systems possess the ability to link up with various other systems and can grant permissions to systems which include the internet and other systems on the network which can work like an intranet.

By : Rostyslav_Dumych

Does Your Online Marketing Presence Fall Apart When You Get Interviewed?

Recently I listened to a Blog Talk Radio interview with a professional business owner. Let's call her "Cheryl" and let's say her expertise is in health and wellness.

Cheryl has many advantages. She holds advanced degrees from prestigious universities. She's knowledgeable. Visually, she makes a striking appearance that's very much appropriate to her target market. Why, I wondered, do I get the sense that Cheryl isn't hitting her stride?

As usual, the interview host presented a brief bio, "Cheryl combines 20 years in health care with expertise as a fitness trainer and life coach." Very impressive! I hoped she would connect the dots to show how her awesome background will benefit her clients.

But as I listened, I realized Cheryl made three mistakes.

First, as she talked, she employed a number of vocal tics: "um," "okay," and the ubiquitous "you know." These speech challenges actually detracted from Cheryl's message, which was built on her image as an educated professional.

Since Cheryl gets invited to speak quite often, she can listen to recordings. She can critique herself lovingly but accurately. She can ask her business coach to listen to at least a portion of the call. She will find that as her speaking style improves, she will get stronger results.

Second, Cheryl hadn't scripted her interview. She was all over the map. She talked about energy, weight loss, dealing with illness...and more. She talked about people who were really healthy and how to have a healthy mindset. As I listened, I didn't get a sense of what I should take away from the call.

Although Cheryl was being interviewed, she could guide the interview by offering the interviewer a list of 10 questions. She can guide the interview to create three to five takeaways for her audience. Once you get more than three, you start to lose your audience.

Third, Cheryl worked with the emotion of fear. No problem if she works with fears people experience today. For instance, she could talk about fear of gaining weight when going on vacation or fear of dealing with a specific illness. If she targets boomers, she could talk about fears of diabetes and heart disease.

But Cheryl talked about huge fears: fear of getting incurable illnesses or letting your health get out of control. Her whole speech was about avoiding the negatives, not embracing the positive. I am a healthy person but as I listened, I felt frustrated and helpless. I can only imagine what a person with health challenges would be thinking.

By : Cathy_Goodwin

Starting a Law Firm - Ideas About Office Space

One of the things that you will notice when you first open your law office is that you will write a lot of checks. You will make a lot of payments. It will seem like there is much more money going out than there is money coming in and, at the beginning, that probably will be the case.

Consequently, one of the major aims when you are staring out is to keep overhead costs as low as possible. That means you don't need that corner office overlooking Park Avenue. Right now, you don't have the client base to justify that sort of expenditure. With that in mind, below are some ideas for some "starter" office space, at least until you get your feet on the ground.

1) Traditional Office.

Traditional office space, while the most liberating and enticing, is also the most expensive. However, that doesn't mean you can't lease office space from the outset. The key is to put your office in a location where the cost is justified.

For example, if you are a litigator and can get prime office space next to the courthouse (where everyone who walks by can see your sign: "Law Office of Blankity Blank"), then the investment could be worthwhile.

Be sure to consult with other attorneys who have offices near the courthouse, and see how much business they get from walk-ins. Then evaluate whether the risk is worth it.

2) Home Office.

The home office is the least expensive of the options. Additionally, the expense is not ongoing - once you outfit your home office with furniture and technology, there really isn't a further expense until something needs to be replaced. Be aware that some practice areas (i.e. criminal defense or family law) do not lend themselves well to practicing out of your home.

However, others fit well into the warm environment that the home offers (i.e. elder law or estate planning), especially if you will be meeting clients there. You will need to create a separate office within your home, to separate work from home life and to maximize productivity.

3) Office Sharing.

Office sharing can be a great alternative to the traditional office. While still more pricey than other options, sharing an office with someone else creates a natural avenue for referrals. This is especially true if you are sharing with other attorneys who practice in different areas than you do, or if you are sharing with non-attorneys.

If you choose wisely, the referrals alone can justify the cost. As with any option, the key is to do your research, and meet with the people who you could potentially share space with, prior to making any decisions.

4) Virtual Office.

A relatively new phenomenon is the virtual office. The variations on the virtual office seem limitless, but it is essentially a place where you can meet with clients, receive your mail, have your telephone answered, while not being tethered to the office space.

Additionally, the cost of a virtual office can be much less than traditional or even shared office space. It is a great way to keep costs low while growing your law firm, and maintaining the look of an established law firm.

By : Demitri_Dopolous

Step Out of the Comfort Zone to Grow Your Business

If you are truly committed to growing a highly profitable and sustainable business with all the success you dream about, then it is time to step out of your comfort zone and play a bigger game.

Unfortunately, for every big dream, vision and goal, what often shows up is resistance to taking that quantum leap forward. This is usually disguised as procrastination and excuses - 'I will do this later', 'When I have the money', 'When I feel more secure', 'When I have the time'.

In reality your excuses are masking the fear of new and unfamiliar circumstances. They are a natural human reaction that aims to keep you safe and secure. But by not being bold enough you could find yourself stuck or plateaued out - doing the same work, attracting the same clients, earning the same income - and feeling increasingly discontent.

When this happens you don't grow and your clients don't grow either. And the worst case scenario is that you run out of momentum maintaining the status quo. You lose energy, enthusiasm, passion, and possibly business (ironically the greatest fear of taking a risk).

Here are 6 tips to help you get used to 'stepping out of your comfort zone'. So when the next really big opportunity comes along you will confidently take action.

1. Practise on a regular basis. Do something daily, weekly, monthly that gives you a sense of excitement and 'I couldn't possibly do that' response. For example arrange a speaking engagement if you don't like giving talks, call potential client if you never make cold calls, increase your rates and let your clients know.

2. Change your routine. We all fall into habits which serve us to some extent. But if you fail to question whether they still work for you it's probably because you are comfortable with the way things are. Pick one habit that you could either drop or change that would make a difference. If you consistently work long hours take Fridays off, delegate work that you would normally do to someone else, take time out during the day to relax, meditate or visualise your success.

3. Try something new. When you rise to the challenge of doing something new you will find your confidence grows. You may also get a different perspective on you and your business. If there is an activity that you secretly would like to try then now is the time to book yourself in - sky or deep sea diving, horse riding, tango?

4. Change your beliefs. One day at a time challenge your beliefs and adopt different ones. If you believe that work is a struggle and requires lots of hard work, adopt the belief that business is effortless, easy and fun. If you believe that you are not good enough then act as if you are the expert (which you are). You will be amazed how quickly your new beliefs will become your reality when you transform your perceptions.

5. Invest in you and your business. Perhaps it is hiring someone to handle your PR and event management, investing in a new training programme, attending an overseas trade fair. There really are rewards when you take some financial risks and invest in you and your business.

6. Hire a mentor or coach. The great thing about having a coach is that they will offer unconditional support but also will hold you accountable every day for achieving and living your business dreams. There will be no excuses.

As you get used to stepping outside of your comfort zone you will learn how to handle new and unfamiliar situations. Then you will be well on your way to growing your business with confidence and commitment.

By : Susan_Tomlinson

A Good Reason to Send a Fax Through the Internet

I have a friend who calls himself "self employed". He is into selling industrial chemicals and moves around a lot. At present, he only has a clerk to manage the office while he is out selling.

One of the main problems with this type of small setup is whether you need to buy this or that office equipment. All of them, big or small, require an upfront investment which individuals like my friend could ill afford.

It is a very difficult decision to make especially when you know that you do not need the gadget all the time but on the other hand all business concerns should have one of those.

One of his problems was whether he should fork out couple of hundred dollars to get a fax machine which he knows will only be used probably only once a day. When he asked me for my advice recently, I told him to send fax through the internet instead.

I made that recommendation because doing faxes online does not require purchasing a fax machine, and is cost-effective.

Yes, some may argue that you need to pay a monthly fee but then again if you look at most of the service plans out there, they charge roughly about USD $10 per month only. Some even offer discounts for annual contracts.

The great thing is that because competition is very stiff, many of the fax providers enable you to send fax through the internet by offering a wide array of service plans. So, if you once fax once in a while, then maybe the cheapest one on offer is the perfect fit for you.

If you really can't afford to spend a dime on internet faxing, then by all means opt for those free fax services. Yes, there are many good providers who allow their customers to use their service for free.

The only draw back is that all the cover notes of your faxes will have advertisements on them. That's how the fax providers make money - advertisements.

In a nutshell, to send fax though the internet is a real money saver, especially for those who are on a shoestring budget.

By : Attan_Denis

Understand Your Tax Position Before Selling Your Business

You're a business owner who is thinking about selling your business. You've been doing this for many years but it's time to retire, there is a health reason for selling, you're burnt out, it's time to sell this business and move to a bigger and better idea that you have.

So step one is the idea to sell. What should step two be? Step two is to make sure you have something to go to that's better than what you're currently doing.

If you're burnt out and are thinking of selling but you go to all the trouble to find a buyer of the business, get their offer and all of a sudden realize you'd sooner continue what you're doing rather than sit on a beach or play golf 4 days a week or whatever. So step two is to make sure you are excited about what you're going to move to.

If selling seems the best option, step three is to get a business valuation from an independent third party. I can't tell you how many business owners call me and explain why they think their business is worth a certain amount of money. After asking a series of questions I have the problem of bursting their bubble.

So if you are serious about selling, get a third party valuation. The valuation can be an opinion of value from a business broker, accountant or other professional. It doesn't require an in depth appraisal where the matter may go to a court such as for a divorce or partnership dispute.

The fourth step is to talk to your tax agent or hire a professional that can let you know how much you will get to keep once the buyer pays your negotiated purchase price.

Just because the buyer offers you $1,000,000 for your business it doesn't mean that's what you get to keep. There is an issue called taxes that needs to be dealt with and it can get complicated.

There are many ways it can get complicated. Complication one starts with the legal entity of the business. Tax write offs and tax minimization are different for a Sole Proprietor or an LLC or an S Corp and especially a C Corp.

Complication two comes into play as the buyer wants to maximize the tax benefits from his perspective which often have a negative consequence to the seller. This complication has to be resolved for the transaction to close through the Purchase Price Allocation process.

The Purchase Price Allocation comes into play when the total purchase price is broken down into items such as inventory, goodwill, fixtures, furniture and equipment, covenant not to compete, training and other categories available that vary according to the business being sold.

For the benefit of both the buyer and the seller, it is important to recognize that the deal can fall over if agreement is not reached on the Purchase Price Allocation as there are tax consequences to each party.

Furthermore, this piece of negotiation can arise after the first set of negotiations for the purchase price and terms of the deal. If the purchase price and terms have been protracted and tough negotiations, working through the Purchase Price Allocation can open a new source of tension.

The key point here is that there must be willingness for each party to give on the Purchase Price Allocation. If one party refuses to budge then the transaction will most likely die.


By : Andrew_Rogerson

Make Money Writing - Price Your Product Right

Many memoir and writing professionals are uncomfortable charging for their services. This manifests itself in a number of ways: charging too little, not being upfront about the fees from the beginning, forgetting to bill, etc. The truth is, if you are going to make money writing it is essential for you to determine your financial needs and price your product accordingly.

The basis of your relationship with a client is the monetary exchange. It is therefore important to arrive at:

1) A fee for each of your products that a client base is willing to pay.

2) An understanding of what your financial needs are over the long haul and an analysis of the prospects for getting that income from your products.

3) An adjustment between what the public is willing to pay and what you need to charge.

If you have already had clients, use numbers from your past to gauge what they are willing to pay. If you are new, you will have to presume a fee range your various client bases might bear. Take into account the nuances that are apparent in your different client segments and price your product accordingly.

You can add value to a product by offering something extra which costs you very little or even nothing, but which is perceived by the client as worth an extra fee.

An example is providing a workshop at a residence where your workshoppers live. For them, the location is extremely convenient and, for you, it solves the issue of finding a venue. Perhaps you can charge more to the client for the convenience.

You must make an estimate of your business expenses if you are to calculate how much money your products and services must generate.

If you are going to make money writing you must not only meet your expenses, you must surpass them. Your products must generate a surplus of income to finance further product development and marketing. You are doing this to make money, after all.

It is also essential for you to determine how much money you need in order to live the lifestyle you desire--do you want to go on trips, buy a hot tub, put your kids through college, etc.

By combining these two figures--what your business must earn to grow and your own personal needs--you will be able to derive the amount of income your products and services must generate.

If you sense that your products and fees will not producing the income you need, make a new price evaluation for your products that will meet your financial needs--your business and livelihood depend on it!

Good luck!

By : Denis_G._Ledoux

Leaping Into Solo Business With Elance As My Net

Some years ago, one month after moving to a new city for the job, I got laid off. Cost-saving strategies at the Fortune 500 firm I worked for had taken hold that pretty much axed any kind of marketing function in my business unit.

So there I was, new to town and with no network. The idea of going out on my own didn't seem workable, so I sent out resumes and started interviewing.

It took me nearly nine months to find a new job in a small software firm and one more year after that to realize once and for all that this wasn't the road for me anymore. Far from the autonomous life that I had had in the large corporation, I felt suffocated by the constraints placed upon me by my boss.

I had tried to make it work but had gotten more and more out of synch with myself. I no longer wanted someone else to control my destiny. I wanted to continue in my field, but I wanted to make my own rules.

The resistance to starting my own business faded in the light of what felt like indentured servitude. I needed to take the reins and steer my own business, even if I ended up making less money initially. Failure would be my failure, success would be my success. Either way I was willing to be accountable. I was determined to succeed.

I knew that my skills and attitude would spark business. I have talents that small and medium businesses need for successful marketing. The question was how I could structure a marketing consulting business that allowed me flexibility, mobility, and time for the rest of life while at the same time pulling in a 6-figure income?

I very deliberately thought through what to do to make my vision a reality. Financially speaking, I had an absolute minimum that must be made every month; I owned a new house, and the related expenses created a monthly nut that had to be met. Further, my nontraditional marriage required a high degree of mobility.

My retired husband lives aboard our boat, and I needed to have both the time and the money to travel back and forth between house and boat. I also needed work that didn't require a lot of client interaction, so that I could literally work on the road-have WiFi, will travel, in other words.

I pondered the issue for several days. Then I had a forehead smacking moment. During my unemployed days after the corporate layoff, I started a web site centering on my sailing knowledge as a way to stay productive.

I intended to generate income from it, so I studied up on how people were making money from the internet. A coach I signed on with suggested getting help through a site called Elance to buy the copy writing so necessary to an online business.

I hadn't really listened to that part of the advice; I am a writer, so I could do all that myself. Now, though, as I wrestled with the question of how to launch a business, I remembered Elance, and it hit me. Why not try selling my writing services there?

I checked out the site and found that writing wasn't the only service area that I could try. There was also a sales and marketing area that fit the type of marketing I do. I read through the details about how to set up as a service provider.

I knew from my first business that there would be stiff competition, with quite a few "bottom feeders" offering services as ridiculously low prices; I also knew that this trend would be even stronger on Elance, because it is a global web site attracting service providers from countries like India where hourly rates are far lower than mine.

Finally, there was a good chance that the kind of clients I wanted-owners and CEOs of small and medium businesses-might not be comfortable with buying services sight unseen off a web site, so Elance might not be a vehicle to my target market.

With a high probability that Elance would only be comprised of providers charging far less than I for projects that didn't hit my target market, I wasn't expecting a lot. Still, I thought, it's worth a try.

I could swing a six-month subscription for both the writing and marketing service areas, so I decided to make the investment and reevaluate at the end of the period to see if I wanted to continue.

At the very least, I figured, Elance would allow me to bridge between soul-sucking job and successful marketing consultancy, and that was great. In I went, then, and started posting bids for projects that seemed appropriate for me.

The results blew me away.

By the end of my first two months as an Elance provider, I had booked $20,000 in projects. And before I hit the six-month mark I was among the top five revenue-producing providers in the writing area-the other four being providers who had been around Elance far longer than I.

I found out very quickly that my target market has in fact discovered Elance, and those business owners and CEOs are very willing to buy services sight unseen when the deal works for them. And they are "value buyers" rather than "price buyers," so I had no problem competing successfully against the "I will work for nearly nothing" bottom feeders.

I quit my day job a month after I started bidding on Elance, and haven't looked back. The work I have been awarded there, along with referrals I've received from my Elance clients, has built 4-R Marketing into a 6-figure business. All projects are conducted via internet and telephone.

With my business number on my cell phone and my Wi-Fi enabled laptop, I can work anywhere that I can get a signal. I have worked at the marina where boat and husband live, in RV parks when we've gone van camping, and in Starbucks stores in London.

I work on my patio, at a local restaurant, and even spent St. Patrick's Day at a "free WiFi" Irish pub, working on projects while listening to live Irish music.

And remember the 60-40 split in my first business? In 4-R, the split is more like 80-20-eighty percent billable time and twenty percent business management! The internet has spawned so many tools and options for business owners to cut down on overhead tasks that I can stay on top of finances, marketing, and selling in a fraction of the time that it once took.

I get paid fast, through Elance or my own online shopping cart, and I don't miss the days of waiting for the check to arrive in the mail.

Oh, and my work day now averages eight hours, rather than the 12+ of my previous business.

None of my clients are in my own city, so I have no need to drive the highways to meetings or networking events. In fact, my car stays in the garage most of the time. My work clothes are shorts in the warm season and sweatpants when it's cold.

It's been so long since I took anything to the dry cleaners I can't remember where they are located. I have time to visit with friends, travel to the boat, take my dogs for long walks, read books, and do crossword puzzles.

What a deal!

By : Trish_Lambert

Someone is Going to Win! Will it Be You?

In this article we are talking about the art of selling your Chiropractic service. If you feel that as a chiropractor you are not selling that's okay for now. We will get back to that.

The truth is everyone has something to sell. As a doctor of chiropractics what are you and your office selling? You are selling the idea of health. That is getting healthier and feeling better.

In the 'sale' of this service or any service it is said that two things happen in ever sale: #1 the prospect buys what the seller is selling or #2 the seller buys the prospect. Thus the question, someone will win, will it be you or your prospect?

Understand that if you feel that your product or service is the best and can fulfill the needs of the client, you need to win him or her over to your side. In chiropractics you are doing him or her a huge dis-service if allow him to win and not see the side of the benefits of chiropractics.

This can be an easy game to win. First you must realize that you are the GURU when it comes to what you do. You must get as far as his or her attitude will permit you to. You need to ask questions and use those to build your foundation on.

what are his or her reasons for needing your service? One other way to question is, what are his or her reasons for not using your service? do they thing that you are only for backs or are they unfamiliar with chiropractics? If they are uninformed, this is wonderful. Tell them about the power of life and invite them to see you in the office.

Try to fit it into their conversation. That is the conversation they are having in their own mind. Is it, my back hurts? I wish i could feel better/ my health plan stinks? I don't agree with my medical doctor and want a second opinion?

Talk to them on their level of education. remember not to use terms that they can not relate to. Keep in mind, you went to the university and they may not have - so put it in their terms. Once the understand and they will, you have won the game. The thing is, you see...if they win, they lose and if you win, so do they.

By : Mark_T._Joseph

Wake Up From Auto-Pilot to Become the Best Version of You

To clarify it, I like to use what I describe as the "Panty Metaphor."

It's time to step it up from the granny panties. That's right ladies; (and some men, you know who you are)... drop those unexciting, boring, vanilla granny panties and pull on a spicy thong or a cheeky printed g-string.

Remember when your mother used to tell you that you should always wear clean panties, just in case you ended up in the hospital and someone saw them? She was absolutely right!

Would you be caught dead in a pair of unsightly, high waisted, hand- me-down granny panties? Of course not! You want to be seen in something that proudly states, "This is unquestionably the very best version of who I really am!"

Now in case that doesn't sound true or hit home for you, think about this:

Picture feeling more genuinely connected to your own specific talents and gifts. And being able to feel connected again and again on a consistent basis.

Dependably make great decisions in your business, even when you're under stress or anxiety - feeling completely relaxed and taking a bigger and better leadership role in your life and in your business. Wahoo...what a feeling that would be!

Think about finally having a highly developed tolerance for bigness - Big Thinking, Big Heart, Big Mind, and a Big Life!

Visualize a totally changed relationship with money - so you can expand your lifestyle while bringing your specific gifts to the world, and having fun while doing it!

If you're a solo-preneur, coach, consultant, healer or spiritual teacher who is struggling and frustrated to get to the bottom of why you've been hiding out, playing small and repeatedly attracting the same kinds of negative people in situations in your business, it's time to move forward in your business. It is time to come out of the closet.

Does any of this ring a bell or make sense to you?

* You don't have the inner courage or confidence to have "the money talk" with clients, or to raise your fees and get paid what you are worth. You look around and charge what others in your industry are charging, and yet, you know you are worth plenty more. And, you're unable to fill your practice or programs. As a result, your business and income have more ups and downs than an escalator.

* You're not making the money you want to, and you feel anxious, overworked, and weighed down with more than you can handle. You're left operating on autopilot and wondering if this is all there is to life. Worse, you have no one to talk to about it because you don't want anyone to know how you're really feeling.

* You rarely ask for enough, and you exhaust and overwhelm yourself by being all things to all people - as a result pushing yourself off your own "to-do" list over and over again.

* Your persistent procrastination is limiting your potential income, and with the new economic changes, you feel uncertain about your financial future.

* You have spent money on marketing, ads, web sites, direct mail and networking, and you're STILL struggling.

* You know you are hiding in the closet, from bigger and better possibilities - as well as a more confident and successful version of yourself.

To add it all up, you wish there was a better, easier and faster way to get precisely what you want, right? You want a shortcut to taking back your personal power and powerfully accelerating your prosperity, abundance and business growth.

I've got great news:
This does exist and it is possible! Because we have a limited time together, I'll show you where to get more information later. In the meantime, I will give you as much as possible to get your started on your way now.

By : Beverly_Boston

Choose a Freelance Web Developer Rate That is Fair

I worked for a web agency for almost 5 years before making the transition to a freelance web developer. Maybe you are in transition yourself and are trying to figure out at what rate you should be charging per hour. Like many other professionals (lawyers, accountants, etc.) you will want to have a competitive rate that is fair, yet will keep you profitable.

It is often difficult to choose an hourly rate because of the competition you have to deal with. Not only are you competing with web developers locally but all over the internet. Clients have the option of seeking web developers by just doing a search on the web. They even have the option to outsource to developers overseas.

Not only do you have to come up with a reasonable hourly rate but you have to prove why you are the best choice. Keeping this in mind, don't set your rate so low just to beat out your competition. It isn't fair to you. You want to make a profit. Here are the factors to consider when deciding what to charge:

1. How much do you want your yearly salary to be?

2. How many hours do you want to work per year?

3. How much overhead will you have (paying contractors, recurring bills, etc.)?

4. How much profit do you want to make?

There are many benefits to becoming a freelance web developer. For one thing, you choose your clients. You also choose your own hours and what type of work you want to do. You don't have a boss dictating how a project should be completed. There are also downsides to freelancing.

The primary downside is that if you're not careful, you may feel like you have traded one job for another. This is what happened to me. After several years, I stopped having fun. I was tired of seeking out new clients, chasing down payments for invoices, and meeting tight deadlines.

It started to feel like I was in the rat race all over again but this time, I worked longer hours. Being your own boss can be rewarding so long as your career doesn't feel like a job.

By : Eartha_Haines