Developing Entreprenuerial Kids

Teaching your kids to be entrepreneurs may be one of those values that will foster healthy mental development in them for a lifetime. Parents who encourage their kids to start a small business will teach kids the importance of decision making, balance and self control. Small business knowledge creates independence in children and can take control of all their boredom issues. When children learn to think independently, it develops creativity in them. Many children today who are diagnosed with attention deficit disorders and some other forms of mental illnesses such as depression; may simply be suffering from a lack of a challenge in their lives.

  

Teach Them to Turn Their Interest into Enterprise

Kids today are mostly interested in video games, music videos, sports and text messaging. My son at eight years old wanted a droid. Of course you know what my answer was. However, their interest is constantly changing and kids are always looking for new things to get into. One way to get them interested in doing a small business is to encourage them to value your money. Don't just automatically buy things for them when they want it. Encourage them to make, or sell something in order to get the money they need. 

Understand The Value of  Their Dollar

One thing I learned is that kids don't like to spend their own money, my son in particular would run to put his money away in his Star Account,and then ask me to purchase something for him with my own money. One way that I discourage that is letting him know that, whatever I spend is coming out of his own money. So that usually teaches him the value of saving his own money, because the need for the item he wanted suddenly changes to, "Nah, I don't really want that item anymore, I can do without it!!"

Encourage Their Own Ideas Not Yours

Encourage them when they have an idea whether it is in selling cookies, lemonade, or even in having a garage sale. My son always wants to sell things from our house; unfortunately, our neighborhood does not allow garage sale or yard sales. I must say that I have been a slacker, because I should have already found another way for him to sell those items from our garage. It is not too late, so I will have to figure out what to do to get those items sold and put him in-charge of the pricing and selling.

Don't Micro-Manage Them too Much

Don't be afraid to let them fail, failure is a good teacher of determination. When we allow them to mess up they learn something valuable for the next venture idea they have. Give them the tools by asking them how they plan to get their business working, and then help them steer them in the right direction, but let them do it for themselves as much as possible.

Take Them Through the Process of Entrepreneurship

It's never too early to Teach Kids the benefits of doing a business plan and getting a license; or the difference between selling from the garage or operating  from a store front. Kids need to know that their is a right way to start a business, even though their venture may only be a fun activity for them in the beginning. It would be good for them to learn now; which, will make it easier for them when they grow older, and decide they need to start a business. This may be some of the best education your kids could learn from you, when you teach them to fish, rather than give them a fish!!

The Value of a Social Enterprise

 

Exploring the avenue's of non-profits versus for-profit organizations is a worthy exercise that may help you determine your purpose for seeking Independent Business Ownership. With today's economy people are seeking ways to provide services that benefit others as well as provide some level of financial security for themselves and their families. However when potential business owners can develop solutions that create better livability for others in their communities, then their level of true leadership has begun to show it's strengths. It really takes a leader with finesse, determination, and focus to start a non-profit/social enterprise instead of a for-profit organization. 

Although emerging markets for non-profits have recently been increasing it takes a very strong leader to take on a non-profit as a career path. Harvard Business School has stated that. "Nonprofit organizations require strong, innovative leadership, especially during uncertain times"  why? Because the supportive services and capital for emerging markets are far and wide in our current economical state. The percentage of private and federal funding for non-profits organizations are far less than those of the for -profit businesses.

The resources available to non-for-profit organization must come from a place of  passion. For instance; the need to restore an economically challenged area in a city, and developing programs to meet the needs of that city in terms of jobs, educational programs, and or solving housing issues; requires a substantial amount of financial support and a leader with gusto, to get these type programs up and running. The funds for these type projects may come from a private entity, governmental agency, an individual or Philanthropist. According to the "Urban Institute" data indicates the amount of financial contribution non-profit organizations have filtered into the economy. The data also indicates the following data for the revenue received by non-profits in 2006 (see the following ).

• In 2006, nonprofits contributed $666.1 billion to the US economy.
• In 2006, nonprofits received $1 trillion in revenue, a 5.7 percent increase over 2005.
• In 2005, 12.9 million people worked for nonprofits, up from 11.1 million in 1998.
• In 2006, wages and salaries totaled $489.4 billion, compared with $318.9 billion in 1998 (not adjusted for inflation).

According to Harvard, "More than 700,000 nonprofits operated in the United States in 2009. Ninety percent of them had annual budgets of less than $500,000, and 99% spent less than $10 million on their constituents. The average grant size for large foundations was only $50,000. 

Fortunately, the US government has many supportive services to provide assistance for non-profit or social enterprises; therefore, with this information and statistics in mind the value of starting a Social Enterprise/ non-profit organization may well be the route to follow if you have  a passion to bring people together and make a change in communities, where you live or even around the world. Go with Gusto and you will succeed.

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Becoming an Entrepreneur !! Are you Game?

So you're sitting in your room and you imagine yourself being an entrepreneur, and you wonder if you have the stuff it takes to be one. Well, do you? Only you can answer that question, because all takes is you having a single bright idea.  First off,  what does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Well Websters dictionary describes it as, " a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk." 

So what are the tools you need in order to be entrepreneur? Organization, management skills, initiative and risk. Do you have to have loads of money? Well truthfully; most entrepreneurs will tell you that at first thought they did not have a dime to their name, but they knew they had to acquire some whether through a job, savings, loan or they had to sell something in order to make the money they needed to launch their idea. So now that that's partially settled what's the next step? Let's outline this and see what we come up with. The first step needed in entrepreneurship begins with: 

• Inspiration: inspiration is the driving force behind the idea for any entrepreneurial venture. Something inside you had to signal you that there is a need somewhere in the world for your product or service. Right? 
   
• Focus: focusing your thoughts on where you want to take this venture, means you have to concentrate on your idea and figure ways to deliver it. You need to stick to one idea and carry it through to the end. So what does it take to do this? 
• Vision: You need to be able to visualize your inspiration becoming a reality. The idea here is to already see it working or in production before it actually happens.  Ask yourself; is it performing the job you set it out to accomplish? Is it providing a benefit to some ones life or changing the world around you? It does not have to be some grandiose thing outside of your reach. But you visualize it making a difference somehow, to someone, somewhere. those reachable and the unreachable goals.
• Courage: to be an entrepreneur you must posses or acquire a certain kind of tenacity or  courageousness. You have to see opportunity or possibilities when no one else does. You have to get comfortable with taking a risk.  Risk taking can be uncomfortable but it is necessary.
• Determination: is the driving force behind success or accomplishments. There will be some goals or ideas that require grit and grind or kicking the door in to get it accomplished. Because overnight success is not necessarily a given in the world of entrepreneurship. Know that some hard work, elbow grease is required for some ventures. You cannot be weak at heart; you may have to forge through despite some obstacles.
• Problem Solving: develop some problem solving skills, by preparing or planning out some strategies to resolve issues ahead of time. Creative thinking can lead to solutions that opens up doors to other opportunities. 
• For example, there have been periods in my life when cash flow was a serious problem, when I  needed to get some basic things, and I did not have the money; plus I refused to ask friends or family so I found a solution. I began looking around the house for items I had purchased and had not used; and I searched diligently for the receipts and returned them back to the store  for the cash  (if they were still within the return policy time period. ( Read the consumer rights policy on your receipts.) It can save you or give a few bucks back when you need it. My point here is, where there is a wall, you find a jack hammer and break down that wall.

•  Organization: is very important to the success of your business, so developing an organizational chart is the next step, as you will need to delegate duties and responsibilities to others who are part of your business. Not only this; but organize your charts, tables, and receipts in an orderly fashion for easy access when you need them.
• Avoid the Nay-Sayers: Avoid telling your business ideas to people who will discourage you. Find people who are already in your line of business or similar, and who are not threatened by your desire to start a business. Join your local Chamber of Commerce; you will find that there is a wealth of resources and support services that you can utilize as support for your business venture.
  
  

  • Get some exercise everyday, pray or meditate whichever is most comfortable for you and get sufficient sleep every night, and arise early. You know what they say, "The early bird catches the worm." and by all means eat a healthy breakfast, you jump start your day with more energy.

  
  Finally  maintain a positive attitude , laugh and smile as often as you can this will keep the endorphins flowing, and help support you during the stressful periods while building your business; and by all means keep the faith and believe that you will be successful.
  
  

Biz Start-Up Swagger-Tude

You need to express your business swagger, in order to get your business start-up going. On our last post we mentioned some ideas to get you motivated on getting your long awaited biz idea started. Today we are expounding on those ideas by giving some added  motivation. Every business owner should have their personal style and design for their business. Your business style is what you will present to your potential customers and investors ( people who will play some key role in your start-up). How do you show swagger in business? ATTITUDE!!! or rather swagger-tude.

Potential Investors and customer want to be sure that you are excited and knowledgeable about the products or services that you are providing. So  whether you have a business plan and some business cards, is not going to make that big of a difference unless you can sell your ideas to anyone just as soon, your mouth come opens. You need to exert positive energy at all times in business, because first impressions are lasting impressions. Your CONFIDENCE level will determine how effective your swagger is to potential investors.

Now we must warn that over-the-top zealousness can be a turn-off . Confidence does not mean being braggadocios either. BRAGGING before you have captured your audience, shows a lack of confidence. You do not have to hype-up your product or yourself in order to generate public interest ( in other words, don't talk too much). People don't buy HYPE!! So whatever your selling,, use it. If you have a cologne and perfume store or your selling make-up USE it!! This is the most inexpensive billboard around

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LEAD. When you lead by example your swagger comes off smooth and sophisticated, and others follow. Your genuine smile and graciousness is your biggest swagger advertisement. By all means please, dress to impress.  So go ahead, get your swaggertudinous-ness on;  it might upgrade you.

Social Networking Your Business

Ever noticed how we can get lost just cruising through Face book, Twitter and host of other social media sites; aimlessly looking at the photos and comment of  people that you hardly even know. It's amazing the amount of time we can spend just doing that alone. I wonder to myself what I have accomplished by the end of my visit to Face book-Ville and all the other Ville that I so frequently visit. Did I grow, Dream, or Create a lasting impression?

Or were those sentiments bestowed upon me as I drive my 10 finger vehicle through the streets of the Village friends that I, we , all so commonly make these days.

The reality; we may never or have never in person met some of those folks we call friends right? But they are recommended to us, and we like misguided children follow ever so faithfully. It only does good if we are changed, challenged, or uplifted after having been there is my supposition.

I often wonder, "what is the psychology that drives our madness."  Is it our need for information, escapism, desire, or wantonness that creates this fanatical craze inside us. I suppose it's because we live in the information era. The more information we get, the more we want; so the providers supply us in some small, medium, or super-sized orders according to our specifications, and our craze continues.

But despite all that talk, we are given a super technological avenue to do the impossible; reach out and touch. The social networking era that we live is a powerhouse for businesses, small and large. We reach more people, in a shorter space of time.

Remember when you had to make a mailing list and send out letters to potential customers and businesses, and cold call customers and annoy them on the phone. Well with today's social networking you can quickly apply the process of elimination and make a quick determination of where your target market may be. When you advertise your business to your friends and contacts they will either show an interest or they will not.

Do Not Get Discouraged: Friends, and Family are usually the last to catch on.

Now, just remember that friends, family and acquaintances are more than likely not to bite right away. Why? Because study shows that this group is usually the last to support your ideas. People you know are only serious about you after you have exploded on the mainstream of your business platform. So do not get discouraged if at first your close friends and loved ones do not show an interest. Continue to use social networking outside the scope of familiarity and target  a market much larger than the few blocks around you.

Stay Your Business Picasso on Social Networking

Despite it all. keep a business presence on your social networking sites, never drop the ball, because believe me someone else out there may have the same ideas that you have; so you must stay in the game. Improve your business presence and knowledge-ability by creating interesting updates relevant to your business. This will keep you motivated as you concentrate on other avenues, and yes it does leave an impression on the minds of some of your page visitors and if not today, tomorrow they will be back, so get ready.

Finally, Have Some Fun.

You must enjoy what you do or else, no matter how good a business idea you have or started; you must give life to your business by showing your passion. If you are intense all the time, customers, potential customers will notice it even on a post. So by all means have  fun and show that you are enjoying the process.

Business Start-uP Hold-Up.

Have you been thinking for a very, long time that one day you will have your own business? You're tired of having to work the late shift, tired of working weekends, tired of working hard and still not being able to pay your bills. So you say to yourself, one day you will start your own business; so why haven't you? 

Why do people want to have their own business in the first place?

Business ownership puts you in control of your own financial future. You set your own financial attainment goals; and you can reach as high as your expectations. Any successful business requires planning, development and timely execution. Many people are unaware of  how to begin this task of  a  business start-up; and to some degree lack he motivation and tenacity it takes sometimes to maintain a successful business. But I imagine you are not one of those people!! Because you know you have the skills and the brains it takes to run a successful business. But something is holding you back; what is it?

There are many reasons why most people do not start their own businesses, but one in particular that stands out  is FEAR:   a contributing factor to start-up procrastination  is FEAR!!!    

Fear can cripple and kill your dreams. Too often people are afraid to step outside of their comfort zones because of this.   Humans beings are always seeking to make themselves comfortable. We don't want to give up that pay check coming in every week, right? What if you involuntarily lose that job tomorrow, what will happen? Nothing right, you'll just go out and get another job as soon as you can, wouldn't you? Of-course you would.  But what about that dream you had of opening your own spa, cleaning business,beauty shop, or maybe you can fix computers; or you like taking pictures; you can even turn a hobby into a lucrative small business by capitalizing on it and seizing the opportunity.

Albert Einstein once wrote that, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results."

So what if you decided to use your next job as leverage; a stepping stone to get you started? Doing something differently takes dedication that will bring about change. Learning when to seize an opportunity is also key to your success. Some people have successfully started their own business when they were out of a job.

I'll tell you a short story about a friend of mine whom after fifteen years of driving an eighteen wheeler truck for multiple companies; but never before, felt it was possible for him to have his own business. Recently, he told me that after years of being sick and tired of doing the same thing over and over again, he finally decided to take the plunge of business ownership. A conversation that we had a few years ago had finally sunk in and made sense. What had changed for him?  He admitted to me that he was AFRAID.  He was not a risk taker; he likes to play it safe. Honestly, to be a good business owner you must use common sense or you can sink yourself before you begin to swim. However; in the world of business ownership, outside of proper planning; there is always that element of risk taking.

Fear of failure, is really the fear of succeeding. maybe you're afraid that if you really tried you might just succeed. Wouldn't it be great if that's happens?  Well for my friend he decided to purchase his own eighteen wheeler truck to start making the kind of money he knows he is worth. Sometimes we have to realize that there is nothing to fear but fear itself. So how do we change that "fear factor" in our thinking? Here are some steps to take to help overcome your fear.

• Acknowledgement or being able to admit that you are afraid but willing; is the first step to stop procrastinating. (Tell yourself that you are not going to let fear cripple you).
• Do something different everyday that get's you closer to your goal.ex. (write a business plan, places like the public library or local unemployment office may have the software available, free of charge.) 
• Start a what I'd like to call a paperclip business savings plan ( even if it means putting aside enough money to buy paper clips) this is a start in the right direction.
• Consider finding a mentor, someone who has a business and is willing to volunteered their time to help you succeed. Never try to do it on your own, you'll get burnt out. (Remember no one is an Island)
• Find a trustworthy business partner. Could be a family member, friend or co-worker.
• Ask friends and family to help support you financially, or a local investor who can help you with start-up cash. (Make sure you account for every dollar spent in case you have to pay it back.) 
• To stay motivated you must maintain a positive attitude. (Your Attitude will Determine your Altitude)

There is still much more to business ownership but the above information is very basic and could get you started. Have faith, be committed and determined to succeed, and success is sure to follow.

  Your First Business Plan By Covello, Joseph A./ Hazelgren, Brian

My Papa Rode a Donkey To Work

In Memory of my Grand Papa Thomas Smith 1901-1980

                                         

When my grandfather (Papa) went to work he rode a donkey. Think about that for a second. With all the current innovations of the modern vehicle; from the luxury Maserati's, Mercedes Benz, and those comfortable commuter train's and buses we have for getting to work these days. But for some people in past, present and future the donkey may never become an obsolete form of transport in some parts of the world.   Yet my papa rode the donkey with all it's galloping grace, trotting through gravel and stoney pathways, and up those rocky and harsh mountain sides; so that he could reach his crops or provisions as he called them in his garden (farm).

Today we have the luxury of navigation systems and/or GPS,  in our modern and "civilized" worlds; even our phones helps us with direction. But somehow the donkey knew the way to my grandfather's gardens without much assistance. Like any donkey without the rope around his neck and a gentle nudge he would easily go astray; but regardless, this donkey would take my grandfather to his garden without ever getting lost. Papa's donkeys was the securest form of logistics for his farming business.

When my grandfather lost a donkey through some form of an accident or sickness of the animal, it was a great loss for him and for the entire family. Because that meant that the crops would begin to ripen and go to waste. So then my uncles would have to accompany my grandfather to collect the crops, and they would have to walk for miles and climb those mountains with the cutlass, rake and hoe in hand to manually harvest the crops, and get this! they'd had to bring those things back in hand; with crops on their heads, along with the bunches of banana's, big brown bags of coffee, cocoa, or rice across their shoulders; walking back out and down to the village. So our donkey was a revered and loved animal in our family; one that you didn't want to lose. Even though my grandfather had two donkeys at a time, the loss of one would mean the loss in productivity, cost and time. So my grandfather loved his Jackasses as he called them.

My grandfather planted, banana, coffee, cocoa, and mango trees in his garden, he even planted rice (white rice and the red wild rice}, yams in variety, potatoes and every other kind of crop he felt like, because the land was fertile forest far away from the mainland. One nice scenic thing was the streams which ran into the river, and burst through the mountains and down to the valley. The fruits were succulent, so just imagine sinking your teeth into the yellowest and juiciest pineapple on planet earth, in the middle of a hot day, right there in the garden up in a forested mountain. Sometimes we would break open the shell covering of the cocoa fruit and suck on the beans to quench our thirst, they were so juicy an sweet.

Once I traveled on the donkey with my grandparents, two of my uncles and an aunt. I was five and they were all like teenagers to me. So I got to ride the donkey while everyone else walked, we had to go get those crops.  The only vehicle I could remember from that era was the Volkswagen Beetle, I guess because it was so small and as a child I thought how nice it might have been to have one to play inside. Sure, there were other types of cars but they never mattered to me because I only loved the beetle as a child, but I rode the donkey for convenience, guess maybe gas prices were high. That's a joke. We didn't own a VW Bug.

So where is the contrast in all this? Well whenever we think of the businessman, we often see the CEO of a huge financial corporation, or some industrial tycoon or financier's of our society as the mover and shakers of our world, but the reality is that there are individuals, students, and farmers who show the true integrity and grace it takes to be a business person, and in their own way influence the world.

So in conclusion whenever we in our modern societies eat an exotic fruit, pineapple, mango, or drink cocoa or coffee, let us remember that somewhere there is a farmer riding a donkey on some harsh, rustic, possibly muddy sliding mountain trail to get that convenience to us, just like my grandfather did.

                                         

Brasil: a magical journey

Brasil: a magical journey:
Shop fashion, food and designer accessories inspired by this tropical paradise at Macy's.com!

Where Is The Gas Pain Again?

An interesting story in my life, was about what signaled gas pain; which was, the gas pain in the head. Everything I learned was from old people; because I believed they knew the full gospel on life, pain and the very existence of earth. Often an older person would say, I have a gas pain in my head, killing me here boy! Seriously, how do you get a gas pain in the head? This diagnosis for head pain and other body parts were such a part of my upbringing that I really believed it and often attributed head pain to having gas in my head.                                                                          

One day while living in Brooklyn, New York I had just gotten of the subway and met a girlfriend at Nostrand Avenue, as we met and having greeted each-other; a few minutes thereafter,  when I suddenly burst-ed out;  I have a serious gas pain in my head girl!" She looked at me astonished and exploded into laughter and then scolded me, as she had just become a newly graduated Pediatric Physician and was gainfully unemployed. "K you cannot get a gas pain in your head, simple!" Well excuse me!! I exclaimed, my grandmother and every other person knows you can get a gas pain in your head!! She looked at me with great disappointment. Probably thinking too herself, " Is she for -real?  "K";  she continued, where exactly in your head can gas find a place to run around? If anything I think you need to take a dump!!!

Well just because you are a "Doctor" now doesn't mean that you are smarter than my grandmother, who is as old as dirt, and others have said that, and I believe it!!  I was too embarrassed to admit that I was terribly mis-educated about gas pains. But in the midst of a mildly populated Fish-n-Crust restaurant; I found mental solitude to contemplate the madness of my believing, my gas pain was in my head.  So much for the old wives tales about the people who died from gas pain and bad feelings they got in the head. Even though I never searched for the scientific evidence of this medical  conclusion or the old folks saying; somewhere inside me still believes gas pains can be felt in the head if not running around up there.