Barter Your Way to Profits

Have you ever faced any of the following situations?
One: You need a lawyer but you don`t have the cash for
the retainer. Two: You have a warehouse full of
inventory that just isn`t moving. Three: Sales are
down and you need more customers.

Each of the above problems might be alleviated by
bartering.

1. What Is Bartering?

Bartering is simply exchanging goods or services
without money.

For example, you give your accountant and his family
a meal in your restaurant in exchange for the
preparation of your income tax return. This is a
barter transaction because no cash changes hands
between the two parties.

2. Bartering Improves Liquidity and Profits

A shortage of cash is not an unusual situation for
either businesses or individuals. Perhaps you would
like to advertise in a certain publication but just
don`t have the money. Have you considered exchanging
something of value that you have (a service or product)
for the advertising you need?

Such a barter deal is mutually advantageous. Neither
party has to part with cash to obtain the desired goods
or services.

Not only does bartering conserve cash, but it can
actually generate sales and profits. Inventory turns
over more quickly. Service providers sell more of
their time than they would had they insisted on cash.

3. Bartering Creates New Customers

Notice, also, that both parties just made a sale to
someone they wouldn`t normally have. You both just
received a new customer.

If happy, your new customer can refer you to many
more customers, including ones who pay cash. Perhaps
your original barter customer may also start paying
cash in future transactions with you.

4. Barter Exchanges

In addition to trading with individuals and
businesses, you might consider joining a barter
exchange.

A barter exchange is a business that facilitates the
exchange of goods and services between its members.
There are membership fees for joining. Also, the
barter exchange charges a commission on transactions
made through it.

5. Tax Aspects of Bartering

Barter transactions made by your business must be
reported for income tax purposes. Also sales taxes
may apply on such transactions.

For increased liquidity and new customers, consider
bartering your way to profits.

Drop Ship Your Way to Wealth

Your customer sees a marvelous array of products on
your website. After thoughtful consideration, she
purchases the product she wants. Amazingly, you
have never actually seen the product. That is
because your supplier shipped the order directly to
her.

1. Problems With Stocking Inventory

After deciding what products you will sell, you are
immediately faced with many challenges.

First: "To stock my products, will I need to rent
store or warehouse space? I was hoping to sell
by Internet, mail order, or export, but I don`t
have much storage space for inventory at home."

Second: "Will the supplier even deal with me if
I don`t have a retail location? I was counting
on keeping my overhead down by operating from
home."

Third: "I know that many manufacturers and
distributors have a minimum order, sometimes in the
thousands of dollars. I don`t have that kind
of money!"

Fourth: "Even if I did have the money, why should
I tie it up in inventory? How do I know if the
product will even sell?"

Fifth: "I guess I will have to add extra insurance
coverage for my inventory. Maybe I better upgrade
my security system while I`m at it."

Sixth: "The shipping charges are going to kill me.
First, I have to pay to get the goods here
(freight-in). Then, I have to pay to ship the goods
out to my customers (freight-out)."

Seventh: "If I expand and hire employees, how will
I control the inventory? How will I know if my
employees are stealing from me?"

Eighth: "How much time and money am I going to spend
packaging and fulfilling orders?"

These problems can be reduced or eliminated by drop
shipping.

2. Drop Shipping to the Rescue

Drop shipping is a method of selling products
without stocking inventory yourself. You don`t need
to stock inventory, because you only order an item
when a customer requests it.

With drop shipping, when you make a sale you contact
the manufacturer or authorized distributor and make
arrangements to pay for the order at your wholesale
cost. Your distributor then ships the product to
the customer with your invoice and shipping label.

For example, let`s assume that you have just sold a
product to a customer for $100.00 plus shipping
charges of $15.00. Having received the customer`s
payment, you now need to fax or otherwise send your
order to your drop ship supplier. You will need to
pay your supplier, by credit card or other means,
your cost of $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping. This
leaves you a $50.00 gross profit. Your supplier
will now ship the product to your customer.

With this arrangement of not having to stock
inventory yourself, there are many advantages.

You eliminate the high costs of holding inventory.
There is no need for you to rent expensive storage
space, finance high minimum orders, get stuck with
goods that don`t sell, or pay other expenses
associated with maintaining inventory.

Indirectly, you do pay inventory costs. Your drop
ship supplier must maintain his inventory and pay
all associated costs, including freight-in, storage
space, insurance, accounting, shrinkage, and so on.
To make a profit, he must pass these costs on to you.

The real advantage to this drop shipping arrangement
lies in keeping your costs variable. Instead of being
stuck with these expenses up front, whether you sell
or not, you pay only when you make a sale.

3. Profit From Drop Shipping

Many legitimate drop ship suppliers may not require
you to have a retail location, but they will want to
see evidence that you are in business. They may
require you to produce a resale license or retail
sales tax permit.

To be sure, there are pitfalls to watch out for in
drop shipping. For example, some suppliers claim
to sell at wholesale prices but are actually selling
closer to retail. Also, margins are very slim in some
competitive areas, such as electronics. However,
with proper research and information, you should be
able to avoid these problems.

Whether from your home, retail store, directly from
your website or through an online auction, you can
arrange to sell an item before you purchase it. That
way you have nothing invested in inventory and won`t
get stuck with stock that won`t sell.

Finding Balance In A Tilted World

THE STRUGGLE -- I was recently talking with one of my entrepreneur friends. He has started three businesses in the last several years--a budding entrepreneur. He was relating some of the joys he has experienced in those enterprises: a sense of freedom from the corporate world, pursuing his dreams and passions, setting his own schedule, controlling his destiny and a large potential for financial rewards.
However, he did mention a few downsides: little to no outside accountability, lack of consistent capital, feelings of loneliness, no steady revenue stream, feeling disconnected from others who don't understand his drive to succeed, constant struggles to survive and a severe lack of work-life balance. Sound familiar?
I think most entrepreneurs struggle with similar issues, especially balance. There are many reasons they can give for their lack of life balance and low satisfaction: "I have too much work to do. I just need a few more hours to finish this project. I need more money. I have bills to pay. My business depends on my hard work. My family needs more income. I am solely responsible for developing, marketing, selling and servicing my product or service."
Any or all of these reasons may be true, which might lead entrepreneurs to find great difficulty in managing the two sides of entrepreneurship--balance and success. How often do you struggle with working longer hours than you know you should to try and secure the next sale? How many times has your family and friends tried to pull you away from your office this last month? Take a moment and count up the actual hours you have spent working this last week or month. There is always the temptation to do a little more, work a little harder, talk to one more potential customer in hopes of making one more sale.
What specific things are you doing to take care of yourself: physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Many entrepreneurs overlook these vital areas of life in search of professional success, yet these areas are full of potential for sparking the creative, outside of the box thinking that leads entrepreneurs like yourself to discover life changing products and services and find a new perspective on your business venture.
ASSESS WHERE YOU ARE
Take a moment and write down these 8 life areas:
o friends & family
o fun & recreation
o physical environment & home
o romance & significant other
o fitness & health
o career
o finances
o personal & spiritual growth
Next to each area assess where you currently are. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being "completely dissatisfied" and 7 being "completely satisfied" mark how currently you are satisfied in each area. Add up the totals of all eight areas before reading further. The scoring is at the end of this article.
DEVELOP A PLAN
As you look at your current level of satisfaction what patters or themes do you see? Where areas are you the least satisfied with? The most?
For you who recognize a change is in order, here are a five simple steps to help you start finding the work-life balance that leads to success:
1. Choose 1 area that you are dissatisfied with and would like to see some immediate improvement in. This should not be your worst or best scoring area, but somewhere in the middle. Take a couple minutes and write down in detail what balance would look like for you in that area.
2. Now, get out your planner and make a note to yourself one week from today. In the note, write down:
o the area that you want to improve your level of satisfaction in
o the "score" where you are now and the "score" you want to be at the next week
o 2 things you are going to do to move yourself towards that goal over this next week
3. Tell someone about your goal and ask them to hold you accountable--whether it's a friend, a mentor, or your coach. It's easy to make "new year, new leaf" promises to yourself, but more difficult to follow through with unless you know someone is holding you accountable to reach your goal.
4. Set up a time to talk with your accountability partner the next week. Did you reach your goal? If not, talk about what kept you from reaching it and what will you do differently this next week. If you did reach your goal, congratulate yourself. Do something simple to celebrate your achievement.
5. The final step is to go back to step 1 and do it over again.
Creating life balance is never easy and it's never complete. There will always be room for improvement. The point is that you can make your life more balanced by taking small steps in the right direction. Like most worthwhile things in life, creating life balance is a process, not an event!
SCORING RANGE
8--16 Wow! Things must be pretty rough right now.
17--30 Average score of many small business owners
30--45 There are some very satisfying and very dissatisfying areas in your life
45--56 You recognize the importance of life balance to life success

Conference Call Etiquette

The curse of every hard working manager. Love or hate them, with geographically dispersed teams and travel restrictions, conference calls are here to stay as a communication medium in the workplace. If you want to stand out from your work colleagues, then follow these simple do's and don'ts of effective conference calls.
Here are my favourite conference call experiences;
· a barking dog drowns out the key discussion point, bad enough, but the owner then starts shouting at his pet.
· a thirsty caller uses the hold button whilst slipping out to get a drink, unaware hold music starts playing to everyone on the call.
· a talkative colleague uses the mute button to moan about the call, stopping you answering the question from the senior manager you are trying to impress.
Obviously I would discourage all these career limiting behaviours, so what are the do's and don'ts of effective conference calls?
Do get comfortable with the fact you will be talking in front of a group and receiving no visual cues or feedback.
Do use the right phone in a quiet, undisturbed room.
Don't use cell phones or phones that pick up background noise. Calling from an open plan office is the equivalent of having a conversation in a nightclub. If you really can't find a quiet room, use the mute button until you are required to speak.
To avoid a Homer Simpson style "Doh" moment, do learn to use the mute button and other phone technology. Your intelligent contributions mean nothing if no one can hear them.
Do set up the meeting in advance and communicate the dial in number, passcodes and other information. "Spring forward, fall back" is something to keep in mind for your timezone crossing colleagues. Don't work out time differences on your fingers - check on the internet or even phone a colleague in that country and ask what time it is!
Do start the meeting absolutely on time; don't reward latecomers' bad behaviour by waiting for them. Take a role call at the start of the meeting, highlighting the missing attendees. Go on, get tough, people will love you for it!
Do treat the conference call as if it were a meeting. You know the routine; prepare and circulate an agenda, take notes ya-de-ya-de-ya.
Do get each caller to say hello and introduce themselves. Even though you may never meet in person, it's a good relationship builder and gets the shyest of people to at least say their name.
Don't assume everyone recognises your voice. Unless you are dis-respecting the boss and want to stay incognito, say your name before you speak. This is particularly important for the poor soul taking meeting notes.
Do make use of guest speakers. Invite a special or important guest and get them to say a few words at the beginning of the meeting. No one will know they slipped out after five minutes and you'll get the benefit of undivided attention and best behaviour.
Don't allow the topic to wander. Be an iron fist in a velvet glove - polite but firm if people talk too long or over each other. If your callers are at home sitting in their pyjamas nursing a hot chocolate, be considerate that all they want is to go to bed.
Do ask for input by using a person's name. People will pay more attention to avoid the embarrassment of needing the question repeated.
Don't shuffle papers; scrape chairs, pencil tap, hum or other distracting, noisy activities. It...drives...people...mad!
Do close the meeting formally, thanking everybody for their time. That little bit of recognition will make them feel good about talking to you again.
And that's about it. Apart from one very personal tip. Do not sit on a leather chair. Ever. The problem is each time you move around, an embarrassing noise that's at just the right frequency to carry well over the phone is emitted. Either you brazen it out and suffer the comments about your defective digestive system, or sit rigid until the call is over. If you only take one piece of advice make sure it's this - do use fabric covered seats!

Make The Right Hire

How many times have you had an employee quit and then immediately feel desperate to fill the slot that was just vacated? Unfortunately, it's an all too common occurrence in today's workplace.

There are a number of things you can do to help you get through the trying times while hiring a replacement but there is also the danger of hiring just about anyone that walks through the door just to get the job filled. Don't do this!

Take the time necessary to hire the right person for the job. The actual cost of turnover is much greater than most employers realize so the first line of defense should always be to make every effort to retain your current employee, assuming he/she was performing their duties at an acceptable level.

If you aren't successful at keeping your present employee, the following tips will help guide your selection:

1. Make sure that your other employees are aware of the job opening. Referrals from current employees usually are better candidates than cold prospects coming through the door.

2. If the position is above entry level, look at your current employees and determine if one of them would be a good applicant for promotion. It's much easier to fill entry-level jobs.

3. Be sure to use some type of general IQ or aptitude test. There is absolutely no way to sit and talk with an applicant and know whether they can actually read, write and perform mathematical calculations. (I always recommend the Wonderlic Personnel test for this purpose)

4. Punctuality is a key indicator of how an employee will act once hired. If an applicant is late for an appointment, dismiss them from consideration unless they have an incredibly good reason.

5. Appropriate attire should always be worn to an interview. Dirty, scruffy clothing, rags or hats, and other unsuitable clothes should immediately dismiss an applicant from consideration.

6. Listen carefully as the applicant explains why they left their previous job(s). Someone that continually has problems with supervisors and/or co-workers will probably have the same conflicts with your company. Don't hire an obvious problem no matter how desperately you need help.

7. Always hire someone that you find likable. You don't need to become bosom buddies but you must be able to work with them in a harmonious environment.

8. Create a job description that you can give to your applicants. A properly written job description will answer a great deal of questions and eliminate later problems if the person is hired.

9. Take the time to check references. Previous employers can give you a much clearer description of an applicant's ability, a great deal more than personal references.

10. Always make your job offer in writing. This will preclude any misunderstandings.

10 Secrets for Women Leaders to Increase Visibility and Credibility

Being a leader must be one of the most rewarding careers you can ever do.  Not only is the work interesting and challenging, but you are impacting the direction of many people and the direction of your company.  You are able to see that you are making a difference in something very big.
In this report, you will learn key areas for women leaders to be aware of in order to achieve success inside organizations.  This condensed report provides general trends identified from research of women and men in the workplace.  As with any general trend, there are exceptions.  You may not align with some of the information provide, and you are invited to read with a curious mind to see what new ideas you might explore in your own development process.
Secret #1 -- Build networks internally and externally
This is important for both men and women. 
This is one area that is a derailer for many mid-level management individuals who don't take this seriously.  It is important to build networks internally to develop allies and externally to increase your value to the company.  You may think you don't have time, but it can actually save you time when you need to call on that ally for support on a big project with a tight deadline.  The higher up you go in an organization, the more important it is for you to have strong networks.  At higher levels, the emphasis of work is done more through people and your ability to effectively influence and communicate with others. 
People with large networks can easily access and receive timely, useful information to help them accomplish their goals.  It is best to identify individuals where there is a mutually beneficial relationship based on common goals and interests.  Who are two or three people you need to develop a stronger relationship with?
Secret #2 -- Sell yourself effectively, not aggressively
One of the things I see over and over again with women is how they undervalue their achievements and they believe that their good works will be obvious.  Or, they think: "this is easy and anyone with half a brain could do this."   Many women do not see their key productive strengths and talents.  Women need to learn how to first see their strengths and second effectively sell themselves and how their specific accomplishments connect to the business drivers. 
Identify two or three of your key accomplishments.  What strengths and skills can you identify from these accomplishments?  See the full report for tips on how to identify your strengths and effectively sell yourself.
Secret #3 -- Select a mentor within your company
This is a very important one!  Don't wait on the company to institute a program or if there is one and you're not part of it, then seek out individuals you value and begin to build a relationship.  This may be more critical for a woman's success than it is for her male colleagues.  In a study of individuals who made it into the senior ranks of organizations, the authors of Breaking the Glass Ceiling found that only 38% of successful men had mentors, but all of the women executives had them.
A mentor can give you advice on what you need to do next in your career to move forward, how to get visibility and recognition, and how to play the game of your particular organization. You can do this informally without necessarily asking the person to be your mentor.  A mentor can encourage you to take more risks and be an advocate for you in those closed door meetings at the executive level.  Who is someone you respect and might be available as an informal mentor for you?  When and how will you approach this person?
Secret #4 -- Ask for the stretch assignments
Women must often explicitly signal their interest and willingness to take on unusual or challenging assignments.  Otherwise, managers may assume they are not interested.  You can use the work you've done in Secret #2 to identify your key strengths and pitch your 'qualifications' or readiness to take on more challenging assignments. Women can get caught in a double bind of being seen as too ambitious.  So, you wouldn't necessarily want to tell your boss you want her job.  But, it would be generally acceptable to voice your interest in taking on more responsibility and demonstrating your ability to do so.
You could volunteer for visible projects that require you to stretch and accomplish tasks you haven't had the opportunity to do in the past.  Other ideas include: volunteer to speak on a program or at a conference, volunteer for a cross-departmental committee, go to company social events and talk with people you don't know.  What action will you take in this area?
Secret #5 -- Develop strong communication skills and mastery of your emotions
Developing strong communication skills, mastery of your emotions, and the ability to effectively handle conflict is another very important area for success.  Once you reach management level, your ability to effectively influence and relate to others is more important than your technical skills. 
There has been enough research out now on the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI), which is a current term for a person's ability to manage their emotions and relate effectively to others.  In a 1990 study (by Hunter et al), 200 companies and organizations were examined.  It was found that top performers were 127% more productive than average performers.  The competency research indicated that about one-third of the difference was due to technical and cognitive (IQ) ability, while two-thirds was due to competence in the area of EI.  In top leadership, 4/5th of the difference was attributed to EI competence.  All this is to say that having EI competence is one of the most important determinants of your success, and especially so if you are in leadership.
Secret #6 --Learn the rules of the game of business and how to play for success
Business is still played by the rules of team sports.  The games we play as girls and boys influence how we 'play' at work.  Organizations are still strongly influenced by the male culture.  So, in order for women to be effective in this arena, they will need to visibly see the rules of the game and understand how to maneuver within that framework. 
Growing up, girls learn dependence and boys learn independence.  Competition is one of the key principles in the game of business where winning is all important.  Even if you grew up playing with boys, those experiences are minor in comparison to the influence of social norms.  Growing up, girls learn how to be competent interpersonally and develop and sustain relationships.  Boys, on the other hand, learn how to subordinate relationships to aggressiveness, competition, and winning.
Research shows that behaving like a man will backfire.  Women have a narrower band of acceptable behavior.  The one important piece to remember is that for most men, business is a game.  If you understand that it's not personal, you will be able to choose your strategies and approaches wisely to your success.
Secret #7 -- Know what it takes to successfully transition each leadership passage
In the book, The Leadership Pipeline, by Charam, Drotter & Noel, the authors identify six passages which require a different focus and attention to navigate successfully through the passage.  The six passages are 1) from Manage Self to Manage Others, 2) Manage Managers, 3) Functional Manager, 4) Business Manager, 5) Group Manager, 6) Enterprise Manager (CEO).  Not only is understanding this critical for your success in progressing upward, but it is vital for you to understand how to focus the development for those under your span of control.  The skills, time application, and work values are different for each passage and there are signs of possible derailment at each turn. For example, passage number 4 from Functional Manager to Business Manager requires an ability to deliver inspired communication, assemble a strong team, grasp how the company makes money, and develop strong leadership at multiple below you.
Secret #8 -- Know and manage your image
You will want to manage how you are perceived.  Some questions to ask yourself are: How do people perceive you in your organization?  What kind of reputation have you established?  What image are you portraying through your dress? 
As a leader it is more important to be respected than liked.  You are called upon to make tough decisions that everyone will not necessarily like.  This is another difference in the male and female culture that can create tension.  As young girls we are taught to get along and being liked is important. 
A word about business attire.  Make sure your business attire is tasteful but does not draw more attention to your sexuality, such as tight skirts, sweaters, low cut blouses, or frilly clothing.  The way you dress determines the overall message you send.  If your makeup, hairstyle, or clothing stands out, then what you are saying in an important conversation will be secondary. The general rule of thumb to follow is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have.  Notice what successful women at the top of your organization are wearing and adapt to that style.  You can still have your own style, just remember the unspoken dress code is akin to the team uniform and is another 'test' of how well you fit into the team.
Secret #9 -- Hire an experienced coach
Hire a coach who's familiar with 360 tools and other personality and work style assessments so you get the vital objective feedback and how to use it into your development plan.
If you have never worked with a professional coach, you might consider doing a little research and contacting some experienced coaches for a sample coaching session.  Many coaches offer a free 45-minute coaching session so you get to know them and what to expect in the coaching process with them.  Working with an experienced coach can expedite your development and save you a lot of hard lessons.   
Secret #10 Know your long-term goals, maintain work/life balance, and support other women
Be clear about your long-term goals and how you will maintain the work/life balance that's right for you.  If your goal is to reach the upper executive levels, then find out what commitment it will take, how it will impact your personal life, and what support systems you will need to put in place.  There are many ways to be in leadership and have a powerful impact.  You may decide that you enjoy being at a mid-level management position with the ability to influence many people and groups within the organization.  Or, if you are better suited to be a senior level individual contributor such as VP of Investor Relations, then go for that. 
It's important for your own happiness and satisfaction in life that you identify your key productive skills, your long-term goals, and your personal quality of life to determine the best career path for you.
In a Catalyst study with interviews of executive women, women pointed out that you cannot have it all.  You have to decide the priorities for your life and make choices.  If you are married, it is important to have a supportive spouse.  Many women pay for hired help to support childcare, home maintenance, etc.  Women are so skilled at multi-tasking and handling many things for themselves and others in their lives that they often neglect to take care of themselves.  You will need to be proactive in doing things to take care of yourself.
Support other women who are coming up through the ranks to create networks of collective support for all women.  This is key to shifting the culture to be more in balance between masculine and feminine ways of approaching business.

5 Compelling Reasons to Choose a Wellness Opportunity

I run a number of online businesses that include selling wellness products and digital information products (eBooks). Because I can look at things from both perspectives, I often tend to compare the two businesses from the point of view of the "better" opportunity.

But if I were asked to recommend a single business as the best way to make a living online, the Wellness Business would win hands down. And no, I didn't choose it because its easy. On the contrary, selling health supplements, vitamins and related products online is NOT easy.

Not only is there tremendous competition, but it simply can't be done by working two hours a day, as is the common perception. If you sell wellness products, you have to deal with REAL people. People with human needs and problems.

You must be available in person, or by phone, or at least by email, to clarify doubts, answer queries, be prompt and sensitive to your customers' needs and generally make your customer feel good about doing business with you.

You must also provide constant support, training and leadership to a growing organisation of distributors, and help them grow their business.This can be extremely time-consuming because few of these tasks lend themselves to complete automation.

A seller of digital products has it somewhat easier. (S)He need not even interact with customers, because everything from product delivery to answering customer queries can run on autopilot.

Digital product sellers can (and often are) literally sitting on a beach while their websites churn out profits. Given these disadvantages, why would anyone still choose the Wellness industry?

The reason I believe is because ANYONE, regardless of their talent or creativity, can actually make a steady LIVING for a lifetime in the Wellness industry. And of course, there are a few who even go on to become millionaires.

Here are the reasons why I think Health and Wellness is one of the most lucrative choices for entrepreneurs online.

1. Health Products Fulfill a Basic Human Need

Health is a #1 concern for many people - often more important than even sex (also a top seller online) or food.

The lack of health can make you feel... well... lousy. And most people will pay their bottom dollar if they can find something that alleviates their pain or discomfort.

To put it more plainly, NOT buying an eBook will not make much difference to your state of mind or body. But not taking your prescription medication can make you feel very bad indeed.

2. Health Products are Consumable

Unlike digital products that can only be sold ONCE to a customer, vitamins, supplements and prescriptions require monthly re-orders or autoships. Once people start using them and benefiting, more often than not, they will continue to use them.

If you treat your customers right, they will buy from you month after month, providing you with regular commissions and a more or less stable source of income. There's usually no need to keep selling to them again and again (barring the obligatory seasonal promotions).

If the products meet their requirements and you give them a good deal and great service, they will give you repeat business for a long time to come.

3. Your Income Grows Exponentially

When selling a digital product (as an owner or an affiliate), your potential for future income actually DECREASES with every sale you make.

Unless you are among the few top marketers who can churn out a new product every month, or can earn more on back-end commissions, your potential for income will always be limited by your creativity.

In contrast, because most wellness opportunities also involve building an organisation, every product sale actually INCREASES your potential for future income, by growing your organisation of customers and potential distributors purchasing every month.

If you help your downline earn a regular income, few will quit the business they have built so earnestly. Again YOU benefit from the RESIDUAL commissions that the organisation provides.

4. Wellness Opportunities have a High Feel-Good Factor

One of the main reasons that I suspect people stick around in the wellness industry is the feel-good factor. It can really make your day when someone calls or writes, telling you how wonderful your products made them feel. Or how it gave them their life back.:-)

Even more than making money, the feeling that you have helped another person feel better is always a strong motivator in working your business.

I've no doubt it feels good when someone who purchased your eBook writes to tell you how it helped them succeed. But I can bet it comes nowhere near the feeling you get when you help someone beat a life-threatening illness or conquer their pain.

5. The Need for Wellness Only Increases with Age

As we grow older, we want to work less and enjoy life more. We also want to live healthier lives and enjoy enhanced community interaction.

Wellness opportunities are ideally suited to seniors because they have the potential to fulfill all their needs, ranging from financial security to improved health and personal interaction.

The Do's and Dont's of Creating Lucrative Business Partnerships

I run a small meeting, event and conference planning company based in the New York City area. As an entrepreneur and small business owner with a limited advertising and marketing budget, developing business partnerships has been really helped me to get the word out about the services that I offer. For example, I have aligned myself with a DJ company as the preferred planner for their clients and am actively receiving business and referrals from this source. Also, due to my partnership with a travel agency, I am now handling meetings, conferences and events for inbound corporate groups from abroad. Forming strategic alliances has been and will continue to be a significant part of my long term business plan and model for exponential growth.

I have practiced the proverbial "art" of building non-competitive alliances with like minded companies, not just as a new entrepreneur, but also as a business building tool in all of my previous positions. While, on the whole, this strategy has yielded very positive results and significant revenue, there have been some negative consequences. So, I would like to share with you a very basic list of "do's and dont's" for creating successful business partnerships.

Do seek out companies where your services would be a natural addition to the resources currently offered. For example, if you are a catering service specializing in healthy cuisine, you might want to partner with health club to offer special incentives to gym goers.

Do choose organizations whose business ethic and overall image are at least generally compatible with yours. The last thing you want is to be associated with an organization who has questionable business practices. Although you may financially gain from such a partnership in the short term, that type of "bad business karma" can only affect you negatively in the long term.

Do determine beforehand whether you will be operating under the aegis of your own company or your partner's organization. If you are ABC company and your partner is XYZ corporation, will you be marketed separately as ABC company or an extension of your partner XYZ Inc.? Are you looking strictly for access to new clientele or for an opportunity for exposure as ABC company?

Do specify how referrals will be passed to you. Will clients be contacting you directly or will the initial inquiry pass through your partner?

Do specify your payment structure in writing. Will you paid directly by clients that come to you or will the billing process take place through your partner's organization? If you are not being paid directly, what is the billing and payment cycle through your partner's company? What percentage of commission, if any, will you owe to your partner for business that comes in through their company?

Don't dismiss partnerships with companies, organizations or individuals with whom you don't have an immediate and obvious synergy. Be open! Be creative! Explore! For example, I am in the process of working with several business coaches to create seminars on how to host successful product launches for home based businesses.

Don't neglect to do your research. Ideally, partner with an organization that you are familiar with and whose services you have either used personally or in a business setting. (Or, get at least three referrals from others familiar with your potential partner's services and business style.)

Don't accept verbal assurances, particularly where commission and payment structure is concerned. Even if you know and trust your partner, having a formal written agreement is insurance against misunderstanding.

Don't hesitate to question a partnership that is not living up to your expectations. Strategic alliances are a two way street. If your counterpart is following your business agreement, politely remind them of their responsibilities.

The Importance of Client Contracts

Whether you are just starting out in a business or a seasoned "professional" you should have a contract when doing business - if not for your own safety, but for the safety of your clients.
Not a day goes by that I don't hear horror stories about misunderstandings on projects that could have easily been prevented with a simple contract.
Simply, they state the work you are providing and the cost involved. They should also indicate what is not included, such as incidental material costs and excessive copy changes, etc. Always put into writing your intent and email it to the client.
His or her email response, along with the "deposit" is an contract of the agreement. For added security, have them sign a copy of the contract and mail or fax it to you. My policy is that I do not begin any work until the down payment has been paid and the contract is signed and delivered. This not only protects my business, but also shows me that the customer is serious about his or her intents.
When you have developed a good, solid relationship with your client, then monthly billings are the norm. But until then, 50 % down is not unheard of. After all, you are taking a risk doing work - and more often than not, monies owed are not paid based upon the client "not liking the design."
Remember, you are hired to do a job - and it is up to the potential client to research your design ability and make the decision to hire you, based upon the findings. You are not hired to "make them happy."
Now that may sound cold-hearted, and I care about each and every one of my clients, and the work I do for them. However, when I am hired, for example, to do a logo - I am hired to design a logo - based upon their specifications. After a reasonable amount of time, if they just don't like the designs I come up with - they are still obligated to pay for my service. I do attempt to rectify the job and pinpoint the "problem", but unless the client can somehow convey their desires, I just haven't perfected "reading minds."
And I do expect to be paid for my effort. But a Professional Designer will be able to work with the customer, and eventually, completing the project to the clients' satisfaction. In the 23 years I have been providing marketing and design, there have only been 3-4 instances where I just wasn't able to design the project to the satisfaction of the customer - and on one occasion, they refused to pay, as they decided to close the business. I eventually had to sue for the $100! Can you imagine, tarnishing your credit, not to mention your reputation, over such a small sum of money!
The main reason I was able to collect the money easily is because I had a written and signed agreement for the project. I also had documentation that the logos were delivered - it was basically "no contest".
I was able to satisfy the other clients, by hiring outside of my office. I found a compatible match for their needs and all were happy in the end. And that is your ultimate goal: Satisfaction and service.
In closing, remember art is relative. You cannot be everything to everyone. And not everyone is going to like your design style - but many will. So, remember to be professional, and confident in your work. Have a portfolio of samples to display your design style, and above all, have a contract ready for the signing!

Hurdles to Cross Cultural Business Communication

International businesses are facing new challenges to their internal communication structures due to major reforms brought about through internationalization, downsizing, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
Lack of investment in cross cultural training and language tuition often leads to deficient internal cohesion. The loss of clients/customers, poor staff retention, lack of competitive edge, internal conflicts/power struggles, poor working relations, misunderstandings, stress, poor productivity and lack of co-operation are all by-products of poor cross cultural communication.
Cross cultural communications consultants work with international companies to minimise the above consequences of poor cross cultural awareness. Through such cooperation, consultancies like Kwintessential have recognised common hurdles to effective cross cultural communication within companies.
Here we outline a few examples of these obstacles to cross cultural co-operation:
Lack of Communication
It may seem obvious to state that non-communication is probably the biggest contributor to poor communication. Yet it continues to prove itself as the major problem within most companies.
Lack of communication with staff is not solely due to lack of spoken dialogue. Rather it relates to access to information.
For example, not giving feedback (negative or positive), informing staff of decisions and actions that will affect their roles or failure to properly communicate expectations are all ways in which information can be withheld from staff. This will eventually result in an alienated staff base that feels divided from management and superiors.
If managers are too selective in providing information, this can cause suspicion and jealousy among staff and will eventually result in internal strife instead of cohesion.
A management which does not and will not communicate and interact physically with staff demonstrates a lack of interest, trust and respect.
In the West it is often the case that communication lines are vertical. Staff report up to managers and managers up to senior levels and so on. Ideally lines of communication should run both ways. Those with a subordinate place in the communication process tend to feel estranged, indifferent and possibly even belligerent.
Lack of communication in all its forms is unhealthy. Companies and managers must be aware of how, what and to whom they are communicating.
Language
Communication difficulties through language come in two forms:
Use of inappropriate language
Language carries with it subliminal meanings and messages transmitted through vocabulary, stress and tone. The wrong use of words or emotions hidden behind phrases can send messages that affect staff self-perception, confidence and attitude. Critical language causes poor interpersonal relationships and low self-confidence whereas supportive language and tones has the opposite effect.
Foreign Languages
These days, offices may have native speakers of over 50 languages all under one roof.  It is important that the main language of the office is established, whether it be English, French or Spanish. Once this is constituted all employees should only converse in the main language. This avoids exclusion of staff who can not understand other languages. In addition, a company should ensure that all its employees are fully conversant in the main language. Language tuition should be seen as a necessity not a luxury.
Culture
International businesses with a highly diverse workforce in terms of nationality and cultural background face challenges from the differences in language, values, belief systems, business ethics, business practices, behaviour, etiquette and expectations.
Cross cultural differences can negatively impact a business in a variety of ways, whether in team cohesion or in staff productivity. As we have seen above, different methods of communication are just one area in which cross cultural differences are manifested.
In such multicultural companies, objective help may be needed through a cross cultural consultant who will show teams and individuals how to manage communication and work together more cohesively and productively.
Company Culture
Company culture pertains to the internal culture of a company in terms of how it is managed. For example, does the company view its different departments such as sales, production, administration and HR as closed or open systems? A closed system is one in which a total lack of synergy exists between a sales and production department due to the structure and communication lines between the two. A consequence of such compartmentalization is that managers of departments have a tendency to become territorial. It is vital that team work, team building and team spirit are encouraged in order to create open systems.
Such measures are especially valid in joint ventures and mergers whereby co-operation between two or more companies requires their total commitment to an open system.
Understandably many companies are primarily focused on the financial and strategic side of company operations. International businesses are now realising that many of their business problems have roots in man-management and communication.
In summary, we can conclude that the biggest hurdle to effective cross cultural communication is a reluctance to invest in the expertise and resources needed to overcome the problems as outlined above. Cross cultural hurdles are easily negotiable with some objective and well-qualified assistance.

Tracking Reveals The Rest Of The Story

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Stop Any Argument In 3 Simple Steps

Do you need to stop arguments? These three steps will turn almost any argument into a productive discussion in less than five minutes.

1. Go to the bathroom. When you are in the throes of an argument or difficult discussion, just say, "I really want to have this conversation, but first, please excuse me I must go to the bathroom." Interrupting the argument will give each of you a chance to cool down and collect your thoughts.

If you are on the telephone, say "Excuse me for a moment, I have to handle a call on the other line." If you are on a cell phone, break the connection in the middle of one of your own sentences. Call back a few minutes later and apologize for being cut off.

2. Use your break time to think. Decide what you really want to accomplish by turning the argument into a discussion. Get very clear about your own objectives.

3. Return to the conversation, summarize the argument so far, and then ask politely what the other person wants the outcome of the conversation to be.

These steps work because they give each of you a chance to think instead of react to what has been happening. And neither of you needs to lose face or look weak or act disrespectfully.

When you approach any conversation with your goal in mind, you are far more likely to achieve it than you are in the heat of an argument. When you ask others their goals, they too must think about what they want to accomplish.

When you create a productive discussion, you create mutual respect and the opportunity for excellent future relationships.