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Browse every published article connected to Cindy Hartman, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Cindy Hartman, or search within this exact expert archive.
If you’re looking for a business where you don’t have to work, quit reading this article and keep searching. If you’re still reading, I will tell you I don’t know of such a thing as not needing to work at a business. You and I both know that you have to work – you have to do SOMETHING – to make a business successful. That being said, there are a variety of levels of effort, based on how you begin the business.
The great news is that the recession is slowly recovering. Unemployment bottomed out at the end of 2009 and we’re seeing steady improvement, inching up at a snail’s pace. This recovery will be long process and it’ll be a few more years before we can say all is well.
Homeowners make decisions every day. Often these decisions can adversely impact the cost of their homeowners insurance policy. As the economy continues to change, it is wise to shop for your insurance at least every two years. Often you'll find that your current insurance agent or insuring company are providing the best coverage for the right amount of money. Remember, too, that it's not always just the dollar to consider. Customer service and agent availability are very important.
Achieving success comes from within. We read books and listen to CDs which give us the opportunity to motivate ourselves. These ideas from others encourage us to create our successful universe - both personal and professional. I believe in creating our own destiny, of visualization, of ‘seeing’ our success. But no professional speaker or author proved it to me more than seven young men who ran high school cross country.
The decision is made! You're going to start your own business. Most likely you've put pencil to paper to see where you are financially, to know what you can afford and where you will get the necessary funds. You've spent hours upon hours thinking about what you want to do. You've thought about your passion and what you'll get out of the business. Hopefully you also thought about how you're going to begin. You have a choice of starting from the ground up or buying a start-up kit. Though more funds will be necessary, you might choose to purchase a turnkey business package.
Why do people need a home inventory? That is a question that was posed often seven years ago when my husband and I started our personal property inventory business, and still asked of us today. Thus began our mission to educate anyone who would listen. Speaking engagements are one method to provide this information. We (my husband and I) jokingly state that we’ll speak for food! This is because most organizations – Kiwanis, Sertoma, Rotary, Lions and Exchange Clubs meet either during breakfast or lunch, and we’re invited eat before we speak.
According to police reports, burglaries are continuing at a high rate of occurrence. Continued high unemployment is one of the situations attributed to this statistic. But no matter what the economic environment, we’ll (unfortunately) always face the chance of being burglarized. So, what can a business owner do to prepare – and possibly prevent – this from happening?
It is so important to have an inventory of your personal property. People who don’t have a lot of fine art, collectables or expensive, high-end electronics often think they don’t have enough to warrant an inventory. You’ll see it’s well worth your time or money to have this information available in case you have a fire, theft, or natural disaster. First, why do you have insurance? Because if you have a loss, your insurance company will give you the money to recover. Therefore, since you have insurance, you must value what you own and would like to get reimbursed for it.
As more people face being laid off, downsized, repositioned, forced into early retirement - or all the other familiar phrases that mean losing your job or fearing you might - many are choosing to take control of their destiny. Many are choosing to start their own business. Entrepreneurship... here I come! Taking control of your life, your career, and your income sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That all sounds great, and many choose to do this while still employed. Having the steady income will help with funding while you create and grow your new company.
Being an executor of an estate is a responsibility few really hope for, but one that normally is not declined. You’ve most likely chosen one of your adult children to serve in this capacity for your estate. Have you considered what you can do to make this easier on them? One responsibility they will face is to compile an inventory of the estate’s assets. Consider how emotionally difficult this will be for him or her and your other children as they prepare this document. Emotions aside, they will also need to find the time to document the items and assign a fair market value to each.
There are promising signs that the economy is beginning to turn. There are also some indications that we have another tough year ahead. Either way, there is something you can do about your own economic situation. You can take control by owning your own business.
According to the SBA, fifty percent of all small businesses fail within the first five years. Wow! That’s scary! Think about it this way – you’re standing in a room with another small business owner, and most likely one of you will close your doors. Who will it be? There’s a fifty percent chance it’ll be you!
People often remark that they have trouble with time management. They don’t have enough time in the day. They are always running behind. They rarely meet deadlines. If only they could manage their time better. Saying one short little word – no - can be the most important time management skill you can develop. So why is it so hard to say? Possibly because when growing up we were told that it’s not nice to tell people no. And now, after all these years, we still feel guilty when we don’t comply with someone else’s wishes.
Have you heard about the kids who live across the street from the school and are always running in as the bell rings? Or about the employee who lives just around the corner and is always the last to arrive each morning? Strangely enough, the same can be true for an entrepreneur who has chosen to be a home-based business owner. Discipline often has more to do with being late (or not arriving at all) than anything else.
Each day when you drive to work, do you have a feeling of restlessness? Or maybe it’s just feeling unsettled or uncomfortable. And while at work, does every little thing frustrate you? Sometimes these feelings are mental, sometimes physical and sometimes both.
Most sales people - business owners included - place cold calls high on the list of things we would rather not do. It is so much nicer for businesses to rely on referrals. Having people call you and give you a name to contact is a wonderful thing! But, unfortunately, there are times that a cold call is required. These times can include when:rn- the economy is down, and you’re having to really go out and find business.rn- you are launching a new product or service.rn- new competition has entered your market.rn- your pipeline has reached a dangerously low level.
When you decide to start your own business, there are many choices that must be made. First, you must decide what you want to do. That “what” has to be something that meets a need within you. You must have an interest in what you’re creating. If you don’t, it will be just a job. In that case, you might as well go work for someone else.
The personal property inventory service industry is growing at an amazing rate. In 2004, there were only about 20 service providers in the United States. There are now over 500 ! I believe the main reason for this growth is due to the increasing number of disasters. This has created more common knowledge of the need to have an inventory of the contents in homes and businesses.
My six-year-old grandson is a huge NASCAR fan, and can name most of the drivers and their numbers. As most kids his age do, he enjoys his make-believe world and lives there often. He becomes anyone he wants to be, any time he chooses. One day, he was - shall we say - in the moment, pretending to be the leader in a NASCAR race. Riding as fast as his little legs will take him, he suddenly found himself face down, kissing the sidewalk.
There is a lot of discussion about the difference between preparing for a disaster so you can recover, and planning to continue to stay in business no matter what causes a business interruption. Many people ask what the difference is. Do they mean the same thing? Isn't the end result the same?
If you’ve decided this is the time to start your own business, you might be considering a franchise. If so, you will also want to research and compare a lesser-known business model - a turnkey business package. Though not a franchise, there is a remarkable comparison. With both of these business models, someone has struggled through the long learning curve, the trial and error - and packaged all that knowledge.
You’ve worked hard for decades, making sound investment decisions to ensure your future is just as you planned. You’re making sure there is enough money for the kids’ college and also for you to enjoy your retirement years. Then imagine that a disaster occurs (fire, burglary, tornado, hurricane – the list goes on), and without an inventory of the contents of your home, you don’t receive a proper financial settlement. Where do you get the money to purchase the remaining items you need? FINANCIAL PLANNINGr
When people hear I am a home-based business owner, their first comment is usually a funny remark about working in my pink fuzzy slippers (actually, they’re purple). I must confess, many winter days would find this to be a true statement. Coming from the corporate environment, there has been a drastic change in my wardrobe.
Preparing for a catastrophic disaster (fire, tornado, etc.) is essential for every business owner. The Ad Council reported that, based on a recent national survey, only 38% of businesses have an emergency plan in place. Strangely, 90% said that it is “somewhat” or “very” important for businesses to prepare. There is obviously a discrepancy between what business owners know they need and actually do it.
Downsizing, companies closing their doors, early retirement options and just wanting to leave the corporate world are reasons people choose to start their own business. In today’s economy, this is becoming an even more frequent choice.
Insurance policies are very hard to understand. They are long, so that factor in itself deters us from reading them. They also speak a language that seems foreign. By the time you look up every unknown word in the dictionary, all comprehension of what you’re reading is lost. Because of this, many people just take it for granted that they have the proper, necessary coverage. Unfortunately, many find out too late – after they file a claim – that they are improperly or insufficiently insured.
My family moved to Sandusky, Ohio, when I was 10. Living on the shores of Lake Erie, my dad thought I should learn to fish. So one Saturday morning we bought a new fishing rod and reel and headed to the dock on Sandusky Bay. Dad carried my new fishing gear and I tagged along, with minnow bucket in hand. I stood by patiently (which isn’t normal) while he opened the package and began to affix the rod to the reel. There were 4 holes and only 3 screws. I told him it would hold well enough, that 3 screws were OK; I didn’t want to wait any longer for something that minor.
Are you one of the many people wanting to start your own business, but conce over the economy has encouraged you to hold off for a while? If so, consider a turnkey business package to assist you.
There aren’t many industries that have been around for a couple decades and still be in – what would appear to be – its infancy. But the home inventory industry is one of those. In the fall of 2008, I published an article titled Home Inventory Service – A Growing Industry. It was true then, as I cited there were only about 20 known service providers in the United States in 2004 and by 2008 over 500 had been established. The numbers continue to grow.
We all have the same amount of time in each day – 24 hours; no more and no less. Why is it, then, that some people can get so much more accomplished than others? It’s called Time Management. But it’s not really managing time; it’s managing the activities that take up your time.
Small business owners are known for juggling projects, doing multiple tasks at the same time and rarely having enough time in the day to do everything they know they should do. This results in many items getting placed on a to-do list that rarely receives attention. An asset inventory is one of those tasks. So why should a business owner have an inventory of all the personal property they own? 1. Be Properly Insuredr
Have you been thinking about starting a business, but think you’ve missed your window of opportunity? Think again. Being older is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be one of the best things you have on your side.
It’s moving day! You packed all your contents into boxes and labeled the boxes according to what room they go in when arriving at the new house. But you didn’t list the individual items as you packed – you didn’t create a thorough inventory. What if some of the boxes are missing when you arrive, or some of the items are damaged? You probably won’t even know it for days, weeks or even months, according to how quickly you unpack. Then how difficult would it be to list what you no longer have? Completely impossible!
Success can be, and probably is, something different to each one of us. But the road traveled to reach that success, whatever it is to you, will most likely be a long journey. This journey will have sharp curves,steep hills, narrow shoulders, deep ruts, many detours, and possibly even some dead ends. Some of these hazards will be people; unfortunately, they’ll often be co-workers, family members, and friends. Your determination for success will get you where you want to go, but how do you avoid the negative people who will make the trip a difficult journey?
Small, medium-sized and home-based businesses often state their number one conce is cash flow and solvency. Therefore, purchases – especially unexpected ones – can cause havoc on your budget.
When thinking of starting a business, there are levels that many people find themselves passing through. First, owning your own business or becoming an entrepreneur is a thought, which leads to a serious idea, which turns into contemplation, and eventually ends up with a major decision. This choice is to not pursue it or to give it further consideration.
When people hear I am a home-based business owner, their first comment is usually a funny remark about working in my pink fuzzy slippers (actually, they’re purple). I must confess, many winter days would find this to be a true statement. Coming from the corporate environment, there has been a drastic change in my wardrobe.
A born leader. We hear that statement frequently, but what does it really mean? In the corporate world, is every boss a leader? And is every leader a boss? The short answer is “no” to both questions. Let’s look first at the definition (the noun) of the two words. According to Dictionary.com: BOSS – one who employs or superintends workersr LEADER – a person who guides or leads Now, let’s look at the verb. I find this insightful because one who is, normally does. A boss would boss and a leader would lead. So, according to Dictionary.com:
Think positively! Think good thoughts! Be “The Little Engine That Could” and think you can! We hear people make these types of remarks on a continuing basis. Why? What does thinking positive thoughts have to do with anything? Why is it so important to rid yourself of negative thinking? Your entire being is affected by your thoughts, which means every single component of your life is a result of your thoughts. However, there are three main segments of your life that are severely affected by negative thoughts – health, finances and relationships.
New business ventures are started on a daily basis. People want to set their own hours, work for themselves rather than for someone else or make the decisions that only the top executives can make.
Do you feel lost and insignificant in the corporate world? Do you have an independence that screams, “I want to do my own thing!”? Then possibly owning your own business is the answer. But where do you start? Can you do it all on your own, do you need constant assistance, or are you somewhere in between? There are 4 main options: starting on your own, buying a startup kit, purchasing a turnkey package, or investing in a franchise. There are wide variances, but during my research before starting my own business, I found some major differences. STARTUPr
Time to do what you want - when you want - is one of the top benefits of owning a home business. Unfortunately, failure to manage that time can be one of the biggest negatives. Working from home brings a sense of relaxation, a contrast to working in an off-site setting - no matter how casual it may be. And rarely would you be able to come and go as you please to the extreme that working at home allows. That can cause a loss of attention and a lack of time management. Working from home allows you to: - schedule doctor appointments any time of the dayr
There are many people who choose to start their own business. Most know they need some type of help, so they seek opportunities that will assist them. Two options are start-up kits and turnkey business packages. Let’s look at why people want to start a business; then we can see which option is best.
Salad was flying in one direction while spaghetti went another. Voices were getting louder and louder as a hard-crust roll came in contact with a right cheek. Sounds like a college frate ity, doesn’t it? Would you believe it was a middle-aged couple who were also business partners? What started as a nice relaxing dinner, turned into quite an ugly evening. “We decided that night that we couldn’t work together anymore,” they admitted. Is this the normal way married business partners act?
Fires in homes, businesses and churches are in the newspaper headlines on a daily basis. Wildfires are lead-in stories on the evening news. And just a short time ago, hurricanes were the main topic of discussion. Disasters don't stop because of a slow economy!
Catastrophes happen on a daily basis, and all companies must have a plan in place to stay in business. You might be a new company, with just a few months under your belt, and having invested your life savings to pursue your entrepreneurial dream. Or possibly you are a well-established, extremely successful business owner. Either of these scenarios - and all those in between - could be at risk of survival if your business is destroyed. Often the destruction happens in seconds. A fire, earthquake, tornado or other disaster can and does happen.
How quickly can your company get back to doing business after a tornado, fire, flood or computer crash? Every year, thousands of companies are unprepared. The US Department of Labor states that over 40% of small businesses that experience a disaster never reopen, and of the remaining companies, at least 25% will close within 2 years. These statistics are probably even higher now considering the economy and difficulty for small business owners to access money when it’s needed.
Recently down-sized, company closing, early retirement, tired of making other people rich. Whatever the scenario, those with an entrepreneur mind-set eventually make the decision to start their own business. Some people are young, while others don’t make the transition until their late 50s or early 60s - or even later.
Creating a business plan for a small business is like laying a path to success, building it brick by brick. Starting from nothing but a planned destination is the hardest part. But once started, each brick, strategically placed, takes you one step further with great thought and determination.