How to Give up Goal Setting and Get on with Business

Posted on January 30th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

If you own a family business, as I do, you go through the days overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the number of goals and tasks you’re trying to get done in your business in one day. I could easily let fear and frustration take over, because I may be missing something that could make or break my ability to live in the style to which I’ve become accustomed.

I’ve discovered there’s a secret to overcoming this paralyzing fear. There’s a way to get back to the basics of enjoying your life, your business, and achieving your goals. That secret is to give up the notion that everything on your to do list for today has to be done. I can hear you now saying, “if I don’t do it, who will?!” Here’s something for you to consider.

How many times have you gotten to the end of a day and finally given up getting through your goals and your to do list, because there is just no way everything can get done to your satisfaction? How many times have you looked back later and realized that is was good some of those things didn’t get done, since circumstances and events changed that made it unnecessary for you to do them in the first place? This has happened to me more times than I can count. So, I came to this conclusion, some things on your list aren’t meant to be done when you think they should be.

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As Small Business Owners Struggle – The Tax Man Strikes Again…

Posted on January 27th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

If you haven’t heard about the latest tax gap measure, which is becoming law in 2011, hold onto your hats because here we go again…

This new provision, which was hidden in The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 that passed in 2008, is known as “electronic transactions reporting”.  It requires banks and credit card issuers, e.g. Visa and Mastercard, to provide IRS a report of business owner’s electronic payment transactions each year.  Big Brother is watching you even closer now…

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In Business and in Life – There are no limits…

Posted on January 22nd, 2009 by Sandy Reed

We are at the start of a new year with a brand new dynamic president, who is excited and filled with ideas on how he can make all our lives and our businesses better.  Today anything is possible.  He believes it.  I believe it.

When Disney World opened in Orlando, a reporter said to Roy Disney, “It’s too bad Walt didn’t live to see this.”  Roy replied, “Walt saw it first, that’s why you can see it now.”

Can you imagine how powerful that statement really is?  What if we all had a small inkling of what we could do, if we only believed in our ability to see our lives as we want them to be, and then followed our intuition down the path to making that vision our reality.  There are no limits to what we can do, except those we place in our own minds.

Today, think about what is possible, rather than what is impossible.  Instead of thinking I can’t, think “how can I”, and then watch for the new and creative ideas that come to you throughout the day – out of the blue; and when they come, and they will, act on them – don’t wait!

I challenge you to follow this plan for 30 days, and see your life turn towards new, exciting prosperous changes.

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A Rose by Any Other Name…

Posted on January 20th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

When our residential construction business was brand new, back in 1985, and we were excited about where it could go – not having a clue what it would take to get there – I wanted it to have a name that gave out prospective customers the feeling of quality and exceptional service.  This is what I wanted to provide then, and now.  After much brainstorming, we decided on the name “Exceptional Habitats, Inc.”  To me it meant that we create environments in our customers homes that are exceptional.  It didn’t occur to me that other people may not understand the meaning behind the name…

Now here we are all these years later, and I can see that our name has been an advantage – and a disadvantage. Many folks will call us thinking we are affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, or they think we have something to do with wildlife habitats.  Luckily there are also many people who “get it” and understand that we do residential construction.  A tag line is critical for clarification. 

If I knew then what I know now, would I name our company differently?  Probably – possibly… 

I have learned over the years that when prospective customers read the name of your business, it’s really helpful if they have a clue what your business provides in the way of products and services.  To quote the great Marketeer, Dan Kennedy, “When you develop your business name, product names, and service names, think in terms of telegraphing, or targeting, and of giving yourself a marketing advantage.”

This is the best advice I have read on the topic of naming and branding your business.

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Disorganization’s High Price – By Debbye Cannon

Posted on January 17th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

Here is a taste of the IAWIFE Business Building Expert Teleseminar coming January 22, 2009, FREE TO ALL MEMBERS.   Debbye will be presenting a fun and entertaining talk about unclogging your money pipeline in 2009!

CLICK HERE to see all the valuable benefits of joining the IAWIFE Community.
 

Whether you realize it or not, being disorganized is a costly state of affairs. If you have set intentions to reach your financial fantasies, then it’s high time you got your mo*ney in order. Take these SMARTcutsTM now to quickly and easily save your dollars and plug leaks in your mon*ey pipeline.

 

1. Organize Your Receipts- Keeping your business and personal receipts in order not only saves time, but MO*NEY. Recently, I had a fairly new pair of jeans (my favorite) that lost a button. When I went to return them, the sales clerk asked for my receipt. “Right here,” I promptly replied as I pulled it out of my handy dandy quick-receipt-file. “Wow,” she said, “that’s great, because without your receipt I could only give you a $3 credit.” Trust me those nice jeans were more than $3 (even on sale!).

 

SMARTcutTM Solution: File family receipts in an inexpensive check file envelope, alphabetized by store name. Make a special envelope for all holiday gift receipts!

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Equal Money for all at last?

Posted on January 15th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

It’s a sign that we still aren’t quite there – yet…  The Paycheck Fairness Act was passed by the House last July, but still has to get by the Senate.  This Act, whose time has finally come, was introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (who needs no introduction), and Rosa DeLauro (Democrat from Conn.) in an attempt to rectify the lack of equal pay for equal work between men and women. 

It’s hard to imagine we are still having to put this to the vote, but there it is…  To show your support by writing your senator go to senate.gov. 

Those of us who are Entrepreneurs don’t have these issues.   Sometimes it pays to be your own boss, does’nt it?

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The Secret of a Prosperous Economy – a Little Willingness

Posted on January 14th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

 

I read a description of how bees stay warm on cold, dark nights in Daily Guideposts.  When it gets cold, the colony of bees bunch together closely in their hive.  As they stay in close contact with each other and vibrate their abdominal muscles in unison, the rhythm stirs the air inside the hive and keeps them warmer. 

This reminds me of how much easier it is for us to withstand the cold and impersonal economic conditions we’re all facing right now, if we do it together.  Instead of feeling like we’re each alone in our fears and worries, if we band together and support each other in our lives and businesses we will feel stronger and better able to face this temporary situation.

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Is Your Money Pipeline Clogged With Clutter? By Debbye Cannon

Posted on January 8th, 2009 by Sandy Reed

Here is a taste of the IAWIFE Business Building Expert Teleseminar coming January 22, 2009, FREE TO ALL MEMBERS.   Debbye will be presenting a fun and entertaining talk about unclogging your money pipeline in 2009!

CLICK HERE to see all the valuable benefits of joining the IAWIFE Community.

 

Do you have shelves of books, maybe even from college days, covered in dust from lack of active use? Are there drawers of papers filed away but never accessed? Or worse yet, piles of paper and “stuff”?

Do you keep things because you “might need this someday” or because you fear not knowing enough or being good enough in your own right? Truth is that your brain is so powerful and amazing that it’s pretty hard to even comprehend.

You have already learned, internalized and benefited already from the books, magazines and papers you are hoarding and have the ability to use it at will. We keep “stuff” mainly out of fear of scarcity. In this information age, to fear lack of information is really pretty ridiculous, isn’t it?

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Where’s Your Business Coming From in 2009?

Posted on January 3rd, 2009 by Sandy Reed

According to the Census Bureau, 305,529,237 Americans are now living in the United States.  This is an increase of 2,743,429 persons in one year.  That’s a lot of potential customers for our businesses, don’t you agree?  The question to ask yourself is, “how do I reach the right ones?” 

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