"What The Middle Class Doesn't Understand About Rich People"

The rich think and act differently from the middle class.

Few people in the middle class really understand the mindset of the richest people.

After all, if they did, they would be among the top earners as well.

We’ve all heard the remarks: Rich people are lucky, rich people had an unfair advantage, rich people are crooks, rich people are selfish, etc.

These are mostly empty statements with little proof to back them up.

Yes, the rich think and act differently from everyone else, and the differences are as extreme as they are numerous.

Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the wealthy.

1. The wealthy are comfortable being uncomfortable.

Most people just want to be comfortable. Physical, psychological, and emotional comfort is the primary goal of the middle-class mindset.

The wealthy, on the other hand, learn early on that becoming a millionaire isn’t easy, and the need for comfort can be devastating. They learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty.

The great ones know there’s a price to pay for getting rich, but if they have the mental toughness to endure temporary pain, they can reap the harvest of abundant wealth.

It’s not comfortable for a millionaire in the making to forge ahead when everyone around her is negative, cynical, and unsupportive, yet those who can push forward are rewarded with riches for the rest of their lives.

Make a list of the five things you must do today that are uncomfortable but will help you build your financial fortune.

Wealthy people have goals and plans to meet those goals.

2. The wealthy dream about the future.

Most of us grew up listening to stories of the good old days, when the world was a kinder, gentler place. The music was better, athletes were tougher, and business people were honest. This tradition of the masses is handed down from generation to generation while its purveyors have no idea how insidious and destructive it is.

People who believe their best days are behind them rarely get rich, and they often struggle with happiness and depression.

The wealthy are future-oriented and optimistic about what lies ahead. They appreciate and learn from the past while living in the present and dreaming of the future.

Self-made millionaires get rich because they’re willing to bet on themselves and project their dreams, goals, and ideas into an unknown future. 

Much of their planning time is spent clarifying goals that won’t be realized for years, yet they patiently and painstakingly plan and dream of what their future will look and feel like.

Wealthy people aren’t arrogant. They’re confident.

3. The wealthy are more confident.

The negative projections and derogatory labels placed on the rich are endless. One of the most common is that the rich are cocky, arrogant people who think they’re better than everyone else.

The truth is successful people are confident because they repeatedly bet on themselves and are rarely disappointed. Even when they fail, they’re confident in their ability to learn from the loss and come back stronger and richer than ever. This is not arrogance, but self-assuredness in its finest form.

The wealthy have an elevated and fearless consciousness that keeps them moving toward what they want, as opposed to moving away from what they don’t want. This often doubles or triples their net worth quickly because of the new efficiency in their thinking.

Eventually they begin to believe they can accomplish anything, and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. As they move from success to success, they create a psychological tidal wave of momentum that gets stronger every day, catapulting their confidence to a level so high it is often interpreted as arrogance.

Money is for freedom, not status.

4. The wealthy believe money is about freedom.

Among the many money issues misperceived by the general public is the notion that acquiring great wealth is more about showing off than creating choices. While money certainly brings status, it’s acquired mostly for the purpose of attaining personal liberty.

It’s impossible to be truly free without wealth. The middle class is controlled by employment, government, and other entities with superior resources that dictate what they can and can’t do. It’s tough to make a moral stand for freedom when you’re worried about making your next mortgage payment.

Rich people can afford to stand up and fight oppression. They can afford to buy their way out of unhealthy work environments, bad bosses, and other unpleasant situations.

They have the means to enlist the best doctors when they get sick, and they are able to make themselves as comfortable as possible when they can’t get well. When they want to raise money for business, politics, or charity, a few phone calls to their rich friends is all it takes.

If they need more money, they throw a party or host an auction and charge $1,000 a ticket. The examples of how much money buys freedom are endless.

Start thinking about the freedoms you’ll gain when you are wealthy!

Like attracts like, and rich attracts rich.

5. The wealthy carefully monitor their associations.

People with high-level formal education like to associate with the academic elite. Physically fit people enjoy spending time with others who are fit. Religious people like to have fellowship with people of faith. And rich people like to associate with others who are rich.

Like attracts like, yet the wealthy are often criticized for having a closed inner circle that is almost impossible to break into unless you are rich.

Successful people generally agree that consciousness is contagious, and that exposure to people who are more successful has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. We become like the people we associate with, and that’s why winners are attracted to winners.

In other segments of society this is accepted, but the rich have always been lambasted for their predisposition to engage the company of people with similar financial success.

Millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there’s much to be gained by being in their presence.

Set a goal to double the amount of time you spend with people who are richer than you. Who knows, it might just make you rich.

NOTE: This article was reprinted here from Mark Ford's Blog: (You can get a copy of Mark Ford’s new book Living Rich: How to Live as Well as a Billionaire on a Middle-Class Budget. Sign up here)
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"Here's The The #1 Wealth Building Secret"

 

In a recent post we looked at the excuses entrepreneurs make to convince themselves that their customers won’t spend money with them. We saw how those entrepreneurs were actually buying into an erroneous limiting belief, and inhibiting their own sales.

There was a great response to that post, yet some people felt it didn’t apply to them, because they weren’t business owners. So if you were one of them – this is the post for you! In it, I will reveal the number one secret to building wealth for an individual.

You might have read the last post and said, “That stuff works for you, because you have a business. I’m stuck in a dead-end job and I’m at the mercy of my cheap boss who never wants to give me a raise. I would love to start a business and be my own boss, but I don’t have the money.”

Here’s what I want to say to you:

Stop it. Just stop it!!!

In every situation you always have two options: be a victim or be a victor. If you give away your power to anyone – your boss, the economy, the government, etc. – you’re almost certainly guaranteeing yourself a life of struggle and lack. You have to take responsibility for your own prosperity and success. And you really can create them.

ANYONE can start a business today. There are businesses you can start with a few thousand dollars, some you can start for a few hundred dollars, and even some you can start with five dollars.

To say that you’re searching for prosperity is like a fish swimming around looking for water.

Prosperity is surrounding you everywhere; it is in the ethers all around you. And the way you manifest it on the physical plane is through the power of ideas.



Let’s go back to this recent post and the two ways prosperity is created:

• Solve problems
• Add value

The best business ideas are the ones that solve problems, add value, or even better, both. Anytime you see someone with a problem, you have a business opportunity to create wealth. Anytime you think of a way to speed up, improve or reduce costs in any process, you have a business opportunity to create wealth.

Kids who start young earning money become decidedly better entrepreneurs. They learned from raking leaves, shoveling snow, babysitting, delivering newspapers, running a lemonade stand, or mowing lawns. And those are all things even an adult could do now to earn some extra money.

You can also do house sitting, pet sitting, dog walking, or a personal concierge service. Every one of those businesses can be started small and grown larger. If you want to be really savvy, you look for ways to leverage them.

Leverage is one of the true accelerators for creating wealth. Because leverage allows you to escape from the trap of trading hours for currency. The greatest fortunes in the world – from Carnegie, Getty and Rockefeller to Jobs, Gates and Walmart – were all built using the concept of leverage in some way.

The reason I recommend the business models of real estate, network marketing, Online Importing and information entrepreneur is because they all allow an average person without large investments or resources to apply the concept of leverage.

Of the three business models I mentioned, real estate does require the most money and knowledge. But with that knowledge, a small amount of money allows you to invest in a much larger property. So you have an opportunity to leverage your investment.

If you don’t have a lot of money, consider network marketing. For a few hundred to around $1,000, you can start a business that can eventually provide you a 5- or 6-figure residual income. There are many fine companies offering a broad range of products and services, so it’s relatively easy to find one congruent with your interests.

If network marketing doesn’t interest you, consider becoming an information entrepreneur.

Information is more valuable than gold, diamonds or money, because people are willing to trade all those things for the right information.

You know how to do certain things. There are other people who would pay money to learn how to do those things. You can create physical products like books and DVDs or simple sell digital versions. And the possibilities are endless.

Somewhere right now there are people who want to know how to raise healthy happy kids, how to write a book, how to become an archer, how to learn languages fast, how to invest in real estate, how to become an info entrepreneur, how to collect fine art, how to manage a team, how to lead an organization, how to design your dream home, how to harness your inner potential, how to build a log cabin, how to soup up your snowmobile, or any one of 465,887,456,345 other possible products.

Or, you can learn how to sell physical products on online sales channels like Amazom, Ebay or Etsy.

Be willing to think laterally and creatively, don’t just buy into the usual possibilities. Driving a taxi is trading hours for currency. Creating Uber is leverage. Starting a lemonade stand is trading hours for currency. Franchising your lemonade stand is leverage. Starting a dog walking business is trading hours for currency. Selling a “how to” special report on how you open a dog walking business is leverage.

Sell wellness products and you make money. Join a network marketing business with wellness products and you make money, help others, and apply leverage.

Buy a tandem bicycle and offer rides and you could make money. Invest in six tandem bicycles, get some riders and you can apply leverage. Launch the first Uber for tandem bicycles. Or the first Uber for pedi-cabs. Or the first Uber for sailboats. Or gondolas. Or jets.

No one really has a money shortage. What they really suffer from is an idea shortage. The only thing between you and the prosperity you’re seeking is the right idea.

At the beginning, I promised to reveal to you the number one secret for building wealth and creating success. In the unlikely event you haven’t figured it out yet, let me disclose it now…

Stop selling yourself short.
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"The Books That Have Shaped My Life"

Quite a few of you have asked for book recommendations, for helping recognize negative programming, build better habits or develop more prosperity consciousness.  This is a fun subject; one that I love to visit often.  So here’s my list of some of the top ten most influential books in my life.  (So far.)

This isn’t meant to be the greatest books of all time, because I  think that will be different for everyone.  But these were definitely the greatest for me, and shaped my life the most.

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#1) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

The book that impacted my philosophy for living the most.  Nothing else is even close.  It’s a novel, which surprises many people, but in it Rand introduces the concept of Objectivism.  The writing is brilliant, the characters are fascinating, and the work is sheer genius.

Every time I re-read it (which I do every year), I still get goose bumps when I get to the section beginning with the words, “This is John Galt speaking…”  This link is the centennial hard cover edition that should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of philosophy, politics, self-development or psychology.

#2) As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

It’s a little book and sells for $7 or $8, so people don’t take it as seriously as they should.  I almost wish it sold for $50,000, so people would read it with the reverence it deserves.  This should be on your bed stand to read a little every night before you go to sleep.

#3) The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes

The meta-physical masterpiece.  The “how-to” manual for everything you want to do in life.

#4) Shibumi: A Novel by Trevanian

Another work of fiction, and another one that introduced me to a philosophy of living.  The protagonist Nicholai Hel is an assassin, so you know it’s right up my alley.  He’s best described by a character in the story who calls him half saintly ascetic, half Vandal marauder – a medieval anti-hero.

He is your vintage ‘man-against-the-herd.’   When you read about the dangers of technology, terrorism, government corruption, and seeking spiritual perfection, you’ll have a hard time believing this was written in 1979.  The true test of a timeless classic.

#5) Prosperity by Charles Fillmore

Charles was the co-founder of Unity, and years before his time.  One of the spiritual warriors that started the new thought movement.  It’s written in the language of 1900, so it takes a little work to process.  But well worth the effort.

#6) Think and Grow Rich by  Napoleon Hill

The all-time classic.  Don’t read any updated or revised versions.  Get this original, for the information is simply too profound to mess with, dumb down, or alter in any way.

#7) The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Another novel, this one makes the list because it is the first Rand book I ever read, and the one that addicted me to her brilliant, beautiful, and bitter writing.  A superb story, and one that will cause you to think long and hard on strength of the individual.

This link is another centennial hardcover edition that should be one of your treasured tomes.

#8) On the Road by Jack Kerouac

This book captured my imagination when I was dope-smoking young man and it still captivates me today.  It was reading this book that led me to want to become a writer.

I’m re-reading it again, and I’m simply amazed at what spectacular writing it is.  This link is the 50th anniversary edition hard-cover, which you should will to someone you love after your death.

#9) The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Kind of surprising to me as I compile this list today, how many of these works are fiction, since I normally read so much non-fiction self-development books.  This is another novel that captivated me with the brilliant storytelling and inspired me to write.

Also a great portrait of a contrarian’s journey.  Simply delicious.  This slot was actually a tie with this and Moby Dick, for all the same reasons.  I flipped a coin.

#10) Break Out!: 5 Keys to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life by Joel Osteen , a good friend of mine & one of my personal mentors.

He told me that writing this book was one of the most introspective things he did in his life.  It made him really sort through a lot of things and do some serious critical thinking on his own philosophies of health, success, and prosperity.  We teach what we most need to learn.

If a meteorite lands on your home, kills your family, your business goes bankrupt, you’re afflicted with a terrible disease, and suffering from depression, get these ten books.

Then go somewhere quiet for a week and read them all.   Within six months you will find your perfect soul mate, become a multi-millionaire, cure your sickness and be the happiest person you know.

Ok I showed you mine – now show me yours!

Additional Resources

"How to Avoid Getting Overwhelmed When Starting An Online Business"

"Network Marketing | MLM | Are You Recruiting The Wrong People Onto Your Team?"

To YOUR Success,

Warren Little

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"How to Build Your Home Based Business Around Your Lifestyle"

Building a Profitable Home Based Business

By: Jonathan Winter

I’m typing this post from my balcony in St Thomas. I own a three-bedroom condo here and visit this island several times a year for extended periods of time.

St Thomas is a wonderful place. The temperature is almost always between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, generally not a cloud in the sky, and the frequent tropical storms roll in during the night to keep to keep the island lush and green.

For me, the ability to spend endless summers here while still running a small and highly profitable business is what working at home is all about. I have my entire blog set up so that if I really wanted to, I could operate it from my blackberry anywhere in the world, typing a post like this as an email, and then sending it to a special server that will post it on this site.

While there are many lifestyle decisions to consider when you want to work from your home, if you boil them all down (aside from the profit motive-which we’ll cover in a later post), they are largely grouped into three key areas:

1. A Home Based Business Built Around Another Job
2. A Home Based Business Where the Owner is the Center of the Action
3. A Home Based Business That Can Be Run From Anywhere

1. Start and Own a Business Built Around Another Job

One of the best things about working from home is that you can build your business part time, during your off hours now, so that you can move to larger business full time later.

The Two to Three Year Rule

If your terrific business idea is ultimately a replacement for your current job, and you’re not selecting a turn key home based business that generates income immediately, you will need a plan.

With the right plan and focus you can anticipate the money at home will start modestly at first and then gradually build into a very nice income to replace your money from work.

You could build a six figure income in many circumstances, and in a few cases where you have built a “personal monopoly” (see this post on BUILDING A PERSONAL MONOPOLY) you could approach or exceed seven figures!

Here is the catch; most people approach starting a business working from home assuming that the effort that they put in from day one will result in a corresponding income from day one.

Unless you buy/start a “turn key” business (with “payment” in either money, experience or sweat equity) then the work upfront will pay you back on the back end.

If done right, your long hours on the front will result in short hours a few years later.

Here is the best part, often when you’re ready to step off the world-stage in your current hectic, stressful and non-fulfilling role, it’s entirely possible that your home based business will be ready to go to give you what you’ve always wanted, a business that generates a very nice predictable cash-flow; no politics and far fewer hours.

2. Working from the Home:  When the Owner is the Center of the Action.

Some people love being the center of the action; where they, and they alone, are responsible for the successful outcome of the deal.

Their personal brand is responsible for what drives the business forward. This is possibly the most common of the home based businesses because sweat equity is the input and reputation is the output.

People come to you because you can do something that others cannot, or, at the very least, can do something better than others can. This has one of the highest financial reward potentials of any home based business because you become the product; and there is only one of you.

There are a multitude of home based businesses that come to mind, but intellectual property is one of the most common. Let’s say you developed a seminar where you gave participants information that only you had access to. This is the stuff that millionaires are made of.

Think about Anthony Robbins for example; he is the brand. He sells products that people want (personal, spiritual and financial success), is credible (his stuff really does work) and he delivers it in a branded fashion so that you have to come to him. He is the center of the action.

You don’t need to be Anthony Robbins, but your home based business might be a product that your sell by partnering with Elite Marketing Pro or on your website, or in person.

What do you know or could learn that you can put your personal stamp on that makes YOU the expert?

To quote an Anthony Robbins-ism, people will receive the lion’s share of the money if they are exceptional and some of the money if they are excellent. The difference between exceptional and excellent is just a few inches. What can you do with your home based business that makes you exceptional and at the center of the action?

What is your brand?

3. A Home Based Business that Can Be Run From Anywhere

A home-based business that can be run from anywhere is one that requires only you, a phone and/or a laptop. 

It is a business that you consciously build to follow you in your life’s other pursuits.

So technically, the “home” in a home based business could be your 35^th floor glass and steel condo built on the beach in Miami, the bamboo laden tropical rainforest getaway built somewhere deep in Asia, your mountain top hideaway overlooking a giant lake or other awe inspired residence that you occupy while you relentlessly pursue the “juice of life.”

This type of small business occupies a special place in its lucky owner’s heart because he or she was front-minded enough to design their business around their lifestyle instead of their lifestyle around their business.

For many people, THIS is the ultimate definition of freedom. You work when you want, where you want, and if you have done it right, you’ve designed a small business that makes a lot of money in the process.

I began this article by talking about where I started writing this post. Today in between the start and finish of this writing, I sailed for 3 hours, worked out twice (a 30 minute run and a Tai Chi class) and had concluded with a wonderful grilled Salmon dish here on the beach. The restaurant is on one of the single most beautiful places in St Thomas. The sky is now fire red and the sand is bleached white.

I’m hitting send on this post and it will be on my good friend Warren Little's, "Best Home Based Business & E-Commerce Business Tips" Blog in about 12 seconds…

Tomorrow I’m taking a break and going snorkeling with the family at a nearby reef and then back here for an evening beach party.

It's my understanding that Warren's going to discuss in detail how to create businesses at home that can be built while working another job in one of his upcoming posts, so that when the time comes you can exit the workforce with total confidence.

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Posted by Warren Little 

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"How To Outsource Today and Avoid The “I Can Do That” Trap''

What You Need To (And How To) Outsource Today: Avoiding the “I Can Do That” Trap

by Gina Smith 

[ This is a guest post from a Gina Smith. She’s going to show you maybe the most effective productivity hack out there: hire more hands.]

***

The words, “I can do that”, can be like nails on a chalkboard when they are spoken by a small business owner or entrepreneur.  One of the most common mistakes made when opening a business is trying to wear too many hats. 

As a small business consultant, I come across aspiring entrepreneurs in all types and stages of business.  Most have gone into business for themselves because they have a certain skill, talent or aspiration.

It always baffles me when a business owner has invested in an impressive office or workshop space and hired employees to produce and deliver their product and/or services but then chooses to handle their own marketing, information technology, tax filings, etc.  Really?  And, the kicker is in 99% of the cases, the business owner has no prior experience in any of these areas.

Have you ever heard of the saying, “it is better to do a few thing well than many things lousy?”
                                                               
When a business owner is also the hiring, marketing, fulfillment, tax and IT manager, problems will inevitably arise.  While it may not be necessary to hire full time employees to handle certain functions, you can consider outsourcing these tasks to an experienced and reliable individual or company.
The word “outsource” sometimes carries a negative stigma due to its depiction in popular culture.  In reality, some of the most talented individuals can be acquired through outsourcing.  Hiring contract workers as opposed to full time employees has many benefits.

First, you only pay for time used.  Second, outsourced talent can take an objective look at your company from the outside and make recommendations that you, as an insider, may not have considered.  Third, the outsourced company, or individual, you hire is generally a specialist in their field.

In the past, primarily large corporations practiced outsourcing.  Today, small business owners have discovered its many benefits.  Let’s take a look at some popular jobs for small companies to outsource:
                                                                 

Information Technology (IT)

Overview

Hiring an outside company or professional to set-up and manage your IT needs can save you time and money.  There are many providers who specialize in providing outsourced IT services, from network and software installations to cloud back-up and cybersecurity.

Ask yourself these questions: 1) Do you have hours to troubleshoot a network issue on your own?

2) Do you have the experience to combat a virus or network security issue?  3) Can you afford to lose all of your company data?  If you answered “no” to any one of these, then you will likely benefit from hiring an IT consultant.

 Preparation

Whether you are a sole proprietor or a small corporation with employees, having a good IT firm or consultant is imperative.  Case in point – when I started my business in 2006, I used a single laptop. I became nervous because this single laptop was storing a lot of proprietary information for many clients.

I vetted and hired an IT consultant who set me up with a backup device and a small server. Boy, was I ever so thankful I did this when my laptop crashed a few months later. And, because I had the server,

I was able to restore data to my new laptop in minutes.  The time and headaches this saved me was so worth the small investment I made in hiring an IT consultant!  I recommend every business have an IT evaluation by a qualified consultant at least once a year.

As you prepare to screen and hire an outside firm or consultant, you will want to have the following information on hand:

1. Your Internet service provider contact info
2. A list of the number and types of computers/devices needed (i.e. three desktops, four laptops, seven tablets, etc.)
3. Preferred platform (i.e. Mac, Windows 8, etc.)
4. The type of information you will need to backup on a regular basis (i.e. databases, photographs, e-mail, documents, etc.)
5. They type of software you will need and on which devices (i.e. Microsoft Office on all desktops and laptops, Photoshop on one desktop, etc.)
6. Any other industry-specific information that is important for your IT consultant to know.

Screening & Hiring

The first step is to research service providers.  You will ultimately need to determine whether you are more comfortable using a qualified consultant, or, hiring a firm.  I would highly recommend interviewing both types of providers so you can fully understand the potential of each.  The next step is interviewing.

This should be done face to face since you will likely be having a lot of “face” time with your IT provider.  You also need to prepare a list of questions prior to your meeting.  Some possible interview questions include:

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What types of warranty/maintenance agreements do you offer?
3. What security protocols do you take to ensure my network and data are protected?
4. Do you off cloud storage options?
5. What do you feel gives your business a competitive edge over others?
6. What other types of small businesses do you work with?
7. If I have a problem, what is the average response time?
8. Do you have any references?

Once you interview each candidate, it will be easier to narrow down your list. If you are not comfortable with any of the candidates, do not be afraid to start the process over. If you can narrow your selections down to three providers, that would be ideal.

Once this is complete, ask each one to provide you with proposals.  Once you have had time to review the proposals, take some time to ask any final questions you may have for each candidate.

The last step is conducting reference checks and accepting a proposal.

 Marketing/Public Relations

Overview

Hiring a professional or firm with a proven track record in marketing and public relations can prove to be very beneficial.  As trends continue to change and consumer confidence fluctuates, retaining professionals to handle all of your marketing from strategic plans and media buying to ad design, website development, public relations and social media can be essential to your success.

 Preparation

One of the biggest mistakes a start-up can make is not having a marketing plan ready to execute either before or shortly after opening.  You marketing plan is the engine that drives your business.

You may have a fancy office, upscale equipment and the best staff in the world, but if no one knows about your business, you will struggle to find customers.

You may choose to hire either an outside firm or consultant. In many cases, your provider does not have to be located in your local area, and most marketing services a small business needs can be handled remotely.   Before you conduct interviews with candidates, be sure to have the following information ready:

1. Business plan summary
2. Complete list of products and services
3. Company mission and vision
4. Long term and short term goals
5. Samples of any marketing collateral, ads, press releases you have used in the past (if applicable)
6. List of major competitors
7. Your company’s unique sustainable difference (what makes you and your products/services different from your competitors)
8. Any other industry-specific information that is important for your marketing consultant(s) to know.

Screening & Hiring

As is the case with all potential contractors, the first step is to research service providers and determine whether you are more comfortable using a qualified consultant, or, hiring a full-service firm.

Marketing professionals are generally very busy and have many irons in the fire.  The better prepared you are for the meeting, the more comfortable it will be for you both.  Some possible interview questions include:

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What other small businesses do you work with?
3. If I sign a contract with you (or your firm), is there a chance you will also represent any of my direct competitors while our contract is active?
4. May I see some samples of your work?
5. What do you feel gives your business a competitive edge over other providers?
6. Do you have any references?

Once you’ve conducted your interviews, follow the same process of narrowing down your list, requesting proposals, conducting reference checks and reviewing their portfolios to determine which candidate is best suited for you.

Fulfillment

While having the owner of the company check in on fulfillment from time to time is fine, it is not necessarily a good idea for he or she to actually manage the process.  Fulfillment can make or break the customer experience.  Outsourcing a company that specializes in this area can help ensure your product reaches the customer in excellent condition and when promised.

* CLICK HERE NOW to read a great article on this subject!

Preparation

You should be noticing a pattern beginning to develop with these processes.  For the most part, you will take the same preparation approach but tailor the questions toward the type of position you are outsourcing.  When it comes to fulfillment, finding a company with experience and an exemplary track record is essential.  Some items to have ready before interviewing a company include:

1. Exact items you want to ship
2. Areas/regions of the world/U.S you serve
3. Packing requirements
4. Expected turnaround time
5. Estimated quantity shipped per day

Screening & Hiring

Follow the same steps as recommended for IT and Marketing providers, but ask questions targeted more toward fulfillment.  Some you might consider include:

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What other types of small businesses do you work with?
3. What is your average customer satisfaction rate?
4. What do you feel gives your business a competitive edge over others?
5. How many people will be assigned to my job?
6. Will the people assigned to my job be working on it exclusively or will they have orders to fill for other companies?
7. Do you perform background checks on the employees you will assign to my job?
8. Do you have any references?

Once you’ve conducted your interviews, follow the same process as discussed earlier in this article to determine which company is best for you.

Tax Preparation

There are hundreds of tax law changes every year.  A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) makes it his or her job to keep up with tax law and ensure their clients are in compliance.  There are many qualified individuals and companies who specialize in small business tax preparation. Not only will a CPA prepare your taxes, but most will also represent you during an audit.

It’s simply just not worth it for you, as a business owner, to take on this headache yourself.  We will go into some specifics, but feel free to also read this excellent article in Inc. from January 2011.

Although it may be a few years old, it is still one of the best ones for breaking down what to look for in a small business tax preparation firm.

Preparation

As you prepare to interview candidates, follow the same steps as outlined earlier and have these items ready for each candidate:

1. Type of business (i.e. sole proprietor, LLC, etc.)
2. Estimated annual income, payables and receivables
3. Bookkeeping software you currently use
4. Number of full time and part time employees

Screening & Hiring

Once again, the same screening and hiring steps apply. Some questions to consider asking candidates include:

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What other types of small businesses do you work with?
3. How often will you need me to provide you with reports?
4. Will you estimate, prepare and send payment for all taxes on my behalf?
5. Will you prepare my W-2s and 1099s?
6. What is your deadline for me to have everything to you each year to avoid having to file an extension?

Once you’ve conducted your interview, you are ready to follow the process to determine which company is right for you.

When you receive proposals from your candidates, examine them closely to ensure you are comparing “apples to apples”.  If there is a service listed that you do not understand, do not be afraid to ask for more detail. And, if one provider is recommending something another isn’t, question this as well. 

Finally, keep in mind the cheapest may not always be the best.

Now What?

Pick one thing to outsource for a month. Then use the steps above. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
                                                                  



 

by Gina Smith

Gina Smith writes freelance articles for magazines, online outlets and publications. Smith covers the latest topics in the business, golf, tourism, technology and entertainment industries.
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"Why You Should Start A Home Based Business NOW!"

This is the first in a series of articles for those people that want to work for themselves from home. 

This series of 10 articles, Building a Profitable Home Based Business details the challenges and opportunities of developing a business that you can work from home. This first post, I call “Why Start a Home Based Business?” discusses, at a high level, the rationale for starting, building and operating a business that you can run from your home. 

In future posts we’ll explore pragmatic considerations such as finding the right business opportunity, whether you want an online business opportunity or a face to face one, how to finance, how to incorporate, insurance, dealing with the mail, and other resources, but first, let’s start from the very beginning:  Why Start a Home Based Business?

Freedom
There are a myriad of reasons people work in their own business from home, but the one common element across all of them is: Freedom

People who choose to work for themselves experience a sense of freedom that they cannot experience working for “the man.” It is this point and this point alone that drives the majority of people to self-employment.

A successful home-based business gives its owner freedom in many forms:

• freedom from layoffs;
• freedom to spend time with your children;
• freedom to spend time with your spouse;
• freedom to spend time on personal interests;
• freedom to make as much money as your strategy will allow;
• freedom to work from anywhere that your strategy will allow.

Retirement Play 
Unlike a home based job, where you still work for someone else and can be fired, a home based business, to a large degree, is something that it’s owner can take with them well into retirement. There is no reason that a 68 year old, 72 year old, even an 85 year old cannot have a successful business running a blog :), selling a product on eBay, acting as a consultant, selling real estate, or one of the other dozens of opportunities that we will discuss here at The Best Home Based Business & E-Commerce Business Tips Blog over the coming weeks.

Moreover, virtually all of the options discussed you can start with less than $2500 (some less than $1000) while you are working, so the cost to start a home business is not generally the issue for most entrepreneurs. You build them slowly, part time, while you work your day job, so you don’t miss a step when the time comes to step down. 

You simply turn the lights off in one office and walk downstairs and turn the lights on in your home office – ready to rock and roll, vibrant and excited about the opportunity that you have created for yourself for the next 20 or 30 years – you’re so smart!

In upcoming posts we will discuss practical considerations of a home-based business: Getting the Basics Right So You are Set up for the Long Run. Look for this shortly.

Also if you have not done so already, go to the top right side of this Blog and submit your email address in the box on the right entitled, Subscribe! so that we notify you automatically when we add a new post. 

You won’t miss the next edition of this series, or any for that matter – don’t forget to “opt in/confirm” when you get the email from us!

Until Next Time,

W.K. Little

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* If you enjoyed this post & found it helpful, please share it with your friends on Social Media by using the tabs BELOW , then subscribe to our "FREE" Newsletter to receive our Top Earning Home Business Consultants "Insider Secrets" guaranteed to help you in  building a high profit home based business & then lastly . . . leave a comment below.