Business Consultants

Archive for January, 2010

Finding a good business opportunity online can be tricky, especially today when Internet is overloaded with all sorts of information about earning money from your home. All this information can be confusing sometimes and it may seem impossible to find a good, honest job you can do from your home.

There are many people worldwide in need of web designers, programmers, graphic designers, writers, experts in marketing and SEO, etc. If you possess the necessary skills, there is an excellent business opportunity for you – to become a freelancer.

You may probably wander how much this business opportunity costs. The answer is nothing. There is no cost to become a freelancer. You only have to possess some of the mentioned skills and be willing to do jobs for others.

This business opportunity is ideal for all sorts of professionals, experts without a job, students, skilled individuals looking to earn some money and even some IT companies that look for a way to expand their business.

The next question regarding this business opportunity is how to find people in need of your services? One way is to advertise your services to others on your website. The other way is to join sites intended for connecting freelancers and their service buyers. There are new jobs constantly on these sites and you only have to select projects you are interested in doing and bid for them.

Getting a freelance job on these sites is like winning an auction. Service buyers post their projects and then interested freelancers make their offers. Service buyers select freelancers to complete projects based on the offered price and time period necessary for project completion. Every time a freelancer completes some project, he/she receives a feedback from service buyer. The feedback serves as a reputation of a freelancer. As freelancers complete more and more projects, they build up their reputation. Many service buyers also consider reputation when they choose their freelancers.

The key to success in this business opportunity (getting more jobs) is to offer your services for a lower cost until you gain feedback and to offer examples of your previous work. This should increase your chances to be selected as a freelance service provider.

A lot of money can be made with this business opportunity and that mostly depends on the type of project you must complete, time necessary for the completion of the project and the level of expertise needed. Usually projects that pay the most involve Java, ASP, PHP programming, flash, SEO, marketing and web design. There are some jobs that pay over $5000.

Here are three lessons about meetings that came from a walk through the forest.

1) Giant Sequoias

These marvelous trees are a living example that some things take time.

True, we need to work with a sense of urgency. We need to do more with less. We need to move faster than the speed of chaos.

And we also need to be appropriate.

Rushing through some issues can produce false solutions.

For example, a group slams together an annual plan, only to find that the plan ignores real market conditions, organizational limitations, and individual support. The result is a document that no one uses.

For example, a powerful group makes a decision without listening to other people’s ideas. And then a bad situation becomes worse. In fact, sometimes the neglected side retaliates with such force that the original group loses status.

Better: Take time to make sure that all considerations are included in plans and decisions. If you are planning a meeting to resolve a major issues, hire a skilled facilitator to help you obtain a result that lasts.

2) A Bear Cub

This cub behaved like a goofy toddler while mama bear went about her business collecting groceries in a supermarket. The cub climbed on logs, fell off rocks, and dropped things on mama. And during all of this play, mama bear just kept working, munching plants, gathering nourishment.

That is, she kept eating until the cub ran toward me. Then mama bear looked up, growled, and chased after the cub. (I’ll assume that’s what she did, because I ran away when Mama Bear growled.)

What’s the point?

Sometimes we need to allow an appropriate amount of disorder because it’s part of growth. It’s part of letting people explore. It’s part of letting people be themselves. Of course, when threats appear, then we should take charge. And we may only need to growl to restore order.

3) Mustang Clover

In the spring, the Sierra Nevada mountains are covered with patches of Mustang Clover. These small flowers (typically, less than half an inch across) look like simple small pink dots as you walk past them. But if you pause and look closely, you will discover a masterpiece of complex beauty.

The point: Are you pausing to notice important details? Some may be merely enjoyable reminders of how wonderful life can be. Others may be essential indicators about the health of your business.

By the way, you can view photos of a Giant Sequoia, a bear cub, and a Mustang Clover at:

http://www.stevekaye.com/photos.htm

Starting a home business while still employed can be intimidating at times. A busy work schedule and home life along with the pressures of starting a business are enough to raise anyone’s blood pressure. It can be accomplished, however, with a little patience, clear home business goals and a fresh cup of coffee.

Working Towards “Something”

The point of having a home business is that you’re working towards “something.” Whether you’d like to earn extra income to pay off debt, pay for future bills like college for the kids or become financially independent and quit your regular job, you obviously have some goals in mind. These goals are the driving force behind your business. Even when you’re tired and feel overwhelmed with tasks, your goals can keep you motivated.

Write your goals down and keep them in a visible location. You might want to hang them on the refrigerator, your computer or even on the bathroom mirror. Place them where you’re likely to see your goals on a daily basis.

Keeping your goals in mind will motivate you to work hard on those nights when you’d rather be sleeping.

Have a Realistic Schedule

Set a steady, but realistic work schedule for your home business. Plan specific times for marketing, financial assessments, website design adjustments and home office organization. For example, you might spend fifteen minutes per day marketing your online business. This doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but you’d be amazed at the results of doing this steadily. When you’re limited in time, you can’t afford to waste a moment. That’s why a schedule is so important.

Being realistic with your schedule is also crucial. Don’t work yourself into a coma. Plan your home business schedule while considering other aspects of your life. You don’t want to neglect your family or your primary source of income. If you can only work on your business five hours per week, then put forth your best effort during those five hours to make the most of it.

Using Your Full-Time Employment to Your Advantage

One benefit of keeping your full-time job while building your home business is that you have a steady flow of funds. You’ll be able to put more money back into your business when you’re not depending on every dime to pay your bills. Even if you plan to eventually quit your regular job, your business can tremendously benefit from it while you do both.

Hired Help

If you find it difficult to work on your business at a steady pace, hiring others to help out on a part-time basis might be an option. Your spouse or an older child might be thrilled to help grow the business, or you might need to hire an outsider to do a few daily tasks. It really depends on your cash flow, business schedule and the demands of the business. Some home businesses are more demanding than others.

Although it can be stressful at times, you can successfully operate a home business while employed elsewhere. Follow these tips for home business success.