Business Tips Corner: Real success in one you cannot spend!

This Weeks’ Business Tips Corner brings you another quote for you to think about and reflect upon.

You can use almost any measure when you're speaking of success. You can measure it in a fancy home, expensive car or dress. But the measure of your real success is one you cannot spend – It's the way your child describes you when talking to a friend." – Martín Baxbaum

Success is important to a businessperson. However, you must remember that success in life is not imbalanced; it is not just how successful you are as a businessperson that counts. Success is a balance between business success and personal success. Personal success includes, how you manage your health, mind, body and spirit, together with the relationships that you form and nurture with your family and friends; and more importantly your spouse and child or children.

How would your child describe you if asked, How would you describe your mother, father?

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: To achieve Business Success, find a Balance!

I just thought that for this week’s Business Tips Corner, I will share another quote with you. This time it is a quote by B.C Forbes. He says:

I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age. They were so exclusively engrossed in their day-to-day affairs that they had no time for friend making.

Through this quote the author is suggesting that as a businessperson, one should not just work and find success in business development and growth only, but advices that you must also have a personal life; a life that is spiritually and emotionally balanced. Family, friends, and simply appreciating nature and life around you, gives you balance and put you in a contented and happy place even after you retire.

I hope that you too take a pause from your business from time to time to enjoy the things that money, fame or fortune cannot buy. You don't want to be successful when young and lonely when old. Loneliness when old, is one disease that is not reversible.

Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Customers are the most important visitors on our premises

It has been two weeks since I posted a tip on my Business Tips Corner; and I apologize for that. However, today I bring you a quote by Mahatma Gandhi, on how you treat people whom you rely upon for your business growth. Business owners must be mindful that:

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He (she) is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him (her). He (she) is not an interruption in our work. He (she) is the purpose of it. He (she) is not an outsider in our business. He  (she) is part of it. We are not doing him (her) a favor by serving him (her). He (she) is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so. 


Treat your customers with dignity. Do not discriminate or use stereotype to determine who your customers are. Don’t let the way you perceive “others” determine your behavior towards them.  It can terribly affect your business, if not in the short-term but in the long-term.

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Shared by Cheryl Cottle

Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner: Crystalize your goals . . .

My Business Tips Corner for this week provides a simple quote for you to think about and reflect. We are already in the second quarter of the year and some of us are asking ourselves this question: Where has three months in the year gone already? How has it gone so fast and I haven’t yet accomplished any of my New Year resolutions? Well! Don’t panic and become disillusioned take advice from this quote.

Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people's criticisms carry out your plan. ~ Paul J. Meyer 

What are your thoughts after reading this quote? It would be great to share. Don't panic, simply identify the goals that you want to achieve and work steadfastly to achieve them.


Continued success in your entrepreneurial endeavour. 


Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner: Write a hand-written note to say thank you!

For this week’s Business Tips Corner I will like to drop you a tip that can change how you do business and makes all the difference in the world.

There's a place in the world for any business that takes care of its customers after the sale.
~ Harvey MacKay

Remember that as a business owner, for continued business you must show gratitude to your clients and or customers. Many of you made new year business resolutions, but if thanking your customers were not one of them, then I suggest that you thank them right now. To get repeated customers, it is a great marketing to thank them for their business and support.  You can use old-fashioned marketing to say "thank you, I appreciate your business and I am looking forward to doing business with you again."  Write a hand-written note, personalize it with your signature and use old-fashioned mail to send it to them. They will know that you care; and you can live in the assurance that they will be repeated customers or at the very least refer you to someone else.

Great customer service ensures great business!

Created by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Creative Entrepreneur and Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: You can learn from Emulation, Coaching and Mentoring

For my business tip for the week, I will like to share a quote by Brian Tracy:

No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.

One way to build your skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship that will help you to grow your business is to learn from others. Emulation is a great way of learning. However, you should acknowledge that person’s role in your learning. Another way is having a coach or a mentor to guide your understanding in any facet of entrepreneurship. 

By Cheryl Cottle

Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner: E-mail and Social Media

I recently wrote about using e-mail as a marketing strategy and I noted that it is a great and cost effective way to target your customers. We are seeing a move by businesses to integrate both the traditional and cost effective marketing tools with the use of social media. While social media is not difficult to use, companies are still in the process of learning the new technology and the implementation strategies to integrate it into their marketing plan.

Here are a few suggestions on how to utilize both approaches: E-mailing and social media. 

• Integrate your email marketing with your social media campaigns - - Your social media campaign should include the use of FaceBook, Twitter, You Tube and Blogging
• Design your e-mail messages so that it can be captured on mobile devices that so many customers are now using to access their emails
• Make sure that the text are brief and avoid using large images as well as to many - - Be economical in your marketing language
• Engage your readers - - you can either ask them to participate in an activity. You can engage them in a contest or offer them something FREE
• Plan you marketing campaign around holidays or special days
• Your Design Marketing Plan should be a yearly plan. Your DMP should identify the messages to be sent out and the activities you want to promote
• Every design plan must be evaluated. Identify what worked and what didn’t. Determine whether you received a return in your investment in terms of Time and Cost?

Created by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Sharing a Quote about Attitude!

For this month my Business Tips Corner primarily focused on "attitude" and how our "attitude" impact our feelings and actions. I also provided you with tips on how you can change your attitude by sharing recommendations made by John C. Maxwell. Today, I will share a quote with you about "attitude".

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you, we are in charge of our Attitudes.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll

I hope that you will ponder on these fine words and perhaps integrate its meaning into your life. According to John Maxwell, if you have a bad attitude, you can change it. The quote also suggests how you react to situations in your life, particularly negative circumstances it can have a positive or negative impact on you. The quote suggests that the onus is upon you: you can "choose" to make it affect you negatively or you can "choose" to have it affect you in a positive way. You can learn from it and see it as a learning experience. In business and life in general, attitude is very important for navigating our world and maintaining a positive well-being. 

By Cheryl Cottle

Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Business Tips Corner: E-mailing!

E-mail marketing is one of the oldest marketing online strategies used by companies for reaching and educating their clients about their products and or services. Both large corporations and small business owners have been using it since the emergence of online communication, with great success. In spite of its popularity, e-mail marketing is often met with opposition from the online population. Some people perceive it as unwanted solicitation or spamming and definitely do not want to be a part of what you are selling. One concern for recipients is, how did I get on their list? Another is, how do I get off their list? It is prudent and ethical to ensure that the people on your list want to receive your information and are indeed a part of your target audience.


I receive countless e-mail marketing materials in my inbox on a daily basis on products that I don't have any interest in. I certainly did not give permission to be a part of their lists. Yet, everyday I am bombarded with unwanted e-mails and it seems as if there isn't any way out, since many of them do not give you the option to opt-out from receiving them. There isn't an exit clause. It feels as if I am a part of an e-mail hijack. In order to manage the unwelcome e-mails, I make good use of the delete option in my e-mail system.


Here are some things to think about when using e-mail to reach your clients:

1. Make sure that everyone on your e-mail list agrees to be on it - - and are a part of your target audience
2. Give recipients on your e-mail list the opportunity to opt-out of your list
3. Make sure that you accurately identify your target population or niche
4. Make sure that the information that you provide is in keeping with their needs
5. Avoid spamming. While you may have the time and resources to e-mail on a regular basis, don't annoy your target population 
6. Don't give them the option to press delete. The objective is for them to open and read your offer and to respond favourably.  Remember your goals are to keep you clients and to get new ones

Created by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserve.

Business Tips Corner: Benefits of Embracing Adversity!

I will like to share another piece of John Maxwell's lessons on attitude.


Can obstacles actually enhance an attitude? Quoting Dr. Joyce Brother, Maxwell says "The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy inevitable part of the process of getting to the top." He goes on to add that: "adversity and the failure that often results from it should not only be expected in the process of succeeding; they need to be viewed as an absolutely critical part of it."


The benefits of adversity are many, he adds. He suggests that we should embrace adversity and persevere through it. Here are some key reasons why we should:

1. Adversity creates resilience
2. Adversity develops maturity
3. It pushes the envelope of accepted performance
4. It provides greater opportunities
5. Adversity prompts innovation
6. Adversity brings unexpected benefits
7. Adversity motivates

To read more on how to resolve the benefits that embracing your adversity can help, I recommend that you get a copy of John C. Maxwell, Attitude 101: What every leader needs to know.

By Cheryl Cottle

Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Business Tips Corner: A bad attitude can be changed!

You can always change your attitude if you have a bad one. According to John Maxwell "it is a matter of personal choice." He also points out that "who we are today is the result of choices we made yesterday." He further goes on to say "tomorrow we will become what we choose today. To change means to choose to change."

He therefore proposes eight ways that one can choose if he or she "genuinely desires to." They are as follows:

1. Evaluate your present attitude
2. Realize that faith is stronger than fear
3. Write a statement of purpose
4. Have the desire to change
5. Live one day at a time
6. Change your thought patterns
7. Develop good habits
8. Continually choose to have a right attitude

Changing one's attitude is a difficult and an ungoing process. You must be committed to change.

For more read John C. Maxwell. Attitude 101: What every leaders needs to know

By Cheryl Cottle
Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

(c) Copyright 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle and Cottle's Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner: Your attitude and you!

By Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Today, I will share with you some truths about your attititude. John C. Maxwell defines attitude as an inward feeling expressed by behaviour. Here are some ways that your attitude can affect you.

1. Your attitude determines your approach to life
2. It is often the difference between success and failure
3. Your attitude at the beginning of a task will affect it outcome more than anything else
4. Your attitude can turn your problems into blessings
5. It can give you an uncommonly positive perspective
6. Your attitude is not automatically good because you are a christian

Your attitude have a direct effect upon how you do business. A great attitude; one of respect for others, appreciation, and valuing of others will surely help you to build strong and long lasting relationships. On the other hand, poor attitude is easily discoved and it pushes people away.

To read more read John C. Maxwell. Attitude 101: What every leaders needs to know

Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting
Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Business Tips Corner: Creating a workspace!

My business tip for this week is about creating a workspace for your home-based business.

While most entrepreneurs will agree that creating a space dedicated to your home-based business is critical, some still continue to function in an informal way rather than create a formal environment with office equipment, furniture, and the overall feel and layout of a professional space. Separating your home life from your work life provides you with the mental separateness required to run and manage a home-based business.

Regardless of the type of business you are in, if you work from home you will need a space for your business operation. You can use a small nook or a room that you dedicate to your work. Some common spaces used by my clients include working from their kitchen table, converting a closet into an office, working from their attic, garage, basement, or converting a bedroom. One of my clients created a sewing studio that doubles as her DIY video production set. Another client is a yoga instructor and uses her living room area as a studio, while yet another client has converted his basement into a top-of-the-line recording studio.

Here are a few reminders why creating a dedicated space for your business is beneficial:

• A home office puts you in the right mindset for working and creating, by making you feel grounded and provides the right climate for you to focus
• It is easier to block out distractions, therefore increasing your productivity
• It is a place where you can organize and easily access your work material and resources
• It enables you to threat your entrepreneurial venture as a business instead of a hobby
• Enables your children and family members to see what you are doing as a serious undertaking, therefore creating greater respect and acknowledgement for your job

These reminders have worked for me and my clients, perhaps they can work for you. They just might make working from home a more rewarding and profitable experience.

Created by Dr. Cheryl Cottle of Cottle's Professional Consulting.

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Business Tips Corner - - Blogging a strategy for small businesses!

One way to brand your company is through blogging. While many companies both large and small are using blogging as a way of marketing their products or services; a great many are still yet to do so. Many companies are still considering whether they need to make a change to recruit an employee specifically responsible for blogging or whether they should put out the cost necessary. In today’s economy where viral marketing is leading traditional marketing strategies, blogging has become a must. Businesses should decide to integrate blogging into their business strategy. The benefit to your business can be invaluable and have a great impact on your brand, client-base and profitability.

While there are many benefits, here are just some reasons that I hope will motivate you to introduce blogging to your business:

1. Brand your company and reach your target audience: A business blog helps you to brand your company and your expertise. You can get an opportunity to reach your target audience. It enables you to widen your client reach and allows you to reach your target audience at an affordable price.
2. Increase traffic to your website: The best way to introduce a blog into your business marketing strategy, is by integrating it into your website. The underlying objective of having a blog is to drive traffic to your website and encourage potential clients to see what you do and to learn about your services.
3. Establish yourself as an expert: Use your blog to establish yourself as an expert. Make sure that the information you provide is current. By posting relevant and useful information, people will come to know you as the person who they can rely upon for useful information.
4. Develop a great following: A blog is designed so you can have a very large following. Some blogs have thousands of followers — thus the potential of a blog is great. It can put your business and you in front of a large audience of similar interest. You can also learn a great deal from the feedback you receive via “COMMENTS.”  This feedback helps you to form valuable relationships.

I hope that this advice will help you to make your decision regarding starting a blog. Cottle’s Professional Consulting can help you to design a blog that will reflect your business and put your services and products before a larger audience. Contact us at: ccottle@drcottle.com

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Author: Dr. Cheryl Cottle is an educator, instructional technologist, system analyst and business consultant. She is the founder and Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting; a firm that specializes in the areas of education, organizational development, professional development and small business development. Dr. Cottle also manages CPC Women in Business; an online forum for women entrepreneurs globally.

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Business Tips Corner - - Effective Social Media Strategies

By Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Although I have years of experience using online forums for teaching and learning, I have been using social media a little over two years, and during that time I have learnt a lot. One thing that I particularly learnt is that social media is not only for the “college kid” as so many of my friends would say when I asked if they were using social media for their business. A client of mine, who was seeking business development when asked if she was using any social media to market her product, says “No, I just can’t see how I can ask my friends to buy my product. I am on Facebook and LinkenIn, but I am just not able to connect with my friends, so I was thinking of disconnecting from them.” It was obvious that she does not understand the social and business effect of social media ― that while it is a space to meet and connect with your friends and family, it is also an environment to network, connect with like-minded people and build your business and personal portfolio to further the advancement of your career or business sales and profitability.


These are some strategies that I have used and tested for their effectiveness over the past two years, and which I give as advice to my clients.

Know your Network: Be cognizant of what is happening in your network. Read what others are saying. Identify the people who are a part of your network and get to know their needs. Like my client above, she might call it unethical to listen to what others are saying, but it is only by reading the “statuses” of others or the “comments” that they make, will you be able to know your “friends” better and therefore be better prepared to meet their needs and your goals.


Identify Your Niche Market: Like any business plan one important aspect to take your business from the drawing board to reality is to conduct a market research ― you must identify your niche market. Are your “friends” your niche market? If they are not, begin to thin out your list. Don’t collect friends just for the numbers.


Active Participation: Active participation and relevant content are two key components in establishing your self on social media. The information that you provide must be in keeping with what your audience appreciates. Ask any one who has been using social media for a while, they will say content and participation is the key to getting others to know you and your brand. It is also important to stay consistent with the information that you provide to build an authentic online reputation.


Establish Authenticity: This is a real issue ― although the human-social interaction taking place is viral and you can easily hide behind your computer screen and keyboard, people are able to pick up on who you are and what you represent. It is important that the information that you present is in keeping with your audience’s needs. And it is also important to think about the way in which you deliver it ― don’t make it all business. Be sensitive to their needs also. Establish a friendly tone. Make it easy for your audience to feel comfortable to communicate with you. By establishing authenticity what results is trustworthiness ― the people with whom you have built a network with, would begin to respect and value what you are saying.


Be Socially Responsive: It is important to be socially responsive. It is very important to acknowledge others. When an individual makes a comment to something that you posted, make sure that you respond to them in a timely manner. Remember at all times be courteous. It is important to reciprocate by responding also to the information that they share. It is also great to connect with people on their birthdays and anniversaries. People love to receive a greeting on their special day. Some people also share when they have a loved one in the hospital or when he or she dies. Some also share information about their children, while some share about their pets. Be alert to the people’s needs around you.


I hope that these tips will enable you to make better use of social media to promote your business or your career.

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is an Educator, Instructional Technologist and System Analyst. She is the founder and Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting that specializes in the areas of education, organizational development, professional development and small business development. Dr. Cottle also manages CPC Women in Business; an online forum for women entrepreneurs globally.


Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Season's Greetings!

Dear Readers,

Thanks for dropping by and reading my blog posts from time-to-time. I hope that they were interesting and informative. I will like to extend a heartfelt greetings to you, as we come to the end of the year to celebrate Christmas. Happy Holidays and as you welcome the New Years, may your life be filled with Love, Health and Prosperity.

Hoping to see you in the New Year. Yes, I will be taking a break to spend some quality time with my family.

Enjoy the holidays and stay save.

God's Blessings to you!

Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Take a pause and listen to the beautiful voice of Whitney Houston as she sings The First Noel!

An Overview of the Article: 5 Advanced Social Media Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

 

As a small business owner, you are often faced with the question of should I integrate a social media marketing strategy into my business plan? Well the answer is yes. Wait no longer. This article provides some useful tips on how you can introduce a cost effective marketing strategy that will not only enable you to build your community of customers, but also increase your sales.

The author recommends that as a beginner to social media marketing, companies’ particularly smaller ones should adopt these practices.

• Introduce multimedia, both videos and photographs to represent your products, social events, and instructional videos. A picture tells a great deal and your customers stand a greater chance to know you better.
• Integrate your offline and your on-line advertising. It helps your conversion process and builds your community of potential customers.
• Adapt your message for each site you have. Don’t repeat the same message across the board. Customization of messages is critical to catching customers’ attention and retaining interest.
• Make sure that you are searchable and visible to your customers. Include your sites in local business directory and also add you online presence to “Google map”.
• Introduce contest and provide discount to meet your customers’ needs and interest. 

To read more visit the source of the article.

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Author:

Dr. Cheryl Cottle is an Educator, Instructional Technologist and System Analyst. She is the founder and Chief Consultant of  Cottle's Professional Consulting that specializes in the areas of education, organizational development, professioanl developmen and small business development.  She also manages CPC Women in Business; and online forum for women entrepreneurs globally.

 Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

An Overview of the Article: How to Use Social Media to Retain Customers

This article provides some useful tips on how to turn your new and existing customers into active customers.

The author states that: there are many times or reasons that a small business will receive an influx of new customers — such as around the holidays for retail stores, during a new product or service launch or after a local advertising campaign. While new customers are great, returning customers are even better. Social media offers a number of opportunities to turn your new and existing customers into repeat customers and fans.

The author also suggests that you can turn new customers into return customers who will in turn attract more new customers for you. To achieve this, the article suggests that you should:

1. Direct new customers to your social media sites by inviting them to become your friend, become a fan of your fan page or join your group or follow you on your blog or on Twitter.
2. Offer opportunities and incentives to keep them interested — engage them with new content, great information and resources and exclusive offerings.
3. Promote your business — your services or products. Offer exclusive deals.
4. Build a community around what you do.

 To read more:

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is an Educator, Instructional Technologist and System Analyst. She is the Founder of Cottle’s Professional Consulting. Dr. Cottle is also the creator of two online forums — Women in Business on Facebook and CPC Women in Business.

Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner - - 4 Simple Tools To Brand Your Company

By Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Be sure to drop in every week on a Thursday to share my useful tips that would help you in your journey to successful entrepreneurship!

My business tip for this week is about branding. While large companies use branding to market and promote what they do, small business owners can do the same. How you establish yourself in the marketplace is very important to your success? A professional branding image is sure to help you attract your potential customers and eventually translating them into customers. Here are some simple tools that you can integrate into your company to ensure that you get the respect that your deserve.

1.  Design a business card that provides information about your business. It is also recommended that you include a contact telephone number, an e-mail address and your website
2.  Design and create stationery for your business. Your writing paper and your envelope should include your company’s logo, name, and address
3. You should also have a dedicated telephone number for all your business contact
4.  Make sure that if you are not available to receive your calls that you have a message that is warm and friendly inviting them to leave a message. Your objective is to retain all prospective customers.  Develop a great message: thanking them for their interest and promise to respond in a timely manner
5. Get an e-mail address that is professional. Get one that reflects your business

These are some very cost effective ways that you can begin integrating into your branding strategy to ensure that you develop the level of professionalism and confidence so needed in today’s marketplace for any business.

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Author:

Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting. Cottle's Professional Consulting provides service in education, organizational development, professional development, and business development. Dr. Cottle is also a coach and mentor in areas of professional and business development. Interested in a service, please contact her at: ccottle@drcottle.com

Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle and Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner - - For People now Starting out into Entrepreneurship

Business Tips Corner!

by: Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Be sure to drop in every week on a Thursday to share my useful tips that would help you in your journey to successful entrepreneurship!

This week's tips are specifically designed for people who are now starting out into entrepreneurship.

Love what you do and the wealth will follow: Marsha Sinetar the author of Do What you love: The Money will Follow- - Discovering Your Right Livelihood suggests that you should work at what you love and you will find the satisfaction that you have been looking for. Oprah Winfrey's also says, " . . . if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come." Many successful people believe in this philosophy. Some business owners have also vouched that having a passion for what you do, makes it much easier to go through the challenges you face as an entrepreneur. It is what helps to sustain your business.

• Get the support of others: Many entrepreneurs, particularly women tend to start a business alone because it often comes out of a great need. It can either be as a result of being divorced or the death of our spouse and we have to find alternative ways to support ourselves and children. It is wise that you get the support of someone to assist you in the event that difficult situations arise. If you are unable to get a friend or a family to support you, then it is wise to get a mentor. Join groups where you can also get the support. With the technology that are available, you can join online forums and others social media forum to network and share common experiences.
• Create a Business Plan: A business plan will provide you with the road map that you need when thinking of getting into a business venture. It will provide you with valuable information regarding how much money you will need to start up your business, identify who are your target audience, the best place to purchase your equipments, furniture and other inventories, who are your competitors, and how best to market and promote you product or services, and such business logistics.
• Education: It is important also that you increase you knowledge in the area of business that you want to get into. You must develop your expert knowledge of the industry you are in, as well as the product and or services that are the focus of your company. Engage in research, read books and attend workshops and seminars to stay current in your market. You would also want to know all about taxes as it applies to your business as well as business registration, and other operational logistics.
• Access Professional Support: Professional support is always touted as being to expensive as a result many business owner delay this process. Remember that you do not have all the skills needed to successfully run your business. You most likely would have the entrepreneurial skills, but not necessarily have all the managerial skills needed to manage your business. A business requires both entrepreneurial and management skills to be sustainable. It is a holistic approach to successful entrepreneurship. Therefore if you need an accountant to manage your books, or a website designer to build your website or blog, outsource their help.
• Professionalism: One of my advices that I gives to clients now starting out into the area of entrepreneurship is that they should always strive to be professional, and it does not only mean dressing great. Establishing a professional image from the beginning goes a long way in achieving business success. As a new business owner you should establish a business telephone number so that customers can easily contact you. A website is another feature that one should also consider having. In addition to online presence, an e-mail is equally important. These together with business cards, stationary and great customers’ service are a great start to establishing professionalism.

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting. Cottle's Professional Consulting has a multidisciplinary portfolio including education, organizational development, professional development, and business development. Dr. Cottle is also a coach and mentor in areas of professional and business development. Interested in a service, please contact her at: ccottle@drcottle.com

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