Build Winning Alliances

Written by Debra S. Valle


Continued from page 1
Business strategist Debra Valle (PCC) challenges audience members to abandon their "one-customer-at-a-time" mentalities in favor of creating strategic alliances that increase visibility, sales and profits.

Debra Valle (PCC) is a nationally-known speaker, author and president of Marketing U Inc., a virtual university and coaching company that helps emerging businesses create and transform ideas into sustainable business opportunities. Debra's background includes 18 years with Fortune 500 companies Chrysler, Mazda, Nestle, and Michigan Opera where she was responsible for brand positioning, strategic planning, advertising, and direct marketing.


10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Written by Jenny Fulbright


Continued from page 1

5. Plan accordingly. You have a vision, and you have enough faith in yourself to believe that you can achieve your vision. But do you know how to get to your vision? To achieve your vision, you need to have concrete goals that will providerepparttar stepping-stone towards your ultimate vision. Put your goals in writing; not doing so just makes them as intangible fantasies. You need to plan each day in such a way that your every action contributes torepparttar 117171 attainment of your vision. Do you foresee yourself asrepparttar 117172 next Martha Stewart of hand-made home furnishings? Perhaps today, you need to see an artist to help you conceptualizerepparttar 117173 new line of hand-made linens that you hope to launch. Intense goal orientation isrepparttar 117174 characteristic of every successful entrepreneur. They have a vision, and they know how to get there. Your ability to set goals and make plans for your accomplishment isrepparttar 117175 skill required to succeed. Plan, plan and plan - because without which failure is guaranteed.

6. Work hard! Every successful entrepreneur works hard, hard and hard. No one achieves success just by sitting and staring atrepparttar 117176 wall every single day. Brian Tracy puts it out this way, "You work eight hours per day for survival; everything over eight hours per day is for success." Ask any successful businessperson and they will tell you immediately that they had to work more than 60 hours per week atrepparttar 117177 start of their businesses. Be prepared to say goodbye to after-office drinks every day, or a regular weekend get-away trip. If you are in a start-up phase, you will have to breathe, eat and drink your business until it can stand on its own. Working hard will be easy if you have a vision, clear goals, and are passionate with what you do.

7. Constantly Look for Ways to Network. In business, you are judged byrepparttar 117178 company you keep - from your management team, board of directors, and strategic partners. Businesses always need assistance, more so small businesses. Mayberepparttar 117179 lady you met in a trade association meeting can help you secure funding, orrepparttar 117180 gentleman at a conference can provide you with management advise. It is important to form alliances with people who can help you, and whom you can help in return. To succeed in business, you need to possess good networking skills and always be alert to opportunities to expand your contacts.

8. Willingness to Learn. You do not need to be a MBA degree holder or PhD graduate to succeed in your own business. In fact, there are a lot of entrepreneurs who did not even finish secondary education. Studies show that most self-made millionaires have average intelligence. Nonetheless, these people reached their full potentials achieved their financial and personal goals in business because they are willing to learn. To succeed, you must be willing to ask questions, remain curious, interested and open to new knowledge. This willingness to learn becomes more crucial givenrepparttar 117181 rapid changes in technologies and ways of doing business.

9. Persevere and have faith. No one said thatrepparttar 117182 road to success is easy. Despite your good intentions and hard work, sometimes you will fail. Some successful entrepreneurs suffered setbacks and resounding defeats, even bankruptcy, yet managed to quickly stand up to make it big in their fields. Your courage to persist inrepparttar 117183 face of adversity and ability to bounce back after a temporary disappointment will assure your success. You must learn to pick yourself up and start all over again. Your persistence isrepparttar 117184 measure ofrepparttar 117185 belief in yourself. Remember, if you persevere, nothing can stop you.

10. Discipline yourself. Thomas Huxley once said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you like it or not." Self-discipline isrepparttar 117186 key to success. The strength of will to force yourself to payrepparttar 117187 price of success - doing what others don't like to do, goingrepparttar 117188 extra mile, fighting and winningrepparttar 117189 lonely battle with yourself.



Jenny Fulbright is a Staff Writer for PowerHomeBiz.com. For information on starting a small and home-based business, visit PowerHomeBiz.com at http://www.powerhomebiz.com


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use