Use in opt-in publications, or on Web sites, but please include resource box.

Please send me a copy, if possible. Many thanks.

**

Summary: You can do, be and have, anything you want. As long as you get started. Take baby steps: one tiny step after another, even when you have no real idea of how you're going to get to your destination, beyond next step.

Category: Small Business

Words: 950

Baby Steps To Business Success

Copyright © 2003 by Angela Booth

You can do, be and have, anything you want. As long as you get started. Take baby steps: one tiny step after another, even when you have no real idea of how you're going to get to your destination, beyond next step.

Taking baby steps involves faith, but faith isn't something you have. It's something you do. Meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg says: "faith is about realizing that we don't have to be defined by circumstances we find ourselves in. It's seeing that our lives are a lot bigger, filled with far more potential than we usually imagine… we can step into unknown and make a new beginning." (From article "Finding Connection" in The Oprah Magazine, September 2002.)

So how do you do this?

==> One: Decide on your destination

If journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, you need to decide where you're headed.

Where are you going? What do you want? If you want to own your own business, decide that that's your destination. If you want to write a book, decide that that's what you want to do.

Sometimes we're so scared of failing, that we don’t make that initial commitment, that decision. We never say: "This is what I want".

Decide. Right now. And write down your decision. Buy a small notebook, or open a new computer file. When you write it down, both left and right parts of your brain take notice.

If you feel nervous, reassure yourself that all you're going to do is take baby steps. One teeny step at a time, just whatever feels right for you in moment. You won't ever ask yourself to do anything you are not capable of doing in next moment.

==> Two: Wait for your intuition to guide you to next step

Remember that still small voice within you?

That still small voice isn't Spoiler. The Spoiler is a negative demon. It says: "you can't; you shouldn't; you won't; it's too hard; you'll never get there; who do you think you are?"

The knack to handling Spoiler is recognizing it when it chirps up. Here's a cute imaginative exercise to muffle Spoiler.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine Spoiler. What does it look like? Is it big, with a bulging head and massive eyebrows, and --- what's your image of Spoiler?

Use in opt-in publications, or on Web sites, but please include resource box.

Please send me a copy, if possible. Many thanks.

**

Summary: Take time to create presentations for your meetings, and sign up more business.

Category: Small Business

Words: 1050

Powerful Presentations Build Your Business

Copyright (c) 2003 by Angela Booth

You've set up a meeting with a potential client. You've dressed appropriately, your shoes are shined. You've got your portfolio and your business cards, and you have an idea of what you want out of meeting. In a word: you want business.

This is way 95 per cent of small business people approach meetings. However, if you spend a little more time preparing your presentation, you'll make a more powerful impact and will get more work.

The major rule is: when you've landed a meeting, always make a proposal. Have a clear idea of exactly what you want. You present your proposal via a carefully scripted, and rehearsed, presentation. This is not time to leave anything to chance, or to wing it.

Before you can create your presentation, you need to know what your proposal is. For example, let's say you're a freelance copywriter approaching a graphics design agency, with a view to being considered as a sub-contractor.

Remembering "WIIFM", (What's In It For Me), you realize that you will need to create your presentation's proposal from view of agency.

Before you do anything else, make a long list of What's In It For Them. Why does it make sense for them to sub-contract work out to you?

What's In It For Them is heart of your proposal. On your notes, make sure you put WIIFT on each page, so that it stays at front of your mind. It's easy to make mistake of talking about what you want, but please don't. You can leave a CD copy of your presentation with prospect, but again, it MUST focus on how you can help them.

==> Preparing your presentation

The easiest way to prepare your presentation is to use presentation software. If you own Microsoft Office, then you also own Microsoft PowerPoint, it's part of Office. It's worth taking time to learn to use PowerPoint. It makes creating an effective presentation easy.

What do you put into a presentation? Your proposal, and supporting material. Remember agency wants to know what's in it for them --- how you can help them make money, save money, and make their lives easier and more pleasant. Everything you include in your presentation --- kind of work you do, items from your portfolio, testimonials from satisfied clients --- must relate to *them*.

Think of presentation as being a combination of a speech, an advertisement for your services, a showing of your portfolio, and a proposal, all rolled into one. Aim to make it around 10 to 15 minutes long. Have some fun with creating presentation. Include plenty of slides with bullet points, and graphics.