People nowadays always want to stay connected whenever and wherever they are. May it be for personal or business reasons, everyone wants to be connected may it be via the Internet or phone most especially for people in the corporate world where time is always of the essence.

Even with the progress of technology, this generation has yet to develop gadgets that can stay powered up forever, thus the need for standby power that could be used anytime and anywhere. This is the reason why power banks have become a basic necessity in this day age, a handy gadget that one could not possibly live without, and an ideal custom corporate gifts for people who are always on the go.

It is not enough to go for just about any other portable phone chargers. It should also be custom-made for its to carry the brand of the company. These gadgets become the extension of the company’s identity and it will be the symbol of the company’s gratitude to its recipients, may it be customers who have patronized the company’s products or partners in the company’s operation. The same logic also applies for items that are used to promote a company. Custom promotional items are very effective in reaching out the target customer demographics and are very helpful when it comes to brand retention.

Given all these, the company should make sure that the power banks should be custom-made to carry the logo of the company or any indicator of the company’s brand.

Another important factor that needs to be considered is the specification of the power bank. It should be able to match the needs of the target recipient.

The most basic specification that has to be taken into account is the electrical charge that the batteries of the power bank can hold. This is usually represented by mAh or milliampere-hour. This techy gadget relies on the available power it has in its storage. Thus, ideally, the higher power that it can store, the more reliable it is when it comes to long hours of usage.

Another important specification is portability. Power banks come in various shapes and sizes. Usually, bigger power banks have bigger electricity capacity because they have bigger batteries. There are people who are not so keen on bringing along bulky gadgets along with them while others do not mind. If the intended recipients are women, they would most likely go for the more portable ones that they could easily slip into their pouches.

The number of ports is also an important factor especially if the would-be recipients are the kind who bring along a lot of gadgets with them. Otherwise, a simple one USB port power bank would be enough to do the job.

To put it simply, when choosing the right power bank for corporate gifts it is important to assess to whom these would be intended for. For example, if the gifts are for people who are the outdoor type, they would appreciate getting power banks with high mAh even if it means that it would not be so portable.

Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a must in today's society. But despite this, many people do not have anything in place should the worst happen and they need someone to step in and manage their finances and well being for them.

A Power of Attorney is a document that allows someone you nominate to step in and manage your finances should you not be mentally capable of doing so.

Losing our capacity is not something any of us like to consider a possibility, however it is something that can happen to anyone and we should all be prepared. A few cost effective actions now can save a great deal of time, expense and emotional upset at a later date. As if you lose your capacity without having a LPA in place then your next of kin will have to go down the route of obtaining a guardianship which is a long and very expensive process.

Again, despite this being basic fact many people still make excuses not to put a Power of Attorney in place.

Some of the excuses that I have heard include:

I'm to young to need a Lasting Power of Attorney, those are for old people.

No, they are not, you're never to young to need a LPA. When people think of losing capacity most of us think of elderly people with dementia, however losing capacity is not something that just happens to the elderly, and there are other ways besides dementia to lose our capacity. There are many ways to lose your mental capacity, an illness, a road traffic accident, a medical accident / negligence, or an assault are just some of the unfortunate events that can lead to a loss of capacity and these can happen at any age.

Lasting Powers of attorney give to much power to other people

No, attorneys cannot do whatever they like. You nominate your attorneys and hopefully that means you would nominate someone you would trust, and if you fall out or have a mishap in the meantime you can amend your Power of Attorney anytime before it is registered. You can also set limits on what your attorneys can and cannot do in the document. If you don't want them to be able to sell your home for instance then you can stipulate that. As well as you having control of what the attorneys can and cannot do via the document you sign, the attorneys are also bound by laws to always act in your best interest and there are repercussions if they fail to do this.

If I make a Lasting Power of Attorney I have to register it right now, I'll wait until it is needed.

No, it is entirely possible to write and sign a LPA but keep hold of it until you want to use it. This is because in order for a LPA to be used it must be registered, until it is registered it is just a piece of paper. So, you can make one when you are in your 30's and not register it until you need it in your 70's. Waiting until the LPA is needed is very dangerous, as you cannot make a power of attorney when you have lost capacity

In order to make a power of attorney the person making it must have capacity. They must be able to understand and agree to and what they are signing.

A Lasting Power of Attorney doesn't last forever so what's the point

There are different types of power of attorney, LPA are permanent, but an Ordinary power of attorney is not. An ordinary Power of Attorney is a document that you can set up to allow someone to look after your affairs while you are not able to, if for example you are out of the country, or unable to leave the house, or are in hospital for a while. This document gives someone else authority to act on your behalf. It is only valid while you still have mental capacity to make your own decisions about your finances. You can limit the power you give to your attorney so that they can only deal with certain assets, for example, your bank account but not your home.

I can only have one attorney and I don't want to choose, it will cause fights in the family

No, you can have more than one attorney. The role of attorney is difficult at times and there is a lot of responsibility. So you can spread that about by having more than one attorney. This is called a joint attorney. You can appoint any number of attorneys in the same lasting power and you can specify if they can act on their own separately or if they must act jointly and come together. You can have them act jointly on some issues such as sale of property but have them act singly on all other issues there is a lot of flexibility and it is entirely up to you.

It's too expensive to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney

It might have been expensive at one point in the past but these days it really isn't. you can hire a solicitor to do this for you at a fixed fee, usually a couple of hundred pounds. Or you can have a go at it yourself using the government website which guides you through the process by asking you basic questions and completing the form on your behalf. It then provides you with instructions on how to sign the document to make it compliant with the regulations.

As you will have noticed the excuses people have for avoiding a LPA are simply untrue. The majority of people do not have a LPA waiting in the wings simply because it is one of those jobs that is often put aside for later, dismissed as unnecessary or considered too expensive.

You should now have a much clearer understanding of why a Lasting Power of Attorney is essential.

When your ex dumps you, she’s taken charge of your relationship by being the person who ended it. This leaves you little or no power as you try desperately to get your ex back. The more you beg, plead, and make desperate attempts to win back her love, the further the balance shifts in her favor. She’s got your whole life in the palm of her hand, and she’s holding all the cards. What’s worse is that you continue to give her more cards, while tipping your own hand for her to see. This is the absolute worst way to get your exgirlfriend back.

In order to realize the mistakes you’re making, you need to understand why these are errors in the first place. Telling her you love her may sound like a good idea to you; after all, it’s what she wanted you to say all throughout your relationship. But now? Telling her you love her is only going to broaden her smile. Your ex finally has what she’s wanted all along: your attention. And while she has it, there’s no reason for her to give it up. As you continue to grovel for your relationship back, she not only enjoys being the one in charge… she also starts to see you differently. Suddenly you’re weak, and you lack confidence. The strength and drive she once saw in you have been replaced by an overwhelming neediness she’s never seen before. This causes her to lose respect for you as a person, and as a potential mate.

All those notes you’ve written and left on her car… all those phone calls and emails you’ve sent her… your ex adds these to the piles of desperate measures you’ve used to try and win back your girlfriend. Most of these things come too little too late. You need to put down the phone and cancel the order you just placed at the florist. Giving your ex attention, flowers, and showering her with apologies is not the way to get back together with your girlfriend. The only true way back into your ex’s heart is by making her realize she stands to lose you.

But she’s already dumped you, right? True enough. Even so, your exgirlfriend hasn’t had to face what life will be like without you in it. This is because you’re still hanging onto her leg, in plain sight, and she knows she can have you back in the blink of an eye. Instead, you need to let go. Disappear for a while. Start your ex wondering about where you went, and what you’re doing. If you can do this, all of a sudden she’ll become a lot more interested in you than she was when you were clinging to your relationship and begging her to come back to you. The balance of power begins to shift, ever-so-slightly, in your favor here.

And then what happens? You continue to seize control. You do this by ending all contact with your ex, and not even answering the “feeler” calls or emails that she’ll inevitably put out there once you disappear. You do this by turning your attention inward and concentrating on yourself for a while. And most of all, you do this by going out and having the best times of your life with friends, family, and everyone else you can think of. Once your ex sees you totally unbothered by the end of your relationship, she’ll start to realize you’ve accepted the break up. And not only that, she’ll start thinking you’re moving on as well. This scares her, because now you’re suddenly ahead of her in this race to a new life. Your ex is sitting there stalled out, and you’ve zoomed past her.

Learning how to get back your ex-girlfriend can involve an incredibly complicated series of moves and strategies, depending upon the circumstances of your break up. The sooner you get started on shifting the balance of power in your favor, the better off you’ll be. And the more you can learn, the greater your chances of getting back together again. As with everything else in life, knowledge is power.

If you are someone who has become unmotivated and this is starting to impact your mindset, you are setting yourself up for further disappointment when you start on a new lifestyle plan. It can be a frustrating place to be. The issue is this: you feel as though you fail every time you try. This limiting belief means you do not put in as much effort as you should, or are not confident in your abilities. Each time you work up the courage to try again, these beliefs typically lead you down a path that does not produce results. Frustration sets in and you begin the cycle all over again, and this is less than optimal if you hope to maximize your success. So how can you fix this? What is the solution?

Change your mindset. You have to believe you can see the results you are wanting. If you can come to accept this, you can begin to look at the results you are seeking. Seems simple enough, right?

Here’s how to do it…

1. Analyze Your Previous Failures. First, you will want to look at your previous failures with your attempt to get fit and control your diet and work out what caused you to “fall off the bandwagon.” Perhaps it is something you didn’t have control over.

However, you now berate yourself because of it: this is not fair to you and is not doing you any favors. When you can see what is happening from an “outside” perspective, it can go a long way towards helping you reach the success you are looking for.

2. Talk to Others. It is also essential you talk to other people. Ask them how they arrived where they are today. Ask them if they would share some of their setbacks with you. The reason for doing this is not to probe, but rather to help you come to see everyone has set-backs from time to time. It is all a matter of perspective. Some view them as a chance to grow while others view them as a reason to not try again.

3. Look At Other Areas Of Your Life. Finally, consider other areas of your life. Have you failed in those? Moreover, are you doing okay now? As you will likely come to see, everyone fails at different areas of their life at least once or twice. However, if you pick yourself up, you will eventually see success. Now, this may be taking you a bit longer than you planned, but if you keep at it and work hard, you will get results. It is just a matter of using the right techniques along with a healthy mindset.

Keep these points in mind. Remember your mindset is very powerful for your overall results so you must do everything you can to ensure you have a healthy mindset as you set out on a new lifestyle plan.

One the most famous demographers (study of demographics) in the United States is Ken Dychtwald. He’s written sixteen books on the subject, and consults Presidents, World Leaders, and top CEOs of major companies. Not only does he study US demographics but has something to say about Japan’s aging population, and China’s, as well as the European’s.

Recently, I re-read; “Age Power – How the 21st Century Will Be Ruled by the Old” by Ken Dychtwald, PhD., Penguin Putnam Book Publishers, New York, NY, 2000, 266 pages, ISBN: 0-87477-594-5. Although this book was written in 1999 and re-published in 2000 and was a best-seller, what has changed since then? Not much actually, and all of Ken’s predictions are playing out now.

Most of us know about this problem, and most of us have older members of our family who may soon be in need of long-term care and caregiver services. Are we prepared, what are we going to do when that time comes, how will we know when it’s time to get a little extra help for mom or dad?

How bad is the problem really? Ken Dychtwald talks about a demographic “Train Wreck” and coming demographic crisis in the United States. No, it’s not just here, but it could become a far worse problem here. He states: “A caregiving crunch could become the social and economic sink hole of the 21st century.”

So what does Ken Dychtwald, PhD. mean by this statement? Well, it’s simple, there will not be enough money for families to take care of all the elderly seniors in the last decade of their lives, or enough money in the US treasury to pay for everyone’s caregiver services during that time. He also explains that unless 10’s of millions of caregivers are trained in the next decade there won’t be enough people to meet demand – not even enough people for those families who can afford the services.

We will all be saved by new live-longevity breakthroughs? Don’t count on it says Dychtwald, sure we may live little longer with technological enhancements, but eventually we are going to need help and if health care costs continue to rise, it’s going to a crisis.

After reading chapter six of this book; “The Caregiving Crunch” I am even more convinced that there is a great need for reasonable and affordable in-home care services, as families need an agency with trained, reliable, and back-ground checked caregivers. It’s needed now more than ever. This niche must be filled. Our nation’s seniors and their quality of life depend on it.

Power banks have become an important lifeline today. The modern phones as we know them have become so powerful and this is true with each launch. The consumption of power has also increased. Companies add features and there are so many apps that will use up your power. This takes a toll on the battery too. There are some features that actually use your power even when the phone is not being used. With this in mind, a private charger is a very important thing in our lives today.

Even with the demands that are made on our phones on a daily basis and the battery requirements, most phone companies keep on going for the slimmer smartphones. This is a race that has caught most companies today. If you are traveling, you will have to deal with some much power issues, especially if you cannot get a power outlet. Portable batteries are slowly bringing back sanity to the society.

What they are

A portable battery is not a smartphone power supply that is endless. This is basically a storage device for power. It has batteries that can be recharged over and over again. It can have one battery or up to eight batteries at a time. This means that you can carry your own power with you wherever you go and stay connected at all times. Remember to replenish the batteries of the portable gadget as soon as you get a chance to.

Important tips

Phones have become a great part of life and as such, a portable battery is an important addition. You need to research well before making the purchase or you may end up disappointed.

Capacity

You will have to consider the capacity of the portable battery. This is an aspect that is very important for the battery. It is important to consider the capacity that you need so as to find a basis on which to start the search.

The first thing to do is to check the smartphone battery capacity. If it is for primary use, then you should consider two times the capacity of the battery. This means that you can use it to recharge at least twice.

Power output and USB ports

When you have a portable battery that has more USB ports, it means that you can charge your devices at the same time if you have many. You should also consider how fast you would be able to charge as this is a feature that is very important. Ensure that the cable is compatible with this.

You should choose the number of parts based on the use you intend for them. If you just have a single phone, then a single USB should be enough.

Portability

This one goes without saying. Portability is very important. Having additional power is an amazing thing and it should be easy to carry around or it beats logic. Smaller capacities are usually smaller in size. You should never buy a portable battery that proves difficult to carry with you. It should be of a high quality too, regardless of the size and should be able to serve the purpose that it is meant for.

If you’ve played golf for more than one season, then you’ve experienced the disappearing swing syndrome. It strikes without warning, irrespective of skill level.

To quote the late Bobby Jones in his masterful book, Secrets of The Masters:”one always feels that he is running from something, without knowing exactly what nor where it is.”

In most sports, sound mechanics and dedicated practice offer some assurance of constant improvement. In golf, however, there are no guarantees.

The first step to consistency is accepting that results are beyond your control. The second step is learning how to minimize the effect of the disappearing swing syndrome by deliberately controlling your attention.

Based on my experience with over eleven-thousand students, most once-a-week golfers assume that faulty memory is the culprit; you must have forgotten to lock your left elbow or shift your weight or cock your wrists or…

While beating yourself up may provide some satisfaction to assuage the masochistic tendencies (which is universal to all golfers), it only serves to exacerbate the symptom. Attempting to rationalize the collapse usually leads to an endless cycle of fault-finding and error correction which in turn manifests in the proverbial blow-up hole.

Contrary to popular belief, the culprit is not a lack of memory, but rather trying to recall every nuance of proper technique. The secret to a quick recovery is re-directing your attention to the feel of your best shots.

Every golfer has heard that golf is a game of feel. How you feel is a by-product of your attention. What you pay attention to affects how you feel; the better you feel, the greater the odds of creating your best swing.

At least one-third of the time in a round of golf is walking/riding between shots. Use the time to mentally replay past success and recall the predominant feel.

Have you ever been stuck behind a student driver? Do you ever wonder why they are going so slowly? The student is trying to pay attention to everything; oncoming cars, traffic lights, when to apply the brakes, etc. They haven’t developed the ability to distinguish between attention and awareness.

Regardless of skill level, every golfer can consistently play to the best of their ability by focusing on desired results instead of replaying past mistakes. The biggest misconception in traditional golf instruction is asking a student to constantly recall mistakes instead of trusting their natural ability to just hit the damn ball!

Thanks for reading.

Saying ‘Yes!’ to standing in your power is an affirmation and celebration of life. So, let’s explore how to use ‘Yes’ in ways that both ground you and expand your potential.

Time Management and Time Boundaries

Time management often focuses exclusively on saying ‘No.’

It’s a powerful word that establishes and maintains all-important boundaries. And, indeed, as you protect your time against unhelpful distractions and unnecessary or unreasonable demands, you free it up to welcome special opportunities.

So what you choose to do with that freed up time is that you’re saying ‘Yes’ to. And this is every bit as important as saying ‘No’ when it comes to time management. In fact, sometimes it’s more challenging than saying ‘No’ because what you say ‘Yes’ to is so powerfully defining. Your ‘Yes’ defines your path. And before you get to that ‘Yes’ there’s that question that Mary Oliver asks in her poem, “The Summer Day”:

“… Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?”

Avenues of Opportunity

Your best preparation, as you think about what you want to say ‘Yes’ to, is cultivating a friendly inner dialog. Every caring question and searching response you provide helps you zero in on what matters the most. And the more your priorities exist in harmony, the easier it gets to be decisive and to open new doors with ‘Yes!’

Getting Clear

You might ask yourself these foundational questions to start clarifying your preferences and priorities:

1. What gives meaning to your life? List areas that you are drawn to.

2. What activities relax you?

3. Which ones energize you?

4. How much of your time do you want to commit to working toward life goals?

5. Do you prefer relating to one person at a time, or do you enjoy groups? Make note of situations that you seek out or avoid.

Write down your answers and sit with them for a bit, letting your thoughts and feelings percolate. Does anything in particular strike you? Write that down, too.

Next, sort your answers into clusters and take note of any shared themes.

* Which activities align most naturally with your current priorities?

* What current pastimes would you like to say ‘No’ to?

* Which new possibilities might you like to say ‘Yes’ to?

Examining these groups of activities and priorities is very revealing! For example, you might find that some habitual ways that you spend time conflict with goals you value.

Let Go and Flow…

As you simplify your life by letting go of what no longer fits, you experience a new level of flow. That’s because your time choices work together, supporting one another.

This extends beyond you, too. As your time choices harmonize, you send a clear and powerful message to those around you. You may be surprised by how you are supported on many levels as you live your ‘Yes.’

INTRODUCTION

Are you thinking about starting a business in 2019, but don’t know how or even where to begin? This article outlines the biggest obstacles to overcome, what you need to start your business, and what to do after year one!

THE MYTHS OF STARTING A BUSINESS

When thinking about starting a business you want to think about “Why are you starting the business?” Often times someone decides to start a business with the mindset they will have more free time, work at home, and have a flexible schedule. Unfortunately, it is important to avoid these myths. Majority of the time, starting a business isn’t any of these things. Instead, it is long hours, working at home may be a distraction, less flexibility, and there are many hats to juggle. It’s completely different then working for a company and it is important to keep all of this in mind when deciding if starting a business is right for you. If it is, then let’s dive into getting started with your business idea!

Attitude is EVERYTHING. You need to always keep a cheery attitude. Many things are going to happen during the lifecycle of the company, both good and bad, and the most important thing is to keep a positive attitude.

BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

The two biggest obstacles startups face when starting a business is money and reputation. You need to make sure you are able to stay afloat and have a means of financing when starting out. And reputation is also an obstacle because you don’t have a reputation or customers. Unless you start out with a group of customers, most of the time you are starting out very alone.

WHAT YOU NEED?

VIABLE PRODUCT

You need to provide a product/service that people want to buy. Researching similar products/services is important to see what else is out there that is similar to your idea and then determine how your product will be better than the competition. It is also important to be able to bring experience to the table. It is the experience you have that will make the company. Typically, you want to have a niche so you can take a focused approach and decide what type of company you want it to be. Lastly, you need to consider if you can sell enough of your product or service to make a living. Will you be able to cover all of the expenses and salaries that come with a business?

BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan is absolutely essential. What is a business plan?

Start with an executive summary, which is a high-level description of what the business is going to do. Next, you need a business description that lays out the business in detail. Then, comes the market analysis, who is going to be your customer and who is your competition? Next, is organization management. Who is going to manage the business? Are you going to manage it yourself or are you going to hire someone from the outside to handle your business? Most of the time you are starting off managing the business yourself. Next, you need a sales strategy, what type of sales strategy are you going to encompass? And lastly, you need to include funding requirements and financial projections. What kind of funding do you need to start the business and how much do you project to make?

A written plan is critical. It is absolutely essential you write down the above information on paper.

There are many business plan templates available to help. Even if you are an established business, you don’t need anything complicated. An additional resource is a simple roadmap. This breaks out month by month projections for 2 years. What trade shows will you attend? How many people will you hire? What type of marketing campaigns will you run?

Last, goals are extremely important. You need to set specific goals in your business plan so you know where you are heading.

MEANS OF FINANCING

How will you finance your business? Some of the key questions to ask are how much money will you need to stay afloat? Will you be taking a salary? What will your non-salary expenses be? How many people do you plan on hiring the first year? What about company benefits? Even if you are by yourself, you will need benefits and insurance. These are all questions you need to think about.

Should you self-finance or take out a loan? Self-financing is often recommended if you have enough money in the bank to float the business and your salary for a year or two. This option reduces the pressure. The last thing you want is pressure from creditors. Loans are going to be difficult to procure. If you manage to get a loan, you will have to personal guarantee and you will need collateral.

There is also the possibility for a financial business partner, however, a financial business partner can often lead to meddling and pressure. It also may cause you to run the business differently then you envisioned. Remember, you are starting the business to put your own spin on it!

A fourth option is a funding company. This is a viable option because they will often do your payroll and invoicing for you. Sometimes the funding company will provide a basic ATS system as well that could help you start off. The downside to a funding company is often it is hard to breakaway. You need to pay off loans with interest and sometimes it isn’t financially feasible to breakaway. If you use a funding company, you want to make sure you understand the agreement and know what it takes to step away from the funding company.

Some additional funding options, are family, small business grants, and crowdfunding/internet. It is really up to your discretion though if this is a good option for you. Small business grants tend to be hard to secure and a lengthy process. Crowdfunding, gives you small amounts of money from a large number of people. It is an unusual option, but could work.

How much should you pay yourself? It depends on the industry, but typically your first year’s salary is $34K to $75K. You also have to be prepared to possibly make nothing for a couple of years! It is important to prepare for that. You don’t want to get yourself into a debt situation.

First Year Profits. Very few businesses make a profit their first year. It is incredibly important to not get discouraged if this is the case and continue to soldier on. Generally, it takes two to three years for profits to kick in.

COMPANY NAME

Make sure you create a company name that you like and represents the “look & feel” of the business. Avoid using your name, leave that to the law and accounting firms! Sometimes it makes you look small. You always want to make yourself look larger than you are. Lastly, consider a name that begins with an “A” to appear high on lists.

Next, you will need to form a corporation. You can’t just start selling stuff! A good best practice is to get a book and read about the different kinds of corporations. You really need to understand how this works if you are running a business.

You will need an EIN (Employer Identification Number). Then you will need to decide what kind of corporation you want to form. There are C corporations, which is an Inc. company. You may have heard the term “Cannot pierce the company veil.” That means if you start a C corporation, no one can sue you personally. They have to sue the corporation. Additionally, you file taxes separate from your personal taxes. This is a great option because it allows you to keep your personal and business affairs separate. For S corporations, this is not the case. Your personal and business tax returns are the same. One advantage to keep in mind, if you want to sell the company there are often tax advantages. If you form a C corporation, it is very difficult and expensive to form a S corporation afterwards. If you don’t plan on keeping the business for a long period of time, forming a S corporation may be a viable option. Additionally, there are corporations called Limited Liability Company (LLC). You can also form a not for profit, but you must be careful with that and make sure you qualify.

The best thing to do is consult with your attorney and accountant to find out which corporation is the best for you. Once you form your corporation, you will need to get a business license, register with the state, and get a bank account.

MARKETING YOUR HEADQUARTERS

Marketing your headquarters is just as important as everything else. An outside office is a good route to go because it projects professionalism. The first year you will be spending a lot of time PROVING you are a real business. One of the best ways to prove this is to have an office. This avoids the dog barking in the background while on the phone. Additionally, it helps you focus. There is no temptation to throw a load of laundry in! An office is also a great place to meet people. You don’t want to constantly have to meet at a coffee shop. Especially today when you are trying to recruit people, you want to convey professionalism.

You don’t need to start off in a fancy office. Some cities offer temporary space. In Chicago, you can get an office for $350-$700 a month that includes 1-3 private offices, a corporate mailing address, a receptionist/company phone #, WIFI, meeting rooms, and a furnished space/kitchen. If a temporary space is not an option in your city, you can also rent a small office. Get inexpensive yet trendy furniture! You can also get a starter internet phone system.

If a physical space is absolutely not in the budget, you can get a “Virtual Office.” You can purchase a virtual office as low as $99/month and it provides you with a corporate address, receptionist, meeting rooms, and calls going out appear to come from your company name.

MARKETING COLLATERAL

You NEED professional marketing materials and business cards. It is essential to find a good designer, but it doesn’t have to be expensive as long as the materials look good. You only need the basics to start out. Most of the time you are producing an e-brochure, e-mail template, and a one-page handout to distribute at trade shows and when visiting clients. Do not make these yourself. Even if you are graphically oriented, you shouldn’t spend time doing this. You need to be on the phone making business calls.

Everything you send needs to make a statement and spell “success” with your materials. You need to look like an established company.

You will also need a logo. You may want to get a professional to design your logo that costs a little more. This will make a statement about your company and you will have it for a while. Letterhead is optional. Mostly, you probably aren’t sending a lot of letters, but if you plan to send letters you will need letterhead. You will need a proposal template since you will be sending many proposals to clients. Lastly, you absolutely need a website. If you don’t have a website, you aren’t a legitimate business these days. People want to look you up and if they can’t find you on the internet then it is a red flag. Again, do not make the website yourself. You can always tell if it is a self-made website. Two essential items for your website, is an inquiry form and mobile optimization. Your website must be mobile optimized because everyone is searching on their phone.

MARKETING TACTICS

Simple questions to ask yourself is who are you selling to? Who else is selling to them? What is your focus? Why should a customer choose you? These are basic questions, but you would be surprised how many small business owners can’t give a good answer to these questions.

E-mail marketing is important; however, it shouldn’t be your main focus. A very low percentage of e-mails actually get opened due to the mass amounts of e-mails everyone receives daily. Cold calling is a favorite of many. It is essential so you must like to cold call. Always leave a message. Many times, people prefer to call back later, however, leaving a message begins to build that relationship. If they are looking for the solution you offer, who will they call? Mailings are also good to add into you marketing mix to send out a couple of times a year. Jumbo postcards mailings are always a good option. There are many professional postcard companies online that will design the postcard and handle distributing it to your mailing addresses. You always want to follow-up with a phone call to get better results. Trade shows are great to attend, but can get expensive. This is a good way though to get your name out there. Social Media is very important these days. If you don’t know anything about social media, take an online course. Many people are on social media so it is a great way to reach those that are on it. Lastly, referrals/networking is extremely important. Once you start to get customers, you will be able to get referrals. And networking is a great way to meet new people. Always attend events that potential clients may be at.

SALES

Business owners should know how to sell. The most important thing is to believe in your company and be able to sell the concept. You have to know why your product/service is the best and learn how to sell why it’s the best. At the end of the day, customers are buying “YOU.” In most cases, your product is not one of a kind. You need to convince the customer that “YOU” are the one.

If you are new and a small company, buying from you is a risk. You have to overcome this your first year. Someone will have to be your first customer. How will you prove that you are not a risk? This is something you need to think about and be ready to answer when you are asked. One way to do this, is say if you work with me, I will be handling your account personally. You want to put together a list of benefits that you being a smaller company will be able to offer verse a large company.

SALES CONTRACT

Once you get your first customer, you MUST have a contract. Don’t use your uncle’s attorney who specializes in drawing up wills. You need an attorney who knows your business and specializes in it. Steal a contract template from online that depicts your business and says everything it needs to say. Using an attorney to write up a contract from scratch is extremely expensive and most of the time you can get a better one online anyway. In the sales contract, DO NOT concede on important points. How do you know what the important points are? One way is to ask your attorney. What is it on this contract that I should never modify? One item you will find on most standard contracts is if litigation occurs it goes to the seller’s state. You never want to change this in the contract because if something does come up, you will need to hire an attorney in another state and that can get very expensive. Most people know that it goes to the seller’s state, however, some people will want to change this. You never want to mess with your contract without consulting your attorney.

Always remember, do not give away the store. You will always want the business, but it won’t be good if you concede on too many matters. You have to calculate in your business plan and your financial projections what you are going to charge. If you get business that you aren’t going to charge what you need to charge, then you might as well not get it. You need to spend your time on business that will be profitable.

ORGANIZATIONS/TRAINING

You need to be in both national and local organizations because it gives you instant credibility. Anyone who is part of a national organization knows you get high-level training and gain industry knowledge. Additionally, you learn about legislation. You need to know the laws. Local organizations accomplish the same, but you get local related industry knowledge and legislation. You can also attend local events verse spending money flying somewhere. Joining both national and local organizations are very important for instant credibility.

EMPLOYEES

Eventually, you are going to need to hire employees. You must have an employee agreement. Again, you can grab a template online and run it by your attorney. When you hire someone, you will need to give them a written offer letter, benefits, and an employee agreement.

You will need to figure out how much you will pay your employees and also what benefits you will give them. Being a small business, you may want to give your employees better benefits they can’t get anywhere else so there is an incentive to work for your business. You will also need to figure out working hours and supplies you are going to provide.

Additionally, an employee handbook is essential. You can purchase a corporate handbook template and customize it by filling in the blanks. You want to provide all of your employees a copy on their first day and update it each year. The handbook should provide guidelines on all processes and policies, such as a mission statement, vacation/PTO policies, etc. You never want to be unclear with anything.

What does a good employee profile look like? You need team players and someone who has a passion for the job. You don’t want someone to drag them self in every day. You also want your employees to be determined and dedicated. If you provide your employees with incentives, they will most likely be dedicated.

It is up to YOU to keep your employees motivated. Engaging your employees is important. Talk to them and see what they think about different topics. You also need to align your metrics and have goals for your employees to reach for. Goals help increase employee productivity. It is important to identify and remove internal roadblocks that can harm an employee’s productivity. Training and professional development opportunities are important for your employees. And lastly, you must always remember to focus on your business strategy. You can’t please every market. If a client isn’t the right fit and will cause more stress for everyone at your company, pass the business up.

ACCOUNTING

Probably the most boring thing about owning a business is accounting, payroll, taxes, etc. Unless you like these things of course! Unfortunately, if you don’t, you have to think about these things when owning a business.

PAYROLL

For payroll, you can hire an outside payroll company, have your accounting firm do it, or do it yourself through a payroll software. You must file your payroll taxes, otherwise you can go to jail. You also want to make sure you avoid high late penalties. The government will charge you if you are late on anything.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Make sure you send out invoices to customers promptly because the sooner you send them out, the sooner the money comes in. Cashflow is extremely important. You have to stay on top of open invoices, even if your accounting firm is doing your invoices, more then likely they are not going to make collection calls. You will also need to send out a statement of account, which is a document that outlines everything the customer owes. When you send this out, people tend to pay quicker because they see all of the money they owe.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

You must pay your bills promptly in order to secure a good credit rating. You want to have a good credit rating because prospects are going to run a D&B on your company. Get rid of credit cards that you do not use because this can also harm your credit score. Additionally, avoid running up credit card debt. Do not get into debt no matter what. It will kill the business and stress you out.

FINANCIALS

There are two very important documents you must have. One, is a balance sheet (assets & liabilities). Assets are cash in the bank, furniture you might have, etc. Liabilities are accounts payable, outstanding loans, collecting 401K from an employee, etc. Second, is an income statement (revenue/expenses/profit.) This would include what your sales and expenses are. You take what you sold, minus expenses, and that is what your profit is. At the end of the year, that profit gets carried over to your balance sheet and becomes part of your owner equity for the next year.

It is very important to understand your financials. If you don’t, get a book, attend a seminar, etc. You don’t want to rely on your accountant. You have to be cautious of embezzlement when hiring an outside company so it’s key to understand your financials and be able to notice anything that doesn’t look right.

CORPORATE TAX FILING

Never do your corporate tax filing yourself. It is complicated and, more importantly, you will always want an accounting firm to sign off on it.

IMPLEMENTATION & SOFTWARE TOOLS

IMPLEMENTATION

At some point, you have to deliver the product/service. If you are a staffing firm and are placing candidates, you have to make sure they stick or you will not get paid. You also need to always provide high quality service. High quality service means repeat business and referrals. This is one way to help grow your company.

SOFTWARE TOOLS

If you are a staffing company, you need a database that can manage clients and candidates. Make sure you input all clients, candidates, and follow-ups into the solution. A cloud-based software is the way to go with an easy monthly subscription fee. Training is very important. You need to know how to use your software. If you are going to invest in software, use that tool to help grow your business. It will make processes more efficient. It can also help increase customer service. If someone is out of the office and a question comes in from a client, you can take a look at the notes in the software and see where everything was last left with that client. You don’t need to wait for that person to be back in the office.

Once you invest in your software, implement a mandatory use policy for your employees. For this you will need a process handbook. The book defines what you want them to enter and how you want them to enter it. Data not entered leaves when an employee leaves. This is your data, this is your business, you want to keep it in the business. Additionally, with software you can monitor performance and gather important statistics on employee performance and the business. In order to continue to grow your business, you need a way to generate reports and identify what is going well in your business and where you need to improve.

AFTER YEAR ONE

In year two, you are going to capitalize on your achievements. You will have customer references to help bring in new business. You are going to be able to invest more in your business. You can invest in more employee training, updating your website, attending an additional trade show, and maybe it is the time to move into your new office!

After year one, you want to assess how the first year went and come up with a new business plan for year two. Every year you want to come up with a new business plan. You will want to brainstorm with your team new ideas and make sure everyone is communicating what their plan is for the next year. This helps guarantee there are no inefficiencies and that no one is doing the same work twice.

Each year, you will want to continue to hone your skill set and processes. You want to constantly challenge yourself and change your company as the industry changes. You must continue to be passionate about what you are doing. The minute you are no longer passionate, sell the business! ALWAYS continue to dream, but not only dream, but take action and make it happen. Make sure you celebrate success from both a company and employee standpoint. You also have to be willing to take risks if you want your business to be successful, but don’t be reckless. Constantly explore new ways of approaching your business. Know your limits, but never try to stop exceeding them. Lastly, don’t be afraid to let go of low performers. Firing is very painful, but unfortunately it is necessary. Also, don’t be afraid to let go of high performers if they have a bad attitude and are poisoning the environment, they have to go no matter how much money they are making for you.

Finally, everyone always sees the end goal, SUCCESS, but there will always be obstacles along the way. Don’t be afraid of failure. You have to fail a number of times in order to be successful.

Good luck! Start your journey!

Routine care for any property, residential or commercial, is essential for the well-being of its structure, appeal, and value. Seasonal power washing is one highly effective and recommended method used by many property owners to extend the longevity of their home or building. If you have never washed your home’s siding, roofing, and foundations, it may be time to address these areas before they can begin to show signs of mold, mildew, fungus, pests, deterioration, and more.

Prime Spots to Pressure Wash

Various areas of a home or building should be pressure washed regularly in order to maintain its overall value, performance, and safety. Vinyl siding, roofing, gutters, and additional exterior components are all places that can benefit from periodic high pressure washes.

SIDING

Vinyl siding accumulates dirt at a higher pace compared to other siding materials like brick or stone. This means it is very evident when vinyl siding is dirty and unkempt. Residential properties commonly have vinyl siding, and if the surface of the vinyl is not routinely cleaned, the dirt will begin to show, and the house will appear older and more worn that it actually is. Not only does this look unappealing, it can create an unhealthy environment for residents, guests, pets, and more. This is especially detrimental to anyone attempting or preparing to sell their home.

Brick and stone collect dirt as well, but because of their rocky appearance, they hide dirt and debris a little better. This, however, doesn’t reduce the need for cleaning. Brick, stone, and concrete can atrophy over time from harsh weather, changing seasons, and sun exposure. To protect these areas of a building or home, you much routinely pressure wash them and look into protective applications as well.

ROOFS AND MORE

Rooftops, gutters, gables, windows, canopies, and awnings are also areas that can benefit from routine power washing. Gutters can become clogged with leaves, branches, and debris throughout the seasons, which can increase the chances of flooding, pest infestations, and roof leaks. Clearing them by hand can be tedious, so pressure washing is a great alternative for anyone who wants to get the job done efficiently.

When it comes to pressure washing a roof, roof shingles can be easily damaged, so it is a delicate job that requires some experience. If you do not have experience cleaning shingle roofs, it is best to consider hiring a professional. Fortunately, if you do end up damaging your roof shingles by pressure washing them, a professional roof repair company can easily replace missing or broken pieces within a quick timeframe and for a reasonable price.

DIY Power Washing

The proper tools that are required for a do-it-yourself power washing project are available at any local hardware or home improvement store. These devices can range in price depending on brand, model, and retailer, between $100 and $3000 or more. Equipment for pressure washing includes a hose, nozzle, gloves, plastic tarps, safety glasses, and power washing approved cleaning solutions. There needs to also be a power source nearby, such as an extension cord or outlet.

Using high pressure water for the first time can be difficult and dangerous. It can also be expensive if you do not already have the proper materials. Often times, it is less expensive to hire a professional rather than invest in all the proper tools and supplies, as well as the time. Power washing a home or building can be a DIY job if you are experienced with home renovations and familiar with the equipment required for the task.

However, if you have never attempted pressure cleaning before, it is highly advised to learn the necessary knowledge and skills so that you do not damage highly sensitive areas of your home, like the roof or siding. If your roofing, siding, or gutters are damaged by your attempts to power clean them, be sure to contact a professional roof repair contractor right away. It is important to address damages as soon as possible, before they can become worse and more costly to repair.