Has anyone ever made a lot of money doing what they hate? Sure. All the time. But has anyone ever been truly successful doing what they hate? Only if your definition of success does not include personal happiness. We live in a society where there are lots of options. We can choose to go to college or tech school. We can choose to be an entrepreneur or an employee. We can choose to work for a venture capitalist or a non-profit. Whatever your choice, your level of success will greatly depend on choosing options that support your core values and allow you to do things you are truly passionate about. That is because to do a job well requires a great deal of time, effort and personal commitment. It is going to be very hard to devote yourself to something that you are not passionate about.
It is alluring to go find a job in an industry that you heard was easy or profitable. You can certainly be successful at it, if what you want is a 9-5 job, home in the evenings and on weekends, reaching middle management, and retiring on social security plus a modest 401k. There is nothing wrong with that model. Just be sure that is truly what you want from life.
Several people work at whatever job they can get and then seek personal fulfillment from relationships and hobbies. The risk is that relationships can change, and you may not be able to perform your hobbies anymore. There often comes a time when people begin feeling empty and start searching for meaning in what they do.
Let's Get Serious About Your Goals
This is where you change the direction of your life. Once you outline a new set of goals and begin pursuing them, your life will forever change. Whether it changes for the better or for the worse, depends on the goals you set for yourself.
Your goals are the roadmap to your future. At this point in the process, you should be starting to get a picture of what you really want out of life. Now let's get those wants on paper. Make them tangible. Make them real.
Don't set unreachable goals. That will just frustrate you. But don't sell yourself short either. If you want to be President of the United States, that is a realistic goal - unless you were born in Canada. You would have to change the Constitution to become President, and that would probably make that goal unrealistic. If you want to be a professional basketball player, that is a realistic goal - unless you are 60 years old and 5 foot 2. The rule of thumb is, unless there is a physical or legal limitation preventing you from reaching your goal, go for it.
If you are like most people, up until today, other people have been setting your goals for you - your parents, your teachers, your religious leaders, your boss, your spouse. Everything changes today. Today is the day you take control of your life and map your own future.
You are one decision away from changing your life forever.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
New Website
Websites seem to be driving the economy, even the way we think. Here is my latest website. Dallas Franchises
Monday, August 2, 2010
Low Cost Businesses
We are entering the new decade of the entrepreneur. The past decade showed us all the futility of big corporations and mega banks. We are returning to a time where the local shop owner will be honored for helping create the local economy. For many former managers and executives who have found themselves outside of corporate America, low cost franchises and licensed brands can give them the opportunity to enjoy the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, but still provide structure and a systematic approach to their chosen business model.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Profit From New Economic Data
By: Ed Wills
The new economic report is good news for small business.
The National Association for Business Economics released a new report indicating that America's economic is continuing to recover. This is great news, especially considering recent uncertainties.
Here are the basic numbers.
- 31% of businesses increased their number of workers in the past quarter.
- 39% of businesses plan to increase workers over the next 2 quarters.
- 50% fewer companies reported layoffs during the past quarter compared with the same period a year ago.
- 52% of companies reported increased demand for goods and services resulting in improved sales.
But not all the news is good.
- The stock market continues to be unstable as it absorbs and interprets new regulations.
- The housing market and real estate in general continue to be sluggish.
This information is not just academic. There are clues here indicating how to best invest you time and money to take advantage of changes in the economic climate.
First, the stock market is a poor place for your money. This is no surprise to anyone who has lost half of their retirement investment in stocks or mutual funds. Unless you are a very adept trader who can capitalize on market volatility, the stock market should be avoided. But don't confuse the ups and downs of the market as an indicator of how the economy is doing. The stock market is largely driven by emotion and speculation. Economic data may fuel the emotion, but the market will almost always over react, then over correct. So if the market falls 2000 points, it is not an indicator that the economy has collapsed any more than its 2000 point climb late last year indicated that the economy was completely healed.
Second, real estate is not where you should invest - yet. Some apparent relief earlier this year was largely due to government programs that have expired. Now, foreclosures are continuing to climb, and there are fewer new home starts. Real estate will likely bottom out in a year or two, but recovery is likely to be slow as the huge foreclosure inventory is absorbed by the marketplace.
So where is the right place to invest? Consider new business investment. As the economy strengthens, companies will be hiring employees and contracting new service agreements. The technology and business services sectors are likely to recover at a faster rate than the overall economy.
Express Employment, a franchised employment services company, reported an all-time record for weekly sales volume in June.
Intel reported increased sales for server chips, an indicator that US businesses are spending money on improved technology. They are also predicting a 20% improvement in PC sales, largely driven by companies increasing workers.
The BNZ index, an index of the business services industry, rose 2.2 points in May (most recent data available). This indicates continued expansion in the business services industry.
So if you are considering starting a new business, or just looking for a place to invest your money, business services is worth a close look. Besides employment services and technology, consider starting a business that focuses on consulting, marketing, supply management, sales training, and facilities management and maintenance.
If you are nervous about venturing into entrepreneurism, there are franchises that will assist you in setting up your own business in each of these sectors. A franchise will also provide your new startup with an established name and 50 year reputation. These are big plusses when approaching businesses for new business. Also, each franchise has developed a proven success formula that can be verified by you during your investigation and validation period.
However you approach your investment, it is time to quit worrying about the future and start creating your future. The tide is rising. Catch the wave.
Ed Wills is a franchise and small business startup consultant with WFA Franchise Consultants. He specializes in helping people identify business opportunities that will help them reach their personal and financial goals. He writes, speaks and coaches on a variety of business and success topics. You can learn more about his services or request a free consultation at www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Article Source: Profit From New Economic Data
By: Ed Wills
The new economic report is good news for small business.
The National Association for Business Economics released a new report indicating that America's economic is continuing to recover. This is great news, especially considering recent uncertainties.
Here are the basic numbers.
- 31% of businesses increased their number of workers in the past quarter.
- 39% of businesses plan to increase workers over the next 2 quarters.
- 50% fewer companies reported layoffs during the past quarter compared with the same period a year ago.
- 52% of companies reported increased demand for goods and services resulting in improved sales.
But not all the news is good.
- The stock market continues to be unstable as it absorbs and interprets new regulations.
- The housing market and real estate in general continue to be sluggish.
This information is not just academic. There are clues here indicating how to best invest you time and money to take advantage of changes in the economic climate.
First, the stock market is a poor place for your money. This is no surprise to anyone who has lost half of their retirement investment in stocks or mutual funds. Unless you are a very adept trader who can capitalize on market volatility, the stock market should be avoided. But don't confuse the ups and downs of the market as an indicator of how the economy is doing. The stock market is largely driven by emotion and speculation. Economic data may fuel the emotion, but the market will almost always over react, then over correct. So if the market falls 2000 points, it is not an indicator that the economy has collapsed any more than its 2000 point climb late last year indicated that the economy was completely healed.
Second, real estate is not where you should invest - yet. Some apparent relief earlier this year was largely due to government programs that have expired. Now, foreclosures are continuing to climb, and there are fewer new home starts. Real estate will likely bottom out in a year or two, but recovery is likely to be slow as the huge foreclosure inventory is absorbed by the marketplace.
So where is the right place to invest? Consider new business investment. As the economy strengthens, companies will be hiring employees and contracting new service agreements. The technology and business services sectors are likely to recover at a faster rate than the overall economy.
Express Employment, a franchised employment services company, reported an all-time record for weekly sales volume in June.
Intel reported increased sales for server chips, an indicator that US businesses are spending money on improved technology. They are also predicting a 20% improvement in PC sales, largely driven by companies increasing workers.
The BNZ index, an index of the business services industry, rose 2.2 points in May (most recent data available). This indicates continued expansion in the business services industry.
So if you are considering starting a new business, or just looking for a place to invest your money, business services is worth a close look. Besides employment services and technology, consider starting a business that focuses on consulting, marketing, supply management, sales training, and facilities management and maintenance.
If you are nervous about venturing into entrepreneurism, there are franchises that will assist you in setting up your own business in each of these sectors. A franchise will also provide your new startup with an established name and 50 year reputation. These are big plusses when approaching businesses for new business. Also, each franchise has developed a proven success formula that can be verified by you during your investigation and validation period.
However you approach your investment, it is time to quit worrying about the future and start creating your future. The tide is rising. Catch the wave.
Ed Wills is a franchise and small business startup consultant with WFA Franchise Consultants. He specializes in helping people identify business opportunities that will help them reach their personal and financial goals. He writes, speaks and coaches on a variety of business and success topics. You can learn more about his services or request a free consultation at www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Article Source: Profit From New Economic Data
Friday, July 30, 2010
Franchise Business Course
If you have not already signed up for my free franchise business course, now is the time.
In this course you will learn:
- The three basic business models and each model’s probability of success
- How to select which model is right for you
- How to choose an industry
- How to use a consultant in business selection
- How to translate your interests, skills and goals into profits
- How to finance your new business
- How to manage your new business
This course is absolutely free and will be emailed directly to you from info@WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Request Free Franchise Business Course.
In this course you will learn:
- The three basic business models and each model’s probability of success
- How to select which model is right for you
- How to choose an industry
- How to use a consultant in business selection
- How to translate your interests, skills and goals into profits
- How to finance your new business
- How to manage your new business
This course is absolutely free and will be emailed directly to you from info@WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Request Free Franchise Business Course.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Climb the Buyer Ladder
Climb the Buyer Ladder
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ed_Wills]Ed Wills
Where does your product or service fit on the buyer ladder? Could moving your product or service up a rung on the ladder increase sales and improve your core business? Absolutely.
First, let's take a look at the ladder.
High Emotion - Significant Uniqueness
Low Emotion - Significant Uniqueness
High Emotion - Little Uniqueness
Low Emotion - Little Uniqueness
Luxury products such as Harley Davidson motorcycles, fine wines and diamond jewelry tend to fit on the top rung of the ladder. These products tend to carry a good deal of status and a high price tag. Purchasers will spend a good deal of time considering the purchase and making sure they are buying pleased with it. Everyday "brandless" products tend to fall on the bottom rung of the ladder. For example, what brand of paper clips are in your desk? Purchasers tend to spend little time considering the purchase and will probably just buy the cheapest one or the most convenient.
The key to a marketer is to raise your product or service up a rung on the ladder. Major corporations do this all the time. Look at the high emotional content of a Charmin toilet tissue ad. Do we really need an emotional attachment to our toilet paper? Marketers also attempt to increase uniqueness. Kleenex and Puffs go head to head with designer packaging, added lotions and pastel colors. That's a lot of hype for something you are going to blow your nose with and throw away. So whatever your product or service, there is probably a way to increase its emotional involvement or perceived uniqueness.
Automotive repair shops can email digital photos of customer's cars during the day to show progress of the repair. This will increase consumer involvement in the process and elevate emotional attachment as well as provide a unique attribute of your shop compared to other shops that do not provide that service. Customer surveys are great tools for increasing a consumer's "ownership" in your business. Community involvement including sponsoring juvenile sports, high school drama clubs, and public charitable assistance are great ways to increase a community's sense that your shop belongs to the community and not some absentee corporate entity. There is no greater coup for a marketer than to get customers to refer to a shop or service provider as "my coffee shop", "my book store" or "my mechanic".
If you are part of a franchise, your franchisor's marketing support has probably already done the leg work for you, developing ad campaigns that involve emotional attachment and create a sense of uniqueness. If you are an independent entrepreneur, the cost of bringing in a marketing consultant might seem daunting, but could be worth the expense. Another option is to spend some time surveying your existing customers. Find out their likes and dislikes. Why do they do business with you? Find their emotional attachment and use it to market to others.
So invest some time and effort in finding ways to increase emotional attachment or perceived uniqueness of your product or service. You will be pleased with the long term benefits.
Ed Wills is a franchise and small business startup consultant with WFA Franchise Consultants. He specializes in helping people identify business opportunities that will help them reach their personal and financial goals. He writes, speaks and coaches on a variety of business and success topics. You can learn more about his services or request a free consultation at [http://www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com]http://www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Climb-the-Buyer-Ladder&id=4668956] Climb the Buyer Ladder
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ed_Wills]Ed Wills
Where does your product or service fit on the buyer ladder? Could moving your product or service up a rung on the ladder increase sales and improve your core business? Absolutely.
First, let's take a look at the ladder.
High Emotion - Significant Uniqueness
Low Emotion - Significant Uniqueness
High Emotion - Little Uniqueness
Low Emotion - Little Uniqueness
Luxury products such as Harley Davidson motorcycles, fine wines and diamond jewelry tend to fit on the top rung of the ladder. These products tend to carry a good deal of status and a high price tag. Purchasers will spend a good deal of time considering the purchase and making sure they are buying pleased with it. Everyday "brandless" products tend to fall on the bottom rung of the ladder. For example, what brand of paper clips are in your desk? Purchasers tend to spend little time considering the purchase and will probably just buy the cheapest one or the most convenient.
The key to a marketer is to raise your product or service up a rung on the ladder. Major corporations do this all the time. Look at the high emotional content of a Charmin toilet tissue ad. Do we really need an emotional attachment to our toilet paper? Marketers also attempt to increase uniqueness. Kleenex and Puffs go head to head with designer packaging, added lotions and pastel colors. That's a lot of hype for something you are going to blow your nose with and throw away. So whatever your product or service, there is probably a way to increase its emotional involvement or perceived uniqueness.
Automotive repair shops can email digital photos of customer's cars during the day to show progress of the repair. This will increase consumer involvement in the process and elevate emotional attachment as well as provide a unique attribute of your shop compared to other shops that do not provide that service. Customer surveys are great tools for increasing a consumer's "ownership" in your business. Community involvement including sponsoring juvenile sports, high school drama clubs, and public charitable assistance are great ways to increase a community's sense that your shop belongs to the community and not some absentee corporate entity. There is no greater coup for a marketer than to get customers to refer to a shop or service provider as "my coffee shop", "my book store" or "my mechanic".
If you are part of a franchise, your franchisor's marketing support has probably already done the leg work for you, developing ad campaigns that involve emotional attachment and create a sense of uniqueness. If you are an independent entrepreneur, the cost of bringing in a marketing consultant might seem daunting, but could be worth the expense. Another option is to spend some time surveying your existing customers. Find out their likes and dislikes. Why do they do business with you? Find their emotional attachment and use it to market to others.
So invest some time and effort in finding ways to increase emotional attachment or perceived uniqueness of your product or service. You will be pleased with the long term benefits.
Ed Wills is a franchise and small business startup consultant with WFA Franchise Consultants. He specializes in helping people identify business opportunities that will help them reach their personal and financial goals. He writes, speaks and coaches on a variety of business and success topics. You can learn more about his services or request a free consultation at [http://www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com]http://www.WFAFranchiseConsultants.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Climb-the-Buyer-Ladder&id=4668956] Climb the Buyer Ladder
Monday, March 15, 2010
Identify And Overcome Emotional Blocks To Success
What is holding you back from fulfilling the vision you just wrote?
Has it ever occurred to you that what is preventing you from enjoying success is not the actions and attitudes of your parents, or the lack of opportunities, or just plain bad luck, but your own feelings and attitudes about yourself?
Many people work hard for success, but never seem to achieve it. Something always stops them before they can accomplish their goals and achieve their personal dreams and aspirations. In most cases, what is holding them back is that they don’t feel they deserve success. At some point in their lives they became saddled with the belief that they do not deserve good things in life.
Our strongest beliefs about ourselves become ingrained at a very early age, usually, when we are completely unable to make reasonable judgments about ourselves or our surroundings.
A small child sees something very bright and shiny. It looks so beautiful, so desirable. The child sets an infantile goal. “Put that bright shiny thing in my mouth.” He reaches for it. Suddenly, a parent snatches it away. “No! Bad!” The parent tosses the piece of broken glass into a big can and puts a lid on it. The child internalizes, “My parents will take my goal away from me because I am bad.”
An impressionable pre-teen sits in Church and hears a sermon from a pastor he has been taught to have complete confidence in. The pastor is preaching about how people who live for the love of money, instead of focusing their life on loving relationships with their family and friends will lead empty, unfulfilled lives. The youth internalizes, “I’m not going to make money, but make everyone like me.”
In both cases, the parent and the pastor are trying to communicate good, positive messages. But the recipient of the messages lacks sufficient understanding, and internalizes limiting emotions. It has happened to all of us. Often, those who find their way to success are so brash and self-confident that they have simply learned to ignore negative input and feelings and press ahead. But, there is a more gentle and enjoyable path to success. Change your internal feelings and attitudes about success so they support you rather than limit you.
Step One: Self Acceptance
The first step on the path to emotional freedom is self acceptance. If you want to grow, you need to be able to look squarely at your mistakes, large and small, and say to yourself, “I blew it, but I love and accept myself just the way I am.” Success is not about avoiding mistakes, but moving past them. If you continue to beat yourself up over past errors in judgment, they will dominate your thoughts and emotions preventing you from learning from them and moving on.
Step Two: Forgiveness
From a place of self-acceptance, you can truly forgive anyone who provided negative influences that helped form limiting and sometimes self-destructive behaviors, attitudes and beliefs. It is easy to rationalize that these individuals weren’t trying to harm you and therefore don’t’ need forgiveness. They may not need forgiveness, but you need to forgive. Only after you forgive, can you let go and find freedom.
In some cases forgiveness seems undeserved. This is often the case in abuse or divorce. But holding onto unforgiveness never hurts those who wronged you. It only hurts you. In fact, unforgiveness gives the one who wronged you a type of control over you. By holding on to unforgiveness, you are allowing the injury to last a lifetime. Choosing to truly forgive can start a chain reaction of healing that will open a doorway to a joyful and productive life.
The most important person to forgive is yourself. Embarrassments and disappointments create deeply rooted resentments. Unfortunately, many people resent themselves. This creates a sense of disqualification, as if one feels disqualified to enjoy success because of something they did in their past.
Often what we believe disqualifies us was not even an action. It may have been a belief we held, or an emotion we experienced.
Once you have chosen to love and accept yourself just the way you are, and broken the chains of unforgiveness that have been holding you back, you can begin to move forward to become the person you truly want to be.
Step Three: Realize you Deserve to Succeed
If you grew up in a guilt culture, you may not feel you deserve many good things to happen to you. Guilt, often injected into our psyche by our parents, teachers or ministers, can create a strong sense of unworthiness. I grew up in an East Texas evangelical tradition. “I am unworthy” is a mantra of Southern evangelicalism. To succeed, you must first change that mantra to “I deserve to be successful.” “I deserve to have good things.” “I deserve to enjoy life.” I deserve to be rich” “I deserve to have people look up to me.”
WFA Franchise Consultants
Has it ever occurred to you that what is preventing you from enjoying success is not the actions and attitudes of your parents, or the lack of opportunities, or just plain bad luck, but your own feelings and attitudes about yourself?
Many people work hard for success, but never seem to achieve it. Something always stops them before they can accomplish their goals and achieve their personal dreams and aspirations. In most cases, what is holding them back is that they don’t feel they deserve success. At some point in their lives they became saddled with the belief that they do not deserve good things in life.
Our strongest beliefs about ourselves become ingrained at a very early age, usually, when we are completely unable to make reasonable judgments about ourselves or our surroundings.
A small child sees something very bright and shiny. It looks so beautiful, so desirable. The child sets an infantile goal. “Put that bright shiny thing in my mouth.” He reaches for it. Suddenly, a parent snatches it away. “No! Bad!” The parent tosses the piece of broken glass into a big can and puts a lid on it. The child internalizes, “My parents will take my goal away from me because I am bad.”
An impressionable pre-teen sits in Church and hears a sermon from a pastor he has been taught to have complete confidence in. The pastor is preaching about how people who live for the love of money, instead of focusing their life on loving relationships with their family and friends will lead empty, unfulfilled lives. The youth internalizes, “I’m not going to make money, but make everyone like me.”
In both cases, the parent and the pastor are trying to communicate good, positive messages. But the recipient of the messages lacks sufficient understanding, and internalizes limiting emotions. It has happened to all of us. Often, those who find their way to success are so brash and self-confident that they have simply learned to ignore negative input and feelings and press ahead. But, there is a more gentle and enjoyable path to success. Change your internal feelings and attitudes about success so they support you rather than limit you.
Step One: Self Acceptance
The first step on the path to emotional freedom is self acceptance. If you want to grow, you need to be able to look squarely at your mistakes, large and small, and say to yourself, “I blew it, but I love and accept myself just the way I am.” Success is not about avoiding mistakes, but moving past them. If you continue to beat yourself up over past errors in judgment, they will dominate your thoughts and emotions preventing you from learning from them and moving on.
Step Two: Forgiveness
From a place of self-acceptance, you can truly forgive anyone who provided negative influences that helped form limiting and sometimes self-destructive behaviors, attitudes and beliefs. It is easy to rationalize that these individuals weren’t trying to harm you and therefore don’t’ need forgiveness. They may not need forgiveness, but you need to forgive. Only after you forgive, can you let go and find freedom.
In some cases forgiveness seems undeserved. This is often the case in abuse or divorce. But holding onto unforgiveness never hurts those who wronged you. It only hurts you. In fact, unforgiveness gives the one who wronged you a type of control over you. By holding on to unforgiveness, you are allowing the injury to last a lifetime. Choosing to truly forgive can start a chain reaction of healing that will open a doorway to a joyful and productive life.
The most important person to forgive is yourself. Embarrassments and disappointments create deeply rooted resentments. Unfortunately, many people resent themselves. This creates a sense of disqualification, as if one feels disqualified to enjoy success because of something they did in their past.
Often what we believe disqualifies us was not even an action. It may have been a belief we held, or an emotion we experienced.
Once you have chosen to love and accept yourself just the way you are, and broken the chains of unforgiveness that have been holding you back, you can begin to move forward to become the person you truly want to be.
Step Three: Realize you Deserve to Succeed
If you grew up in a guilt culture, you may not feel you deserve many good things to happen to you. Guilt, often injected into our psyche by our parents, teachers or ministers, can create a strong sense of unworthiness. I grew up in an East Texas evangelical tradition. “I am unworthy” is a mantra of Southern evangelicalism. To succeed, you must first change that mantra to “I deserve to be successful.” “I deserve to have good things.” “I deserve to enjoy life.” I deserve to be rich” “I deserve to have people look up to me.”
WFA Franchise Consultants
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