web counter

Happiness and Success

Filed Under Guest Writer, Successful Blog | 13 Comments

Recently, as part of “switch” among fellow bloggers, I wrote post for LinkedIntelligence, called How My Blog Turbo Powers My LinkedIn Connections. Now Liz Fuller, from Business and Blogging, has graciously offered one on success for us here. I’ll let Liz explain further. . .

b5media is mixing things up this month by creating a “blog scramble”. Bloggers are writing guest posts for fellow b5media bloggers. I was excited that I was matched up with Liz Strauss’ Successful blog. I’m a big fan. And this opportunity gives me a chance to write about a different passion than my usual posts on Business and Blogging.

Happiness and Success
by Liz Fuller

When I’m not blogging or working, I’m pursuing a PhD in organizational psychology. One of my favorite areas of study is positive psychology and the research that has been done by Ed Diener on the linkages between success and happiness.

Now, you may be thinking - big surprise - “people who are successful are happy”.

But wait! The research shows that the order is actually reversed - people who are happy tend to become more successful!!

For the sake of this research, success is defined as having good relationships, good health and earning an above average income!

Researchers are not sure of the reason for the relationship, but it appears that people who are happy tend to draw positive people and experiences to them.

The secret to success then may be to focus first on being happy.

I try to do this by remembering on most days to:

  • take time to be grateful for everything I already have in my life
  • enjoy time with my family and friends
  • give myself a break when it comes to my own faults and foibles
  • listen to music, read for pleasure and watch the sun rise
  • learn something new every day
  • help someone else, even if it is simply taking the time to listen

What about you? What do you do to increase the happiness in your life? Do you think it is possible to consciously make yourself happier? Do you agree that the secret to success in life is to first be happy?

–Liz Fuller writes for Business and Blogging

Thanks, Liz!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Tags: ,

Share This

Nine Things I’ve Learned While Running a Business

Filed Under Guest Writer, Successful Blog | 16 Comments

Last week, while talking during Open Comments Night, Rick Cockrum brought up some brilliant insights regarding what were the most important things he learned when starting his business. I was so taken by them I asked him on the spot if he might write a guest post about them. I’m thrilled to say he agreed! So here it is.

Nine Things I’ve Learned While Running a Business

by Rick Cockrum

I usually write at Shards of Consciousness on personal growth topics, but my wife and I also own a bricks and mortar business, the Ambridge Family Theatre, one of the few independent movie theatres in left in western Pennsylvania. At one of Liz’s regular Open Comments night, Becky McCray of Small Biz Survival was talking about a series of posts she’s doing on starting a small business. I piped up about some of the things my wife and I spent a lot of time researching before we bought the theatre, and things we’re still learning.

  1. Set up a simple, adequate accounting system. A double entry accounting system will be the best. It’s not really difficult to learn the basics. There are many books available to provide you a basic introduction to how it works. By all means consult with your accountant in setting up your accounts. The key is to not make your account categories any more complicated than they have to be. A good system will make their life easier as well as yours. You could do worse than to start with the categories listed on Schedule C of your 1040. (You own a business. You will be filing using the long form for your Federal taxes).

  2. Develop good relationships with your vendors. Your vendors are a lifeblood of your business. Whether you’re buying stationery at the office supply shop, inventory supplies, or equipment, your vendors can save you money and time through advice and dependable service, or they can be the cause of lost business and frustration if they’re unreliable or unwilling to work with you. I’ve dealt with both types. If at all possible, replace the second type as soon as possible. The best are able to advise you on the best options for your particular needs and assist you in managing your cash flow.

  3. Remember that the customer is the reason you’re there. This can be difficult. Equipment breaks down. Paperwork has to be done. You have to meet with your accountant. Sometimes the other demands on your time can cause you to lose sight of why you’re in business in the first place - you provide a service or product that people need and want. If you find yourself focusing on the details of running your business at the expense of your customers - stop and look around. Without them, you won’t be in business long and all those details will become irrelevant.

  4. Use surveys. Bring up the word survey and many small business owners start to get a glazed look in their eyes. I know I have, and sometimes still do. The idea of surveys calls to mind images of complicated questionaires and irrelevant questions. It doesn’t have to be that way. Surveys can be as simple as asking your customers a question, and marking the answers down on a sheet of paper, then toting up the answers. They can tell you a lot about what your customers want and how they make decisions. Through them, you can make decisions about the best way to run your business. I’ve used them to help decide what types of movies to get, the best places to advertise, and what type of concession inventory to stock.

  5. Learn the difference between advertising and marketing.Use them both. Marketing is the sum of the activities you perform to get the word out about your business and attract the customers you want. Advertising is one marketing activity. It usually entails publishing paid announcements about your business. At our theatre we advertise in the local paper weekly. Our marketing consists of a website, word of mouth from our customers (our best marketing), involvement in local activities, public service functions, involvement with local business groups, talking about the theatre in the course of day to day conversations, signage. You can see that advertising, while important, is only a small part of marketing.

  6. Find a good bank. Rather, find a good banker. Your banker is the loan officer or bank manager who handles your account. As with all aspects of business, your relationship is with an individual, not an institution. Even though it often seems the banker’s job is to tell you no, that isn’t true. The banker’s job is to make money for the bank. Within the constraints they work under, a good relationship with your banker can improve your chances of getting credit, lower your fees, speed up the credit process, and get you contacts with other members of your community for your mutual benefit. As with any relationship, this one takes time to cultivate. Don’t wait until you need something to start. You want your banker to be able to deal with a person, not a credit application.

  7. Learn about the SBA (Small Business Administration). The SBA is one of the few things the federal government has done that can make your life in small business easier. The SBA website has a wealth of information on starting and managing a business, forms you can use, information about business law, information about grants and loans, and local resources for training and advice. Spend time, a lot of time on the site. You’ll gain the basics of a business education.

  8. Check into an SBA loan. One major service the SBA performs is to guarantee loans for small businesses. You still have to be creditworthy. You still have to have collateral. But qualifying for an SBA loan can mean the difference between getting the money you need to start your business and not getting it. If you have a need for financing, check into this resource, beginning at their website, then continuing with your banker. If nothing else, putting together the loan application will guarantee that you have a valid business plan and will make you consider details in starting up that you might otherwise have forgotten to think about.

  9. Learn how to value your business. You may not think it is important now, but knowing how much your business is worth will be important to you. You may decide to sell someday. You may need to apply for credit. In both these, and other cases, the value of your business is important. I still have a tough time with this, because appropriate information is difficult to find and varies from industry to industry. Just as the best way to find the value of a house is to hire an appraiser, the best way to find out how much your business is worth is to hire a professional. Not only will they help you find the value of your business, their appraisal can help you increase it’s value by showing you where you can improve your business processes to cut expenses or increase income. As a rule of thumb, a business can be valued at 3 - 5 times pre-tax net, but this is an estimate done with a very broad thumb.

Liz was kind enough to ask me to expand on my comments for here. This is the result. This list doesn’t cover everything you need to learn before you open your business, or everything that will be useful during the life of your business. It does cover many ideas that we have found useful in running our business and that people often don’t talk about. You’ll notice that many of these center on the importance of relationships in the success of your business.
______

Thanks, Rick! This post is gold!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!
Work with Liz!!

Tags: , ,

Share This

I’m Going to SxSW, Meet Me There, or Meet Great Folks Here While I’m Gone!

Filed Under Guest Writer, SOB Business, Successful Blog | 16 Comments

Leaving on Thursday

SxSW Interactive

As you might know, I leave for Austin to attend SxSW Interactive tomorrow. I’ve been diligently working to get together vibrant content to keep this blog rolling while I’m gone. I’m delighted to say that

will all be here to offer perspectives on business that expand beyond where my brain usually goes. I’ve also got a few thoughts of my own in the queue, so that you don’t forget me while I’m down there.

AND I’m delighted to announce that

Chris Cree will host Tuesday Comments on March 11th!!

while I’m on the plane coming home.

With a jam-packed line up like this, you’re wondering why I don’t leave the blog more often. I know. I know.

I’ll be learning all that I can so that I can bring it back to you. If you’re going to be in Austin, twitter me: lizstrauss.

–ME “LIz” Strauss
Need help deciding? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Tags: , ,

Share This

How To Win At Blogging and Keep It Real

Filed Under Basics, Guest Writer, Successful Blog | 16 Comments

by Guest Writer Alex Shalman

I have been blogging actively since December 15th, 2006, and have gained a world of experience while doing so. If there was any technique or trick for increasing visitors, or comments, or captivating an audience, I have tried it.

Some people would say forget the tricks, and stick to content, after all, content is king. I’m not here to say whether or not content is the ONLY thing that matters, but I’m here to let you know how to take your content element to the next level.

Be the content. In the beginning of my blogging career, not everyone in my life was actively involved in what I was doing or knew about my blogging. The more I became a personal development blogger in my life, the more that reflected on the blog.

Personal development, meaning constant and never ending growth, is part of who I am in every facet of my life. People close to me no longer think that this is a passing hobby, it’s more of an identity now.

Tell the people. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know. I took responsibility for people not knowing about my site, and actively began telling my friends about it. I would enroll them into all the possibilities of what the site is, and where it is going.

They became excited to be on that journey with me. My friends jokingly say, ‘Hey Alex Shalman, from www.AlexShalman.com.’ I think that’s hilarious! My girlfriend tells everyone she knows about the site, I think that’s precious.

Be your word. Not everyone took what I do seriously, not even after I told them. Two of those people were my parents. Over time, the more I became this personal development person, and the more this made our good relationship a great relationship, the more they believed in the validity of what I do.

The other day we had relatives staying with us, and I caught my parents telling them about the website. My dad even asked me about my Alexa traffic. Now that’s funny, and heartwarming.

From the heart. I remember Liz told me that when I write, I sometimes sound like I’m talking down from a podium. It wasn’t personal. I think this was partly due to me being an inexperienced writer and not having control of what my writing voice sounded like.

Now days I try to incorporate my life, and get as personal as I can, in order to give a part of myself to my readers. This is a much more engaging form of communication, because I’m talking to you, my friend, instead of a crowd of people I don’t know. I want to know you.

Remember to be proud of your work and tell people about it. Be the content, be your word, and blog from the heart.
___________
Alex writes about personal development at AlexShalman.com.

Thank you, Alex.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Tags:

Share This

25 Days to Organize a Blogger’s Life in Time for Holiday Fun

Filed Under Guest Writer, Inside-Out Thinking, Perfect Virtual Manager, Successful Blog, The Big Idea | 18 Comments

Problems, People, Paper, and Plans

insideout logo

I looked at the calendar this morning. Roughly 6 weeks stand between me and the end of the year. I’m not much for New Year’s Resolutions, but I love the feeling of new beginnings when everything is cleaned up, put away, and ready to rock. On the other hand, I don’t like to make work, especially at holiday time. So this morning, I’m putting together a plan that I’m calling . . .

25 Days to Organize My Life in Time for Holiday Fun

At this time of the year, conflicting goals can intrude on the most uncluttered life. They can stress and overwhelm the calmest soul. Chaos like mine is already out of control.

This year, with that in mind, I’m organizing my life to avoid possible nuclear meltdown. I’ll do something each day to wrap things up so that I totally enjoy the end of the year fun.

I plan to clean up my live AND catch up with my friends as we make the season merry and bright.

I. Problems and Solutions

Day 1: Get help with common problems. I’m going to quit trying to figure out everything on my own. It silly for me to invest time digging up basic answers, when Simple Help has probably already figured most of them out. Simplehelp.net is a site that is both interactive and re-active; if you can’t find the solution to your problem, you can request content and the tutorial will be created for you. If I let other folks share what they know, I can save my time for the problems so unique to my situation that only I have the experience and detail to solve them efficiently. I have a couple that need attending to right away.

Day 2: Ask for help with my blog, too. I’m going to let more people know that I welcome guest posts on my blog. Though my blog can’t offer revenue it doesn’t earn, it’s got visibility and an intelligent, cool audience that’s priceless. AjaxNinja suggested seek out guest writers and I’m doing it today . . .

This is an invitation. . . . If you can submit an appropriate post by Friday morning, I sure could use your help. I’ll be in the UK Dec 1-9, 2007, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to blog while I’m gone. You’ll find my email address and topic ideas on the Guest Writer page.

II. Thousands and 150 Important People

Days 3-8: Update one of my “networks” each day from this group of sites:
MyBlogLog,
StumbleUpon,
Digg,
Facebook,
LinkedIn,
and Propeller.
When I find folks who have common interests, add them to my contacts.

Day 9-14: Review other “social networks” I belong to: Xing, Ning, Spock, Zude, Rapleaf, 8apps, Pownce, BlueChip, Zaadz, and Doostang. Decide which I should stay with and which I will resign from.

Day 15-17: Use MyLifeBrand or social url to incorporate the remaining Social Networks into one global platform. Make this a 15-30 minute part of each day moving forward. Place that block during a time that my mind needs a break from other kinds of work.

Day 19-20: Sort and group my email address book. Email is my most natural social network. Delete entries for folks I don’t recognize or haven’t corresponded with in less than 6 months. Email folks on the 6-month drop list that I want to keep current. Check my email settings. Delete old emails I no longer need need.

Day 21-22: Go through the contacts in my phone in much the same way. Delete those I don’t know and calling those I’ve not spoken to but want to keep on as a contact and part of my life.

III. Paper and Plans

Day 23-24: Clean off my desk and clean out my paper files. Maybe I’d better start doing a little bit of this one every day from day 1 . . . hmmmm.

Day 25:Develop an Editorial Calendar for next month using the form below. Allow for spur-of-the-moment ideas and variations.

Editorial Calendar

Then sit back with a nice glass of my favorite beverage and listen to my favorite tunes. . . .

How would your 25 day plan to organize for some fun work out differently?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Tags: , , ,

Share This

keep looking »