Successful Blog

Thanks to Week 372 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

Let me introduce the bloggers
who have earned this official badge of achievement,

Purple SOB Button Original SOB Button Red SOB Button Purple and Blue SOB Button
and the right to call themselves
Successful Blog SOBs.

I invite them to take a badge home to display on their blogs.

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They take the conversation to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.

I thank all of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on.
Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.

Should anyone question this SOB button’s validity, send him or her to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is backed by my brothers, Angelo and Pasquale.

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Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Hall of Fame– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Is Restaurant Ownership Is Right For You? 10 Deciding Questions

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by
Meagan Gordon


Photo Credit: foodwoolf.com

If you have a burning desire to own your own restaurant then chances are you will be good at it.

Following Your Dreams of Restaurant Ownership

Our fears often cause us to question our motives and delay us in fulfilling our dreams. We question why we should make major life changes, or do something we did not necessarily go to school for. We worry when other people’s lives would be affected by our decisions. Leaving a job that offers us security and benefits can seem so risky that it can cause fear so strongly that we have physical symptoms as a result.

On the flip side, not fulfilling a desire can also cause physical symptoms and stresses. If you really have a burning desire to be an entrepreneur and work with others in a restaurant setting, but do not follow your inner calling you can become depressed, irritated with others, or not perform as well at your current job. There is much truth in the old adage; you must be good to yourself before you can be good to others.

Is Restaurant Ownership Is Right For You? 10 Deciding Questions

Explore your thoughts surrounding restaurant ownership. The more you question your own motives and what may be holding you back the easier the answers will come. By writing down answers to these 10 deciding questions you may be able to learn what is really right for you.

    1. When did I first come up the idea that I would like to own my own restaurant?
    2. How did the thought come about and how did I feel?
    3. What was happening in my life at that time that may give me clues about why this thought came about?
    4. When I picture myself working in my restaurant does it seem realistic, and am I happy even when I envision chaos or problems that will be inevitable?
    5. Have I had dreams of myself working in a restaurant or symbols in my dreams that if analyzed could represent this desire?
    6. When I am in restaurants do I find myself mentally running the place, or do I have many ideas about how to make improvements?
    7. Do I truly envision myself enjoying working with the public, and people that would be my employees, even when conflicts arise?
    8. Would I be happy if I had to multitask as well as delegate jobs to others?
    9. Is there a part of me that wants to do this to please someone else or feel important? If I take away that person and or the feeling of importance would I still want to proceed?
    10. Who may be holding me back in my own mind? Make a list of all the people in your life and how they would react? If the reaction is negative or unsupportive what are the reasons? Is it really his/her own fear, or is it a concern the person legitimately has for you? If valid explore that thought and whether or not you believe it.

Starting any new venture can be scary. The best way to move fear aside is to gain knowledge. In exploring the idea you may learn that restaurant ownership is not really for you, but rather it was the idea of independence, or to please someone else that really appealed to you deep down. If this is the case then nothing was lost and only new self-knowledge was gained. If you do find becoming a restaurant owner is what you feel you were meant to do, then next explore the ways to make it a reality, and good luck in your journey!

Do you have a story about when you began your own restaurant or own business? In the comments below, let us know what you went through to make it happen.

Author’s Bio:
Meagan Gordon is a professional blogger that writes on a variety of topics including places to eat. She writes for Restaurants.com, a leading directory of restaurant ratings

Thank you for adding to the conversation!

5 Twitter Advantages for Your Small Business

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by
Rosemary O’Neill

5 Twitter Advantages for your Small Business

Are you still trying to make sense of Twitter?

As an onlooker, it appears much the same way the New York Stock Exchange looks from the observation window–messy, chaotic, and disorganized. But stand a moment and keep looking, because you will start to see groups of people gathered around specific topics. Over here, a loud tribe of Kardashian followers (we’ll just step around them) and over there in the far corner, an intense crowd of small business owners.

They pop in to conduct their transaction and then move back to their desks on the trading floor.

What’s great about Twitter is that anyone can step out onto the floor and mix it up in the trading scrum.

Use Twitter as a Small Business Advantage

  1. Network and share your expertise – join a regular Twitter chat (check out the massive list of chats here). At the appointed time, go to Tweetchat.com and type in the hashtag for the chat. Follow the conversation and add your own thoughts. With regular participation, you can form a strong network. I highly recommend the #SOBCon chat!
  2. Build relationships to support your PR efforts – it’s an open secret that journalists like to hang out on Twitter. Your faxed press release will get tossed in the recycle bin, but it’s very easy to learn insider information on media likes/dislikes, beats, and current projects on Twitter. One place to start is Twellow’s news and media category (http://www.twellow.com/categories/news).
  3. Find leads – yes, you can actually find real people who might want to be your customer on Twitter. Use Twitter’s advanced search to find people who are searching for “help” plus your keyword, and then offer assistance. The important thing to remember is that you’re providing help, not a sales pitch. That’s the fast route to loserville.
  4. Be available to your customers – Twitter is the open phone line, and although all of your customers might not be on Twitter, the ones who are will appreciate having access to you. Just be sure to subscribe to alerts so you can hear the phone ring when someone mentions you or sends a direct message.
  5. Show your human side – Mix in some personality to your business Tweets, and use it as one more way to humanize your business. Not to share a steady stream of cat pictures, but sharing your passion for motorcycles or movies can be a great conversation starter.

Are you still procrastinating on jumping into Twitter? Share your fears here and maybe we can work together to get you out onto the trading floor.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for social strata — a top ten company to work for on the Internet . Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Thank you, Rosemary!

You’re irresistible!

ME “Liz” Strauss

Organize Your Thoughts Before You Blog

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by
Poala Werner

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Perfect Blogging Tip: How to Organize Your Thoughts

There are a lot of people who believe that they do not have a talent in writing. Some college students, for example, will easily give up on writing a decent piece and simply settle for a mediocre essay because they will they do not have the knack for it.

But that is not entirely true. Though there may be fortunate people who can write better than the others without exerting too much effort, you can still learn how to be a good writer by learning the right tricks. One of them is called Thought Organization.

When writing anything, it is very important to have a collected thought to have a single focus. Who wants to read something that starts discussing Point A then ends in talking about Point W. It does not make any sense, right?

So how can we organize our thoughts? Are there any special tricks for it?

Let us learn each step one by one, starting with a discussion about the three basic essay components. These are the thesis statement, the supporting details, and the conclusion.

The thesis statement is the part of the essay where the main argument can be seen. It shows the focal point of the paper. It will be hard to start any writing task if we have no idea what our thesis statement is. It also paints the picture of the entire essay for the readers. Most of the time, the thesis statement can be seen in the last sentence of the paper’s introduction.

On the other hand, the supporting details refer to the discussion of the evidences gathered to support the essay’s arguments. Normally, essay writers (http://www.superiorpapers.com/custom_essay.php) stress the importance of each supporting details in separate paragraphs. If there are no enough evidence to support your argument, better change the focus of your thesis statement to something which can be discussed further.

And then there is the conclusion. This is the part that wraps up the entire essay by reinstating the thesis statement. It must go over the earlier details mentioned without having to repeat the words completely. A good conclusion must also pose a challenge or a call to action to the readers.

After learning the three basic essay components, let us proceed to the essay writing organization proper. These are Outlining, Writing, and Proofreading. Now let’s discuss each a little further.

Outlining

This is the first part of the thought organization process for writing. It is like making a blueprint of the house that you want to build. It may be an additional task for essay writing, but it can make your essay writing process a lot easier.

A sample outline can look like this:

I. Introduction/Thesis Statement
II. First Argument
III. Second Argument
IV. Third Argument
V. Conclusion

With an organized outline like this, it will be quite impossible for any writer to lost track of the discussion.

Writing

After we are done with our outlines, start the actual writing process. Our outline can actually cut the essay writing process in half because we just have to follow the items in it. We won’t have to worry about getting lost in our thoughts anymore.

Proofreading

Finally, we have the entire paper in our hands. Are we done with it? Not yet! We still have to do the proofreading part. Some essay writers choose to let the proofreading done by other people, like their friends or family. But you can choose to do it also on your own. Whatever makes you comfortable, do it. No one wants to submit a paper full of spelling or grammar mistakes, right?

See, we don’t have to be professional essayists like Kurt Vonnegut or David Forster Wallace to write a good paper. With proper thought organization, we can surely compose a good essay in no time.

Author’s Bio:
Poala Werner is a college student who spends her time juggling class duties and her baby sitting job for her older brother. She would love to work on a publishing company someday, that is why she is currently taking Journalism majors in the university. In her timeline, she will be in her dream job in two years time. Follow her on Twitter as @p0wer111890.

Thank you for adding to the conversation!

Success Truths from 21 Successful Entrepreneurs

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by
Brandon Pipkin

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What can 21 Entrepreneurial Millionaires Teach You About Success? The Truth!

For seven years I devoured all I could get my hands on about success and wealth creation. I read blogs, books, and newsletters. I attended conferences, watched videos, listened to tapes and CDs, and worked with a mentor.

Then I eagerly implemented what I learned about goals, plans, the law of attraction, dreaming big, setting an intention, leadership, personal development, passion, determination, accountability, and smashing through obstacles.

After seven years, however, instead of mountains of money, all I had were mountains of debt. Instead of success untold, I was frustrated beyond belief at my inability to create the results that were €œguaranteed.€ I constantly questioned what I was doing wrong. Why wasn’t it working for me?

It wasn’t until I interviewed 21 self-made millionaires to find out how and why they did what they did that the answers became clear.

The Mistaken Role of Goals

I was surprised to learn that very few of these entrepreneurial millionaires had written goals, or even had goals€ at all. Most of them weren’€™t out to accomplish something specific, but rather were moving through life simply following each next step that seemed logical at the time. There was no overarching vision or destination in mind for most of them.

In fact, with the exception of a few, becoming a millionaire was almost accidental, an unintended side benefit of something else they were doing.

In addition to learning that despite not having solid goals and plans these people created amazing success, I learned that work – good, hard, honest work – is the most forgotten virtue in the success literature. None, I repeat none, of these millionaires expected immediate results, and none of them got where they got by being lazy and waiting for good things. They worked hard at whatever they were doing because it’s simply part of who they are.

What About Obstacles?

I also learned that instead of smashing through obstacles, there are other ways to move forward. When something didn’t work, the millionaires didn’t call a committee and do a post-mortem to figure out how to fix it, they didn’t have to “face their fears,€ or confront deep-seated anxieties that might be holding them back. They just tried something else.

To a person, these millionaires didn’t seem to be bothered by failure and just looked at it as one way not to do something. They kept trying different things until something worked.

You Can Go Your Own Way

And one of the most valuable things I learned: there is no one right way to create success. There are as many ways to skin a cat as there are cats, and the path that works is the right one for you.

Not one of these millionaires doggedly followed the experts’ advice concerning goals, passion, dreams, mentoring, accountability, and all of that. Ironically, some of the millionaires don’t even know who the success experts are!

These millionaires got where they are by working hard no matter what they were doing, taking life as it came without grand plans or visions, trying different things until something worked, and pursuing their unique path to success.

By interviewing 21 self-made entrepreneurial millionaires I learned that success isn’€™t as predictable as the books, tapes, and experts would have you believe. Instead, I learned the truth.

Author’s Bio:
Brandon Pipkin is the author of 21 Questions for 21 Millionaires: How Ordinary People Create Extraordinary Success. After years of searching for success and not finding it, he interviewed 21 self-made millionaires to learn how and why they did what they did. He shares his findings and the real life stories of these 21 successful people in their own words in his book. Visit www.21for21.com to learn more. You can follow Brandon on Twitter as @21for21com.

 

Thank you, Brandon, We always need more success motivation!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

5 Compelling Business Reasons to Carpool to Work

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by
Paul Ellett

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5 Compelling Business Reasons to Carpool to Work

We’ve all heard those in the eco-climate field tell us about the dangers our cars are using and that we must act now, and we might all be sick of it. There is only so much talk about “being green” that we can handle at any one time. This is why many dismiss car-pooling as one of those options that are always discussed but never so seriously. I mean, who would want to share their car with someone who they only occasionally speak to at the copier at work, right?

Wrong. There are in fact several compelling reasons why carpooling or car-sharing to work is a viable way to travel. Whether you share a ride either each day or a few times a week, it makes solid sense and can grow your business and professional career to do so. Keep reading to find out more.

1: Strengthen Relationships

Because workplaces see many people from various backgrounds come together every day and interact regularly, there can often be little in the way of common-ground which can make for awkward lift-conversations or lunchtime conversations. If you’re in a job for the longhaul, change this outlook now! You may even find that you have a lot more in common with particular individuals than you originally thought;whether it be material things like sports, or deeper circumstances like lifestyle. This bonding can make team-projects or exercises that much easier and smoother. Additionally, if we have someone with which to coordinate with to get to work, we can teach ourselves to be more careful with how we manage our time, if we know someone else is relying on us.

2: Company Incentives

If you do take part in carpool schemes within your company, you may be able to apply for petrol-incentives or have these reimbursed in return. Ask your supervisor, human resources representative or even boss about this. This may be possible if your company pays for public transport travel costs for some employees currently. If you can show that you can save money, the person who you speak to within your company will be more susceptible to that as everyone is looking to save where they can.

3: Your Boss

Some people find it hard to stand out from a crowd which can be a killer when it comes to promotions in a large company. It can be a case of really being able to present yourself on a one-to-one basis rather than in a group or during the general workday. If you can arrange something with your boss, then it might be a grand opportunity to let them get to know you. You might find some common ground you didn’t know you had, and show them qualities that don’t make themselves so clear otherwise. Carpooling can be a lot less formal than being in the office too. If your boss can see from these daily interactions that you are capable, you’ll be more likely to be considered for projects and promotions.

4: Share the Stress

Often road-rage arises from a fear or frustration that we’ll be late for work, but why? Probably because we’re scared that we’ll look inferior to our colleagues and be knocked down the totem pole. If we’re late often, then we can often feel like we’re the only one in the world where we shouldn’t be and it can gain unwanted attention from those higher up if a frequent occurrence. It makes sense that if we’re late with someone else, we share the brunt of this stress and are less likely to feel so on edge that we’re running late. The company we get from having someone else with us in the car, can distract us from stressful situations we would otherwise focus on. It also makes sense that if more people carpooled, there would be less traffic on the road in certain areas, like heavily-congested motorways which join cities to surrounding areas.

5: Can’t Drive?

Often the jobs we apply for depend on how easy or possible it is to travel to it each day. This can limit the options available to us which impacts how we make a living. You may also wish to consider what happens if your circumstances change for the short-term. What if you’re found guilty of a drink driving offense and are temporarily suspended from the road? What if your own car is off-the-road due to repairs? Are you taking any medication which makes it difficult to drive or that requires you to stay away from heavy machinery of any kind? Can you get to work via public transport or would it be easier to speak to someone about carpooling? Will it save you money if you do this? In a large company there should be at least a few others who travel the same route as yourself; you just need to find them. Carpooling may be your only viable option to get to work and save money.

Author’s Bio:

Paul is working with a firm of drink driving solicitors in London and across the UK, who defend those who have been caught speeding, driving while under the influence etc.