The Future of Entrepreneurial Businesses

Stewart Borie, a entrepreneurial management consultant and colleague of mine, posed a question on LinkedIn and my answer is below.  His question reads:

What is the trend in entreprenership? Will it explode or will it stay level?

I have been an Entrepreneur and Advisor for over two decades, with a passion for Entrepreneurship and an MBA from Wharton in Entrepreneurial Management. I believe there is the potential for a “perfect storm” of Entrepreneurship in the coming decade. The recession, coupled with an aging population with little savings, a new generation of social networking and new generations of technology enhancing the “flattening” of the world and business, emerging economies such as China and India; all point to a new frontier of entrepreneurship, with waves of new entrepreneurs emerging of all ages. Is it coming? Where will it come from? What will it look like?

His original question can be found here:

http://www.linkedin.com/answers?viewQuestion=&answerLevel=fullAnswer&questionID=542670&askerID=5459625&goback=.hom.mid_1409998237

And here is my answer…

Stewart, I do agree with you that a perfect storm COULD be created. The trends do seem to be going in that direction. And, while the last comment about “consultants drowning people” may be a bit overly pessimistic, the other comment about the percentage of failures and stiff competition is quite accurate.

What I feel we need to remember as we look to the future is the larger cycles that we are experiencing on earth. Check out the DVD called The Great Year, as it talks about the 24,000 year cycles on this planet.

We are, according to the ancient sages and current wise people, on an upward cycle in general. However, what they also say is that we are just out of one of the lower periods.

So, we have a long way to go before our entire planetary consciousness is made up of largely good people helping one another. The entrepreneurial spirit that can and does help people is what I am working to support. Those that see a need and set up a system to fulfill that need can succeed, especially when their deepest motive is to truly be of service, to LOVE others and receive thanks in doing so.

I do believe that you are right, Stewart, there will be an upward growth in entrepreneurial business ATTEMPTS. The main question is, are these entrepreneurs aware of their need to get as much support as possible to beat the odds and approach their market with strength.

And, as we know, there is strength in numbers. As Keith Ferrazzi says, you need a team, a few people who you can trust completely and who “have your back,” and you need a network of advisors who you meet with regularly. You don’t want to go it alone. In fact, it’s almost impossible to succeed by yourself. Micro enterprises do have advantages over big businesses that allow them to change faster.

And, certainly we are experiencing a LOT of changes, faster than ever before, as fewer and fewer people are trusting traditional forms of advertising. Neilsen did a Global Online Consumer Survey in July of 2009 that shows that people are most likely to trust the advice of people they know, and secondarily trust the opinion of consumers who post comments online, especially negative ones.

So, relationship marketing, one-to-one advice, social media, and word of mouth marketing are going to dominate the most successful company’s marketing strategy in the next decade no doubt. Any relationship based on loving service will ultimately grow the brand reputation and thus the revenue. Love conquers all… including prospective clients/customers!

I think, on the flipside, there is in general more FEAR dominant in the world consciousness as a result of the financial melting we are seeing at all levels. It is this fear that could freeze the individuals who would normally take risks and invest money and time.

So, if there is going to be an explosion in entrepreneurship that is SUCCESSFULLY creating new business growth, it will be a sign that love and not fear is dominant in the majority of people’s consciousness.

And, I feel there will be a growth in social entrepreneurship, where people focus on those activities that are most in harmony with other people and the planet, recognizing the divinity within the human heart as well as in nature.  Those businesses that are in line with our upward evolution in consciousness will be those that are led by and have operating principles that are also in harmony.

Best options for Job Seekers in Los Angeles County

Hi Again,

For the 11% of unemployed or under-employed people living in Los Angeles County, I’ve shared below a few options to help you increase your income and perhaps have a life-changing experience, too!

Become a Freelancer:

Most companies are now outsourcing many of their services to vendors instead of hiring people internally. Take your resume and re—write it for a business marketing piece. Ask your local SBDC counselor to write a simple professional profile, and then post it on the freelance job sites. An SBDC counselor will help at no charge. Simply visit http://lasbdcnet.lbcc.edu/locations.html to locate an SBDC near you.

Once you have a final draft of a professional profile, and a professional head and shoulder picture, with various resolutions (as each site will have their photo size requirements), post your photo and profile on the following sites: www.guru.com, www.elance.com, www.allfreelance.com, and www.freelancejobresource.com. These are the largest sites for freelancers, with thousands of projects on which to bid in nearly any area in which you might have an expertise. Projects can be local or from employers in another country.

These sites both make it easy for potential people to hire you, plus, they make it easy to get paid. You can be guaranteed to be paid for your work by using an escrow account. The employers (people who will hire you for temporary contracts) will post a job request, and you’ll submit a bid (along with a few others). If they pick your bid, then you’ll ask them to put their money in an escrow account. And, only then do you begin working on their project. You are guaranteed to get paid so long as you fulfill your end of the agreement.

Go Back to School:

If you feel like you have enough time outside of work (and the energy), and are willing to take on some student loans, now is the time when literally hundreds of thousands of out of work people are returning back to school. They are motivated either by being forced to switch careers or realize that in order to compete in this tougher economy, another degree can make the difference between getting the job or getting turned down.

Numerous community colleges (http://www.laccd.edu) and state and private colleges (http://www.laalmanac.com/education/ed36.htm) in the Los Angeles region are packed with new students of all ages, but, if you act quickly, you could get a spot in a reasonably-priced university, making your future job prospecting a good bit more hopeful.

If you don’t have the time, energy, or are not willing to be burdened by large student loans, the below option of teaching English abroad could be a better choice.

Teach English Overseas:

There are fewer job openings in Los Angeles county than there have been since the Great Depression and many people are looking overseas for both a change in career and lifestyle. Teaching English in another country is a great option for those who don’t have children under 18, who have always wanted to travel, are ready for a change, and don’t have other employment options.

Recent college graduates with no other job prospects or people in their 40s, 50s, or even 60s who are ready for a career change can, within a few weeks, find themselves happily employed in an exotic country, making good money, and yet still have enough time off to travel.

For Los Angeles County residents, visit www.TESOLTrainingCenter.com to learn about the opportunities for single people (and couples without young kids) to get paid to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in hundreds of other countries. A TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate is required, and courses range from 80 to 100 hours in length, usually on the weekends.

It’s best to receive your training from a teacher trainer with a Masters in TESOL. Be sure to ask. Many of the programs who offer a TESOL Certificate don’t hire teachers with a Master in TESOL.

In-class tuition ranges from $800 to $1,200. Online certificates are not recommended, simply because teaching is a skill that requires practice. Typically a BA degree is also required by oversea employers.

Most ESL/EFL job boards say that there are more teaching positions than there are teachers to fill them in most countries. Once you have your TESOL Certificate, you can visit the following job boards to apply to get a job teaching English in the country of your choice: www.eslemployment.com, www.eslcafe.com/jobs, www.esljobs.com, www.esljob.org, www.eslteachersboard.com.

Join the Peace Corps:

You may have thought to yourself: “Some day I’ll join the Peace Corps and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.” Well, perhaps that day has come if you’re one of the 11% in Los Angeles County who are unemployed.

Visit www.PeaceCorps.gov to learn more about the benefits of joining the Peace Corps. You won’t return home with any savings, as this gig is a volunteer assignment., but, there are big benefits attached making it an attractive option.

In addition to a significant life-changing experience in a foreign country, with all of your travel, living expenses, and health insurance covered, you’ll return home after 2 years with additional educational benefits. Over 40 universities will give you a discount on their tuition for Masters level degrees as part of the Peace Corps Fellows program. You can even earn your MBA at a fraction of the cost! Then, you can start a business, perhaps at first part time, as described below.

With the addition of a tour of duty in the Peace Corps, your resume will be given a significant boost. Plus, after 2 or 3 years, our US economy could be significantly on the rebound, making landing the job of your choice perhaps a bit more probable.

Develop a Weekend Business:

If you can’t get another part-time job on the weekends, you can start a simple cash business, requiring little investment, simple inventory, and easy accounting. Be sure to take advantage of the free business counseling offered by local non-profits like the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) at www.score.org and the Los Angeles Network of Small Business Development Centers at http://lasbdcnet.lbcc.edu/locations.html. You can also sign up at www.TrainingInLA.org to be notified of either free or low-cost small business training provided by the Los Angeles Economic Development Institute (LAEDI).

The counselors at both your local SCORE chapter and your local SBDC can help you do all your research, legal requirements, and successfully launch your first business. Keep in mind that, like any non-profit, you may be assigned to a person who fits your needs perfectly or who doesn’t quite make the best impression. So, if you don’t get paired up with someone you’d rate as “5 Star,” don’t give up. Simply ask for a reassignment and keep trying until you find someone who you feel is best suited to help you.

Start with a simple business model. Buy products at wholesale and sell them at a profit. Or make something fast enough to produce a substantial profit when you sell it. Simple, right? Now you just need to know where to sell your product to make the most for your investment of time and money in inventory.

Consider high-traffic areas, whether permanent or temporary. Around Los Angeles County, there are numerous swap meets, farmer’s markets, carnivals, and festivals nearly every month, where you pay a small fee to gain entrance. (See the below links to local events). Some of the best areas for small operations are considered “tourist traps” – these are essentially where you can sell low-cost items at a premium. A goofy tee-shirt that you paid $3 for can go for $14.95 all day long to tourists who are not as cost-conscious while on vacation.

Sell something that you know is in demand, for example, a food item you made the day before, or on the spot if possible, and in which there is a substantial profit margin. Consider something as simple as a popcorn maker on a cart, as the cost is low and the smell percolates the surrounding, bringing in customers.

Get access to several events for a small daily fee. Arrive early and leave late. Stand in front of your booth and engage passer buys with free samples or special offers. Most people need to be persuaded to buy.

Learn how to sell: learn what to say and what not to say, and when to just listen.
Most people don’t know how to sell and end up annoying their prospects by sounding pushy or desperate. Take a course at your local Small Business Development Center on sales techniques. Take the time to learn sales techniques that don’t come off as techniques. Usually, a sale is made after a conversation, not a monologue. First ask questions about their needs and then only later make a pitch of how your products can solve their problem. This process is called “consultative sales.”

An extra few hundred dollars every Saturday or Sunday can go a long way to help pay your household bills. You may have to test the market to see what sells. Once you find a niche product, see if the event producers will guarantee that they won’t let another similar product seller in the event.

LA Farmer’s Markets:
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-farmersmarketlist,1,5715921.htmlstory

LA Swap Meets:
http://www.insiderpages.com/s/CA/LosAngeles/FleaMarketsSwapMeets

LA Festivals:
http://www.at-la.com/@la-fest.htm

Finally, be sure to develop a professional profile (more than a resume) on LinkedIn.com. You’ll want to start developing a large network quickly. Feel free to invite me to connect with you and I’ll give you access to my network of 5,700 and growing direct connections: http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbarden.

Keep up hope! May good fortune, gainful employment, and increased income quickly shine down upon you!

Business Coaching – Zero Risk Offer to Increase Your Net Profits

Hi. I’m Andrew Barden, Philanthropic Entrepreneur.

I can help you make more money in your small business at no risk to you. I’ve helped literally thousands small business owners from around the world make more money through improving their marketing strategies and execution of their marketing campaigns.

I don’t charged upfront fees. I work on a contingency contract. Simply put you only pay me a small portion of your increase in net profits. There is never any risk for you when working with me. To learn more about my philosophy and why I call myself a philanthropic entrepreneur, visit http://www.AndrewBarden.com.

The greatest resource of the entrepreneur is also his or her most scarce resource.  It is not money. The scarcest resource you have is your time. If you are willing to invest 30 minutes of your time in your business, I will be willing to do the same.  This could simply be my gift to you or this could be the start of a great business relationship.  When you sign-up for a 30-minute complementary no-obligation consultation, I will help you to assess what might be stopping you from making more money in your particular business. Often it takes an objective third party to diagnose what’s really going on in your business.

Now, given tough economic times and the likelihood that your sales have already been slipping for quite some time,  isn’t now the best time to take action? Isn’t now the best time to consult with experts who have helped thousands of small business owners apply proven principles and strategies in their small business?

I also invite you to connect with me on Linkin.com. Go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbarden and invite me to connect. You will see there my professional profile that includes testimonials from small business owners and colleagues, other experts who have witnessed the results I can get for small business owners.

I also invite you to follow me on this blow, read the posts, and sign up to be alerted to new posts.

Finally, I invite you to invest 30 minutes in your small business marketing strategy development. Again, there is no risk to you, as these 30 minutes will be a true conversation and focus on showing you immediate ways to improve your marketing strategy, both online and off-line.

During these 30 minutes I don’t hold anything back. I give you my best, with the hopes that you and I might eventually develop a relationship in which I work with you regularly on a contingency contract. I would normally charge $150 for such a diagnostic. But, to start out any business relationship I practice applying the Law of Reciprocity, I “show up giving.” There are numerous Universal Laws that I’ll help you apply.

There are typically two areas that most small business owners neglect.

1. The business owner’s own mindset: developing prosperity consciousness is the first and foremost responsibility of the business owner. Visits my website at http://www.andrewbarden.com where, as part of my philanthropic entrepreneurial mission, I have made available hundreds of files–including pdfs, audio, and video–under the page called “free prosperity downloads.”

2. The psychological profile of the business’ IDEAL client. Without knowing how your ideal client makes decisions you will not know how to most effectively market and sell to your ideal clients. Not knowing who your ideal client is will make its much more difficult to grow your net profits as you will service clients who are not ideal. In general and ideal client is one who is easy to find easy to reach with a message, response to that message, takes action, is easy to sell to, buys more than your average clients, does business regularly would you, and refers all of his or her family and friends and associates to you.

Applying the 80/20 principle, we know that 20% of your revenue comes from 80% of your clients and 80% of the revenue comes from 20% of your clients. Wouldn’t you like to replace the 80% of your less than ideal clients with the 20% of ideal clients less quadrupling your income, basically making more money in less time. This is the power of developing an ideal clients psychological profile otherwise known as psychographics.

Demographics are the first step and also the easiest step in developing a marketing campaign. Too often small business owners stop at a demographic profile by a list and send off a postcard or flyer or brochure. They then sit and wait for the phone to ring, and unfortunately, little to nothing happens. Have you ever found yourself in that situation?

There’s a simple solution that unfortunately most small business owners don’t know. In order for even an ideal client to respond to a marketing message they need to hear the message in veriest formats from 10 to 12 times before they will take action and contact you. This means that if you send out 5000 postcards you don’t send them to 5000 people once. Instead, you send to 500 people 10 postcards with a similar branding theme yet different messages. You’ll have a similar cost as postage is by far the greatest expense. And you will have a far greater response rate and a much greater return on your investment in the end I seen 400% ROIs in direct mail campaigns.

The other crucial principle most small business owners neglect to apply correctly is generically termed relationship marketing. Roughly 85% of all small businesses in the United States are service based. Even if you are also selling products they’re typically is a decision-making process that requires a live person to interact with the buyer. The sales process typically looks like this:

awareness –> like –> trust –> buy –> repeat buy –> refer

So, in the beginning of the relationship you are simply making your prospect aware of your offer. Your next step is essentially to get them to like you. People do business with those that they like, just like people choose to associate with friends for which they have some affinity.

Once you begin to like someone, notice that they care about your welfare, and notice that they are competence in their particular industry, you can begin to trust them and consider doing business with them. At that point you as the seller of your services would begin to talk about the benefits of doing business with you versus other people, and the various advantages and features of your product or service.

Unfortunately, most people sell or create promotions that focus on price, discounts, features, and forgot to establish an awareness, affinity, and trust in the relationship. This is why many advertisements and other direct mail or e-mail campaigns simply do not produce a significant return and often even no return… in fact it is often poor marketing strategy and field campaigns that is the direct cause of small businesses going out of business.

You may have heard from the Small Business Administration how well over two thirds of all small businesses failed in the first four years. And even greater numbers fail in subsequent years. Without effective marketing producing strong returns on your investment of money and time and the sales process that is engineered specifically to cater to your ideal clients preferences, wants, and hot buttons, you’re more likely to fail than to succeed in building your small business.

Growing your business is simple, but, it’s simply not that easy. Why is it not that easy? It is not that easy because most small business owners neglect to understand their own mindset and the mindset of their ideal client. If you work with a business coach who can help you develop prosperity consciousness as well as the psychological profile of your ideal clients your likelihood of succeeding in your business venture increases exponentially.

There are well over a dozen small business coaching companies whose fees range from 3000 upwards to 25,000 or more. Their sales pitch essentially reads like give us your money and maybe will be able to help you. Does that sound like an inviting offer? Of course not.

The most irresistible offer for small business owner who is looking for clarity and confidence in their marketing strategy and campaign execution is to find a business coach who will instead of acting like a vendor will act like a partner. A partner in your business would, like you, be willing to invest their time or what we call sweat equity, at their own risk. Your partner, would then sharer in the net profits with you.

When you hire a business coach who works on a contingency contract you are essentially securing a partner who makes a small portion of your net profits that they help you to create. Sometimes he can happen quickly. Sometimes it may take a few months. But in the end there is an equal investment of time. Doesn’t that sound like an irresistible offer? Doesn’t that sound like the kind of relationship you want to have with your business coach?

In uncertain economic times business owners who will survive will take much more calculated risks. They will do their homework in order to make decisions with clarity and confidence. A business coach who can walk you through a proven system that has enabled literally thousands of small business owners to achieve strong ROIs in various industries in numerous cultures and economic conditions around the world is hands down one of the best partners a business owner would want to have.

Invite me to start that relationship by signing up for an initial complementary 30 minute business diagnostic session. At the end of the conversation you and I will both make a decision to move onto the next step or not. I serve over 70 clients every month as of March 2009, most of them in Los Angeles County. However I’m willing to add a few more. So long as you are fluent in English, and are passionate about growing your small business revenues and willing to commit time and resources to achieve your business goals and we might be a good fit.

I look forward to speaking with you soon. If you are eager to start a relationship feel free to contact me via e-mail at Andrew@AndrewBarden.com or call my toll-free cell phone at 1 – 866-339-4619. This number, again, rings directly to my personal cell phone, so please only call during business hours Pacific Standard Time, from 9am to 6pm, Monday through Friday.

To your success,

Andrew Barden
Founder, Philanthropic Entrepreneur
http://www.AndrewBarden.com

1-866-339-4619

Weathering the Storm – What to do to Stay on Top in a Down Economy

Weathering the Storm -What to do to Stay on Top in a Down Economy

By Robert Imbriale,

The Motivational Marketer

Business owners from coast to coast are worried, scared, and some are even considering closing up shop because of what they see as uncertain times ahead. While it’s true that there will be many business closings ahead, your business doesn’t have to be one of them.

What’s behind much of the fear and worry is the constant barrage of bad news about industry giants failing at an alarming rate. And, it’s not just the what’s in the news. Our conversations have also turned negative about anything related to the economy.

What has happened to many business owners is that they have taken what they have heard or read about in the news and given it more attention than it truly deserves. That has created doubt, which soon becomes fear, and not long after that, you’ll find these same business owners throwing in the towel and shutting their doors forever.

And then there’s the trickle-down effect to consider. When one business fails, other business owners then begin to look at that failure to support their beliefs that things are as bad as they are hearing about in the news.

If your business is going to succeed, the first thing you need to do is shift your attention away from all of this and instead focus on things that are indeed more positive. I’m not suggesting that you ignore it all, but try to at least get a new perspective on it all.

For instance, yesterday, I was at the local packing and shipping store where business was booming. In fact, the owner told me he was having a great holiday season, despite what the fact that if you believe what you’re hearing about in the news would make you think this could simply not be possible.

I’m sure that you won’t see a story about this business in the news, either, so don’t go looking for it.

Now, I’m not trying to blame the news media for all our troubles. These companies are nothing more than businesses that respond to what their customers buy. We buy bad news hundreds of times more than good news. If we bought only good news, that what you’d see more of. So it’s not entirely the media’s fault.

Closer to home, I started to look for signs that things weren’t quite as bad as I’d heard. Sure enough, there is the landscape crew out on my front lawn, so I asked him how his business was doing. It was slower, but he was still getting big landscaping jobs, one totaling more than $125,000.00!

In my own business, I’m seeing more and more clients contacting me for my executive level coaching services because they are looking to make this coming year better than the previous one!

“What?” People actually not looking at things from a negative perspective? Well, they’ll see, you think to yourself because you “know” they just can’t be right.

Then you look a little deeper at what’s really happening right now and what you begin to see is that this is the perfect time to be positive about the future.

Think about it this way. When the economy was bubbling hot, houses became almost unaffordable as prices rose to record-setting highs. Yes, cheap money was indeed behind all of that, but had it continued to go the way it was going, in just a decade from now, the average home in this country might have topped a million dollars!

Things are simply adjusting and getting back to more reasonable levels. And, as in any adjustment period, it’s going to be a little uncomfortable for a little while. And, there is a lot you can do right now to take advantage of all the changes.

Here are some suggestions for you.

First, go out of your way to find stories of success. Find people who are now talking about better times ahead instead of hanging around people who can only parrot what they hear in the news.

Then, start creating your plans for this next year by putting down on paper everything you wish to have and do in the next 12 months. Go ahead and be bold here because big dreams are what create big results.

Next, create, find, invent a way to get yourself around people who are positive, upbeat, and who are seeing all the opportunities that are now being created that could never have been if things had stayed the way they were. Engage in conversations of success and what you want your business to do, and what you’re planning for the next year.

This is where a good coach can be extremely valuable to you and your business, and it’s a worthwhile investment if you simply can’t find anybody to motivate you and hold you accountable.

If you do these simple steps, what you’ll find is that things aren’t quite as bad as they are made to appear, and in fact, there are many places that are thriving right now.

Think about this. Each and every day billions and billions of dollars changes hands on the Internet. That number may be lower than it once was when it broke all previous records, but it has not stopped! It’s just lower, and nothing more.

Your job is simply to find new and innovative ways to tap into the money stream that is flowing and will continue to flow, no matter how bad things may get out there.

Realize that millionaires are made in good times and bad. It’s not about what’s going on out there as much as it is about how you think about and what you do about it.

Your success comes from seeing things that other people can’t or won’t see. Every smart and successful business owner sees things as they want them to be rather than as they are.

They put their focus on what they are trying to create instead of what they are getting because they realize that what they are getting right now is simply a result of what they did, or failed to do, in the past. What they get tomorrow and beyond will be the result of what they do today and everyday going forward.

In a nutshell, you can, and you should be planning for a great year ahead. You should be thinking about how you want your business to look a year from today, and start working on those plans right now.

If you’ll do these things, and I mean really do them, instead of just giving them lip service, I know you’ll be pleased with the results you’ll get in the coming year, regardless of how bad the media tells us things are out there.

Remember, drama is what sells newspapers, not stories of success. Go ahead and buck the trend, plan ahead, and create a business that will stand the test of what’s ahead… and cash in as all your competitor’s go out of business because they got scared and their customers now start buying from you!

Think about it. You can either struggle in the coming year, or you can thrive, and it’s really all up to you.

About the Author

Robert Imbriale is the author of the best-selling book, Motivational Marketing. He is a successful business coach, and seminar leader who has helped hundreds of thousands of business owners create bigger, more successful businesses, and he can help you too. Tell him what your biggest challenge is with your business right now! Go to http://www.AskRobertImbriale.com If you would like to have Robert help you with your business, you can reach him at 1-800-541-3816 or at http://www.RobertImbriale.com

Psychological Factors in Achieving Professional Success

Professional success is all about psychology.

1) Most professionals, whether business owners or executives managing a team, need to be aware of their own psychology, how their mindset affects their effectiveness in all aspects in their business. 98% of our processing and behaviors are governed by the subconscious mind. In order to not simply react habitually to experiences throughout the day, professionals need to take the time each day to work on developing an optimal mindset for business success.

2) If you are in a service business, and 85% of small businesses in the US are service businesses, then you absolutely must have a thorough understanding of the psychology of your current and potential clients. I’ve noticed that most sales people, marketing strategists, and business owners have NOT taken the time to develop the imaginative skills required to truly place oneself in the mind of their clients. Once you can do this, you’re business will grow substantially. Why? All of your marketing messages will hit home and activate prospects. All of your sales strategies will include hot buttons that trigger the right response from prospective clients. And you’ll both retain and be able to upsell to your client base because they feel that you really truly “get” them. When you consistently solve someone problems exactly as they need them to be solved, you will keep loyal clients for life, who will naturally refer business to you.

3) Finally, as small businesses grow, especially from solopreneurs to 5 or 10 employees, it will be crucial that you choose partners and employees very carefully. Then, once you feel you’ve found the right people with the right mindset, you’ll need to treat them like family. Remember that people join companies but leave bosses. How you treat people when you let them go will also affect people that you retain. Know that the emotional life of your partners and employees is often more important that you realize. Ask yourself how you’d address issues with your brother or sister, and then treat your partners or employees like that. And, the Golden Rule can be aptly refined to the Platinum Rule: treat others as THEY would like to be treated. In order to do that, you need to develop a psychological sense of how they would prefer to be treated. Sometimes you can use your imagination and be accurate. Sometimes it’s best to simply ask them. Would you want to be respected and appreciated in a similar way? When you apply the Platinum rule to all of your relationships, be they partners, employees, or clients, you will have a thriving business. You are activating the Law of Reciprocity. Be of service to everyone in your life and they, directly or indirectly, will be of service in return.

If you refuse to see the world from the perspective of others, you will find that relationships don’t serve your goals. When you help other people achieve everything they want, they will help you achieve everything you want. Develop these psychological talents and you’ll find success chases after you instead of you chasing after it.

Possibilities: Persistence guarantees success is inevitable

If you think you are beaten, you already are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t. 

If you’d like to win, but, you think you can’t, 

It’s already a cinch you won’t.  

If you think you’ll loose, you’ve already lost, 

For in the end you’ll find that  

Success comes from more than talent 

It’s a matter of heart and mind.  

Some people quit when the going gets tough, 

“It’s just too hard!” they cry. 

Winners get up when they fall down 

and are always willing to try.  

Think that you can and you will! 

Remember, it’s up to you. 

The possibilities are endless! 

You can do whatever you choose!  

So, have a positive attitude. 

Give your best right from the start. 

And last but not least, have courage 

To always follow your heart!

This is a poem that I use in my inspiring character education / comedy juggling show for youth and young adults. You can look me up on YouTube under Andrew Barden: Eccentric Juggler to view the promo video.