Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Business Goals and New Year's Resolutions – WHO do you want to BE in 2008?


I've written about New Year's Resolutions in a recent post and here we are almost to the end of 2007. Have you thought about your business and where you want to take it? I know exactly where I'm going because I just updated my business plan.

Here are a few of the questions I asked myself while working on my business plan:

What do I want to do differently in 2008?
This year I want to do more writing about things I'm passionate about. Being an entrepreneur in the business world; characteristics of successful business owners; the benefits of a positive attitude. I also want more time for reading. I have a stack of books with topics that range from internet marketing to learning to train our brains to be more efficient. I just need to carve out time.

What do I want to delegate?
I definitely want to do less administration. Less bookkeeping and reconciliations. Oddly enough I'm fairly good at accounting. This is all thanks to my best friend Laura Klump who taught me how to keep a perfect set of books. I will be delegating the PR side of my business especially since I'm not good at Public Relations. I can help my clients promote themselves any old day, but I don't seem to be great at it for my own business. I don't want to delegate marketing because I LOVE IT! My mantra is: Keep doing what you're good at and delegate the rest.

WHO do I want to BE a year from now?
I want to be a wiser and better-rounded person. For the past 3 years I've had my head down while building this coaching business and now that I have a smoothly running machine I can take my foot off the accelerator and ease up a bit. This means I can devote more time to BEING a better friend, sister, auntie, wife, and community resident.

What exciting vacations do I want for 2008?
I don't know about exciting, but I want to go to Rocky Point Mexico at least a few times this year. There's nothing better than staying in a house on the beach with close friends and cooking and drinking wine on the patio while watching the wildlife go by. While I love the fancy resorts, I also crave simplicity and authentic relationships. That's what going to Rocky Point gives me - Time, space, great seafood, sand, ocean, and sunsets.

Take some time in the next few days to do some business planning and thinking about WHO you want to BE in 2008.

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

29 Perfect Business Card Tips That Will Make You Loads of Money


I talked about the importance of Branding and New Year's Resolutions in my last post, so I thought I would post an article I wrote some time ago about how to make money from your business card by turning it into a Branding and Marketing piece. Read on for some useful tips.


I love networking and meeting new people. I enjoy the pleasant etiquette of exchanging business cards. Unfortunately, I have seen some poorly designed business cards in my travels. I have been handed a boring dull business card from someone claiming to be a professional graphic designer. I have been handed a torn and frayed off-size card by someone claiming to be a marketing consultant. I’ve seen cards with outdated contact information and scribbled corrections.

This article is intended to help business owners create and design a business card they can be proud to present – a card that will pass the trash test.


The goal is to be memorable. What I want for you is for prospects to remember who you are days, weeks, and months after the networking event and for you to make loads of money because of your business card!

Please use the tips listed here to design a card that makes money:

1. Don’t use plain white card stock for your business card. There’s nothing more boring than a white card.

2. Don’t use raised printing also called thermograph printing. This is considered passĂ©.

3. UV coating is the shiny coating you see applied to many business cards. Make sure you coat only one side of your card as people like to write on cards to remember who you are and where they met you.

4. Make sure there are 3 methods of communication on your business card. Prospects have a preferred method and if you don’t include it, you may not hear from them. List your phone number, email address, and mailing address.

5. Use your business card to drive traffic to your website. Advertise on your card “download my free report” at http://www.yourwebsite.com/.

6. Use a nice quality card stock for your card. There’s nothing that screams unprofessional as a thin card.

7. Don’t list your fax number unless your business regularly receives faxes as a normal part of your business workflow. This is extra information that doesn’t need to crowd your card if not appropriate. And you won’t be bothered by fax advertising.

8. Include a Tagline on your business card. Tell your target clients what it is you do for them. This will serve to polish your image and create a brand for your company. Put your Tagline on the front of the business card.

9. Maintain a consistent brand by utilizing your unique design on both your business card and your website.

10. Keep your business card simple. Don't try to cram too much information on your card. You need some “white” space to even out the design.

11. Use no more than two fonts in your card design. Fewer fonts make it easier on the eyes.

12. Don’t use all caps on your card. All caps are difficult to read.

13. Don’t use odd sized cards. Prospect keep regular sized business cards after networking events. Odd sized cards eventually end up in the trash.

14. Use the back of the card for something useful, like a listing of the benefits your clients receive from utilizing your services.

15. If you really want to be cutting edge, use the new video business cards available today. This technology is said to be the wave of the future and especially useful if you exhibit at tradeshows.

16. Do utilize a photograph of yourself on the front of your card if you are in a relationship building profession. This helps to make you more memorable.

17. Do utilize a four color photo of your creations on the back of your card if you are in the creative professions.

18. Make sure your business card fits who you are. If you’re an artist, include a photo of your work and make sure the card has an artistic feel. If you are in a conservative field, keep the design simple.

19. Make a digital version of your business card and include it in your email signature.

20. Use a professional email address on your cards: yourname@yourdomain.com. Foxylady@yahoo.com is not appropriate for the business environment.

21. Add certification titles to your card to add credibility.

22. When handed a business card, make sure to study the card and ask questions about the prospect. This makes you a more “interesting” person.

23. When giving out business cards take them from a case and hand them to your prospect so that the card is facing up. I don’t know how many times I’ve been handed an upside down business card.

24. Include an offer on the back of your business card such as a free consultation, or free service offered in the form of a call to action.

25. Include a card with all correspondence.

26. Use a logo that is visually appealing and tells prospects what it is you do for a living.

27. Use a 4-color business card. They are not expensive and are more memorable.

28. Make sure you list your title near your name.

29. Hand out your business card as much as possible. Keep a supply in your car so that you never run out!

Professionalism Counts

The best advice I can give you is to use a professional to design your business card. This is a one-time investment in your company identity. Just think about the additional fees you can command when you are perceived as an expert. How much is your professional presence worth to you? A well-designed business card shows that you are a successful entrepreneur and not a fly-by-night. It also positions your business for success by presenting a clear image of a company that can be trusted.


©Copyright 2007 Suzanne Muusers All Rights Reserved
About the author:
Suzanne Muusers is a Business Coach and Business Expert based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has owned or managed a business every year for the past 25 years. She is a credentialed member of the International Coach Federation and works exclusively with entrepreneurs and financial advisors who want to leave behind their lives as business workers to become business owners earning six figures and above annually. Download her Free Report "Top 5 Business Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid" at http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Branding and New Year’s Resolutions



* Do you have clip art as your business logo?
* Did you use a business card template from one of those inexpensive print websites?
* Do you feel that using the services of a professional designer is an expense you can skip?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it matters a great deal that you have a professional brand identity and there’s no better time than the New Year to get one! I’m writing this because very few people will tell you the truth about your business card or brand identity, but I will. People will take your card, glance at it, and decide what kind of business owner you are right there on the spot.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO COUNT.

I run into a lot of bad business cards. I don’t want to be rude so I look at the cards with a pleasant face before putting them away all the while thinking “Don't people realize that they're making a bad first impression?”

I started my first business in 1985. It was an international fine jewelry company selling to upscale department stores. I hired a graphic designer to design a first rate brand. It worked. I was in 400 department stores within a few years and it had a great deal to do with how I presented myself, including my business cards.

If you’re using clip art, please stop right now - Step away from the clip art! If you’re using a template, it was good in the beginning and saved you money, but now it’s time to invest in your business. If you think you can skip the expense of a professional designer, think again.

What sort of message do you think you are sending to your target clients by not having a professional brand? I’ll clue you in: it sends a message that your business is under-funded, hasn’t been around long, is lacking in credentials and credibility, or is a fly-by-night.

What benefits come with a professional brand?

1. Being able to command higher fees (who doesn’t want this?)
2. Pre-sell yourself, less work on your part to acquire new clients
3. Attract better quality clients
4. Credible or professional image
5. Ability to brand products that you create and promote
6. Effortless Marketing is at work in the world for you!

So, what I want for you is to be a professional business owner, not a business worker, and one of the ways you can do this is by getting smart and presenting yourself as a successful, professional entrepreneur. I don’t care who you hire. Just make sure it’s someone with experience and creativity. Look at their portfolio and decide if they have the style you’re after. There are all types of budgets. Expect to pay between $600 and $1200 for a professional.

(another Monday night football post)
Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/
Branding Packages

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss - Book Review




This book review is about The 4-Hour Workweek, written by Tim Ferriss, a self-described serial-entrepreneur, scuba diver, tango dancer, and world traveler. The book is about how to live a meaningful lifestyle without delaying retirement and without wasting your life. This book has many "coach-like" tools and techniques which leads me to believe that Mr. Ferriss has at one time had a business or life coach who guided him in developing these principles.

As entrepreneurs we often dream about freedom – freedom to live a life of our own choosing, freedom to travel internationally to exotic locations, and freedom to create our own schedules.

Why should we wait unit age 65 to live the life we want? Why should we slave year after year to make someone else’s dreams come true when we can take control of our lives and live the dream now?

Ferriss breaks people down into two groups: the Deferrers and the New Rich. The Deferrers (D) work like the devil 80 hours a week to make the money to finance a highbrow lifestyle. They slave, save, and then retire. The New Rich (NR) design their business to finance a more meaningful lifestyle that includes travel, hobbies, and outsourcing.

What I got out of this book:

Does your Life have a Purpose? - What do you stand for? Are you working just to work? Are you buying new and better “things” but feel empty inside? Does your life have meaning? What are you contributing to the world? Figure out why you are on this planet and vow to live a life of meaning by contributing something of value to this world.

Create a Virtual Business and Delegate – create a company not a one person shop! Have others do the work for you. You’re a CPA that focuses on tax return preparation. A client is looking for someone to do their monthly accounting. Take this client and delegate or farm out the business. Put procedures in place for how your clients will be handled. Ferriss goes into detail about hiring Virtual Assistants (VA) to do much of your "busy" work for you so that you can concentrate on the important details of running a business.

Simplicity and Space – Did you buy a bigger house to hold all your possessions? Are your closets full of stuff you rarely use? What big-boy toys do you have but rarely use? Create space in your life to live. Clean out the clutter that prevents you from living a life of meaning.

Get Rid of Your Unprofitable Clients – when we've reached a certain level of success we can muster the courage to pick our clients based upon certain parameters, namely how much we enjoy working with them and how profitable they are. Some entrepreneurs chose to refer the unprofitable clients to someone starting out in the business, usually for a referral fee. The profitable clients are retained and used to grow the business.

Time Management – one of the major points of this book is how much time we waste by trying to "stay busy" rather than being "productive". Email is now our enemy rather than a tool to help us manage our business effectively. Ferriss points out that he checks his email only once per week. I'm not sure how easy this would be for the majority of entrepreneurs. I am certainly aware of how email is a time waster. I personally don't check or answer email on the weekends. I use that time to live my life. How often have you been "busy" the entire day, but when you look back you can't quite put your finger on what you actually got done?

Focus on Your Strengths, not Your Weaknesses – as a business coach for entrepreneurs, I support this notion wholeheartedly. All too often I hear about business owners who are trying to "fix" the things they're not good at. I'd rather see us delegate weaknesses, and do what we're REALLY good at – and do it well.

Conclusion:
The book also goes into depth about how to create a business that runs on Autopilot (MBA - management by absence) based on product creation and internet sales. Of course, automation is the key!!!

While I think this is an extremely beneficial book for entrepreneurs and small business owners, I also believe it proposes some out of the box solutions to common problems that will take some getting used to. However, I believe it will take some radical changes to "fix" our overly complicated, revenue-driven, valueless lifestyles.

This book is a good read and I recommend it for all entrepreneurs seeking a better quality of life.


Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

Monday, December 3, 2007

Go ahead. Google me! Make my day.


Have you ever done a google vanity search?

You know what I mean. Have you ever googled yourself late at night when no one was watching? If your name is Joe Smith, have a seat and good luck searching. But if your name is Suzanne Muusers, and you happen to be a Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors, and you are of Australian Dutch decent, then it’s pretty easy.

Tonight while watching a fascinating evening of Monday Night Football with my husband (warning – sarcasm present), I decided to google myself on my husband’s laptop (he has wireless internet access AND a MAC). I became acutely aware of how important it is to know how to OPTIMIZE YOUR WEBSITE FOR THE SEARCH ENGINES.

It never fails. When I first start working with a client they are nowhere in the organic search engine results for their key words (the unpaid natural results). They may have used a no-name, bargain-basement web designer to create their site without understanding that it takes more than design skills to build a successful site.

There’s no shame in it. I did it way back in 1999. I hired a guy to create my gallery/gift store website not understanding that a low price is not always a good value. Not only did the guy not know a thing about good design, he didn’t know anything about search engine optimization (SEO). It was a complete waste of my $500.00.

So tonight I googled some of my key words (internet search terms associated with what I do best, what I’m known for) without adding my name. I typed in “Business Coach for Financial Advisors”. I came up number 4 NATIONALLY for these key words. I typed in “Business Coach for Entrepreneurs” and I’m number two NATIONWIDE.

I have intentionally made myself a specialist in Search Engine Optimization. I have taken classes, workshops, teleclasses, attended conferences, all so that I could understand for myself what SEO could do for me and my clients.

How are you ranked?

Did your web designer utilize design and SEO? Did you obtain a good value or waste your money? No matter your answer, let me coach you how to create an Effortless Marketing strategy to draw clients to you. This is what I do best.

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Cashflow, marketing, and new clients

Most of my clients hire me with the intention of being in the top 10% of their industries within one to three years. What are the indicators of success? Who are the clients who are most likely to succeed? I find that those who learn how to focus, set priorities and cut through the gobblygook are the winners.

In a breathless voice my client called and told me about an idea he had to revolutionize his industry. He had been thinking about a system that would allow a service technician to perform the job with faster service levels and superior results. It would take time, and money, and take him away from other duties. Then he mentioned he really needed to bring in more revenue. He had bills due and marketing he needed to concentrate on.

How, he asked me, was he going to balance cashflow with all the things he needed to do?

First I asked him to make a list of all his marketing and business priorities. Then I asked him to place three stars next to actions that would result in cashflow within 30 days, two stars for 60 days, and one star for 90 days or more.

Possible Activities that needed to be done
1. Create advertising for print media - *
2. Calling and/or meeting with contacts made at networking events – this is very effective and can result in new clients within 30 days ***
3. Leveraging alliances with people he already knew – new clients almost immediately or up to 60 days **
4. Sending out an email marketing campaign and following up with phone calls – cash flow almost immediately or up to 60 days **
5. Email marketing, phone calls, AND booking appointments – cashflow immediately ***
6. Developing a new product or service line – 180 days to one year before cashflow – no stars

What is the most effective activity to build cashflow? Without a doubt it is direct contact with prospects. Email campaigns, newsletters, and advertising are all great, but nothing comes close to the effectiveness of speaking or meeting in person with prospects.

To be in the top ten percent of your industry you often have to do the activities that you most want to put off. Pick up the phone and call your clients or prospects. Get out in the field and talk to people. Sitting at your desk will not get you new business.

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Are you starting a business? Don't forget your SWOT Analysis!

I seem to be running into a lot of people in the process of starting a business. I've met a start-up technology entrepreneur, a pet sitting/groomer entrepreneur, and a brand new CPA, all during the past week. One thing they have in common is a burning desire for FREEDOM through owning their own business.

Several themes developed in my conversations with these aspiring entrepreneurs. What did they need to do to be successful each of them asked? What roadblocks would they possibly run into? What key activity do they need to perform consistently?

First of all, many entrepreneurs fail to do adequate research into their business idea. Is there actually a need for their product or service in the geographic area they have chosen? Who is the competition? Who are they competing against and what do they need to work on to improve their chances of success?

One often-overlooked way to accurately determine if you're on the right track is to perform a SWOT Analysis. Creating a SWOT will help you determine your market position.

1. What are the company’s STRENGTHS?

What unique advantages does your company have?
What do customers rave about?
What unique resources do you have access to?
What do others see as your strengths?

2. What are the company’s WEAKNESSES?

What could you improve?
What should you avoid?
What do others see as your weaknesses?
What do customers complain about the most?

3. What are the company’s greatest OPPORTUNITIES?

What opportunities are you not taking advantage of? Go on, admit you have opportunities you haven't taken advantage of. Most of my clients learn to leverage opportunities they were either too afraid to pursue or were consciously unaware of. This is one of the greatest keys to success.
What trends could you leverage?
How can you turn your weaknesses into opportunities?

4. What are the company’s greatest THREATS?

What trends could harm you? Is there a technology or new service that could come along and wipe you out?
What obstacles do you face?
What is your competition doing?
Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing?
Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems?
Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your business?

A SWOT Analysis is not only key for start-ups but for established businesses that haven't taken a good look at their competitive position lately. Could you benefit from this exercise?

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Monday, November 19, 2007

Want to be a better Networker? 5 Key Questions to Start a Conversation

I network a lot. I meet interesting people from all walks of life. Entrepreneurs starting businesses, independent professionals looking for leads, and established business owners taking time out of their busy schedules to meet new people.

One thing many networkers have in common is that they find conversing with new contacts awkward. They're never quite sure what to say. Do they ask about their prospect's business? Do they ask about their family? They may find themselves bumbling through a series of questions that don't add value until they walk away thinking "Get me out of here."

My goal for this post is to help you feel more comfortable when networking. If you are more at ease, you'll be more likely to have fun, meet interesting people, and promote your business at the same time.

First a few DON’T's
Don't expect to attend an event once and get tons of business.
Don't talk about yourself. Turn the conversation back to the other party even if they ask about you.
Don't be a poor listener. This means you should show that you are listening by nodding agreement, adding a few words of encouragement, and asking more questions.
Don't look around for greener pastures. Give the person in front of you your full attention.

The truth is networking doesn't have to be difficult. The key to networking success is getting to know people and being helpful, likeable, and sincere. You remember the old saying "People do business with those they know, like, and trust."

So the question is: How do you handle the networking conversation so that you become someone who is likeable and sincere?

You ask questions about the other person! Here are five questions you can memorize to keep the conversation moving:

1. How did you get into this line of work?
2. What do you like most about what you do?
3. Tell me about your Ideal Client.
4. So, describe what a good lead would be for you?
5. What's the most challenging part of your business?


Memorize these five questions. Use them when you network. You'll never feel awkward again. For more  helpful tips, here's an article I wrote Four Ways to Be a Better Networker.

Here's to your networking success!

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Monday, November 12, 2007

Entrepreneurial Vision - What's Yours?

I attended the 2nd Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference in Phoenix Thursday November 8th, 2007. I LOVE being in the company of business owners with entrepreneurial minds!! Conferences like this are very motivating and can reignite the passion for why we started our business in the first place.

Pat Sullivan, former ACT CEO, opened the conference with a fantastic talk about how to raise money for a start up venture. He also spoke about having great entrepreneurial vision. In fact, it seemed that many of the break out session panelists spoke about vision.

I loved the lunch keynote speaker Dan Morrison's talk about Lessons Learned and how there's no set path or set of rules on how to be successful with your business. He also talked about the difference between an Entrepreneurial CEO and an Outside CEO. No one but the Entrepreneurial CEO truly understands the Company Vision.

It's surprising to me that while most of the conference speakers included something about the importance of Entrepreneurial Vison in their talks, 90% of my clients don't have a vision when they start working with me.

Here are 3 Easy Steps to Creating a Vision:

1. Craft your Company Values Statement. What is important to the organization? Have everyone in your company list values. Examples: Integrity, safety, beneficial client relationships, quality work, consistent follow-up, open lines of communication, cutting edge technology, work-life balance, and personal excellence. Your Values Statement should start out something like: As a company and as individuals we value:

2. Ask three to four people in your organization to come up with a Vision Statement based on your values. Get them to complete the following sentence: It is five years from today, where are we? What are we doing? Who are we serving? What’s different about the company?

3. Take the Vision Statement, break into small groups of three to five and brainstorm to perfect the ideas it contains. Use the questions above to guide you. All groups should share their ideas to finalize the Vision.

Staying Power
Once you’ve come up with a Vision Statement, don’t put it away in a drawer to be forgotten. Use your Vision in your company marketing materials, your website, and in your Human Resources office so that it is always present in the company culture.


Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Competitive Advantage – How Do You Get Yours?


I've just come back from my industry's annual conference in Long Beach, California. The ICF (International Coach Federation) put on a great conference this year with wonderful keynote speakers and inspiring break out sessions. On my way home I reminisced about why I take time out of my schedule to make the annual pilgrimage: COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE!

As a coach to entrepreneurs, I want to make sure I am offering the most knowledge and value to my clients so that they will blossom and grow. If I'm not out there exposing myself to new situations and knowledge, then I might be limiting my ability to learn more and add value.

Many in the coaching profession not only don't attend the annual conference; they are not even members of the ICF and are not interested in certification. Being that coaching is an infant profession with only 10 – 12 years of formal organization, it is important to me to belong to an organization with ethics and professionalism. At this conference I learned that I am one of 3200 certified coaches worldwide! This is certainly a competitive advantage.

Here are my top tips to creating your own competitive advantage:

1. Get certified in your area of expertise
2. Join your industry's flagship organization
3. Attend conferences in your field
4. Take seminars and workshops to improve your skills
5. Read at least one business book per month – to see a list of suggestions, click here Suggested Reading for Entrepreneurs

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

5 Ways to Make More Money Utilizing Delegation



Control. Some of us have it and others don’t want to give it up. Unfortunately, many small business owners and entrepreneurs that I work with refuse to delegate tasks in order to make the business run more efficiently. Delegation is a skill that is one of the keys to business success – being able to delegate duties frees up the business owner to work on more important issues. In the start-up phase, the owner often cannot afford to hire others to take on tasks that are taking up their time. They end up doing everything themselves. Most companies, however, reach a point where profitability allows them to hire employees or to delegate work to independent contractors.

What are the key reasons for not wanting to delegate?

• By the time I show someone how to do it, I may as well do it myself
• I’m in a rush. It will take longer to do it if I have to show someone how
• I can’t afford to pay someone to do this so I may as well do it myself
• No one can do it as well as I can
• They won’t do a good job

When was the last time you worked ON your business rather than IN your business? Are you still doing data entry? If there is a way to systematize some of the processes that you are still maintaining, it may be time to delegate.

Here are five ways to start delegating so that you can work on your business rather than everyday minutia.

1. Determine what you do. Make a list of everything you are currently doing daily, weekly, and monthly. Determine what you need to continue doing and delegate the rest.
2. Look at your office administration. These days you may be able to hire the services of a virtual assistant. A VA is an independent contractor who can take on your administrative duties using their own office. You pay them an hourly rate and organize everything via the Internet.
3. Review and correct. When delegating, determine a review process so that you can check the quality of the work. Provide feedback as to how the work was performed. Change what needs to be changed and make the process better, so that eventually you won’t need to do much in the way of checking the work.
4. Investigate resistance. If you’re having trouble delegating, take a good look at why. What excuses are you making to yourself? Are you having trouble giving up control? Remember, successful entrepreneurs do what they do best and delegate the rest.
5. Get smart with your new found time. Use your free time wisely to work on strategic planning, marketing, and promotion. Block time on your calendar for these important tasks.

If you don’t yet have the budget to delegate, make a plan for when and what you will delegate. You are the business owner. It is your job to create a plan for the business to be successful. It’s time to get out of the comfort zone you’ve built for yourself and get out there and market your business.

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs & Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Why do entrepreneurs risk it all to become become business owners?



They risk it all for one word: FREEDOM!!! Today I am reminded of why there is nothing better than being a business owner rather than working for "the man". One of my clients was laid off from her day job position without any notice, WHILE she was on vacation. There was no regard for her diligent efforts, long hours, and servitude. Just a hurried voicemail with a request for an exit interview. When you have your own business, you have freedom. You are in charge of your own destiny. You make your own hours and you are accountable to no one but yourself. You don't ever have to worry that you'll be laid off. On the flip side of course, your income is dependent on your own efforts. Is it worth the risk??? YOU BET!

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach For Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Monday, October 8, 2007

Top 5 Business Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid

Hello to all! It's Suzanne from Prosperity Coaching here. I have just finished writing a Free Report for visitors to my website entitled "Top 5 Business Mistakes Enrepreneurs Should Avoid". I wrote the report because I see business owners making the same mistakes over and over again. Make sure you are not making any of these critical business mistakes.

What is the benefit to you, you ask? How about the ability to still be in business in one year? How about learning to correct mistakes that will allow you to be in business five years from now?

For those of you who want a run down on what the report contains, here are the Five Mistakes:
1. Failing to Develop a Personal and Business Vision
2. Neglecting to Develop a Business and Marketing Plan
3. Failing to Create a Professional "Brand" for the Business
4. Failing to Select a Target Market
5. Being a Jack of All Trades and a Master of None

You can download the report at: http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

Saturday, September 29, 2007

My new website goes live!!!!

It has been five months in the planning and implementation, and now it's all finished!
The new prosperity coaching for entrepreneurs and financial advisors.
The new site has plenty of resources: articles, assessments, quizzes, comp session forms, special reports, links and recommended businesses, internet marketing resources, and The Entrepreneur's Shop.

Thank you to my fabulous Husband, Dana Ball, and his extraordinary design and programming capabilities!

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs & Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz