tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113268702024-03-12T18:05:24.024-05:00Smarter Small Business BlogHelping entrepreneurs of all ages, but especially baby boomer entrepreneurs, get more satisfaction from their businesses by working smarter rather than harderAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-80986925316777348572014-11-27T08:40:00.001-06:002014-11-27T08:40:14.943-06:00Limits and Opportunities - The Problem With Problems<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/11/the-problem-with-problems.html">Seth's Blog: The problem with problems</a>: <br />
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<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a><br />
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As I sit here on the morning of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, 2014, I think about those things for which I am thankful. And much to my amazement, I realize that I am thankful for my problems.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHfA_3Jm38M/VHc0CsP9evI/AAAAAAAAALk/-MHBEGZSnzU/s1600/puzzle_FutUndBeidl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHfA_3Jm38M/VHc0CsP9evI/AAAAAAAAALk/-MHBEGZSnzU/s1600/puzzle_FutUndBeidl.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
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Almost daily, I read the blog of one of my favorite writers and business experts, Seth Godin. Today's post from him is called<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/11/the-problem-with-problems.html"> "The Problem With Problems"</a>. In short, he points out that we have <i>problems</i> and <i>opportunities. </i>The problem with problems is that they keep us from focusing on our opportunities. Within my problems may even be the path to my opportunities.<br />
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I am inspired on this Thanksgiving Day to be thankful for my problems and my opportunities, they are the two sides of the proverbial coin.<br />
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Today you have the opportunity to look at both sides of your coin as well. Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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ShallieAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-55389334237380372012013-09-29T15:12:00.000-05:002013-09-29T15:12:26.482-05:00Baby Boomer - Is One Belief Holding Back Your Entrepreneurship?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="200" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6OI7REyatq4" width="400"></iframe>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">US Entrepreneurship
Is Up<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrepreneurship is certainly the hot topic of the day.
Recent reports tell us that entrepreneurship has reached a 14 year high. During
the recession, so called <i>necessity entrepreneurs</i>
formed businesses to replace the jobs they could not find. Now, in the
recovery, <i>opportunity entrepreneurs</i>
are forming businesses because they see better opportunities to pursue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Donna J. Kelley, associate professor of entrepreneurship at
Babson College, tells us that the <i>necessity
entrepreneurs</i> have not disappeared, but the <i>opportunity entrepreneurs</i> are springing back. Nearly 78% of people
who started businesses last year started them to pursue opportunities. This is
up from 71% in 2010, but not up to the pre-recession number of 87.3%.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100755225"><span style="font-size: small;">(See US Entrepreneurship Reaches 14-Year High Report)</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But the Challenges We
Face May Require New Efforts from Entrepreneurs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Noted entrepreneur and author, Jack Nadel, tells us that
there is still a crisis ahead. In the Huffington Post, Nadel reminds us that there
has been a gradual decline of wages and the consequent shrinking of the middle
class. If he is right, <i>necessity
entrepreneurship</i> may be the new form of <i>opportunity
entrepreneurship</i>. He quotes a related Huffington Post article that says: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The U.S. now has ‘the highest income inequality in the
developed world. It follows only Chile, Mexico, and Turkey among all nations.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nadel further points out 45 million Americans are now living
on substandard wages, and they need
desperately to supplement their income. If seventy percent of our
economy is driven by domestic consumption, who will buy our goods and services?
He believes the answer is in evolving entrepreneurs who will build our economy
from the inside out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-nadel/the-middle-class-problem-_b_3965002.html">(See: The Middle Class Problem is Now an Emergency:Entrepreneurs, We Need You!)</a></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-nadel/the-middle-class-problem-_b_3965002.html"><o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Will Baby Boomer
Entrepreneurs Fill the Gap?</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nadel reminds us that the rallying call that has always
helped entrepreneurs spot opportunities is “Find A Need And Fill It”. This
requires a targeted thinking to learn how to really listen. This is a key component
of what we so commonly call The Entrepreneurial Mindset. But how do we make the
transition as Baby Boomer consumers to having the Baby Boomer Entrepreneurial
Mindset? Professor Fred Kofman suggests that there is one belief that generally
holds back people in all career segments. Perhaps this belief is also the key
to liberating the entrepreneurial mindset.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">He says “Your job is not your job. Your job is not what you
do, but the goal you pursue.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">When he was a teacher, he thought his job was to teach. He
later had what he calls “a flash of humbling insight where I realized that
teaching is irrelevant; what matters is helping others learn.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">“That realization changed my career, and my life. I stopped
teaching and started helping my students learn; I stopped advising and started
helping my clients succeed. So, how would you change your job description if
instead of your role you focused on your goal?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">But this shift would not be enough to maximize your value.
If you are a member of an organization, your individual role is not your real
goal. You must find your highest goal?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130910040205-36052017-the-one-belief-that-is-holding-back-your-career?trk=NUS_UNIU_PEOPLE_FOLLOW-megaphone-fllw&utm_content=buffer4925c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer" style="font-weight: normal;">(See: The One Belief That Is Holding Back Your Career)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130910040205-36052017-the-one-belief-that-is-holding-back-your-career?trk=NUS_UNIU_PEOPLE_FOLLOW-megaphone-fllw&utm_content=buffer4925c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer"></a></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What Is The Next Step?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">As an aspiring Bay Boomer Entrepreneur, what is the goal you
pursue? To further understand Professor Kofman’s point, take time to watch the featured video.
Then see how to apply his suggestions to developing your entrepreneurial
mindset. What will it it mean for you to be an entrepreneur on a team solving
problems for bigger teams: your customers, along with our national, and world
economies?</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">For more tips on developing your entrepreneurial mindset,
join our mailing list. <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a>.</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">
Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder – Smarter Small Business Blog</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> ~ The Business Dream Weaver</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-7347123250151853832013-09-15T14:18:00.000-05:002013-09-15T14:18:22.340-05:00Baby Boomer - Do You Have The Disposition To Be An Entrepreneur?<h2>
Baby Boomer - Do You Have The Disposition To Be An Entrepreneur?</h2>
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My dictionary says "tendency or inclination"...perhaps a natural inclination. I wonder if you and I have a disposition toward being a baby boomer entrepreneur.</div>
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The world around us is changing</h3>
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As we face the issues of retirement, many of the choices we made earlier in your lives may not support the reality we face today. Does the fact that we worked for someone in earlier times of our life keep us from adopting the solution that may work better as we face new times in our life?</div>
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Does our disposition about financing our living need to change too?</h3>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pqjJGTwK13U" width="400"></iframe>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqjJGTwK13U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqjJGTwK13U</a><br />
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Many baby boomers are retiring at the end of the era of defined pension plans. They have established pensions that will meet their income needs and insurance plans that cover their health needs. May others have saved enough to cover these two big fears of baby boomers: 1) having enough money to cover their living expenses and 2) having a way to meet their healthcare needs.<br />
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The next tier of baby boomers face these same two problems and hope to cover them with an encore career. This might come in the form of working longer before retiring, working either full or part time. It might include becoming an encore entrepreneur in a more traditional business where they provide products or services that depend upon their personal efforts to meet the needs of their customers.<br />
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The third tier of baby boomers look to approach the problem differently. They look to create an income generating asset that will not ultimately depend upon them being able to be healthy to work to produce income. The asset will be able to provide for their needs. This is more typically another form of baby boomer entrepreneurship. This is creating a business that does not depend upon you to run the day to day operations. This may well be your best solution if you don't already have a defined pension plan or have not saved enough assets to cover your retirement.<br />
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This third tier depends upon developing a business where you work smarter rather than harder. You create a business as an organization apart from you that meets both your needs and the needs of the organization. The needs of the organization are basically the needs of your employees and the needs of your customers.<br />
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Many people believe this this is not possible, however we see examples of this around us every day. The most common example is that of the fast food franchise. Franchise owners do not set out planning to work behind the counter all their lives. They develop systems to run the business and hire managers to run the systems. That is how we hear about people who own hundreds of stores. Secondly, the asset they own can be sold to someone else to fund their future needs.<br />
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A second example is the corporation for which you may have been working for years. Do the shareholders, the owners of that corporation, show up to work everyday? Generally, the answer is "no". People are hired to produce the results that are defined by the shareholders.<br />
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Do you have the disposition to be that special type baby boomer entrepreneur?</h3>
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Is your disposition fixed? Do we have the opportunity to change our disposition to become something we have never considered before? Can you reinvent yourself or is it too late?</div>
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This video is a Minute With Maxwell. In it, legendary personal coach John Maxwell shares his thinking about our dispositions. I think that if you watch it you will hear him tell you that you can change your disposition. Not only can you put on an entrepreneurial mindset, you can put on a mindset that will allow you to accomplish far more than you think you can accomplish as you read this post. I believe the answer is <i><b>yes, you can. </b></i></div>
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<h3>
<b>What's the next step?</b></h3>
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Watch the short video by John Maxwell and decide about your disposition. If your disposition is to begin shaping your entrepreneurial mindset, join our mailing list.<a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/"> My Baby Boomer Business Dream.</a></div>
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Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog<br />
~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-53505248676203945042013-09-07T22:53:00.000-05:002013-09-07T22:53:46.207-05:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Try These 3 Brand Personas To Benefit Your Customer<h2>
Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Try These 3 Brand Personas To Benefit Your Customer</h2>
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<img border="0" height="163" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fC6zInHhfA/UivM8ooLKfI/AAAAAAAAAGk/p6OF-mcczxc/s320/Social+Media+Personas.JPG" width="320" /><a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-cooper/1718571/3-brand-personas-social">http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-cooper/1718571/3-brand-personas-social</a></div>
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<h3>
Your entrepreneurial mindset inspires you to make something better for your customer</h3>
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Much of what we read in the new world of social media is about how to relate to our customers. We are encouraged to find the persona that represents our customer to be able to better communicate with them. However, there is an equally interesting issue that I have just discovered.</div>
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You visualize the persona of your customer so that you can address them as a person. But when a customer is listening, they are usually looking back at the person who is speaking to them. So what persona do they see in looking back at you? </div>
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Your goal as an entrepreneur is to make something better for your customer. One way to address how you will do that is to consider the social media persona from which you want to address your customer. If you can have consistency in the way that you project to your customer, your customer may better understand you.</div>
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I discovered this principle in a<a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-cooper/1718571/3-brand-personas-social"> post by Mark Cooper of Offerpop</a>. He provides insights that may help you clarify the brand persona that allows you to do the best job of supporting your customer.</div>
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<h4>
1) The Helper</h4>
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The helper helps the customer solve problems and inspires positive change. Here at Smarter Small Business Blog, it is primarily our purpose to be your helper by making your life easier through being a baby boomer entrepreneur as the solution to the challenges of traditional retirement. As the encore entrepreneur, it is similarly your task, from a helping perspective, to make the life of your customer easier.</div>
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2) The Insider</h4>
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The insider is more about inspiring the customer. As an entrepreneur, you might want to be inspired by the lifestyle of encore entrepreneurs that have tamed the fears of retirement. Similarly, you want to help your customer be inspired by seeing the lives of people who have become successful by accepting your solution to the problem.</div>
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3) The Confidante</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The confidante is the best friend of your customer. You put your customer at the center of all that is going on. You might be posting about your customer</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">in public. Or perhaps, you might be at the opposite end of the spectrum. You might be the quiet place that your customer comes to share their most intimate thoughts and concerns. You might be their mentor or coach.</span></h4>
<h3>
So, what's next?</h3>
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Mark Cooper asks "Which persona suits your brand?" See his post for more details and more examples of each persona.</div>
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If you would like more thoughts on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, join our mailing list. <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream.</a></div>
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Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder- Smarter Small Business Blog.<br /> ~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-80195713772147555632013-09-02T17:12:00.000-05:002013-09-02T17:12:01.584-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mwYKDIZZQo/UiTv7_XEdJI/AAAAAAAAAGU/jxdfz3oMmrA/s1600/scuffed+shoes_revjett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mwYKDIZZQo/UiTv7_XEdJI/AAAAAAAAAGU/jxdfz3oMmrA/s320/scuffed+shoes_revjett.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes ideas collide in your head. This post is the result of such a collision in my head. Seth Godin wrote two posts to his blog that I happened to read one after the other. For some reason, my mind blended them together, inspiring this <i><b>post to you</b></i> on Smarter Small Business Blog.<br />
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Here are the links to Seth's two posts. You can read them for yourself. Now let me share what they produced for me.<br />
<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/scuff-proof-shoes.html">http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/scuff-proof-shoes.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/qa-tribes-and-the-reality-of-worldview.html">http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/qa-tribes-and-the-reality-of-worldview.html</a><br />
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<h2>
Early Adopter Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Have the Scuffed Shoe Worldview </h2>
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In writing about his book <i><b>Tribes</b>, </i>Seth says:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It is easy to gloss over the key points of the book, because for some, it's frightening to realize that each of us has the ability to find and lead like minded people to make real and powerful change that matters.<i> <b>Lead</b></i>, not manage.<i><b> Like-minded</b></i>, as opposed to converting those who have no connection to us, to each other or to our goals.</blockquote>
One of Seth's favorite passages from Tribes, he tells us is:<br />
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<ul>
<li>People don't believe what you tell them.</li>
<li>They rarely believe what you show them.</li>
<li>They often believe what their friends tell them.</li>
<li>They always believe what they tell themselves.</li>
</ul>
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He concludes that<b> it is important to find the best way to join the conversation that is already taking place in the minds and hearts of your tribe</b>. It is my hope that you will join the discussion here on Smarter Small Business Blog to share what is in your mind and in your heart.</div>
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<h3>
Where does the Scuffed Shoe Part Come In?</h3>
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Seth says...There are two ways to make your shoes scuff proof:</div>
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1. You can invest in a chemical process that involves an impermeable shine and be of high alert to avoid anything that might be damaging to that shine<br /><b>or</b></div>
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2. You can wear well-worn, authentic shoes that are already scuffed. When we know and understand you and your brand, warts and all, it's really unlikely that a new scuff is going to change our opinion of who you are and what you do.</div>
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So, my take is that it is time for us early adopters to talk, accepting our scuffs and all. We must accept that not all baby boomers want the same encore career that we have selected. We must also accept that some baby boomers want to retire. But<b> we must go beyond talking</b>. My favorite quote of the week is:</div>
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The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. -Vance Havner b.1901</blockquote>
If you are ready to share your entrepreneurial mindset and to learn from the mindset of others, join our list.<br />
<a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a>.<br />
<br />
Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog<br /> ~ The Business Dream Weaver<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-69481732182456726472013-08-25T14:24:00.000-05:002013-08-25T14:24:59.769-05:00The Baby Boomer Entrepreneurial Mindset - The Six Rules of Personal Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46R8cF9Xupc/UhpEiJXUAqI/AAAAAAAAAGA/B-35x2V7ssU/s320/6+Rules+of+Personal+Success.JPG" width="320" /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2012/02/11/the-six-rules-of-personal-success/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2012/02/11/the-six-rules-of-personal-success/</a></div>
<h2>
"Getting Your Priorities Right" may well be the master rule for the entrepreneurial mindset.</h2>
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Of all human abilities, one stands out, the ability to see the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Big Picture</em>, the things that are important in life, and not to be distracted by small, trivial, and irrelevant things; the intelligence to separate the message from the background noise.</div>
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‘The Big Picture’ is about the grand goals; the big dreams and aspirations people treasure in every stage and aspect of life. But how can you grasp and hold on to the Big Picture? What does it take?</div>
</blockquote>
<h3>
Making Intelligent Choices - The Details of the Other Five Rules</h3>
Probably more than any other phrase, "making intelligent choices" echoes directly or indirectly in nearly every paragraph of Panos Mourdoukoutas' article in Forbes where he discusses his new Kindle book, The Six Rules of Success.<br />As aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs we make choices about how to live our lives. I think this is where the details of the other five rules come into play:<br />
<ul>
<li>Use Resources Wisely</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Stay Focused</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Develop Right Relations</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Don't Be Greedy</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Don't Be Complacent</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<h3>
What Is Unique Here for the Entrepreneurial Mindset of Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs?</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dr. Mourdoukoutas has a
distinguished background as Chair of the Department of Economics at Long Island
University. He is also a contributor to Forbes on such topics as </span><span style="background: #F1F1F1; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Global markets, business, investment strategy, personal
success. The message here is that these six steps apply to anyone who wants to
be successful, not just entrepreneurs. But entrepreneurs are about
implementations...taking action. They seem to be especially adept at taking
action on these six steps in massive ways. They see the big picture in ways
that inspire them to take action rather than waiting for instruction...The
Entrepreneurial Mindset. <i>Are you ready to take action?</i><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="background: #F1F1F1; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F1F1F1; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you would like more info on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, join our
mailing list. <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/"><span style="color: blue;">My Baby Boomer Business Dream.</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Brought to you by
Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog<br />
~ The Business Dream Weaver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-52740024030516638542013-08-18T12:22:00.000-05:002013-08-18T16:44:28.652-05:00Why Your Baby Boomer Business Needs To Be "You Proof" (Encore Careers)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5yFJHVlink/UhDjc5g59BI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Z4A3HzDww60/s320/You+Proof.JPG" width="320" /><a href="http://stories.dlvr.it/story/175196">http://stories.dlvr.it/story/175196</a></div>
<br />
<h2>
Why Your Baby Boomer Business Needs To Be "You Proof" (Encore Careers)</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As baby boomers one of our biggest fears as we face retirement is whether we will out live the money we have for retirement. That is a question for everyone, regardless of how much we have been able to save.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Solution to the biggest fear of baby boomers facing retirement</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a boomer considering retirement, one of the best suggestions for us is to find ways to continue to generate income during retirement. That advice commonly comes in three forms:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Delay retirement so that the money you have saved can continue to grow.</li>
<li>Create an encore career that allows you to continue to work but in a way that gives you more flexibility to enjoy a form of "semi-retirement".</li>
<li>Create a special form of encore career where you start a business that will allow you to continue to earn an income in retirement. This is often called becoming an encore entrepreneur or an "encorepreneur".</li>
</ul>
<h3>
The Solution to the second biggest fear of baby boomers facing retirement</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With all of these options, the big problem is that they don't directly address the second big fear of baby boomers facing retirement. That is whether their health will deteriorate or consume their savings in a faster then normal rate.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, we can do all the things that increase the odds that we will continue to be healthy. We can eat well, exercise, and manage our stress. Yet there is not guarantee we will be successful. So the next challenge is to find a way to continue to have income even if our health deteriorates.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best answer to that comes from becoming an encore entrepreneur in a specifically defined way to be able to have your business run whether you are in good health or not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The task is to build a business where you own it but it does not depend upon you having to do the work for it to operate day by day. This is beyond the concept of being an absentee owner. It is more about having systems in place to do the business and a team to manage the systems. Ultimately, your job is to train and develop the team.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This may sound like a dream. Yet this happens in reality. There is already documented evidence that businesses designed around this concept sell better than businesses that depend upon the owner being constantly present to operate the business. You probably don't think about this, but you come in contact with this daily. The most common and visible place is in dealing with franchised businesses.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My favorite example is a McDonald's restaurant. When have you ever gone into a McDonald's and depended upon knowing who the owner is to make sure you get your order? Have you ever seen an owner in a McDonald's? You don't really know...do you?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how is this possible? They have <i>systems</i> that define the work and a management team to oversee the systems. The result is that teens do the daily work to generate multi-million dollar businesses, not only in your neighborhood, but in "identical" businesses around the world. These are teens wearing clean uniforms, smiling at senior citizens, and keeping the place so clean that it will pass most any health test.<i> Is this your mental image of the average teenager?</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
How can you create a systems designed business for your encore business?</h3>
<div>
The first step is decide that this is really possible. One way to convince yourself is to read the work of Barry Neighbors and what he calls the "hit by a bus test". Follow the link in this post to his great article called<a href="http://stories.dlvr.it/story/175196"> Is Your Company "You Proof"? Can it Survive the "hit by a bus" test?</a> He advocates making your company sellable by improving your systems. He lists why companies that pass the test get higher valuations from prospective owners. It is only a small step to realizing why such a business is of higher value to you as a baby boomer in retirement.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you want more tips on how to develop your entrepreneurial mindset, join our mailing list. <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog</div>
<div>
~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-13778882857727108912013-07-07T18:31:00.000-05:002013-07-07T18:31:29.968-05:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Modify Your Dream Or Magnify Your Skills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfdGGvP_4WE/Udn2sIdhTnI/AAAAAAAAAFc/DGhJLJ3fGV0/s1600/muscle+building_Brett+Jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfdGGvP_4WE/Udn2sIdhTnI/AAAAAAAAAFc/DGhJLJ3fGV0/s320/muscle+building_Brett+Jordan.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Photo courtesy of Brett Jordan</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Modify Your Dream Or Magnify Your Skills</h2>
<div>
Sometimes as baby boomer entrepreneurs, you and I need messages that are uniquely for us. At other times, the message we need may fit entrepreneurs of all ages. Such is the message that I want to share with you today.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://friendfeed.com/jimconnolly" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Jim Connolly">Jim Connolly</a>, of <a href="http://jimsmarketingblog.com/2013/07/04/to-have-more-you-must-first-become-more/">Jim's Marketing Blog</a> shared one such message that is universal. Jim is a favorite of mine. I read his blog almost every day. Yet this particular post stood out because it speaks to the core of the entrepreneurial mindset, an important topic here on Smarter Small Business Blog.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jim asks:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
How do you feel about continuously improving your knowledge and skills?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It turns out that your attitude to learning is a key factor, in what you achieve as a business owner. One of the biggest causes of frustration for small business owners, is that they want better results, yet they refuse to increase their skills accordingly.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
They want more, without becoming more.</div>
</blockquote>
Jim Connolly goes on to quote the legendary Jim Rohn: <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>“You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.”</b></em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I've decided to work daily to build my skills. I refuse to diminish my dreams. So Jim Connolly, I pledge what you asked; "to never miss an opportunity to learn what I need to learn in order to achieve what I want to achieve." I hope my dear reader will also agree with you that it is far too important to settle for anything less.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">What To Do Next</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">1. First read the original post from Jim at the link to his blog provided above. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">2. Then think about what commitment you are willing to make to yourself and your dream.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">3. If you would like more tips on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, join our mailing list at <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a>.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Shallie</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> ~ The Business Dream Weaver</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-75786744342749737552013-06-30T09:02:00.000-05:002013-06-30T09:02:30.346-05:00Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur- Are You Frozen In Time?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/U6Em2OhvEJY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<h2>
Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur- Are You Frozen In Time?</h2>
Aspiring baby boomer entrepreneur, from where you stand it may seem that you are frozen in time, unable to see a bright future. But that is merely an illusion. You can build a future by having a business as the foundation for your encore career. The key is in developing your entrepreneurial mindset.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Your entrepreneurial mindset lets you see the world with a different set of eyes.</h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li>It lets you spot needs in a special way.</li>
<li>It lets you see opportunities in solving those needs.</li>
<li>It lets you plan solutions to realize those opportunities.</li>
<li>It helps you to execute your plan.</li>
</ul>
<div>
In this video, magician David Blane freezes himself in time, within a block of ice. He exposes himself to great risk and manages to survive. He saw a need for people to be entertained. He saw an opportunity to create a special way to address that need for entertainment. He developed a genius plan to deliver upon that need. He executed his plan. Not only did he survive, he added to his fame and fortune.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What will your entrepreneurial mindset do for you? Can it keep you from being frozen in time? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
What you should do next.</h3>
<div>
Please play the video and see how the magician got unfrozen. Then work on your own entrepreneurial mindset to create your own magic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For more tips on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, join our free mailing list. Go to <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog</div>
<div>
~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-43045983529861702542013-06-23T11:33:00.000-05:002013-06-23T11:33:49.248-05:00Baby Boomer Can Your Mindset Beat 'Infant Entrepreneur Mortality'?<a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/06/how_to_reduce_infant_entrepren.html?utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Socialflow">How to Reduce 'Infant Entrepreneur Mortality' - Sramana Mitra - Harvard Business Review</a>: <br />
<br />
<h2>
<b>Baby Boomer Can Your Mindset Beat "Infant Entrepreneur Mortality"?</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-czbjg86pAhw/UccN7t9zj7I/AAAAAAAAAFI/ca_-9vXNwe0/s1600/graveyard_Creap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-czbjg86pAhw/UccN7t9zj7I/AAAAAAAAAFI/ca_-9vXNwe0/s320/graveyard_Creap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Can the middle of society be taught the entrepreneurial mindset?</h3>
<div>
Most of the entrepreneurship that we hear about in the media is about companies being formed with massive growth rates through the assistance of "VCs", venture capital companies. This actually accounts for about 1% of start-up businesses. The other 99% do not meet the requirements of the 300 percent annual growth that is the target of these high flying business financing companies.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The high growth companies have access to some of the best of the consulting and coaching that comes with high growth business incubation support. Can this same knowledge be shared with the aspiring entrepreneurs who are not trying to build billion dollar companies? Can this knowledge be shared with entrepreneurs who can't afford to pay what the highest tier business developers must pay?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;">We need to use the fundamental principle of capitalism — the creation of value that people are willing to pay for — and apply it to the middle of the pyramid on a global scale. In other words, we need large numbers of entrepreneurs who are willing and able to build products and offer services that address demand from certain specific segments of customers. We need to teach them how to build businesses that can become sustainable — profitable — and create jobs. We need to also teach them to grow by applying the same kinds of methodology and discipline that, traditionally, a venture-funded company may use. -- Says </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #585556; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;">Sramana Mitra in her Harvard Business Review blog post: How To Reduce 'Infant Entrepreneur Mortality'</span></blockquote>
<h3>
What needs to be done?</h3>
<div>
The role of small businesses in creating jobs and growing economies is constantly discussed. What is not so commonly discussed is that 600,000 small businesses die each year in the U.S. alone. Mitra contends that the owners of these businesses can be taught to have their businesses become sustainable -- Profitable -- and to create jobs. She contends that it is a lack of understanding of the task that makes such tragic losses.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is developing the entrepreneurial mindset that I call this training. For us aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs, seeking to find our encore careers, we must have effective ways to develop that knowledge at a reasonable price.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The plus for us is that we live in the best of all times for learning at a low cost. As far as business is concerned, we can learn and be incubated over the internet. We can do research and build a brand over the internet. We can learn, as Mitra says, "...we digitally teach and incubate millions of online businesses over the next few decades". We baby boomer entrepreneurs can be the front line in this new battle.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Where do you begin?</h3>
<div>
Develop your entrepreneurial mindset. Mitra says start with the fundamentals, like:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Entrepreneurship = Customers + Revenue<br />Financing is optional<br />Exit is optional</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you would like more hints on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, join our free mailing list. <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">Go to My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shallie</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brought to you by Shallie Bey - Founder, Smarter Small Business Blog</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #585556; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></blockquote>
<h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></h1>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-74456749928161866992013-06-16T07:25:00.000-05:002013-06-16T07:29:35.951-05:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneurial Mindset _ When Was the Last Time You Thought Something For the First Time?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nTTl-aS8N88" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Baby boomer, <b>do you have the entrepreneurial mindset? </b>You think so? Well, let me ask you John Maxwell's question:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>When was the last time you thought something for the first time?</b></blockquote>
Among other things, success as an entrepreneur requires us to be curious. And how do we become curious? John Maxwell says "we have to think new thoughts":<br />
<br />
<b>What are new thoughts?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>As opposed to old thoughts</li>
<li>As opposed to no thoughts</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>How do you get new thoughts?</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>By asking new questions</li>
<li>By being asked new questions</li>
<li>By having new experiences</li>
<li>By meeting new people</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>What do I do next?</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Watch the featured video by John Maxwell at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nTTl-aS8N88">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nTTl-aS8N88</a><br /></li>
<li>Get more tips on the entrepreneurial mindset by joining our mailing list at <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Shallie</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey - Founder, Smarter Small Business Blog</div>
</div>
<div>
~ The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-82946164454827113642013-06-09T13:26:00.000-05:002013-06-09T13:26:41.685-05:00Baby Boomer Are You Ready To Take The Leap To An Entrepreneurial Mindset? (Encore Career)Are you a baby boomer considering making the switch to an encore career? Are you possibly considering becoming an entrepreneur to build your bridge into your future? Do you have a baby boomer business dream? Then it is time to take the leap...<br />
<br />
The leap involves embracing the entrepreneurial mindset. This excellent video gives you a visual sense of what it means to change your way of thinking.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6-Dgu250Do?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
It all begins with freeing your mind to think like an entrepreneur. We call that "having the entrepreneurial mindset".<br />
<br />
If you would like more free resources on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, subscribe to the Smarter Small Business Blog. Click this link :<a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a><br />
<br />
Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder of the Smarter Small Business Blog<br />
~ The Business Dream Weaver<br />
<br />
Link to featured video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6-Dgu250Do">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6-Dgu250Do</a> Produced by RockThePost.com<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-89745801788105374812013-06-02T15:22:00.000-05:002013-06-02T15:30:21.587-05:00Baby Boomer: What Does Being An Entrepreneur Mean To You?As an aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur, you probably know what you want to be. However, it is interesting that what you want to be may be very different from what I want to be as an entrepreneur. In fact the definition and the implications of "entrepreneurship" have changed radically over the years. We may be on the brink of yet more changes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UtZVrbsmPkg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Entrepreneur Magazine editor-in-chief Amy Cosper talks with Mondelez International vice president of global media Bonin Bough about what the word "entrepreneur" means today. Once the term conjured images of snake-oil purveyors and out-of-work scamsters. In the popular lexicon, entrepreneurs have become known as people who create businesses in markets where there were none before.</span></blockquote>
You can see the video at : <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UtZVrbsmPkg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UtZVrbsmPkg</a><br />
<br />
<b>My favorite definition of entrepreneurship</b> comes from the writing of Harvard Business School professor Howard Stevenson. He wrote it nearly 40 years ago. Forbes has called it "The Best Answer Ever".<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.</blockquote>
Eric Schurenberg, editor-in-chief of INC. wrote a fascinating article about this definition. He makes several points:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Entrepreneurship is a process.</li>
<li>Entrepreneurs are used to making do without resources.</li>
<li>Opportunity is the only real resource you have.</li>
</ul>
You can read more at: <a href="http://www.inc.com/eric-schurenberg/the-best-definition-of-entepreneurship.html">http://www.inc.com/eric-schurenberg/the-best-definition-of-entepreneurship.html</a><br />
<br />
As we baby boomer entrepreneurs, face new life challenges, we have to find ways to do things without having control of resources. We have to make a way. We have to seize the OPPORTUNITY.<br />
<br />
Cearmease Bey, my wife and an entrepreneur for many years, sums up the Entrepreneurial Mindset in a word...<b>GUTS</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>What is The Next Step to YOUR Baby Boomer Business Dream?</b><br />
Join our Smarter Small Business Blog for more insights: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">My Baby Boomer Business Dream</a><br />
<br />
Get free resources to help build your Entrepreneurial Mindset.<br />
Click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
<br />
Shallie<br />
<br />
Brought to you by Shallie Bey - Founder of Smarter Small Business Blog<br />
-- The Business Dream Weaver<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-28895791850644637342013-05-31T18:32:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:32:02.053-05:00What Will You Do With YOUR Next Five Years?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrp3XMrKo">The Five Book Video - YouTube</a>: "<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dDnrp3XMrKo" width="420"></iframe>"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a> You are an aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur. What will you do with the next 5 years?<br />
<br />
This video takes you on an inspirational tour of your mind as you explore what you will do differently over the next 5 years. It is based upon the book, 5, by Dan Zadra.<br />
<br />
<div>
If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey -- The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-88588982230844589752013-05-31T18:29:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:29:45.590-05:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Who Do You Trust For Business Advice?<b>Who would you trust to give you good advice on how to best function as a Baby Boomer Entrepreneur?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Washington Post was interested in finding the best business wisdom hidden in classic movie quotes.</b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">We asked entrepreneurs which famous lines from the silver screen offer the greatest insight and advice for running a business. The top 15 are below, but we want to hear from you, too. Which other movie quotes do you think offer valuable business lessons?</span>
</blockquote>
Of the choices presented, my favorite was from Cynthia Kay:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hrUN2ZrCYY/T-oXdOeMaYI/AAAAAAAAAEU/HUzcbSszXOU/s1600/m62212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hrUN2ZrCYY/T-oXdOeMaYI/AAAAAAAAAEU/HUzcbSszXOU/s200/m62212.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="heading4 title" style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 7px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." -- The Wizard of Oz (1939)</div>
<div class="cut-line" style="background-color: #111111; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetics, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Small business owners today know that doing business can be fraught with a whirlwind of uncertainty. We can end up in places we never intended. This famous line provides small business owners with the inspiration to think beyond their own little worlds, to step out of traditional ways of doing business and explore what is possible. Yes, we are small businesses, but we have big ideas that can take us on an amazing journey." -- Cynthia Kay, president and owner of Cynthia Kay and Company in Grand Rapids, Mich.</div>
<div class="by-line padding-bottom" style="background-color: #111111; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetics, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span class="name"></span><span class="organization">WARNER HOME VIDEO</span></div>
</blockquote>
I have actually used this quote many times over my career to point out that times have changed. I think it is particularly relevant to baby boomers establishing themselves as entrepreneurs. Regardless of your prior life situation, you are trailblazing a new frontier as you move toward being a baby boomer business owner.<br />
<br />
Most of us have had experience with the technical aspects of our work. Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, gives us the classic examples of cooks opening restaurants, mechanics opening auto repair shops, and carpenters becoming home builders. The problem for us is that we may not have the managerial skills to hire and train people to do that work. Even more rarely do we have the entrepreneurial skills to organize and market such a business.<br />
<br />
Whoever you select to provide you with advice must understand what you will need to perform the full range of duties you will have in organizing your business. Plus they must have the understanding of how to teach you the business development skills required to grasp how all the pieces fit and interact with one another in the various stages of getting your business up and running.<br />
<br />
<b>To help you with a vision of what you face as you move out into a new frontier,</b> I have prepared a video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSVLQUTxYs">Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - You Need A Guide.</a><br />
<br />
To see more of the cute suggestions offered by the Washington Post, please check out this link:<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/the-best-business-wisdom-hidden-in-classic-movie-quotes/2012/06/25/gJQATVgg2V_allComments.html?ctab=all_&" style="background-color: white;">The best business wisdom hidden in classic movie quotes - The Washington Post</a><span style="background-color: white;">:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The article has quotes that you can build upon...if you can use them in the right context. You have to know if you are still in Kansas.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<div>
If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey -- The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-80487181814393239832013-05-26T22:39:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:25:15.498-05:00Can Owning A Business Help Your End Of Life Experience? (Encore Career)<h2>
Can Owning A Business Help You Prepare For A Good End Of Life? (Encore Career)</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/judy_macdonald_johnston_prepare_for_a_good_end_of_life.html" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Do you have a plan for how you would like to live to the end of your life?</h3>
<div>
Baby boomers have many concerns about their future as they approach retirement age. Most of those concerns can be summed up in three questions:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Will I run out of money?</li>
<li>Can I maintain my quality of living?</li>
<li>Can I maintain good health?</li>
</ol>
<div>
The challenge is that one unasked question must be answered to know the answers to the other three questions:<i><b> How long will I live?</b></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
So the reality is that we can do things that increase the probability that our answer will be "yes" or "no" to the first three questions, but it is not a certainty.<br />
<br />
Some people try to resolve the money and lifestyle questions by saving a lot of their earnings. Sometimes that works...if you have good capital markets and wise investment choices.<br />
<br />
Some people delay their retirement by continuing to work as long as they can. Sometimes that works...if your employer is prosperous and does not force you to retire.<br />
<br />
Some people take on new jobs...commonly called encore careers, to reduce the amount of time they have to depend upon savings to fund their retirements. Unfortunately, health seems to force many to retire sooner than they expected.<br />
<br />
So, is there anything we can do to increase our odds of success? Yes, the indications are that a special form of encore career may well be the answer. You can become a business owner as an encore career.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
How can becoming a business owner help you solve your retirement fears?</h3>
<div>
The answer is that owning a business gives you two things that are not always present in having a job.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, the<b> <i>business gives you an asset</i></b> that can earn and grow that does not have to depend upon you doing the work.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Secondly,<i> <b>the business gives you leverage</b></i>. It can give you a bigger return than what you can accomplish by just working alone. The leverage can come from having employees, business systems, or a combination of those.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/judy_macdonald_johnston_prepare_for_a_good_end_of_life.html">In our featured video Judy MacDonald Johnston gives us a case study</a>. She helped ranchers, Jim and Shirley Modini plan for the end years of their lives. She manage assets for them as their caregiver and health advocate. She managed the people needed to provide daily care and to run the business of the Modinis. </div>
<div>
Click here to see the video: <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/judy_macdonald_johnston_prepare_for_a_good_end_of_life.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/judy_macdonald_johnston_prepare_for_a_good_end_of_life.html</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Granted, the Modinis had a good head start. But the principle is still true at any age. <b>The challenge is to begin building the asset</b>, your business.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
What is your next step?</h3>
<div>
Building your business requires having a vision, just as the Modinis had a vision for their lives and for their wildlife preserve beyond their lives. You can build that vision by understanding the basics of business development. Business development is the process of<i> <b>consciously</b></i> starting and <i><b>intentionally</b></i> growing a business.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Business development is more about developing an entrepreneurial mindset than about being an expert in the details of business. It is about being able to pay attention in a way to spot business opportunities. Next, after spotting the opportunity, it is about learning how to take action to make the opportunity a reality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By understanding the process of developing an entrepreneurial mindset and acting through that mindset, you greatly reduce the risk of failure that is the experience of so many people who start businesses without a plan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey -- The Business Dream Weaver</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-24405517387745516022013-05-18T10:50:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:26:24.837-05:00Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur Here Is The Key To Retirement Success (This Is Water)<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur Here Is The Key To Retirement Success (This Is Water)</span></b><br />
<br />
As baby boomers, we face a new stage of life as we approach retirement. For years you and I dreamed of this moment as the great time of our life. As it becomes closer to reality, we face fear that it may not be a dream, but a nightmare filled with boredom, routine, and petty frustration. Embracing that fear may be our salvation. Embracing that fear may be the foundation for our dreams to be realized.<br />
<br />
You do still want to live your dream, don't you? I know I do!<br />
<br />
<b>The key is AWARENESS...being able to see what is going on around us.</b> Successful entrepreneurship is based upon awareness.Our competitive advantage as baby boomers just may be that we can see the things going on around us in a unique perspective that allows us to invest in ourselves, meaning our lives, and the lives of those around us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xmpYnxlEh0c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
In the past week, an eight year old commencement speech dealing with boredom, routine, and petty frustration has suddenly gone viral. It is called <u>This Is Water</u>. In the speech, David Foster Wallace points out that we are like the fish who live in water and never realize it is there. We live in a world where we are surrounded by boredom, routine, and petty frustration. We sense it but are not truly aware of it. But the opportunity is in becoming aware.<br />
<br />
<b>The opportunity to solve a problem for a market at a profit is the holy grail of entrepreneurship.</b> That is made possible by being aware of the problem and the solution that no one else sees. <i><b>This is water. </b></i>Dealing with boredom, routine, and petty frustration is the essence of life. Helping people overcome these is the key to entrepreneurial success.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you why that speech suddenly became a runaway success.I can tell you that it points to the path of success.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpYnxlEh0c">Watch the video</a>. Become aware of the water around us.<br />
<br />
<b>Choose to begin using the water to your advantage. </b><i><b>This is Water</b></i>...the key to your retirement success.<br />
<br />
<div>
If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brought to you by Shallie Bey -- The Business Dream Weaver</div>
<br />
<br />
Shallie<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/ShallieBey">Follow Shallie Bey on Twitter</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-61302722757385099582013-05-11T17:38:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:27:49.330-05:00Aspiring Entrepreneur, Can Living A Good Life CAUSE YOU To Be a Better Business Owner (The Placebo Effect)?<br />
Almost everyone believes that being a successful business owner will cause you to live a good life. In reality, that is a myth. Financial success, often the selected measure for business success, does not guarantee living a good life.<br />
<br />
Not so many people believe that living a good life may CAUSE you to be a better business owner. Yet, there is increasing evidence to suggest this is the truth...living a good life frequently leads to business success.<br />
<br />
You do want to <i>live a good life</i> <b>AND</b> <i>be a successful business owner</i>, don't you?<br />
<br />
<b>Your Primary Aim - Defining What Living A Good Life Means To You:</b><br />
<br />
Almost every great business coach will start by asking you why you want to be in business. Michael E. Gerber, author of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzem-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0887307280" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It">The E-Myth Revisited</a>, is famous for asking you to begin planning your business by discovering your Primary Aim in life. Though each coach has their own way of asking you what you value, it basically comes down to three questions.<br />
<br />
1. Why are you here in life and why do you think owning a business will help?<br />
2. What is important to you, your values, strengths, skills, experiences, and interests that define what living a good life means to you?<br />
3. What must this business do for you so that it will support what you have defined as a good life for yourself?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZ8MaLuBreQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>Understanding The Placebo Effect -In Life and Business:</b><br />
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In the featured video, Jonathan Fields, of <a href="http://www.goodlifeproject.com/">the Good Life Project</a>, interviews a doctor who first felt that she had let her career ruin her life. Then, when she found her "good life", she discovered how to experience a more rewarding career.<br />
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Along the way, Dr. Lissa Rankin made some amazing discoveries that she shares in her book, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Over-Medicine-Robin-Blake/dp/0330295365%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzem-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0330295365" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="Mind Over Medicine">Mind Over Medicine</a>. One of the central discoveries was a new understanding of the Placebo Effect...when stress is removed from the body, the mind may be just as effective as medication in making things better.<br />
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Her story supports the theory of the great business coaches...remove the stress. Let your business be dedicated to supporting your life by working for you. Do not give up your life to work for the business. The secret is once again, work smarter - not harder.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ8MaLuBreQ&feature=em-subs_digest-subject8">Enjoy the video</a> where Dr. Rankin shares what she learned.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-53104122130476978922012-05-30T22:06:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:31:00.978-05:00Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs, 70% of Great Businesses Do NOT Start With A Plan.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F9SPxSeJMbA" width="420"></iframe>
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<b> Do great businesses start with a plan? </b>The answer is "no" according to Anthony Tjan.<br />
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Tjan says that 70% of businesses with a successful exit (that is, an IPO or sale to another firm) did NOT start with a business plan. Tjan, CEO and Managing Partner of the venture capital firm Cue Ball, discovered this information while researching the forthcoming book that he is co-authoring --<i>Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck. </i>He and his colleagues interviewed and surveyed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs around the world to see what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and build a really successful business.<br />
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...their business journeys originated in a different place, a place we call the Heart. They were conceived not with a document but with a <i>feeling </i>and <i>doing </i>for an authentic vision. Clarity of purpose and passion ruled the day with less time spent writing an idea and more time just doing it." </blockquote>
This conclusion has sparked quite a controversy. You can see 158 comments at the time I am writing this post.<br />
<a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2012/05/great-businesses-dont-start-wi.html?awid=6705632995402906805-3271">http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2012/05/great-businesses-dont-start-wi.html?awid=6705632995402906805-3271</a><br />
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Though I believe in business plans,<b> I believe that the dream must come first</b>. It is the vision that leads to the development of the business plan. The well written plan, with well defined systems, leads to successful implementation...which results in a successful business. This pathway avoids the 80%+ failure rate of the typical entrepreneurs.<br />
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Though this sounds radical, you will hear much the same thoughts from Michael Gerber, author of<i> The E-Myth Revisited. </i>In the above video, Gerber describes how the entrepreneur goes through a four step process that starts with a dream and ends with implementation.<br />
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<b>What do you think?</b> Please share your comments below.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-16336231321681080722011-12-14T23:20:00.001-06:002013-05-31T18:33:40.986-05:00What The Mint Taught Me About Marketing<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204336104577096893162350800.html#articleTabs%3Dvideo">The Buck Stops Here: $1 Coins to Be Curtailed - WSJ.com</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a><object height="315" id="wsj_fp" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/main.swf">
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Early this morning, I awoke to an e-mail from a friend, Ed. Ed wanted to know what I thought about the Mint stopping production of coin dollars. Of course, my friend was aware that as Superintendent of the United States Mint (Philadelphia), I was involved in the first production of the Susan B. Anthony coin dollar in 1979.<br />
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As I watched the coverage, I was transported back to the early discussion of smaller coin dollars in the late 70s.<br />
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I recalled going into my office many mornings and finding mail bags with drawings from elementary school children from across the country. Many teachers inspired their students to participate in government by sending their suggestions for who should appear on the front of the new coin. As always, the students were quite creative. Their suggestions ranged from historic individuals to pop culture icons, perhaps even their mother, father, teacher, themselves, or their new puppy. I recall that Elvis Presley was particularly popular. As there is essentially only one law limiting who can be on a coin...the person cannot be currently living...many of their suggestions were possible.<br />
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Of course the real decision required hearings in Washington where people appeared to present their opinions. There was a big battle about whether it should be the Statue of Liberty or Susan B Anthony. Then the battle shifted to what image of Susan B Anthony. Should it be her in her early life as in the case of most coins? Or should it be in her later life after the victories for which she is noted?<br />
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When the decision was made, we sighed as we came to the end of the debate. Then, the next morning, we awakened to remember that a coin has two sides...the debate was just half done.<br />
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Of course there were many decisions to be made before the official First Strike Ceremony in 1979. The next day after the first striking , the process of getting them to the Federal Reserve Banks began. Then there was another "next day" involving getting the coins into local banks.That was followed by getting them into stores, followed by getting them into the hands of people. This was followed by the first person spending one thinking it was a quarter...followed by the first reporter warning people not to spend the coin dollar thinking it is a quarter.<br />
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That battle has raged for 32 years and the discussion is still the same. This leads to what the Mint taught me about marketing:<br />
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1. People make decisions on how they feel. The decision are about emotions. Then we select the facts that support our emotions.<br />
2. Everyone has an opinion. For the most part, individual opinions don't matter. It is the collection of opinions that determines if there is a <i><b>problem that needs to be solved</b></i>.<br />
3. The fact that there is a problem to be solved does not mean that everyone wants the same solution. Many people awaken in the morning wanting corn flakes. <i><b>Some of them want Post Toasties and some of them want Kelloggs Corn Flakes.</b></i>That is not duplication of effort or wasting resources. We call that free market.<br />
4. Marketing is about finding a solution to a problem that enough people want and are willing to pay for, to make it profitable for the person providing the solution. We call that a niche.<br />
5. Business is about serving the niche over and over. <i><b>Success is in finding your niche.</b></i><br />
6. <i><b>Government has niches too.</b></i> We call them special interest groups. Government has no way of making every niche or interest group happy by giving them what they want. Government tends to hold it's nose and select one solution that "fits all".<br />
7. Aren't you glad that as an entrepreneur, all you have to do is find the right niche and serve the people in it well?<br />
8. There is always a <b>"next day"</b> unless you fail.<br />
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If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-65169787937361292032011-10-02T12:23:00.005-05:002013-05-31T18:35:01.182-05:00Baby Boomer - You Don't Have to Learn Entrepreneurship Blindly Or Alone<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JV8G3NvcA&feature=player_embedded">A personal and educational introduction to Michael E. Gerber </a>: "<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w6JV8G3NvcA" width="420"></iframe>"<br />
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As an aspiring baby boomer entrepreneur, you want to convert your business idea into a reality. <b>There is approximately an 80% failure rate of people trying to accomplish your same goal.</b> Yet, renowned business adviser Michael E. Gerber says that <i><b>no small business owner has to fail.</b></i></div>
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In this video, Gerber talks with small business coaches. He shares what coaches must understand <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>to help small business owners bring the dream back to America</b></span>...in fact to small business owners around the world. Here, you can get that advice straight from his mouth.</div>
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Gerber explains that <i><span class="Apple-style-span">small business owners fail for reasons other than what they think is the cause of that failure.</span></i> As a baby boomer making a transition to an encore career, this is valuable information for you.</div>
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He begins with what it means to have a dream. <b>He explains the process for converting your dream to reality and how to get clarity from the onset.</b> If you want to understand <i>what needs to be done</i>...and <i>then what needs to be done next</i>, you want to watch this 29 minute video.</div>
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You will learn there is a road map to your journey. You will learn that there are people prepared to help you with the task of designing your baby boomer retirement business. You can increase your chances of success by looking for the people who can help you. <b>You do not have to do it blindly or alone. </b><br />
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If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-8127635460728564992011-09-18T13:11:00.001-05:002013-05-31T18:36:04.100-05:00Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur - Are You Smarter Than An Old Walrus?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xDkhTzJ496Q" width="420"></iframe>
A number of my closest friends have received this video recently with the caption "My New Exercise Routine". And though my stomach could benefit from some sit ups, that is not what I am really talking about.<br />
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Much of what it takes to become a successful baby boomer entrepreneur involves behavior modification. You have to learn how to go from being an employee to being an owner. We often call that obtaining the entrepreneurial mindset. <i><b>This is a new mental exercise routine</b></i>.<br />
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Learning to make that change is a radical shift in your thinking and behavior. But if an old walrus can have his behavior shaped to accomplish new things, so can you.<br />
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<b>Your task is to learn what behavior is required for success in the business of your choice</b>. Then you must begin shaping that behavior a step at a time. That is the exact process the trainer used to teach an old Walrus to do sit ups. You can do it. <b>You are smarter than an old walrus, aren't you?</b><br />
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If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
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ShallieAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-11210436285953619242011-09-11T10:10:00.000-05:002013-05-31T18:37:29.990-05:00You Are Not Alone - Most U.S. workers want to be entrepreneurs - UPI.com<a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/09/05/Most-US-workers-want-to-be-entrepreneurs/UPI-67391315278109/?spt=hs&or=bn">Most U.S. workers want to be entrepreneurs - UPI.com</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a><br />
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If you have a secret dream of quitting your job and becoming an entrepreneur, you are not alone. UPI reports that "Three-quarters of U.S. full-time and part-time employed adults say they want to leave their job and become an independent entrepreneur..."</div>
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Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs seem to have an edge in the effort to have a balance in life. This balance is often described as having the ability to set one's hours, spend more time with friends and family, not have to deal with office politics and/or not have to endure a daily commute. You can take this advantage by retiring from your current job and starting a semi-retired life as a business owner. This is sometimes referred to as an "encore career".<br />
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For other aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs, the solution may be in developing a part time business. In this case, you begin developing the business on the side until it can sustain your needs.</div>
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In either case, you must take action. You must take steps to make your version of the "American Dream" your American Reality. Smarter Small Business Blog is here to help you.<br />
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If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-29715543616077033152011-07-31T20:27:00.004-05:002013-05-31T18:38:44.947-05:00Twitter - My Magic Carpet Ride<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="264" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ekEieEeEwPw" width="400"></iframe><br />
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My father was a born in 1899. He lived in that rare time where he was barely old enough to serve in World War I and barely young enough to serve in World War II. He did both.<br />
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Full of curiosity and adventure, he decided to visit every one of the fortyeight states that then made up the USA. He rode the rails to realize his dream, passenger cars when he had money and freight trains when he didn't. He realized his dream between the wars. In 1949 he had his first born son and began a new journey, <b><i>teaching me to dream.</i></b><br />
Having inherited his taste for adventure, I wanted to do life at a bigger scale. I wanted to visit every continent of the world. I visited some continents, but was behind the pace I had hoped.<br />
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But three years ago today (July 31, 2008) a magic moment happened in my life. I had already decided that I wanted to begin sharing my business coaching skills with aspiring baby boomer entrepreneurs. These are the people born between 1946 and 1964, about 78 million in the United States alone. Many of these people have a taste for adventure and do not want to retire in the traditional manner. Many have a passion for something that they want to share with the world in the form of a business. Many also need help in developing the skills to convert their dreams into reality.<span class="Apple-style-span"> <i><b>My dream is to help them them reach their dreams.</b></i></span><b><br /></b><br />
Three years ago today, that magic moment happened while listening to Ed Dale...I learned about Twitter.<br />
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Ed is the face of a free training that happens each year called <a href="http://www.challenge.co/">The Challenge</a> (formerly the 30 Day Challenge). He teaches aspiring entrepreneurs to use the Internet at a tool to research business opportunities, a tool to market those opportunities, and a networking process to find others with a similar passion. I couldn't travel to every continent by rail, but I had something better, Ed helped me discover<i><b> a magic carpet ride.</b></i><br />
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Twitter has taken me to every continent, except Anarctica...that will happen in time. I 've learned about people's passions and shared mine. I've made genuine friends during this three year journey. Thanks Dad, Ed Dale, and Twitter. To everyone else I extend this invitation:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>RIDE WITH ME</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: start;">
If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: <a href="http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/">http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/</a><br />
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11326870.post-37990842710356661122011-07-02T07:05:00.005-05:002011-07-02T07:25:25.542-05:00What 3 Issues Must You Master To Be A Successful Baby Boomer Business Owner?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWsI8eLA36M&feature=related">YouTube - Behaviors of Successful Business Owners</a>: "<iframe width="400" height="264" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tWsI8eLA36M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>"<div><br /></div><div>All businesses have certain things in common. Business coach Ron Finklestein suggests that you greatly increase your odds of success as an aspiring baby boomer entrepreneur if you master the three issues every business leader faces:</div><div><ul><li>Making more money</li><li>Having more time</li><li>Having productive employees</li></ul><div>He also suggests that YOU must have certain things to achieve mastery of these issues:</div></div><div><ul><li>Attitude</li><li>Strategy</li><li>Discipline</li></ul>Check out his video for more insights.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Make sure to sign up for our list to get information that is not shared anywhere else. Just give your contact information in the form in the upper right hand corner.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02951219586114156798noreply@blogger.com0