entrepreneur

Virtual Careers, Self-Employment, Self-Assess, Or Self-Destruct

Unfortunately, high hopes and large amounts of time, energy and commitment — valuable though they may be — do not ensure the success of an entrepreneurial venture. In fact, research indicates that about 60 percent of all businesses fail within the first two years. Much depends on the individual’s “entrepreneurial profile,” and one of the best ways to discover this is by doing a self-assessment.

Over the years, working with some 4,000 Virtual Assistants and Virtual Professionals in 65+ countries and being entrepreneurs ourselves, we’ve developed a good practical sense of the traits that successful entrepreneurs share. We used this background in designing the application process for our Portable Career & Virtual Assistant Training Program for Military Spouses™, and it has helped substantially in identifying candidates with the greatest likelihood of success both in training and afterward, as they launch and grow their virtual businesses.

The following Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment is adapted from the online application form for our Virtual Assistant training program. This series of 13 questions is one of the tools we use to see if an applicant has characteristics commonly found in successful business owners.

Without peeking at the score key, write down the choice that most closely describes you.

01. Are you a self-starter?
A. I often need help to get a job going.
B. I can decide what needs to get done and get it going quickly.
C. I wait until the last minute to start a project because I work better under deadlines.

02. Why do you want to start your own business?
A. I’m tired of the people I work with.
B. I want the freedom to manage my own business.
C. I want to get rich quickly.

03. How do you feel about other people?
A. Most people irritate me and make my job more difficult.
B. I like people and get along with just about anybody.
C. I like to have a small circle of friends and acquaintances. It makes things simple.

04. How do you manage projects?
A. I take care of everything myself to make sure it’s right.
B. I delegate as much as possible and let people execute tasks with little supervision.
C. I delegate and jump in to help every chance I get.

05. Can you lead others?
A. I must push hard but can make people perform.
B. I don’t have to do much to get people moving.
C. I usually let someone else get things moving.

06. Will you have family support?
A. My family will complain about if I have less free time.
B. My family is likely to know that I am trying to plan for our future and will understand long hours.
C. My family will likely want to get involved with my work and help in any way possible.

07. Can you take responsibility?
A. I’ll take over if I must, but I’d rather let someone else be responsible.
B. I let people who are more outgoing or eager than me take the lead.
C. I like to take charge of and see things through.

08. How are your organizational skills?
A. I like to have a plan before I start.
B. I often have trouble setting priorities.
C. I have trouble juggling many types of responsibility.

09. Can you “stick with it”?
A. I don’t let anything stop me from pursuing my goals, even if it means sacrificing other activities or projects.
B. If a plan isn’t going as expected, I don’t waste any more time on it.
C. I put in as much time as necessary to make a project successful, while balancing it with other priorities, and don’t stop until it’s done.

10. What expectations do you have for your work schedule?
A. I’d like to have more free time in my new business.
B. When someone starts their own business, they’re always on the clock.
C. I plan to work hard but want to limit the amount of time I spend on the business.

11. Can you make decisions effectively?
A. I need plenty of time to decide, or I regret it.
B. I am a fast thinker and usually make an acceptable decision.
C. I usually let other people make decisions because I’m afraid of being wrong.

12. Can people trust what you say?
A. Sometimes I just say what people want to hear.
B. My word is as good as gold.
C. All’s fair in business, right? I say what I must

13. When I am in an unfamiliar place with new people, I usually
A. Sit back and observe other people.
B. Talk to many people about myself and my business.
C. Ask many questions to get to know new people.

Scoring your responses:
A number value (in parenthesis) has been assigned to each of the possible responses to the 13 questions. Simply write the corresponding number next to the letter you selected for each question.

01. A (3), B (8), C (5)
02. A (2), B (8), C (4)
03. A (2), B (8), C (5)
04. A (1), B (8), C (6)
05. A (5), B (8), C (4)
06. A (2), B (6), C (7)
07. A (2), B (5), C (8)
08. A (7), B (3), C (4)
09. A (5), B (2), C (7)
10. A (1), B (7), C (5)
11. A (4), B (8), C (2)
12. A (4), B (8), C (1)
13. A (1), B (4), C (8)

What your score means:

42 or less
If you scored 42 or less, it’s unlikely you possess the characteristics necessary to be successful in running your own business.

43 to 54
While a score between 43 and 54 indicates you exhibit some of the core characteristics necessary to succeed in running your own business, you are likely to find many difficulties in self-employment and could often feel obliged to “act out of character” to succeed.

55 to 65
Achieving a score between 55 and 65 indicates you possess good entrepreneurial traits and should have a very good chance of being a successful entrepreneur.

66 or higher
Achieving a score of 66 or higher indicates you possess top-notch entrepreneurial characteristics and should have an excellent chance of success in your own small business.

Of course, successful people come in many shapes and forms, and there is no “one size fits all” assessment tool for entrepreneurship. Although this self-evaluation should help you better understand the mindset and character traits of successful entrepreneurs, and how you “stack up” relative to that group, in the end, it will be your own unique personality and circumstances that will determine your own unique future.

We hope this information was beneficial. You can have anything you want if you are enthusiastic about putting in the time, effort and plans to get to your goals. Discover the secrets why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips!

In closing, we invite you to share your comments on this and or other posts. If you find the information useful, please Like & Share us and subscribe to this site for an update as we reveal new strategies. Remember to keep an open mind and Shift 4 Freedom.

A Community College Education is a Good Start

Many people search and search for the University they will attend upon graduation from high school. Eager students look forward to their time at university while parents wring their hands hoping that their children choose to attend a university that is not only close to home but also within their budget limitations. Another worry that parents have when their children decide to attend college is whether that university they attend will have the specialized and individualized services that their children were accustomed to receiving in high school. Face, it; larger universities tend to be rather impersonal when it comes to the education of their students.

One answer to all those worries and more is to transition your students from high school to a two-year college rather than throwing them to the University wolves so to speak. Many people find that two-year colleges can, in fact, provide superior educations to four-year universities for those first two years or foundation college level courses. You will not get the specialized or specific instruction in a two-year college that is available to upper-level students on a university level but most students find the first two years of their college educations focused on getting the requirement and prerequisite courses rather than the specialized courses in their intended field of study.

Many people also find that those first two years at a community college-transitioning from a small pond to a larger lake-are much easier to handle than going straight from high school to a university-out of the pond and into the ocean. Universities often have lower level classes as auditorium classes. These classes offer little individual instruction and are often sink or swim sorts of classes. Those students who have special learning needs are often lost in the shuffle when entering a university. Community colleges offer smaller classes and ample opportunities for tutoring as well as classes on how to learn to study.

Two-year colleges are also much easier on the budget than most universities. Most people find that community college does not place nearly the financial burdens on families that universities place. Add to that the fact that most community colleges offer very flexible class scheduling and even some courses online and you will find that there are many reasons to consider community college that go well beyond mere budgeting requirements.

Another benefit to students who wish to enter the work force sooner rather than later is that you can get a degree or certification in certain programs from a two-year college. This means that you can actually graduate and begin earning much sooner than if you were to attend a four-year college in search of a degree. If you aren’t sure you want to invest the next four or five years of your life in pursuit of a degree or you simply aren’t ready to commit yourself to one line of work for the rest of your life it is an innovative idea to spend two years in a community college rather than making the leap straight into a university setting.

If you are considering whether a community college or two-year education is the best course of action for your specific needs, I really recommend creating a list of pros and cons of each and balancing your budget to see where your needs are most likely to be fully met. Remember you can always transfer to a university once you’ve completed your two-year college education or at any time during that education if you meet the universities admission requirements. Good luck and remember that your college education is one of the largest indicators of your future earning potential so take it seriously.

Discover the secrets why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips! In closing, I invite you to share your commits on this and all the posts. Like us on Facebook and Google Plus. Remember to keep an open mind and Shift 4 Freedom.

3 things you should know before joining a MLM

This is the excerpt for your very first post.

3 things you should know before joining a MLM.

Why the Multi-Level (a.k.a Network) Marketing industry is becoming so popular.

Multi-level marketing (MLM) or word of mouth marketing has been around since the early 60’s where someone would come to your home to sell you soaps, perfumes or health care products. These early companies were pioneers of this bold new industry, but like all good concepts, some people would use this model to scam and scheme people out of their hard earned money. Most noted the pyramid scheme.

What is a pyramid scheme? It’s where you would pay into a group or concept without getting any products or services in return, just the promises that by making this investment you would grow your investment and become rich. The Federal Trade Commission is the governing institution to protect the public from these practices. One way to protect yourself for this practice is ask 3 questions.

What is the product or service offered?
Can a person joining this program exceed the sponsor in position and/or income with ample effort?
Where is most of the money made coming from membership or product?

Having a poor understanding of how the industry truly works is one of the biggest issues. Many people come into a MLM organization with a lottery or sales mentality and they attempt to sell their great products and/or services to all of their friends and family. The problem with this approach is that your friends and family may not want what you have to show them. They may even run away or distance themselves from you for a period. They don’t understand the benefits of what you are offering or just don’t have a need for the product or service. The rejection that comes from this way of doing the business causes a person to throw in the towel prematurely and not get what they were expecting from the venture.

Why The MLM (a.k.a Network) Industry Is Becoming So Popular?

1) Best Kept Secret Savings Club

2) Big Business (corporations)

3) Freedom and tax benefits

Best Kept Secret Savings Club

Everyone loves to get a bargain from the local stores that are close to where we live. We will clip coupons in the newspaper or shop for deals online. Yet people will pass up group discounts that MLM has to offer and in most cases superior quality. Most MLM Companies offer the deepest discounts due to greater buying power.

Big Business

Major corporations are changing the process of introducing their products and services to the public. Companies realize that word of mouth is still the least expensive and fastest method of advertising their products and services. They have also have discovered that customers acquired in this method are more loyal to the brand.

Freedom And Tax Benefits

Most people are programmed to believe in the 40/40/40 plan. You work for 40 hours a week, hopefully for 40 years to receive 40% of your base pay when it’s time to retire. Which is about what you made in your 20’s. While you are working each and everyday building someone else’s dream, who is building your dreams? You have see evidence of this growing problem when you are greeted by an elderly person when a teenager should be conduct that job.

Discover the secrets that you may not know about the tax benefits you desire. Learn why the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Click Here to view a video with more life tips! In closing I invite you to share your commits on this and all the posts. Like us on Facebook and Google Plus. Remember to open your mind and Shift 4 Freedom.

A College Degree is Nearly a Necessity

Your education is the single greatest gift you can give yourself. While there are educational opportunities all around us, some of them come at a greater cost than others. A college education might require a hefty investment of time and money upfront but the payoff is much better over time than if you used your life experiences in order to achieve the same level of education that you can pack into 2, 4, or 5 years of an undergraduate education on the college level.

In other words, over the course of your lifetime you are likely to pay far less for your college education than you would pay (in earning potential) for not having a college education. At the same time, each level of college education you receive increases your overall earning potential. This means that a one-year degree in a technical field will provide a modest boost from a high school diploma when it comes to earning potential but an associate’s degree will provide an even better boost. You will see an even more significant improvement in earning potential when you increase from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree. The vast majority of students enter the work force upon completion of a bachelor’s degree. Those students, however, who remain in school for graduate studies often, find that a master’s degree even further improves their lifetime earning potentials.

The problem for most when it comes to making the jump between degrees and educational levels is cost. There are times in life when we simply need to get out of school and get to work or pursue entrepreneurial interests. The good news is that it is gradually becoming easier for those with careers to further their education without sacrificing either their careers or their family during the process. Of course there will be some sacrifices along the way but it isn’t an all at once or nothing endeavor. You can work towards your degree by taking online classes, night classes, and Saturday classes. The information age has made it easier than ever before to achieve the educational goals you need to meet in order to satisfy your dreams for the future.

Your level of education will get your foot in the door when it comes to certain jobs and your lack of education will limit you far more than a lack of experience will limit you in many cases. As time grows on, more and more companies are seeking employees that have degrees rather than those who have experience in the field. If you hope to remain competitive in the business world you need to arm yourself with the proper education. Check with your company to see if they offer any sort of incentives for employees continuing their education. You might be surprised to find that your company offers to match your tuition funds or even completely reimburse them if you are working towards a degree that will assist you in your job functions.

There is no wrong reason to get an education. Even if you are applying for a job that won’t use your specific degree, you might find that having a degree at all gives you a boost over other applicants for the same position. A college degree is becoming more and more necessary in today’s business climate. You need to take every opportunity that is available to you in order to get your college degree.

Bad Credit Debt Consolidation Loan – The Secret To Getting One

A bad credit debt consolidation loan can get you out of a financial hole very quickly. The question is if you’ve got a bad credit history will the banks still lend to you? The answer is probably. That’s because a bad credit debt consolidation loan can make as much sense for them as it can for you.

You see the banks really don’t care about you. I know, that came as a surprise right? But they do care about themselves – second surprise! So they might be happy to make a loan to help sort out your bad credit. Debt consolidation loan is just another way of saying refinancing of course. And the reality of that is the bank will take the money you already owe them and spread the payments over a longer period, thus creating an income for the bank in the form of more interest payment and fees.

Now what happens is that because the money they are lending you is outstanding for a longer amount of time they can charge you more interest. See what I meant when I said they don’t care about you? Of course from your point of view you are probably going to be benefiting by having lower repayments, less worry and you’ll get your credit history back on track. So it’s win-win.

Now to actually get a bad credit debt consolidation loan you’re going to have to convince the bank or loan company that they really are going to be benefiting. Just telling them that they will make more money in the long run won’t cut it. You need to present a well thought out case as to why it makes sense to consolidate your existing loans.

You need to sit down and work out a plan before you even think of contacting them. In that plan you need to be able to tell them how your bad credit came about. Was it a problem with your job? Was it down to ill health? You also need to explain what has changed now and how you will be able to meet the new payments.

Try not to be over optimistic here. And for goodness sake tell them the truth, if you don’t they will almost certainly find out and you’ll fail. They’re trained to spot lying by applicants.

The secret to success is having a good, well-though out reason why they should grant you a bad debt consolidation loan. After getting the loan you will need a plan to not need that type a loan again. One method of getting out of debt is to track what you spend on for 30 days.

Yes, I really mean it. For 30 days write down everything you spend during this time. While you are doing this evaluate the importance of the item purchased in this order. Maintain, modify or eliminate. For more tips on eliminating debt “Click Here!“