Students Of Success

Making the financial transition from paid employment to earning a living on your own is probably the single biggest challenge facing many would be entrepreneurs. For most, the mere thought of financial insecurity holds them back from even trying. But if you have the vision, persistence and the ability to respond to market feedback the financial rewards will soon follow.

Two ways to make the transition.

There are essentially two main ways that you can make the financial transition.

1. Establish a revenue stream before you quit your job.

2. Quit your job and then build a revenue stream before your start-up capital runs out!

Establish a revenue stream before you quit your job.

Establishing a revenue stream whilst you continue to work, for most people is probably the more sensible of the two options.

The advantage of this approach is that it gives you the freedom to try things out at your own pace to see if there is a market for your pro or service before you actually cut off your regular income stream from your job.

A disadvantage of this approach is that it is often hard to devote the time necessary to get your business up and running particularly if you have a demanding full time job. Another slightly less obvious disadvantage is that the comfort of a regular income may make you less prepared to take the risks necessary to make your business succeed.

Quit your job and build a revenue stream before your start-up capital runs out!*

Now this is the riskier of the two strategies and definitely not for the faint hearted!

The advantage of this approach is that you have all your time to dedicate to your new venture. Another bonus is the uncomfortable fact that you don’t have a regular income stream yet. It’s incredible what you can achieve in life when you place you self in a position where you absolutely must succeed. This fact alone, if channelled effectively can rapidly propel you towards the achievement of your goal!

A disadvantage of taking this approach is the fact that it can put you under extreme financial pressure which can then impact upon the other areas of your life as well as the lives of any of your dependants. It could even mean depleting all you capital creating a need to return to paid employment.

The approach I took to set up my Coaching Business…

In setting up my own coaching business I decided to take the later of the two options. I gave up my ridiculously well paid corporate consulting job so I could dedicate all my energies into establishing a successful coaching business.

What I personally like about this approach is the uncomfortable feeling you get when you start eating into your start-up capital whether it be savings, borrowings or venture capital. This feeling has compelled many an entrepreneur to push forward rapidly and make breakthroughs that they would not have been able to achieve had they kept their job.

So which approach should you take?

This a question that only you can answer. Give deep consideration to how you feel about both approaches and determine which one is more suitable for you given your current circumstances. It is also important to consider the type of business that will satisfy your entrepreneurial needs. This may also impact upon your ultimate decision.

Regardless of your which approach you take, there is one thing that is for certain; if your will is strong enough and your idea compelling enough you will find a way!

* Financial Health Warning: if you do decide to take this approach please consult with your financial adviser first.

Damien Senn is a Life and Business Coach as well as a qualified Chartered Accountant. He helps people create compelling futures.

He is the author of the ‘Senn-Sational Success Journal’ and has developed his own coaching model called the ‘Senn-Sational Success System’.

For your free download ‘101 things to do before you die’ please click the following link: http://www.senn-sational.com/freeresources.htm

There are a lot of fairly sophisticated parenting techniques and
ideas out there that are attracting attention. To be an
effective father, you can skip most of them and concentrate on
common sense rules that have always worked. They won’t always
make you the most popular Dad, but they’ll always be effective:

Rule #1 Expect A Great Deal From Your Kids If your kids know
that you expect a lot from them, they’ll rise to the occasion.
Everything from saying please and thank-you, to efforts in
school or on the athletic field, if expectations are made clear
in a loving atmosphere your kids will know that you think a lot
of them. When they know this, they’ll respond.

Rule #2 Always Be Willing To Be the Problem When you’re
convinced that someone in your family is causing the problems
and you’re blaming them for it, realize that this problem won’t
get better until you accept that you’re making it worse by
blaming them. It may briefly feel good to blame, but it never
improves anything. Loving and accepting that person will make a
positive difference.

Rule #3Know Your Child’s Life Intimately Get to know all that
you can about your kids. Know what their favorite toys and
colors are, who their best friends are, who their heroes are,
etc. By showing interest, you’re showing you love them. By not
asking, you show that they’re not that important to you.

Rule #4Say No To Your Kids There’s an awful lot of stuff out
there for kids these days…and of course they want to have it
all. Kids who get almost everything they want typically don’t
turn out to be very happy kids. Kids learn discipline,
self-control, and how to delay gratification when they are told
no by their parents. It may be a difficult struggle, but saying
no and meaning it will help you to have happy, healthy, and
cooperative kids.

Rule #5Hitting or Spanking Your Kids Doesn’t Work There are
plenty of studies showing that kids who are spanked have lower
self-esteem. Spanking your kids will also be likely to increase
the very kinds of behaviors that you are spanking them for. As a
father, do you really want your child to be afraid of you?

Rule #6Treat Your Wife Extremely Well This is where your kids
get their most important information about relationships between
men and women. Make a great effort not to fight in front of the
kids. Remember to be kind more often than trying to be right.

Rule #7Actions Speak Louder Than Words Many parents spend time
threatening their children when their kids aren’t cooperating.
But if you don’t follow through on the consequences, you can
threaten till the cows come home. Your children will learn to
ignore the threats. They’ll understand action. If certain
privileges are taken away because of their lack of cooperation,
they’ll learn very quickly that you mean business. Try your best
to align the consequences with the action. ( If you don’t clean
your room in time, you won’t have time for stories before bed.)

Rule #8Really Listen to Your Kids Don’t just hear their words,
but learn to understand the meaning behind what they say as
well. I’m picking my own clothes! might mean that your child
wants more responsibility or independence. Be able to reflect
back what your child says to you. If you want your child to
listen to you, you absolutely must listen to her/him.

Rule #9Give Your Kids Responsibility as They Grow Older When
your kids are very young, maybe they just help make their beds
in the morning and keep their rooms clean. As they get older,
add things to their list. Tell them that this is how a family
works…everybody has certain things that they do. If you do it
when they’re young it’s more likely they’ll do it when they’re
older. Don’t reward them for things that should be expected of
them.

Rule #10Tell Your Kids They’re Great All the Time It is
especially important to tell them this when they’re not at their
best. It’s easy to tell them when things are going well. Make it
a point to tell them specifically what you think is great about
them. This will be more meaningful than generalized praise.

For the first time since 2001, a full compliment of six players was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’m 45 and was able to see and remember each during his career. In my opinion, four selections are solid (Reggie White, Warren Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright), one leaves me ambivalent (Harry Carson), and then there’s Troy Aikman.

Reggie White was the most dominant defensive lineman of his era and retired with most sacks (198) in NFL history at the time. The “Minister of Defense” started in the USFL but in his 15 year NFL career went to 13 Pro Bowls. No Brainer.

Madden and Wright were senior-committee selections and both have merit. Madden has the highest winning percentage (.759) of ANY coach with 100 wins and won a Super Bowl, probably long overdue. Rayfield Wright was considered the “linchpin” of the offensive line for the great Cowboy teams of the 70’s - no problem there.

Warren Moon’s NFL numbers are staggering. His CFL/NFL numbers are mindboggling! In 23 years of organized football, Warren Moon threw for 72,184 yards and 457 touchdowns, 51.061 and 313 in the NFL. By comparison, Dan Marino finished with 61,361 and 420. The hall didn’t hold Moon’s vagabond final years and lack of Super Bowl ring against him.

Harry Carson in my eyes was one of the parts of the sum in that great “Wrecking Crew” defense of the Giants Parcell’s Giant era. Lawrence Taylor deservedly got all the pub but lets not forget that Brian Kelly and Brad van Pelt were both excellent linebackers and Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall vastly underrated defensive linemen. Nitschke, Butkus, Lambert, Carson ???

Troy Aikman’s career stats: 61.5%, 32,942 yards, 165 TDs, 145 Ints, QB rating of 81.6

There have been six other quarterbacks inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2000 (Montana, Kelly, Elway. Marino, Young, and Moon), and everyone’s number other than Steve Young’s dwarf Troy Aikman’s. So lets start with Steve Young.

Steve Young is another I would consider good but not great yet compared to Aikman, Young is first ballot. Despite spending half his career in the USFL, Tampa bay, hurt, or sitting behind Montana, Young still threw for slight more yardage and 67 more touchdowns than Aikman. Young could also hurt you with his legs rushing for 4238 yards at 5.9 yards per carry with an additional 33 touchdowns.

Of the seven, Aikman’s completion percentage is lower than all but Kelly (60.1%) and Moon (NFL number 58.4%). Aikman’s 165 touchdowns pales in comparison to everyone else’s 237+. The others all threw for 40,000 plus yards and only Moon (80.1) and Elway (79.9) had lower quarterback ratings.

Call me old school but I think the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly greats of the game. I realize that HOF criteria is not strictly numbers based and involves many intangibles including leadership and winning but Troy Aikman was clearly not great. This is an argument generally reserved for baseball but applicable here.

Let’s look at some players that are coming up soon, just retired or will retire soon. Most I consider good but not great. Perhaps the closest analogy to Aikman is Scotty Pippin, decent numbers, 6 championships, Does he deserve to get in ??? In my eyes - No/Maybe. Regardless of situation, ANWHERE, Scotty Pippin was good 17/9 player that played excellent defense. He’s a slam dunk to go but if on fringe, the defense would send him through.

Jerome Bettis. The Bus. He’s top 10 rushing all-time but if Steeler’s hadn’t won, where’s Jerome. Does he deserve to go? A marginal yes, Will he get in? Maybe down the line during a thin year. Could anybody in good conscience mention his name in the same breath as Earl Campbell. I don’t think so.

Baseball is the most fun. In an age of Roids and Juiced balls, how about these guys, Juan Gonzalez (420+ HR’s), Jeff Bagwell (430+ HR’s), Tom Glavine (260 wins), Frank Thomas (420+ HR’s). Cobb, Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron, Bagwell. Rolls right off your tongue doesn’t it

A lot of great players get dogged about their careers for not winning a championship, Ted Williams, Dan Marino, Maravich, Barkley, and Karl Malone. Some get dogged for not winning enough, Wilt Chamberlain. There are lots of good players considered great because they won and in this instance, Troy Aikman can step to the head of the class.

Dennis Macklin is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Dennis_Macklin.htm.

I have some good news and I have some bad news. First the good news. The number of infomercials on television is decreasing.

Some might say that is great news. But, before you yell hurray, here’s the bad news. They are reincarnating as web sites. Changes the whole picture, doesn’t it?

For those who’ve never seen an infomercial, it is a program-length TV commercial touting easy ways to make money in a variety of ways.

Real estate is probably the most often run program. Others include low-interest government loans or grants to start a new business or go to college.

Then there are the old standby classified advertisement sections in newspapers or magazines promising “big money” business opportunities and/or work-at-home schemes. The companies behind these infomercials and print ads claim that by using their products and services, you can learn how to increase your wealth or start a business from the comfort of your home.

These infomercials and advertisements make it very clear you can make the big bucks only by purchasing their books, audio and video tapes, or computer hardware and software. The materials range in price from less than $100 to several thousand dollars.

To clinch the sale, some promoters include a toll-free telephone consulting service with your purchase and offer a money-back guarantee. The fine print in the guarantee is what gets most people.

Web sites promoting these same type of “opportunities” look like an infomercial. Hype, glitz and promises of big money adorn the screen. On the other hand, contact details, other than ordering information, is scant if existent at all.

On television, these infomercials are designed to look, feel, and sound like real TV programs. The FTC says “they often imitate the format of genuine talk shows or investigative consumer news programs.”

Because they imitate real programs, “the products being sold often are discussed as part of the program and touted by paid “experts,” “moderators,” or “reporters”, according to the FTC. The programs may last for 30 minutes, interrupted by advertisements for the shows products with ordering information.

As in the offline world, online promoters of wealth-building schemes claim that if you follow their methods, you can make substantial sums of money. The means to easy wealth have shifted from real estate and government auctions to web site sales and development, autoresponder sales, gift clubs and bulk email programs.

The offline world uses the infomercials and advertisements to invite you to attend seminars where you can learn more about their program. You can rest assured the seminar is a slick sales pitch.

The smooth-talking salespeople tout the programs, materials, and services and use testimonials of the people in the back of the room selling the materials to illustrate what easy money you can make. The truth is these people are paid to give testimony. They are on the payroll as salespeople and that’s it.

At these seminars the pitch is feverish and it is easy to be lured by promises of success into parting with your money. They are designed to work off the herd mentality. Don’t fall for the nonsense.

On the Internet, the herd mentality is engaged through testimonials and a rush to action. You are encouraged every step of the way to BUY NOW! There are only so many days left and this opportunity will be gone forever or some other such nonsense.

The FTC, and everybody else who has studied these programs, gives the following advice:

1. Be skeptical about “get-rich-quick” advertising claims.

2. Ask companies for written substantiation for claims in their presentations, especially those about success rates.

3. Be aware that “experts” who endorse a product often are paid by the advertiser.

4. Be cautious about “testimonials.” They may be paid for and probably owrse, do not reflect the experience of most consumers.

5. Be wary of purchasing a program if company representatives give you evasive answers or aren’t willing to answer your questions at all.

6. Before you buy, decide whether the price reflects a fair market value.

7. Be wary of promises of free money or low-interest government loans. As a rule, these are available only in limited circumstances.

8. Dont be pressured to purchase immediately. Good opportunities are not sold through high pressure tactics.

9. Before you buy, ask about the companys qualifying requirements and refund policy.

10. Check out the company with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, and state Attorney General’s office. They should be able to tell you if any unresolved consumer complaints are on file.

Additional consumer protection resources are available at your local library. Check out materials on personal finance and those geared toward the small business owner.

Your local community college may have a marketing department. Call and ask to speak with one of the professors. Explain the program and ask his/her advice/opinion.

The Small Business Administration and your state and local government have publications and programs for new and potential business owners. Write or call and ask for a list of available publications.

Tap into the Internet. That’s right, search engines could turn out to be your best friend. A host of scam busting sites exist and expose scams online and offline.

As always, common sense is your best weapon in the fight against this garbage. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, if you have more than a passing interest, do your homework. Getting too much information is not a crime or a hazard to your wealth.

2000(c) All rights reserved. No one may reproduce this article without permission of the author (tom-koziol@excite.com)

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Like so many people, my career path has been an accident. I was
at the right place at the right time. But when my 40th birthday
approached, I really reflected upon my past accomplishments and
wondered what my future ones would be. As a new mom, I am
constantly inspired by my son. Was there a way I could use the
lessons I have learned from my son to help me figure out my
future goals? I was fascinated when my son learned to walk - he
was so determined and nothing could get in his way and when he
fell he didn’t question himself or criticize himself, he just
kept going. That was when I was struck by the metaphor of baby
steps. If we copied babies actions of learning to walk without
fear of failure, perhaps we can reach our goals?

Building block 1: What are you proud of? What are the ten things
I am most proud of from my childhood? When I asked myself this
question it was filled with things like - winning the doggie
paddle race at age 5; getting the best camper award; being the
first freshman on the varsity basketball team; getting a tennis
scholarship; traveling to more than 8 countries before I was 12;
writing a letter about pollution to President Nixon and getting
a response. (I have the letter framed in my office - ok, so it
was autopen)

Do you see a pattern here? Well, what struck me as funny was
that the things I cared about most as a child: sports, traveling
and the environment are still the things most important to me
now. So if you created a list of the ten things you are the most
proud as a child and as an adult, would you see a pattern?

Building Block 2: What makes you happy? Let’s try another
exercise, what are the ten things that make you the most happy?
And when was the last time you did anything on this list? Do you
make time to do things that make you happy? And if you did do
these things, would you have a sense of accomplishment?

My list always includes dancing. Before my son, I danced salsa
and tango every week. I love to dance. But, my husband doesn’t
dance and since we have a toddler and babysitting is expensive,
we don’t go out that often. Lucky for me, I have a little boy
who loves music, so we dance in the living room almost every
day, twirling and spinning to salsa and rock and roll. Oddly
enough, my son teaches me to take baby steps. He teaches me to
live in the moment and celebrate every step I take - so when I
dance with him in the living room or in the supermarket, I am
doing what makes me happy.

Building Block Three: What are your memorable moments? Another
one of my favorite exercises is to think of a memorable moment
in your life. When I first did this exercise I immediately
remembered my trip to Nepal after the 1992 presidential election
campaign. I trekked for 10 days in the Annapurna range and was
struck by the feeling of stepping back in time - there were no
cars, no electricity, and no toilets. We went to sleep when the
sun went down. I felt so at peace and one with nature. Can you
tell a little about my values from my favorite moment? In less
than two minutes my colleagues said they thought I cared about
the environment, politics, beauty, solitude, culture and travel
to name a few. It was amazing to me how much can be learned from
a memorable moment. So what is your moment? Do you think it
illustrates your true values?

Turning the building blocks into accomplishments All three
exercises are about tapping into your core values and what makes
you happy. In this busy world, sometimes you just need to take a
moment and breathe and remember what’s important. There is the
saying “I will not die an unlived life.” If you take the time to
practice the things that make you proud and happy, you will be
creating the building blocks to have memorable moments all the
time.