As one who has somewhat of an entrepreneurial spirit, there are some things I am not comfortable with, one of those things is nest egg risk. As a investor in the stock market for many years, I have stayed in the low to moderate risk area, that is how I am about my home business. Maybe that’s how you are too. If yes, you most likely will never be rich, but if things remain status-quo, you will be comfortable. If you dream of owning your own business you should think carefully about how you feel money, not the money you hope to make, but the money you have saved or put away for a rainy day.

The idea of being your own boss, calling all the shots, and taking control of your destiny is a dream for many people, but owning and running a business takes more than desire.

Before you make your shell out your hard-earned dollars, whether it is $50 to start a home business or $50,000 for a franchise, ask yourself a few questions first.

• Are you comfortable with risk? Don’t invest your life savings unless you’re sure you can live with the possibility of losing your nest egg. All entrepreneurs worry about money, but you can’t let your fears paralyze you.

• Will you be committed and passionate about your business? A business that doesn’t excite you from the start won’t sustain your energy when demands are great and payoffs uncertain. Pick a business that you truly believe in, one you’d be happy to work in regardless of whether you ever get rich.

• Do you have the time and energy? Running your own business is not a 9-to-5 job. You need to be to able to maintain the pace of building a company from the ground up, especially during the early years. And if you are still working your regular 9-to-5 job you have to be willing to forego many things.

• Is your family on board? Running a business calls for all your concentration, and if your family feels short-changed, the added stress can do you in. Include them in any decision you make so you don’t have to worry about problems at home.

If you can say yes to these questions, go for it.

Setting the right goals for yourself and your business is important. Your business is less likely to grow if are not working toward a certain goal or goals. When I started working in direct selling, I came in under someone (my upline) who pushed for the number of people in my downline rather than selling the product. I soon found that a large downline could not be my goal because I would spend more time recruiting bodies than getting the word out and marketing my product. I did OK, but was not happy, so I did an about-face. We all have choices, it does not matter what business you are in, you set your own goals. Setting the right goals, though–goals that will inspire and motivate you and those who work with or under you is crucial.

A few good goals to aim for. . .

• Quantifiability. You should be able to measure your success in objective terms so you can see the value of your efforts.

• Challenging objectives. If the challenge is too easy, your objective may not have a significant positive on your business.

• Flexibility. Don’t back yourself into a corner. Although you don’t want to adjust your goal or goals to suit your results, you should be willing to modify your ambitions if circumstances snatch your original objective out of reach. This is not giving up, rather, it is knowing when to change your course so you can move ahead.

Does this mean to set low goals or dream small? I don’t think so. It just means that you should not allow other people limit your success to their goals, or view your future through someone else’s eyes.

Entrepreneur and businesswoman and author Deborah Rosado Shaw rose from poverty to create a multimillion-dollar umbrella-making business, Umbrellas Plus LLC. 

Ms. Shaw’s advice on getting ahead:

• Be willing to sacrifice.

• Get used to fear.

• Know where you’re going.

• Enlist the help of a business coach or mentor.

• Be creative about what you want.

• Make noise.

• Trade what’s predictable for what’s possible.

 Read article  Millionaire Moms Tops Inventions

The holidays can be the perfect time to boost your career, whether for your home business or your office. Between gift-giving and office parties, you have plenty of opportunities to show people who you are and where your career interests lie. Here are some  opportunities:

Office party. Many companies will hold still hold holiday parties this year despite the financial down-turn. They may more necessary than ever to boost company morale. If your office is holding a party, attend, (it may not be mandatory, but…-I’m just saying) remember these three things:

1. Don’t booze it up.
2. Don’t talk shop the entire time.
3. Don’t over- or under-dress.

If you are a home business owner, the same rules apply, perhaps more so.

Cards. Sending holiday cards is a great way to acknowledge those who’ve helped your career in the past year and to reconnect with business associates. If you’re uncertain about religious affiliations, send cards that eliminate any religious references. Choose cards with beautiful generic holiday graphics and state ”Happy Holiday”; send the cards out early in December. This may feel like a cop-out, but in the last few years, people seem to be more sensitive to who they are and the holidays they celebrate.  This is the one time you want to go ahead and follow the pc (politically correctly) bunch.  

If you are a home business owner, it is fine to send a holiday greeting as above. Your contact information should not be the focal point, but it should be on the card.

Gifts. A little caution is needed. Determine whom you want to give a gift to (clients, co-workers, bosses) but first make sure they’re allowed to receive gifts. (Some federal positions, for example, are banned from accepting gifts from groups or individuals that could constitute a conflict of interest.) Use your best judgment on getting an appropriate gift that serves as a token of appreciation. It does not need to be expensive, but it should show that some thought went into purchasing it. Do not expect a gift in return, this should be from the heart, not because you are hoping for a reciprocal gift. One year our office manager gave everyone paper weights. I still have mine.

If you have a home business, something from your business with a short note of thanks and appreciation would do nicely. If that is impossible, think of something that will help to say to your client or customer, “thank you for your business.”  You will have to make up your mind, will you give a holiday gift to everyone or your returning clients?  I do not give gifts to my Watkins customers, but I do acknowledge them on my Watkins turn-key site. See Watkins

Like me, you may have heard this fable in your house of worship when you were young. You don’t always ‘get it’ when you are young. But as a business person it is something worth remembering at all times. However you heard this, the moral of the story is the same; be mindful of opportunities that come your way–they do not always come labled as such.

~Missed opportunies and a lesson learned~

A man was in his house and there was a really bad flood, houses were floating, cars were swept away. He was sitting on the roof of his house when he was spotted by a man in a boat, the man offered to take him to safety, but he refused. He said no thank you, God will save me. Soon after a helicopter spotted him and threw down a rope for him to climb to safety, the man gave the same answer, he had faith and he was waiting for God to save him.

The winds grew and the man was swept off his roof and drowned. When he opens his eyes, he is in heaven and angels around him. He asks to see God and is taken to him. When he sees God he asks what happened, why didn’t God save him, surely his belief was strong enough. God looks at him, shakes his head and says, I can’t explain it, I just don’t know what happened–I sent you boat and a helicopter.

As companies try to stay afloat in a choppy economy, employees are being pushed for new ideas. However, managers should note and consider the studies conducted by Teresa Amabile, professor at Harvard Business School and head of its Entrepreneurial Management Unit. She has explored creativity for nearly 30 years and her comprehensive research has uncovered some myths:

• Money and rewards does not inspire creativity
• Tight deadlines and pressure to produce don’t foster innovation
• Competition does not induce creativity
• Fear does not fuel creative breakthroughs

In order bring creativity to fruition, people must  be deeply engaged in and with their projects and skilled enough to accomplish the project without:

• unnecessary distractions
• office (or any) politics
• resource roadblocks
• unwarranted critical feedback

Teresa Amabile is the Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

It seems that truly creative people have certain characteristics which we can all put to work and use for ourselves, our careers and our home business.

After a friend and I spent a leisurely afternoon at Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey, I am a confirmed Edison groupie. The main building is amazing, not only are there glorious cubicles for his key engineers, there is a small corner with a single bed–Edison often slept there while working on projects. He held more than 1000 patents. OK, the man was a genius and he was creative, but you can sharpen your creative skills by strenthening a few traits.

• Curiosity. It should be obvious, however, it is often forgotten in the rush of daily routine. Stop and ask “Why?” about the issues and problems (and solutions) you encounter.

• Energy. Not running around in circles energy. Just put real effort into collecting facts and thinking about the problem you’re trying to solve.

• Focus and concentration. Take time to stop and focus on what’s in front of you, tune out distractions, annoyances and other actions and activities that are not relevant to the problem at hand.

• Make the connection. Look for links between elements; often ties that bind don’t appear related at first glance. Seek the connection by finding some order in the havoc. Break down ideas to discover what they have in common. Talk to a person to brainstorm. Anyone who has seen actor’s Rock Hudson and Thelma Ritter in the bar scene of the movie Pillow Talk will understand how a small connection can help.

• Playfulness. You work is serious, but you need to be able to stand back and adopt a naïve, even childlike attitude toward the world around you. This helps you ask questions and find connections in things everyone else takes for granted.

• Persistence. Even the great geniuses of our time don’t expect success overnight. Practice self-discipline, so you can stick to your idea until it’s successful. “I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.” Thomas A. Edison. If your persistence does not create gold, think positive; “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas A. Edison.

For more information on Thomas Alva Edison visit Save Americas Treasures Organization Keep in mind that this project has been completed, the Edison site and his home are open for visitors.

In it’s September, 2009 issue, Entrepreneur magazine declares Etsy as a website to watch. I agree. Etsy online stores have wonderful handmade or hand crafted items for sale. Online shopping at Etsy is like visiting an upscale straw market or bazaar-fun and cool. Many of the sellers are masters at their crafts.

I discovered Etsy about 3 years ago through a social site and have been buying from them since that time. Early on, I loved the artsy, craftsy look of the site, that has changed somewhat, but you can still find lovely, unusual items at Etsy.  If you are looking for an unusual gift item, check them out. Also, anyone who is a craft’s person should definately take a look at Etsy and think about becoming a shop owner.

For information see  Etsy

Successful relationships whether business or romantic are built on a foundation of honest, thoughtful communication. Whether you are contemplating a business partnership or marriage, giving some thought to these four questions may save you headache and grief.  

1. How does the person react in a crisis?
2. How does he or she handle money?
3. What does the other person expect from you? What might happen if those expectations aren’t met?
4. What are the other person’s goals? What are three things he/she would like to accomplish in the immediate future, and in the long term?
5. What makes him/her angry? How does the person deal with anger?

 Think before leaping, if his or her goals are not the same or at least similar to yours, do you really want to move forward?

Have French bread on hand to dip in the spicy and zesty lemon sauce.

Ingredients

1/4 cup/60 mL Original Grapeseed Oil*
3 tbsp/45 mL lemon juice
2 tsp/10 mL honey
2 tsp/10 mL soy light sauce
1 tsp/6 ml, Cayenne Pepper* (more if desired)
1-1/4 tsp/6 mL Parsley*
3/4 tsp/4 mL Garlic Granules*
1 pound/454 g uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Lemon wedges
One loaf of French bread

Cooking Directions

Combine first seven ingredients in 13-x9-inch/33-x23-cm. glass baking dish. Add shrimp; toss to coat. Refrigerate one hour. Bake at 450°F/235°C until shrimp are cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve shrimp with lemon wedges and French bread to dip in the spicy and zesty sauce. Add a glass of dry white wine or iced tea. Makes about 6 servings. Bon Appetit.

*Visit Watkins to see herbs, spices and flavorings.