YOUR BUSINESS PLAN 1-2-3

Summer Weather Greetings!

Summer weather is finally here and since the real-life unemployment rate in Rhode Island is over 20%, I'll bet you've been thinking about finally starting your own business.

You've got a great idea. You think it will work. But everyone says you need to write a business plan first.

I know what you'll say---you don't have time or energy (or time) to write it.

I say---Why wait till you have a business plan written to start developing your business?

The business professors and the SBA people will argue with me about this advice, but most of them (almost ALL of them) have never ever started their own successful business!!

Let's press on!!

Here's a quick and easy way to figure out---in 3 easy steps---if your new business idea has a chance of succeeding without spending any money:

Get an answer to the following three questions:

1- What problem(s) will your business solve?
2- Who needs to have the problem solved (and can pay for the solution)?
[This can be people or a business or a combination of both.]
3- Find three people/businesses that will agree to pay you to solve the
problem you have proposed solving.

Get positive answers to these questions and you will be on your way to having a successful business before you spend any money [or lose any money]. If you can't answer the preceding three questions to your satisfaction, either change your idea, find another problem to solve, or keep looking for buyers.

We'll discuss these strategies and more at our weekly Coffee Conversation meeting at Updike's Coffee Shop in North Kingstown this Thursday morning at 8am.

If you need some ideas or help in the meantime, please call me at 401-667-0971.

See you soon-

Ann Marie

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES!

The sun is shining this week!

Time to get out there and do
some harvesting!

As they always said at the farm,
it's time to
make hay while the sun shines!

Everyone knows that the best time to
harvest hay is when the sun is shining.
Wet hay is hard to cut and bale and
ends up rotting.

Same goes for sales.

When the sun is shining,
people are happier,
more productive,
and more
open-minded.

I'll bet you're already
happier and
more optimistic.

Let's meet this week at
Updike's Coffee Shop on
Boston Neck Road in
North Kingstown.

We'll talk about how to make
good things happen
in your business
and in your life!

The sun is shining!

SEE YOU THIS THURSDAY MORNING
APRIL 15TH AT 8AM!!

Got questions?
Call me at home
401-667-0971

Ann Marie

AFTER THE GREAT FLOOD!

Taking Action After a Tragedy!

The flood waters have subsided, but the world is different now.
Our faith has been rattled and our hopes have been challenged.
But we're still here even if some of our stuff and
parts of our plans are not.

What is left now is
what is
inside of us.

Will we cower?
Will we look back?
Will we retreat?
Will we fear the future bacause the
present has dealt us a harsh blow?
Or will we rally and thank God we are
still here and
we still matter and
we're still committed to
moving forward?

How you think is
Everything!

And the way you think
about what is next
is everything
as we look forward.

And
we ARE
looking forward!!

So, in spite of the dark days of this
challenging economy and
flooded neighborhoods
we will survive and
thrive!

Most of it will be about how we
THINK!

SEE YOU THIS THURSDAY MORNING
APRIL 8TH AT 8AM

We'll talk about how to make
good things happen
again!

Got questions?
Call me at home
401-667-0971

Ann Marie

The Power of Twenty Dollars!

Can you use an extra twenty dollars this week?

If you had it what would you do with it?

Could you turn it into $2,000 as one of my students did one year?

Could you change the world? Would you even Dare to try?!?

When we think about capital, so many of us think about thousands or millions or in this day and age of big government---trillions!

But what of the power of 20?

Is it too little?
Or does it have the potential for greatness? For motivating change? Or for encouraging something new to grow or to exist or to be...?

The biggest challenge with our money, whether one dollar or a million one dollar bills, is the management of that money. But even more important is the planning of what the money can accomplish and what return it can produce and hopefully, what kind of good work it can accomplish when it is properly directed and professionally managed.

What would YOU do with twenty dollars?

How would you change the world?

How would your idea change the way we think and live?

So, could you use an extra twenty dollars?

Come to my weekly Coffee Conversation at Updike's at 8am this Thursday, April 1st.

I'll have some twenties to share with the best ideas.

See you then-
Ann Marie

NATIONAL SMILE WEEK

Spring arrived yesterday (Saturday), and since then it has been just glorious! Warm weather means warm clients and marks the end of the doldrums of winter.

I am calling this "National Smile Week," only because I think this is the time to smile and be more friendly and use this action to keep your business moving forward.

Your smile is a great tool for disarming the sourpuss, entrancing the mildly awake, and standing out in every opportunity to set yourself apart from the numerous sad sacks that seem to dominate in every situation. Attiude matters. Your winning smile can make all the difference between great success and abject disappointment.
Just smile.

This Thursday we'll talk about how your internal attitude is made obvious to clients by how they perceive your outside appearance. Key among all these outside characteristics is your smile.

Bring your best smile and your positive attitude to our Coffee Conversation this coming Thursday morning. We'll talk about how to turn your smile into more business.
Btw, smiling is the greatest low-cost, no-cost tool your business has!

If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.

Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 25th at 8:00am.

See you again soon-

Ann Marie

INCREASING YOUR CUSTOMER BASE!

The weather is getting better, warmer---except for all the rain---and that means that business too will begin to heat up as we move toward the middle of the year.

This week we'll talk about adding customers to your client roster.

The main criteria for success in this effort is to identify those potential clients and businesses that have a problem you know how resolve. By focusing on clients with problems, you will be 85% of the way to increasing your customer base.

This Thursday we'll learn how to grow your business by adding clients and cross-selling products and services to improve your overall sales renenues.

If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.

Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 18th at 8:00am.

See you again soon-

Ann Marie

Reduce Your Costs of Operation

OUR FOCUS
One sure way to increase your profits is to reduce the cost of operating your business. It is one of the two not-so-secret keys to the success of Wal-Mart.

In these times, the quicker you evaluate and review every single cost of doing business, the faster you can free up cash in your business and boost your profits.

Ask yourself three questions about everything you are currently paying out each week or month to operate your business:

1- Is this expense absolutely necessary for the survival of my business?

2- If it IS necessary, is there a cheaper alternative I can use, either another supplier or another service company?

3- Can I reduce the use of a needed product or service by even ten percent and thereby save money, lower my operational expenses, and boost profits?

Every business can find savings in their operations or their purchasing that can help the bottom line. You will, too!

I'm on vacation this week and next.
I'll have a special report for you from Florida next Sunday.

Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 11th at 8:00am.

See you again soon-

Ann Marie