How to Tell If You Have an Entrepreneurial Pioneer in You – Your Present – Part 1
Posted by admin in Entrepreneurialism on Jul 9th, 2010 | 0 commentsAs you see your current situation, one must wonder am I going anywhere? Curiosity, ability to cope, determination and initiative are indispensable characteristics of an entrepreneur. First see your current position and from that point seek change, hopefully for the better. Here you will able to recognize some personality trait that indicate your innovative tendencies. It is my personal customized expanded view of the Princeton Entrepreneurial Innovation Checklist created by Eugene Raudsepp, from the Princeton Creative Research.
The first personality trait is curiosity. So why should you be curious? because it fills a need to know more. Also because as you acquire new knowledge new opportunities show up. The more opportunities you have available the more your chances of success. So curiosity is very important in achieving success.
The second personality trait is ability to cope. As change come around which is always the case, your workload, procedures, time frames and even plans change also. Your ability to cope is a key to success. You will have an advantage over your competition when your coping skills transform your business into a more competitive enterprise in the face of change.
The third personality trait is determination. There is no successful entrepreneur that was not determined. The freedom that each individual carries to obtain results is a force that can not be stopped. Without determination, ideas will not turn into plans, plans will not turn into action, and actions will not turn into progress. A determined individual will understand that it might take time to achieve results, which is where patience comes into play, but because of that determination goals will be achieved, sooner or later.
The fourth personality trait is initiative. Without initiative all of the things mentioned above will be done by someone else that has it. As you see what needs to be done will you wait for someone to tell you when? Do not wait for that. As we often hear “just do it”. Your initiative will mark developed leadership skills and confidence which are also essential to develop the entrepreneur pioneer that is in you.
Curiosity, innovation, determination and initiative are four key personality traits of an entrepreneur. If you find yourslef strong in these, then good continue developing them. If you do not find your self strong in these traits, then find ways to develop them, as stated before these traits will help you be a successful entrepreneur.
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How to Start a Gift Basket Business
Posted by admin in Business Checklist on Jul 9th, 2010 | 0 commentsOwning your own business remains the most feared endeavor most people will ever pursue. Heck, it’s still intimidating to the most creative designers who have been around awhile.
Here is my business start up checklist to assist you with getting started in your business.
Choose a Business Name
Choose a name that works best with your target market. Nothing that is too cute.
Get a Business License
Contact the business license department of the city or county where the business will be located.
Obtain a Sales Tax Number
Business owners are required to collect taxes from sales and pay them to your state’s department of revenue. Once you have a number, you are eligible to purchase wholesale.
Open a Business Bank Account
Now that you are a legitimate business, keep business and personal income seperate.
Set Up a Phone Line/ 800 #/ Voicemail
Contact your local phone company. Keep in mind business lines are more expensive than residential.
Order Business Cards
Business cards are one of the least expensive forms of advertising. They can be ordered from any printer or office supply company.
Credit Card Set-Up
This could be something as simple as Pay Pal. However, do some comparison shopping before making a decision.
Order Inventory
Now that you can purchase wholesale, look for gift industry wholesalers for non-perishable foods, baskets and containers.
Inventory Set-Up and Storage Area
Good storage will make your job much easier. Elect a set up that offers a visual of your products. For beginning inventory, pre made shelving units would work. For curling ribbon, consider pantry shelves from Home Depot.
Welcome to the gift basket industry. I hope this checklist gives your business a strong start.
A Legitimate High Yield Investment With Low Risk?
Posted by admin in Investment on Jul 9th, 2010 | 0 commentsInvestors today want to know: “Where can I find a legitimate high yield investment with low risk for my money?”
Many people have seen their retirement savings wither in the current global financial calamity. And, as a result, we are seeing an exodus of investors out of the stock markets and into the safest money investments they can find to shelter what’s left of their lifetime savings until the economy stabilizes.
We’re seeing many investors now moving their money into investments such as Certificates of Deposit and U.S. Treasury Securities whose returns likely won’t keep up with the rate of inflation because of their very low yields. But, people are settling for these low returns versus the risk of losing more in the stock markets or elsewhere. They’re scared and many don’t know where else to turn.
The truth is that investors today don’t have to settle for these sub-inflation or break-even investments. They can still find legitimate high yield investment opportunities with very low risk to principal if they just knew where to look.
So, here’s the problem: most people don’t know where to look to find legitimate high yield investment opportunities. They are so ‘shell-shocked’ from their portfolio and stock market declines that they’re scared, cynical and skeptical when presented with opportunities that claim to be “high yield investments”. And, they turn a deaf ear to investments that they might have welcomed in better times.
But who can blame them? We’re seeing a resurgance of Ponzi schemes and other scams, identify theft, etc.
Fact #1: You can still find legitimate high yield investment opportunities today with low risk to your principal.
Fact #2: Many of the richest people in the world today, made their fortunes when the economies hit rock bottom. These investors chose to look for opportunities when the masses focused on despair. They recognized how stock markets and economies are cyclical by nature and they looked to the future.
So, let’s see if we can’t look to the future and spot a legitimate high yield investment opportunity staring at us right now:
Two realities that are public knowledge in America today are:
1) There is a limited amount of undeveloped, raw land available in the U.S.
2) The U.S. population is projected to grow +29% between 2000-2030.
In other words: “We’re making more people, but we can’t make any more land.”
What does this information tell us?
i) We will have approximately 82,000,0000 more people living in the United States by the year 2030. (According to the U.S. Census Bureau.)
ii) These new people will need new homes, new schools, new shopping, new businesses and new communities to support them.
So, what legitimate high yield investment opportunites does this present?
Let’s talk about “Raw Land Development”. Ever heard of it? If not, you should seriously consider learning about it right now.
This situation, of limited supply (limited amount of raw land) and growing demand (population growth) is a fundamental economic illustration of what happens when demand for a product is greater than its supply. By definition, the product becomes more valuable. Yes?
Well, the products, in this situation, would be the new homes, new schools, new shopping, new businesses and new communities needed to support the growing demand created by population growth.
This poses a tremendous opportunity for what legitimate high yield investment? How about “Raw Land Development”, the essential ‘building blocks’ of new community construction.
In December of 2004, the highly acclaimed Washington DC think-tank, Brookings Institution commissioned a research study conducted by Virginia Tech University. This study was titled “Toward a New Metropolis: The Opportunity To Rebuild America.”
According to the study, to accomodate the projected population growth, America’s future raw land development and construction needs require approximately 209 BILLION square feet of new land development between 2000 – 2030.
Estimated cost? $25 TRILLION. And, the bulk of this massive raw land development and construction expansion will be spent in 10 major metropolitan regions, which the Brookings study calls ” Megapolitans”. Plus, the study tells us exactly where these 10 Megapolitans are located.
By the way, this is happening right now!
How can investors profit from this legitimate high yield investment opportunity?
1st) By educating themselves asap about Raw Land Development
2nd) By researching the Brookings Institution study findings.
3rd) By investing in the companies that will be driving this new raw land development growth.
Raw Land Development Investment Benefits:
A) Legitimate High Yield Investment:
A proven investment option is to invest as a ‘silent investor partner’ with a professional raw land development company. The key is finding seasoned, reputable companies in this field.
Professional raw land development companies or ‘land developers’ often seek outside investors as silent partners to raise capital for their raw land development projects. Silent partners have no involvement in the day-to-day management activities of the business, but they share in the net profits of the project. In addition to profit sharing, some professional raw land developers also will pay high yield interest to their silent partners for the use of their money until the principal is returned.
B) Legitimate Low Risk Investments:
It is regular practice for professional raw land development companies to back their silent investor partners’ principal investments with project assets (e.g. the value of the land itself). This means that in the event of a developer default (heaven forbid), the project assets can be sold and the silent investors can recoup some or all of their principal plus any net profits.
In addition, for added security, silent investor partners are commonly placed in First Position for the raw land development project’s assets and revenue. This means that in the event of a developer default, if the project’s assets must be sold, the silent partners will be the first in line to be paid. (Similar to when a bank holds the mortgage or first deed on a home.)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. Per industry averages, a professionally managed raw land development project will increase the value of raw land by 2-5 times its original cost. In other words, a professional land developer will typically sell a completed raw land development project for 200-500% more than they paid for it originally as undeveloped, raw land.
II. It is widely held that real estate investment has created more riches than any other form of investments. Taking that one step further: Raw Land Development is the most profitable form of real estate.
III. For these reasons, professionally managed raw land development investment has been the cornerstone for many of the world’s wealthiest investors’ investment portfolios for generations.
Until recently, participation in raw land development projects was restricted to the very rich due to the exorbitant minimum investments required (often $1 Million +).
However, this has changed in the past several years, with some professional land developers dramatically reducing their minimum investment rquirements to allow smaller-scale investors to now participate in these legitimate high yield investments.
Is Buying a House a Good Investment?
Posted by admin in Investment on Jul 9th, 2010 | 0 commentsIntended Audience
Individuals looking to purchase a home for personal use or as an investment. As well, looking into conventional wisdom’s statement that buying a house is one of the best investments someone can make.
Summary Points to Take Away
Why a House is good investment: (1) Forced Savings Plan (2) Leverage (3) Inflation Resistant (4) Tax Free Capital Gain (5) Control over Asset. Points against a House as an investment: (1) Lack of Diversification (2) Maintenance Costs (3) Historically lower returns than equities (4) Unavailable to take advantage of other opportunities (5) Limited Scope. Additional points to consider if planning on purchasing property for personal use: (1) Doesn’t provide any cash flow (2) No tax shelter from interest expense (3) Can get personal joy out of investment.
Analysis
Conventional wisdom states that buying a house is one of the smartest and best investments an individual can make. This article is geared towards challenging this conclusion to see whether this statement rears any truth to it.
Why a House is a Good Investment?
Forced Savings Plan
Most individuals claim that the purchase of their personal home was the best investment they’ve ever made, which is true in most cases because it is the only investment they’ve ever made. The general public struggles with saving for retirement; thus, purchasing a house assists in that problem as it forces individuals to continuously pay down the mortgage (or lose the house in a foreclosure to the bank); therefore, allows the storing of equity for the owners. This built up equity (i.e. market value of home minus remaining mortgage) can be borrowed against during their retirement years or they can downgrad into a less expensive house in order to provide some retirement funds to the owner. If individuals take a disciplined approach to saving, then the benefit of being forced to save in order to pay for a house diminishes
Leverage
Typical real estate purchase require only a 5% deposit, while the remaining amount can be borrowed through bank debt. Few alternative investments outside of real estate can the acquirer obtain such significant leverage, which can enhance investment returns.
Example, suppose that you purchased a home for $200k, for which you made a 5% deposit down ($10k). During the next few years the house appreciates in value and you sell it for $220k (10% higher than the level you purchased it). Though the return on the house is only 10%, the return to the investor based on invested funds sunk into the home ($10k) is 200% ($20k earned over $10k investment) – that is the power of leverage. On the negative side, more debt means higher fixed monthly mortgage payments; thus, higher risk of being able to make the monthly mortgage payments. As long as cash flow is not a concern and the mortgage payments can be met – investments should be leveraged to maximize returns to the investor. Could you imagine walking into a bank and asking for $100k to invest in equities while only putting 5% down – likely to never happen, this is a major benefit of real estate ownership.
Inflation Resistant
Real estate holds its value during inflationary periods; thus, acts as a hedge against the investors other assets that aren’t protective against inflation (ex. Currency). The asset will continue to hold its buying power (store of value), which is difficult to get outside of investing in precious metals. The reason real estate holds its value is there is the same number of houses that the increased monetary supply of dollars are chasing; thus, it’ll take more dollars to purchase the houses as the supply of houses stays stagnate while the demand rises (due to the increase in the number of dollars in everyone’s hands). This can become critical given the current economic times and numerous expansions of monetary supply across many nations, which will have the aftermath affect of higher inflation.
Capital Gain is Tax Free
In Canada, every home owner is provided with a capital gain exemption on amounts earned in excess of cost for their principal residence. Only one piece of real estate can be claimed as the principal residence per individual. For example, if you owned a home and a cottage, only one of those houses upon selling could take advantage of the principal residence exemption. No other asset class has such advantageous tax reduction characteristics. Unfortunately this is a onetime event; thus, those holding numerous pieces of real estate can only apply it to one property.
Allows for Control over the Asset
Real estate is typically an investment an individual has control over (assuming you’re the majority owner – which is typically the case) by the means of the owner has the ability to increase the value of the asset, which may not be the case in most other investment opportunities. When purchasing real estate, owners can make capital improvements to the home (ex. Finished basement, new porch, etc.), which will increase the value of the property (capital appreciation) as compared to purchasing stocks or mutual funds as assets where the owner can’t take action to increase the value of those assets (unless they’re a significant owner, greater than 20% – which is typically unlikely). The ability to control an asset adds value to the owner through what is known as a control premium, as a real estate asset may be more valuable in the hands of some individuals over others.
Why a House is a Bad Investment
Lack of Diversification
Average individual thinks the stock market is very risky while investing in real estate is more of a certainty. Purchasing equities allows the owner to conveniently hedge their risk amongst various companies in numerous industries, countries, etc. The purchase of real estate doesn’t provide the ability to diversify risk away as easily unless an investor plans on owning numerous pieces of different types of properties (ex. residential, commercial, resorts, etc) across various markets (North America, Europe, etc) – which is probably very unlikely for the average investor. Purchasing real estate prevents the diversification of risk because it’s dependent on the economic, migration, and regulation trends of the local area.
For example, assume you purchased a home in Oshawa, Ontario – which is a town extremely reliant on the large manufacturing facility of General Motors (GM). Should GM cut back on production or move their facility housing prices would fall sharply as it is the biggest employer in the area; thus, demand from individuals will decline as unemployment rises and real incomes fall. With a decline in demand and supply staying stagnate (as you typically can’t “un-build” a house once it’s constructed) the price will have to shift towards in order to align demand with supply.
Real estate doesn’t allow the investor to diversify away the specific risks in the local area as compared to purchasing equities, which allows the investor to spread risk amongst investments that perform differently during different points along the business cycle. Most individuals when purchasing real estate have all their eggs in one basket.
Maintenance Costs
Transaction and maintenance costs are significantly higher for real estate investments than stocks, mutual funds, etc. When purchasing stocks costs are typically broker commissions ($20 per transaction if using an online discount broker),…
Motor Car Insurance Quotations
Posted by admin in Business Quotations on Jul 9th, 2010 | 0 commentsThere are many reasons why you might be online looking for better motor car insurance quotations. Are you currently paying too much every month and now you have decided to take action by searching elsewhere for better motor car insurance quotations. It is very important to fix this problem as soon as possible. I can’t blame you for wanting to look elsewhere for a better car insurance company that will give you the rates that you deserve.
The fact is is that there are plenty of people that are in the same shoes as you and they have also decided to do something about their current situation. If could be because of bad customer service, high rates or maybe you are just trying to play the field so that you can save yourself some money instead of throwing it away because of high auto insurance rates. As a longtime paying customer you have every right to get your money’s worth when it comes to car insurance.
And besides your hard earned paychecks is what’s keeping these auto insurance company still in business. You obviously are also aware of the fact that you must carry car insurance all the time. You obviously know it is going to be a headache if you get caught by cops without insurance. And if you get caught on the road without proper insurance there are high fines to pay back which can run up is much as several hundred dollars. Since it’s so important to have auto insurance every month and you can go a day without it you might as well get the best rates that you perhaps can get.
By going online to the right websites you will have the chance to find a better auto insurance company and also have the opportunity to get the best motor car insurance quotations possible. Your first step should begin by going online to auto insurance quote provider websites so that you can get free multiple quotes from the best companies.
