Article - 10 Ways to Say ‘No’ That Won’t Damage Business or Relationships

“10 Ways to Say ‘No’ That Won’t Damage Business or Relationships,” by Martin Zwilling, posted on Entrepreneur.com, is a great article which addresses how to say no, as well as yes, when doing business.  For entrepreneurs and small businesses, sometimes spreading yourself too thin seems to be the only way, however, this article gives insight on how to manage your time by carefully considering your schedule, instinct, and any constraints you may have.

From reading the article, I find all ten ways the author lists to be valuable, however, there are two points that I find to be extremely important in my decision making, which are establish boundaries and give credence to your initial instinct.

Check out the article and discover new ways to handle your request, or see if how you are currently managing those requests are listed.

--Click here to read the article

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Article - 12 Things Successful People Never Reveal About Themselves at Work

A challenge for us all - what to share, or not share on the job.  I've found that the philosophy on this ranges from "sharing too much" to "sharing too little."  This article on Entrepreneur.com, "12 Things Successful People Never Reveal About Themselves at Work" by Travis Bradberry, is a great summary of what not to reveal, with additional commentary on why.  Not to spoil your enjoyment of reading the article, but here are the first five, which are probably listed first for a reason.

1. That They Hate Their Job
2. That They Think Someone is Incompetent
3. How Much Money They Make
4. Their Political and Religious Beliefs
5. What They Do on Facebook

Check out the article at the below link for all twelve things, and details on why the author feels successful people do not share these topics.

--Click here to read the article

Article - 5 Sacrifices Every Entrepreneur Must Make

Being an entrepreneur, regardless of what type of business you decide to endeavor, is a challenge.  Rewarding, yes.  Easy, no.  As entrepreneurs, it is more than fulfilling, more than exciting, to see your dreams come to fruition.  Getting your tax ID, your DBA, your website, etc.  But after you have everything set and in place, it's time to make money, get clients, and generate revenue.

When this does not happen overnight, it can be devastating, but giving up is not an option for most.  In this article, "5 Sacrifices Every Entrepreneur Must Make," by Jayson DeMers, posted on Entrepreneur.com, the author discusses five sacrifices that I feel are very important to keep in mind on your entrepreneurial journey.

"Every entrepreneur starts out with big dreams and excitement.  As an entrepreneur, you control your own destiny, and with the right ideas, the right skillset and unflinching dedication, you can build wealth or establish an enterprise to serve as your legacy" (DeMers).

1. Stability
2. Work/life split
3. Income
4. Sleep
5. Comfort

--Click here to read the article

Article - 6 Financial Mistakes Small Businesses Make All the Time

As a small business owner, how many of the 6 financial mistakes listed in this article are you guilty of?  In "6 Financial Mistakes Small Businesses Make All the Time," posted on Entrepreneur.com, the author Laura Entis gives us a list of common financial mistakes that small businesses make.

From my observation, the first mistake, "Overpaying Their Taxes," is the most common.  This can be rectified with good organization skills, good documentation, and of course a very good tax accountant would also help.

Per the article, "Too often though, small businesses make a variety of financial mistakes that allow their hard-earned money to leak away.  For example, 21 percent of small-business owners say they claim less than half of their business expenses, which means they are dramatically overpaying their taxes.  A large reason for this is the tendency not to claim small figures, which is a mistake:  Even $5 expense claims can add up, so get in the habit of saving your receipts."

--Click here to continue reading

Article - How Smart People Deal With People They Don’t Like

I ran across this article, "How Smart People Deal With People They Don't Like," by David K. William (the title alone speaks volumes) on Lifehack.org, and after reading I concur with the author's eight guides on how to deal with those you have opposition with.

As the article states, it would be nice to get along with everyone, but we know that is not possible.  There may be situations where you can avoid those that are not favorable in your eyes, however, that's not always the case in business.  Which is why I feel this article is a must read.

--Click here to read the article

Make Your Job Work For You!

Check out this great advice from Michael Baisden on starting your own business while you are still receiving a paycheck.

Michael Baisden Commentary: Make Your Job Work For You!

Why do people wait until they’re fired before they try to start their own business? The smart move is to take risk while you still have a steady paycheck and access to the resources of your job for networking.

When I worked for Chicago Transit 20 years ago driving trains, I had my passengers proofreading and editing my books. And I would bring books on the train for sale. My attitude was, “If I have to come to this freakin job I’m going to make it work for me!” Yes, I’m a hustler!

It’s not enough to scream, “I hate my job!” Or to be annoyed by your co-workers who seem to live in the Matrix. You have to do something about it. There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing someone bitching about their job but never leave.

Starting today you must decide to make your move while you’re still employed. In other words, do what’s hard while things are easy. Otherwise, you’ll end up doing what’s hard while things are at their worse and we know how that turns out, right? ~ Michael Baisden


Click here for more information on Michael Baisden and to visit his Facebook page