A positive mental attitude is one of the most important assets you can posses. Not only do positive thoughts help to dissolve your stress but they also have a positive impact on your physical health as well. The importance of this state of mind can not be overlooked in how it affects our performance both socially and professionally. In fact your attitude is directly related to the degree of success you may experience in just about any endeavor. With all that said how can we can develop and maintain the proper mindset needed to perform at our best and enjoy optimal health as well?

Here are 5 behavioral habits you can practice and adapt to your lifestyle to help create the positive change you are looking for.

Create a Positive Environment

Become more aware of the way you think because this is what forms the foundation of your attitude. If you ‘condition’ yourself to always think in terms of positive thoughts your outward mood will reflect this. Do not wait for something good to happen to create this positive change for you but rather create the change by altering the way you think.

Do Not Give Up

Be realistic and understand that events or occurrences will NOT always go the way you expect or desire. One thing certain about life is it will present you set backs but it is up to you as to how you choose to deal with them. If you view these set backs as lessons to be learned you are more likely to reach your goal as opposed to giving up and walking away.

By quitting you now feel defeated and disappointed but by sticking to it success will be that much more gratifying. Count on set backs and plan on working through them when they occur!

Just Laugh

Find humor in whatever you can since laughter automatically puts a smile on your face and makes you feel good inside. There is no better way to break the tension or snap out of a ‘funk’ than by laughing.

Live in the Moment

Capture and relish the good and the beauty of every moment as it occurs and do not spoil it by worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. Yesterday is now the past and tomorrow has yet to occur so appreciate what it is you got in the present!

Expect Good Things

Learn to expect the best out of every situation with the understanding that you deserve good things. When you are thinking along these lines your mood is more upbeat as is your disposition. You are now more attractive to others due to the feelings you radiate. When you combine your positive outlook with that of others who think or feel the same way it dramatically increases your well-being and also your chances of success.

A positive mental attitude can give you the leverage you need to create and live a happy and rewarding life. Being able to avoid a continual build up of stress by maintaining positive thoughts helps improve our personal performance and also enjoy better health. It is not however always easy to put on the ‘happy face.’ Sometimes it is necessary to consciously take certain measures that will have a positive impact on your attitude. The 5 behavioral habits reviewed above, if practiced, can give you the positive change you need to produce and maintain a happy and productive mindset.

source from: 4hb

1. Start with a plan in mind.

Create a simple, informal business plan that addresses the major areas of your new enterprise — marketing, cash flow, legal structure, etc.

2. Claim your space.

If possible, set up an area in your home that’s devoted exclusively to your business.Have all the office supplies and equipment you will need easily and readily available.

3. Establish a professional presence right from the start.

Get business cards and letterhead printed.Have a separate phone line and set up a voice-mail system to handle missed calls.

Have a place to consult with clients if you invite them into your home.

4. Set the ground rules for family and friends.

Let them know your business hours. Explain that you can not be disturbed during that time.

5. Develop a contact network.

Do not become isolated. Join local business groups and the chamber of commerce to promote your business and meet other business owners.

source from: 4hb

As someone who spent only a few years of my adult life working for other people, most of my life I’ve been self employed. I can tell you that at this stage I cannot even imagine being anything but working for myself. Not only am I my own boss and get to set my own hours, being self employed has afforded me the opportunity to always be here for my children-my number one priority in life.

With that said, I can tell you firsthand that starting your own business and being self employed can be very hard work-especially when first starting out. You need to get your head around the fact that there will be many lessons to be learned and many adjustments that one has to make along the way-both to your business and yourself.

Through my experience of starting my own businesses and being self employed over the years, I can tell you that it is very different than working for someone else and it takes much more than just simple desire to be successful.

When you work for someone else, you usually have a boss of some sort, a specific set of responsibilities and you are accountable to others. But when you are self-employed, you are the boss and you are responsible for just about every factor of your business. Many times, especially when first starting out, you will not only be the boss, but you will also be the book-keeper, project manager, clerical staff, supplies or purchasing officer, as well as whatever job title you have for the job or service you actually provide.

When you are self-employed, there is no one to report to other than yourself. Yes, there are clients that you have some level of responsibility and accountability to, but when it comes to whether they are happy or not happy with your services, you are the only one involved in that process. There is no boss to write you up if you do poorly and there is no boss to give you a pat on the back when you do a great job. It’s just you being accountable for you.

There have been various studies on the personality traits of entrepreneurs. Some will tell you that it takes a type A personality to be successfully self-employed. Others disagree and say that it just takes certain traits and not one specific type of personality. Through my own experience, I’m not so sure that it takes a type A personality to start your own business or be successfully self employed, as I wouldn’t consider I have a type A personality, yet I have been successfully self employed for over 10 years. However, I do agree that it takes certain personality traits to start and run your own business.

Being self-employed also means learning how to handle the various aspects of running a business, like finances and marketing. Mostly you’ll find yourself learning these things along the way. For example, if you are somewhat on the shy side, it may very well be self employment that brings you out of your shell, mainly because you will learn that in order to achieve your dream of running a successful business of your own, you have to be assertive and put yourself out there. If you don’t consider yourself a numbers person, taking the time to learn how to account for your income and expenses will help you to grow in that area.

The upside to being self-employed can be brilliant, but be honest with yourself and research this topic thoroughly before you embark on this career choice.

source from: 4hb

Many managers and business owners understand the value of hiring a diverse group of employees, but aren’t quite sure of the steps that need to be taken towards reaching their goal of an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Finding and retaining employees that represent a wide range of diversity at all levels takes time and commitment. The following 8 tips should help towards developing a plan of action that over time, will help you to hire and retain staff that are representative of the community at large.

Finding Diverse Employees

1. Participate with associations or organizations whose primary focus is to work with underrepresented individuals. Participation may include attending networking events, sponsoring an association initiative, or providing helpful workshops or information sessions.

2. Take a look at your website and other marketing materials that represent your company. If these materials don’t highlight individuals from different backgrounds, you’ll likely lose many potential candidates who will view the lack of diversity in your marketing materials to be indicative of the lack of commitment or interest that your business has for staff that are different.

3. Reach diverse candidates early in the game by contacting administrators at high schools or middle schools in areas where the population is diverse. These types of events are the perfect opportunity to showcase your company and the type of work that your employees perform on a daily basis. Students will remember your company when they are looking for work.

Keeping the Employees That You Have

4. Make sure that you orient all new employees by ensuring that they are introduced to staff across the organization. Share with them the often overlooked, but important information on the mission and culture of the business.

5. Include your new employees in workplace activities and initiatives as appropriate.

6. Become more in tune to cultural and communication differences in the workplace. Research the impact that cultural and communication differences may have in the workplace.

An excellent article that goes into very interesting detail about cultural differences in the workplace and how to identify an overcome them is “Managing a Multicultural Workforce”.

Another great article to read is “Understanding Cultural Differences in the Workplace”. Although the article specifically speaks to international business, the advice is very transferable to the U.S. workforce.

7. Don’t be shy about interviewing all of your employees in order to get a sense of what they like about the organization, or what they feel can be done better. As employees leave your company, meet with them to learn about their experience and use the information to help you to recruit and retain employees.

8. Provide mentorship opportunities for employees so that they are exposed to individuals at all levels of the organization.

Do you have any tips based on personal experience for hiring and retaining a diverse staff? Share your comments.

source from: 4hb

How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten?

- Logan P. Smith

I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.
- Jonathan Winters

I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
- Bill Cosby

I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.
- George Burns

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.
- Michael Jordan

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.
- W. C. Fields

If you want to achieve things in life, you’ve just got to do them, and if you’re talented and smart, you’ll succeed.
- Juliana Hatfield

In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time.
- Anthony J. D’Angelo

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
- Bill Cosby

It’s not enough that I should succeed – others should fail.
- David Merrick

Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.
- Ross Perot

source from: 4hb

Starting up a business is not always cheap, and sometimes the costs of starting a business is what keeps many potential small businesses owners from taking the giant leap. You shouldn’t allow this worry to keep you from realizing your dream because there are several ways that you can actually find start up money for your business. Here are some of the best ones that most small/home business owners will use.

Friends and Family

This is the best resource for any money you may need for your business. Friends and family are the most forgiving of loans as well and the most likely to believe in your business idea.

Don’t just go to your friends and family and ask them for money. You need to show them that you have done the work on your business plan, so that you can prove to them you know what you are talking about and that you are ready for the challenge of a home business. Give them a business plan and treat them as if they are investors, not friends or family.

It should be noted that if you are borrowing from friends, ensure you pay them back as soon as you can. Nothing can ruin a friendship like borrowing money that is never paid back. They are investors and they believed in you, so reward that loyalty by paying back your loans as quickly as you can.

Banks

Banks may not be very popular right now, but they do help out a lot of home businesses by providing home business loans. Loans can range from a few thousand dollars to even $100,000 or more. They obviously have tighter rules for lending than your friends and family do, but they can lend you a lot more money as well.

As long as your credit rating is good and as long as you have a history of paying your bills, you should have no problem getting a loan with a reasonable interest rate and payment terms. Just like friends and family though, make sure you pay this back or you could completely ruin your credit. Also, don’t apply for a huge loan unless you need it. You have to make money to pay back that loan, so the smaller the loan the better.

Small Business Administration

In an effort to help people make their small businesses successful, the United States government created the Small Business Administration, whose primary goal is to provide grants and loans to entrepreneurs to make their businesses successful. They offer a wide range of loans, from $500 to $500,000 and more. They have very favorable terms and for the Microloan program, less than good credit actually okay for the loan or grant.

This is an excellent resource if you are in need of cash for your small business but don’t have the money for it. If you get a grant, you don’t have to pay it back and you can put the entire sum of money straight into your business to make it successful very early on. Many companies that are now leaders in their industry took advantage of this amazing program and have their success to show for it. This should be an option you look at if you want a small business that is successful, and not bogged down in debt.

These are the three best options for your business if you want to bring in some money without having to worry about how much you are going to pay back. Obviously, borrowing from a bank is more risky than getting money from the Small Business Administration, but who you borrow from depends on how much money you are going to need.

source from: 4hb

All Across the United States, entrepreneurs are talking about the self storage business. The word is out that investing in the mini storage business can be very profitable. And it’s not just the experienced investors that have their eye on the Self Storage Business prize. With lower building and management costs than virtually all other real estate investments and a failure rate of around 7 percent, the self storage industry is drawing first-time business owners and investors alike.

The advantages are obvious, easy start up, easy maintenance, low risk, but what’s the catch? Can it really be that easy? There is no catch, but it does require work. An investment in the mini storage business has a lot of potential, but it is an investment and not a hobby. One needs to be prepared to devote time, resources and of course, capital to a self storage enterprise. So when you decide you’re ready to commit to investing in an existing self storage facility, or developing one from the ground up, there are a few things to consider before moving forward:

MYTH: Build it and they will come.

Before you invest in the land or buildings you will need to do some research into the market in which you desire to buy or build. I also strongly suggest you hire an industry consultant to perform a feasibility study on the project to determine if the project will fly. Even if you have experience in real estate or the self storage industry, an unbiased opinion is invaluable when considering an acquisition or development project.

Location, location, location.

Those three words ring true for all facets of Real Estate Investing — and Self Storage is no different. Many investors have tried to build on a piece of land they already own, or buy the lowest priced piece of land they could find in a given market – but you should never sacrifice a prime location for price. An ideal site is one that has a high traffic count and is highly visible.

How Does the Competition stack up? How about the # of competitors? Could the market be somewhat saturated? If there is more than 7 s.f. of self storage per person, you may have a more difficult time stabilizing your facility.

Construction Types

So what type of building should you build? Pole barn style, all steel, split block, convert an old building? Since your storage buildings will BE the business, a great deal of planning and consulting with the general contractors should be undertaken. In addition, the unit mix and amenities of your site can have a direct correlation to the success of the site. A developer must also plan for driveway space, unit size and placement of the individual doors, lighting, percentage of temperature controlled units and security to name a few. I Strongly Recommend Choosing a builder with experience in the self storage industry who can advise you in all facets of the construction or conversion process. The right building plan will improve your occupancy rate and help you avoid costly renovations.

Financing

The next aspect to consider is financing. Construction loans are dramatically different and at times can be a bit more difficult to navigate than other forms of permanent commercial real estate financing. Before meeting with your lender, one might want to do some phone work to learn more about the size and scope of loans they are able to make and if they make unique loans for Self Storage businesses.

Marketing

Advertising, staffing, and the day to day maintenance of your new self storage site should not be afterthoughts. In addition, a great deal of attention should be spent on developing a marketing plan. A simple listing in the yellow pages and a big sign out front won’t fill, or keep your storage units full. Decide on a marketing strategy before you build and pay close attention to altering your strategy through out the course of the year — with continual tweaks and new messages being tried at all times.

Management

The success of the business post construction lies in your ability to hire and maintain quality managers. Be cautious about hiring friends and family. It’s hard to treat loved ones like employees and hard for them to treat you like the boss. Also, don’t assume that you can do it all yourself. If you want your mini storage business to be a success you’ll probably need to be open a lot more hours than you’ll want to be standing behind the counter. ?

source from: 4hb

You will get a number of start-up work at home business ideas. Previously it was possible to work at home for those who utilized MLM or envelope stuffing. But the present scenario has been changed a lot. It has been transformed into a huge industry offering thousands of opportunities.

As the usage of internet is growing day by day, the scope of home business is also rising. A home based business can be started faster because of the www (World Wide Web). Those who have a computer along with internet connection and an unused portion of a room can easily start their work at home business.

Work from home opportunities- how to start?

Are you willing to make the most of home based business opportunities? Instead of dreaming about starting home business, go and start it! With the help of internet, it is easy to make money online. With your own internet based home business, you can get things rolling at ease.

The first and foremost duty of a home business entrepreneur is to choose the right business idea. You have to go for such a product or service which has demand in market. The best way is to go after such a product which already has demand in the market.

If you don’t have your own product or service, you can go for affiliate programs. You have to sell other people’s products and in return, you will get a commission. You will find a number of online merchants who seek affiliates’ help to promote their products online.

Work from home- follow the basics

While working from home, try to follow the basic rules. They will save your labor, time and money.

• Be well thought-out: Try to be organized. If you don’t make any plan, it will hamper your productivity and make you lose your precious money. 
• Make a schedule and follow it: Making a schedule is essential. 
• Set a limit: When you work from home, you should set a limit. Take a break when needed. It will help you to stay more focused.

Top work from home alternatives

• Freelancing: It can be an ideal choice to work at home and make profit. There are numerous job opportunities inside the freelance industry varying from software development to data entry positions to writing articles and newsletters. 
• Online tutor: If you have a degree from a reputable institution, you can easily become an online tutor. You have to use instant messaging and interact with students. The website pays a good amount on an hourly basis. 
• Virtual customer service: It is a real money-making field. Many organizations prefer to pay people to answer their in-bound calls from the comfort of their home. You will get attractive incentives and commission. 
• Handmade work: If you have skills to make pottery, illustrations, woodwork or any other handmade items, you can earn a large amount. You will find a number of sites to sell your handmade products.

Choose the best alternative and start work from home.

source from: 4hb

Dear

This is to acknowledge your letter of (date)
You are definitely to be commended for your progress
during the past two months.

I do believe, however, that your recent request for a
raise is premature. I would suggest that it would be
more appropriate to discuss a salary increase after you
have worked here for six months. If you continue on
the same path, I am certain that your timely request
will be given careful consideration.

You are doing a fine job, keep up the good work!

source form: 4hb

Dear

Your correspondence, dated April 15, 2006 indicated that
I would be receiving a refund for the unused portion of
prorated insurance coverage provided under the above
referenced policy.

As of this date, I have not yet received this check.
Since I have moved, I am naturally concerned that the
check may have been sent to the wrong address.

Would you please let me know if a check has been
mailed. If not, I would appreciate your authorizing
one to be sent to the address indicated above.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

source form: 4hb