A good business practice is something that cannot be defined in stone. There are countless ways to make a business successful but when forming your biz (or organization, club, group), there are key aspects needed in order to get the job done. The most primary aspect of starting off is the choice of one or more. You need to decided whether you are going to go it all on your own and be a lone wolf or if you are going to share your company with others and be a team player.

Let’s face it. There are huge advantages and disadvantages to both. Either way there are going to be perks and problems that may have been overlooked when starting out. Today I am going to compare to cases. The Lone Wolf vs. the Team Player.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Realities

Whether you choose to go it alone or to bring in people to join you on your journey you will face trials and tribulations that will define the type of business man (or woman) you are. There is no solution to managing your company that will not come with advantages and disadvantages. And above all you must face the realities of your situation. For me, my business partner keeps me in check and we balance each other. For some it is easier to do it all on their own. The choice is yours but don’t just dive in. Weigh your options and really think hard before you take the big leap.

Thanks to Ron Johnson for the help with this post. Thanks to Mind Petals for the inspiration.

Got others ideas about this topic? Leave a comment.

When I am developing an Idea for writing I like to really develop the concept before my first draft is even written. Many say that for your first draft you should just write and what comes out will be your premise. I have tried this and found it produces a very shallow piece. Your writing should convey your ideas and concepts, not create them.

Instead try the list approach. This is applicable for Stories, Theme pieces, Blog posts, Correspondence, Articles, etc. It even works for writing a speech you will give (this one is more complicated though because you have to convey your message verbally after writing it).

First plot out, in no specific order, the idea(s) you want to convey and then the key points to support them. This is when you should write as it comes; in the list phase. Then take them and organize your writing into an easier order to absorb. Once you have done this go to the next and most important step: Stars and Crosses.

When you have developed your list, add either Stars or Crosses to some of your points. Stars are put next to the points thats have the most value. These are to be address the most. Crosses means that you cross out (canceling out) the points you have written that can be omitted. These one are those with the least value. Adding them would seem meaningless to the reader and it would appear you are dragging on.

Also in putting your list together try to develop some concepts that are very interesting and/or humorous. These will be the points that will ice break your ideas. It is a key concept in making the reader interested. Your key points will keep them interested after that if you use Stars and Crosses effectively.

Now that you have done all this you are ready to write your draft. Take your lists and turn them into sentence and paragraph structure.

After you are done with your draft then it is time to revise, revise, revise. Be sure to check for spelling, grammar, etc. Mistakes in your english structure (or whatever language) will be very distracting to the reader.

Once you think you are done, read it out loud. Then revise again.

I try to stress the importance of changing the world for the better (if you haven’t noticed). So many just sit back and let the world be as it is regardless of the pain and suffering it causes others around them, people they have not met, or even themselves.

I am a huge movie fan and this is one of my favorite scenes from a movie because it perfectly portrays my point about people and how they can make a change. Everyone can make a change.

This is a scene from Pay it Forward. After watching (even if you have seen it already) really think about what the teacher, played by Kevin Spacey, is saying and how the students react. Enjoy.

It is time to celebrate! Not really that exciting but I realized yesterday that today is this blog’s half birthday. I started writing on it, with my old website design on March 25th, 2007. That makes the blog exactly 6 months old today. Hurray! If you’re as excited as I am, check out my run down of some of best articles since the beginning of time (6 months ago).

Tutorials

Questions (to think about) åttende antallet

Longest Disease Name Ever

One Down, Hundreds to Go. (In California. Day Five)

New Zealand’s Version of Graffiti

Legos

“He Made us Believe Man could Fly”

Taxes and the Neverending Struggle with the Sister Countries

The Crash I, II, and III

R.I.P. My Favorite Hat 2004-2007

There is much more to come in the future so if you’re feeling good, add me to your RSS feeds. The future holds great things. So does this blog.

When starting an enterprise, new company, new product, services, brand, etc. many entrepreneurs worry way to much about money. There are three problems with this.

1. You should not be going into business with the soul (or main) purpose of making money. Your new idea should be aimed at changing the world for the better and making Meaning for your enterprise. (Art of the Start, Guy Kawasaki)

2. Worrying about money takes you away from the most important part of your enterprise; putting your idea to action and releasing it to the world!

3. Money is always in reach if you are prepared.

Now, how can you remedy this problem and put your mind at ease? Here are just a few tips (the basics). I hope to post more in the future.

Do not confuse amenities with necessities. There are many things that new entrepreneurs think they need. Office space, top of the line equipment, custom stationary, letterheads, you name it. You don’t need it.

Some alternatives are to work from home. I still do it and love it; and yes, it is possible to do when having partners and employees. Also use equipment that is pre-owned, preferably stuff you have or can get from family so it will be cheap or even free! And last but not least, outsource your work. Many start ups make the mistake of hiring employees when freelancers will bid for your work! Until you have more than enough work to give to an employee (and are willing to do all the legalities) just search on forums, online directories, and news papers for freelance work to cover what you cannot.

Disclaimer: Don’t just trust any freelancers. Always do your due dilligence before hiring any outsource worker and even then, test them out before building trust with them. Never dive in with strangers on the internet.

It takes money to… Well, you know. It is a basic principle that you need to spend some to get a return on your investment but I want to take it a few steps further. First, you don’t really need capital to make money. My marketing budget about covers the cost of business cards and that’s all. (This doesn’t work for every type of business.) And further more, money lost can always be gained back. There will be ups and downs financially. It’s called the business cycle so don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting a great product to the people who can use it. Once you have meaning and exposure, money will come.

Venture Capital isn’t the end of the world. Yes, it is very difficult to get venture capital and then in return you have to forfit some of your earnings but if you prepare enough and can strike the right deal it will be beneficial to you. Again, if you are going in this just to make money, getting venture capital isn’t the problem in your organization.

Some quick tips to get it together (prepare for presenting to investors):

1. Make sure you have your entire business planned out to the best of your ability. This means everything from what your product is, to how people will know about it, to how your company functions.

2. Put together a simple but effective presentation. Keep it to the necessities of what makes your idea and company great. Then leave room for intrigue and questions. Be ready to answer questions.

3. Contact everyone. Anyone who has money that could help your endeavor is a potential investor. You are not limited to big investment firms who’s only goal is (you guest it) to make money.

Your business’s main focus should never be money. If you truly want to be successful focus mainly on getting a great product to the world (or market) and don’t stress the green stuff.

Is is better for a person to devote their time to many small things or few grand things?

I put my creative tallents to work to design my company some new clean looking business cards with our new name. I recently found that clients get frustrated when I give them a business card with our old name and old website. But that’s fixed! Check it out..