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"When a person moves into a position of authority, he or she gives up the right to abuse people."
Darryl Hartley - Leonard Economic Downturns is the Breeding Ground for Innovation
It is an exciting time to start a business. Our history shows economic downturns have created innovators. New companies are birth and seasoned companies are rebirth. During the great depression, which took place from 1929-1940 many companies were started during this time and still exist today. Macy’s (1929), Fisher-Price (1930), All State (1931), Volkswagen (1937), Samsung (1938), and Sara Lee Corporation (1939) just to name a few. I’ll say it again… it’s an exciting time to start a business. Two good reasons to start a business:
I am not saying run out and rent a store front, hired staff, and get a business loan. What I am saying is start small right from your home. Start at the kitchen table, move to another room of the house and one day the store front will be yours. There are a lot of tax benefits from owning a business especially a home base business. You will be surprise what you are able to write off on your taxes. Fun Fact: Wendy Hilliard is a Passion Driven woman. Ms. Hilliard was the first African American to represent the United States at the Olympus (1978) in the Rhythmic Gymnastics (the same as Gabby Douglas Olympus winner 2012). She has taken her passion for the love of the sport and created the Wendy Hilliard Foundation located in New York City. This foundation has helped many children within the New York City area, along with children around the country. It is her passion that keeps her going and without the passion she would have never made it this far and impacted so many lives.
Notice all the companies in the opening paragraph; they are legacy companies that have been passed down through the generations. It is so important for us to leave the next generation a part of this generation we live in. Not only are you building a business, you are building lives for many generations to come, while making a positive impact. It is our duties to create new legacies and continue to build on the ones that were left for us. So, start your legacy with your passion and build a business. Fun Fact: Madam CJ Walker is a Legacy Creator. Ms. Walker is regard as the first female self-made millionaire in American. She became a millionaire from developing and selling beauty and hair products for African Americans. The main reason to NOT start a business: Do Not start a business for the only money! If your ONLY reason for starting a business is to make money, it will not last. You will be chasing a dollar that will never come. Understanding your “WHY” will carry you through the hard time when the money is slow. Your “WHY” is the reason you started the business in the first place. The personal reason; for example I started my second business to create wealth for my god child. I wanted to give him a head start and a business he could call his own. I want to give him something I did not have and I knew he was going to get from his own family. Your “WHY” needs to be personal because it will be the fuel that keeps you going. When I graduated from college I started my first business because I wanted money only. When the money slowed down (as it will do from time to time), I threw in the towel and got a second part-time job. I had no loyalty to my business. I jump on the next thing moving with a dollar sign. I always wonder if I did not give up and I had a different “WHY” where would my first business be today. As we go through these economic changes good and bad, there are always opportunities for you to turn your passion into profit all while creating a legacy for your family and generations to come. Take some time and think about if starting a business is for you. Once you made the decision to start a business here are two website you need to visit for more information: www.irs.gov and www.sba.gov . Also check with your local county and state because there is money and state contracts for “Woman Owned Business.” and “Minority Owned Business”.  As we move forward into the year we must be creative with marketing for our businesses. Social media is wonderful for getting followers and customers worldwide, but what about the customers who live in our communities. We have spent a lot of resources and time marketing to customers in other states and countries; however we over look our communities. When we over look our communities we miss out on making great opportunities to connect and develop relationships. We also leave money on the table (money to be made).
Here are a few tips to jump start marketing in your community. Put Your Flyer On A Coffee Truck Become a friend with someone who owns a coffee truck or a mobile food truck in the community. Once you have developed a relationship, asked if you can display your flyer on the truck. The owner may do it for free or for a small cost. It is worth it because you not only have people who will see your flyer; you have made a connection that can add up to more than you adverting on their mobile food truck. Advertise On Hot Beverage Holder The last time you purchased your hot coffee or tea there was cup holder on it so your hand would not burn. If you had looked closer you would have seen there was a logo or some form of advertisement on it. Picture your logo or ad on it. You can do direct marketing to the community by putting your message directly in their hands. Pick a store or two in your community. Give the owner some of the cup holders with your message on it for Free. The owner will be glad to take them because this something he will not have to purchase. It frees up money in his budget to do other things. It’s a win/win for both of you. And, you would have made another connection. Read all about As much as the world is online reading, there is still a large amount of people who are still buying newspapers. Become friends with a news stand owner. This can include the man who sits at the subway/bus stand in the morning. The goal is to get your flyers in the hands of his customers while making a connection with him. Team Up Pick a non-profit group in your area, connect and work with them. Developing the relationship is the key. You can volunteer your time, provide your services or products, sponsor one of their events or create an event together. There are many ways to connect with them, find the best way. You will help them meet their goals, while doing something wonderful for the community and getting free advertisement of who you are and what you do. They will see you as asset and promote your business. The best promotion is word of mouth. This has worked for me. As you can tell with each tip it starts with developing relationships. I believe today we have forgotten about the relationship when it comes to business. Yes, we have new ways to make money and marketing international with the ability to reach people we might not have 20 years ago; however our fore fathers always build their businesses on relationships that last generations. Let us rethink how we do business and where we do business. Content copyright 2015. SoLo Parenting Magazine. All rights reserved. |
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Kim M. Sudderth aka The Business Brick Layer helps people to understand the importance of building a strong foundation for their business at the infancy stage. She enjoys showing people how to bring extra income in their net pay, provide valuable information to build a strong business foundation and last to create a powerful web appearance. Contact her at www.kimmsudderth.com Archives
May 2019
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