Tag Archives: how to start a business

What’s Your Unique, UnFair Advantage?

June 23, 2010 – 11:07 am
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In order to succeed in business, you have to be unique and find the niche that works for you and the people you serve. Today at The Momentum Summit (#mosum, if you’re on Twitter), Ben Fischman, CEO of Rue La La remarked at his morning interview, “I believe in unique unfair advantages.” Rue La La has found theirs. What’s yours? Here are three steps to finding your unique, unfair advantage: 1) Ask: Why do people depend on you? What is it about you or your company that is working and happens naturally? How can you improve upon that? Survey your friends, clients, and colleagues for their feedback. 2) What’s Important? To Rue La La, exclusivity became important. The need to protect their customers, led to an unsearchable site. Of course, this resulted in an aire of mystique around the brand. Understand what is important to your customers and to your company and treasure it. 3) Experiment: What you perceive as your unique, unfair advantage may not actually be the case. Do some measurable tests to see what is working and what is not. Your experimentation may lead to an avenue you hadn’t thought of before. What other ways can you [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Marketing, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

201+ Amazing Tools and Resources for the Freelancer

June 22, 2010 – 8:46 pm
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I have been receiving a bunch of emails requesting more blog posts for the freelancer. I went through some of my favorite blogs and websites and compiled a list of over 201+ tools and resources: 35+ Online Tools to Make Your Life Easier 5 Online Tools For Dealing With Clients in Other Time Zones PIXELMATOR : LOW BUDGET TOOL 15 Online Financial Tools for Freelance Designers 25 Free Online Tools for Web Designers, Developers, Freelancers and Individuals 14 Free Things for Writers You can also bid for work on Elance or Freelance.com What are your favorite Freelancing tools and websites? Feel free to share them with us. We would love to hear about them. Like this article and want to read more, feel free to subscribe to my blog feed

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

10 Vital Entrepreneurial Lessons I Learned from My Dad

June 21, 2010 – 12:36 pm
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My father and I have not always had the best relationship. While he and my mother were going through their divorce, I found that I resented him more and more for abandoning us in such a horrific situation. This led to tons of conflict and I was constantly fighting any advice he would give, even when I knew he was right. Ah, the joys of teenage angst! Though we have mended our relationship, there are tons of things that we still do not see eye to eye on. So, when I started my first business, dad was more than happy to offer me advice. Some of it I was willing to absorb. I mean, here is a man who has had a successful company with my aunt and uncle for over 15 years. I may be rebellious, but I am not stupid. They were obviously doing something right and I am a sponge for knowledge. So, in honor of my dad and Father’s Day (Yes, I know I am a day late) here are the 10 vital lessons I learned from him about starting a business and building it successfully: 1. Respect: At my father’s 50th birthday party, I had [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Business Tip: 3 Ways HR MUST Use Social Media

June 18, 2010 – 8:37 am
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I have been so pleased to see more and more Recruiters and HR Professionals using social media to acquire great talent. Even small business owners are having their virtual assistants use it to recruit new candidates. However, most of what I see are companies broadcasting their message out. Though that is useful on some level, here are 3 ways your HR department MUST use social media to save you money: 1. Listen and Observe: If someone is contacting your company to apply for a job, observe how they interact with their “social circles”.  Do they share information? What do they value? What is their online personality like? Do they come across as someone who would be a good fit for your company? 2. Run a Virtual Open House: Allow people to get to know the company, its values,  and its culture. Invite candidates and the general public to a virtual open house.  This could be done once a week or once a month. Run it as a phone conference, on Skype, on your Facebook page, or over Twitter. This will also give people a chance to ask questions that they might have about the company or a specific position. In [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

How to Negotiate: Godfather Style!

June 16, 2010 – 12:49 pm
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“Don’t forget the cannoli!” That is one of my favorite Godfather lines. Of course, I have Italia on the mind with the Arts Institute coming up. But with that comes the memory of learning how to negotiate Italian style. Many are afraid to negotiate or ask for what they deserve, even in business. Negotiations can be done in a respectful manner, which is one of the things I talk about in “How to Start Your Business with $100″.  So, here are 3 tips on how to do just that (NOTE: The following quotes are said in my best Italian-American accent): 1. “What?” Know exactly what you want. What is important to you? What are you willing to compromise within the negotiation? Have those ideas in line and ready to go before you start negotiating with anyone. 2. “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” When negotiating, it has to be a win/win. Everyone needs to feel good about the end result. So, ask the other party what they need or what is important to them. Also, ask if they are willing to compromise with you.  If they are not willing or not in a position to, then [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Facebook It!

June 9, 2010 – 9:06 am
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I have some amazing people in my life and that includes my “social circles.”  Thank you to those who have said, “Ja-Naé, what do you need? How can I help get the word out about the book?” First of all, you guys rock! That means a lot to me. If you’re on Facebook, here are three simple things that you could do to help that would make a world of a difference: I) Share on your Wall: Post this URL on your wall http://ja-nae.net/blog/all-new-a-step-by-step-guide-to-starting-a-business-with-little-to-no-money and tell people your thoughts on the book. You can also click here and then click on the “Facebook Like” button on the page. II) Fan/Like the Book: Well, those fan pages no longer exist. However, you can like the book on Facebook. Here is the Facebook fan page. You can also just click on the Facebook box that is on the right hand side of this page. III. Comment on Facebook Posts: People like a party! So, they will engage when others have something to say or share. This is how we build trust within our community. So, feel free to share your thoughts and ask your questions on my wall and the book’s page. [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

50+ Achievable Tasks in Under 15 Minutes

June 8, 2010 – 12:33 pm
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Time is really just a man made concept. I know, it’s a little hard to swallow sometimes, particularly since everything in our lives seems to revolve around it. My favorite excuse when talking to people about time management, is that they don’t have enough of it to do what they really need to do. When I recommend breaking down time and tasks up into 15 minute increments, people tend to say, “I can’t do anything in 15 minutes!” Well, here is a list of 50+ achievable tasks that you absolutely can do: 1) Clear emails 2) Connect and network on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn 3) Throw a load of laundry in 4) Make a business phone call 5) Write a hand written note 6) Make a list of things still needed to be done for the day 7) Delegate out a task to someone Exercise 9) Make a healthy meal 10) Make a cup of coffee 11) Take a power nap (this is my favorite) 12) Talk to a friend 13) Update your blog 14) Respond to comments on your blog 15) Thank a colleague 16) Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails 17) Shop online 18) Assess your goals 19) Speak to [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

In Business? Discovering Peoples’ Stories

June 6, 2010 – 9:48 am

When starting a business, it is sometimes hard to connect with people. Business owners try so hard to get themselves and their brand out there, that it turns into the “ME” show. If you have ever been guilty of that (I promise, I won’t tell), then this is for you:

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Marketing, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments (1)

What Do You Believe In?

June 1, 2010 – 7:00 am

Life can be fun, but have its challenges along the way. Am I right? Whether you’re starting a business, raising a family, or relocating to a new city, at times it take a large amount of strength and faith just to put one foot in front of the other. I know, I’ve been there. We all have from time to time. I was down in Boston’s North End last week and came across the church of St. Leonard. As I was walking with my canoli, I began to wonder “What do people believe in? What keeps them going when things seem hopeless or a struggle?” Though I know what keeps me going every day, no matter what life hands to me, I would like to share two other stories with you: Dave had had a home-based business (T-shirt designer) for over 3 years. He considered himself successful making $27K a year. However, when the recession hit, orders were canceled and a major client did not pay. Needless to say, Dave’s business was hit pretty hard. But is the great thing about Dave. He knew that this was a make or break moment for his business. So, what did he do? [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Money 101: Money Worksheets, Budget Guides and Lifestyle Calculators

June 1, 2010 – 1:00 am

Many people start a business because they want financial freedom and flexibility in managing time. There are also some, that are looking to retire early. No matter where you fit into the mix, here are a list of financial resources you may want to take a look at: Money 101: Money Worksheets, Budget Guides and Lifestyle Calculators Free Budget Guide Instant Budget Maker Basic Budget Worksheet Retirement Calculator. When can you retire? Ideal Lifestyle Cost Simple Savings Calculator Money and Personal Finance Blogs, Websites, and Tips Mint.com: If you are looking for a great personal finance resource, I highly recommend Mint.com. I Will Teach You How to Become Rich Moms and Mompreneurs: This is a blog geared towards you will tons of templates. 559+ Ways to Save Money Moolanomy – Personal Finance The Digerati Life – Personal Finance Insights Being Frugal – Live More Spend Less Gather Little By Little Plonkee Money – An english-er’s thoughts on personal finance The Dough Roller – Make More. Spend Less. Invest the Rest Mrs. Micah- Finance for a Freelance Life Single Guy Money – Personal Finance from a single guy’s point of view Get Rich Slowly – Personal Finance That Makes Cents Blueprint [...]

By Ja-Naé Duane | Posted in Business Tools, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)