EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - SAVING MONEY 20,000 Pennies Can't Be Wrong

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live & Recorded Episodes:

   

SAVING MONEY!  20,000 PENNIES Can't BE Wrong!

Recently the host of the  Empress of biz has been her yearly quest to cut expenses...and this year we have hit the jackpot!. We will be sharing our 10 ways or so to save money...remember as Ben Franklin use to say...a penny saved is a penny earned! Well we have save 20,000 pennies a month! Listen, Learn &; Prosper with the Empress of Biz aka JoAnn R. Forrester.

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tip What do you want? Job? Career? Business?

What do want?

 What is it that you want in life? A job? A career? A profession? Or a business? Only you know the answer. Each one requires a set of skills, attitude, preparation,  and dedication with its own set of rewards, risks, trade offs  and challenges.

To me...a job is something you do to bring in money.  It is something you tolerate so you can pay the bills and get on with your life.  Done that...hated it.

  A career is where you have found something that you are invested in and are goal oriented.  Usually it is doing it for someone else and being tied into their goals and expectations ...done that...and did not like it.  

A profession usually means you have spent a lot of time and dollars  being educated to do something hopefully will bring you money, respect and prestige i.e  Doctor, Lawyer, Dentist, Engineer or Indian Chief.  That was not a track I chose to follow.  

For me... I chose to be in business.  It is  the most challenging, rewarding and risky.  Yet I love it and would not do anything different.  When I was growing up "girls did not plan to go into business".  They got a secretary job with a big corporation which would provide safety and security.   

So when I went into business it was totally unacceptable.  It took my family 15 years to even acknowledge that I had a business.  There were of challenges to overcome...which I did.  And yes, there were times when  it was  quite daunting, harrowing and lonely....but thirtyfive years later I am still here..and still loving it.  

If you decide to jump into the entrepreneurial pool  there is  a number of thing you need to succeed besides a great idea.  You need a vision,  money, a business plan, a buying public, a willingness to work harder than you ever had, technical and people skills and plenty of courage, patience and dedication.  

And one other important thing...is Friends to support you and listen to you.  You cannot accomplish this without a support system.  Sometimes your family will be...sometimes they will not.  Make sure in your "business plan" you build your support team...it will be one of your most valuable assets.

And a special thank you to all of you  who have been my friends along the way.

Empress of Biz, Biz Tips. Sunday Morning Reflection: The Risk NOT to take

Sunday Morning Reflection:

Sunday Morning Reflection. In owning your own business there are calculated risks that you take. You do it because you have the confidence, courage and that inner drive that propels you. Sometimes you win...sometimes you loose. But there are times that your risk taking is not good. And one of those times is how we are protecting our families and business.

 This week I lost a business friend...only 61.  His family, employees, customers and business associates are still in shock. This is going to be a tough one for the family and the business.  It is a fifth generation business which looks like it is not going to make it.   No pre-planning...inadequate insurance and no one in sight who wants to take it over.  Most likely the assets will be sold for pennies of the dollar.    

Folks ...if you own a business please make sure your family and business is protected. I know money does not replace the one you love...but leaving things unprotected with little resources to take care of it...makes it so much harder to live thru. Please do some pre-planning to ...its the kindest and caring thing you can do.

Empress of Biz, Biz Tips: Technology changes ...where is my Abacus?

Technology changes...30 plus years

Just thinking about technology...the tool I love and hate to use. It is the big game changer in my 30+ year of owning a business.  In the old days we used an abacus..ancient chinese adding machine....just kidding.  What a fantastic change .  Now we have the cloud, laptops, I-pads, cell phone, pc, printers, copiers, scanners, websites, conference calls  Google, Amazon, Aol, Facebook etc etc...
All making a dramatic impact on the way we think, act and do business. So much beeps, squeaks, rings all over the place.  The investment in my small business in equipment is significant...and grows every year.
Along the way I also became a co-developer of a software program (very expensive) Price it Perfect (tm) and now I am a talkcaster (podcaster)The Empress of Biz, Listen, Learn, Listen  using the internet to share ideas, business tips and opinions   Who would of though..now back to my abacus.
PS.  Check your insurance policy make sure all the above gadgets are protected...it can be very costly if you do not have the right protection and backup plans.

- EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips Listen! Learn! Prosper! StevieAward winner Regina Broudy

- EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! StevieAward winner Regina Broudy
Regina Broudy CEO is Clayton Kendall one of the fastest growing businesses in the Pittsburgh region.  Her latest award includes two Stevie Awards this past November 2013  in  New York.

Listen to Regina as she share her story and her success in a difficult economy.  Regina's company has received a number of  honors in the the past two years including the following:
2012 and 2013 as One of W. PA Best Places to work  by the Pittsburgh Business Times
2012 and 2013 100 Fastest Growing Business in W. PA 
2013 U. S. Small Business Administration Pennsylvania  Small Business Person of the Year

I am proud to say that Regina is a client of mine and S. I. Business Associates.  We have written with her staff her nomination for the Stevie Awards and the SBA Awards.

Awards are a fantastic way to gain publicity and be recognized as an expert in your field. For information on how awards can benefit your business and accelerate the growth of business   please give me (JoAnn R. Forrester) a call at 412-440-6969.  We have created an unusual niche in the awards writing field.  Our clients have won over 300 awards, nationally, regionally and locally since 1999.  Give us a call to get your award winning profile written and submitted.  412-440-6969 is the number to call.

Empressofbiz, Biz Tips. Are you Listening?

Sunday Morning Reflection:

 This week as I listened, observed and worked with businesses it came to me that many of our problems occur because ....we are so busy telling people what to do and thinking of the next thing ...we miss what is going around us.

 Non-listening creates a great deal of frustration and alienation with employees, associates, vendors, friends and loved ones. By our non-listening we tell them they are not important.

Take a deep breath, slow down and be quiet for a minute. Stop the chatter in your head and just breathe and focus on the moment...and then start to communicate with people. You may be surprised at what you hear and learn that will eventually improve your business and life.

Make it a good week folks and give the gift of listening.

Empressofbiz, Biz Tips Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Marketing & Promoting & Fundraising during the Holiday Season

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live & Recorded Episodes :Marketin , Promoting and  Fundraising during the Holiday Season

JoAnn R. Forrester, The Empress of Biz and Susan Newman of Suzie Brandtastic talk about Marketing  During the Holiday Business with Products to Sell, Promote and Raise Funds for your favorite charity or non-profit.  

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Business of Rock and Roll and Philanthropy

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live &; Recorded Episodes:

Business of Rock and Roll and Philanthropy  Sunday 10 Am

 

Text:  Lou Lombardi is the leader of Strangelove Rock N Roll Band and the founder of Loudini's Rock N Roll Extravaganza which he created to create a new type of entertainment to fill clubs and venues and a "done for you" promotion for the venue or club owner.

 

Loudini's Rock N Roll Circus is an multimedia entertainment extravaganza complete with traditional rock n roll and some very untraditional variety performers.  LRNRC is performing in clubs and venues around the tri-state area currently with a goal of filling clubs and also raising money for worthy local charities.  The premier engagement in the metropolitan Pittsburgh Area will be held at the HardRock Cafe in Station Square.  Loudini's Rock N Roll Circus Black Friday Extravaganza on November 28, 2013 will benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. 

  Hear how you can get discounted tickets and help the Food Bank at a critical time of  year when many area residents are in need. 

 

Empress of Biz, Biz Tips; Pricing...thinking Like a business owner? Or a consumer?

One of the major obstacles we face in growing our businesses is learning HOW to ACCURATELY PRICE our product or service to make a PROFIT! 

There are several factors involved in making our pricing decisions. Some factors are logical and some are not. Today I want to talk about internal barrier that many small business owners have, especially women.

Trained as consumers from childhood on, we forget that we are business owners and we have to set our prices accordingly. When we set a price. we may secretly think" that's too much too charge and the PROFIT is too HIGH" and we 'lower the the price. 

The selling price of the product has to take into consideration, not only the costs of product, (labor, material, transportation,etc) but the costs of running the business and a profit. Without PROFIT the business does not grow and thrive. 

Another factor to consider is how women are use to sacrificing themselves and putting others needs first. This often leads to the owner taking a low salary or none at all. I ask my clients if you had to pay someone to do all that you do in the business how much would that be? Usually they laugh and reply, "a good deal more than I pay myself". 

Low balling your salary does NOT give an accurate cost of running your business. It does result in two negative results:

First, it does not SAVE money  It often creates personal cash flow problems. Which in turns creates problems with creditors and family members. 

Second,  it does not give an accurate picture of what it costs to run the business. And that leads to low ball pricing which leads to no profits and builds stress on the business

It is time to put a "true value" on your contribution to the business and give yourself a raise that is reasonable.   If you raise your salary  $1,000 a month that translates roughly into $5.00 an hour based on a 200 hour work month. And I know most of you work at least 260 hours a month. 

Remember you are a business owner, not a consumer. and its time to put yourself into the equation of success. 
Best wishes for a successful and growing business.
JoAnn R. ForresterS.I. Business Associates
412-440-6969

Empress of Biz, Biz tips..Business emergency plans..crucial for survival

Sunday Biz TiP: Reflection: One thing we do not like to do is think about what happens if......So the majority of us don't. Emergencies and bad things happen...as responsible and caring business owners we need to have an action plan when problems occur. Being prepared does not prevent disaster...it does help to cope, heal and restore.

This week I will be concentrating on some of the things you need to think of when problems occur.  Whether you are a home based business or  Walmart...life happens.  The right planning makes all the difference in the world.

First thing to do...LOOK AT YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES.  Home, business, personal, liability, car  etc.  Do you understand what the polices are saying.  IF NOT ....CALL  your agent and sit down with her and make sure you know your coverage and risks.

IF YOU ARE HOME based...make sure your office and all equipment is covered.  We often leave ourselves exposed and vulnerable.  

I cannot emphasize this enough  Make sure you understand your policy and risks.  

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips Attitude for Monday

Biz TiP:  Monday Attitude:   Bosses...you want productivity? :) 

Instead of gloomy faces & people dreading to come to work? :(

Then make Monday morning meetings positive.  If you have problems...make it HOW do we solve this?  Instead of who can we blame?

Monday sets the tone for the week.  Make it sure it is one that  gets people working together instead of hiding in their office trying to escape blame.

EmpressofBiz: Listen Learn Prosper 1pm Susan Newman

Join in Tomorrow as I interview Susan Newman nationally recognized expert on branding.  Time 1pm on www.talkshoe.com or syndicated on pplmag.com. The great thing about podcasting is that you can always listen later...check us out...wisdom like Sue's is important to hear over and over again.

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  JoAnn Forrester The great thing about the show...you can always listen later...wisdom like Susan's needs to be heard many times over.

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live & Recorded Episodes

www.talkshoe.com

JoAnn R. Forrester is founder, president and owner of S I Business Associates, a business growth management firm established in 1975. Over 75,000 hours of experience in teaching, consulting, financing, human relations, speaking, writing and business development classes, writing and public relations,...

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  JoAnn Forrester The great thing about the show...you can always listen later...wisdom like Susan's needs to be heard many times over.

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips Each Day brings an

Sunday Biz TiP: Reflection Time: Each day brings you an 

opportunity to do something positive for:

 your business, your employees and  your community....

It can be a big gesture or a series of small ones...you can

make a difference each day by your choice of actions...

Make it a good one for all of us.

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips..Financial Terms..Cash Flow

 Financial Term: Cash Flow...what money comes into the business...and what goes out. Often feels like a lot more goes out than comes in. 

Cash Flow...The money that comes in from sales of product or services. It can be in the form of Cash, credit cards, debit cards or checks. You can be receiving money daily through your business, especially if you are retail, or you can be receiving  it after you have invoiced or billed your customers. 

An indication that a company is in trouble is when your CASH flow IS always LOW.

In other words what you are paying out is MORE than you are bringing in.   When this is happening.... you need to immediately LOOK at your business and review your marketing and pricing structure.  

Need help?  Give us a call at 412-440-6969.  S. I. Business Associates has been guiding small business to success since 1975.

Empressofbiz, Biz Tip Accounts Receivable...Asset can turn into a Liability

Thursday Biz TiP: Definition of Financial Terms...

Accounts Receivable: The money that is OWED to YOU for services or products sold to your clients or customers. Accounts Receivable are CURRENT Assets...no longer than a year old.
 Payment terms are established as part of the sale:

 For example, JoAnn's Plumbing Services has installed a hot water tank for Mr Brown. The agreement of sale states the payment terms. The terms could be IMMEDIATE,  10 Days, 30 Days, whatever is stated on your bill. Make sure your terms are CLEAR and UNDERSTANDABLE!  

Banker Tip:

Going for a loan? You are judged on how QUICKLY your Accounts Receivables are collected. If you allow them to drag out to 90 -120 days...they are seen as not good. Be careful of collection  time...it can count against you.

Want to be in charge of your business...take the time to learn not only the "book" definitions of financial terms...but how they REALLY IMPACT your Business.  Give JoAnn Forrester "The EmpressofBiz" a call at 412-440-6969.