Not Without a Plan (Featured author - Giselle Rivera)

The most important advice a professional business owner can give to an entrepreneur on the verge of creating their own company, is the fact that a business plan is key to survival for a variety of reasons.  Many believe that a business plan is a tool strictly used to find financing for you new venture, but this notion is completely naïve to the entire concept of a business plan. A business plan does allow for you to approach a lender or an investor, but it is also a means of achieving the business goals of the company.  A business plan will help implement the objectives and the target the target market of any company at any given time of the company’s life cycle.  Although it does not ensure success, it does allow business owners to avoid common mistakes and remain focused on their original vision of the company.

To formulate an effective business plan, certain components need to be included.  They are:  (other than the essential Cover page, Table of Contents and title page)

1.Executive Summary
2.Business Description
3. Market Strategies
4.Competitive Analysis
5.Design plan
6.Operation/management plan
7.Financial factors

Executive Summary:  Outline and description of the product/service offered through the company.  This section should be extremely effective and “eye-opening,” as it is the first section seen by readers.

Business Description:  This description will elaborate the briefing explained in the Executive summary.  Example: Industry history, demand of industry, trends (if any), and the amount of opportunity in that industry.

Market Strategies:  Define the market of the company.  Include its size, structure, growth and sales potential.  This section should focus on consumers and competition.  Evaluate the strategies that will allow for assistance with price, distribution and sales.

Competitive Analysis:  Answer: How does this business relate to its competition? Describe advantages, barriers developed to prevent failure because of competition, and show methods of preventing weakness or ways to improve.

Design Plan:  The design plan reveals the product/services development stages and the context of production, including marketing.  Using diagrams are an effective method to demonstrate the ideas of this section.  Create a schedule for the product’s development and timeline.

Operation/Management plan:  Day-to-day operations and management of a company is critical to its overall success.  Describe these daily functions and the qualifications of those in charge.

Financial factors:  This shows how profitable a business can be for short and long term views.  The financial factors should ALWAYS include: A cash flow statement (showing the amount of money flowing in and out of the company) and a balance sheet (showing the company’s strengths financially through assets and equity).  A return on investment, break-even point and return on assets are also great factors of the financial section of a prominent business plan.

Collecting and gathering this information means that there has been an efficient amount of thought placed into the business and its future.  A good business plan will never be placed away and never looked at again, in fact a good business plan, is placed somewhere accessible and is used as a frequent guide to managing the company.  It will always determine which path to choose and what to avoid.  Reviewing and editing a good business plan annually is key.  There should be adjustments made for change of markets or clientele or even, demands.  A good business plan should adapt to new eras and periods of its life cycle.

*Through extensive research for a variety of business plans, for family members, friends and clientele, I have been able to completely grasp the concepts behind the business plan and have offered my writing services to those who need.  Therefore, feel free to contact me in regards to any questions or if you need to have a business plan written efficiently.  Contact me at GiselleR@eliteresumes.org if I can be of any help.*

It’s now been two days that I’ve been working/training my new VA and it’s working out great. The key as I see it to building a great working relationship with your VA and really enjoying the free time that pointed you in the direction of a VA in the first place is, documenting everything. I think I mentioned this before, but I’ll do so again… My mentor Mr. Ledoux always insisted that whenever we did something that we should document it and make it into a process. So what I’ve created a start-file for my VA with some of the areas I need help with and how to go about these tasks. The goal is to have a file for her, for every process she’ll be assisting me with.

Not only will she have a document get her started, it can be used as a guide or reference whenever she’s stuck on something. PLUS.. if ever our working relationship does not work out or she decides to move on, I now have everything in place to train someone new to cover all the bases in a very quick time.

I’m tired of saying “she”, so let me introduce you to my brand new VA…

Hi, this is Sudipa Sarkar from India. I am working from my home-office as a virtual assistant and freelance writer. I am living with my husband in Kolkata, the City of Joy. I have completed my Masters Degree in Applied Psychology. Working from home is not only a challenge for me, but also I feel really excited while interacting with people from the other part of the world.

Body language may be subtle, direct or at times, complex, but throughout it all, it remains the unspoken word of conversations.  The movements of the body reveal inner thoughts and true positions in arguments.  It is body language that ultimately allows for others to read your true personality and find a connection with your inner self.  It gives them a deeper insight into who you are, how you handle yourself, and how you want others to perceive you.  It is a language that most of us do not know we speak.

At times, body language can play a crucial role in all aspects of your life, but it is most crucial in the work field.  It is the factor that determines whether or not you are a potential hire for a company and a well-rounded candidate for the position.  Although most interviewers do not know the entire concept of body language, they do understand those elements that are both most important and those that they can relate to due to their own experiences.

Posture: The way you walk and the position of your body when you stand is extremely critical.  Slouched shoulders show a lack of confidence and motivation. To Avoid: Your shoulders should be erect while your neck and head should be held high and looking straight ahead.  Posture reveals confidence or the lack of.

Hand Shake: The hand shake will either break or make your impression at an interview.  A weak and limp hand shake reveals the characteristics of person with dist=interest and a sense of a cold attitude.  To Avoid: Your hand shake should be well-gripped and firm, with your palm facing downward to show compassion and empathy.

Eye Contact:  Eye contact emphasizes someone’s interest and credibility.  It states whether you are nervous or unprepared.  Fast blinking is a major sign of nervousness.  It is okay to gaze toward an object in an attempt to recollect a memory or thought, but never gaze at something else when speaking to the interviewer.  To Avoid: Give direct eye contact to the interviewer at all times.  Study their facial expressions and hand movements.

Sitting:  Again posture plays a major role even when sitting.  Sitting with your arms and legs crossed is a sign of defensiveness.  To Avoid: Sit erect and straight, looking into the eyes of the interviewer.  For ladies, cross at your ankles oppose to crossing your legs.

Next time you are face-to-face with an interviewer for a potential hire, or entrance into an academic program, always remember the most common types of body language signs and how they are portrayed by the interviewer.  Always show confidence in yourself and your abilities, because you are your own hype man, and everyone will perceive you the same way you perceive yourself.

Special thanks to Giselle Rivera @ Www.Eliteresumes.org for another great contribution. To learn more about Giselle, please visit our Featured Writers Page.

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After years of struggling to run the show by myself, I’ve finally given in and hired a Virtual Assistant. Basically I came to realize that my time could be better spent doing things that will grow my business, rather than doing things I could easily train someone to do. It came down to.. I was holding me back and I had to make a change. It’s always been my concern that if I were to hire someone, what would stop them from absorbing all that I show/teach then and hit the high road a few months later to copy or clone what I’m doing.

Here’s a little bit of advice. Get your employees to sign a non disclosure agreement.

A non-disclosure agreement makes the employee promise not to disclose or profit from company confidential information, such as trade secrets and customer lists.

A trade secret is a formula, information, process or device that is not generally known outside of the business and gives the business a competitive edge. A customer list is generally considered to be a trade secret if the same information is not readily ascertainable from a source outside of the business, such as public records.

You may use a confidentiality (or nondisclosure) agreement if you’re worried (like in my case it would be basically evrything I teach my virtual assistant) that your employees have access to confidential information — known as trade secrets — that could potentially harm your business should your employees use it for their own gain, or disclose it to business rivals.

This agreement main goal is to protect a secret design, and idea for a new website, financial information…and more.

Important to Know:

* A nondisclosure agreement is only part of the solution — you must also take steps to restrict access to the information you want kept secret.
* It’s best to have a new employee sign a nondisclosure agreement immediately. If you want a current employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement, you will probably need to provide an incentive, such as a raise or promotion.

What’s The Difference Between A Non-Disclosure & A Non-Compete?

Non-disclosure agreements — sometimes called “confidentiality agreements” — are designed to protect sensitive technical or commercial information (intellectual property or “IP”) or trade secrets from being shared with others. Simply stated, when you sign a non-disclosure agreement, you swear that you won’t reveal anything that the company considers to be proprietary or confidential, such as details of new products, technology, business plans, financial information, models, sketches, and so on. It doesn’t mean you can’t work for a competitor; it simply means you can’t use what you learned or obtained from your former employer with your new employer.

Meanwhile, non-compete agreements are designed, too, to protect employers but they are a different breed. If a former employee moves to a competitor, there is often a transfer of knowledge. To prevent this, many companies routinely ask new employees to sign statements restricting them from working for a direct competitor for a reasonable length of time and within reasonable geographic limits after leaving. In other words, you’d violate a non-compete agreement if you took a job at the only game developer in your state, learned all you could while you were there, and then quit and tried to start your own development studio right across the street.

Job Outlook

The job market is an ever-changing market. It has currently evolved into a service market, which means that all of our businesses are service based oppose to product based. This has occurred due to the demands in our current work force. The up and coming jobs and titles are those in the field of services. The product market has diminished to a slim line, and only the established will continue to succeed, with the exception of a few new innovative product businesses. According to statistics, the job market is on the rise for hiring new applicants, due to its strong sectors. By 2014, it will increase by 18.9 million. Therefore, those with the proper training and/or education will have a great choice of opportunities and position titles. These growths are especially expected in the health and technology industries. Here are the top ten occupations increasing in both growth and demand:

1.Home Health Aides - http://www.iseek.org/sv/Careers?id=13000:100100

2.Network Systems Analysts - http://www.careervoyages.gov/OOH/4yr_OOH151081_content.html

3.Medical Assistants - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm

4.Physicians Assistants - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm

5.Computer Software Engineers - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm

6.Physical Therapist - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm

7.Dental Hygienists - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm

8.Dental Assistants - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm

9.Personal Care Aides - http://www.iseek.org/sv/Careers?id=13000:100404

10.Data Communications Analysts - http://www.iseek.org/sv/Careers?id=13000:100137

Therefore, if you are currently unsatisfied with your career path and its lack of advancement, consider one of the above occupations for both security and high wages.

This is a guest post from our featured writer, Giselle Rivera at http://www.eliteresumes.org

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