Thanks and Giving. To All Solo Entrepreneurs From Georjina Sinese

I was going to be all drippy and sentimental because of the holiday season, but I've decided to do something else instead. Say - Thank You.

Some of you have been with me since the beginning, when I had no idea what the hell I was doing (ok, still don't most times) and have watched as I've gotten into telling you what you need to make your business your own.

Thank you.

Now for the sentimental part (those of you who'd rather not hang around, go below the next couple of paragraphs!).

Thanksgiving has lost a lot of it's original meaning in the US, since I'm here it's the only one I know about. Instead of saying grace before a meal (which is an example of 'giving thanks'), we eat like starving buffalo and if anything is said at all, it's 'gimme that'.

There has been wars on this planet since the beginning of time (I really wasn't there people, though some of you think I was!). What we, as people must really give thanks for, every day and not just one or two out of the year is - We are here. Living, breathing and trying to be what we consider basically good people.

There are those who are no longer living lives that they can say they are either proud of or want. Sometimes in our rush, we forget there really are people grieving the death of someone they loved who was alive yesterday. We forget that there really are people who will never leave a hospital or a sick bed. We forget that all over this planet, someone somewhere is hurting and there is no one there to care.

With that said, continue reading below for a couple resources, then go off-line for 24 hours. Put the business books away, turn off your IPod, DVD, WII, XBox, Cell phone and any other distractions. For 24 hours, just sit and think about what you really have to be thankful for. Are you in reasonably good health? Be Thankful. Can you read words on a page? Be Thankful. Can you speak without assistance? Be Thankful. Do you have to? Nope.


Only 2 resources because I'm headed offline for some down time for the next 4 days. Enjoy....Oh, before I forget - I'm thankful to you for your time spent with me.


1. Text Aloud
Have you ever needed to read something on your computer while working on something else? I have and because I'm a reader, it made it frustrating hopping from screen to screen just to get something done.

This you're going to like - Text Aloud. I thought it was 'huh, what the heck' until I got the free trial.
You've got to go to the site to see what this little honey will do.

2. Web Tools
Resources for the work you do online as your own webmaster. Many are free to use and there is a
section for scripts, site submitter and HTML protector in a members area for $4.99 each. That's an excellent price by the way, I have a site submitter that ran me over a $100 when it was new! Dumb.


That's it for today and I leave you with this:

True happiness is walking the darkest road in life, alone with a smile. ~Zaid Adam

New Resources & Business Ideas

It's getting colder than a well diggers butt in the Pacific Northwest, so I'm in this really lazy mood. Before we start, here's a link to a bit of silliness that at the very least should make you smile - it helps, trust me! Back Street Boys Have a New Member - And he has rhythm!

While hanging out over the weekend at Blog Carnival, I came across a few new sources for solo entrepreneurs with some good tips. Grant Griffiths is the Home Office Warrior and writes exclusively on making it work. One article that immediately caught my attention was Cell Phone vs Landline.

Since I've moved to using only my cellphone this past 6 months, the article was relevant to where I am now - Qwest may be hooking me up again! Dead spots,echo chamber conversations and just finding that stupid phone when I need to make a quick call (don't ask!) is getting on my nerve - I only have one, and lately it's been on over-drive.

You have GOT to love solo entrepreneurs! We'll find ways to make money in some of the strangest ways possible and it doesn't always have to be pretty - just profitable! Eric Wills is a blogger who founded One Away where he talks about just what we as solos already know - it ain't the vehicle, it's how you use it to get where you're trying to go!

Anyway, this post has me thinking about re-inventing Georjina Sinese & Company. Meet Ned Hand, a solo entrepreneur from Cape Ann Massachusetts who took the idea 'old truck, will travel' to a whole new level. This WOMAN SOLO ENTREPRENEUR ROCKS! Ned Hand

I'll finish up with one more for your viewing pleasure, The Startup Blog at Partnerup, Making The Leap From Corporate America, is a decent read even if the 'corporate' part turns you off. It's about taking the first step towards creating the business life you want. When reading the article, as in everything that goes along with being a solo entrepreneur - take what you can use, leave the rest.

Time for some new business ideas:
1. Looking for a business that isn't all hype and allows you to offer stressed out customers a place to just relax? Think tea! This is a business that you can operate year round, has a very large market and the margins for making a profit aren't too shabby either. A couple links for those of you looking
for something a bit different:
Tea Trends
World Tea Expo 2008
Tea Business Guide

2. ATMs are a relatively simple business to start and can be profitable for the right
person. I had a client who owned 3 and was pulling in over $200k a year net income but there are some downside things to consider - How to initially stock the machine with cash, how to maintain them, ATM insurance and other things you'll want to consider before you get into it.

I did find a franchise on Entrepreneur that starts at $29,000 and there are quite a few sites with ATMs for sale or lease. Start with the franchise information and go from there: ACFN.

Now for the resources, take what you can use and leave the rest.

Business Plans. Get samples, edit and print out what you need. Palo Alto Software

Need a model of your invention or next great toy company? E Prototypes

Finding that working from anywhere you want is hampered by no connection? True Remote Access

Looking for business connections in the US or Canada? Local Business Date

If outsourcing has crossed your mind, get the information you need to do it right. Fast Trac

Best article submission software I've found in a while (no, this isn't my affiliate link!). Artemis Pro

Need business ideas that aren't only the 'same old, same old' and from around the globe?
Here you go! Springwise World Trends

For my Internetpreneurs (is that a word?!), here's another toolkit to bookmark: How To Corp

That's it for today and I leave you with this -

Most of us aren't interested in getting rich - we just don't want to get poor! ~Andy Rooney

Copywriting, Marketing Tips & Your Solo Enterprise

When it comes to the big 3 (no, I don't mean credit bureaus) - advertising, marketing and copy writing most of us would rather not. But we also know that unless we can get the word out somehow, we don't have a business because we also don't have customers to sell our products or services.

The resources I'm sending you to today are blogs, yeah those things you have to read to get any any relevant information! Not all of them are marketing related, but if you want to leave a post on them - please do. Let's get to it..........

1. This post from the copy underground made me think of some of you working solo's. We have all had the suspect client call and without coming right out with it, want us to provide our services or products for free.

The one post that I could relate to was by Cathy Goodwin: “How about you write my website for free and I will introduce you to lots of rich, potential clients?” Yeah, right! If you are learning about how to write any kind of copy to market your solo business or just want to get a few tips to make your next advertising efforts better, read the post.

2. This post is a bit dated but it's still relevant for those of you still trying to get your
solo business online. Your domain name should be given a bit of thought because once your customers get used to it, you are pretty much stuck using it everywhere you advertise your business. Read about this important piece of the internet puzzle here: Custom Fit

3. Do you have a predominately woman audience? If you are male, you're probably doing more head scratching than connecting to your women customers.

Women marketers can get it wrong too, but we can pull a 'do over' quicker than a Maserati at top speed. When the report for this site first came out in 2006, I went out and purchased the book. As a woman solo entrepreneur, I realized that I'm not my customers. Myths about women can get any marketer in trouble, and assumptions have cost bigger businesses than yours money. To keep an eye on the trends related to marketing to women, I highly recommend this blog. Read it here: Marketing To Women Online

4. As solo entrepreneurs we try to keep trends that may affect our business in mind.

• What are our customer's thinking?
• Where are they going?
• What are they doing?
  
• How can I make a little money on it????

All those things we know we ought to keep track of but between actually paying the bills and beating the bushes for new sales - we don't.

Seth Godin's new book out in December is focusing on 14 trends that will ultimately have some play online. Thank goodness someone else put them up so you don't have to buy the book unless you want to (and not to get the 14 trends he's referring to!). Check the list here: Sally Falkow

Hope you get some value out of these resources and leave me a note if there is something you want me to cover about starting or operating your solo business. I'll even put your site or blog link in the post with your suggestion. Nothing stupid please, my patience left home when my son turned 13!

That's if for today and I leave you with this:

"Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be a
chess player, not the chess piece."~Ralph Charell