Tag Archives: Business

09.18.13
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Asana and Basecamp!

asana_logo
Have you ever used Asana? I heard about it when I was researching Facebook. It was started by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. I’ve been using it for over one year, and it has been a tremendous help.

It helps me organize my to-do-list on all of my digital devices. They’ve recently updated the app, too. The best part? It’s free!

I’m currently using Basecamp too, which is also pretty awesome. They have a free 60-day trial period, so I decided to give it a shot. Many people love Basecamp, and so far I really like it, too. Using tools like these will definitely help you with your goals.

By Anthony Hilb

09.07.13
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Team Treehouse!

Do you want to learn how to build websites, smart phone apps, and software? Then watch the video below to learn how Treehouse will help you with these goals! I’ve been a Treehouse student for the past couple of months, and I’m extremely happy with my experience.

 

Click the image below to get three months of your annual membership for free!

Start mapping your new career - Get 3 Months Free!By Anthony Hilb
08.29.13
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Get Set Tech With Micro Business

By Arjun P.

In today’s world technology has only enhanced the businesses of both major and minor corporations all over the globe. Thanks to information technology the world has become a global market for micro businesses to find their footing without having to fear about the loss of investment. Technological advancement has given these businesses easy access by the general mass with the development of phone applications. Smart-phones are enabled with the necessary software application which allows micro businesses to communicate and correspond with the buyer directly. Social networking sites have become a utility tool for not only promoting business but also an excellent way to review and get access to commodities.

Like every drop of water contributes to the formation of an ocean, in the same way micro businesses are contributing to the growth of the global economy. With a few hundred and more upcoming and future micro enterprises being set up by the hour, there are more than a million people working towards a better economic development globally. With the increase and rapid growth in information technology there is a direct exponential growth in micro businesses.

Technology has become the backbone of micro businesses and is integral to the success of the global economic system, hence giving micro businesses the right leverage to ensure independence and self-sufficiency. With search stations flooding the world wide net, micro businesses can now launch and make them available to every nook and cranny of every country throughout. Websites, advertisements in web-pages, blogging, are just a few ways technology has aided micro businesses in making themselves accessible to people around the world.

06.28.13
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Guerrilla Marketing – Remix!

9781599184227_p0_v2_s260x420Guerrilla Marketing Remix has been out for a couple of years, but if you haven’t read it, I strongly recommend it! It’s packed with practical information for all kinds of business owners, and it’s especially resourceful for microbusiness owners! Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Visit Amazon, your local library, or a nearby bookstore to pick up a copy.

06.04.13
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The Fallacy of Starting a “Real Business”

By Anthony Hilb

Be extremely careful with the advice people share with you…this blog included! What has worked for others may not work for you. Our economy isn’t what it once was, and technology is drastically changing just about every industry. Many traditional rules no longer apply. People have told me to grow my businesses, to start a “real business” and to get a “real job.” Yet I’ve been profitable since day one, and I make more than the average person my age. What’s so unreal about that? These are the same people that want me to take on debt and hire employees I don’t need. And that’s probably why 90% of businesses fail. People new to the business world frequently listen to their elders and take antiquated routes. This isn’t always the case, but it has been often enough from my experience. Every adviser at my local SBDC has not been helpful. I would have never even started the profitable businesses I enjoy had I listened to many of my risk averse elders.  iStock_000008617758XSmall

Who has helped me with their advice? Incredible people who blog about business and authors who write about business. People like Seth Godin, Jason Fried, Jay Levinson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Chris Anderson, Chris Guillebeau, Timothy Ferris, and many others have all been very helpful. They actually have experience and know what they’re talking about.

Take a route that works best for you. Pursue your business at a pace that works best for you. Some people are in a situation to start a traditional business with millions of dollars and employees, while other people prefer starting extremely small without debt. Determine a path that works best for you and get started! You may need to start your business part-time, or you may be able to start full-time. It’s all situational.

To traditionalists and many people older than myself, it may not appear like I own a “real” business. I don’t have 50 employees, and I don’t own a big office. I don’t buy everything I need for my businesses up front; I rent equipment and buy it used if I know I’ll need it regularly. Even if I do grow more and hire 20 people, those employees won’t have to come in to an office. As long as they get their work done, they can work from their home or from their own small office.

I started my first business two years ago, and now I pursue three microbusinesses each week. One of my microbusinesses gets the majority of my attention while the other two only need a few hours spent on them each week at this point. It only took a couple hundred bucks to start all of my businesses, and I hardly spend anything on marketing. I have no business debt, and I’ve always been profitable. All because I follow my instincts and grow at a pace that’s right for me.

04.27.13
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Members Only!

By Anthony Hilb

nordstromSometimes making your business exclusive is the right move. We’ve been seeing many membership websites launch over the years. Lumosity.com is a basic example. Colleges are an even better example. By only allowing a select group of people into their schools, more people want to attend. They’re exclusive. Getting into prestigious colleges often shows credibility.

I don’t believe colleges are the only way to learn, but even certain professions only allow members. Doctors, lawyers, professors, and engineers are all required to have certain degrees and pass specific tests. Fortunately, many business owners don’t have to worry about those degrees and tests. Yet they must be lifelong learners. In order to be successful, many of the most successful business owners are required to spend the same amount of time, if not more, learning as the top professionals. Becoming a successful business owner is often a members only situation too.

Making your business a members only organization shows that you have standards. This doesn’t always work when you’re selling products. But think about Nordstrom. Their prices are high and they sell quality products. It’s a membership business because many people simply don’t have the money to buy from them. So those people go to Walmart and buy a suit for $60 instead of the suit that costs $1,000 at Nordstrom. Nordstrom has to sell a much smaller quantity to compete with those who race to the bottom with their prices.

The people who buy all of their clothes directly from Nordstrom are in the rich club or perceived to be in the rich club. Buying from them is a status symbol. Once you set higher standards and focus on high quality, you can make your products and services a members only club too.