My's Corner

Five Challenges Facing Marketing

2011-10-26T15:44:00.001-07:00

The marketing field is faced with several challenges that for many firms will require a transformation in its capability and charge. Among them are the following five.

First, marketing needs to lead in substantial or transformational innovation that will result in new offerings that will define new categories or subcategories. Marketing focused on "my brand is better than your brand" strategies supported by incremental innovation and conventional programs rarely creates sales growth because markets have a lot of inertia. The only way to grow is through big idea innovation that will create enhancements or augmentations of the offering that will be regarded by customers as "must haves." That is what brands like Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Prius, Zappos.com, SalesForce.com, Dreyer's Slow Churned Ice Cream, Best Buy's Geek Squad, iShares, ESPN, and hundreds of others have done.

Second, marketing needs to be strategic rather than tactical and earn an influential place at the executive table. Marketing should own three key drivers of strategy. One is customer insights which should enable growth initiatives and be the basis for strategic resource allocation. Another is the value proposition, a centerpiece of business strategy. Finally, marketing should own brand strategy which should both inform and enable the business strategy. Although more and more firms have accepted the CMO on the executive team, there are still many others for which marketing is still relegated to a tactical role.

Third, marketing needs to get control of the product, country, and functional silos to foster cooperation and communication rather than competition and isolation. Firms no longer have the luxury to see opportunities for consistency and synergy lost. In Lou Gerstners' classic turnaround of IBM one of his boldest moves was to attack the product and country silo culture. It is especially important to overcome functional silos to create integrated marketing programs where some functional areas accept a supporting rule even when that is not what they are accustomed to. Jim Stengel, former P&G CMO, made some progress by allowing the functional area with the best big idea to become the team leader, but the goal of integrated marketing has been long elusive.

Fourth, marketing needs to inject energy and involvement into their brands. A little known fact is that brand equity across the world has been declining for over a decade. The exception are those brands with energy. Energy is an imperative. If a brand cannot provide product energy like Apple, Dove, and others have done, the need is to create or find something with energy and attach the brand to it. Think of the Avon's "Walk for Breast Cancer" or Home Depot's alignment with "Homes for Humanity."

Finally, marketing needs to be elevate its game tactically. With the fragmentation of the media options, the dynamics of social media, and the proliferation of brands and offerings, there is so much clutter and complexity that nothing less than great marketing and exceptional offerings will break out. This means having access to creative tools, people willing to innovate, and a broad array of marketing modalities. One of the reasons that Hyundai is such a hot car brand is because of their great marketing programs such as "Fluidic Sculpture Design," the "Hyundai Assurance Program;" and the Hyundai Uncensored campaign (where 125 customers were given cars and their uncensored comments were posted).

There are more, but if marketing can influence or deliver real offering innovation, a marketing-influenced business strategy, control of the silos, energy and involvement, and great tactical marketing, it will be relevant to the organization and will see success in the marketplace.

-David Aaker

Balance and Harmony: Aligning with the 5 Elements of this World

2011-09-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to the 6ooo year old Chinese philosophy of the 5 Elements… after extensive research on this philosophy I have come to the conclusion that I have been in harmony with this philosophy my entire life without so much as an inclination as to what it is. Whether it is due to my heritage or my consciousness or sub consciousness is of no matter, what is of great matter is that this philosophy has me completely intrigued and on a greater level, balance is detrimental to life.

I’m sure you’re now asking what exactly this 5 Elements Philosophy is…

The 5 Elements Philosophy was derived from early Taoist philosophy which divided the world into 5 Elements. Each element has certain properties and virtually everything in life is slotted into one of these 5 categories.

The 5 Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

The 5 Elements are most frequently depicted in a circular formation showing that each element has intimate relationships with each of the other elements which together make up an integrated whole.

According to 5 Elements Philosophy as it applies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are two main cycles of interest. One is the Generating Cycle and the other is the Controlling cycle.

Generating Cycle

When the 5 Elements are depicted in a picture they are specifically arranged in a particular order in a circular formation. According to the philosophy, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water and Water generates Wood.

If you were to associate this flow of the elements with nature, you see how Wood is the fuel for Fire, how burned wood returns to the Earth, how Metal comes from the Earth, how Metal promotes condensation and how water promotes the growth of Wood.

In Chinese Medicine, each of the major organ systems is assigned an element. Wood is the element of the Liver, Fire is the element of the Heart, Earth is the element of the Spleen, Metal is the element of the Lungs, and Water is the element of the Kidneys.

“For example, a traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis following these principals would look at the Liver disharmonies in terms of the effect the Kidneys have on it. The Kidneys (water) promote the Liver (wood). If there is a Liver disharmony, a treatment principal might be to tonify the Kidneys in order to promote the Liver.

The Liver is wood and promotes Fire, the Heart. If the Liver is in excess and too much wood is put on the Heart fire, the Heart fire flares. So, to find the root of a Heart disharmony, one may look to the Liver.

In Acupuncture, 5 points on each channel are designated according to the 5 elements. That is on each of the 12 channels, there is a Wood point, a Fire point, an Earth point, a Metal point, and a Water point. These points are all located below the elbows and the knees, at the beginning or at the end of the Channels. Choosing points for treatment, then following the Controlling cycle, for Wood disharmony one chooses the Water point, for a Water disharmony, one chooses the Metal point, and so on. If this sounds a bit confusing, it is a bit, but with practice it becomes easier.”

Controlling Cycle

The second cycle is the Controlling Cycle. In the Controlling Cycle it is said that certain elements control others. Again, the 5 Elements are arranged in the same circular order; however, in this cycle Water controls (rather than generates) Fire, Wood controls Earth, Fire control Metal, and Earth controls water. From Nature, it can be seen how, Water puts out Fire, Leaves cover the forest floor, Fire forges Metal, and Earth can dam up and direct water.

In traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis these relationships are significantly important. “For example, there is a close relationship between the Heart and the Kidneys. Kidney Water cools Heart Fire and Heart Fire warms Kidney Water and balance is maintained in the body.

There is also a close relationship between Liver/Wood and the Spleen/Earth. Disharmonies between these two organs are very common.”

The Five Elements Philosophy extends to every aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body's organs, tastes, smells, bodily fluids, as well as the seasons, foods, and directions. Everything found in life is assigned an element.

What struck me as being quite interesting is the assignment of emotions. In the 5 Elements Philosophy, each of the cardinal emotions is assigned an Element. This means, these Emotions are connected to the 5 major organs in our physical system. For example, Anger is assigned to Liver/Wood, Joy is assigned to Heart/Fire, Worry is assigned to Spleen/Earth, Grief is assigned to Metal/Lungs, and Fear is assigned to Kidneys/Water. Since traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic philosophy holds that emotions or Endogenous factors are a primary cause of disease, it could be very helpful in Western medicine to know if a patient expresses Anger excessively or inappropriately, you could suspect problems with the Liver organ system. If a patient develops phobias, Kidney deficiency can reasonably be suspected. Excessive grief may be treated by tonifying Lung or Metal points and so on.

There is much more to 5 Element Philosophy. It is found in every branch of traditional Chinese medicine. In a clinical practice, the 5 Elements Philosophy is not actually the main theory most practitioners use. In fact, it is not always that useful in determining a course of treatment. But it is useful in many ways and is one more way of looking at the world.

It's not "What's your brand?" It's "Where's your brand?" | Jeffrey Gitomer

2011-09-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Everyone has heard the word “branding,” but no one really understands what it means in terms of its everyday power — not even the people who write books on it.

Let me give you an example. I was at the Omni Houston Hotel in Texas. When I went into the shower in the morning, I dried off with their huge towel. It was big, and real pretty. I thought to myself, “Boy, this is a nice towel. I think this towel might be as nice as the ones I use at home. Maybe even a little nicer.”

So I went downstairs to my seminar and asked 150 people in my audience who were also staying at the hotel, “How many of you bathed this morning?” (I suggested everybody raise their hand, even if they didn’t bathe, to pretend like they did.) I held up the towel from my room and asked, “How many people used this nice, fluffy towel?” Everyone raised their hand.

Then I asked, “How many of you thought to yourself, when you were drying off, Hey, these towels are better than the ones I have at home?“ More than half the audience raised their hands. I said, “I know this is a surprise to you, but sometimes people take this towel from the hotel and bring it home – without telling anybody. Yeah, they steal it. Isn’t that interesting?” (Large audience laugh.)

So, I mused with the audience, “How many towels do you think this hotel loses from people `taking them home’ annually? My estimate is about ten thousand a year. Ten thousand towels they lose, because someone steals them.”Then I asked, holding up the towel, “When people get this towel home, how would they know they stole it from the Omni Houston Hotel in Texas?” I looked at the towel, and asked the audience, “What is missing?” And someone yelled out, “Their name!” Right! People are taking ten thousand of these towels home and nobody knows where they got them. Is that dumb, or what? Some lame-brain in purchasing said, “No, let’s not spend the extra 50 cents that it takes to put our name on the towel. Let’s be cheap, stupid idiots, and let people steal it without our name on it.”

What kind of lost branding opportunity is that? A BIG ONE. Why don’t they embroider the towels nice and pretty with “Omni Houston Hotel” and place a little sign in the bathroom that says, “Buy one, steal one free.” Why don’t they do that? Answer: Because they aren’t thinking. They’re not thinking “branding,” they’re thinking “cost of towel.”

I continued the lesson, “So a few weeks ago, I was at The Greenbrier. It’s a really fancy resort in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia. I went into the bathroom, and all the towels have a `G’ on them. I’m thinking to myself,G.Gitomer. They have towels with MY initial on them.Big fluffy ones. Right there in the hotel. So I took this one (I held up the “G” towel. Big audience laugh), I had to take it – it had my initial on it. I had to take it.Even though they had great, embroidered towels right there in the bathroom, there was no offer to buy them. And just like the Omni Houston Hotel, they didn’t brand them either. I called The Greenbrier to pay for this towel and got a whole set. I didn’t care how much they cost, because they have the “G” on them. I also gave them my sales idea.”

Here’s my challenge to you: How are you displaying your brand on everyday items that others see, buy, or use – even if you have to buy the items from an ad specialty company? It would give you the opportunity to become better known, and be in front of your customer every single day. The towel stays in the shower, the towel stays in the bathroom, and the towel is there for years. I see the name every time I use it. ASK YOURSELF THIS: Where is your name on the stuff that your customers will keep in front of them forever?

Let me share something with you. Not only can you create a memorable brand, you can also (with the proper branding item) make your competition hate your guts when they see it around town. Is that cool, or what?

Jeffrey Gitomer | August 24, 2011

10 Steps to Living Confidently

2011-09-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Save moneyFinancial independence is a vital aspect of self empowerment. When you invest and manage your money wisely you get more money to manage. When you start to earn income from the interest of your invested money you are entering into a position where money no longer controls you. Save at least 10% of your earnings each month. If this is too much start with, then start with as much as you can. As you increase your savings, you will feel a greater level of self worth which opens you up to be guided by inspiration rather than desperation.

Know where you're goingClearly define what you would love to do in your life. Don't edit your dreams. If you have a clear road map, it's much easier to get somewhere. Your energy soars when you're clear on your aim and direction.

Surround yourself with people that inspire and uplift youPeople who think big allow you to expand. You cannot put your hand into a pot of glue without some of it sticking and likewise you cannot interact with inspired people without some of that rubbing off on you.

Affirm the person you would like to becomeAffirmations are simply a title for the ‘things we say to ourself about ourself'. Rather than think about who you have always been, start telling yourself who you are today in the present moment. As an example: I am confident, powerful and decisive at all times

Read, read and readWhether it be a self help book or a great novel, reading opens your mind and expands your vocabulary. Reading can assist you to speak with poise and confidence.

Count Your BlessingsKeep a gratitude diary and take note of what you have to be grateful for each day. You will be amazed how this shifts your perspective and actions.

Eat less, eat regularlyEating too much slows you down and can make you sluggish. Eating moderately at regular times each day assists the body with digestion and optimises physical function.

SmileSmiling tends to change your physiology and creates the impression of vibrancy and youthfulness.

Complete ThingsThe more you do simple things and complete them, the better you train yourself to do what you say you will and experience a sense of achievement. Start with a checklist. Give yourself rewards. Ask someone to assist you to be accountable.

Transform your BaggageMany people walk through their lives dragging their emotional baggage because of a misperceived past and events they have never appreciated and loved. Just in case you're carrying any unnecessary loads, I encourage you to do this one thing now. Make a list of every single thing in your life that you resent, or anything you have never loved-anything you think you made a mistake on, whatever you think you could have done "better." And then go through those items, one by one, and ask yourself, How did it serve me? How did it serve others? Respond to these two questions again and again, until you discover the benefits of these actions and events, and see the balance, the order, and the gifts resulting from them in your life-and in the lives of others.

Dr Demartini

8 Essential Rules for Social Media and Business

2011-09-28T14:44:00.001-07:00

Social Media is a complex and evolving medium that many businesses struggle to figure out. Few find quantifiable success with it, many have failed, and most have yet to truly form a social media strategy.
Failure is often a result of using social media before taking time to understand it, including asking the questions why do people engage on it and what are the unwritten rules that govern its use. It's free exposure, and often organizations fail to intentionally plan their message as they would for an expensive ad campaign. It's like trying to run before one has learned to walk. Consider this: In 2010, Nielsen and Facebook did a joint study on the effect of social media for enterprise using the benchmarks: Ad recall, brand awareness, and purchase intent. Social media had significantly better results than traditional marketing.

Whether an individual, a non-profit, or a business (B2B or B2C) - social media strategies must be well thought out and planned prior to execution. Questions must first be answered, primarily the question of "WHY?" "WHY are we getting into social media?" And, "WHY will this motivate individuals to find out more about our organization." Before every post, "WHY will our followers find this post valuable?" Social media is permission based engagement - it is the most effective way to engage people and receive measurable results. When someone gives an organization permission to speak to them, the organization's messaging must be "on" 100% of the time. It's like dating, an organization must woo, cultivate, and meet the needs of their network. The following rules apply to almost every social media user who seeks to develop a platform, client acquisition, increased sales, and better brand awareness.

Social media is relational, not transactional, according to social media innovator Michael Hyatt. Probably the most important rule for any individual or organization seeking to expand exposure and acquire new customers through an online presence. Keep the "keys" to the social media account away from the Sales department.Traditional marketing has no place in social media. Overtly trying to sell a product or service will quickly damage a social media reputation (reputation is quickly damaged and long to repair). Consumers no longer need to jump through hoops to end their relationship with an organization - no more signing up on the do-not-call-registry, no more trying to figure out how to get off a direct mail list, no more trying to figure out how to say "no" to a good salesperson - they simply click an unfollow button and, *poof*, an organization becomes vapor in their social stream. Resist automated responders that thank individuals for following.
Organizations must have a dedicated social media evangelist. An organization should have an independent social media manager who reports directly to an executive on the leadership team. The social media manager should not be accountable to a supervisor who is commissioned or expected to generate a sales quota.They should be the keeper of the keys and the protector of an organization's network of followers. Because social media is incredibly fluid and changes at the speed of light (in its first 9 months, Instagram acquired an astonishing 7 million registered users) - this person should have a natural proclivity toward Web 2.0, much like a surgeon, always reading, learning, and staying up to date. They should be fluent in related technology in order to track and report on the efficacy of the organization's social media platform - Google Analytics, A/B Testing, Content Management Systems (like WordPress), and third party social media software like HootSuite - so as to assign metrics by which to assess and respond quickly.
An organization should focus on engagement and not on numbers. The numbers will follow but should not be used as a performance indicator. There is significantly more value in having a smaller network of followers who engage on a regular basis than to have a large network of followers who view your page once and are done. Phantom accounts abound in social media for numerous reasons (do you smell SPAM?). A single engaged user is worth more than one hundred unused or phantom accounts. People participate in social media because it's an effective venue to build professional networks, exchange ideas, and build their own platform - if you're selling, they're not buying. A critical component of engagement is dialogue. Organization's who respond to and provide exposure to their more valuable followers will find their generosity reciprocated. Corporate and product development based on follower feedback is magic.
Define your core audience and identify your area of expertise. Do not try to be all things to all people. If you want to reach the decision makers in organizations, you may design your social media messaging and expertise around content that educates about organizational development, as an example. It does not sell your product or service in a direct or traditional way. But the decision makers who follow will begin to view an organization as an expert in their particular area of interest, they will click on links when enough credibility is built and they will share the content. In time, they will take the initiative to find out more about the organization including what products and services are offered. The trust built in social media will transfer to trust in the product or service. When users see a new post in their stream, they should immediately associate it with positive psychology - they should know that the post will bring them value and it's not simply trying to sell them a product or service. They should be inspired to be an active participant as a result of content.
Content is king. As previously mentioned, social media is not the place to make overt sales pitches. Posts should be succinct, not impulsive or emotional, but rather should be thoughtfully constructed and politically correct. On Twitter a post is given 140 characters. In order for followers to RT they must be given enough characters to retweet (subtract 2 characters plus the number of characters in a username). Posts should add value to followers free of charge, no gimmicks and no strings attached - they may provide information, best practices, or free resources. Develop free resources to give away on a website or blog. While posts should provide stand-alone content, most should include a link providing the user an opportunity to find out more. At least once daily the link should direct the user to an area of the organizations website where they can find free content or resources, such as a blog page. That's where users will find out more about the company, its products and services, and share content with their followers. Those who manage social media for business must understand that the premise that users have given an organization permission to engage them with an implicit trust that the organization will not abuse or misuse the access they've been given.
Updates should be consistent and frequent. Social media is always on and so should an organizations presence. Social media management is not a job relegated to weekdays between 8 and 5. It takes time and consistent impressions with other users to build the credibility needed for them to engage. Posts should be daily and typically should occur a few times and not more than 8 or 9 (depending on the network). When there are dark periods (a day or more without updates) followers get dubious, brand awareness fades, and credibility that has been built diminishes.
A Social Media platform must be manifested. Social media streams and accounts should be integrated into every page of an organizations website and communication including "like," "tweet," and "follow" buttons. Clients and followers cannot evangelize if an organization doesn't provide them with the tools to do so. It improves engagement, it says that an organization is serious about their social media platform, it is a big factor in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and it ensures that website content is fresh without internal redundancy.
A Profile must be Perfect. The profile is the most viewed page and too often the most neglected. Users decide whether or not to follow an account based on it. Images, background, and messaging should be consistent with an organizations brand. It should be concise and not superfluous. It should include a link to the organization's website or blog.

Posted August 9, 2011 by Joshua Leatherman

“Help! I’m Slumping, And I Can’t Get A Sale!”

2011-09-28T14:43:00.001-07:00

Gitomer | May 9, 2011

In a slump? Not making enough (or any) sales? Feel like you’re unable to get out of the rut? Is it the economy or is it YOU? Maybe you’re not in a big slump, but just can’t seem to hit the quota numbers. Let’s be kind and call it “sales underachievement.”
Don’t panic. Don’t press too hard. Don’t get down on yourself. Don’t get mad. And above all — don’t quit.
OK,OK, there’s a bit of slowdown, but don’t be too quick to blame your lack of performance on “it” before you take a hard look at “you.”
Take a closer look at “slump” before you blame “economy.” Here are the prime causes of sales slumps:

Poor belief system: I don’t believe that my company or product is the best. I don’t think that I’m the best.

Poor work habits: Getting to work late, or barely “on time.” Not spending your time with people who can say “yes.”

Mis-perceptions that lead to sour grapes: I think my prices are too high, or my territory is bad.

Outside pressure: Caused by money problems, family problems, or personal problems.

Poor personal habits: Too much drink, too much food, or too much after hours play.

Boss giving crap instead of support: Someone who says, “You better do it,” instead of, “I know you can do it.”

Events that go against you: New salesperson passes you, someone else gets promoted and you knew it should have been you.

Customers cancel a big order: Weakening your personal belief or causing severe money problems — or both.

Getting depressed: From any of the above.

When you’re in a sump, you begin to press for orders instead of working on your best game plan (which is: “sell to help the other person,” and let your sincerity of purpose shine through). When you have the pressure to sell, the prospect senses it, and backs off. Then things get worse. You can’t seem to sell at all, and begin to panic. Oh my gosh, I can’t sell a thing, I’ll get fired, miss my house payment, can’t pay my bills- Aaaahhhhh! False fear.
Relax, you’re better than that.
What causes a slump? You do. Therefore, you are the best (only) person to fix it.

What’s More Important to Sales, Personality or Scripts?

2011-09-28T14:29:00.001-07:00

What's on your mind?What’s More Important to Sales, Personality or Scripts?

When you think of a good salesperson, what’s the one thing that comes to mind? Often the thing they have in common is personality. Salespeople are often gregarious and fun to be around, but when asked how to quantify and teach personality to others these super salespeople are often stumped.

After all, everyone’s personality is different and the same words from one person might make a great impact while those same words from someone else might fall flat.Personality is simply not the only tool of a strong salesperson.

Personality, after all, cannot be taught, but it is possible to teach just about anyone to sell.

Teaching great sales involves a major re-education and a focus on systems that make sales simple, but it is possible. And the easiest way to do it is through scripting.

Sales scripts not only increase the sales of top performers but also produce amazing results for the entire team because they take the guess work out of making a sale. You don’t have to hope you say the right thing, because the right things to say are spelled out in the script.

The ultimate test of a superior salesperson is how consistent their results are. And for the sales manager consistent results for the entire team is the goal. Using a sales script achieves this consistency and makes the training of new team members simple and effective.By introducing scripting to the sales process, you can then measure conversion on a daily basis and, even better, your sales will automatically increase, so if you aren’t already scripting, start today.

by Bradley J Sugars

Project Management: Four Problems to Avoid

2011-09-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

It is important that you never trust to luck when you plan a project. Hope is not a strategy. Remember the words of Napoleon, when he was asked if he believed in luck. He said, “Yes, I believe in luck. I believe in bad luck. And I believe that I will always have it, so I plan accordingly.”

There are four main problems in project management. Each of them can be avoided by taking the time to think carefully before embarking on a new project.

1. Not Allowing Enough TimeThe first is not allowing enough time to complete a multi-task job. This is the primary reason why projects fail and people’s careers get sidetracked or torpedoed. They hope for the best, trust to luck and don’t allow a sufficient cushion of time to complete every step of the project. As a result, the project fails.

2. Assuming the BestThe second problem is assuming that everything will work out all right. As Alex McKenzie said, “Errant assumptions lie at the root of every failure.” Never assume that everything will work out all right. Assume that you are going to have problems. Allow yourself sufficient time and resources to solve those problems and keep the project on schedule.

3. Rushing at the EndThe third problem in project management is when the project team ends up rushing at the end. When you rush to complete a project, because you have run out of time or money, you almost invariably make mistakes and do poor quality work that you have to go back and correct later. It actually takes less time to finish a project correctly if you work at it slowly and steadily and do it properly in the first place.

4. Trying to Do Several Things at OnceThe fourth problem in project management is trying to do several things at once, and you ending up doing nothing well. You either take on too much at a time, including too many responsibilities yourself, or you assign too many responsibilities to other people. In either case, various parts of the project fall through the cracks and sometimes all the effort is lost. Do things one at a time, and do each thing well before moving to the next task.

How to Avoid These Problems

Plan Your Projects Visually
One of the most powerful methods for designing and project managing is called “Story-boarding.” It was originally developed by the Walt Disney Corporation to plan cartoons and movies and was eventually used in every part of the business.

On a storyboard, you create a visual image of the project, mounted on the wall, so that everyone can see it and comment on it. You begin with a large cork board. You then get boxes of pins or thumbtacks and stacks of 3 x 5 and 5 x 8 index cards. Get several felt pens with different colors. You are then ready to begin.

Across the top of the storyboard, write the major parts of the project plan in one or two words, on 5 x 8 index cards, with the colored felt pens. These are very much like the titles of the chapters of a book, and are called “headers.” You may have anywhere from three to 10 different headers as the main parts of the project.

Under each of the headers, you place 3 x 5 index cards. You list an individual step in the completion of the task on each of the 3 x 5 cards.

When you are finished, you will have created a visual representation of the entire project, showing what needs to be done, and in what order. You can then write the name of the person who is responsible for each of the jobs on the card listing the job.

With this layout, you can move headers and job descriptions around. You can change their order and schedule. You can change the person who is responsible and the deadline.You can also use story-boarding with a sheet of paper.

You can write a series of larger boxes across the top and then write a series of steps in each of those tasks in boxes underneath. The more visual you can make the project and the project plan; the easier it is for you to see relationships between the various tasks, and to make whatever changes are necessary to assure that you complete the project on time.

Posted by Brian TracyPosted by Brian Tracy

Get the Ball Rolling

2011-09-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

"I believe we are spiritual beings living physical lives, and to make the most of this life we have to take care of, nurture, and more importantly listen to the clues that spirit gives us, mostly through gut intuition and feelings we have.

That’s exactly where a lot of people get stuck, even those with greater awareness and knowledge. You know you want to work out, need to get into better shape for the sake of generating more energy to work your mission. But what step is often the hardest to take? That first one.

Depending how long you had been in your last cycle, getting the ball rolling can feel like pushing a boulder uphill, metaphorically speaking. You need to build the next muscle and final spiritual muscle that separates the successful from those still waiting at the gate: momentum.

Momentum is that force that makes it easier for someone who’s successful to do what’s right than to do what’s wrong. Momentum is that process of getting that snowball moving. The hardest part about working out is getting to the gym. Once you get there, it’s not that hard to do.

When you’re in motion, that’s when things begin to line up, not before (that goes for you perfectionist!). When in doubt, act. What did everyone else tell you? When in doubt, stop and think about it. No! That’s why I say thinking is dangerous to your wealth!

Most people who I know that got rich didn’t think too much. They saw a piece of property: ‘This looks good. Anything structurally wrong? Environmentally? No? Good, I’ll buy it.’ Twenty years later they’re very rich. They really planned that one out, huh?

Just as an aside, if you’re really “smart,” chances are you’re not going to be really rich. You’re going to get in your way, a real momentum killer. Those who aren’t too “smart” are open to knowing (A) They don’t know everything the need to know to be rich (B) Will learn how to be rich, even if it temporarily hurt’s their pride to know exactly how far off they were to begin with.

A body in motion will remain in motion and a body at rest will remain at rest. What do we want to do? Get into motion! Once you’re there, it gets easier. We already know that. Now we gotta just do it.

What in your life do you just need to get started and adjust as you go? What have you been waiting for? What’s the fear? Is that true or did you just make it up?

You will make it. Trust yourself. Love yourself and know that you make it all up. It’s your freaking story!"

March 18th, 2011 by T. Harv Eker

Questions from you…

2011-09-28T14:09:00.001-07:00

I frequently receive questions from my readers... so I figured if one person is asking, there may be several others who are wondering the same things.Here are a few questions I've received over the course of the past week...By the way, you can be assured I will be posting these more regularly.

Question: What is the difference between personal and business credit?

Answer:At the point an individual with a social security number accepts their first job or applies for their first credit card, a credit profile is started with the personal credit reporting agencies. The profile (credit report) is built from there with every credit inquiry, credit application submitted, change of address and job change. The information is typically reported to the credit bureaus by those issuing credit. Eventually, the credit report becomes a statement of the individual’s ability to pay back a debt.In some cases, the same is true for businesses. When a business issues another business credit, it is known as trade credit. Trade, or business, credit is the single largest source of lending in the world. The business, however, first obtains a Federal Identification Number or (EIN) from the IRS. The name, address, and EIN number then track the company’s credit.Information about trade credit transactions is gathered by business credit bureaus. The credit bureaus receive their information from businesses that issue other businesses credit. Unfortunately, a large percentage of businesses issuing business credit never report their information to the bureaus. This means a business can go for years without having anything listed with the credit bureaus.The business credit bureaus use this compiled data about your company to generate a report. Those issuing credit in many cases will rely on a business credit reports to determine if they will grant credit and how much credit to give.Question: How can I build business credit? Answer:

The number one rule in building business credit: pay your bills on time.
Owners or principals of a business need to look after their own personal finances.
Keep good financial records and have a solid accounting system that not only tracks accounts payable and accounts receivable, but is also capable of making forecasts and projections about financing and cash flow problems before they arise.
Create a business credit track record.

Building business credit is a process that will evolve over a period of time. Just staying in business past the first two years will improve your business credit outlook. So too will keeping your suppliers happy and ensuring that your financial recording systems are accurate and up to date. The longer that you pay your bills on time the greater your business credit will grow. Look after the small things in your business and building your business line of credit will look after itself. Question: Is it possible to start-up a business based on inventory abundance? Answer: Zapper Credit Solutions’ Answer: Yes, You definitely can get creative in this particular situation. Inventory is collateral to a lot of lending institutions; there are companies that provide inventory-based lines of credit.In today’s business market you can create a start-up based on just about anything that pops into your head. The good news is that millions of Americans achieve that goal every year. The bad news is that many more can’t make that happen because they don’t have their own capital or the credit to be able to get a business start up loan.Entrepreneurs must separate their personal and business life. They need to in order to be seen as a typical consumer for credit purposes, so they aren’t turned down for a mortgage or car loan just because their credit score is low from business activity.

Sometimes it takes a peek into a success story to motivate you in your life and business...

2011-09-28T14:03:00.001-07:00

I have been truly blessed to have met some of the most influential people in the world... one of which I consider to be the most influential on my success in my business life as well as in my personal life (he probably doesn't even know this).Take the time today to recognize what motivates you to be successful.This a link to a great article about my mentor...http://www.dynamicbusiness.com/articles/articles-entrepreneur-profile/brad-sugars-business-coach-extraordinaire4365.htmlThanks for being such and inspiration Brad!Best,My

Kansas City, Missouri Business Man Receives A $6.6 Million Dollar Bank Loan

2009-08-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: 27 August 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kansas City, Missouri Business Man Receives A $6.6 Million Dollar Bank Loan – Las Vegas, Nevada

After being turned down by more than 50 banks, Zapper Credit Solutions transformed a Kansas City, Missouri business man into a creditworthy and bankable asset within 60 days. Who says you can’t get credit today?

“It’s all in the presentation and knowing how to get the job done”, says Graig Zapper, President of Zapper Credit Solutions. “On staff we have a team of former bank executives that have developed close relationships with numerous lenders across the country. It’s through these personal relationships that we can assure the approvals our clients need. There is a specific set of protocols that lenders are looking for, and over the course of nearly a decade we have learned exactly what the lenders want to see.”

Susan Zapper, CEO of Zapper Credit Solutions goes on to say, “The $6.6 Million Dollars we recently got for that Kansas City man is only one example of a loan approval. We have thousands of success stories. Over the past 10 years we have assisted over 30 thousand clients in achieving their corporate needs. Our team of highly trained Credit Coaches guides our clients through the process necessary to become creditworthy and bankable. You may not need to qualify for $6.6 Million Dollars, but no matter what the amount, we work just as hard for all of our clients. That’s why we are number one.”

Over the past year, hundreds of so called “Business Credit” companies have popped up, attempting to cash in on desperate business people who need money to save their businesses. They will gladly take your money, then provide little to no results. Zapper Credit Solutions is a subsidiary of Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc. (NSCN) one of the Nation’s largest and most prestigious full service incorporating and asset protection firms. NSCN and Zapper Credit Solutions occupy over 21,000 square feet of class “A” office space and employ nearly 100 professionals to service their clients. Unlike nearly all of their competitors, they proudly invite potential clients and clients alike to visit their prestigious Las Vegas, Nevada facility.

For your free business assessment please phone 866.854.5513 to speak with your expert business credit coach.

For additional information about Susan and Graig Zapper or about Zapper Credit Solutions or Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.please visit
http://zappercreditsolutions.com/
http://www.nscn.com/

###

For further details:
Mylinda Montroy | Director of Business Development
Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.
Ph: (1) 702.838.8599 Fax: (1) 702.838.5130
Email: mylinda@nscn.com
http://zappercreditsolutions.com/
http://www.nscn.com/

Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc., headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the fastest growing and is the largest business credit company in the nation. The company was established in 2001 in Las Vegas, NV by two visionaries named Susan and Graig Zapper. Both Susan and Graig Zapper recognized early on that most owners of small and medium-sized businesses were unaware of how to effectively grow their businesses and achieve their goals without affecting their personal credit. They developed a comprehensive system and methodology to assist business owners in achieving their goals and realizing their dreams with dramatic results.

Zapper Credit Solutions Educates a Nation of Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners

2009-06-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Understanding the Mystery of Business Credit

Regardless of industry or the economic state the Nation is in, the secrets I am going to share with you are the keys to starting and maintaining a successful business.

The best part about understanding business credit is that you can immediately implement the processes into your business giving you the chance to get your company qualified for the Small Business Stimulus Package! That’s right! You CAN qualify for bailout funds!

The number one way to avoid the credit crisis is to understand why companies fail.

In 2008, there was a 49% increase in small business bankruptcies; that is a sobering statistic!

Discover the root of the problem.

Learning from others’ mistakes will help you to recognize what not to do.

Extensive research shows there are 5 top pitfalls to business failure:

5. Starting the Business for the Wrong Reasons

4. Poor Management

3. Lack of Planning

2. Over expansion

1. Insufficient Capital

A business owner having insufficient operating funds is not surprising. Business owners tend to underestimate how much money is needed and they are forced to close before they even have had a fair chance to succeed. They also may have an unrealistic expectation of incoming revenues from sales.

“It is imperative to ascertain how much money your business will require; not only the costs of starting, but the costs of staying in business. It is important to take into consideration that many businesses take a year or two to get going. This means you will need enough funds to cover all costs until sales can eventually pay for these costs.“

When it’s all said and done, you need capital for your business. But keep in mind, your capital needs will change over time, which is why you as a business owner need to build a strategy for capitalizing your business from the beginning. This is where most business owners drop the ball. They come up with great concepts, good marketing, and hire the right people, but they ultimately fail because they never planned for their capital needs.

Think of capitalizing your business as digging a well.

The wise business owner won’t dig a well that satisfies short-term needs, but will dig the well as deep as possible or at least lays that groundwork for doing so.

At a high-level, there are at least five layers of your businesses financial well. It starts with the personal assets of the principals. To me this is the worst possible layer, but the most commonly used. Next we move on to friends and families, which are also commonly exploited sources of funding. Beyond that we have credit, loans and investors.

While there should be some order to this, usually business owners are all over the map when it comes to the deeper layers of the well. They usually get lost in the process or they spend a ton of time going after something they are ill-prepared for.

The biggest tragedy is when business owners wait until it is too late to look for capital. They usually end up out of luck. The reality is no one wants to give you money if they know you need it. Your best bet is to dig your well, when you don’t need the water.

The number one lesson you as an entrepreneur or small business owner must learn and know is: the capital you need to survive doesn’t have to come from your bank account only.

Think of it this way: Capital = Money

Your Money tends to be limited, it intrudes on your personal life needs and desires and it risks the loss of previous successes.
Other People’s Money has wider sources, deeper pockets and gives you the ability to separate personal and business Life.

So what exactly is business credit?

BUSINESS CREDIT = OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY

BUSINESS CREDIT = TIME TO TURN INVOICES TO CASH
BUSINESS CREDIT = ABILITY TO HANDLE THE UNEXPECTED

Business Credit is also known as Trade Credit or Corporate Credit. It is the single largest source of lending in the entire world, even more then bank loans to businesses. Business credit is when one business sells a product or service on credit terms to another business. There are tons of businesses that extend credit terms because it allows them to sell more goods and services, their clients want credit and their clients need credit.

So why is business credit such a mystery?

Why is business credit so widely used, so widely misunderstood and so hard to achieve?

Here are just a few reasons:

No one ever talks about it!
No one ever told me that everything I ever put in my business name was attached to my personal profile… even worse no one ever told me that my business would affect my personal credit score!
There are no laws protecting the business rights from inaccurate information on a business credit report.
There is a lack of information provided by business and the government.
There is a lot of research on who are companies that offer credit, on who the companies are that report positive trade experiences, not just negative, on companies who don’t require a personal guarantee and on companies that don’t require a personal credit check
Finally, it can take hundreds of hours of research to find all this, which results as a direct cost to your business in time and lost revenue potential.

Knowing the differences between personal credit and business credit will really determine the need for separation.

Personal Score is determined by:

35% Payment History
30% Balances Owed
15% Length Of Time
10% Types of Credit
10% New Credit
# Recently Opened
# Recent Inquiries
Time since recent Open
Time since last Inquiry

Business Score is determined by:

* 100% Payment History
* Not all vendors Report
* VERY Interpretive by Bureau: ‘High Risk’ & ‘No Credit’ Lists

Why do you need business credit?

First of all there is 10-100 times more credit available than with personal credit. Generally, interest rates are lower with business credit. There are major tax advantages. Your business credit is not reflected on your personal credit report. Having business credit will protect personal finances and assets. Last, flat out… having business credit will enable you to grow your business the right way.

Your goal should be to be to develop access to credit without having to resort to loans and other forms of financing that will require more stringent qualifications or even potentially take stake in your business or profits. Not to mention, when you are issued business credit, these lines of credit are revolving. Meaning you can use it again and again! Loans and alternative financing are a onetime shot; once you use the money… it is gone.

You need to start you quest for capital by calculating your cash requirements. Break it down by asking yourself: How much capital do I need and what do I need it for? The more you know about your cash requirements, the better the decisions you’ll make about where and how to source the capital that you need.

The number one lesson I can impart to you is the fact that all money is NOT created equal.

As you look at sources of capital for your business you need to look into a couple of areas:

Debt/Equity – Any capital that you receive is either going to be debt or equity. Equity requires the surrendering of ownership. You need to be clear on what type of money you are obtaining. For the most part, banks and business deal debt, investors deal with equity. Equity gives the investor a percentage of future profits. So while it may feel like free money, this is the most expensive capital you can get for your business (if you are successful!).
Control – Does the money reduce your control? Bringing on investors or partners will lesson your control. A lender may request financial oversight or independent audits.
Security – How is the lender or investor securing the money? Are you personally guaranteeing it? Is there a blanket lien on your assets? If you default who are they going after for repayment?
Transferability – Can you transfer the capital to the next business owner? In other words, is the capital for you or is it for the business? Won’t do you much good to sell a business that has no capital reserves.
Ease of Attainment – How easy is it to get? How much time will you need to invest in order to secure the capital that you need?
Team – Are you adding players to your team that are invested in your expense? Pierre Omidyar sought VC money for eBay, not because he needed it, but because he wanted help building a world class team.

Build your own team with the experts. Consider outsourcing, it is genius. There is no shame in it at all. In your personal life and in your business life, surround yourself with the best of the best! If you can recognize the fact you are not an expert in everything the better off you will be.

You need a solid approach for funding your business and regardless of where you source your capital,

You need to be prepared.
First you will begin to structure your business so that it is compliant to vendor and lender standards. Then you will begin to build your business profile. Regardless of the capital that you seek, you need to start by building a foundation for your business.

Incorporating and getting into compliance is your foundation. If you aren’t incorporated you have seriously handicapped your business. You need to be a corporation (S or C) or LLC if you need to seriously raise capital for your business. Without a corporation you are limiting yourself to only considering personal loans. You have no options to other sources of capital and won’t be taken seriously anyway. Investors can’t invest in a sole proprietary. You need to have shares or membership units if you want to bring on investors. As a general rule, you need to separate your personal and business activities as much as possible, which is why the first step is to incorporate.

You then will give life to your corporation by establishing a credit profile for it, one that is separate from yourself and belongs to the business. The process of building business credit will help you ensure that you have the fundamentals in place. The fundamentals include operating in a professional manner that lends legitimacy to your corporation. The business financing or credit industry has a standard of what a legitimate business should look like, if you don’t meet that standard you are going to be shut out of financing options.

The step by step process to getting your business creditworthy and building your business profile is so very detailed and choreographed that if you skip a step or have neglected to establish any particular business component, you will not only be denied but you will be red flagged to every other lending institution.

You are building your business profile and identity to access the capital you need to actually build your business, this means you should take the time to find the experts in building business credit.

By building your corporate identity the correct way, you are getting your business creditworthy, all the while using other people’s money… other people’s money that is in the form of revolving lines of credit! Business Credit! Business credit that is being issued to you from vendors…Vendors with the products and services you need… Vendors who report to the business credit bureaus!

Every business should run like a well oiled machine, each division pushing the next with you as the driving force.

The force on an object equals the rate at which its momentum changes.

If you are the force driving your business to succeed, then you will recognize the need for change.

Understand this; everything you are doing in your business now is giving you the results you are getting. If you want to get different results, I suggest you change what you are doing. Take the steps to separate your personal identity from your business identity, get your business creditworthy as soon as possible.

Being creditworthy means is that you are in compliance with what lenders look for in an applicant.

Remember, in crossing any canyon you have the choice of trying to jump it, or lay down a bridge that will carry you across to your objective. Laying down the bridge may take a little longer, but will help avoid ending in pieces on the floor. Not even the legendary Evil Kneivel completed all jumps unscathed…..

Business is a game.
It’s just a game.
Only some play it better than others.
Some start playing the game by learning the rules.

Now that you know the rules… what are you going to do with them?

Take action NOW!
Call for your free business assessment please phone
(1) 800.910.9919

to speak with your expert business strategist.

###

For additional information about Susan and Graig Zapper, their e Book, or about Zapper Credit Solutions itself, please visit www.nscn.com or http://fasttrackcredit.com/

Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.
Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc.
Ph: (1) 800.910.9919
Email: mylinda@nscn.com

Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc., headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the fastest growing and is the largest business credit company in the nation. The company was established in 2001 in Las Vegas, NV by two visionaries named Susan and Graig Zapper. Both Susan and Graig Zapper recognized early on that most owners of small and medium-sized businesses were unaware of how to effectively grow their businesses and achieve their goals without affecting their personal credit. They developed a comprehensive system and methodology to assist business owners in achieving their goals and realizing their dreams with dramatic results.

Warning Signs of a Changing Economy

2009-05-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

With terms like “credit crunch” and “economic turmoil” being used in the everyday vocabulary of most Americans, it’s no wonder both the consumer and the business owner are in panic mode. Consumers are afraid to spend for lack of job security, while business owners have no cash flow coming in due to the lack of spending. It is a vicious cycle. There is no doubt about it; these are tough times we are living in.

There is an upside though. We are being forced to change. Change is hard; however, sometimes the force to change is the best thing for you and your business. It all boils down to your drive. Do you want to live or do you want to die?

As a small business owner myself, I choose to live!
In order for my business to not fall into the overwhelming statistic of failure which leads to adding to the unemployment percentage, I have decided to change my entire business strategy. I look at it this way; it’s not about how much money I can make this year… it’s about survival!

I have done my due diligence and found that the new small business stimulus plan Obama announced is where all entrepreneurs and small business owners need to look for guidance. What the plan proposes is to make credit more accessible to the small business owner, if your company is creditworthy that is. What that means to you is if your company is not compliant you will not have access to these stimulus funds. That’s it, point blank. Meaning, the President has issued a warning to all small businesses. Get your businesses creditworthy! Every single lender out there has specific guidelines they follow to be sure the loans they are granting are not just in good faith; but that they are cheap loans to qualified applicants who are able to repay.

Now, more than ever, you have got to separate your business credit from your personal credit. The co-mingling of funds MUST be a thing of the past.

We, as small business owners, are the heart and soul of the US economy! We must come to the realization that there is no-band aid to apply here; a shallow recovery for a deep recession is not going to help matters at all. Understanding the market is imperative right now. While Wall Street seems to be leveling off, the unemployment rates keep rising; and this is a prime result of so many small businesses closing their doors.

The snowball effect of what is happening in the US can definitely be turned around if, and only if, small businesses are able to survive this economic plunge.

Do not be a statistic! Get your business creditworthy!

The easiest and most effective way to do this is to do your due diligence, seek out the professionals in the credit building industry. After all, if you knew how to get your company credit worthy, wouldn’t you have already done it? Not to mention, the step-by-step process is quite structured. If you were to skip a step or even follow the steps out of order, your business would be red-flagged by vendors and lenders alike; you will never access the capital needed to not only grow your business, but you may not even be able to stay afloat the next few months.

It took me more than 5 years, well over $50k and a very undesirable personal credit score to learn I was 100% attached to my company. My personal credit score was dwindling; not because I had failed to pay my bills, but because I was personally guaranteeing every business credit line I had applied for! Who knew that giving my social security number to an office supply store gave them free reign to run my credit report as many times as they deemed necessary? You would venture to think that my attorneys and accountants would… but they never gave me a heads up (“it wasn’t their job”). So as my credit score plummeted, the word “deny” became more and more prevalent, which led to a tremendous amount of frustration. When I finally learned about business credit, I must admit, I felt quite foolish. But however foolish I felt, it definitely didn’t stop me from taking action immediately. Today, a year and a half later, had I not separated my personal credit from my business credit I am certain I would have had to close up shop while still owing a large amount of money on the bills my company had accrued.

Change is good, if you recognize the silver lining.
If you have yet to get your company creditworthy, I definitely recommend giving Zapper Credit Solutions a ring to get you started on your own path to economic recovery!

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Mylinda Montroy
Director of Business Development
NSCN, Inc
Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc.
Mylinda@NSCN.com

How to Avoid This Credit Crisis

2009-05-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Let Zapper Credit Solutions Teach You How to Avoid This Credit Crisis

The number one way to avoid the credit crisis is to understand why companies fail.

First, discover the root of the problem.
Learning from others’ mistakes will help you to recognize what not to do.

EDUCATION and AWARENESS ARE THE KEYS!

Most small businesses are closing their doors due to four key factors.

1. There is a lack of common vision. The people in your organization should have the same goals and agenda. Think of it this way; if everyone in your organization takes pride in their jobs they will be apt to be more productive. Pride and ego are giant weapons business owners should appeal to. Create a culture not only you take pride in, but all of your staff takes pride in as well.
2. The majority of people have poor self and time management skills. Granted, nobody wants to hear that they have bad self management or time management skills, but it’s your job as the leader to make your team efficient; being sure the correct amount of time is being allotted for consistent and excellent operations as well as new projects.
3. There is a lack of clear job roles. Defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability lead to the development of a real team. If you or others in your organization do not know what their jobs actually are, it generally leads to chaos. An example of this: One person may be working on the same exact project 3 other people are working on without even knowing it. In turn wasting a great amount of time and resources; not to mention money. Your team should work like cogs, the first cog (you) turning the next (your management) turning the next (your staff) and so on throughout your entire organization.
4. Lack of skill. This may be the most detrimental factor of all. 94% of the entrepreneurs and small business owners I have coached have believed they knew it all. Granted, you should be the experts in whatever industry you are in. However, there are many facets to owning and operating a successful business. Marketing, finance, sales, distribution, etc., etc., etc. For example, you may know everything there is to know about making the best tasting cupcakes, but that doesn’t mean you know anything about the financing behind start up costs or even the licenses you will need to create a business foundation for your bakery. That is why it is important to have mentors and/or an advisory team.

My wife and business partner, Susan Zapper, and I have been mentoring entrepreneurs and small business owners for the past 10 years. As the need for business coaching became more prevalent, we decided to dedicate ourselves to educating the Nation on the do’s and don’ts of building a successful business. We knew that we had created a step-by-step system second to none which could be implemented into any business, regardless of industry, ensuring true business success. Now, 8 years later, Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc. has become the number one resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners; and for good reason.

While big businesses are collecting bailouts, small businesses are closing their doors left and right, catapulting the unemployment rates to astronomical percentages. When what we should be doing is determining the means needed to be taken to overcome these challenges. Which is what Zapper Credit Solutions is doing… providing the solutions to small business problems.

Zapper Credit Solutions can show you the way to achieve the dreams and goals you had when you first got into business for yourself. Our Fast Track Business Credit Builder Program can get your business qualified for the small business bail out money.

Small businesses are the force behind keeping this country alive and thriving. We are creating opportunity!

Susan and I want to give YOU the opportunity to become a part of a Global Solution.

Next, take action.
Call us NOW to get your business qualified for the Small Business Stimulus Package!
1.877.330.9305

Graig Zapper
President
Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc.
Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.

The Nation’s Foremost Business Credit Experts Speak out on the Astronomical Unemployment Percentages By Mylinda Montroy

2009-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Why Is No One Addressing One Of The Main Causes Of The Growing Unemployment Rate?

Seems most of the economic strategists are forecasting that we are at the end of this recession. They say we should expect economic activity to bottom out and then turn around gradually later in the year. However, businesses remain leery about hiring, driving the nation’s unemployment rate up and causing “further sizable job losses” in the coming months. This is not the only cause of the increase of unemployment; the fact that there was a 49% increase in small business bankruptcies in 2008 should give you a bit more insight.

“Small businesses are the force behind keeping this country alive and thriving. They are creating opportunity,” said serial entrepreneur, business coach, and the Nation’s foremost expert on business credit, Graig Zapper. ” When we neglect to acknowledge the significance small businesses make on the economy, not only on a National level but on the global scale, we will never be able to create the long term solution for this recession. We are in a deep recession and I fear we only have been creating shallow solutions.”

We, as a Nation of entrepreneurs, are good at being adaptable, so it’s more important than ever to know the rules of the game. Funding for small businesses has dwindled; investors are still sitting on the sidelines with all of their money in fear. The only sign of relief comes from the US Government; the small business stimulus package.

“Education is the key to success in tough times,” says co-owner of Zapper Credit Solutions and expert business credit strategist Susan Zapper. “Every entrepreneur and small business owner should know this piece of legislation like the back of their own hand.”

The Small Business Stimulus Package outlines: $720 million to help support a number of programs at the SBA; $400 million in support for economic development and entrepreneurship, focusing on distraught low-income rural and urban communities; and several tax incentives for small businesses.

The Stimulus Package clearly outlines the role of the SBA. The SBA will ensure that small businesses can more easily get loans and will also offer incentives to lenders who will give loans to creditworthy small businesses. This act will ensure more capital flow in the market.

Susan Zapper goes on to say, “It will be hard for businesses to expand or even survive this downturn if they have not taken the steps to make themselves creditworthy now. Businesses and consumers alike need loans to make the purchases that could essentially revive the economy.”

Graig and Susan Zapper co-founded Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc. and nearly ten years ago; both companies catering to entrepreneurs and small business owners. “We founded our businesses with the idea of creating a remedy to the abundance of small businesses closing their doors so soon after they had opened,” Susan Zapper said, Graig Zapper goes on to say, “We had opened so many businesses and never had anyone explain the need to establish separate business credit, let alone help us build any of our businesses; we did everything by trial and error on our own.”

“When we looked at several business models we found that the source of real and true business success was to have a real and true business; one that stands alone without being personally tied to the business owners’ financials.”

“Because both Graig and I are of the entrepreneurial spirit and have been working with other entrepreneurs and small business owners for over 25 years, we both saw how detrimental it was to comingle business finances with personal finances.” Susan Zapper goes on to say, “There are no laws or regulations set up to monitor business credit; not to mention, most people have no idea that they haven’t set up their companies correctly in order to qualify for true business credit that is unattached to their personal credit.”

This power couple definitely had insight.

Today, eight years later, businesses (no matter how old they are) will not qualify for funding from vendors or lenders without having a business profile and being creditworthy; small businesses will continue to fail and the rising of unemployment rates will continue unless entrepreneurs and small business owners take action now to get properly qualified to receive the bailout funds that will help them through this current crisis.

The Small Business Stimulus Package: YAY! Or NAY!

2009-04-27T09:09:00.001-07:00

The Small Business Stimulus Package: YAY! Or NAY!

As most small business owners waited in great anticipation for help from this new government, many have come to realize that there is no easy way out of this economic downturn. Last week when the small business stimulus package was announced, I swear I heard a sigh of great discontent from the entrepreneurs and small business owners of the US. But wait, don’t fret too soon, there is light at the end of this tunnel… there is relief in sight, and quite possibly it could be coming from a government agency, but only with your help as a small business owner.

As this new government gets down and dirty developing and implementing the strategies needed to loosen credit accessibility for the small business owner, you as the small business owner need to roll up your sleeves and commit to an action plan as well, getting your company creditworthy. Otherwise, your business will not see any changes with this “Call to Arms” small business stimulus package.

What all small business owners should be doing right now is looking at the core of their businesses; determining whether or not there is a solid foundation to build their businesses on. I know, you’re asking yourself “what does that mean exactly?” “How can I get my company creditworthy?”

Well, let’s look at your business like you look at yourself.

In life you have to establish yourself and your identity in order to establish credit; so when you’re born you get a Social Security number, right? Same thing applies when you start your business, you get an EIN number. Now as you grow, your identity grows as well, all tied to your Social Security number. You, as a business owner, should be doing the same thing with your EIN number; growing your business’ identity (this identity is actually called your business profile).

*Remember, you are growing your business identity so you want to keep this a BUSINESS profile that is very separate from your personal profile. “Why?” you ask… because if your business and personal profiles are intertwined, it will reflect on your personal profile and this reflection will most definitely be negative.

For example, when it comes to personal credit, you know that there are agencies that govern and regulate it. You must sign documentation in order for anyone to check your credit. This is completely contrary to the business credit industry; there are no such regulations. What that means to you is that when you are personally tied to any business loans, i.e. credit cards or vendor lines of credit, those businesses extending credit to you have the ability to obtain your credit report at any time, as many times a day as they want to; thus lowering your personal credit score all the while.

Let’s look at this scenario a little closer…
Now that your personal credit score is dwindling because your personal and business profiles are all wrapped up together, what lending institution is going to consider giving you any sort of loan???

This is only one example of how detrimental it is to not have separated your business profile from your personal profiles. And now, the way this new stimulus package for small business owners is being laid out, lenders need to take the extra effort to make sure good loans are getting to the creditworthy small businesses.

Eight years ago, my husband and business partner Graig and I realized the need for the separation of personal and business life. This realization has helped us to develop a very specific step by step process guaranteeing business credit that is completely separate from personal credit, as well as create a personal goal; GET ALL SMALL BUSINESSES CREDITWORTHY in the US!

Our company has over 30,000 clients and that number is climbing daily, because we are here to help entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed. With our business credit building programs you will qualify your business for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of business credit, regardless of what your personal credit score looks like; and in most cases you will see your personal credit score rise. We have a 12 step program specifically designed to get results.

Now more than ever, it is imperative for you, the small business owner, to commit to building your business the correct way! The way that will enable you to withstand any economic storm because you will have access to the capital you need to not only stay afloat, but to grow your business.

Susan Zapper
CEO Nevada State Corporate Network, Inc.
CEO Zapper Credit Solutions, Inc.

Has the Bank Denied your Company a Business Loan? Zapper Credit Solutions can help.

2009-04-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Evolution of True Business Credit

Over 95% of all small business loan applications are denied by banks!

A depressing statistic if you’re a business person looking for funding. And while there seems to be no shortage of advice for new entrepreneurs – articles like “Top Ten Strategies for Financing your Start-up,” “How the SBA can help your Small Business,” and “Enhanced Personal Credit is the key to Small Business Success” are common place – the unfortunate truth is that most authors of such articles have never created a successful new business. This conclusion is inescapable given the extensive misstatements and counterproductive advice frequently disseminated in the popular financial press.

You need help from someone who has been successful in helping real businesses get real business loans. Going to the SBA, using retirement funds, tapping out personal credit cards or seeking venture capital in exchange for a lion’s share of equity are common themes of so called “business magazines.” The unfortunate theme of all such approaches is that they are based, virtually in toto, upon your personal credit. They are not grounded upon a foundation of separate business credit that is distinct and apart from your personal credit. This key of “separateness” is the crux of true business credit.

The cornerstones to your business credit foundation are two core processes:
1. Creation of the correct business structure, and
2. Systematic processes to insure that your business is fully compliant with all of the evaluative criteria used by a) lenders and b) corporate credit rating agencies.

In addition to these mechanistic features, you need to create an emotional appeal for your business – a Business Plan that will cause a lender to believe that you, notwithstanding the odds, will actually succeed and prosper. We have extensive experience helping a wide variety of business prepare this quality and type of plan.

An often overlooked fact is the importance of an effective website in the credit assessment process; one of the first things a lender does is to look you up online. If your website looks like an incomplete or unprofessional effort, it will hurt you. Conversely, if your site Pops! – you’ve taken an important step to creating an indispensable impression - the impression that you’re for real, you have gravitas, and the bank would do well to attract and keep a client like you!

Once you have an appropriate corporate structure, proper credit acceleration processes in place, and a comprehensive plan, you need to undertake the actual work of building the separate business credit. In sum, paying bills on time and, when appropriate, pushing the envelop to expand your businesses credit. It is critical that you follow an appropriate ascending scale when expanding credit. Seek too little, and you’re not building the correct foundation. Seek too much, and you face a denial that will claw you back. We are experts at this process.

The Critical Evolutionary Stage

Critical mass is when you reach the point where you are ready to convert the credit profile we have helped you create into actual business financing. Your two options – debt financing (a loan) or equity financing (investor gives you money in exchange for equity.) Frequently, small business owners think that equity financing is easier to acquire and preferable. Actually, the opposite is true. However, there are times when equity financing has advantages. When that is true, we can help you present your case to equity financiers.

The saying that “the longest journey begins with a single step” is especially apropos to the creation of business credit. You just need to get started, on the right path, and keep at it. If you follow our protocols, you will – absolutely will – succeed. Get going today!

Zapper Credit Solutions Exposes Credit/ Lending Fraud

2009-04-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Microcredit and P2P Loans: Positive or Negative?
by: Mylinda Montroy

*Microcredit: the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty, designed to spur entrepreneurship.

*Peer to Peer Lending (P2P Lending): a new way to borrow money online directly from people.

Finding funding in this tight credit market is tougher than ever. And seeing more and more entrepreneurs turning to microloans, microfinance and peer-to-peer Web sites has me very concerned. While I was checking out numerous P2P web sites that are geared towards “Changing Lives”, I couldn’t help but to think, “Wow, this is great!”

That is until I looked a bit deeper.

The entrepreneurs and business owners posting profiles, i.e. loan applications, on these web sites are asking for capital for projects ranging from buying new equipment to leveling out cash flow. GREAT! Access to money’s needed to grow the economy.

SPECTACULAR right???

WRONG!

This “micro financing “, “microcredit”, and P2P lending comes with a huge price tag; having interest rates varying between 18% and 36% (generally leaning more towards the 36%)! Not only are there high interest rates, but the applicants also have to be prepared to put their own personal credit on the line! Do you understand what that really means? What it means to you is that if your business goes under, you are personally responsible for paying back this loan. I find it so very unfortunate that while unscrupulous businesses are promoting themselves as “life savers”; they are actually taking advantage of the bad economy by preying on the entrepreneur and small business owner to make a quick buck.

Being an entrepreneur myself, I am truly disgusted and disappointed with this.

There IS a true formula to achieving business success, a true formula that gives you access to the capital you need to grow your business that is NOT tied to you personally, even in this economy.

So I am going to tell you this…
DO NOT LET THE MEDIA SCARE YOU!
THERE ARE WAYS TO BUILD AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS!
THERE IS ACCESS TO THE CAPITAL YOU NEED!
DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU ANYTHING OTHERWISE!

You just MUST qualify your business.

How can I do that you ask?
First and foremost you need to understand the differences in the calculus that underlie business credit versus personal credit. Second, all entrepreneurs and business owners have to learn how to develop and maximize business credit separate and apart from personal credit.

I know, it sounds so simple! Two steps! What you need to understand is that these two steps are the difference between your business flourishing or having to close your doors and inevitably blame it on the economy.

Which scenario sounds better to you? (That’s a no brainer!)

The good news is there are people out there who are not looking to exploit the credit crunch; rather, they are here to educate and help the entrepreneur and business owner through these rough times!

Zapper Credit Solutions has been doing just that for the past 8 years for thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners. They are the Nation’s experts in helping businesses get through this 2 step process. Their Fast Track Business Credit program has been designed to help you access business capital through lines of credit, loans, leases, and trade credit. They have a hands-on program that guides you through the process of establishing, building, and maximizing business credit. Their starting point is to build a solid business credit profile, the keystone to business credit. This business credit profile is separate and apart from the individual credit histories of the officers, owners, and managers of the company. Thus, leaving the business owner access to unlimited lines of BUSINESS credit, without the high payback interest rates and negating from personally being tied to the businesses finances.

So beware of what you are applying for, if it sounds too good to be true...
it probably is!