EZ Lead Capture is a system that I have used over the years to promote my business. I use this EZ Lead Capture System in two big ways:
1) As an Online Advertising System including Lead
Capture Pages (also known as Squeeze Pages), and
2) As my solution for staying in touch with my customers
and partners.
EZ Lead Capture is everything I need to publish my products in a professional Lead Capture System for advertising.
My customers and partners appreciate how I easily keep in touch with their needs for information without being bombarded with well-intended informers bombarding their privacy. Maybe this is part of why I have a large customer/partner base of people that love to work with me over the years.
I also appreciate the fact that EZ Lead Capture System Owners do not feel that they have to “dominate the internet.” I personally do not care for all of the hype of people trying to slam me into their super duper system that will make me millions.
So EZ Lead Capture is for beginners to learn how to market online as well as seasoned professionals who want to focus on their business and let their marketing system be a tool to that end.
In addition to all of the great features that EZ Lead Capture subscribers enjoy, we can experience a very fair priced subscription that can be paid monthly or on an annual basis and not be a financial burden as you aspire as an internet marketer.
EZ Lead Capture has an Entrepreneurs Lead
Generation Handbook that is yours for FREE
Claiming Tax Deductions for START-UP COSTS for a New Business
According to Ronald R. Mueller, MBA, Ph.D., on a webinar that I attended, “Costs incurred during the START-UP PHASE of a business are generally deductible over a 15-year period” (i.e., each $1,500 in start-up costs would be deducted at a rate of $100 per year for 15 years).
What is the “Special Deduction” for 2011?
Any taxpayer who begins operation of a new business in 2011, may deduct ALL start-up costs (up to $5,000 maximum) on their 2011 tax returns–no need to spread the deduction over a 15-year period.
EX: $5,000 in Start-Up cost deductions, for a person in a 28% tax bracket, would generate a $1,400 tax Refund.
If Start-Up Cost deductions exceed the amount of money earned this year in the home-based business itself, most or all of the additional deductions may be applied against any other source of income such as a W-2 job, which could possibly even drop the taxpayer into a lower tax bracket.
This one-time write-off provision in the tax law is valid only during 2011, and therefore will set to expire permanently at midnight, December 31, 2011. Even IF Congress reinstates this provision in 2012, a business begun after Jan. 1, 2012, will not be able to claim those deductions until April 2013 — when 2012 Tax Returns are filed.
Not activating a new home-based business by December 31, 2011, will delay tax-deductions for Start-Up Costs by at least 15 months.
What Are “Start-Up Costs?”
The term includes business-related costs you incur prior to actually beginning to offer goods or services for sale–i.e., the costs of getting ready to open your business. They are generally the same types of expenses that will be called “business operating costs” once you are actually operating a business.
Q: When does the start-up period begin?
A: When you begin thinking about starting a business
Q: What are some examples of tax-deductible “start-up costs?”
A: Seminars, Workshops, Courses and Books on how to run the business
Investigating or Researching one or more business opportunities
Travel for meetings, conventions or interviews or to obtain
education from experts
Telelphone and cellular phone costs related to new business start-up
Office supplies and some business tools (briefcase, iPad, business
cards, etc.)
DOES NOT INCLUDE vehicles, furniture, computers and other
depreciable assets
Caveat: Money spent qualifying to begin a certain type of business, generally are not deductible. This includes getting a degree, obtaining a license to practice (doctors, real estate…), etc.
The IRS “default setting” for start-up expenses is to deem that the taxpayer made a decision to amortize the amounts over a 15-year period. To keep that from happening, and claim your deductions immediately, you should take two actions:
1. Claim your Start-Up Expenses on IRS Form 4562 (“Depreciation and Amortization)
2. Attach an “election statement” to your tax return, stating specifically that you wish to claim all (or the first $5,000) of your Start-Up Expenses in 2011, “the year in which your business became active.”
By the way, since Start-Up Expenses are deductible in the year in which the business begins active operation, if the business you are investigating never gets off the ground, you will not get any deductions.
The above information, provided by Home Business Tax Savings, Inc., is for illustration purposes only, and should not be taken as tax advice. Always consult with a tax advisor with expertise in Home Business Tax Law prior to using this, or any, tax deduction information. For more information about Special Home-Business Tax Deductions, see www.HomeBusinessTaxSavings.com
Ten Tips for Time Management for Your Home-Based Business
Time is money, and no one knows this better than home-based business owners. You work, you get paid. And if you don’t work, well, no one will magically deposit a paycheck into your bank account.
For most home-based business owners, that’s plenty of incentive to manage their time effectively. But how can you make the most of each work day? Start with these 10 tips:
1. Plan tomorrowtoday. Even the most successful and conscientious small business owners need help handling all they need to accomplish. Planning tomorrow’s schedule today is a great way to get ahead. At the end of each workday, jot down a to-do list of things you want to accomplish tomorrow, in order of priority. That will get you prepared for tomorrow, and you’ll avoid wasting time deciding or worrying about what should come next.
2. Get your priorities straight. Prioritize your tasks. All your activities can be broken down into categories in order of importance. If you need to be networking and finding new business leads, set a time frame for that task. Then set aside time for growing and expanding current business. Then check off all the other tasks that need to be completed by the end of the day.
3. Maximize downtime. Keep a notepad or tape recorder with you whenever you’re away from the office. Jot down or record good ideas whenever they occur to you. Your cell phone also is a great tool. Call yourself and remind yourself of what you need to get done. If you’re traveling, bring your laptop and cell phone with you to the airport, and catch up on email and calls while you wait.
4. Emulate the early bird. Set your alarm clock for an hour before the rest of the family is due to get up. Get up and get an early start crossing off to-do items on your checklist.
5. Take breaks. Set aside time for breaks during the day to recharge and reenergize. It’s amazing how much something as simple as a half-hour walk or lunch (not at your desk!) can do to clear your mind and help you refocus on your goals.
6. Strike a balance. The key to time management is balancing your activities so that your life is not all work and no play. You have to make time to do the things necessary to keep your business growing, but don’t do it at the expense of the things you need to do to keep yourself growing.
7. Pay attention to the little things. It’s the little things that can trip you up and waste time. For example, using dial-up for your computer instead of a high-speed connection to the Internet costs you time. Connecting a fax machine to your main phone line every time you need to send or receive a fax costs you time, as does going back and forth to a printer set up in a different room. Each of these items may only take a few seconds here or there, but in aggregate they can add up and cost you big chunks of your day.
8. Delete trash. Throw away everything you don’t need as soon as it lands in your mailbox. This will keep junk email and snail mail from piling up and becoming a major distraction.
9. Stay focused. Yes, the laundry is piling up, and the dishwasher needs to be emptied. But the truth is there will always be things that you could be doing instead of working. But to run a successful home-based business, many times you’ll just have to ignore these distractions and stay focused on the task at hand.
10. Separate family time and work hours. To manage your time working at home efficiently, you have to delegate what hours are for what. Explain to family — especially children — that you aren’t choosing work over spending time with them, but that you have to work during work hours. Once the workday is over, focus entirely on your family, and don’t let business intrude on your time with them.
Note: This post is a compilation from various sources, which are unknown at this time.
Understanding how to focus has often been regarded as the single most important principle to accomplishing almost anything. Those who truly focus on their goals simply get more results than those who do not focus.
Being in focus with your life will help you to see your strengths and weaknesses much more clearly. It will help you appreciate who you are and what you have to offer. Focusing on your business will teach you things about yourself that you never knew were possible. When we focus on building our business, it means we see it clearly–without the filters that would tend to hold us back. Focusing on the fundamentals allows us to improve and get better, whether it’s talking to people, building relationships, or training our groups.
When we focus on our long-term goals, or our “Why,” it helps us overcome the discouragement of short-term setbacks.
Be prepared for success. Once you master the ability to focus on your daily business building activities in a very repeatable way, doing them again and again, they will eventually give you a string of successes that will ultimately lead you to your goals.
I am definitely focusing on my goals and thinking about the value that increased focus will bring to my business.
Take some time and think through your Business Plan. Write out your Goals and Purposes.
Your Goals need to be realistic, specific, and measurable. Your Purposes are the outcome you want to achieve, and how this will apply in your life. Generally your purposes are what your achievements will mean to enhancing relationships with family and loved ones.
Prepare your Work Schedule, the time frames that you will be setting aside to work in your business.
Accurately prepare your Personal Evaluation, such as your resources, your time, and your skills.
Your Marketing Plan is where you will define your target market along with how you will find them and how you will contact them.
Set Realistic Expectations
Discipline is very important when running a home-based business; however, if you have expectations that re impossible for one person to accomplish, you are putting yourself on the fast track to burn out.
Create Boundaries
Starting a home-based business takes commitment and dedication. Giving 110% of yourself in the beginning will reap HUGE rewards for months and years to come, compared to the employee who clocks in and out until they are 67 years old. Creating boundaries in the beginning of your business will ensure you have the time and focus to build a successful, profitable business. Share your goals with friends and family and include them in your achievements. You will find that they will be supportive of your business when you celebrate with them the milestones along the way.
Create a Calendar and Use It Regularly
It is incredibly important to set aside time to work your business. Use your calendar and write everything down so you can have a better understanding of what is ahead. Follow your Business Plan and be specific and set priorities as well as goals to be accomplished.
Delegate
If you try to do everything, you will end up burned out and frustrated with the lack of results. Set priorities, and see exactly what needs to be done both personally and professionally.
Enlist help as needed.
Delegate those tasks that drain your energy, and schedule the others at times when you feel you have the most energy to do them.
Have a Support System
Having people you can turn to that have a commonality with you is a great asset for any home-based business owner. Connect with other people in your business niche, whether within your own company, through your Better Business Bureau, or online. As for online, a great resource is joining a network of like-minded business people.
Take Care of Yourself
Make sure you are eating healthy, exercising, and drinking plenty of water. Not only will this give you added energy, it will help you avoid getting sick, which equates to less down time.
Take power naps, if needed. It is difficult attempting to be brilliant when you are completely exhausted. Get the rest you need so you can be at the top of your game.
Schedule alone time. Make sure to create time, at least once a week to get away from home and work. And remember, if you don’t schedule it in, it more than likely won’t happen.
It is also very important to get away at least once a quarter. Making time to relax and recharge will do wonders for your business.
Schedule a vacation once a year. Understanding just how important it is for you to recharge and renew your spirits and morale will help you set this priority in a high position.
Enjoy the Journey
It is very easy to always concentrate on the never ending to-do list or the rejections. Make sure you schedule in time, at least twice a month, to review your Business and Marketing Plans to realize the goals you have met and accomplishments you have achieved. It is probably time for a mini celebration with family and friends. Forget about burn out and enjoy the journey.
Many factors influence the success of Leaders. Skills, mindset, timing, opportunity, temperament, intelligence, integrity, influence–all play a part. Following are some of the characteristics that distinguish successes from failures.
1) Successful Leaders possess high energy and “give it all they’ve got.” A proactive leader can improve the probability of success; whereas a laissez-faire approach is likely to cause failure.
2) Communication is the blood-stream of your business. Effective Leaders communicate well at all levels including written, public, and one-on-one. For success, not only do leaders place a very high priority on open, timely and valid communication throughout the organization, but also, they make it happen. Leaders must have effective interpersonal skills for coaching and for encouraging standards of performance.
3) Successful Leaders help others to win. Effective leaders let others take a slam-dunk while they take an assist. It does not matter who gets the credit. Leaders accept blame and are reluctant to assign it. Leaders maintain an authentic desire to share victories.
4) Equity is crucial for trust and morale in business. Effective leaders don’t play favorites. They practice a high degree of objectivity and fairness in all their actions.
5) The best leaders don’t tolerate incompetence anywhere in their organizations. They hold people accountable for the expected performance.
6) Top leaders see that procedures are in place so that direction of the workforce is systematic and orderly and not left to chance. By using procedures, the leader can positively influence performance.
7) Successful leaders know when to make decisions and they avoid excessive consensus and compromise. Poor leaders tend to avoid decisions if the consequences might upset someone; they defer the responsibility for tough decisions to others.
8) Similarly, top leaders recognize and fulfill their responsibility to manage their executives or senior management. Executives require direction, coaching and support–they are people, too. Good leaders are more than aloof figureheads.
9) Leaders must model leadership behavior. Double standards are unhealthy, so the way a leader wants his associates to behave has to be the way the leader behaves.
In summary, successful leadership is the right combination of many attributes that are skillfully modeled in any given situation or circumstance.
We all know that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed in August 1945 after the explosion of atomic bombs. However, some know little about the progress made by the people of Japan during the past 65 years.
DETROIT — 65 Years After Hiroshima
What has caused more long-term destruction, the A-bomb, or the U. S. Government’s Welfare Programs? Japan does not have a welfare system. You either work for it, or do without! Which system is working better?
How does this apply to our businesses? Should I not progress through the ranks faster because I have a great work ethic? Why do some individuals have ambition and “make things happen;” while others say things like “it won’t work,” or for some reason seem to feel like life owes them a living? Why do those that “go the extra mile” have to pay a price for those that are lazy and unwilling to work to provide a living for themselves and their families?
Looking forward to receiving your comments and solutions!
A Friend shared this article with me and I want to share it with you.
Why do I have a variety of friends who are all different in character? Some of them can be considered marginal even.
How do I get on with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a “different” part of me…
With one of them I am polite. I joke with another friend. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one of them. With another I giggle at every silly thing. I have my wine with one; and dance with another. I listen to one friend’s problems and give them advice; then I listen to another advising me.
They are all like pieces of a jigsaw, when completed they form a treasure box–A treasure of friends!
They are my friends who understand me better than myself, who support me through good days and bad days. They are like colorful anti-depressants that I take on different days.
Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr. Oz calls them Vitamins F (from Friends) and counts the benefits of friends to our well being.
Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you take Vitamin F constantly, you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your tense moments, it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%.
I am so happy that I have a stock of Vitamins F!
In summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them. We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, not forgetting to open our mouths big to swallow the floating vitamins F!!!!
Starbucks is an amazing company that started as a small Seattle store in 1971 and turned itself into a global synonym for java and joe.
How did Starbucks grow so aggressively, and on a relatively low advertising budget? The key is found at the core of the Starbucks business model. Starbucks starts and ends with “Relationships.”
From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company–one that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a “feeling of connection.”
The Starbucks Mission Statement is not one of management rhetoric, but one that describes how Starbucks conducts business.
The Starbucks Mission Statement:
“To Inspire and Nurture the Human Spirit–one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”
The Starbucks principles of how they carry out this Mission through their Coffee, their Partners, their Customers, their Stores, their Neighborhood, and their Shareholders, may be found on the Starbucks website.
Today, with more than 15,000 stores in 50 countries, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. And with every cup, they strive to bring both their heritage and an exceptional experience to life.
Don’t we wish that every company would embrace Starbucks model? Wouldn’t it be great to have pleasant experiences while getting issues resolved? Whatever happened to “Exceptional Customer Service?” Based on the Starbucks model, could we look at core values and relationships to transform most any business today?
The Starbucks company is a business model with core values and relationships that sets it apart from most companies today.
