The Entrepreneurs Club

Making money online is not as impossible as it might seem. You don't have to have an innovative idea no one has done before. There are many ways you can make money online. Chances are good there is someone else selling the same product or service online also. So, you will want to do your homework research your competition. You want to know what they are doing and how they are doing it. You may want to under cut their price just a little, but you will need to make a profit or you will put yourself out of business. One of the most important factors with running a business online is traffic. You want people visiting your website. If they don't buy the first time, they may come back another time. You want them to remember your website, so you will want it to stand out in a crowd. It will still need to be user friendly because you don't want them to remember your website as the website they couldn't figure out how to use.

In other words, making money on the Internet is not any different then making money in the physical world. You will have to make a monetary investment into your business, and you will have to be willing to do the work necessary to make the business run smoothly. It takes more than a couple of clicks of your mouse for you to make money on the Internet. You want to send traffic to your website. The best way to send traffic to your website is to advertise. You will have to learn about the different ways you can advertise on the Internet. When advertising on the Internet, you can spend a large sum of money in advertising and it won't do any more for you than if you had advertised with the same place, but spent less money. Google adwords is a good example. Google adwords is a good way to advertise, but you can end up spending a fortune very fast. In fact Google will even tell you. Google will work with you as far as setting a daily advertising budget and they will stick to it. They will give you plenty of tips and pointers to help you when advertising with them.

Choose the product or service you will be selling on the Internet carefully. If you choose to go with a product, make sure there is plenty of profit margin. Many people will start their online business using online auctions such as Ebay. Ebay will charge you a small fee for listing and selling your items on their site, but if you have a website, Ebay will also allow you to link your item with your website. This gives the customer interested in your product to look at your website where they will be able to see all the products you offer for sell. By starting your business this way, you will need only a small amount of money to start your business.

Another type of business you can start with very little investment money is contract labor. You will work for yourself and the client who contracts you for the job they need performed. You will need to look for positions on the Internet job sites in order to find positions which you would be qualified to perform. You will apply or bid on the project and if you are awarded, you do the work to the customers satisfaction and you will be paid. You will need a small amount of investment money because the job sites will ask you to by points in order to bid on the jobs or you will have to pay a monthly fee in order to apply for the jobs you are interested in and qualify for. With this type of business the more computer software you are familiar with the wider range of jobs you will probably qualify for. You will be able to make money even if you only know Word and know your way around the Internet.

So as you can see they are many different ways you can make money online. All you need is to do it.

Ray Subs works with Make Money Online as a public relations consultant, more information about Make Money Online can be found at http://www.makemoneyonline.com Makemoneyonline is a link to a page on the World Wide Web.

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• What Difference Can a Colour Make?

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# posted by Smart Man @ 2:28 AM

Honest Home Business Idea For A Better Lifestyle. Why Invest In A Home Business?

Running a business from home is the greatest job in the world, at least that is what everybody is telling you.

The facts are a little bit different, but once you become successful, you quickly realize that working from home really is the best job in the world.

It is not always easy to make a start as a newcomers to Internet success, and the journey to success is not as easy as some same.

However, the truth is, the rewards are better than you would ever believe, and the freedom to choose your own destiny cannot be equalled in any job, anywhere in the world.

If you are tired of having to wake up early every morning just so you can avoid heavy traffic and arrive at your place of work in time to start work, in a job you would rather not be doing, then running a business from home might just be the answer.

Working from home might be a solution to going to work everyday but it takes guts, talent and lots of hard work and determination.

You will however, be able to avoid all the negative things associated with going to the office everyday by investing in a home based business. As the term denotes, a home business refers to a business venture that is based right in the comforts of your home.

The start up costs are virtually zero and the running cost of working for ones self is nothing in comparison to running a business from an office, shop or warehouse. You also have the added bonus of not having to hire staff and pay wages to employees.

One of the biggest benefits of running your own business on the Internet is hiring skilled people who never complain, let you down or cost you too much money.

The Internet is awash with skilled people who are very willing to do all the hard technical jobs you would rather not do. They do it without complaining, without you having to pay regular wages, without listening to them moan, and best of all, they get the job done quickly for very little money.

Most people dream of a home based business, not just because it offers an opportunity to work at home and avoid the bother of going out and traveling to work everyday, but also because of the financial rewards.

A home business may seem risky for a beginner because you never knows what fate awaits you in your new business venture. However, once you have successfully established your business, you have actually struck gold.

A home business gives you all the freedom to do as you pleases and to operate the business using your own style and skills.

Starting your business requires little capital and low overhead, especially when you compare it to a shop-based business which requires expensive rentals. A home business requires no rent at all, which can be a favourable factor in your long term success.

An individual embarking on a home business venture will generally prefer an idea which is already familiar to them, either because they are already in that business or it is a hobby, interest or passion. In such cases, it is assumed that they already has most of the equipment needed to start the business.

Most homes already have telephone connections so using a telephone for your home business would not be an additional expense. If you are already equipped with computers and printers you can also use them in your new venture.

A website business you run from home does not just allow for minimal capital but it also creates massive savings for the businessperson.

These savings can be in the form of your budget for fuel, working clothes, vehicle depreciation and time which would be otherwise expended if you work somewhere else. If you work for someone else, you get a fixed amount of money every month no matter the amount of effort you exert in your work.

When you own an internet based home business, what you earn will depend on how industrious you are and how dedicated you are to your business.

Simply put, the more effort you exert in a home business the better your financial rewards will be.

Copyright John Adams. Honest Home Business Mentor Honest Home Business Idea - Build Your Own Future The Easy Way. Become Your Own Boss And Control Your Own Destiny

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# posted by Smart Man @ 6:10 PM

Getting that initial contract of employment template ready can be a real hassle, and it’s tempting to get a professional to draft it up, but even at that stage, it’s important to know what you’re promising your employee, and to make sure that there are no loopholes that can be exploited by less scrupulous employees. Whether or not you’re using a contract of employment template or writing one from scratch, you need to make sure all the bases are covered. For that reason, I’ve written up this guide to explain what you might need to have on the form, and why:

Firstly, it’s important to note that you must give your employees a contract – in fact, by law you’re required to give them a statement of terms within 2 months of them joining, but that’s the bare minimum, and it’s really in your interests to give them something more comprehensive. This is the kind of thing that company employment contracts should contain:

Names

Can’t have an employment contract without names - both your employee and the company’s. This should also include addresses of both parties

Start Date

This is particularly important to keep a track of, because it can be used to work out when employees gain new benefits, as well as keeping a track as to when they should be up for review.

Job Title and Description

Put down the same job title that you advertised with, and then any duties that you feel they may be undertaking. It might be worth covering your back here and including something to the effect that the duties are down to your discretion and are open to change. If not, they could theoretically refuse to undertake anything else – and have the law on their side, so be sure to leave some space to manoeuvre in your company employment contracts.

Place of Work

This keeps a legal note of the office location in the employment contract, but can also extend to allow occasional working from home and of course for potential office moves in the future.

Hours of Work

This is where you stipulate the number of hours the employee needs to keep, and the manner in which they can keep them (e.g: do they have a flexitime setup where they need to complete a certain number of hours within any given week?) The employee can also agree to additional hours, as long as the employer does not demand more than 48 hours a week, which would be illegal. The employee can voluntarily opt out of the law, should they wish.

Probationary Period

This is a nice one to include in the contract, because sometimes things just don’t work out – either they employee isn’t what the employer was looking for or the job isn’t right. This trial time typically has a shorter notice period and employment can be terminated by either side at any time. This is typically a number of months or weeks, but can be extended by the employer if they put such a clause into the UK employment contract.

Salary

This is what your employee expects to see on their wage slip at the end of each month and an area fundamental to the employment contract. It’s worth noting that the figure will be before any tax deductions or national insurance is taken into account.

Assessments

If the employer wishes, they can schedule regular assessments here – every 6-12 months would be a sensible figure, allowing you to monitor their development easily.

Deductions

This is the point in the employment contract where you outline all circumstances in which you are permitted to make deductions from the salary. This is a really good opportunity to cover your back and outline the kind of behaviour you expect from your employee.

Expenses

Covering what your employees can expect by way of expenses is very important to ensure they are aware of how much they will be covered by you for heir work. Make sure that you avoid errors and fraud by insisting that each claim is backed up with proof of payment.

Holiday Time

This obviously outlines the period of holiday that an employee is allowed, with the minimum being 24 days including bank holidays. It is important that you inform employees whether bank holidays are included or excluded from the figure. There are certain other aspects you need to consider when writing this part of the UK contract of employment:

1) Whether employees should be allowed to take busy periods off (most retail industries will want to avoid this)
2) Holidays rolling over into the next employment year (though it’s important to note that this is not allowed for statutory holiday, only time off over the minimum.)
3) Any restrictions on holiday time to employees who have already served notice

Sickness

Absence through sickness can be a major drain on businesses, especially small ones, so it’s important to be vigilant with this section. You will need to outline what time the worker needs to contact the employer telling them they will not be in, when a doctor’s certificate is required and whether the employee will receive statutory or contractual sick pay.

Pension

Here you need to outline the pension scheme the employee can expect, whether it be a company one, a stakeholder one or if there isn’t one provided by the company. You will need to change any contract of employment template to reflect the policy of your company.

Notice

This is an important one – the notice period. Outlining the period of worktime that needs to be served before an employee’s contract can be terminated, this is also the place to outline a list of actions that constitute gross misconduct, and can allow an employee to be dismissed without notice. If you don’t define this clearly in your company employment contracts you can be left distinctly short-handed of a sudden!

Restrictive Covenants

An intimidating sounding title for an intimidating piece of the document! This is where you get to protect confidential and commercially sensitive information belonging to the employer. You can also prevent an employee from setting up a competing business while in your employment, and for a set period of time from when they leave the employer. This can also cover preventing the employee from encouraging others to leave for a competing business. You will want to close this section with the threat of legal action, should these promises be broken.

Disciplinary Policy and Grievance Procedure

This is the part of the employment contract where you outline the company’s disciplinary policy. You state the standards and conduct you expect, and the consequences of failure to meet these standards.

The grievance procedure outlines the course of action available to employees should they have a complaint they cannot resolve through regular communication with their line manager.

Retirement

This states the employee’s contractual retirement age. It’s important that this complies with the relatively recent 2006 age discrimination legislation, or you could be fighting legal action.

Severability

If you have a template of employment contracts, rather than tailoring each one to each employee this section is essential. It basically states that each section of the document stands independently of the rest and thus if one does not apply to any employee it does not effect the others.

Prior Agreements

This is an important one to keep in, as it expresses that the employment contract contains all the terms that should apply, and any other agreements – written or verbal – do not count.

Jurisdiction

This is required to confirm that the UK contract of employment is held under the jurisdiction of English courts.

Particulars of Employment

Since the Employment Rights Act of 1996, all UK employment contracts are required to have the main terms outlined on a separate schedule, so that both the employee and the employer can easily refer to them, to refresh their memories of the main points.

Make sure you have all these fundamentals of employment contracts covered, and that each one matches the expectations of the employee and you should have no problem!

Iain Mackintosh is the managing director of Simply-Docs. The firm provides over 1100 legal documents covering all aspects of business from holiday entitlement to contract of employment templates.

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# posted by Smart Man @ 10:35 AM

An Executive Compensation Agreement is an agreement between a company and a potential executive whom the company would like to hire for employment. These agreements lay out the terms of an executive's employment, including but not limited to provisions covering the executive's compensation, including a bonus structure, scope of employment, grounds for termination, and severance package available upon termination. Specifically, when drafting an Executive Compensation Agreement, be sure to include the following provisions:

1. Opening Recitals. Be sure to first include the date of the agreement, the name of the company and the executive (and any abbreviations of the names that will be used throughout), the address of the company's headquarters, and general purpose for the agreement. This recital can be as simple as: "Company and Executive are forming this agreement for executive to provide company with services as __________", and list the title of the position.

2. Terms and Conditions. The first few provisions should lay out the terms and conditions of the agreement. This should include the title of the position. It should also include the length of the term of employment, and whether or not the term is renewable by either party or upon mutual consent.

3. Scope of Duties. The scope of the executive's duties and the expectations of the company should be laid out in detail. In exchange for compensation, what is the executive being hired to do? Will he be required or expected to meet certain financial goals? How many employees will he be managing? These questions should be answered in detail. If describing these duties takes up several pages, it may be advisable to create an attachment and refer to it in the agreement. If this is the case, the provision could read: "In consideration of receiving compensation, executive agrees to perform the position, duties and office outlined in Attachment A."

4. Compensation and Benefits. The executive's compensation and benefits package should also be covered in detail. This should include annual salary, bonus opportunities for achieving certain goals, and stocks and stock options. His benefits package should be covered, listing his vacation time, health benefits, travel reimbursement, 401(k), pension (if applicable), disability pay, etc. Again, if the drafter prefers, he or she may want to draw up this information on a separate document, attach it to the agreement, and simply refer to the attachment.

5. Termination. Usually an executive is subject to termination under certain circumstances or upon certain events. These grounds for termination must be described in this provision. There are several scenarios that may be in play:

a. If the executive is to remain an "at-will" employee, then management can terminate the executive's employment at any time, for any reason. If this is the case, the executive should be able to do the same.

b. In the alternative, the company may be allowed to fire the executive for any reason, but must provide the executive certain notice, usually in writing. An executive may be able to negotiate for as much as twelve (12) months written notice. Again, here the executive might be required to do the same.

c. Alternatively, the company may only be allowed to terminate the executive for "good cause". If so, the term "good cause" must be defined. Usually good cause is defined as the failure to achieve modest financial targets or if the executive commits a bad act against the company, such as theft, or violates his fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty, or duty of confidentiality.

These are the most critical provisions that must be addressed in an Executive Employment Agreement. Provisions covering compensation upon termination, covenants regarding inventions and copyrights, protection of confidential information, covenant not to compete, severability, and governing law should also be included. For more information or to read actual clauses from Executive Employment Agreements, please visit the agreement section of this website.

Mark Warner is an Executive Compensation Agreement Research Analyst for RealDealDocs.com. RealDealDocs gives you insider access to millions of legal documents online drafted by the top law firms in the US that you can download, edit and print. Search For Free at RealDealDocs.com.

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# posted by Smart Man @ 10:28 AM

Have you ever walked down a street and turned the corner – and there in front of you is the most hideous coloured car you have ever seen in your life? A hideous purple, or gaudy green? The car itself may be quite fabulous (in the dark) but the owner has seen fit to cover it in the most awful paint imaginable. Sure, there are boring colours that seem to dominate particular years of car design – Audi ‘metallic sand’ was the colour of choice for many years. Ford even saw fit to allow buyers to adorn their Mondeos in a hideous semi fluorescent yellow. Maybe it’s all a ploy to distract buyers from how bad a particular model is. As if in some way if they can distract the general public with the colour they can draw their eye away from the terrible safety, poor quality and general nastiness of their offering?

Looking around the office furniture market, one could easily be lead into thinking the same could apply. At launches of new products we often see wacky colour schemes which are clearly meant to make us remember them. Or conversely everything is so bland and all white that we are supposed to think of them as cool – as if an association with iPod’s would make the chair in question cooler. Okay – well maybe that does work.

A popular brief received by office furniture dealers all over the country is ‘fresh and contemporary’ so then we try hard to find the best catalogue photography to show a customer the look that can be achieved.
Most designers and furniture suppliers have virtually begged a client at some point to pick a different colour. Knowing that to choose that particular colour would make an office look boring, or staid – or possibly dated and faddish.

Whilst office furniture suppliers have seen some great colour schemes in place – whether through a customer with a good eye for detail, or as a result of a good interior designer – we have also seen some hideous ideas see the light of day too. I had a client about 8 years ago who set his heart on installing different pastel colours (about 8 different shades in all) blinds to each window in the office. He then colour matched the various pillars in the office to match a window blind. A nice idea in theory perhaps, but it looked awful. Embarrassingly so. It was so bad that visitors would come into the office and audibly draw breath at the choice. He was the boss though and he liked them, so it stayed. That is until some months later when the staff finally broke and demanded that new blinds were installed and paint applied put in to stop them walking.

The problem is that some sales people worry that they will lose an order if they start getting too involved with something that is such a personal choice anyway. They lose sight of the fact that perhaps the customer would like some help – rather than a ‘Yes’ man just agreeing “Oh yes sir that would look fabulous!”. This is an element of service that a good supplier can easily overlook in the quest for a quick sale. One must consider that if a customer suddenly realises in a years time that it really does look awful – they’ll be looking to blame someone for such a poor choice and the salesman looks like a likely scapegoat. The end result of this is that they may never return with repeat business in case you ‘let’ them choose something else hideous.

Colour choice needs to be a considered affair. Often the colours chosen are governed by the need for a corporate logo colour, or a carpet colour to be matched. If these aren’t relevant then you can really have some fun. But remember that colours have their own psychological symbolism . Black can mean style, power, mystery, solemnity. White can mean purity, sterility, and cleanliness. Red says sex, speed, arrogance, strength, bravery and more. Blue symbolises calm, productive, confidence, conservatism, and seriousness. Unusual colours like orange mean enthusiasm, flamboyance, creativity, and playfulness. Choosing pink can have mixed messages too including appreciation, admiration, sympathy, femininity, health, love, or homosexuality.

The message is clear therefore. When choosing a colour – take a moment to consider. What is the colour saying about your company to everyone that visits?

Now would you like that office chair in red, black or blue......?

For further information regarding our range of reception furniture please visit our website at http://www.evolutionfurniture.co.uk/

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# posted by Smart Man @ 2:23 AM

Email has become a significant factor in the business world; however telephone conversations still have a vital role in business communications and the level of success for many businesses. The standards of etiquette for business telephone processes for major corporations also apply to small companies utilizing small business (SMB) phone systems.

Becoming more professional on the telephone can increase the chance of acquiring a new client as well as keeping current clients. Being professional with people who are providing services to you will help to ensure they provide quality work. This article focuses on tips for increasing professionalism while participating in a telephone business conversation.

Managing the Growing Call Volume of a Growing Business

The telephone can be a constant source of distraction for the small yet thriving business. As the business begins to grow, so too does the call volume. For young companies, one of the first necessary employees is a receptionist to handle the calls. With someone manning the phones that can ensure that no calls slip through the cracks and handle basic questions such as hours and directions, small business owners free up their time to handle the upper level business functions.

However, many young companies either don't have the budget for a receptionist's salary or would rather spend the money some other way. Another solution is to make a one-time investment in one of the feature-rich SMB phone systems available on the market today. These professional SMB phone systems allow customers to push buttons to be directed to the intended caller, and can be programmed with pre-recorded messages that answer basic questions.

Ensuring The Calls Get To The Right People

When a business moves from a one or two person operation, or from a one location to a multi-location operation, getting calls to the right people can become a logistical nightmare. Many of today's small businesses rely on remote employees or remote locations to handle parts of their operations.

Using an SMB phone system, you can transfer calls anywhere in the world without asking the caller to hang up and then dial another number. Even if you're transferring from your California office to your outsourced bookkeeper in Pittsburg, the caller's perception is that you're transferring the call from one part of the office to another.

When working with multiple people in multiple locations, there is always the risk that calls will become lost. If your bookkeeper in Pittsburg isn't home to answer the call, will he or she get the message? One missed call can sometimes make or break a business relationship.

With many of the SMB phone systems available today, you can set various numbers to call if the first number is unanswered. For example, if your bookkeeper is unavailable to answer the office phone, the call will be directed to her cell phone. If that goes unanswered, the call can either be sent to voice mail or be routed to another person to take the call.

Some of today's SMB phone systems have features that will turn the recorded voicemail message left by your customer into an audio file and send it straight to their email. With the advanced technology powering SMB phone systems, there are numerous ways to ensure that a call doesn't fall through the cracks.

Recording Critical Information

There are few situations more embarrassing than asking a client or a prospect to repeat information. It is essential to take notes during the conversation to ensure that you are getting all of the information you need to give a quote, complete a job, or fill an order.

However, putting too much focus on note taking can cause you to seem 'distant' from the conversation. If you're more focused on taking notes than on engaging in the conversation, you may miss critical points or miss opportunities to ask important questions.

One way to avoid this uncomfortable situation is to record the call. Some SMB phone systems have features that allow you to record the phone call and automatically save it to a .wav or .mp3 file that you can review later. Whenever you choose to record a call, be sure to let the other person knows that you are recording and why you are creating the recording.

Whether you're running a busy dental office or operating a service business from home with remote employees, you can have the professional feel of a large corporate office by implementing a professional SMB phone system. These feature-rich SMB phone systems can not only streamline your business processes, but also significantly increase the prestige and professionalism of your business in the mind of your client.

Christine O'Kelly is an Author for Best Deal Allworx, a leading provider of Allworx small business phone systems. Allworx offers SMB phone systems solutions designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses.

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# posted by Smart Man @ 2:35 AM

You already know it takes superpowers to run a business. You have to be a mind reader and a fortuneteller, and have the ability to be in 10 places at once. But even the greatest super hero needs back up. Cross-training your employees is the key. This article is designed to provide you with tips for cross training your staff so you relieve pressure by giving every employee the know-how to meet customer expectations that live up to your own. Specifics may vary from person to person; however, the following information includes helpful and important guidelines from which everyone can benefit.

The numbers are in, and the bean counters are smiling: Cross training does save money. Employees profit from learning new skills while keeping boredom at bay. They're more motivated, feel more valued and that means they're more likely to stay put. Your organization profits from productivity that reflects on your bottom line. Need any more motivation than that? Here are five signs it's time to call for back-up - and give yourself a break:

1. When the neighborhood kids set up a lemonade stand, you ask for a P&L Statement.
2. Your idea of exercise if right-clicking.
3. You fall asleep to the "pings" of incessant emails.
4. You tell your kids to go play in their cubes.
5. Your favorite fruit is blackberry.

Seriously, though, relieving some of the pressure your experience at work can do amazing things to your productivity levels. It seems strange that getting rid of work actually lets you do more work! But how do you know which projects to delegate and to whom you should delegate them?

Cross-training your staff sometimes seems like it requires cross-training shoes to keep up. Nothing tests your endurance more than having to set goals, schedule briefings, monitor progress, etc. Are your employees up to speed on the latest company projects, proposals and projections? Regularly scheduled meetings eliminate the guesswork and are an integral component to any cross-training initiative. They break down department barriers and build up teamwork. Keep meetings short, sweet and to the point (hey, some pizza wouldn't hurt either). Here are five quick tips that will help you schedule successful meetings with your employees:

1. Establish a place to meet and make sure everyone's informed
2. Prepare an outline
3. Create takeaways
4. Arrange to have any electronic equipment you may require
5. Use the right products to enhance presentations

Attending meetings is a way of life in almost every business, large and small! Making the most out of every meeting by planning ahead, sticking to a time limit and a schedule will help everyone stay on track!

Your cross-training efforts can also pay off big time with a united vision your customers will notice. Cross-training gives employees cross-functional expertise but - can they deliver your message persuasively? Presentation skills are fundamental and every dynamic one begins with the question: What's the purpose of this presentation? Is it to inform? Motivate? Sell the audience on an idea? From there, establish a structure with a logical flow for a presentation that's ready for prime time. One of the keys to making any presentation as dynamic as possible is proper planning. Here are five things to keep in mind as you teach your employees how to develop a great presentation:

1. Define your intentions
2. Know your audience
3. Collect as much information as possible
4. Build structure into your presentation
5. Practice, practice, practice

Sharon Mann is President of the I Hate Filing Club, a group of nearly 100,000 office professionals who hate filing but love finding new ways to become more organized. Learn more about how cross training your staff can help you be more productive - visit our website and sign up for the Big Ideas newsletter.

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# posted by Smart Man @ 6:30 PM

A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow.

-Charles Browder

I was intrigued by finding a way to capture public imagination for the 400 Year Project (finding ways to demonstrate and encourage making improvements 20 times faster in all areas from 2015 through 2035). With enough interest, progress on the project would occur on many simultaneous fronts without any direct involvement by us as other people pioneered their own solutions.

We obviously had a problem. Everyone who heard about the project thought that "the 400 Year Project" was a vague and uninspiring way to describe our purpose. How could people who wanted to produce so much progress be so backward in communicating their purpose?

Our solution at the time was to downplay talking about the project and to focus instead on tangible benefits that people were seeking. One of our semiannual steering committee meetings involved having people tell us what would really excite them about making rapid progress.

I cringed when I learned that the consensus was that people wanted to learn better ways to persuade others to follow their every whim. Everyone in the room was confident that he or she was always right and only some weird perversity caused others to disagree.

When I gently suggested reasons why others might have a different perspective, some stoutly disagreed that that could be possible while others said that the others would just have to change their perspectives. It was yet more evidence that stalls (bad habits that delay progress) are present in even the best leaders.

I had forgotten an early lesson from law school: No two people see the same issue in the same way. In fact, you can often make quite powerful arguments in favor of more than two positions on an issue. Sometimes the issues are so closely conflicted among various interests that it's hard to pick a "right" solution.

I didn't think that helping people become more persuasive about their personal opinions was going to be the way to advance the project. But clearly if we strayed very far from self-interest, we would lose our audience and fail to gain interest from others.

In contrast to our fumbling efforts, we learned about a number of worldwide movements that had succeeded in gaining mass interest. All of these movements had a humanitarian bent and began with a solution in mind (or at least a principle to use in creating the specific solution). No one had, to our knowledge, stirred the popular imagination by leading a broad-based search for answers to thousands of important questions.

But we drew comfort from observing that the world is also full of people who either are high performers or who aspire to be high performers. Perhaps if we built on the motivation these people already felt for some desired result and gave the aspiring a better way to get to their outsized dreams, we could create a mass movement . . . one person at a time.

Here's how I imagined it might work: We arm an effective person with ways to accomplish more. In normal copy-cat style, dozens will emulate what that person does. Soon, there will be few choices but to follow the new level of effectiveness in that same area.

If we can encourage people to see the benefits of making breakthrough progress on a regular basis, there will soon be the kind of collective emphasis on breakthroughs in a given area that has driven the semiconductor industry forward so effectively for the last several decades.

I decided to explore that approach of arming the aspiring while keeping a watchful eye out for possible ways to create an interesting symbol or concept that would stick in peoples' minds to help turn them into effective innovators.

When we came up with the concept of calling accomplishing 20 times more with the same time and effort a "2,000 percent solution" we had the breakthrough description to get the attention of the aspiring.

Can you summarize your key benefit into a brief phrase, metaphor, or goal? If so, you'll vastly increase how many people are attracted to what you are working on.

Donald Mitchell is an author of seven books including Adventures of an Optimist, The 2,000 Percent Squared Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution Workbook, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage. Read about creating breakthroughs through 2,000 percent solutions and receive tips by e-mail by registering for free at

http://www.fastforward400.com .

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# posted by Smart Man @ 10:36 AM