Small Business Success Strategies

Depression and the Long Haul Truck Driver

A long haul trucker is no stranger to sleep deprivation. Even local truck drivers deal with the problem of little rest, many working 70 hour weeks. Sleep deprivation is the leading cause of serious truck related accidents, resulting in as high as 40 percent of all crashes. The constant attitude of many motor carriers of "you've got to get the freight there," is an enormous stress on the long haul trucker. Even though Federal Regulations require a driver to take a 10-hour break after 14 hours of on duty time, these 10 hours often work out to be only 5-6 hours of actual sleep per day.

Several years ago, I decided to keep a log of the actual sleep time I received each day. Over a six-week period, it showed that I was only actually "sleeping" an average of 4 hours per day.

Read Allen's entire article Depression and the Long Haul Truck Driver

Allen Smith, our official Trucking/Truck Driver Training Expert

Social Networking PR Tip: Be Approachable and Smile!

Using social networking to market your business isn't too different than marketing your business in person. Think about a time when you walked into a networking mixer full of strangers. How did you decide who to go up to and who to avoid? A natural inclination is to scan the room and then go up to someone who seems approachable.

What makes a person approachable is going to vary, but usually clues in body language, facial expression, and general demeanor will play into it.

Read Nancy's entire article Social Networking PR Tip: Be Approachable and Smile!

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

How to Find the Perfect Domain Name for Your Internet Business

Let's face it -- finding a good domain name is tough these days. Over 100 million domains have already been registered; and from all accounts, the trend is not likely to stop soon. So what's an aspiring internet entrepreneur to do? While not a guarantee, these eight and a half steps will go a long ways towards landing that perfect domain name without breaking the bank.

1. Start the search.

The best place I've found to locate domain names is http://DomainTools.com (formerly WhoIs.sc). They can tell you if the .com is taken, and by whom, as well as offering other variations of the name that are available.

Read Phil's entire article How to Find the Perfect Domain Name for Your Internet Business

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

Make the Leap to Home Business Success

If you are going to have a successful home business, you need 3 "intangibles." These are things that must come from WITHIN you.

First, you must have a strong WHY.

Why MUST you have a successful home business? What is driving you? What is it that you CAN'T have in your life anymore and/or what is it that you absolutely MUST HAVE now?

For me, I couldn't stand working 12+ hours a day anymore and missing the experience of my children growing up.

Read Stone's entire article Make the Leap to Home Business Success

Stone  Evans, our official Home Business Expert

What is Disorganization Costing You? 1 of 6

In today’s economy we are all looking at cutting costs. A little here, a little there, but we may be failing to see some monster money gobblers that are right under our noses!

Are you (and your stuff) lost in space? Have you ever found yourself running out to purchase something that you already own, but simply can’t find? You know you have that thing, but where is the question!

Read Debbye's entire article What is Disorganization Costing You? 1 of 6

Debbye Cannon, our official BusinesMom Mentor Expert

Blast the Lid Off Your Coaching Income

When a client finishes coaching with you, do you scramble to replace them? If you don't have time to grow your business because your schedule is booked delivering coaching services, then you may have hit a ceiling in your income. Ouch! I call this the money for time treadmill..

To get off that painful treadmill, offer products and programs that don't require more of your time for every sale. Here's the catch: you will need to invest time to build these products and programs. But it will be worth it! Get the best return on that investment by designing programs that fit into a leveraged marketing funnel.

Read Rhonda's entire article Blast the Lid Off Your Coaching Income

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Expert

Don't Lose Your Domain This Year Neglecting to Follow ICANN's Annual Regulations!

You Could Lose Your Domain This Year Neglecting to Follow ICANN's Annual Regulations!

Every year ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) requires that all accredited registrars ask their domain administrators/registrants to review domain name registrations contact data, and make any changes necessary to ensure accuracy.

Yes it is that time of the year again!

Under ICANN rules and the terms of your registration agreement, providing false contact information or not updating your information can be grounds for domain name cancellation.

Read Bruce's entire article Don't Lose Your Domain This Year Neglecting to Follow ICANN's Annual Regulations!

Bruce Galle, our official Domain Expert

Minimize Self Employment Taxes with a Medical Reimbursement Plan

A common mistake self-employed solo entrepreneurs make is not taking advantage of all the tax deductions available to their business. You may be familiar with the home business deduction, mileage and meal reimbursement, and other common deductions. But there is one tax provision that is not as well-known, but is clearly worth far more than all the typical deductions put together: a Section 105 Medical Reimbursement Plan.

Given the skyrocketing costs of medical insurance, copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses, this one deduction can save you, quite literally, thousands of dollars a year.

Read Terri's entire article Minimize Self Employment Taxes with a Medical Reimbursement Plan

Terri Zwierzynski, our official Solo-Entrepreneur Expert

Investing in Your Business: Turning Cash into Cash!

Many business owners don’t like to part with their money and with good reason. The constant barrage of vendors who want a piece of your cash pie can cause you to cling tightly to the purse strings. But have you ever considered that you could be missing opportunities to invest in your businesses and turn some of that valuable cash into even more cash?

It’s called Return on Investment (ROI) and many big companies go to great lengths to evaluate the ROI of large expenditures such as technology purchases and real estate transactions.

Read Stephanie's entire article Investing in Your Business: Turning Cash into Cash!

Stepahanie Chandler, our official Entrepreneurial Expert

Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer

Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer Than You Think: Start Your Own Opportunity File and Open Your Mind to Endless Possibilities

You don't have to look very far to find fascinating ways to make a living. Opportunities are literally everywhere . . . if you're looking, that is.

Read Valerie's entire article Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert