Setting your Goals Effectively

July 3, 2008

There is a difference in setting your goals and setting them effectively. Anyone can set a goal, but doing it effectively means that it will actually get done.
There are so many things that you can do to better your life, but if you don’t know how to go about it you are stuck.

The following guidelines will help you to set effective goals and help you manage your time in an efficient manner that will cause those goals to become reality.

State each goal as a positive statement

Express your goals in a positive way. That is a key component to setting goals that you can attain.
How often have you been excited to accomplish a goal that didn’t even sound good when you brought it up? If you are not comfortable or happy with the goals that you have set, the likelihood of you succeeding is pretty low.
If you want to express your goals in a positive way, you simply have to first think of a goal that puts a smile on your face when you imagine it completed. Why would you want to set a goal that made you frown, cringe or cry?
When you are beginning to set your goals it helps when you are talking about them to others in a manner that states your actions as positives because it will have others seeing it as a positive as well.
That will garner you a great deal more support. In the end, don’t we all need a little support when we are trying to do something positive in our lives?

Be precise

Set a precise goal that includes starting dates, times and amounts so that you can properly measure your achievement.  If you do this, you will know exactly when you have achieved the goal, and can take complete satisfaction from having achieved it.

Being precise in setting your goals is no more than setting them with exact details. It is easier this way because then you can follow a step-by-step format. That’s all there is to it.

Set priorities

When you have several goals, give each a specific priority. This helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many goals, and helps to direct your attention to the most important ones and follow each in succession. Setting priorities will force you into the step-by-step format above. By doing the most important first and moving to the least important in succession, you are enabling each task to be easier than the last. It causes the accomplishment of each task to get easier and easier which will encourage you to complete your goal.

Write goals down

This crystallizes your goals and gives them more force. In writing your goals down, you are better able to keep up with your scheduled tasks for each accomplishment. It also helps you to remember each task that needs to be done and allows you to check them off as they are accomplished.  Basically, you can better keep track of what you are doing so as not to repeat yourself unnecessarily.

Keep operational goals small

Keep the low-level goals you are working towards small and easy to achieve. If a goal is too large, then it can seem that you are not making progress towards it. Keeping goals small and incremental allows you more opportunities for reward. Derive today’s goals from larger ones. It is a great way to accomplish your goals.

Set performance goals, not outcome goals

You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible. There is nothing more dispiriting than failing to achieve a personal goal for reasons that are beyond your control. These could be bad business environments, poor judging, bad weather, injury, or just plain bad luck. If you base your goals on personal your performance, then you can keep control over the achievement of your goals and get satisfaction from achieving them.

Set realistic goals

It is important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (parents, media, and society) can set unrealistic goals for you which is almost a guarantee of failure. They will often do this in ignorance of your own desires and ambitions or flat out disinterest.
Alternatively you may be naïve in setting very high goals. You might not appreciate either the obstacles in the way, or understand quite how many skills you must master to achieve a particular level of performance. By being realistic you are increasing your chances of success.

Do not set goals too low

Just as it is important not to set goals unrealistically high; do not set them too low. People tend to do this where they are afraid of failure or where they simply don’t want to do anything.  You should set goals so that they are slightly out of your immediate grasp, but not so far that there is no hope of achieving them. No one will put serious effort into achieving a goal that they believe is unattainable.  However, remember that your belief that a goal is unrealistic may be incorrect. If this could be the case, you can to change this belief by using imagery effectively.

Achieving your Goals

When you have achieved a goal, you have to take the time to enjoy the satisfaction of having done so. Absorb the implications of the goal achievement, and observe the progress you have made towards other goals.  If the goal was a significant one, you should reward yourself appropriately. Think of it like this, why would you choose to ignore any accomplishments that you have made?  In doing that, you are downplaying your accomplishment which will convince you that it wasn’t that important in the first place.

With the experience of having achieved each goal, you should next review the rest of your goal plans and see them in the following manner:

• If you achieved the goal too easily, make your next goals harder
• If the goal took a disheartening length of time to achieve, make the next goals a little easier
• If you learned something that would lead you to change other goals, do so
• If while achieving the goal you noticed a certain lacking in your skills, decide which goals to set in order to fix this.

You should keep in mind that failure to meet goals does not matter as long as you learn from it. Feed lessons learned back into your goal-setting program.

You must also remember that your goals will change as you mature. Adjust them regularly to reflect this growth in your personality. If goals no longer hold any attraction for you let them go. Goal setting is your servant, not your master. It should bring you real pleasure, satisfaction and a sense of achievement.

If it stops, there is no longer a point. Let’s look at an example.

The best example of goal setting that you can have is to try setting your own goals. Set aside two hours to think through your lifetime goals in each of the categories. Then work back through the 25-year plan, 5-year plan, 1-year plan, 6-month plan, and a 1-month plan.

Finally draw up a To Do List of jobs to do tomorrow to move towards your goals. When you do, you will soon realize that you will be on your way to using your goals setting on a routine basis.Setting career goals

One of the toughest issues in making a good career choice and career goal setting is identifying what it is that you want. Even when it seems that you know what you want, you may still have doubts on if your career choice is the right one for you.

Reaching clarity in those issues may be the most important thing you can do in your career planning and goal setting. Here are a few career goal setting guidelines that can help.

Most people, even very successful ones, have some periods in their career path when they seem unsure about their career choice and goals. It is totally human to feel that way.
Often, such periods just come and go. For example, they come when you face some overwhelming obstacles on your way. It is all over as soon as you get through these obstacles.

That situation by itself is not a problem of choosing a career, only a test of your perseverance in seeing it through but what if those doubts persist, or if they always live somewhere in the background of your thoughts? If it just does not feel right?

If this is the case, then it is time to look more carefully at your career choice and overall career objectives. Often we choose or are placed in a career because it just seems like the right step to make or that is what your studies have focused on.

The only problem is that sometimes that passion that we once had as a young adult are now gone, or the realism of the job has taken the interest and joy out of it.

That is when it is time to set a new career goal or objective. Choosing the right career goal to sink into requires a great deal of soul searching. You need to ask yourself these questions beforehand:

  •  Am I making the kind of money that I want to make?
  •  Do I want to make more money?
  •  Does money even matter to me?
  •  Do I like what I’m doing right now?
  •  What am I passionate about?
  •  What could I be doing that would make me happier than I am right now?
  •  Would I be happier simply switching positions or getting a promotion; or would I be happier changing careers all together?
  •  Why am I still working here?
  •  What is stopping me from leaving this job or getting that promotion?
  •  What is stopping me from leaving this job?

These are all vital questions that you have to ask yourself before deciding what your career goals are going to be. If you are honest with yourself, you will know exactly what direction you should be going in.

Without being honest with yourself you can’t expect to better your life, you can only expect to have to ask yourself these questions all over again until you find happiness.

To your Success, may you reach your goals.
Gary Killops

Pour la creation de sites internet

Copyright © Gary Killops.
All rights reserved.


Get Motivated To Achieve your Goals

November 20, 2006

How could I write a guide to setting and achieving goals if I didn’t actually give you a few tips on the most important part of setting goals?

The key to successful goal setting is your ability to motivate yourself and stay motivated until you have achieved your goals.

Getting and staying motivated is not as difficult as it may seem. It just takes discipline. Let’s look at the thing that you should do in order to get and stay motivated.

First, let’s take a look at what motivation really is.

Motivation is not a product of outside influence; it is a natural product of your desire to achieve something and your belief that you are capable of doing it.

Positive goals that are geared toward your pleasure are much more powerful motivators than negative ones that are based on fear. The right combination of both is the most powerful and motivating mix.

Now let’s look at what you can actually do to motivate yourself and stay that way.

  1. Start with visualizing your future success and model the feelings you’ll experience when you achieve it.
  2. Mentally walk the path towards this success and base your feelings at different milestones on the way.
  3. Assign a high priority to each task that you must achieve which will give each task a priority in your mind.
  4. Set a target for the amount of work you will do each day toward your goals.
  5. Visualize the desired outcome: Create a picture of what the desired outcome will look like, and have this vision in your mind at all times.
  6. Set milestones of the things you like to do and the things that you are good at.
  7. Use visual indicators to monitor progress and complete the task.
  8. Give yourself affirmations to remind yourself of how capable you are at reaching your goals.
  9. Watch movies that motivate you.
  10. Listen to music that motivates you.
  11. If you work better with competition, make a deal with a friend or family member to compete for the goal for example who gets there first! It can be hypothetical and doesn’t necessarily have to be for real.
  12. Get help and support from people around you or from a professional in the field for example a personal trainer, finance manager etc.
  13. Define your own version of success, don’t let others define success for you.
  14. Ignore any negative influences or responses to your efforts.
  15. Make a conscious effort to do better than you have ever done in the past.
  16. Focus on the positive achievements and not the negatives.
  17. Share your successes with others as this will keep you focused and help you voice your accomplishments which will realize your achievements for you.
  18. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses and work on them both.
  19. Train yourself to finish what you start by refusing to quit until you are done.
  20. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t punish yourself for making them.

To your Success, may you reach your goals.
Gary Killops

Copyright © Gary Killops.

Pour la Creation de sites internet


Ben Franklin’s Secrets For Success

June 15, 2006

Are you overwhelmed by all the advice on the Internet about running a successful small business?

The sheer volume of information is overwhelming and often the "experts" disagree.

Every so often my business will experience a slow down.

This week was one of those weeks. I could easily blame the holiday or the normal summer vacation period, but that wouldn't solve my problem.

I needed to step back and rethink my business plan.

The response for most online business owners is to pick their favorite "guru" or "gurus" and start studying their advice.

That works well for a lot of marketers, but sometimes I like to think outside the box. There are some time tested ideas that are universal and will work if applied to any situation.

I studied Ben Franklin's simple system for self- improvement. The system may be simple to develop, but that doesn't mean it's easy to follow.

In his autobiography Franklin talks about his need to constantly monitor himself. Old habits are hard to break.

Although Franklin used this system to reshape his personality, it can just as easily be applied to improving your skills as an online entrepreneur.

If you're looking for a quick fix, this isn't for you.

Here's a step by step plan for becoming a more successful entrepreneur.

1. The first step is to pick the 13 areas of your skills that need the most work.

Step back and take a look at your business and find 13 skills that would improve your performance.

2. Put the 13 skills you've listed in order of importance.

Label them from 1 to 13.

3. Decide to spend one week working on each skill. Spend time every day for a week working on improving one area of your business.

For example if you chose writing better ads as an area needing improvement, spend a week working on your ad writing skills.

4. After you've spent a week working on your number problem, move to problem number 2.

5. After 13 weeks go back and work on number one again.

Follow through on each skill for another 13 weeks.

6. By the end of one year you've spent four weeks improving each roadblock to your success.

At the end of a year re-evaluate your business and determine which skills still need to be worked on and which ones you've mastered.

I know this seems like a lot of work. It's taking time away from making your first million.

Well I have to let you in on a little secret. Making a go of your online business isn't easy and if you're not willing to work at it, you'll spend your time asking:

Is anyone really making money online?

Well there are small businesses making money online, but they've done their homework and honed their skills.

If you're truly serious about making money on the Internet, this plan is as good a place to start as any.

Don't rely on luck. You'll find the harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi

Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?


4 Steps To Writing Powerful Sales Letters

May 31, 2006

I'm sure you've seen those ads that grab your attention and have you ready to pull out your wallet or credit card. They are making you an offer you can't refuse.

Don't you wish your ads were that persuasive?

Are the marketers who wrote these ads natural born writers, or is there a formula that you can learn?

Writing to persuade is a skill that can be learned, like any other skill. It's just a matter of breaking down the process into four simple steps.

Step # 1.

The first step in writing your killer sales letter is to identify your target market.

This seems simple enough, but how many marketers do it?

When reading some of the ads I get in my inbox, I have to wonder.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but the truth is, not everyone on the planet is a prospect. Concentrate on those who are.

Before you begin your ad campaign identify your target audience.

Step # 2.

Once you've identified your target market, determine what their major problems are.

* Do they need more money?

* Do they need to save time?

* Are they interested in improving their health?

Sit down and determine every problem that your prospects have and decide how your product or service can help solve their problems.

There are no shortage of problems, but there is a shortage of problem solvers. Start becoming a problem solver and you'll always be in demand.

OK, you've identified your market, you've determined what problems they have, now you're ready for the next step.

Step # 3.

The third step in writing your killer copy is to let your prospects know that there is a solution to their problem. Not only is there a solution to their problem, but you have the solution.

Remember these three magic words, "I can help."

Identifying the problem is not enough. You have to show the reader that there is a solution and you have it.

Tell them every benefit they will get when they order your product, or take advantage of your service.

Let them know you can help them

* Make more money

* Save time

* Improve their health.

Step # 4.

The final step in creating killer ad copy is getting the prospect to take action.

Identifying your market, determining their problems and letting them know you have the solution, is not enough.

You have to make them act.

You have to create a sense of urgency.

There are many ways you can do this.

You can offer a special discount for fast action.

You can offer special fast action bonuses.

Ask for the order.

Let them know they don't have to put up with their problems another day.

You can solve them right now.

These four steps are a basic outline to get you started.

Start studying the sales letters you read and break them down into the four basic steps.

Determine how effective the writer was in covering the bases.

Make notes on how you could improve on the sales letter.

Learning to write persuasive copy is a life – long venture.

When you're writing your next sales letter, remember the four step formula.

1. Identify your market

2. Identify their problem

3. Let them know how you can solve their problem

4. Ask for the order

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi

Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?


A Millionaire’s Secret

May 22, 2006

Washington DC was nasty as could be. As I sat on the bench waiting for my bus to arrive I couldn't wait to get back to the backwoods of Louisiana. I had almost sat in a pool of blood that was on the far end of the bench and I was ready to go. I truly hope people coming to visit our country don't make DC one of their stops.

Anyway, before my bus arrived I was approached by a nicely dressed elderly gentleman in need of directions. I told him I had no idea what he was looking for as I too was just passing through. To this day I'm not sure why, but we started talking as if we had known each other for years.

We talked about life, people and eventually the conversation turned to business. It was here that the gentlemen saw something in me, I suppose, that made him feel like sharing what he said was the greatest secret ever told. He said everyone had heard it but almost no one paid any attention to it, even though it was the one thing that could bestow a fortune upon any man or woman who used it.

My ears where definitely starting to perk up. Something about his tone told me this man knew from whereof he spoke. And I wanted to know what the secret was with a passion. He must have sensed my anxiousness because at that very moment he gave me a warning that was almost a scolding.

I'll try to recount here as best I can the rest of our conversation…

Man: "Do not make the mistake of shrugging off what I am about to tell you because you have heard it before. No doubt you have heard it already from at least one person in your life. You may have even heard it many times. Do you have any aversion to religion Mr. Says?"

Me: "No I don't. I don't believe many preachers know what they are talking about or even what they are trying to teach, but I do know the Bible has a lot of great knowledge in it."

Man: "Good. I would not want you to discount what I am about to tell you because it does come directly from the Bible. But its applications reach far beyond what most people can conceive of. It will take thought, intense pondering on your part, to begin to get some inkling of its power."

"This simple secret, when applied to business, will draw money to you as easily as water runs down a mountain. Even a fool can apply it and prosper. When applied to relationships, it will create more friends than you can handle" (laughing heartily)

Me: "What is it, I'm dying to know now?"

Man: "Patience Mr. Says, Patience. I will not give it to you as it has always been repeated by fools who have no respect or knowledge of what it even means. No. I will give it to you another way."

"What type of business are you interested in?"

Me: "Well, I'm dabbling in Mail Order right now. I would like to place ads and sell books."

Man: "Fine. Fine. Mail Order it is. Let me tell you how to create a fortune in this Mail Order. All you have to do is create the product you want to buy"

Me: "I don't understand"

Man: "You will"

"You see, you are your market. Whatever you want, there are millions of other people wanting the same thing. That elusive product you are looking for is the product millions of others are also looking for right now."

"All you have to do is create the product you want to buy, the product you yourself have been looking for. Once you have this product, what would you want the sales message to say so that you know this is the product you have been looking for?"

"If someone else where selling this product, what would you want the ad to say, what would get you to buy this product?. When you have that answer, that is the ad you want to create."

Me: "I see" (hesitantly)

Man: "See the business across the street here? Pizza. I could triple the business that place does inside of 10 minutes. That's what I do by the way" (smiling)

"All I would do is walk into the business as a customer. I would sit there and imagine all the things that could be done to me that would make me a loyal customer to that business for life. What could they do for me that would make me feel this way?"

"Once I had the answers to that question, I would implement them across the board. Every customer would be treated the way I had imagined. And without any doubt what so ever that business would triple the profits it now makes."

Me: "I think I know…"

Man: "Wait, you don't really know anything yet. That's the problem with people. They brush something off because of where it came from or because they heard it many times. Leave that for fools. You won't "know it" until you have deeply pondered it and put it to use."

Me: "Ok"

Man: "What I am telling you has power undreamed of. The simple words used to describe it cannot contain it. Does not do justice to it, and has been prostituted by blabber mouths who let wisdom fall off their lips with not even a single brain cell grasping what they are rambling about."

"What I am telling you is Law, not man's Law, but the very Law's of nature herself. It's the way things work and those who truly understand it rise to the top in every field known to man."

"What people don't understand is that it applies to everything. This secret can be applied with virtually every step you take, everything you do, every word you speak and everyone concerned profits by it."

"If you are a writer, write like you would like to be written to"

"If you are a salesman, sell like you would like to be sold to"

"If you are a speaker, speak like you would like to be spoken to"

"If you want more love, then love like you would like to be loved"

"If you want more friends, be the friend you would like to see"

"When you infuse everything you do with this secret it takes on a magical power. Businesses dominate the market, books become best sellers, leaders attract huge and loyal followings."

"How would you like it?"
"How would you respond to it?"
"How would it make you feel?"

"Those are great questions to think about every time you do or create something. You will get into the hearts and minds of everyone who comes under your influence if you will first think how you would have it done to you."

"I'm certain you already know the quote from the Bible I'm referring to. But don't repeat it, just ponder it and pratice it."

Me: "I do. But I've never thought of how it could actually apply to everything in life. I too was one of those fools who passed it over without so much as a second thought. I really want to thank you for sharing this with me."

Man: "It's been a real pleasure talking with you Mr. Says, have a safe journey home."

———–

And with that, he was gone. The funny thing was, as I was riding home on the bus I realized I never got his name, nor do I remember ever giving him mine. Maybe he saw my luggage tag. I'm not sure. It really doesn't matter. What does matter is that I've profited from that advice for the last 15 years.

I'm not even really any good at it either and I've still pulled in huge amounts of money. Especially from the Internet. This is one place this knowledge can really shine. People have always asked me my secret. How come the Warriors is still here, with the same products, with all this competition, after all these years?

This one simple secret is the answer. I always ask myself how would I like to be treated by this company? What would I like to see? What would I like to get? How would I like to be dealt with?

Those simple questions are all you have to answer. When you do get the answers, put them into action and watch what happens.

Create The Site You've Been Looking For
Write Like You Would Like To Be Written To
Sell Like You Would Like To Be Sold To
Talk Like You Would Like To Be Talked To
Deal Like You Would Like To Be Dealt With
Create For Others What You Would Like Created For You
Excite Others The Way You Would Like To Be Excited

To Your Success,
Allen Says

Become A Warrior Member Today – Click Here!  


Children in the Home Business Environment

May 21, 2006

Operating a home business is seldom easy and interruptions come in all shapes, sizes and forms.

Between the family, friends and neighbors who call or come by, and the telemarketers who insist on ringing your number off the hook, getting through the workday can be a real challenge.

When you introduce children into the home office environment, your productivity and patience can be seriously tested.

For example, right now my three-year old daughter is pulling on my shirt and begging me to read her a story. Clearly, I'm in the middle of something important here, but how can I say no to those eyes? Ill be right back…

Ok, that wasn't so bad was it? She's happy, I'm happy (having bonded with my daughter) and now I'm back to continue my conversation with you :-) What's the lesson here? Flexibility is a major key to balancing your home business priorities with your family's needs.

I can tell you from first-hand experience that maintaining a deep level of concentration on work in a home business for long periods of time is next to impossible. Naptime does offer some reprieve, but any break from the kids is usually short lived.

Even with older children, summertime introduces new challenges with kids running in and out of the house all throughout the day.

I would like to share with you some of the tips I have discovered to help manage your home office with children in your midst. Since children of different ages pose different challenges, I will present my tips in terms of age groups.

OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS

We will look at older children first since they pose the least challenge to our work productivity.Children, who are old enough to understand the idea of schedules and chores, are old enough to understand the needs of your home business. Explain to your children that you do your work at home so that you can be near them when they need you. But also be sure they understand that you must do your work so that you will have the money necessary to keep your house, feed the family and to provide them with money for entertainment.

Once your children understand the necessity of your work, then outline a work schedule and explain it to them. Do make sure they understand that emergencies are definitely an acceptable reason to interrupt your work. Then make sure they understand that between hours x and y, you will be doing work — and then hold them to respecting your schedule.

INFANTS

Infants will never understand your needs for work. But fortunately, babies do well under a schedule or routine. Instead of expecting your child to work around your schedule, schedule your work around the needs of your baby.

It is simple. Babies eat, sleep and poop. Sometimes they play. Fortunately, babies sleep more than they do anything else.

Naptime offers the best advantage for getting your work done. Get your baby into a routine of eat, sleep and play, and you will experience unexpected levels of productivity.

TODDLERS
If you have a toddler running around the house while you are operating your home business, then you may find that your hair turning gray or disappearing altogether. But, gray hair is a sign of character, right.

I am venturing to guess that the person who devised the door lock for the inside of the house did so because he had toddlers in his own home. Inside door locks should only be utilized when you are making that important phone call and your toddler is screaming for your attention. At all other times, your door should remain unlocked with your door open.

Develop a routine with your children for meal times, naptimes, and play times. Work these times into your work schedule and adhere to them. If you fail to keep appointments with your children, your children will have less respect for your work and do more to prevent you from the completion of your work.

Don't be afraid to let your children sit in your lap while you are working. It helps them to feel wanted and it helps them to be a part of your daily life. There are times when it is okay for them to be sitting in your lap while you work, and at other times you need them out of your lap. Don't be afraid to tell them to get down and go play or read a book so that you can resume your work.
Permit your children to have their toys in your office. Often they will sit contently and play while you work. Just knowing you are near is enough to keep them happy.

Be prepared to take an hourly break to deal with your toddler. Try to do potty breaks at your hourly break and to do drink refills. This can help your child grow into a routine that will work well with your home business. At each break, spend a few minutes with your child giving hugs and kisses and talking with your child about what he or she wants to talk about.

Toddlers don't always do well with the routine, so be prepared to take a few minutes when needed to give the attention that your child so desperately needs in the moment.

IN CONCLUSIONI hope these tips serve to help you in the challenge of operating a successful home business.

My home business permits me to fulfill my financial obligations *AND* see my children grow up. I would never contemplate trading my home business for another kind of business. Even with the added challenges of dealing with toddlers in my home office, the upsides far outweigh the downsides.

Growing my own home business with children around has definitely given me a new respect for all people who successfully run a home business with kids in the work environment. I tip my hat to you… You deserve it!

—————————————————————–
Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466

Stone Evans will help you setup your very own money making
website today that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in
MASSIVE PROFITS for you right now…GUARANTEED! Plus, you'll get
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Keeping Your Email Box Organized & Ready for Business

May 15, 2006

Learning how to get the most organization from your email software is very likely the most important skill you can learn to conduct a successful online home business.

There are three primary email applications on the market that folks use to manage their incoming POP3 email. Those three are:

· Microsoft Outlook Express
· Eudora
· Netscape Mail

In order to get the most from your email software, there are three key processes that you should learn. These processes are concerned with data organization, saving time and email database management.

SET UP EMAIL FOLDERS

Organization is key to any emails that you intend to save. Having 2000 emails in one folder is a sure-fire road map to confusion and lost communications and information.

You are the best judge as to how to organize your email into topics that provide an easy method of retrieval of the information when you need it most.

Fortunately, the primary email browsers make it easy to organize your information. By allowing you to create folders within your email software, you can file specific emails into folders dedicated to the topic of the email.

To create new folders:

OUTLOOK EXPRESS: 1. Click File – Folders – New — alternatively, you may also right click an item in the Folder window — and then type in the name of your new folder. Highlight the folder above where you would like your new folder to be placed, and then click OK.

EUDORA: Click on Mailbox – New — or right click on Eudora in the folders window and then click on New. When the window opens, type in the name of your new mailbox and click OK. If you want to create a folder to place other mailboxes into, click the checkbox before clicking OK.

NETSCAPE MAIL: Click File – New Folder. Then from the drop-down menu, select the folder that you wish to be the folder directly above your new folder, before clicking OK.

FILTERING EMAIL

Email filters are a tool to help you save time and frustration. Have you ever lost an incoming email under the deluge of email coming into your mailbox? With filters, you can direct the important email or not-so-important email into certain pre-ordained folders.

As part of the war against spam, most ISP's use filters every day in an attempt to keep the spam out of your mailbox. In fact, I even use filters to sort my incoming mail trying to catch the spam my ISP missed.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you need some special software to filter your email. Setting up filters is actually quite easy.

To setup email filters:

OUTLOOK EXPRESS: Click on Tools – Message Rules – Mail. A wizard will open to help you create your new email filters. Just follow the instructions provided to direct mail based on certain criteria into certain folders.

EUDORA: Click on Special – Make Filter. Once again, just follow the instructions in the Filter wizard.

NETSCAPE MAIL: Click on Edit – Mail Filters. Then click on New in the wizard. Once you click on New, you will be taken to a new wizard window. Follow the instructions here, then when you are done, click on OK. This will return you to the first window where you will set up the sorting order of your filter.

CLEANING AND COMPRESSING YOUR MAIL DATA

This is an important part of your email management. When you no longer need an email, it should be deleted. When you first delete an email, your software will send the email to the Trash Bin. Your email is not actually deleted until you first empty your trash bin.

Emptying your trash bin compresses the mailboxes from where the email was originally filed. This is absolutely paramount to the protection of your email data. If you go too long between compressing your email data, then your email data could become corrupted and you might need assistance in recovering your email data.

Even after you have emptied your trash, Compressing Folders is a recommended step to prevent other data corruption. Once you understand that an email does not actually move from one folder to another until the folder is compressed, then you can better appreciate this advice.

As an example, when Email A comes into your main Inbox, the data connected to Email A appears in two files. One file contains the header and body of the email. The other file contains only the email header information.

When an email is moved from one folder to the other, only the header information is actually moved. The body information will not be deleted from the original folder until which time the original folder is compressed.

This explains the purpose of emptying the trash AND compressing folders. If the email was simply moved from the Inbox to another folder, then emptying the trash is not enough. The original placement of the email is not actually removed from the file that contains the body information until the message has been designated for compression.

To empty your trash:

OUTLOOK EXPRESS: Click on Edit – Empty 'Deleted Items' Folder. To compress the remaining folders, click on Tools – Options, then click on the tab for Maintenance. Then click the button that says, "Clean Up Now". Once the compression is completed, click OK.

EUDORA: Click Special – Empty Trash. To compress the remaining items that need compression, then click on Special – Compact Mailboxes.

NETSCAPE MAIL: Click on File – Empty Trash Folder. To compress the mailboxes, click on File – Compress Folders.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that you utilize the tools for emptying the trash and compressing the mail folders. Protecting your email data on a regular basis is good practice for avoiding disaster in your mailbox.

So many of us rely upon our email software to keep our online business running smoothly. Once you master the tools provided in your email software, your online business will run smoothly also.

Let me share one important lesson I've learned about computer software. One should never be afraid to try new things. Learning how to get the most out of your software relies upon your willingness to dig in and learn how to use it.

Once you learn how to use your software to its full potential, then your life will be greatly simplified and your effectiveness will be dramatically improved.
—————————————————————–
Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466

Stone Evans will help you setup your very own money making
website today that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in
MASSIVE PROFITS for you right now…GUARANTEED! Plus, you'll get
your own pre-written ezine-in-a-box customized and setup for you
absolutely free WITHIN 24 HOURS!! Get started immediately at:
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466
—————————————————————–


How to Stay Focused on Your Home Business Goals

May 9, 2006

When you are the owner of a home business, you will find hundreds of distractions that vie for your time, energy and focus.

Common distractions include: children, family, friends, neighbors, pets, phone calls, mail, household chores, video games, television, neighborhood children, visitors, and so many more.

As an owner of a home based business, you must always remember your purpose in bringing your profession home. What was your reason for wanting to own a home business? Was your goal to work from home so that you can share in the lives of your children? Was your goal to be out from under the rule of a tyrannical boss? Was your goal to have the freedom to work when it is convenient for you? Was your goal to make tons of money working for yourself?

Here's a few good tips that will help you stay focused on your home business:

TIP #1:
Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in the forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own home business, you will not be working for yourself for long. It is far too easy to let circumstance drive your activities — and when circumstance is in the driver's seat, you are more likely to crash and burn.

TIP #2:
Remember — your own business is a lot like a real job. Some people go to work to play, some go to socialize, and others — most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment — go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, your salary is directly proportional to your productivity. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense to stay focused on getting as much done in as short of a period as possible?

Go to work to work and to make money. Leave playtime and recreation for when your workday has ended.

TIP #3:
When you are dealing with family in the course of your workday, it is important to schedule your activities as much as possible. With small children, you must take time when you must, but you should also work hard to make sure you dedicate a specific number of hours to your workday.

With older children, it is much easier to tell them that you will be working between the hours of x and y. Your children and your friends must understand that certain hours of your day are devoted to the activities of your business.

TIP #4:
Don't permit your friends and extended family to run over you. Many people get the blind idea that if one works from home then they are not actually working.

Well-meaning people may try to fill your doorway to bring advice about getting a real job. Others may simply believe that if you are at home, then you are fair game for chitchat and socialization.

You must stand firm. You must make certain your friends and family understands that when you are working, then you ARE working! If they wish to socialize with you, then they need to do it during the hours that are not dedicated to your home business.

You are the only one who can stand up for you. Your friends and family will seldom be able to appreciate your dedication to your home business, unless you make the effort to make sure that they have the same respect for your business that you do.

TIP #5:
You should allot a certain portion of your day to email and to regular mail. For example, allot one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to handling your written communications.

Unless you dedicate certain times to the handling of these communications, you will soon find yourself on the downward slope of decreased productivity.

TIP #6:
When you find yourself spending too much time doing non-productive activities, then you should seriously consider finding a third-party service provider who will assist you in those non-profitable business activities.

As an example, you might be in the mail-order business. You might believe that your time is best spent writing ad copy and setting up your advertising, but you find yourself spending far too much time taking care of your books to take care of your advertising in the manner that you should. In this event, it might make more sense to hire a bookkeeper to handle your financial records for you.

CONCLUSION:
In the end, the success of your home business is entirely and completely reliant upon you and the decisions that you make.

You had your reasons for deciding to start your own home based business. You must always keep your reasons in the forefront of your mind. You must always be able to rely upon your own self and your dedication to the success of your business.

Your friends and family might be annoyed that they cannot come visit upon their own whim, but when success comes to you and your business, they will better appreciate you for putting your foot down when necessary.

Success is within your reach, if only you can stay focused on your goals. You must decide to reach for your goals, and then, you must have the discipline necessary to reach them.

—————————————————————–
Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466

Stone Evans will help you setup your very own money making
website today that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in
MASSIVE PROFITS for you right now…GUARANTEED! Plus, you'll get
your own pre-written ezine-in-a-box customized and setup for you
absolutely free WITHIN 24 HOURS!! Get started immediately at:
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466
—————————————————————–


How To Plan For Success

May 4, 2006

Marketers come online and they're in such a hurry to make money, they neglect one of the most essential ingredients to success.

They don't take the time to put together their battle plan. They know where they want to go, but they never sit down and map out how they're going to get there.

They're like ships without a crew. They're tossed to and fro and have no idea why.

If you're serious about your business, you need a plan.

Your business should be planned like a well thought out battle. If you haven't got your plan in place you'll suffer casualties.

You won't suffer loss of life, but you will suffer losses of:

* Money

* Time

* Opportunity

Just as the well honed warrior prepares for all possible occurrences, you must be prepared to last through the slow times, and be just as prepared to capitalize on the times when it appears you can do no wrong.

The first step on your march to the flag is to decide who you are. In the immortal words of Shakespeare, "In brief sir, study that which you most affect".

Know your strengths and know your weaknesses. You'll never be truly successful until you've first made an inventory of your-self. You can study all the "How-To's" and you may even make money, but to be truly be successful you must have your "Why-To's" in place.

Once you've decided who you are and listed your strengths and weaknesses, the next step is to determine how much money you have for your war chest.

Only use money you can afford to lose. As any professional trader or championship gambler will tell you, "Scared money never wins!"

Don't mortgage your house or max-out your credit cards because you've got the million dollar sure-fire winner.

You'll be so busy worrying, you won't be able to think clearly.

Take money you won't miss and test-test-test. Your thinking will be much clearer and when your testing finally hits on a winning formula you'll be ready to capitalize.

When you've got your winning formula, you should pyramid your profits to expand your business. A minimum of 50% of your profits should go back into your business in the first 6 months.

If you're only using money you can live comfortably without, you should place 100% back into marketing, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the fruits of your labors!

The final step in your battle plan is to keep a log book.

Just as generals study battles from the past and chess players study strategies from the old masters, you must begin your own manual.

Don't rely on your memory!!

In your manual keep every advertising campaign you've waged. Be as detailed as possible. List what has worked and what hasn't.

Key your ads to determine where your profits are coming from.

Test media used, actual ads and sells letters, etc. Sculpt your business. If your business is based on profits, the best way to insure profits is the same way you'd carve an elephant out of granite.

"Remove everything that's not an elephant!"

In your business remove everything that isn't profitable.

Be ruthless with that chisel.

Don't marry any method of promotion, or any one opportunity.

If you do you'll spend time chasing losses, instead of accumulating profits.

Put some thought and effort into your plan and you'll be a step ahead of the competition.

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi

Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site to earn multiple streams of income from home on the Internet. What about you?


Is a Home Business Right for You?

May 2, 2006

Every morning as people wake up and make the commute to work, many dream of the day when they will finally work for themselves. Every time the boss lets someone know that they must give up their weekend plans for the good of the company, people contemplate the benefits of being the owner of their own business.

Are you one of these people?

If you are, it is important to ask yourself some very important questions before you make the uncertain leap into self-employment.

Many dream of the benefits of home business ownership, but few take into account the sacrifices that must be made to bring the dream to fruition. Please don't make this mistake yourself.

You must approach home business ownership with your eyes wide open. Ask yourself the important questions, and more importantly, answer your own questions openly and honestly.

AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION

Are you the type of person who relishes every chance to gather around the water cooler for social interaction?

If so, then home business ownership may not be the right decision for you.

Instead, if you feel that you can be quite content sitting alone at your desk; speaking only to clients and really minding your own home business, then you might have what it takes to succeed as a home business entrepreneur.

If you feel at ease with your own company and don't need a dozen coworkers milling around your desk, then you, too, could savor the freedoms that will allow you and your family, to live the lifestyle you know you want and deserve.

THE KEY TO HOME BUSINESS SUCCESS

Self-motivation is the key to success when you start a home-based business. You need to possess the ability to push yourself ahead. Your drive and determination will be reinforced with every new sale.

The level of success that you will achieve greatly depends on the time and effort you are willing to plow into your new home business. Your organization, planning and marketing skills, will all be put into practice when you embark on your liberating journey from employee, to being your own boss. In fact, you will be the wearer of many hats and gain a wealth of business experience along the way, when you finally make that commitment to work at home.

YOUR SUCCESS RESTS ENTIRELY UPON YOUR OWN SHOULDERS

You will now be the boss. Are you truly able to work independently? Do you have the drive; the tenacity, to persevere with your home based business? Will you be able to invest the necessary time to nurture it, to watch it grow and see it through, from germination to full, glorious bloom? When you're the boss, you are responsible for the success of your home business, from A to Z, from disappointments to victory.

When you work at home, it will empower you to achieve many things you were unable to do when you were stuck working for that tyrant boss. Remember him? He's the guy that wouldn't let you take time off when your baby was sick…the same guy that called you in to work on Thanksgiving Day.

A home business means that you can take good care of your family and make money from home, simultaneously. You will have the best of both worlds! Just think–no more dirty laundry piling up–you can do it while you work. No more scurrying around at the last minute searching for a babysitter either. And no more worrying about getting fired; you'll be the boss!

IN CONCLUSION…

Stay positive and focused on your home based business, even if, when sales aren't up to par, you get occasional negative remarks or derogatory comments from people with stuffy, dead-end jobs. Ignore their cutting words and bear in mind that success is the best revenge! Keep your admirable, positive attitude at the forefront and show them what you're made of!

—————————————————————–
Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466

Stone Evans will help you setup your very own money making
website today that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in
MASSIVE PROFITS for you right now…GUARANTEED! Plus, you'll get
your own pre-written ezine-in-a-box customized and setup for you
absolutely free WITHIN 24 HOURS!! Get started immediately at:
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-11466
—————————————————————–