Making A Business Happen

All Dreams Can Come True....Except YOURS!

2007-01-16T18:28:00.000-08:00

I am torn. Not because I don't know what I want but just the opposite. My life goals and dreams bother me because I totally feel liberated succumbing to them but in retrospect I have NO BUSINESS flying off on magic carpets, stopping to take pictures of unicorns and stepping through a wrinkle in time to go see the wizard. I am a 27 year old mother of two (one on the way), with no real job, no savings, stocks, inheritances, rich friends or any other means to properly support myself. However, with my "meantime" jobs and lackluster commitment to them, I manage to get the bills paid. Sometimes I get side-swiped by eviction notices, utility shutoff notices and layoffs but it is all how you see it. I use to view it as a great way to be depressed, now, I am not bothered. Why? Because I am going to start a multi-million dollar business anyway, right? Funny but I do have that much audacity to actually believe in myself despite my circumstances.

I'm still torn because I can't stop thinking about how great it would be to work for myself and how capable I am to make that happen. I stop sometimes and think that I am nuts. How can I start a business with nothing but a twinkle in my eye. lord knows I am going to need more than that.

And dreams...they say are for people who have too much time on their hands because of course if I was at ABC Incorporated working on memos with a manager that works my nerve, making just enough money to HAVE to show up again on Monday, then I wouldn't be DREAMING so damn much, right? Been there, done that, got laid off.....three times. The third time's a charm. I pretty much done.

2007 Ellay West

Why I Suck

2007-01-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

I suck because I procrastinate. While I can profess great changes that I would like to see in my life. I do nothing. Or not enough. Then there are those who enable and tell me that I am doing what I can but I know in the back of my mind that I am not. I view success as being a relentless effort towards a goal. The new meaning of night time should be plenty of time to work instead of plenty of time to sleep. The new meaning of a great day should be a very well-worked group of hours. The new meaning of living should be actually breathing, thriving and growth.

With that said, I have lots to do.

Get Rich Quick

2006-12-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been re-designing my web page and working on some projects. I found that ambition does nothing without determination. So I am opting to be more determined as opposed to an ambitious individual. I have been realizing that I have been wanting lots of things as among those things are a huge bank account. However, that has changed as well. I figure with my best calculations and wisdom that if I work towards a goal, give it my absolute best and approachit as a passion (which it would be), instead of a way to HIT IT BIG, the rewards would present themselves. Money is not what I need. It is the drive, determination, and belief in myself which will keep me rich despite what my bank account balance is. I can speak this way because I am at the bottom rung of the whole money tree. I bet million- and billionaires would laugh at me because they only work, invest or spend time for some type of profit. But I happen to believe that lots of moguls, owners, CEOs, big wigs, and the like really couldn't have imagined what reward would come to them at the time when they were like me. Of course they did dream big but they all look amazed, astonished and surprised to me which says to me that they had no idea their little idea, product, or business would explode into mansions, jets, and heated marble tile. So I'll work hard right now and wait to be surprised!!! :-)

The 11 Pitfalls of Startup by Brad Sugars (Entrepreneur.Com)

2006-10-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/startupbasicscolumnistbradsugars/article167930.html

I am suggesting this article because it is a good read. This article lists 11 Start-Up pitfalls. Brad Sugar seems to know what he's talking about.
My favorite tip is tip #12 (I know, it says "11" but there are twelve). But anyhow, this tip offers the advice of cultivating business relationships. Your customers/clients should not be a one-time deal. A relationship should be built over time by you providing then with exceptional service and them being a constant source of business because you are so darned professional.

Money Business

2006-09-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

I worry sometimes that I don't have enough business knowledge to run a business and then I realize how much information there is available. Somehow, I am money dumb. I don't know much about money so I realized the other day that I need to research it or something. I had no ideas so I went to the Forbes list of billiionaires and realized how so uncool it is to be a millionaire! Apparently, the world is now saturated with enough millionaires to make it passe. What's more amazing that Mr.Gates, Mr Buffet and Mizzz Winfrey are all still filthy rich, Why? Because they no longer get paid for contributing to an entity, because they are an entity.

I have married the terms, business and money in my head because if doing business is not to reap a profit, make a decent living or grasp at future prosperous opportunity then it is just a very ludicrous way to waste money-making time. The one thing that always makes me over think any situtation or idea is that starting a business will not guaruntee money. When I say "money", I mean the "mean green" that flourishes into a white piece of paper or a "titanium" credit card. I am sure that Oprah has no cash on her EVER!

So,I think that some people get or have money but have no idea what to do with it to become an entity. I am sure I wouldn't know but I am learning. I now understand that a million dollars in a fools hand may as well be $1 because it will be disregarded just the same.

The point of this article is that if you plan to make money it would be a GREAT thing to just find out about investing, saving and budgeting. I'm sure wouldn't want a whole bunch of money and no clue what to do except spend. Right?

Entrepreneur.Com--105 Service Businesses To Start

2006-09-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article80684.html

This link will lead you to a great big list of service businesses to start. There are personal services that may interest you like pet sitting and mobile massage. Business services that can be done right from a home office like consulting and marketing. Techies, you can design websites or conduct internet research. Neat freaks, well you can get as creative as you want to and become a professional organizer or window washer. And for the Mommy on the move, there are service businesses like child care or children's party planning that will obviously come natural to us, Expert Moms. Make busienss happen.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article80684.html

My Articles on AssociatedContent.Com

2006-08-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

Provided by AssociatedContent.com - The People's Media Company

Business Plan: First

2006-08-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Let's just say I am not the only one that is not exactly thrilled about writing a business plan but we all need to.

A business plan's purpose is to put in writing every aspect of what your business is and does, how it will conduct business, where it will conduct business, how much money is needed, how much money will be made, and basically, how in God's name are you going to combine it all on a daily basis to make your business a success.

It does not matter how miniscule a product you are producing, a business plan is needed. Most of us just think that it is a ploy engineered by all of these business plan companies to make money off of frustrated business startups but guess what? There are a few ways to get it done your self.

Where there is information on exactly how, there is where you should be. First, there are business plan software programs, I am using Smart Business and Marketing Plan 8.0 which I purchased off of eBay for about $10. While it is a step by step explanatory program, you still need to know every little detail so that you can fill in those horrifying blanks. There is also Business Plan Pro for about $100 at large software carriers but I advise: Shop Around...Google it, see what you find.

Then there is a huge amount of free info on sites like Entreprenuer.Com, StartUpNation.Com, SBA.gov and plenty more that will give you awesome information on all the components necessary to produce a business plan. I have been a chronic peruser of these sites for years and only purchased Smart Biz Plan because I wanted a template on the computer....lazy, maybe but I am half way done with my plan and this is a first in about 8 years. I needed a little more, maybe you don't.

However, please get the biz plan together. Do it piece by piece....then add the pieces together. Just start, because it HAS to get done. Or call me, I'll do it....small fee...I promise.

More Money, More Problems?

2006-08-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

I was watching Drew Barrymore on ETHS, and they documented her life in the limelight and though some of it wasn't the greatest moments in Barrymore history, the show ended with her saying, " I love my life." Now it could possibly be the fact that she is a millionaire, probably 10 to 20 times over (I don't know the figure), but it makes no difference because one way or another, she can say that she loves her life. Then, I thought about it and realized that I have NEVER felt that way at any point in life, it saddens me some and motivated me more.

For these people who can say that they love life. What are the magical ingredients? Money seems to be a major factor. I hate when people say that money can't buy you happiness which probably was either said by someone who had mounds of money or none at all. And of course I don't believe that money can buy happiness, but as I walk into my over-priced apartment on the 15th of the month and the rent is not yet paid, the energy bill is just becoming an insurmountable disaster and the only messages I get are from bill collectors, I can only dream of getting everything up to date and maintaining them just as well.. I am sure that I would be much more happier. But that's just me. Then besides the rewards, one of the magical ingredients has to be doing something you actually love. What can tickle the heck out of you more than waking up anxious to go to work? You do what you love to do anyway, oh and there's a check in the mail as well. This is what I call striking gold. The treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Loving what you do it more than just some minor detail. You have to consider everything else that life throws at you. On top of making a living, there is death of a loved one, bad relationships, an uncooperative body, sick children and all that nonsense, and I would like to not be unhappy when all of this stuff surfaces. I would like to be stable in what I do so that when I need to take time to mend, heal or grieve, I can. My personal life will always be more important.

So that is my goal, to one day say, " I love my life." I think that the starting a business would enrich so many parts of my life. Being that running a business requires patience, tenacity, strength and a set of big cahones, it can help build the person that I want to be, undoubtedly.

FREE BUSINESS BOOKS

2006-08-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Feeling Half Empty

2006-08-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

When I started thinking about starting a business, I thought that I would naturally just have the energy each and every day. I thought that I would always believe in my product with no question. I can't be the only one that has those days where they start to doubt themselves and their products, especially poverty level individuals such as myself.

Nobody's going to believe in my work unless I believe in it.. And in order for me to believe in my projects, I have to believe in myself. Easy to say. This is not to suggest that I don't believe in myself, I am just a naturally pessimistic person. Nothing ever goes right for me until I look at my children and realize that the latter statement is just fear of success.

I only see success on TV which is sad. That means that of all of my family and friends, each and every individual is as unhappy with living as I am but they are not ready to die because they need more time. But most still waste valuable time. I think that although success is boasted and bragged about, most people fear it for one very important reason:With great success brings great responsibility. It is far more simpler to be responsible for nothing, and lots of people like simplicity. I am different, though. I crave more responsibility especially for my lifestyle and career, collectively as a working unit So, I am going to refresh my jolly juice and press on. You should too. :-)

Our Fight: Breast Cancer

2006-08-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I have never second guessed what organization for illness I would support. My grandmother died of breast cancer in 1998. She was only 52 at the time. I miss her. That is why I my company will be a continued gift giver to breast cancer organizations. Ellay West Concepts (the name of my company) will donate a portion of the profits yearly. Even if it is only $10. What ever I can do, I will do. I think all companies should have a cause such as education, illnessess or to private organizations for the homeless. You know, like the adopt highway programs, businesses should adopt a humane cause. Some do but there are alot who don't. Just a thought!!!

StartUpNation.Com

2006-08-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

I love this site. It is basically an online community for entrepreneurs and business owners. This site was set up by the Sloan brothers (Rich and Jeff) who also mentors through StartUp Nation radio. There are articles on every facet of starting, running, and growing a business. When you log on, you can create an entrepreneur profile and then take part in the community discussions. There is of course a e-newsletter you can subscribe to which almost always leads me to the site immediately as soon as I see the topics being featured that week. Start-Up nation is a great place to meet people that can give valuable advice because there are all types of business owners that are on all types of levels as far as business goes. Go, check it out and tell them that I sent you :-)

Practice Relaxing

2006-08-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

It pains me to do so at times but sometimes I need to walk away from the computer. There is no other reason except, the cramps in my fingers, the persistent neck and back pain and the pressure on my eyelids. You would think that I would just get up, stretch, get something to drink, and maybe use the bathroom. Trust me, I won't until my neck is twisted into a pretzel and my bladder is a ticking time bomb. So my advice is to learn how to take breaks. A break does not make you a slacker, it actually helps in your productivity. The glare of the computer screen sometimes seems as if it is erasing brain cells because everything that I need is literally one click away but just that quick, I forget and then I stare for awhile. But, I remember while I am sipping my cold glass of lemonade.

Good Credit, Good Equipment

2006-08-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Today I did some more research on getting the necessary items to make a marketable, useful product. I ran across a notion I was fancying before: binding. I figure getting my literature produced by printing companies was out of the question. It is not doable for me at this point. I believe in its success so I will just say eventually. I looked up binding machines and they cost a grip ( that's more than $500 in my poor world), like I said, eventually. So I put that in the back of my head with all my other delusions of grandeur and said, "Maybe,someday."

I could possibly rent one but things that you can rent are usually things that require a good credit rating. That is something that I don't have. I surely didn't plan to totally screw up my credit. It was being a careless college student and more importantly not knowing the importance of having good credit. Of course student loans make up the majority. This pisses me off because I still don't have a degree but I am still obligated to pay off the loans. Bush should do something about that(I'm not holding my breath).

Although everyone pressures me to clean it up as opposed to filing bankruptcy, I don't have that option. Everything on my credit report maybe adds up to $20,000, I couldn't pay all of this within 3-7 years, so why not file bankruptcy. These is only about $2000 in credit cards, two are department store cards, and the debt is very very very old. I get frustrated with these "Lower Your Credit" agencies because they only talk about current interest rates and charges . I need to know what I could do with very old (less than 7 years..wink, wink) charges. I guess I have a few options: bankruptcy, paying everything off (laugh!!), waiting until everything gets charged off or some other solution that some nice person might know about (you, maybe?).

I'll be back tomorrow.
Good Night.

The Beginning, The Ink

2006-08-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I wanted to make my first entry but the site was down when I was up. Anyway, these entries on this particular blog will be sort of the ins and outs of how I am starting my business. I don't have anon-going business (never have), I have no money to start it with,(I am basically spending the left over change from my checks...for instance, if I make 475.00 that week, I keep $15.00 for the business...and the rest becomes money orders to pay bills) and I have no help with my business endeavors, I wear all of the hats.

So I am lauching an adult literature business after many years and months of procrastination, hesitation and hibernation. I am a writer but it is very hard to get writing work with out having a degree. I am literally one paycheck away from being on the street, very deep in default on student loans and school is not an option. I would wish that I could find help paying off loans and just going back, not having to worry about the rent but I have never waited for a hand-out and I probably still won't. So, moving on.

Yesterday, since I have had a marketing/business plan saved on my hard drive for awhile, I re-opened and figured out ways to tweak and add vital information. Then I decided that I needed to figure out how the final product would look. The features and tha packaging. I priced ink which is highway robbery at well-known office supply companies, but if you just Google your ink cartridge model# (cartridge #, I dunno) But Google it and you will find a gang of online retailers selling ink for more than $10 bucks less than the original price. Ink for my HP costs $20 and well its $10 at emerald. (www.EmeraldRecycling.Com). There may be other places, this is just where I bought it from. And free shipping!

Okay, I am not at all cheap. Even the most expensive, exclusive companies welcome and accept discounts and of course the best possible low price for everything from jewelry to yachts without sacrificing their classy reputation. Who pays full price for anything anyway? Sometimes I have to but when I don't, I won't.

I priced paper and those report covers. And as I am comparing and pricing and comparing some more, I know at some point I will have to decide the cost of producing each peice of literature, but that's another day, another post. Right now, I am still bargain hunting.

I know that it is going to be difficult but the best thing about being a poor little girl is that you know how it feels. So if in my journey, I fall back towards the welfare line, thre is no way that I would be distraught. I already know the drill. I've been broke. I've eaten cereal with water and pretended that it was milk, I have felt less than perfect because I have always thought that my life wasn't as perfect as other people, so... I am made of some outstanding material because I aint broken yet!!!!