New Year - New Look - New Logo

New Year's Resolution #6 -  Give my blogs a makeover.  And step one in that process is to consolidate all of the many facets of my business under one brand in one place.  And that requires an entirely new look - and a new logo!

Of course, the first person I contacted when I needed a new logo was Terri Dennis (aka PopArtDiva).  She is an extraordinary graphic designer.  And she always seems to understand exactly what I'm looking for.  So when I called her to tell her I needed a logo that really expressed the concept of BoomerBusinessCoach, she created the perfect design.

The new BoomerBusinessCoach logo completely conveys what we are all about - growth, change, and new beginnings.  I just love it! 

There is still work to be done as I give my blogs - and he BoomerBusinessCoach brand - a facelift.  But I think this logo is the perfect start.  What do you think? 

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions

2012 is almost over.  It's the time of year when everyone starts thinking about New Year's Resolutions.  Even me.  Many people will start Tuesday morning with a long list of things they are going to do differently in 2013.  Unfortunately, in a few months, just about everyone will have given up on those resolutions as they fall back into their old habits.

That's why I prefer to use the last few days of the year to set goals for the coming year.  Unlike resolutions, which are really little more than wishes and daydreams, goals are specific and measurable and can provide a way to get where you want to be.

With that in mind, I decided to share my goals for the 2013 in the hope that some of them may inspire you to set some New Year's Goals of your own.

1.  Create a 1-page strategic plan for 2013.  I tend to get wordy at times so learning to condense my plan for the year to a single page is going to be challenging!  But it will be wonderful to have something I can put my hands on every day, look at every day, and carry with me anywhere, to remind me of where I'm headed and how I'm going to get there.

2.  Take Bob and Austin for a walk 3-times a week.  What kind of business goal is this you may ask?  Well, I've put on some weight (ok a lot of weight) this past year.  And my last doctor checkup indicated my blood pressure is on the high side.  I've been more tired and less focused lately.  How can I continue to move my business forward if I'm not in my best health?  The walks will help with the weight gain and spending time outside with my "boys" will help relieve stress.  Both of these should help lower my blood pressure and get me back to feeling like my old self and ready to work.

3.  Attend at least one business-building seminar.  I'm hoping I will be able to get to one of Ken McArthur's events.  I am currently not able to travel as much as I like but I always learn so much at these that I am determined to make it to at least one this year.

4.  Use some of the ideas provided in Bev Mahone's great book "How to Get on the News Without Committing Murder" to get some FREE PR.

5.  Advertise - every day!

6.  Give my blogs a makeover.  I recently finished ProBlogger's "31 Days To Build a Better Blog" and while I did apply much of what I learned, life - in the form of an automobile accident - got in the way.  Since even the little I did complete significantly improved traffic to my blogs, I can't wait to try the rest of the ideas!

7.  Devote one blog post per month to promoting my fellow entrepreneurs.  It may not help grow my business but part of my mission is to help others grow theirs.  Here's my chance!

8.  Express gratitude daily.  Several years ago, I did a teleseminar with Karol Avalon on how an attitude of gratitude is essential for business success.  I have forgotten that lately.  It's time to bring it back to my business. 

9.  Get off Twitter!  No, not really.  I love it!  But it's time I learn to really use Facebook and LinkedIn and all the other social media platforms available.  Ok, maybe not ALL of them.  But it is time to expand my social network!  Facebook, here I come!

10.  Give my website a facelift.  A recent comment from a visitor made me think.  Just because I'm a baby boomer, my site doesn't have to look old.  It can be informative and still be fun and engaging.  Time for a makeover.

That's my list for 2013.  Do you have a "resolution" to share? 

Finding Your Guru

Starting your own business comes with its share of challenges.  You will make plenty of mistakes along the way.  One way to minimize the number of missteps is to find a good mentor or coach to help you.  But every time I open my email, I have a message from some new "expert" ready to share his wisdom - and latest product - with me, for a price.  It seems the internet is overflowing with experts.  How do you know who to believe?  In an earlier post, I provided a list of my top 10 favorite "gurus".  These are the individuals whose advice helped me get started and I highly recommend each and every one of them.  They worked for me.  I own many of their products and books.  But that doesn't mean they will work for you.  How do you choose?

 Whether hiring a coach, purchasing a product, signing up for a seminar, or simply subscribing to a newsletter, there are certain things to look for to help you make the right choice.  Following these steps will help you succeed faster, and keep you from spending money on books and seminars you won't ever use or having an inbox full of newsletters you never read.

1.  Does the information offered fill your needs?  When I started, I needed to know how to build a website, where to find products, and how to get online.  A course on teleseminars or posting videos, while good information, was not what I needed at the moment.  Your guru should be an expert in the area you need at the time.  Example - Ken Evoy (SiteBuildIt!) for web design or Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) for creating an online presence through blogging.

2.  Do they actually provide good information?  As I stated earlier, I get hundreds of emails every day and many of them are from the latest expert "sharing" the latest tip, trick, or trend to grow my business.  But many times, further reading of their email or website reveals very little useful information and lots of self-promotion.  I realize that we are all in business to make money but the best gurus aren't afraid to provide useful information to anyone - for free!  Think Ken McArthur or Allan Gardyne.

3.  Do they tell the truth?  If you are being promised riches overnight (or in a week or even a month) with no effort, no investment, no skills, and no knowledge. you are being lied to.  There are many ways to make money online.  But they all require work or the money to hire someone to do it for you.  They require the skill and knowledge to create a business plan - or the money to hire someone to do it for you.  You will need to build websites, market your products or services, deliver your goods to your customers - or find someone to do it for you.  And beware the gurus who spend all their time "proving" how much money they made.  Anyone can photoshop bank statements or checks showing millions in income - even me (and I'm technologically challenged!).  The real experts don't have to convince you they make money.  They are to busy running their businesses and showing others how to build theirs.

4.  Can you do what they do?  A multi-level marketing expert I used to follow suggested the way to build my network marketing business was by purchasing leads and then calling these people every day and making my pitch.  She sure was successful, but I hate cold-calling with a passion!  Although these were "qualified" leads, the thought of calling someone I didn't know and trying to interest them in my business made me absolutely nauseous.  Needless to say, we soon parted professional company. 

5.  Can they teach?  Just because someone is an expert in their field does not mean they know how to share that knowledge with others in a way that is understandable to you.

6.  Do they run in the right circles?  And by that I don't necessarily mean the "in" crowd.  I mean do they know other experts they can introduce you to.  The best example I can give of this is Ken McArthur and his jvAlert events.  I've had the pleasure of attending a couple of these and it's a veritable "who's who" of internet marketing experts.  Ken knows his stuff, and what he doesn't know - well he knows the people who do.

7.  Are you comfortable with them?  This is an important consideration.  Recently, I was going to start working with a new coach.  I liked his program.  He was recommended by many of my friends.  But after talking to him on the phone, I realized I didn't like him!  He had a way of speaking that made me feel like I was just the latest check mark towards his quota of new clients for the week.  Perhaps it would have changed if I had actually started working with him.  But I just couldn't get past that first impression.  You must be comfortable with your coach or mentor or you will just be wasting your time.

Finding your guru can take some time and effort, but it is worth it.  Do your homework.  Ask for recommendations.  Check them out.  Choose the one that's right for you.

Conquering the Challenges

Anyone looking at me today would think that starting a home-based or online business is a walk in the proverbial park.  That wasn't the case.  There were many challenges along the way.  And if you are just getting started, I'm sure you are experiencing many of the same issues.

1.  Support.  The biggest challenge I had when starting out was getting people to take me seriously.  I don't mean prospective customers or clients.  I mean family and friends.  It's difficult to start a business without some support from those around you.  Support like a spouse who will walk the dogs so you can work, or a friend who will pick the kids up from school while you meet with a client.  But it is often difficult to have any credibility with those who know you best - especially if you have no prior business experience.  It took me quite a while to convince my family that I was serious about this and to show them I could be successful.  But as time went by and I didn't give up and as I slowly started actually earning an income, the belief - and the support - came.  Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to overcome this obstacle except be persistent, be patient, share your successes, and have faith.

2.  Time.  Like me, many of you are starting your businesses part time while still working your regular job.  And if you have a family as well, then finding time to actually build your business can be challenging.  Too many will simply take time from other things like sleep or family to devote to your business.  But you can't do this forever and eventually it will take its toll and something will suffer - your health, your relationships, or the business you are trying to build.  Don't try to steal time for your business.  Simply vow to do one thing every day to move your business forward.  On days when you don't have much time, it can be a small task like reading about your niche, or placing an ad.  On days when you have more time to spare, tackle the larger tasks.  But make sure you do at least one thing EVERY day.

3.  Space.  Depending on the type of business you start, you could require some space to run it.  At the very least you will probably need some sort of office space.  The good news is that with today's technology, almost anyplace can be an office.  When I first started, I worked from a little computer desk in a corner of our bedroom.  Then we built an addition on our house and I had a loft area to use as an office.  But today, with my laptop and smartphone,  I often find I am working in my car, or the local Starbucks, or in the living room while my husband watches television.  The products I sell are mostly digital and those that aren't are shipped directly from the manufacturer so there is no space needed for inventory or storage.

4.  Knowledge.  I spent the bulk of my career as a Navy cryptologist and Russian linguist.  So when it came time to start a business of my own, I didn't exactly have a lot of experience or knowledge.  I could send email and knew my way around the internet somewhat but that was about it. 
Fortunately, there are plenty of books, classes, and online resources where you can gain the knowledge you need.  I recommend many of them in this blog and at BoomerBizCoach Recommends.

5.  Tools and Equipment.  No matter what niche you choose for your business, you will need some resources.  My business is almost exclusively online, so all I really need is a computer.  And although I resisted forever, I would now be lost without my smartphone.  Fortunately, an adequate computer can be had relatively inexpensively these days.  If you are continuing to work while you start your business, put some money aside each payday to help cover the costs of purchasing what you need until you start earning income from your business.  Or you may be able to rent what you need or borrow from friends and family.  Don't let necessities (like bills) go so you can put the money towards your business.  And don't think you have to have the top of the line gadgets while you are getting started.      

The Worst Day EVER!

I was already late for a meeting with a prospective client.  Although I rarely oversleep, I always set my alarm, just in case.  So of course, the one day I didn't would be the one day I just did not wake up.  And now, here I was, stuck in the morning traffic jam.  I called my prospect on my cell phone and there was no answer so I left a short voicemail stating I was en route but was caught in traffic and would be a few minutes late.  I then called the coffee shop we were meeting at and asked them to page my prospect.  Again, no answer.  After hanging up, I decided to try to get around the traffic by taking the next exit and driving through town.

For those of you who don't know, I am what I like to call "directionally challenged."  In other words, as my husband says, I can get lost crossing the street.  And that is exactly what happened.  After driving several minutes in what I was sure was the correct direction, I had to admit I was hopelessly lost in a maze of dead-end streets and roads with names I didn't recognize.  I drove a little further and came to an intersection.  Still not recognizing anything around me, I decided to go back the way I had come.  I was already so late now that there was no chance to salvage the meeting.  All I had to do was turn around.  And luckily, just down the road to the left was a gas station where I could do just that.  I made the left turn and started down the road to the gas station and suddenly all the oncoming cars started honking their horns.  I glanced at the dashboard of my car to see if there was something to indicate why they were trying to get my attention.  I HAD been hearing a funny "beep" for the last little bit and so I thought maybe there was something wrong with my car.  But everything looked normal.  And then as I looked up, the 'One Way" sign caught my eye.  I was on a one way street - and driving in the wrong direction!  With all of my attention focused on trying to figure out where I was I had missed it and made the wrong turn.  Fortunately, I was only a few feet from the gas station at this point and so I just continued until I could pull in and turn around.  I decided to call my prospect one more time and that's when I discovered what the "beep" was.  My cell phone battery had run down.  I had forgotten to plug it into the charger the night before.  And the car charger was still in my suitcase from my last trip out of town.  Face flaming red from embarrassment, I went inside to ask directions back to the highway.

The young man inside was kind enough not to laugh at my mistake.  The police officer who pulled in right behind me and was writing down my license number when I came back out was not so kind and proceeded to issue me a ticket for reckless driving.  My prospect was less than impressed and declined to schedule a second meeting.  And I got a lecture from my husband about not using the GPS system he had just bought for my car and for not knowing how to use the one on my phone AND for the traffic ticket.  But none of them were as hard on me as I was on myself.  Because I knew that most of this could have been prevented with a little thought and planning.

1.  I am not a morning person.  Knowing this, I should not have scheduled a meeting first thing in the morning if it was preventable.  I needed to be at my most alert and functional and morning is not that time for me.

2.  Once I knew I had a morning meeting scheduled, I should have double checked to ensure the alarm was set.  If I had left the house on time, I would have missed the worst of the traffic.

3.  Knowing that I am easily lost, I should have never left the bypass.  I knew where I was going and I just needed to stay on track.  I might have been a little bit late but I could may have been able to smooth that over.  Hours late because I got lost was a bit harder to explain.

4.  If I had put the GPS in my car when my husband gave it to me, I could have been directed right to my destination.  Knowing how to use the one on my phone was pointless since I had forgotten to charge it the night before!

5.  My husband had mentioned several times that I should get a second car charger for my phone and just leave it in the car.  But I assured him that I always remembered to put it back if I took it along on a trip to use in the rental car.  Except today... 

Despite the embarrassment and humiliation I felt at appearing so unprofessional to my prospect - and for confirming all those things men think about women drivers - I was able to learn some lessons from this incident.  I never schedule meetings before noon if I can avoid it.  I make sure I know exactly where I am going, sometimes even driving there the day before just to make sure I can find it.  I set both the bedside alarm and the alarm on my cell phone at night if I need to get up early.  I have learned to use all the apps on my phone - including GPS.  And the car charger never leaves my car. 

Everyone makes mistakes in business.  Hopefully, yours aren't quite the source of jokes as much as mine were.  (The one way sign for my birthday was cute, guys, really).  But if you can learn from your mistakes, you might find that they weren't so bad after all.  After paying the fine for my ticket, admitting to my husband that he was right - I really needed to learn to use all the technology available to me, and after retelling the story to my prospect (much to the amusement of  her husband!), all is well.  My prospect - while still not a client - is now a trusted friend and member of my support team.  My husband makes sure I have the latest in gadgets for birthdays and anniversaries.  And I have a very cool one way sign in my office to remind me - always think ahead.  Always be prepared.  Always stay on track.  And if these fail, remain calm, observe your surroundings, listen to those around you, and don't be afraid to ask for directions.      
 

I Love to Share My Story

How does a small town girl with absolutely NO business experience become an entrepreneur and business coach?  You do what you gotta do to take care of your family!

My mom and dad worked hard all of their lives.  Dad worked in factories, as a groundskeeper at the local golf club, on construction sites, and as a janitor at the local hospital.  Mom did everything from factory work to working as a cashier at the local supermarket.  And yet, even with two incomes, times were often hard with 3 kids in the family.  So later, as their health failed and they had no retirement to speak of, (my dad received $285 a month pension from the hospital), they had no safety net.  That's how dad wound up at my house.

When Mom passed away in 2000, Dad was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.  I knew he would not be able to take care of himself but no problem.  He had his pension and social security.  We would bring him to Arkansas and find him a nice assisted living facility that he could stay in close to us.  I will spare you the horror stories of nursing home care and assisted living facilities.  (Nothing like calling to see how your dad is and being told that he is missing!).  I'm sure there are wonderful facilities available - if you can pay for them.  But we felt we had no other choice but to care for him at home. 

I live in the "country."  Not too far from town, but far enough that things like Meals on Wheels and other services were not available.  Caring for Dad meant finding a way to be with him and yet still make a living.  Because even with two incomes, times were sometimes tight with 2 kids and Dad to care for.  I tried several different work at home "opportunities", until I finally found a legitimate business that let me work out of my home.  And so I went to work for one of the largest site selection and event planning companies in the world.  Everything was going well.  And then 9/11/2001 came and a recession and companies stopped having meetings. I continued in the business for a few more years.  But I was having to leave home - and my dad - more often to get business and even then I still wasn't getting the business I needed.  Meetings were still smaller and less frequent than when I started.  Except for one group of clients I had picked up by chance - the internet marketers.  Not only were they still having events, they were having more and more events all the time.  Then I was invited to attend one of these events by a client.  Curious to see what they were all about, I went.  And it was the decision that started everything and changed my life.

It was at the jvAlert event in Orlando that I met Ken McArthur and his friends.  And I discovered that contrary to what I thought, you don't have to be a business major to start a home business.  You don't have to be rich or super-smart or know all the "right" people.  All you have to be is determined and willing to work and willing to learn. And Ken and friends were willing to teach.  I learned all I could from them and took it back home.  And started making a better life for me and my family.  I stayed with the event planning company a while longer, but thanks to the marketing ideas I picked up from my new found friends, I didn't have to leave home as much.  I also rejoined a couple of those "opportunities" I had tried earlier - only this time I knew how to make them work.  I discovered affiliate marketing.  And I discovered there were a lot of people just like me that needed a way to bring in some extra money or actually make a living with a business of their own.  And so in June of 2007, I decided to focus solely on my own business and WealthTogether was launched.

Today, in addition to business coaching, we do coaching for network marketers.  Through Boomer Business Ideas, we focus specifically on the Baby Boomer who wishes (or needs) to become an entrepreneur.  We produced the BoomerBizCoach teleseminar series (which is being reintroduced due to popular demand).  Just for fun, I started a blog "written" by my little dog and traveling companion, Bob.  Who knew it would become so popular that he now has his own gift and apparel line!  And that I would take what I learned from that to start a similar line focused on grandparents that would also be hugely popular.

My dad passed away in 2008.  I am grateful that I was able to find a way to care for him and still care for my family.  I am also grateful to everyone that supported me along the way to where I am today.  I only wish I had started sooner.  And that's the point of this post.  Don't wait until necessity forces you to step out on your own. As you can see from my story I'm nothing special.  If the child of a janitor and a cashier from a small town in NE Pennsylvania can build a business (or businesses!) so can you.           

The 10 Second Rule

It doesn't matter how you get the traffic to your site.  Whether by search engine or referral or direct link, there is one truth that still applies.  You have about 10 seconds to capture their attention and keep them on your site.  How do you do this?  Give them the information they need to know that they are in the right place and have found what they are looking for.

1.  Visitors want to know right away that they have come to the site they were looking for.  They don't want to spend time searching your site for the information that will tell them who you are.  Your name or your company name and your logo need to one of the most visible parts of your website.  They should be visible on every page, preferable in the header.

2.  Visitors are searching for your website for a reason.  They have a need and they are searching for a solution.  Again, it doesn't matter if they are simply using a search engine or they have been referred to your site from someone else.  When they get to your site, they will want to know one thing - how can you help fill their need?  Your website should make it obvious what types of products or services you offer and how it will benefit your visitor.  And this needs to be explained quickly and clearly.  Once you have captured your visitor, then you can provide him with additional information further into your site.

3.  Unless you are involved in a cutting edge industry, chances are you are not the only one able to meet your prospect's needs.  Your visitor will want to know - quickly - why he should stop here and do business with you instead of continuing his search.    Next, visitors to your site should be able to easily see why you're good at what you do.  Awards. recommendations, testimonials - whatever it is that proves why your visitor should choose your business over your competitor needs to be easily visible on your site. 

4.  You have his interest and he is ready to make his choice.  Don't lose him now by not telling him what the next step is.  Whether you want him to buy, or subscribe, or register, or download, make your call to action obvious and explicit.

5.  There are many legitimate businesses on the internet.  There are also a few rip-off artists.  Your visitor will want some assurance you are "real."  You can help set his mind at ease by making it easy for him to contact you.  At a minimum, you should display your business phone number, a physical address (not a post office box), and an email address.

6.  I still remember the day I was searching for some information and found a site that seemed to provide all that I needed.  I registered for their newsletter and within days, was inundated with so much spam that I had to close my email account and open a new one.  This is what prompted me to open an email account just for newsletter subscriptions and such.  Now I look for privacy policy information right up front.  And I am not alone.  So be sure your visitor knows right up front what will happen to the information he provides.