Change is a tricky thing. If you are someone contemplating the changes that will occur by becoming a successful small business owner, it will be helpful for you to have a bird’s eye view of where you are along the continuum.

To that end, Dr. James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente developed a Transtheoretical Model of Change in 1982 that has been applied to everything from weight loss to drug addiction with great success and acclaim. Though their model has never before been applied to those considering starting up a successful small business, it is a very relevant model that will help take the pressure off individuals thinking they should be further along than where they are, and provide a compassionate understanding of where each person is along the scale.

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As a successful small business owner, you can kiss your free time goodbye. You are forced work to long hours, forget about holidays off and expect to spend every weekend working. Sorry but that’s the price you pay when becoming a small business owner. One way to get around it is by hiring qualified employees.

The current economic situation has created an increasing unemployment rate but also a growth in qualified candidates. This is a golden opportunity for a small business owner like yourself to find and hire a star employee.

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Small business marketing may be the most important part in owning and maintaining a successful small business. A good portion of the marketing effort is determining the needs of your target market and then explaining that you provide solutions to meet those needs. Contrary to popular belief, it is a lot more than posting a sign or handing out flyers. Though many of the philosophies and tactics may be similar, small business marketing is an entirely different discipline than marketing of large companies. Successful marketing is not just one tactic or strategy; it is an entire process and is sure to fail if you are not enthusiastic about your business.

Done properly, marketing can attract all the clients your small business can handle. But I would suggest you work only with clients who value what you have to offer. If you commit to following simple small business marketing systems, strategies and ideas you can significantly increase what you charge for your services. Unfortunately though, most small business promotions focus only on how great their products and services are. But you need to stay focused on what products and services your ideal clients want and need.

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Business Advertising is a crucial business strategy. It is one of the main reasons why a business becomes successful. No matter what the size of the venture may be, you need to advertise in order to get your target markets to know that you do exist. Small Businesses can’t afford to be extravagant about their ads the way big corporations can because they are often working on a smaller budget. Nonetheless, the ads they produce have to be as effective as those that are backed with an unending supply of funds.

Ads are the ones that get the company’s image and name out to the public. They have to be so many things and fit certain categories in order for them to be effective and draw in the necessary clients. For starters an ad has to get your name and your purpose out there. Even doing this simple thing can do wonders for your business.

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My mother used to affectionately refer to me as a turtle because at swim lessons, while the other kids eagerly jumped right into the pool ready to start, I stood near the edge, waiting. I wasn’t afraid of the water. Rather, I was taking time to prepare for the event. Then, when I was good and ready, I jumped right in and swam.

Thus began my relationship with the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” found in the much beloved bedside collection The Fables of Aesop. “The Tortoise and the Hare” is perfect for illustrating sound start up practices.

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Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do this successfully you need to organize yourself first. Avoid procrastination - read the following and take action.

Successful Small Business Owners Look After Themselves First

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For B2B networking to be successful, all partners need to collaborate and interact in a coordinated and well-organized fashion. It is essential that both partners are aware of the business goals of the project, have a positive attitude and will work together after extensive planning. It is crucial that both parties have the latest information and collaborative tools to make the endeavor a success.

Collaborative tools need to be utilized on time, effectively and efficiently by the right people, and are necessary for successful B2B collaboration. Low-tech collaborative tools include emails, instant messengers and bulletin boards.The more high- tech tools are application and desktop sharing, and video conferencing etc. are used for effecting communication and collaboration between organizations. For effective collaboration, the right people have to use the right resources in order to achieve the common goal of both parties. A secure system will allow the right people have the latest information on time helping them take informed decisions that will help guide the B2B networking towards its success.

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Let’s face it; it’s not easy being a small business owner or a solo professional. In addition to creating effective marketing plans and marketing strategies that will get paying customers through the door, we need to be on top of all the other important aspects of running a business.

With only 24 hours in a day, one brain, and two hands with which to take care of everything, we’ve got to find ways to work smarter–not harder–if we want to build successful businesses without sacrificing our sanity in the process.

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