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Home » Business And Finance Articles » Are You Set Up For Success

Are You "Set Up" For Success

Believe it or not, 2004 is already here. Yeah, I know, where has the time gone? My mom always told me that as I got older, the years would start to fly by. Did anyone ever tell you that? Did you believe them? Well it is happening to me right now.

Before I get too deep into this article, just let me say that the intention of this article is NOT to make people angry or depressed. The real purpose for this article is to help the reader determine if he/she is doing a few key things for their business. Let's take a look at the three main things that I feel any business owner needs to have in place if they are serious about making their business a success.

Setting Goals: Sound familiar? Of course it does. Have you done this? If you ask a lot of people, the answer you get may vary from "I know what I want to accomplish" to "Do I really need to set goals? I'm here to say that if you have not set your goals for you business, then take a few moments and write them down. Yes, I said write them down.

Be sure to set your goals realistically. Goals should be reachable. If you set unrealistic goals, then don't meet them you are setting yourself up for failure. You need to set short and long term goals. If you don't meet your goals on schedule, do not feel defeated. Re-set your goal and strive harder to reach it.

Setting a Plan of Action: Okay, you have set your goals. Now what? How are you going to get there? This can be the real tricky part for some. You need a plan of action that is going to keep moving you closer to your goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

If only there was a "master plan" we could all use. Since there is not, only you can know what needs to be done in your business. Look at your goals and determine what action you need to take. Set your plan of action according to the goals you are striving to reach.

Be specific! Being too vague in your plan of action can leave you sputtering along. It is very important that your plan be detailed. You need the "how" and "when" of your business plan.

Implementing your plan of action: Now that you have a written set of goals and a detailed plan of action, the last key element is implementing your plan. After all, what good are your goals and plan of action without acting on them?

For most, this is the hardest part. In my mind, it can be even more so in the home business sector. If you work for some one else, you probably have that constant "some one is watching over you to make sure you get all your tasks done on time.

In the home business field, it can be very easy to procrastinate. Yes, we have all done it. Some more than others though. This is where you divide the men from the boys. While many of the "boys" are preparing to find the perfect time to get ready to get started, the "men" are already in action.

We know that there is no "perfect" time to get started. If you are waiting for this, do yourself a favor and give up. It is never going to come. To be successful, you are just going to have to do it. And do it now!

In conclusion, let me say that although these three key elements are all very easily done, doing them does not guarantee success. There is another intangible, YOU! Add your own personality to your business and let it grow.

Here's to you and your success. Today, not tomorrow!

2004 © Born-Again Bargains
http://www.bornagainbargains.com

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Protecting Your Business With Non-Disclosure Agreements

Every business should protect proprietary information when dealing with independent contractors, vendors and other businesses. The best way to do this is to use a non-disclosure agreement, often referred to as an "NDA."

What is an NDA?

An NDA is an agreement between two parties to protect confidential information disclosed in a business transaction. The proprietary information can include business methods, finances, client lists, and anything that isn't already readily available in the public arena. If a party subsequently breaches the NDA, the injured party can sue for damages, an injunction against further disclosure and attorney's fees.

Directional NDA

In many situations, only one party requires the protection provided by an NDA. If you invent a new product, you are going to need an NDA from manufacturers, distributors, etc., before you discuss the product with them. While this may seem like common sense, most businesses fail to carry the thought through to their daily activities.

Practically every business hires independent contractors, but they rarely obtain NDAs prior to disclosing information to the contractors. For example, do you use third parties to create or maintain your websites? Did you obtain NDAs from any of them? If not, what's to keep that party from using your business methods on other sites? A directional NDA can keep this from occurring.

Mutual NDA

As the name suggest, a mutual NDA allows two parties to protect confidential information. The mutual NDA is typically used when two businesses are negotiating a joint venture. Each party must disclose enough information to make the negotiations viable, but neither wants that information made public if the negotiations fail. If negotiations go well, additional non-disclosure information will be incorporated into the joint venture agreement to protect additional information revealed during the joint venture.

Refusing to Sign an NDA

Alarms and warning lights should go off if a party refuses to sign your NDA. Unless they can provide a very compelling reason for the refusal, you should walk away from the business relationship.

When An NDA isn't really an NDA

Just because a document is titled, "Non-Disclosure Agreement", does not mean it provides you with protection. You should ALWAYS read the language of an NDA because the document may establish that you are WAIVING all confidentiality rights. The waiver might be very direct and read something like, "The disclosure of information pursuant to this Agreement shall not be considered confidential." Alternatively, the language may be more indirect and read, "The parties acknowledge and agree that all information exchanged pursuant to this agreement has previously been established in public forums." Regardless, the "reverse NDAs" strip you of protection and should not be signed.

Obtaining non-disclosure agreements should be a standard practice for your business. Don't exposure your proprietary business secrets to others without this protection.