Eric Tippetts

Why Retire? Advice For The Aged On Starting A Business

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In these days and times, can we really rely on retirement savings and the dreaded Social Security; or as I have heard some say, Social Insecurity?

I also think of how I will feel when I reach an age when many people retire and I say to myself, why retire?

I love what I do and I cannot see myself rocking in a chair on the front porch, watching the neighbor children playing baseball or basketball.

Maybe I am assuming, but I think many aged people probably wish they were still working. But not working in a job they detest or for people they can’t stand. And with their wisdom, it just makes good sense to start a business.

I found myself talking to, and researching aged entrepreneurs and discovered some great tips and advice to help people 50+ on starting a business… Becoming aged entrepreneurs. And I am going to share some of that advice with you in today’s post.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs

Why Retire Advice #1: Be Grateful

I recently learned about Edward Ritter. This Knoxville, Tennessee entrepreneur has an amazing spirit, and it all comes down to his being grateful and not dwelling on the bad circumstances.

You see, Edward was a corporate executive and nearing the stage of retirement when the company downsized and gave him the boot. And then Mr. Ritter’s wife passed away. While many people would have just “thrown in the towel,” Edward moved forward. He started Roni Deutch Tax Center and has several aged employees.

At 77 years old, Edward Ritter is as spry as a 30 year old… Because he is grateful.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Chinese proverb

Why Retire Advice #2: Don’t Do It For The Money

At 68, Jim Koch is going strong… He always has a smile on his face and we ask, “Is it the beer?”

Jim is the co-founder of Boston Beer Company, the company that brews Samuel Adams.

Jim tells us that it would have failed if he had been in it just for money… He did it to be happy. And following his passion led to money coming in too. But Jim would have kept brewing his tasty beer even if no money came, because he was doing what he loved and it made him happy.

“You drill your fair share of dry holes, but you never lose your optimism.” T. Boone Pickens

Why Retire Advice #3: Consider Time Commitments

Nancy Collamer is the author of “Second-Act Careers.”

Nancy explains that while becoming an aged entrepreneur is a great idea, you need to choose a business that will allow you to take needed time apart.

She recommends staying clear of a brick and mortar business which can kidnap your time. Other businesses can allow you to work fewer hours and still be successful.

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” Mary Kay Ash

Conclusion

You have a world of experience and wisdom that can give you a strong advantage in the entrepreneurial world.

Use it!

Maybe the younger generation has a better handle on technology, but I believe the aged have a better handle on the treatment of customers.

So believe you can and you will.

Hey, I am here for you too! If you need assistance in getting started as an entrepreneur no matter your age, just reach out.

Here is something I developed that may help… Click here to checkout the Home Business Success Kit. There are 3 tools that can get you rolling… and profiting.

Thanks for coming by and please share this with your aged, and not so aged friends.

To The Top!

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5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid When Starting A Business

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Mistakes happen but if there is a way to avoid them, we can save ourselves stress, heartache and even disaster.

Over the years, as an entrepreneur, I have made my share of mistakes. I have learned to not dwell on those errors, but I also will not allow them to slip away from memory.

Why?

So I do not commit the same mistake again!

When networking with other entrepreneurial colleagues, we sometimes discuss mistakes we have made. We do so to help others not slip into a similar pattern.

So to help you, I am going to share these 5 mistakes entrepreneurs must avoid when starting a business.

I suggest you take notes and share this with others.

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” Nolan Bushnell

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid #1: Not Analyzing The Market Needs

While your idea may seem great, will your target market actually feel the same?

  • Does it solve a problem they have?
  • Will they invest money?
  • Etc…

Before you invest a wad of money into your idea, it is imperative that you analyze the market. Talk to potential customers; poll them. Discover if your thought of it being a great idea resonates with them.

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t–you’re right.” Henry Ford

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid #2: Choosing The Wrong Tribal Council

The fact is, very seldom can 1 person build a business without a tribe… A team!

And choosing the team is of utmost importance.

You want a tribal council that has a variety of skill sets. If the whole team are friends from your days in accounting school and have degrees in economics, who will be the go-to person in marketing?

Do you see my point?

If the Los Angeles Lakers had a team of all centers, who would be shooting the 3 pointers?

Be wise on choosing your team!

“Mistakes will not end your business. If you are nimble and willing to listen to constructive criticism you can excel by learning and evolving.” Meridith Valiando Rojas

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid #3: Not Setting Goals

Without goals, an entrepreneur is like a beached whale.

By setting high, but reachable goals, you can determine the steps you need to make to reach those goals.

As you reach one goal, you set another and another… And the path will become easier.

“Any time is a good time to start a company.” Ron Conway

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid #4: Not Preparing Your Loved Ones

This is one of the most common mistakes new entrepreneurs make.

Their family and friends are adapted to them being able to “play” after 5 PM and on weekends. But operating a start-up requires much more than a person gives to their 9-5 job. And their friends and family will not understand that.

Before you start that business, you should have a family and friend preparation. Explain that the business will require more time and ask them for patience and support.

You may also have to give reminders from time to time.

“Starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster. There are highs and lows and every turn you take is another twist. The lows are really low, but the highs can be really high. You have to be strong, keep your stomach tight, and ride along with the roller coaster that you started.” Lindsay Manseau

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid #5: Not Keeping Track Of Your Budget – Cash In-Flow and Out-Flow

This has got to be the top reason entrepreneurs fail with their new business.

I know I have erred in this manner before.

You MUST keep track of what is going out and coming in.

As a matter of fact, a few years ago I realized just how huge a problem this was for entrepreneurs. So I developed a software to help both individual people and entrepreneurs to manage their budgets.

And the testimonials have shown that it works!

And just to allow you to see how well it works, I will allow you a 7 day free trial of the Expense Tracker. And there is no download required…Use it right on your mobile device or computer’s browser!

Sign up for your Free Trial of the Expense Tracker here.

“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.” Dave Thomas

Conclusion

Starting a business is not easy and many fail, but with these 5 avoidable mistakes in your mind, you will have an advantage many others don’t.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask below.

Thanks for stopping in and do share this with others so we all can go…

To The Top!

eric tippets

7 Tips For Leaping Over Entrepreneur Hurdles

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Being an entrepreneur is similar to a track hurdler running a major race. We enter the starting gate with confidence and enthusiasm… The starting gun fires and we jump out and run. But we know there is a hurdle in our near future; no, there are many hurdles in our future.

For the track runner, these hurdles are simple wooden gates they must leap with grace to keep their pace in the race.

But for entrepreneurs, hurdles can be made up of a variety of objects with some easily seen and others somewhat invisible.

I will be your entrepreneur hurdle coach today and just as the track coach of a major university would probably tell his/her hurdlers, 95% of clearing those obstacles is the runner’s mindset.

So the most important tip I can give you today is to believe!!!

Believe you can and you have the hardest part defeated.

Here are 7 tips to jump those hurdles and win the entrepreneur race.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #1: Call Someone Who Has Faced Similar Hurdles

There have been others who have run the race before you. They have had to defeat the same or similar hurdles.

As an entrepreneur, you have a network of like-minded people. So, you see the hurdle before you… Pick up the telephone and call one of your entrepreneur friends to discover how he/she defeated the same hurdle.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #2: Perfect Is Not Attainable

It is one of the most common reasons entrepreneurs trip and fall; wanting perfection!

We are humans and perfect is not attainable. So if you are waiting to start until everything is “perfect,” you will never start.

Remember, you can always make updates to get it better. Just start and you will discover improvements afterwards and you can make changes to take your business closer to perfect.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #3: Say No

This is another area many entrepreneurs often slip in.

They start a business and someone comes along offering them a chance at another opportunity. While that opportunity may sound good, if they do not have their first business running at 100%, taking on another opportunity is a disaster waiting to happen for both.

It is okay to say no and there is really no reason to have an excuse for doing so.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #4: Embrace Instability

Let’s be honest, entrepreneurship is a roller coaster ride.

You need to be prepared to break routines. There may be sleepless nights and crazy days.

The best way to jump the instability hurdle is to just embrace it and go with the flow.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #5: Make Moments For Creativity

To build your creative side, take moments at times to undertake creative projects.

  • Paint a picture
  • Write a book
  • Build a model
  • Etc…

By doing so, you will develop your creativity and during the heat of entrepreneurship duties, you will find your creativity jumping the hurdles for you.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #6: Don’t Even Consider Shortcuts

While it may be tempting to take shortcuts, it is best that you do not take them. Normally a shortcut in entrepreneurship means cutting quality and that shortcut will come back and haunt you.

Entrepreneur Hurdles Tip #7: Deal With The Base Issue, Not Symptoms Of The Issue

I am going to use a medical situation as an example here…

A man goes to his Doctor. The Doctor knows the man and tells him he almost didn’t recognize him without the man’s glasses on. “Oh, I broke them 3 days ago,” says the patient.

“Well, what is ailing you today,” the Doctor asks.

“I am getting terrible headaches,” the man tells the Doctor.

The Doctor gives the man some strong headache medication and sends him on his way.

I will tell you right now I would never visit this Physician. He treated the symptom instead of the problem. It was obvious that the loss of eye glasses was the problem.

It works the same in your business. For some reason the product you sell has an issue with the paint on one edge. You could treat the symptom by just having an employee touch it up or you can fix the problem by shutting down the paint machine and finding the malfunction and fixing it.

Conclusion

Now these are just a few tips to help you on your hurdle race to entrepreneur success.

You may have other hurdles you are facing and I am willing to help you with them. Feel free to post your hurdles in the comment area and we can all work together to leap that hurdle with you.

One other thing… Let’s help you get profitable out of the gate. Profits can make hurdle jumping easier. So click here to get the free 7 Days To Profitability Course.

And keep abreast of this blog as we are helping you take your business…

To The Top!

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8 Sacrifices Entrepreneurs Should Make To Succeed

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If you truly want to succeed as an entrepreneur, there are sacrifices you will have to make. Some of these sacrifices may not be easy, but they are for your benefit.

In today’s post, I am going to share 8 sacrifices you should consider closely to enhance the possibilities of having success as an entrepreneur.

Be sure and read through to the end as I have a special offer for you.

And don’t worry, we are civilized so we are not talking throwing people off cliffs or burning them at the stake.

Sacrifices For Success #1: Stability

Many people have become adapted to the stability of their 9 to 5 job. Knowing when to get up, the days off and primary daily tasks that must be completed.

As an entrepreneur, stability is not found. There may be some days when sleep is an obsolete word. Days off? What is that? And daily tasks change hourly.

You MUST sacrifice stability!

Sacrifices For Success #2: Some Friends

There are just some people who can drag us down to their negative frame of mind. Everyone of us have had some friends who fit into that zone.

There is a point where we must de-friend some of these people or our success will be fleeting.

Sacrifices For Success #3: Security

Even if it is a calculated risk, it is still a risk.

That security we once had with our finances in a savings account or CD’s now will become a huge risk as we “gamble” on the business ventures we undertake.

Sacrifices For Success #4: Free Time

Gone will be those times when you “plop” on the couch to watch reality shows, soap operas and American Idol.

You need to have a mindset that unproductive activities like those above are erased from existence.

Sure, there will be a day you can watch the “boob-tube,” but by that time, you probably will not want to.

Sacrifices For Success #5: Social Life

Going right along with the free time sacrifice, your social life can get hit hard too!

If you really want to have entrepreneurial success, you may have to cut the Friday night dances, Saturday movies and Wednesday bar run.

Sacrifices For Success #6: Income

Believe me, when starting a business, you will probably take a drastic reduction in pay.

The majority of businesses do not go in the black in the first year. And most of the profits need to be put back into business operations.

When starting a business, it is wise to have a strong savings to help you maintain until the business can provide you the income you expect.

To add to this, most financial experts will tell you it can be bad if a business is in the black the first year. Because the IRS will come knocking hard.

Sacrifices For Success #7: Hobbies

Most of you know that I love golf. Especially when I hit that hole in one with the great basketball legend, Julius (Dr J) Irving as a witness.

But early in my entrepreneur life, golf had to be set on the back-burner.

By doing that, I was able to grow my businesses and I can now play golf on a regular basis… And on better courses with better clubs.

Sacrifices For Success #8: Control

This will probably be one of the most difficult sacrifices you will make. After all, most entrepreneurs are control freaks.

But facts are facts and we cannot do it all.

The key is surrounding yourself with a tribe who is wise beyond comprehension. And hand over control of some parts of the business to them.

You WILL be pleasantly surprised when you do so.

Conclusion

There is nothing fun about sacrificing. But it is a must to find success as an entrepreneur.

Early on, I mentioned about reading all the way through for an offer.

And you will notice that money is a sacrifice in many cases. But having a handle on the money you do have is a key to finding success.

We developed a Simple Solution To Take Better Control of Your Money, Saving Thousands of Dollars In Taxes, and Secure a More Stable Financial Future. And you can use it 7 days for free to see how well The Expense Tracker can help you.

Just click here, scroll down and gain instant access.

I know these tips and the Expense Tracker can take your entrepreneurial journey…

To The Top!

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To The Top Of The Success Pyramid

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Have you noticed that businesses and organizations are normally designed in a pyramid fashion. As a matter of fact, much of the world’s systems work on a pyramid like structure. And, I believe that success for all humans lies in understanding the success pyramid so you can climb it and reach the summit.

Like any pyramid, there is a base which is the foundation that will hold the pyramid solid.

Pyramids Hold Power

Several ancient civilizations held the beliefs that pyramids held power. And the ways they were built are amazing. The people did not have cranes or other mechanical equipment to heft those perfectly carved rocks to their locations.

When I look at the way the ancients held pyramids in the highest priority, I understand why.

Any venture taken has a greater chance of success if it follows a pyramid structure. That is why I call it success pyramid.

But Aren’t Pyramids Illegal?

If a pyramid is illegal, we may as well shut down the United States Government. Yes, it is a pyramid structure.

There is such a thing as a pyramid scheme which is illegal.

What that really comes down to is the fact that criminals have realized the power of pyramids and developed their own illegal version.

The Levels Of The Success Pyramid

By understanding the levels of success pyramid, it can help you know where to start and how to climb the pyramid to reach the summit without falling.

I will start with the foundation and work up the pyramid.

Success Pyramid Base

The foundation has 4 blocks:

  1. Passion & Desire – I believe this is like the main cornerstone of the pyramid. If you don’t have passion and desire, odds are you will not go anywhere. Make sure you have a passion for whatever you are undertaking.
  2. Discipline – Being an entrepreneur requires a strong supply of discipline. You are your own boss, so act like it.
  3. Learning – You must always seek to learn new skills. All through life, there is always something new to learn.
  4. Focus – As you can see, I put this in the other corner. You must maintain a focus on the near, mid and future goals. You cannot allow distractions to take you out of focus.

Success Pyramid 2nd Level

The 2nd level has 3 blocks. Once you meet the foundation, your step to this level will be easy.

  1. PMA – PMA stands for Positive Mental Attitude. In business, there are ups and downs. If you can maintain a positive attitude even during down moments, you are making a good climb up success pyramid.
  2. Action – Success requires action! You must do to receive! I put this in the center of the 2nd row because it bears much of the weight of the pyramid.
  3. Time Management – It is imperative that you follow a strict protocol with your time. If you can manage your time in the most profitable fashion, you can finish climbing success pyramid with confidence.

Success Pyramid 3rd Level

The 3rd level has 2 blocks and to reach that success pyramid summit, you need these:

  1. Leadership – As you surround yourself with team members, leadership will be an important aspect of your responsibilities.
  2. Calculated Risk – Entrepreneurship equals risk. But that doesn’t mean you just “bet on the horse because you like its name.” You need to measure the risk. You should know what the odds of success are. And you should know what possible roadblocks could hinder your progress.

The Top

Success!

Just one last word…

Remember the Egyptians did not build a pyramid overnight and neither will you.

Use the blocks and you can make your climb to the top of Success Pyramid enjoyable.

And to give you an added push up that pyramid, why not read my book: To The Top. Just click here and order your personal copy.

If you have any questions or feedback, post it below.

Thanks for visiting and may your journey up Success Pyramid be a great one…

To The Top!

eric tippets

6 Tips To Generate More Organic Traffic

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Like the majority of website owners, I am always trying to discover ways to generate more, and higher quality traffic to my site.

I began researching this subject and have discovered some great ways.

And, while you can always generate traffic using paid ads and such, experts all agree that organic traffic is much better quality.

Think about it… that person went on a search and the results led him/her to your website. Paid ads often generate clicks from “window shoppers” or “tire kickers.”

I thought that since I did all this research, I would share my takeaways. Here are 6 tips to generate more organic traffic…

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #1: Publishing Exemplary Content

Sometimes it is easy to get “caught up” in the SEO jungle and we neglect quality over quantity.

Sure, all those bloggers out there telling us to publish one post per day… But…

If we start publishing content that is average (at best) just to make the blogger quota. Or, we begin “stuffing” keywords or phrases, traffic will stay average or even dip.

Personally, I would rather publish less but higher quality content.

As for the keywords… Use them, but use common sense. If the word is overused, Google will slap you for that too; usually harder than when the key is underused.

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #2: Update, Republish And Share Older And Underachieving Content

You can get extra miles from those old posts.

It is wise to schedule times when you take an old post and add new information, maybe update images and republish.

Keep in mind that many potential readers may have missed it the first time and by updating and re-sharing, you can grab some of those people.

And believe me, Google robots do notice updates to content which usually will move it up in search results.

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #3: Blog The Answer

Whenever someone asks you a question at the end of one of your posts, what do you do?

It just makes good sense to write a blog post with a detailed answer to that person’s question.

By doing so, you can guide the person who had the question to the detailed answer. Normally, they are so impressed that they will share it with others.

Secondly, if that person had the question, odds are many other people have searched that question. Your answer will have good odds of jumping to a great result in search queries.

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #4: Make Sure You Have Your Meta Data Optimized

3 things that can make a huge difference in organic traffic are:

  1. The meta title
  2. The post URL
  3. And the meta description

I have discovered that installing the Yoast SEO plugin has helped me manage these items in a better way.

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #5: Get Rid Of Broken Links

Having a “slight sprinkling” of both internal and external links in your content does help it for SEO purposes.

But when a link goes bad, it can hurt your SEO standing.

I suggest a weekly time when links are checked. Any bad links are either deleted or updated.

Don’t let bad links hurt your organic traffic.

Generate More Organic Traffic Tip #6: Join Groups With Similar Interests

Google does pay attention to the amount of shares and likes in communities and groups on Google+, Linkedin and others.

I have discovered that by sharing posts in these various groups, in the long run, it does help me get more organic traffic.

Just make sure and study the rules of each group. Some do not want links posted.

Conclusion

This is just a starter list so you can generate more organic traffic; I will delve deeper into this subject in upcoming posts.

I hope this helps you get more attention to your blog/website.

And to help you even more, go to my website homepage here… Scroll down slightly and click the button to get the free checklist to Make a Crazy Profitable Website.

Yes, it is free…

Do you have any questions or feedback? Just post them below. Thanks for coming and may you and your business make a fast climb…

To The Top!

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