Eric Tippetts

Stay Financially Fit As An Entrepreneur

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It is a well known fact that many entrepreneurs and start ups fail within their first year. In a high percentage of these failures, financial irresponsibility is the culprit. And don’t get me wrong, even entrepreneurs who are great at managing their money can make some seemingly “tiny” financial mistakes that can cause a major financial landslide.

As an entrepreneur who has been in the position of diverting financial catastrophe, I have learned some very important money management lessons that I would like to share with you, my readers.

To stay financially fit as an entrepreneur, I suggest you integrate these tools into your business structure.

Stay Financially Fit By Having Multiple Bank Accounts

I want to stress immediately, you should never mix personal banking with business. I suggest you have a business checking account and it is also wise to have an interest bearing savings account that is strictly for taxes. I suggest depositing 20% of every paid invoice into it.

You may also want to have other accounts too. I will delve into that further in this post.

Stay Financially Fit By Having An Emergency Fund

It is always wise to have a separate account that is strictly for emergencies. I suggest putting 2-5% of invoice payments in that account to be used if something happens that creates unexpected costs. I have always noticed that if we are prepared for emergencies, they seldom happen. But if we are not prepared, they come like a forest fire.

Stay Financially Fit By Having A Tax Preparation Service Or Accountant

You may have the knowledge to “crunch numbers.” Maybe you even have a degree in accounting. But as an entrepreneur, do you really have the time to spend doing taxes? Are you completely aware of all tax changes?

I find that having either an accountant or a tax preparation service can take the stress off and ensure you are paying what you owe and also getting the deductions you deserve.

Stay Financially Fit By Using A Payment Processor

No matter what your business is, you must have a method in which clients and customers can pay their invoices easily. It really is in your best interest to use one or more payment processors. Some of the most well known and trusted payment processors are:

  • Paypal
  • Stripe
  • Square
  • Etc…

Stay Financially Fit By Using An Invoicing System

While you could create your own invoices using templates, it just makes sense to use an already designed software to do your invoicing tasks for you.

A business account with Paypal allows it, and there are also many other invoicing software programs.

Stay Financially Fit By Having A Retirement Plan

Many entrepreneurs neglect putting away money for retirement. Here is a case where I believe you should have another bank account or IRA. Take a percentage of each invoice and consider your later years in life. It only makes good sense.

Stay Financially Fit By Using A Business Credit Or Debit Card

Again, this goes along with not mixing your personal account with your business account.

It is much easier to keep track of your business budget if you are using one card to make purchases.

I will give you an idea on this in just a bit.

Stay Financially Fit By Using An Expense Tracker

As I said at the beginning of today’s post, most businesses that fail do so because they mismanaged finances. The best way to manage those finances is by having a sophisticated Expense Tracker. And by tracking your business expenses, you will have all the information in one place for your accountant or tax preparer.

You are in the right place

Several years ago, I realized that I could help other entrepreneurs with their financial fitness. Working with a team of experts, I developed The Expense Tracker. This app is so easy to use and you can even use voice activation on your phone. It gives you all the proper material you need for taxes and frees up your time to work on the money making activities.

Secondly, with the Expense Tracker, you get a free Expense Tracker debit card that can work as your business card allowing you to keep track of those purchases through the Expense Tracker too.

For less than $20 per month, you will be relieving yourself of a lot of stress and headaches. What’s more, you can try the Expense Tracker for 7 days free to see how wonderful it is.

So just click here and get started now.

After your 7-day, free trial your card will be billed a fee of $19.95 per month, which you can cancel any time if you’re not happy for any reason.

Conclusion

Just like keeping our minds and bodies fit, we also need to keep our finances fit. I truly hope today’s post helps you stay financially fit.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I will find an answer for you.

Thank you for stopping by and will you please share this with others who need to be financially fit too…

Thanks and

To The Top!

eric tippets

It Starts With U: Lead Yourself

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When I look at various entrepreneurs and their tribes, I see a huge mix of leadership styles. Some leadership techniques are magnificent while there are others that make me grind my teeth. When I notice a person trying to lead others using methods that make me cringe, I notice a common denominator… The “leader” cannot lead others because he/she cannot even lead their own self.

In a “play” on today’s title, I put it starts with U. I use that in 2 ways:

  1. U describing you
  2. and U for personal development University.

I know for a fact that you have to be able to lead yourself before you can successfully lead other people. So I am going to give you some tips to lead yourself.

#1: Lead Yourself By Knowing Yourself

Many people go through life without truly knowing themselves. One of the keys to good leadership is knowing the person you are leading; knowing their traits, their likes and dislikes, etc…

So it just makes sense that you need to know you before you can lead yourself. So I suggest you get a notepad and pen. Look deep inside and write down:

  • What do I fear?
  • Where do I want to be 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now?
  • Who do I admire the most and why?
  • What do I detest the most and why?
  • What is my best trait?
  • And, what is an area I need to improve on?

#2: Lead Yourself By Being Mentored

To be a great leader, I believe you need to be willing to seek advice and actually follow one or more successful leaders.

I mentioned in the prior area that you should describe who you admire and why. I suggest you really delve deep and consider who you admire for their leadership abilities. If possible, approach that person and ask if they would mentor you. Pick their brain and learn leadership techniques that you can use.

#3: Lead Yourself By Being Humble

The best leaders I have ever met are humble. Even though they are in charge, they also realize they are a servant to their followers. They are willing to admit when they make mistakes and they “own” those mistakes. They are also willing to admit when they do not know the answer.

Keep in mind that humbleness is not the same as allowing people to “walk on you.”

#4: Lead Yourself By Planning

All successful ventures started with a plan. It only makes good sense that you start by planning the basics in your personal life such as:

  • Work life balance
  • Personal budget
  • Etc…

By planning all the simple areas in your personal life, you will make it habitual and it will become automatic in business.

#5: Lead Yourself By Getting Outside Of Comfort Zones

If you are always standing in your little (or big) “comfort box,” you will find it quite difficult to lead other people.

The best place to start breaking free of comfort zones is to start on your own personal level. Pick out your fears and go after them. If you fear:

  • Roller coasters, go to the nearest amusement park and take a ride.
  • Speaking in front of an audience, find a venue where you can “Just Do It.” (Thank you Nike)

If you force yourself to break out of those personal comfort zones, you will be able to handle the uncomfortable positions you will face as a leader.

#6: Lead Yourself By Trusting Yourself

Confidence is a key to competent leadership. So you have to trust your decisions on even the smallest levels personally.

Your spouse asks you to get their favorite cereal at the supermarket. The store is out but you have this idea that he/she would like the other brand. No, the telephone is not an option…

Do you trust yourself and by the cereal? Why not?

Maybe they won’t like it but, I bet you know your spouse well enough that they will. Be confident and purchase the cereal; break out of the comfort zone.

#7: Lead Yourself By Continuing To Learn And Grow

The best leaders know that they do not know it all. They are always looking to learn more and grow.

Read books, watch videos and attend leadership conferences.

Find ways to become a stronger leader both at home and in business.

To help you, I am offering a free training course that will give you unstoppable motivation.

You can get this free training course: 7 Days To Unstoppable Motivation by clicking here.

Conclusion

I want to ask you, what is your biggest challenge in leadership?

Please post your comments and questions below.

Thank you for visiting and will you please share this with your friends and family on social media? They may need this message too.

Have a great day!

To The Top!

eric tippets

10 Marketing Tools, Apps & Software That You May Find Helpful

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Marketing your business and products are an important facet that must be implemented into your business plan.

But where and how to market?

If you are attentive to this blog, you know that a key factor is determining your target market. By knowing your target market, your marketing choices and placements will be easier.

I have decided to share 10 various marketing tools, apps and software that can help you. Some of these are free and others come with a cost. But investing in your marketing efforts is wise. Just think, major corporations invest $millions in marketing for just seconds during the yearly playing of the Super Bowl.

They do so because the statistics show they make that investment back and more in sales.

You may not have the financial backing to market during the biggest football game of the year, but with many of these resources I am about to share with you, you just may build your business big enough consider a marketing run on the television.

Try some of these:

#1: Marketing Tool: Sniply

It is just a bad habit to always share only your own content on your social media sites. To build your reputation, it helps to share other great content too. But when you do this, you are sending people away from you to another entrepreneur.

Sniply allows you to put a call to action in the posts you share from other bloggers and influencers.

I recommend that you check out Sniply at https://snip.ly/ .

#2: Marketing Software: Zendesk

Zendesk is a great customer service software designer. After all, customer retention is important and having an automatic system to help you allows you to put your time in other important areas.

Zendesk makes several tools that include:

  • Live chat
  • Call center software
  • Social messaging apps
  • and much more

Zendesk has a free trial so you can see if it is right for you. https://www.zendesk.com/

#3: Marketing Software: Marketo

One of the primary goals of most entrepreneurs is to automate as much as possible.

Marketo has various software alternatives that will automate your marketing methods:

  • Mobile marketing
  • Email marketing
  • Customer base marketing
  • Lead management
  • Etc…

I hear nothing but positive praises for Marketo: https://www.marketo.com/

#4: Marketing Tool: MailChimp

Building a list of prospects and potential customers is wise. Mailing your list with updates, coupons and new product information is also smart. But trying to manage a huge list in your simple email program can be difficult.

MailChimp allows you to automate your email marketing, newsletters, etc…

The basic MailChimp automatic emailing system is free too. You can get upgrades for minimal costs.

I suggest you check out MailChimp at: https://mailchimp.com/

#5: Marketing Software: Sailthru

The data we receive from user experience and customer interaction will show us how people want to be treated when they read, examine and purchase our products or services. But understanding all that data can be a hair-pulling event.

Sailthru has developed a system that takes that data and uses it “smartly.” They build customer retention thru

  • Cross-channel coordination
  • Predictive analytics
  • High performance email marketing
  • and much more.

I suggest you examine what all Sailthru can do for you at http://www.sailthru.com/

#6: Marketing Tool: Survey Monkey

How do you know what customers and prospective customers want unless you ask them?

Survey Monkey has a free survey service you can use to determine what people visiting your website truly want.

Survey Monkey is used by many businesses and entrepreneurs and I suggest you use it too. https://www.surveymonkey.com/

#7: Marketing Tool: Grammarly

Spelling and grammar mistakes in your advertising, marketing and content production can be quite embarrassing. You really do not have to suffer if you just take a few moments and use Grammarly. I suggest you see for yourself: https://www.grammarly.com/

#8: Marketing Software: Infusionsoft

One of the leading software developers helping small businesses grow and succeed, Infusionsoft aids you with automating more and will

  • Save you time
  • Help you capture more leads
  • Manage the sales process for you
  • Improve conversion rates
  • Etc…

You should take a look at all the advantages Infusionsoft can provide: https://www.infusionsoft.com/

#9: Marketing Tool: Canva

Designing banner ads, text ads or images to use in content is a breeze with Canva. Plus, it is free to use.

While there are many image manipulation programs, I suggest Canva because of the ease.

https://www.canva.com/

#10: A Free Marketing Offer

I want to help you have huge success.

One of the best places to start is ensuring your website is profitable.

I suggest you simply give me your name and email (don’t worry, it stays just with me), and I will send you the 8 point checklist on How To Create A Crazy Profitable Website. Just click here.

Conclusion

I suggest you give these marketing tools a shot.

Do you have any favorite marketing resources you use that I did not list here?

Do you have any questions?

Just post them below and thank you for visiting today. Oh and by the way, will you please hit the social share buttons and let your friends see this? They may need the help too.

Thank you.

To The Top!

eric tippets

10 Tips On Gaining More Confidence As An Entrepreneur

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Confidence is one of the primary aspects of entrepreneurship that can determine success or failure. Every creative idea you manifest requires confidence emitting from you to instill confidence in your tribe.

As we know though, as entrepreneurs, we have failures upon failures until we perfect those failures into an item that succeeds.

Everything teeters on our level of confidence. If our confidence is dismal at the start or if we lose confidence because of failures, we could be our own enemy.

It is imperative that we always are confident that success IS at the tip of our fingers.

So in today’s post, I am going to give you 10 tips on getting or gaining more confidence.

#1: Gaining More Confidence By Rewarding Yourself

Anytime you reach a milestone, complete a goal or finish a task, reward yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything huge:

  • A long break

  • A cup of coffee

  • A candy bar

  • Etc…

Just give yourself a reward that you don’t allow your being unless you hit a mark.

#2: Gaining More Confidence Through Educational Opportunities

Anytime you can learn something more that helps you in your business pursuits, you will get more confident.

  • Read books

  • Take courses

  • Find a mentor

Keep learning and your confidence will grow.

#3: Gaining More Confidence By Dressing For Success

This is important especially for home based entrepreneurs.

We have this assumption that since our work is primarily done at home, we can stay in our pajamas.

While that may seem comfortable, studies have shown that many people who are carefree with their attire are also careless with their work.

If you look in the mirror and see a sharp dressed entrepreneur, you WILL work harder and smarter.

#4: Gaining More Confidence By Learning To Say No

As a problem solver, many people will come to you with problems or ideas. If you say yes to everything that comes your way, there is good odds you could end up in therapy or even worse, in a straight jacket.

It is healthy to say no and you should learn to do so.

#5: Gaining More Confidence By Keeping Positive Company

I believe Tim Ferris says, “Show me the 3 people you are around the most, and I will tell you the type of person you are.” It is true… We are somewhat “clones” of the people we are around the most.

So it is wise to keep your inner circle all positive people.

You will always have a few negative people around, but keep them at a far distance.

#6: Gaining More Confidence By Developing A Work-Life Balance

For entrepreneurs, this is not an easy task. But to really build a solid confidence level, it helps to create a work schedule that allows you to also spend quality time with your loved ones.

I know you will probably break that schedule at times, but if you have it written and plastered in front of your eyeballs, you are more apt to follow the schedule.

#7: Gaining More Confidence By Moving Past Minor Mistakes

You need to face the realization that you will make mistakes. You can choose to dwell on those mistakes or you can let them go.

You may not be able to fix the original error but there is normally a patch you can put on it. It is best to acknowledge the mistake, fix the mistake the best way possible and then keep moving forward. You will do yourself no good by dwelling on it.

#8: Gaining More Confidence With Exercise

If your body feels good, your mind and emotions will follow suit. Exercise is an excellent method to build confidence. If you vow to run 1, 2 or even 5 miles and you do it, your confidence will explode.

Make a daily exercise plan and I know your confidence will rise.

#9: Gaining More Confidence By Asking For Help

We often catch ourselves trying to do everything ourselves. Managing a business structure is NOT a 1 person task. You can take a lot of the stress off just by asking for help, delegating tasks and outsourcing many of the duties.

Do your business a huge favor and ask for help.

#10: Gaining More Confidence By Using the Home Business Success Kit

I have available a kit that has 3 tools in 1 success formula. You will get:

  1. My wealth blueprint book: To The Top

  2. A recruiting app that will amaze you in Rocket Recruiting

  3. And a tool to manage your finances with the Expense Tracker

It IS a kit developed for your success and you can get it here.

Conclusion

As an entrepreneur, you need to eat, sleep and breathe confidence.

Believe me, there are forces out there that will try to deplete your confidence but is after every failure you get more confident, those non-confident forces will be slowly destroyed.

Remember, every failure means you are that much more closer to success.

I hope this helps you and I would ask that you please share this with others who can use a boost to their confidence.

Thank you and let’s take all entrepreneurs

To The Top!

eric tippets

How To Have Fun As An Entrepreneur

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I believe there is a common notion that an entrepreneur has to always be business like and attempting to find another way to change the world through problem solving. I know that for myself, the lifestyle of entrepreneurship is fun and exciting. But I also know there are times we just need to let loose and completely forget about business. We have to have fun in other ways.

Do you remember how to have fun? Has your entrepreneur duties taken you into a realm of not allowing the tie and shirt to come off or to don a t-shirt and ripped jeans and becoming a careless soul for a few hours?

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to an entrepreneur and their business is when they just

  • call it a weekend of only fun
  • turn off the cellphone
  • close the laptop
  • and schedule 0 appointments

It is time to have fun

That has no business involved.

Fun can come in many different formats and I researched what various entrepreneurs do for leisurely fun and/or hobbies. Knowing that you may be creative at solving other people’s problems, but you may be coming up with a blank picture on how you can have non-business fun, I have decided to throw out some thoughts and ideas.

Try some and go have fun.

Have Fun Tip #1: Go Camping

A weekend “roughing it” camping trip is always a great way to have fun. No phone (except for emergencies) and no laptop. Just a tent, cook stove and cooler.

Camping is an excellent way to unwind and have fun with Mother Nature.

Have Fun Tip #2: Play Chess

This is a favorite fun hobby of famed entrepreneur Richard Branson and he says that it keeps him sharp.

I agree!

Chess is not only a fun game, it forces you to use your mind and look at the future possibilities. Something entrepreneurs need to do in business.

Have Fun Tip #3: Cook

I love eating! And oddball cuisines are fun to try.

But why go to a restaurant?

Just have fun and find a recipe to cook it yourself.

I have heard of some families who put all the countries of the world in a hat and draw one out. They then find a unique recipe from that country to cook for a meal on Saturday night.

Have Fun Tip #4: A Racquet Sport

Be it tennis, racquetball or even leave the racquet at home and play handball, these sports are great exercise and are a wonderful way to have fun with a friend.

Have Fun Tip #5: Horseback Riding

You can probably check Google and find a place somewhere near you where you can rent horses for a long ride.

This is a great way to have fun with your family or even a lone ranger horse back ride.

These are just 5 tips to have fun but you also need to make sure you are having fun with the work you do. After all, if it is fun it really isn’t work, is it?

So to make your entrepreneur duties more fun…

Get Up Early And Exercise To Have Fun

Believe me, exercise early in the morning just helps a business day flow smoother. Even when something goes wrong, it seems we can have fun getting it all solved.

An early morning run or bike ride is one of my prescriptions for a day of fun entrepreneurship duties.

Don’t Be Busy

This is an area that traps many entrepreneurs… getting caught up in “busy” work. I am talking about those things that probably need to be done but are not really driving revenues.

What happens when we look back on those “busy” days, we realize that we really did not solve anything and we find ourselves on the opposite side of the fun fence.

I suggest you consider outsourcing or delegating that “busy” work and you do the “fun” work that brings revenues into the business.

Conclusion

When you find yourself looking in the mirror wondering why you are an entrepreneur… Why you are feeling depressed and down… You need to remember the passion you had at the beginning. Grab that slice of passion back, and the best way to do that is to escape and have fun for some time.

Clear your mind and you can gain a renewed vigor and you will feel the passion once again.

I want to help you have more fun and I know that the free training course I offer will help. It is called 7 Days To Unstoppable Motivation and you can get it here.

Now it is time… Make that decision to Have Fun!

To The Top!

eric tippets

Approaching Strangers About Your Business Opportunity

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When, Where and How?

I believe 99% of us have been told either by our parents or guardians, teachers or law enforcement that approaching strangers is not wise.

But as entrepreneurs, as home based business owners, approaching strangers is how we can grow our business to amazing heights.

I have noticed a common denominator with many entrepreneurs; they have no issue with approaching their “warm market.” The warm market are those friends and family they have known for some time.

But a large percentage of home based business entrepreneurs have a deep-seeded fear of approaching strangers about the business opportunity. This fear primarily comes in the fact that they just do not understand when, where and how to approach a stranger.

In today’s post, I am going to help you with some basic tips.

Approaching Strangers About Your Business Opportunity – WHEN?

I am tempted to tell you that the answer to this question is anytime. But I believe that may be slightly misleading. There can be times when approaching strangers about the business opportunity would be improper and possibly even immoral.

I recommend that you use 2 things that many people do not use as much as they should:

  1. Common Sense
  2. Empathy

When I say common sense, just look deep and ask yourself if the timing is right. I don’t believe a funeral or any other emotionally charged moment is a great place to share your business opportunity.

Just use empathy… If you were in the stranger’s position, would you be open to a stranger telling you about their business opportunity? I guarantee that if you use both common sense and empathy, when to approach a stranger will be simple.

Approaching Strangers About Your Business Opportunity – WHERE?

I know that many sponsors and network marketing leaders would immediately answer anywhere and everywhere. I completely disagree with that thought pattern. Just as I stated in the WHEN zone, you just shouldn’t approach strangers at certain places and times.

But there are many places where approaching strangers can be accomplished:

  • The doctor’s office
  • In a shopping line
  • At a bus or train stop
  • Waiters or waitresses
  • and many more!

Again, it takes a measure of common sense. If the stranger in the doctor’s office seems agitated or depressed, you may want to really consider if the timing would be right. If in a shopping line, the person is alone and not in conversation with another person, it may be a good place; the same is true with bus or train stops.

Just use common sense and empathy. The answer to where can be wide open if you use your thought process.

Approaching Strangers About Your Business Opportunity – HOW?

I will start by telling you that if you approach a stranger and immediately lead with your business opportunity, you will probably get “shot down.”

It is actually a simple process. Let’s look at a basic system on approaching strangers:

  1. Compliment: You need to lead the conversation with a compliment that is genuine. Believe me people know fake compliments. Just consider the compliment before you give it. “Nice tie,” or “Those are pretty earrings,” just use a compliment that fits the moment.
  2. Small-talk questions: Now it makes sense to just make small-talk and while doing so, you can pre-qualify the prospect. “What kind of work do you do?” “Where are you from?” “Where did you go to school?” Just simple questions that tells you more about the person and also answer their questions of you.
  3. Now the non high pressure moment: Simply tell the person, “I was wondering, would you be interested in a money-making side project as long as it did not interfere with your current job?”

You will usually get one of these responses:

  • No thank you – Let them go and wish them a great day.
  • What is it?
  • Or Sure!

With the 2 last responses, this is not the time or place to complete the presentation. I suggest you just simply get the person’s contact information and use the 3rd party tools your business opportunity has available. Tell the person you have another commitment, but you will send the info for them to view and schedule a time to follow up with them.

It IS that easy!

The idea is to keep the prospect curious and wanting more…

Conclusion

Okay, I know there will be some people who say, “Eric, you make this sound so easy but I am introverted and have a difficult time approaching strangers.”

I must say that I feel for you; I will not tell you that I understand because I am not introverted. But in seeing this issue, we developed a tool that can help you with this problem of approaching strangers.

Rocket Recruiting is an application that takes the resistance and rejection out and allows you to build your home based business using a pre-made sales funnel that works. So many network marketers have given high praises for the Rocket Recruiting app. I created a webinar to show you how to use this tool to your advantage. Just click here to join that webinar for free and get Rocket Recruiting as your approaching strangers go-to tool.

If you have any questions, just post them below.

Thank you for stopping in today… Let’s take your business

To The Top!

eric tippets

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