There’s no doubt about it, life and business in general is tough out there at the moment and there’s no real sign of recovery or so I thought………

A few months ago I stumbled upon a book which has quite literally changed the way I think and approach everything and the results are so positive and so good I’d really like to share it with you.

The book written almost a century ago has stood the test of time and is as relevant today as it was when it was written.  Take a look for yourself, the link to obtain the book free of charge is on the left of this post.  I know you won’t regret it.

I’ve just re-read the  Science of Getting Rich and already it’s having a profound effect enabling me to see and act upon opportunities I just hadn’t noticed before.  It’s well worth the time it takes to read and I would urge anyone who is struggling at the moment to take some time to have a look and try it for themselves.

Happy reading and let me know how you get on.

Warm regards

Helen

www.kipsecrets.com

Helen Taylor, UK Creator of “The Knowledge Is Power Toolkit” 

Hello

I hope you’ve all had a good Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year ahead. 

Maybe you’re already thinking about your New Year resolutions…..and there lies the problem; most of us only ever think about them, we never carry them through to fruition.  Whether it be to quit smoking, lose weight, get a new job, spend more quality time with your loved ones.  At the time resolutions are made with all good intentions but generally by mid January they’re forgotten and we’re back into the daily grind and habits from previous years.

Why not make 2008 the year you change that pattern and your life for good? 

In order to do that you need to understand why these resolutions have failed in the past.  More often than not to carry through with your resolutions you have to step outside your comfort zone.  Now this is true of nearly any resolution but more so if you’re thinking of changing jobs or trying to start a business to improve your quality of life and earning potential.

The fear of failure is a significant barrier and causes many people to take no action towards change.  You listen to your inner critic that throws up many reasons not to take that leap of faith and once again inaction wins and so you go through yet another year being unsatisfied and frustrated with yourself.

I have worked extensively, albeit not exclusively, with female entrepreneurs over the past few years and much of the research cites fear of failure as being number 1 enemy to women wanting to start out in business.

I recently carried out some surveys of my own and interestingly the number of men who gave the fear of failure as the main obstacle to them starting a business out numbered the women.  So you see, you are not alone it affects us all.

 Here are just a few thoughts to bear in mind:-

• Failure is crucial to success- many of the well known and successful businessmen and women we respect now and in history had many failures before they succeeded.
• Persistence and learning from your failures will pay off eventually
• Don’t punish yourself if you fail; as long as you have made the best effort you can.  Pick yourself up, brush yourself down and try again having learnt from past experience
• If looking for a change of job or to start a business, make sure it’s something you love and feel passionate about otherwise your enthusiasm will wane and it will become a chore
• Know when to give up and move on to try something else.  Don’t waste money on a failing project.
• Understand that some risk is necessary.  The more important something is, generally the more risk it has attached. 
• It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.  Don’t spend your life wondering what may have been and living a life of regrets.
• Remember;  Life is Not A Rehearsal

I recently watched the British Library’s profile programme on Stellios of Easy Jet fame….and guess what he actually quoted as being his biggest hurdle before he set up his business; “Fear of Failure”. 

You can’t change the past but you can change the future and on that note I’ll leave you with a quote from Peter Drucker that sums it all up;

“The best way to predict the future is to create it“

Take care and Happy New Year

Helen Taylor

www.kipsecrets.com

Helen Taylor, UK.  Creator of “The Knowledge Is Power Toolkit“

Hello

Over the past few months I have noticed an alarming increase in the number of female internet business owners I work with, who have no direct control or access to their website to make minor amendments or updates. 

In addition when they have approached their web developer he/she is too busy to make the amendments straight away or within a reasonable period of time and charges an astronomical amount to make the amendments. 

One client even had her site held to ransom by the developer when she requested to move it and the developer’s parting shot was to insert code that disabled the site when the first paying customer responded to her national advertisement.  Hence a costly advert and loss of business while she tried to get the business back online.

In each of these instances the clients did not have a written contract with the developer and were uncertain as to the ownership of the web content and domain name. 

If you equate this to a physical shop scenario it’s like owning a high street shop but not having the ability to enter when you want and being reliant on another keyholder, unrelated to the business, for permission to restock, update prices or make any other significant changes to your business.

In each situation the websites were built on a restricted budget by a freelance web developer they didn’t know or weren’t recommended to.  So there are some lessons to be learned here.

In order to mitigate post development problems the following should be your minimum checklist:-

1. Always ask for a written contract which details the scope of the job and addresses any ownership and copyright issues
2. Determine at the outset what access you might need to update the site content and what timescale and costs are involved if the developer is to do this for you
3. Don’t just buy on price alone.  Ask to see details of their work and make sure you have some rapport with the developer. 
4. Ask fellow business owners for their recommendations, or find a site that operates the way yours will, preferably not a direct competitor as they may not wish to engage, and enquire who they used and what the post development service is like.

 BUYER BEWARE

There are many reputable web developers out there but you need to take responsibility for seeking out the one that’s right for you and your business.

Building your website is an investment in your business and for an internet based business it’s your most important asset.  Remember it’s your shop window and livelihood and you need to have control over it.

Warm regards

Helen Taylor

www.kipsecrets.com

I’ve faced the fear of failure, done all the research possible and planned each step to finally arrive at the point I intended to get to: launching the “Knowledge Is Power Toolkit” designed specifically for women.

I hope that over time I can help many more women build their confidence and get started in business.   The ability to have the flexibility to work when and where you want is achievable and even more so now than it has ever been.

There are barriers to overcome but between us we can demolish them. 

Warm regards

Helen Taylor

www.kipsecrets.com