How to Start an Investment Club - Business Model

Your investment club will need to decide what type of entity you're going to adopt for business purposes. You'll have to decide whether you're going to be a corporation, a general partnership, or limited liability partnership. Each of these business models has their own advantages and disadvantages.

· Corporation. Most investment clubs will avoid becoming a corporation. This is because corporations are taxable business entities that require knowledgeable accounting skills to make them run smoothly and in accord with government regulations. A corporation generally means a lot of paperwork. This paperwork can be avoided by choosing another business model for your purpose of running an investment club.

· General partnership. This type of business model requires less paperwork and knowledge about taxes and other financial issues. Most investment clubs choose a general partnership as their choice of a business entity. A general partnership has nominal paperwork and costs associated with it because the taxes are passed to each partner's tax returns. This type of business model will let you accomplish what you need to do to run your investment club with the least amount of tax influence.

· Limited liability corporations. This type of a business model is much like the general partnership but it gives individual members of your investment group a bit more liability protection. Keep in mind that this type of business entity can be expensive and will need more paperwork.

Are Creative Stereotypes Holding You Back

Here's a quick quiz:

1) When I see a sunrise, I'm moved to:
A. Compose a poem.
B. Try and capture the beauty with my paints and brush.
C. Stumble drunkenly into bed -- boy that party was a lot of fun.
D. Cover my face with my pillow and go back to sleep. Who in their right mind gets up early enough to look at sunrises

2) At work, I'm the person my coworkers go to when they need someone to:
A. Think up a new theme for the office party (especially if they want it to be a bit wild and off the wall).
B. Get people excited for the party.
C. Organize the party.
D. Clean up after the party.

3) In school, I was considered one of the:
A. Brains.
B. Jocks.
C. Nerds.
D. Nothing. I was kicked out my sophomore year.

Now take this test again and write down what you think a creative person would choose as his or her answer.

Scoring: Well, there's no real scoring here. The point is to get you thinking about creativity and stereotypes.

In another creativity article I wrote, "Quiz: Are Your Creative", I pointed out that the biggest difference between creative people and those who aren't is creative people believe they're creative and uncreative people believe they aren't.

Another New Boss:How to Make the Transition Work for You!

Recently during a coaching call, one of my clients was expressing her concerns about having a new boss.She was a little anxious about having to prove herself once again."What do you know about this person" I asked."Nothing," she replied."Only that he is very focused on his own career advancement." "Sounds like an opportunity to me," I replied."You have got to be kidding me," she laughed."Let me hear this one."

There is no need to assume that you have to prove yourself.The only reason why you feel that way is because of your own paradigms, not the new boss's.Change can represent an opportunity if you are willing to lean into it.What I mean is, understand how you can focus on your own strengths and neutralize your weaknesses.The new boss will buy in to whatever you are selling.It's your choice to sell confidence and expertise or to sell ‘I'm still in the proving stage.'

The question isn't what does a new boss mean to you.The real question is what do you want it to mean to you.I am going to assume that what you want is to experience success.If that assumption is correct, here's my advice on how to make that become a reality.

#1 - Be the expert of your business. No one should know the business that you are responsible for better than you.The depth of your knowledge in terms of the strategy, the history of the department or business unit and, most important, your own vision for the future of the work should roll from your tongue.

Take Your Work Skills Home: Tips from the Workplace to Save You Time at Home

Women have natural collaborative skills which can be a great asset in and out of the work environment.Just like we believe in empowering employees and holding them accountable in the work environment that is exactly what we need to do in our home.

Unfortunately, women are so guilt ridden for wanting to satisfy both their personal and professional desires that we over compensate for our spouses and our children.As a former senior corporate executive and now an entrepreneur I can say with confidence that it takes a true commitment and ongoing resilience to find peace with not trying to be "superwoman."We have to remember that superwoman is dead.

To be alive is to choose to not only empower ourselves but to empower others, to be intentional about not taking on the martyr role and to be purposeful in finding happiness in the moment by using every skill that we possess.

Consider these tips to improve your ability to find success in both sides of your life.

Tip #1: Remember that everyone wants to be valued, if you don't give them a role to play they can't be valued. At the beginning of the week collaborate on who owns what in terms of chores, errands and responsibilities in the house; then hold everyone including yourself accountable.

Personal Branding Secrets for Women Who Want the Corner Office

Most women think that if they work hard that they'll be rewarded with the career of their dreams. Unfortunately that's not the way it works in the real world called business. Women must learn how to effectively tell the world what they bring to the table in terms of strengths and expertise. They must also be able to explain how their strengths add value to the department and for the organization...and, FINALLY they must be able to express where they want to go within the organization and industry.

Little girls are often taught to be seen and not heard.To experience success, women must be able to find the right balance of confidence that allows them to communicate and market themselves successfully without feeling as though they just belittled the world! That means erasing those old tapes that keep you from embracing your responsibility for your success.

Women have to learn to be bold in the way that they communicate in the business world.There is nothing wrong with taking credit for results that happen under your leadership.

Here are five of the most powerful steps to help women develop and market their personal brand.

Thriving in 2005: Becoming a Phenomenal Women Leader on Her Way to the Top!

How many of you are tired of the traditional top down leadership styleResearch says a lot of people are tired of the traditional leadership style.In fact, according to the Gallop organization, 80% of all employees wake up on Monday morning and don't want to go to work.The primary reason for employees who don't to be at work is what You guessed it, the boss!With this kind of data who would disagree that this leadership model doesn't work anymore Make 2005 the year you become the best leader possible and get ready to experience phenomenal career success.HowAdopt a new leadership style.

After years of research and hundreds of interviews, I am convinced that this new model will blend the best of the male and female styles.I called this new leadership style, the hybrid leader. America's future is contingent on the workforce getting this new leadership model right.America needs employees to be happy about going to work. WhyHappy employees are more productive, go figure.The research shows that 1 out 9 employees have thought about physically harming a fellow employee.When people are thinking about hurting each other they can't be thinking about innovative ways to add value to the business.And if this information is not compelling enough think about one more data point:1 out of 3 employees is depressed and they don't even know it (Psychology Magazine).

Executives Are "Ego-Surfing" For Business Information

Wondering what's new about youType your name into Google or Yahoo and see what comes up. Termed "ego surfing," it has gone mainstream as CEO's, corporate communication departments and executives are using the Internet to follow what is being said about them, their companies and their competitors.Termed CEegO surfing when the CEO does the search, businesses are discovering important information on the web that may or may not be accurate.

A recent search of the Fortune 100 CEOs for USA Today uncovered fascinating material on top executives.While much of the information is harmless, some can be damaging to careers and business.A search for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, leads you to a 72-second video of him attempting to motivate the work force by wild gyrations and screaming on stage.Coined, "The Monkey Dance," on the Net, there are multiple websites directing you to the "Original Monkey Boy Gyrations," and a listing appears in the second line on Google.

There can also be a case of mistaken identity.Cynthia McKay, CEO of Le Gourmet Gift Basket, was surprised to learn that there is a British actress of the same name who has an established reputation in the porn industry.Kathy Peel, the CEO of Family Manager, found another namesake who won the Miss Plus American pageant for large sized women.Some CEO's use their middle initial or full name to avoid confusion with others of the same name in a different industry.

Optimizing Your Time Management

First of all there is no such thing as time management.We must accept the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day.This my friends will never change!But what can help you make better and more effective use of the time are the choices that we make regarding how we will use those 24 hours.Accomplishing more whether in the home or work environment can be achieved but it takes work and a plan.Try these steps to get you going.

#1-Make sure that you are focused on the right stuffI've found that many times women sweat over the small things rather than choosing what is most important and focusing on those things.

#2-Focus on one thing at a time. Although women are blessed with the ability to multi-task, we often do five things "sorta well" instead of 3 things really well.Every time that I over extend myself by taking on too many tasks at once I do something stupid like burn myself, or lock my keys in the car.In the long run, women can lessen their frustration levels and increase the amount of work that is achieved by being more focused.

#3-Avoid the temptation to over promise. Be realistic about what is really achievable.Internal strive related to not "measuring up" is a source of negative energy.Negative energy blocks your ability to innovate or look at your task with a fresh perspective.

How Writing Radio Can Help You Become a Better Writer

Knowing how to write, and write well, is a skill that will come in handy in all sorts of situations. And if you combine good writing skills with the persuasive selling tactics found in, say, copywriting, you'll be that much more ahead of your competition.

Of all the different types of writing I've done in my life (and believe me, I've tried practically all of them) writing radio has made one of the bigger impacts on my writing style.

Below are three ways writing radio can help strengthen your writing style. (Oh, and these tips will also help you write better radio copy too.)

1. Follow the rules. Sometimes rules are good. Especially rules that force you to write a certain way. (Think poetry -- mastering those rules can have an amazing effect on your writing style.) Rules require you to slow down and think, to analyze your word, sentence, grammar, punctuation, etc., choices. And that can be very beneficial to your development as a writer.

Radio is short. You have to write something that fits into a 30- or 60-second slot. Not a lot of time or a lot of words. In that 30 or 60 seconds, you need to capture the listener's attention, explain why they should be interested in buying what you're selling, then let them know what you'd like their next step to be. Oh, and did I mention you need to have the business name in there at least twice and probably a tag line as well And don't forget about music. Or sound effects.

The ONE Thing YOU Should Focus On Right Now

Let me just start out by saying that I cant tell you what that "one thing" is. It is for you to choose, and for you to do.

There's a lot of talk out there among the 'experts' - about how to get rich, how to become successful, how to do this or how to do that. It's very easy to get distracted, and even easier to become overwhelmed. "Information Overload", they call it.

The truth is, there are A LOT of viable business ideas out there. There are MANY ways to become successful - or wealthy. There is TONS of potential in online marketing. And there's still PLENTY of room for you to step in and claim your fortune.

The question is: What are you going to do

You could:

- write a book or an ebook
- promote affiliate programs via PPC
- sell products on eBay
- create and optimize content-rich sites in niche markets
- build an empire of mini-sites
- become a public speaker
- be a web designer, copywriter or VA

Specific Measureable Results

Want to make an immediate and dramatic increase in the overall performance of your company Try creating a set of Specific Measurable Results (SMR) for each department or functional unit.

Specific Measurable Results Of course, your sales force has them. It's safe to say there are few companies in the world that do not use sales quotas. Not only do sales people use quotas to track their output, they often have targets which measure their activity. "How many, by when" is a familiar phrase.

Top sales people monitor how many calls they make to prospects each week. The also track calls made to existing customers, how many letters they send, how many "closes", and so on. If a sales person isn't bringing in the promised business, management can examine his or her activity to see what area might need work.

What about the other players on your sales team - the technical representatives, the sales associates Do they have specific, measurable results they've agreed to produce What about your other departments What about development Customer Service Finance Marketing Administration What are they accountable for Do they have SMR's to produce within a set time frame