TWELVE (12) STEPS TO KNOW IF YOU ARE AN ENTREPRENEUR

5 of 12 YOU DON'T ASK FOR PERMISSION.

Stephane Bourque, founder and CEO of Vancouver, British Columbia-based Incognito Software, says true entrepreneurial types are more likely to ask for forgiveness than permission, forging ahead to address the opportunities or issues they recognize.

"Entrepreneurs are never satisfied with the status quo," says Bourque, who discovered he was not destined for the corporate world when his new and better ways of doing things were interpreted as unwanted criticism by his bosses. Now, he says, "I wish my employees would get into more trouble," because it shows they are on the lookout for opportunities to improve themselves or company operations.

6 of 12 YOU ARE FEARLESS.

Where most avoid risk, entrepreneurs see potential, says Robert Irvine, chef and host of Food Network's Restaurant: Impossible. True 'traps are not afraid to leverage their houses and run up their credit card balances to amass the funds they need to create a new venture. In some ways, he says, they are the ultimate optimists, because they believe that their investments of time and money will eventually pay off.

7 of 12 YOU WELCOME CHANGE.

"If you have only one acceptable outcome in mind, your chances of making it are slim," cautions Rosemary Camposano, president and CEO of Silicon Valley chain Halo Blow Dry Bars. She says that if you are willing to listen, your clients will show you which of your products or services provide the most value.

Her original vision for Halo was part blow-dry bar, part gift shop, "to help busy women multitask," she explains. But she quickly learned that the gift shop was causing confusion about the nature of her business, so she took it out and replaced it with an extra blow-dry chair, and things took off. Smart entrepreneurs constantly evolve, tweaking their business concepts in response to market feedback.

8 of 12 YOU LOVE A CHALLENGE.

When confronted by problems, many employees try to pass the buck. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, rise to the occasion. "Challenges motivate them to work harder," says Jeff Platt, CEO of the Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park franchise. "An entrepreneur doesn't think anything is insurmountable… He looks adversity in the eye and keeps going."

Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, agrees. Despite naysayers who questioned her idea for a bakery in the midst of the carb-fearing early 2000s, she persevered and now has locations in eight states. In fact, she was one of the first entrepreneurs in a business that became an ongoing craze, sparking numerous copycats.

TWELVE (12) STEPS TO KNOW IF YOU ARE AN ENTREPRENEUR

1 of 12 YOU TAKE ACTION.

Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group and co-star of TV's Shark Tank, says people who have a concept but not necessarily detailed strategies are more likely to have that entrepreneurial je ne sais quoi. "I hate entrepreneurs with beautiful business plans" she says.

Corcoran's recommendation?

"Invent as [you] go," rather than spending time writing a plan at your desk. In fact, she believes that those who study business may be prone to overanalyzing situations rather than taking action.

2 of 12 YOU ARE SCARED.

"Many entrepreneurs judged as ambitious are really insecure underneath," Corcoran says. When evaluating potential investments, she adds, "I want someone who is scared to death." Those who are nervous about failing can become hyper focused and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. If you feel insecure, use that emotion to drive you to achieve your business goals.

3 of 12 YOU ARE RESOURCEFUL.

"One of my favorite TV Reality Shows growing up was Gulder Ultimate Search", "because the contestants never had exactly the resources they needed but would somehow figure out how to make everything work out. Ultimately, I think that is what being an entrepreneur is all about." It's not about having enough resources, but being resourceful with what you do have.

4 of 12 YOU OBSESS OVER CASH FLOW.

Prior to founding Brainshark, a Waltham, Mass-based provider of sales productivity software, Joe Gustafson bootstrapped a venture called Relational Course ware. "All I ever thought about was cash flow and liquidity," he admits. "There were seven times in [the company's] eight-year history when I was days or hours away from payroll and didn't have enough cash to make it."

How did he respond?

"In the early days, you could step up and put expenses on your personal credit card, but that can only go so far," he says. "You need cash."

Knowing (knowledge) is one thing and application (wisdom) is another. Your knowledge without wisdom is understanding without experimentation. So read, lead and apply...

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BEST E HOUSE -Academic and Vocational Center 

THE MINDSET OF AN ENTREPRENEUR

My bet is that if you ask anyone on the street to describe the term "entrepreneur," they will tell you that it is someone who starts a business. If you ask them to describe some characteristics of an entrepreneur, they will throw out terms like "visionary," "leader," and, possibly, "hero;" they will describe an entrepreneur as a risk-taker, aggressive, influential, creative, opportunistic -someone with a big personality.

This depiction is only partially correct. All of us are entrepreneurs. We are all born with the innate ability to survive; and survival involves innovative thinking. Think about your life. Think about the times you needed to make a decision -a choice -that involved doing something innovative (something you were not accustomed to doing) so that you could "move on" or adapt to a challenging situation. In our normal course of daily living, we are faced with choices.

Granted, some of these choices are more significant than others. And these are the choices that I am addressing; the choices that are out of the norm; the situations that afford us a real opportunity to change our lifestyle -our life -and adapt or destroy our normal way of approaching whatever life throws at us.

When we choose to embark on a path not chartered, we are engaging in a "small act of entrepreneurship." Being entrepreneurial is essentially about thinking and doing something that we have not done before, in order to achieve a desirable goal or outcome. It is about assessing a situation, designing alternatives, and choosing a new way -or perhaps a combination of ways -that we hope will lead us to something better; however we happen to define "better" at that moment. Hopefully, we make our choices in the context of maximizing our happiness without harming others -the ethics that underlie all of our choices.

We are selling ourselves short if we do not define ourselves as entrepreneurs -if we choose to accept that "entrepreneurs" are the "other" people who take a chance, which think and act differently when challenges arise. I bet that throughout the course of the year, you will make "entrepreneurial choices." It may not be manifested as developing the latest app, the coolest new service, the next great business model.

My bet is that your small act of entrepreneurship is manifested as the choice you make to alter your life; to go through the pain of detaching yourself from what you usually do and attempt a new course of action; the pain of choosing to be resilient in the face of adversity; the gut wisdom of taking a risk because you know that you just can't do "more of the same." Maybe it is starting a company; maybe it is presenting a new idea to your boss; maybe it is choosing to pursue a degree; maybe it is physically moving to another location… the choices are endless and we face them throughout our lives.

When our thinking becomes more of innovation and our act goes on that innovation, we are entrepreneurs.

An entrepreneur doesn't need an MBA to be successful but there is a certain mindset an entrepreneur must cultivate to grow, understand and lead their business. Business leaders who attain this mindset are the ones who ultimately succeed. This mindset has four, intertwining aspects.

AND NOW...

If you are pressed to describe the stereotypical entrepreneur, which words will you use? 

Passionate?

Dedicated?

Optimistic?

Innovator?

Sure, those apply -but INSECURE and TROUBLEMAKER are more accurate, according to ‘Traps who know a success when they see one’.

Do the following traits, characteristics and quirks describe you?

Well then, you might be an entrepreneur (at heart, if not yet in practice).

You can be the best you wish to be if only you can do your best and leave the rest. This eventual happen when your best is good enough to be the best.

I bet you everyone is born an entrepreneur though only few becomes what they are born to be because they were able to conqueror fear...

Don't stress yourself, do your best and forget the rest.

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From: BEST E HOUSE -Academic and Vocational Center 

SELF DEVELOPMENT TIPS

24 TIPS FOR EACH HOUR OF THE DAY…

1. Decision works faster than prayer, it takes decision to prayer anyway. Always wake every morning with right decisions for the day and work with them.
2. After deciding, you plan on how, where and when to go… always plan ahead and be proactive. He that plans for the future work less in the future.
3. Show me your friend and I tell you who you are. Make friends with successful people because success breed success and occasionally shower them with gifts, it is said give and it should be given unto you.
4. Still on friendship… make new but positive friends as often as possible and ensure you keep the communication line open. Create a network of friends and not just connections but sincere contacts.
5. The next is after friendship is follower-ship… getting a mentor is a real deal. Follow his/her instructions and respect the relationship. Never unnecessarily depend on him/her and never disrespect his/her privacy.
6. Nobody is a monopoly of knowledge not ever that mentor of yours. Learn and listen to other great men and women –you can actually be their follower with them be your mentor.
7. Follower-ship is attained through fellowship… attend seminars, conferences and training on any area you need to improve yourself. Train the trainer, personal development, public speaking, sales etc.
8. Readership leads to leadership and this is accomplished through cross-examination. Have the habit of keeping a pen and a writing pad handy because ideas come in the form of flashes. The smallest pen is bigger and better than the biggest brain.
9. Make sure at every point in time you are reading a book. If you spend 20 minutes reading daily, for 52 weeks you would have consumed 1,000,000 words.
10. Stay away from television as much as possible. You can watch educational channels. Men with big TV sit in front of them to watch men with big library.
11. Put control over your mouth, never say evil of any man, what you are not certain of should not be said. Say good of all men.
12. Show kindness to everyone. Some small boys today will be big boys tomorrow. The biggest dog in the neighborhood was once a puppy. And keep the information/secret to yourself.
13. Be involved in community service. Control traffic, free lesson class for students etc.
14. Always show appreciation for any good deed you received.
15. Always help someone in need.
16. Live a debt free life. What you can’t pay cash for is not your size.
17. Givers never lack but givers should always give cautiously… give out loans that you can part with as gift, so that you don’t destroy your business and relationship.
18. Create legitimate multiple sources of income.
19. Save at least 10 percent of your income.
20. Invest a portion of your income and be patient to see it grow. If what you have in your hands is not good to be called a harvest then it’s a seed, -sow it.
21. Keep a good financial record of all income and expenses, so you won’t ask later “where did my money go”
22. Keep getting better on your daily goals and dream, develop yourself on them and make sure you get to the top 100% of your industry.
23. Make sure you engage in exercise. It keeps your brain alert and your body fit to enjoy your success.
24. Pray often, and know that for every success, God made it possible.

Wishing you the very best.

I tell you, this will keep you going in life if you practice what you just read.

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Happy New Month!

From: BEST E HOUSE -Academic and Vocational Center

FIVE [5] HARSH TRUTHS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Life is what we make of it. By the end of this write up, I hope to have helped you decide whether that statement is true or not.

There is no doubt that life has its ups and downs. However, how we deal with them can sometimes make all the difference. Today I want to share eight harsh truths that I've come to learn from life. There's also a message in each that I think we can all learn from, and when applied, will improve our lives infinitely

#1 Nobody Can Transform Your Life Like You Can

Wouldn't it be lovely if we didn't have to go behind the wheels, but we could just read a paragraph of a book and become a professional driver? Or, wouldn't it be nice if our friends could do daring things, and we would benefit from them as well?

The support and help of others can only take you so far, you're going to have to do your own thing to make big changes in your life situation.

Do things for yourself and learn to stand on your own two feet. People you rely on won't be around forever, and you don't want to have to use others as a crutch to get anywhere in life.

#2 Rain Will Sometimes Cancel Play

On some occasions when you have your shoes on and you're ready for the party, it's going to rain. Things aren't always going to go how you would like them to. Don't stress about the things that you can't control. Learn to live with things that happen. You can't change the past, but you can change how you react to things.

#3 Someone Else Will Always Have More

Whether it is money, partners, friends or even blog subscribers, there will always be areas where other people have more than you. That isn't to say you can't become abundant in whatever you want.

Just because someone has 'more', that doesn't mean they are happy. Read the biography of any celebrity and they will tell you they enjoy their process of earning money, rather than what money can do to make them happy. In other words, focus on what you love, not what the thing you love can get you.

#4 You Won't Always Get What You Want

You won't always get what you want in life: people are going to be late, people will let you down, items you want won't always be available.

Don't look for happiness in material possessions and if things don't go your way, learn to accept them. Life's too short to stay miserable.

#5 There May Be No Tomorrow

At least, not for you anyway. We never know what is around the corner, a car crash, a heart attack; heck... even the end of the world is possible. Let's face it, although we would all like to live till we are 80 years old, that's certainly not always the case. There will be one day that is our last.

Make the most of each day. Make sure the people you care about actually know it, don't worry about little matters, just make sure you spend time doing the things you love.

Live life for the moment, accept what is, even if things don't go your way. Happiness is here, right now if you stop resisting and start accepting.

Trust me.

BEST E HOUSE -Academic and Vocational Center

24 WAYS YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IT

The modern world is fast-paced and time waits for nobody.

Time often seems to slip by with us barely noticing.

Consequently, it’s important that we don’t spend time or attention on things that are frivolous, negative or simply plain stupid.

Here's a guiding list of things you shouldn’t be wasting your time on.

1.         DWELLING ON PROBLEMS: Instead of wasting time by dwelling on a problem, work out what you can do to fix it. 

2.         WORRYING: It’s similar to above. Stop worrying and start working towards a solution.

3.         CARING WHAT OTHERS THINK: Unless you are getting good advice from people you love, disregard it. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you, you need to stay true to yourself. Don’t waste your time, thoughts, and energy on what others think. Be proud to be yourself. 

4.         CHECKING YOUR PHONE CONSTANTLY: High-end phones are big time distractions in our lives. Try to do some work for 3 hours without the beeping of your phone from BBM, Facebook and Whatsapp. Can you? No, you don’t also need it when you go to the bathroom.

5.         WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN: - The world isn’t going to wait for you. Go after what you want.

6.         CONSTANTLY REFRESHING FACEBOOK: Try living life rather than waiting for an acquaintance to update you on how their lunch is going. 

7.         DOING THINGS YOU HATE: Life is far too short to waste your time on doing something you hate.

8.         HITTING ‘SNOOZE’: Get your lazy butt out of bed. You set your alarm for a legitimate reason. 

9.         STAYING ONLINE LATE INTO THE NIGHT: It’s not only a waste of time now, but will probably result in you sleeping half the day away tomorrow, or being unproductive at work or school. There is nothing so important that you need to stay online for it until 3am often.

10.     CELEBRITY CULTURE: Stop giving a flying spaghetti monster about the Krapdashians, or how you look compared to the entirety of Hollywood. They are all Photoshopped. Thighs are supposed to touch. Breasts can sag too. You are human.

11.     PROCRASTINATING: Just do it. 

12.     PLAYING ROMANTIC GAMES: You can waste years not telling someone how you feel out of fear. Grow a pair of ovaries and tell them. If they are not digging it, at least you will have the chance to move on. If they feel the same the only regret you will have is the days, weeks, and months you could have already had together.

13.     HOLDING GRUDGES: Life is too short! Forgive and be positive.

14.     COMPLAINING: Complaining really won’t get you anywhere, and the only person who it is hurting is you. Start thinking positively. Figure out how to make your life more complaint-free.

15.     EATING OUT OF BOREDOM: This kind of eating is a bad idea all-around. If you are bored, it means you are wasting time. Find something productive to do. Put some work in towards a goal or a dream. These would be much better uses of your time than visiting the fridge for the seventh time this hour.

16.     CONSTANTLY UPDATING YOUR STATUS: This is not living. No one cares that your left flip flop broke on your way to the church.

17.     INDECISION: Indecision often stems from fear. Deep down, you are likely to know what decision you want to make. 

18.     HANGING AROUND NEGATIVE PEOPLE: The people in your life shouldn’t be a constant stream of negativity. Give them the figurative (or even literal) bird, and find some positive people to spend time with. You will feel a whole lot happier and enjoy life more.

19.     WATCHING TV: A little TV is okay, but it shouldn’t be the center of your universe. Instead of watching other people have adventures, have some of your own.

20.     PINNING THINGS: Stop day-dreaming of amazing things on Pinterest, and start doing them.

21.     GOSSIP: know it can be juicy and kind of fun, but it really get you nowhere.

22.     UNREQUITED LOVE: This can be one of the hardest things to let go of, but you simply must. Unrequited means that you probably know that they are not interested. Why waste your time on that when you can be working on being happy? When you find the right person for you, you will lament all the wasted time spent on someone who didn’t care. 

23.     BEING GLUED TO YOUR PHONE: Not only does this make you miss the world going on around you, it’s also just plain rude in a social situation.

24.     READING THIS: Just kidding, I write amazing things worthy of your time. 

MEANWHILE, IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS LIST THAT YOU CAN CUT OUT OF YOUR LIFE? 

SADNESS AND DEPRESSION

Sadness is a normal human emotion. We’ve all experienced it and we all will again. Sadness is usually triggered by a difficult, hurtful, challenging, or disappointing event, experience, or situation. In other words, we tend to feel sad about something. This also means that when that something changes, when our emotional hurt fades, when we’ve adjusted or gotten over the loss or disappointment, our sadness remits.

Depression is an abnormal emotional state, a mental illness that affects our thinking, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors in pervasive and chronic ways. When we’re depressed we feel sad about everything. Depression does not necessarily require a difficult event or situation, a loss, or a change of circumstance as a trigger. In fact, it often occurs in the absence of any such triggers. People’s lives on paper might be totally fine -they would even admit this is true -and yet they still feel horrible.

Depression colors all aspects of our lives, making everything less enjoyable, less interesting, less important, less lovable, and less worthwhile. Depression saps our energy, motivation, and ability to experience joy, pleasure, excitement, anticipation, satisfaction, connection, and meaning. All your thresholds tend to be lower. You’re more impatient, quicker to anger and get frustrated, quicker to break down, and it takes you longer to bounce back from everything.

The True Symptoms of Depression

To be diagnosed with depression, people need to have at least 5 of the following symptoms, for a continual duration of at least two weeks. Be advised: The severity of these symptoms must also be considered, so please use these only as a guideline and see a mental health professional for a conclusive diagnosis.

1.  A depressed or irritable mood most of the time.

2.  A loss or decrease of pleasure or interest in most activities, including ones that had been interesting or pleasurable previously.

3.  Significant changes in weight or appetite.

4.  Disturbances in falling asleep or sleeping too much.

5.  Feeling slowed down in your movements or restless most days.

6.  Feeling tired, sluggish, and having low energy most days.

7.  Having feelings of worthless or excessive guilt most days.

8.  Experiencing problems with thinking, focus, concentration, creativity and the ability to make decisions most days.

9.  Having thoughts of dying or suicide.

If you think you or a loved one might be depressed, it is important to seek the counsel of a trained mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment. Depression is an extremely common mental illness and there are many treatments that benefit most people.