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Data Collection Tools In Six Sigma
You can not imagine being able to organize the enormous amount of data and manipulate them as easily as you would be able to do without data collection tools. Then again, the task is not easily done unless you have selected the right kind of tool appropriate for the project. You need these data collection tools at all steps where you generate numerical data.Six Sigma Data Collection ToolsThe data collection tools are mostly in excel format and come as Macro Plug Ins, barring a few exceptions of stand-alone applications.Initial Raw Data Collection Tools1. Operational Definitions Sheet- This sheet defines the metrics so that data c

events that puts me in touch with my target audience.

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #7 - Not spending enough on educating myself. As a solopreneur, it's so easy to forget that I have to invest in myself by taking courses that can help me learn how to do things better. In the first half of 2005, I didn't spend a dime and my progress showed for it. However, in the latter part of 2005, I started to spend a bit on educating myself on new techniques and processes. Doing this put me in touch with how to do things better in my business, as well as meeting some phenomenol people and trainers. Plus, I noticed a spike in sales.

LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your ow

Importance of Branding - What's in a Name?
Branding is perhaps the most important facet of any business--beyond product, distribution, pricing, or location. A company's brand is its definition in the world, the name that identifies it to itself and the marketplace. A model may be beautiful, but without a name, she's just "that girl in that picture." Where would Norma Jean be without Marilyn Monroe, or who would imagine Coca-Cola as just a soft-drink manufacturer? A brand provides a concrete descriptor to customers and competitors alike, a name for a product or service to distinguish it from anything else. Bob may run a hobby shop, but trying to advertise as "The hobby shop a guy named Bob runs

As 2005 comes to a close, I always look back on the year to see what I did well and what could be improved. Below, I share with you my mistakes, missteps and muckups that I experienced in 2005.

Many of these mistakes, missteps and muck-ups cost me money, so I share them with you so you can avoid these in 2006 (thanks to Michael Rasmussen of FreeAdvertisingForum.com for giving me the idea for this list).

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #1 - Spending way too much time on my computer, instead of meeting people face to face. Networking online is great, however, it can never take the place of meeting face-to-face or having a conversation over the phone. Sending emails are so darn easy, but I found that I got too wrapped up with the ease of this technology. I even had a huge argument with one of my vendors because I tried to "break things off" with him over email. I should know better.
LESSON LEARNED - Compliment online networking activities with face-to-face and phone meetings.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #2 - Spending way too much time on the technical side of my business. I worked in the technology sector for close to 10-years and I pride myself in being a chick that knows her techie stuff. However, my digital knowledge kept me up late at night as I took responsibility for updating the content on my webpages, creating new autoresponders and creating new HTML pages for new products, instead of farming things out to others. For every new product or teleclass I would launch, it would take me 8-hours to get all the technical pieces ready.
LESSON LEARNED - Hire a techie expert to maintain my website. Let it go.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #3 - Not delegating my administrative tasks. There are certain things I hate doing in my business - updating documents, making them look pretty, writing content and writing sales copy for new information products. I just can't stand doing these things and it would take me eons just to write one sentence. Then, that meant I would have to rush and write something quickly because I sat on it for too long and the deadline was an hour away.
LESSON LEARNED - Hire a virtual assistant or copywriter to do all this stuff for me.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #4 - Spinning my wheels targeting the wrong market. When I first started coaching, I was on a mission to inspire women to create the career they deserve. Although I was making money, I didn't feel passionate about helping women climb the corporate ladder. It wasn't until my mother came to one of my speaking engagements in September 2005 that she gave me the clarity I needed. With her wisdom and her keen eye, she helped me craft my current mission - to help women start a business on a shoestring budget.
LESSON LEARNED - Really listen to what my clients (and mom) are telling me about the problem they're experiencing.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #5 - Creating a bunch of cool information products all at once. Just because I can bang out 5 special reports in a weekend, doesn't mean I have the manpower or energy to promote them all at the same time. I realized that in order to make sales on an information product, I really need to market them. Until I do that, they're going to sit on my website, look pretty and go stale.
LESSON LEARNED - Focus on one product for at least 3-months and use my affiliates to help promote the new product.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #6 - Attending networking events that weren't producing results. While networking is about building relationships, it should also lead to some quality contacts. Unfortunately, I attended too many networking events where everyone was like me - an entrepreneur looking for business. Although I made some great contacts, after attending the same networking events for 12-months straight, I noticed that my networking circle was stale and lacked any power.
LESSON LEARNED - Stick with a networking event for no more than 4 consecutive events, analyze the results, then move on. Also, attend more networking events that puts me in touch with my target audience.
Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #7 - Not spending enough on educating myself. As a solopreneur, it's so easy to forget that I have to invest in myself by taking courses that can help me learn how to do things better. In the first half of 2005, I didn't spend a dime and my progress showed for it. However, in the latter part of 2005, I started to spend a bit on educating myself on new techniques and processes. Doing this put me in touch with how to do things better in my business, as well as meeting some phenomenol people and trainers. Plus, I noticed a spike in sales.
LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your own

How Turn A Franchise Agreement To Your Advantage
Deciding to buy a Franchise is a huge decision. Once you have convinced yourself that franchising suits your character and business aspirations, have identified the right franchise, done your sums, attended the initial training and perhaps paid an initial deposit you will be presented with a Franchise Agreement to sign.Typically this agreement could run to 40 or 50 pages and can be a daunting read to those unfamiliar with commercial contracts. The very nature of a franchise business structure means that the agreement will be fairly complex. Remember that this document provides the framework for your business life over the next seven years or so.<

ke, Misstep and Muck-up #2 - Spending way too much time on the technical side of my business. I worked in the technology sector for close to 10-years and I pride myself in being a chick that knows her techie stuff. However, my digital knowledge kept me up late at night as I took responsibility for updating the content on my webpages, creating new autoresponders and creating new HTML pages for new products, instead of farming things out to others. For every new product or teleclass I would launch, it would take me 8-hours to get all the technical pieces ready.

LESSON LEARNED - Hire a techie expert to maintain my website. Let it go.

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #3 - Not delegating my administrative tasks. There are certain things I hate doing in my business - updating documents, making them look pretty, writing content and writing sales copy for new information products. I just can't stand doing these things and it would take me eons just to write one sentence. Then, that meant I would have to rush and write something quickly because I sat on it for too long and the deadline was an hour away.

LESSON LEARNED - Hire a virtual assistant or copywriter to do all this stuff for me.

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #4 - Spinning my wheels targeting the wrong market. When I first started coaching, I was on a mission to inspire women to create the career they deserve. Although I was making money, I didn't feel passionate about helping women climb the corporate ladder. It wasn't until my mother came to one of my speaking engagements in September 2005 that she gave me the clarity I needed. With her wisdom and her keen eye, she helped me craft my current mission - to help women start a business on a shoestring budget.

LESSON LEARNED - Really listen to what my clients (and mom) are telling me about the problem they're experiencing.

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #5 - Creating a bunch of cool information products all at once. Just because I can bang out 5 special reports in a weekend, doesn't mean I have the manpower or energy to promote them all at the same time. I realized that in order to make sales on an information product, I really need to market them. Until I do that, they're going to sit on my website, look pretty and go stale.

LESSON LEARNED - Focus on one product for at least 3-months and use my affiliates to help promote the new product.

Mistake, Misstep and Muck-up #6 - Attending networking events that weren't producing results. While networking is about building relationships, it should also lead to some quality contacts. Unfortunately, I attended too many networking events where everyone was like me - an entrepreneur looking for business. Although I made some great contacts, after attending the same networking events for 12-months straight, I noticed that my networking circle was stale and lacked any power.

LESSON LEARNED - Stick with a networking event for no more than 4 consecutive events, analyze the results, then move on. Also, attend more networking events that puts me in touch with my target audience.

LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your ow

Apply for a Credit Card Merchant Account Online
Who should apply for a credit card merchant account online? Why, you should, of course, if you want to grow your business and maximize sales volume! In this day and age, more and more business functions are moving into cyberspace, which means that business owners must be ready to travel to this relatively unknown domain if they want to maintain strong customer ties and stay a step or two ahead of the competition. Don’t worry if you’re not Web savvy; most online processes that are geared to the general consumer are not hard to perform. In fact, most are downright easy.First, find a lender that you respect that is willing to extend you a credit card me

and write something quickly because I sat on it for too long and the deadline was an hour away.

LESSON LEARNED - Hire a virtual assistant or copywriter to do all this stuff for me.

LESSON LEARNED - Really listen to what my clients (and mom) are telling me about the problem they're experiencing.

LESSON LEARNED - Focus on one product for at least 3-months and use my affiliates to help promote the new product.

LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your ow

Standing Out from the Crowd at Career Fairs
It can be intimidating walking into a career fair…all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you’re armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new – or – better career.Do Your ResearchTreat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you’re interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a ‘real’ interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By sh

doesn't mean I have the manpower or energy to promote them all at the same time. I realized that in order to make sales on an information product, I really need to market them. Until I do that, they're going to sit on my website, look pretty and go stale.

LESSON LEARNED - Focus on one product for at least 3-months and use my affiliates to help promote the new product.

LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your ow

No Logo? Launching A Business Without a Logo Can Sabotage You
Initial lack of customers and cash flow often causes a small business to put off designing a logo and marketing materials professionally “until [they] got a few clients” or “until [they] get started.” Designing their own marketing materials when they launch their business, instead of having them professionally created, will make getting those initial clients more difficult, and may result in a business that will not succeed.Many entrepreneurs choose to design their own marketing materials when they launch their business, especially by creating their first business card. Or, they will have an amateur designer, friend or relative create the design. The

events that puts me in touch with my target audience.

LESSON LEARNED - Set aside at least 10% of all business income in a savings account to spend on educational materials.

These are what I consider to be the 7 mistakes, missteps and muck-ups in 2005 that cost me money and I trust that by reading this, you will avoid them in 2006.

Better yet, if you have a mistakes, missteps or muck-up that you experienced in your own business in 2005, list them, then write down the lessons you learned from that experience.

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There is a concept in the military called a force multiplier. This is anything that increases the effectiveness of the military unit. Can your business benefit from force multipliers?

Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a “no-brainer” choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly women) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and innovations are continual. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.

With the onslaught of books from management gurus on improving customer service, and with a raised consciousness in the business press about organizations having to relearn how to treat its customers, we would think that providing execellent customer service is routine. But unfortunatley it's a myth.

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