Crossing the Threshold

You are now ready to act upon this call, to entrepreneurship and truly begin this quest, whether it is physical or emotional. You may go willingly or you may be pushed, but either way you finally cross the threshold between the world you are familiar with and that which you are not. You may be leaving home for the first time in your life or just doing something you have always been scared to do. However the threshold presents itself and it needs to be crossed; this action signifies the entrepreneur’s commitment to the journey.

Now finally, out of your comfort zone you are confronted with an ever more difficult series of challenges that test you in a variety of ways. Obstacles are thrown across your path; whether they be different products to choose from; or leads to follow as you trawl for customers; whether they be physical hurdles or people bent on thwarting your progress, you must overcome each challenge as they are presented towards this ultimate goal of entrepreneurship. You need to find out who can be trusted and who can't. You may earn allies and meet enemies who will, each in their own way, help to prepare you for the greater ordeals yet to come.

The threshold to inner most room may represent many things on your journey such as an actual location a workshop; a market stall or an inner commercial passion which up until now you have not had to face. As you approach the threshold to this room you must make final preparations before taking that final leap into the great unknown. At the threshold to the room you may once again face some of the doubts and fears that first surfaced upon your call to entrepreneurship. You may need some time to reflect upon entering this journey and the dark and treacherous road ahead, in order to find the courage to continue.

Once you have crossed the threshold, the rewards are bountiful; you will never look back as you have taken the major step towards your independence. Where you have to think for yourself and continuously learn whether by research or a formal course or the many opportunities on-line.

 

Change Your World

In your everyday life, crucial details about your true nature, capabilities and outlook on life has to be exposed. You might perceive such entrepreneurial action as a direct threat to your safety, your family, your way of life or to the community in which you live. It may be as dramatic  as a simple  phone call or conversation but whatever the call is, and however it manifests itself, it ultimately disrupts the comfort of the your ordinary world and presents a challenge or quest that must be undertaken. As an entrepreneur your road map, is of an inner as well as an outer journey with important stages or landmarks that you make as you progress. Your known world is what is happening all around you the political and economic situations and willingness to work hard within it.

Call to Action

Your plan begins when you receive a call to action, as I am calling you now.  Do the research of your product or your service to the community and by the way, think local and dream global.

Spiralling debt, has to stop, loss making addictions must cease. Seek help to end all addictions. There are many services out there to help you recover from an addiction whether it is gambling, alcohol, or dangerous drugs. Personal development is considerably restricted when negative outside forces are controlling you. It could take a trigger happening such as a near spell in hospital, sacked from your job or bailiff knocking at your door.

 Although you may be eager to accept this quest, at this stage you will have fears that you need to overcome, second thoughts or even deep personal doubts as to whether or not entrepreneurship is for you. When this happens, you will refuse the call and as a result may suffer somehow. The problem you face may seem too much to handle and your current situation and the comfort of your current situation far more attractive than the perilous road ahead.

At these crucial turning points where you desperately need guidance you meet a mentor figure who gives you something you need. You could be given an object of great importance, insight into the dilemma you face, wise advice, practical training or even self-confidence. Whatever the mentor provides it will serve to dispel your doubts and fears and give you the strength and courage to begin your quest as an entrepreneur.

Meeting the Mentor, the mentor can be me, a real person giving advice towards your project; or it can be a person that rejects you as you are and you feel the need to change to adapt, this can be negative energy that you are willing to use and drive you forward. The rejection of an addiction can also spark you to action; money usually spent on tobacco can be invested in your project.

Seize the time, the time is now!

The crisis that occurs after the denial of one’s failing situation, panic, anxiety or even fear and confusion believe it or not is a natural process. We all have to go through this, but it is how we approach it that shows our true strength.  The greatest thing is to recognise your condition and be true to yourself. From this truth, learning can begin.

The whole process of business is a continuous learning curve; for life long learning. In the darkest depth of the trough of the learning curve, you will find yourself: stunned, dazed, lost, depressed and stuck. As you look around, you will find others stuck and lost as you are.  However as you seek opportunities they will be evident everywhere, even in the depressed around you. I am not advocating further pharmaceutical anti depressants,  but I am advocating development solutions for others.

Please try to control your frustration and anger as this is all part of the process too, it is only by searching that you will find solutions to the problems. There might be environmental problems to solve and you can provide a service to meet this need and a client to pay you. The problem may occur as the seasons change, be aware many solutions are found through the cycle of change.

You will be shaky as you practice your new solutions to problems as you record these and show determination, others will notice your aspirations and help you towards your goals. Through calm applied problem solving techniques, with focussed intent slowly a business will formulate and a new way will be found.  This will take you out of the depths of the trough and provide a new direction.  This is the crisis and learning curve, which we have to go through to find our way to success. It could take some time or it could happen in a day, it could happen once or many times until you find a satisfactory direction. A scientific process could be taken, if you are prepared to try iterations of various tasks until one is found to be successful.  This is the Business Plan in action as a document of ever changing instruction towards success.

How long is your sentence of poverty?

We all deserve a second chance in life; if you are locked up for a misdemeanour's whilst your movements are restricted you can feel peace of mind for that great day when you are to be released. You do not want to make the same mistake the second time around. Therefore you have to plan for the future.

We have looked at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which I will refer to frequently but whilst in the safety mode as in your prison cell, planning for your release inevitable takes place. Let the plans be towards your meeting your social needs towards business or entrepreneurial thoughts and advancement.

Time for a change, going straight, if you are a competitive fighter, well formalise your fighting into a style develop  your martial arts and express what is like to be free and skilled. By training others; you may establish a “dojo” to teach others how not to be mugged or how not to be a victim of bullies. Your freedom is a chance to do well for the rest of humanity to become a consultant to teachers and schools where you can impart your “good” skills to others.

Are you Smart?

What I mean are your goals specific do you really know what you want to achieve in your venture?  Yes, you want to achieve goods and services and the all important money, but what criteria of measurement are you using? Have you enough money to buy the basic new tools needed to establish your craft or can you borrow them second hand from a friend?  Are the goals you set achievable or attainable? Why not start on a small market stall to sell your goods instead of a vast shopping mall or start with your office in your home?

Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have? In today’s world, the internet is all encompassing, I can reach out to most parts of the globe to inform you of opportunities available to you, now that is real.  How long is your sentence of poverty? When do you want to be free with sufficient to live on or to be more sustainable, you are bound by time whether it be hours or days to years you have to change and move up to the next level of  the Hierarchy of  Needs. Be smart: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and work within a Time frame.How long is your sentence of poverty?

A Business Strategy

Much of the business strategy is actually the executive summary. You have chosen your product or service now you have to find your customers or leads. A description about yourself and your experience in that field, take my example of a security company.

In a start up Security Company founded by an ex-policeman or soldier, an experience in security company management located in Northampton. At its launch, the business will provide security guards, security audits, and referrals to equipment providers to commercial buildings, retail businesses, and, eventually special event venues and other clients. In the current political climate and with the increasing fears of terrorist activity the climate is opportune for a company.

The business will target large retail stores and building management companies first in order to establish a strong base of clients in Northampton.

The company will grow its employee base of security guards carefully, based on client contracts, and use both full-time and part-time guards. The business expects respectable sales of in the first year, almost doubling by the end of the third year. Gross margins will be similar to the industry average, based on guard labour costs vs. billings. After the initial investment and launch, a lean first year, and the establishment of an office and training space in the second year, the business will be poised to expand through its own financing after three years. After the business is proved replicable in additional towns, the business may be sold to provide an exit for the initial investor and founders.

Business Start Up Loans for E.E.C. and UK Citizens

The United Kingdom is a land of opportunity, with equality of opportunity for everyone. There are government loans available for business start-ups for British to EU citizens.

Launcher is a new business start-up finance programme for entrepreneurs. They offer new business owners aged 18-30 access to world-class teaching, a supportive community, regular mentoring and some of the easiest start-up funding available in the UK.

If you are a British citizen or legal resident of England and between 18 and 30, you can apply for this business finance. This programme is also open to EU citizens who have plans to move to the UK and start a business in England.

Which small business loan is right for you? | Startups

Getting a business loan for a small start-up can seem daunting, but with so many options available. Access to credit facilities, such as an overdraft or small business loan, are popular reasons for opening a bank account.

Overdrafts tend to be more flexible and do not carry the same onerous requirements of security of a loan. However, they have to be rearranged on a regular basis, probably every six to twelve months, and can be called in at any time. Overdrafts are more suited for day-to-day expenses incurred through running the business. It is not suitable for capital expenditure or to cover start-up costs for any length of time.

There are even business start-up loans for people with bad credit.

Young Black Entrepreneur - James "Yahdie Conscious" Black

Business plans and marketing strategy

Free business planning and marketing tips, samples, examples and tools - how to write a business plan, techniques for writing a marketing strategy, strategic business plans and sales plans. An off the shelf plan can be purchased in Business in a Box where a fully comprehensive tools are available, for the more sophisticated amongst us. 

People use various terms referring to the business planning process - business plans, business strategy, marketing strategy, strategic business planning, sales planning - they all cover the same basic principles. When faced with business planning or strategy development task it's important to clarify exactly what is required: clarify what needs to be done rather than assume the aim from the description given to it,  terms are confused and mean different things to different people. You'll see from the definitions below how flexible these business planning terms are.

The sole trader or entrepreneur or consultant may avail him or herself with an off the shelf model and provide various tweaks to suit. 

Graffiti or Doodle to Business Logo

 A simple squiggle could be the start of something big; from the first mark other ideas emerge.

It could a trade mark or the design of a new product, a new way of packaging, a service or even a movement of people.

What does the diagram above say to you? To me it demonstrates productivity in the natural environment with the planting of trees. With effort and practice we can change graphic symbols into meaningful representation. A simple doodle could say so much and give you more ideas for developing your ideas.

Go on give it a try:-

Art as an endeavour to increase thinking skills towards entrepreneurship and employability

Drawing is the most basic thing you can ever imagine, used only as a vehicle to convey ones thoughts. I found that many offenders, particularly the socially excluded, fail to act on information, advice or guidance delivered in traditional ‘face-to-face’ practice. But show them a basic cartoon or graphic instructions the idea touches something within. We should seek different approaches to engaging and motivating offenders and ultimately to helping to improve entrepreneurial or employability skills. Training people to be creative thinkers as documented in their doodles, captions, cartoon drawings can be developed into more formal  outline of their skills for cv’s and ultimately the development of  business plans.

You don't have to be a skilled drawer to draw a storyboard. The most important function of the storyboard is to show you how to plan and to externalise your steps to success. It could start with a doodle and follow up with a caption. With practice we would improve this but as a start up strategy, you cannot beat story-boarding. The approach is to enhance literacy skills and numeracy skills and ideas. An innovative training project would engage and motivates potential learners, extends their range of social skills and increase their entrepreneurship and employability skills. 

A social environment provides an opportunity to identify customers, products and services and how to reach them. We could use the inner creative artistic skills to develop and to programme doodling into our daily activities and expand plans and ideas targeting offenders of low self esteem; addictions, drug/alcohol misuse and young people at risk. We should encourage their outpourings on paper for this very cathartic experience is the start of their creativity. It is no wonder the young go through the graffiti period of “tagging” as they try to make an identifiable trade mark.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll know which details need to be included in the drawing and which doesn't, the final step is to have fun! The drawing is just a tool for thinking the most basic skills that we all have.

What drawing does 

a)      To initiate self-expression from the participants and

b)      Explore the world of imagery on paper and discuss its impact with the individual.

c)      Mentoring through building positive relationships based on value, integrity and mutual respect.

d)     These relationships provide a safe environment to change individuals and the confidence to take responsibility for their lives.

The strategy used is to provide simple drawing resources followed by discussion and if needed mentoring on project development ideas. A4 drawing books that could act as a journal would be a bonus; furthermore I would supply secondary images of other artists and photo source material from magazines and newspapers, as collages. The curriculum outline for the training process of art, design and life skills towards entrepreneur is constantly being developed.

With ongoing review towards reflective thinking this is fundamental to the development process.

1. The project themes looked at and studied, relate to a business problem
2. How the practice/studies are developing and what do they look like?
3. Professional and cultural contexts that inform their practice/studies
4. Their ability to extend their learning and understanding.

Doodling services and products: from the cycle of a chicken to dinner plate and the process in between from slaughtering to environmental packaging. We have frequent exhibitions of art work to see the development, informed by basic research. Where to establish a niche market the importance of cultural background is considered what do people need. This initial ‘fun’ learning with doodles is generalized into business plan from a sophisticated check list of items. In most programmers this will involve keeping a journal that will act as forms of documenting and recording experiences towards a project.

There are the development of skills specific to the project, such as researching, communication, information technology, numeracy & learning to learn; these are facilitated  with the assistance of a trainer.

I have found the results from my project as described as ‘extremely positive’. Overall, it has been found that: Learners have increased motivation and sustained participation. Such a project builds on entrepreneurial and employability skills. Offenders have greater awareness of their skills and talents and of learning new skills to increase their confidence with plenty to show for it. They can see their thoughts more clearly. The exhibiting of such drawings and talking about them forms the embryonic step towards the business plan executive summary and power point presentation.

Self employed Security Guard A Brain Storm

 The security consultant uses every available resource available. Time is the ultimate resource of the individual, the ability to utilise time and the dimensions of paid time is a skill that needs to be studied, the organic flow of time in a Macro and micro environment has to be analysed and utilised.

Therefore the lone worker has greater obstacles to overcome as he wades through each variable of the organic whole to fulfil his ultimate purpose. I am surprised as to how fluid culture has become, providing everyone with an opportunity to exploit their own inner potential, developed out of simply being them self. The self needs to analyse its own behaviour.  Conformity to the wishes of others is an acquired skill in the personal development for both parties.

Market Plan

Secondary research means using published information such as industry profiles, trade journals, newspapers, magazines, census data, and demographic profiles. This type of information is available in public libraries, industry associations, chambers of commerce, from vendors who sell to your industry, and from government agencies.

Types of Security Contracts

One type of contract is the patrol or stationary type of guard. These individuals are hired to monitor one specific area during a set period. They are not permitted to leave the area except to make their rounds which are usually done on a set schedule.

Some contracts also involve wearing a uniform. For contract guards, the uniform is usually associated with the agency with whom they work. On the other hand, many guards are hired for plain clothes work, especially in the retail area. They dress in ordinary clothes and fit into the rest of the crowd while they watch for suspicious behavior.

Where to Find Security Guard Contracts

If you’re looking for security contracts, the best place to check is a local agency. Many agencies specialize in working with security guards. These agencies provide a number of benefits for businesses.

For one, the agency handles all of the hard work. For example, every contract should include a thorough background check of the guard. No one wants to hire a convicted criminal to manage their company’s security. Background checks can sometimes also reveal people who should not be allowed to carry a firearm or who should not be allowed to work in certain locations. These checks can be expensive and time-consuming for businesses but since the agency conducts these as part of the hiring process the company doesn’t have to.
An additional benefit is the cost of hiring the person. Although the business must buy a fee to the agency on top of the wages, they do not have to pay for benefits or handle the taxes for that employee. Plus, they are free to end the security guard contract at any time or to replace the individual with someone else at a moment’s notice if they are doing a poor job.

 Strategy 

Devise  a draft site manual for the company  (see Business plan)

w  Are there any building, transport or other hazards very close to the site?

railway stations or railway lines

bus or coach stations

main roads

public car parks

petrol stations

Building sites with frequent works traffic

Gas works

Pylons

w  Are there any natural hazards very close to the site?

Natural waterways such as canal, rivers, lakes

Vegetation such as woodland, farmland, parkland

w  What are the immediate surroundings or perimeters to the building?

Walls, fences or gates

Natural barriers such as a canal, river, lake

Dark corners, overhangs, areas providing cover

w  Are the surroundings secure?

Regular security patrols

Effective lighting

Gates secured and access controlled

Separate access for staff and visitors/users

Specific times for access

w  Is pollution a problem?

dust or gaseous pollutants from traffic or building works

w  How safe is the building from fire and flood?

are there hazards in the vicinity either natural as in rivers or man-made as in petrol stations or public houses

w  Security Guards are becoming obsolete as they are replaced by cameras all over.

w  Spending money on training has become money thrown away.

w  As the traditional security guard duties change into reception duties,

w  Are you ready for multi-faceted responsibilities?

w  To provide general security observations for site and carry out regular building patrols
To observe the CCTV monitors that cover all site reduces the number of guards

w  To complete daily reporting and administration documentation
To monitor reception by taking receipt of external telephone calls
To work in a safe manner on all the above activities in line with the Company’s Health & safety policy

w  Sound knowledge of current security legislation
Excellent communication skills
Competent level of computer skills

w   All for a minimum wage, or self employed if you are fortunate.

Time for Self Employment

The Modern Man Barber Shop

THE BLACK BARBER SHOP

Business Idea Section- Mobile Hairdresser

Become a mobile hairdresser it has numerous benefits. People will always need a hairdresser, regardless of the economic climate; therefore, mobile hairdressers will never be out of work. As a mobile hairdresser you won’t be just cutting your customer’s hair, you will also be offering them other services too.

 As your own boss you get to work the hours that you want, when you want.  It may also find that your clients will require a service in the evenings, which will give you time during the day to carry out other tasks and also work on marketing and promoting your business.

Caring for your customers

We have all had experiences of terrible customer care – or ‘Customers? I don’t care!’ as some shops seem to be saying. When we receive bad service from a company we don’t want to continue to deal with them, no matter how good their product might be.

How to retain your customers

Bearing in mind that your clients are your most important asset, you must get into the habit of doing everything within your power to retain their business. You need to keep a database so you can review it regularly and see who is currently booking appointments and who has fallen by the wayside.

 Making your clients feel special

The first thing to remember as a mobile hairdresser is that each and every one of your clients needs to be made to feel special. The time they have booked with you is their time, and their time alone. Try to limit the number of phone calls you take while you are with one client – if necessary, turn your phone off until you leave. If you absolutely have to answer the phone, apologise and keep the call short and to the point.

Try the following tips:

• Send a reminder card after a few weeks – your client may well have only lost your number

• Send another reminder card if you haven’t heard anything for another month

• Send out your newsletter to lapsed clients as well as current ones

• Run a promotion at least four times a year and include your lapsed clients in your mail-shots

• Never stop sending them information – 

How to Write a Business Start-up Plan for Barber shop

                                                            

The barbershop has a history in Europe to the mid-1800s. Initially a gentlemen’s establishment, the barber shop served as a men’s hair maintenance location. and discussion. Even with today’s introduction of electric shavers and trimmers, the barbershop has maintained its presence.

   

Step 1  

Create a business description for your barber shop’a  business plan. Provide the name and location of your barber shop, and follow this information with the names and contact information of each of the shop’s owners.

Complete a two- to three-page executive summary for your business plan. Use the executive summary to introduce your business and the information within the plan. Provide a brief overview of the business’ owners, target market and competition. Highlight some important aspects of your business. Include the amount of your loan request, if you are seeking financing.  

Step 2

Identify the location of your barber shop and list whether you will own, rent or lease the location. Discuss the location’s overhead costs and requirements, such as the costs of utilities, taxes and permits. Include a list of equipment and inventory that you will need for the shop, such as cutting chairs, trimmers and mirrors, and include the costs for each.

Step 3

Determine the number of staff members that your barbershop will require for efficient operations. Identify if those staff members will be employees or contractors and ascertain if these members will work full or part time hours.

Step 4

Develop a marketing plan for your barbershop business. Identify the products and services that your barbershop will provide, including the haircuts, specialty services and supporting hair products. Identify the target market of your business and explain the methods that your barbershop will use to attract and retain its clientele.

Step 5

Complete the financial portion of your barbershop business plan. Include a personal financial statement, balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. Complete a personal financial statement for each owner of the barbershop.

Step 6

End your business plan with any supporting documents that you have to verify the information within the plan. Create an appendix

PayPal Here Tutorial Video

 Entrepreneurial Mindset

Maslow took an idea and created his now famous hierarchy of needs. The physiological needs, the needs for safety and security, the needs for love and belonging, the needs for esteem, and the need to actualize the self, in that order.

The safety and security needs.   When the physiological needs are largely taken care of, this second layer of needs comes into play.  You will become increasingly interested in finding safe circumstances, stability, and protection.  You might develop a need for structure, for order, some limits. I am not going into all his identified needs but I will state the need to be safe, manifests itself  in the form of our urges to have a home in a safe neighbourhood, a business providing steady income and a nest egg, a good retirement plan and a bit of insurance, and so on.

I would go further and say entrepreneurial spirit is a safer option than being an employee. Admittedly you will have to work harder but the rewards are greater in every respect, leading you to greater needs. Develop an Entrepreneur mindset

Entrepreneurs are in charge of the future success and failures. They will learn how to set their own priorities. As an entrepreneur you, this is your business. Education becomes an essential life-long necessity. As a business owner you will need your own ‘entrepreneurial curriculum’ so you can make your own decisions.

See the bigger picture of your role in Europe, because that is where you are, as people struggle to reach here daily. As an entrepreneur you need to think, see both the opportunities and traps that lie ahead.

Aim for progress not security. Be willing and ready to embrace change. And do not try to please everybody. Niche marketing is the key to success these days, so creating a recognisable personal brand that makes you unique in your market place will ensure you stand out from the crowd.

The executive summary is the all important aspect of your business plan.

 

One of your first tasks is to find investors and lenders with the capital to invest in your dream, you have to pitch it to them—with a business plan.

There are definite pros and cons to hiring a professional business plan writer. A professional could help you set, plan for and keep track of your goals. Start a draft no matter how basic and keep updating it as you go. Collect the information you need for each small step.

Do your research

 It is not enough to be enthusiastic about your business idea. Arming yourself with information is your best defence. Ask yourself what you’re really selling. Investors need to know that you understand whom you’re marketing to and, more importantly, why they’ll choose your product over someone else;

Who is your customer?

What is your customer’s need/problem?

What is your solution for this need/problem?

Why will yours beat other solutions in the market?

Your job is to convey the passion you feel for your product or idea, explain why it’s a good investment, and then back up your explanation with solid research use things like your cover letter and to speak clearly, directly about your business, where you want to take it and why it will be successful. 

For any assistance call: 07718233173

How to start a Small Business with no Money and Bad Credit?

The Business Plan

How to Start a Business with No Money

FB Business in a Box Review - Don't buy FB Business in a Box! Watch this...

A Dragon’s Den.

Get full advice and do your projections if you are going for the big times.

“A Cambridge engineer behind a start-up that attracted backing of nearly £100,000 in five days has urged fellow entrepreneurs not to “humiliate” themselves on the BBC programme.” 

In my opinion you should research your product or service and register it with a solicitor before going public.

For the more savy amongst us please be aware that that this process of business starts up in the UK is open to all EU citizens. We are moving into a new era it is actually “Do or Die”. So follow the “Business Planning Process” and make your move.

THE ULTIMATE BUNDLE TO GET YOUR BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND

APPLY FOR A LOAN

BUSINESS START-UP FINANCE

How it works…

Launcher is a unique new business startup finance programme for entrepreneurs. We offer new business owners aged 18-30 access to world-class teaching, a supportive community, regular mentoring and some of the easiest startup funding available in the UK.

School For Startups’ Launcher programme combines government-backed startup business finance from the Start-Up Loans Company, with a School For Startups one-day bootcamp, online community and mentoring at no cost.

If you are a British citizen or legal resident of England and between 18 and 30, you can apply for this business finance.

This programme is also open to EU citizens who have plans to move to the UK and start a business in England. 

Clive R. R. Anderson Start up Business Blog : A Plan

Clive R. R. Anderson Start up Business Blog : A Plan: The most important thing in a business start-up is a plan. Some of us are very gifted and we can keep everything in our head. We know everyt...

A Plan

The most important thing in a business start-up is a plan. Some of us are very gifted and we can keep everything in our head. We know everything about our business and it is a secret, so we keep it tight.  Alternatively we realise how complicated the whole process could be and we write a business plan on the back of an envelope. We even approach a professional and ask for advice which we scrawl this advice on a bit of paper.

Better still many of us have already drafted one or many business plans and keep it in a bottom draw away from prying eyes, including our own eyes. Now is the time to get it out the drawer and dust off our business plan if you have one, or scrawl the basics for such a plan.

Clive R. R. Anderson Start Up Business Blog.

When Stokely Carmichael came to speak to us in the 70’s in Euston, there was one thing that he emphasised and I took away with me, he said it over and over. START A BUSINESS, simple and straight forward. Did I heed his advice.

Now September 2013, It is reported, David Cameron tells Levi Roots, he will give him money for business start-ups. So what are we waiting for: