All small business owners and new entrepreneurs set out to strike it rich and live the American dream.  Then, reality sets in and we see there is a lot more to making a business work than having a good idea.  It takes hard work, determination, self-control and passion to make it all come together. I have chased down many ventures that I have been luke warm about over the years.  For example, I looked into a couple of Multi-Level Marketing ventures and tested the waters.  None of them took off for me because I never had the passion to be...

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Do you remember as a child, all you had to do to find a fortune was spot the "X" on the treasure map?  In our lives it is still very easy to discover treasure.  At least, we can find the things we truly hold valuable in our own lives.  The question is, will you like what you find? The Bible offers some great advice where to look for that "X."  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21.  There are so many thing that we hold at great values in our lives.  There are things...

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One day as I was people watching, I had an a-ha moment.  Each person walking by had his or her very own life.  Each had unique gifts.  Their problems were weighing on their mind.  Many even had a much different look.  We all are different and have our own story. Each of us, if followed by a camera crew, would have a great television show.  We would be able to learn from each other’s successes and most importantly from each mistake.  If we placed our value into getting to know each other, we would strike oil with each new relationship. I recently...

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I am so impressed with the innovators of this world.  People have taken the frown of a down economy and turned it upside down with some fantastic ideas.  Their ideas are saving bundles of money and helping small time or new writers hang with the big boys.  One such idea is a blog tour. As an author, I have learned that starting out is tough.  When no one knows who you are, you don't sell books.  On top of that, I can tell everyone how great of a writer I am, but why should they believe me?  In fact if I...

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Before we even start, let me be clear about this one thing: the earthquake in Haiti and the resulting devastation was a terrible, terrible thing. We Americans, individually and collectively, should do what we can to help the people of Haiti recover from this disaster. I am not in the Rush Limbaugh, "Let 'em take care of themselves" camp. Having said that, this is a business blog, not a humanitarian aid blog or a general current events blog. So, it is appropriate that we take a look at the long term impact that this disaster may have on business, divorced from...

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