There are certain items that every entrepreneur cannot do without. And since it’s “that time of year”, I’d like to share with you 12 “essentials” for the small business owner.  Sure, some of them may fall more in the “want” category than the “need” one… but they’re all perfect for anyone who is working from a small office (or a dining room table!)  

I’ve incorporated links for easy gifting for you, a friend, a loved one or a colleague. Happy shopping!

NAVIGATION NECESSITIES

1.  GPS Device

2.  Travel Kit

CRUCIAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES

3.  Blackberry

4.  Blackberry Headset

5.  Flip Ultra HD

6.  All-in-One Printer 

�

PERFECT MONDAY MORNING PICK-ME UP

7.  Coffee Maker

8.  Coffee Gift Basket

STANDARD SUPPLIES

9.  Paper 

AWESOME OFFICE ORGANIZATION ITEMS

10.  Filing drawer

11.  White board 

and, of course…

YOUR FINAL 2010 MUST-HAVE…

12.  JADCC’s Marketing Made Easy for Small Businesses Program!

Happy Shopping!

We have approximately five weeks until the end of 2009.  For many entrepreneurs, that’s a blessing… and it’s also a concern.  After all, if the year wasn’t good to them fiscally, who’s to say that 2010 will be any better?

Well, I’m saying right now that the answer to that is YOU.  You will be the one to control how you do in 2010, not the government, not the economy, not the dollar.  You.

It’s a pretty intense thought, isn’t it?  And it requires that you start planning how you’ll tackle 2010… ASAP.

To help you get the ball rolling, I’ve developed a series of questions that you should begin to consider.  Certainly, there are others as well, but these four will get you on the right path.

1.  What kind of marketing will you invest in during 2010?  How will it differ from the marketing you did in 2009 and before?  What types of marketing do you think your best competitors are doing?  How can you do the same… or better?

2.  What training will you (and your employees, if applicable) need in 2010?  From what organization will you obtain the training? 

3.  What would you like to realistically make in terms of income in 2010?  How will you track this goal?  What will you have to spend in order to make that amount?  What will need to be altered in terms of your current work processes?

4.  What kind of publicity will you seek in 2010?  Will you publicly speak to groups?  Will you help out more in the community to increase your visibility?  Will you offer some kind of value-added extras (e.g., eNewsletters, blogs)?

From now until the end of the year, consider these questions.  If you have employees who are vested in your business (and shouldn’t all your employees be vested?), ask them what they think the answers are.  Remember that you’re not a boat adrift on the sea without any hopes.  You can sail to more prosperous shores.

On Sunday, it will be November 1st.  That means the end of the year is closing in.  So how will you spend those final two months making sure your business is ready when 2010 makes its appearance?

I’ve spoken with a lot of entrepreneurs who have basically told me (implicitly or explicitly) that they are planning for a slow November and December, so they expect to be in a kind of hibernation mode.  But when January 1st rolls around, they assure me that they’ll be ready to go.

With all due respect, this type of laid-back, “nothing I can do about it” attitude isn’t going to fly in today’s competitive marketplace. 

My suggestion?  That you spend your final weeks of 2009 doing aggressive planning and preparing.  And the best way to do that is to start right away.  Don’t wait.  After all, you don’t really have two whole months, do you? 

If you were to break down the days you would realistically work in November and December, you’d discover that there are far fewer than you might assume at first glance.  Check it out:

November + December = 61 days to plan for 2010

Minus number of 2-day weekends (8 weekends, 16 days total) = 45 days to plan

Minus holidays - Thanksgiving, day-after-Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas Eve (4) = 41 days to plan

Minus unexpected days off (2) = 39 days to plan

So you really don’t have 61 days to get ready for 2010.  You have 39.  And that changes things, doesn’t it?  If you want to work with a professional to gear up for the new year (e.g., an accountant, business coach, banker), you’d better get on their calendars lickity split.  After all, they’re working within the same 39-day time constraint that you are.

So… what will you do with your next two months?  Will they be a time you look back upon with pride or with regret?

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I’m starting a new series called “Ask Julie!”  If you have a question regarding business coaching, entrepreneurship or marketing, please write it in the comments section.  I’ll answer questions one at a time in later posts!

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Two years ago, I sent out a press release to traditional media outlets.  It was well-written and pointed.  It was clever and creative.  So I distributed it widely and waited.

And waited.

And waited. 

In the end, I received very little in return for my efforts.  It quickly dawned on me that I needed to change the way I advertised my message.  Today, I consistently use the Internet as my main public relations tool and I regularly see incredible results.  (I’ve been able to work with some amazing individuals, too!)

Though mine is just one person’s experience, I believe it indicates what many of us know to be true — traditional marketing methods have a place, but are usually not as effective as online mediums.  In an age of article submission directories, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, affiliate marketing and blogs, a press release in a printed newspaper seems almost quaint.

If you’re still clinging to traditional marketing methods to get the word out about your business or boost sales, it’s time to make a change.  To help you get started on a profitable path, I’m offering anyone from America or Canada a free (yes, you heard me correctly — FREE!) 30-minute consultation via telephone.  Just leave a comment on this blog and I’ll get back to you via email to set up your appointment.

I truly feel that most businesses don’t even scratch the surface when it comes to online opportunities.  In fact, I’ve had plenty of entrepreneurs and executives tell me that point-blank.  They know they aren’t maximizing their public relations dollars with a solid strategy, but they just aren’t sure where to begin. 

Make sure you aren’t left behind.  Leave a comment right now and we’ll set up our FREE 30-minute discussion today!

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