Negativity Will Ruin Your Business (If You Let It)!

“The five essential entrepreneurial skills for success: Concentration, Discrimination, Organization, Innovation and Communication.” - Harold S. Geneen

When I read this quote about success, I immediately thought to myself if I have achieved each of these areas. After careful recollection of my past experiences, including my failures (and I’ve had many), I concluded that I’m well on my way to achieving the success I want. Years ago at a training I attended, I once heard one of my mentors who is the 2nd highest paid associate in LegalShield say, “If you want to make more money than me, then go out and get more “NO’s” than me!” At the time, I thought he was being pretty cynical and snide. It was very early in my years with the company and for all the time I’ve been a business person, I never heard a statement like that. But it changed my perception, outlook, and business sense from that point on!

This is where I began to think differently about my goals and how I was going to achieve them. I knew I needed to talk to more prospects without a care if they said no to me. My job wasn’t to “sell” to everyone but to “expose” them to my service and how it can help their families and companies. I had to work through the no’s to get to the “yesses”. Every time someone gave me a “no” I knew I was that much closer to that “yes”.  I had to completely concentrate (focus) on the tasks at hand and be discriminate with the choices I made to complete them. I’ve always been pretty organized, but needed to do a better job at it.  Without “reinventing the wheel”, using technology and some basic common sense, I’ve become innovative in my own right by how I present my business and myself to my prospects. I also worked to improve my personal methods of effective communication to my teams as well as my business prospects.

Personal development is a great tool to improve yourself and all 5 of these attributes helped me shape the way I live my life. I’ve developed a kind of “bullet-proof mentality” over the years and I use it to my advantage. No potential client or recruit can “ruffle my feathers” because they don’t see things the way I do. And it definitely doesn’t faze me at all when people tell me they’re not interested in what I have to share with them. If you let negativity affect the way you operate, you’ll never achieve the success to carry on with reaching your goals. Always remember that YOU are the CEO and President of YOUR business. Focus on the positive aspects of your business and everything else will take care of itself.

G. L. Giddings 
CEO/President/Executive Director
GLG and Associates LLP
The POWER Group Organization Team
Office: (502) 209-TEAM {8326}
http://ibourl.net/glg 


P.S. - Save yourself a lot of money and read my article about the Tax Advantages of Owning a Home-Based Business: http://ibourl.net/taxadv (PDF)

Here’s Why Uncle Sam Wants You To Start A Business!

(Reprinted from article written by Sharon Lechter, CPA)

A lot has been said about the many tax advantages of starting your own business. Let’s start with the tax incentives. It’s no secret to anyone that the tax laws are written to promote business ownership. So what do what the rich do. Start your own business and take advantage of the favorable tax advantages that come with owning a business.

Build First, Pay Taxes Last

The difference between the employees and the business owner is that the employee pays taxes FIRST on what they earn and then get to live on whatever is left over. The business owner spends their earnings to build their business FIRST and then pays taxes on what is left. The business owner will always pay less tax than the employee simply because they can reduce the income amount they have to pay tax on. This enable the business owner to grow their business faster and for the business to generate investment dollars quicker.

That is also why there is such an advantage in starting a direct selling business versus a traditional business from scratch. You can immediately begin earning, instead of spending, the time and money to set up the back office administration, product development, advertising, and other functions that are often necessary when you begin a new business.

Tax Advantages of a Home-Based Business

To take advantage of these deductions, the tax code states that these expenses need to be only “ordinary and necessary” and that your business needs to be one in which you are endeavoring to make a profit. Here are some of the other business deductions you may be able to take advantage of:

·         Home office expenses (repair, maintenance, property taxes)

·         Business equipment (computers, cell phones)

·         Office supplies

·         Internet and telephone services

·         Software and subscriptions

·         Mileage and other auto expenses

·         Travel, meals, and entertainment

Proper Documentation a Must

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these deductions. As long as your expenses follow the tax code guidelines and you retain proper documentation to back-up the expenses, you will be protected in the rare case of an audit.

G. L. Giddings, Director

GLG and Associates, LLP

The POWER Group Organization Team

http://ibourl.com/17hk 

Office: (502) 209-TEAM {8326}

What Are You Doing To GROW Your Social Networks?

By G. L. Giddings

If you are online for any considerable amount of time, whether it be a laptop, smartphone, or PC, chances are that you are involved in some sort of SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK. There are so many, I can't keep track of them: Twitter, Facebook, MeetUp, LinkedIn, and many others. And as much as I love to meet people on these great mediums, I sometimes get discouraged because as a small business owner, I rely on these networks to make meaningful connections that can help me online.

About a week ago, I was introduced to a network called IBOSocial. IBO stands for "Independent Business Owners" and once I registered for the free account, I began to start meeting people right away, even before I had my profile all set up and running. IBOSocial has a host of great marketing tools that you can use like a URL shortener, you can add videos, post press releases, and many other things that will take me all day to share.

It allows you to build a network of fresh leads, contacts, and great friendships that I am finding very helpful. It's definitely fast-paced and a little knowledge in "copying and pasting" will definitely go a long way as I can't keep up with the various requests I receive from the network. This is great for me because I wanted to basically meet new individuals who may be interested in my particular services. If you are looking for a way to gain additional connections for your business opportunities, small business, or just want to meet some really great individuals, then consider joining and getting a free account. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain! Have FUN with your new IBO Social Network and I will soon see you on "The Wall"!  

Get your IBO Social Network FREE account today by clicking the TOP banner on the RIGHT of this page!

G. L. Giddings is the owner of GLG and Associates, LLP and "Our Small Biz World Blog" in Southern Indiana.

AS SEEN ON NATIONAL TV!

This is going to be insane -- in a good way -- but only for those who are working to build their LegalShield business!

HELP WANTED!: Due to predicted flood of business, we are looking for motivated individuals to help us service future clients AND get the word out to all individuals and small businesses who will be interested in LegalShield after seeing TV commercials set to air nationally within the next few weeks.
 
Work from HOME and position yourself to get paid DAILY! Earn upfront income as well as long-term renewal income for life. Small business and employee group benefit plans are available.

List of channels and shows LegalShield is currently airing on in San Diego, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Charlotte, NC, and Denver, CO: WAXN 64 Eyewitness News at 10; WBTV3 Morning News; WBTV Late News and during Dave Letterman; WCCB 18 News Rising; "Everybody Loves Raymond", News Edge & 10pm News and "How I Met Your Mother", WCNC 36 Early News during the Today Show & Olympics, late news, Jay Leno Show, Jimmy Fallon. WSOC 9 Late News, "Nightline", Jimmy Kimmel, AEN, APL, History Channel ("Pawn Stars" & "American Pickers"), Life Channel, TLC, Bravo, Comedy Channel, Golf Channel, Family Channel...(and a list similar to this for the next 9 weeks!)

Who do you know in these areas that is looking to earn additional income, needs to get their Wills updated, or may be looking for a career change? Contact me ASAP to learn more!

Even if YOU are curious to learn more about our service OR are interested in earning an extra $500 a month or more, call or email me and I will answer all of your questions!! 

"Opportunities don't go away; they just pass you by!"

G. L. Giddings, Director
GLG and Associates, LLP
The POWER Group Organization Team

LegalShield Independent Associates
Business: (502) 209 TEAM {8326}
garner@legalshield.com
http://legalshieldvideo.com 

"You can have everything you want if you help enough people get what they want!" Zig Zieglar

10 Tax Deductions for Home Based Businesses

Posted by Ivan Widjaya

One of the greatest advantages to working for yourself through a home-based business is the many tax deductions that can be claimed against your federal tax obligations. Valuable information concerning the rules that apply to each of the following categories can be found on the IRS website. At the outset of the business, have a system for saving receipts and maintaining good documentation concerning every deduction. Some small businesses are audited every year, and the business owners with good records emerge from the audit easily while others end up paying additional taxes because expenses could not be proven. Many of the following categories will apply to most home-based businesses.

1. Home Office Space – When the home office is a separate space that is used exclusively for the business operation, that percentage of the total square footage of the home can be deducted as office space. Specific calculations apply and can be found on the IRS website. For certain types of businesses, the licenses to operate in the home must be acquired prior to claiming the home as a place of business. Check local and state regulations prior to the first day of operation to avoid disqualified deductions.

2. Services and Utilities – A phone line that is installed in the business office and used exclusively for business calls is deductible. Installation charges and monthly service charges can be claimed as deductions. All long distance charges can also be deducted. Cell phone accounts can be deducted as a percentage of the actual business usage. If the cell phone is used exclusively for business, the entire expense, including the cost of the phone, can be deducted. Utility expense to heat the office and the electricity to light the office can be deducted according to the percentage of the home’s square footage used for business.

To read the entire article, click here: http://www.noobpreneur.com/2011/02/05/10-tax-deductions-for-home-based-businesses/

What Cloud Computing Really Means

The next big trend sounds nebulous,                                               

but it's not so fuzzy when you view the value
proposition from the perspective of IT professionals      

By Eric Knorr, Galen Gruman | InfoWorld


Cloud computing is all the rage. "It's become the phrase du jour," says Gartner senior analyst Ben Pring, echoing many of his peers. The problem is that (as with Web 2.0) everyone seems to have a different definition.

As a metaphor for the Internet, "the cloud" is a familiar cliché, but when combined with "computing," the meaning gets bigger and fuzzier. Some analysts and vendors define cloud computing narrowly as an updated version of utility computing: basically virtual servers available over the Internet. Others go very broad, arguing anything you consume outside the firewall is "in the cloud," including conventional outsourcing.

Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities.

To read the entire article, click here: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7907847164679305709

Zeus Variant Can Defeat Two-Factor Authentication

By Tracy Kitten, December 2, 2011

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning about a new Zeus malware attack targeting commercial bank accounts, ultimately leading to incidents of corporate account takeover. The Zeus variant used: a malware called Gameover, which the FBI says is able to defeat several forms of dual-factor authentication.

To protect themselves, the FBI suggests consumers and businesses pay attention to suspicious e-mails. In the case of the Gameover attacks, e-mails purporting to come from NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association contained malicious links. NACHA does not traditionally send e-mails directly to businesses or consumers. Receipt of a direct e-mail from an organization such as NACHA should raise a red flag.

But according to the FBI's Denver Cyber Squad, it's not just phishy emails and dual-factor get-arounds that have made the Gameover attacks forces to be reckoned with. As it turns out, the fraudsters behind this scheme combined a number of tactics, including the use of money mules and denial of service attacks, to con businesses and banks out of funds.

To read the entire article, click here: http://ffiec.bankinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=4295&rf=2011-12-02-eb&elq=5209da99abcc4e7b8fa7af3303c5ca23&elqCampaignId=904