5 Ways to Boost Your Willpower

Think of the last time you struggled to focuson a boring or difficult task. Your wandering attention probably felt like it was outside your control, as if you suddenly lost the ability to focus and didn't know how to regain it. We all feel that way sometimes.

Even in those moments, when you feel like you're fighting against your own instincts, you can stop procrastinating and get focused. You just need to recharge your willpower.

"Willpower gives you the energy and endurance to deal with challenges, the ability to persevere in the face of setbacks, and the strength to tolerate conflict or stress that might otherwise make us run away from goals or projects we care about," says Kelly McGonigal, a Stanford psychologist and author of The Willpower Instinct (Avery, 2011).

Your willpower works like a muscle -- it needs to be trained, developed, and maintained. "A lot of people will tell me they have no willpower," McGonigal says. "But nothing I've come across suggests a willpower gene."

Anyone can learn to improve their willpower, so here are five tips to get you started:

1. Remember your goals-

 If your willpower feels drained, think of the task at hand as a necessary stepping stone to help you achieve your goals. "Willpower is very easily depleted if its disconnected from your values and goals," McGonigal says.

For example, if you dislike invoicing, then viewing it as an isolated task will make it hard to muster the energy to do it. If you recast it as one of the many ways you build a thriving business, then the passion you feel for your business will help motivate you to focus on -- and even enjoy -- the invoicing.

2. Practice coping with stress-

 When you're working toward a goal, you are bound to hit tough times. To reach ambitious goals, you need to persist in stressful conditions, even when anxiety, fear, or even boredom threaten to sap your willpower.

Mindfulness helps you cope with stress and strengthen willpower. Try mindfulness meditation, or better yet, do hot yoga to learn to stay with discomfort and find some serenity within it. "It's almost like a willpower workout," McGonigal says.

3. Forgive your mistakes-

You are bound to make mistakes, but your willpower will be stronger if you take those errors in stride. "Forgiving yourself for your mistakes increases motivation and engagement with goals," McGonigal says.

Treat your own failure with the kindness you'd offer a friend, but note the ways that you can do a better job next time. "That's very different than the usual self-criticism or ego-boosting," McGonigal says. It allows you to bounce back and grow at the same time.

4. Connect with colleagues-

Willpower naturally rises when we feel recognized and appreciated for our work. "We think of willpower as being so tough and individual, but the more connected people feel, the more willpower they have," McGonigal says.

When you feel unmotivated or distracted, go talk to a co-worker or invite your colleagues to lunch. The simple pleasure of working with people you care about toward a common goal is a surprisingly effective way to restore your willpower.

5. Trust that it will get easier-

 We often struggle to stay engaged during difficult tasks because we imagine, sometimes unconsciously, that they will continue to be just as hard in the future. We feel defeated or hopeless and give up.

To combat that feeling, remember that your skill improves with practice. "Appreciate that a task is difficult but don't tell yourself the story that it's always going to be difficult," McGonigal says. Most likely, the task will be a little bit easier every time you try it.

WHY ENTREPRENEURS FAIL..?

2014 – 15 a new business year for all entrepreneurs, so before planning for the next year let’s have a small reviewabout why most of the budding and growing entrepreneurs fail in their business. This article is just to reshape our views and vision about the business that we run today and the businesses that we are going to  start in future.

We can see, most of the billionaires were started their business from a scratch and now they are enjoying the value of their brand and they are growing and growing, at the same time there are entrepreneurs who are burning out because of loss and frustration in the business.

So why entrepreneurs fail even though they invest their time and effort in their business..? 

1. Survival Driven- (Trying to make money before creating value):- This is one of the most difference between successful and failed entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs always give importance on creating value than making immediate profit.

Wealth is a result of consistently providing solutions to the problems of humanity. If you doubt me, go ask Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg and the likes. These are people who simply followed their passion (purpose driven) rather than following money (survival driven) and yet made a great fortune. (from Mr. Philip)

2. Lack of Business IQ (No proper planning and preparation):- The quest for making a business sometimes results in learning zero knowledge about the industry and the business. To grow a business the businessmen should learn day by day about the changing trends in the industry, people and the style.

I would tell an example: In a motivational training class, a man asked to the speaker “My industry is filled with bargaining customers and I could make only very minimum profit. So how can I make a better business..? The speaker told him you made a better profit in the beginning of your business but you were blind in analyzing the changes in the industry, you could have started a diversification when you felt the changes in the industry.” (Thanks to one of my clients).

This is sometimes happening, getting knowledge will help you to take right decision at right time. 

3. Lack of focus (Wandering here and there): - This is the another difference, successful business people would have a focus and they invest their time and effort to nurture that special area. Take an example of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg  etc all those people have the focus.

“genius is the ability to focus on one particular thing for a long time without losing concentration.”

So when you start or run a business, try to focus on the area where you can excel and never go for a randomized business before you got a clear path.

4. Risk Averse (Fear of Failure) : - This is one of the most challenging thing. Successful business people are ready to take challenges, they see opportunities in every risk and challenges, and that is why they are remembered and successful. But failed entrepreneurs lack this quality

If you are passionate in doing business, you never mind you challenges, risk or anything, you will do it. So have a passion about your business. You can be free from risk averse by improving your business knowledge, passion and focus also by concentrating on the end result. 

5. Poor Money Management (Extravagance) : - Manage your money, never let the money to manage you. Successful entrepreneurs are good in money management, they know where to invest and when to harvest their investment, like Warren Buffet’s words “Never invest in a business you can’t understand.” 

Always remember that there are ups and downs, you should be prepared to meet the unexpected.

6. I can do well all by myself (Insecurity) : - There is a limit to what an individual can achieve alone, thus the need for team work. Successful people know what to hold and what to delegate, so entrepreneurs should encourage team work and you should act as a leader and a guide.

“Together Towards Success…” follow the line literally, you will enjoy the happiness and success.

So, you must get rid of any insecurity and every scarcity mentality you might have that someone is going to beat you to it. There are many things that are unknown to you, so you should seek help from your team, may be from outside consultants etc, this is how business grows. 

7. Lack of Vision (The shortsightedness) : - “Vision is the reason for your existence”, never start or run a business without vision or with shortsightedness, the business will sink somewhere. The businessmen should be clear about his path and the end result, then only the business can move forward.

So, it is the high time that you need to have a vision for your business and life and let the vision shows the valuethat you are going to provide.

“Let the business speaks about you rather than you speak about the business…”

 By,

Abin c Pascal
Asst. Manager Consulting
Bramma Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd
Mob: 9496695346 / 0484-2705535
Blog: abincpascal.wordpress.com

20 Part-Time Business Ideas

Looking to earn some extra cash in your spare time? We've got 20 great ways to get started !

Ever dream of running a part-time business while keeping your day job? Want to operate a sideline business along with your current business? Or are you simply curious about entrepreneurship, and want to test the waters before you commit to the world of commerce? Whatever your reason, here are 25 sure-fire ways to get started today with your own part-time business.

Antiques

Make new money from old treasures and have fun doing it! Scout garage sales, estate auctions and flea markets for great buys on antique furniture, toys, clothing and other treasures from the past. Rent space at antique cooperatives, or set up booths at weekend fairs to sell your antiques.

Computer Tutor

Whether you're an expert at Windows or Linux, desktop publishing or Web research, HTML or word processing, you can help anyone enhance their computer skills. Start promoting your computer-training services by teaching classes through organizations in your community which offer adult education courses.

Custom Jewelry and Accessories

Put your creative talents to work designing custom jewelry and accessories. Whether you work with sterling silver or recycled metals, clay or papier-mâché, there's a market for your custom earrings, pins, bracelets, necklaces and belt buckles at art shows, crafts fairs and holiday boutiques.

Espresso Cart

Brew up profits day after day! Specialty coffee drinks generate gross profits of 55.1 to 61.5 percent per cup, says the Specialty Coffee Association of America. So brush up on your coffee drinks, buy or rent an espresso cart, and head for sporting events, concerts and farmers' markets in your community.

Garage and Attic Cleaning/Hauling Service

Nobody likes to spend a weekend cleaning out the garage, attic or garden shed--it's dirty and time-consuming, and when it's done, there's still the task of hauling off all that discarded junk. But if you don't mind putting in the physical labor, a cleaning and hauling service can be a lot of fun. You can usually find a few treasures among the trash which most people are delighted to give away, and you can add to your income by recycling bottles, newspapers and metal castoffs. You'll need a pick-up truck or other vehicle capable of carrying everything from cast-iron sinks to old timbers.

Handyman

If it's broke, you can fix it. Your phone will ring off the hook with calls from homeowners, senior citizens and others who don't want to fix it themselves. Advertise in shopper publications and on bulletin boards, and drop off fliers at real estate offices. Then start repairing everything from leaky faucets to broken windows.

Home Inspection

Buyers need not beware when they hire a home inspector to conduct a complete physical checkup on their dream home. You'll inspect the house for structural problems and refer your clients to the contractors or handymen who can make the repairs. Knowledge of construction and your local building codes will get your business off the ground.

Medical Transcription

Work as an important member of a medical team without leaving your homebased office. There's big demand by hospitals, doctors, dentists, chiropractors and veterinarians who need outside help transcribing patient medical records. Training in medical terminology and linguistic skills will keep your business healthy.

Mobile Home-Entertainment Service

When it's dirty, disconnected or in need of repair, you'll save the day for homeowners who want their stereo, compact-disc player or videocassette recorder in working order. Brush up on your electrical and wiring know-how. Door-to-door fliers and calls to retail-store managers about your services will get your business off to a great start.

Mobile Window Tint

With some training and basic equipment, you'll be seeing plenty of green with your mobile window-tinting business. For best results, have a pager and van ready to help car, van and truck owners prevent heat damage to their vehicles' interiors. Other hot markets: homes, high-rise condominiums and office buildings.

Office and Home Organizer

Attention all neatniks: Help packrats, overworked executives, and other organizationally challenged individuals clean out messy closets, straighten files, and throw out the excess clutter. Putting your knack for neatness to part-time business use is bound to arrange some tidy profits for you.

Personal Chef

What's for dinner, honey? Great home-cooked meals for working parents and busy professionals who hire you as a personal chef. There's plenty of demand for this specialized service. So plan your menu, make out your shopping list, and go to work to satisfy your hungry clientele.

Personal Trainer

Pumping iron; pumping profits. Americans of all ages, sizes and shapes want to keep fit, trim and healthy, and they're willing to hire their own personal coach to exercise correctly. Spread the word about your physical-fitness expertise at health spas, running, swimming and biking clubs, and other athletic outlets. Get in the frame with a picture framing service. You can work with gallery owners, artists, portrait photographers and individuals who've purchased a print, painting or fine photo. If you aren't already a framing expert, read up, take classes at a local college or community center, then assemble your tools--including clamps, saws, miter boxes, glue, and a pneumatic or hand stapler. Establish relationships with local artists' groups, galleries, photographers and print shops that can give you their business or refer their customers to you.

Plant Leasing And Maintenance

Got a green thumb and a delivery van? You're all set to service corporations, home builders, health clubs and other businesses who want fresh greenery. Develop a steady clientele with a regular watering, pruning and fertilizing program and a full replacement guarantee.

Records Search

Using specialized databases, you'll search public records on your computer to help your clients find lost loves, check out questionable suitors, track down debtors, verify a contractor's track record, or dig up facts on a business opportunity. Clients include attorneys, businessowners and individuals.

Restaurant Delivery

Whether it's macaroni and cheese or a five-course gourmet meal, at-home meal replacement is fast becoming the newest way to dine. When customers want their restaurant orders "to go," you'll be "on the go" with your restaurant delivery service. A great way to make your late afternoons and weekends extra-profitable!

T-Shirt Design

If you're an artist in search of a medium, why not make T-shirts your canvas? Paint, draw, bead or appliqué your designs on plain T-shirts, and spend your weekends showcasing your art-to-wear at farmers' markets and crafts fairs.

Wallpaper Hanging

Help residential and commercial clients turn drab walls into works of art with your wallpaper-hanging skills. Build a growing business with great referrals and repeat customers. Drop off fliers at paint and wallpaper stores; also, advertise in shopper publications, in homeowner-association newsletters, and on bulletin boards at local supermarkets and malls.

Yoga and Tai Chi Instructor

In today's hectic, fast-paced world, parents, business owners and students alike can benefit from the deep-breathing, relaxation and centering techniques you can teach them. Get started by offering classes at health clubs, through your city's recreation and parks department, or on your own.

Want to Succeed at a Startup? Focus on These 5 Qualities

Working at a startup isn't all ping-pong tables and free food. Though table tennis skills may help you stand out in the crowd (especially at Hukkster HQ), there are certain key qualities that will set you up for success in the startup world regardless of your level of experience or area of interest. Here are five key qualities for success at a startup. These tips will help you not just land the job, but become a driver of your company’s success.

1. Passion for the product-

Do your homework. The founders are looking to hire people who are passionate about helping them build their vision into a reality. So you should come to an interview prepared with questions and feedback that really shows you have engaged with the product. Founders want to know that every applicant is genuinely interested in the product and the company.

For example, Hukkster is a platform that allows shoppers to track the specific products they're interested in and find out the moment those products go on sale -- so naturally every applicant is expected to have used the tool themselves (who doesn't like getting great deals anyway?).

2. Roll-up-your-sleeves mentality-

Are you comfortable juggling five giant boxes on the subway during rush hour in the middle of winter? Maybe not, but no job is too small at a startup. Since you’ll be working with a small team and always tackling new challenges as they arise, the phrase “that’s not my job,” should never be in your lexicon. 

Come to the interview prepared to provide examples of past activities or work experiences in which you rolled up your sleeves to dig a little deeper into an issue or took on a task that wasn't prescribed.

"If someone expects everything handed to them, they might be better off at a larger company with more infrastructure," says Kathryn Minshew, founder and CEO of career-discovery platformThe Muse. "Smaller businesses need people who will do whatever it takes to make the company successful. And yes, sometimes at 15-person companies, that means the CEO and the social media manager both take turns emptying the kitchen trash."

3. Good ideas are good. Developed ideas are game changing-

Got a great idea? Don’t just share it, show it. While you may be bursting at the seams with great ideas, execution and follow-through are key traits to success in the startup world. When you discuss your past achievements, be sure to highlight the times when you implemented changes or took on and oversaw new initiatives. These strong examples will show you have what it takes to be successful.

At a startup, it is much more valuable to identify your top three ideas and work through a fully-baked plan of attack before sharing it with your team, rather than rattling off half-a-dozen suggestions that aren’t well thought-out.  It’s much easier to gain buy-in when you've answered all the potential questions upfront and already laid out a roadmap outlining timeline and return on investment.  

4. Be proactive, not reactive. No matter how young or inexperienced you might be, the best part of working at a startup is that everyone has the potential to contribute in a big way. Demonstrate that you are always thinking ahead and uncovering opportunities to help move the business forward -- even if it's as simple as cleaning up a process or report, offering to help out a colleague when your day's tasks are complete or spending your spare time coming up with innovative ideas and strategizing how they can best be implemented.

5. Be a strategist, not a bystander-

 When building a concept from scratch, processes and objectives constantly evolve, so look at everything with a critical eye. Unlike your corporate counterparts, your mission is to unlock issues and identify opportunities for change and improvement. Even if you're the most junior hire at the table and don't feel comfortable challenging the status quo, look for informal opportunities to share insights with your team.

At Hukkster, we have team lunches on Fridays and try to celebrate our collective success at team events such rock climbing or happy hour. While such events make working at a startup really fun, they are also good opportunities to ask questions. New hires can provide a critical set of fresh eyes. Demonstrating your ability to think critically and ask smart questions will make you a valued member of the team.

Here are four startup-specific resources to help guide your startup job search:

1. The Muse: The Muse offers job opportunities, expert advice and a peek behind the scenes into fantastic companies and career paths.
2. GetWakefield.com: Wakefield hosts events and sends out a daily email newsletter about startups and new technology.
3. InsideStartups.org: A great database where you can search startups by city and industry.
4. AngelList: This is an easy-to-use platform where you can browse job opportunities and connect with startups and investors.

6 Secret Weapons of Shy Entrepreneurs

There’s a misconception that all entrepreneurs are extraverts — boisterous or bubbly personalities who are always the life of the party. But they’re not. And even those who are extraverted can be shy.

There is a distinction. Introverts feel rejuvenated after they take time to be alone. They often enjoy quiet activities like reading their favorite book or spending time with a close friend. On the other hand, extraverts like to spend their free time amongst people, but shy ones are less likely to open up to a new acquaintance right away.

Shyness doesn’t have to be debilitating nor does it disqualify you from becoming successful. In fact, shy entrepreneurs have one big advantage over their extraverted counterparts: they almost never overtalk or overshare. Effective listening is the most important skill any entrepreneur could have and it’s a talent that comes very naturally to individuals who are shy.

If you consider yourself a shy entrepreneur, here are some ways you can cultivate your strengths.

1. Show, don’t tell- 

 If you’re naturally shy, you most likely don’t enjoy public speaking, even on a small scale in a boardroom. Don’t risk embarrassment by trying (and most likely failing) to pitch an executive off-the-cuff. Instead, when you pitch a client, show them what you can do for their business. Create a presentation that speaks for itself and doesn’t rely so heavily on your ability to make the perfect pitch.

2. Prepare, prepare, prepare-  

Write and practice your elevator pitch before you ever need it. You never know who’ll run into on the way to lunch or as you wait in line for coffee. If you get the opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential client or investor, simply deliver your speech as if you’re speaking to a friend. You’ll come off more natural the next time you need to introduce yourself and your company to a group.   

3. Hire your employees wisely-

 You are your own best business card, but it doesn’t hurt to have a strong sales team to back you up. Especially for positions in marketing and sales, hire people whose strengths are your weaknesses. Make sure the people you hire share your vision but embody skills you lack.

4. Use technology to your advantage-

 If you’re extremely shy, try having a meeting with your your clients via technology. You may be more relaxed and find it easier to communicate through IM, Google Hangout and Skype. You’ll be more comfortable if you plan to follow-up with a face-to-face interaction.

5. Show genuine passion-

 Real passion, the kind that makes your eyes light up and drives you to keep working, is contagious. Your passion for your business and your customers will set you apart and make others notice you. Skip the small talk about the weather and share your passion with others. Share with your clients and customers how and why you started your business and what you love about it.

6. Push outside your comfort zone-

 It’s not always about who you know, but who knows you. Even if the thought of attending networking events makes you feel uneasy, attend them anyway. Make a goal to attend one or two every month. Introduce yourself to at least one new person at each event. You may be surprised at the number of doors you’re able to open simply by being at the right place at the right time.

7 Key Habits of Super Networkers

The ability to network successfully can be one of the greatest assets in business. It allows some people to find incredible opportunities, while others just watch from the sidelines.

Effective networking isn't a result of luck -- it requires hard work and persistence. What does it take to be a super networker? Here are seven of the most important habits to develop:

1. Ask insightful questions-
Before attending networking events, get the names of the people who are expected to attend and search social media sites like LinkedIn to figure out which topics they're probably most interested in. For people who are already in your network, don't assume you know everything they're up to. Find out what they're currently working on -- or perhaps struggling with. This attention to detail can go a long way at your next one-on-one lunch or dinner meeting.

2. Add value-
One of the most powerful networking practices is to provide immediate value to a new connection. This means the moment you identify a way to help someone, take action. If, for instance, you know someone in your network who can help a new connection with a problem, drop what you're doing and introduce the two individuals.

3. Learn their 'story-
Ask successful entrepreneurs to tell you how they got where they are. Most people think of this as an exercise in rapport building, but hearing these stories can tell you a lot about a person's approach to business. The more you understand your networking partner's mentality, the better you can add and extract value from your relationship.

For example, some entrepreneurs pride themselves on working 16-hour days and doing whatever it takes, while others focus on being strategic and waiting for the right opportunities to open up. These are clues that can not only allow you to see what people value, but also what working with them might be like.

4. Share a memorable fact-
When someone asks, "What do you do?" don't give a canned elevator speech about your company and career. Mention something personal that defines who you really are. Maybe you have a passion for playing an instrument or an obsession with collecting antiques. These are also "things you do," so make it a point to share them. Such personal details can help lighten the mood and get people talking.

5. Keep a list-
What's your routine after attending a networking event or meal? If your answer is, "I go home," you're probably going to miss out on opportunities. Write down important topics that came up at the event. This habit can help prevent opportunities from falling through the cracks and give you something to reference in conversation the next time you meet. You can also develop a reputation as someone who's on top of things.

6. Make small promises and keep them-
No matter how small a promise you make -- such as sending an email or returning a phone call -- delivering on that promise reflects on your character. By following through on your word, you start building a reputation for trustworthiness, which is exactly how every great networker wants to be perceived.

7. Reward your 'power' contacts-
Keep a list of your top five to 10 networking partners and do something each week to add value to one person's life or business. You might send them a book or set up a lunch to introduce them to one of your other contacts. This habit can help you be proactive about staying in touch with your most powerful contacts. Just as with fitness or investing, the most successful people are the ones who choose to be consistent in their actions.

Focus on Opportunity, Not Income Inequality

America’s growing income inequality has begun to concern our elected leaders. In a speech at the end of last year, President Obama called it “the defining challenge of our time.”

The fraction of total income going to the wealthiest Americans has increased significantly over the past three decades. The highest earning tenth of households took home a little more than one third of all pretax income in 1982. In 2012, that group received half, research by University of California at Berkeley economist Emmanuel Saez reveals.

As startling as the numbers may seem, income inequality shouldn’t trouble those in Washington. Income is an outcome – a reward for how hard people work and how clever they are. In a capitalist society, if some people work harder or smarter than others, they should earn more.

Moreover, differences in income per se don’t bother most Americans. When people who start with little become rich because of their efforts, few are troubled. No Op-Eds decry the billions that WhatsApp’s founder Jan Koum earned by selling his start-up to Facebook for $19 billion. Nor do they complain about the billions that Warren Buffet made picking stocks, or the hundreds of millions of dollars per year that Oprah Winfrey’s takes home from her media empire. Getting from modest means to great wealth is the American dream.

Most Americans also recognize that “inequality is the other side of successful entrepreneurship,” as former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Larry Summers has pointed out. Most Americans recognize that starting a business is risky. They understand that a few people make it big, while most people don’t. Therefore, the greater income inequality among business owners than salaried workers passes without much complaint.

The real problem lies in declining opportunity for Americans to move up the socioeconomic ladder. That’s where recent trends are alarming. A shrinking fraction of Americans think they have the chance to get ahead.

How to Say 'I'm the Best' Without Actually Saying It

Self-promotion is imperative to growing one's brand.

I once introduced a baseball player to a CEO of a large sporting agency. They exchanged their names and little else. Afterwards, I asked the athlete why he didn't mention that he'd been signed twice to minor league organizations, information I believed would have made a real impact during the conversation. The ballplayer shyly explained that it would have been "awkward" to mention his achievements.

Without a little bragging, you'll squander opportunities, just like that athlete. Here are six steps to developing your own self-promotion strategy, and how to tell people you're the best without actually saying it:

1. Identify what you've done and and what you're good at-

 List your achievements, including the endeavors you worked really hard and failed at. This is your personal performance map illustrating how far you've come and what you can promote. You've done the hard yards -- own it. We are told all of our lives that modesty is paramount and we must work in silence until we reach our end goal, but remember we have every right to celebrate our achievements along the way.

2. Practice your communication-

There are various ways to convey the message "I'm the best" without actually saying it. Communicate in a non-threatening manner when promoting your offering, using phrases such as "I'm passionate," "I'm invested" and "I did [this]" or "I worked hard [at that]." People respond to effort and enthusiasm, not hot air.

3. Tell everybody-

 Think of it like this -- if you've worked 16 hours a day to build a profitable business, don't you think you've earned the right to vocalize your success? Sharing with the world who you are and what your vocation is not boasting -- it is simply stating fact. Starting that conversation of "Hi, I do this" will open yourself up to new opportunities.

Within minutes of meeting me you'll discover I'm a passionate freelance writer, and that I  recently secured a fantastic contract through the recommendation of my local barista. A friend of his needed a writer, and he thought of me immediately. You'll never know every connection another person has, so promote what you can do to everyone.

4. Be prepared to prove it-

Now that you've told people what you're doing and what your brand is about, you've got to back it up with hard evidence. The proof is in your work, and people will ask to see it. Update your website and social media channels constantly.

For example, when you're trying to enlist the help of a social media strategist and the link to their Twitter account is broken, alarm bells start ringing.

5. Get creative-

 Prove you stand out from the crowd by promoting yourself in an unusual way.Philippe Dubost is a perfect example. The web product manager transformed his online resume into the format of an Amazon advertisement, with himself as the product. Dubost's quirky self-promotion tactic caught the attention of the Today Show and he received over 100 job offers as a result.

6. Be generous-

The best in a field often shares the spotlight. Promote and encourage others who are doing a good job and offer your help to those who ask for it. Develop a community around your work and give freely, as generosity is the most sincere way to be remembered.

World-renowned celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is known to share his expertise with just about anyone who will listen. This kind of participation within his industry is invaluable to his brand. People are happy to invest in him because he is devoted to them.

The Lie Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves and Others

Most entrepreneurs don't start with a plan. They may have a rough idea of where they want to go, but few have a full roadmap for how to get there. Still, entrepreneurs tell themselves and everyone around them they know exactly what they're doing. “We are right on track,” “Everything is going as planned,” and “We couldn’t be better,” are common phrases heard in the startup world.  But it's a lie. And you know what? It's okay not to have a plan and for many, they may still find success.  Recent research published in the book Hearts, Smarts, Guts and Luck found that 70 percent of successful founders did not start with a business plan.

When I started my company AWeber, an email-software marketng company, more than 15 years ago, it just sort of happened. I was in sales at the time and realized that following up with prospects through automated emails increased sales and reduced labor costs. I developed software to do this for my colleagues and myself. I soon found out others were willing to pay for it. That's how and why I launched. An extensive plan for my business didn't come until much later.

So for those who have no roadmap (but keep telling people they are on track), here is a few tips to help get you started.

Think about the 'who' not the 'how.' -

Business plans force us to think about “how” we'll get to our end goal. But it's more effective early on to think about who you're selling to. You may have a general idea of what a potential customer should look like but take it a step further. Literally come up with a picture of what your ideal customer looks like. If you're artistic you can sketch something out but a stock photo can also do the trick. Take the time to write down as much about your ideal customer as you can including their name, interests, wants and needs. Put the picture in as many places as possible so that you can consider them every time you make a business decision.

Be ready to change faster than Superman in a phone booth-

Inevitably when building a business, you'll have to respond to unexpected crises at any given moment. It would be a lot easier to do if you had a red cape and super powers. But without that advantage, you'll just have to adapt quickly. The truth is, even if you have a “plan,” it may not be worth much in six months or six minutes.  Instead of a business plan, think about developing a series of micro-plans. These should not be as forward looking or detailed as typical business plan, a page or two covering a few months will do. It will at least give you a starting point and make it much easier to adjust and iterate on.

See the future, write it down-

Guess what? Bill Gates and Steve Jobs didn't have formal business plans when they started Microsoft and Apple. What they did have was a vision for where the products would go.  Your vision doesn't have to be as world-changing as “putting a computer on every desk in every home” or “a computer for the rest of us.”  What matters more than the content of these visions is that they are very specific and simple to understand. Create a vision that meets these two requirements then make sure you write it down and keep it somewhere visible.

Pass It On: Encourage Your Kids to Become Entrepreneurs With These 5 Lessons

Entrepreneurs often credit their upbringing for their success or drive to own their own business. Sometimes, it’s that their parents had amazing work ethics; others, that they were simply encouraged from a young age to pursue their dreams.

For me, entrepreneurship was largely taught. I grew up in a home with two parents who owned their own business, and it’s not a big surprise to anyone that I wound up starting my own successful wedding brand, Rustic Wedding Chic and The Rustic Wedding Guide.

Now that I’m a mom myself, I look back on my upbringing and give it the same credit that many other entrepreneurs do -- and I hope to pass the same qualities along to my son. From an early age, I was given the tools to build my own business. These are gifts you can pass on to your child whether you’re an entrepreneur or not.

1. Model business behavior. Just like we try to censor our language or model kindness to our kids, it’s important to show our kids how to behave in business by inviting them into our lives. I love making my 3-year-old son a part of my business. When bookkeeping time comes each month, he’s great at stacking up receipts, grabbing bank statements from the printer or just sitting with me. I get the chance to show him what I’m doing and talk to him about the numbers as I work.

2. Encourage creativity. In my first business, “Maggie’s Shell Shop,” I hand picked shells from the beach and sold passersby my collections. I was 5. Thanks to a generous set of relatives, I was hooked on becoming an entrepreneur and experienced success early on. Whether it’s play or a real small business, give your child the chance to experience success and see how rewarding it is to operate a company they’ve created. Start by giving kids play money and set up a store in your living room -- it’s a great way for them to play and learn at the same time.

3. Foster curiosity. Every great entrepreneur knows that usually the first step in creating a business is to be curious about something: How is it made? Why does it need to be on the market? Who could it help? How can I make it better? The questions start from kids at an early age, and it’s important to help them explore and feel free to be curious. Eventually, they’ll start making something of their own. I love to watch my 3 year old take apart a toy or create new rules for a board game that he thinks work better. All of this "investigative work," as he calls it, is helping to expand this thinking and curiosity. 

4. Embrace failure. Grown-up entrepreneurs know that failure is part of the game -- it’s why the rewards are so sweet. But even small failures can be devastating for a child. Help your child to understand that failure is not a bad thing and explain that often, our greatest lessons as business owners come out the failures. Help your child see that there is always a version 2.0 -- which, as we know, is always better than the first one!

5. Make it fun. Everyday activities can become a little lesson in how to become an entrepreneur, even when they’re not business related. My niece and nephew are big into helping with dinner thanks to shows such as "Chopped" and "Cupcake Wars.” These 8- and 6-year-olds now pretend they are on one of these shows as they help with dinner prep. Instead of asking for help setting the table, tell the kids they’re the chefs for the night. Develop a menu, tell them to create a “vibe” and turn the kitchen into a restaurant. Allowing them to create something and see it through will not only help make mundane tasks more fun, it will give them a huge sense of accomplishment.

Raising kids with an entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t necessarily take a lot of time or money -- it just takes a different perspective on your everyday life and the willingness to let your kids into what you do and why you love it.