Use this helpful scorecard, “How Are You Doing? Rate the Health of Your Business,” to measure 36 key indicators of a successful, highly profitable business. You’ll test your business in the key areas that affect income, expenses, and production.

– Learn exactly where your business excels and what areas need improvement.

— Find new areas you haven’t thought about before, but could use to gain a competitive edge.
— Use the survey results to create a plan to get your business to the next level - and beyond!

Rate The Health of Your Business

Small to mid-size business owners, branch office managers, and independent agents, rate the state of your business during the past 12 months.

Rating System 1 = disaster 3= average 5 = brilliantly successful

_________ Attracting Ideal Clients
_________ Customer Retention
_________ Business Plan Effectiveness
_________ Marketing Plan Effectiveness
_________ Branding/Identity
_________ Sales System
_________ Advertising Efforts
_________ Networking & Follow-up Process
_________ Profitability/Cash Flow
_________ Pricing Process/Marketing Funnel
_________ Availability of Capital
_________ Strategic Alliances
_________ Delivery of Services
_________ Speaking Engagements
_________ Products/Intellectual Property
_________ New Services
_________ Administration Functions
_________ Strong Competitive Edge
_________ Elevator Speech That Works
_________ Status in Industry
_________ Technology/Automating
_________ Budgets & Reporting Processes
_________ Internet Presence
_________ Ongoing Internet Marketing
_________ Controls/Procedures
_________ Contracts, Legal Advice
_________ Hiring Process/Manual
_________ Team(s) Development
_________ Training, Cross-training
_________ Employee/Consultant Retention
_________ Office Organization
_________ Computer Organization
_________ Your Professional Development
_________ Having Fun
_________ Work/life Fulfillment
_________ Setting Life Priorities & Goals

Scoring: Since you must consider all the above in your successful business/unit, it’s not the total number that counts; it’s how well you do in each area!

Congratulations! You’ve now assessed the “state of your business.” Now you know where your business excels and where it needs some work. If you’re ready to grow your business to the next level and truly change the state of your business in the next twelve months, it’s time to create recreate your business and marketing plans. Use the information you’ve gleaned to make sure that the next 12 months are great!

©2007 Maria Marsala is an experienced Wall Street Fortune 500 executive, small business strategist, author and speaker. She has helped thousands of small business to mid-size owners and branch manager earn more and work less through her national company, Elevating Your Business. Subscribe to More Business Newsletter for your 6 FREE Business tools.

http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com

Hundreds of thousands of books must been written in all the languages about positive thinking? Every second book on self-development invariably has a chapter on positive thinking. Why? Why so much importance is being given to positive thinking? What are the reasons? Does positive thinking really help? Many people believe that by thinking positively nothing changes. They think that this is an invention of some fertile imaginations to sell more books and make money. Is that true? Do you want to see books on why you should think negatively? Will that help us at all?

Should one think positively despite the worst happening around us? But thinking negatively will not help at all. It will rather make you think so helplessly that you will not make any attempt to come out of any mess. Positive thinking will at least not produce negative effects on your health. Let us discuss further.

Let us discuss the alternative to arrive at a quick answer. Do you believe in positive thinking? If you believe I need not bother you more. If you do not believe in positive thinking, do you believe in negative thinking? What are the benefits of that? If you are trying to achieve some objectives, do you keep thinking that you will not achieve them?

What do you get by thinking negatively? Stress, tension, high blood pressure, stomach upsets and sleeplessness. Does that help you? Sometimes the scenario is so bad that we all think negatively. Even in that scenario, does thinking negatively help? It does not help at all. Negative thoughts rather make a person weak and prevent him/her from making more effort.

Negative thinking is a habit. Whenever you think negatively, stop yourself an stop thinking negatively. If you think that positive thinking does not work, at least you agree that negative thinking does us more harm. Let us think positively.

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A business coach will often be asked: “What can you do to help my business grow?” It’s a fair question, so I thought I’d better tell you what I would do for you, if asked.

First off a good business coach would check out your vision. What exactly are you aiming to become and what will it look like when you get there? Vision is hugely important because it both motivates and guides you. It’s kind of like a magnet that draws you forward in the right direction.

Then we’d review your strategy, exactly how are you going to make your vision into a reality. This is why you need a business coach who has been around the block a few times. You need someone who knows which strategies work and which ones just look good in books.

A business coach is not like a consultant. He or she doesn’t turn up with a one-size-fits-all tool kit for specific problems. A business coach will consider each situation you face and work with you to come up with a tailor-made solution for your business. And, because he knows your business he will be able to comment on your suggestions and either encourage you to go ahead or advise you “that doesn’t look like a good idea.”

But having a business coach isn’t just about the brains and experience the coach brings to the party. It is about working together in a team to feel good about what you’re doing. Creating a trusting relationship where you can check out your ideas and measure your progress. It’s about having someone say “well done” when you hit a target.

As a business coach I regard it as my job to make sure that the ship is being steered in the right direction. Small businesses are particularly prone to weave about as the enthusiasms of the owner fly off in different directions. A coach will be constantly checking that everything you do contributes to keeping you on track.

And then there are those moments when you simply run out of steam. Perhaps something has happened to de-motivate you or you may simply be tired. (Hell, you’re a human being not a machine! You will get tired.) At times like this your coach will pick you up and fire you with new enthusiasm to get you going again.

Sooner of later the conversation comes round to cost. Small businesses always think in terms of price. One of the mind set shifts that needs to take place if a small business is going to grow, is to shift from “fear of cost” to “investing in growth.”

A good coach will not come cheap. Why should he if he’s invested in becoming an expert so that he can help you grow? Would you expect to pay peanuts for a Rolex? The real question is: “Will investing in this business coach move my business up to the next level?”

I started The Marketing Club on my web site because I recognise the difficulty of hurdling all the barriers which confront a growing a business. After all I’ve done it twice myself. The aim of The Marketing Club is to provide a very reasonably priced range of practical solutions which will help grow any small business. Of course I would consider coaching you, if you asked, but The Marketing Club is there for those who believe they cannot afford a business coach.

David Ferrers M.NLP is a successful business coach with a strong track record of winning good clients. He created the “ href="http://www.quickandeasymarketing.com/new_client_in_seven_days.html">Win A New Client In Seven Days” and “ href="http://www.quickandeasymarketing.com/networking.html">Effective Networking” Business Development Programs for Professionals who want to build successful and profitable businesses. To discover how you can benefit from these and other proven methods of winning good clients, and to learn about The Marketing Club, go to his web site: http://www.QuickAndEasyMarketing.com

Normally I am a huge fan of Russell Crowe’s work which is probably why I was so disappointed with this film. Its central plot revolves around Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) and his vacations to his Uncle Henry’s villa and vineyard. Max has since moved on and is now dominating the financial world in London. However in doing so has he missed the point about what life is really about. The film sees him inheriting the vineyard off his now dead Uncle. His first thought is to sell it for the maximum profit possible.

Whilst visiting the farm things conspire to keep him there, with plenty of flashbacks to when he was a youth on the farm - played by Freddie Highmore who while a good young actor can not possibly be thought of as a young Russell Crowe - whilst the director may have wanted to show an awkward young child and Freddie Highmore fitted the storyline its a very long stretch of the bow to believe this weedy kid could grown into Russell Crowe’s character.

The film has some nice subplots playing on the ‘French’ and the cinematographicy is like a collection of fine landscape shots however the story line is very slow and the film somewhat ‘arty’.

The film made a loss and was savaged by the critics. Although Russell Crowe is a great actor is requires more than just that to make a good film.

Unless your very bored or have a thing vineyards I’d give this a miss.

The moral of the story - of what you are doing with your life is important and a question you need to ask on a regular basis.

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This article is the property of Alastair HARRIS and his immediate family. It may be freely republished over the internet but must include original links.
Alastair HARRIS is the main promoter for article-gems.com article directory (visit http://www.article-gems.com) and the getfinancialfreedom4u family of websites, blogs and projects (visit http://getfinancialfreedom4u.ws) specializing in online business opportunities and education, income being generated by affiliate marketing, Google, GDI, eBay, e books, clip flipping and more. Alastair is rated as an expert author on numerous article directories and is very open to assisting others on the internet

The Norfolk terrier, a breed only recently recognized, originated from Norfolk. They are most commonly mistaken for their close contemporary, the Norwich Terriers. Although they separated as late as 1964, they have many distinct differences. Besides the simple difference in size and their ears, the Norfolk terrier suffers from jealousy mush easier that the Norwich terrier. The Norwich Terriers also tend to adapt to urban life easier, but the Norfolk terrier can still be a man or woman’s best friend.

The Norfolk terrier is know to be an affectionate well natured puppy but can also be a bit stubborn. Because of this, many experts agree that the best way to train these adorable pups is with crate training. They should be placed in the crate when left unattended or unsupervised. This will not only reassure your pet and when used wisely the crate should become a comfortable crate when you little one grows up.

They are relatively easy to maintain. They don’t actually shed fur naturally. This can have its pros and cons. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about fur all over your furniture and floors like with a Labrador retriever or German Sheppard. On the other hand, you will need to take man’s best friend to the groomer twice a year to strip their coat. In addition, you will also need to brush your Norfolk terrier’s coat at least twice a day to prevent tangles and uncomfortable matting.

Due to their high energy this pooch will thrive in a home with a large fenced yard to play in. Boredom tends to make these clever canines destructive so small urban dwellings are a recipe for disaster. They also make great family pets and are great around children. The Norfolk terrier can be a great addition to any family as long as they are fully educated about the breed.

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Did you know that 50% of men will die from heart disease? It’s sad to say, but true. It is important that we watch what we eat. Not only if we are a body builder, but even if we aren’t one. All of us should be concerned about our diet and our health.

Firstly, take a look at your diet. Are you relying heavily on soda, chips, and fast food to make it through the day? Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? Be noted that hamburgers, fries and soda is a tasty and satisfying combination, however it is also a deadly proposition to your health. If you want to stay fit and health, you must quit eating high-powered food that provides too much energy.

Eating some fast foods like hamburgers and chips will give our bodies much more energy than it normally use. This energy is not thrown away; but converted to fat and put into storage. Therefore, we should cut down on this type of food and turn to the humbler fruits and vegetables to keep hunger in check without putting our health at risk.

Exercising can help to use up energy already stored in our bodies. Taking brisk walks after meals is good, exercising half an hour everyday is better; going to a gym for an hour or so five days a week is perfect. There’s no need to starve or exhaust yourself. Diet and exercising can be fun with a bit of thinking and a positive attitude.

A healthy lifestyle is not about denying ourselves from the foods and activities we like, it is about allowing us to enjoy a better quality of life.

Author - Chin Kee

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If you are looking for some proven weight loss product, Proactol is highly recommended. It is a clinically proven ‘medical device product’ *(MDD 93/42/EEC) for the treatment of obesity.

All pet lovers have been there. You pass a window of a pet store and find yourself asking “How much is that doggie in the window”. If you’re looking to add a cute and furry new pup to your life, it may be a harder task than you think. As appealing as that pet store might be, it is important to know where they are getting their animals. Most reputable breeders will not sell their pure bred canines to pet stores. For one thing, the breeder often reflects the quality of the pet. In fact, most pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills.

Although, you may have heard the term “puppy mill” bouncing around you may not fully understand what they are. Most “puppy mills” or “puppy farms” exist solely to breed and sell dogs. On the other hand, well qualified breeders truly care about the purity of the breed and each dog. I certainly can not describe every puppy mill, but it is this profit-oriented mind set plus greed that usually make these “puppy mills” an unfortunate recipe for animal cruelty. In most cases, the new babies are taken from their mothers much too early as soon as they seem big enough to sell and not base on any developmental time line. In extreme cases, the ASPCA or Humane Society is called in on reports of malnourishment.

There are many perfect places to look for man’s best friend without taking the risk of supporting this behavior. Your local animal shelter is a wonderful place to start. Even if you’re set on a brand new doggie or a specific breed, it would be smart to try your luck there first. Most may not know that mutts tend to be smarter and have less health problems. If you have your heart set buying your little furry friend then you need to look for a breeder who genuinely cares for the animals. This will assure you that the animal is well taken care of and will survive more than a few weeks in your care.

When you choose to buy from a “puppy farm”, the owner’s main concern is to turn a profit. As long as a puppy looks good enough to be sold, it can be sold. A great dog breeder, however, knows that breeding goes far beyond determining the appearance of a dog. The most important thing is to simply do your research before buying your soon to be pampered pooch.

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The yesteryear’s insipid communication tool has no more remained to be known by virtue of its singular role. Mobile phones today are multi-tasking, stylish gadgets, bearing the style statement of their proud owners. With the gradual advent of technology, mobile phones have started to integrate many a features into its thin casing. Amongst these technology assemblage, the most significant and profitable function that mobile phones have integrated is of a portable music player.

Come to the world of Sony Ericsson’s ‘Walkman’ series phones and the variants from the other mobiles phone makers. Maximum of these mobile phones support wide range of sound file formats and are fully-fledged to give any superior music player a run for money any day. Adding to all is the internet connectivity. An user today have the chance to down-load music files, play it in the mobile, and edit or rearrange the audio files. Some mobiles come equipped with melody composer, bluetooth connectivity and USB-based file sharability. As a whole, with the range of data sharing options on offer from mobile phones, users experience the comfort of hassle-free platform to share audio files.

Equipped with stereo speakers, the phones today help users to avail the facility to attend calls without missing a beat. Addition of FM compatibility in some models have added multitude to ‘on-the-go’ music experience. Expandable memory slot offers possibility to store huge amount of audio files. Users of these modern mobile phones can select mp3 ringtones and reflect the vibrancy of lifestyle and attitude. Introduction of micro-hardrives, flash memory with higher storage capacity is on course to convert mobile phones into full scale music storehouses.

At one stage, the features seemingly impossible to be integrated with a mobile phone, is existent and challenged to be bettered. Mobile phone makers like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG etc., have developed stupendously efficient mobile phones with great music reproducibility. Evidently, the array of awe-inspiring music gadgets, in the name of mobile phones, are gathering rich accolades.

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It’s easy for us to gain weight and damned hard to lose it. Eating is one of the true pleasures in our life and refraining from food has huge physical and psychological implications that cannot be easily discarded. We all don’t likes to have to give up a pleasure, which is why many people drift farther and farther into fat without doing anything to stop the process. Therefore, eating a weight loss product is always the first option for people whom want to loss weight.

Recently there has been the release of a very promising brand-new weight loss product called Proactol. So what is it actually? Firstly, unlike any other weight loss products we have seen before, Proactol has done and completed a lot of clinical trials like reduce the amount of fat the body absorbs, suppress appetite and reduce food cravings etc… It cannot be emphasized enough on how important the clinical data is in the body enhancement industry especially for weight loss.

So how does it work to help us loss weight? Be noted that Proactol’s ingredients are 100% natural and organic. It is a patented 100% natural fibre complex that is made from 2 types of fibre - a soluble fibre and a non-soluble fibre.

Let’s talk about non-soluble fibre. In clinical trials it has shown that the non-soluble fibres tend to bind with dietary fats and make it unabsorbed by body. Therefore it actually helps the fats pass naturally through the body. It has been clinically proven that Proactol can binds over 27% of dietary fats.

The soluble fibres will help in slow down the digestion and also the absorption of glucose by bind with bile acids to create this viscous solution. This will help us to feel full for much longer after meals. Therefore it will help to suppress our appetite and reduce food craving.

Proactol is simple to use. Just take it immediately after a meal with water. And remember do not exceed 9 tablets daily.

Author - Chin Kee

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If you’re looking for spunky canine to be the perfect companion then a Jack Russell Terrier is what you’re looking for!

The origin of this spunky terrier breed is by far one of the most interesting ones! It is believed that the breeder of this magnificent pooch, a young Theologian from Oxford University, first received the idea when he met a milk man with a white terrier with spots on his eyes and ears. The Theologians name in fact was Jack Russell. Trump, the milk man’s dog, had 60 types of terriers bred from him.

The Jack Russell Terrier makes a perfect hunting companion! The Latin term for terrier, terra, actually means earth, so they have a wonderful disposition for hunting. They are high energy dogs that have a basic need to seek out things. A backyard is the perfect place for these medium sized pups to hide and find buried treasures. But, don’t be surprised if your furry pal comes home with a mouse or rat.

They make great family pets due to their character towards strangers. The Jack Russell Terrier quickly figures out who is friend and who is foe. They are made to be aggressive and vocal when needed, but usually only show this quality when needed to. As an owner, if you invite someone in, the Jack Russell quickly understands to tolerate their presence, thus making him easy to bring around friends and family. Their great nature and intelligence makes them good dogs to bring around children.

Their cleverness can cause compulsory curiosity which can be controlled by obedience training. With proper training the most Jack Russell excel. In fact, they are known to dominate many show competitions. Hollywood quickly recognized their delectability. If you ever fell in love with Eddie on “Fraiser” or adored Milo from the “Mark” then you were admiring a Jack Russel Terrier.

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