Ten Tacky Things

We all have heard about the importance of networking. The messages are constant and frequent about what to do to be effective in networking.  Well I recently had the chance to observe someone who was doing a lot of things incorrectly...she was annoying people.

1. Don't monopolize the conversation.  Talking non-stop about your business, how your product will be the answer to all problems and how you will solve the customer's every wish does not work. 
2. I can do that... I know someone who can help you...  I know who you should call...  I know just the organization you should join...  You can't possibly have all the answers, so don't start every sentence with ''I".
3. Going to a business event sponsored and presented by one business organization, and telling someone there that they shouldn't bother with the sponsoring group but they should join another group.  This is rude and tacky to the nth degree. 
4. Interrupt conversations because you want to have a chance to talk to everyone there.  Join a discussion certainly but don't take it over and make it about you and your business. 
5. Work with other businesses, getting them to refer business to you is always more effective than blowing your own horn
6. Criticize the organizers, the food, the location, the attendees and everything else you can think of. 
7. Sexy and revealing clothing has a place, but it usually isn't at a business event.  Dress appropriately, your clothing and accessories shouldn't be the centre of attention.  
8. Too much jewellery that jingles and jangles and is distracting. Less is more and quality beats quantity.
9. Forget your business cards and then make do by borrowing and writing on the back of another business's card.  
10. Talk, talk, talk, especially if you have a high pitched voice that is annoying to listen to. We all have flaws, but minimize them. If your voice has an annoying quality work to change that, speak slowly and distinctly and make every word you say count. Cut the fluff. 

Be courteous, business like, and professional in everything you do. 

Top Ten Business Ideas

The entrepreneur who would like to start a home based business has a lot of choice. Sometimes too much choice.

The following listing contain some of the obvious and hopefully some of the not so obvious ideas for home based businesses:

1. Dog walking services
2. House sitting for folks lucky enough to be vacationing in the sun during the winter, or for those folks who have accepted short term work out of province. 
3. Specialty baking. (In an approved kitchen) This can include health foods, decadent treats for you or for your pooch, or full course meals for the time challenged working parent.
4. "Go fors" Errand providers. This can work very well in an area where there are seniors or physically challenged individuals who need just a bit of extra help with grocery shopping or picking up perscriptions. 
5. Event organizer.  This works best if you specialize in a niche market, maybe tradeshow production or maybe specializing in wedding planning. 
6. Writer or artist.  These require alone time to create and then the finished products are marketed.  Know your markets and be prepared to work as hard at the selling part of the business as you do at the creative side. 
7. Bookkeeping services for small businesses or non-profits who do not have the work or budget for a full time staff member to complete the essential bookkeeping tasks. 
8. Teach, talk and train. Be a facilitator and presenter on a topic you are knowledgeable about and have interest in. 
9. Provide administration support services to businesses with employees on vacation of sick leave. Operate your own temporary staffing agency...with you as the only staff. 
10. Offer contracting or design services for the home construction industry. 

As with any business idea, you must do your research and make sure there is a demand for the services you will be offering. Meet all the legal requirements and enjoy what you do. 

23 Public Speaking Secrets Gleaned from the Greats

  This post is giving readers a bonus... 23 Public Speaking Secrets.  Thank you to Carol Brown for suppling the link to this great information. 

http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/02/01/23-public-speaking-secrets-gleaned-from-the-greats/

10 Tips and Facts on Taxes

The following list can help as a review prior to preparing your tax return:

1. Make sure you have all your information slips. T-4"s etc must be prepared and mailed by February 28th. 
2. Review your room to contribute to RRSP's  If possible top up your contributions
3. Review and invest in RESP's if applicable
4. Are you able to take advantage of tax free savings accounts.  Check with your financial institution to see if your account qualifies, and make arrangements for 2011 now so you can capture tax free interest earnings next year. 
5. Educations credits, possibly transferable from a family member of for yourself.
6. Northern living allowances, travel expenses. If you lived and worked in a designed Northern area then a portion of your income may be a living allowance with can have special tax treatment.  Check with your tax advisor.
7. If you operate a home based business, save all your home operating expense receipts...a portion of them will be a business deduction if your business made a net income. 
8. If you are using your vehicle in your business save your vehicle operating receipts and keep a log of the business km. driven,.
9. If you are and your spouse are drawing pensions, then you may benefit from income splitting.  
10. File your income tax return on time. If you owe taxation dollars, you may be subject to fines and penalties if you file after the deadline. 

Seek professional tax advice when you have a question.  

Ten Tips for Networking at an Event

1. Show up 
2. Show up prepared
3. Bring Business Cards
4. Wear a name tag on your right side
5. Don't spend all your time talking to people you already know
6. Ask questions
7. Listen to the answers
8. Have a plan before you arrive, how many people you want to meet, referrals, testimonials, have goals
9. Compare your results to your plan, revise, update and try again
10. Send follow-up information or correspondence within one day of the event.

Tips for Public Speaking

Public speaking can be daunting for many people.  However, it is often necessary if you wish to get your ideas across. The following tips may be of help:

1. Join an organization such as toastmasters that helps you develop public speaking skills and a whole lot more. 
2. Remember your body language, keep your body relaxed. Any tension will "appear" in your voice. 
3. Don't cross your arms or look down at your audience. Crossed arms build a wall/division between you and the audience. 
4. Many people prefer not to use a podium, again the podium can be a barrier between you and the audience. 
5. Look at the audience...scan it frequently with you eyes. Talk to people, not over their heads. 
6. Dress comfortably and that is especially important for shoes. Don't pick presentation day to break in a new pair of shoes. 
7. Keep your hands out of your pockets. 
8. Women should avoid large gaudy jewellery, dangling earrings and low necklines.  You want people to listen to what you are saying...don't distract them 
9. Don't turn to face a powerpoint presentation, keep your face to your audience.  This is very easy to achieve if you have a laptop and it is in front of you.  You can use the laptop screen as your source and you know your audience is seeing the same thing on the screen(s). 
10. Smile, relax and enjoy. You know your topic. Strive to work from a minimum of notes. Reading isn't nearly as effective as talking. 

Practice, practice and more practice will make you more comfortable making presentations to small and large groups of people. Use the energy in the room and be in control

Ten More Tax Tips

There are many rules and regulations when it comes to calculating and reporting taxes.  A few more tips to help you through the process:

1. All Canadian T-4 slips must be prepared and distributed by February 28th.  
2. All RRSP contributions for 2010 must be done by the end of February. 
3. If you have a home based business, a portion of your household expenses may be eligible as a deduction against your home based business net income.
4. A portion of your vehicle expenses may be an eligible deduction if you use your vehicle for business purposes. Canada Revenue Agency requires that you keep a vehicle log, tracking the total number of kms driven, the business kms driven.  
5. Keep all your vehicle receipts and calculate the % allowed based on your vehicle log. 
6. If you have transferred some personal assets into the business, determine a realistic valuation. For example, the black book valuation for your vehicle rather than the original purchase price.
7. If you or your spouse are self employed both marriage partners must pay any taxes owning by April 30th but have until June 15th to file their tax returns. 
8. The owners of a sole proprietorship or a partner in a partnership must file the tax information for their business on their personal tax return. The business activities must be reported on a calendar year basis. 
9. Incorporated companies can select their year end at any time throughout the year. However, once the year end has been selected it cannot be changed with the written permission of CRA. 
10. As the tax laws are constantly changing, it is often advisable to hire a professional tax prepared to complete your tax return. 

The above information is intended for information purposes only, please consult your professional advisor for recommendations for your particular situation.