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    The Characteristics of a $1 Million Entrepreneur
    Women business owners are critically important to the American economy. The growth of women entrepreneurs in the United States has been phenomenal. Statistics from the SBA indicate that 9.1 million women own businesses, they employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy. These women are shaping and redefining the workplace, the nation's business networks, financial institutions, and the US culture.These entrepreneurs who are the CEOs of their million dollar companies or empires all possess those highly developed, well-defined skills sets that have taken their company from ordinary to extraordinary.All successful entrepreneurs possess one fundamental ability, one fundamental quality, o
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more r

    Malcolm Baldrige Values and Concepts Part 2 -- Customer Driven Excellence
    In this issue, I will share my experience acquired from the conglomerate and its operating companies.. For the purpose of this article, I will articulate the Customer Driven Excellence which is one of the eleven core values and concepts used in Malcolm Baldrige Criteria. As before, I will use case studies to show how some of the companies implement them.To recap, below are the Eleven Core Values and Concepts of Baldrige Criteria:-Visionary Leadership | Customer-Driven Excellence | Organizational and Personal Learning | Valuing Employees and Partners | Agility | Focus on the Future |Managing for Innovation | Management by Fact | Public Responsibility and Citizenship | Focus on Results and C
    Why would you use an email or online survey when you could simply call your clients and customers and ask for their input?

    Lots of reasons.

    - standardization
    - easy to get large numbers of responses
    - easy to tabulate, analyze
    - easy (and often fun) for your clients and customers
    - inexpensive
    - non-intrusive
    - time-efficient (for you, and for your clients and customers)
    - protect your customers' anonymity (if important)
    - professional
    - no "cold calls"
    - no answering machines!

    And have you figured out how long it would take to have 100 fifteen-minute conversations instead? (I don't have to do the math to know that it's WAY too long!)

    So in this article, I'm going to talk surveys. How to find them, how to do them, and how to make the most of your results. Here goes....

    1 - Clarify Your Objectives

    What's your reason for doing the survey?

    You might want to get your clients' input on your products and services, let them know you really care about what they think, or learn what keeps them up at night. (Or anything in between....)

    Before you start, be very clear about what you'd like to accomplish. Then, be sure that each question on your survey will get you a step closer to your goal.

    2 - Choose a Survey Company

    You can write and produce your survey yourself, or (easier) use one of the many companies out there that provide survey services.

    These services come at a variety of prices (from free to quite expensive), and with a variety of options (from basic to quite extensive).

    Zip around the web a bit to find what's out there, and what seems most appropriate for what you're doing. In your wanderings, you may want to check out:

    http://www.EZsurvey.com
    http://www.zoomerang.com
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more re

    Your Business Bio Length
    Obviously your introduction bio should vary according to what group you are addressing. An introduction in front of the Securities and Exchange Commission would be different than the bio introduction used for a speaker about to give a high school commencement address, even though it is the same speaker presenting. But another consideration is how long your bio should be for a particular audience. Different audiences who are listening to you in different formats need different lengths of a bio.I was delivering a media training teleseminar recently and had emailed the bio off of my web site that is appropriate to public relations people who deal with media training clients. It seemed like I had done my homework, right?
    ortant)
    - professional
    - no "cold calls"
    - no answering machines!

    And have you figured out how long it would take to have 100 fifteen-minute conversations instead? (I don't have to do the math to know that it's WAY too long!)

    So in this article, I'm going to talk surveys. How to find them, how to do them, and how to make the most of your results. Here goes....

    1 - Clarify Your Objectives

    What's your reason for doing the survey?

    You might want to get your clients' input on your products and services, let them know you really care about what they think, or learn what keeps them up at night. (Or anything in between....)

    Before you start, be very clear about what you'd like to accomplish. Then, be sure that each question on your survey will get you a step closer to your goal.

    2 - Choose a Survey Company

    You can write and produce your survey yourself, or (easier) use one of the many companies out there that provide survey services.

    These services come at a variety of prices (from free to quite expensive), and with a variety of options (from basic to quite extensive).

    Zip around the web a bit to find what's out there, and what seems most appropriate for what you're doing. In your wanderings, you may want to check out:

    http://www.EZsurvey.com
    http://www.zoomerang.com
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more r

    How to Guarntee a Job After College
    Over the years I have heard the frustrations from students about the lack of knowledge when it comes to choosing a job or career after college. They know they should have some type of idea but from what I have gathered most do not. Even though their parents are pushing them to get a job they have no idea what they are suppose to be doing. More importantly they have no idea what they want to do. It is one thing to have a job but it is another thing to have a job you love doing!Therefore, I have put together a plan for college students that should give every student, who sticks to the plan, a guide to help them determine what future career they may want to explore. At the crux of this plan are two words… experient
    ing the survey?

    You might want to get your clients' input on your products and services, let them know you really care about what they think, or learn what keeps them up at night. (Or anything in between....)

    Before you start, be very clear about what you'd like to accomplish. Then, be sure that each question on your survey will get you a step closer to your goal.

    2 - Choose a Survey Company

    You can write and produce your survey yourself, or (easier) use one of the many companies out there that provide survey services.

    These services come at a variety of prices (from free to quite expensive), and with a variety of options (from basic to quite extensive).

    Zip around the web a bit to find what's out there, and what seems most appropriate for what you're doing. In your wanderings, you may want to check out:

    http://www.EZsurvey.com
    http://www.zoomerang.com
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more r

    The Best Business Card I Ever Saw
    I knew from the first moment I saw his card that I had to talk to the person who left it for me. Why did I feel so strongly about it?Well, for a start, it made me laugh. Nothing is as important as being alive, so enjoy it while you can: “Carpe Diem”. We’ve all heard it said, but how many of us really know much about it? Where it came from, or who said it?“Carpe Diem”: the famous advice “Seize the Day” is from Horace’s Odes. (Odes in Horace’s case, being his thoughts on lots of different things). The full thought is: “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero”, which may be translated as: “Enjoy today, trusting little in tomorrow.”Thus, “carpe diem” from ancient times until now has been advice expressed i
    y yourself, or (easier) use one of the many companies out there that provide survey services.

    These services come at a variety of prices (from free to quite expensive), and with a variety of options (from basic to quite extensive).

    Zip around the web a bit to find what's out there, and what seems most appropriate for what you're doing. In your wanderings, you may want to check out:

    http://www.EZsurvey.com
    http://www.zoomerang.com
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more r

    Starting a Tanning Salon-If Done Right, Can Be Very Profitable
    If you choose the right location, starting up a tanning salon can be an extremely profitable venture. Start up capital is usually the number one concern with entrepreneurs, but if you prepare a decent business plan, financing should not be too hard to get. As long as you have something to back up the risk such as a home or enough of a down payment in the business.Now depending on how many beds you are going to need, it can be quite expensive. If you are planning on purchasing a franchise, then the prices will range from $135,000 - $399,000. The price all will depend on the size, and which company you are representing.The opportunity is still out there is this market if you are able to get enough money to st
    http://www.pollcat.com
    or my favorite, http://www.surveymonkey.com

    3 - Keep it Short

    Most often, we're asking survey recipients to do us a favor by filling out our survey - even if the information we gather will help them, longer term.

    So be respectful of their time by keeping your survey short (no more than 10 questions, unless absolutely necessary) - and easy to fill out and return.

    The easier it is do complete, the more responses you're likely to get.

    4 - Mix It Up

    Most automated surveys allow for lots of different types of questions, including:

    - multiple choice
    - choose one or more from a list
    - fill in the blank(s)
    - rate on a 1-5 (or similar) scale
    - open-ended questions with a fill-in text box

    Try to mix up your question format to keep it interesting. Lots of essay-type questions often seem "too hard" for respondents. Conversely, all multiple choice questions can get a bit boring.

    5 - Get it Out There

    Sometimes you'll want to limit your survey to a particular group: your clients, people who have bought your book or participated in a particular teleclass, your newsletter subscribers, etc.

    Often, you'll be looking for responses from a much broader audience, say, self-employed individuals over 50, or all coaches in North America. In this case, you may want to email the survey link to your list, and ask recipients to forward the survey to anyone they know who fits your category. (You'll want to give them a compelling reason to do so!)

    6 - Make Course Corrections

    One of the great things about most surveys (Survey Monkey is a great example) is that you can pop in and look at results as they come in.

    Here's why that's important: If the answers you're getting don't answer your questions in the way you expected, you'll have the opportunity to revise your survey, on the spot. Revise a question ... replace it ... change the order ... integrate something you learned from a respondent ... add something you forgot.

    Get in there, see what's happening, and make course corrections if necessary.

    7 - Analyze Results

    Once all the answers have come in, look at them carefully. What does the "quantitative" data tell you? Slice

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