“Now that I’m a leader, I fear people will find out I’m a fraud.” Many leaders with varying degrees of experience share this sentiment. At the heart of this dilemma is the transition from being a “doer with expertise” to a “leader with vision.” This shift, which is rarely easy, differs depending on the company, position and the amount of responsibility you have within your organization. As you assume leadership positions that take you further away from day-to-day tasks, this feeling can become increasingly pronounced. [Read more…]

This is probably an understatement, but entrepreneurs are some of the busiest people around. A day in the life of an entrepreneur is chock-full of business decisions, research and networking. Because there’s so much to do and so little time to do so, entrepreneurs can easily get off track and become distracted with nonessentials.

Chat or listen to some successful people, though, and you’ll notice that they have several daily routines or habits that have steered them to success. Here five things that productive entrepreneurs do every day: [Read more…]

Starting a marketplace business is hard. For one thing, you have two sets of customers: buyers and sellers. And, without a quality list of buyers, you cannot convince the sellers to get on board. Without these sellers on your platform, buyers have no incentive to use your service, either.

This is called the “chicken and egg problem” and is one of the biggest challenges marketplace businesses face.

But chickens and eggs are not their only challenge. An array of others, some of them unique, await any marketplace business. Here is a list of some of those challenges and ideas for how
they may be overcome. [Read more…]

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet — an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place — to override any shortcomings in their startup model. Yet, magic bullets are not sufficient to assure business success. If the elements of your business aren’t expertly developed and aligned, even the best dream will be in jeopardy.

Common failures I see along these lines include: solutions that are “nice to have” but don’t address painful problems; a business model that lacks a means for bringing in revenue; and a founder who has turned a blind eye toward his or her competitors. [Read more…]

1. APPS (BUT IT’S JUST $1.99!)

2. DAILY STARBUCKS

Understandably, the weekend is a time when many workers focus on relaxation, family and fun. And there’s nothing at all wrong with that, but you can also think bigger. Instead of simply using the weekend for leisure time, there are things you can do ahead of time to help your next work week go more smoothly.

Unfortunately, we rarely appreciate the power habits can have in transforming our lives. Whether you’re new to habit-building or you’re an old hand, give these five weekend habits a try in order to set yourself up for a successful work week. [Read more…]

Even the greatest leaders lack self-confidence at certain times. Self-confidence is not a static quality; rather, it’s a mindset that takes effort to maintain when the going gets rough. It must be learned, practiced and mastered just like any other skill. But once you master it, you will be changed for the better.

Here are six effective ways to promote your own self-confidence. [Read more…]

The whole point of Facebook is to share your life with other people. You probably have more than a few friends who fall into the over-sharing category. But don’t snicker. You may be one, too, and not even know it.

Here are five personal tidbits Facebook asks you to share that you’re much better off keeping to yourself. [Read more…]

1. Those who are judgmental

Judgmental people will find a way to criticize anything and everything they come in contact with. You could take the time to explain something to them in great detail but it goes in one ear and out the other. They come to their conclusions before they hear any facts — they don’t listen well and are horrible at communicating. Asking for advice or feedback from a judgmental person is a complete waste of time. [Read more…]

Have cable television. Many networks let you watch the shows online for free a day or two after the show airs. That’s a good way to stay up to date with your favorite shows without the extra cost.

Go partying with your friends. You simply can’t afford to do this if you’re broke – unless you’re not paying a cover and somehow getting free drinks. Find a less expensive form of entertainment and fun. [Read more…]