May 19, 2008

Keeping Cool When Money Talks Heat Up... Cheap, Proven
Marketing Tips to Drum Up Sales... Money Lessons From the
Strangest Places... Achieve Your Comfort Zone Anywhere You
Are... and More.

** Keeping Cool When Money Talks Heat Up
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily

Whether it's at home in the kitchen or at the office in the boardroom, when the topic turns to money there are sure to be a few red faces and flared tempers.

When it comes to talking about money, it can be hard for many people to keep their emotions out of the conversation. Money, and especially a lack of money, can bring out the nasty feelings of anxiety, nervousness and, oftentimes, jealousy.

It goes without saying that these are emotions that can make anyone act in an irrational manner. Deals can be broken and, worse yet, relationships can be destroyed.

Being a hothead when discussing money matters rarely works to anyone's advantage. So, learning to keep your cool and spot when tempers are heating up could help you control situations and reach resolutions with more ease.

First, if you know you're someone who gets angry when money is brought up, work on ways to control your own emotions. This could mean ending a conversation to take a break or simply steering the conversation away from the more stressful topics.

Of course, avoiding a problem will never help you reach a resolution. This is why learning how to regain a calm attitude is so important.

On the other hand, you may be dealing with someone else who is prone to explosive fits when money worries are brought up. Here's where you want to be able to take control of the direction of the conversation. Screaming and yelling rarely lead to positive results, so take the reins and suggest a break to help everyone relax.

The most important part of learning how to keep money conversations from turning into disasters is to have a plan. There are going to be objections to ideas and disagreements over spending, so plan ahead with solutions you believe could resolve these issues.

Before your next money talk, take a few minutes and write down your goals. Understanding what a resolution could be even before a discussion starts can go a long way to helping you come out with a beneficial deal.

Alright, you've got your product and you've got your business all set up and ready. But, there's one thing missing. You need customers.

In order to get customers, you're going to have to market your business. But, you probably can't afford a huge billboard over the town square. Here are six ways to market your business on the cheap. Take your shoestring budget and aim it toward some of these "buzz marketing" ideas:

1. Solicit customers. Generate business by contacting the people who will buy your products. Send an e-mail or a letter before you make a cold call, or drop right in and speak to people in person. If it's general customers you are looking for, then pick some stores and shops they frequent and set up a little display with your product. (You'll need permission to do this, of course.) Also, you could make up some flyers or sample newsletters and hit relevant neighborhoods and community events to talk to customers directly. It doesn't get any cheaper than that.

2. Time to network. Get involved with organizations such as your local chamber of commerce. Go to trade shows, meetings, events, and anything else that puts you in the same space as potential customers or people who could spread the world of your new business. This is what it takes to drum up inexpensive publicity.

3. Leave your card everywhere. Walk around your neighborhood and visit all the places that your potential customers would visit. Talk to whomever you can, without a sales pitch. Just be friendly. Leave your business card if you can. If your business is not a direct competitor, many businesses may display your card right by the cash register. Don't be pushy and be sure to let the shop owners know what could be in it for them.

In my next article, I'll reveal three more ways to attract new customers using marketing tactics that won't break your bank account. Until then, go out and try the marketing tactics I've just suggested.

** Money Lessons From the Strangest Places
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

While flipping through a few programs last night, I began to notice a common theme popping up again and again. In one show, a lead character had amassed untold thousands in credit-card debt and was having difficulty discussing this with her partner. In another show, one of the characters received a large cash prize, and when asked if they were going to make a contribution to their 401(k), the character simply said, "Oh yeah, I guess I should get one of those, you think?"

Now, it may just be a coincidence, but I think that there may be something we can actually learn while still enjoying our favorite shows.

You see, money matters are one of the topics that people seem to rarely discuss around the dinner table. Sure, everyone may fantasize about their first purchase after winning the lottery. But, when it comes to managing money properly and considering savings for the future, these things seem to go left unsaid.

Now, I'm not saying that no one talks about these issues. I'm certain there are plenty of families who are setting the right example for their children.

Take, for instance, a lesson that a colleague of mine taught his child after they returned home with their Halloween loot bags. After they finished trick-or-treating, the father and child went home and sorted the candy, and then the father purchased the entire haul from the child. The child can then use the money to buy back the candy, with imposed daily spending limits.

To make the scenario even more like real life, the child's buying power increases over time. Much like many retailers discount items over time, the candy will also depreciate and, after a few days, the child's money will go just a little further with each purchase.

Now, this may sound rather elaborate, but when you consider that this child will be learning how to manage a small amount of money over a few weeks' time, then this could be well worth the time and effort.

Whether we are learning from the misfortunes of a sitcom character or spreading our knowledge to younger generations, money management is an important topic that should never be ignored.

This morning as I write to you, I'm sitting in a hotel business center in London, England. Needless to say, I'm absolutely nowhere near the comfort of my own office, some 3,470 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean. Let me tell you that working on the road, away from your comfort zone, is never easy, as it requires focus and knowing how to use the tools at your disposal to make things happen. After all, just because you may be out of town, doesn't mean your customers and clients are, too.

The key to being able to get work done outside of your comfort zone is to recognize opportunity. After all, how much time do you spend during the week waiting for things to happen? Maybe that time is spent waiting to catch a flight, waiting for the doctor or waiting for the bus. In some cases, you may find yourself in opportunities where you're sitting idle for extended periods of time on the train, subway or bus, as you commute to and from work. Wherever it is that you find yourself frustrated by the fact that you're wasting time while you could be being
productive, there are ways around it.

The first is getting used to the idea or working outside your comfort zone. After all, you choose to work where you work because it is the ideal setting for you to be productive. However, when you find yourself stuck on the subway while there is a big project with a lot riding on it due in two days, you have to buckle down and get the work done wherever and whenever you can.

For starters, always make sure you've got a couple of pens in your briefcase, bag or pocket. Their value is truly immeasurable. Sometimes those game-changing ideas arrive at the strangest times, and it's best to be prepared when they do. Of course, having a pen handy is useless you haven't got any paper to write your notes on, so keep a notepad handy as well.

Aside from the trusty pen and pad combo, there are also a number of electronic devices available today that make working outside of your comfort zone much easier and accommodating. Technology like laptop computers, the "BlackBerry? and other handheld computing systems make it easy to stay connected, make plans and get work done when you're on the go. If you're in a position where you think one of these devices will help you, look into making the investment or talking to your employer about purchasing one for you.

It's also common to find business centers in hotels around the world, just like where I am right now. These rooms are often wired with high-speed Internet capabilities, fax machines and the other essential resources to help you stay connected and making money when you're on the road.

Sure, working outside of your comfort zone may lead to some initial discomfort and stagnation, but once you get used to it and realize the available opportunities that make it much easier, those feelings should pass. Not to mention, even though the scenery around you may change, the color of money never does.