e-Wealth Daily: Free Ways to Make Quick Money, Ways to Become Rich

Following the news for information about the economy can sure give you a headache. This expert says we're in a recession, and then the next guy has the exact opposite opinion. Who's right? Who knows?

What you want to ask yourself then is whether or not you need to figure out for yourself what the threat of a recession means. Not only what it means for your money, but also what it means for your business.

You see, the threat of a recession has meant one thing that is bound to affect every business in North America. That one thing is that people are spending less money. Available credit is shrinking and people just don't want to be caught off guard.

But, while many people are spending less, they are still spending money and buying essentials and are even buying luxury items. However, the process by which people choose to spend their money may be changing.

The Internet allows people to research before they buy. You can compare prices, find little-known vendors and even bid on items in auctions. Not only can you be smart about your money, but you also have the tools to be even smarter all from the comfort of your computer.

Do you think this describes the customers of your business? Maybe not exactly, but you can be sure they are also taking action to protect their money and get the most value out of every purchase they make.

Your goal should be to uncover what steps your customers are taking to save money, and you're going to want to try to appeal to them while helping them satisfy this goal. It may sound tricky, but all it could take is a short survey and then a special promotion that targets the thrifty ideals your customers may now have.

** If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix it
By Doug D'Anna, the "Hundred-Million-Dollar Man"

Though it might be a cliche, it holds true for a lot of situations. Sometimes it's best just not to make changes when everything is going right. Or better yet, when nothing is going wrong.

If you've managed to get through the first year of business, then you have accomplished something that a lot of people couldn't. So, sometimes it's best to just ride out that success. Not every business has to be a multi-billion-dollar corporation. If you're happy, then you shouldn't grow. Why mess with a good thing?

This is the main thing: You have to decide what you're happy with and what your goals are for your business. If you truly feel that you need or want to make more money with your business, then growth is the way to do it. However, if you're experiencing success and the only reason for change is because you want a nicer car, then you might want to think about this decision further.

It costs money to grow a business. You need more of everything. More marketing efforts, more room, more employees, more product, more supplies, more everything. You also need more of a plan before you get started.

You have to put together a new plan of action and you need more research on your customer and the market. This takes time; time that you might not have or want to use. That means that you will end up hiring someone, like a consultant to help you out, which means more money.

Growth can be a huge undertaking. You will be taking time away from your personal life for planning, and this comes just as you've gotten into a routine and feel comfortable with your business.

For instance, growth into an international market can be risky and costly. There are regulations that you have to deal with, and details that are different than what you have now. You also have to do a lot of work to be sure that there is a market for your product. Not all businesses work in every country. Needs and wants differ from region to region.

The same goes for opening another location. You have to be certain that there is a market there for your business. You have to assume that you will be able to duplicate your success. That means that, in another city or state or country, people will be just as willing to buy. If you open up in the wrong place, then you could lose everything.

If you're looking for more money, then sometimes the better solution is to increase your productivity and marketing efforts with the current business model that you have. You don't need to grow to increase sales.

Look into increasing your profit margin by raising prices. You can look for different ways to decrease your costs. Paying less to run your business creates more money. Reducing your costs can result in huge money for your business. So, perhaps your time should be spent on putting together a plan to improve the way your current business is run instead of thinking about growing it.

If your productivity is where it should be and your business is running like a well-oiled machine, then perhaps you can think about increasing your marketing efforts. You can improve on any business without growing it. You can take the money you would have spent on growth and put it toward new advertising, or better packaging.

Create a plan to bring more customers to your current business. Look into improving your productivity levels by getting more organized through new software programs. Look into getting another employee to help you out, or into outsourcing a consultant to help you with your marketing. There are many ways to get more from your business without growing it physically.

Security in entrepreneurship can be hard to come by, so if your business is working, sometimes it's best to just stick with what you have. Adding more to a recipe might create a result you're not as happy with.

** How to Get What You Want
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

I've never been one to complain. Mistakes do happen and even the best laid plans sometimes fail. However, there are some things I just can't stand by and let happen. There are some mistakes that need attention called to so that action can be taken. And that means speaking up.

But complaining isn't simply a matter of writing an angry letter or making a phone call. There's a right way to complain and, of course, there's also a wrong way.

The wrong way is easy to identify, and this is the way you're probably going to encounter quite often. The irate customer yelling at a sales clerk at the mall is a great example of how not to complain. Yelling gets you and your complaint nowhere, and I always feel embarrassed when I see things escalate to this level.

So what's the right way? Well, the right way requires a little planning. First, you need to identify exactly what your complaint is about. Was someone rude to you? Did they not give you what you asked for? Were you ignored? Your goal is to be as specific as possible, give names where possible and be sure to explain how this inconvenienced you.

The second part you want to prepare is what you feel an appropriate solution would be. What would make you happy? You want to give the person handling your complaint an opportunity to correct the situation, and by stating what would satisfy you, you start making everyone's job just a little easier.

I'm sure it goes without saying, but staying calm and polite while offering up a complaint is essential. You?re less likely to get what you want if you've made the person you're talking to uncomfortable or even angry.

Keep these tips in mind and don't be afraid to speak up. Mistakes sometimes happen, so, to help prevent them from occurring in the future, speak up now and make sure your voice is heard.

** What's Your Plan B?
By Michael Newman, Self-made Millionaire

When people come up with an idea; whether it's for a vacation, a golf game or a business, they always envision the perfect execution. After all, why would we plan out a complete disaster? Well, more often than not, curveballs get thrown along the way that can turn even the best laid plans flat on their head.

With the general idea behind "Murphy's Law" being whatever can go wrong eventually will, it's seemingly more important to develop a Plan B before you decide to test the waters with your best ideas. After all, you don't want to be left with nothing when Plan A is stopped dead in its tracks.

Developing a solid Plan B can be rather difficult and time- consuming because it is usually the result of breaking down multiple factors that could derail your Plan A. Of course, you account for these problems when developing Plan A, but the back-up plan requires you to get even more creative when it comes to possible failures. Basically, you really have to think long and hard about possible -- perhaps unthinkable -- scenarios.

Obviously, the key to absorbing the big hits is through careful planning done through foresight -- all which takes place in the development process. Of course, we've yet to see how this plays out, but last week in the first quarter of an NFL football game, last season's Most Valuable Player, quarterback Tom Brady, was hit and was subsequently sidelined for the entire season. As the fans in the stadium all held their breath, the coach remained calm, and has remained calm for the last few days.

Why is he seemingly unworried about the consequences this injury could have on his team's success? Because he built the team, and he is confident that his backup quarterback can get the job done. Obviously, there will be a talent drop-off, but the coach is sure that his backup is capable; in fact, he was probably selected to be on the team because he was viewed as a suitable replacement if needed.

These scenarios are not limited to sports, and they can affect your business as well. Therefore, here are a couple of tips:

--Don't put all your eggs in one basket: When you do this, bad things can happen. By focusing all your efforts on making one deal, serving one customer or using an extreme case of tunnel vision, the implications can be astounding if things don't go as planned.

--Always Test: Conduct tests intermittently to make sure you're on the right track. If your research shows you're setting yourself up for failure, it will give you plenty of time to fix the problems.