I recently read an interesting article in Enterprising Women Magazine about leadership. I thought I would share what felt are two valuable tips to help you be more effective.

Know yourself
A thoughtful leader knows who she is what is meaningful to her. She has purpose in life and work. She knows why she started her business and why she leads it. She understands how her business fits into her industry and her community.

Have a clear vision and be able to articulate it
A thoughtful leader must have a vision of what her business is all about. What it does, how it serves its’ customers and where is it going. A thoughtful leader must be able to articulate this vision, so that others are inspired and will join in working for the common good.

Hope these two tips help you become a successful leader in business and in life!

Have you ever Googled yourself? If you haven’t but are interested in finding out what the web has to say about you, enter your name in the search bar of Google, Yahoo or Bing. These are three of the most widely used search engines.

Don’t be surprised but there’s probably a lot about you and your history online and available for anyone to see! You really should check it out!

On one hand it’s interesting to see your name on the Internet. On the other hand, it can feel intrusive. For example, your home address can be Googled, which can include a satellite image of your home from Google Earth. In addition, people can post both positive and negative things about you on Facebook, Twitter, their blogs and more.

While it seems like there isn’t any privacy these days, there are resources available if you are concerned about your online reputation. Online privacy companies like Reputation Defender (http://www.reputationdefender.com) can, for a subscription fee, find and remove inaccurate, inappropriate and slanderous information posted about you online. Please note that they are unable to delete news articles or court records.

In this connected world where a comment is just a few keystrokes away, it is better to be proactive than not active at all!

It amazes me to see the sheer number of people starting companies that state they are custodians or record keepers of self-directed IRAs plans or who develop associations for the IRA industry that are there to “oversee” and “protect the consumer.”

With the Bernie Madoff’s of the world out there trying to take advantage of our last dollar, we all need to take extra caution when selecting the right administrator for our IRA. It is, after all, our future!

When doing your due diligence, here are questions you need to ask in your quest to find the right record keeper.

1. How long has the company been in business? Watch out for the new pop-up companies on the Internet. Many are not legitimate and are not regulated. Do a background check on any potential provider.

2. Ask for one simple document: The current 5305. If they don’t give it to you move on.

3. Do they have a custodial bank and if so, who is it? Are your deposits FDIC insured? Who regulates them? If you do not get a clear answer, move on.

4. Is their only service doing record keeping on the client’s behalf? If not, do they:

a. Sell securities and could profit from your transaction?

b. Offer other services such as forming LLC’s or other legal structures and charge thousands of dollars for their services?

c. Recommend any investments, providers of investments or any other party that could be perceived as giving advice?

You owe it to yourself and your financial future to make sure you are in the right hands. Visit Entrust at and speak to a representative. They meet the requirements you should consider when looking for a plan administrator and they will be happy to provide all the information you need.

Laid off from a job recently? Looking for a new career opportunity? Everyone always talks about dressing for success and yes this is important. As someone who does a lot of interviewing, being neat and clean, well kept, so to speak is important.

However, what is proving to be even more important to potential employers these days is the attitude.

Business owners who are hiring are on budgets too. They are looking for the right fit which, more often that not, includes a “can do” attitude with a proven track record. If you are new to the industry or looking to come back into the workforce off of a long break and do not have a proven track record your best bet is to bring letters of reference to your interview that vouch for you and your attitude.

Employers are finding that a good resume is not the golden ticket to a promising employee that is once was. Even with great looking resumes and work history, employers are finding that expectations of new hires can’t be exceeded because they aren’t even close to being met.

This is a unique market where employers are looking for solid, stable individuals who want to buy into the company concept, help the business succeed and be rewarded accordingly which means not just with a paycheck.

So take heed! If you are looking for a new opportunity, attitude is everything!

One final thought. If you are applying for a position for a small company, remember the owner did not go into business just for the money! He or she did so in order to fulfill their dreams for success. Keeping that in mind will give you an edge over the competition.

It isn’t bad enough when homeowners can’t pay their mortgages, there is a new threat for these troubled homeowners; the Homeowner’s Association.

Most homeowners and investors don’t realize that homeowner’s associations have the right to not only put a lien against the property but have the right to foreclose when dues aren’t paid.

Homeowner’s Associations oversee security, landscaping, lawn services, swimming pools, etc. The costs are split among all homeowners in the community resulting in a share of fees per home in the community. Normally, Homeowner’s Associations are not in the collection business but are now being forced into this role in order to collect delinquent debt.

With some research and some ingenuity, this is perhaps another unique opportunity for a savvy real estate investor to acquire property in a desirable and previously unattainable neighborhood.

The following article is courtesy of WomenOnBusiness.com

Today’s workplace is nothing like it used to be with middle to senior level executives not getting large car allowances, company credit cards, and expense accounts upwards to several thousands per month. Employee loyalty is non-existent and with the layoffs and firings. Employees must also take on more responsibility by picking up the work of those that were fired or laid off. Directors of business development and marketing are the first people to go when company revenues start to decline.

Is this the right strategy to saving the company money in the long run? It is the right strategy if and only if the directors are not performing. Business development and marketing are the biggest factors of success for a company. Yet, many senior level executives – CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, believe that business development and marketing are easy tasks they can take on in addition to their own work load. They take on those responsibilities and often fail.

Thus, the key to successful business development has three factors:

1. Good communication skills – getting appointments to see new business

2. Product or service knowledge to sell to those you are going to see

3. Have to know how to sell ice to Eskimos – Closing the deal

To learn how to develop business effectively – business that is going to produce revenue, continue reading the list below.

1. Determine the right market and target the right segments within that market

2. Can your company clearly determine a strong enough value proposition that gets potential clients’ attention?

3. Familiarity with external landscape – threats, competition, new technology, economic factors, social factors

4. Don’t try to create a market for your product or service. The way to success is to find an insatiable market and give them what they want

5. Making value your first priority and cost second priority

6. Surround yourself with the right people – all successful people have a dream team.

7. Understand the needs and wants of your market. Don’t try to sell them something they don’t want

8. Create a marketing plan to monitor progress. Research joint ventures and strategic alliances. Joint Venture with companies that can provide your company with the leverage to gain new business.

9. Use any new partnerships to leverage press coverage

10. Stay focused. Network wherever you can. Join groups and associations. You never know whom you’re going to meet.

To develop a solid business development plan, email Kristin at km@marquet-communications.com