25 Common Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

25 Common Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

Do you have what it takes to get through hard times? Here are the traits that help home-based business owners thrive.

Regardless of your definition of success, there are, oddly enough, a great number of common characteristics that are shared by successful businesspeople. You can place a check beside each characteristic that you feel that you possess. This way, you can see how you stack up. Even if you don’t have all of these characteristics, don’t fret. Most can be learned with practice and by developing a winning attitude, especially if you set goals and apply yourself, through strategic planning, to reach those goals in incremental and measurable stages. The Home Business Musts Like any activity you pursue, there are certain musts that are required to be successful in a chosen activity. To legally operate a vehicle on public roadways, one must have a driver’s license; to excel in sports, one must train and practice; to retire comfortably, one must become an informed investor and actively invest for retirement. If your goal is success in business, then the formula is no different. There are certain musts that have to be fully developed, implemented and managed for your business to succeed. There are many business musts, but this article contains I believe to be some of the more important musts that are required to start, operate and grow a profitable home business. 1. Do what you enjoy. What you get out of your business in the form of personal satisfaction, financial gain, stability and enjoyment will be the sum of what you put into your business. So if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, in all likelihood it’s safe to assume that will be reflected in the success of your business–or subsequent lack of success. In fact, if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, chances are you won’t succeed. 2. Take what you do seriously. You cannot expect to be effective and successful in business unless you truly believe in your business and in the goods and services that you sell. Far too many home business owners fail to take their own businesses seriously enough, getting easily sidetracked and not staying motivated and keeping their noses to the grindstone. They also fall prey to naysayers who don’t take them seriously because they don’t work from an office building, office park, storefront, or factory. Little do these skeptics, who rain on the home business owner’s parade, know is that the number of people working from home, and making very good annual incomes, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. 3. Plan everything. Planning every aspect of your home business is not only a must, but also builds habits that every home business owner should develop, implement, and maintain. The act of business planning is so important because it requires you to analyze each business situation, research and compile data, and make conclusions based mainly on the facts as revealed through the research. Business planning also serves a second function, which is having your goals and how you will achieve them, on paper. You can use the plan that you create both as map to take you from point A to Z and as a yardstick to measure the success of each individual plan or segment within the plan. 4. Manage money wisely. The lifeblood of any business enterprise is cash flow. You need it to buy inventory, pay for services, promote and market your business, repair and replace tools and equipment, and pay yourself so that you can continue to work. Therefore, all home business owners must become wise money managers to ensure that the cash keeps flowing and the bills get paid. There are two aspects to wise money management. The money you receive from clients in exchange for your goods and services you provide (income) The money you spend on inventory, supplies, wages and other items required to keep your business operating. (expenses) 5. Ask for the sale. A home business entrepreneur must always remember that marketing, advertising, or promotional activities are completely worthless, regardless of how clever, expensive, or perfectly targeted they are, unless one simple thing is accomplished–ask for the sale. This is not to say that being a great salesperson, advertising copywriting whiz or a public relations specialist isn’t a tremendous asset to your business. However, all of these skills will be for naught if you do not actively ask people to buy what you are selling. 6. Remember it’s all about the customer. Your home business is not about the products or services that you sell. Your home business is not about the prices that you charge for your goods and services. Your home business is not about your competition and how to beat them. Your business is all about your customers, or clients, period. After all, your customers are the people that will ultimately decide if your business goes boom or bust. Everything you do in business must be customer focused, including your policies, warranties, payment options, operating hours, presentations, advertising and promotional campaigns and website. In addition, you must know who your customers are inside out and upside down. Related: Keeping Your Customers Satisfied — It’s All in the Details 7. Become a shameless self-promoter (without becoming obnoxious). One of the greatest myths about personal or business success is that eventually your business, personal abilities, products or services will get discovered and be embraced by the masses that will beat a path to your door to buy what you are selling. But how can this happen if no one knows who you are, what you sell and why they should be buying? Self-promotion is one of the most beneficial, yet most underutilized, marketing tools that the majority of home business owners have at their immediate disposal. 8. Project a positive business image. You have but a passing moment to make a positive and memorable impression on people with whom you intend to do business. Home business owners must go out of their way and make a conscious effort to always project the most professional business image possible. The majority of home business owners do not have the advantage of elaborate offices or elegant storefronts and showrooms to wow prospects and impress customers. Instead, they must rely on imagination, creativity and attention to the smallest detail when creating and maintaining a professional image for their home business. 9. Get to know your customers. One of the biggest features and often the most significant competitive edge the home based entrepreneur has over the larger competitors is the he can offer personalized attention. Call it high-tech backlash if you will, but customers are sick and tired of hearing that their information is somewhere in the computer and must be retrieved, or told to push a dozen digits to finally get to the right department only to end up with voice mail–from which they never receive a return phone call. The home business owner can actually answer phone calls, get to know customers, provide personal attention and win over repeat business by doing so. It’s a researched fact that most business (80 percent) will come from repeat customers rather than new customers. Therefore, along with trying to draw newcomers, the more you can do to woo your regular customers, the better off you will be in the long run and personalized attention is very much appreciated and remembered in the modern high tech world. Related: Why You Should Never Prejudge a Sales Prospect 10. Level the playing field with technology. You should avoid getting overly caught up in the high-tech world, but you should also know how to take advantage of using it. One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is that a one or two person business operating from a basement can have a superior website to a $50 million company, and nobody knows the difference. Make sure you’re keeping up with the high-tech world as it suits your needs.. The best technology is that which helps you, not that which impresses your neighbors. 11. Build a top-notch business team. No one person can build a successful business alone. It’s a task that requires a team that is as committed as you to the business and its success. Your business team may include family members, friends, suppliers, business alliances, employees, sub-contractors, industry and business associations, local government and the community. Of course the most important team members will be your customers or clients. Any or all may have a say in how your business will function and a stake in your business future. Related: Why Teamwork Should Be Your No. 1 Sales Tool 12. Become known as an expert. When you have a problem that needs to be solved, do you seek just anyone’s advice or do you seek an expert in the field to help solve your particular problem? Obviously, you want the most accurate information and assistance that you can get. You naturally seek an expert to help solve your problem. You call a plumber when the hot water tank leaks, a real estate agent when it’s time to sell your home or a dentist when you have a toothache. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the more you become known for your expertise in your business, the more people will seek you out to tap into your expertise, creating more selling and referral opportunities. In effect, becoming known as an expert is another style of prospecting for new business, just in reverse. Instead of finding new and qualified people to sell to, these people seek you out for your expertise. 13. Create a competitive advantage. A home business must have a clearly defined unique selling proposition. This is nothing more than a fancy way of asking the vital question, “Why will people choose to do business with you or purchase your product or service instead of doing business with a competitor and buying his product or service?” In other words, what one aspect or combination of aspects is going to separate your business from your competition? Will it be better service, a longer warranty, better selection, longer business hours, more flexible payment options, lowest price, personalized service, better customer service, better return and exchange policies or a combination of several of these? 14. Invest in yourself. Top entrepreneurs buy and read business and marketing books, magazines, reports, journals, newsletters, websites and industry publications, knowing that these resources will improve their understanding of business and marketing functions and skills. They join business associations and clubs, and they network with other skilled business people to learn their secrets of success and help define their own goals and objectives. Top entrepreneurs attend business and marketing seminars, workshops and training courses, even if they have already mastered the subject matter of the event. They do this because they know that education is an ongoing process. There are usually ways to do things better, in less time, with less effort. In short, top entrepreneurs never stop investing in the most powerful, effective and best business and marketing tool at their immediate disposal–themselves. 15. Be accessible. We’re living in a time when we all expect our fast food lunch at the drive-thru window to be ready in mere minutes, our dry cleaning to be ready for pick-up on the same day, our money to be available at the cash machine and our pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it’s free. You see the pattern developing–you must make it as easy as you can for people to do business with you, regardless of the home business you operate. You must remain cognizant of the fact that few people will work hard, go out of their way, or be inconvenienced just for the privilege of giving you their hard-earned money. The shoe is always on the other foot. Making it easy for people to do business with you means that you must be accessible and knowledgeable about your products and services. You must be able to provide customers with what they want, when they want it. 16. Build a rock-solid reputation. A good reputation is unquestionably one of the home business owner’s most tangible and marketable assets. You can’t simply buy a good reputation; it’s something that you earn by honoring your promises. If you promise to have the merchandise in the customer’s hands by Wednesday, you have no excuse not to have it there. If you offer to repair something, you need to make good on your offer. Consistency in what you offer is the other key factor. If you cannot come through with the same level of service (and products) for clients on a regular basis, they have no reason to trust you . . . and without trust, you won’t have a good reputation. 17. Sell benefits. Pushing product features is for inexperienced or wannabe entrepreneurs. Selling the benefits associated with owning and using the products and services you carry is what sales professionals worldwide focus on to create buying excitement and to sell, sell more, and sell more frequently to their customers. Your advertising, sales presentations, printed marketing materials, product packaging, website, newsletters, trade show exhibit and signage are vital. Every time and every medium used to communicate with your target audience must always be selling the benefits associated with owning your product or using your service. 18. Get involved. Always go out of your way to get involved in the community that supports your business. You can do this in many ways, such as pitching in to help local charities or the food bank, becoming involved in organizing community events, and getting involved in local politics. You can join associations and clubs that concentrate on programs and policies designed to improve the local community. It’s a fact that people like to do business with people they know, like and respect, and with people who do things to help them as members of the community. 19. Grab attention. Small-business owners cannot waste time, money and energy on promotional activities aimed at building awareness solely through long-term, repeated exposure. If you do, chances are you will go broke long before this goal is accomplished. Instead, every promotional activity you engage in, must put money back in your pocket so that you can continue to grab more attention and grow your business. 20. Master the art of negotiations. The ability to negotiate effectively is unquestionably a skill that every home business owner must make every effort to master. It’s perhaps second in importance only to asking for the sale in terms of home business musts. In business, negotiation skills are used daily. Always remember that mastering the art of negotiation means that your skills are so finely tuned that you can always orchestrate a win-win situation. These win-win arrangements mean that everyone involved feels they have won, which is really the basis for building long-term and profitable business relationships. 21. Design Your workspace for success. Carefully plan and design your home office workspace to ensure maximum personal performance and productivity and, if necessary, to project professionalism for visiting clients. If at all possible, resist the temptation to turn a corner of the living room or your bedroom into your office. Ideally, you’ll want a separate room with a door that closes to keep business activities in and family members out, at least during prime business and revenue generating hours of the day. A den, spare bedroom, basement or converted garage are all ideal candidates for your new home office. If this is not possible, you’ll have to find a means of converting a room with a partition or simply find hours to do the bulk of your work when nobody else is home. 22. Get and stay organized. The key to staying organized is not about which type of file you have or whether you keep a stack or two of papers on your desk, but it’s about managing your business. It’s about having systems in place to do things. Therefore, you wan to establish a routine by which you can accomplish as much as possible in a given workday, whether that’s three hours for a part-time business or seven or nine hours as a full-timer. In fact, you should develop systems and routines for just about every single business activity. Small things such as creating a to-do list at the end of each business day, or for the week, will help keep you on top of important tasks to tackle. Creating a single calendar to work from, not multiple sets for individual tasks or jobs, will also ensure that jobs are completed on schedule and appointments kept. Incorporating family and personal activities into your work calendar is also critical so that you work and plan from a single calendar. 23. Take time off. The temptation to work around the clock is very real for some home business owners. After all, you don’t have a manager telling you it’s time to go home because they can’t afford the overtime pay. Every person working from home must take time to establish a regular work schedule that includes time to stretch your legs and take lunch breaks, plus some days off and scheduled vacations. Create the schedule as soon as you have made the commitment to start a home business. Of course, your schedule will have to be flexible. You should, therefore, not fill every possible hour in the day. Give yourself a backup hour or two. All work and no play makes you burn out very fast and grumpy customer service is not what people want. 24. Limit the number of hats you wear. It’s difficult for most business owners not to take a hands-on approach. They try to do as much as possible and tackle as many tasks as possible in their business. The ability to multitask, in fact, is a common trait shared by successful entrepreneurs. However, once in a while you have to stand back and look beyond today to determine what’s in the best interest of your business and yourself over the long run. Most highly successful entrepreneurs will tell you that from the time they started out, they knew what they were good at and what tasks to delegate to others. 25. Follow-up constantly. Constant contact, follow-up, and follow-through with customers, prospects, and business alliances should be the mantra of every home business owner, new or established. Constant and consistent follow-up enables you to turn prospects into customers, increase the value of each sale and buying frequency from existing customers, and build stronger business relationships with suppliers and your core business team. Follow-up is especially important with your existing customer base, as the real work begins after the sale. It’s easy to sell one product or service, but it takes work to retain customers and keep them coming back. James Stephenson is an experienced home based consultant with more than 15 years of business and marketing experience.

3 Tricks to Building Value When You Sell

Focus on Business

There are two things businesses can focus on when selling: features and outcomes. Often companies spend way too much time rattling off all the perks of a product or service and gushing about their own business (“We have the best technical expertise”) and less time focusing on the prospect and the solution. This can lead to lost customers and sales.

Instead, focus on the end result by asking questions like, “If you could solve your top three challenges, what would that mean for your company in terms of increased revenues?”

Before you can start selling outcomes, you need to understand how to identify which result to sell in any scenario. Here are three tips to get you started:

1. Learn about your prospect’s challenges. Every qualified prospect has challenges you can solve, but you need to understand exactly what those challenges are.

Once you’ve learned what your prospect’s challenges are, you need to understand how important a solution is to your prospect. Remember all businesses have a lot of challenges, so they must prioritize them. If the challenges your outcome would solve aren’t at the top of your prospect’s list of priorities, then it’s time to move on.

Related: 6 Secrets to a Successful Sales Meeting

2. Understand and clarify your prospect’s goals. After you have identified your prospect’s challenges, you need to help him become clear about his goals. What is the prospect really looking to accomplish over the next year or two? What challenges will absolutely have to be solved in order to achieve that? This is where you want to start talking dollars and cents, this is where you build your value.

When you get prospects to articulate the revenues or profits they are losing due to their current business strategy, the massive value for you are selling becomes clear.

3. Create clear objectives: Now that you know what your prospect should be accomplishing, it’s time to create tangible objectives for your potential relationship. This means targeting particular metrics, like level of revenue increase, decrease in costs and new customer visits. By creating clear objectives, developing a budget for a solution with a prospect is painless and isn’t about the price.

Related: Five Strategies for a Winning Sales Presentation

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Marc Wayshak

Marc Wayshak is president of Game Plan Selling. As a sales strategist, he created a system aimed at revolutionizing the way companies approach selling, based upon his experiences as an entrepreneur, All-American athlete and years of research and training. A graduate of the University of Oxford’s MBA program and Harvard University, he is the author of Game Plan Selling and Breaking All Barriers.

Christian Women Achieving Their Goals

Christian Women Work Wiser

“Amazing Women Doing Awesome Things by the Almighty Power of God.”

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Yes, it is true.  Christian women are some of the most amazing human beings on earth. I know I say this all the time, but it is true!

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Multi-talented to phenomenal multi-taskers, Christian women do it all; everything we do illuminates the path of those blessed to be in our presence.

Christian women possess some very unique and special qualities, qualities that are gifts from God.  Taking those gifts and utilizing them in the plan devised by our Master, He equips us, highly favored and truly blessed women to fulfill His plan and do His Will.  We do it willingly and you can rest assure, we do it wholeheartedly.  We give of ourselves unto the Lord; He is always in our uppermost and deep inner thoughts.  Christian women prosper in all we do each day we are blessed to see.  We realize the importance of serving our Father, our Father Who, in Heaven and earth, reigns yesterday, today and tomorrow from everlasting to everlasting.

Christian women realize that God is the reason we breathe.  We realize that because the Lord thy God is Eternal, Immutable, Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent, we can mount up with wings like eagles.

Impacting and touching lives that have never been touched, that’s we are all about!

The VWE Newsletter

The Presence of the Lord

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As I sat down at my kitchen table, I glanced out the window; I was in awe of the Lord thy God of Israel’s breathtaking magnificence and the glory of His majesty.  Mesmerized by the endless rows of the lilies of the valley, I began sending prayers of thanksgiving unto the Lord thy God of my life for His sweet and eternal presence that is forever sealed in my heart and deeply rooted within my soul. I sing praises, I give honor and I magnify the Holiness of the One and Only Living True God, my Lord and Savior, my Father, Who Art in Heaven from everlasting to everlasting.

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen.  Revelation C 7, V12

 

I, Woman, Inspired

Dear Christian Women in Business,

I, Woman, Inspired, is a door of hope where you may enter in to receive all that we have prepared exclusively for you as we help you to plant seeds for your future and for your business. To live your dreams by reaching your goals and standing firm on the path where a foundation of faith has been built  through avenues of believing, receiving, networking and education, we want to help you to grow your Christ-centered and spirit-clothed business.

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Our mission and ultimate goal is to help nourish your aspirations as you work to fulfill your dreams by using your gifts and talents bestowed upon you by our Heavenly Father.  Together we become as one.

Whether your business is fully established, or if you’re just starting out or even if you’re contemplating starting a business, I, Woman, Inspired has something unique and special for your unique and special situation.  We know that there is nothing like working towards your dreams, watching them come into the light where prosperity awaits you on your amazing journey where God’s awesome purpose and plan for your life are sure to come to fruition; manifested in every area of your life.

The world awaits your service, woman inspired, your product and all that you have to offer.  I, Woman, Inspired, is here to help you to achieve your goals, helping you to leverage your business. You already have the gift; my goal is to help you to wrap it and give it as a present to your fellow sisters for they, too,  have gifts they want to give you.

I, Woman, Inspired…

Sincerely,

Cynthia G. Boyer

I, Woman, Inspired, starting with a vision, a dream and your ultimate goal, you take steps towards building a sound foundation, based on the amazing word of our awesome Father God through His infinite wisdom and knowledge, trusting and believing in Him as He guides you on your journey that leads you to your destination where your dreams and aspirations come to fruition.  You then share your prosperity obtained from wisdom, knowledge and blessings from God to bless other women.

Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year springs forth and forms a new season.  Each day creates a new challenge.  The enormity of each challenge can change the way we view life.  There are days that you’re faced with life-changing questions; they may be questions that you ask God or they may be questions you ask yourself; whatever the case, it is of the utmost importance for you to be able to discern what goals lie in your heart, what dreams you envision that God wants you to accomplish for His glory.

I, Woman, Inspired, recognizes the fact that God the Father devises a plan and then chooses our paths where we come together on one accord to help, support and to be that beacon of light that leads us to our exclusive destinations through our wisdom and the generous knowledge of wealth that God bestows upon each and every one of us.  We all have a special gift, a unique and priceless talent and skill set that we can utilize to bless our fellow sisters as well as to help our own business flourish!

I, Woman, Inspired, writing down our dreams, goals, aspirations, achievements and sending thanksgiving to God daily, will serve to remind us that we are never alone on our journey for we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I, Woman, Inspired, be prepared to tap into God’s reservoir of wisdom and then journal your journey and watch your wings take flight on and in the arms of Jesus, our Christ!

I, Woman, Inspired Aspire to Apply God’s Principles

 To my life and business by

 Using My God-Given…

 Amazing Talents

Gracious Gifts

Magnificent Skills

Awesome Abilities

Deep Seeded Passion

 Blessing Your Business

 Are you ready to reach your destiny?

 The foundation has been laid; stand up and prepare to take that first step into your destination where assurance reigns; a spirit-filled place where you will receive all that God has intended for you to have in your life and in your business.

 Abundance and Prosperity

 The road to your prosperity starts with believing in Jesus and having mountain moving faith to do anything.  Delight in the Lord and receive your heart’s desires.  Journaling your goals is the first step toward changing your life, prospering in business and fulfilling your dreams.

 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not whither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

 Psalm Chapter 1, Verse 3

  

I’m Glad About It

I’m Glad To Be An Entrepreneur!

I am just thrilled to be able to work in the comfort of home because I love home! It is a wonderful and loving place; the best place for me to be in.

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Being my own boss is the best position that I could possibly be in and I thank God for it! I take no credit for anything that I’ve accomplished in my life; my writing, my graphic design and my ability to be a help and blessing to others comes from the very Heart of Jesus Christ!  If you’re a woman of God, or even if you’re an aspiring woman who longs to work to give God glory, go ahead and do it! It will change your life and everything in your life.

Putting God first in your life is the key to your success no matter how big you dream, no matter how grand your goals, put God first, focus on Him, trust in Him and He will guide you into greener pastures; you will live in the Light of Jesus Christ and you will never dwell in darkness.

Let me ask you a few questions:

What are your goals?

What do you aspire to do?

What do you see yourself doing with your life?

Are you utilizing the gifts and talents God has blessed you with? If not, what in the world are you waiting for. Get up and get moving. Get into the spirit and drown yourself in your passion and watch great things come to light!

Give God all the glory and be forever blessed! I do it everyday and I’m glad about it.

The Divine and Everlasting Presence of God the Father Makes Our House a Warm, Loving and Abundantly Prosperous and Wealthy Home.

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The daily schedule of multi-tasking is what helps to make the home a house of warmth and joy filled with love and happiness; inviting signs that say welcome to all.

The Role of Mom Entrepreneurs

Warmth – Mom’ s love permeates the home through her very own cookbook of recipes that contains delicious and nutritious melt on your tongue meals. Preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner to help keep the precious ones all aglow with good health that consists of bone strengthening and overall essential vitamins, moms make sure, thru her sound wisdom and knowledge, that she takes excellent care of her loved ones, the same way God cares and provides for His children.

Good hygiene is a part of that care. Good hygiene starts with education and knowledge from the hearts of moms everywhere.

It is vital for moms to pass on and share this important information of good hygiene with her pint sized angels. Teaching her children how to properly brush and care for their teeth and bodies. Good oral health is important for overall great health.

Brushing the teeth twice a day will help to ensure that moms’ angels will have healthy gums for their teeth to adhere to for years to come. Eating foods rich in vitamins that strenghten bones and keep teeth healthy is one sure way to keep teeth white and gums healthy. It all starts from the inside and the choices we make when it comes to what we feed into the temples God has entrusted to us.

Daily hand washing is a great way to help prevent the spread of germs that can often cause colds and/or flu. Moms also launder the clothes to keep bedrooms, laundry rooms and hampers stay germ-free and fresh smelling. The aroma of love seeps thru the walls and halls because moms love home.

Creating and spending special moments nurturing and demonstrating, talking to and laughing with loved ones help to form a scapbook of never-ending memories and being able to share these special times with loved ones means so much to moms.

 

 

Directing Your Path

God’s and Direction

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As Jesus leads guides and directs me I follow Him I walk in all His ways and I Hearken unto His voice I am grateful that I am able to discern what He is telling me and I thank Him for His plans for my life.

Your Journey

Journeying Into Your Dreams

Journeying into your entrepreneurial spirit is a blessing.  Tapping into God’s reservoir of abundance tells you that there is nothing that you cannot do. 

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You have been equipped with the most awesome tools on the planet.  These tools will allow you to do some of the most amazing things you never even dreamed of.  You will soar into orbit doing what some may deem the impossible, but because you are a Child of the One and Only King of Glory, you know that you walk in greatness. 

 

 

Rise, Climb and I Shine

A Woman’s Journey, Destination…Life

When I launched my typing and transcription business, Magic Fingers Secretarial Services in September 2002, I had no idea what my journey was going to be like.  The only thing on my mind at that time was promoting my business to grow my business.  I believe we all have greatness instilled in us.  I believe that greatness is a gift that we can use to accomplish anything we dream of.  I was blessed with the ability to type fast and accurate.  Understanding the art of typing and transcription came really easy for me and I enjoyed it and made really good money for typing dissertations, term papers and transcribing interviews.  After typing and transcribing for almost a year, I felt something deep inside me stirring and literally leaping around in my spirit.  I would be overcome with this surge of excitement and I knew I was about to embark on a new journey.  Yes, I would still type and transcribe from time-to-time, but I had to take this phenomenal leap into something completely new and different than anything I had ever done before and I was ready.  I was going to use all the gifts I’ve been given in ways I and no one else ever thought possible.

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My secretary business took off for me in a matter of what seemed like minutes.  I distributed fliers in and outside of my neighborhood. I sent emails to professors at universities where I lived. I received three phone calls within days of posting my fliers (which I, of course, designed myself–SMILE) and I was in business.  The doors to my business had opened and I was gladly welcoming customers to share with them my expertise of typing and transcribing.

My journey had begun and I was enjoying it, but knew deep down inside there was still something greater waiting to be birthed. And so the next chapter in my journey was brewing deep down inside me.  Would you believe I began creating coloring pages for children.  My love for children, my own and children everywhere, led me on this great journey.  I was designing coloring pages using Microsoft Word.  Now how in the world I came to do this, I’ll never know, but I was loving it and Angel On My Shoulder was born and parents were blown away by it.  My goal for this business was just to bless children with coloring pages that they could use while moms were cooking, cleaning, etc.  I wanted to bless children with the messages found in each coloring page.  My coloring pages were magical and fun.  From there, I decided I to make gift boxes for children.  I began assembling gift boxes and giving them away for free; no one ever said thank you and they just didn’t seem to appreciate my heart, so I decided to let it all go.  From there, I started to create and design personalized certificates for children.  My certificates are great for graduations and can be used for to bless children and giving them recognition for their amazing accomplishments!  I still create my certificates because I love being able to bless, touch and warm lives through the beauty and messages found in each and every certificate. Still, there is more greatness I need to extract from deep within my soul.

 Each and every time I pull something new out of me, it just gets replaced with more greatness, which means I’m about to take my businesses to an even higher level; I didn’t think that was possible, but when you’ve got greatness guiding you, your journey never ends.   

The Doors Are Open

The doors are open. Mmmmm, smell the natural aroma of our coffee beans brewing.

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How would you like to drink a cup of inspiration this morning and every morning. We have an amazing variety of flavored coffees in our cafe; Ornaments of Grace, Delight in The Lord, Trust in the Lord, First Fruits and more.

All of our coffees are brewed to perfection and promise to awaken your senses, motivate and activate you so that you can live and enjoy a prosperous life using your gifts, talents, skills and abilities to uplift and glorify The Lord thy God.