Oct 182017
 
Armando Bartolome
Armando Bartolome

Everyone wants to have a comfortable life and financial independence. The question is: how do you make that happen?

Avoiding debt by spending within your means is a start. But there is more to it than merely holding on to your money.

How did successful people do it? Here are 7 simple tips.

  1. Keep learning. Learning does not stop after you step out of college. It is a continuous process of growing as a person. Joining training workshops allows you to explore new things, which can help you on the road to success.
  2. Choose a job that matches your skills. My advice to parents is to talk to their children about choosing a career that will truly fit their skills and complement whatever they learn in school.
  3. Become the best person that you can be. Great people always find time to improve themselves. This will assure you of having a better standing in your company.
  4. Diversify your income. Getting rich is difficult if you tie yourself to a single income. Consider engaging even in just small businesses like food carts or online selling. The nice thing about these businesses is they don’t require you to shell out a huge sum of money as capital.
  5. Invest. Putting money in the stock market may not be that common among average-income families. However, there are other forms of investments which they can take part in. Some of these are:
    • Savings and checking accounts
    • College Investment Fund
    • Retirement Fund
    • Insurance
    • Real Estate
  6. Persevere in your career. Many big time businessmen started out as employees or proprietors of small businesses. But they persevered and never lost focus. There will be times that you will be confronted with adversities, but if you focus on a bigger goal, you realize that it is all part of the game.
  7. Stay positive. Never surround yourself with people that will only drag you down. Surround yourself with people that exude positivity and you are more likely to become inspired and do things that will make you happy. Be with people that can motivate you to become better.

Are you cut out to be the next millionaire? Nothing is impossible when you have the right mindset and discipline.

Get his latest book “35 Tips On Business” available on E-book and paperback at www.amazon.com

(Armando Bartolome is known as the Philippines’ Franchise Guru, a business mentor to numerous micro entrepreneurs who are now themselves big names in the industry. This article is reposted with the author’s permission and was previously published on The Business Mentor column posted by ABSCBN News. For questions and more information, you may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome by email: philfranchiseguru@gmail.com or on Twitter @philfranguru. His website is www.gmb.com.ph)

The post 7 How To Get Rich Tips from Successful People appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Oct 122017
 

We all dream of becoming successful. While some prefer having a simple life, simply relying on our day job may not be sufficient to secure the future of the family. Sometimes the best way to provide for the needs of the family is to start our own business. Building a business is hard work. You need to figure out the best location for the business, secure permits, hire people; the list goes on. All these tasks require time and effort. To become an entrepreneur means to sacrifice a lot. Leisure Time: Starting a business requires a lot of time. You need to focus not only on one aspect of the business, but the entirety of it. Time with family and friends may be sacrificed. Instead of relaxing and hanging around with friends, entrepreneurs would find themselves working more than 8 hours a day, and sometimes even on weekends. So if you used to be a happy-go-lucky guy, entrepreneurship could be a whole new world which could shock you in the first few months. Money: Starting a business means having to spend your hard-earned money. If you used to party every weekend or go out on trips with your family and friends, that may have to change. Starting a business means having to cut down on your expenses. Every centavo should count as you focus on sustaining the business. Properties and Assets: You may have to let go of some of your possessions as you try to sustain your business. But Read More …

Oct 022017
 
5 Advantages of Young Entrepreneurs

Armando Bartolome We all want to live with a sense of purpose. We want better lives for our families, as well as happiness and satisfaction with the things that we do. Having a business helps us do these things. Some of us, at a very young age, may have already realized that we want to start our own business. The reasons for wanting to plunge into entrepreneurship may be motivated by financial need, the desire to be your own boss, involvement in the family business, or the drive for a sense of accomplishment. College students taking up a business course are expected to come up with their own unique business as part of their school requirements. Many of these students realize that these concepts can actually be profitable, and they turn them into real businesses as soon as they graduate from college. Many of these small businesses that we see today are owned by young entrepreneurs. Some of the most successful businesses also started out as small enterprises being run by young people. What are the advantages building your own business at a young age? There are several, some of which are: Young entrepreneurs can more easily adapt to any kind of environment, age, and culture. Young entrepreneurs have more energy, motivation, enthusiasm and creativity. The younger you are, the better you are at tolerating risk. Young people are also more resilient and are unlikely to give up until they reach their goal. Most young entrepreneurs who truly love what Read More …

Sep 212017
 
6 Ways To Be a Better Engaged Leader

Armando Bartolome Some people wonder if it’s possible for a results-driven leader to build a relationship with his employees and have fun while at work. The drive to see results can make a leader cold-hearted; but thankfully, many successful entrepreneurs have realized that it’s important to have a heart despite having to implement strict rules for the success of the company. Young leaders usually excel in running an effective and fun workplace. Compared to older executives, managers who are 30 years old or younger are at least 2-3 times more likely to be effective at balancing the need to deliver results while still being ‘approachable’ to employees.Additionally, those who are 40 years old and above appear to be more results-driven. You may have witnessed it yourself when you get to talk to young executives or managers–they are easier to talk to compared to older executives. Young managers are also strong-willed but they still make their employees feel valued. Older executives, on the other hand, are more interested in building a strong persona, assuming that this will help them influence others. But older managers would also benefit from improving their people skills, even if they don’t completely realize it. If you want to become a better more engaged leader, here are a few tips. Develop Great Communication Skills Former Apple CEO Gil Amelio wrote that developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. “The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency Read More …

Sep 072017
 
Stress Management for Busy Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are busy people. They carry a lot of burden on their shoulders and have a lot of tasks that keep them on their toes. But sometimes, businessmen may be so focused on making the business succeed that they lose sight of their family, friends, and even their selves. Sometimes, their busy schedule causes misunderstandings with their loved ones. And sometimes they are weighed down by the stress of keeping the business going. Entrepreneurs can suffer from anxiety and depression, lose the ability to solve problems, become unable to think rationally and make decisions because of stress. They may also become prone to health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes which may lead to heart attack or stroke. http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=7815&type=image&TB_iframe=1 Stress is inevitable in a business, but people have different reactions to it. There are three questions that can help you manage stress better: How does stress affect you physically? Does it also affect you emotionally or psychologically? How do you cope with stress? Some of the possible sources of stress are: children family, relationships finances illness lack of work-life balance loneliness committing to more than you can handle uncertainty work Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize your moods and emotions, as well as other people’s moods and emotions. A person with high EQ will know when stress is starting to get to him, and where the stress is coming from. Your ability to make decisions, maintain relationships, remain motivated, influence others, all depend on your EQ. When we Read More …

Aug 282017
 
18 Tips to Create a Positive Mindset

If there is one thing I am grateful for, it’s my ability to see the beauty that life can offer instead of being disheartened by the obstacles that come my way.  Thomas A. Edison once said, “I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.”  In any kind of business, we will all inevitably come across failure. We will sometimes be disappointed with the results of our efforts.  But we need to realize that we can only do so much—that even with a seemingly perfect plan, things could go wrong halfway through the process.  So how do we deal with it? As a business mentor, I have met many that inspired me to continue my advocacy of helping Filipinos elevate their status by engaging in businesses, no matter how small.  Some of them almost gave up after struggling with the businesses they started. I asked these disheartened entrepreneurs: “What do you think is causing your business to fail?”  I was surprised with their reply. I was expecting them to tell me that they didn't know enough about the business they entered.  But the reason was: they lacked faith in themselves and had doubts that they could make the business work.  When I asked them why, they replied that each struggle with the business seemed to be pulling them down deeper. When a person has a positive attitude in life, trials and tribulations become a “gold mine of learning.” We never really know how much further we Read More …

Aug 232017
 
Are You Ready To Take The Next Business Challenge?

Each one of us goes through highs and lows in life. In this imperfect world, we strive to become the best person that we can be. But along the way, we face challenges that could change our lives forever. It is up to us how we look at these challenges.  Is the glass half full or half empty? People have different opinions.  In my case, I strive to see the beauty in imperfection. I choose to only see the positive side of life because it helps me become more effective at what I do.  As a business mentor, I provide encouragement to people. I motivate them to take the leap and stand up.  When you face a challenge, there are only two options: grow up, or give up. Which one will you take? GROWING UP Who do you look up to? One may take inspiration from parents who struggle to work abroad to provide a better life for their families, or a boss who was able to climb the ladder to success starting out as a janitor, or the man selling balut across the street who won the lottery and shared his blessings to abandoned elderly, or even the homeless woman who was able to send her children to school with her measly earnings from selling flowers.  You may have seen their struggles in life, seen the hardships they had to endure before meeting a better life. As an entrepreneur, going through similar ordeals is part of the process. It Read More …

Aug 172017
 
12 Similarities Between an Entrepreneur and a Parent

How does one get into the entrepreneurial mindset? Typically, an entrepreneur would create a plan to guide him. An entrepreneur will also continuously assess himself to determine his personal strengths, while making use of the resources available, and responding to unforeseen events. When things don’t go according to plan, an entrepreneur does not give up easily. He weighs all the possibilities — both positive and negative, but still remains calm, persistent, and hopeful that everything he planned will eventually materialize. In a way, becoming an entrepreneur is a lot like becoming a parent. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A PARENT AND AN ENTREPRENEUR Running a household is like running a company. Why? You never know what’s coming until it strikes you. There are a lot of books that claim to help you get through any situation. But you realize the magnitude of a challenge only when you are already caught up in it. You learn that life is constantly changing. You realize that you need to adapt quickly to the ever-changing world, or you'll get left out and won’t have the faintest idea how to get on with your life. You doubt your own capabilities. You learn through experience to hone your skills and do your job responsibly. You had the no idea who you would become. When you were younger, you may never have imagined putting diapers on your baby as a parent, or being thankful for technology as an entrepreneur. Your thoughts may have been leaning towards a different direction then. Read More …

Aug 102017
 
4 Core Elements in Company Brand Identity

A lot of businesses are so focused on their products and services that they sometimes forget about the company’s brand image.  But an effective visual representation of a company is important for it to succeed. A lot of entrepreneurs overlook the power of a strong brand image and only realize its importance when problems come in.  Brand image is more than just the company logo. It is the soul of the business, which leaves a mark in the minds of consumers.  Besides having a great brand image, businesses should also consider developing their own apps. As the world becomes more and more digital, apps ensure that companies can reach an even a wider audience in an instant. WHAT MAKES A STRONG BRAND IMAGE? Some companies consider brand image as an additional expense that is unnecessary. However, without a strong brand image, a business may not even survive its first year.  Keep in mind that a brand image goes beyond what a company can offer. In simplest terms, a company’s brand image is how the consumers perceive the company as a whole. Brand image should distinguish your business from other companies and make you stand out. It should also make your company instantly recognizable.   Brand image should also create an impression. The design of the website, the cleanliness of a store, the design of the business cards and how a company’s employees treat customers—all of these are part of brand image. It is vital for a company that consumers take Read More …

Aug 022017
 
10 Marketing Strategies Every Startup Should Know

Startups can benefit from marketing strategies called “growth hacks.” Sean Ellis coined the term back in 2010. It refers to non-traditional marketing techniques designed to rapidly grow your business. These strategies are based on the latest trends. From the web design, email templates, content creation, social media, search engine optimization, advertisement, landing pages and others – there’s a need to constantly be up-to- date.  GROWTH HACKING STRATEGIES Entrepreneurs need to use all possible means to promote their business, and we all know how important the online world has become.  Having a website is important, but it’s never enough to simply have an online presence. To help your business expand, you can use the “growth hack” strategies below. Growth Hack #1: Run a Pre-launch Giveaway Make some noise as soon as you launch your business. Let people know about your business by creating an account via Rafflecopter. This may cost you a bit, but it will entice people to join the raffle and promote your business. By using Rafflecopter, you also encourage your online audience to connect to your different social media accounts. Once they’re connected to you on social media, you can also gain feedback about your products and services, as well as create a customer contact list that you can use in the future. Growth Hack #2: Increase your online visibility through organic search Provide information that your potential customers will find most useful. Use snippets that can grab the attention of your online audience in 150-160 words. Use Read More …