Financial Tips | Money and Kids

Cashspeak! 2006 - CASHSPEAK
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11/22/06


Now that your creativity has been tested and applied to the first two (or three if you have a tangible product) sections of your business plan, it is time for the hard work to begin!

If you think about this logically, a business plan has a very natural progression. First, in the ES, you grab the investor’s attention. You make him/her/it want to know more about your product. As such, in your Product Presentation section, you describe, in detail, your product from beginning to end. Next, the investor thinks to himself/herself, “How are we going to sell this product?” In response to this question, you wrote your Marketing Plan. Your Marketing Plan illustrates your plan to sell your product/idea/concept. Next, the investor is going to wonder, “Will this product/idea/concept sell?” In response to this query, you present your Market Analysis section.

The Market Analysis section of your business plan presents data, figures, and market trends that prove that your product/idea/concept will sell. Does this mean that you leave out any negative data/figures/trends that appear to “hurt” your product/idea/concept’s marketability? There is no simple answer. Two schools of thought exist on this dilemma. First, some believe that you should leave out any adverse information and try to paint the best picture possible for the investor. In my opinion, this option leaves you open for attack. An educated investor might ask you about this negative data and how it will affect marketability. If you have not addressed this issue, you may be left speaking on the fly or worse, saying nothing. Second, others, including myself, believe that you should recognize the existence of these possible “problems” and address how they are distinguishable or how you can work around the negative effects of any of these “problems.” By doing this, you look better. It shows the investor that your have done your homework, that you thought of all potential problems, and know how to work through them.

This section of your plan is not easy. You have to do TONS of research for this section. If at the end of writing this section you think you have found everything, research some more. Also, make sure your sources are CREDIBLE! This means, do not go to some random website and start gathering information for use in your plan. Use recognized sources from state and government agencies. For example, if you want to market you product/idea/concept in you city, you local chamber of commerce may have some useful information. If your product/idea/concept is so new that no current data would be helpful, use data from market trends that support your product. For example, if your idea is a new electronic toy aimed at 5-10 year olds, find data that shows how the electronic toy market is expanding, any increases in sales, and how your toy will benefit from this trend.

Also, make sure your statistics are current. Do not use 1999 statistics as a representation of current market trends. Also, use graphs and charts as applicable. If you are trying to show that the market you are trying to penetrate has grown over the last five years, then show a graph. However, if you are trying to show the sales of a product for a certain year, DO NOT show a graph. (Too many graphs and charts can begin to jumble your points and ruin the flow of your plan. Also, too many of these illustrations can be confusing.) *NOTE* - Everything that is underlined is a personal opinion. Know your audience when presenting, because some investors love picture representations. Use your judgment when constructing this section and you should be fine.

Lastly, make the statistics relevant and specific. The biggest problem I see with draft business plans is that they are too vague. Most read like a summary and provide no evidentiary support for their assertions. Your plan MUST be specific. Remember, you are trying to get somebody to invest money into your product/idea/concept. Wouldn’t you want to know every detail of something before you invest money? Think about it like buying a car. Presenting a vague, non-detailed, unsupported business plan to an investor is like asking him/her to buy a car by just looking at the color. I would rather see an ugly plan full of applicable substance than a “pretty” plan full of vagueness and summaries.

When writing this section, put your self in the investor’s shoes. If you were potentially investing thousands of dollars, what would you want to know? Think of all the questions a potential investor would ask. Once you have addressed all possible scenarios and found all applicable data, you should feel comfortable in this section. The only thing left to do is to compile all of this information into a cohesive format.

Next time, the Management Team...

10/31/06

After your ES, there are two different places you can take your plan. If you are pitching an idea, concept, or something intangible, then your next section should be your Marketing Plan. However, if you are pitching a product, clothing line, or something tangible, then your next section should be your Product Presentation. (NOTE: You can get creative with your section titles, but I caution you not to stray too far from the norm. For example, instead of “Marketing Plan,” you can title your section “Marketing Campaign,” “Customer Marketing,” etc...)

I will discuss the Marketing Plan first. The Marketing Plan is the section of your business plan that discusses how you are going to make the public aware of your idea/concept/product in order to accomplish your objective. Your objective can be whatever you want, as long as it pertains to the Marketing Plan. For example, if you are pitching a restaurant idea, your objective may be to achieve 100% occupancy every night with a 3.5 time turnover rate. Once you have defined your objective, you can then formulate a plan to accomplish that objective.

As you write the Marketing Plan section, be aware that financial figures are not needed for this section. The Marketing Plan is just discussion on what you plan to do to create sales, revenue, and money! For example, let’s say you are pitching a clothing line. Your idea may be “time-frame” orientated, meaning that you plan is broken down by dates. So, you might write something like:

This plan will be broken down into a three year effort to raise both local and national awareness of X clothing line. During the first year, X clothing line will be introduced to the public through BRAND Y store. At first, X clothing line will only be in 5 BRAND Y stores to test the public response. Throughout the year, approximately every two months, X clothing line will be introduced into 5 more BRAND Y stores. By the end of year one, X clothing line will be available for sale in 35 BRAND Y stores. During year two, X clothing line will continue its expansion. BRAND W and BRAND Z stores will be the next targets of X clothing line. However, because X clothing line will have already been introduced to the public, year two expansion will be far more aggressive. Instead of starting in only five stores, X clothing line will be introduced into 15 stores each of BRAND W and BRAND Z. 15 new stores will be added at the same rate of approximately 15 stores every two months for the rest of the year....

You get the idea. Make your plan easy to read and easy to follow, but make it creative and feasible enough to be attainable. For example, do not state that you are going to expand to different stores without having reached such an agreement with the stores you plan to expand in. Instead, you may want to start small with a Marketing Plan that incorporates the internet, direct marketing, and print media advertising. Remember, you do not have to worry about putting actual financial figures in this section, so be creative with you plan. However, also remember that the cost of marketing will be incorporated in your plan later on, so do not go crazy with you advertising/marketing ideas.

I will now discuss the Product Presentation section. For people who want to pitch an actual, tangible product, this section is necessary. Please note that a Marketing Plan is still necessary for you people that have a tangible product to pitch. The only difference is that the Product Presentation section is also needed in addition to the Marketing Plan. Getting back to the point, like I stated before, your ES should be something dramatic that captures the attention of the investor and therefore, little is said about your product. The Product Presentation section is where you get to lay it all out. Just as the title of this section suggests, this section is where you present your product to your investor. Writing styles vary, so I will not try to tell you how to write this section, but just make sure that this section includes:

1. What the product is. You would be very surprised how many times people describe their product without specifically stating what it is. Make sure you write, “This product is a _____.”;

2. The description of your product, including size, dimensions, weight, etc...(if applicable); and
3. Materials used in making your product. This does not mean that you state that you used a sewing machine to make your clothing line. This means that you say that your clothing is made of cotton, rayon, nylon, etc., and that you point out specific “quality points,” such as hand stitching or expensive fabrics.

At the end of this section, the investor should know what the product is and everything relevant about the product. Some people add pictures to this section. I feel that this is okay, but if I were an investor, I would much rather have an actual prototype in my hands to explore. Once again, this comes down to a matter of style, so I leave that decision up to you.


Look for more to come in the next installment when I discuss the Market Analysis section...

10/12/06


Many people in our community have asked me to talk about business plans. I decided that it was the next logical step and am proud to present the business plan series! Over the next couple of weeks I will discuss a different portion of a typical business plan. KEEP IN MIND, there are many different ways to organize a business plan and that sections have many different names. However, for the most part, each section in a business plan, regardless of name used, accomplishes a specific task. The importance of each section depends on the product/idea/situation you are pitching and to who you are pitching. I am only going to give you a general layout of a business plan. Could you use the layout I give you for a business plan? Absolutely, I have used this very format in some of my business plans. However, as I mentioned above, there are many formats. If you do not feel comfortable with my format, do some research and find a format you are comfortable with.

With all of this in mind, we begin with the first section of a business plan, the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (hereafter “ES”). The ES is the first page, with the exception of the cover, that your potential investor will see. The ES is where you grab the investor’s attention. Think about an ES like this. The ES is the equivalent to the first paragraph in a novel. You have only a few sentences to impress the investor. DO SOMETHING STUNNING! The ES is the part of the plan that allows for the most creativity. My advice, GET CREATIVE!

Your ES should include your pitch. Do not write, “I am going to present you with X!” For example, in the business plan that my business partners and me wrote for our restaurant concept, our first paragraph read:

The world has never before experienced a restaurant of this nature. For too long have generations fantasized about this taboo subject; for too long has it sit idly by and watched; and for too long has it waited to come to fruition. The mood is about to change. A new concept will revolutionize this industry and break down the barriers of old. The threshold of tradition is about to be challenged. Dining has a new experience, and that experience is (our restaurant name.)”

Do you see what is going on here? This may grab some people’s attention and it may not others, but no matter who you are, I know this paragraph instills, at least, a small amount of curiosity. In fact it instills just enough curiosity to read on. If this happens when investors read your ES, mission accomplished!

There is another component to your ES. Once you have grabbed the reader/investor’s attention, talk a little about your idea/product/situation. Tell the investor what “it” is. Do not go on for pages, but in a few CONCISE paragraphs, tell the investor about your idea/product/situation.

Lastly, an ES should also have a brief paragraph about your potential customer base and why your idea/product/situation will be successful with the customer base you have identified. Your ES should encompass your entire business plan in only a page or two. You have a pitch, information about the idea/product/situation, potential customers, and why the customers will buy your idea/product/situation. These are important aspects of an ES and are necessary to ensure that you potential investor does not become a lost opportunity.

Keep working on it and e-mail me if you have any questions: cashspeak@yahoo.com. Also, no quote today because I want to wait until the end of this series, but I will say that success only comes to those who want it. So ask yourself this question, “Do I want success?”

10/2/06

by Marco Angioni II

So you have your business plan, now what?! Who do you pitch it to? What do you pitch? How do you contact the people who you want to pitch your plan? Although these questions can be answered in order, (investors; my business plan; and talk to them) preparation, planning, and persistence are key.

Your plan is complete, but is it really? I suggest you review and revise your plan at least one more time before the pitch. You must make sure that EVERYTHING is correct. Think about it from an investor’s point of view. Would you give your money to somebody who promises to take care of every detail, but at the same time misspells or misstates vital information in his/her business plan? Also, I strongly suggest you do a practice pitch. Pitch your plan to somebody you trust, but not to somebody that is going to give you a “sugar-coated” reaction. For example, you business family members, family members, and friends are out! Somebody that would be valuable to your cause could be a professor/teacher of yours, an “expert,” and/or a neutral third party that will give you honest advice.

Make sure you bring the whole package. When Chris Clifford (one of my business family members, and the author of the commercial real estate piece on this website) and I pitched our restaurant idea to the vice president of restaurant development for Station Casinos, we did not bring the whole package; therefore, even though he LOVED the idea, he could not accept it because pieces were missing. We had our business plan, but we did not create our management team or any visuals as to the restaurant layout. These overlooked items prevented a great idea from becoming a reality. Do not let this happen to you. If you’re pitching a restaurant concept, bring your plan, visuals, management team, and income source, if applicable. Always bring MORE to the table than the investor could possibly ask for. If he/she asks for a sample, show him/her three. If he/she asks for your management team’s credentials, show him/her your management team’s credentials, your credentials, and your operator’s credentials. The goal is to make the investor realize that because of your organization, drive, ambition, ideas, and credentials, investing in your idea is minimum risk and maximum return!

Although you may have compiled all this information, do not throw everything at your potential investor at once. Break your plan into parts. Give the potential investor each part as you pitch it. Do not overwhelm him/her. Remember, you are trying to get this person to give you his/her hard earned money, and their comfort in your idea and ability is key!

Last, but most importantly, how do you find investors to pitch your idea? The answer is simple, go out and look! Chris and I got our meeting by calling that guy’s secretary every day for two weeks. He finally said, “You have fifteen minutes to pitch your idea.” The meeting lasted one and a half hours. Be persistent. Find your investors. Ask yourself, “Who do I want to invest in this project?” Once you discover this answer, track him/her/it down and get your meeting. Use all your connections! Friends, family, business partners, business family members, colleagues, fellow students, teachers, professors, clergy members, and/or banks are all possible investors or can lead you to other possible investors. Remember, do NOT get discouraged and keep plugging away! You will find an investor, and once you do, the rest is up to you. If you believe in your idea and put sincere hard work into it, you will find investors!

Believe me when I say that although landing the deal feels great, there is no bigger adrenaline rush than the pitch! As Donald Trump once said, “Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.”

9/24/06

by M. Angioni II

Some people can dive into a project headfirst without first having received any guidance and without having a plan. The most amazing aspect of this approach is that sometimes these people successfully complete a project. This approach may work for school papers or group projects, but do not initiate this kind of mentality on an entrepreneurial investment. Even if you are one of those people who have succeeded in the past using this “attack first, ask questions later” approach, I implore you to reconsider doing the same for your first, and in fact, any investment.

The simple solution, find a mentor. Talk to people that have already “walked the path that you are traveling.” You might be wondering how and were to talk to these people. I have an answer for you.

First, figure out exactly what kind of investment you would like to attempt. Accomplishing this will help you focus your efforts and questions to people who possess the expertise that will be most helpful to you. Once you have established your investment interest, you next must find “experts” who can give you the vital information you need to make an INFORMED decision about your investment goal.

Second, start with your immediate family and friends. Asking these people questions will not be difficult, because you will probably feel most comfortable around these people. Make sure you are asking questions of people who can help! DO NOT arbitrarily ask random friends and family members general questions, because you will not gain any useful information. Another pitfall to avoid is making a decision off of this information alone. Friends and family members may “sugar coat” the answers to tough questions so as not to discourage you. Although the intention is kind-hearted and good-spirited, this can only hurt you in the end.

If you do not have any friends or family members that can help you directly, ask if they know anybody that can help. Besides providing information, friends and family can provide many outlets for you to find information.

In the event that your friends and family and their friends and family cannot provide you with a source for useful information, this means that you will have to find an expert yourself. If this happens to you, know that you are not alone. This exact situation happened to me. About five years ago, I was extremely interested in fast food franchising. After doing research through print materials and the internet, I decided that a Subway restaurant offered the best opportunity. Because I had no family and friends that could help me gather information, I e-mailed every person on America On-Line whose profile stated that they owned a Subway franchise. You would not believe the large amount of responses I received from people who were more than willing to talk with me and answer my questions.

Third, read books, magazines, and other publications on your specific investment. Although these materials can help give you a general idea, they are no substitute for a live person, because print material may not answer all your questions. Once again, do not make a determinative decision about your investment on this information alone.


Finally, once you have compiled enough information to make an INFORMED decision, make your decision. I caution you though, do not lose contact with your mentors. They will be an invaluable resource in the future.

Having all these resources at your finger tips can help minimize your risk and maximize your returns. As Louis Pasteur once said, “chance favors the prepared mind."

9/18/06

By: M. Angioni II

One of the biggest problems new entrepreneurs have is that they get discouraged. Some get discouraged more easily than others, but regardless of your tolerance level for disappointment, becoming discouraged is a natural emotion for all entrepreneurs. The difference between a successful entrepreneur and unsuccessful one is how you deal with the discouragement.

I am going to be very blunt, not all of us will become successful. This is an economic impossibility! If everybody on earth had one million dollars, then having one million dollars is the norm. How can you be rich if everybody has the same amount of money? Wealth is not measured by an actual number; in other words, having a million dollars does not necessarily make you wealthy. My previous hypothetical proves this point. Wealth is measured by how much MORE money you have then everybody else. If 30% of the people on earth had one million dollars, 60% had a billion dollars, and 10% had a trillion dollars, then the billionaires are “middle-class,” and the so-called “millionaires” are actually poor! The point is, in order to be “rich” you have to gather more assets than most people, and not base wealth on a specific numerical figure. Why does this matter? This matters because, as I said, not everybody can be “rich” and the people that “cap” their success to a specific number will eventually find themselves without money.

Overcoming adversity and discouragement will be the difference between entrepreneurs that succeed and entrepreneurs that fail. Those who let failure defeat them do not have the true entrepreneurial spirit and most likely only enjoy the title of “entrepreneur.” The way I see it, those people can keep the title! I’ll call myself a garbage man if me and my business family make more money than you and yours!

Losing your motivation to make money is the biggest obstacle you will face. Raising capital, obtaining ideas, and forming your business family are minor hindrances compared to losing your motivation. If you cannot obtain financing, you keep looking; if you cannot create a new idea, you keep thinking; and if you have trouble forming your business family, you keep networking. But, if you lose your motivation, that means that you have given up. There is no solution to this. I can only give you the tools; I cannot put fire into your heart. With that in mind, I offer the following words...

Whenever you find yourself becoming discouraged and/or losing your motivation, remember what is important to you. Keep your eye on the ball and WRITE DOWN your goals. Do not be afraid to take chances, and most importantly, stay loyal to your friends, family and/or support base, because they will continue to love and support you no matter the outcome of your entrepreneurial journey. Stay motivated and do not become a poor millionaire!

As Confucius once said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

9/10/06

by M. Angioni II

Many of the postings on this website discuss real estate, banking/financial institutions, and other common investments that are know to most entrepreneurs. However, because we are new entrepreneurs, we need to create NEW investments!

Many investors invest money and time into a project. When one buys a piece of real estate, one spends his/her time evaluating the property, discussing and negotiating terms, and preparing and signing contracts. After all of that time is invested, money now has to be invested to conclude the deal. These two elements are very common in the entrepreneurial world. Time and money; time and money; time and money! This is all entrepreneurs hear! “You have to invest a lot of time and money to make this business work!” I do not entirely agree with that common statement, but there is some truth to it. The point is, we as new entrepreneurs need to (at the risk of promoting a cliché) THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

You may be asking, “WHATS THE POINT? GET TO THE POINT!!” The point, my fellow business community members, is that if you/me/us/we ONLY invest time and money into a project, we are extremely limited in our choice of investment. The entire premise of being an entrepreneur is that we do not fall in line; we do not conform to the conventional; and we break boundaries and borders in order to pioneer an idea, product, or state of mind!

Keeping that in mind, many people are interested in the “entertainment arts.” In other words, many new entrepreneurs are interested in the music and acting industries. This is a GREAT road to travel! I respect and congratulate any person who wants to invest in these types of projects, not only as silent or active partner, but as the actual talent; the actual musician or actor/actress. However, I do NOT want to mislead. Entrepreneurs that have picked this road have a very hard and bumpy expedition in front of them, but, like any risky investment, the payoff can be HUGE!

Now, let’s tie these two points together. People who wish to undertake this type of venture need to invest more than just the traditional time and money! Do not be afraid! This additional commitment is what makes being a new entrepreneur lots of fun!

In addition to time and money, one has to invest two other things. First, one has to invest his/her TALENT. If you wish to pursue a music or acting career, your talent is your biggest asset! Whereas you capital may help you invest in a real estate project, your musical or acting abilities are your capital in the “entertainment arts.” Second, one must be willing to invest his/her HEART! That may sound “cheesy,” but truer words have never been spoken. Unlike a traditional investment, like real estate, emotional attachment to the project is a must! If you do not believe me, ask yourself this question, “do you really expect people to buy, watch, or listen to your music/movie/stage performance if no feeling is involved?” The correct answer is NO! Truthfully, how many people do you know listen to music they like or watch a movie they like without getting emotionally involved. THE ANSWER, ZERO! Everybody who likes the artist they are watching or listening to creates an emotional response from each person. Whether that response is sadness, happiness, thrill, excitement, mellowness, calmness, and/or motivation, to name a few; the point is an emotional response is created, and therefore, fans are created! NO FANS, NO MONEY, bottom line!

Besides investing you time, money, talent, and heart, you must act as an entrepreneur in this business to remain successful. If you are the artist, always remember that no matter how big the paycheck, your art is still a JOB! If you stop singing or acting, the money stops coming. Although it is true that royalties may trickle in from time to time, the “main money” is gone if you stop. We have all seen how people can make millions on one job, and be broke in just a few years. Is this how you want to live? How would you like to be a millionaire that IS WORRIED whether or not he/she will be broke next month?! The whole point of wealth is that one does not have to worry about money!

If you are an artist you also have to be an entrepreneur. When you first start out in the business, people may try to take advantage of you. Watch out for these people, because there will be more than you think. Does this mean that all agents and/or managers will try to take advantage of you? Of course not, but you do have to create income through more than just your talent. Think of yourself as a professional athlete without a contract. When a pro athlete gets injured, in most sports, he/she gets paid even if injured. The same is NOT true in your business! If you do not make a record, movie, etc., you do not get paid!

Making it “big” should be your first concern, but when money starts coming in, DO NOT ASSUME that it will continue forever. Many big musicians and actors spin their fame into clothing products, perfumes/colognes, and restaurants. Investments of that magnitude may be further in the future, but “chance favors the well-prepared mind!” You do not have to be a millionaire to invest in real estate, an internet business, or a magazine; just to name a few ideas.

Musicians and actors/actress need to be entrepreneurs their whole career. The best way to avoid risk is to diversify. If you do not make a record, movie, etc. this year, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your magazine endorsement and your real estate investments are going to pay your bills for the next three years?

A few of the above written paragraphs may sound cynical, but for those of you new entrepreneurs that chose this path, you have a long, hard journey ahead and “sugar-coating” it will make it harder. If you go into this investment project with the mindset of an entrepreneur and the talent of an artist, you will do fine!

As French essayist Luc de Clapiers Vauvenargues once said, “[g]reat success is commoner than great abilities!”

Note from M. Angioni II

I would like to thank David from Music Talks Sessions for inspiring me to write this piece. He is a member of our business community and may be able to provide more insight on this perspective. Visit his website;
www.musictalkssessions.com

9/3/06

by C. Clifford

Commercial real estate is a monster. However, it is a monster that can be a lot of fun with huge benefits. The question one needs to ask himself/herself when entering the field is, “am I going to tame the monster or am I going to be the one on the sideline watching and hoping I can control the beast?”

You might be asking, why the hell is this guy acting like he knows something? The answer: I am that guy that works at one of the largest Real Estate Investment Brokerage Companies (REIBC) in the U.S. that interacts and is involved in annual transactions totaling over 60 billion dollars. That’s right, I said BILLION with a “B.” I know some people!

But, if there is one thing I have learned in commercial real estate, it is the fact that it has two types of investors; the type of investor that has his/her shit together and knows what they are doing, and the type of investor that just has absolutely no clue. The saddest part of it all is the fact that so many investors have absolutely no clue what they are doing and yet think they know how to do it all. Since these two types of investors exist, there tends to be two types of “monster-tamers.” The two types of monster-tamers are the “sophisticate” and “not so sophisticate.”

Many people believe what they know or do is exactly the right move to make or the right investment to pursue. Unfortunately, most of the time these “not so sophisticate” investors are not making the right “move.” Fortunately, I am not here to judge, I AM HERE TO TEACH.

The primary concern an investor of commercial real estate should have is whether he/she will play a critically role in his/her investment or if he/she just wants to be a “coupon clipper.” Being a “coupon clipper” means you want to own a Taco Bell, Autozone, Best Buy, or anything that has a set 20-30 year lease with a corporate guarantee and a tenant that is NOT planning to go anywhere for a very long time. If this is the case you are happy with a measly 5.5-8.5 percent return annually. You want no management and you want to be guaranteed that in 3-5 years you can walk from the property and buy a bigger and better one. When you buy this bigger property, you then create a typical “return on investment” of about 7 percent annually. After 3 years or so you have another 21+/- percent of equity that is due for leveraging.

The previously stated paragraph represents about 75 percent of your typical investors. These investors are SOMETIMS “sophisticated” but most of the time NEEDS A LOT of guidance.

As entrepreneurs, we have established that we are tolerant to higher risks. If you want a 5.5-8.5 annual return on your investment, then why exude the time, effort, money, and stress of buying commercial real estate? Is it bragging rights? Is it for the company discount? Do not dilute yourself by taking the “safe investment.” If you want safe, put your money in a savings account, and do not think about for 40 years! That way, when you are too old to enjoy your money, you can regret the horrible choice you made. If you want that low of a return, invest in government bonds or saving’s accounts and save yourself the hassle. Here’s the bottom line, we as entrepreneurs did not get into this game to get a small return on a large amount of capital. We as entrepreneurs want big returns on calculated risks. We are willing to take the extra risk to get the extra reward.

Now, let’s talk about people like me. I am the investor that wants to work for his money and get a 10 – 50 percent return in 1 (one) year or less. These are the sophisticated investors that make my business fun. Think this is not possible? You are mistaken! I will talk in depth about this type of investor next time.


-Note from M Angioni II.

C. Clifford is a member of my business family. He obtained a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Southern California, a Minor in Business from the same, and his Real Estate License in Nevada. He currently is employed by one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the United States. Although some of his language may be "rash," C. Clifford is trying to drive a point home. If you are offended by some of his language, you better strengthen your tolerance level. Language flys, and money moves. If you have to put up with a "not so soft spoken" client in order to close a deal, just remember, your offended character does not feed your family. Create a better life for yourself and your family, even if that means swallowing your pride for the time being.

8/27/06

I have written about two main types of business families. The first type is comprised of members that all have the same area of expertise, while the other type is comprised of members with different areas of expertise. As I mentioned before, both types are effective depending on what entrepreneurial venture you want to attempt.

However, even if you have already established your business family, there are some extra “services” that will be essential to helping you create your fortune. First, you must possess EXCELLENT networking skills! Do not be afraid of making contacts, meeting new people, and taking a chance. Through networking, my business family member and I obtained a meeting with the Vice President of Restaurant Development with one of the LARGEST hotel corporations in the United States. How do you network? Well, let’s start with the small and work our way to the big. Start small with people you work with, live near, go to school with, and/or associate with. These people are your base level. Think of it as six degrees of separation; you know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows, for example, the President of the United States. Well, maybe not the President, but somebody important, established, and/or looking for a big investment. Next, go BIG! Start with people you have never met. The Internet is a very useful tool for this. Start a webpage, like I did, where you can meet like-minded individuals who are looking to make a lot of money and want to do it now! You will be surprised who you meet and what you will accomplish.

Second, have at least one IDEA person. The fact that we are new entrepreneurs means that we have not yet established ourselves in the financial community. If you have average ideas, you will get below average interest in your ideas. If you have above average ideas, you will get only average interest in your ideas, but if you have EXCELLENT ideas, you will get ABOVE AVERAGE interest in your ideas! Your interest factor will always be a step lower than the idea potential. However, once you have established yourself in the financial community, the sky is the limit!

Last, and most importantly, have a good relationship with a MARKETING COMPANY! I deal exclusively with one that operates out of Las Vegas, Nevada. They have been my backbone in creating interest and networking in my entrepreneurial journey. Will it cost money? The answer is YES, but as the old saying goes, “it takes money to make money!” You have to be willing to make the investment in yourself now, or you will always wonder “what if?” Now is not the time to be “Captain Conservative” with your finances. Does this mean take every chance you can? ABSOLUTELY NOT! As I stated in previous postings, you have to choose carefully when selecting an entrepreneurial venture. However, as I mentioned before, as entrepreneurs, we established long ago that we are willing to take a risk, and what better risk to take then an investment in yourself?

Remember, an investment in yourself is the safest and most prepared investment one can make! As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”

8/20/06

by M. Angioni II

This entire time, I have assumed that everyone who visits this site already has an idea of his/her entrepreneurial venture. It has been brought to my attention that many new entrepreneurs have no idea where they want to begin their monetary quest. Many new entrepreneurs are seduced by the idea of being financially secure, closing the “big deals,” and making the “big bucks,” that they listen to every idea and think that they are all good. This can be a COSTLY mistake! We are all here to try to increase our cash-flow and pad our bank accounts, but this cannot be achieved through trying EVRY new idea that is presented or by investing in a product because the creator of said product is a friend or a member of your business family. As new entrepreneurs we have to be EXTRA CAREFUL in where we want to START our financial journey.

Start with what you know! If you are college educated with a B.A., B.S., etc. degree in, for example, English, do NOT dive into a real estate deal because you heard it was a “hot investment.” Start with what you know! Many people lose their saved investment capital on ONE deal because they took someone else’s advice and did not educate themselves on the subject. Recently, this country had a real estate boom. Hasty, hot-tempered, and careless new entrepreneurs lost a lot of money during this boom when they “got in” too late. The economy went down, the stock market tumbled, and interest rates soared! By the time these new entrepreneurs had closed escrow on their so-called investment property, the seller’s market had changed to a buyer’s market, and the dream of “flipping” the property went out the window. The new entrepreneurs were having trouble with making the mortgage payments and as a result had to “dump” the property, hopefully for a break even margin, but most likely, for a loss! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! Start with what you know! Going back to the example with the new entrepreneur with the B.A. in English; do not jump into an investment, venture, or project that you know nothing about. Play to your strengths! If you have a B.A. in English, why not try to find a literary work to publish. Maybe fund a writer to create a book, novel, novella, short story, play, or other production. The point is, start with what you know!

Educate yourself before making an investment. This does not mean that you have to obtain a college degree every time you want to try something new, but this does mean read some literature from some well known authorities on the subject you are interested in, talk to someone who has already “traveled the path” and has experience in your investment interest, and start small before dumping your life savings on a hunch! By simply educating yourself on your investment interest, you can avoid a lot of financial mistakes that will occur by investing on an uneducated guess. Does this mean that your investment risk will be eliminated? Of course not! As entrepreneurs, we decided long ago that we have a high risk tolerance and that we are willing to take that risk in order for the big reward. By educating yourself, you reduce the occurrence and likelihood of a “stupid” mistake. Members of your business family will help here also. For example, one member of my business family is well educated in commercial real estate. Taking a note from the previous paragraph, he would not try to produce a theatrical performance, but he would try to invest in a piece of land that could be developed into a strip-mall. I have real estate experience and as such, my business family would be more likely to listen to my real estate investment idea then they would about my new line of designer clothes. Which brings me to my next point...

Do not be afraid to say NO! As a new entrepreneur, ideas are going to be coming your way through many different channels. You will have some ideas, your business family members will present some, friends and family members will present ideas, colleagues, co-workers, and every other relationship one can have with another human, will present ideas to you. The problem most new entrepreneurs have is saying NO! If you do not like an idea, say so. It does not matter if your spouse presents the idea to you. Let them know whether or not you like the idea. Whatever you do, do not postpone your answer, UNLESS the idea has merit and some details need to be “ironed out” or you want to discuss the proposition with your business family. Accepting a bad project or considering doing a bad idea because the presenter is a friend or family member will lead to lost time and money! As a new entrepreneur we have little time and less money and cannot afford to lose either! Let me make one thing clear, I am not advocating you to be harsh, rash, or rude to a person whose idea you do not like. I am simply saying, do not waste time or money on a bad idea regardless of who presents it. Simply say something to the effect of, “that is not an idea that I am interested in right now.” It is not easy to say “no” but sometimes it has to be done. This situation will arise many times in your entrepreneurial journey and knowing how to decipher good ideas from bad one’s will be one key to you success.

As Alexander Graham Bell once said, "[t]he most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion... It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider - and progressively better able to grasp any theme or situation - persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree."

8/13/06

Each week, or maybe sooner, I will present a small idea or business opportunity that will help you achieve your financial goal. This week, I present the idea of “free money!” Before you get too excited, let me explain. Some of us new entrepreneurs have a little capital lying around in a checking account, low yield savings account, or maybe under our mattress. The point is, while we are creating ideas and investments, the finances that we already have are not working for us or are not working as hard as they could. I suggest that you move your finances to an ING Direct Orange Savings Account. First, ING is not paying me to say this, but I do own an account with them and I am extremely satisfied. Second, your money will work for you while you create projects with your business family. Last, it’s FREE MONEY!

Here are the advantages:

  1. Easy setup. Just go to www.ingdirect.com and click on “open an account.” Follow the on screen directions and you’re done.
  2. 4.35% NO RISK compound interest. This interest rate is one of the highest in the country and has no risk. Are you going to get rich off of it, probably not, but you will make money on your capital while it is not in use.
  3. FDIC insured. Your money, up to $100,000, is insured. This means that if the company should go under, which would result if the American economy crumbled, your money, up to the $100,000, will be returned to you.
  4. If you open an account with $250 or more, ING Direct will give $25.00! That’s it. You get a great interest rate and $25.00 free dollars! The only catch is that an existing ING Direct Account holder has to “invite” you to receive this offer. Fortunately, I am an existing ING Direct account holder. Post you e-mail address at the bottom of my page as a “comment” and put ING next to it. I will respond and get you $25.00 for free!
  5. Your money can be transferred to and from your existing checking account. This means that if you want to make a withdrawal from your ING Orange Savings Account, the money will be wired directly to your checking account, for free, in one business day.
  6. Access to your money. While Certificates of Deposit (CD’s) have greater interest rates, they are set for a fixed term and cannot be withdrawn, unless you want to pay a SUBSTANTIAL penalty, until the CD matures. The maturity date can sometime be as far away as FIVE YEARS!
  7. NO FEES! There are no minimum account fees, no statement fees, no inactivity fees, and no monthly maintenance fees. There are no hidden fees, period!

I suggest that you check everything out for yourself. www.ingdirect.com is the website. Make free money and make your money work hard for you!

As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one.” This holds the most truth in business ventures. New entrepreneurs are just starting their financial journey. Most of us have only a small amount of capital, but enough ideas to run an advertising firm for years. Some of us can make the entrepreneurial leap on our own, but most of us need a little help and support in order to make our dreams a financial reality.

The business family is your group of similarly motivated individuals that help make ideas become realized. The reason it is called a family is because you MUST be able to trust the group you help assemble. Business partners can sometimes be untrustworthy or might only be out to achieve their own ambitions. One key to success is to be able to decipher between the two.

Your business family is your most trusted group of associates that you can look to for support, help, motivation, finances, and/or ideas. In order to prevent any power struggles in the group, no one person should be designated as the “leader.” Instead, when an idea is introduced to the group by one member of the business family, the member that created the idea should be the one dictating the direction of the project. If two people think of the idea, then the development of the idea should be split into two parts.

Keep in mind that there is no minimum of maximum number of members of your business family. There are two ways to organize the members of your business family. First, your business family can compose of members that share the same area of expertise. For example, if you create a business family with members who all have a comprehensive understanding of the real estate market, your entrepreneurial venture should probably be in real estate investment and/or development. The other way to create a business family is with members who all have different areas of education. For example, my business family, consisting of three members, including myself, have high levels of education in the law, real estate, engineering, management, economics, and food. This wide range of education gives us many options as to our entrepreneurial journey. Either organizational way is fine and can lead to mounds of success.

Just a few last points to remember:
1. Your business family must be comprised of your most trusted associates and must be more than mere “business partners;”
2. The person that created the idea takes the lead for that project. There is no fixed leader in your business family;
3. There is no minimum nor maximum amount of people that can comprise a business family, and people can join or leave as the group changes and/or becomes successful;
4. Two ways exists to form the business family and both ways are equally effective; and
5. Your business family is your foundation on which to build your entrepreneurial empire.

Remember to have fun and build your dreams into financial reality. As Dr. David M. Burns once said, “Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.”

8/6/06

We are young, old, and middle-aged. We are all genders, religions, ethnicities, and nationalities. Everything about us is different, except for one primary goal we all share...to become filthy rich!
This is the beginning of the journey that we will all share together. Every week, for as long as this blog runs, information, education, ideas, tips, and motivation will be shared by myself and by all members of this blog in order to accomplish the goal of financial security. Let me clarify something first. This is not a "get-rich-quick" blog, this is not your typical infomercial "follow-my-plan-and-you-will-be-rich" blog, and this is most definitely NOT a "buy-my-product-and-become-rich" blog. This is a forum of idea sharing and education that will create new business ideas, new networking contacts, and new financial goals!
Let me tell you about myself. I am a second year law student, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration, and am a licensed real estate agent. I work for a law firm where I create corporations for clients. I also engage in contractual law and estate planning. Now let me tell you what I am not. I am not a millionaire, I am not a real estate mogul, and I have not written five New York Times Bestsellers. I am a new entrepreneur like everyone else here.
So, you might be thinking, "Why am I going to waste my time listening to this guy if he has not made the money yet?" I say to that, the operative word is "yet." A member of my business family and I are currently involved in, and met with the vice president of restaurant development for a MAJOR Las Vegas hotel corporation; a real estate development project with two members of my business family; and more than one "product line" ideas. Does these experiences give me some kind of edge over another new entrepreneur? Maybe and maybe not. That is the point of this EXPERIENCE! To learn from each other, develop with each other, and brainstorm with each other in order to make a reality of the dreams we all share.
Every week a new posting will be written by myself and other guest writers from my business family. As time passes, we will each gain insight and ideas to help from each other create millions of dollars.
I ENCOURAGE others to post their opinions, successes, failures, applicable information, etc. on the site, this way when we all come back, we will see what will develop.
As Anna Pavlova once said, "To follow, without halt, one aim: There's the secret of success."