The year was 1997, the blockbuster hit of the summer was the movie "Titanic" and our country was in position to continue a time of prosperity, wealth and growth. Do you remember what you were doing back in the summer of 1997? What was your career at that time, or did you even have one yet? Still in college maybe, just got that promotion and had to relocate to Atlanta and decided on landing in a little town called Dacula? I just wrote a article about the housing market and that the median home price of today is what it was back in 1997. Can you believe that! You can buy a home for what you …

"So where have you been?" I am not really sure any of you have been asking that about me or my contribution to the Dacula Patch over the past month or so, but I have been looking for you. The past few months in my real estate business have been really, really busy, so that has been my excuse to not write a article recently. Actually, it is a pretty poor excuse but I'll go with it for now as it makes me feel better about my lack of follow up with my obligation to the Dacula Patch. This does bring up a point I want to touch on though. What happens when you or your business gets busy? Do you …

In just a few short days we will come to the end of Q2 and it got me to thinking about how the year has gone so far in my business. Have I my met my mid-year goals? How does Q3 and Q4 look moving forward? Is there anything I need to change or adjust in my business plan for the balance of 2011? Back in December, I took a long look at my business and what I needed to do to make this year one of my best. So far so good for me. Business is booming and the real estate market is continuing to move forward. Granted, there is a lot of work to be done industry-wide but my business is very hyperlocal …

Over the past couple of years, there have been numerous companies helping small business owners create a online presence and from that create business for themselves. Personally, I believe the best marketing and opportunity to create business is to be out front of people and meeting with them face to face. Nothing beats personal relationships, but there are other viable options. Online marketing has many options to review and take advantage of depending on what you can or want to spend on marketing yourself and your business. One of the best resources I have found for my business is Facebook…

In today's business climate, business owners and anyone that has a product to sell needs to make sure the market is ready and willing to purchase what you are selling for the price you are selling it for. Let me give you an example. Let's say last year you purchased a share of stock for $50 and, at the time, that was the prevailing price for the stock. Well, one year later you want to sell the stock and  it is worth $25. Would you expect someone to realistically buy your stock back from you for $50? Of course not, why would they overpay for your stock when they can go somewhere else and get …

I was all set to write a article about how we make decisions to do business with a certain company and do we base our decisions on how a store front looks, past experiences, price, level of service, etc. Well, that can wait until next time because what I am currently seeing and experiencing is mind blowing to me. As I write this, I am at a local establishment that I frequent regularly. Across the room, a manager is in the process of interviewing a person for a part-time summer position and I am amazed at what I am seeing. The prospective employee is wearing what looks to be a cover up for the…

Businesses in Gwinnett County and Dacula are starting to see an increase in business profits and are looking forward to better economic times. More and more, I am asked how my business is going and if the residential and commercial real estate market are improving. Honestly, my market is going pretty well and I am looking forward to the remaining months in 2011. The next question I usually get is, "What you doing now to promote your business and gain market share and generate income?" Business growth and profits is not about what you or I are doing now to promote my or your business. Rather …

Every day small business owners open their doors to a window of opportunity that allows them to do what they truly want to do and provide a income for their families that might not otherwise be available to them. Being a small or medium size business owner may allow you to do things others might not be able to like enjoy extended vacations, be your own boss, take half days off to go see your son's baseball game or daughter's ballet recital and provide a good salary dependent on your abilities and not those of others. However, most of us have not taken the necessary steps to make sure our …

Do you as a small business owner feel that you are limited in your growth because the economy is not where any of us want or really need it to be? If you had a chance to bring on a new employee would that give you the opportunity to get back to what you are good at, which is being creative and driving customers to you? If so, maybe you are just not looking in the right place for help.  There is a segment of the population that really wants to come to work for you and they are waiting for you to reach out to them and ask for help. This potential hire is also willing to work for free or at very…

We have all by now seen the dramatic and extremely sad videos surfacing out of Japan. The true devastation and loss of life is mind numbing and my heart breaks for the families of lost loved ones. Homes and factories are destroyed, lives are broken and an industrial country is potentially on the verge of collapse. We constantly hear news stories both on tv, radio and read in magazines or on the Internet about ways we can help those countries in need when disaster strikes. I believe for the most part, the good ol' U.S. of A. is the best country to live and we give freely to those in need. …

If you run a home based business out of your Dacula home, you need to make sure that you are taking all the deductions you can on your business taxes and also make sure they are being filed properly. I have put together a list of the top five tax tips that can get you started for 2011.  Before we get to that though, if you do not have your home based business set up with the Georgia Secretary of State, you need to get that taken care of NOW! Check out one of my most recent articles on what type of corporation to have set up for you. So, with that being said, here are five of my top tax saving…

Every now and then something comes across my desk that makes me sit back and think about how my business and that of many other small business owners can grow without spending any advertising dollars. Back in October, I had the opportunity to go to Austin, Tx. for a real estate convention and while I was there I got to hear Michael Maher, a self published author speak about his book, The Seven Levels Of Communication. Honestly, at first I was a little skeptical about what he was saying and while I had the opportunity to purchase the book at that time I did not. Here was this self described “…

So let me ask you a question Mr./Mrs. Small Business Owner. What is it that sets you apart from the other restaurants, nail salons, accountants or any other small or medium size business in Dacula? What do you offer that either no one else does or that you do better than the rest of your competition? If you do not know, then you are probably in for a short career as a entrepreneur. If you cannot tell me in one or two sentences what sets you apart from everyone else, you better have a sit down with yourself and figure it out. Your companies USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is the most …

I remember when I formed my first company and the pride that I felt when it was official. I was off and running. My first million just a few short months away. I remember receving a package from the Georgia Secretary of State in the mail addressed to my new company. I sat back and looked at the new corporate documents with a sense of awe and amazement.  There are different types of corporations including,  “C corporations” and “S corporations” - you name it there is a corporation for it, it seems.  If you have no idea if or how to form one (and most of us do not), there are numerous companies…

There are numerous ways to find work, land the big promotion or push your companies profits through the roof.  One way I have found the most success with is simply going out and grabbing a bite to eat or a cup of coffee and networking.  I try to grow my business by focusing not on the transactional (transaction) process or sale, but rather on the relational (relationships) aspect of my work. I would much rather build a true relationship with someone than a transactional-based relationship that is driven by results. Relationships are meant to be nurtured and cultivated to earn trust. …

How many of us remember those long summer trips in the family station wagon heading to your favorite vacation spot and uttering the phrase "Are We There Yet"?  I know I have had my share of those experiences in the early 1970's before the iTouch, Nintendo's and cell phones came along.  We actually had to talk to our family members or listen to my dad's radio station or simply look out the window to pass the time. So, "Are We There Yet?" Not, yet. What I mean is this. Are we out of the recession that has gripped our wonderful country over the past few years? The "experts" say we are through …

As we head into the first quarter of 2011, there is a sense of promise and enthusiasm as the economic outlook continues to improve for the Atlanta area job and business sector. However, if you or someone you know happens to be one of the 10 percent that is currently out of work or looking for a career change, the sense of promise and improvement in the economy does not ward off the creditors or pay the bills that need to be paid. For the most part, Atlanta has not been immune to the struggles of the recession but there is quite a bit of positive news for our local economy moving into the next…