TURNING YOUR WRITING SKILL INTO A BUSINESS

1. Create a business plan

The first and best tip you need is to develop a business plan for your writing. You must know how much capital you have to invest in your business, how much money you will make in the first year, and how you will make that money.

If you’ve not made your first sale as a writer, make some sales first, so you get an idea of the marketplace. The writing profession is filled with hobbyist writers, who have no idea how to position themselves, price their services, and promote their services, so this tends to skew prices at the lower end of the market.

2. Treat your business as a business – work as hard for yourself as you would for a boss

Since you’re writing from home, your daily commute is the short trip to your home office, so you save commuting time, which will be at least an hour a day, even if you have a short commute.

You can spend that “free” hour or more in any way you choose, but it’s vital that you spend a solid eight hours writing and working in your business. So treat your writing as seriously as you would a job.

3. Invest in your business – but don’t go into debt for your business

When your writing is your business, invest in it. Buy the computers, software, and the communications equipment you need. Invest in training, too. No training you do will ever be wasted, and it’s essential so you become a business person as well as a writer.

However, don’t go into debt. Fund your purchases from your writing sales.

4. Ask for a retainer from your writing clients – at least 50 per cent in advance

You must ask for a retainer – a payment up front – from your clients. Since magazines and newspapers fight this, writing for them should only be a minor part of your writing income, because you’re making them unsecured loans.

Businesses and Web sites expect to pay some portion of your fee in advance, so they’re your preferred clients. The up-front retainer is 50 per cent. On long projects, you can accept payment at specific milestones – a third up front, a third on delivery of half the project, and so on.

5. Keep your deadlines and over-deliver

The writing profession is an amazingly small world. Word gets around. So always keep your deadlines. The only possible excuse for missing a deadline is that you’re in hospital.

As a professional writer, you have the potential to make an unlimited income: enjoy your writing, but treat it as the business it is too.

Want to improve your writing skills? Check this out.

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BEHAVE YOUR OLD AGE

From quite an early age, I always felt very special. I didn't know what exactly made me feel so, perhaps my ego, but I just felt so. Later on, I began to realise that what really made me special was my intelligence and this rekindled my confidence. I began to think that I was even more intelligent than most people around me.

Over time, as I matured, I realised the truth that I wasn't special because everyone is after all, everyone is a genius in one way or the other and we all have an amazing potential that can place us on the world map.

But why then are most people still struggling in life? Why are those that are so talented and skilled still no where in life? I think that's why John Maxwell wrote the book, "Talent is not Enough" because it truly never is. So what balances the equation? Keith Harrell says it all with his book, "Attitude is Everything," because it comprises our beliefs, values, perception, character and behaviour.

Now here's the point; you can have great potentials but if you have no discipline, no confidence, bad habits, poor social behaviour, no drive or motivation, no integrity, etc, you are heading no where in life because these poor attitudes will keep shortchanging you. After all, there are those who are stark illiterates with no talent or skill doing so well in life simply because they are able to manage themselves.

So success doesn't really depend on how intelligent, talented or skilled you are, but how well you are able to control yourself and others. Daniel Goleman calls it "Emotional Intelligence."

But ignore the grammar, the question is, Can you just behave your old age?

Credits: Tosin

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INCREDIBLE ONLINE BUSINESS TOOLS AT SHOESTRINGS COST

I've invested the time and wasted the money on your behalf.

This list is for those who want to start Online Businesses but cannot afford the running costs (of tools and services) since they're yet to make any profits.

Note that there are other options not listed here. The only ones I listed here are the ones that: 

1. Are free or ridiculously cheap

2. Provide great functionality vis-à-vis their substitutes

3. I'm currently using or have personally tested at some point

For example, I won't mention clickfunnels here since their starting price is $97/mo. If you're already using Clickfunnels in your business, then you might not need this post.

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Here is your Online Business on a ShoeString Budget.

1. Landing Page/Funnel Creation: Thrive Themes Page Builder ($67 one-off)

2. Autoresponder: Sendy ($59 one-off) + Amazon SES (PAYG)

3. Web Hosting: VPS with OVH.ie ($7/mo)

4. Domain registration via namecheap.com ($10/yr)

5. Payments (the abroad): fastspring.com (PREFERRED and TESTED), 2checkout.com, stripe.com/atlas

***

Let me pause here to say that Payoneer is a piece of ****. You can continue reading now.

***

6. Payments (Naija): VoguePay.com (PREFERRED and TESTED), Simplepay.com

7. Virtual Cards: GetBarter.co (PREFERRED and TESTED)

8. File Hosting (for podcasts, mp3 files, Videos for courses and marketing material): Amazon S3 (PREFERRED and TESTED)

9. Webinars: Facebook Groups (closed/secret) + Facebook Live via OBS (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED), Google Hangouts via OBS

10. Messenger Bots: Chatfuel.com (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED)

11. Free Stock Photos: Pixabay.com (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED), Unsplash.com (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED)

12. Screencasting (for course creation): Screencast-o-matic.com ($15/yr, PREFERRED and TESTED)

13. Audio Recordings (for podcasting and co): Audacity (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED)

14. Online Meetings/Video Interviews: Zoom.us (FREE, PREFERRED and TESTED), Skype+Skype call recorder

15. VPN: SurfEasy VPN (FREE but limited), HMA Pro VPN ($10/mo, PREFERRED and TESTED)

Credits: John Obidi, Smartbcamp

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HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS AS AN IDIOT

You stopped by her kiosk to buy bean balls, and got angry because she delayed in attending to you. "Answer me!" You yelled at her. But she responded, "It's turn by turn ma." "Am I the one you're talking to that way, you dirty thing?" You yelled again at her. She looked at you and smiled, turned away and called one of the girls. "Go to the car and get me my hand bag." Minutes later, she stretched her hand towards you, holding a small card. "Call me." She said.

My sister, in reality, na you dirty pass. You are one of the idiots this post is meant for. Learn from those who get their fingers dirty while making six figures monthly. They understand Systems and Structures, but you don't know what they mean. Na who dirty pass?

I was a friend to a family. The mother runs a small business till date, selling bean balls and other fries. I was thrilled to know that she sold a big bag of beans in three to four days. You can find out how many she sold monthly working from 2p.m. to midnight. How many figures do you think she makes?

You have noticed those guys who build kiosks along busy junctions, selling puff-puff? Don't wonder if they make good money. I watched an interview with one of such guys on the Island a while back. Believe me, a profit of 5k daily is not a bad idea. He was asked if he planned expanding his business. He said he was already pulling up a deal with a microfinance bank. So bros, what are you wondering about? Frying puff-puff kë? Sidoun dier make trousers dey wië you!

The CEO of a company walked into a Barber's shop for a hair cut. After the hair cut, the barber started cleaning the man's ear with cotton bud. And then used warm water to wash the man's head before applying anti dandruff cream. At the end of the service, the barber said, 'your money is #500.00 sir.' The man handed him #1,000.00 note and walked away happy and satisfied. Why did the man do that? The After-Hair-Cut-Service was beyond what he expected. After sales service is important if you want to grow your business.

Do you even know what your passion is? Most people refer to their hobby as their passion. And that is an grave mistake that constantly gives you the backseat in the realm of things. Your passion is what you love to do even if you are not being paid. The best way to start a business is to build a business around your passion.

"But my passion nah to dey talk nah? How talk talk wan take turn to business?" Don't worry. You are one of the idiots this post is meant for. "Fela Durotoye" likes talking, and he makes hell of money from talk talk. You can look for him, and ask him how!

...hand don dey pain me! I go continue anoda day.

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FIGHTING THE UNSEEN TRIBESMEN

“THE FAULT IS IN OUR HANDS AND NOT IN OUR STARS”

I learnt about this topic at a much younger age and it has helped me channel my energy on the things that really matters.

The temptation of giving in to false prophecy can make you a shadow of yourself and this can greatly impair your business growth.

While you wander in the wilderness of doubt for yourself and ability to do great things, blaming your stars and tribes men for hunting your destiny, you still will not solve your problem by meeting soothsayers and prophets to tell you about your future. 

It will still amount to taking necessary action.

The fault is truely in our hands. If your hand is lazy, it is enough to make you suffer financially and otherwise.

Action is the true technology behind success. 

Reading the stars to find who to blame, will leave you in a shadow of yourself. You will even loose focus on your future winnings and gains. When you are so bent on finding who to blame for your misfortune, you sip out energy and life out of yourself.

Whatever that makes you loose the positive vibe and strength in you, is termed energy vampire. All great men came in faceoff with this vampire and their ability to reject the act of blame games, paved way for their success. 

I implore you to free your mind of grudges, resist the temptation of finding the fault in your stars and focus more on your education, business and job. Be in charge of your destiny. Take responsibility for your failure and modify the handwriting on your wall.

You have in you, the power to rewrite your destiny into stardom and positivity. If you can't be at peace with your faith and confidence to excel, your business and job suffers.

Reject the temptation of fighting unseen tribes men and channel your will power to achieve your dream. 

Credits: Solomon Evarist

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Entrepreneurship Conspiracy

Do not be deceived, no institution in the world has the key to your breakthrough. You can't go far sitting down in any classroom learning business under a professor who has never lost a dime in business. All he teaches you are academic theories postulated ages ago.

A friend of mine abandoned his MBA class the day a lecturer came to the class with an envelope; his Mum was having Harvest Thanksgiving in her church. He distributed these envelopes to all students requesting their contributions. The higher the money you put therein, the higher your marks. He quit that course and walked away.

Hear this true life story.

I know a guy by name Tayo. He has a great grandmother who was in her late 90s. Tayo was her favorite great grandson because he was the only one in the entire family that visited her once in two months to clean her up and her room.

This old woman traded in kola nuts for over 70 years until she could not walk again but yet her business sense is impeccable.

One day, Tayo who had been hustling with no steady job won American visa lottery. He pursued it relentlessly until the last point. N500,000 for ticket and BTA.

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YOUR HAPPINESS MATTERS

"You are such an awful liar! How could you have said all that behind my back? How could you tell such lies against me? You mean this is how you want to pay me back after all I did for you? Unbelievable. I can't believe this is happening.

I know four years doesn't mean so much to you, but listen, it means forever to me. And if you think you can just trash it like that, then you are greatly mistaking. And you even had the guts to drag my family into it? What the hell!

Listen, I'm giving you 24 hours to recant your statements or else I'm going to tell the whole world the truth about you. Trust me, I've got proofs.

Look at you, so you mistook my gentility for stupidity? That's where you missed it. I saw all of these coming, and I prepared for it, bitch. You better watch out for me, for I'm coming after you with everything I've got!"

=====================================

Hey, hollup hollup! Ain't nobody going after anybody.

Jeez!

Why can't people just have peaceful breakups for goodness sake. Must it always be dirty and ugly? I don't think so. I really don't think so. But then, what do I know?

You know, after my 18th breakup, I made up my mind that I was done with all the whole drama that usually comes with breakups.

I said to myself-

"Boy, if you've got to let her go, why don't you do it over a bottle of wine and some good delicacy, after all, that's how you let her in."

Boom! It sounded good to me. I made the decision.

And so on my 19th breakup, I took her out on a date. Call it a breakup date, and you won't be wrong.

We were having a good time when suddenly I became silent. I knew it was time to do it. I knew it was time to kiss her, to 'Judas' her. But then, I also knew it was necessary for the salvation of our happiness.

You see, sometimes you have to crucify your relationship to save your happiness.

Easy? No!

Worth it? Yes!

So I was cool, calm and collected. I smiled at her. She smiled back at me. I held her hands, and I looked her straight in the eyes. And then I said to her;

“Baby, it's been a long journey. And you have  been a wonderful woman. I know I have not been the best man to you.  I have said things I shouldn't have said. I have done things I shouldn't have done. And I wish right now I could turn back the hands of time and do things better. But I can't. And you know why? Because we have tried to make this thing work, but it's not working. We fight everyday. We shout everyday. And we don't even trust each other anymore. We can't continue like this honey,  pretending like everything is alright when they've gone haywire.”

“I believe it's high time we told ourselves this truth we've been running away from. It's time to face the bitter truth. I love you, but I think we deserve better than this. It's not working baby, let's take a walk.”

She was silent. But her eyes were not. They spoke things her mouth couldn't say. They spoke with tears, and those drops from her eyes, they melted my heart, but she held my hand so tightly as if she was embracing the truth so firmly. She knew I was saying the truth, the truth that had the power to set us free.

Was she going to embrace it? I didn't know. I really didn't know what to expect. But to my greatest surprise, she found the courage to embrace it. Till date, I still can't explain how she did it, but she did it anyway.

Two years later, I saw her again. She was married. And I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was happy. She was happily married. My God! I was happy for her.

Now you are thinking about me, right? About my relationship status, huh? No, that's not what you should be thinking about. Here is what you should be thinking about:

My happiness status.!

That's what's important, not my relationship status. And for the records, I believe it's far better to be single and be happy, than to be in a relationship or be married, and then be ruined.

Don't let nobody rush you. Take your time.  It's your life. Take charge of it. Take charge of your heart. Take charge of your emotions. Make that decision if you have to, for at the end of the day, there is only one thing that will matter- your happiness!

©Tochukwu Eziukwu

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Diligence in Business

Diligence can mean long-term effort, working hard, the qualities of a hard worker, including conscientiousness, determination, and perseverance. The compendium of God's thoughts puts it simply, "A man who is diligent in his business shall stand before kings, and not before mean men." Pro 22:29.

This makes it vital for us to understand the keywords in the scripture above. " The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute." Pro 12:24.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." Pro 13:4.

What is Business?

It could mean different things: trade, work, company, responsibility, important matters, event etc. Whichever one pertains to you, God says diligence!!!

Kings?

Kings are rulers with royal families. From the business sense, kings are customers/clients- those who rule the market place. Sam Walton of Wal-Mart says, "There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else."

Mean men?

Mean men are ordinary men- people with nothing to offer. Economists say that those who only stand before mean men rat-run the vicious circle of poverty.

To be diligent in business means...

1. ...as an employee, commit your life to your job and execute your responsibility we with joy; pray for your employer and customers.

2. ...if you do well as an employee, your own opportunity to become your own boss will come.

3. ...as a self-employed, commit your all to what you do, and be ready to always exceed customers' expectations.

4. ...as a business owner, treat your staff as equal while recognizing the customer as king.

5. ...in any business area you find yourself, honesty matters a lot!

6. ...there's only one difference between a failure and a success- the extra mile! The man who goes the extra mile succeeds in the end!

We will like to hear from you. Share your thought on diligence in the comment box.

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