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7 Tips for Millennials looking to Build Their Professional Network.

written by Sidney Walker

Every day Millennials read articles about how people network and find another job. You can find countless numbers of books and articles on how Millennials should create relationships to find jobs that might not otherwise be known. But what about Millennials who don’t want to work?

I am not talking about a lazy person without any ambition. The Millennials I am referring to is the unemployable, the serial entrepreneur or corporate refugee. If you are currently working in a job and what you want is not another job but to become a work at home entrepreneur networking can still be for you.

Here are 7 Millennial networking strategies you can use to catapult your work from home career.

1. Create your own Board of Directors. IBM and Microsoft are not the only ones who should have a boardroom team. As a Millennial home-based business owner you want to have a group of people who you can meet with, mastermind and get advice from.

Often times they may see skills and talents in you that you might not recognize. Once you have identified what your business goal is you have the opportunity to leverage the power of six degrees of separation. Six degrees of separation is the principle that anyone on earth can be connected to another person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five relationships apart.

2. Join Millennial Networking Organizations for Entrepreneurs. Successful Millennial  business owners like to connect with each and expand their relationships. Look for organizations that have business owners in the same area of interest as you. Don’t just see them as competitors. Look for opportunities that you might be able to assist them in some way. Here are a couple of groups to consider:

The Chamber of Commerce

BNI (Business Networking International

Rotary International

Each of these organizations have different personalities and cultures. Attend a few meetings before you call one of them home. Know what you ultimately want. Basil S. Walsh states, If you don’t know where you are going, how can you expect to get there?î

First establish in very specific detail what you are going to achieve. Did you notice that I said going to achieve? Life will give you exactly what you expect from it. Start with the end in mind.

Now is the time to dream big and visualize what your life will look like when you are a successful Millennial business owner. Don’t worry about the how. Simply set goals by asking yourself some key questions such as:

A. What would I love to do even if I did not get paid for it?

B. How many days will I work each week?

C. What type of work from home business am I interested in?

D. Where will I live?

E. What do I like to do?

Determine what you need to happen to get out your job. Do you know how much you need to make in your business to leave your job?  What is your financial freedom number? Your financial freedom number is the amount of income you need to have flowing in passively each month to cover all of your expenses.

One of the reasons you want to know this is when you are looking at home based business income opportunities you want to choose one that has the profit potential you want and need. If your financial freedom number is $5000.00 per month you donít want to choose a business that does not have the potential to net that on a passive basis.

As you are networking and meeting new people you can analyze the business opportunities that arise from a totally unemotional point of view because you are clear about your goals.

3. Remember it is better to give than receive. One of the biggest problems I see with networking is most millennials go in it to see what they can get first before they give. Always look for a way to be of service to the people that you meet first. There is a universal law of reciprocity. You will always get back more than you give out. As you get to know people think about how you can help to enrich their life or help them towards their goals.

If you read an article or run across something that might be of help to them send it. When you have a genuine interest in others success you are blessed through your giving.

Some people call it karma and others say you reap what you sow. My life experiences have been blessed more than I could have every imagined whenever I give.

So look for ways to contribute. You may be able to do this in a variety of ways:

a. Volunteer to work with them some way.

b. Introduce them to people in your network that could help them.

c. Send notes or articles that might be areas of interest or
could help to increase their business.

4. Learn how to joint venture or strategically partnership. One of the fastest ways to get out of your job, launch a business or simply make some money is to create a joint venture with someone.

Joint Venturing is a way to take either yourself or two other people who could profit from working together but simply did not have the relationship. You profit from making the connection.

For example you know a veterinarian has a large practice with a list of over 700 clients. You also have a relationship with a new pet groomer in the city who is trying to increase his business. You put the two together and every time the pet groomer gets a new client due to your structuring this deal you get paid. We call this mail box money. Money comes in your mail box whether you work or not.

5. Set up a written networking plan. I am amazed at how much time and effort people will spend to find a new job. However, when it comes to designing a plan to exit the rat race they do it almost haphazardly. You will be much more effective if you have a written plan. The plan does not have to be elaborate. Here are some of the basic things you want to cover:

a. What is my goal?

b. Who do I want to meet?

c. What events should I focus on?

d. How often should I be networking?

6. Attend seminars and boot camp events. Specialized knowledge is one of the keys to being successful in a home based business. When you attend boot camps and seminars you able to surround yourself with like minded people as well as learn from the experts.

However, if you really want to make these educational experiences profitable do three things:

a. Introduce yourself to at least 3 people and get their cards. Ask them why they are there and what they hope to get out of the event. Exchange numbers and ask, What is the single most important thing you need help in making your business venture successful?î

When you ask this of someone else you will genuinely get to know someone and you may be able to help them. In addition, out of respect they will want to know more about you and a new relationship may be formed.

b. Go to lunch with someone you meet at the seminar and tell them the things you learned so far and will implement. There is something about speaking your goal out loud that will make it real. If you immediately implement one single action every time you learn something the results will grow exponentially.

c. Introduce yourself to the speaker. Sometimes this can be difficult if the event is large. However, if there is a book signing buy their book so while they are signing it you can ask one question. My question is, ìWhat is the single most important skill you contribute to your success?î  You might like my question or you can come up with your own. The point is you have a great opportunity to network and learn from someone who is a master at their craft. Seize the opportunity.

7.Have a goal for every networking opportunity. Simply going to an event and “working the room” almost never yields any measurable results. Before you attend any event know what you want your outcome to be in advance. Are you going to meet specific person? How will you insure your introduction? Make sure you have crafted out a plan and enlist support from someone to help you execute if needed.

For example, if you want to meet someone ask the host of the networking event if they know the person and if they would be willing to introduce you. Your chances of success are almost guaranteed due to the nature of the event.

Networking is often an overlooked opportunity to find a way out of the rat race. If you want to look for a work at home career, connections can be a key to rapid success. Get the inside tips and discover 7 ways to network your way out of a job.

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AtlantaHabitsMillennial TipsSelf Improvement

How To Find The Right Sportswear.

written by Sidney Walker

 

There are few things that can help you to feel more comfortable when you are physically active than the sportswear that you choose to wear. Certainly, you want to choose sportswear that you find to be stylish, but there are other factors to consider that can impact your comfort, your health and well-being and your ability to move freely. Whether you are interested in walking, running and biking or you have water-based activities like swimming, canoeing or rafting in mind, it is important to make a great decision about your sportswear.

Think About Weather Conditions

Many of the activities that you may be looking for sportswear for may be outdoor activities, so it is important to choose weather-appropriate clothing. Protective clothes may have a wind barrier that can minimize chapping and that can keep the chill of the wind off of you. Some may be lightweight and suitable for use in warmer, sunny weather. Some items even have built-in UV protection. During warm or hot weather conditions, look for clothing that is lightweight and that wicks sweat away. During cooler weather conditions, think about dressing in layers so that clothing can be removed as your body warms up. The under-layer should wick away sweat.

Consider the Need for Waterproof Apparel
There are many instances when waterproof apparel may be needed. When rafting or canoeing, you may get soaked, so choosing waterproof clothing is a smart idea. This can keep the chill of the water off of your body. When you are participating in other outdoor activities, such as walking, running, biking or hiking, you may get wet from a rain shower. If you plan to go out on a rainy day, a waterproof hat and jacket are a smart idea. If the weather is warm, any material that wicks away moisture and that is lightweight is a good idea.

Choose Clothes That Allow Free Movement
Each activity will require you to do different types of movements in a repetitive fashion. Many of these activities require full body movement, but some may increase friction in different areas. For example, hiking, running and walking may increase friction on your thighs. Canoeing and rafting may increase friction on the upper body and may require more range of motion with the shoulders and arms. Some people prefer tighter clothing that will not rub and cause chafing in these areas. Others prefer looser items because they feel less hindered with their movements. While this is a personal preference, you may consider moving around while trying on different clothes to ensure that you can move around comfortably and without feeling hindered. Keep in mind that clothing should stay put while moving around with some activities. For example, when swimming, you want your swimsuit to cling to your body rather than ride up. Form-fitting suits are often better with swimming.

Think About Undergarments
While you may spend a lot of time focusing on clothing and outerwear, undergarments are critical. Undergarments should be form-fitting and snug. Movement can be uncomfortable for both men and women in certain areas, and this movement can even lead to chafing and irritation. While cotton may be comfortable, it can also retain moisture and make your clothes feel heavy. Nylon may not retain moisture from sweating, rain and more as much, so it may be a preferred option.

Select the Right Footwear
Unless you are swimming, the footwear that you choose is also critical to comfort, health and even safety. Shoes should have the ideal amount of support and stability features for the activity. Some activities, such as hiking, may require more support than activities like walking on a sidewalk. Cushioning is also important, and it may be more important when hiking or running due to the impact these activities have on your joints. When canoeing and rafting, footwear may need to be protective as well as waterproof. Because you may need to get out of your watercraft and walk on natural surfaces from time to time, shoes that also have a gripping element are beneficial.

Finding the right clothing to wear for your activity may take time, but this is time well-spent. Your clothing choices can protect you from the elements and keep you comfortable. They can also promote healthy, safe body movements. As you shop for sportswear, keep these important points in mind.

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Atlantacareer tipsJob SearchMillennial Career TipsMillennial TipsStart-up

6 Way To Brainstorm The Perfect Career

written by Sidney Walker
Have you ever felt stuck in your career?  Employee stress and burn out can account for a lot of dissatisfaction in your life.  After all, you are at work some 8 hours a day or more.  That’s 1/3 of your day if you don’t count sleep.  That’s a long time to be dissatisfied.

 

If you feel stuck, here are 6 great ways to find your ideal career:
    1.   Brainstorm on a sheet of paper – I’ve talked about this before and it’s a strategy I use all the time.  Take a pad of paper and write down at the top your objective in question form.  Then, simply list out 20 answers to your question.  For example, you could write “What should I be doing with my time and life?”  Then stay seated for a half hour to an hour coming up with answers to that question.  The key to this exercise is coming up with 20 answers – don’t quit until you have 20 answers.  You can repeat every day until you get the answer you seek. 
2.   Ask 3 close friends – Sometimes our friends know us better than ourselves.  While meeting with one of your friends, mention you are at a crossroads in your life and career.  Ask what they think you’d enjoy doing.  You might be surprised at how easily they can zero in to your strengths and abilities and report a perfect job area.
3.   Ask your boss and coworkers – much like your friends in the example above, your boss and coworkers most likely see you in a way you do not see yourself.  In fact, they are likely most familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in the work environment.  Compile all the answers you get from them and see if there are any common threads you can explore.
4.  Call a headhunter – If you are searching in your career, it’s likely you have a resume.  Sometimes you can catch a headhunter or recruiter during their slow times and meet with them to pick through what you might be good at.  I’ve done this at different times in my life and the people seem open to talking with people.  After all, if you don’t get paid, they don’t either.  The ideas I get are usually good.
5.  Take a career assessment test – There are several sites on the Internet you might be able to take one of these tests for a fee.  But using my headhunter tip above, many headhunters have this software and don’t mind you taking the test in their office.   I’ve taken these tests two times in my life and they usually take an hour or two, but they are thorough.  They ask you to answer a series of questions about what you are good at, what you like to do, what you prefer doing over what you don’t.  If you take one, you will likely see some new exciting areas to explore in your life.
6.   Keep a journal – Do you keep a journal?  If so, read through, looking for common threads in your writing.  Keep your eyes peeled for trends and activities you like as well as don’t like.  In fact, finding examples of what you don’t like and what frustrates you is almost as important as finding what you do like.  For example, if you hate an overwhelming boss, you’d probably like a self-directed position.  If you hate nosy coworkers you’d probably prefer your own office. 

Discovering what you really want to do with your life is the most important decision you can make.  We spend 1/3 or more of our lives at work.  So figuring out the right career is important to keeping that 1/3 of our lives happy and productive.

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AtlantaJob SearchMillennial TipsStart-up

Atlanta Startups Using Local Search

written by Sidney Walker

Before you can achieve national or global success as a business owner, you must first conquer your local business market. When you start your company, it is imperative that you scope out your immediate area to discover your targeted audience, your competition, and other corporate partners who can help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals. Branching out into the local area market calls for you to use local search. You can do this by utilizing the following strategies.



Choose Your Local Search Engines

Utilizing local search requires that you first choose the best local search engines. You ideally want to choose one, such as AllOneSearch, that receives stable, reliable traffic so that your business receives the highest amount of visibility possible. Tweet This

Many newcomers to the local business market find that Google Maps works for this purpose. Google Maps receives more than a million hits a day and allows people to narrow their search for a business by address, neighborhood, and other determiners. Once you choose your local search engine, you can then focus on finding other businesses and vendors in your area with which to partner.


Find Out if You are Listed Already

When you begin using local search, you may be surprised to find that your business is already listed. Many local search engines take it upon themselves to list local businesses without first consulting with the owners.
If you find that you are already listed, it is important that you claim the listing and customize it to your targeted audience. Search engines like Yellow Pages and Merchant Circle allow you to claim your listing and change or add details to it so that you can reach out to your ideal clientele.

If you are not already listed, you should create a listing on these local search engine sites immediately. The sooner you get your business’ name and brand out there, the sooner you can begin reaching customers to whom you would prefer to sell your products and services.


Benefits of Local Search

You may wonder why exactly you should use local search to launch your business and to find corporate partners. First, local search is free and simple to use. While some bigger search engines may charge you or limit your exposure to your audience, local search is free and allows you to enjoy the most visibility possible with your immediate client base.

Second, local search is utilized by Atlanta consumers who have asked to have local ads directed toward them. Because they want to see these ads, they are more receptive to them. Along with reaching your desired clientele base, however, you also will be reaching corporate partners purposely seeking out businesses like yours. Local search lets you narrow in on people who can make a direct and immediate impact on the launch of your business.

Another unique advantage of using local search involves being able to find businesses in the area that are similar to yours and have the same goals in mind. For example, if you are trying to launch a successful cookie business, you can partner with an Atlanta business that sells cookware or disposable serving containers. You can narrow in on those businesses that are closest to you so that you keep your travel and overhead expenses as low as possible.

Finally, Atlanta search provides other amenities to people searching for businesses like yours. These directories provide ratings of your services and products, as well as your location and phone number. They have what they need immediately to begin doing business with you.

Local search in Atlanta is an important part of any marketing mix, particularly if you want to get your business off to a good start. You can take advantage of local search by using these strategies.

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Atlantadebt-freeMillennial TipsTiny House

Building a Tiny Home in Atlanta

written by Sidney Walker
Buying a traditional house in Atlanta can cost a fortune, and this can lead to debt and the need to continue to work in a job that may not be fulfilling or enjoyable. Reducing or eliminating debt and scaling back expenses can provide you with a new and improved way of life.
While people will pursue a simpler way of life in different ways, one of the increasingly popular options in Atlanta is to join the tiny home movement. You may have seen tiny homes throughout Atlanta, and there are now several hundred of them in various locations in the metropolitan area.

The Benefits of a Tiny Home
The price of real estate in Atlanta is expensive. For example, in the community of Cabbagetown, a small 700 square foot residence may cost on average $200,000 or more. Add to that the furnishings, utilities and other expenses that will be incurred in even a modest 700 square foot home. There is also often a strong desire to keep the home well-furnished and keep up with neighbors. Consumerism often breeds debt, and many people simply want to step away from this type of lifestyle and live on their own terms. A tiny home is a far more affordable option, and this alternative way of life is a departure from the consumerism mentality. Many who live in a tiny home are debt free and enjoy the freedom that comes with that.

Building a Tiny Home
The average cost to build a 176 square foot tiny home in Atlanta is approximately $66,000. This will include all of the materials, labor and supplies as well as the trailer to tow the house on. Keep in mind that the design of the home and the quality of materials that are used will play a role in the final cost. Some who have a tiny home have built the home on their own or with the help of family and friends, and this can reduce or eliminate labor costs associated with building a tiny home. By speaking with different people who already own a tiny home in Atlanta, you may learn about cost-saving steps that can make it even more affordable to build your tiny home.

Buying an Existing Tiny Home
An alternative to building a new tiny home on your own is to buy an existing home. There are numerous listings for tiny homes in Atlanta that you can choose from, and these will provide you with the ability to more quickly and easily start benefiting from life in a tiny home. Because many tiny homes are on trailers or are able to otherwise be relocated with minimal effort, you may also consider looking in markets outside of Atlanta to purchase a tiny home. In some other areas of the country, you may find a tiny home for under $30,000, and this can help you to save a considerable amount of money on your purchase.

How to Learn More
Because the tiny home movement is strong and growing in Atlanta, there are several ways to learn more about your options if you are interested in building your own tiny home. For example, there are several tiny home meet-up groups that you can join, and some of these have dozens of members or more. You can also read various articles or contact owners via social media sites for more information. Many who have a tiny home love telling others about their way of life and are open to speaking with you about them.

 

There is an increasing sentiment amongst individuals at various stages of life that a simpler way of life is better. Take time to learn more about the tiny house movement to determine if this is a lifestyle that might suit you.
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AtlantaStart-up

Start-Up Space in Atlanta

written by Sidney Walker
Atlanta has a thriving, diverse economy, and in fact, it is ranked as having the eighth largest economy in the United States. The area has a highly educated workforce coupled with numerous Fortune 500 companies in various industries. Furthermore, it is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the country by population. These factors combine to make Atlanta a wonderful place to start a new business.

The Benefit of Professional Office Space
While your business may be a start-up, it will be necessary to portray a professional, successful image to your customers and clients from the start. Many also find it easier for them to manage a work-home balance by having a separate office space away from home. With this in mind, you may be looking for cost-effective office space solutions in the Atlanta area where you can run your business from. There are several options to consider.

Shared and Coworking Spaces
Shared office spaces are a great idea for those who want to enjoy all of the benefits of having a professional office space and who need some of the infrastructure and services of a larger office without the cost. Atlanta Tech Village in the Buckhead area is one option, and it has a wide range of square footage options available to make it affordable for your budget. Hypepotamus in Midtown is a free shared office space solution, and this venue gives you some common area amenities with worktable style offices. Strongbox West in Underwood Hills is an affordable option as well, and this is a more casual venue that still has many of the services and support features start-ups are looking for.

Hot Desking Solutions
Another option available is hot desking. This is a far more mobile solution than the other office options for start-ups. With most hot desking solutions, you can walk into the venue and pay for services for the day. These are often worktable areas or desks in a large environment, and some may have private rooms to make phone calls in private. You can rotate which hot desk environment you work in on a daily basis, and this is a great way to get to know other business owners like yourself and to take advantage of different services offered in different venues. Some of the options include the Atlanta Tech Village and the Center for Civic Innovation.

Temporary Offices
A temporary office is another option for new business owners to consider. These are available with a very short-term lease, and some may be rented by the month. These are typically fully furnished spaces and may also be referred to as executive suites. There are a number of buildings offering temporary office space in the Atlanta metropolitan area, such as the Crowne Office Suites at The Exchange and Peachtree Offices at Downtown on Peachtree Street. These spaces are available with secretarial services, phone answering service, IT support, shared work areas and break rooms and more.

Virtual Offices
A variation of the temporary office is a virtual office, and many temporary offices have a virtual office option. These enable you to take advantage of a prestigious, professional address in a prime commercial area in Atlanta as well as some of the services provided by the office building, but you may actually work remotely. With this option, you may be able to use the conference room and other facilities at the building as needed. 



When starting a new business, you may not want to commit to a long lease or take on unnecessary overheads. The above are all affordable, intelligent solutions for new business owners to consider in the Atlanta area.
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