Business Tips in a Minute

At a recent business conference, we heard about a website called fiverr.com, where you can find all sorts of help for just five dollars. So we decided to check it out and pass our research on to you.

Our first task: find someone who could provide a video introduction for our future videos. There were many to sift through, but I found one that looked promising and I hired him. Then I waited.

I received this video back within 24 hours:

Check out the video here…and comment below to let us know if you LIKE it or HATE it!!

We want to hear from you:

Have you ever used fiverr.com? Were you satisfied? Would you recommend them to other business owners?
Our second task: find someone who can provide a professional looking logo for just $5 in a reasonable amount of time.

Click here to see the results

The Power of Gratitude…
Why a “Grateful Year In Review” will get you ready to Look Ahead 

This is the best time of the year, and the most hectic time of year for most small business owners. It is easy to fall into the anxiety and rush of the season.

But when you pause to reflect on what you are thankful for, it can put you in a positive mood; And isn’t that the greatest way to end the year?

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach, inspirational author

One tradition we have at our business, is to take time to list all of the major (and some of the minor) accomplishments for the entire year. We write them all down and schedule an entire morning to review them with everyone in our office. It becomes an energetic time to share and reminisce about the year! And if I left anything off of the lengthy list, someone is sure to let me know. We love to celebrate how far we have come and reward those who have done an outstanding job.

This “meeting” gets us in the frame of gratitude for all who have helped to move the business forward, and becomes a time of recognition (which everyone loves).

We also take time to recognize the feedback we receive from our clients and how those suggestions have made us a better company.

It is amazing to see this “Year in Review” and spend the time to show our employees our appreciation.

Here’s a few questions to ask yourself that will put you in that grateful perspective, and get you ready to think about your direction for 2012:

1) Who has made a difference in your life this year? What did they do? Have you thanked them for it? (It’s not too late to send a card of thanks!)

2) What has created the biggest impact on your business this year? Was it an event, an employee, a new marketing strategy? Who has helped you to implement and create positive change in your business?

3) What are some of your unique talents and gifts? What are some talents of your employees? What outstanding trait could you recognize for each employee?

4) Name five new things you learned this year related to the business. Is something working well…not working…does something need to change? Write them down and use this as a starting point for the new year.

Take a look at how far YOU have come this year, and use this to remind yourself to be grateful and positive. Then let us know what you are grateful about!

Have you given thought to what would happen to your business if
something happened to you?

Would it continue on, or would it be sold by your heirs?

Linking your business to your Revocable Living Trust will allow
the flexibility of choosing what you want to happen with your
company.

As a business owner, your stock or membership interest is subject
to probate if it is held in your name personally.

The probate process takes anywhere from a required minimum of 4
months up to 2 years. I have even seen probate drawn out to a
lengthy 16 years due to arguments.

Would your business be worth anything after going through that?

If your business is like most, it would be better to sell or
transfer the company immediately so as not to lose clients or
contracts.

It’s easy to accomplish this with a revocable living trust. When
you establish a living trust, set it up to own your business
stock or company membership interest (rather than you owning it
personally).

This is the first step to keeping your business out of the
probate process. Here are the main advantages to linking your
business to your trust:

•	Avoid Probate
•	Avoid arguments (Last Will & Testament contests)
•	Transfer your interest to your heirs quickly
•	Continue with Business as usual or sell business with no probate court intervention

Four Steps to Safeguard Your Business Remember these basic steps
to ensure your business is linked to your trust:

1. Prepare Certificates—Issue your membership interest or stock
in the name of your trust, with you as trustee. For example: The
Celebrity Trust, John Doe, Trustee. Cancel the original
certificates previously owned by you and replace them with the
new certificates.

2. Update Ledgers—For an LLC, the schedule of membership interest
should reflect that your interest is held by you as trustee of
your trust. For a corporation, the corporate stock transfer
ledger would show your shares are held by you as trustee.

3. Update Trust Schedule – List your membership interest or stock
certificate shares on your trust schedule under the headings of
Corporations  or  Limited Liability Companies. If your schedule
doesn’t have one of these subheads, then add it. Place your trust
schedule behind the trust agreement itself.

4. Prepare Company Resolutions – Record your resolution of this
transfer to trust in your company records, with the correct
resolution document and place it in your Minute Book. It is
important to take ALL the appropriate steps to correctly link
your business to your trust, so consult your attorney or minutes
professional about getting it done right.

Need to link your Living Trust with your company? We'll do it for
you. Call us at 480-344-1870. http://www.JustAMinuteLLC.com

Well, they say you can find inspiration anywhere, right?
But this is just what I needed at a time when I needed it!

I was having some allergy-like symptoms and I knew that
I needed to be at my best this week because I had a webinar
to present on Wednesday and a full week of client appointments.

So I got myself a little extra vitamin C. Have you ever
tried these Halls Defense Vitamin C drops?

Well, when I opened one, I found a nice surprise: some positive
affirmations printed right on the outside of the wrapper!

Sayings like:

“You can do it and you know it.”
“Nothing you can’t handle.”
“Go for it.”
“Power through!”
“Tough is your middle name.”
and “Buckle down and push forth!”

I got a little chuckle out of that, but it
really made an impression. And, you might laugh,
but I kept every one of those little wrappers!

It made me think of the video of Jessica that we had on our blog once before.
If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to watch it.

In the mean time, be amazing today!

Please share a comment below on how you have been inspired lately.

Until Next Time,

Kari VanNoy
President, Just A Minute LLC