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The One Color to Avoid in Business Plans and Logos

As many entrepreneurs well know, there are plenty of ways to scare off investors when you're pitching your company. One not-so-obvious way to raise red flags, however, has nothing to do with your idea or how well you sell it.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a new study, "How Images and Color in Business Plans Influence Venture Investment Screening Decisions," indicates that investors are less likely to take a stake in a company that has logos or products containing the color red.

The study's authors, who examined results from a business-plan competition and two survey-based experiments, say that their research indicates that people tend to rely heavily on mental shortcuts drawn from our past experiences--also known as heuristics--when making split-second decisions.

“Humans are not as rational as a lot of people tend to believe that we are,” H. Dennis Park, an assistant professor at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business and one of the study's authors, told the Journal. The color red is often associated with error or poor performance, especially in the U.S--think about all of your grade school papers marked up with red ink. A pitch or a logo containing this color may subtly remind an investor of mistakes and thus raise literal red flags about your startup's potential.

But here's the good news: once people are made aware of the fact that they are making decisions based on stereotypes, they tend to act more objectively, according to Park. Some venture capitalists, like Madrid-based Luis Martín Cabiedes, make a conscious effort to rebel against traditions in the startup world that promote unconscious bias. Cabiedes told the Journal that he does not watch PowerPoint presentations, read business plans, or attend demo days to make investment decisions. Instead, he relies on in-person interviews with company founders. 

"It’s very important to not be affected by the impression that the entrepreneur or the business plan is giving you," Cabiedes said.

The Business Plan that Always Works

Why is it that business plans never come to life? Why do almost all of them, once written, sit on a shelf and gather dust, while the futures they describe never see the light of day, and the businesses they lay out wobble their way into uncertain futures?

A traditional business plan is head-centered; it's an exercise in what business owners think they should do. Writing a traditional business plan is usually precipitated by one of two thoughts:

1. We'd better write a business plan because "that's what most successful businesses do"

2. We need to write a business plan if we want to go out and borrow money.

Traditional business plans are quite intentional. They are thoughtful, analytical, complete, decisive--all of the hallmarks of a supposedly "smart" business.

Traditional, head-centered, static business plans don't work. A plan that starts in the head, with logic and reason and thoughts, lacks passion and excitement and purpose. And a plan that starts with the assumption that it's been able to capture and account for all the relevant changes that will happen in the future is obsolete before the ink is dry on the page.

The business plan that will always work starts from a different place with a different set of operating assumptions. It starts from a heart-centered approach, which means it starts with experiencing the feelings you have. Not only does this plan tolerate change, but it relies on your building in change as a key factor that will keep you on the best course.

When I work with Entrepreneurs, I lead them through something I call 'The Dreaming Room.' This is the step before the business plan. In the Dreaming Room, we set out to imagine our businesses-but not from a logistics standpoint. Rather, we dream about the vision for the business. Why do you want to build it? Who will benefit? What will it mean to the world? Only after you understand those things, can you write any kind of tactical plan that will truly get you there.

The real difference between the business plan that always works and the traditional business plan is in how you think and feel about the plan--it's your attitude and your relationship to the plan that will make all the difference.

How to Make the Best of Shrinking Office Space

Mad Men's Don Draper has a desk, chairs, and a couch in his office. Plus, enough room to practice his golf putting skills, hold a meeting, and engage in inappropriate office behavior. If you're a bigwig at your company, you may be lucky enough to have an office with a door, but the chances of a couch and place to practice your putting is pretty slim. If you're not on the senior team? You're lucky if you have your own three-walled cubicle. And, in many places, even the CEO is sitting at a shared table.

As office space premiums increase, employees' personal space decreases, and it's not all fun and collaborative. Oh sure, the one big open space in The Office allows Jim to torment Dwight more effectively, but not everyone is so creative. Instead, we get to hear things we shouldn't.

For instance, one day, while I dwelt in cubicle land, I was on the phone with our in-house attorney, discussing the upcoming termination of an employee. After finishing the call, I turned around and discovered that said employee was standing just outside my cube, talking with someone. She gave no indication that she'd heard my conversation (whew!) but what if she had?

Fortunately, while I had been begging for private office space for a long time to no avail, this incident finally got me and my job-share partner an office. After all, if we were in charge of terminations, we should probably have some privacy. But this meant someone else got kicked to the cube, and was that person happy? Of course not.

And while my work required privacy, what if your work doesn't strictly require privacy? Is it OK in that case to not even have a cubicle, but to sit right next to your co-workers? After all, you only need enough space for your laptop. Many people don't even have office telephones any more--every call goes directly to your cell phone.

Many people feel that this close type of seating arrangement can boost creativity and collaboration, but it can also boost TMI. For instance, in The New York Times, Bryan Langlands shared his story of how his whole office found out about his coming colonoscopy due to close quarters at the office. (We'll ignore the irony of addressing your lack of privacy by explaining, in detail, why you want privacy to The New York Times.)

Some people need room to breathe and room to think. Some people just need a little space and some need a little quiet. Open office plans, tiny cubes, and no doors that shut can exacerbate the lack of privacy at work. When your company doesn't have the funds to give everyone a Don Draper-styled office, here are some things you can do to help alleviate the close quarters problem.

Have an available private space. It can be small office with a desk (and if you do use office phones, a phone that can be programmed with anyone's number). It needs to be clear that this isn't a place for someone to set up shop permanently, but only a place for people to use from time to time. Some people may need to use it to make a personal phone call while others may need it to be able to work without interruption on a particular project.

Embrace telecommuting. Telecommuting doesn't solve all privacy complications (for instance, there is no school today and my daughter is reading over my shoulder as I'm typing this, helpfully pointing out any grammatical errors), but it certainly does solve most of them. Some businesses and some employees don't work well with the telecommuting model, but a lot do. If you're not going to have privacy at the office, make sure that everyone who can has the opportunity to work from home.

Acknowledge that sometimes people need a break. If your employees have no privacy at the office, don't freak out when one of them disappears for a while. She's probably taking a walk or went out for a long lunch because that's what she needs in order to maintain her level of work. Not everyone loves constant contact with everyone.

Invest in high-quality headphones. Many people bring their own, of course, but consider it a cost of doing business if you're not springing for gobs of office space. Some great, noise-canceling headphones can help ameliorate the constant noise present in open office spaces and cubicle farms.

Investment Property: Land, House or Apartment?

Investment Property: Land, House or Apartment?

Indonesia is experiencing a significant upward movement in the property. The new residential area grow in a fresh new and not yet touched many people around. Apartments are mushrooming in big cities. Indonesia increasingly making rich properties. What would be your choice in property investment? Lets you see the following brief explanation.

Ground

Like gold, land practically unaffected for inflation, the price can not be decreased. For the land is one of the easiest investment properties among other properties. Here are the pluses and minuses if the investment ground:

Plus:

• The price that tend to rise each year
• Lack of maintenance costs
• If the strategic location, the price can be many times
• No need to use insurance

Minus:

• Soil is more difficult to sell compared to an apartment or a house, especially if it is not located in developing regions
• Must be the boundary / fence being misused others, and therefore should be given extra scrutiny
• Vacant land will not get the rent such as a house or apartment
• The vast land, the more difficult it is to sell
• Difficult used as collateral in bank debt

Home

The house is a basic need of people in Indonesia. Where now is difficult to get a house, the price soared, with the economic instability in the country, more and make it difficult to own a home. So it also can be used as a property investment opportunities by you who have more capital, to rent out the house you have. The house is still a natural thing for our society than by staying in the apartment. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of investing home:

Advantages :

• The house is relatively easy to sell
• Can be used as collateral to the bank
• Can be leased so that augment your income each month
• House prices each year also increased every year
• The high demand, especially if it is close to the motorway access, the intersection of main roads, shopping centers, educational or other entertainment

Deficiency :

• Keep insurance costs
• Experiencing depreciation of the economic value each year
• Keep the cost of treatment and if it is in a residential complex, costly safety, hygiene and so on
• Paying the United Nations, making it more expensive than land investment
• Sometimes there are to be repaired or renovated if you do not trim tenants in rent your home

Apartment

For investments this one is also promising. Usually apartments are equipped with facilities that are not available when you rent a house. Many apartment building you might see while traveling. That's why the apartment business, fairly promising. Here's a little explanation of investment apartments, on the advantages and drawbacks.

Advantages :

• A strategic location, usually in the middle of the city, usually located in the Central Business District, expatriates and close to the university
• Facility somewhat fuller than the house, as described above
• Easy to rent at high prices, thereby increasing your pocket each month

Deficiency :

• The cost of treatment is much more expensive
• If the mortgaged to the bank, the transaction value is lower than the house
• Do not have Broking because they do not have land
• Spacious apartments are usually smaller than a house
• The resale value smaller than the land or house
• Can not renovate as you like

Yes, that is our exposure on the investment property that you may live. You already know the comparison of each unit, so set your goals from now.

8 Cheap Ways To Improve Your business

Know the terms Brokerpreneur, What is That?

Know the terms Brokerpreneur, What is That?

When we build a business there are many types of businesses that can be created either by becoming a broker, of course, not easy to be an intermediary for its sales of goods, products or services of people need special communication skills good.

Maybe some of us still have not heard of this new term "brokerpreneur" yes still relatively new term that is indeed just a trend among businesses. Actually the term brokerpreneur comes from the original word a businessman engaged in the broker or agent. Have certainly heard your intermediary can instantly capture that brokerpreneur not new but a profession that has existed since long.

When we build a business there are many types of businesses that can be created either by becoming a broker, of course, not easy to be an intermediary for its sales of goods, products or services of people need special communication skills good. The ability to communicate is what commonly is not owned by businesses outside the profession of a broker.

Many terms are used in each different area for the perpetrators of the broker or intermediary agent is, what the name of an intermediary agent in your area? certainly unique, but the profession of a broker is now even more popular and many people who love to run their business, because how not when we sell an item, or property benefits can be up to 10-20%. Just imagine if we managed to sell the property earlier is for 1 or 3 billion, it is definitely a very extraordinary profits. What is needed is not a broker but a great financial capital relatives, friends relatives of the person who has enough potential to become a prospect.

Actually, through this article I want to introduce to you that the profession of an intermediary agent was very interesting, even less have they become the outstanding success by becoming a broker. But indeed, the broker usually petty new benefits hundreds of thousands to the maximum of 1 or 2 million, but it could be heading to the capital for a true brokerpreneur class to reap the benefits of tens to hundreds of million per deal.

Very interesting is not it? So, when people see the eyes say that you are "brokerpreneur" pretty classy in the world of marketing. Surely, as a broker or intermediary agent even now many become big company worldwide.

Running Side Business Profitable

Running Side Business Profitable

Nowadays, people work in an office or a large company is no longer to be something extraordinary. Now the days are getting creative and dynamic because many people are looking for and get money from a variety of jobs through a side business efficiently, does not have to work in an office. By doing so, people today have times flexible, efficient, and productive because they do not spend their time just to work in the office.

Those who do not work in the office also possess a myriad of activities that are multifunctional. Gradually, the people who work in the office was a time to retire and many of them are choosing to start a business. No one did if you choose to become an employee, especially if you have a big salary and adequate. Of course it becomes a moment of pride, you have a good position in the company, who did not want to?

Have a regular work schedule as well as adequate salaries every month, not to mention if there was a bonus and various types of other benefits including their health insurance, career path could continue to rise, so the dream of most employees. We recommend that you start thinking of building a side business on the sidelines of your time.
Employee or a businessman?

But behind all the convenience and comfort, keep in mind also that not everyone will get all these advantages. Not everyone has the same chance of success. There are certain factors that make an employee can not thrive in the company's work, no matter even though the employee has to work hard and do their best for the company.

Another deficiency of an employee is young they certainly feel bored because there are many things that can be done in addition to outside the office environment. There are some employees who decide to retire early and seek a new challenge outside the office. Here efficient business opportunities sideline wide open for former employees.

Not all the employees decided to leave the company. There are also employees who decided to run an efficient business side of the office. They also are the ones who take advantage of business opportunities surrounding jelly. If already have adequate income, these employees also did not hesitate to come out of the company.

They do not hesitate to focus on their business because it has a good potential in the future. Then as if the example of the efficient side business?

Side Business Fishing

It is time for you to try to lure business from your hobby. Your knowledge was certainly good enough and adequately about the different types of fish that if it were profitable in the market. Not just any fish, you can also sell a variety of fishing equipment. Therefore, you need enough capital.

But if not, you simply fishing for beginners. You can also use online media to promote your expertise.

Cooking Side Business

If you like to cook, then you can start a side business by making cakes, open a restaurant, to open a catering. Segment too broad. You can make food for certain circles, such as opening a catering business for diabetics or sell cakes for vegetarians, and many more ideas you can pour in selling.

Trying to Business of Fun Hobbies

Hobby is not just a hobby. From a hobby, you can also make money. Choose hobbies that can make money and see if your hobby into a profitable business opportunity. Every person has the ability and expertise of each. Business instead of a hobby now become impossible origin. Clever Utilizing Expertise Try to keen to see the ability of yourself. If you have not had a particular hobby, then try to see how able you are unreliable. For example you are good in English, maybe you could open private lessons for school children. So you can have extra money for it. In addition to earning money, you can also help others to be able to learn English from you. So if you are good at web design, you can also be a web developer. You have the potential to have a significant additional money for it. Your main consumers are the ones who have a blog or website, but can not blog or website design them well. Business of the hobby course will greatly help you because in addition it could be a side business, expertise can also be our main business. For rates, you can put up rates as needed, depending on the level of difficulty of the design to be created. The better the design you create your course will be paid handsomely for it. Doing Business Of Musical Instruments Music is something that is universal. Many people are willing to follow music lessons because he wanted to study music intensively. However, if it is felt the price to pay for music lessons are expensive enough, then you can open his own private tutoring. If you are good at playing the piano, you can open the piano private lessons, this also applies to other musical instruments. Private lessons in music is one of the business very profitable hobby. The pay can be used for extra pocket money per month. But the thing to remember is you have to be proficient in order to pay you get is also proportional to the knowledge gained by those who have followed private lessons with you. Actually, there are many businesses that can be done, depending on what your current circumstances. The problem is whether you want to do it now or not? There are many types of business from a hobby that you can do, not transfixed by two things above. In addition online business and business from a hobby, you can also do other business such as home-based businesses. The first problem when you are going to start doing business course is the capital. Capital is actually not something that is necessary because not all businesses require a large capital, especially if you decide to plunge in the online business. So you do not be afraid to do business because wherever you start it, it will always be a way to achieve your success in business.

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How Cloud Computing Business Benefits

How Cloud Computing Business Benefits

When business is good, you want to find ways to make it better, and when your business is yet to take off you want to find ways to make this process easier.

In the modern age we are seeing consistently amazing new technological developments that seem at times to border with fiction. Take cloud computing solutions, for example. If you told someone ten years ago that people would be able to store data and manage their servers remotely all just at the touch of a button, it is likely that they shake their heads in complete disbelief.

But here we are: 2015, cloud computing took off in ways that no one could expect. Although in some ways it still seems too fantastic to be true, it seems that we are really living in the future. The cloud computing solutions has made things have improved since companies around the world; here are some of the reasons why you can make your business even better.

More Efficient

Because private cloud is located on a remote server, employees are able to share files and calendars with ease. This allows for better planning, better time management and an all-round more efficient way to run a business. Do not have to worry about updates and error is; instead of storing all important data on a single server, true cloud computing solutions using a remote cluster of servers, so if something goes wrong with one of all data will be transferred to another so there are no hiccups.

A system, all applications

Private cloud platforms are becoming increasingly popular among businesses of all kinds, because you can run almost any application at any time, anywhere. The running of third-party cluster of servers, organizations can do the following:

• Microsoft Word - writing reports and calculating spreadsheets in office, commuting from home and from anywhere else;
• accounting and payroll applications;
• Database;
• business management systems.

It is a full calculation package that cuts out a huge amount of problems often experienced that can affect the productivity and workflow.

Saving money and energy
Cloud computing is not only more efficient and to better promote strong workflow, is also much cheaper than traditional solutions. For one, no longer you have to worry about the cost of hiring experts to manage IT systems because they are entrusted to third parties.

It 'also a much greener than the standard solutions, something that is becoming increasingly common for companies worldwide. Cloud computing saves energy and can help your company to drastically reduce their carbon footprint, which is always a good thing.

Safe and Secure
Who would not want IT solutions that are cost-effective, efficient and, above all, much safer? The way cloud computing works means that there is a margin of error seriously reduced and you are less likely to experience these frustrating problems.

A cloud computing service in the North East provides private cloud systems exceptionally safe thanks to the use of server and storage cluster resilient, but these groups are also mirrored to a second data center in Gateshead for a solid backup solution.

These systems are backed up on a daily basis, but if you choose private cloud, you can include the option to have the system

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