I know plenty of successful small businessmen.  I can describe each of them with one word – TENACIOUS.  They all have a certain tenacity and stubbornness that gets them through day after day, week after week, month after month.  This is much what Funny About Money says regarding personality traits of successful small entrepreneurs,

The most essential trait a home business owner needs is self-motivation. No one is going to “make” you do what you’re supposed to do to earn money. You have to be able to get yourself going, and you have to keep yourself going, even when you don’t feel like. The ability to motivate yourself is vital for a successful home business.

What are three other personality traits? Read the article to learn more!

Photo by Sean MacEntee.

A start-up company won the Facebook contract to produce and distribute business cards to look like the social networking site’s new timeline.  Moo.com is offering to print and ship free business cards to the first 200,000 users – or approximately 10 million cards.

The cards can feature a different photo image on the front of the cards together with a favourite quote or saying on the reverse. This will doubly act as a promo for Facebook’s Timelime as people will be able to take snapshots of their lives from their Timelines and put them onto the cards.

Facebook spokesperson Jillian Stefanki says “The MOO.COM integration makes it possible for people to take [the Timeline] experience with them offline.”

Always suspicious, I went in and looked.  I was one of 200,000 so am getting 50 business cards for free! I didn’t like the profile picture it’s using, but for free cards I will live with it!

From our Shak to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Without stating the obvious computer and phone, my must-have for an office includes a fax machine, comfortable chair, and wireless internet. Jason of The Virtual Leader has his own list of three things he must have,

A second monitor.  Plugging an old, yet large, monitor into my laptop gives me dual screen capability so I can multitask or manage online training sessions easily.  For example, notes or slides to myself on one screen while sharing the other screen with online participants.

Jason also has a good headset and a powerline adapter as his own must-haves. What’s on your list?

Whether you sell real estate, whether you are a private contractor, whether you loan money to family or friends – always get the terms of the agreement in writing.  The hard part is plowing through what could be uncomfortable for the self-employed. However, a signed contract or agreement will protect both you as an entrepreneur and a client.

Capital Concierge shared an experience about how – although there was no agreement in place – it still worked out,

I fast discovered my friend and I were not on the same page!  Suddenly, we found ourselves in a disagreement because there was no agreement.  I didn’t know what to do.  I value my friendship with this person and didn’t want the relationship damaged yet, I had my expectations of the event too.  The truth is, there wasn’t much I could do.  The real problem lied in what I didn’t do, taken the time to go over the agreement to engage which includes the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved.

Thankfully it all worked out in the end, but still drives home the point that when you get something in writing it can hold up in court!

My daughter has moved back home from college.  She finds that the Internet is her single biggest problem in getting her homework done.  Like students, there are plenty of distractions for home offices as well.

Apartment Therapy’s Jason Loper offers some tips on how to successfully work at home, including:

Get Dressed: One of the easiest ways I can switch from lazy Jason to professional Jason is by getting dressed in the morning. Changing from pajamas to jeans and a shirt and putting product in my hair makes me feel like I’m ready for the day. If I stayed in my pajamas, my day would probably never get started and I’d be tempted to nap with the cat all afternoon.

I get this! It’s a good weekend for me if I get out of my pajamas and take a shower! Go read the rest of Jason’s tips for successfully having a home office!

Photo by Sean MacEntee.

When there’s a lot of clutter in your life – whether it’s stuff, bad relationships, disorganization – it is hard to be productive.  Sometimes to soar, you have to let go.  Tom Basson reveals some very helpful steps on how to simplify your life and increase your productivity.  Here are my two favorites:

1.  Clean out your closets. Get rid of things you never wear or don’t use anymore.

2.  Learn to protect your time. The data says workers are interrupted every 11 minutes. Distractions destroy productivity and complicate your life.

Read all of his tips. They’re excellent!

Has there ever been anything you want to buy, but you have to leave town to get it?  Chances are other people may want the same thing.  So as you fish around for business ideas, consider that.  Now JUMP in if it’s something that’s a necessity item like food.  That’s what Mike did when the local grocery (and ONLY grocery) closed,

… a young man Mike Redd who had worked at the store, and now had no job took the chance and with the help and support of the town reopened the store. Now our little town has an even better grocery store Redd’s Mercantile. And jobs are restored along with hope. It was a big chance but it, is a success that is good for our town. So if you own your own business or are thinking of starting one remember the keys to success are hard work, self belief and community support.

Nice job, Mike!

Photo by Amanda Govaert.

With so many businesses that fail in their first year or two, trying set one up frugally is a must.  Then as you grow, you can expand into bigger and better.

Russell Cavanagh of business posts.co.uk offers some frugal tips for startups,

Don’t go daft buying office furniture. Larger charity shops, and even other businesses, may have desks and chairs they’re selling cheap.

Exploit free advertising opportunities such as free online business directories. Also, get mentioned in your local newspaper.

Russell offers several other really great ideas.  Thanks for sharing!

Photo by Taro the Shiba Inu.