Do These 7 Things to Get (and Stay) Motivated

How do you stay motivated and inspired? How can you keep your passion, your excitement, fired up? First things first… Make a decision to go all the way to the top. Up to now, you’ve thought about it. Up to now, it’s passed your mind. But now make up your mind to go all the way to the top, and your life will take off. It’s the most extraordinary thing.

Your life is like a shadow going up the dark side of a hill—until the moment you decide that “I’m going to be the best at what I do.” And suddenly you rise into the sunshine, and your life is forever after different—wonderful. Get serious. Don’t fool around anymore. Read more at Success.com.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Daily Message from Acceler8Success Founder, Paul Segreto

Again and again, I learn about someone who had committed suicide. As always the case, it finds me thinking about what may have been going through that person’s mind.

Personally, I can only imagine the ‘noise’ being experienced without being able to control the volume either to drown it out or to hear it better. It’s like what we’ve all done at one time or another… turning up the volume on the car radio when hearing a noise that wouldn’t go away or that couldn’t be identified or when turning up the volume was just to hear something more clearly, and at times, just because a certain song was playing — sometimes stirring up memories. There could be other reasons.

There are also times the volume is cranked up to ‘disappear’ into deep, personal thought, essentially, to just get lost in the moment. However, turning up the volume could possibly be a form of denial akin to putting one’s head in the sand. Isn’t it interesting that similar actions are done for various reasons and possibly, for different results? Yet, the action taken is often done impulsively without nary a thought as to the action being taken and certainly with no thought as to the consequences thereafter.

Here is a quote about suicide from an episode of Yellowstone as John Dutton tries to reason with his son, Jamie who is sitting alone in a field with a gun in his hand…

John Dutton : “You know the thing about suicide, you don’t just kill yourself. You kill every memory of you. This’ll be all everyone remembers, Jamie. Every second you spent on this earth will be reduced to how you chose to leave it.
Ultimately, how do we help others to help them think through what it is that’s on their minds before it’s too late? How do we help others toward better mental health, a necessity for better decision-making and in understanding and managing emotions? Of course, I really don’t know. It’s just hard to grasp the why in these situations. It’s all difficult to comprehend.“

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1–800–273–8255

How to Start a Business in 2021 Debt-Free

Everyone associates entrepreneurship with hard work and oftentimes, debt. For many small business owners just starting out, this is probably the case. While hard work may be unavoidable, there is a funding solution that can help ease financial burdens.

What’s the solution? In a word, ROBS. So, what Is ROBS Funding?

It’s a common misconception that you can only use your retirement funds to purchase investments like publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. In reality, you can use most retirement plans to buy a business—tax-deferred and penalty-free.

Known as a ROBS (Rollover as Business Start-ups) strategy, this funding solution is designed using long-standing provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) which allows entrepreneurs to use money from a qualified retirement plan to purchase or recapitalize a business. This program is similar to buying stock in a public company, except instead you’re investing in your own privately held company. Read more at Benetrends.com.

How to See Beyond Your Past When Creating a Business

I see Ava Johanna, a spiritual business coach and meditation coach, on the other side of my Zoom screen. She looks like Malibu Barbie and has a charming, purposeful glow. As we begin our interview, her husband pops in and asks if she’d like a sandwich. She peers up and says, “Just a half one.”

The ease with which she accepts the sandwich is simple yet poignant enough to make me think about her core message: Everything we desire is possible, as long as we’re open to receiving the abundance that the universe is willing and eager to give us. Johanna and her husband manifested their dream home just a few days before our interview. This is a huge milestone for anyone but for Johanna, having a near oceanside home is even more meaningful. Some 15 years ago, Johanna was living in Los Angeles in a completely different dimension. She was homeless. At age 16, Johanna and her family were evicted from their house, their car was repossessed, and they bounced from friend’s house to friend’s house for over 18 months in the Calabasas/Agoura area. Read more at Entrepreneur.com.

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love, then make that day count!” – Steve Maraboli, ‘Life, the Truth, and Being Free’

Texas Led Nation in Economic Development Wins in 2020, According to Site Selection

Texas continues to dominate the nation when it comes to total economic development project wins, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lone Star State took the top spot for the ninth year in a row on Site Selection Magazine’s list of best performing states for economic development by total number of projects. That’s earned Texas the publication’s Governor’s Cup award once again. 

Texas logged 781 projects in 2020, down from 859 qualifying projects the year before but still more than any other state as the U.S. grappled with the effects of the pandemic. Read more at Houston.org.

With many individuals, families and corporations relocating to Texas, it’s no wonder Texas is a hotbed for entrepreneurship and business ownership. If you’re interested in exploring the business landscape and opportunities within the Lone Star State, please contact us for a complimentary consultation. Text “TEXAS” to (832) 797-9851 or send an email to info@franchisefoundry.com.

A Simple Trick to Boost Your Productivity

Prioritizing is essential to success and happiness, but systems for prioritizing can be convoluted. Just using the system can suck away energy from actually getting things done.

Here’s a simple way to prioritize: Of all the things you currently have the energy for, do the thing you’re normally least likely to do. Read more at PsychologyToday.com.

Cold shower? The routine of the most productive people when they wake up! (Author: Daniel Colombo)

Perhaps for those who are used to saying to themselves when they wake up “five more minutes” when the alarm goes off under the fluffy duvet and the warmth of the bed, this idea seems far-fetched. However, it is not something new and many of the most productive executives in the world apply it: get up immediately, without hesitation, very early, and take a cold shower.

This is a practice known since ancient times: Hippocrates, the Greek doctor born in 460 BC, considered the greatest of all time, recommended it to his patients as a remedy for many diseases. At this time, Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the first athletes to refer to his practice of taking cold showers for muscle recovery; And also the singer and actress Lady Gaga was shown in photos in a variant of the cold shower: she takes ice baths. Read more at Entrepreneur.com.

Daily Message from Acceler8Success Founder, Paul Segreto

“It’s not unusual to see your stress and anxiety levels rise during stressful, challenging times. When you feel these levels rise – slow down, breathe slowly, breathe deeply. Separate yourself from the moment – get up from your desk, take a walk, listen to music, go sit in a different chair and close your eyes or just stand outside and distract yourself with sights and sounds of nature. Feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Allow your mind to drift to your happy place. Smile. Do this for 20-30 minutes and you’ll find yourself relaxed and with a sharper mind. You’ll also find the ability to circumvent the thing or situation that interrupted your focus in the first place. Have a great day. Make it happen. Make it count!”

3 Tips On Surviving The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster (Author Celinne Da Costa)

Frank Song is a former Wall Street investment banker, private equity investor and confidential strategy advisor to businesses, high-net worth individuals and politicians. He believes that controlling your emotions is vital to succeeding in business. From sleeping on the floor at Walmart to becoming the founder of an eight-figure international business conglomerate, he shares: “Emotional control is one of the most critical factors to not only surviving the entrepreneurial roller coaster, but to thriving in it. This is for one simple reason: it is the foundation of being able to make good judgement calls,” he says. Read more at Forbes.com.

Creating Boundaries When You are Launching Your Business (Regina Lawrence, All the THINGS podcast)

During today’s episode Regina Lawrence talks all about creating boundaries in your business. She talks about the importance of your “why”, how to set boundaries and how to communicate your boundaries. Regina chats about:

• Why it’s important to focus on your “why” when creating boundaries
• How to actually create boundaries in your business and personal life
• How to communicate boundaries to the people around us
• and so much more!

Listen to this episode at All the THINGS podcast.

The Crisis According to Albert Einstein

“Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things. A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation. For all crises bring progress…

Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born form the dark night. It’s in crisis that inventive is born, as well as discoveries, and big strategies. Who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome. Who blames his failure to a crisis neglects his own talent, and is more respectful to problems than to solutions. Incompetence is the true crisis…

The greatest inconvenience of people and nations is the laziness with which they attempt to find the solutions to their problems. There’s no challenge without a crisis. Without challenges, life becomes a routine, a slow agony. There’s no merit without crisis. It’s in the crisis where we can show the very best in us. Without a crisis, any wind becomes a tender touch. To speak about a crisis is to promote it. Not to speak about it is to exalt conformism. Let us work hard instead…

Let us stop, once and for all, the menacing crisis that represents the tragedy of not being willing to overcome it.”

Acceler8Success: Connecting the Right Brands, People & Opportunities

The uncertainty of 2020 created the perfect time to diversify and expand. After all, it’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention. To that end, Acceler8Success Group was formed mid-year, building upon Acceler8Success principles and methods that have proven successful since 2014.

Widely recognized as industry leaders & experts, Acceler8Success Group leadership have extensive experience as entrepreneurs in small business & restaurants, as senior-level executives within nationally recognized brands, and as franchisees within successful franchise systems. 

Members of Acceler8Success Group along with Strategic Partners have earned designation as Certified Franchise Executives, Certified Franchise Brokers, Certified Business Brokers and Commercial Real Estate Brokers. Positioned to deliver services within the U.S., Canada and other Global markets, languages spoken include: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German and Russian.  Learn more at www.Acceler8Success.com

3 Tips From Founders for Preserving Your Mental Health (Author: Joely Simon)

After only six weeks of working in his company’s newly purchased office space, Isaac Rudansky, founder and CEO of AdVenture Media Group, sent his employees home to avoid the spread of Covid-19. He lost 35 percent of his clients in the first three weeks of the pandemic.”I’m actually an optimistic person, but this was a really dark period,” he says. “Oftentimes, when you’re dealing with feelings of depression and stress, it’s impossible to look at a longer horizon.” 

So rather than look forward, Rudansky looked back at the past five years. Even through the peaks and valleys, he saw that his life and career had trended in a positive direction.  That perspective gave him the confidence to move forward. Read more at Inc.com.

How Business Owners Thrive in Uncertain Times Using The 80% Plan (Author: Melanie Benson)

No matter how good an entrepreneur is at planning out their growth steps, sometimes life throws a curve ball. A family illness or death can derail an owner’s focus for months. An unexpected economic downturn such as the 2009 credit debacle can change people’s buying patterns overnight. A launch that was planned meticulously fails, and with that failure a significant financial windfall goes up in smoke. Or, as we saw in 2020, a global pandemic can put the entire world into a tailspin, shutting down in-person experiences and multiple industries for over a year. Read more.

Daily Message From Acceler8Success Founder, Paul Segreto

“I continue to be amazed that some people, and more than you might imagine will go to great lengths to intentionally convince others their ideas or what they’re doing won’t work. Their actions are based upon some deep jealousy or envy that they’re not involved or doing it themselves or even just had the initial ideas or contribution to the same but never acted upon it. Instead of showing support with words of encouragement or helping to champion the ideas on behalf of the friend or colleague or offering another set of eyes and ears should the need occur, they work extra hard to cast negativity, often proactively, almost as a campaign of sorts – yet, still trying to come across as a trusted friend or colleague. I wonder how many fantastic ideas have gone by the wayside as a result of these selfish actions. So, I highly recommend to stay committed to your ideas, believing in your own thought process and thoroughly evaluating opinion, suggestions and recommendations of others, and taking them with a grain of salt or heeding their advice as your gut feeling let’s you know which path to follow. Listen to your initial thoughts and follow your intuition. More importantly, follow your vision and fuel your passion with relentless commitment because that’s what it will take to turn your ideas into successful endeavors. Remember, don’t let anyone take away your dreams.”

12 Resources and Communities Entrepreneurs Should Follow for Industry Insight and Tips (Small Business Trends: The Young Entrepreneur Council)

Staying tuned in to the pulse of your industry is key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Public groups, online forums and the like are among the most valuable resources for gathering and contributing industry information. But if someone is looking for in-depth insight into their business niche, locating the right groups where this discussion occurs is the first step. To help you find them, 12 members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) respond to the following question:

“What’s one public-facing online group (e.g. a specific Facebook group, forum, etc.) that you recommend entrepreneurs follow for industry insight, business management tips, growth hacks, etc., and why?”

Things Women Entrepreneurs Need to Do (Author: Meena Ganesh)

Amidst all the challenges and obstacles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been one positive aspect: a reset – a global one at that. The temporary pause has given the world an opportunity to reflect and deliberate on several things. From observing clearer skies during the lockdown to #BlackLivesMatter, many things that probably were taken for granted in a normal course came to the fore. The other catalysing change during the pandemic has been the acceptance of remote working models, and shift to digital interactions, all of which have brought about a levelling of the business environment – especially for women. Women entrepreneurs have emerged and how with their sheer passion, in-depth understanding of customer needs, and the thirst to excel in what they do.There are certain things which have proven effective over time for successful women entrepreneurs of today and can play a key role in business growth for the emerging leaders across industries. Read more.

Surge of Startups: Entrepreneurs Emerge During Pandemic (Author: Pafoua Yang)

A recent study says Americans started 4.4 million business last year, that’s 24% more than the year before. The New York Times reports the coronavirus crisis may have sparked a boom in U.S. entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial growth is also happening in the northwest suburbs (Minneapolis). Those facing economic downturn and job loss are now becoming their own boss. Read more.

With many individuals, families and corporations relocating to Texas, it’s no wonder Texas continues to be a hotbed for entrepreneurship and business ownership. If you’re interested in exploring the business landscape and opportunities within the Lone Star State, please contact Franchise Foundry for a complimentary consultation. Text “TEXAS” to (832) 797-9851 or send an email to info@franchisefoundry.com.

How Two Female Entrepreneurs Managed To Grow Their Business During Covid-19 (Author: Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo)

Between 1997 and 2017, the number of women-owned businesses increased by 114%, a rate 2.5 times higher than the national average. Although women-owned firms represent 39% of all companies, they’re responsible for only 8% of employment and 4% of revenues. This is particularly noteworthy given the recent report, which stated 140K job losses for women this past December due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For many women, having transversal skills and an entrepreneurial mind can help keep them employed and enable the further advancement of increasing the number of females in leadership roles. Read more.