Life Success: The Difference Between Values and Goals

Employment, Accounting, Banking

By: Marsha Egan


Whether you believe it or not we are all governed by values. Our values influence how we make decisions and effectively run our lives. Values can be instilled in us or we can choose to adopt them. Our values can change. The important thing to know is that when we have strong values, and positive values, they will be integral to our achieving what we want in this life.

Values are not goals. Goals are targets. Values are the base upon which we run our lives.

Values are how you see the world, what you see as important, what you believe.

Why are we talking about values? Because they form the base for your approach to life! Values are the bedrock of your walking the path of life. They support and drive your purpose.

When coaching clients, one of the actions that we take is to have the client articulate what his or her values are. By writing them down, it is a way to keep our values present in our lives.

Here are a few ways to go about clarifying your values:

1. Imagine you have a day to spend any way you want. What would you do? Some of the answers will give you clarity on what some of your values are.
2. Think about your sense of right and wrong. As you articulate what is right, you will become more clear on your values.
3. Consider what excites you and what motivates you. These will give you clues to values, as well.
4. Ponder about the actions that can add stability to your life. This will open up thought on what those values might be

When you write down your values, it is important to write them in the present tense. As an example, you might write one of your values as "I am financially stable" rather than "I will be financially stable."

A great way to do all this, is to use index cards or sticky notes, because you may find that you will have many things written down. Most likely, they will work their way into natural groupings. Some people like to set a few overriding values, with supporting values.

To use the example above, an overall value could be "I am financially stable". You might have several supporting values to this statement such as, "I pay all my bills before the due date." "I review my insurance annually, " "I save x percent of my income."

Here are some areas where you might wish to state your values:

• - family
• - education
• - morals
• - community
• - career
• - friendships
• - health
• - finances
• - recreation

While this may appear to be making more work than is necessary, it's interesting to see how, by being clear on what your values are, they can influence your actions.

In a personal example, one of my values is "I explore when I travel." On a recent speaking engagement in Oklahoma City, when I arrived at my hotel room, despite the fact that I was tired, I asked how far the Oklahoma Memorial was. When I found out it was only six blocks, I walked there, and was extremely glad that I did. It was a memorial to experience. I doubt that I would have done that, if I had not "lived" this value.

So, I urge you to take a little bit of time to become clear on what your values are. They are already there, most likely you just haven't put them to paper. It's nice to live them, and it's even nicer to pass them on to those who follow you.

Marsha Egan, CPCU, PCC is CEO of The Egan Group, Inc., a Reading, PA based professional coaching firm. She is a certified executive coach and professional speaker, specializing in leadership development and can be reached at marsha@marshaegan.com or visit www.marshaegan.com .

The Executive Summary is Your Business Plan's First Impression

Employment, Accounting, Banking

By: Corey Landis

The executive summary is not a mini version of the entire business plan. Keep it brief, two to three pages long. The purpose of the executive summary is to entice the reader to review, or request to review, the entire business plan. While the executive summary is presented first, it is written after the entire plan has been completed. It should not contain any information that cannot be found elsewhere in the business plan. Don't write the executive summary first, with the idea you can always expand it later into a full blown business plan, that just doesn't work.


If your business plan will not be presented for investors or bankers you don't need to complete the executive summary.
A brief two to three page overview of the company with one or two paragraphs under each of the following headings:

• Business Activity: The company's products or services.
• Market Opportunity: Define the company's market base, the customers, where they are located. Number of customers or dollar size of market.
• Business Profile: A very brief description of when the company was established, by whom, number of employees, any recent changes.
• Competitive Factors: The competitors, their strengths and weaknesses.
• Marketing Strategy: The company's marketing: advertising, promotions, methods of distribution, and sales force.
• Management Team: Brief description of senior management.
• Capital Required: Amount, uses and type of the capital requested.
• Financial Summary: Brief summary of the financial performance of the company for the last three to five years, if available and what is projected for the next three to five years.

Some of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make in their executive summary include forgetting to put their contact information, name and phone number on each page. Not including the amount of your capital request. Not clearly articulating what business the company is in. Losing the reader in technical jargon. Some entrepreneurs think shorter is better but a one page executive summary isn't long enough to entice the reader. Most entrepreneurs have the intention to keep to no more than 3 pages but keep adding "just one more thing," until the summary is 10 or more pages long. Additional mistakes include forgetting to discuss the accomplishments of the management team. Not clearly stating who the customers (market) are. Not including the marketing strategies. And finally not including any financial projections.
If you want to know how to write a business plan you need to know what's included in the executive summary.

Small Business Ideas In Tough Economic Times

Employment, Accounting, Banking

By: Dave Johnshon

The global population of those laid off, unemployed or otherwise searching for ways to make ends meet, has caused a widespread interest in exploring business ideas. It is no longer just women who aim to work at home and tend to the home front. Everywhere, people give consideration to how to earn a living.


An employer may unexpectedly fall short of revenue, and promptly serve notice to employees that their services are no longer needed. The media regularly depict the economic woes of millions who find themselves at a loss for income. The poor economy, while seemingly harsh and unsympathetic, may also provide impetus for people to exercise entrepreneurial reactions. When times are good, people may feel free to dabble with ways to enhance income.


In times when the economy is down and out, this may launch incredible spirited efforts to make business dreams come true. Photography buffs, for example, may decide that now is the time to make that photography hobby pay off.
There are at least half a dozen reputable companies, including publishing market industry dynamos, who are offering do it yourself publishing. People enjoy picture taking and picture browsing. It can be to your advantage to consider merging book publishing with photography interests. A collection of photos can be compiled into a book format.


To make your photography book stand out, a person can develop a theme. When you go to major book publishing portals and conduct market research, you can begin to separate fruitless efforts from proven ones. Which books are doing well, along with titles, can easily be seen online through major book vendor sites. You would then migrate the book concepts, table of contents and titles, along with keywords to your photo project. You would then revise these contents to make them uniquely yours. Perhaps bestsellers include books of children or animals. Perhaps there is inspiring text or some other type of text for readers.


A person can upload images to a custom book site provider to initiate the publishing process. Images can be obtained from a number of sources. Stock photography websites, images in the public domain, or pictures you take yourself.


To find suitable text to pair with images, a person can conduct online research using the many sites offering a variety of quotes. A person can also rewrite inspirational sayings found online.


Some book publishing sites allow you to also sell your books through their site. The publisher may allow you to set your own prices and see upfront what your earnings may be. Some publishers offer different methods of publishing. Electronic or print custom books are often available. The terms and conditions will vary. For instance, commission may be better using one method, but payment time may be worse. A publishing service will often allow you to buy your own books, potentially discounted in cost. This option might be the most economical. In which case you can stock your books and set up your own website with cross marketing through the publisher site. You can take your books to local merchants, such as coffee shops, for resell, or sell them direct at community events. You could send local periodicals complimentary review copies. To get the word out about your book, there are a variety of online do it yourself public relations sites that will walk you through and distribute your press release free or at nominal cost. Among business ideas, photography books, can be an immediate venture. When you pair books with other products or concepts such as care packages for hospital patients, commuter markets, you can expand business opportunities.