Its hard to believe we are into February of a new year already.......... 

And with predictions of doom and gloom everywhere, how do you plan to make 2009 your best year yet?  That's right, while everyone else is battening down the hatches and preparing for economic disaster, what are you going to do to avoid this mindset?  Afterall isn't your perception what determines your reality?  So if you want to have a prosperous year, filled with opportunity and reward, you need to start mentally preparing yourself now.  The alternative is to believe what the media is determined to convince us all, and that life as we know it, is OVER! 

So what can we do to ensure that a down turn in the global market, higher unemployment and the general tightening of belts doesnt adversely affect you, or your loved ones?  By learning from others who have previously endured and prospered in such times.  As I mentioned previously, mindset is one of the most important tools that we have.  In any market there are opportunities, and for many people who are mentally prepared the looming crisis will present itself with a multitude of opportunities.  Many successful entrepreneurs have made more money during global down turns than in so called booming times.  The difference between these people and the vast majority is that they refused to allow the crisis to affect their mindset.  When the rest of the world appeared to be going to crumbling, they focussed on other things LIKE the fact that suddenly property and stocks were a whole lot cheaper and markets generally became more competitive meaning bargains were easier to come by. 

So its really up to you.  Will you batten down the hatches, weather the storm and pray that your boat doesn't over turn?  Or take the helm, face the storm head on, set a course for success and prosperity? 

I'm choosing the latter.  And as for Winifred.... well she's been asking.....what financial crisis??

Until next time,

Sharon (and Winifred)

Today's success tip comes from Brad Sugars.

Chairman of Action International, currently the 16th fastest growing franchise in the World and World #1 Business Coaching Company.

What do you think are some of the major benefits of having your own business?

I am so passionate about business that I could easily write a whole book on this question alone. These are some of what I consider to be the most important benefits of business ownership.

* It's the only vehicle to create serious cash flow. How much money would you need invested in the share market (at say 10 per cent growth) to cover all of your family's lifestyle expenses? At least one or two million, right! How long would it take you to save that amount of money? Even with real estate, you would need to own a dozen or so properties outright, which will probably take ten to twenty years to build up. However, with business, provided that you have a strong desire and some street smarts, it is possible to create an asset which produces ten to fifteen thousand per month in cash flow, in a year or two. Then you can leverage yourself out of that operation and repeat it again with another business. To me that's accelerated wealth.

* With your own business you are in the driver's seat. You are the one that is in control of decision making and the leadership of your team, which gives you the satisfaction and peace of mind of knowing that whatever you put into the business, is whatever you are going to get out of it. Plus, you are working every day to make yourself rich, rather than to make the boss rich.

* Business gives you the ability to buy back your most valuable asset: time. A wise friend once said, 'Once you've spent your money you can just keep making more, but once you've spent your time it's gone forever'. Business allows you to put together systems and then employ and train a team to do the work for you. That way you don't have to physically show up in order to keep the business running, instead you can spend time travelling or with your family. Of course if you love showing up you can, but it's good to have the choice.

* A little bit of knowledge in business goes a long way. [[I've found that it doesn't take much to out-perform your competition in business.]] Like it or not, most business owners do a poor job of running their businesses, so you only need to do some basic common sense things to totally win in the minds of your customers.

* Where else can you get all of the tax benefits that business ownership brings? Of course tax systems vary around the world, but in general they're selfishly structured in such a way as to favour the people that have their own businesses. From the government's perspective, why would you want to deter the goose that lays the golden eggs?

* Most importantly to me, it's fun. I love playing the game. I love the challenge of marketing, team building, sales, accounting and cash flow management. I love the fact that I get to deal with so many different things. If you haven't already, you'll fall in love with it too when you see the results it can get for you.

 This website contains even more great tips from Brad Sugars.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE NOW. 

http://www.successandthecityclub.com/members/franchising/get-into-action

Well, you see things differently when you go to live in a retirement village. One woman said to another, "I am having an affair."

The second one asked, "Who is catering?"

To all the Members of Success And The City Club welcome to 2009!  There is so much exciting content for you to access.

Check out some of the new items below.

And stay tuned in the coming year for live interviews with some of Melbourne's most successful business women, sharing with you the do's and dont's of running a successful business.

Here's to your success in 2009 and beyond.