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	<title>Business &#8211; Nita Black</title>
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	<title>Business &#8211; Nita Black</title>
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		<title>5 TIPS ON HOW MATURE WOMEN CAN CLOSE OUT THE YEAR WITH A SMILE</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/5-tips-on-how-mature-women-can-close-out-the-year-with-a-smile/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2024 14:50:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=498</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[As seen on SixtyandMe.com Let me guess: You are a woman over 55, getting busy with holiday preparations, traveling plans, and family gatherings with children and grandchildren. Maybe you have your business matters to wrap up and touch base with friends. Or maybe, for once, you just want to stay home alone. How do you balance [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As seen on <a href="http://sixtyandme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SixtyandMe.com</a></p>
<p>Let me guess: You are a woman over 55, getting busy with holiday preparations, traveling plans, and family gatherings with children and grandchildren. Maybe you have your business matters to wrap up and touch base with friends. Or maybe, for once, you just want to stay home alone.</p>
<p>How do you balance everything at the end of the year: the time you spend (coming and going), the energy (going out of your way to nurture someone in need), and the money side of things?</p>
<p>Years ago, as the holidays were approaching, I was going through a painful divorce, having to be a single mom to my two daughters at 3 and 5. It was December, and I had landed my first job as an accounts payable clerk at a national bank.</p>
<p>This was a great opportunity for me in a lot of ways. However, it broke my heart to leave my girls during the day with their Grandma so that I could work at a paying job. My monthly salary was $450. My house note was $387. That did not leave a lot to pay for food, clothing, utilities, and transportation.</p>
<p>With two young children and working, I was always behind on doing laundry. Like it was yesterday, I remember my friend Jennifer stopping by on Christmas Eve to say hello. She helped me fold clothes! So, that year, she was my “Santa Claus.”</p>
<p>We all need a thoughtful friend, so let me share 5 tips I’ve used to help myself and others to keep smiling.</p>
<p><strong>Tip #1: Smile at Everyone<br />
</strong><br />
Smiling prevents wrinkles – seriously! When I look at pictures of my Grandmother, I see myself in her, and not just because fat cheeks run in our family. When we smile, it’s like a Christmas tree, all lit up. And when we frown, our checks sag, showing how unhappy we are.</p>
<p>Even if you don’t have fat cheeks, smiling creates positive energy that boosts your spirit from the inside. It’s a great way to help yourself be happier while also spreading the feeling to those around you.</p>
<p>You should try smiling at someone who looks miserable. If you keep smiling, they will almost surely follow your example.</p>
<p><strong>Tip #2: Give Time to Someone New<br />
</strong><br />
If you’re not yet retired, or have decided to continue working a bit longer, you probably know that getting paid by the hour defines time as money. So, giving time to someone new – helps you keep things in perspective.</p>
<p>When I say ‘things’, I mean having a home, a family, food in the fridge, transportation to come and go, network of friends, other things. Think about making a ‘blessing’ list of all the things that you have, which you often assume everyone has.</p>
<p>When temperatures were below freezing last year, I met someone new at church – a guy named James. He was sleeping under a bridge with cardboard as a mattress and a thin blanket coverlet.</p>
<p>He told me he was new in town and had landed a job that started the next Monday. After he got paid, he would be able to rent a room somewhere until he could afford something better.</p>
<p>James made me think about all the things I was taking for granted in my life. James was simply thankful to have a job lined up and had no complaints of his current circumstances. He made me more aware and got me thinking about how I could share what I had in ways I had not thought of before.</p>
<p><strong>Tip #3: Balance Your Checkbook Before Going Shopping<br />
</strong><br />
Years of balancing your checkbook (or maybe not enough years?) have probably made you despise doing it. But go ahead and balance it today. Why? So that you can plan ahead for any extra expenses during the holidays.</p>
<p>One method I have used in the past is the envelope system. With so many bank transactions now electronic, sometimes it is easy to lose track. So, you can simplify the balancing process by setting aside money for gifts and party expenses using an envelope for each category.</p>
<p>That way, your budget is in each envelope, and you can manage how much you spend or save during this time of the year. When the envelope is empty, hopefully you will have made all your planned purchases and will not be tempted to keep on spending money that you don’t have.</p>
<p>Of course, these holiday spend envelopes would be in addition to keeping up with your regular bills and expenses. However, starting the new year with a clean slate and being up to date on paying your bills creates a good feeling!</p>
<p><strong>Tip #4: Look Up and Out, Never Giving Up<br />
</strong><br />
For those of us who own a business in retirement, we are familiar with the phrase “working on your business, not just in it.” This tip is to look up and beyond today.</p>
<p>You might consider using the following steps for goal-setting and timelining your next steps:</p>
<p>What is it that you want to accomplish next year? (For example, make another $1000 a month = $12,000 next year.)<br />
What action steps do you need to take in the next 30 days to work toward accomplishing your goals? (For example, identify and connect with job opportunities that you expect will lead to at least $250 additional income every week.)<br />
How do you want to measure success? (For example, number of contacts made for job opportunities; number of contacts who said “yes”; dollar amount earned toward the monthly goal of $1000 in additional income.)<br />
Repeat every 30 days for 12 months to reach your goals for the year.<br />
You may also find helpful my Cash Maker Goal-Setting Calendar template, so email me if you want to try it out.</p>
<p><strong>Tip #5: Prepare for the New Year<br />
</strong><br />
In the preparation stage is where the real fun begins, when we purge the old to let in the new. This tip is twofold – financial and non-financial.</p>
<p>Do Up the Financial Side<br />
Gather all your financial and other documents for the previous year to organize for your year-end reporting. Consider using Dropbox or Google Drive to scan and digitally store your yearly documents, setting up similar files for the coming year.</p>
<p>De-Clutter Your Home and Office to Free Space<br />
Make a visual inventory of your home and workspace to identify clutter. This is an ideal time to de-clutter by storing or discarding items (or even giving things away) that are not creating joy in your life.</p>
<p>By de-cluttering, your mind will be more agile so that you can engage in new conversations and new activities without being bogged down.</p>
<p>Use these tips to help you do what you love and enjoy what you do! Be blessed.</p>
<p>How do you prepare for the holidays in relation to your personal and business life? What tips do you have for ending the year with a smile? Please share in the comments below!</p>
<p>Let’s Have a Conversation!</p>
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		<title>3 WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS AS A RESPONSIBLE MATURE WOMAN AND HAVE FUN TOO!</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/3-ways-to-organize-your-financial-records-as-a-responsible-mature-woman-and-have-fun-too/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:24:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=490</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The last quarter of the year can become quite stressful, especially for those of us over 60. In some parts of the world, October is filled with more outdoor events with family and friends because the weather turns cooler while the sun is still generous. November brings traditional Thanksgiving dinners, often with large family gatherings [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The last quarter of the year can become quite stressful, especially for those of us over 60. In some parts of the world, October is filled with more outdoor events with family and friends because the weather turns cooler while the sun is still generous.<span id="more-39188"></span></p>
<p>November brings traditional Thanksgiving dinners, often with large family gatherings and lots of cooking. We buy more food and cook more, which results in higher utility bills. During December, many of us exchange gifts with family members, friends, and clients.</p>
<p>All of this will cost us more money than we spend in any of the other months of the year.</p>
<p>We love our families and want to be engaged with them, but most of us need to do it in a cost-effective way. If we plan ahead, the financial part can be managed. Here are some things to consider.</p>
<h2>Tip #1: Organize Your Records Year-Round</h2>
<p>Take time to organize your financial records year-round in ways that are fun, so that you will love doing it. Start by looking for the best organizer tools that will make your life easier.</p>
<p>If you are a ‘paper’ person, we suggest that you shop for a cool three-ring notebook in your favorite color, colorful 1-15 numbered tabs, and clear sleeves that can hold documents with several pages. (Estimated cost = $30 US for materials plus an hour of your time to shop.)</p>
<p>Just so you know, my favorite color right now is lime green and my notebook is so cool!</p>
<p>One three-ring notebook should last for an entire year. Label it on the outside so that you can find it easily. For instance, you could write: “Your Name – 2018 Records”. Set up your tabs to organize “Cash In” and “Cash Out.”</p>
<p>Tabs can be named for things like monthly bank statements, monthly credit card statements, important receipts, past years tax returns, a cash budget, real estate records organized by property address.</p>
<p>If you are a ‘digital’ person, set up these same tabs as a folder on Dropbox.com or on Google Drive.</p>
<p>To get you started, a sample Table of Contents for your tabs or digital folders is shown below:</p>
<ul>
<li>Bank Statements (including copies of cancelled checks and deposit information)</li>
<li>Credit Card Statements</li>
<li>Child Care Costs</li>
<li>Transportation Costs</li>
<li>Insurance Policy and Monthly Receipts</li>
<li>Charitable Contributions Receipts</li>
<li>Cash Budget – Current Year</li>
<li>Retirement Account Statements and Contribution or Withdrawal Documentation</li>
<li>Tax Return – Last Year and Year Before</li>
<li>Income Records – such as Pay Stubs</li>
<li>Medical &amp; Healthcare Records – such as Explanation of Benefits, Invoices Received/Paid, Lab Reports</li>
<li>Birth Certificate &amp; Passport</li>
<li>Property Deed and Real Estate Information – by Property Address</li>
<li>Automobile, Other Vehicle – Titles and Other Information</li>
<li>Calendar of Deadlines for Filing Taxes and Dates to Pay Bills</li>
</ul>
<h2>Tip #2: Annual Cash Budget</h2>
<p>Prepare a cash budget annually for each month during the year. This is a tool that you can print to keep in your three-ring notebook (or digitally) to refer to from time to time. Your budget will help you stay on track so that you are able to sleep at night and not worry about finances.</p>
<p>I recall the year 2008 when I closed my coffeehouse. We had been open for five years and, although it was a lot of fun, the coffeehouse did not make a profit. At that time, I put together a monthly cash budget to manage “Cash In” and “Cash Out.”</p>
<p>I used a one-page Excel spreadsheet and printed a copy to carry in my purse. That way, when I did have money to spend and needed food, clothing, or gas for my car, I would pull out this one-page budget to help me prioritize what to buy with the money that I had.</p>
<p>This budget tool was a life-saver for me and it helped me save my personal credit also – by being able to pay bills on time, using my budget as a guide.</p>
<p>These days, I still use a monthly cash budget to estimate how much I will need to pay bills, when they are due and what amount should be left over for savings or to put back into my business. Your budget should include all “Cash In” and “Cash Out.”</p>
<p>Be sure to include necessities like food and medicine, plus auto repairs and gas if you own a car, or transportation costs. It should also include entertainment and planned discretionary expenses. (Estimated time to prepare budget = 1 to 3 hours annually and half-hour updates monthly.)</p>
<h2>Tip #3: Use Event Calendars</h2>
<p>Consider developing an Entertainment, Birthday, and Special Events Calendar to help you track all activities a mature woman must engage in. This will help you plan ahead so that you can manage your money and organize your expenses.</p>
<p>If you own a business in your 60s, this type of calendar becomes even more helpful. It will help you know how to plan your spending on activities that are sporadic as well as spontaneous.</p>
<p>For a complimentary one-page calendar design, email <a href="mailto:info@nitablack.com">Nita Black</a> for a copy. (Estimated time to prepare calendar = 1 to 2 hours annually and half-hour updates monthly.)</p>
<p>Use these ideas to help you do what you love and enjoy what you do! Be blessed.</p>
<p><strong>How do you organize your finances? Have you tried going at it on a monthly basis rather than doing it annually? What tools do you use to help you organize your finances? Please share any strategies that you find useful!</strong></p>
<p>This article first appeared on <a href="http://sixtyandme.com/5-tips-on-how-mature-women-can-close-out-the-year-with-a-smile/">Sixty &amp; Me</a></p>
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		<title>Are You a Workaholic Business Owner?</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/are-you-a-workaholic-business-owner/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Mar 2024 07:50:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=49719</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Are you a Workaholic Business Owner? It seems like there is more and more to do with less time. Here are 3 ways to help you be more productive and have more fun! 1. Use a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. Personally, I use #cloze. This is where I can sync my umpteen emails [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you a Workaholic Business Owner? It seems like there is more and more to do with less time. Here are 3 ways to help you be more productive and have more fun!</p>
<p>1. Use a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. Personally, I use #cloze. This is where I can sync my umpteen emails into one place. I can respond quickly from each specific email that I own. My phone calls, emails, and calendar are sync’d into Cloze, and I am getting ready to upgrade my subscription to do more via cloze. A CRM tool helps you organize everything into one place so you can find things later, communicate well with clients and prospects, and schedule posts, emails, and tasks.</p>
<p>2. Use a good Task/Project Management tool. I have used several tools in the past, like Clickup and Trello. Right now, my favorite is #Any.Do. It is really beautiful, gives me encouraging messages when I finish tasks, and maneuvers easily on my phone. A good Task/Project Management tool like Any.Do can be sync’d to your calendar and other tools to help you complete work on time.</p>
<p>3. Use a good Bookkeeping tool. My go-to is QuickBooks Online (QBO). It allows me to sync bank and credit card accounts into QBO. That makes it easier to check off and “accept” into QBO what posts to my accounts and categorize income and expenses accurately. When your chart of accounts is set up correctly and you accept entries correctly, QBO financial reports (Balance Sheet, Profit/Loss, Accounts Receivable Aging, and more) help you review your numbers on a regular basis throughout the year. Keeping your QBO current every week helps you wrap up year-end accounting quickly so you can do year-end tax reporting or provide accurate information for someone else to do the taxes for you. I outsource payroll processing (which includes tax reporting throughout the year and year-end reporting) to a third party who specializes in payroll. Payroll is my least favorite thing to do, from a financial and accounting standpoint.</p>
<p>What tools do you find helpful? Please share what works well for you as technology as well as business is always changing. For more information feel free to contact me.</p>
<p>#entrepreneurs #productivitytools #inspiration #businesstips</p>
<p><a href="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NitaBlack_Portrait__0950-christmas-2021-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49720"><img decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NitaBlack_Portrait__0950-christmas-2021-1.jpg" alt="" title="nitablack_portrait__0950-christmas-2021-1-jpg" width="300" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49720" /></a></p>
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		<title>Have an idea for an Opportunity Zone (OZ) project?</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/have-an-idea-for-an-opportunity-zone-oz-project/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:48:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nitablack.com/?p=49937</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Hi, Have an idea for an Opportunity Zone project? Opportunity Zones were created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Public Law No. 115-97). Thousands of low-income communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories are designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones. (Source &#8211; IRS.gov) Nationwide, governors selected a [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Have an idea for an Opportunity Zone project?</p>
<p>Opportunity Zones were created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (<a href="https://circulate.it/r/xhZ8_1P1xhKfGX7oKlfLnuZiJWS9wcGBstpfoP-N2difAcT91FODV6CUm203nbevAjvmj6YHFWUTKG5BVoRxfiPsKWM/n/UHVibGljIExhdyBOby4gMTE1LTk3/www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1/text">Public Law No. 115-97</a>). Thousands of low-income communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories are designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones. (Source &#8211; IRS.gov)</p>
<p>Nationwide, governors selected a total of 8,762 tracts as Opportunity Zones; 97% of those selected (8,532) were Low-Income Communities (LICs), while only 3% (230) were non LIC contiguous tracts (Theodos et al., 2018).</p>
<p>According to survey responses and other sources, most projects are real-estate focused. Through 2019, more than 6,000 Qualified Opportunity Funds had invested about $29 billion, based on partial data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). (Source &#8211; Novoco.com research report dated October 2021)</p>
<p>Last week we talked with one project owner who has a business idea who is looking for capital to launch an OZ business.</p>
<p>31.5 million people call Opportunity Zones home (35 million including Puerto Rico and the territories). The majority of Opportunity Zones residents, 57 percent, are non-white minorities, compared to 39 percent of the country as a whole. Black Americans are particularly over-represented in Opportunity Zones, constituting more than twice as large a share of the zone population as they do the national population. (Source &#8211; <a href="https://eig.org/opportunityzones/facts-and-figures">https://eig.org/opportunityzones/facts-and-figures</a>)</p>
<p>Until 2008 this project owner had $1 million+ open credit lines in place. Even though he has an excellent credit score and industry experience, traditional financial institutions are not interested/not willing to approve his funding request. This is because there is no proof that the idea will work, no deal history, and not enough information to say &#8220;yes&#8221; to funding request.</p>
<p>Some funders and investors understand his business idea, but many do not. And when he has gotten a “no” in the past, there was never really a solid reason as to why they said &#8220;no&#8221; to the funding request.</p>
<p>Anyone in this situation would get discouraged and want to give up.</p>
<p>This gentleman has an excellent credit score, industry experience, lots of contacts and is passionate about the project. In an OZ a project like his also has an economic focus and making a social impact in the OZ, but he has been unable to access funding to move the idea forward.</p>
<p>We know how hard it is to access funding for new projects with no performance history. We have helped clients write their business plan, forecast cash flow, and clarify their pitch to engage investors, banks, and other funders. For Opportunity Zone (OZ) deals we collaborate with a network of OZ professionals through OZworksgroup.com to gain project clarity, resources, and improved access to funding.</p>
<p>Our 3-step process for OZ and other new projects is:</p>
<p>1. Consult on a complimentary basis to learn more about the idea and the client&#8217;s vision.</p>
<p>2. Prepare an Engagement Letter which outlines next steps and proposed fees.</p>
<p>3. Finalize Engagement and begin work to access desired funding.</p>
<p>Client information is confidential. We only accept client projects that are not in direct competition with other client projects. Client relationships are built on mutual trust and Integrity and professionalism in our work is guaranteed.</p>
<p>Schedule a call so we can talk about your project and how we can help you move forward. Go to nitablack.com to look at a sample of the tools we use to help business owners organize their idea and their business.</p>
<p>Take control of your business.</p>
<p>Move your new business idea forward.</p>
<p>Make funding pitches with more confidence and clarity.</p>
<p>Get better results that make it easier to access capital.</p>
<p>Our services help clients avoid months and sometimes years of delay in accessing capital, reduce the probability of funders saying &#8220;no,&#8221; and avoid continued project delays due to lack of capital.</p>
<p>Move from discouraged, with little or no capital, to &#8220;energized, project on go!&#8221; If you want to be effective/make a difference in OZ communities, schedule a consult so that we can get your idea moving!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://circulate.it/t/xhZ8_1P1xhKfGX7oKlfLnuZVDJEIfuxnimhWpHuaKMNlEBU3amf36wBAh3JmbcKm/info.png" alt="" width="1" height="1" /><br />
Nita Black<br />
(901)413-1315<br />
www.NitaBlack.com</p>
<p>Management Consulting | Business Planning | Strategic Planning | Accounting | Plan Implementation</p>
<p><a href="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Rebuild-Start-Grow.png" rel="attachment wp-att-49938"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49938" title="rebuild-start-grow-png" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Rebuild-Start-Grow.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></p>
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		<title>Are you afraid to find out what you don&#8217;t know?</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/are-you-afraid-to-find-out-what-you-dont-know/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Dec 2023 20:56:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nitablack.com/?p=49771</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Are you afraid to find out what you don’t know? Creating and growing a business is hard and it’s even more difficult without having a good working knowledge of your financials. Many business owners (you are not the only one) do not take time to organize their financial recordkeeping on a consistent, ongoing basis. They [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49772"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image.jpg" alt="" title="image-jpg" width="300" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49772" /></a></p>
<p>Are you afraid to find out what you don’t know? Creating and growing a business is hard and it’s even more difficult without having a good working knowledge of your financials. Many business owners (you are not the only one) do not take time to organize their financial recordkeeping on a consistent, ongoing basis. They know how much money is in the bank, but they don’t know the amount of their profit or how much taxes they owe. Not understanding your financials can be devastating, cause you to be late or overpay taxes, and prevent you from taking your business to the next level.</p>
<p>Here are 3 things that we recommend for small business owners to get their records in order before year end.</p>
<p>1. Commit time to learning about business basics in accounting. Many entrepreneurs had no “book-learning” about accounting while in school. There are free video tutorials and books to help you learn more about accounting. Even if you decide to hire someone to keep your books in order, you still need to be aware of basics. Below is a link to a basic tutorial on Youtube for folks who have no background in accounting. This will help you get started in the learning process about accounting and business financials. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYNTBWBqncU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYNTBWBqncU</a></p>
<p>2. Do “your homework”. It is sort of like going to math class, listening to the instructor at every class, but not doing your homework. Pretty soon, you are so far behind that it becomes more difficult to catch up. When you don’t do your homework, particularly in a subject like math or accounting, you don’t understand how the numbers fit together to get to the right answer. Actually working through your numbers every week will help you understand what they really mean and how to make sense out of them. This knowledge helps you make better business decisions to grow your business. Use a free or low cost bookkeeping software like QuickBooks to do a lot of the work for you. Below is a link to a QuickBooks Online (QBO) tutorial for you to see how QBO works and the process you should use to invoice customers, pay bills, track job expenses, measure profits, and build net worth. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ihi8BsxwE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ihi8BsxwE</a></p>
<p>3. Monitor your numbers. By knowing more about accounting and then organizing your financial data in a bookkeeping software, you should be in good shape to run financial reports at least every month to see what happened and what didn’t. By that I mean you can look at sales, for example, to compare to previous month or previous year sales. Your reports should show different types of sales, such as revenue from different product sales versus from different services. You can use this information to know how much more you need to do in sales to breakeven or how much you have exceeded what was planned. Using this information, you can share selected data with your staff. This helps you as the owner communicate more clearly with your staff so that you can share with them what they need to do to help the business grow.</p>
<p>We understand how you feel and have helped 100’s of entrepreneurs get things under control before the IRS letter comes in the mail. For more information next steps are make an appointment with us, let us evaluate your specific concerns and then together we will explore the best-fit solutions for you to move forward.</p>
<p>#entrepreneur #leadershipmindset #financials #takecontrolofbusiness #businessstrategist</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1" width="1" alt="" src="https://circulate.it/t/xhZ8_1P1xhKfGX7oKlfLntZ4bU_vyJDws6PTpnSvAbOxULG8qiPnl-4Kx_WnOdwd/info.png" /></p>
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		<title>Stuck On an Eight Lane Highway</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/highway-road-going-up/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Dec 2023 03:38:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=49637</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Are you a business owner with lots of ideas but your head is spinning? Do you feel like you’re stuck in the middle of an eight-lane freeway? This is stressful and absorbs a lot of energy, time, and brain cells. Here is a 3-step roadmap to help you move forward so that you enjoy what [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you a business owner with lots of ideas but your head is spinning? Do you feel like you’re stuck in the middle of an eight-lane freeway? This is stressful and absorbs a lot of energy, time, and brain cells.</p>
<p>Here is a 3-step roadmap to help you move forward so that you enjoy what you are doing and know where you are headed.</p>
<p>1. Choose your services/products wisely. What is it that you love to do? What makes you jump out of bed every day because you just can’t wait to start the day? For some of us, there are many things that we enjoy doing. For your business, pick one core offer from which to build a service/product line. Your offer should be something you believe in AND your research shows people want it. Step 1 is to figure out what your main lane is, rather than trying to initially drive your business down an eight-lane freeway going nowhere.</p>
<p>2. Assess your 3 E’s. Expertise, experience, and education. What do you do that you are really good at, have the expertise and experience in doing it, and have the education for it? You want to be the very best you can be so your offer should line up with what you are good at and do well. This is likely something you really enjoy doing and matches well with Step 1 above. With focus on your 3 E’s your customers will buy from you because they know, like and trust you, because of who you are.</p>
<p>3. Answer the question – Who will pay me? Who is your ideal client, the individual or business your offer can help, the individual or business who wants your offer and is willing to/able to pay for it? If your choice in this Step 3 is an individual, also figure out a strategy to sell “in bulk”. An example for selling in bulk is someone like Holiday Ham which is a walk-in restaurant serving individual lunches for consumers (B2C). They also fill orders for 25+ or more lunch boxes at a time for small businesses nearby (B2B) to provide to employees and clients. Having a B2C and B2B growth strategy is critical to your revenue model. Step 3 is to identify your ideal client. This is someone who will pay for what you love to do (Step 1) and that you do well (Step 2).</p>
<p>You may have a process that works for you so please share this with us. As a small business owner, you can use this 3-step roadmap by focusing on your main lane and then expanding with more lanes as your business grows.</p>
<p>#business #businessowner #leadershipmindset #sweetspot #focusonrevenue #strategy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_49716" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/busy-highway-busy-business.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49716" class="size-medium wp-image-49716" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/busy-highway-busy-business-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-49716" class="wp-caption-text">July 4, 2021 &#8211; Busy multi-lane freeways and overpass in San Diego, aerial view</p></div>
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		<title>Are you running your business without a written business plan?</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/are-you-running-your-business-without-a-written-business-plan/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:03:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Planning]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=49605</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Napoleon Hill quote: “Plan your work. Work your plan.” Without a plan you are travelling on a journey with no road signs. Compare these 3 ways to get a plan organized so that you can do what you love to do and make money too. 1. Liveplan.com is good online tool that leads you through [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Napoleon Hill quote: “Plan your work. Work your plan.” Without a plan you are travelling on a journey with no road signs.</p>
<p>Compare these 3 ways to get a plan organized so that you can do what you love to do and make money too.</p>
<p>1. Liveplan.com is good online tool that leads you through the major sections to develop a good business plan. They give you examples for each section to help you with the wording and messaging of your own plan. When you input your industry code Liveplan syncs to metrics for your industry so you can track your own progress vs. the overall industry. Liveplan also allows you to sync your QuickBooks information into Liveplan. From my view, Liveplan is about a 8 out of 10 rating. This is due to lack of functionality in forecasting and budgeting your financials using the Liveplan financial section. Also, when you download your plan from Liveplan and then perhaps see edits that you want to make, be sure to make changes in Liveplan. Otherwise, your edited download version will be different from the online version.</p>
<p>2. Business Plan in a Day, a book authored by Rhonda Abrams, is a good offline resource that explains what core sections of the plan are needed and why the included content is important. Examples are very detailed and easy to follow. For any plan, usually it takes 24 hours or more to develop plan content. You can spend 24 hours straight, which I would not recommend, or dedicate a long weekend of say 8 hours per day for 3 days to complete at least a first draft of your plan. My rating for Business Plan in a Day is a 7, mainly due to lack of online fillable version of a plan – at least I have not seen it.</p>
<p>3. NitaBlack.com develops a customized business plan using a core 10-section format. We share plan documents online with clients using either Dropbox or Google Drive so that the client always has access to their plan. The financial section is typically developed in a separate spreadsheet and then copied/pasted into the plan. We also spend quite a bit of time on industry analysis by NAICS code using census and other data. My rating for NitaBlack.com Business Plan Development is a 9 out of 10. This is because it is not fully automated online, but a standard process is used to address specific client business plan needs.</p>
<p>Please share pros and cons and recommended resources for developing a workable business plan in the comment section below. Remember that this document is never really “done” unless the business is no longer operating. Always a work in progress, a guide for growth and profitability.</p>
<p><a href="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Blank-road-signs-Depositphotos_48608243_l-2015.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49606"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Blank-road-signs-Depositphotos_48608243_l-2015.jpg" alt="" title="blank-road-signs-depositphotos_48608243_l-2015-jpg" width="300" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49606" /></a></p>
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		<title>How to Swivel During a Pandemic</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/how-to-swivel-during-a-pandemic/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:44:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=701</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Lessons Learned from a Mortgage Expert/Dynamic Networker Covid-19 has negatively affected many different markets across the globe including restaurants, car dealerships and small-town stores.&#160; Thinking back to the beginning of 2020, if you had plans to purchase your dream home, or just a new one, how has COVID-19 affected your decision? According to DaveRamsey.com and [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Lessons Learned from a Mortgage Expert/Dynamic Networker</em></strong></p>
<p>Covid-19 has negatively affected many different markets across the globe including restaurants, car dealerships and small-town stores.&nbsp; Thinking back to the beginning of 2020, if you had plans to purchase your dream home, or just a new one, how has COVID-19 affected your decision?</p>
<p>According to DaveRamsey.com and the National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, the coronavirus’s impact on the real estate market was a “temporary softening”—believing a “strong rebound” will likely follow once this virus goes <em>bye-bye</em>.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mortgage-pix.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-703" width="302" height="227" srcset="https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mortgage-pix.jpg 402w, https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mortgage-pix-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px" /></figure></div>



<p>Time will tell how this all plays out.&nbsp; Meet Jo Garner.&nbsp; Jo is a mortgage officer with extensive knowledge in tailoring mortgages to her customers who are refinancing or purchasing homes all over the country. She offers conventional, FHA, VA, refinances, Rural Housing or other loan programs for refinancing and purchases.</p>



<p>When the Pandemic hit in March of 2020, Jo Garner had been in the real estate/financing<strong> <a href="http://nitablack.com">business</a></strong> for over 20 years.&nbsp; An expert in the mortgage business, Jo was already set up online, but during COVID-19 she had to swivel, ramping it up a notch to be in compliance with the new guidelines.&nbsp; This was in addition to keeping up with the new housing regulations so that she could provide her current and potential clients with all the information they would need to make informed housing decisions.</p>



<p>Extensively involved in the community, Jo Garner is also Founder and CEO of Talk Shoppe, a networking group that educates, equips, and engages professionals who want to increase sales and serve their community.&nbsp; Prior to March of 2020, the group was meeting at a local college with professional speakers every week and had been for over 16 years.&nbsp; When Covid-19 shut down all businesses and gathering places in the Memphis, TN area, Jo was quickly able to segue her weekly networking events online, using zoom.&nbsp; She did not miss a beat swiveling from in-room to online networking so that her clients and sponsors could continue promoting their businesses and connecting with potential customers.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.talkshoppe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Talk Shoppe</strong></a> continues to offer sponsorships in exchange for a wide platform multi-media platform of advertising, including videos, social media posts, ads on digital flyers distributed weekly, mention on zoom chat-room logs weekly, and discounts on weekly radio shows as well as a wide range of choices for radio advertising. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you would like more information about Jo Garner and how she is still making housing dreams come true during a Pandemic <a href="http://www.jogarner.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Join Jo Garner</strong></a> live on News Radio AM 600 every Saturday 9AM to 10AM CT or on IHeart Radio at 901-535-WREC, phone: (901) 482-0354, email:   <a href="mailto:Jo@JoGarner.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jo@JoGarner.com</a> .</p>



<p>We hope you enjoyed this blog &#8211; co-written by <a href="http://nitablack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Nita Black with NitaBlack.com</strong></a> and <a href="http://facebook.com/kelemva" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Paula Milner with Kelem VA</strong></a></p>



<p>Business Owners Empowered!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nita-Paula-Pix-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-641" width="300" height="224" srcset="https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nita-Paula-Pix-1.jpg 600w, https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nita-Paula-Pix-1-300x224.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



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		<title>How to Manage Health Crisis During a Pandemic</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/how-to-manage-health-crisis-during-a-pandemic/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2021 15:08:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=673</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Staying Mentally Stable is Key Co-authored by Nita Black and Paula Milner Have you or your co-workers ever missed work due to depression or anxiety?&#160; Has this resulted in difficulty maintaining mental health or healthy lifestyle?&#160; Staying hopeful is key to surviving crisis such as a Pandemic.&#160; Agencies like Visions of Hope can help you [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Staying Mentally Stable is Key</em></strong></h2>



<p>Co-authored by Nita Black and Paula Milner</p>



<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="695" height="380" src="">Have you or your co-workers ever missed work due to depression or anxiety?&nbsp; Has this resulted in difficulty maintaining mental health or healthy lifestyle?&nbsp; Staying hopeful is key to surviving crisis such as a Pandemic.&nbsp; Agencies like Visions of Hope can help you stay healthy.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mange-health-pix.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-674" width="348" height="190" srcset="https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mange-health-pix.jpg 695w, https://nitablack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mange-health-pix-300x164.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px" /></figure></div>



<p>According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression alone costs the economy an estimated $210.5 billion annually.&nbsp; Depression causes more lost workdays and impairments than arthritis, asthma, back pain, or diabetes (<a href="http://www.psychiatry.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="www.psychiatry.org">www.psychiatry.org</a>).</p>



<p>Visions of Hope is in Memphis, TN, operating as a licensed substance abuse and mental health company.&nbsp; The agency serves clients living in the mid-south community.&nbsp; Their mission during this time of COVID crisis and beyond is to be a one-stop-shop for clients suffering from depression and anxiety.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Services help keep individuals mentally healthy which minimizes missed work and improves workforce performance.&nbsp; During the Pandemic Visions of Hope has adjusted services to include zoom meetings and follows social distancing guidelines to provide on-campus drug testing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Several contract opportunities won by Visions of Hope during the past year include gaining relationships with the Department of Justice, the Parole Board, and the Service of Probation and Parole.&nbsp; They also received licensure to fund some services for the Department of Human Services and the courts.&nbsp; With these wins, there have been some challenges in 2020.&nbsp; Visions of Hope is moving forward to become more tech-savvy in the subsequent year so that they can provide more Telehealth and increase remote services.&nbsp; As in many businesses, funding can be a challenge although the agency is hopeful that they will become better equipped to serve individuals who need help so they can continue to work and maintain stability in day-to-day living during the Pandemic.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>



<p>The topic of mental health and substance abuse is not easy to discuss, but if you or someone that you are close to need help, please reach out to Annie Ivory and <strong><a href="https://memphisaddictionhelp.org/places/memphis/intensive-outpatient/visions-of-hope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://memphisaddictionhelp.org/places/memphis/intensive-outpatient/visions-of-hope/">Visions of Hope Behavioral Health Services</a></strong>. They currently accept appointments by walk-ins, referrals, or phone calls.</p>



<p>We hope you enjoyed this blog &#8211; co-written by <strong><a href="http://nitablack.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nita Black with NitaBlack.com</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kelemva" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.facebook.com/kelemva">Paula Milner with Kelem VA</a></strong></p>



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		<title>How to Improve Productivity  During a Pandemic</title>
		<link>https://nitablack.com/how-to-improve-productivity-during-a-pandemic/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nita Black]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2021 17:19:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nitablack.com/?p=651</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[An IT Consultant Can Be Your Best Friend Co-authored by Nita Black and Paula Milner With so many people working from home these days and not having your own personal geek close by, having someone to call is important.  Meet our IT expert, Shannon Honadle, who can show you how to fix anything computer.    IT [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h1 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><strong>An IT Consultant Can Be</strong> Your Best Friend</h1>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Co-authored by Nita Black and Paula Milner</p>



<p>With so many people working from home these days and not having your own personal geek close by, having someone to call is important.  Meet our IT expert, <strong><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="http://honadle.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon Honadle</a></span></strong>, who can show you how to fix anything computer.   </p>



<p>IT consulting may be more necessary now than at any other time in computer history.   Shannon Honadle, the Founder of Honadle.com, started her business in 2007.  She has a long-time passion for computers and teaching others all about new tools and ways to enjoy technology and get the job done.</p>



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<p>Due to the Pandemic, onsite client visits have been greatly reduced resulting in more of an emphasis on remote support.  Shannon has developed several new ways she works with clients to keep their equipment in good working order.  She is now offering a monthly maintenance plan for clients so that they are included on a set maintenance schedule.  This helps minimize surprises when she needs to work on their system or when the client needs to depend on their system to operate their business efficiently.  </p>



<p><strong><a title="honadle.com" href="http://honadle.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Honadle.com</span></a></strong> is a one woman show, having worked solo from the start.  However, during the past twelve months Shannon has been successful in partnering with a local computer store as well as being able to sell Office 365 accounts.  Honadle can access new and refurbished computers requested by clients.  Due to price volatility during the Pandemic, the company watches for the best time to order computers at the lowest cost while accessing quality hardware and software chosen by clients.  Soon, Honadle will introduce a new podcast with a tech slant using an educational and enthusiastic theme for clients to enjoy.  Part of Shannon’s job is listening to client needs or just what’s going on in their business and keeping them happy.  Many clients have been heavily impacted by the Pandemic so it’s important for Honadle to be considered one of their best friends to ease client anxiety.    </p>



<p>If you have questions and/or are not completely tech-savvy and need help, please contact <strong><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="http://www.honadle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon Honadle</a></span></strong> to confirm a date to get your computer system checked out so that it will be  reliable when you need it.</p>



<p>We hope you enjoyed this blog &#8211; co-written by <a href="http://nitablack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><strong>Nita Black with NitaBlack.com</strong></span></a> and<span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"> <strong><a href="http://facebook.com/kelemva" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paula Milner with Kelem VA</a></strong></span></p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Empowering Business Owners to Reach Their Full Potential!</p>



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