Coast to Coast Business Networks Nov/Dec 2017

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WINTER 2017

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It's Alright to Fail as Long as You Don't Quit!

A Personal History Lesson Some experts say that over 95% of all home businesses fail within their first 90 days. Back in 1991 when I first got started in my home based mail order business, these people were called "90 Day Wonders" by those in the mail order business.

Before the Internet, there were several home business monthly magazines. Most of these publications were targeted to people who wanted to make extra money from home. And most of the people who read these magazines had low wage paying jobs, were already in debt, and were looking for a way to ease their financial pain.

The ads in these magazines told people what they wanted to hear - that there was a quick fix to all of their money problems... People sent in their money for these money making opportunities such as work at home jobs, envelope stuffing offers, chain letter programs and any number of other money making schemes. It would only take them about 90 days to lose their small investment, get disappointed, and give up.

There's another group of opportunity seekers who don't stop. They go on to seek out another wealth building plan that they think will make them rich. Most of these opportunity seekers will go on for years bouncing from program to program, doing the same thing and making the same mistakes over and over again, hoping against hope that they will find some get-rich-opportunity that is just right for them. But they never seem to hit the mark.

There's a third group of opportunity seekers. They are a small percentage of people who fail also, but they learn from their experiences, and don't make the same mistakes again. In fact they will fail many times - but they don't let it discourage them. They pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and use what they have learned to move themselves closer to success...

As one who has failed many times I know how hard it can be to keep pushing ahead regardless of what your friends, co-workers or family may say about you. Leverage Your Failures into success When you learn from your failures, and avoid making the same mistakes you've made in the past, you WILL move closer to success.

There's an old saying, "Experience is the Best Teacher" I have found it to be true for me. It took me years to understand that for the most part, there is no such thing as overnight success. There is no quick fix. When I studied successful entrepreneurs I found that they all had many failures on their road to success. I learned that you can't win if you don't stay in the game. The longer you stay in the game, the better your chances of winning.

Use Failure to Push Yourself Toward Your Goals If I had stopped and given up when I failed the first time, I would never have gained the knowledge and experience I have today. I have accomplished things that I thought I never could do. I have accomplished these things because I didn't let failure hold me back or cause me to stop.

However, I couldn't have done these things without help from many other people I met along the way. If I had quit, I never would have met these people. And I wouldn't have gotten the help I needed to reach the point that I am now.

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The help I've received from others has inspired me to in turn help others who might benefit from what I have learned over the past twenty plus years. So you see, failure is merely a learning tool. And you can use it to your advantage. It can bring you closer to success as long as you don't give up.

Until next time, Happy Marketing.

Greg Bey

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67 Home Based Business Ideas That Are Easy to Start

By Jeff Rose

There's something alluring about chilling in your comfy pants while in the confines of your own home and getting paid at the same time.

No annoying co-worker to interrupt your day with the company gossip that you could give a rip about.

No mandatory meetings that leave you “zombified” that even a cup of the strongest black coffee can remedy.

Make money from your couch! 67 great homebased business ideas: 1. Become an Uber driver — varies by city 2. Online surveys — $30-$100/mo per website 3. Graphic Design — $45,000/yr 4. Bookkeeping — $34,000/yr 5. Inspect Homes — $52,000/yr 6. Massage Therapist — $34,900/yr 7. Tax Preparation — $30,900/yr 8. Doula — $500-$1000/birth 9. Hair Stylist — $22,500/yr 10. Interior Designer — $46,280/yr 11. Meeting the remote needs of companies

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1. Make your hobbies pay 1. Lend a hand 1. Digital/tech opportunities Whether you are looking to quit the daily grind or trying to make extra cash as a way to get out of debt, starting a home business or side hustle can be the ideal way to meet your goals.

Before you get excited about starting your home based business idea, you first have to make sure you have the right tools in place. The main tool is a speedy Internet connection. Most home based businesses will require some sort of Internet connection.

With a good Internet connection, you can also take care of a phone and fax. Isn't technology great?

On top of the right tools, you should also have a dedicated office or work space that's free from distractions. No TV's! When's it's time to work you only want to be doing one thing: working.

Now that you have the right tools and work-space, let's look at some of the top home based business ideas you can start today.

Interested in starting a blog and working from home? Sign up for my Make 1k Blogging email challenge. It's a free, 10 email series that's main goal is to help you get your blog set up and earning $1,000!

67 Home-Based Business You Can Start Today Now that we've got those details out of the way, here are 67 of the best home-based businesses almost anyone could start from their kitchen table .

1. Drive for Uber Becoming an Uber driver has quickly become a great way for people to get their own business off the ground. You will need to pass a background check and have valid instate driver's license and auto insurance. The process is pretty painless and will get you rolling on your own business. Many people start as an Uber driver to pay the bills while they work on another business that they are more passionate about. Check out our post to learn more about Uber driver requirements.

2.Take Surveys

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If you are looking for quick extra cash then signing up for sites like MySurvey can get you a nice side income with immediate results. You will not get rich doing surveys, but each site could net you anywhere from $30 to $100 per month. Some other popular survey sites include:    

InboxDollars Global Test Market Harris Poll EarningStation

3. Graphic Design Businesses always need graphic designers to help them convey information visually, through logos, advertisements, posters, websites, and the like. While it is possible to be an entirely self-taught graphic designer, most have either a certification or a degree.

Other than the cost of design software, this business has very little overhead and can be done anywhere with a dedicated computer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers have a median salary of $45,000.* *All median salaries listed are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unless otherwise noted.

4. Bookkeeping.

This is a perfect business idea for trained accountants who would like to work from home, although it is not necessary to be a Certified Public Accountant in order to become a freelance bookkeeper—it’s just necessary to have the background knowledge that bookkeeping courses at any community college can offer. This kind of freelance work is especially helpful for small businesses that do not need or cannot afford a fulltime bookkeeper, making it possible for you to have full time work through several smaller clients. Median salary: $34,000.

5. Home Inspection.

An important part of the home buying process is having a professional home inspector go through the house to determine the condition of the building and point out any potential problems. A home inspector needs to meet the state regulations for the profession, which varies from state to state, although anyone who has worked in the construction or housing industry will have a leg up. Median salary: $52,000.

6. Massage Therapist.

While licensing requirements for massage therapy can vary from state to state, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork can help any budding masseuse fulfill their local requirements. Massage therapists can either work

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out of their own home or make house calls with a portable massage table. Median salary: $34,900.

7. Tax Preparation.

No one likes doing taxes, and they need to be paid whether the economy is booming or tanking. This is why at-home tax preparation can be a great business for anyone with a tax background, or anyone willing to take training courses. Since there are annual changes to the tax code, you will need to refresh your training each year, and you will also need to register with the IRS as a tax preparer. This is more of a seasonal business than a year-round endeavor, but it can be a great way to earn some extra income each winter/spring. Median salary: $30,900.

8. Doula.

A doula is a labor coach that can help a birthing mother in any labor environment, from a hospital to a midwife clinic to home. Doulas are non-medical professionals who offer information, emotional support, and physical assistance in the process of giving birth.

While licensing for doulas is not required by most states, getting certified by DONA International, the only certifying body for this profession, is a good idea. Doulas do have to deal with unpredictable schedules, but they easily can do this work from home.

Doulas generally charge between $500 and $1000 per birth.

9. Hairstylist.

If you have experience cutting hair and giving manicures, opening up shop from your home is an excellent way to start your own salon. Make sure that you follow all of your state’s requirements for doing salon care in a home, as they can be stringent. Median salary: $22,500.

10. Interior Designer.

While you do not need a degree or certification in order to set out an interior designer shingle, it is really necessary in order to make sure you can meet the needs of many clients. An education in the history and theory of design will allow you to understand trends that you may not like, but your clients do. Median salary: $46,280.

Meeting the Remote Needs of Companies Many small businesses have gaps in what their employees can take care of. Hiring a full time employee to fill in those gaps isn’t necessarily feasible, which is where your workat-home business comes into play. Here are some work-at-home ideas that every business needs: 11. Copywriting.

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These writers put together promotional materials for businesses, including ads, websites, newsletters, commercials, direct mailings, and many others. Copywriters generally have a degree in advertising, marketing, English, or communication, but any excellent writer can do a great job copywriting. Median salary: $55,000.

12. Virtual Assistant.

This is a worker who handles any number of small tasks for a business or individual.

Tasks include answering emails, data entry, scheduling, managing blogs, and even shopping. Anyone can become a virtual assistant. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for virtual assistants is $42,000.

13. Courier Service.

If you live in a bustling area, chances are local businesses could use a local courier service. Unlike the big name services, you can offer more flexible pick-up and drop off times, which can be a godsend to many small businesses. According to About.com, half of couriers earn in the $17,000 to $27,000 range.

14. Marketing Consultant.

Whether you are helping a business with traditional marketing materials or instructing them on the fine art of blogging (ahem) and social media, this is a business that has almost unlimited potential for freelancers. Median salary: $108,000 (!).

15. Editing.

Like copywriting, this is a freelancing gig where it’s helpful to have a background in English or communications—but any eagle-eyed writer could do great job. Median salary: $51,470.

16. Web Design.

Helping clients design the best website for their needs is a great way to make a living from home. About.com lists the median salary as of 2008 at $65,270.

17. Translation.

If you know a second (or third) language, you can make a living at home translating documents. It’s a global marketplace, and even the best translation software can’t understand linguistic nuance. Median salary: $43,300.

18. Video Production.

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Everyone wants a piece of YouTube, so talented freelancers can make a great living producing videos for companies and organizations. Rates vary by area, equipment, and background.

19. Internet Security Consulting.

If you’re tech savvy and understand the ins and outs of internet security, consider becoming a consultant for small businesses. Unlike the big boys, these companies can’t afford the huge security budgets, but they still want to be able to protect their internet customers.

20. Green Consulting.

Many smaller companies would like to find ways to make their processes greener without spending more green. You can help them to figure out ways to improve their carbon footprint without sacrificing the bottom line.

21. Grant Writing.

Non-profits, universities, hospitals and other community organizations all have a great need for grant money to supplement their budgets, but grants are notoriously tricky to write for the first time. If you have experience writing grants, or are willing to learn how to do it by practicing your skills without pay for a few non-profits, you can start a lucrative freelance grant writing business. According to eHow, grant writers can make anywhere from $40, 300 to $67,000.

22. Medical Transcription.

You hear about these opportunities, and they often sound like scams. But the truth is that the medical industry has a great need for individuals to transcribe audio dictations into coherent reports. Transcriptionists do need education—generally a two-year degree—to make sure they are clear on the arcane medical terminology. Median salary: $32,900.

23. Debt Collection.

It takes a very thick skin to go into this business, but debt collectors only need a telephone and a computer to work, making it a great work-at-home business. It’s also a recession-proof (or even recession-loving) business. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, so make sure you do your homework before setting up shop. Median salary: $31,300.

24. Call Center Representative.

Believe it or not, it is possible to actually reach a woman named Peggy (and not a man with a Russian accent) when you call customer service. That’s because of the

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homeshore movement, which is trying to hire more independent contractors to work from home on customer service issues. If you’ve got a phone line and an internet connection, you can work from home as a call center rep. Median salary: $30,460.

Make Your Hobbies Pay Anything you love to do for fun could also become a great at-home gig.

25. Blogging.

It takes some time to grow an audience and find ways to monetize your blog, but if you love to share your point of view with the world, this can be a good way to work from home. Niche blogs are a particular area of growth in this ever-growing profession. Pay can vary widely, but the income potential is nearly limitless.

MORE FROM GFC, BELOW Want to start a blog for super cheap? Check out how my wife and I make money blogging and how you can set up your blog in less than 10 minutes HERE. 26. E-book author.

Publishing is dead; long live the e-reader! Now that anyone can have their work epublished, it is possible for anyone to make a fortune off their writing. The biggest recent example is the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, but there are many authors taking advantage of the ease of e-publishing. If you love to write and are willing to do your own promotion (and having a blog can really help in that case), writing an e-book is an excellent way to make moneyat home.

27. Building furniture.

Everyone loves a well-built and handmade piece of furniture. If you’re already spending time in your workshop, why not sell your wares? Etsy is an excellent place to start selling without having to have a physical storefront.

28. Sewing.

Whether you’re making onesies and quilts for sale online or at local markets or doing repairs and alterations for locals with ill-fitting clothes, your sewing machine could be your ticket to a work-from-home business.

29. Personal Organizer.

If you’re someone who reorganizes closets for fun, offer up your services to harried and disorganized individuals and businesses.

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30. Home Staging.

If rearranging furniture is your idea of fun, home staging is a great home-based business. You will help sellers get their homes looking beautiful so they sell as quickly as possible.

31. Herb Farming.

Gardening can be very relaxing, and potentially very lucrative. With both the increased interest in alternative therapies and the demand for locally grown and organic foods, an herb farmer can find plenty of customers, particularly if you’re in an urban area. While this does require some space for growing, herbs are fairly small and nearly any home can be slightly modified to allow for an extensive herb garden.

32. Electronic Repairs.

If you’re the sort who takes apart the computer for fun, operating an electronics repair shop out of your home is a natural decision. In particular, repairing iPads and other tablets would provide you with a great deal of business, as many tablet users are looking for a less expensive way to fix smashed screens and other damages that can be costly through the manufacturer. Median salary: $49,170.

33. Baking. Beautifully decorated cakes and cookies, artisan bread, and artful pastries have become all the rage, partially thanks to shows like Ace of Cakes.

Median salary for bakers: $23,450.

34. Personal Chef.

As a personal chef, you would spend your time whipping up delicious meals for those who don’t have time to cook but do have money to burn. The best way to make a name for yourself as a personal chef is to offer meals that fit stringent dietary or allergy requirements.

35. Mystery Shopping.

For many people, the idea of getting paid to shop is a dream come true. There are many mystery shopping scams to beware of, however. Never accept a gig that requires an upfront fee—that’s a good sign it’s not legit. According to the website Scambusters, legitimate mystery shopping can pay anywhere from $8 per job up to $50 to $100 per job.

36. Bargain Hunting.

If you love a bargain and know how to make coupons, specials, and unadvertised deals your penny-pinching pitch, then you could help others learn how to save money—and

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turn a profit. The Grocery Game’s Teri Gault is the most famous at-home bargain hunter turned millionaire, but you could be next.

37. Personal Stylist.

You have an eye for clothes and know what styles look best on what body types. So turn your passion for fashion into a business by becoming a personal stylist/shopper.

You’ll feel good about making others look great.

38. Catering.

If you love to cook on a grand scale, why not start a catering business out of your home? How much you make depends on the scale of the assignments you take, and your ability to correctly decide how much your materials will cost. But this is also an industry where you can start small and work you way up to bigger gigs—and profits.

39. App Designer.

Creating a profitable app for smart phones isn’t necessarily about having the best or most innovative idea: it’s about creating the best user experience for that idea. That’s how app designers are able to make their work-from-home a full time job—and then just live off the passive income.

40. Furniture Refinishing and Repair.

You might have made a hobby of refinishing and repairing garage sale finds. Now, make your skills profitable by offering to make old furniture as good as new. After all, retro is definitely in.

41. Landscape Design.

If you’re never happier than when you are landscaping your yard, landscape design might be the home-based business for you. This is a relatively new field, so you can get some background knowledge through a degree, although schools that offer these degrees are somewhat rare, or you can intern with another landscape designer.

42. Tour Guide.

You may love exploring all the fun corners of your hometown, but it might not occur to you to make that hobby a business. This is an especially good idea if you can offer themed tours or other niche tours. Median salary: $23,620.

Necessary Services Everyone needs a hand sometimes. Here are ways you can lend one and make a living.

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43. At-Home Daycare.

This is an especially good idea for stay-at-home-parents who need to bring in some money. You’re already staying home with your kids: why not invite a few others to the party? Licensing for in-home daycare varies from state to state, but you will want to make sure you comply with your local regulations. Median salary: $19,300.

44. Off-Hours Daycare.

Though this is basically the same as above, it does deserve its own description. Finding someone to regularly watch children during off-hours, like second shift, weekends, or very early mornings, can be extremely difficult for parents. Offering care during off-peak hours means that you can command a higher fee.

45. Elder Care.

In most cases, work-from-home elder care workers will make daily house calls to their patients to help with anything from meal preparation to self-care to minor home repairs.

Median pay: $20,170.

46. Lawn Care.

While once the province of teenagers, lawn mowing, gardening, raking, and snow removal can be a legitimately grown up home-based business.

47. Dog Walker.

This job isn’t just for New Yorkers anymore. Any large community can use dog walkers to help the area Fidos and Rovers make it through the master’s long workday.

48. Pet Sitter.

If you can find pet owners who are willing to bring their dogs and cats to you, this is truly a home-based business. Otherwise, you’ll need to be willing to live at other houses (or at least visit 3-4 times a day) while you’re working.

49. Pet Grooming.

Most pet owners don’t quite have the stomach or the time to clip nails, bathe, or give haircuts to their animals. With a couple of small tweaks to a bathroom, basement, or laundry room, you could have a full service doggy salon in your home. Again, it’s important to double-check your local requirements for this.

50. Travel Planning.

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While anyone can check an aggregator site for the best price to fly to Saint Louis, planning a more elaborate trip might be too much for some travelers. This is where a travel planner comes in, using his skills to find the best trip—including flight, accommodation, rental car, and tours—for the budget.

51. Meal Planning.

One of the best ways to keep a grocery budget—and a waistline—in check is to do meal planning. But for some, this kind of planning is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. A meal planner could put together a list of a week’s recipes, along with a grocery list, for a harried but budget-conscious shopper.

52. Resume Writing.

If you have a knack for making a resume shine, you could offer your services to job seekers.

53. Party Planning.

From weddings to birthday parties to corporate events to conferences, the details of putting on a huge bash can be beyond the average party-giver. That’s why they’ll turn all the planning over to you. Median salary: $45,260.

54. Child Proofing.

Keeping our kids safe is so important, but the details of how to do so can be confusing.

A professional child proofing business is inexpensive to start up, but there may be state regulations to follow. It’s also a good idea to apprentice with a child proofer in order to learn the business.

55. Digital Media Conversion.

It’s time consuming to convert old school media like CDs into digital files. If you have excellent tech skills, this is a service you can offer to the tech-phobic and time-crunched alike.

56. Tutoring.

A background in education is helpful for tutoring, but not necessary. All you really need are mad skillz in one or more academic area, and you can help local students do better in their classes.

57. Patient Advocacy.

With the byzantine complexity of modern medical billing practices, there is a definite need for patient advocates. These individuals take the time to track down hospital billing

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paperwork and potentially argue with insurance companies. Considering the fact that many of those who need to hire advocates are either ailing or grieving, this is a very necessary service.

58. Personal Trainer.

You love to work out and you know the ins and outs of nutrition and exercise. Share your passion with novice exercisers, either out of your home or through a local gym.

Median salary: $31,090.

59. Junk Removal.

Anyone who has ever had the unenviable task of cleaning up a house for sale after the death of the owner knows just how important this job is. Junk removal can be as simple as hauling away unwanted stuff to the dump, or it can be as complicated as separating out the trash from the treasures and handling the actual sale of the goods.

60. Appraiser.

We all love the moment in Antiques Roadshow when the owner learns how much their heirloom is worth. Becoming an antiques appraiser will allow you to live that moment every day. This does require a background education in the subject and access to an excellent reference library.

61. Music Teacher.

Teaching piano (or guitar or violin or singing) lessons out of your house is a wellestablished way for stay-at-home spouses to make a little extra cash. If Lois Griffin can do it, so can any musically minded entrepreneur.

62. House cleaner.

With very low overhead and a skill set that is very easy to learn, housecleaning is one of the easiest businesses to start. Depending on how much you want to grow, the income potential is pretty limitless.

Earn free cash by doing what you're already doing online with Swagbucks. Get $5 just for signing up (just name and email address).

Opportunities That Didn’t Exist 15 Years Ago As technology develops, so do entrepreneurial opportunities. Here are some work-athome jobs that our parents would never have anticipated:

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63. Online Store.

It used to be that if you had a product to sell, you also had to have a storefront and all the costs associated with it. These days, you can sell anything to anyone anywhere in the world. Whether you’re marketing the organic honey from your backyard apiary, or selling personalized linens that you embroider yourself, you can find a market for your products online.

My good buddy Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com has created an online course that walks people step-by-step through building their own online store. His wife was able to quit her job, and together their online store produces in the six figures. If you're interested in learning more, check out his course: Profitable Online Store.

64. eBay Sales.

The other option for online sales is to simply become the eBay middleman. Millions of vendors sell their wares on the online auction house. If you can find an inexpensive source for (legally!) saleable merchandise, you can get into business.

65. Micro Jobs.

With the advent of Fiverr, we saw a brand new way to assign and accept work: little jobs for small payouts. But it’s no party trick. Apps like Gigwalk and sites like Mechanical Turk make it possible to cobble together a living with lots of little assignment each day.

66. Internet Marketing Affiliate.

If you already have your own website or blog, you can earn money by becoming an affiliate. You can either sell products directly and earn money that way, or you can sign up others as affiliates, much like multi-level marketing.

67. Get Paid for Social Media.

Some Twitter users are able to leverage their huge following into a paid gig for advertisers. Prolific bloggers have been known to get paid for commenting on other blogs. If you are a social media expert, you can use that expertise to earn money.

People want to reach your audience and are willing to pay you for it.

Home Businesses Ideas That Require Training All of these ideas require some background in the area, but they are an ideal way to use your already-acquired skills in a work-from home business. And even if you do not already have the necessary training, there is nothing keeping you from getting certified in order to start your home-based business. If you do not currently have enough money to get the certification you need I would recommend saving a little each month until you have enough to pay cash. If that is not an option or you are desperate to get out of the

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grind, then you can check personal and student loan rates from various banks at SimpleTuition.com or learn more about Peer to Peer borrowing in my Lending Club review.

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Sioxx City Journal reporter Ty Rushing

Covering Siouxland’s business sector is probably one of the most enjoyable challenges I’ve faced.

In our tri-state area, there are more than a hundred unique communities and countless established businesses, start-ups, and movers and shakers. It's my job to try my best to keep an eye on all of those things.

While it can be daunting and incredibly stressful when something falls through or a competitor breaks a big story before I do, it’s unbelievably rewarding when things work out as planned.

Additionally, I probably average more unique experiences in a month than some people likely will in a decade.

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So while I’m still about four months away from my one-year mark, here are five business stories — in no particular order — that I really had fun reporting and some additional information about them.

1. Red’s All Natural — I got to tour a frozen burrito factory! Let me say that again, “I GOT TO TOUR A FROZEN BURRITO FACTORY!” Now for people wondering what the big deal is about that, tell me how many burrito factories you’ve toured? This story was also pretty fun because I got to bookmark an important chapter for an up-and-coming food processor and got a peek behind the curtain of an important food group that helped me make it through adolescence.

2. Lakes strip club fire — So the initial story and this follow-up were quite unique. Now once you take away all the surface level giggles of writing about an adult entertainment establishment, you’ll find a story about a small business owner challenging the status quo and trying to rebuild his business after a devastating fire. Hmmm, I should probably follow up on this soon!

3. CF Industries PROGRESS — If you lived in Siouxland during the last five years, the words “C-F” have probably come out of your mouth. This massive $2 billion infrastructure investment changed a lot of things in the community and — albeit temporarily — provided a significant population boost to the region. Fun fact: Before Journal Visuals Editor Tim Hynds and I could tour the expanded complex for this story, we had to watch a safety video in the security office and pass a quiz.

4. Gentle Giants dog food — Another excellent factory tour that featured one of the most modern facilities I’ve visited in my career but with the added bonus of Robin the Boy Wonder tagging along.

In a separate story, I wrote about getting to pick his brain for a bit.

5. The economic impact of RAGBRAI — Spencer and Orange City are two of my favorite Northwest Iowa communities and each is gorgeous, unique and have thriving downtowns filled with locallyowned shops. For this assignment, I got to spend half a day in Orange City and when I wasn’t interviewing shopkeepers or knocking on doors, I got to hang out in a cool coffee shop and get a head start on writing my story.

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END OF YEAR TAX TIPS DANIEL ROWLAND FORMER TAX EXAMINER AT THE IRS AND PREPARER AT AN LIBERTY TAX OFFICE Sitting down with a calculator or a software program to figure out what you owe Uncle Sam is nobody's favorite time of the year. But here's some good news — you have a wide range of tactics at your disposal to make sure your 2017 tax bill is no more than it has to be.

Figuring out which tactics make the most sense means analyzing your current finances, estimating your tax situations for 2017 and for 2018, and identifying financial transactions that might take place either this year or next year.

Analyzing Your Current Finances This begins with tallying up your income, your expenses and your savings for the year to date and anticipating what they'll be for the remainder of the year. Of course, if you're preparing your 2017 tax return after the first of the year, you should have all the data for 2017 at your fingertips.

Now estimate what you anticipate your income, expenses and savings will be in 2018.

What Are You Looking For? You can use this information in a variety of ways. First, it will identify your marginal tax bracket for 2017, and tell you what it's likely to be in 2018. Will it remain about the same, or are you in a higher tax bracket in one year than the other? If you anticipate being in a lower tax bracket next year, consider shifting year-end income to after the first of the year if it's not too late. If you have a choice between using a certain deduction in one year but not both — this isn't the case with all deductions, but it can happen — consider moving the deduction to the year when you're in the higher tax bracket so it will do you the most good.

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If you're not sure about when you can take a certain deduction, check with a tax professional to make sure.

Next, you'll want to identify your adjusted gross income or AGI for 2017 and again for 2018.

Many deductions and credits have phase-out thresholds — if you earn more than this amount, you either can't claim them or you can only claim a reduced credit.

Is your AGI in either year approaching the phase-out limits for any deductions or credits you may be eligible for? If so, consider ways to shift income or boost adjustments to income to keep your AGI at your desired target.

Now it's time to do a little homework. Are there tax breaks you can take in 2017 that won't be around in 2018?

Other Flexible Financial Transactions You have control over a few other financial transactions as well. You can make them either before year's end or after the start of 2017. These include: 

Charity donations

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Selling stocks, bonds and other investments

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Roth conversions

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Taking 401k and IRA distributions

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Paying state estimated taxes or property taxes

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Adjusting contributions to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan

Specific Year-End Tax Moves to Consider Here are a few things to consider when you're handling income at year's end: Type of income Wages

Lowering Your Income Increasing Your Income  Boost pretax contributions to  Work overtime, ask for a raise, your 401(k) or similar reduce pretax retirement retirement plan to reduce your contributions, shift retirement income. contributions to an after-tax Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b).

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

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Business Income

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Capital Gains and Losses

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Ask if a year-end work bonus can be paid out next year instead of this year.

Hold off on exercising incentive stock options.

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Exercise incentive stock options.

Spend on tax-deductible expenses such as equipment and supplies.

Make payroll tax deposits this year instead of waiting until the Jan. 15 deadline so you can deduct Q4 payroll tax this year.

Hold off on sending out invoices and collecting on accounts receivable until next year.

Identify business losses that can offset other income.

Review retirement plans and consider setting up a solo 401(k) before the end of the year.

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Send out invoices and try to collect on outstanding accounts receivable by the end of the year.

Wait to spend money on business expenses until January.

Use installment sales or likekind exchanges to defer gains to a future year.

The 39.6 percent tax bracket begins at $415,050 for single filers and $466,950 for married couples filing jointly in 2016.

Long-term gains that fall within this tax bracket are taxed at 20 percent instead of 15 percent, and they may be subject to the 3.8 percent net investment income surtax as well.

Consider "loss harvesting." Sell off positions with unrealized losses to reduce taxable gains.

Be careful about repurchasing investments sold at a loss within 30 days. This can create a wash sale.

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Consider "gain harvesting."

Sell any long-term gains to fill up taxable income to the top of the 15 percent bracket. Such gains will be taxed at zero percent.

Sell any long-term gains to fill taxable income to the top of the 35 percent bracket. Such gains will be taxed at 15 percent.

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 

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Retirement Distributions



Hold off on selling profitable positions until next year.

Ensure that carryover losses apply to short-term gains whenever possible.

Rebalance your portfolio across tax types for utmost tax efficiency.

If you need to withdraw a substantial amount from a retirement plan, figure out if it's better to take the money this year versus next year, or spread out the tax impact by withdrawing some this year and some next year.

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

Converting Pretax IRA to an After-tax Roth IRA

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Social Security Benefits

Take required minimum distributions (RMDs) by the end of the year.

If you turned 70½ years old in 2017, your first RMD should be taken by April 1, 2017, but you can delay it until the year after you turn 70½. Figure out if it's more advantageous to take the RMD this year or to take two RMDs next year.

This increases your taxable income in the year of conversion.

You can undo a conversion by April 15 or Oct. 15. This makes sense if the tax cost is low enough compared to the expected future tax cost.



Earning more income can mean that more of your benefits will be taxable.

Passive Losses From Rentals and Businesses



Figure out if your passive losses will be limited or deductible this year. If so, passive losses can offset other income. If not, the losses roll forward.

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Consider increasing your passive income to use up your loss carryovers.

Net Operating Losses



Exercise carry back/carry forward options to offset income in other years.



Increase income to absorb the losses. This makes the additional income tax-free up to the extent of the loss.

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These tips can help you handle expenses at the end of the year: Type of Expense

Accelerating Expenses

Itemized Deductions

Medical, Dental, and Health Care



Figure out if you can or should itemize this year and/or next year by comparing the total of your itemized deductions to the standard deduction for your filing status.



Only medical, dental and health care expenses in excess of 10 percent of your AGI are tax deductible. The extra 2.5 percent break for taxpayers age 65 or older, bringing the threshold down to 7.5 percent, is set to expire at the end of 2016.

If you're close but under the 10percent-of-AGI threshold, consider paying additional medical expenses before the end of the year to get your deduction over the threshold. This way, you'll at least get a bit of a deduction rather than none.

If you're over the threshold, additional medical spending will be deductible.





State estimated taxes

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

Pay your state estimated taxes by the end of the year to deduct them this year. This only works if you are or will be able to itemize and you're not subject to the alternative minimum tax.

Hold off on paying your Q4 state estimates until January if it will be more advantageous to deduct them on your 2017 return.

Deferring Expenses



If it makes more sense to itemize next year instead of this year, identify expenses that can be moved to 2017.



If you know that you'll have significant medical expenses in 2017, look into whether you can pay your medical bills next year instead. By "bunching" your medical expenses into one year, you may be able to get over the 10-percent-of-AGI threshold.

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Property tax

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Pay your next property tax installment before the end of the year to deduct it this year. This only works if you are or will be able to itemize and you're not subject to the AMT.



Pay your next property tax installment in 2017 to deduct it in 2017.

Charity

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Donate cash by Dec. 31 to deduct the donation this year.

Donate non-cash goods such as clothes, furniture or vehicles by Dec. 31 to get a deduction this year.

Consider a Donor Advised Fund if you want to give but you're not sure which charity you would like to donate to.

Postpone donations until next year if the deduction will produce bigger tax savings in 2017.

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Pick the right year so the charity generates the most tax savings.

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Here are a few considerations about saving money at the end of the year: 401(k) or 403(b) Retirement Plans

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

Traditional IRA

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Roth IRA

  

Contributions for employee contributions for 2017 must be made by Dec. 31 or deferred from your last paycheck of the year.

Decide how much you want to set aside from each paycheck so you're ready to go in January for 2017 contributions.

Decide how much to allocate for pretax traditional and/or after-tax Roth accounts for 2017.

Contributions for 2017 tax year are due by April 15, 2017, so topping off your IRA can wait until next year if necessary.

Determine how much, if any, of your traditional IRA contributions will be tax-deductible.

Contributions for tax year 2017 are due by April 15, 2018.

Determine how much, if any, you are eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA. Consider funding a Roth IRA and taking the Saver's Credit if you're eligible.

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How to Raise Capital for a Small Business One of the most difficult tasks, for any entrepreneur that wants to start up their very own small business, is to raise capital for it. Simply put, capital is the amount of money the business has available to spend on various business activities. Raising capital is never an easy task and often requires a lot of determination and patience.

There are a number of ways that an entrepreneur can raise capital for their small business, however, before using any capital collection methods, always remember to have a business plan to show to your investors. A business plan simply states the nature of the business, the objective, the mission statement, the business goals, costs, expenses, staff and everything business related.

Below are a few ways that a small business owner could raise capital for their business.

Keep in mind that should one method of capital collection fail, then another one should be tried.

Raise Capital from Friends A person can always contact their close friends to get some money to raise capital.

Close friends are always there when you need them; however, make sure that there is something in it for them. Think about why they would simply lend you money?

You can ask for money and then pay it back with interest and within a payback period, or you can add them on as partners in your business. Regardless of what you decide to do, just remember, you have to be upfront and honest with your friends, otherwise you will not get the money, even from your friends.

Angel Investors As the word states, angels are always a good point of contact when you need to raise capital for a small business. In a business sense, angels are the not the biblical divine beings, instead, they are very rich individuals that enjoy helping entrepreneurs in their business ventures, should they be good and credible enough.

Just remember that angels are professionals that need to see a proper business plan before they will even think about investing.

Family Members

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Family members can be an entrepreneur’s first point of contact to raise capital. The thing about family is that they will always be willing to help and support a good idea with financial aid. The bond between families is very strong and even if you do not have a very good business plan, you will still be able to get money from your family.

Keep in mind that the amount of money collected from family members may not be enough; however, it is a start.

Private Investors Stepping into the business world will almost definitely require you to deal with private investors. Private investors can be contacted in order to raise capital for a small business. Private investors are always willing to invest money into new and strong business ventures due to their hope of getting a large return on their investment.

Private investors are professionals in the business world and usually have years of experience in investments. As a result, you must make sure that the business venture you want to follow is profitable and has a solid business plan otherwise private investors are unlikely to be of assistance.

Venture Capitalists Contacting venture capitalists is also a great way to raise capital; however, it is often one of the hardest. You see, venture capitalists have very strict terms for their investments. Very few small businesses have been successful in getting finance out of venture capitalists.

If you successfully do pass the requirements set by the venture capitalists, then you will get all the capital you need to start up and operate the business.

In addition, venture capitalists will also be able to provide sound business advice and help you make business decisions so that your business grows and survives the business world. Of course, if the business does well, venture capitalists will also take a return on their investments.

Raise Money from Banks One great way of generating capital for a small business is to contact a bank for a loan.

Most banks would be happy to provide a loan to an individual provided their credit rating and history is good. In addition, banks will also need to see the business plan and all expected expenses and sources of revenue before they provide the loan.

Once the loan has been provided, you must pay it back to the bank, with interest.

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Entrepreneurship Supporting Institutions There are actually specific banks for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs can go there, pitch their business venture, and if feasibly, the entrepreneurial bank will help provide the capital needed to conduct business activities.

The best part about these institutions and banks is that they provide allow for a longer payback period meaning that you have more time to generate profit.

Ngo’s NGO’s, or non-governmental-organization, are also very helpful in raising capital for a small business. Keep in mind that the NGO may not be able to provide financial assistance directly, however, they will able to guide you in the right direction to reliable sources of capital generation.

Customers Sometimes, an entrepreneur can reach out to their customers in order to raise capital.

How? Well, at times, you can charge a customer for a product or service before you actually provide it to them. Essentially, take an upfront payment.

Many a times, customers would be more than happy to make an upfront payment if the product or service is worth it for them.

Investment Bankers This should be the last attempted source of finance; after all other sources raising capital have been tried. Essentially, investment bankers are able to help an entrepreneur raise the capital they need for their small business but they must go to the general public for help.

This means that you may end up losing some ownership of your business since your business will be divided into shares offered to the general public.

As you can see, there are a number of ways to raise capital for a small business. All it takes is the right course of action, a solid business plan, great determination and patience.

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Microloans: 13 Top U.S. Nonprofit Lenders BENJAMIN PIMENTEL Save

When you’re a small-business owner on a quest for capital, there are several smart reasons to turn to nonprofit lenders. These lenders go beyond making small loans to entrepreneurs and provide some benefits that traditional lenders don’t: 

 

Profit is not their objective. Many micro-lenders are called mission-focused or mission-based lenders. They offer loans from government or nonprofit programs geared to helping disadvantaged communities, including areas that are struggling economically. Some microlenders also operate internationally, helping entrepreneurs in developing nations.

Micro-lenders typically offer loans of $50,000 or less to startups and other small-scale operations. Some make bigger loans to more established businesses.

Many micro-lenders and nonprofits provide pro bono consulting and training, including helping small businesses build credit.

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Good options for nonprofit financing Top U.S. microlenders by loan volume SBA Microloan Program lenders Other notable nonprofit microlenders Below, we list 13 sources for nonprofit financing. They include the top lenders based on information from two major small-business institutions, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Aspen Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based policy and educational research nonprofit.

When considering these lenders, keep in mind that microloans have limitations. Because many nonprofits rely on grants, donations or government guarantees or allocations, the number of loans they offer and the amount you can borrow are limited. Funding constraints can also mean strict borrower requirements. And many nonprofits operate only in specific states or regions.

Nonprofit microlenders are also grappling with a major trend in small-business financing: the rapid rise of online lending. It offers quicker but usually more expensive access to cash, says Steven Cohen, president of Excelsior Growth Fund, a New York-based community development lender.

“You see a lot of businesses trading off speed and efficiency for cost,” he says. “But you also see an incredibly crowded marketplace where there isn’t a whole lot of transparency. Nonprofits have the challenge of getting the word out there that, ‘We’re here. … We’re more affordable.’ ”

Top U.S. Microlenders The Aspen Institute’s FIELD program runs the U.S. Microenterprise Census, which collects data from microlenders across the country. Here are the top five microlenders by total loan amount disbursed, according to the program’s 2014 survey, the most recent data available.

GRAMEEN AMERICA Grameen America is affiliated with the Grameen Foundation, an international organization known for programs that help poor communities address their own needs. Grameen America has disbursed more than $490 million in loans to tens of thousands of women in the U.S. The organization has a nontraditional lending system: Borrowers must form a group with four other women they trust. That group then participates in a week of financial training, at the end of which each member opens a savings account and receives a $1,500 microloan to build a small business.

Microloans disbursed in 2014: $100.7 million LIFTFUND

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San Antonio-based LiftFund offers microloans in the southern U.S., including Texas, Georgia and Florida. Borrowers typically use the financing to buy equipment and supplies. The microloans are also meant to help small-business owners improve their credit and more likely to qualify for a bank loan in the future, the lender says on its website. LiftFund got a boost in October 2016 when JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced almost $5 million in funding for its new small-business loan program in New Orleans, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas.

Microloans disbursed in 2014: $18.7 million OPPORTUNITY FUND California-based Opportunity Fund has been serving residents of the state since 1994, with more than $160 million in microloans. Its borrowers have a median household income of $31,000 per year. Around 90% are minority-owned businesses, and about 30% are women-owned businesses.

Opportunity Fund also provides financial literacy education to business owners.

Microloans disbursed in 2014: $17.7 million ACCION NEW MEXICO Accion New Mexico offers small-business loans from $1,000 to $1 million in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas. The nonprofit also provides business counseling and marketing support and sponsors educational events. It’s part of the Accion U.S. Network, which also has major chapters in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The international Accion nonprofit offers financing services and assistance, including microloans, in 32 countries.

Microloans disbursed in 2014: $8.9 million JUSTINE PETERSEN Justine Petersen, which is based in St. Louis, offers small-business loans, typically of less than $10,000. The nonprofit also finances businesses in rural areas through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Intermediary Relending Program and originates loans of up to $150,000 as part of the SBA’s Community Advantage Program.

Microloans disbursed in 2014: $8.4 million [Back to the top]

Top SBA nonprofit lenders Aside from its signature 7(a) term loans, the SBA issues low-cost small-business financing through a network of nonprofits.

The SBA Microloan Program offers loans of up to $50,000 administered through communitybased nonprofit groups. The SBA Community Advantage Program offers loans of up to $250,000 in communities that historically have had limited access to capital. The federal agency guarantees up to 85% of Community Advantage financing.

Here are the top five nonprofits in the SBA programs based on total loan amount disbursed to small businesses in 2015, the most recent data available:

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CDC SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE CORP. CDC Small Business Finance Corp. offers different types of financing for new and expanding businesses in California, Arizona and Nevada, including SBA Community Advantage loans of between $20,000 and $250,000. It also issues SBA commercial real estate loans, known as the SBA 504 loans, for clients planning to buy an existing building or build a new facility.

SBA Community Advantage and microloans disbursed in 2015: $11.7 million VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. Valley Economic Development Corp. specializes in small-business loans and microfinancing for entrepreneurs who don’t qualify for loans from traditional banks. It’s based in Los Angeles but also operates in other states, including Nevada, Illinois and New York. Aside from the SBA Community Advantage program, it participates in other small-business financing programs, including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, the National African-American SmallBusiness Loan Fund and the National Microfinance Network.

SBA Community Advantage and microloans disbursed in 2015: $9.7 million EMPIRE STATE CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT CORP. Empire State Certified Development Corp. is part of the New York Business Development Corp., a major SBA lender. It was the top SBA Community Advantage lender in 2014. Empire State CDC also participates in the SBA commercial loan program.

SBA Community Advantage and microloans disbursed in 2015: $7.6 million MAIN STREET LAUNCH Main Street Launch, previously known as OBDC Small Business Finance, serves clients in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides small-business loans of $10,000 to $250,000 that can be used for such expenses as equipment purchase, inventory or working capital.

SBA Community Advantage and microloans disbursed in 2015: $7.4 million LIFTFUND LiftFund, listed above among top U.S. microlenders, also offers SBA Community Advantage loans of $50,000 to $250,000 to businesses in low- to moderate-income communities in 13 states. Business owners can also qualify if more than 50% of their full-time workforce is lowincome or if their employees live in areas designated as low- to moderate-income communities.

SBA Community Advantage and microloans disbursed in 2015: $6.6 million

Other notable nonprofits KIVA U.S.

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Kiva U.S. is a part of Kiva, a nonprofit working in more than 80 countries. To receive an interest-free microloan of up to $10,000 through Kiva U.S., borrowers first must have friends and family members lend to the venture. This helps establish the borrower’s creditworthiness.

Once that happens, Kiva opens the loan to its lenders for funding. This type of loan fundraising has a 90% success rate, according to Kiva.

PACIFIC COMMUNITY VENTURES Pacific Community Ventures is a San Francisco-based community development lender that offers loans of between $10,000 and $200,000 to small businesses in California. You need to have been in business at least a year and have at least two employees. However, if you have a solid business record and a firm grasp of your business finances, PCV may offer you a loan even if you fall short on some requirements.

EXCELSIOR GROWTH FUND Excelsior Growth Fund offers online loans of up to $100,000 for approved borrowers in less than five days and funding of up to $500,000 through its ImpactLoan program. The lender deals with borrowers who typically wouldn’t qualify for traditional financing because their company is a startup or has poor credit. Through affiliates, it also provides SBA 7(a) and Community Advantage loans.

BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS Business Center for New Americans provides financing of between $500 and $50,000 to small businesses in New York City. Borrowers must be in the retail, light manufacturing, restaurant or service industry, and existing businesses must have at least three to six months of “verifiable revenue,” according to the organization. Brand-new companies must present a startup budget.

For other small-business financing, compare options on NerdWallet’s small-business loans tool page.

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My thoughts by John Telman This article is not intended for us to argue points. Let me simply state some thoughts to ponder.

Like if you desire but this post is not to bring division but to express truth and seek healing.

Carole and I had the joy and honor of living in the United States of America for 12 years. Soon we will be moving there once again.

Some years ago, the son of a close dear black friend was murdered by a white police officer. I daily went to the court room to witness the case and to see the man convicted and sentenced for his crime.

I have white and black friends who serve as police officers in the U.S. Weekly, Carole and I pray for them. We love them and know there job is a difficult one.

Recently, I have softened my anger towards football players who do not stand for the national anthem. I share their pain at the horrors of brutality at the hands of those who are called to keep peace.

I ache for people who are so hurt by what takes place in America. My emotions are torn. I cannot fully understand and feel the deep wounds that are daily real to many. And neither can I know the horrible anxiety my police officer friends go through every day.

What I do know is that I love America and it's people. Carole and I felt at home there and treasured the people. Remember, we are Canadians.

If we did not believe in the goodness and greatness of God to redeem and heal, we would not pray but we do pray. We pray for our black friends, for our white police officer friends and we pray for people to turn to God in repentance and humility.

George Washington once said, "The thing that sets the American Christian apart from all other people in the world is that he will die on his feet before he will live on his knees." In other words, we cannot kneel and cower at evil. We must stand up to it but the way do that is not with a fist but with love. Our Lord, Jesus Christ gave us the formula; love our enemies and pray for them.

I'm the kind of person that seeks peace at all costs. It deeply hurts to see someone sit or kneel or fist pump during the national anthem for two reasons.

First, I believe it does not help. It only inflames others. Secondly, I believe that to do so shows that America is broken and it disturbs me to see the pain.

The only answer to the trouble is Jesus.

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One police officer in Texas, who had one of my albums, use to play it for those who he arrested.

Handcuffed and sitting in the back of a patrol car forced the accused to hear the gospel. This was a positive way to deal with trouble.

I'll bring this to an end by saying, if we feel the need to kneel because of systemic problems, let it be to pray. If we feel the need to raise a hand, let it be to worship the God who can fix us.

Maybe, during the national anthem, all 70,000 people should kneel (if they can) or sit (if they can't kneel) to pray.

Imagine a stadium of people, on their knees, praying united in humility at the playing of the national anthem. We can have a moment of silence at the passing of a well known person so why can't we all take that moment to cry out to God. We need the one who is infinitely able to change us and to unite us so let us call on the name of Jesus. I love you my friends. - John.

MORE ABOUT JOHN TELMAN John Telman is an Assembly of God pastor. He was an former Music Pastor at Sheffield Family Life Center where he first met Danny Rowland and his Family. Pastor Telman is an accomplished musician and an Author.

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101 Inspirational Quotes From Super Successful People Kevin Winter for Getty Images/Business Insider

The world's most successful people are known and celebrated for all different things.

Some are famous for their skills and talents, while others are distinguished for their courage or profound impact on society.

But one thing many of the world's most successful people have in common is their ability to inspire others.

Here are 101 inspirational quotes from highly successful people: "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty." — Mahatma Gandhi "Success is most often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable." —Coco Chanel "Courage is grace under pressure." —Ernest Hemingway "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." —Albert Einstein "Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others." —Ellen DeGeneres "It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop." — Confucius

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"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." —Warren Buffett "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." —Dr. Seuss "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." —Mae West "Once you choose hope, anything's possible." —Christopher Reeve "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires." —Nelson Mandela "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart." —Helen Keller "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

—Mahatma Gandhi "The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting."

—Walt Disney "When you cease to dream you cease to live." —Malcolm Forbes "May you live every day of your life." —Jonathan Swift "Failure is another steppingstone to greatness." —Oprah Winfrey "If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall and you won't see a different solution to a problem you're trying to solve." — Jeff Bezos "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." —Coco Chanel "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." —Wayne Gretzky "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." —Dolly Parton

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"The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes." —Frank Lloyd Wright "You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them." — Michael Jordan "You can't please everyone, and you can't make everyone like you." — Katie Couric "I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine." —Neil Armstrong "Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve." —Mary Kay Ash "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." —Malcolm X "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." —Mark Twain "It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong." —Abraham Lincoln "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again." —William Edward Hickson "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." —Audrey Hepburn "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." —John Quincy Adams "If you are going through hell, keep going." —Winston Churchill "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." —Oprah Winfrey "A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." —Colin Powell

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"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." — Mark Zuckerberg "Do one thing every day that scares you." —Eleanor Roosevelt "The purpose of our lives is to be happy." —Dalai Lama "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." —John D. Rockefeller "Don't worry about failure; you only have to be right once." —Drew Houston "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." —Ralph Waldo Emerson "Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow." — Helen Keller "One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody." —Mother Teresa "Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow." —Jay-Z "If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased." — Katharine Hepburn "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." — Walt Disney "I avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."

—Charlotte Bronte "Don't count the days, make the days count." —Muhammad Ali "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." —Michael Jordan

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"Life is short, and it is here to be lived." —Kate Winslet "Everything you can imagine is real." —Pablo Picasso "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." —Barack Obama "It is never too late to be what you might have been." —George Eliot "If you love what you do and are willing to do what it takes, it's within your reach. And it'll be worth every minute you spend alone at night, thinking and thinking about what it is you want to design or build." — Steve Wozniak "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." —Maya Angelou "In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you." — Deepak Chopra "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." — Thomas A. Edison "We should remember that just as a positive outlook on life can promote good health, so can everyday acts of kindness." —Hillary Clinton "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." —Bill Gates "There are no mistakes, only opportunities." —Tina Fey (from her book, "Bossypants") "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." —Ronald Reagan "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." —Oscar Wilde "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." —Albert Einstein

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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." —Nelson Mandela "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." —Steve Jobs "But you have to do what you dream of doing even while you're afraid."

—Arianna Huffington "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." —Jimi Hendrix "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou Maya Angelou. AP "If you can do what you do best and be happy, you're further along in life than most people." —Leonardo DiCaprio "Success isn't about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives." —Michelle Obama "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." —Warren Buffett "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." — George Bernard Shaw "The best way of learning about anything is by doing." —Richard Branson "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." — John F. Kennedy "Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back." —Babe Ruth "Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." —Harriet Tubman

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"What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." — Napoleon Hill "A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning." — Billie Jean King "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."

—Benjamin Franklin "If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person." —Bill Clinton "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." — Martin Luther King, Jr. "As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent." —Arnold Schwarzenegger "Find out who you are and be that person. That's what your soul was put on this Earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth and everything else will come." —Ellen DeGeneres "Your voice can change the world." —Barack Obama "The more you dream, the farther you get." —Michael Phelps "You must do the things you think you cannot do." —Eleanor Roosevelt "Every moment is a fresh beginning." —T.S. Eliot "A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom." —Bob Dylan "If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." —Andrew Carnegie "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." —Frederick Douglass

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"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by.

And that has made all the difference." —Robert Frost (from his poem "The Road Not Taken") "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." —J. K Rowling (from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets") "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." — Martin Luther King, Jr. "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don't wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope." —Barack Obama "If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it." —Elon Musk "Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees. Get out of your comfort zone even if it means being uncomfortable. The road less traveled is sometimes fraught with barricades, bumps, and uncharted terrain. But it is on that road where your character is truly tested. Have the courage to accept that you're not perfect, nothing is and no one is — and that's OK." —Katie Couric "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." — Henry Ford "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." —e. e. cummings "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious." —Stephen Hawking

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"Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems rather from love and devotion towards men and towards objective things." —Albert Einstein "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." —Robert Frost

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http://www.kcsourcelink.com/gew LIST OF EVENTS GEW Kickoff Breakfast: The Future of the World Monday, Nov 13 @ 7:30 am - 9:00 am Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Mindfulness and the Entrepreneur Monday, Nov 13 @ 8:00 am - 9:30 am Power Life Yoga, Kansas City, MO

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Navigating Corporate Benefits on a Startup Budget Monday, Nov 13 @ 8:00 am - 9:30 am Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Four Foundations: Awareness that Provokes Action!

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Why Coffee is Important!

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Moms Mean Business: The Life of a MomPreneur Monday, Nov 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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How to Tap into Your X-Factor for Unstoppable Entrepreneurial Success Monday, Nov 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Innovate or Perish: Fostering Innovation in Established Companies Monday, Nov 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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The Business of Food Trucks Monday, Nov 13 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Finding Your Yellow Brick Road for Business Growth: Legal Avenues for Growing Your Business Monday, Nov 13 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Ten Ways To Welcome Your New Recruits Monday, Nov 13 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Solopreneur's Formula for Fun AND Profit in 2018 Monday, Nov 13 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Hype vs Reality: Female Entrepreneurship Monday, Nov 13 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Game Technology's Impact on Business Sector Growth Monday, Nov 13 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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F.R.O.G. Academy: The A/C Workshop for Young Entrepreneurs Monday, Nov 13 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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LTV and CAC - The Six Most Important Letters for Growing Your Business Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Define, Design, and Describe Startup Ideas with the Business Model Canvas Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Bloch Venture Hub, Kansas City, MO

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Future Fitness

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Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Startup & Early Stage Resource Showcase Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Show Me the Money! Successful Founders Share Their Trade Secrets Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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NovelCity at GEWKC Kickoff Monday, Nov 13 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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5th Multicultural Business Happy Hour - $10 Monday, Nov 13 @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm WeWork, Kansas City, MO

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Getting Started with WordPress for Your Business Monday, Nov 13 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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Venture Lounge Monday, Nov 13 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, MO

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THE MELTING POT THEATRE Some of our most honored institutions started humbly. Melting Pot Theater is one.

Harvey Williams, a playwright and actor who has appeared in KC productions of Driving Miss Daisy, The Piano Lesson, Fences and Othello, wanted to stage his own play, Old School, in 2013. Learning of his plan, the management of Just Off Broadway Theater in Penn Valley Park, newly redesigned in 2009, offered him the space.

It was Williams’ wife, Linda Williams, now executive director of Melting Pot, who was the driving force in expanding his plan to produce a single play into creating a full-fledged, ongoing company. Melting Pot began as the only black-owned theater company in the city and dedicated itself to showcasing diverse talent and productions.

Soon, thanks to the Williams’ reputations and the assistance of partners like Warren Deckert, technical director/designer, Melting Pot achieved financial solvency — a feat all the more impressive as it was achieved completely through ticket sales, donations and inkind services.

Last year the company achieved another milestone when Nicole Hodges Persley, an experienced theater professional who had worked in Los Angeles and New York, signed on as Melting Pot’s associate artistic director.

Persley, a tenured theater professor at KU, moved to the area from Los Angeles in 2009.

Locally she has directed A Raisin in the Sun, Welcome to Arroyo’s, Sister Cities and A Comedy of Sorrows. She also worked with poet Glenn North at the American Jazz Museum on the “Rep & Rev” play-reading series.

It was during a stint judging Rocket Grants for the Charlotte Street Foundation, that Persley discovered Harvey Williams and Melting Pot. She knew instantly that she wanted to be involved.

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Persley came aboard as a partner in a grand “investment” — for herself personally, and for undiscovered talent and the community. Her favorite quote, often stressed to her students, is from Seneca, “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.”

Melting Pot’s past shows include The Session, On Shoulders Now (both written by Williams), JFK, Waiting to Be Invited, Truth Stands and The Taste Test.

A Soft Escape, about a long marriage, love and family history, debuted Aug. 26, 2016, and was directed by Persley. She will also direct Rachel, opening Nov. 10. It is described as an “anti-lynching” play, written by one of the first African-American woman playwrights and first produced in 1916.

Melting Pot will present The Dutchman in February and The Ironing Man in April. The season will end with Harvey’s own 2121, about the “invisible people,” those “with nothing to lose,” victimized by recent economic downturns. Harvey says the inspiration for the play came in part from his teaching GED students in a trailer.

Persley is just as dedicated to giving back and “changing the discourse.” She grew up in inner-city Detroit, where she was nurtured by energizing school arts programs, many since discontinued all over the country. Melting Pot can help overcome that loss.

Shawna Downing and Anna Oakley have been added as co-directors of education and community programs. Cynthia Hardeman, playwright, has taught drama to 5-to- 13-yearolds in the theater and at a drama boot camp held in December. The company also took Old School to Paseo High School and did training there. The company is working to secure 501(c)(3) status in 2017, which will allow it to further expand outreach and mentoring activity.

Melting Pot’s plans include the production of original, emerging and local plays alongside established, traditional selections. Persley mentioned the plays of Edward Albee, perhaps with a new color-conscious element. She’d like to do Zora Neale Huston and other historic authors. Harvey, who has performed with Central Standard in Great Britain and

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Australia, may bring in international talent in collaboration. And 2017 will see the launch of Persley’s new book on hip-hop in contemporary theater.

“Cultural exchange” is the ultimate goal — all at Melting Pot are committed to it. The only disagreement between Williams and Persley is on the definition of the “season.”

Williams would like it to be calendar year; Persley prefers the more common summer to spring. Whatever they decide, Melting Pot, as the “anchor theater company” for Just Off Broadway, will continue to moor itself in the hearts of Kansas City audiences.

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