Military Education Programs: How the Right School Can Help You

Most prospective students choose a college based on a handful of deciding factors: location, size, tuition cost, and available programs or activities. But when you’re in the military, your educational plans change drastically. You have to decide whether you want to pursue your education while you serve or after active duty, and you also have to consider where you’ll study and whether you want to opt for traditional or online schooling.

To make your education much easier, consider enrolling in a military-friendly college. These schools have rigorous military education programs that are designed to offer you the flexibility and support you need. Learn more about the benefits of military education programs by checking out what they can do for you.

Who can get help?

Military education programs and services are so helpful because they assist a variety of military personnel. Whether you’re on active duty, a veteran, or even a military spouse, you can qualify for special services from certain colleges.

What do Military Education Programs help you with?

As a military student, you have access to all of the resources and support services that non-military students do-only military education programs surpass normal schools because they understand your specific needs as a member of the military. If you choose the right school, you can get help with every step of the application process from an experienced representative.

Military education services are also dedicated to helping you figure out your financial aid options. Although military aid benefits are a huge asset, learning how they work is nothing short of challenging, especially when you have to choose from the military’s Tuition Assistance program and the multiple types of GI Bills. By working closely with a military liaison or financial aid representative at a military-friendly school, you can get help understanding and applying your military benefits to your education. Some schools even offer additional aid for military students through scholarships or the Yellow Ribbon program.

How do they help?

Military-friendly schools help you tackle all of the challenges you face as a military student. Most significantly, they offer flexible scheduling in their programs, either through campuses that are conveniently located near military bases or through online learning options. Some schools offer online classes that military students can take while they’re on base or stationed across the world.

When do they help?

Military education programs make sure they have the proper staffing and department structure needed to be available to their students. Many employ specialized military liaisons, representatives, or entire Military Education or Military Financial Aid departments to serve their students. Military students can often seek help at any time, either by contacting military liaisons by phone, in person, or online.

If you’re ready to find a school that can help you pursue academic success, start researching military education programs. Military students who choose a school that fits can pursue a rewarding educational experience by getting the support they need.

Why You Need Affirmations For Your Home Based Business

You started your home based business to accomplish a certain dream or desire you have. Do you have it written down what it is your looking to gain? I see it too often people going after a dream but you can’t find it written down anywhere. You always need a road map to show you where your going and how to get there.
Your home based business can get you anywhere you want go unless you know where your going.

I want to share with you how to make daily affirmations for your home based business and how to make them come to life. How much do you want to make with your home based business? What will you be doing with the extra money you are making? These are the things you need to be thinking about, not the how to’s but the end result.

Here is how to write an effective affirmation for your home based business. First you want to figure out a date you want this to come about.Here’s an example I am so happy and grateful that on March 1st 2011 I am now making over $3000 per month with my home based business. Now write out what you are doing with the extra money. Are you going to take a trip somewhere? Buy a new car? House? Whatever it is write it down like it has already happened. You have to get down to the details, what kind of car is it?What does the house look like? Where did you take the trip to? Write down how you are feeling when this is happening. Write down how everyone around you is reacting. You have to really get your emotions into it and feel like it’s already happened. At first it is going to feel awkward and like your lying to yourself, but you have to get in the habit of doing this. When you start tricking your subconscious mind it starts thinking of ways and ideas to make these affirmations come true. When you get in the habit of doing this you create a new and meaningful habit. Read your affirmations twice a day, when you wake up and before you go to bed. Don’t quit keep doing it! When your affirmation comes to be then create a bigger and better one! Because if you can it once you can do it again and again.

Before I leave I will give you an example you can use for yours:

It is March 1st 2011 and I so happy and grateful that I am now making over $3000 per month with my XYZ home business. I am so excited because with the extra money I was able to take the trip to Europe that my wife and I have been dreaming of. My wife was so excited she cannot believe we were able to take this trip! All of my friends were jealous and wish they could go with us. We took a 10 day trip starting in England and visited Big Ben,the tower of London. From there we took the bullet train to France and visited the Eiffel tower.

Just writing this I got excited! I could of gotten into more detail but hopefully you get the idea.

You have to get your imagination into it. When you start feeling emotions of excitement this is when it really kicks up the process.

Remember stop worrying about how it’s going to happen just believe that it’s already happened and you will see your efforts pay off.

Home-Based Business Moms Save the Day

Single-income families are becoming more and more impractical. That is why home-based business moms are the growing trend. Leaving the kids and the home to outside help just to go to work is not an option that some would want to pursue, and with the variety of possibilities that are available to today, one can always find a way to compromise.Why Home-Based Businesses are Booming
Technological Advances. Perhaps the biggest factor in making and building a home-based business a plausible alternative to a corporate career is the fact that technology has made it a lot easier to share information from all over the globe. It also has become more convenient to go online to purchase something, or to sign up for a contract of service.
Security Measures. Servers, websites and even blogs now have security certifications and protocols that protect the clients and the business establishment themselves – not only from unwanted incursions into their computer systems, but more importantly to protect the transactions, as well. With a lot of virtual businesses relying on the trust that people will give them to deliver, this surge in security troubleshooting is a big deal. They are also very easy to learn that even the most inexperienced home-based business moms can incorporate them into their systems.
Software and Applications. There are a lot out there that have been developed and improved with e-commerce specially in mind. There are very good ones that home-based business moms can even get for free, or for a very minimal amount. This is also one of the reasons why doing business at home over the Internet has survived the economic slowdown.
You Will Still Need HelpOn the outside, it looks like a plausible idea. You get to spend time at home AND make money while you’re at it. But, in the end, you might find yourself spread too thin. There are two ways to go about it that home-based business moms have found to be useful. One would be to find a business partner, and the other would be to find household help.Outsourcing Tasks”A one-legged man in a hopping contest” is a description that you would not want to be described as, and if you are just starting out, it really is best to get as much help as you can. Delegating work that you cannot get a handle on does not mean you will give up any measure of control over your business; you will still get to choose to whom and how much to delegate.There are just things that are more worthy of your attention than others, and many home-based business moms have learned to use the resources available to them to succeed.

What Can We Do If Our Spouse is Not Supportive of Our Home Based Business?

Having a spouse that is not supportive of you making money online with your home based business is most definitely one of the hardest things to battle with. This can be a deal breaker for most people. I can’t begin to tell you how many people get so discouraged and lose the initial excitement they had for a home based business after they tell their spouses.Getting approval and support from our spouse is a strong desire for us all. We want them to be proud of us. It is very difficult to move forward in something that our spouses do not approve of.However, it is possible to be successful in a business if your spouse isn’t supportive.Find out what the reason is for them not wanting you to work from home. Maybe they have had some bad experiences in the past and they weren’t able to make money online. Maybe they think old fashioned and think you should have a “real job”. Maybe they don’t want you to be at home and work a home based business. Whichever the reason, you need to get to the bottom of it and address the reasoning with your spouse.Comfort your spouse by letting them know you understand where they are coming from. Give them the benefit of doubt. After that, you need to let them understand how important a home based business is to you and your future. They need to understand that you are doing this for the whole family and not just for yourself. Convey that you want to make money from home so that you can provide things that your family has never had in the past, including more valuable time!It is hard to stay mad at your spouse when you see that it comes from their heart and there is so much conviction involved in starting a home based business. Make sure that you keep your family number one and don’t allow the internet business to take over.If they are still not wanting you to do this and you feel there may be selfish reasons behind it, you now need to make a decision on your own. They will be on board after they see the results of this home based business!They will really be on board once you are able to get them out of their “real job”!

5 Tips to Be Successful With Your Home Based Business

When you are running a home based business, you will have just you, your computer and your home. You will not have a boss and there is no one to watch out what you are doing. It is not that home based business is easy. Just like your boss, you have to be committed to your work and develop your own business. Working from home gives you the advantage of utilizing your skills to the fullest because you know what you are good at. Even at your home, you will have problems to face. However, the greatest advantage with home based business is that you can take a break whenever you want if you have to find solutions to your problems. This freedom must be exploited in a proper manner for running a home based business.If you have found a niche, target market and business goals, it is easy to setup your home based business. Getting profits from your business is the main reason behind starting your own business and to achieve this goal, you have to know how to run your business successfully. The following tips will help you to run your business in a well organized manner.1.    Be prepared to spend a lot of hours working for your business. Many home business owners fail because they assume that they can work less if they have their own business. You may have to spend about 60-70 hours every week to run your business smoothly.2.    Schedule your day properly. You have to come up with a to-do list for the tasks to be completed for your day. You have to schedule all the business tasks on your own depending on the priority of the task. There is no one to dictate you what should be done and hence, only with proper planning, you can run the business successfully.3.    Try to develop all the skills required by your business. To be your own boss, you have to play the roles of all employees in your home based business. Sales, marketing, financing, and other business departments require different types of skills. You have to become the jack of all trades to execute your business tasks even though you have hired persons to complete those tasks.4.    Network with your peers and try to develop your business network. You have to get clients, service providers and leads for your business. This is possible only when you interconnect with others. You should find other home based business owners through online and offline means to stay connected.5.    Stay motivated. The most important thing about running your own business is to keep your energy levels up all the time. You will have some bad days and you may have spoiled moods. Your family members may sneak in and disturb you during your work time. Despite all the distractions and business issues, you have to keep yourself motivated. You can definitely feel proud about yourself because you are a business owner. Reward yourself from time to time and celebrate small successes which will keep your spirits high.

A Guide to Internet Home-Based Business

For those who desire the flexibility and potential of an Internet home-based business, 5 questions will serve as a guide to get you started. Is working at home for me? How do I choose a home-based business? What do I need to get my business on the Internet? What do I need to keep my business on the Internet? What’s next?It Working at Home for Me?You know the advantages of operating a home-based business. Flexibility. Autonomy. Integration of work and family. And the Internet has not only made it easier to work from home, it has caused an explosion in the number of home-based opportunities.But is it for you? And just as important, is it for your family? As Business.gov points out in its home business resource guide, if you work from home it can create conflicts with your family as they are used to thinking of work as being an outside-the-home responsibility.You must have the discipline to work without supervision. You must have the commitment to work through the problems and obstacles (and all home businesses face them.) And you must have the attention to detail to handle all the various responsibilities.An Internet home-based business is full of upside potential. Just make sure the actual work is for you.How Do I Choose an Internet Business?A quick rule of thumb when choosing an Internet business: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The Internet has created many opportunities and just as many scams. The good news is it also creates a virtual community worldwide where you can research and discuss home business offers.Find work that appeals to you. Check out the business online. Talk to someone who has succeeded with it.What Do I Need to Get My Business on the Internet?You need a computer that can run the most recent version of the most popular software. You don’t have to buy it, just have the capability to run it. You must have a high-speed Internet connection. You must have a domain name and a Web-hosting service. And you need a website for your home-based business.Many Internet businesses provide this. Many Web-hosting services have tools to build your own.What Do I Need to Keep My Business on the Internet?It’s tempting to offer a 1-word answer to keeping your Internet business running: Work. Of course, more is involved. But don’t make the mistake many do of thinking that an Internet business is a magic formula for reward without effort. A home-based business is still a business. You must provide excellent service and stay on top of the details.What Next?Once your Internet business is up and running, begin a process of continuous improvement. It’s imperative that you have goals. Measure your progress against your goals at least weekly.And it is just as important to make necessary adjustments if you’re not on track.Running an Internet home-based business is an exciting adventure that offers tremendous opportunity. Just be certain to choose work you enjoy doing and commit to doing all that is required for success.

Your Home Based Business And Your Get-Rich-Quick Dreams

If you see your Home Based Business as a way to realise your get-rich-quick dreams, please read here. This could save you money, time and many disappointments.We are bombarded with stories in the media about people that have made their billions of dollars at a very young age or very quickly. These “idols” as some people see them become “role models” for many people to start and develop their Home Based Business ideas or other business ideas.We also read about people winning big bucks in the lottery or at a casino or by betting on horses or something else. Are they also “idols” or “role models”?I do believe that there are some similarities and differences between these two groups of “idols” that can help you and me in thinking, dreaming and conceptualizing our big ideas and big awards for our Home Based Businesses.Let us think about our ideas and dreams.If you are dreaming only of getting big bucks very quickly with a minimum of input or work or expertise, the best probability of getting that will be at a casino or by buying a lottery ticket. In both these cases, you will be able to calculate the statistical probability of getting the big bucks. You know that it is very, very small. Nevertheless, some people are winning. They do get the big bucks against all odds. So you can too. Why not? You can decide.If your dreams are to get the big bucks with your Home Based Business very quickly, it is possible. The probability is bigger compared to playing the lotto. The opportunities are there. What must be done to achieve it is different to the lotto. You must have the idea that can be monetized. You will need special skills, business expertise, technological know-how and many other things to monetize your big idea to make big bucks quickly.If you do have all these ideas, resources and many more dreams, it can be done.There are examples of people that have done it. Some people have started their enterprises in their garages at home and developed it into a Fortune 500 company. You might be the next Bill Gates… Go for it. He has proven that it can be done.We must realize that these people are the exceptions though.If your dream is only to make money in your Home Based Business, you will be mislead by the internet gurus explaining or trying to convince you to pay them some money once off or on a monthly basis to get access to their get-rich-quick scheme. With most of these schemes, you will be disappointed because you do not hear the whole story during their sales pitch to you. They are very good and convincing sales people that can sell ice to the Eskimos. Be careful.The more realistic journey to you big money dreams must be different if you are realistic.I want to discuss the realistic dreams and that journey to achieve our dreams.What is more important is to have realistic expectations of what you want to achieve. You have to take into consideration what your strengths and talents are, how much time you have available to spend on your Home Based Business and how much money you want to invest into your business.These are the “hard issues” that can be calculated. Maybe the more important issue to get clarity on is what your passion is. What is you motivation? How strongly do you want to make a success of your Home Based Business? Are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal? Do you have the motivation and the stamina to push ahead if the tide is going against you in your Home Based Business? Get clarity about these softer issues before you start.Spend some time by doing some research to find the Home Based Business that suits your requirements. That might not be the one that gives you the big bucks very quickly. The possibility of making a success and earning money with your Home Based Business is bigger if you live and work your passion than when you only go for the money and get involved in something that you do not enjoy.Find your passion in your Home Based Business. Work your passion. Do not get involved in a Home Based Business as if it is a get-rich-quick scheme. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Do your research and find your passion. Build a business over time by living your dream and working your passion. By doing that, the possibility of being a Bill Gates is bigger compared to the gambling alternative.Join our team, we will guide you on this journey.

Why Serious Investors Use Real Estate Investment Software

In this article we’ll consider why serious real estate investors–those who want to make the best return possible on their real estate investments–use real estate investment software to evaluate investment opportunities.

It’s fast. Good investment property analysis software makes it possible to analyze cash flows, rates of return, and profitability of rental properties in minutes. This enables investors to collect the data needed for decision-making quickly.
It’s precise. Good investment evaluation software makes accurate calculations for a wide-range of returns and measures deemed crucial to sound real estate analysis. The last thing analysts should have to worry about is faulty math.
The reports are informative. Good real estate investment software creates professional-quality reports investors can confidently pass on to colleagues, partners, and lenders.
It knows what data is required. Good rental property software includes forms specially designed to gather the appropriate facts and figures about a property. This is particularly helpful to investors with little or no real estate analysis experience because they just fill in the forms and print.
It keeps the seller’s data honest. Investors who have the ability to run the numbers themselves prevent anyone from making an unrealistic presentation of the property and perhaps “slipping one” by.
It’s inexpensive. Good realestate investment software does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Anyone can create top-notch real estate analysis presentations forever for just a few hundred dollars.
Okay, now let’s consider the alternative.

You can create your own spreadsheet. Excel makes it possible for anyone to mimic investing software solutions. But it takes time (lots of time) to develop the reports and calculations provided in good real estate investment software. You should ask yourself whether you are inept enough about real estate investing and Excel before you get started. Plus, remember that your goal is make a profit on investment properties and not to shave a few bucks off your analysis presentations.
You can rely on rules of thumb. It’s easy to calculate a property’s cap rate or gross rent multiplier. But what about cash-on-cash return, cash flow after tax, internal rate of return, and mortgage amortization? Bear in mind that you are planning to make a huge property investment, so you should rely on something more meaningful than on simple calculations you can do in your head.
You can accept the seller’s data. But it’s never a good idea to accept property data point blank because it leaves too much room for others to embellish reality. You should always be prepared to verify the numbers you are presented about any investment opportunity to be sure that they comply with your real estate investing plan.
Once you’re ready to invest in good real estate investment software you’ve got to know what to look for. So here are a few suggestions.

Foremost, be sure that the software is user-friendly–that you know what to do from the moment you open it. If not, be sure you have a number you can call for tech support.
Preview the reports. Are they easy to read? Do they contain all the crucial returns you will need (or desire) to make an intelligent investment decision? Are they professional quality?
Consider what rates of return you desire. For example, are you interested only in suitable returns calculated without consideration for the elements of tax shelter, or would you prefer full consideration of tax shelter? If so, then look for real estate investment software that includes calculations for things such as depreciation, mortgage interest, amortization of loan points, and cash flow after tax.
Would you like both analysis and marketing presentations? If so, then look for a software solution that will create an Executive Summary or Marketing Package in addition to an APOD, Proforma Income Statement, and Rent Roll.

How to Invest in a Broadway Show

I get a lot of questions from readers, all over the world, expressing interest in investing in a Broadway or an Off-Broadway show. Usually they are unsure about how to get involved and, more importantly, they want to know how to pick their first show. Since this seems to be such a hot topic, I thought I’d dispel a few of the nasty rumors associated with investing in Broadway or Off-Broadway shows, and also give you my checklist of how to choose shows to invest in. First let’s tackle the rumors, and then the checklist.

Broadway Investment Rumor #1: Investing in Broadway Shows is Only for the Super-Rich.

Because Broadway capitalizations can range from $2 million for a Play up to $20 million for a Broadway Mega-Musical, many people fear that the “entry point,” or the amount of money required for an initial individual investment, must be astronomically high. Not true. While the average small investment in a big Broadway show is probably about $25,000, I have seen many shows where investors were able to get in for as little as $10,000, and even a few where the entry point was only $5,000! There are a lot of publicly traded mutual funds that don’t allow you to get in at that level. Lower investment thresholds are particularly common in the Off-Broadway arena. What determines the lowest investment level? Here’s how it works.

Capitalizations are divided into ‘units,’ just like stock shares, and what defines each unit is up to the Producer. Some Producers like to have a round 100 units per show, regardless of the capitalization. Some like to pick the lowest amount they can accept as an investment (since some shows are limited to the number of investors they can have). And some just make it up arbitrarily. Regardless of how the unit is determined, here’s a tip: If you’re considering a show and get sticker shock when you hear the price of one unit, ask for a partial. Splitting units ain’t like splitting an atom. It can be done with ease. Depending upon a variety of circumstances (including how hot the property is, who the producer is, and whether or not other investors took “round units”), it may be possible for you to invest in a smaller amount than the “ask.” The key, of course, is to never be pressured into investing more than you’re willing to lose. If the entry point on one project is too high, don’t worry, there will be others.

Broadway Investment Rumor #2: Investing in Broadway Shows is Only for the Super-Crazy.

Many people think that it’s bonkers to get involved with Broadway. The fact is, if you’re an individual of a certain net worth, your traditional financial advisor will probably recommend that you allocate a certain amount of your investment portfolio (usually about 10%) to higher risk instruments, or so-called Alternative Investments, in order to diversify yourself. Most Alternative Investments require investors to be considered ‘accredited,’ which in the U.S. means a net worth of at least one million dollars, or having made at least $200,000 ($300,000 if joint-income) for the past two years. Although many Broadway shows also prefer accredited investors, this is not the case with every show.

Why would Broadway, with its high risk but potentially high return, be excluded from that list? In fact, it isn’t. According to Wikipedia’s entry for Alternative Investments, they are an “investment product other than traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, or cash” and that “wine, art and antiques, Broadway shows, movies, indeed any store of value, might also be considered an alternative investment.” Alternative Investments, including Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, are undoubtedly high risk. The commonly quoted statistic is that only 1 out of 5 Broadway shows recoup their investment (that ratio is even lower for Off-Broadway shows). But this is not, by any means, the only high risk instrument on the market.

Investing in Broadway shows is a lot like investing in a restaurant or, frankly, in any entrepreneurial start-up. In fact, according to a recent article by Nick Malawskey in the Centre Daily Times: “For every 10 businesses that start, seven will cease to exist in 10 years. Two will break even. Only one will really succeed.” This puts the success rate of start-ups at the exact same percentage as I just quoted above – 20%! See, it’s not as bad as we thought. And, with proper due diligence you can increase those odds.

And remember, with big risk can also reap big rewards. Even if you do end up performing according to the stats, the goal and hope is that the 1 show out of 5 which does recoup, ends up paying for any other previous losses (it’s a marathon not a sprint), and then some. Imagine what it would have been like to invest in “Annie,” “West Side Story,”"Cats” or “Wicked.”

Broadway Investment Rumor #3: Investors in Broadway Shows Belong to an Exclusive ‘Club’ that Doesn’t Accept New Members.

While it is true that there are a lot of Broadway investors that have been in the circle for a long time, it’s not as closed door of a club as you think. While it can be hard for a new investor to get in on the hottest shows coming to town, it’s not impossible. And, Producers will sometimes let you get in on a ‘sure-thing’ (which doesn’t exist, by the way) if you also agree to come into something a bit more risky. However, it is a relationship business, and preferential treatment is often given to investors who have been doing it longer, and to those that have been faithful to the Producer. So what does a new investor do? Start the relationship. Call a Producer. Email them. Fax them. Simply state that you’re looking to invest in a specific show (if you know one that they are about to do), or ask to be put on the list to be called about their next show. It’s not a commitment for either party, and I don’t know any Producer out there who would mind putting you on a “potential” list. Just make sure you are serious about your interest.

Now that we’ve overviewed the three biggest obstacles potential investors often tell me prevent them from taking the first step and joining the ranks of Broadway and Off-Broadway investor, just how do you choose a project to invest in? Once you’ve decided that investing in a Broadway or Off-Broadway show is something you definitely want to do, you should step through my checklist of how to decide whether or not to invest in a particular show.

Broadway Investing Rule #1: Have Passion for the Project.

Broadway shows are often referred to as the “children” of Producers and Investors. Shows need the same type of care, hand-holding, and unconditional love; so much love, that even when your kid F***s up royally, you (as the parent) will still love him, right? Unfortunately, the odds are that your “kid” is going to disappoint you, so you better make sure that your bond is so tight, you won’t care either way. This theory is based a bit on famed investment guru Peter Lynch’s theory of “invest in what you know.” Peter believed you should put money into companies that make products which you see and use every day (and products that you can’t live without). I believe this can, and should, be adapted to entertainment investments as well. Invest in shows that you can’t see NOT happening. Invest in shows that you believe are important to be seen; whether that’s because it has a socio-political message, whether that’s because it features an amazing performance by an legendary actress, or whether that’s because it’s so much fun, that the audience’s day will be better just by experiencing the show. Invest in shows that you love.

Broadway Investing Rule #2: It’s All About Who’s Driving the Boat.

Before investing in a mutual fund, Wall Street geeks will tell you to look at a variety of factors, one of the most important being who is managing the fund. You’ve got to know who is making the day-to-day decisions. What is their track record? Where did they learn to do what they do? How long have they been doing it? These are all questions you need to ask before investing in a Broadway show. Look at the Producer’s resume (you can find them all on the Internet Broadway Database ibdb.com). Have they produced shows that have recouped? How many hits do they have? How many misses? Would you have produced similar shows? Do you have similar tastes? Choosing to invest with Producers with a proven track record is one of the best ways you can reduce your risk when investing in a Broadway or Off-Broadway show.

Broadway Investing Rule #3: Just Like an Actor, You Have to Know Your Objective.

What do you want out of investing in a Broadway show? Different objectives will greatly affect what projects you choose to do. Do you want to make money? Do you want to get access to opening night parties, etc. so you can network? Are you looking to get inside access to agreements and figures, etc., so you can learn more about how to produce your own show? Do you want to support the work of a specific playwright?

One of my favorite “objective” stories is about the investor who was thinking about graduate school as a way to learn how to produce. They decided against it, and took the money they were going to spend on tuition and invested it in several shows. They thought there was more to learn by playing the game. Last I heard, they were doing pretty well and beating the odds.There are a zillion reasons to invest in a Broadway show. Make sure you have at least one.

Broadway Investing Rule #4: Don’t Try and Be a One-Hit Wonder.

We all want our first time to be perfect (I even wrote a show about it!), but often our first time out isn’t what we hope it will be. Don’t expect to knock one out of the park your first time up at bat. When signing up to invest in Broadway, imagine that you’re a baseball player playing a full nine innings. If you strike out the first time (or even the second and the third) don’t worry, you could hit a homer in the bottom of the 9th and win the game.

If your first show doesn’t make it, have a post-mortem with yourself (and with the Producer) and try and determine why it didn’t work. Learn from it, and apply those lessons to your next time up at bat. Your odds of success should get better each time. Just don’t pull yourself out of the game.

Broadway Investing Rule #5: Examine the Lay of the Land.

It’s impossible to time the market. But, in a playing field as small as Broadway, with its limited audience, it’s important to take a look at your potential competition. Are you doing a new musical at a time when six other new musicals are opening? How do your stars match up against the other shows’ stars? Are you the only classic play? Are you the only comedy? The big TV networks program their seasons so they can appeal to all of the appropriate demographics, without too much weight on one type of show. Since Producers are mostly independents, we can’t program collaboratively, but as an investor you can look to see if your show is going to get lost in a sea of other similar shows, or if it will stand out amongst a lack of competition, without having to place $125k New York Times full page ads.

So there you have it! The above are the five basic questions I first ask myself when contemplating investing in a Broadway or Off-Broadway show. There are countless others you should ask when you get into the details of the production after you examine the budget, find out who’s directing, etc., but these will get you started on the road to investing in a show.

You’ll notice that a lot of the above rules and checklists are very similar to the rules and checklists for investing in the stock market or any market (invest for the long haul, know your objectives, risk tolerance, etc.). And that’s the most important thing to remember. Too many people think investing in Broadway is a hobby ( which it can be), and in those cases you’ll probably only hit a winner on the average 1 out of 5 times. But, Broadway is big business, and should be treated as such. And if you apply the same principles you’d apply to other investment vehicles and do the due diligence, there’s no reason you can’t turn that hobby into something that is fun, educational, and yes, even profitable.

How To Succeed At Online Product Creation The Easy Way

Product creation could be a frightening subject for a lot of Internet marketers to face. Some folks who get in the game with the intention of making a full time income are completely ignorant as to how an online business operates. One of the most profitable ways to create online cash is by creating a product that others are happy to pay for.

Product creation is legitimate method of generating money through internet marketing but many entrepreneurs get it wrong. They start by imitating their Internet marketing gurus by creating information products on Internet marketing in hopes of getting rich the way their heroes did. The problem is that they usually don’t know what they are doing and enter a highly competitive niche with very little marketing experience or connections.

Here are a few tips for effective product creation that may help you get on the right track:
Start by finding a profitable niche with low to moderate competition. If you conduct some rudimentary market research and keyword research, you’ll find many opportunities in areas that will surprise you. Amazon and eBay are two great places to brainstorm for product ideas.

Developing Your Product does not have to be a difficult project. You can find experts in the right field for your niche and pay them to write the material while an artist designs the packaging and website or blog. You can outsource the entire product creation part of the project after you conduct the research and testing to ensure profitability.

Sales and marketing strategies should be created while developing the product and learning about the market. Some experienced marketers use pay per click to drive traffic to their offer page; some folks outsource the entire marketing campaign to affiliates through ClickBank or other affiliate programs.

Product creation does not need to be hard, particularly when the merchandise is electronic. E-books, videos, audio and multi-media products sell very well. They are distributed immediately to customers electronically. Once you have a good feel for a niche market, try to service your customers with associated products and upgrades. If you want to earn money online through product creation, you must understand supply and demand. The majority of new online marketers fail miserably because they go after highly competitive markets or forget to research their chosen niche properly. You have to create your products according to the needs, wants and desires of the prospective customers.