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Marianne Costello: honest, enthusiastic, direct and fun loving. She is the founder of VA Collaborative and is ideal for companies that are starting out and have no idea how to do social media, computers, etc...

It´s not what you know that gets it, it´s what you know that gets you.

You can only get so far if you don´t take risks.

You have to plan for the ups and downs.

Nobody is an expert at everything. That is the number one mistake that people make.  They try to be an expert at everything and there is a flaw in that logic process.

An entrepreneur says, "I have a talent, I have a gift, I have a great idea, this is something that solves a problem for people or transforms their lives in some way and people will pay for this." “How do I make this a business and price it correctly so I can sell enough and pay for the help that I need.” People who follow that model gets much further than people who try to do everything themselves.  The next problem that comes in is where to find all the people to do these things for me. Hire a VA.

“It´s the collaboration of experts together; People who like doing what they´re doing, what you don´t like doing.”  She built Virtual Collaborative around those principles. She follows all the principles of online marketing; she does the foundation laying, social media and asks for referrals.

Virtual assistants can do all the administrative stuff that brings all the people to you and brings more people to you; the selling part should be done by you. The trick is to get people coming to you that are pre-qualified; they need what you are offering them.

People pay for solutions every day of the week, so if it is something that is presented to them in the right way, presented to the right audience and you follow the principles of influence and marketing, people will pay you to help them get over that rough patch in their lives.

Strategy on defining how is really your client, where are they, how do we reach them, what kind of things do they say, what do they worry about, what are they willing to pay for and if you position it correctly, you will get matches.  When you deliver it, they will spread the word.

VA can make business owners quite wealthy.

People that have been working in corporate America have the talent, you have just been doing it for somebody else's profit, but you have the talent. Take that gift and parlay it into some other gift. Find people that want to get it from you and not a big business company.

With a gift or genie zone and zero technical ability, you can have a business and get it off the ground.

Do not discount what you learnt.

Climate is changing; people are paying other people who have the gift.

It is more advantageous to hire people that give you a personal feel to it.

Focus on value.

Hire different types of people to match with your different type of clients.

VA Collaborative offers:

Virtual assistant referrals, she brokers out talent to people

She has clients that needs virtual assistant

Program that says if you have a gift, it´s a short $2,000 a way, $19.97 and then you can sell one program and get the money back for the program, how to get an online business going.

If you are retired, have a gift, have an idea, need some help email Marianne Costello

Marianne Costello Contact Information

Website: www.thevacollaborative.com

Email: info@thevacollaborative.com

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Lou Bortone:  Video Marketing Success Secret, How to create great videos that engage your prospects and create raving fans.

You can make a lot of money on your own without a big corporate parent or without somebody telling you what to do, 9 to 5.

Video is probably the best and easiest way to get your message out and build a business around it.

YouTube is now the second biggest search engine next to Google. When people are looking for answers and solutions, they go straight to YouTube.

For those people that don´t like to be on camera, you don´t have to be on camera to create great video; you can create narrated PowerPoints, animated videos, PowToon, goAnimate, etc.

Retired Landscaper: consulting on how to create a landscaping business, illustration videos, etc. Create a website with video, offering a freebie or some kind of incentive.  As people sign up for the incentive, now you can build a database/list you can market to, so when you have a video, you will have someone to sell it to.  These people will already know, like and trust you as you have been sharing valuable content.

You can create a one page website, who you are, what you do, etc... 

Build visibility and credibility.

Tip videos are better if they are short, 2 minute videos are good.

With video, you want to have a call to action, telling the viewer what to do next. At the end of the video, ask the viewer to visit your website. You can add an annotation at the end of the video to link back to your site.

You can also monetize your videos on YouTube by enabling your account to have ads on your video; you get a small percentage of revenue from the ads.

The best way to monetize is create 8 video courses on your website or Udemy.

Later on you can move to being a coach or consultant.

If you make the effort, you can expect returns on YouTube within two months.

Establish your niche. Specialize.

You can target your audience with YouTube.

You can put pre-roll ads, ads that run at the beginning of videos, overlays, etc...

Business videos are not about what you´re wearing or who you look like, it´s more about the content and the message.

Main thing to remember is that although people can be intimidated by video, it´s a lot easier than it was. If you have a smartphone, iPhone, you have the capability to do that. You don´t need a lot of equipment to get started or a big investment to get started, start with what you got.

Lou Bortone offers a wide range of products, starting from DIY to Coaching.  Check out his Free Video Survival Kit which includes video tutorials, checklists, etc.

Lou Bortone Contact Information

Website: www.loubortone.com

Email: vip@loubortone.com

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Try using materials that you have readily available and then apply them to your product.

Don’t be afraid of people who might steal your idea. They’re not going to.

Small business development centers and the agency SCORE are great free resources.

Don’t spend money on things that don’t make you money

Do research online. What similar products are there?

She believes it takes one or two years research before going into production.

Get a focus group of women and offer free food and wine. Have a friend bring friends you don’t know so that you get a better, more fair evaluation. Teachers are good for focus groups. 10 people in the group is the maximum.

Ask focus ideas, color, improvements, styles, that they would like to suggest.

Get participants to sign a release form.

Facebook groups can be a good place to get opinions.

Go to websites that identify health problems that your product might solve.

Forms are fine as long as you are not trying to sell anyone anything.

Where will you buy the raw goods? Who will make the product? These are two huge questions and it takes time to find the answer.

Designers can be found in trade journals.

Some pattern makers are also designers. You get a two for one.

Community colleges can also help with cheap labor.

Sell direct to consumers and wholesalers.

Haralee started selling her products on her own website.

You will need to set up a website.

At this point you could do a kickstarter campaign. You can also raise money through family and friends or take a loan from a bank.

It will take $7k-$10k to get a clothing product to this level.

Don’t do TV unless you have enough product.

You better plan in advance how quickly you can get to certain level.

Market in local newspapers and get exposure.

The fact that you are a baby boomer is a good story for newspapers.

You make 10 products. Test them and then redesign when necessary.

At this point you could order $2k-$3k of product. Not more.

Decide how you’re going to sell. Resellers, Amazon, EBay, specialty shops etc.

Sell your product in every way you can think of.

You can offer your product on consignment if needed.

You need to get all the exposure you can and as quickly as possible.

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A baby boomer, as a kid had entrepreneur spirit, spent most of career in non-profit, however considered himself a nonprofit entrepreneur

He launched current business after leaving his career as a non-profit CEO. 

The first decision he took when he quit his job. 

Second decision was to learn how to build on online business, an online presence.

Most businesses you really need to have an online presence in order to grow your business.

Home businesses are the future in America.

Electrician

Baby boomers can look for marketable skill to do part - time.

First thing baby boomers need to learn is how to have own business, online course, incorporate business: can use legalzoom, inexpensive way to start. 

Create website using Godaddy.

Word of mouth, community forums, community websites.

Distribute business cards.

Create Facebook fan page, networks, local community papers, and other places where your community connects with each other.

Knowledge online: create ad based, how to videos on YouTube, promote on Facebook. 

Lawyer

Create website, blogs, and podcasts on legal advice.

Income can be made creating a website for legal advice, scheduling consultations.

Podcast

Podcasts new territory, great free advertising, drives people towards your business.

Learn how to be a podcaster, recommends Cliff's Ravenscraft course, online course “Podcasting A to Z”, $2000 for 6 weeks.

Pat Flynn free series, Smart Passive Income

Book Writing

Write on your own CreateSpace, self-published, for under $200.

Book

Buy book, “Launch Your Encore: Finding Adventure and Purpose Later in Life” by Hanz Finzel.

The book helps baby boomers with decisions you have to make when you get to your post retirement years, a lot of question you have to ask yourself, a whole chapter on test instruments, rediscover who you are, tests such as strength finders inventory, the Myers Briggs test, and spiritual gifts inventory.

The book also has a chapter on volunteering in the nonprofit sector, giving back to communities, finding meaning and purpose later in life.

Book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble.

Multi-level marketing companies, quicker way to make income, low risk, low threshold to get into. Great residual income as you get older and a great retirement plan.

Advice for baby boomers:  learn new tricks, like internet, social media, taking courses at the community college, read books, listening to podcasts.

Books:

Finding Adventure and Purpose Later in Life by Hanz Finzel

Platform by Michael Hyatt

Website:

michaelhyatt.com

Godaddy.com

www.smartpassiveincome.com/category/podcast/

hanzfinzel.com

launchyourencore.com

http://www.legalzoom.com/

jdblogger.com

https://www.createspace.com/

http://podcastanswerman.com/atoz/

http://podcastanswerman.com/

Magazine:

AARP Magazine

Local Community Paper:

Highlands Ranch Herald

Podcast: 

Leadership Answer Man, smart passive income

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The more you partner with other businesses, the better you will do.

Find a cause that you believe in, then you will make money.

Don’t let other’s negative words stop you. Use them as motivation… “I’ll show him!”

As an entrepreneur, you can decide who you will work with.

If you want to start a speaking career, ask yourself, how committed are you, what is your expertise, what would you speak about, how can you turn this into something people would pay for, who is my market?

You can also tie your passions with your business.

For example…businesses that support your passion would be a perfect fit. She loves animals, so she looks for companies that give to animal charities.

When you give yourself away with the best you have, people will want more of you.

You don’t have to give all your good stuff away, but give some of it.

Niche down to a small group. Don’t try to be everything to everybody.

Use the government organization www.score.org to receive free business help.

You can put a full time effort into your passions and they can make money.

If you love baseball for example, create content, blog, get affiliate products, create t-shirts…you can do it!

You can start a podcast and interview people.

Capture everyone’s email by giving away a free product when they come to your website. Your email list is all your value. Without it you have nothing.

Be productive when working. Don’t get sidetracked.

Playing on the computer is different than working on one.

She had a client that went from Wall Street to being and angel minister making six figure income in the first few weeks.

She sells packages from a $7 report to a $27k reporting package.

Her sweet spot is women over 50 who are very successful in their career, attorneys etc.

She teaches how to get your message out and package it for profit.

Any market can be a viable market.

There is a whole world to buy from you.

Find your unique-ness, don’t try to hide it. Different is better.

Bring in your message of what you believe. Who you are and what you believe needs to be in your work.

Live a passionate full life, whatever that means to you.

Be willing to take risks.

It takes a conscious effort to be in the moment.

People have more power today with social media than any time in history.

Get a mentor who has been there and done that.

You will be most like the five people you hang out with most.

Contact

www.powerupforprofits.com

Books

“Power Up for Profits”

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Gary Bizzo: Writer of “How to Start a Successful Business the First Time”.  He has a coach and mentoring business and recently started an incubator, accelerator and financing company that offers workshops and very basic business courses to run a business.

Ideas for retired baby boomers

Retired Caretaker:

Move into a residential apartments and take over managing the apartment building. 

Create business card for doing odd jobs/ handy man.

Use your transferable skills, think of skills you have after forty years.

Retired attorney:

There is always room for consultants

Writing a book.

Retired CEO:

CEO Job at Non-profit Organization for a $100,000 a year plus pension, pay it forward moment.

Book: 

Wrote 300 pages, total writing hours = 300 hours.

Consolidated blog to write a book; over the course of a year, put 150 blogs together to write the book. 

Brand yourself first to the point where you can sell the book based on your own credentials.

Amazon, Print-on Demand can publish your book.

Once you’re published, you are published, as long as you have something to say.

90% of people underestimate their value.

Always have a business plan and a board of advisors. 

Really important to have an idea, business plan template: download from any bank. Just by looking at the heading, you will get great advice on what you need to do to set up a company

Board of advisors can be offered incentives such as shares for when start-up takes off.

You should never think that you can’t talk to anybody and ask them for advice.

There are so many opportunities out there, it´s just putting your head in the right place to do it.

Incubator, accelerator and financing company is looking for ideas from all ages, open to any type of business.  Send your idea via email ceo@garybizzo.com

Contact Information:

garybizzo.com

Website:

Pot.com up for sale

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Key takeaway: The only way you can truly articulate your value to anyone is through face to face interaction and how you can add immediate value to them.

Companies want to know two things:  Can you make me money? Can you save me money?

You do that in one of four ways: sell something, create something, solve a problem or add immediate value.

You can no longer compete on commodity.  Commodity is undifferentiated good or service.  Shift away from commodity and start focusing on unique value that you deliver: unique perspective, unique education, and unique experience.

There are 6 ways to separate yourself from other people: knowledge (market specific market), skill (3 hard skills), desire (understand where your motivations are coming from), competence, likeability networks and free prize.

To make a decision on what to do?

Economic engine: what financials do you need in place to be able to live the quality of life that you´re going to live?

What can you be the best at?

Passion?

How do I apply this? How do i make money tomorrow?

Dominant focus: What is the one thing you want to accomplish?

Do you know understand the highest value of your time?

Can you do three things a day, five a week, sixty a month, dominant focus in your life?

People want 4 things: opportunity to learn, responsibility, contribute to others and be recognized.

Important to find something meaningful in life and make sure that we keep that front and center.

Think about your own life and your own success.  You can find it again at any stage in life.

"Any man who develops the power to perceive truth and who can show that he always knows the right thing to do and that he can be trusted to do the right thing, will be honored and advanced. The whole world is looking eagerly for such men." Wallace Wattles, “The Science of Being Great”

Contest for book: Whoever writes in first to Ken what there dominant focus is, wins book.

Books: 

Zebras and Cheetahs look different and stay agile to survive the business jungle by Colby B. Jubenville

7 men and the secret of their greatness by Eric Metaxas

Article: 

Scenes from the Culture Clash

Website:

http://zebrasandcheetahs.com/

Contact information:

Twitter: @drJubenville 

Facebook: backyard patio, dr jubenville

Business URL: redherringinc.com

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