3 Gurus' Secret Strategies
"We're trying to build something lasting." - Jeff Bezos,Amazon.com founder"The rest of the industry is trying to copy our every moveagain, just like in the '80s... we've got Microsoft copying usagain too. And I don't mind. I don't mind." - Steve Jobs, CEO ofApple Computer"In all of our activities, we take a long-term view." - BillGates, Microsoft Corporation founder Vision, innovation, wisdon and hard work are but four of theskills and techniques Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs and Bi...
...ll Gatesemployed from the very beginning of their business experience.The three started out as small business entrepreneurs. Theydidn't have much capital to spare, and neither did they locatetheir businesses in prized locations. They succeeded nevertheless. This article analyzes the factorsfor their success and presents the lessons learned in the formof business tips. The home based business owner has much tolearn from the three titans' wisdom and experience.Lesson 1 from Jeff BezosJeff Bezos built the foundation of Amazon.com from the garage ofhis two-bedroom house rented outside of Seattle. He fashionedhis first office tables from wooden doors, angle brackets, andtwo-by-four lumber purchased from Home Depot.Tip No. 1Be modest in your initial investment. For example, your laptopor PC shall not necessarily be top of the line. Your officelocation could be the corner of your living room, kitchen,bedroom, basement or garage. Save on office rent by all means.Be like Jeff Bezos who spent prudently and succeeded. Lesson 2 from Steve JobsSteve Jobs was a homegrown entrepreneur. He started his homebased business from the garage of his mother's home. In toughtimes like in 1998, he pulled out of his sleeves the businessbasics he learned way back from his home business days. He isbasically an innovator. Steve Jobs is the brain of the graphicaluser interface (GUI) that is the standard feature of today'scomputers.Tip No. 2Innovate. You, too, can introduce innovation to your own homebusiness. Examine every aspect of your business operation andchange one or two ways of conducting your enterprise. Take a closer look at the way you conduct your business. Thepurpose is to come up with innovative ways that will result ingrowth and improved profitability.Lesson 3 from Bill GatesBefore Bill Gates became an entrepreneur, he had nurtured thevision that software will one day rule the world. During highschool he spent many late nights with friend Paul Allentinkering with the school's computer system.Bill Gates secured mighty IBM's contract to supply the latter'soperating system. When he was negotiating with the IBM people,he had no operating system as yet. He was able to buy a DiskOperating System or DOS from another developer for a measly $50thousand. Of course he got the contract with IBM.Tip No. 3You can learn from Bill Gates by having your own vision for yoursmall business. Lay down this vision in your mind. Then put itinto writing. Read your vision everyday while at work in yoursmall corner of the house. Your vision could be as short-term asthe following:- "To make my web site land within the top five of Google whenpeople search for the keywords 'home based business'"Lesson 4 from Jeff BezosWhen Amazon was struggling to make profits for the first time,only its founder Jeff Bezos believed that the company's businessgoal could be achieved in a year's time. Jeff Bezos was highlymotivated and he had his vision clearly etched in his mind.Everybody was astounded when Jeff Bezos achieved his goal afteronly one year.Tip No. 4You should motivate yourself to succeed. The lesson that couldbe learned from Jeff Bezos is to lay down and make known inclear fashion your goal to every stake holder of your smallbusiness. They include your spouse and your web designer, amongothers.Lesson 5 from Steve JobsTo Steve Jobs, there is no detail in his business as to escapehis watchful eye. He scrutinizes the look and feel of everyproduct initiative his company engages in.Tip No. 5You too must be thorough in your home based business like SteveJobs. Examine every detail of your small business - fromconceptualizing your niche to managing your online presence.Lesson 6 from Bill GatesBill Gates belatedly recognized the tremendous role of theInternet in business developments. Before 1994 he downplayed thefuture of the Internet. But upon awakening and realized hismistake, he put his heart and mind to incorporating the effectsof the technological changes brought upon by the Internet in allhis company's products and services.Tip No. 6Choose products and services for your small business that arepreferred by people at this time when the Internet is dominatingpeople's lives. For example, it has been determined thatinformation products and web shopping are favored by mostconsumers. Keep stock of research findings. Lesson 7 from Jeff BezosIt is said that change is the one single permanent thing on thisplanet. Amazon changed the way it does business through theyears. First it was an online book seller. Next it expanded intoselling music and videos. Its competitors have a hard timecatching up with Jeff Bezos' innovative offerings. Tip No. 7Your home based business should be run like Amazon. You could beselling your single information product now. Two weeks fromtoday you will have added another back-end product. Next monthyou will have introduced into your product line the inventory ofthe affiliate program you have joined in.If your web site is content based, you should be adding newcontent every day. Casual visitors to your web site will becomeyour regular visitors when they see new content every time theycome back to your site. And these visitors will in the endbecome your regular customers. Lesson 8 from Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs and Bill GatesJeff Bezos and his wife were the first employees at Amazon.Their work ethic was marked with hard work and consistency,among others. These traits were handed down to their employeesthrough the years.Steve Jobs was a multimillionaire when he came back to AppleComputer in 1997. The company was not performing well. Yet healways loves to work and likes challenges. Bill Gates has all the billions in the world. He is the world'srichest man. He goes to work everyday nevertheless and workslike there's no tomorrow.Tip No. 8Emulate the work ethic of the three business titans. To succeedand last long in your Internet business, you should work hardand think hard to put your business online in the fastest andfrugal manner possible. The important thing to consider is tostart and put your small business online early and rapidly.Incidentally, our web site could assist you start out and growyour home business for free. Just go tohttp://www.internetmarketinglearningcenter.com.Lesson 9 from Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs and Bill GatesAmazon was among the first, if not the first, to adopt onlinebook retailing. When the major book sellers - Barnes & Noble andBorders Books, among others - realized this new way of sellingbooks, Amazon was miles ahead. Jeff Bezos surveyed the Internethorizon and embraced the best technology on sight.Steve Jobs has always been wanting to change the standard lookof computers. He is a master of the aesthetics. In 1984 and 1997we were astonished - and surprised - with the introduction andre-introduction of Apple computer models. Each time there was anew looking Mac and iBook.Bill Gates has been into new technological advances. Microsoftedged out Apple in applying for copyright license of thepodcasting gadget. And he find blogging cool.Tip No. 9Be among the first to embrace technology. And be original. Bewarned though that new technologies come and go. Some of thesetechnologies enable you to run your business fast and easy.Other technologies rob you of your money. Your duty is toexamine each technology and assimilate the best into your ownhome based business.
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