Successful Startup Secret – Choose an idea you think is important Entrepreneurs often ask, “How do you pick an idea for a business?” and the question is difficult to answer. It all depends on your expertise, experience, financial strength, industry knowledge and of course a great team to back you up. A good place to start is with the people you surround yourself with. A great idea is undoubtedly the catalyst to set things in motion, but at the end of the day, it’s the team you hire who ultimately determine the success, or failure, of the company. There’s no precise or familiar formula, but the following five open secrets will help you in discovering that perfect magic to achieve your goals (to be discussed in five sessions). The first secret being,     Choose an idea you think is important – It is Your Brainchild “Ideas are considered generally bad for two very different reasons: (1) so uncommon no one gets it or (2) so common, seems redundant. -Zaid Farooqui An idea for a new startup is like naming your baby. Suggestions pour from all quarters and the fun part is you are not going to like any one of those. Ultimately an entrepreneur would like to give life to his very own idea which may come as a boom at the grocery store, in the shower, or even during sleep. There is no better form of motivation than having a sense that you are investing your mind, soul and energy into something vital, and that never ending passion to become successful in your endeavor. Once you’ve done that, ask your friends and family, too. Getting as much input as possible is the first step to making a good decision. 1. Does your customer exist? 2. Will your business idea still be relevant in a few years? 3. Do you really want to run this business? 4. Who is your competition (and does it matter)? Pic Courtesy: Inacademy.eu   You need mammoth strength, I’m talking about your will power to start and run the show, for which you need to believe in yourself completely. This is the first step, “Believing in yourself”, the rest follows automatically. This self-belief comes when you possess the right business proposition for the right target segment with a clear business plan. Startup Business Plan For a Restaurant   Here I have listed some of the enterprising startup ideas that have shown growth in 2014 and seem to be lucrative in the years to come:  Online store – Requirements: A good product or service, a reliable and authentic payment gateway, a easily navigable website and a large market. Personal Training – Requirements: Expertise and Knowledge on nutrition and exercises, a facebook page, a skype account or Google hang-out to build followers, a subscription payment gateway through Paypal or other similar bank accounts. Photography– Requirements: A state of the art camera, a great portfolio of your pictures, a creative facebook page or pinterest board to promote yourself. Online Teaching– Requirements: Expertise in the concerned subject, member in a popular teaching platform or your own website, an LMS software, skype account. HR Recruitment– Requirements: Huge contacts in the industry, a reliable partner, a good website with testimonials, understanding client requirements and satisfying by supplying appropriate talent. These ideas suit people with minimum investment in mind, but if executed properly you can establish yourself nicely in a span of two years and then there is no looking...

Negotiating a job offer isn’t just about securing a higher salary—it’s about advocating for your worth and setting the stage for a successful career. Imagine this: you’ve aced the interviews, impressed the hiring team, and now an offer is on the table. This is your moment to shape your future. But how do you ensure you’re getting the best deal possible? The key lies in knowing your value, understanding the market, and confidently communicating your needs. Let’s dive into the strategies that will help you negotiate like a pro. Setting Yourself up for a Successful Career Opportunity Find out all the particulars about the company you are applying for. Thank the employer for the offer, even if it’s not workable for you. Negotiate a time frame for deciding upon whether to take it or leave it. Do your homework thoroughly online. Think about whether the potential job matches your needs and goals. Research the competition. Find out what kind of leverage you have, if any.   Negotiating Your Best Offer Possible Get in contact with your liaison or hiring manager one more time. Before going into the negotiation, know your minimum and target salary. Ask for more money without actually spelling out a number. Brush off the employer’s attempts to pin you down to a number Wait for the employer to offer a number. Present a better offer if you feel like you’re worth more. Incorporate benefits or perks into the conversation. Get everything in writing. Consideration of Other Details Listen to your instinct during the entire negotiation process. When asking for a salary, ask for a correct number. Don’t play the pity card. Be affable, understanding, and never burn bridges. Be confident.  “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiation” ~ JFK “During a negotiation, it would be wise not to take anything personally. If you leave personalities out of it, you will be able to see opportunities more objectively.” – Brian Koslow  ...

A job interview can be viewed as a mutual “exchange of information” because it provides the candidate with an opportunity to both gain information about the department and position, and to discuss his/her own skills, and career goals in relation to the job. Interviewing helps managers determine three things before they make a hiring decision. 1. Can you do the job? 2. Are you motivated to do the job? 3. Are you a good fit in the organization? Acing yourself is an important part of the interview process. The time you spend gearing up before the interview will be time well spent in your job search process. The following are some tip-offs on what you can do to prepare yourself before, during, and after a job interview.   Before the Interview Assess the Job Specification and Position Description Review your résumé and be prepared to discuss your appropriate skills. Decide who your references are. A current or past manager, coworker, teacher/professor or associate may come in handy to vouch for your skills/accomplishments. Be ready with extra copies of your résumé Dress for Success -Appearance should display maturity and self-confidence. Be neat, clean, and dress in good taste. Find out where the interview will be, obtain clear directions, and confirm the time. Plan to arrive 10- 15 minutes early.  During the Interview  Relax! Think of the interview as a conversation, not a cross-examination Be whole-hearted, self-assured, polite, and open. Listen to the questions carefully and give clear, crisp, and precise answers. Convey interest in the organization and knowledge of the position. Ask relevant questions about the job or department. Present a list of your references and any letters of recommendation or reference that you may have to offer. End the interview with a firm handshake and thank the interview panel for their time and consideration.  After the Interview  Send a crisp thank-you letter within 24 to 48 hours of the interview. Reiterate your interest in the position; mention the key skills you know that strengthen your place in the organization, and your contact information. If you are not chosen for the job, it is OK to graciously accept your defeat and ask the interviewer which area(s) you could improve on in the future!...

Export can be in the form of merchandise (goods) or services (invisibles). When an entrepreneur wants to spread out his scope of business activity beyond the territory of his nation it is called export, whence he has to prepare himself to confront the challenges prevailing in the global market. How to go about Export? Business by itself calls for discipline whether you talk about your credit policy, quality of your product or services, on time delivery, payments, fund rotation, human resources management and the like. The taste of success in the domestic market gives you the necessary confidence to spread your wings far and wide. To be a part of the global market, you are expected to imbibe not only more discipline and order but you should be very thorough about the procedures and policies of the country, to which you are planning to export and the various legal formalities pertaining to your business activity. How to Export From India Pic Courtesy: Procedure to Start Export Business from India What will be your plan of action if your merchandise is disapproved of its quality after reaching the destination or the shipment gets destroyed due to some eventuality? To combat contingencies we have to have a representative working for us in the chosen place of activity who would report and handle the proceedings. Pre-Requisites for Exporting Goods: How many people do you think who have acquired the desire to export their products have a clear idea about the steps involved in starting an export business? First you have to secure the IEC CODE (import export code) from the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) that comes under THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. What is IEC Code? Import Export Code (also known as IEC) is a 10 digit identification number that is issued by the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), Department of Commerce, Government of India. Info Courtesy: Shiprocket.in It is also known as Importer Exporter Code. It is mandatory for companies and businesses to obtain this code to start a business that deals with import and export in the Indian Territory. It is not possible to deal with export or import business without this code. While exporting you get the following edge over others: Exposure to forex marketExposure to diversified cultureExposure to varied laws and legal formalitiesExposure to business risks which you must take up as a challenge Having businesses in various countries is better than having all businesses in one country. It saves you during periods of economic recession. You experience market growth by entering into different and new markets; Asian and European markets are flooded with traders from all around the world since these regions enjoy a locational advantage in the world map and well connected through the sea and land. RBI Policies: Exporters must be aware of the fact that RBI policies are very severe when it comes to foreign exchange. So you should have proper informational inputs from the correct source and your capital has to be invested accordingly. Slide Courtesy: Import and Export Policies and Procedures Exploring unfamiliar and exotic markets is very difficult as they are always dynamic. You should see to it that you keep yourself posted with updates on INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, LENDING RATES etc. Also Read: 10 key steps to export success You can make a small business big and beautiful by adding some flavor to it like, Right time to launch your product in the global scenario, People’s preference being given priority by doing some demographic survey, Attractive campaigns and of course Your unendurable passion for business will do the rest to make your venture a successful one. Read...