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There was a time when building a business involved joint ventures and angel investors. It involved asking the bank for a big business loan to cover overhead costs until you turn a profit. If you had the dream to start a business, you needed to invest a lot of money.
No more – today's business, particularly a web-based business, has very little overhead. Want to start writing for a living? Have a service that you wish to offer? You can build a business presence with free software that has all the features you need to get started.
Here are 9 different software alternatives to “brand name” software that can get your business up and running quickly, with no financial investment:
- LibreOffice/Google Docs (replaces Microsoft Word/Powerpoint/Excel)
First, if you need to work with documents, you need software that can handle them. Unfortunately, while Word is the standard, Microsoft has priced it out so that any business looking for the latest software with no money is left in the dust. LibreOffice (formerly OpenOffice) is a powerful, free desktop office suite that can handle virtually all types of documents. With LibreOffice, you won't miss Microsoft Office for a second.
If you want to go even lighter on your desktop, you can use Google Docs, which lives entirely within your Web browser. Again, you can use these tools to replace Microsoft Office pretty easily, and if you don't need to do any ultra-fancy formatting, they are more than adequate. - Gmail (replaces Microsoft Outlook)
If you have separate business and personal email addresses, the last thing you want is to have to switch back and forth between them. Many people use Microsoft Outlook to handle all of their email addresses, so that they only have one place that they have to look. Instead, try using Gmail. Gmail makes it easy to handle multiple email addresses, and it runs light and quick. So if you need to search through your vast backlog of email, you have the speed and power of Google behind it. Gmail offers a number of other great little tools, but the ability to easily handle multiple email addresses is at the top of the list. - Evernote (replaces OneNote)
Brainstorming is a valuable practice in a business. Whether you are keeping track of your latest ideas or just fleshing out your latest campaign, having a centralized place to store your thoughts is valuable. Microsoft OneNote is a handy piece of software, but it is expensive. Instead, sign up for Evernote, and store your thoughts online. There, you can access them from anywhere so if you are out and about and have that great business idea, you can pull out your phone and get it into Evernote (via an Evernote app or by texting through Twitter) so that you will not forget it. Their excellent notebook/tagging organizing scheme makes finding any of your thoughts as efficient as possible. - Spreadsheet/ClearCheckbook (replaces Microsoft Money/Quicken)
Tracking all of your expenses and income is a hassle, especially if you have separate business expenses. While many choose to use Mint for their finances, I much prefer handling the transaction record keeping myself. Set up a spreadsheet in LibreOffice or Google Docs (Google Docs even has a great template for it), and you can keep track of your finances on your own. Or, you can use a service like ClearCheckbook, which gives you a few more reporting options. Either way, the bloated price of dedicated financial software just isn't worth it. - MailChimp (replaces Aweber)
The power of your business is in your email list. You need subscribers that are interested in hearing from you on a regular basis, so put a sign-up box on your home page and encourage people to sign up to receive updates, free reports, etc. The industry standard seems to be Aweber, which is a very powerful tool, but it comes at a cost. Instead, MailChimp offers free emailing for a large number of subscribers, so you can keep your overhead low while you build your list (their interface is a little more pleasant, too, in my book). - Google Voice (replaces a separate phone line)
If you are dealing with clients, you don't want to be passing out your home phone number or your personal cell number, either. Who has the money to afford a separate business line? Instead, sign up for a free phone number from Google Voice and have it routed to your cell phone or your home phone. Then, you can block numbers, set up special voice mail messages, and do a ton more without having to pay for a separate line or service. - Gimp (replaces Adobe Photoshop)
One of the “necessary evils” of graphic design has been Photoshop. A powerful and useful tool, Photoshop is also incredibly expensive. If you are looking to save money, Gimp is a free tool that works very similarly to Photoshop. The interface is slightly different, but once you use it (and search around for a few tutorials), you can use it for plenty of graphic design and desktop publishing purposes. - Scribus (replaces Adobe InDesign)
Creating a publication, whether it is a magazine or a newsletter, can be a pain without the right software. Again, Adobe claims the standard with InDesign, but Scribus is a free tool that offers much of the same functionality, allowing you to create elegant and beautiful PDFs and printed documents with little hassle (and no cost). - Ubuntu (replaces a new computer)
Finally, if you want to run a business but worry that your old computer can't handle it, you may be looking at getting a new computer. But instead of wasting hundreds of dollars on a new PC or Mac, try installing Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a version of Linux that feels and acts a bit like Windows or Mac OS X, but without the bloat. You may be able to give that old computer new life and save yourself an expensive purchase.
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Did you know that even if your bank account is at zero, that there is so much that you and I as humans can give? So many people delay happiness in their life because they are waiting for something magical to drop into their laps so that they are, in their minds, ready to give.
But don’t hold back. There is a law in action in our universe that defines that as you sow, so shall you reap. Today is your today, and there is so much that you can give.
Put the wallet down for a second and consider your other currencies - your emotion, your time, your heart, and your compassion. Here are just 11 to start you off.
- Give A Smile
Give a smile and give it to every single person that you meet, and you will receive smiles in return. - Give Out Good Thoughts
Give out good thoughts about others, and even about what you find yourself doing, and you will live a good life, and good thoughts will be thought about you. - Give A Kind Word
Give a kind word to others and your kindness will be returned with kindness. Mankind was created to be kind. - Give A Cheerful Disposition
Give a cheerful disposition and your cheerfulness will be cheered and not jeered. - Give Appreciation
Give appreciation and your life will appreciate (be added to in value), and in turn you will be greatly appreciated. - Give Encouragement
Give encouragement and you will be imbued with fresh courage to face each day, and be prepared to attract encouragers to you. - Give Honor
Give honor where honor is due, for this is the honorable thing to do, and be prepared for fresh applause. - Give Happiness
Give happiness and you will be unable to avoid the happy feeling that accompanies it, and brings happiness to you as well. - Give Of Your Time
Give of your time to a greater cause than yourself, and it will cause you to be rewarded in ways that you can only start to imagine. - Give Hope
Give hope and watch hopelessness disappear, faith rise, and joy abound. - Give Prayer
Give prayer for your friends and for those who may be perceived as enemies. There is so much anger in the air in our world, and these prayers will go a long way to bringing the miraculous into play amidst the madness.
Can you add more to this list?
Motivational Memo: They who give, really live.
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I was no longer keen on the opportunity, but didn't quite know how to put it across to him. I didn't want to jeopardize our relationship and any potential future working opportunities because of this.
So I procrastinated in replying to the mail. I put it into a "reply later" folder and got on to other stuff. Every few days when I check my folder, it'd be there, and I'd think "Ah I'll reply this later". I wondered if he would be angry knowing that I had changed my stance. At times I contemplated not replying at all, but I thought it wouldn't be appropriate, especially since we knew each other and we had a common friend too.
Finally one day, I decided to get on with it and reply to the mail. I typed out the mail, and crafted it a few words at a time. In it, I apologized for my delayed reply, and at the same time truthfully explained my situation and that I had no plans to take up the opportunity anymore. After reading it through, I clicked "Send" and hoped for the best.
Within 10 minutes of sending the mail, I got a reply, much to my surprise. It was early in the morning (8ish) and I didn't think that he would be in the office. The reply was very amiable. He said there was no worries at all, and he wished me a great year ahead in the meantime. Just like that. And it was done.
Have you ever had to say no before and feel conflicted about doing so? Many times we make a big deal out of saying "no", afraid that we will be committing a hideous crime by saying. In our minds, we are scared that the other people will be angry, that we will be loathed on, that we'll be deemed as making things difficult for others.
The thing is, many of these thoughts are self-created, and not real. Saying no really is a prerogative, and shouldn't be as difficult as we make it out to be. It's about learning how to do so. Here are 6 simple tips how you can learn to say no:
- Realize it's okay to say no
No matter who you are speaking to and what the situation is, you have the right to say no. The only reason why you feel you don't have that right is because you choose to relinquish it to others. Rather than think that we can't say no, it's about learning how to say it and put it across in a manner that the other party can understand and accept.
Even if it's your boss or someone of higher seniority that you're dealing with, and you don't feel that you can say no, realize that it's your choice to say yes because you're unwilling to deal with the consequences of saying no. Ultimately everything in life boils down to us and the choices we make. - Know your priorities
What are your biggest goals this year? Would you prefer to spend time on these goals or on this new commitment? Knowing your goals reinforces your reasons for saying no. For example since a while back, I decided to stop taking pro-bono speaking/workshop requests, because each commitment takes up considerable time and effort and it just isn't worth the effort to do them for free anymore. I've also decided to say no to local engagements, as these require me to be situated in Singapore, and my plans for the year ahead involve traveling overseas. Knowing my vision and plans has made it much easier to say no. - Write everything down first
If you're not sure how to start, dump out everything on your mind first in the email, without intending to send it out right away. It can be gibberish. It can be thoughts of frustration. Treat it as writing a draft reply. The process of doing this helps sort out your thoughts. After you finish dumping out your thoughts, you'll find it much easier to craft your actual reply from there. This works for me every time. - Keep it simple
There's no need to over-explain yourself. Simply say no, and give the key reason why. Some people may run into the mistake of writing a lengthy explanation letter/email, and it's unnecessary. Not only does it bog down the other party with details, it also weakens your position. In my rejection mails, I usually keep them to 3 paragraphs - first paragraph as a greeting, and the second paragraph with my rejection and short explanation why. In the last paragraph, I provide a couple of alternative options he/she can seek out (see tip #5). - Provide an alternative
This is not necessary, but if you feel bad about saying no, you can provide an alternative option to cushion out the effect. For example, if the person wants to work on a project with you but you cannot commit to it, you can recommend a few leads to him/her who can do equally good job as you. That way, the person won't be left hanging and he/she can seek out these options instead. Usually in my rejections, I'll provide a couple of quick leads/options out of courtesy. - Just say no
Sometimes I wonder about how to say no, and in the end I just go with a straightforward "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't take it up" answer. Surprisingly, the other parties take to it very readily like the example above, making me realize that a lot of conflicts I have with saying no are more my own illusions than anything else! As long as you're earnest, candid and respectful of the other party in the reply, there shouldn't be any reason why there would be an issue.
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As you probably know, it is not easy to know what needs to be done when seeing some of the traffic signs that we see when driving a car. And this is especially true when you drive in areas, cities or countries that you do not know well. Different places, different rules!
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“How could anyone ever be 100% sure that they are ready to get married?” That’s the question my younger cousin blurted out over the cell phone a few days ago. I was simultaneously fighting through an Orlando airport security checkpoint on my way out to the west coast, so initially I just brushed off the random inquiry. But for some reason the simplicity of the question and the youthful sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. Now, sitting here in my San Diego hotel room 2,500 miles away from Angel (my bride to be in one month), I finally have the chance to think about the question. I’m aware that every relationship is different, so I certainly can’t speak for others. But how do I know I’m ready for marriage? While it certainly stems out a little deeper than this, here are a few points that immediately come to my mind…
- Emotional attraction has risen well above the importance of physical attraction in a relationship where physical attraction held the premise for initial appeal.
- When 2,500 miles separate us, I don’t miss the habitual companionship. I miss my best friend.
- On a Friday night we enjoy hanging out with the same group of people… in other words, the majority of our best friends have become completely mutual.
- Understanding that the foundation for remaining faithful is not be based on a fear of hurting her, it’s based on the absolute fact that I want to be faithful because she is the one I want to be with.
- Appreciating that while no relationship is all smiles all of the time, no relationship could be better for me than the one we share together. The grass is certainly not greener…
- Starring at her while she sleeps still brings a smile to my face six and half years later.
- I haven’t just recognized her strong points over the years; her strengths have actually rubbed off on me, and proactively influenced my domestic routines. In other words, she makes me better at being “me”.
- Sometimes she frustrates me in the same way my mom frustrates me.
- When she speaks of her long term goals, I couldn’t agree more.
- Knowing fully well that either one of us could survive independently of the other, but choosing not to… and being content after sustaining that choice over the last several years.
- The topic of trust is mutually absolute.
- Accepting the fact that our marriage will not merge two separate lifestyles, it will solidify the lifestyle we have established together.
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What would you do if you were in your mid-twenties and had to choose between two awesome job opportunities? What if one was located in Boston and the other one was in Orlando? What if one left you standing on the field next to Randy Moss during an NFL football game, while the other had you working on computer security for the Presidential Helicopter? What if one required you to give up 55 hours of your life every week, but the other one monotonously made you feel like you had worked 55 hours a week? What if one filled your time with exotic intangible benefits, while the other promoted paid education and promotion? What if one permitted you to interact with clients in a t-shirt and jeans, while the other made you dress up to sit in an office chair for 8 hours? What if colleague camaraderie was packaged with industry instability and tedious work environment was tied to elite job title? What if one made sense right now, but the other one was more practical in the long term? Would you live for now or prepare for later? We flew from Orlando to Boston in a desperate attempt to answer these questions. We will be in Boston for the next 48 hours…
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