The day started out by attending educational classes.  There was many to choose from, but I selected “Dealing with People Who Drive You Crazy.”  Before the lesson began, I already knew that it was going to be interesting.

The speaker started by asking, “Who irritates you the most?”  The group jokingly responded their family members and distant cousins.  From my observation, they were trying to be polite as possible about the truth.  It’s a pretty common truth that swings both ways, so please don’t take any offence.

I replied, “Loquacious individuals who have nothing to say in front of an audience.”  The group agreed with me.  How is it that talkative people who are never out of words become intimidated when speaking in front of an audience?  Because, public speaking is an art that must be practiced many times over.  It doesn’t matter how many times you practice in front of the mirror or before those you are comfortable with, the fear is enhanced when you’re in front of an audience full of strangers.

As the lesson continued, we learned strategies on how to deal with people who drive us crazy.  Listening is the first step followed by questions that uncover your true feelings.  Oh, and by the way, loquacious individuals who master public speaking become garrulous.

The next class I attended dealt with taking the fear out of public speaking.  The presentation was well-put together.  The speaker helped us to confront our own fears with simple breathing and body gesture techniques.  I learned that effective speaking consists of 55% Body Language, 38% Vocal Variety, and 7% Words.

The speaker closed with a quote from the great Vince Lombardi; “Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.”  I fully agree with this statement.

As an aspiring entrepreneur, I understand that self-presentation is a work in progress.  The first impression can lead you to climbing the mountain or getting you buried beneath one.  It’s a struggle to attend my Toastmasters club meeting every Saturday morning at 8:27 am.  However, I must do this if I want to continually have an edge over others.  Its fair game!

How about you?  Are you afraid to speak in front of an audience or publically?  If your answer is “yes,” you might want to begin tackling this common fear.  If you know what the problem is, you should have a solution to get past your problems.  Otherwise, it would be insane to think that it will go away.

After waking up from “The American Dream,” many people get excited.  Yes, I said waking up.  Why?  Because, you have to be asleep to be dreaming!  To get started, people tend turn to the old way of starting a new business.  They contact a professional to start the formation process.  A corporation or LLC is their entity selection because everyone wants to be a Chief Executive Officer and believes protection is priority.  This is damaging for inexperienced entrepreneurs who have limited start-up capital.

Before you begin, let’s take look at some options you may have.  Let’s assume that capital for this new venture is limited and the business plan hasn’t been fully thought out yet.  This is common so don’t feel uncomfortable.

The first step is to determine what type of business you’re going into.  You should already know the answer from your dream you excitedly woke up from.  The next step is entity choice.  Are you going to become a sole-proprietor, partnership, corporation or limited liability company?  To get a better understanding, I recommend reading Garrett Sutton’s Own Your Own Corporation.  The entity you select will determine the company’s asset and liability protection and how you are taxed.

In my opinion, if you’re in the start-up stage and plan to operate out of your home office, you should first consider a sole-proprietorship.  It’s very cost effective and requires minimal paper work.  Don’t be too overly concerned about asset protection and job title.  In the start-up stage, chances are you won’t be making serious money; therefore, there is really nothing to protect.  This step will get you up and running the quickest.  You can always later convert to a LLC or corporation.

Time will give you a better understanding of your business and you’ll soon develop a strategy of how to accomplish your goals.  Your history will indicate which direction you should head.  After the start-up stage, it’s crucial to get the advice of qualified professionals.  There is much more at stake.  Protection, operations, and your tax status will become a top priority.

Technology has made the challenges of owning a business more reasonable.  There are many companies that assist individuals in getting started and for a fraction of what traditional formation attorneys charge.  If everyone can own a business, I suspect the statistics that 9 out 10 businesses fail in their first 5 years will be reduced to 3 years.

To speak persuasively brings an unmatched aurora to you.  It will turn the audience from nervous to excited.  The speaker doesn’t have to be brilliant, just good with words.  Brilliance is only required for a debate with an opponent.  Using words with confidence is recommended for a great speech.  There’s plenty of great speaker who aren’t brilliant.  But, there are also many brilliant people who aren’t gifted at speaking.

I made a commitment to improve my communication skills after I was stumped while asked to give a presentation about my company.  It was a very embarrassing moment for me in spite of others swearing I did a good job.  I felt I didn’t exceed my own expectation.  I wasn’t confident in myself as the speech was moving along.  After the presentation I decided I had enough, I was going to enroll into a course and get professional help.

I sought out Toastmasters.  They have a good reputation and I was invited to a club meeting some time ago.  The hardest thing was to get to the first meeting.  Once I participated, I knew it was for me.  I see the value.  How?  It’s one of those things where everyone in the group wished they would’ve started sooner.  Hearing those testimonies from older and experienced adults convinces younger kids like me that this will be a good thing.

Before I invest any more dollars, I will invest in myself.  I’m learning that if I can present myself well and make a good presentation about my company, there are plenty of people willing to invest in my operation.  It pays for itself.  As Frank Luntz says, “It’s not you say, it’s what people hear.”  Your words will determine what people choose to believe.  If you can speak well – it adds a lot of credibility.

On a more serious note, have you thought about business in your time zone?  Central time has many advantages for me.  Not too early and not too late.  For example, the US financial markets open at 9:30 EST, 8:30 CST, or 6:30 PST and closing at 4:00 EST, 3:00 CST, or 1:00 PST.

While pursuing a career in “day trading,” I had to consider the time zone to fit my schedule.  If I was in the Eastern Time zone, I would start work later, get off later, and by that time, it’ll already be nightfall.  If I was in the Pacific Time zone, I’d probably be asleep during the market collapse.  Thank God I live in Central Time and stayed awake, paying close attention to our financial system and learning about the concept: “too big to fail.”

For me, daylight savings means that winter is about to pass, it’s going to rain cats and dogs, and the summer is near.  With Minnesota weather, we can debate this subject for hours.  Nonetheless, the sun stays out a little bit longer and barbecue season is here!

On the way to the office every Monday morning, I stop at Caribou Coffee to take advantage of the Monday special.  Although I’m in the process of cutting out coffee from my diet, I order a medium coffee (at a discount of course) and occasionally a Lemon Poppy Seed Bread.  I enjoy coffee, but I’m also aware that it’s not good for my health.  So, on Monday mornings, I get to “cheat” my diet and enjoy the finest coffee – from Caribou (how about that Starbucks!).  It’s a treat that makes me happy!

As an entrepreneur, I can’t wait to get back to work.  I can’t wait to talk to the next customer.  I can’t wait to resolve the next account for my clients.  And lastly, I can’t wait to get paid – this sometimes can take longer than expected!  Nonetheless, building a business requires a cheerful and optimistic attitude.  When your face demonstrates those feelings, every spirit that surrounds you will be uplifted.

You may not be where you want to be.  It may take time.  However, if you can look into your future and identify what you want from life, I guarantee that happiness will make those dreams come true sooner than a pen-to-paper goals sheet or a business plan proposal.  There are too many people who ignore the feeling that counts the most.  Manufacturing happiness will ignite excitement, motivation, and purpose.

The decision is yours to make.  I face a Monday 52 times a year.  I’m 24 years old, I expect to live to be 100 years old or longer, which means I will experience another 3900 Mondays in my lifetime.  I don’t have time to be angry.  I will make every Monday count.  It’s the start of my work week and happiness gives me an edge over my competitors.  I made my decision, how about you?