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5 Books Every Inspired Entrepreneur Shall Read

A good portion of your business decisions are usually influenced by personal experiences. However, as a budding entrepreneur, you will be able to grow by seeking the knowledge and advice of the successful people before you. What better way to start than by reading books that can inspire you?

That said, here are “5 Books Every Inspired Entrepreneur Shall Read”:

1. THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE BY PETER DRUCKER

For Peter Drucker, an effective execute gets the right things done. To do so, he identifies the five practices that are essential to the business, namely: setting right priorities, managing time, making effective decisions, knowing how and where to deploy strength, and choosing what to contribute to an organization.

Image Credits: facebook.com/UnleashUrBiz

Filled with insights and perspectives into seemingly obvious scenarios, this book has been inspiring people for over 45 years.

2. TRIBES BY SETH GODIN

In this book, Seth Godin argues that with our modern world, everyone has the opportunity to start a movement and to bring a group of like-minded people together. He refers to this fanatical group of people as a tribe. Examples of tribes are those who follow the latest offerings of Apple and Starbucks.

Image Credits: facebook.com/tribesbysethgodin

According to him, if you are an entrepreneur who wishes to have a loyal following, a great tool to use is the Internet. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of uniqueness and fulfilling unmet needs to the overall growth of the business.

3. THE INNOVATOR’S DILEMMA BY CLAYTON CHRISTENSEN

“The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail” is a bestselling classic by the businessman and Harvard professor – Clayton Christensen. This book comes from the idea that businesses will decline innovations based on the assumption that consumers cannot currently use them. Thus, these potentially great ideas only go to waste.

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By knowing this dilemma and using it to your advantage, you can be able to beat other businesses in their own markets.

4. TO SELL IS HUMAN BY DANIEL PINK

In this fascinating read, Daniel pink offers a fresh perspective at the science and art of selling. Although you may not consider yourself as a salesman or saleswoman, all entrepreneurs must understand how to sell and this book teaches you how to. It breaks down the stigmas about salesmanship and manifests the uncomplicated strategy for moving others.

Image Credits: facebook.com/ToSellIsHumanTheSurprisingTruthAboutMovingOthers

5. CREATIVITY, INC. BY ED CATMULL AND AMY WALLACE

“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” is one of the small amount of prime books about creative leadership and business. It is filled with meaningful insights about what develops, drives, and sustains an innovative culture.

Written by the Co-founder and President of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios Ed Catmull with the help of a journalist named Amy Wallace, this interesting read is a must not only for entrepreneurs but also for business leaders!

Image Credits: facebook.com/CreativityIncBook

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

7 Famous People Who Still Earn Millions Beyond The Grave

They may no longer be breathing in this world but they probably earn more in one year than most of us will in our entire lives!

These numbers, accumulated by Forbes, show the top earning dead celebrities in 2015…

7. JOHN LENNON

Yoko Ono’s soulmate that is better known as the singer-songwriter of the Beatles – John Lennon takes the 7th spot.

With a whopping total of US$12 million (S$16.9 million) in 2015, this iconic musician continues to share the revenue of his recorded and published music. Other ventures such as the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show are also earning him money even after death.

6. MARILYN MONROE

One of the famous entertainers of the 50s is the dashing Marilyn Monroe. Although she died more than 50 years ago, her legend continues as the Authentic Brand Group bought the rights to her brand. Her branding consists of a lingerie line, clothing label, perfume, and spa treatments. In 2015, these earned her US$17 million (S$23.9 million).

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

This proves that her beauty still captivates the hearts of many!

5. ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Aside from her movies, this legendary leading lady has been reigning supreme in the celebrity fragrance business. One of her top fragrance called “White Diamonds” is still continuing to sell even after 24 years.

All in all, Elizabeth Taylor earned about US$20 million (S$28.1 million) this year!

4. BOB MARLEY

Bob Marley, a reggae superstar, may not be an outright entrepreneur when he was alive but he became one in his death. This is due to three reasons namely: his Marley Beverage Company, his House Of Marley, and his music royalties.

He really does not need to worry about money as he is still earning US$21 million (S$29.6 million) after his death!

3. CHARLES SCHULZ

It is rare to see people who cannot recognize who Snoopy and Charlie Brown is! With the release of the “Peanuts Movie”, their creator named Charles Schulz who died in 2000 earned about US$40 million (S$56.42 million) this year. He is said to be earning a cut from the licensing revenue of the popular comics too.

2. ELVIS PRESLEY

The King of Rock and Roll’s magic lives on until the present day as his brand and name is still earning an impressive amount of US$55 million (S$77.5 million). This is largely due to the sales of his albums, memorabilia, and Graceland ticket sales.

Elvis, we can’t help falling in love with you!

1. MICHAEL JACKSON

Smooth as his pipes were, Michael Jackson has been bringing home the bucks gracefully since young. Consistently, he has been earning triple-digit millions every year after his death in 2009. Thought that was thrilling? How about if I told you that he earned US$115 million (S$162.1 million) this year alone?

Well, his undying talent still drives the force of his Cirque du Soleil show, his Mijac Music catalogue, and his music royalties including the half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.

See his everlasting career here:

Sources: 1 & 2

3 Life Events Where Time Management Is Financially Crucial

Your heart is pounding as excitement and uncertainty clouds your mind. You are about to make a life altering decision. Pause for a moment. Before you do anything else, consider its financial outcomes.

Whether you are rendering your resignation or planning your engagement proposal, all these huge decisions can make or break your wealth. This is why it is important to have a substantial amount of time to analyze every factor including time itself.

To do this, you must master the art of time management. Time management refers to the way you organize and sort out how long you spend on specific tasks. After all, we are equally given the same 24 hours. Let us make the most of it!

For instance, here are some life events where time management is financially crucial…

1. GETTING MARRIED

Save lots of money by scheduling your big day during off-peak months. Generally, getting married in “off-peak” months such as November, March, and April can be less expensive than marrying in “peak” months such as December and February. However, you must always be cautious of the venue’s weather and conditions.

During off-peak months where the demand for weddings are lesser, couples get to negotiate for better prices. Tying the knot in these months means taking full advantage of the discounted prices on reception venues, catering, and photography. If you want to save even more, know the right time when the hotels and resorts are off-season and stay away from the weekends.

2. RENDERING YOUR RESIGNATION

Remaining in a horrible job or company for too long can be harmful not only to your career but also to your health. If you have tried your best to turn things around and have not seen any changes, perhaps it may be time to walk away.

According to Travis Bradberry of Forbes.com, here some signs that validate your desire to quit:

It is time to quit your job if you…

a. dread going to work.

b. know more than your boss.

c. are out of the workplace loop most of the time.

d. lost your passion.

e. have a horrible boss who is not going anywhere.

f. see no room for advancement.

g. are suffering health wise.

h. are suffering in your personal life.

i. think the company is in danger of closing.

Image Credits: Quinn Dombrowski (CC License Attribution-ShareAlike)

If most of this or all of this are happening to you, consider your options before quitting your main source of income. Rendering a resignation is best done during the beginning of the month, wherein you are not holding any projects yet. Schedule your resignation email or letter and do so graciously.

3. RECEIVING YOUR BILLS (AS A YOUNG WORKING ADULT)

As a young working adult, especially if you are living alone, you become responsible for keeping the household sharp. For the first time in your life, you are the chief of your own bills.

With this newly acquired responsibility, you must stay organized to keep up with your payments. Set aside some time in the beginning of the month to make a list of the bills you are expecting to receive. Put it on your working desk or create a file for it. This way, you will not pay a bill twice even if you received it simultaneously by e-mail and postal mail.

Alternatively, you can get your payments automated. Since you are prepared for the bills earlier on, you may have available money in the bank to pay it the same day as you received it. If you have automatic payment scheduled and you still received a billing statement, call your bank or creditor.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

Shameful Reasons Why You Keep Breaking Your Budget

Budgeting, a quantitative plan to manage your money, has many benefits such as tracking your cash flow, controlling your expenses, and reaching your goals! However, some people find it easier to break their budget than to follow it.

Fortunately, you can do something about it. Be aware of the despicable reasons why you keep breaking your budget then, take the necessary steps to turn things around.

1. YOU MAKE EXCUSES THAT BUDGETING IS TOO COMPLEX.

There is no need to fear because budgeting is easier than you think! And, it is rewarding too. For example, if you want to splurge on a weekend vacation, all you have to do is plan ahead. That way, you would not have to create credit.

A simple budgeting method that you can try is the envelope budgeting. It only takes three steps to complete! Begin with tracking your monthly spending patterns then, devise a budget plan including different expense categories. Lastly, you must allocate your cash inside separate envelopes.

Watch this short video tutorial of the envelope budgeting to know more:

2. YOU ALWAYS SPEND A HUGE SUM OF MONEY.

The truth is, you cannot have unlimited supply of money. Even the amount of digital currency such as Bitcoins are controlled. This is why you must spend within your means.

Overspending is one of your budget’s enemies. If you want a comfortable present and a brighter tomorrow, you must stick to your budget and cut down your expenses before saving up. Start by minimizing your household expenses with these simple tips.

3. YOU FORGET IMPORTANT DEADLINES.

Another opponent that challenges your budget are unexpected bills. You will never follow your budget if you keep forgetting your irregular bills such as your yearly magazine subscriptions. Avoid this by making a list of the bills you are expecting to receive every month.

Never forget where you put the bills or what their due dates are by designating one place for them. Some bills arrive by electronic mail while some arrive by postal mail. You have to decide whether you are going to file all your bills in a tangible box or in a computer folder. For physical storage of bills, you may purchase the S$0.90 PAPPIS brown box from IKEA that is created to hold A4 size papers. Label the box accordingly and keep it in a safe place. While for virtual storage of bills, make scanned copies of those that arrive in the mail and put them into a labeled folder in your computer or laptop.

4. YOU ARE ECONOMICALLY UNINFORMED.

Most people want to improve their financial life but know nothing about how economics works. Thus, they make errors in creating and maintaining their budgets.

Economy is defined as the careful management of resources (e.g., household management). While, manage is defined as the act of succeeding in surviving especially against heavy odds. Learn more about the important terms, history of money, and its humanistic systems by watching at least two of the Best Economics Documentaries For Finance Professionals And Enthusiasts.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

Don’t Be Fooled By The Con: 5 Ways To Avoid Rip-Offs

With the technological advances in this day and age, scammers are becoming more sophisticated and effective. But, no matter how charismatic and persuasive a con artist can be, you can avoid losing money by following these 5 ways:

1. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK DETAILS OVER THE PHONE

Most of the phones today have caller ID that shows you the number of the person or the company on the other end of the line. If you do not recognize the number or the caller and he or she asked you for your valued bank details, say you will call back. Wait for a few minutes then, try to call the number again to access the validity of the caller.

It is better to not give any sensitive details over the phone, unless if you initiated the call. Simply, if you do not recognize the caller’s number and the area code is not +65 (Singapore’s area code) then, it is most likely a scam.

2. BE CAREFUL WITH THE LINKS

To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments and links that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients.

Apply this rule for emails and social media messaging. For instance, there was a scam that used a fake Facebook game based on the popular “Twilight” series to gather the personal information of the Twilight fans.

3. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR EMAILS

There are three “Don’ts” that you must follow to avoid becoming the target of an online scam:

a. Do not provide your personal email address freely.
b. Do not respond to emails that are asking for your personal information.
c. Do not answer emails whose senders are unknown.

Image Credits: Wikiphoto (Creative Commons License)

4. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD REPORTS

If someone else assumes your identity or steals your wealth, a good way to find evidence of the crime is by checking your credit card statements. I am sure that most of the banks have online banking now so, you will have the convenience to track your spendings anytime and anywhere. Report any suspicious activity to your bank right away.

Aside from credit card fraud, you can lose more money if you are a victim of debit card fraud. Since your debit card is connected directly to your savings, losses can be more extensive. And, money will be harder to recover. This is why you must check your account frequently and be vigilant of the people who stand close to you while you are using your debit card.

5. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DISCUSS WITH OTHERS

Con artists seek those individuals who are perceived as solitary, trusting, and gullible. If an opportunity (e.g., a new business venture or a new insurance scheme) arrives at your doorstep, do not hesitate to ask for more time to think things through.

Before making a huge decision, it is important to consider the situation and the consequences carefully. Tell the agent or the potential con artist this: “I will discuss this with my lawyer and my partner. After which, I will get back to you.”

Sources: 1 & 2

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