Business Career Center.com

Even in today’s tough economic times, parents still desire to live the lives of their dreams, and those dreams usually don’t include scrubbing toilets. The outsourcing of daily chores has become big business as parents scrimp and save in order to be able to pay someone else to take care of those household duties that just aren’t glamorous. Some analysts say that today’s parents, especially women, simply refuse to view parenting as the laborious chore that it once was, and are endeavoring to reinvent the job. Others claim the trend reflects parents spending more time with their children in fulfilling activities such as sports and outings, rather than humdrum tasks.

In either case, businesses that specialize in providing domestic services, party catering, test prep and tutoring, and even driving courses are all thriving in today’s “parental outsourcing” economy. This area is a great one in which entrepreneurs can get their start. Initial costs tend to be low, while demand is high. Job satisfaction for workers can also be high, as these “parenting” type jobs tend to be focused on caretaking and soft skills. Will your first business venture be in the field of parental outsourcing? It’s a field worth consideration.

If you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur, but don’t know exactly what type of business to start, keep your ears and eyes open. You can get ideas from all kinds of places, for instance:

• News features in publications can alert you as to what is hot right now
• The latest fashions can give you an idea for a trend-setting invention
• New inventions can become investment opportunities
• Changing neighborhoods may become hot new boutique sectors

Once you have an idea, analyze it according to whether or not it will sustain your attention for many years to come, whether or not it is lucrative, and whether it will generate new marketing opportunities. If so, pursue a loan and begin your project.

Whether you choose to work from home and have a business that is entirely online, set up a brick and mortar “mom and pop shop” or aim high and build a gigantic new project such as a resort or other attraction, this small business will become your life for quite a while, so be sure that you are ready to throw your heart and soul into it. Whether your first venture succeeds or fails, it doesn’t really matter. You have gained the experience to move forward and begin more small business enterprises.

The business world is a tough one. Some say it is cut-throat, others say it’s worse! But there are ways to get ahead. Even in a recession, someone has to be the boss, so let’s look at what it is that successful people do, which the unsuccessful do not.

1. Plan. Seems obvious, right? But how efficiently to do you plan? Do you make daily lists of things to do? Do you break those tasks down into simpler activities? Do you make three-month plans? Quarterly and yearly plans? Planning takes many forms, and you will need to master them all to truly succeed in business.

1. Relax. Do you keep a cool head under pressure? It is essential that you do eat a healthy lunch, do get sleep at night, and do have a fulfilling home life in order to succeed in your profession. Adequate relaxation quiets the mind and allows you to make more rational, well-informed, well-thought-out decisions.

1. Have a Routine. Sure, it is good to be able to improvise, but every day shouldn’t be an exercise in improvisation. Each day should follow a pleasant routine that allows you to both stay in your plan and stay relaxed, while being flexible enough to accommodate any unexpected changes.

With a keen eye on these three tips, you could become the next success story of 2010, so stay focused, and achieve!

It’s tough to get ahead these days, and the first hurdle is always the hardest: that dreaded interview. There are so many talented business people out there today, whose careers have been active and fascinating, but if they don’t interview well, their excellent resumes could amount to naught. So don’t be one of them! Take these three tips to heart and ace that interview:

1. Don’t be a smiley face! Excessive smiling makes you look nervous, eager to please, and phony. You want instead to look like you are taking the situation seriously. Be sure to laugh or smile when it’s appropriate to the conversation though, so the employer can see different sides of your personality.
2. Don’t be a know-nothing. You should be knowledgeable about the company for which you are interviewing. Remember: you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Have questions about the company that show you are not starting from square one. You have done your homework.
3. Don’t Sweat. It sounds superficial, sure, but it’s a fact. If you dress too warmly or perspire a lot, you will be seen as nervous and possibly even untrustworthy. Carefully think out your outfit for the big day, and wear shields in your shirt’s armpits if necessary.

The key to success in business, no matter what  your career, is always communication. Effectively utilizing all the tools at your disposal for excellent communication will ensure that managers and co-workers enjoy working with you and find the experience productive and satisfying. Here are three tips to improve your communication skills in any business or social setting:

1. Surround yourself with people you do not already know. That’s right! Many people enjoy fitting into environments where there are no unknowns, but the act of always putting yourself into the unknown—and the slightly scary—world of new people will enable you to make new contacts quickly and hone your business social skills to improve your career.
2. Individually introduce yourself to everyone in a group. Shake the hand of each person in a group and give them the individual attention they deserve. As often as you can, find something to say to each person, whether it be a comment on their physical presentation (love your handbag!), a reference to their name (that’s my niece’s name!), or a comment on their career or professional business (I hear you published a book on the latest research, tell me about it!).
3. Always introduce yourself by stating your first and last name clearly, along with your company title, if in a business environment. People hate to be embarrassed, and there is nothing more embarrassing than forgetting someone’s name or their rank in the company. Help prevent this by giving others every opportunity to know who you are, so that they may freely approach you again.

Communication is so important in any career, and business success depends so much on networking and meeting new people, that little things like these can mean a lot while you are climbing that ladder to success!