I’m always fascinated by entrepreneurs, and have wrote articles about it.

Entrepreneurs are the prime movers of business and industries, and as a result of their risk taking, imagination and innovativeness, were able to establish companies that give employment to people and improve the quality of our life.

What about you? Are you thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

If you have the “never say die attitude”, don’t like to quit and can stomach failures and crisis, then you may have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

The entrepreneurs and businessmen and women who make it to the top and became successful are not familiar with fear of failure. In a Forbes study of 50 of the top entrepreneurs and business leaders some years ago, it was found out that almost all of them said that if their business had gone under, they would have started another.

To become a successful entrepreneur, you need to have the following qualities:

1 . Self driven and confident, and have the ability to inspire confidence in others.

2. Persistent, patient, and wanting to keep on trying, despite failures.

3. Flexible, able to keep on trying, and believe in the adage that “try and try until you succeed.”

4. Daring, not afraid to take a risk.

5. Independent, getting more satisfaction and fulfillment from being responsible to yourself than from getting the praises of superiors.

6. Visionary, knowing where you want your business to go and how it should get there.

So, do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

(This is a guest post by Eli of Business Sphere Consulting)

Business cards are the most cost effective tool for small business owners to advertise their product or service. A professionally designed card can convert contacts into clients if used properly. Your card should also reflect your brand and the image you want your customers to perceive you.

There are several sources of business cards which a small business owner can choose from.

1. Print your own business card. Perhaps this is the cheapest way of having a business card. However, you should also be wary of the design and print quality of your card. Unless you are a good designer and have a quality printer, a poor quality business card may defeat the purpose of having one. It may give the impression that you are not serious about your business.

2. Have your card printed by print shops. A professionally designed business card can do wonders for your business. Canvass around for the printer that will give you best value for money. The quality of the material of your card should also be considered. It should not be easily be deformed and the print should not smear.

3. Online business card printers. The trend now is to have you business cards ordered online because they are cheaper compared to print shops. Another advantage is you can choose from their numerous designs and material. Most online card printers also offer free sample kit before you order from them. You only pay for the shipping fee and your sample kit will be sent to you.

Companies such as PsPrint.com provide an alternative source of business card printing. Small business owners especially those from the US and Canada can benefit from the discounts given weekly at PsPrint.com. The company also offers other forms of promo collateral such as brochures, leaflets, sticker printing, etc.

The source of business card printing depends on your needs. Whatever your choice is, make sure to maximize the use of your business card to benefit your business.

The benefits of professionally designed business card to a small business can never be over emphasized. They have been around for ages but business cards are one of the most used form of advertising and marketing tools by small business owners. Here are some of the reasons why.

1. Cost Effective
Business card printing is not expensive that’s why they are preferred by small business owners on a budget.

2. Compact Size
Due to limitation in size, the information contained are only those which are really necessary – who you are, what you do and how you can be contacted. They are also convenient to bring around both for you and your target customers.

3. Targeted Audience
Business cards usually reach the target audience better than other forms of advertising. You usually give out your business cards personally or your customers can get it as walk-in clients, during trade fairs, or through referrals from existing customers. Your customers get your business card because they have a need for your product or service.

4. Builds Personal and Professional Relationship
Customers keep your business card because they want to keep in touch with you. They want to have that link to you, keeping you in their network. On your part, you would only give your card to those you want to contact you, thus a person receiving your business card would feel important.

In Japanese culture, a business cannot commence without the proper exchange of business cards. Defacing the card is a form of disrespect to the owner of the card.

5. Builds Your Brand
Business cards are meant to leave a good impression similar to a resumé. Your goal would be to have your client contact you through your business card so highlight all your best qualities in your business card. Your business card is like an identity so present yourself in the manner that you would like your customers to perceive your brand.

Over the years, small business owners whether start-up or established, have used business cards in promoting their business. Business cards are are convenient and you can play around with the design depending on your nature of business. You can never go wrong with a tried and tested formula.

image credit: http://www.sxc.hu

I watched Pacquiao Vs. Hatton live via streaming at Justin.tv and I’m sure a lot of people would want to watch the Pacquiao Vs. Hatton replay. The coverage of GMA was just too delayed and there are too many commercials that I’m sure people who watched it are very disappointed. Thanks for the people online who made the live streaming and the Pacquiao Vs. Hatton replay possible.

Manny Pacquaio TKOs Ricky Hatton on the second round of their fight. Pacquiao knocked down Hatton twice in the first round then hit Hatton with a left in the second that sent Hatton flat on his back on the canvas.

For a moment there, I thought the poor guy couldn’t get on his feet. By the looks on his family, they must have been very worried. Boxing is not for the faint-hearted, after all.

Pacquiao snatched Hatton’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title and his sixth title in different weight divisions.

It was a staggering defeat for the Hitman and trash-talker trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. ate his words. So, who’s going to challenge Pacman next? I hope it’s Floyd Jr. now that he’s returning to boxing again. It wil be another great fight to watch out for.

If you haven’t watched it, here’s the Pacquiao Vs. Hatton replay.

Watch live video from orgullosamente_latino’s channel on Justin.tv

If by any chance this link will no longer be available, email me and I will give you a download link so that you can enjoy the Pacquiao Vs. Hatton fight and watch the replay as many times as you want it.

I’m the kind of person that eats a lot of vegetables. That’s why I have my own small vegetable garden at home which I planted with string beans, squash, pepper, tomatoes, okra, lemongrass, eggplant, etc.  My place is quite small but I was able to set-up my little garden using containers and a raised bed method called Square-Foot Gardening.

A vegetable garden, can be a good source of savings too.  I was able to save on food and I’m assured that I’m eating organic vegetables. If you love gardening, be it vegetables of ornamental plants, just the joy of seeing your plants blossom and bear fruits is enough compensation. Besides, gardening is very therapeutic.

With the development of urban centers, agricultural lands are dwindling fast and food production is greatly affected. Through the development of new techniques, urban gardening is seen as the answer to food shortage, specially in urban areas.

Urban gardening provides supplemental food for families and helps beautify the surroundings.  Urban gardening also helps address the effects of global warming through the recycling of containers and by absorbing carbon dioxide in the air.

Vegetable gardening doesn’t take a lot of land area, even if you’re an apartment dweller, you can still propagate vegetables in containers. You can also make composts out of your kitchen waste. Vegetables that are no longer good for cooking can also be planted such as sprouted onions and garlics, kangkong and camote stalks from your last cooking, among others. Your only limit is your imagination.

Don’t have a green thumb? I don’t believe in it and neither should you. As long as plants have the right climatic condition and given the right nutrients, they would grow and bear flowers and fruits.

To help you get started with your garden, here’s a Step by Step Guide to Plant Propagation for you to download. I will be featuring gardening guides and plant production guides in future articles. If you get the hang of it, who knows? Your small garden may end up into a farm.

(These are actual photos of my plants.)