Evantage Business Network aka The E Team

11/18/2018

Small businesses getting started, here are some good tips on Business Credit from the SBA blog:

Access to cash and credit is a business’s lifeline. Business credit allows a company to borrow money that can be used to purchase products or services. It is based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.

11/15/2018

Please support Small Business!

See how you can support small businesses at ShopSmall.com.

10/23/2018

If you have ever had thoughts of starting a business, had an idea or a concept for a solution to a problem, or just sick and tired of working for other people. Here is some good basic information about what to do to be your own boss.

Self-employed workers control their income and future. But they need to take steps to ensure both. This article covers the basics.

04/29/2018

https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week

During National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration shines a spotlight on our nation’s 30 million small businesses. Through community events across the country and online, we honor entrepreneurs whose achievements over the past year stand out. Take part in the following National Small Business Week events happening today live from Washington, DC.
• 4:00 p.m. ET - Explore best practices for small businesses interested in acquiring new customers and driving more revenue by harnessing new technology during the "Next Wave in Digital Commerce" panel discussion.
• 6:15 p.m. ET- Tune in as SBA Administrator Linda McMahon shares her business story during an armchair interview moderated by Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
• 7:00 p.m. ET- Join us as we honor National Small Business Week award winners in categories such as Small Business Investment Company of the Year, Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year, SBA resource partners and disaster recovery.
Watch Live
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The U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE Association will host a free, 3-Day Virtual Conference during National Small Business Week. The conference will take place Tuesday, May 1 – Thursday, May 3 between 12:30 pm ET - 6:30 pm ET each day. Registration is free to the public.
Participate in all the webinars or pick and choose the topics you like. You will also have the opportunity to meet other business owners and chat with industry experts. The Virtual Conference offers all the best parts of an in-person conference, but without the hassle of traveling. Webinar topics include:
• How Changing Consumer Behavior Impacts Your Business
• Addressing Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
• Get New and Repeat Business on Autopilot with Email Marketing
• Creating and Sustaining a Strong Social Presence
• The U.S. Economic Outlook and Its Impact on Small Businesses
• Managing Your Finances in the Cloud
• Grow Your Business in 2018
• Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Financing
• Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints & Keep Your Customers
• Sharing Your Story Through Video
• Pop & Play: How Opening a Pop-Up Shop Can Help Launch Your Retail Brand
• Fusion Marketing: The Next Generation of Marketing
Register Here
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We support America's small businesses. The SBA connects entrepreneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their business.

04/25/2018

This picture made me smile this morning, so I thought I would share it forward. Have a wonderful day!
~Lambert

06/04/2017

Six Unwritten Rules For Business Etiquette

https://www.sba.gov/blogs/6-unwritten-rules-related-business-etiquette

I’m sure many of you are familiar with etiquette when it comes to dining. However, did you know that there was a thing such as business etiquette? Similar to dining etiquette, these unwritten rules of behavior can help you not only close the deal, but also leave a great impression on potential partn...

01/03/2017

This is for anyone thinking of starting or kick-starting that new business. Don't know what to do to start your business or improve your current business? There is help. There is information.

There are many resources you can look to for all kinds of help in starting a business or managing and improving a current one. Everything form financial aid, management consulting, accounting help, how to sell, how to market, how to build a website, how to get more business, how to price your products and services, what technology to use, etc. Most if not all of these great workshops and events are available for little or no charge whatsoever. You just have to know about them and attend.

Here is a link to the local SCORE chapter near me in Orange County, California. SCORE is a partner of SBA (Small Business Administration) and provides workshops, mentoring, and other resources for free. They are the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and they know what they are talking about because they have all been in business. And all they want to do now is help you and your business.

If you are not in the Orange County California area, look up the nearest SCORE office or SBA office near you. Take advantage of these valuable services to get a start on your business this year:
http://www.score114.org/Default.aspx

Wishing you Health Wealth and Happiness in 2017!

Lambert

01/03/2017

I was thinking about how many times I have started a business, and how many times I have failed, but kept going. I thought I'd share some thoughts with you.

Some may call me a serial entrepreneur, others may call me a fool-hearty dreamer, even some other may just call me names because I wasn't "smart" enough to quit starting businesses. But, I have lived and learned and experienced a lot. I think that is what life is all about. Yes I wish I struck it rich and did things right on my first try when I was a teenager. But that only happens to the very very few. Even though I grew up as a disadvantaged minority not knowing anything about business, I think I represent the average person who has a desire to change my situation, who thinks life has more to offer, who is not happy settling for same old same old, and who does not want to keep living the way I was, needing and hoping for change all the time.

The reason I never gave up starting businesses is because I want certain things in life and I am willing to do what most others are not willing to do apparently.

Here is a list of all the ventures that I embarked on over the years. Some of these were wildly successful, but the majority were unbelievable money-wasting and time wasting flops. Some are still around and some are long-gone. Maybe you know some of these?

Windy City Jam - 1982
The Brooze Brothers - 1988
ALM Worldwide 1992
Joe-to-Go - 1995
World's Largest. LLC. - 1999
Matias Cigar Company - 2000
Stateville Studios - 2001
The Veterans Radio Hour - 2003
Evantage Solutions (PC Help Chicago) - 2004
The Asia Channel - 2004
OTBT - 2004
Ozone Technologies - 2005
Toddler Tote - 2006
Creative Design Group - 2007
Domdiddy - 2008
SuppliesNow - 2009
Business Development Specialists - 2010
Gratitiude Tokens - 2011
Green Energy Reclamation Project - 2010
Evantage Apps - 2011
The Joint Chicago - 2011
AR International Mailing Equipment - 2012
Evantage Marketing - 2013 Jan
GovMobile - 2013 Oct

Couple things to point out. First, 100% of all these business ventures involved other people and were not done by just me alone. Why is that important? Because you need to have some people skills to get any where in life, and to do anything successfully, you will need a team and maybe employees. You do not need experience or specific knowledge if you have the ability to work with other people who do have the knowledge and/or skills that you do not.

Next, you will notice that I never stop doing s**t. Every year or few years I am getting into some new venture. I never stop thinking about how to solve problems, how to help people, how to serve a need, how to make money having fun, how to create something out of nothing. You will die a miserable death if you do not allow yourself an outlet for creating something in life. Put your imagination to work. It is the only joy that you are in complete control of independent of any other person.

Next, every single business listed above solved a problem or brought a solution and filled a need in the marketplace. You can monetize what you know in your head if you actively try to solve problems and fill needs.

Lastly, you will notice about this list that the industry or the type of businesses I have been involved in is all over the place. I laugh out loud every time I think to myself or tell someone all the different types of businesses that I have gotten involved in. Everything from selling Dog Shampoo to Delivering newspapers. Maybe I am a jack (off) of all trades, master of none, but I never stop learning and improving myself in all of life's disciplines. Plus, you will NEVER find a more interesting person to talk to than me and no one on earth has better stories to tell than me. This by itself opens doors and helps me find opportunities wherever I go around the world or around the country.

Tip for you for the New Year:
1. Read "How to Make Friends and Influence People" and "The Science of Getting Rich". Your life will change if you are willing to learn new skills and think in different ways.
2. Be bold and talk to more people than you normally do everyday and find out what problems they are trying to solve.
3. Out of everyone you meet, take a genuine interest in one person this year and help that person solve a particular problem or achieve a result. How? By teaching them something you know, or donating time, talent or skills, or whatever. Come up with a creative way to help them.

You will magically be rewarded by something in your life getting fixed or solved when you focus on serving someone else. It really works.

That's it for now. Subscribe to the E-Team here for more stuff like this!

Wishing you Health Wealth and Happiness!

Lambert

02/09/2016

This will be a good event for you entrepreneurs and inventors. Good information and the price is right!

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/1357c7a

Inventor & Entrepreneur Forum, March 17th at UCI Applied Innovation! Presented by SBA and featuring the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

01/03/2015

Understanding the basics of how money works is very important in taking control of the financial aspect of your life. Here is a quick and easy 10 question quiz to see what you may need to brush up on:

http://www.crainswealth.com/gallery/20141230/WEALTH/123009997/PH?NLID=CCB&NL_issueDate=20150103&utm_source=crainswealth-CCB-20150103&utm_medium=in-newsletter&utm_campaign=investmentnews&utm_term=text

The good news: Wisdom does really make up for age, at least in some scenarios. Researchers at the University of California Riverside found that older people scored better on a test of financial literacy than younger people, despite the well-established finding in psychology that people decline cogni…

01/01/2015

"You are in control, and have more power over your life than you might think you do." - Lambert Matias

10/13/2014

Listen to Your Heart - Your Passions and Dreams Await You

In some cases, you might think it is too late to pursue your dreams. If you listen to others you can be easily influenced by people who say you are too old to start your own business, to be a writer, or to invent the next great thing. People don't know you. They probably don't know anything about you. They may not share your dreams.

If you wait for permission from someone else you might miss opportunities. You know what you are capable of doing. A little fear is fine. But you can go ahead and take those steps towards what you have always wanted to do. The ordinary and the great among us, don't have to be bound by the barrier of age. These “over the hill” success stories are just some of the many people who succeeding in pursuing their dreams later in life.

With the right determination, attitude, and some luck you can see these people are no different than anyone of us. If you are young, have patience, you have a lot to look forward to achieving. If you are older, go for it, knowing today is your day and just maybe we will see you at the top.

from:
http://toknowinfo.hubpages.com/hub/Success-Stories-Never-Too-Old-Never-Too-Late-Late-Bloomers-Dreams-and-Achievements

Success can come at any age. You are never too old, and it is never too late to be successful. There are more stories of success late in life, than you may realize. Read on and get inspired !