Everyone thinks I'm crazy when my solution to businesses success is not on what they offer or how well they do with their business.  I truly believe that the success of any business - meaning the ability to move through the correct process, get over the growing pains and have options for expansion - is purely dependent on the ability to organize.  

So, here's the story.  I have a great friend who just opened a business a month ago doing some of the hardest manual labor ever.  He does a fabulous job and is being recommended by everyone to do more and more work.  He definitely has the attraction of money and business growth as a part of his cards for life.  

But, I"m so worried for him.  Sometimes, he shows up at my house completely exhausted, and still has to do more work.... at 11:00 at night.  The whole reason why?  He doesn't have the organization that he needs.  

What ends up happening is some of the things that he could automate, put into folders or even have only take five minutes, ends up taking him two or three days.  What I foresee happening - if he doesn't get organization - is running himself from complete success and into the ground.  I really don't want to say anything about that, because he does such as great job and is a really nice guy, but it's definitely a lesson to learn.  

So, if you want to get the business success for the long run, let the business learn how to run itself.  Organizing things so that you don't have the same problems or can cut back on time is a huge help and can provide you with options to support yourself with what you do best - and leaving the rest to the file folders and automated responses.

Want some organizational help?  Contact Orion Information Services at www.orion-services.biz. 

So, every writer has their tips, tricks, revisions and edits that they go through in order to create the little masterpieces.  However, in some of the strangest places, you can find the greatest tools of inspiration for writing even better.  

My suggestion for everyone who wants to write really well is to go out and buy Popsicles.  Of course, you have to get a certain brand.  The original popsicle brand is what I recommend for everyone.  

Not only does this give you a great summer snack, but once you are finished with the Popsicle, you get an extra treat of a joke.  

I summarize the process of eating a Popsicle the same as I would summarize writing.  With every lick, you have to work up to the punch line.  The climax is finding the answer, (which you usually find first), then finding the question.  

Oh, but there is more than that.  The jokes that are made are obviously written by a wanna be writer.  I totally admire them for finding the puns, the things in writing and the little jokes that completely make a Popsicle complete.  

So, if you want to be a really good writer, I suggest... go eat a Popsicle.  

Want some help with your writing?  Contact Orion Information Services at www.orion-services.biz. 

Well, more to my surprise than any other, the artist form took a 360 turn, and here I am, running a business.  It's just hitting me now that I enjoy this just as much as playing a good song of Beethoven and that there is some good fulfillment in making strong business decisions.  

Because of the introduction that I had to business (being abrupt and learning by becoming street wise), I've learned a few spiritual principles that show whether a business is going to succeed or fail.  As the world continues to change, these ideals will come more into play and the concept of commerce is one that will follow in a fair way to do trade with others.  

- Organization is key.  Yes, this is actually a spiritual principle.  The entire universe has an organization to it, and each individual has a system in which they are organized off of.  You see it physically in how your body reacts to things and builds.  It's the exact same for a business.  When I began to organize my work with my business, clients began to come more freely and I was able to respect them and their needs.

- Money and time are the last components, not the first.  If you have things that are correct in your business dealings, such as ethics and treating everyone fairly, than you will have an excess amount of money and even more time.  However, you can not abuse these and use them without responsibility.  

- Be responsible for your services and products.  Being responsible doesn't mean just doing something.  It means being effective with what you do and doing it in a sincere manner.  This will allow you to have customers that you want and will provide you with an easier flow with doing the work that you want.  

- Treat your customers in the right manner.  This doesn't always mean being nice either.... And, it goes back to ethics.  However, if you have a customer that is the coolest in the world, make sure that you are truly serving them.  

There's so much more to it than that, and when I write these, it really seems dried up.  But, the idea is, your way of doing business and commerce has to go beyond the transactions.  It should combine these human elements and allow for you to be truthful to your craft and what you are offering.  It's not about offering to give people something for $200, it's about how you are offering it.

Here's to reaching the stars!

If you want business help or consulting, check me out.  The website is www.orion-services.biz.  

You all know how the saying goes... the right words are more powerful than a sword.  In the world of politics, it's how wars and peace is made.  It's how decisions are pulled through.  In a social world, it defines who someone is and what they do.  

In the world of business, it is the words that define who you are and what you offer.  I know, everyone thinks it is the logo and the colors and the location.  I'm here to tell you, those are all just builds up towards what you are going to say or write.  

The power of words in a business, when you get down to the mechanics of it, is whether you are going to fail or succeed.  And, it's going to define your mentality.  

Let's use this well - known example.  Let's say that I decide to go shopping.  I have the choice of two areas.  "Marie's Boutique" or "Wal - Mart."  Now, if you don't know anything about the two, which do you think is going to have more well built things.  In those two words alone, you have a complete definition of exactly what is carried in the store.  Now you have your power of words.  

I know, it moves beyond the names and into the sales copy, slogans and other areas of business.  But even with this, it is the words over and over again that define it.  Okay, here's a couple more examples.  Take these two sentences:

"The business is working on a rehabilitation program in order to help the economy."

"The business is working on a revitalization strategy in order to boost the economic standards."

Which business do you want to support?  Me, personally, I don't want to help a rehabilitation program.  But, I'm all about vitality.  

Even though it seems small... in the world of psychological thinking... it is HUGE.  So, before you just throw anything out there about what you want to say about your business, make sure that you are saying the right words.  

Want some word wisdom?  Contact Orion Information Services at info@orion-services.biz or visit our website at www.orion-services.biz.  

Here's to reaching the stars!

If you're in business for yourself, you know that it takes wearing 50 million hats, all that have to be worn simultaneously while you work with others.  However, this doesn't mean that you have to be all over the place when you are learning to work.  

The key to success isn't customers - that is just a result of your knowledge of the industry and your intentions as a business person.  And, your key to success isn't how much money you make.  Sorry!  That's just a reflection.  

The actual key to show whether you are succeeding or not is dependent on how much you are working and how much energy you are spending in your business.  

Yep.  It's the 21st century of doing business.  

Okay, let's take an example of someone I know in business.  She has quite a bit of money coming in (or so she has said).  She has quite a few clients that are asking her for business.  On a certain level, you would think she would be successful.  However, what she is doing is what every business knows how.  

The problem with this particular business owner is that she can't keep track of what is happening.  She gets confused about which client is which, who she owes money to and who owes her money, and isn't really sure which way is up.  From what I've seen, she works an average of 12 - 16 hours a day, plus weekends.  All because she doesn't have organization.  

Okay, let's go to the other side.  Another business person I know has the work flow, automated invoices and a complete system to handle clients in a timely manner.  No matter how much work comes through, Boom!  They can handle it because it goes through a procedure that is logical.  This business owner has less work coming in, but because of the need to NOT spend time trying to figure out who to call next and where everything is, only has to work 5 hours a day.  In the long run, they are making a lot more money, and will probably last a lot longer.  

So, the trick to working less and getting more is to have a system and to get organized.  Simple as that.  You have that, you will have success that lasts for the long run.  

Want help with your system?  Contact Brooke at info@orion-services.biz or visit our website at www.orion-services.biz.  

Here's to reaching the stars!

I just wanted to take this time to thank all of the customers that I have that have been good to me in the past year(s).  And, if they find this blog, they will know who they are (and who they aren't).

So, it was just yesterday, I was drinking my morning coffee, and it hit me like a bowling ball... either you have good customers, or you don't.  When I first started, I didn't.  I lost a lot of money, did a lot of free work, always was getting blamed if things didn't go right and never had the correct information.  At the least, my customers were causing me migraines.  

Actually, the problem with my customers almost caused me to quit.  But, I pulled myself up by the boot straps (as they say), and started over again.  

This time, I did things a little bit differently, approached customers in a new way and stopped working with customers that I could tell would be bad.  

I'm happy to say...I have a whole new bunch of people, and it is entirely different.  All of a sudden, it is exactly the opposite of what it is.  I'm getting over paid, instead of not paid.  Respected instead of stepped on.  And, there is a level of partnership between the two sides instead of my clients treating me like I'm some sort of under dog.

I'm not really saying this just as a tribute, but I"m also saying it for all of the businesses out there.  If you have headache clients, tell them to go away or set things so they are cornered and can not budge.  Because if one comes in, they will start bringing in the troops.  And, analyze the ways to find the good clients that want a partnership and want to do things with you.  

I'm giving you permission to choose your customers, have them choose you and to start to succeed by finding the right relationships and partnerships.  

It's called business in the stars.

No matter what you are doing in life, one of the basic principles is to become organized.  I know...it sounds mundane, boring and you most likely don't have time for it.  

However, if you aren't organized... I tell you... it can be your entire downfall.  Let me tell you a story about this one.  

I know someone who lives in a condo complex that is fairly small.  Recently, they have been telling me that they have had to overturn the entire thing, and it means legalities and problems.  When I asked them about it...it came down to organization.  The officers that were in charge weren't organized.  They didn't have the books, records, finances or any thing else together.  It wasn't their fault...they just didn't understand what organization was.  

Not only was it a problem that needed to be fixed, but it ended up moving into other areas of living that is now making everyone uncomfortable.  The officers have had threats for civil suits, being sued and other legalities thrown at them.  However, because they didn't get organized in the beginning, they can't catch up in time to get organized now.  What is happening is their entire downfall.  They've officially been kicked out of their offices and if they can't get organized within a week, the suits will have to go through.  

So, if you are thinking that this only happens with mad neighbors, think again.  This same story, same scenario and same set of principles applies to everything.  When you are not organized, people get suspicious about what you really do, what you are telling them and if you are truly functioning as a business.  

Being organized means being professional.  It also means that you are concerned not only about the functioning of your business, but also the way that customers are handled and treated.  The basics of it is - good organization means good business.  

Need help getting organized?  I can help!  Visit my website at www.orion-services.biz or contact info@orion-services.biz for more information. 

So, here's the thing about the Internet.  As soon as I put up my information and had it going to the higher spots on the Internet, I got bombarded and not in a little way.  About every hour of the day, I was getting calls.  Not from prospects, no.  Of course not.  It was all from the Internet sales sharks.  

This is the biggest down side I have seen to Internet marketing.  For some reason, having your information as a business gives all of these directories the right to call you and bombard you with wanting to sell you something.  I actually had one of them show up to my work studio this morning to sell me Internet marketing, which I know I don't need.  

So, here's my advice.  Once you start putting your website out there, in directories, etc, don't let the sales sharks get you.  If they are trying to sell you a way to get in the top listings, they are just taking your money.  You can also do it for free by figuring out the tools that they are using.  Sure, they may have different equipment, but trust me... it's a waste of your time and money.  

Let me even step further to say, if there is something on the Internet that says "pay a low fee per month so we can do this for you," don't do it unless it is in your marketing budget or you feel like it is really standing out.  Once again, you can find alternative ways to advertise online without spending a penny and without conforming to a system that they will not let you really know about.  

The whole thing is this.  Basically, once you learn how to use the Internet, and get listed in the search engines, you don't need another entity to do it for you as well.  It's the same thing with different people.  Don't fall for the sales sharks!  

If you would like more information on Internet marketing, visit my website at www.orion-services.biz or contact info@orion-services.biz.

Here's to reaching to the stars!

I don't care how pretty your logo is, how much you market and advertise or 'who you know in the business.'  The impression that you leave towards others is based on one thing - what you say.  

If you are working towards building the right business impressions, start with the words that click and show who you really are.  One false word could turn a potential customer off and have them running another way - meaning your competitor.  

Rule of Thumb #1: Never say what 'just comes to your head.'  I know it may seem funny, but practice saying what you want to say without a customer there.  That way, you can find the right things to say when they are there.  Nothing is easier than getting a potential client running the other way because you said something wrong.  It's not something you want to learn when you are on the spot.  

Rule of Thumb #2: Know the keywords that click within your industry.  Yep - there are click words.  For example, if you are in technology, your click word is 'turn key solutions.'  It grabs the right type of people towards you.  If you are in health, your key words are going to be things like 'looking better, feeling younger.'  They are cliche words that work on the psychology of someone every time.  

Rule of Thumb #3: Check your writing flow as well as your speaking flow.  You want to make sure that you have a well rounded set of words that represent you from every side.  This goes from your slogan to your sales copy to your articles to what you tell someone.  Don't miss a beat when it comes to being a wordsmith.  

The end result?  More customers, better impressions and overall results that will do what I love to help businesses with... shoot to the stars!

Want help with crafting your words?  Contact Orion Information Services at info@orion-services.biz or visit our website at www.orion-services.biz.