First And First Capital International Ltd

 Equipping Your Business For Success. Back in the 90's when innovative new technologies enabled the growth of entrepreneurship, many small business owners wanted to hide the fact they were home based, fearing their clients would not consider them professionals. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. There are several tips I would like to share with on how to make your home based business successful.  Walk with me: #1. Use free or low- cost services to save on monthly expenses. Of course, having a home office means you don't have to shell out any money for office space, but that isn't the only place where a home based business owner can save some money. Ensure tools that are not necessary at the moment or are not fully utilized, they should not be paid for. In this case am talking about the online tools.  #2. Make sure you have a dedicated workspace You can try to work at your kitchen or dinning room table, but that's not a good long-term solution. Ideally, you'll...

 Business Finance Management. Bad money habits are kind of hard to break. We do them over without even realizing it. Just like any other bad habit can bring you down, bad money habits can be a source of great frustration and harm.  When it comes to bad habits surrounding money, the effects can be painful. When running an entrepreneurial endeavor, it's easy to pick up bad money habits that can sink your ship before it has a chance to sail. Here are four of the most common ways new entrepreneurs or executives mess up their companies' finances. #1. Paying too much for office space There's no reason to pay for a beautiful office park or other expensive office space if you and your employees won't use it, especially if you're just getting started. Don't invest in tons of company rooms or even an entire building until your startup is well off the ground and turning a profit. If you have several employees in your company, why not offer them remote work opportunities?...

 Business Networking Complete Guide. You've joined a few industry groups , attended their conferences and had drinks at the monthly after hours mixers. You've also mastered your elevator pitch and are dutifully sending LinkedIn invites and meeting people for coffee. You've even forwarded relevant articles and sent thoughtful thank-you notes.  And here you sit wondering why you're not getting close to meaningful contacts who can help you advance your business or professional goals . So what are you missing? Perhaps the problem isn't the width of the net you're casting, but the depth. Here are top 3 best and proven ways to take your networking game to the next level. #1. Be vulnerable Being yourself and sharing your truth, no matter how vulnerable that makes you feel, give people a chance to know you and truly connect with you. Within what you feel comfortable sharing, there will likely be some common interests that the other person will build on. Being authentic ...

Virtual Networking Simplified. As business has become increasingly virtual, learning how to network virtually has become key to driving sales, creating relationships and furthering your career.  Being connected to a network of personal and professional resources is critical to growth and success in all parts of our lives. It is important that we continues to build these networks throughout adulthood, forming new relationships, but also maintaining those that we have nurtured over time.  This can be a little tricky because the reality is that personal branding is important if you're establishing a business online. But it is possible to brand yourself while maintaining authenticity. To start; #1. Have a goal in mind Having a goal in mind comes down to understanding why you want to network and the results you are trying to achieve. When you join a virtual networking event, it is easy to slide into the background and get lost behind your computer. Creating a goal and deciding in...

 Internet of Opportunities! The internet has become all pervasive in the lives of young people and this article will examine the opportunities that it affords.  What do young people think about the impact of the internet? How do they see themselves in this scenario? What tools are necessary to take full advantage of the opportunities that the internet offers them? Walk with me as we dig into the opportunities offered by the internet today. #1. Learning There exist incredible opportunities for learning, social connection and individual entertainment and enhancement in a a wide variety of forms. Indeed, recent evidence indicates 45% of users in Kenya say that the internet has played a crucial or important role in at least one major decision in their lives in the last two years, such as attaining additional career training, helping themselves or someone else with a major illness or medical condition, or making a major investment or financial decision . #2. Boosting dig...

 Lessons From Successful Entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs come from many different walks of life and span every industry, product type, generation and culture.  For some, the rise to financial success is a long slow, painful process. For others, things seem to magically fall into place. I believe that the latter isn't a result of magic, however, but is the sure sign of an entrepreneur who understands the importance of learning from, adapting to and growing with their business. It is from these people that we can learn some of the most powerful lessons to finding success as an entrepreneur. #1. Follow your passion Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day of your life. One thing you will hear over and over again is that your success depends on your passion. If you enjoy what you are doing, it won't be like working and you will want to invest all of your time and resources into it. If you don't enjoy what you are doing, every part of the business will be a stru...

Identifying The Enemy To Online Business. Even when working remotely , teams must collaborate to succeed. It's important to work together when contributing to the same projects, when reassigning tasks and rebalancing workloads, and when resolving conflicts and disputes. Despite the objective benefits of working remotely , like higher employee morale and productivity, there are some obstacles to collaborating effectively in this environment.  Remote work is here to stay. So let's take a look at 5 of the greatest obstacles to remote collaboration. #1. Difficulty in communication It's important to promote a culture of open communication in the workplace. Sometimes, collaboration is hindered when team members don't feel like they can communicate openly or if there is no unified platform where all team members can express their thoughts and opinions. If team members don't feel like they can communicate, they're less likely to be involved, which can lead to the failur...

 You Can't Afford to Miss. If the past year has taught us anything, it's that running a virtual company isn't as scary as initially thought. Virtual companies are a great way to minimize your limited resources. By working virtually, you can do more with less, and be more productive with your time.  With so many companies having to evaluate or expand the role of virtual work in their business models, I thought I should share some of the lessons learned. Let's get started! #1. Trust, don't track In order to make working virtually a success, your culture must be built on trust and that means treating your team like adults. If you're still in the mindset of checking up on your staff or tracking every microsecond of their time, remote working is never going to work for your business. Micromanagers need not apply. In recent weeks there's been a lot of news coverage about companies installing time tracking and other workplace surveillance apps on their team's...

 The Ultimate Guide On Virtual World. When it comes to running a business , our feet are firmly on the ground but our data and software are increasingly in the cloud. The days of a bustling office floor with dozens of employees in formal wear are long gone. Traditional workplace methods have been replaced by newer, most effective working methods , such as a virtual office. In this article, we'll cover a 5 step process for a successful virtual business set up.  Walk with me:- #1. Have a strategy A sound strategy saves you from having to struggle later on down the road. While creating a virtual office, note down your to-do's and ensure you have the whole process planned out. Even though you are not working in a regular office space, you still need to make a strategy. This is not too different from what you would usually have if you were working traditionally. The fundamentals of business do not change and neither do the objectives.  #2. Recruit the right people When you wor...

 Turning to Virtual Business. Startup businesses especially stand to benefit from flexibility of virtual office spaces. Many startups are operating on shoestring budgets and don't have the funds for a professional corporate set up, complete with a secretary and meeting room. Virtual offices give them a chance to maintain a professional atmosphere while remaining within budget .  In this article, we'll look at a few ways that transforming your startup virtually can benefit you. #1. Your online version is better in key areas Let's be honest; online business models can never replace the entirety of in-person experiences. You can't test ride a bike if you buy it online or drive through the surrounding neighborhood during a virtual real estate tour. But bringing your startup online can offer plenty of advantages to your customers. The added convenience is obvious, but an online business comes with more flexibility- a simple tweak of your website and social media channels is...

 Networking 101 Simplified. Relationships are what makes the world go round. You need relationships for you to grow. Fostering strong professional and personal relationships with your clients is now the norm. For many, this may be a time-consuming process, but its benefits are easy to see. Walk with me as we check out on the tips to increase sales by building relationships. #1. Engage  Successful relationships are a two-way street. Loyal customers and clients want to be actively invested in the relationship. If you notice that a customer is limiting his or her involvement with you, it could be a sign that the relationship is on shaky ground. To improve engagement, empower customers by inviting them to partner with your company in the process of generating new ideas and initiatives. Are they planning to enter a new market or launch a new product? Ask for their opinion and find out their short and long-term goals. When you draft a game plan, keep them in mind. Plan a brai...

 Networking 101; When it comes to networking , saying hello and getting someone's card is easy. The real challenge is identifying those people who could truly help you in your professional life.  But not all networks are built the same. Simple exchanges of business cards and the occasional email won't cut it in today's connected world. But neither will a hyper-connected echo chamber of like minded individuals. By diversifying our connections and crafting bridges that we normally wouldn't, be open countless doors to develop and succeed. Well, look no further. Here are 5 people to find and get into your network, pronto, not only for career advancement, but to help you align your goals. #1. The visionary The visionary often sees things you can't or aren't able to just yet! This person will motivate and inspire you. Your current job might seem like a dead end, but one conversation with your visionary, and you'll be ready to clock in early and blow everyone away...