Remote Desktop Access for the Remote Businessman – One Step Closer to Going Virtual

Within our company, there are four different computers that myself and associates use. I had a tech guy over to the office earlier today to help us with our setup. He mentioned that he could set a computer up so that no matter where I was in the world, as long as it was on, I could access my personal desktop from any computer just like I was sitting in front of it at home. So I said, “What are you waiting for?”

He started an account with http://www.LogMeIn.com/ (and by the way, it was a free account). Each of our company’s computers was added to the account, and we were ready to go. I was at an appointment later in the day at one of my friend’s houses and wanted to give it a test run. From my friend’s computer across town, I logged into the website and decided to pull up the computer that our office assistant uses. I did not expect for her to still be at the office, and when the screen came up, we could see that she was responding to an email in our account. Now, my reason for showing my friend and being excited about it was definitely not for spying reasons, but this was pretty amazing!

How could this be useful in business?

For me, being able to access information on any one of our computers from anywhere in the world is outstanding! We are in a big push to go virtual with everything we do in our business, and this is just one more step closer to the goal. I am not a tech person and get frustrated when my computer is having problems. Through this fine piece of technology, as long as any problem that I have is not a hardware problem, my tech guy can work on my computer from wherever the heck he wants to. I get easy access to all my personal files wherever and whenever and can give away that access as well. This whole concept of remote desktop access isn’t new at all…it’s new to me though, and I like it!

I heard about a similar company http://www.GoToMyPC.com/ that offers remote desktop access. I don’t know the advantages or disadvantages between the two. Other applications such as web conferencing and collaboration are available through GoToMyPC.

Five “Must Read” Classics

1. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill – Over 20 years of research culminates into the philosophy of personal achievement. Don’t go another day without having read this book. It simply will cost you too much.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie – The how-to guide to communicating effectively with people.
3. As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen – Every sentence in this book is like a seminar, and you can read it in less than 30 minutes. You can even download it for free at www.gutenberg.org/etext/4507.
4. The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Samuel Clason – An easy fun read that dispenses sound financial advice.
5. The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino – The classic guide to the philosophy of salesmanship.

The Secret to Creating a Raving Fan

Last week, my company bought another piece of property in Charleston, SC. My business partner, Dusty Keefe, had met with the homeowners to contract the property and built our company a fine reputation to live up to (a technique Dale Carnegie goes over in his classic, “How to Win Friends and Influence people”). One of the owners was questioning Dusty on how we do business and whether or not he could count on us to come through with our promises. Dusty told him, “I think you will find that we will do exactly what we say that we will do, and when you look back on this after we have purchased your property, you’ll be glad that you did business with us.” That was all that was needed to say to satisfy his concerns. We had made them a cash offer and a closing within two weeks.

Two weeks later, this past Wednesday, we closed on their property. Dusty attended the closing and in the middle of signing all the documents the homeowner came to a sudden stop and said, “Can I just say something before we move forward? I remember what you said to me when we first met about how your company does business and you guys not only did exactly what you said you’d do, but you always delivered a little extra. When you guys said you’d call me, you did. When you guys said you would be at my house, you were. When you said you would close by today, you did. I just want to say that that is a very rare trait in this day and age. My wife and I truly appreciate your help. Thank you.”

Wow! It is really that easy to create a raving fan. There are so many people that consistently over promise and under deliver. They commit themselves with a reckless disregard to their integrity. Any time you make a commitment to someone, take it seriously. Set yourself apart from the pack by simply doing what you say you’re going to do.

Peer to Peer Lending

www.Prosper.com matches people who need small loans (up to $25,000.00) with willing lenders in an Ebay-like fashion. A lower cost alternative to credit cards and unsecured bank loans for borrowers and a way for people to make good returns on their investment dollars as lenders. Borrowers request loans for all kinds of different reasons from debt consolidation to home repairs to business start up capital.

How could this financial tool be of use to you?

How about some Free Rice?

Check out the website http://www.freerice.com/. To me, it shows the power of the internet coupled with an entertaining educational tool and a whole lot of good will all at the advertisers' expense. What a business model!

How else can you improve your vocabulary and help to end world hunger at the same time?

What to do about an"actively disengaged" workforce

A good friend of mine recommended a new management book to me the other day. I happened to be walking into Barnes & Noble so I picked it up. It's written in the form of a business parable (like One Minute Manager or Who Moved My Cheese). I was not entirely excited about the book before I started reading it but I accepted my friend's endorsement...I ask people frequently for book recommendations as I find it easier to weed through the information glut.

It's fascinating how some of the simplest ideas can be so profound. This quick, entertaining, easy read finally puts people before profits, but ironically enough, profits soared through the roof. The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly, is the story of a leader who sets out to transform a business by actively engaging a disengaged workforce.

My friend loved it, I loved it, you'll love it.

Why aren't you advertising on Craigslist?

It amazes me how many people still don't know what www.Craigslist.com even is? Usually, as soon as I hear about any website, product, or service a number of times, I am on a mission to see what all the talk is about and that was the case with Craigslist a while back.

We have been using Craigslist for our business now for about a year. We post ads for our business on the buying and selling side. We post ads that say "We Buy Houses" and post ads for specific properties that we have for sale or lease. We have purchased one property and filled several from these FREE ads that we post. We have around $45K in equity in the house we bought and have saved thousands more by filling some vacant houses.

If you have an idea for a business you want to start, do some test marketing and see if there is a market. Ready or not, see what comes out of it. People sell products before they manufacture them all time...why not try out the same concept.

Do this: check out craigslist, post some ads and see what happens. The only cost is a little time...what do you have to lose?

P. S. Oh yeah, check out http://www.backpage.com/ and http://www.postaroo.com/. They also provide a free online classified ad service. Not as popular but they are good enough for us.