People become freelancers for all sorts of reasons. Very few do it to get into business – that’s just a side effect. To be successful freelancers, we need to be savvy business people.

Understanding business takes work – some light reading, some heavy ploughing though your government’s forms and requirements, maybe some serious study, and keeping up with business news and events. Material for small businesses and entrepreneurs will be especially helpful.

Here is a reading list for you to pick and choose from: 40 Places Where Freelancers Can Learn More About Business. This list is a starting point. Please add to it in the comments.

Websites and Blogs

We freelancers seem to spend a great amount of time online, so that’s where we’ll start our reading list.

1. If you want to get straight to the main points without too much reading,Sitepoint.com has two very helpful articles which summarize business for freelancers: Best Practices for Freelance Business Part 1 and Best Practices for Freelance Business Part 2.
2. If you prefer the “encyclopedic” version, Wikipedia’s business article has many subtopics, and links to useful external resources.
3. Business Pundit is full of tips and articles covering a wide range of business topics. Some are especially useful to freelancers, including Freelancers Make More Money by Firing Clients.
4. Businessballs.com contains “free career help, business training, organizational development – inspirational, innovative ideas, materials, exercises, tools, templates – free and fun.”
5. Freelanceuk.com has a useful section on running your business.
6. Newbusiness.co.uk also contains business advice from a UK perspective.

Many news sites have great business information, including:

1. Fox Business is a great source of business news, and has a Small Business section.
2. The BBC News business section is a similar news source from the UK.

Your government has probably published some useful information about running a business. For example:

1. US: Business.gov is the official business link to the US Government.
2. Australia: Businesslink.gov.au is a practical guide to business from the Australian Federal Government.

Magazines

If you prefer to read from paper, a great place to start is with business magazines – though many of them can be read online too.

1. Businessweek.com contains top business news stories, and has a Small Biz section.
2. Inc. is a daily resource for entrepreneurs.
3. Entrepreneur is another magazine and online resource for entrepreneurs.
4. America’s Best is a magazine for small business owners.
5. Family Business Magazine is a guide for starting and running family businesses.
6. Home Business Magazine is aimed at “home-based entrepreneurs and business owners; people who work from home; and telecommuters”. It is an online magazine.
7. In Business Magazine is helpful, and humorously includes a section calledSuck it Up! – “Business days from heck: If they can prevail, so can you!”
8. My Business is “the leading magazine for small-to-medium enterprises, the dominant sector – 92 per cent – of all business in Australia. Its credible, information packed and easy-to-read format speaks directly to the key business decision makers.”
9. Opportunity World & Money ‘N Profits is “the magazine for small business opportunities.”

Newspapers

And while newspapers are still around, make the most of the business section – in print or online.

1. The New York Times business section
2. The Chicago Tribune business section
3. Los Angeles Times business section
4. The Sydney Morning Herald BusinessDay
5. The Age BusinessDay
6. NZ Herald business section
7. Business Report contains many business articles published in South African newspapers.

Books

Books – paperback, hardback and electronic – teach you about business in a more linear fashion. Here are some books and lists of books to get you started.

1. Small Business Kit for Dummies is a “reference for the rest of us.”
2. The Bootstrappers Bible by Seth Godin is a free ebook for “…entrepreneurs who are working their butts off to start a great business from scratch with no (or almost no) money.”
3. Getting Rich In Your Underwear: How To Start And Run A Profitable Home-Based Business
   by Peter I. Hupalo is primarily written for those just starting a home business.
4. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki – “What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!” This book explains how to make your money work hard for you instead of you working hard for money.
5. Wikibooks have a detailed ebook called Getting Started as an Entrepeneur.
6. Smallbizbooks.com have published Startup Guides for Businesses. Each book focuses on a different type of business, including books on Consulting Service, Freelance Writing Business, Graphic Design Business, Online Business, Coaching Business and Personal Trainer Business.
7. Amazon.com’s Must Read List for Small Business Owners contains a list of 39 recommended books relevant to business.
8. Bainvestor.com have a long list of recommended books called “Entrepreneur Books: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Books”, with an emphasis on what is important to know when starting your business.
9. DailyLit email good books to you in daily digestible chunks. They have 43 books in their Business category, many of which are free.

Courses

There are plenty of business courses you can do online. Here are some that will cost you your time, but not your money.

1. My Own Business.org has a free online course which is presented by successful business owners who point out the common, avoidable mistakes.
2. SBA (US Small Business Administration) offer free online business courses including Starting a Business, Business Management, Business Planning, and Marketing & Advertising, and more.
3. Suite101.com provide free online business courses, including Business Planning, Business Law and Business Management, and more.
4. About.com’s Small Business Startup Course is a free Canadian course covering a wide range of topics.
5. About.com’s: Online Small Business Success Course is designed to teach you how to market yourself and your business more effectively

via: FreelanceSwitch

http://www.60-minutes.info/

Watch full episodes on the link above

October 4, 2009 5:00 PM
Marc Dreier: The Swindler
To understand how Bernie Madoff could have done what he did, listen to so-called “mini-Madoff” Ponzi schemer Marc Dreier tell Steve Kroft in his first TV interview how he scammed $400 million.

Ah, New York City. My favorite place to eat. You have so many AUTHENTIC places with good food, what is a guy to do except try to eat as much of it as possible?

For those of you who haven’t heard about Vodka Pizza [Pizza with Vodka Sauce], please allow me to put you on. It doesn’t exist in many places and the few places that do have it are bad knockoffs. The place that made is famous is Pomodoro in Litttle Italy. Check it out for yourself.

[Images: Courtesy of WanderingFoodie.com]

Pomodoro
51 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-9229

Compilation of Reporters Getting Owned – Watch more Funny Videos

To mark the company’s 90th anniversary in 2011 Gucci has partnered with Riva and Officina Italiana Design to create this custom made boat by Creative Director Frida Giannini. According to Giannini:

“Over the decades the iconic Riva boat has become without doubt one of the most evocative images of Italian style, sophistication and elegance. It is a symbol of a glamorous lifestyle that sparks fond memories of La Dolce Vita – a golden age when both Gucci and Riva attracted an enthusiastic following among the international jet set. It is therefore especially meaningful in Gucci’s 90th anniversary year to be able to recognise and celebrate the great traditions and values of both Gucci and Riva through the Aquariva by Gucci.”

Inspiration!

THE BEAT OF NEW YORK from tim hahne on Vimeo.

LOVE is a MOVEMENT!! Street artist ESPO (aka Steve Powers) is using street art & words of love to revitalize Philadelphia. He is painting murals over the run down parts of the city with messages like “I Love You” and “Hold Tight” to inspire & brighten the down. Plus, he’s offering free signs for local businesses & training for young people in the area.

“Can you help me to become more Influential?“

This was the question I was asked by someone at a recent networking event.

I replied: “Why do you want to be influential?”

He responded: “I want more people to know about me.”

I said: “Why?”

He answered: “Because I’d be more successful if more people knew who I was.”

I asked: “What would you do next if more people knew who you were?”

He stared at me blankly: “I’m not sure…. does it matter?”

I responded: “I don’t think you really want to have influence…. I think you want fame.”

He responded, with a beaming smile: “Can you help me become famous?”

via: ProBlogger

There’s a variety of different people in this world, but this blog is published with those seeking fame in mind.

My lifestyle is unique. I can honestly say that I’ve been blessed when it comes to things beyond my control. I’m lucky to still be alive, seriously. On the other hand, when it comes to things I’ve been able to control, I feel that I’m responsible for everything I’ve acquired, no blessings required.

I come from a place that most people label the home of the realest people in the world – New York City. However, I live in a place that most people label the home of the fakest people in the world – Hollywood, California. Keepin’ it real has never been a problem for me, it’s second nature. I never had to remind myself  not to to get caught up, and not to turn Hollywood. I know myself and I know that I’m not in any danger of that ever happening. See, I’m not influenced by others. If anything, I hope to one day influence others. People often wonder how I’ve been in LA for 6 years but have never lost my accent. My response is simple. The only time a person loses their accent is when they become more of where they are and less of where they are from. I never had that problem. I’m the same person I’ve always been, just wiser.

Wisdom has taught me to look at life through more than one lens. Hollywood and I have a love/hate relationship because of this. I can’t hate on Hollywood because Hollywood was there before me and it will be there after me. I’m not looking to change Hollywood, nor do I want to. On the other hand, Hollywood has made me very successful in the Design/Marketing and Advertising world (ThinkJL.com). Hollywood only survives because of the way people idolize and worship the spotlight, fame, glitz and the glam. It’s the most desired place to live on the planet and EVERYONE seems to want to be a STAR. If our society didn’t care about Hollywood, it wouldn’t be what it is today – it’s a prime example of supply and demand.

Without turning this blog post into a Hollywood story or any personal attacks, I wanted to talk about Fame VS Influence. So many people crave the spotlight and the fame. But why? Do you equate fame to fortune? They aren’t the same. People making the most money are the one’s that you don’t see. If you think Kobe and LeBron are rich, what about the people signing their checks? Do you even know who they are? Most of you don’t and they love it that way. The more in the spotlight you are, the more of a puppet and a target you become down the line. People want fame but don’t even know what to do with it or what it entails. I think most of it derives from insecure people who want attention, want to become rich, or want to feel superior to others while only a small fraction of it comes from people with real talent.

Fame isn’t what it used to be. If you look at the Superstars today, they’re accessible. I know this because I’ve met too many. Back in the day, you couldn’t get to them. Between technology and the media, things done changed! TwitPics, Twitter, Facebook, Mobile Apps, Hosting Events, Internet Sensations, Reality TV, Mobile Videos, UStream, WebCams, Blogs, YouTube, you name it. It seems that anyone can be famous, even if it’s for 15 minutes.

The reason why I wrote this article isn’t to bash fame, but it’s to point out that everyone is seeking fame but it seems that no one is seeking to be INFLUENTIAL! The reason I chose the picture above is to compare and contrast the difference of the 2. I respect both in what they have accomplished as far as success is concerned, but you have to question how high the barrier of entry for achieving success is these days when both examples are night and day.

Soulja Boy, I get it. He’s young, he’s catchy, he’s flashy, he makes money and he knows what people want – that’s about it, and that’s my point. There’s no substance. I’m not hatin’ on Soujla Boy, he’s a definition of capitalism. He’s making money off the general public, but on the other hand, look at the demographic and children that are making him successful. What kind of message is he sending to young kids? Tat your entire body, including your face? Meet up with Kat Stacks? Do drugs? Carry around wads of money and be arrogant about it? I try to look at it on both sides of the fence but I always end up on the side that he’s just a person in power contributing to dumbing down our youth and he’s just getting paid in the process. If you’re going to be sold on the fact that he’s an “inspiration” for the kids, it’s only because he’s an inspiration because he’s famous, not an inspirational person whose famous. If he sends the message to your kids “Hey kids, you can be famous and rich just like me.” Do you know what your kids will do? Act just like him in hopes to to be just like him. Here’s an example of the dumbing down.

Our youth has been dumbed down along with our society. You have to look at things from a larger perspective to see where this is coming from. If you notice, the quality of TV and Music have drastically gotten worse over the years. That’s not on accident. Have you noticed our education system has gotten drastically worse over the years? That’s not on accident. Have you noticed unemployment has gone up? That’s not on accident either. The people “behind the scenes” control all of this. Keep in mind, these artists are SIGNED. They are INVESTMENTS. They are OWNED. The “people behind the scenes” choose very carefully who they choose to put out in the spotlight aka position of power. Artists aren’t born anymore, they are made. They are influences of society so they are hand crafted by the creators themselves. How else are you going to shape the world? The people “behind the scenes” don’t want smart people kickin knowledge to the masses like NaS does. They don’t want people like TuPac talkin about “Killuminati”. Not only do the people “behind the scenes” not want them to kick knowledge but we’ve been trained to listen to this watered down, nursery rhyme, wack ass music that we don’t want it either. Ever notice NaS doesn’t sell albums? For more evidence that kickin knowledge doesn’t sell, let’s refer to a JAY-Z quote to further support my claim.

“The music business hates me, cause the industry ain’t make me. Hustlers and boosters embrace me and the music I be makin. I dumb down for my audience and double my dollars. They criticize me for it yet they all yell “Holla”. If skills sold, truth be told, I’d probably be lyrically Talib Kweli. Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense (But I did five Mil), I ain’t been rhymin like Common since. When your sense got that much in common and you been hustlin since, your inception, fuck perception, go with what makes sense.” – Moment of Clarity

What did NaS say about that?

“What’s sad is I love you ’cause you’re my brother. You traded your soul for riches. My child, I’ve watched you grow up to be famous and now I smile like a proud dad, watching his only son that made it.” – Ether

Can you get put on by kickin knowledge? It’s a long shot, but if you do, you won’t have any support promoting your album because they don’t want that. Would you get on by singin/dancin/and having a nursery rhyme melody in your song? Prob-a-bly!

This isn’t about Hip-Hop or music, I’m just referencing it as an example since it’s the most influential culture in the world. There’s a big difference between being influential and being famous. Albert Einstein is famous because he’s influential. Soujla Boy is influential because he’s famous. If you look at what fame represents today, why would you want to be a part of that? A reality show star? Does that even count? I don’t have to showcase Albert Einsteins accolades for you to understand him. He’s been known for centuries and he’ll be known for centuries more. You know what else? He wasn’t an Entertainer, he was just influential. That was enough.

Influence – it’s not just about the size of your network or how many people hear what you say – it’s about your capacity to impact the actions and and opinions of others.

Fame – the state of being widely known or recognized; renown; celebrity.

Influence > Fame.

Marilyn Monroe once said “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” She was right.

This is the first blog I’ve posted that I’ve actually written so I might get a lot of slack, but I’m prepared to deal with it. I stand up for what I believe in and I believe in “kickin knowledge” even if it doesn’t make me “famous” because we all know by now – that’s not what I want. I would of had it already.

“What is fame? The advantage of being known by people of whom you yourself know nothing, and for whom you care as little.” - Lord Byron

“If you come to fame not understanding who you are, it will define who you are.” - Oprah Winfrey

“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” - Henry David Thoreau

A new study found that mobile phones contain 18 times the amount of bacteria as a toilet handle, the Telegraph reports:

Swabs and analysis of 30 mobile handsets found that seven had high or warning levels of environmental bacteria. One contained such an intense concentration of bacteria, including faecal coliforms, that anyone using it could have faced a serious stomach upset.

According to hygiene expert Jim Francis “The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilizing.” The tests showed how easily bacteria could linger on the surface of a phone, which could be passed on to other people if they held the handset to look at photos or other applications.

You got an app for that?