There will always be differences between large and small companies. Businesses with unlimited resources can always fall back on money. Internally, employees can be enticed to remain at a job by a big raise or a bonus. Owners of smaller enterprises must find creative ways to keep their employees happy. There are plenty of ways, even with a smaller budget, to make your workers feel like their hard work is really appreciated!

The employees of smaller companies, in general, live near the workplace. What better way to make them feel at home than by being involved in the community? An employee might have a child playing little league baseball – help the team out by getting them personalized jerseys! Find a popular local eatery and have them deliver lunch as a monthly reward for helping in making your business a success. By showing that you are dedicated to their community, your employees will feel like they’re part of something special.

Community involvement is a great start. You can make the bond with your employees even stronger by involving their families in your incentive project. Custom imprinted water bottles are a great handout. Put your company’s logo and a ‘Fun with Family’ message on the bottles. There are also quality-made yet affordable fun kits available, containing items such as Frisbees and koozies. They’ll come in handy during weekend trips to the park or the beach, and the whole family will know that you were thinking of them.

It’s great to be involved with the family and community, but don’t forget about the workplace itself. Little things can be done around the office to make your employees comfortable each and every day. Keep pens and other supplies around. There are fun and useful items that your employees will love, such as brush buddies. Keeping the office efficient with thoughtful ideas is a great way to keep morale high.

Your budget may not be on the same level as the bigger companies. However, by using your resources wisely, the return can be better. Your employees will feel like they matter, and it will show in their work.

While the question "what is profit?" seems to be innocuous enough there is a much deeper meaning to the word profit than simply how much money is made on the sale of goods or services. From the general standpoint we consider profit to be the proceeds made after we subtract the cost of doing business. There are references to gross profit and to net profit within the business world of which net profit in it's most rudimentary form is the actual amount of money that is left over at the end of the business year for distribution or for reinvestment in the company. Successful business owners understand the need for a high net profit to continue growing their business and having the necessary capital to do so.

So the word profit is bantered around continually in the business sector as a financial goal that everyone has. But when we talk about a deeper meaning for the word profit we actually have to go to the etymology of the original word now used as profit from about 1303 where it was converted to a verb from a noun in the Latin profectus meaning to progress. There is also a synonym used with the word profit often and that is to "improve" coming from the Latin word prode which literally translates advantageous, meaning to raise to a better quality or condition. So if we look at profit from the standpoint of these original meanings we understand that profit implies more than a monetary gain. As business people we look at a company and try to determine its progress by the profitability has expressed in dollars.

Perhaps it's time we evaluate further indications of profit and whether or not the company has raised a better quality or condition for both the owners and the employees. This statement does not mean that we cannot pay attention to the financial ramifications or importance of the word profit as it replies to a monetary increase in our business. We do however have to look at our companies in the light of whether or not the organization is draining us emotionally, physically, as well as financially thereby offsetting any financial profit.

Some business owners are content to make a smaller net profit than other companies desire but they enjoyed the better quality or condition of life associated with successfully running their company in a way that doesn't cause undue stress or strain on their personal lives. Perhaps these business owners have found the real key to the word profit and have in fact raised their life to a better quality or condition by understanding that money is not always everything in the business world

There is nothing more important to business owners, sales professionals and marketing consultants than attracting new business. The same holds true for solo professionals such as authors, speakers and entrepreneurs. The ideal situation would be having new customers or clients who purchase from you for life.

Think about the possibilities...

You won't have to invest as much time, energy and money marketing your business. You get to choose the clients you want to work with—and turn down those you don't. You make faster sales when promoting a product, program or service. And you get the satisfaction of knowing what you do, say or produce has meaning, adds value and positively impacts people's lives.

So how do you get to this place of satisfaction? To this place of joy, fun and seasons in the sun? What do you have to do to get there?

It begins with you...

Your reputation and everything you represent. Your goals, dreams and desires. And your ability to attract an endless source of clients.

Let's start from the beginning and review what I call the Fundamental Laws of Business Attraction:

1) Professional marketing materials. Everyone starts out with business cards to promote their enterprise. Then you may opt for brochures, flyers and one or more websites. Then you might incorporate ads, online squeeze pages, e-mail marketing campaigns and direct response mailers.

All of these promotions must appear congruent to the business you're representing. You don't have to look slick if it's not necessary. A seminar company such as SkillPath uses clipart graphics to promote their workshops. They promote two-day, medium-priced seminars nationwide without the need to showcase their speakers.

One costly mistake to avoid is using clever copy that has little pulling power. If you're promoting cuteness and humor over making sales and generating leads—there are numerous ad agencies that would love to pocket your money.

But I'd bet you're in business to make money. Then you'd probably want to try direct response marketing. You're in business to attract as many qualified prospects to respond to your offer as soon as possible. Direct response compels people to take action and can quickly bring you income and build your database.

2) Looking sharp. You've got to look and dress appropriately for each occasion. Which translates into proper grooming, hygiene and dress. Now that doesn't require you to always dress in business suits. Today's casual business environment created a category for casual business attire.

But if you're making a presentation, then you'd probably want to dress one notch above your audience. And if you're attending a networking event, you'd want to project a professional image. Bottom line is: the more professional you look, the more professional people desire to speak with you.

It never fails. The next time you attend a two-day business event, dress business casual one day and standard business attire the next. I bet you will attract more quality leads and opportunities when you dress professionally.

I'm going to stick my neck out and go one further...

Wear the most expensive looking outfits you can afford. They really make a difference in how people perceive you. And have them pressed and ready to wear. If your outfit looks tired, it may leave the wrong impression. Believe me—people do notice.

3) Positive attitude. If you want to be known as the expert who offers solutions to people's problems, you must not let your guard down to appear as if you're consumed by problems. People must perceive you as someone who has been through it all and can now help them.

If you whine about gasoline gouging, cry about Paris Hilton being unfairly confined, or incredulous of all governments—you'll soon find yourself all alone. They will clear a path for you as you're making your way to the restroom.

Just as you exercise and take supplements to boost your internal organs, you must exercise at improving your inner-you. Replace your negative thoughts with powerful positive programming. Today's problems are nothing more than tomorrow's memories. So smile and put on a happy face.

4) Credibility. If you have enough of this, you'd have to turn away more business than you can handle. Really. Wouldn't this be a nice problem to have?

One easy way to build credibility is to ask for testimonies or comments from clients, satisfied customers and meeting attendees. Other ways to establish credibility may include producing books, demo videos, CD albums, garnering endorsements and word-of-mouth marketing. Of course if you are good at speaking, your platform presence is a huge credibility-builder.

People want to know if you've been interviewed, in what media, and by whom, if you've hosted your own show, if you're a syndicated columnist, if you have a website, been on American Idol, and how they can reach you on MySpace. The more you expand your universe and the more you reach inside people's consciousness—the more business you will attract.

5) Are you approachable... or not? Do you have gatekeepers? Do you screen your calls? Are you easy to reach? Do you smile? Do you give hugs? Have you hired an answering service?

To avoid looking amateurish: stay away from no-cost e-mail accounts, P.O. boxes and complimentary website hosts displaying those unwanted ads. Serious prospects won't take you seriously. You have to appear as legit as an American Eagle gold coin.

When I joined the Chamber of Commerce the representative suggested I switch to a local phone number to accommodate local callers. I didn't take his advice. I didn't want to attract the kind of clients who would make a big fuss about a long distance charge.

So you decide how approachable you want to become. You decide whom you want to work with. You decide because you call the shots.

A home based business is a coveted opportunity that few of us really get to take advantage of. The lure of being able to work between household chores, children activities, and miscellaneous functions is often the driving force to starting a home based business. However, it is important to remember that the more time you spend on your non-work activities, the less time you spend on your business. Self discipline and the willingness to work hard are two necessary factors to starting a home business.

Starting a home based business is not without its challenges. The most asked question is "what can I do at home". Simply put, the answer lies within yourself. Ask yourself what it is you like to do. Do you think you will still enjoy doing this a few years down the road? Once you have decided on what you want to do, a bit of research is necessary. Each state has rules and regulations that must be followed for specific types of businesses. Starting a catering business, for example, may have a different set of guidelines for the state of Michigan than it does for the state of Florida.

Naming your business, choosing a business structure, and registering your business are typically the next steps to follow. A business plan is necessary for securing financing and insurance. Marketing and promoting your business is a never-ending task that is required to keep your business name in the foreground.

Now that you are well underway to achieving your desire of home businessship, try to remember your reasons for this venture. While there will be trials and tribulations, keep focused on the goals you have set for yourself.