Five top tips to starting a successful business~By Richard Branson

As LinkedIn is a business that started in a living room, much like Virgin began in a basement, I thought my first blog on the site should be about how to simply start a successful business. Here are five top tips I’ve picked up over the years.

1. Listen more than you talk

We have two ears and one mouth, using them in proportion is not a bad idea! To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. This can mean following online comments as closely as board meeting notes, or asking the frontline staff for their opinions as often as the CEOs. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them.

2. Keep it simple

You have to do something radically different to stand out in business. But nobody ever said different has to be complex. There are thousands of simple business solutions to problems out there, just waiting to be solved by the next big thing in business. Maintain a focus upon innovation, but don’t try to reinvent the wheel. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse.

3. Take pride in your work

Last week I enjoyed my favourite night of the year, the Virgin Stars of the Year Awards, where we celebrated some of those people who have gone the extra mile for us around the Virgin world. With so many different companies, nationalities and personalities represented under one roof, it was interesting to see what qualities they all have in common. One was pride in their work, and in the company they represent. Remember your staff are your biggest brand advocates, and focusing on helping them take pride will shine through in how they treat your customers.

4. Have fun, success will follow

If you aren’t having fun, you are doing it wrong. If you feel like getting up in the morning to work on your business is a chore, then it's time to try something else. If you are having a good time, there is a far greater chance a positive, innovative atmosphere will be nurtured and your business will fluorish. A smile and a joke can go a long way, so be quick to see the lighter side of life.

5. Rip it up and start again

If you are an entrepreneur and your first venture isn’t a success, welcome to the club! Every successful businessperson has experienced a few failures along the way – the important thing is how you learn from them. Don’t allow yourself to get disheartened by a setback or two, instead dust yourself off and work out what went wrong. Then you can find the positives, analyse where you can improve, rip it up and start again.

 

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Lift the Skype Limitations

Lift the Skype Limitations   

Skype has a silly limitation when it comes to Categories - you can't add Contacts to a Category, before they have accepted your Contact Request! Well, that's kind of a bummer, when you want to keep track of what people you added from where, if/when they ask you.

 We give you: xSky Lists!

 

 

Manage & Organize Your Contacts!

Having a hard time keeping an overview of your Contact List? Skype already has a Category system built into it, however it is very tedious to navigate it.

That's the past however, because xSky gives you perfect overview of your Contacts - Know what Contacts are in what Categories, Add/Remove multiple Contacts to/from Categories, and have all your Categories laid out nicely in front of you. Contact Management is easy with xSky, simply because it should be!

 

And there is much much more..

 

TO FIND OUT MORE

VISIT

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“Building a Business While Having a Life”

Say goodbye to all barriers that stand in the way of you and a thriving business …and hello to automation, viral marketing and 100% Commissions.
From this point on, as a member you’ll never have to wait for another less than worthy commission check in the mail again. Ever. Get paid instant and automatically, directly into your bank account daily, hourly …even by the minute. And collect 100% commissions from every sale you make.
You can now leverage our ‘done for you‘ marketing system that pays you all the money, converts sales for you and keeps you focused on the things that matter in your life and business.
No rules, except get paid now – right now – and except nothing less than 100% commissions.
 

Yesterday our growth CONTINUED. 247 NEW blogging customers (consistent with our Mondays lately), and by the end of the day....
 66 had earned over $200
 32 had earned $1,000
 3 had earned $2,000
 1 had earned over $3,000
3 had earned over $4,000
 (within 24 hours)
 We're NOT slowing down. So....
 Stay focused.
 Ignore the haters.
 And 'delete the wussy' :)
 Follow the '8 Core Steps'

Watch your business grow

Watch The Video In Marketing News 

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List of Poisonous Plants for Cats and Dogs

List of Poisonous Plants for Cats and Dogs
Updated: 04/11/2012
 by Dawn Forster for Earth Clinic, LLC

Did you know that there are actually over 700 plants that can be poisonous or toxic to your pet? That size of a number seems almost incomprehensible and makes you wonder if there are actually any plants left over that are NOT poisonous to animals!

The list included here cannot possibly begin to cover every single poisonous plant in existence, and it should also be said that some of these plants are much more toxic than others are. It is important to use your best judgment when determining whether or not these plants should remain in your home or garden. Consider your personal situation and the normal behavior of your pets.  If you keep any of these plants in areas that cannot be accessed by your pet, or if you have a pet that has never bothered with getting into your plants in the past, then it is likely you shouldn't have a problem with keeping those particular species of plants in a home with pets.

The most important thing for you do to when assessing your current plant situation, is to dig a little bit deeper and find out exactly how toxic certain plants can be and how they can affect your animal.
Let's begin by looking at a list of the 10 Most Common Poisonous Plants:



Marijuana - Animals who attempt to snack on this plant can suffer serious consequences such as diarrhea, vomiting, increased heart rate, drooling, in-coordination, and even possibly seizures and coma.

Sago Palm - While the seeds and nuts of this plant are most poisonous, the entire plant is toxic.  Animals ingesting parts of this plant may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, depression, seizures and liver failure.

Lilies - Plants of the lily variety are very poisonous to cats.  Even very small amounts of this plant could cause serious kidney damage.
Tulips - The toxic portion of this plant is the actual bulb, which can cause drooling, central nervous system depression, gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac issues and convulsions.

Azalea - The toxins in azalea plants can be very severe and potentially cause drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, central nervous system weakening and depression, and in some cases possibly coma or death.
Oleander - All portions of this plant are poisonous and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, hypothermia, heart problems and possibly death.

Castor Bean - Poisoning as a result of this plant can cause abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea, vomiting increased thirst, loss of appetite and weakness.  More serious cases could also lead to dehydration, tremors, seizures, twitching muscles, coma and possibly death.

Cyclamen - The most poisonous portion of this plant is located in the root.  Ingestion of the plant can cause severe vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation.  In some cases death has been reported as a result.

Kalanchoe - Ingestion of this plant can cause gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac rhythm and rate problems.

Yew - Poisoning as a result of the yew plant can affect the nervous system and cause in-coordination, trembling and breathing difficulties.  It may also result in gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure and could possibly lead to death.


The following is a list containing many other well-known and common plants that can be poisonous or toxic to pets.

Aconite - Is a garden flower whose roots, foliage and seeds can be poisonous.

Apple - The seeds of an apple can be poisonous to pets.

Arrowgrasses - These are marsh type plants whose leaves contain poisons.

Atropa Belladonna - This is a type of garden herb in which the entire plant can be poisonous to pets, especially its seeds and roots.

Autumn Crocus - This is a commonly found garden flower in which the entire plant can be poisonous.
 Baneberry  - This is a wildflower whose berries and roots are the poisonous portions.

Bird of Paradise - This is a garden flower whose pods are poisonous.
Black Locust - This is a tree in which the entire plant can be poisonous, especially the bark and shoots.

Bloodroot - Is a wildflower and herb whose stem and roots are most poisonous, however the entire plant is toxic.

Box - Is an ornamental shrub that is poisonous in its entirety, but especially the leaves.

Buckeye - This is a tree whose sprouts, nuts and seeds contain poisons.

Buttercup - This is a wildflower and garden herb that is poisonous in its entirety but mostly in the leaves.

Caladium - Is a houseplant that is poisonous in its entirety.

Carolina Jessamine - This is an ornamental plant whose flowers and leaves contain poisons.
 Chinaberry Tree - Is a tree whose berries are poisonous.

Chockcherries - This is a wild shrub whose poisonous parts include the leaves, cherries and pit.

Christmas Rose - Is a garden flower that contains toxic leaves and rootstock.

Common Privet - Is an ornamental shrub whose leaves and berries can be poisonous.

Corn Cockle - Is a wildflower and weed whose seeds are particularly poisonous.

Cowbane - This is a wildflower and herb that is poisonous in its entirety, especially the roots.

Cow Cockle - Is a wildflower and weed whose seeds are poisonous.

Cowslip - Is a wildflower and herb whose entire plant is poisonous, especially the leaves and stem.

Daffodil - Is a garden flower whose bulbs are poisonous.

Daphne - This is an ornamental shrub that contains poisonous bark, berries and leaves.

Death Camas - This is a field herb whose poisonous parts include the leaves, stems, seeds and flowers.

Delphinium - Is a wildflower that is poisonous in its entirety, especially the sprouts.

Dumbcane - This is a houseplant and is poisonous in its entirety.

Dutchman's Breeches - Is a wild and garden flower whose roots and foliage are poisonous.

Elderberry - Is a tree whose poisonous parts include the leaves, bark, roots and buds.

Elephant's Ear - This is a houseplant poisonous in its entirety.

English Ivy - Is an ornamental vine that is completely poisonous but especially the leaves and berries.

European Bittersweet - This is a vine poisonous in its entirety but especially in the berries.

False Flax - Is a wild herb whose seeds are poisonous.

False Hellebore - Is an ornamental flower whose roots, leaves and seeds are toxic.

Fan Weed - This is a wildflower and herb whose seeds are poisonous.

Field Peppergrass - Is a wildflower and herb that contains poisonous seeds.

Flax - Is a wildflower and herb whose seedpods contain poisons.

Foxglove - This is a wild and garden flower whose leaves are poisonous.

Holly - Is a shrub containing poisonous berries.

Horsechestnut - Is a tree containing poisonous nuts and sprouts.

Horse Nettle - Is a wildflower and herb poisonous in its entirety, especially the berries.

Hyacinth - This is a wild and houseplant whose bulbs are poisonous.
Iris - Is a wild and garden flower whose leaves and roots are poisonous.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Is a wildflower that is entirely poisonous, especially the leaves and roots.

Jatropha - This is a tree and shrub whose seeds are poisonous.

Jerusalem Cherry - Is an ornamental plant whose un-ripened fruit and foliage are poisonous.

Jimsonweed - Is a field plant that is entirely poisonous, especially the seeds.

Laburum - Is an ornamental plant whose seeds, pods and flowers can be poisonous.

Lantana - Is a houseplant whose foliage is poisonous.

Larkspur - Is a wildflower that is poisonous only as a young plant.

Laurels - This is a type of shrub with poisonous leaves.
Lupines - Is a shrub whose seeds and pods are poisonous.

Manchineel Tree - A tree containing poisonous sap and fruit.

Matrimony Vine - An ornamental vine containing poisonous leaves and shoots.

Mayapple - A wildflower poisonous in the form of its un-ripened fruit as well as the foliage and roots.

Milk Vetch - A wildflower poisonous in its entirety.

Mistletoe - A houseplant with poisonous berries.

Monkshood - A wildflower poisonous in its entirety, especially the roots and seeds.

Moodseed - A vine whose fruit and roots are poisonous.

Morning Glory - Is a wildflower containing poisonous seeds and roots.

Mountain Mahogany - Is a shrub with poisonous leaves.

Mustards - These are wildflowers whose seeds can be poisonous.

Narcissus - This is a garden flower whose bulbs contain poisons.
 Nicotiana - Is a garden flower whose leaves are poisonous.

Nightshade - Is a wildflower and vine with poisonous leaves and berries.

Oaks - Are trees with poisonous leaves and shoots.

Philodendrons - Are houseplants poisonous in their entirety.

Pokeweed - Is a field plant containing poisonous roots, seeds and berries.

Poinsettia - Is a houseplant with poisonous leaves, flowers and stems.

Poison Hemlock - This is a field plant containing poisonous leaves, stems and fruit.

Potato - A garden plant whose shoots and sprouts can be poisonous.

Rattle Box - Is a wildflower that is entirely poisonous.
Rhododendron - Is an ornamental shrub whose leaves are poisonous.

Rhubarb - A garden plant with poisonous leaves.

Rosary Pea - Is a houseplant whose seeds are poisonous.

Skunk Cabbage - This is a marsh plant whose entire plant is poisonous but especially the roots and leaves.

Smart Weeds - Are wildflowers containing poisonous sap.

Snow-on-the-Mountain - This is a wildflower whose sap is poisonous.

Sorghum - Is a type of grass whose leaves are poisonous.

Star of Bethlehem - Is a wildflower poisonous in its entirety.

Velvet Grass - A variety of grass whose leaves are poisonous.

Wild Black Cherry - Is a tree with poisonous leaves and pits.

Wild Radish - A wildflower with poisonous seeds.

Wisteria - Is an ornamental plant containing poisonous seeds and pods.

Woody Aster - A wildflower whose entire plant is poisonous.

Yellow Jessamine - An ornamental vine that is entirely poisonous.

Yellow Pine Flax - A wildflower poisonous in its entirety but especially in the seedpods.

NOTE: If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center at             1-888-426-4435      .  This is 24 hour a day hotline.  (Note that in some cases a consultation fee may be charged to your credit card.)
or Call your Attending Veterinarian or Animal Emergency Clinic in your Area

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We just passed 34,003 paid customers here at Empower Network

This is the email I received from Dave Woods this morning:

Hi Suzanne,

I'm pumped.

We just passed 34,003 paid customers here at Empower Network…

…I was so jacked about what's happening, I wrote a blog post about it:

“HOW we got 34,003 Paid Customers OUR FIRST 7 months…”

　

　

Check us out and I will See you on the inside,

　

http://www.empowernetwork.com/blog/how-we-got-34003-paid-customers/?id=sunrisedata