Today is the 4th of July, the day we celebrate as the day our great country was founded in 1776, when we declared our independence from England. I thought I would write a few of my feelings about our country. I was raised the youngest of seven children in Los Angeles, California. My parents met during World War II in Utah. My father was a photographer in the Signal Corps and in charge of the photographic departments on several bases west of the Rockies. My mother worked in one of those departments in Ogden.

I was raised with a great love for our country. My parents took this very seriously. As I learned more and more about our country’s history and founding my love grew. Having read many books on our founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln, and other presidents, I do have an appreciation and love of these great people.  When we spend time learning about the good in America we learn to love her.

My brother-in-law use to take me backpacking when I was a teenager in the High Sierras. There is no place like the High Sierras in the world (so I am told by the many people we met on the trail from other countries). The time spent there I learned again to love our country and its amazing beauty. I have traveled to many of the other states in the Union on business, and I am always amazed at what a wonderful country we have. It is truly special. I personally believe that God put all the right elements here so a nation could thrive and spread goodness throughout the world.

We have a constitution like no other country, with our republican form of government; yes we are a REPUBLIC, not a democracy. This constitution was the first in human history to declare that as individuals our rights came from the God who created us, not from a person or a government. These rights limited the government’s control over our lives and allowed us the freedom to develop ourselves as we chose.

We have the world’s strongest best trained military. Now I know many people say we dwell too much on the military or spend too much on the military, etc. I have heard all of that, including we should not be in this country or that country, we should not be the world’s police force – we should just stay home and mind our own business. The reality of being the world’s police force is this, if we are not there to serve, some other super power will be called in to serve. So would we rather have China, Russia, or someone else in those countries? What would be the political frame work they would leave behind? Now I know that not everything is rosy with the military there are a few bad apples that commit crimes, etc. But by and large they are great people who serve and truly bless the lives of the people in those countries. An opportunity to help these struggling countries blesses everyone involved.

I have read several histories about the wars America has been involved in, I have visited several cemeteries where hundreds of thousands of soldiers are laid to rest. I have pondered on their lives being cut short by the conflict they were in, with deep gratitude I give thanks for their sacrifice and  the sacrifice of their families; I believe that the God of this land has a special place for them.

We have an amazing geography wherein we are able to produce food in abundance, like no other place on earth. Very few things won’t grow in America. What a great blessing to produce and eat so many different foods.

We have a country where people from other countries can become an American. Becoming an American is a very special thing and I would hope that all people who come would be contributors to this great country and not work to tear it down. We have so many people who wrongfully beat a negative drum that it is sad to see what they are missing. I would ask them to study deeply its history and learn about the people and hopefully they will discover what an amazing great country that God has blessed us with.

I could go on with many more things about the greatness of America, but time and space are limited. So I will invite you to find at least five of your favorite things about America and share them with your family and friends this weekend. Help others understand why you are grateful to be an American. And always ask God to continue to bless America.

Oh - and one more thing we have a great flag - I love our flag - long may she wave!

By, Kristen Winterton

Starting your own business is a terrifying, exhilarating experience.  There are so many things to learn and do, with learning experiences coming at you from all directions.  As you tackle the challenges you encounter, it is easy in the beginning to shrug these challenges off and keep moving forward; however, as it wears on, it may begin to be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It is at these moments that your work ethic and passion for entrepreneurship is defined. 

Many small businesses fail in the first five years not necessarily because the ideas behind the businesses are bad ideas, or that the entrepreneurs are poor business people, but because people get discouraged when they face obstacles.  When you are able to see past these problems and work through them, you become stronger and better able to face the next challenges.  Challenges in life are a constant; there is no easy road to travel that makes life worry-free because of the fact that the business world is an ever-changing landscape.  Businesses that can adapt to the demands of the fluctuating economy will survive, where others who are complacent will fail.

This comes with a caution, however.  It does not mean you should hang on to every idea that you have, or that everything will succeed if you try hard enough.  It simply means that you should not give up on a sound business idea just because there are bumps in the road.  For example, there is an individual in Peru who wanted to start a business, and decided to start a farm to raise cuy (cuy are guinea pigs, which are a Peruvian delicacy).  It took a year for this gentleman to even begin laying the first bricks for his farm, during which time he struggled with getting permits for raising animals, securing land, working a second job, and family and health issues.  It seemed like every challenge in the book was thrown at him, yet he continued working through it.  Today he works with his family and maintains a successful cuy farm.  The challenges are not over yet, and never will be, but he faces the obstacles head-on with a determination to succeed.

From the story of this man, we can all learn that patience is critical, and that having a good attitude and being able to see past the current challenges to the goal ahead will help us to achieve success in the long-term.  Starting a business will never be easy and should never be easy, but there will come a time when running it will become easier, and you will be able to see the fruits of your labor if you keep pushing on.  I share the same advice to you that my mother taught me years ago: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  You can succeed; just work patiently and diligently and somehow it will all come together.

By Kristen Winterton
         
While writing a business plan is commonly referred to in the entrepreneurial world, there is often little clarity in what is expected in the business plan, and what elements are usually found within the pages of a business plan.  To help with this, I have compiled a general outline of a business plan, with the details of what to include.  The business plan includes: an executive summary, a company description, an industry analysis, a marketing plan, and a financial plan.

A business plan begins with an executive summary.  This summary includes a brief overview of who the stakeholders in the business plan are, the nature of the product or service, how the product will be sold, expected financial requirements, and growth expectations for the company.  This is meant to be relatively short, and will follow the outline of the rest of the business plan.  If there were only one page through which you could convey your business idea, this would be it.  The rest of the business plan is an extension of the executive summary.

This is generally followed by a general company description, through which you can thoroughly describe your product or service, who you would like to sell to, your “target market”, organizational type and structure, and the general administration items of your business.

The next section will be the market research portion of the business plan, and is called the industry analysis.  Throughout this section, the business idea is constantly reevaluated for viability.  The section will have a SWOT analysis which details out the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of this business idea. 

Strengths are the established internal factors that will help the business succeed and can include such things as previous experience in the field or connections to necessary resources, among other things.  Weaknesses are the internal factors that could cause a business to fail, and could include such things as financial limitations, lack of experiences or knowledge, other resource restraints.

The other two factors are external factors, meaning that they have to do with outside influences; it allows you to think beyond your current status to what could happen in the future.  Opportunities are the positive movements that could be made and could include expectations of advancements in technology, decreased governmental regulations, or similar events that a company could take as an opportunity.  Threats are the opposite factor, and could include increased regulations, increased competition in the industry, or consumer substitutions for your product in favor of another product, among others.

The marketing plan is developed to state how a product will be introduced to the marketplace.  It can be brought to consumers in many ways from social media, to word-of-mouth, to networking, to televised or broadcasted media, or through printed banners, billboards, signs, or fliers, depending upon the unique needs of a business.  The marketing plan is developed to outline who will be contacted, the medium through which to contact, how many people will be contacted, and the frequency of contacting.

The final step in the business plan is the financial plan.  This section states how the business will be funded, the necessary requirements for funding, and includes preliminary, or pro forma, financials which are the anticipated results of the business.  It includes income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flow.  These financials will include how many units will be sold, anticipated costs and liabilities, anticipated growth based on the availability of customers, and the analysis of the business idea from a purely financial perspective which will allow an investor to see how the business has the capacity to perform.  If necessary, a section for appendices may be included at the end, which contains tables, graphs, and charts and which can be referenced in any of the previous sections.

When developed in this manner, a business plan can be coherently and completely compiled, allowing a company to see potential pitfalls and allowing them to proactively develop a viable business.  Many failures can be avoided in businesses when the business plans are taken through these various steps, as it takes a multitude of concerns into account.  When these mistakes are avoided, the odds of succeeding in business ventures invariably increase.

By Kristen Winterton

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of micro-finance is in finding funding.  Many different avenues exist for funding, through venture capital funding, angel investors, friends and family, or by using your networks.  Correct utilization of networking can be an excellent source of finding funding.

One example of utilizing a network is Effect International.  The students who started Effect International are alumni of Utah State University, and are utilizing the friendships and connections made there to make a difference in the world as a whole.  Over the course of the last year, the Huntsman Scholars in the School of Business at Utah State University have worked with Effect International to raise money to build a school in India. 

This school will be located in the village of Kuan, Madhya Pradesh, India, and is the second school to be built by Effect International.  The first school is established and is already serving 120 students, with plans to expand.  It seems that there is always more need for education, and the individuals working with Effect International are trying to meet the growing needs.

The location of the school in Kuan is very strategic, as it is a central location for several communities, and will allow students from many villages to attend school.  These children currently have very little opportunity for schooling, as the system is very corrupt, and teachers don’t even bother showing up to teach.  Effect International works with the communities to build the school, hire teachers, and oversee the operations to ensure that children are educated properly.

In order for Effect International to have the funds to build and operate the schools, they reached out to their established network at Utah State University.  One of the co-founders of Effect International is an alumnus of the Huntsman Scholars Program, so current students in the program reached out to help.  They set up craft fairs, a princess party, bake sales, developed partnerships with restaurants to receive a portion of proceeds, and created small businesses to raise the money necessary to build the school.

The craft fair was an expo of several businesses, many with international ties, who set up booths in a large center, allowing community members to have a central location to see what the community had to offer.  These businesses provided everything from homemade jewelry to belt buckles made from caribao (an animal native to the Philippines) to notebooks with paintings, photographs, and drawings made by novice artists from around the world.

The princess party was an event held for young girls which provided an opportunity for them to dress up as a princess and go to get their hair and nails done, story time, dancing, and encouragement for them to fulfill their dreams.  The group had the girls write down their dreams on a slip of paper, and the group then developed a dream tree, as seen in the picture, with all of the dreams hung on the limbs of the trees.  The community responded positively, and the event was a great success.

Many small businesses were created, such as a window-washing business, bake sales, and a partnership with local restaurants which allowed the students to advertise attendance at a restaurant in favor of the group raising money for Effect International as a portion of profits.

By reaching out to their network, thousands of dollars of funding was raised for Effect International.  Likewise, think of the connections that you may have as you try to find funding.  Consider what resources you may have at your disposal which can help you achieve your purpose. CREED is currently raising capital to fund micro enterprises loans in Belize. Click on one of the links to donate.

By Jayme Mendenhall

There are many factors that influence the long-term success of a business venture. If you are thinking about starting up your own business or already have a business of your own, consider the following ideas:

Passion is the number one ingredient in a successful business venture.  Passion turns a business into something more for the business owner. A passionate businessman is able to reach not only his client’s pocketbooks, but also their hearts.

A solid business is built on a well-considered, strategic foundation. This foundation is found in the business plan.

The hallmark of success is found in excellent customer relationships.

Quality, reliability, integrity and service are essential values for a successful business.

Products, pricing, and procedures are regularly checked by the owner.

A flexible business is a successful business. Business owners who are able to adapt and change with the industry, technology, and the market are able to survive many market swings and fluxuations.

 A good business owner also knows the value of delegation.

If you are in the process of planning your own business venture, take a few minutes to ponder how implementing these ideas at the onset of your business can maximize your bottom line and minimize hassles and headaches down the road. These ideas might seem obvious, but often times it is the obvious that get overlooked. It is easy to get caught up in the busy routine of keeping a business afloat; no one knows that more than a business owner. Use this list to periodically evaluate where you or your team is at and make the necessary course corrections.  Now more than ever, America and the world need entrepreneurs who have passion, integrity, and the discipline to keep their values in check while maintaining quality products and services. Let freedom as well as the free market be safeguarded within the small businesses!

By Jayme Mendenhall

It has been said of bees that they are the most perfect of any insect in the way they live, and the most valuable on account of the work they do. There are thousands of plants that rely on the bees to perpetuate them and bring forth fruit. About 30-40% of the food we eat is dependant upon bees for their pollination.  As many people know, bee populations have dramatically decreased over the last 20-30 years.  Farmers often rent hives of bees from beekeepers to ensure pollination of their crops. The price of honey is increasing and the demand for raw honey is increasing as people learn of the many benefits and uses for good quality, local, raw honey.

As a micro-business idea, beekeeping is one that may work for some. To start up a hive, the cost could range from a few hundred dollars to just under a thousand- depending on how resourceful one is as well as how much equipment is desired. It is a good idea to have a mentor, someone local who could help guide a new beekeeper in this adventure. There are many books on the market for beginning beekeepers as well as a lot of material online. In some areas, there may also be a beekeepers club.

One hive can grow into two or three hives in a year, thus making it possible to easily grow the business. One hive yields about 75 pounds of honey, as well as wax and propolis- other saleable bee products. Renting out beehives is actually where the money is mostly made. One hive could yield between $10-$180 depending on the season as well as the crop that needs to be pollinated. The California almond crop alone requires more than half the commercial bee colonies in the nation.

Some excellent books for beginning beekeepers may include: The Beekeepers Handbook, Beekeeping for Fun & Profit, and The Backyard Beekeeper. Any of these books will give you an excellent description of bee anatomy, hive life, pests and other problems, beehive equipment, and beehive maintenance along with other important information. These books can be found on Amazon, at bookstores and maybe even at your local library.

Beekeeping is not for the weak at heart, however. Those with allergies or phobias need not apply. It also takes dedication and hard work. Beekeeping is usually taken up as a hobby (micro business). However, if you are considering a micro-business and have a place to keep bees, consider beekeeping. Below are some excellent links to further beekeeping resources.

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G7600

http://www.beehiverules.info/category/beekeeping

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/news/ent41.pdf

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/