bizthreads.net: Business Information for Entrepreneurs by an Entrepreneur

I spoke with the editor of a new magazine about to be printed shortly. The first issue will hit the presses in June and he's in a frenzy running around trying to finish the work.

In spite of his workload, he remains positive and upbeat. “I've got the easy job” he tells me when I ask him how he manages to smile in spite of the deadlines. Although he has to put up with the demands of contract negotiations with writers, he considers himself fortunate.

He goes on to say, “The sales staff has to sell advertising in a magazine that doesn't exist yet… they have no product to show. They have to build a relationship then sell a dream. That's the hard job!”

When I ask him how they're doing, he doesn't want to talk figures with me. But in spite of the obstacles, and unlike most magazines, they will be profitable on their first issue.

Think you have challenges and obstacles in your business? An upbeat attitude and a healthy dose of hustle, chutzpah, and relationship-building could mean good business for you, too.

I met a freelance writer friend of mine recently for coffee. His work is brisk — very brisk — and he had started to complain about his wrists hurting. Tendonitis is bad news in his line of work and he was really concerned that if he continued writing, he'd be headed for trouble. To ward off the pain he was going to go shopping for an ergonomic keyboard.

Fast forward a couple weeks later. I gave him a call and asked him if he had found one. He had, in fact, found one that very same day. He took it home and plugged it in and has not experienced pain since. What's more, he says, his typing speed has increased… allowing him to pay for the extra expense of his keyboard in a single afternoon of extra work!

If you do a lot of writing in your business, consider getting an ergonomic keyboard. They don't take long to get used to, they'll keep you from ruining your wrists, and your productivity may just increase. That's a health and wealth recipe I like!