message from Dr daisaku ikeda

NEW YEAR MESSAGE

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s New Year’s Message

A Story of the Triumph of Human Revolution,

A History of the Dynamic Development of Kosen-Rufu.



Congratulations on the brilliant start of the Year of Capable People and Dynamic Development! Let us set forth energetically into this second decade of the 21st century, aiming toward the centennial of the Soka Gakkai’s founding in 2030.

Nichiren Daishonin writes: “When the god of the sun rises at dawn in the east, he sends forth his rays of light, opens his heavenly eyes, and observes the [entire world]. If . . . he sees a votary of the Lotus Sutra, he rejoices in heart” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 653).

In the lands where our members are chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo - the fundamental Law of the universe - and putting into action the wisdom found in the humanistic teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, the heavenly deities are surely rejoicing. There, too, the hope-filled momentum for peace and prosperity that we call Kosen-Rufu is well under way.

In these increasingly troubled times, let us strive all the more to make our lives brim with the transformative, revitalizing and harmonizing power of the Mystic Law.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the women’s division. The members of the women’s division, the suns of the SGI, play an especially invaluable role in their families, communities and society as a whole. While warmly supporting and commending all our women’s division members, the mothers of Kosen-Rufu, let us continue to wisely and harmoniously expand our network of happiness and victory.

* * *

The Lotus Sutra describes the Bodhisattvas of the Earth emerging from the ground of “all the billion lands of the saha world” (The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, p. 252) in response to the call of their teacher, Shakyamuni. These bodhisattvas joyously appear in the place of their mission and carry out their struggle in the land to which they have a karmic connection.

In exactly the same way, we of the SGI comprise a magnificent network of Bodhisattvas of the Earth that spans our blue planet, and is dedicated to the promotion of peace, culture and education. Each one of us voluntarily chose to be born in this troubled saha world and enact a drama of human revolution. The script of each drama is different: some are about triumphing over illness, overcoming financial difficulty or resolving interpersonal relationship problems. But all involve achieving victory through changing poison into medicine, thereby conveying the greatness of the Mystic Law to others and giving them immeasurable courage and hope in the process.

In praise of the Ikegami brothers, who valiantly surmounted challenging obstacles, the Daishonin writes, “Could there ever be a more wonderful story than your own?” (WND-1, 499). There is no negative karma that cannot be transformed through the power of faith in the Mystic Law. I hope each of you will write your own triumphant story of human revolution that will continue to be told for endless generations to come.

* * *

The English word history contains the word story. I am presently engaged in a dialogue with the American historian Dr. Vincent Harding, who was also a close friend of American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We discussed how humanity’s power to create history arises from our capacity to narrate, to tell stories.

Dr. Harding remarked: “These stories help us to understand how we are connected to each other. It is this thought that makes us understand that we are all part of one whole—that there is no real separation. This means that separation and division are nothing more than illusions. Our various stories, then, call attention to the connectivity that exists between human beings.”

The experiences in faith that our SGI members proudly relate to others are stories of awakening to the inherent dignity and worth of their own lives and the resulting emergence of the invincible power of the Buddha from the depths of their being. They are inspirational stories that allow us to reconfirm that beyond superficial differences such as race, ethnicity, language or culture, we are all infinitely noble human beings who have the potential for

Buddhahood. They are stories that encourage and spur us onward in our efforts.

* * *

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the youth division.

On Jan. 6, 1951, my mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, called me to his house. On that day, in the midst of great adversity arising from his business difficulties, he entrusted the future to me, then just 23 years old. He also went on to say: “No matter what happens, if you and I fulfill our life missions, the time will definitely come when the Daishonin’s cherished wish for Kosen-Rufu will be achieved. No matter what anyone says, you must advance strongly and purposefully for the sake of the Gakkai.”

When youthful disciples rise to action, sharing the same spirit as their mentor, they will write a powerful story and leave behind a profound history unrivaled anywhere in the world. Indeed, today we are seeing the youth of the SGI around the globe making outstanding achievements.

As the British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead observed, “The primary religious virtue is sincerity.” Nothing can surpass or compare with sincerity.

Let’s win in the coming year, each writing a new story of the triumph of human revolution and a fresh history of the dynamic development of kosen-rufu—through strong prayer, dedicated effort and solid unity.

My wife and I are praying wholeheartedly for the health and long lives of our beloved fellow members and their families in 192 countries and territories around the world.

Daisaku Ikeda

President, Soka Gakkai International .

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, January 27, 2011:

Viewing events and situations in a positive light is important. The strength, wisdom and cheerfulness that accompany such an attitude lead to happiness. To regard everything in a positive light or with a spirit of goodwill, however, does not mean being foolishly gullible and allowing people to take advantage of our good nature. It means having the wisdom and perception to actually move things in a positive direction by seeing things in their best light, while all the time keeping our eyes firmly focused on reality.

Words of the Week
January 24, 2011

A word of encouragement will open
the door to friendship.
When we encourage even one person,
we can create a momentum for the
development of capable individuals.
Today, again, lets' advance one step.


Buddhism Day by Day
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, January 27, 2011:

Everyone has a right to flower, to reveal his or her full potential as a human being, to fulfill his or her mission in this world. You have this right, and so does everyone else. This is the meaning of human rights. To scorn, violate and abuse people's human rights destroys the natural order of things. Prizing human rights and respecting others are among our most important tasks.

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, January 27, 2011:

If a vessel is free of these four faults of overturning, leaking, being defiled, and being mixed, then it can be called a perfect vessel. If the embankments around a moat do not leak, then the water will never escape from the moat. And if the mind of faith is perfect, then the water of wisdom, the great impartial wisdom, will never dry up.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1015
Letter to Akimoto
Written to Akimoto Taro Hyoe-no-jo on January 27, 1280

Obama and Reagan’s Speeches about Freedom

President Obama spoke to Chinese college students on Monday, as President Ronald Reagan spoke to Moscow State University students in 1988. There were a lot of similarities — both men are great communicators, convinced of the rightness of their views and of their persuasive ability, and confident that their values are not just American but universal. But there were some clear differences in the philosophies they presented.

President Obama was eloquent in his defense of freedom in the heart of an authoritarian country:

The United States, by comparison, is a young nation, whose culture is determined by the many different immigrants who have come to our shores, and by the founding documents that guide our democracy.

America will always speak out for these core principles around the world. We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don’t believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation. These freedoms of expression and worship — of access to information and political participation — we believe are universal rights.

Those documents put forward a simple vision of human affairs, and they enshrine several core principles — that all men and women are created equal, and possess certain fundamental rights; that government should reflect the will of the people and respond to their wishes; that commerce should be open, information freely accessible; and that laws, and not simply men, should guarantee the administration of justice….

Those are important American values, and I agree with the president that they are universal, as classical liberals have long argued. But I’m disappointed that President Obama didn’t cite freedom of enterprise, property rights, and limited government as American values. Those are not only the necessary conditions for growth and prosperity, they are the necessary foundation for civil liberties.

He did glancingly mention in the paragraph above that “commerce should be open, information freely accessible,” so that’s half a clause about commerce, I guess. But that’s it for the freedoms that allow people to work and save, create, build, invest, and prosper. He noted that “China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty — an accomplishment unparalleled in human history” but didn’t examine how that happened. (Hint: economic reforms that moved toward free markets and (quasi) property rights.)

His only subsequent mention of freedom touched on economics in the context of citizen participation and the Internet:

Now, that’s not just true in — for government and politics. It’s also true for business. You think about a company like Google that only 20 years ago was — less than 20 years ago was the idea of a couple of people not much older than you. It was a science project. And suddenly because of the Internet, they were able to create an industry that has revolutionized commerce all around the world. So if it had not been for the freedom and the openness that the Internet allows, Google wouldn’t exist.

So I’m a big supporter of not restricting Internet use, Internet access, other information technologies like Twitter.

Yes, “the freedom and the openness that the Internet allows” were important to the development of Google. But more fundamental was the freedom of enterprise in America. There’s a reason that so many technological advances and consumer benefits are developed in the world’s freest economies. Property rights, freedom of exchange, low taxes, and limited restrictions on entreneurship allow people to invest and create.

Contrast the speech that President Reagan gave to the students who were still behind the Iron Curtain in 1988. Start with the way he addressed a very similar point to the one Obama made about Google:

The explorers of the modern era are the entrepreneurs, men with vision, with the courage to take risks and faith enough to brave the unknown. These entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States. They are the prime movers of the technological revolution. In fact, one of the largest personal computer firms in the United States was started by two college students, no older than you, in the garage behind their home.

Reagan praised democracy and justice and openness:

At the same time, the growth of democracy has become one of the most powerful political movements of our age….Democracy is the standard by which governments are measured.We Americans make no secret of our belief in freedom. In fact, it’s something of a national pastime. Every 4 years the American people choose a new President, and 1988 is one of those years. At one point there were 13 major candidates running in the two major parties, not to mention all the others, including the Socialist and Libertarian candidates — all trying to get my job. About 1,000 local television stations, 8,500 radio stations, and 1,700 daily newspapers — each one an independent, private enterprise, fiercely independent of the Government — report on the candidates, grill them in interviews, and bring them together for debates. In the end, the people vote; they decide who will be the next President.But freedom doesn’t begin or end with elections.

Go to any American town, to take just an example, and you’ll see dozens of churches, representing many different beliefs — in many places, synagogues and mosques — and you’ll see families of every conceivable nationality worshiping together. Go into any schoolroom, and there you will see children being taught the Declaration of Independence, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights — among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — that no government can justly deny; the guarantees in their Constitution for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Go into any courtroom, and there will preside an independent judge, beholden to no government power. There every defendant has the right to a trial by a jury of his peers, usually 12 men and women — common citizens; they are the ones, the only ones, who weigh the evidence and decide on guilt or innocence. In that court, the accused is innocent until proven guilty, and the word of a policeman or any official has no greater legal standing than the word of the accused. Go to any university campus, and there you’ll find an open, sometimes heated discussion of the problems in American society and what can be done to correct them. Turn on the television, and you’ll see the legislature conducting the business of government right there before the camera, debating and voting on the legislation that will become the law of the land. March in any demonstration, and there are many of them; the people’s right of assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution and protected by the police. Go into any union hall, where the members know their right to strike is protected by law….

But freedom is more even than this. Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things.

And he came back to the basic purpose of democracy in the American context, not a plebiscitary system but a way to ensure that the governors don’t exceed the consent of the governed: “Democracy is less a system of government than it is a system to keep government limited, unintrusive; a system of constraints on power to keep politics and government secondary to the important things in life, the true sources of value found only in family and faith.”

He tied all of these freedoms to the American commitment to economic freedom as well. Throughout the speech he tried to enlighten students who had grown up under communism about the meaning of free enterprise:

Some people, even in my own country, look at the riot of experiment that is the free market and see only waste. What of all the entrepreneurs that fail? Well, many do, particularly the successful ones; often several times. And if you ask them the secret of their success, they’ll tell you it’s all that they learned in their struggles along the way; yes, it’s what they learned from failing. Like an athlete in competition or a scholar in pursuit of the truth, experience is the greatest teacher….

And that’s why it’s so hard for government planners, no matter how sophisticated, to ever substitute for millions of individuals working night and day to make their dreams come true. The fact is, bureaucracies are a problem around the world.

He even explained why China would one day, as President Obama said, lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty:

We are seeing the power of economic freedom spreading around the world — places such as the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have vaulted into the technological era, barely pausing in the industrial age along the way. Low-tax agricultural policies in the sub-continent mean that in some years India is now a net exporter of food. Perhaps most exciting are the winds of change that are blowing over the People’s Republic of China, where one-quarter of the world’s population is now getting its first taste of economic freedom.

Who Ran Up the National Debt?

Who Ran Up the National Debt?

debt-creators-in-chief

The persistent cacophony from the Republican debt/deficit hawks, who only surface during Democratic administrations, is enough to keep me rolling my eyes in to perpetuity.The most pitiful and annoying aspect of this particular trait in Republicans, is their seeming forgetfulness.

Indeed, I have become consumed with a burning desire to remind them of exactly who is responsible for driving up U.S. debt. And, as you undoubtedly deduced from my graphic, It is the evil triumvirate of three Republican presidents, at least 2 of which are destined to be remembered in history as "The Two Worst Presidents Ever".

My solution is simple. When these phony deficti/debt hawks start blathering their lies and nonsense in my presence, I ask these conservatives a simple, yet telling, question, leaving them unable to deny reality, at least in my presence.

“Why did you not concern yourself with debt and deficits when Bush-the-Lesser was in office, or for that matter,Dear Ronald????

And, in return, I usually get a blank stare, until I whip out .this graph of the national debt by presidential tenure, and then they whimper as they slink off with what I hope is a sense of deep shame.

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

August 28, 1963
Washington, D. C.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacle of segregation and the chains of discrimination.

One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.

There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must ever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.
We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.

No, no, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow. I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!" And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that.

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

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Working at Home
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Related Articles

12 Tips for Getting Your Bank Loan Approved
Find Yourself an "Angel"
The Six-Step Process to Raising Capital
The Six C's of Credit
Can Your Small Business Attract Venture Capital Financing?


Recommended Books

Finding Money : The Small Business Guide to Financing
Financing Your Business Dreams With Other People's Money : How and Where to Find Money for Start-Up and Growing Businesses
Small Business Financing : How and Where to Get It
Where to Go When the Bank Says No : Alternatives For Financing Your Business
Guerrilla Financing : Alternative Techniques to Finance Any Small Business


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How to Raise Money to Start a Business
Capital is hard to come-by, especially if: (a) you do not have a good business idea or business plan that will make rich backers run to you in the hope of multiplying their savings exponentially.

by Isabel M. Isidro
Managing Editor



Personal Savings
Family Members and Friends
Venture Capitalists
Angel Investors
Banks
Industrial Banks
Advertising
Credit Cards
Small Business Investment Companies
Business Development Commissions
Life Insurance
Money Broker or Finder
(article continued below ...)


One key to a successful business start-up and expansion is your ability to obtain and secure appropriate financing. Raising capital is the most basic of all business activities. Remember, it takes money to make more money.

Flip open trade publications and business newspapers, and you will be bombarded by reports of abundance of available capital for entrepreneurial start-ups, particularly for the dot.coms. The financial news would have you believe that more money is available for new business ventures than there are good business ideas.

However, while venture capital may be overflowing for the Internet start-ups, the real scenario for small businesses (and worse, home-based businesses) is far different. Capital is hard to come-by, especially if: (a) you do not have a good business idea or business plan that will make rich backers run to you in the hope of multiplying their savings exponentially; and (b) you may have a good business idea, but you do not know anyone who matters. The problem is that most beginning "business builders” doesn’t know what to believe or which way to turn for help.

Then again, business means risk, and success comes to those who focus on their goals and actually do something. Who knows, you may be lucky and dispel stories of “tight money.” You first step should be to start making phone calls -- talking to people, and making appointments to discuss your plans with the people who have money to invest. When you're looking for money, it's essential that you get the word out to as many potential investors as possible.

There are several sources to consider when looking for financing. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the only place you can find the money you need is through the bank or finance company. Explore all of your options before making a decision. These include –


Personal Savings.

The first place to look for financing is right at home and personal savings and assets are the easiest source of capital. If you have money set aside, you use it instead of borrowing or rounding up investors. Or, you can take an inventory of items you do not need and have a garage sale. Most people are pleasantly surprised how much cash they can raise in a single weekend. You can also use your stocks, bonds, pension plans, life insurance policies and real estate to raise the needed capital. Those who own homes oftentimes secure equity loans and use the proceeds to start a business.

However, most beginning entrepreneurs don’t have adequate personal savings to fund a business start-up. Others, on the other hand, have savings but refuse to dip into their piggy bank for a variety of reasons. It may be their retirement money or for emergencies; while others would rather use their savings as collateral and borrow against it at a low interest rate.


Family Members and Friends.

Next, turn to members of your family or close friends who have faith in you and want to see you succeed. Borrowing from a friend or relative is generally the most readily available source, especially when the capital requirement is smaller. Relatives and people you know need fewer assurances and are more open to your ideas than professional investors. They are also more patient if your business takes longer than expected to get off the ground. Offer to repay them through profit sharing.

If you are borrowing from family members instead of asking them to invest, maintain a very businesslike and impersonal procedure. To avoid putting strain on the relationship, it is better to draw up a formal agreement in order to put the terms of the loan in writing. It is important to view the participants as business associates.


Venture Capitalists.

Venture capitalists are professional investors who may be in charge of a large pool of capital gathered from a range of sources. These firms invest in new, even high-risk or speculative businesses without a proven track record, with the potential for rapid growth and high returns in a short time. They generally want equity or part ownership of a business in exchange for substantial returns (25 to 40 percent or more) when they exit typically in three to seven years. Particularly in the Internet sector, several venture capital firms have achieved capital gains of 300 to 500 percent, which are used to offset by a wide margin any losing ventures. These firms are mostly interested in potential projects that require $500,000 or more because of the high cost of investigation, evaluation and administration. While a venture capital firm may receive as many as 1,000 business proposals a year, it will typically investigate less than 10 percent and may actually invest in only 3 or 4 percent.


Angel Investors.

Angels are private investors interested in making more on their capital than they can make through traditional markets such as mutual funds or publicly traded stocks. These “angels” can be your accountant, attorney, doctors or other individuals who seek out new businesses to invest in return for equity ownership. Usually providing additional capital in the range of $25,000 to $500,000, expect angel investors to demand high returns for their investments. Relative to venture capitalists, though, angel investors are less demanding and can also be expected to provide expert guidance and mentor the start-up.

As you explain your plan to them, and ask for their advice, casually ask them if they'd mind letting you know of, or steer your way any potential investor they might happen to meet. Do the same with your banker. Give him a copy of your prospectus and ask him if he'd look it over and offer any suggestion for improving it, and of course, let you know of any potential investors. In either case, it's always a good idea to let them know you're willing to pay a "finder 's fee" if you can be directed to the right investor.

Professional people such as doctors and dentists are known to have a tendency to join occupational investment groups. The next time you talk with your doctor or dentist, give him a prospectus and explain your plan. He may want to invest on his own or perhaps set up an appointment for you to talk with the manager of his investment group

Note, however, that most angels and venture capitalists do not invest in home businesses.

Continue to Part 2





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How To Get Government Grants for a Small Business
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Find Yourself an "Angel"
How to Raise Money to Start a Business


Recommended Books

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Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You REALLY Need to Do to Get Grants
Grant Seeker's Budget Toolkit
Ten Steps to Fundraising Success: Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Organization (With CD-ROM)
How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters


Copyright © 2010>
ab

Free Money for Your Business
You've heard claims and seen ads about "free money" available to business owners. Is there really free money available for small businesses and entrepreneurs? The answer is both "Yes" and "No."

by Isabel M Isidro
Managing Editor



Many individuals are looking for grants or "free money" to start their business. They may have read or heard that free money for business owners exists, and how easy it is to get hold of these monies. Some have read ads, in print or on the Web, offering them information as to where to get free grants. With these ads making it look like there is money out there for the taking, who wouldn't dream to get a part of it?
(article continued below ...)

But, is there really free money out there for small and home-based businesses? The answer is "Yes" and "No."

There are hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding available free to entrepreneurs and small business owners. These grant monies come from the government, non-governmental organizations, and private institutions. The grant amount ranges from $5,000 up to some in the six figures. Best of all, absolutely none of them requires a pay back. You, too may have seen or read advertising in this regard.

However, the myth of "free money" intended for starting or expanding a small business needs to be dispelled.

Most funding institutions do not provide grants or "free money" for starting or developing a business. The Small Business Administration, Bank of America Foundation, and other grant funding sources do not give capital to start a day care or clothing design business, etc.. Nor do they provide grants to individuals who will use the proceeds to start their own "for profit" small business.

Rather, funding organizations generally target their assistance towards specific groups, types of organizations or activities. The grants provided by SBA are normally given to nonprofits or educational institutions. The Bank of America Foundation considers charitable requests from nonprofit organizations in geographic areas where the company has a business presence. These funding institutions provide funds mostly in a "project" context, consistent with their organization's goals and objectives.

There are a few grant sources that provide money directly to individuals. However, the use of the grant proceeds must be consistent with the objectives of the funding institution. Since most grants are project-based, many funding organizations require that the applicant provide counterpart funding. Grants may cover only a fraction of the project cost; very rarely do grants cover 100% of the total cost.

Take for example the Indian Grant Program given by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This program gives up to $100,000 to American Indian individuals. However, the grant stipulates that the funds must be used for "development of profit-oriented businesses that will have positive economic impact on Indian Reservation." Furthermore, the grant must be no more than 25 percent of project costs - meaning that the individual must provide 75 percent counterpart money for the project.

Resources on Grants

Entrepreneurs and would-be business owners seeking grant funding for a project can check out the following books and web sites in the US and other countries. Note that some of the sites are free, while others require subscription.

Books

"The Complete Guide To Getting A Grant: How to Turn Your Ideas into Dollars "by Laurie Blum

"Free money for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs" by Laurie Blum

Winning Grants Step by Step: Support Centers of America's Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals by Mim Carlson

Free Money to Change Your Life by Matthew, Lesko, et al

"Free money from the federal government for small businesses
and entrepreneurs" by Laurie Blum

Databases

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance http://www.cfda.gov
An easy-to-use database of all grants and assistance provided by the United States federal government. You can search by functional area, by agency, by keywords, etc. Use of the site is free.

Grants Canada http://www.grantscanada.com/
A paid database service that lists programs and contact information on federal, provincial and regional assistance programs in Canada. Their online database lists hundreds of programs offering financial assistance for Canadian businesses and individuals including grants, low-interest loans, technical assistance and more. Access to the database requires an annual subscription payment of $99 (Canadian dollars).

J4B http://www.j4b.co.uk
A free repository of information businesses in the United Kingdom seeking grants, soft loans, financial assistance, and help-in-kind. The database contains loans and grants for business start-up, research and development, export and trading, training and education, among others. Access of the database is free, but registration is required (and you must have a UK post code).

Links

U.S. Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

This site is a listing of grant programs supported by the SBA. Note that SBA does not offer grants to business starts-ups; rather they give grants to non-governmental organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Use this list to check out some of the programs that SBA supports and find one that you may qualify.

CanadaOne: Grants and Loans for Young Entrepreneurs in Canada http://www.canadaone.com/magazine/loan_programs.html

This site lists the available grants for young entrepreneurs in the Canadian provinces/regions of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Yukon, Atlantic Canada, and Western Canada. It also includes a list of national programs for young entrepreneurs.

Looking for funds to finance a small business is a difficult process; with the process made more confusing by the abundance of myths and scams in searching for free money.

Tips from the Federal Trade Commission

* Be very wary of anyone who promises or guarantees they can get you a grant or a loan, particularly if you must pay in advance for the service.
* If you are tempted to respond to one of these offers because of a money-back guarantee, be aware that they may impose so many conditions it could be difficult to ever get your money back.
* If you are experiencing financial problems and believe you may qualify for some kind of aid, check with your city or state unemployment or social assistance office.
* Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints about a company before sending money.
* Advertising in recognized media outlets or on the Internet does not guarantee the legitimacy of the company behind the ad.



=====


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Business Plan Basics 58 Ways To Find Money For Your Business is crammed with tips, information, and help for entrepreneurs and small business owners who need money for their company. From joint venture partners, grants, and bartering to venture capital and small business SBA loans, you’ll find a way to finance your company, whether you need $500 or $500,000.

The authors, Brian Hill and Dee Power, put their combined 30 years of experience with early stage companies, and working with hundreds of businesses in nearly every industry, into

58 Ways To Find Money For Your Business.

Small Business Start Up Loans, Business Financing, Venture Capital Funding and More

The Capital Connection is a Portal for Entrepreneurs. It's better than a search engine and more than a directory. We not only list and link services and sources but also give you a description. If you're looking for small business loans, business financing, or venture capital funding you've come to the right place. The categories are listed on the left hand column.

Protecting your current investment in your business is just as important as finding additional capital. An unexpected death, natural disaster or lawsuit can devastate a small firm. Protect all your hard work and minimize financial risks with business insurance.

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Categories
Acquisition Financing
For management buyouts or acquiring an established business acquisition financing can provide the necessary funds. Many small business loan sources, including SBA loans, also will provide funds to acquire a business so check loans too. The amount of funding provided depends on the assets of the business, and the income. Bankers look at the credit worthiness of both the business and the individual buying the business. It may be necessary to personally guarantee the loan as well. If the business owns real property it may be possible to mortgage the property and use the proceeds to purchase the business. When acquiring a business don't automatically assume that insurance is part of the transaction. Review all claims against the business for potential future liability. Then compare different insurance companies like UIA Insurance.
Asset Management

Protecting your assets is one way to open up different financing methods in the future. Learn more about hedge fund asset management firms like GoldenTree Asset Management firm.
Alternative Financing

This includes sources for purchase order financing, trade and barter, factoring like Fast Upfront Business Loans, asset based financing, and joint venturing.

Invoice Factoring does not depend on the credit worthiness of the business in most cases requesting to factor. It does depend on the size of the receivable, or total of invoices, and the customer who owes the money. Terms vary. Sometimes the customer is asked to pay the factoring company directly, who then passes on the money to the business. In other cases there's no notification. SME Finance help companies with factoring. Go to Alternatives
Private Equity Investors

Angel networks and clubs to help you find a private investor. Individual accredited investors provide much more capital for entrepreneurs and start up companies than venture capital firms. There are roughly only about 1500 venture capital firms in the United States and some 3 million private equity investors. So while individuals invest a smaller amount per company, about $75,000 they invest in many more companies than venture capital firms do.
Business Incubators
sometimes called business accelerators provide mentoring services, office space, administrative assistance and sometimes capital. Most incubators are nonprofit but that doesn't mean they're free. The charge for the office space is somewhat higher than leasing commercial space or an executive office and the incubator requires an equity position in the company it assists. Find Private Incubators which are run on a for profit basis, and Nonprofit incubators
Capital Networks

Capital networks seem to be making a comeback. In the heyday of venture capital investing, 1998 to 2000, the Internet saw quite a few networks. When the VC bubble burst the majority folded. Capital networks include on-line and off-line "matching services", "screening services", and "publications". Fees vary from a token monthly amount to thousands of dollars. Most of the networks charge the entrepreneur. Go to capital networks for an overview of each type of service and then links to the specific kind of network.
Catalog Store

Books, booklets, guides and directories to help you find capital. Develop a business plan. Set goals and objectives Business Finance Books
Debt Negotiation
There are times when it's necessary to renegotiate debt the company may be carrying. If that happens it's necessary to carefully compare debt management options, debt settlement, debt consolidation, and bankruptcy. More on debt negotiation
Grants for Businesses

There are grants for businesses but most of them are competitive or for non-profit organizations. Find a list of grants for businesses.
Investment Bankers, Intermediaries

Investment Bankers, Corporate Finance Consultants, Advisors and Intermediaries to assist you in your search for capital, private investors, loans and venture capital. A word of caution most venture capitalists don't like to pay finder's fees. They want their money invested to grow the company. This also means they don't want the founder of the company using the money to payback any loan he or she may have made to the company.
Investor Databases

Listings and databases of venture capital companies, private investors, small business investment companies, loan sources, leasing, and factoring companies. Some are searchable, some are just hard copy lists. In most cases investors want to live within a two hour plane ride of the companies they've invested in. Many want the company to be accessible in the same city. Look at the financing sources where you live before exploring out of state sources.
Leasing

Leasing isn't usually thought of as a source of funds, but rather as an expense. There is more than one type of leasing: venture leasing, equipment leasing, building and land leasing sources. Just because you're leasing an office or property doesn't mean you don't need insurance. Rented property insurance covers your property inside a leased facility.
Loans
Traditional loans, small business start up loans, conventional loans, SBA (Small Business Administration), Loan packaging services and online loan application services Loan sources. Loans are based on the asset value of the company, or individual, and the ability of the company, or individual to repay the loan principle and interest. Start-up companies have a difficult time obtaining loans because they have no track record. They often don't have much in the way of an asset base either. Bankers or loan providers don't care that the company may be on the fast track to growth.

Personal loans can be used to start a business as well. Be careful using credit cards to fund your business, the high interest rate can be a burden to you personally. If the company doesn't do well you'll be out of a job and you'll have maxed out your credit cards.

Keep in mind when considering a loan that bad credit, or poor credit will be a barrier. Those factors also affect whether an investor, whether an individual, or a venture capital firm will consider investing in your company. If you can't manage your own money, their conclusion will be that you can't manage theirs.
Venture Capital

There are about 1500 venture capital firms in the United States and the Capital Connection has links to over 600 of them organized by state. Venture capital isn't appropriate for the majority of businesses. Only a small percentage, between 10-15% is invested in early stage companies. The majority is invested in established companies. Go to Venture Capital And now up to the minute venture capital news headlines.
Survey of Venture Capital Companies
We asked venture capitalists all over the country the questions entrepreneurs want the answers to. Find out how long it takes a VC to close, do you need a referral, what's the most critical mistake entrepreneurs make in their business plan, how do VCs value a company, and more. Read the Profit Dynamics Inc. Venture Capital Survey.
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2 Easyflirt 7.25 55% CPO yes yes EasyFlirt is a top dating affiliate program that has customers all over the world. Review
3 FriendFinder 6.38 $50 CPA yes yes This is an affiliate program that really has covered every possible angle in the dating segment... Review
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Rank Program Score Base
Commission Realtime
Statistics Lifetime
Commissions Description Review
1 Lowermybills.com 6.13 $70 CPA yes yes LowerMyBills.com provides a world wide service that helps consumers to lower their monthly bills... Review
2 Quickenloans.com 5.88 $15 CPA yes yes Quicken Loans is one of the biggest and most trustworthy online mortgage lenders in the U.S. They... Review
3 Lendingtree.com 5.50 $75 CPA yes yes LendingTree is one of the largest online lending exchanges in the U.S. It is a market place... Review
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Rank Program Score Base
Commission Lifetime
Commissions Realtime
Statistics Description Review
1 eBay 7.75 $35 CPA yes yes In a competitive segment eBay stands out as one of the best, offering e great commission... Review
2 Amazon Books 6.88 $25 CPA no yes Amazon.com is one of the largest and most well known book and shopping sites in the world. By... Review
3 AC Lens 6.75 25% CPO no yes AC Lens provides more tools, resources and is one of the most flexible affiliate programs on the... Review
See all programs within this category
Rank Program Score Base
Commission Lifetime
Commissions Realtime
Statistics Description
1 Globat 8.38 $200 CPA yes yes Up to $200 commission with creative marketing studio. Promotes Globat, a leading web hosting... Review
2 ThinkHost 8.00 $100 CPA no yes Eco-friendly company with high conversion. ThinkHost is a social responsible web hosting company... Review
3 MochaHost.com 7.38 $70 CPA yes yes The Mocha Host customer support ranked number one in an extensive test of 50 major web hosting... Review
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Affiliate Marketing – What In The World???

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Do You Have What It Takes To Succeed In Affiliate Marketing?

Making extra money online could let you treat yourself, family and friends with the extra cash or you can even quit your current job that you almost certainly hate.Affiliate Marketing Cb

As you can see in the screen shot showing one of my 2 Clickbank accounts :), affiliate marketing can quickly surpass your full time job earnings if done right.

Affiliate Marketing Is A Great Way To Start Making Money Online.

Affiliate marketing is a revenue sharing partnership between a web merchant and one or more affiliates. The affiliate is paid a commission for referring clicks, leads or most often sales to the merchant.

Being an affiliate marketer you wont have to worry about creating your own product, e-commerce, product delivery, or even customer support since it is the merchant’s responsibility.

You can see how I do my own affiliate marketing campaigns in my free affiliate cash guide by signing up for it using the form on the right of your screen (Uploading soon).

Affiliate Marketing

Before you begin your venture into affiliate marketing, you need to decide first which area interest you. What products do you know the most and which products you could do the best job of selling?

Once you discover your specialty, perseverance, patience, determination comes next.
These are the qualities you should possess to succeed in affiliate marketing.
1. Affiliate Marketing Needs You To Be Patient.

* Too many Internet marketers lose out because they become impatient. You need to have a strong desire to succeed in affiliate marketing.

2. Affiliate Marketing Requires Hard Work.

* Starting out in affiliate marketing requires your time, dedication and hard work. I remember my sleepless nights, working shifts at my workplace and coming back home to continue on my sites. If you're just starting out, forget what the gurus tell you about working 2 hours per day the watching the money flow in.

3. Affiliate Marketing Needs You To Be Creative.

* The real key to being successful with affiliate marketing is to develop a good content based website and weave your affiliate links into all your content. You have to provide your prospects with good, quality content to keep them coming back to your site.

Super Affiliate Marketing Guru, Jeff Johnson Explains It In This Video.
In this video Jeff, a Super Affiliate, shares with you his system and what made him such a success in affiliate marketing.

On this site, you'll find various products that can get you started in affiliate marketing or help you expand your business if you're already doing well.

So, my question to you is, do you have what it takes to succeed in affiliate marketing?
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