It seems anyone can write a book these days.

Well, if anyone can, so can you!

Don’t be intimidated by best-sellers lists and newspaper reviews. Start at the beginning.

Do you have an idea that could fill an entire book? Do you think you might have an audience for that idea?

If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you, too, can write a book.

There are mentors and counselors aplenty, just waiting for people like you to help outline and organize their thoughts into some sort of comprehensive order.

Look online if you don’t believe me! Before you know it, you could be the next “tell all” out on the shelves.

And your business suddenly just got a little busier.

In high school, you were forced to take a foreign language. Now you may need to again, but this time, the benefits are even greater.

You’re not just passing time waiting for your diploma. You’re embarking on a new journey to understanding and appreciating the business world.

Learning a foreign language might seem like a grueling task, but it’s one that will ultimately put you in the lead over many other businesses.

And, rest assured, you don’t have to commit to learning the ENTIRE language - just enough to be able to converse with your customers will suffice.

At the least, your foreign language-speaking customers and business associates will look upon your efforts with a smile. You’ll earn respect and trust.

Bottom line? Don’t let the “language barrier” keep you from crossing the finish line when it comes to success.

It sounds a little bizarre, but giving something away for FREE doesn’t translate into losing money.

On the contrary, holding a giveaway at your store or hosting one on your website could bring in revenue and make your business thrive.

For on thing, it gets people interested in your store/product. Nowadays, finding a good deal is hard. Finding a deal that is FREE is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Near impossible.

So, if you’re giving something away for free, believe me - the people will come!

Don’t attach strings. At least, not visible ones! The catch is simple. Drawing customers in is the hardest part.

Once you have an audience, your product/service will speak for itself.

What does your wardrobe say about you? What does it say about your business?

It’s easy. Dress in a style appropriate to the product you sell and how you look will speak volumes.

The right clothes can make you feel confident, and confidence is key.

It doesn’t take much. A few shirts, a couple pairs of pants. Whatever it is that you personally relate to fashion-wise, flaunt it!

The rule applies to men and women and everything in between. Don’t think too hard. Go with what you’re comfortable with.

And if you’re business is home-based, pajamas it is!

You wouldn’t want to overdress for the office, would you? After all, you are the king/queen of your castle. You call the shots!

Coming soon: The Women’s Small Business Expo.

Also…The Black Business Expo.

Know what else? The Health and Fitness Business Expo!

They’re all out there. And there’s one for you.

Business expos and conferences are great opportunities to meet peers with similar interests as you and your business partners.

At best, they are fun, informative, interesting and unpredictable.

That’s not to say there aren’t boring and dull expos. You’ll never know until you go.

At worst, you’ll have some good stories to share and laugh at.

But, you could walk away with much more: helpful ideas, fresh perspectives, quality feedback, unexpected inspiration and powerful new networks.

What have you got to lose?

You subscribe to magazines. Now start subscribing to news feeds.

It is the quickest and easiest way to gain information and hour-by-hour changes in the business world.

Reports/tips/strategies and more can all be delivered FREE to your Inbox as they are generated by the media.

No waiting for the mail to come; no search engines; no time wasted. Just the facts. Just for you.

Another option is subscribing to a site’s newsletter. For example, Forbes offers a free newsletter that is “delivered” by email on a regular basis.

And better yet, customers and clients can subscribe to YOU. If you have a website that you update regularly, or a blog such as this one, customers can opt to get notification of when you have something new to say.

It’s the quickest and easiest way to stay in the know.

Let’s continue with the subject of sickness. Nice, huh?

But while we’re talking about sick days, let me just throw out this one piece of additional advice:

Hire temp work!

Many of your usual employees may be out with an illness or on vacation, visiting their families or - depending on where you live - snowed in!

Point is: the other side of this predicament - the solution side - is that there are many students home for Winter Break and those in that post-New Year, in-between stage…all desperate to find a little part-time work!

Put out an ad for some extra help and see what you catch. It could be a monthly gig, a seasonal one, or a “we’ll see how it goes…” kind of employment.

This way, you’re not committed to keeping anyone on for longer than you’d like, you can get the help you need, and you may actually end up finding a great new addition to your business!

It’s not unusual for employees to start performing disappearing acts this time of year.

It’s winter. It’s cold. People get sick.

The best thing you, as owner, can do is be understanding. And pick up the slack.

You want your workers at work, but you don’t want them spreading their germs, making fellow co-workers and customers as ill as themselves.

It may be hard; you may be tired; and it may take a while to see things (and people) return to normal, but hang in there.

Some things are unavoidable. So, promote good health by encouraging your employees to get good and well before they return to work.

And if you get sick…please do the same. Put someone else in charge for the day or if you can, work from home.

No one wants to see or deal with your runny nose and snotty tissues all day. Trust me.