#066: How to Run a Virtual Company [Podcast]

What if you could run a company with no office, no staff, no inventory and no overhead? You can, and that is what this week's show is about.

Attractive brunette young woman in futuristic interface sitting in front of world map with glowing hot points location and connection lines.

 

Announcements:

  • Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28
  • JV Alert, July 26-28
  • NAMS Conference, August 9-11
  • SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
  • Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

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Spiritual Foundations

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
John [1:16]

If you are in a place where you feel the demands made on you are too much, I've got good news. You can stop working so hard, and watch God step in and supply everything you need. I frequently feel the demands of life. There are many expectations from clients, readers, listeners, and that's just on the business side of my life. If I let myself get caught up in thinking about the demands placed on me, it can feel like a heavy load. It's in these times that I turn to Jesus and simply tell him, “this is now your problem.” I know that sounds crass. But hear me out.

Recently, I returned from about three weeks of continuous air travel, conference speaking, and intense activity. The day after I got back home, I was scheduled to meet with a small group of entrepreneurs that I mentor in our church. As I drove to the meeting, really unprepared, I said to the Lord, “God, I can't do this. I have nothing for them. I surrender this to you, and I can't wait to see how you're going to handle it.”

As always, God showed up. He gave me just the right words to say, and more importantly he gave me just the right heart to hear what was on the minds of the people at the meeting. We had deeply rewarding time together. I was just as much nourished and refreshed as anyone else at the meeting. That's the kind of thing that happens when you set down the burden and leave it up to the Lord to carry it.

When we are able to receive the abundance of God's grace, to give up on all of the work were trying to do, and simply rest in God's favor… The weight of demand is lifted from our shoulders and we are carried on the river of God's unlimited supply.

Feature Segment: How to Run a Virtual Company

Today, it is  stopno longer necessary to make a huge capital investment to run a company. There are many startups and even established businesses that generate millions of dollars in revenue each year-without having a building, employees, or even inventory. How do you run such a “virtual company”? And if the idea intrigues you, how do you transition from being a traditional business to “going virtual”?

  The Virtual Company 10 Point Plan

  1. Run an “8020 analysis” on your business
  2. Get rid of the building
  3. Eliminate your employees
  4. Build a business system
  5. Own nothing, control everything
  6. Use proven tools: base camp, Google apps, GoToMeeting, Skype,  etc.
  7. Use off-the-shelf software solutions
  8. Realize you are an information marketing business
  9. Focus on direct response marketing only
  10. Commit to becoming a business owner and not just an operator.

 “Great business owners get rich. Great business operators just get tired.”
Keith Cunningham

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “My Biggest Business Mistakes and What You Can Learn From Them”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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Ray Edwards is a world-renowned copywriter and communications strategist, writing for some of the most powerful voices in leadership and business including New York Times bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Tony Robbins. Ray is a sought-after speaker and author, hosts a popular weekly podcast, and blogs at RayEdwards.com.