Welcome to the Office Set up section!

I'm not going to get to elaborate here since you probably already have and office set up and ready to go. What I do want to do is fill you in on some tips and different pieces of hardware you are going to need.

I use to sit in a 10 x 10 bedroom I converted to an office. My desk was a folding card table where my computer screen and my keyboard sat. My desk-phone sat on a folding chair and the chair I sat in didn't even have a backrest...it had broken.

My point is I was successful in this business with nothing fancy. It's about making phone calls and connecting with people and no fancy "anything" is going to do that for you...

I did have one other thing and that was a spare bed next to me that my cats lounged on while I slaved to put a roof over their heads!

Jade (white), Kona (gray&white) and Slim (not so slim)

There are some things you need and they are as follows:

• Place to Work where you WILL NOT be distracted!
• Some sort of Desk to work at - From my example, you need nothing expensive.
• A half way decent computer - Don't go out and by an expensive laptop or desktop computer. You can get refurbished computers for cheap that are as good as any new computer. This is what I got after my laptop blew up. I paid $158 for my desktop computer at HCDITrading. I searched the internet for Cheap Computer Monitors where I paid $113 for a 24" Monitor and spent $40 for a Wireless Logitech Mouse and Keyboard. $300 bucks for a great computer! Music to my ears!! Just search the net... there are tons of deals so don't spend a fortune. ====>>>>In St. Louis FETS uses EPC-USA to get good quality inexpensive computers. Contact Art Quallo at 636-443-1999 and tell him you are working with Deb at FETS and you will get a great deal and he will ship right to your door.
• Unlimited Long Distance - I used Comcast because that is what I had available to me. You can use Vonage or your local cable provider like I did. Comcast - Charter - Bresnan. You will have to check and see what is available in your neck of the woods. ♦♦This is your business and your business is being on the phone. DO NOT take a short cut here and use something like Magic Jack or the like. What ever you use for your phone line, it needs to be reliable and you need to be crystal clear to your customers at all times. Do not use your cell phone for regular calls either, reception can be unpredictable at a most inopportune time.
• Internet Access - Usually wherever you get your unlimited long distance is the same company that will provide your internet access. Who ever you get this through, don't try some potentially unreliable service to just save a buck. You will save enough bucks by not driving all over the country. Get something reliable. You can't do business without internet access. These days the costs are minimal for internet.
• Phone and Headset - There are different options here. If you have a cordless phone that has a plug for a headset, then all you need is a headset. Not all cordless phones have a place to plug a headset in so you may need both. Good Headsets to get are Plantronics Headsets. I had a Multi Line desk phone and used the Plantronics S12. A good wireless phone with headset combo is the Plantronics Headset Phone CT14. The CT14 has a small keypad but is wireless and has very clear quality. In the FETS office we use the Panasonic (KX-TG7431B) for our phone and then have the Plantronics M 175C - Headset.
• Recorder - There are 2 options here. The Olympus TP-7 Recording Deviceor the Personal Call Logger. The TP-7 plugs easily into your computer and a microphone is placed in your ear and as the phone is over your ear it picks up both sides of the conversation. My vote would be the Call Logger. This is what I used and when I wanted to record any conversation I could with a click of my mouse without placing something in my ear. Both work so depending on how much you spend will most likely be the deciding factor. I have never used the TP-7.
• Toll Free Number - I use TouchTone Communications. In today's world you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for 800 service. My Bill was never over $13/month for my 800 service. You will want to get you phone line in and phone number before setting up your 800#. You need to tell the 800 service what number you want your 800# to ring on.
• A Great Work Ethic - I work more than 40 hrs a week. This is my business and no body is going to do it for me. Agents always ask me how many hours a week does it take to be successful with FETS? I'm always flabbergasted at that and usually respond... "Well, at least 40hrs a week like most successful people work." In fact most successful individuals in any business work way more than 40 hrs a week to accomplish their success. Insurance agent are one of the few groups of people who have a warped idea of what it takes to be successful. If that's you, Snap Out of It!
  
• A Great Attitude - This trumps all. Bad attitude equals bad results and very small paycheck in business and in life. Have you ever worked with someone who had a bad attitude? Are they fun to be around and work with? How successful is that person with a bad attitude? Not only does a great attitude improve your business, you are then a person others want to be around. Protect your attitude and avoid Negative people like the Plague.
• A Great Desire to be a Champion - As I was once told, "Steve, there is no committee in California, or any place else, looking out for your success." Darn it...All this time I thought there was! We must expect and desire great things from ourselves and we must spend each day of our lives pursuing our dreams. We must look in the mirror each day and know "If it is to be, it's up to me!" There is no pointing fingers since there is no one to blame but ourselves if we don't achieve our goals or dreams. If you are reading this, you are an Entrepeneur, you are a Dreamer, you are an Inspiration to others for your ability to take risks, You are a Champion and each day you must do what Champions do.... Succeed at all costs! From an unwritten code of the Navy Seals "Failure is Not and Option!" My wise Mother always told me I took the hard path in life. How right she was. Being in business for yourself is not easy and takes tremendous effort and belief in yourself, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The American dream, right? Why not live it!