Place the pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Allow the water to come to a full boil, which should take 3 to 5 minutes. With the rice covered, it should take 10 to 15 minutes for it to cook. When it's finished, it should still be slightly firm but not crunchy. Don't overcook the rice, though, or it will become gummy. If you didn't soak the rice before cooking it, it may take 18 minutes or more for it finish cooking.

Summary: Bring the pan to a boil. Allow the rice to cook until tender.

You don't always have to write out every melody or drum line by yourself. Find a portion of another song that stands out to you and incorporate it into your own music. It is usually difficult to sample a song with drums, so this part of the beat will be added later. Once you've loaded the sample into your hard drive, heighten or lower it until it's unrecognizable from the original song. The goal is to create something totally new. From here you can chop and loop the beat however you'd like. Look up your favorite beats on WhoSampled.com. You'll be surprised how often samples are used. Heighten and lower the pitch, or slow down and quicken the speed of your favorite songs to create your own sample to be added to a new song. Check out all of 3 Feet High and Rising or Paul's Boutique for golden-age examples of sampling prowess. The best way to grow quickly is to try and imitate the pros, learning the skills that will give you your own voice and creative freedom down the line. You can listen to anyone you want as long as you stop and think about why you like it so much, and what ideas you can borrow or change. For example: Listen to famous DJ Premier's samples from his music project called "Re:Generation." DJ Premier is known for his signature scratching sound and flawless song constructions. Skrillex is notable for using samples of his own vocals. By using autotune, he is able to change the tone and speed of his voice so that it becomes almost unrecognizable. His song "Father Said" features samples of his own voice auto-tuned, as does "Turmoil." Pete Rock uses samples for the entirety of his songs. He's known to chop and layer several various samples within the same song. He's an avid user of horns and drums, as is evident in his sample: "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)." The more you know about music, the easier it will be to create it. From the tuba to the turntable, the same ideas and skills are needed no matter what music you're making. So push yourself musically as much as you can -- you can always reject the ideas if they don't work. Learn how to play an instrument. Since many beats are made with a keyboard, the piano is a great place to start. Listen to as varied a selection of music as you can -- great producers pull from great music no matter what the genre. Make 30-second beats just to try out a new drum pack. Watch a tutorial on how to get a vocal sample to sound just like Kanye's in "School Spirit." Make a song with no drums. Like all creative endeavors, you only learn to be more creative by trying new things. The basics of beat making may be obvious, but you need to push yourself to make new and unique songs. Trying to remake sounds and beats you love is a great way to teach yourself from the masters. There are thousands of free tutorials online and on YouTube. When in doubt, look it up.

Summary: Use sampling to create the backbone to a beat. Listen to your favorite producers with an ear to steal their tricks. Learn to play another instrument or learn music theory. Experiment, play, and break all the rules when making beats.

This is an inexpensive and effective way to get new customers. Focus your distribution on the areas where your target audience lives or works. Include a unique coupon on the flyer so you can track how many customers you gain from this approach. You may have the opportunity to speak with some potential customers if they are around when you are handing out the flyers. Be sure to have a quick description of your business. In the residential cleaning sector, the most likely customers are higher, dual-income families and elderly people who are unable to clean their own homes. These customers are likely looking for quality, convenience, and a competitive price. Post flyers in neighborhoods where this population lives. Always be thinking of your business when you are out and about in your community. Think of everyone as a potential client. Even if they do not need your services, they may know someone that needs your service. Look for opportunities to get your business out there. Go to small business breakfast and lunches offered through your local chamber of commerce. Volunteer your cleaning services to a charity event to get your name out and develop a good reputation. If you are trying to gain new commercial cleaning customers, networking and getting referrals from other business is your best bet. Keep your business cards with you everywhere you go. You always want to be prepared. The most important thing is getting a reputation for excellent, skilled, quality work at a reasonable price. You must show that you are thoroughly reliable and consistent. A happy, loyal customer is one of the best advertisements you can ever have. Follow up with your customers after you provide a service to see if they are satisfied. You may not be able to slash your prices, but you can provide superior service. If a customer has a complaint, listen and do not argue with the customer. Ask the customer if there is anything that you can do to fix the situation. Offer the customer a discounted or free cleaning the next time they use your services. Customers want to feel like they are important. Don't save all of your coupons and discounts for your new customers. Provide incentives for customer referrals and let them know how much you appreciate their business. They will tell other people about the great service that you are providing. Give a free cleaning or a gift card to the customers who send you the most referrals or for long term customers. Professional organizations offer networking opportunities and resources for your business. You can also learn from experienced professionals in your industry. Good associations for the cleaning industry include: Building Services Contractors Association International Association of Residential Cleaning Professionals International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association Cleaning Management Institute
Summary: Go door to door with flyers. Generate publicity. Do excellent work. Reward loyal customers. Join a professional organization.