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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - How to Work at Home with Young Children
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Guest Article - 12 Powerful Steps To Home Business Success
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I'm in the process of implementing some of the more popular choices from the poll a couple weeks ago about what people would most like to see on this site. I put up a new section on time management, which I hope will be of use to those who need it. I'll be adding to it over time, but even with the best of planning there's only so much time in the day and I have a lot of projects to work on. I'll be figuring out ways to do some of the others too. However, since my own form of time management includes rather a lot of family time, it may take a while. But at least I get to have fun!
I'm so proud of my husband. He got promoted at his work and is now a store manager. His drive is a bit longer because it isn't the store he was at, but it's still a step up. We were planning on moving this summer to someplace more affordable, but this puts that off for a little, as he wants to have at least six months of time as a manager before he even considers a move. The increase in pay is not enough to really help us buy a house here in the San Diego area, so it doesn't really keep us from needing to move if we want to own a house in a reasonable number of years.
We had a fun day yesterday. We took Ariel out to the mall to play in their play area, then did a little shopping. At the bookstore we let her choose her own book, which I think surprised her. She seemed to have a bit of a hard time with the idea that she didn't have to put the book back, I wasn't going to read the whole thing to her in the bookstore (she choose one of the big books with lots of stories), and that she could carry it around the store. Then at bedtime we had to go through the whole "No, I'm not going to read the whole thing, just one story," bit again. I love to read to her, but there's such a thing as too much, especially when I have a sore throat.
She's at that age where she's really starting to know what she wants. Poor kid desperately wants a puppy, but our landlord says no pets. We're going to ask if a hamster or some such would be okay, because she really wants a pet. Of course, she also wanted to get a build-a-bear and a bunch of other things. Good thing her birthday is coming up; lots of ideas keep popping out of her mouth.
Don't forget, you can contribute your articles or tips anytime for consideration. Just use the contact form.
One of the most difficult things about working at home can be dealing with the children. No matter how many times you explain the rules about when they can disturb you during working hours, you’re likely to hear, “Mom, he hit me!” “Did not!” and other such arguments at the most inconvenient of times.
I’ve written a few simple rules to help you deal with the reality of working at home with young children. Your day may not go exactly like this, but at times it will probably come pretty close.
Stephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a resource that knows that there's more to staying home with your family than just business. For more stay at home tips, visit the site at http://www.homewiththekids.com/ and subscribe to the free newsletter.
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I am going to be my own boss. I will be the one to call the shots. I will work at my own pace and time. I will have free time in my hands. I will spend quality time with my loved ones. I will succeed. I will enjoy my life.
So, you have decided to venture into a home business --- where you work for yourself and greatly reap the fruits of your labor. However, there are some bad news and good news that you should be aware of.
BAD NEWS: Studies show that 80-90% of home businesses fail.
GOOD NEWS: Your business can be among the 10-20% that actually succeed!
How? By following the "12 Steps To Home Business Success." And you can do that with PEP!
*P - PREPARING/PLANNING EXTENSIVELY
When you do decide to venture into a home business, the very next thing to do is prepare for it. Prepare a business plan. This will be the very foundation of your business. You can do this by following these steps:
1) Start with the basics.
What type of business would you like to get into? Would you be selling products, would you be offering services, or would you like to try both? In any case, you must decide on which particular product and/or service you would want to focus.
Have difficulty deciding? Here's a simple but sure-fire tip: Focus on what you know and enjoy.
If you have a talent in writing and editing, you can venture into an editorial services business. Are you into graphic arts? Can you design/layout brochures, business cards, newsletters, etc. using your computer? Then you can get into desktop publishing.
Do you know how Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, reached the pinnacle of success? He decided to venture into the one thing that he loved --- computers.
So, whatever type of business and whatever product or service you decide to start with, always make sure that you are familiar with it and that you have passion for it. The first will save you time, the second will keep you motivated.
When you are already decided about the type of venture you want, think of a name for your business. Make sure that it is unique, easy to remember, and professional. Of course, also make sure that it is significantly related to your business.
2) Gather your resources.
You cannot put up a business without a capital. This includes the monetary or financial capital, material capital (supplies, gadgets, etc.), and manpower. Do you think you are prepared to invest all this into your business?
3) Draw out your goals and set your mind into them.
Set general goals and specific ones. Formulate short-term goals and long-term ones. What do you aspire to achieve in one month, three months, six months, one year?
Visualize your goals. Have a vivid image of each goal in your mind. How do you see yourself a year or two from now?
Have a list of your goals on hand. Read your list regularly. Did you know that by merely doing so, you actually increase your home business success rate by 100%?
*E - ESTABLISHING YOUR BUSINESS.
This stage refers to the actual nitty-gritty of setting up your home business. This time, you are done with conceptualization and you are ready to get into action. You are now implementing the plan that you have prepared. Here are several steps that will help you establish your home business and achieve home business success:
4) Work on the legal requirements of your home business.
For your venture to be a legal business entity, you need to work on certain formalities. These include registering your business name, applying for a business permit/license, setting up a taxation system, and other paperwork. In this step, you also formulate a compensation plan for your employees.
5) Devise a marketing plan.
How do you create exposure for your products and/or services? Formulate a creative, innovative marketing plan. Consider the following factors/concerns:
>Your target market. Clearly define your target market. This will help you decide which advertising and promotion strategies would be more appropriate to draw in your prospective clients/customers.
>Your products/services. Of course, your advertising and promotion techniques will greatly depend on the type of products/services that you sell/offer. Make sure your strategies will "sell" your products/services. If you are offering graphic designing services and you give out poorly-made flyers, you will surely attract no clients at all.
>Your resources. You cannot aspire for grand and complicated advertisements if you are limited by financial constraints. You can, however, maximize whatever resources are available to you to effectively promote your product. Take advantage of the Internet. By using e-mail, blogging, forums, etc., you can spread the word about your business in a flash!
>Your uniqueness. "Same-old, same-old" will give you no gold. You can still utilize the most common advertising/promotion strategies, but give them a twist. Think of the most creative ways to catch --- and hold! --- your customers' attention. Make offers they can't resist.
6) Formulate a Daily Method of Operation (DMO).
Make sure that your Daily Method of Operation is practicable, realistic, and goal-oriented. Set specific things to be done during specific hours. Set your priorities for each day. Make sure that such tasks can really be done and that they are done for the purpose of reaching your goals.
7) Manage your time effectively.
Although you practically have time in your own hands and you are your own boss, it does not mean that you can sit back and relax all you want. In fact, you must be more cautious about spending your time because your home business success depends on you --- the time and efforts that you commit to your venture.
*P - POWERING UP.
Your home business is already established based on your plan. Can you now just relax and watch the cash flowing in? Of course not! Maintaining a successful home business entails exactly that --- "maintenance." You need to continue working for your home business success. Here are some steps to power up your home business:
8) Aim for your personal development.
How do you develop your personality and how can this help you achieve home business success? Consider the following ways:
>Be educated. Continue learning about your business, as well as about yourself. Participate in meaningful seminars and workshops. Read a lot, especially the stories of successful people. See what you can learn from any situation that you get into. Make each day a learning experience.
>Be motivated. Read inspirational stories. Listen to motivational news.
>Be sociable. Of course, you need to interact with other people; otherwise, you cannot do business with them. But besides that and more so, you need to socialize with other people and learn from them. Exchange tips with them. Learn from their mistakes and be inspired by their triumphs.
>Be an inspiration. Aim for your personal growth and inspire others. If you want to see positive changes in your home business or your financial life, you should first strive to achieve inner growth. Grow from within and develop the without as well.
9) Develop the desirable or must-have traits for home business success.
In connection with step number 8, here are other traits that you should develop for you to achieve success in your home business:
>The 3 P's - Patience, Persistence/Perseverance, Passion
>The 3 D's - Desire, Discipline, Determination
>The 3 C's - Courage, Confidence, Consistency
10) Take care of your health.
This looks too simple, but it is very important in any business endeavor and many people tend to take it for granted. How can you work on your business and attain success if your physical being is poor? Eat a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. Monitor your stress level. Stay physically fit and enjoy your home business feat!
11) Have a balanced life.
Your home business success will not be as meaningful if you do not have success in your personal life. Do not surrender all of yourself to your business. Even Bill Gates takes a week of rest and solitude every month. Have that needed rest. Spend quality time with your loved ones. You will see that as you rejuvenate yourself, you will be more productive and even more prepared to face the various challenges that your home business may pose. Take time to enjoy life, for that, indeed, is the very purpose of your financial success!
12) Have the right mindset.
Do your best and believe that you can and will succeed. Never give up. If Thomas Alva Edison quit when he failed after thousands of trials, we wouldn't be enjoying the benefits of the electric light bulb today. As the great inventor aptly put it: "Many of life's failures are done by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Yes, you can venture into a home business and enjoy your life. Just follow the "12 Steps To Home Business Success"!
Daegan Smith is the leader of the fastest growing team of successful home business enterpernuers on the net. Find out how we're creating financial freedom all across the globe and how to get in on the action FREE at http://www.comlev.net
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