ITS YOUR TIME!

Good Morning friends. It is 2:43 a.m. and I can not sleep. My mind is racing this morning on this, a new month and and the HUGE potential that the upcoming season brings for all of us.

A number of years ago I owned a small candy and gift store. I created my own homemade candies (still do!) and gift-baskets (still do!) and a few other lines. I was renting the space, paying the note to the previous owner, trying to keep lots of stock on hand for my customers, and trying to advertise in both print and radio. Keeping the lights on and the doors open was a constant struggle. But then came the Holiday Season! I knew if I could just hang on til then I would be ok for the rest of the year.

Today it is so much easier to operate a small business than it was back then. I have all the same opportunities with only a fraction of the cost. Thanks to the internet and social media, customers from across town or across the country can shop my store right from their recliners and have products shipped right to their door. I don't have tons of merchandise, tons of overhead, or tons of headache! I can have a little stock and a few catalogs and make as much in one evening at a home party as I did in a week with a storefront. And better yet, by introducing people to the work at home lifestyle, I can help other people start their own home business and earn residual income for myself.

PEOPLE! THIS IS OUR TIME! The summer months have been lean. But now is the time to reap the harvest! There are more people shopping right now than any other time of the year. There are more people looking for part or full time employment to supplement their incomes than any other time of year. Grab your sickle and head for the fields!

I challenge you to put in a little effort during this holiday season and watch your increase come. You can think it, sure! You can believe for it, most definately! You can work for it, and achieve it. It's up to you. The sky is the limit! CHARGE!

How To Be Green While Making Green

This morning I was sipping my coffee and working online when something struck me. My company is doing it's dead level best to produce GREEN products that are friendly to the environment. In fact, many corporations now are seeing the damage done to the planet by our excessive use of chemicals and products that are not biodegradable. It's a common fact, if we continue to use up the environment, someday it will have to fight back.

So, anyway........I'm sitting here in my undies and working while the dog sleeps on the sofa next to me. All of the sudden it dawns on me how working at home has caused me to be GREEN with little to no effort. By working from home I am GREEN because I:

1. Do not have to do laundry so often since I am not in an office every day. That means that I save money on clothes that I would not ordinarily have to wear. In addition, it means that I do less laundry which uses energy, water, and chemical detergents often sold in non-biodegradable plastics or paper.

2. I burn less gas in my vehicle since I am not out on the road everyday. That means less carbon monoxide in the air from my engine. It means less oil and other fluids needed to make the vehicle run properly.

3. It means that I am not generating mounds of paperwork, memo's and etc. that I would working in an office that depletes our natural woodlands.......we all know the devestation that brings to the air and the animal kingdom.

These are just a few of the things that changed when I started working from home, I wonder how many more I could think of if I really tried.

Have you considered moving your office into your home? Starting your own home based business? GREEN is just one more reason to give it some serious thought.

Maintaing Distance Between Personal and Professional

It's inevitable, the two worlds must collide. No matter how hard we try, eventually our personal and professional lives will collide, especially if you are managing your business from your home. So, how then do we keep each from being a distraction from the other?

First and foremost, plan each day to perfection. Have a game plan for what you want to accomplish that day, write it out, and list action steps that must be taken to achieve these goals. As you accomplish one, mark it off the list. Do not move onto another until you have made an attempt to complete the previous ones.

Secondly, if at all possible, have a specified time and place for work and make a serious effort not to allow any distractions. Separate yourself from any person, place, or thing that can keep you from achieving that days goals. Make it plain that, although you are your own boss, you are working and can not be interrupted during business hours. I suggest working 45 minutes and taking a 15 minute break to stretch your legs, use the restroom, replenish your coffee, or whatever and then get back to work.

Third, and perhaps my biggest personal struggle, when you sit down to work, avoid giving thought to any financial, physical, or emotional things that you may be going through. While those things may be of definate concern, they will only keep you from focusing on your impending success and derail your entire day.

Your professional and personal lives can coexist without being a distraction if you plan in advance and set aside time for both. Remember, you are in control of your time and talents. Make them both work for you.

MY FIRST BLOG!

I am so excited to be blogging. I am not the most computer savvy person in the world, so I have been terrified to even attempt this. I see now that it is not really all that difficult. In fact, I find it quite rewarding!

I guess we all have fears that must be overcome. For me, there are many. In the past I have been a starter and a stopper. Completing tasks, or goals for that matter, has not been my strong suit. It appears that each time I put forth the effort and success is just within reach, I withdraw. Why am I so afraid of success? I'm not sure I will ever be able to answer that question

So imagine my suprise when I looked at the calendar and realized that I have owned and managed my own home based business now for well over a year. IT has been a time of both success and failure but I have learned so much about business, people and myself. Now, I believe is the time that I am going to see a breakthrough, and I would like to take you along for the journey with me.

Along the way we will laugh, cry, and learn about how to make a decent living while being free from all the constraints of the regular "rat-race" job. I will share with you what I am learning from books, personal meetings, and research. Feel free to jump in at any time with ideas, suggestions, and questions.

Thanks for joining me. I am thrilled to have you along for the ride!