Posts Tagged ‘Home Based Business’

Marketing ME

• November 5th, 2008
• 20 Comments »

This has been a long time coming. I have been wanting to share what I have changed in my business to get the better results I’ve been experiencing since July. There is a combination of different factors that led to my productivity. The biggest has been consistency. However, before one can be consistent, one must have tasks to do consistently. I was always stuck about being consistent because I never seemed to have enough leads to work with (or so I thought). There was also the problem of me getting stuck in my own head listening to what some call “the committee” rumbling and grumbling about all that goes wrong and ignores what goes right. Recently, I have quieted that committee and found some confidence in myself and in my business. Know what I did? I figured out how to get leads! (more…)

Making My Office a Store

• July 5th, 2008
• 14 Comments »

This weekend I decided to organize my book case a little and dedicate one shelf to my business. I don’t need a huge display because I don’t get tons of company. I have decided, however, that I would like to have some type of visual when people do stop by. Our house is remodeled and people often want a tour to see all of the work Hubby put into the house. (more…)

Tax Time Checklist

• January 14th, 2008
• 2 Comments »

Tax time is here! I got this on email from Barefoot Executive. I have a subscription to their newsletter. There are some ideas on here that I hadn’t thought of before: (more…)

Reflection Part 2: Is This Business For Me?

• November 28th, 2007
• 3 Comments »

This is Part 2 of the article I posted recently from the Barefoot Executive Newsletter: (more…)

Reflection: Is This Right For Me?

• November 27th, 2007
• 1 Comment »

This article came to me in my Barefoot Executive Newsletter:

Bare “Footnotes” :: Are You in the RIGHT Business? (Part 1)

This may be a little controversial today, and that’s okay. My purpose is to get you to REALLY think about what you’re doing as your life’s work and what your satisfaction level is.

• Do you love getting up in the morning, ready to dive into your workday?
• Are you excited by new ideas and challenges that pose themselves in your business?
• Are you passionate about your product or service or opportunity?
• Does your business fit your current lifestyle?
• Does your business fit the lifestyle that you want to design for yourself?
• Do you like your associates? Your clients? The corporation you represent?
• Are you able to work within your strengths and gifts? (your “sweet spot”)
• Is your paycheck (now or potentially) consistent with your needs & dreams?
• Can you see yourself doing this long-term?

If any of the answers above are “no” — and especially if several of them are “no” — then you need to revisit the question, “Is this the right business for me?”

Yes, we need to pay the bills. Yes, sometimes we have to sacrifice short term to benefit long term. But all-in-all…if your business model is conflicting with your desires, values, lifestyle and goals…then it will not be something you are satisfied with and your success will be limited in many ways.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What are your strengths on the job? With your family? In social settings?
• What are some natural talents and gifts you have?
• What do you LOVE in your business (or your job)?
• What do you tend to postpone, neglect or procrastinate about?
• When you feel the most confident, most successful?

Now … these are just to make you think! If you can focus for a MOMENT on the things you neglect, postpone or procrastinate on…that doesn’t mean you are in the wrong business…just that there are PARTS of your business you do not enjoy!

So … can you delegate some of those? Can you assign those to your children? Your spouse? A parent? (yes, your parents have skills too

You will be surprised at how you learn to love your business again if you free yourself up from some of the “handcuffs” you’ve placed on yourself!

Let me give you an example … in a previous business I owned, I tried to do it all. The marketing, the appointments, the inventory, the books, the bills, all of it. I was not as successful as I could have been. My books were a disaster. I got myself into a huge financial crisis. And because I wasn’t paying attention … I eventually despaired, threw in the towel and declared myself a failure as a business owner.

I then realized that perhaps I was trying to do too many things (duh) and I went at it from a different angle.

In my next business, I was very frank with my husband (who has an accounting degree and an MBA). I told him that I hated doing the books. I disliked dealing with budgets, money, keeping up with receipts, bills, etc. and that if he would do that…I would not pay him…but the benefits would be a happy wife with a thriving business! He was thrilled to help. (he wanted to help before, but I was too proud and wanted to do it myself.) As a result…my books are in order. My bills are paid. He can tell me where I’m spending too much and where I’m making the most. It is a huge relief to me to know that these details are handled and it makes business fun again!

I have assembled a “team” in my businesses based on their strengths and mine. They are, quite honestly, glad not to have to do what I do…and I’m thrilled to delegate to them as well!

Virtual Assistants are a real life-saver for this! They are not underfoot or on your equipment and they are a money-saver too! Whew! I’m not sure how I’d function without my “VA’s!”

So … take a few minutes for you — think about your business. What drew you to it? (NEWSFLASH: the money is often not a big enough reason for us to love something.) Perhaps you’re still in love with your business, but just disenchanted with a few parts of it. GREAT!!! SO FIX IT!

Perhaps you cannot find anything about your business right now that you like anymore.

Next week, we’ll talk about some ways to figure out EXACTLY what you should be doing and some ways to increase your satisfaction in what you already ARE doing!

Have an amazing week! I appreciate you!

Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive ™

© 2007 — you are welcome to reprint any of our articles if you include author credit and reference our website www.Barefoot-Executive.com

Mary Kay: Job vs. Career

• November 6th, 2007
• 2 Comments »

How do you view your Mary Kay business? Do you perceive it as a job or a career? What’s the difference between a job and a career? Why is it that when one person goes to work, they are just working at a job while others have a profession and they call it a career? What’s the difference? Is there a difference? I believe there are differences. Big ones. (more…)

Not An Average Day Job!

• October 3rd, 2007
• 4 Comments »

Currently, I spend most of my time in a bland cubicle. This is something I would have never predicted for myself in a million years. One thing I have known about myself my entire life was that I didn’t want to be “ordinary.” By “ordinary” I meant I didn’t want a conventional life like a cookie cutter. At a very young age my mother enrolled me in ballet. Later, I also became interested in theatre. In addition to those, I also took up singing. I came to realize I had some talents! What I ultimately wanted to do in life was to utilize these talents. If I could make a living doing things I enjoyed, BONUS! (more…)

Be Your Own Boss

• September 29th, 2007
• 4 Comments »

My director sent this link in an email today. She sends me these things because she knows I am unhappy with my current life situation (job stinks, money’s tight, you know the deal). I like it (the movie clip, not my J-O-B!). It reminds me that I do want to pursue directorship SOON! Enjoy the movie! It can be found on Barefoot Executive.

The Boss Movie

Clothes Create Credibility

• August 1st, 2007
• 2 Comments »

I found this article on Fashion for Real Women. This is such a great article! So many people in MK get upset when they have to dress up a little. I’ll admit, I sometimes gripe about it myself; but it is so important to understand how image affects credibility! We work in the cosmetics business–of course we have to look the part! This is why the company originally wanted consultants to wear pantyhose. It was not to make us miserable. It was to make us credible. This article is perfect for home-based business owners of all trades.

What To Wear

When You Work From Home

What should you wear when you work from home?

It’s a question I’m asked frequently in my image consultanting business, and one that bears thoughtful consideration. For just as your appearance matters when you report to work in the “outside” world, so, too, does it matter when your commute is just down the hall.

Now before you snicker at this notion, let’s get a bird’s eye view of the matter. (more…)

Employee to Entrepreneur by Ann Vertel

• July 12th, 2007
• No Comments »

Thanks, MKRules for posting this:

http://mkrules.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/employee-to-entreprenuer-by-ann-vertel/