I found that by setting goals or making a TO DO list and writing them down gives you something to look at and puts your goals in focus so that you know what you need to accomplish and what to prioritize.
This works in life as well as in your home business…I have a TO DO list of things I want to accomplish in my life and have achieved some of them with much pleasure…
I also have a list for my home business. This puts your goals in focus of what you want to achieve and when you want to accomplish it.
Four things to remember when making your list:
1. Remember to prioritize
2. Dream Big. Remember nothing is impossible.
3. Keep the list in a place where you can see it every day. The more you look at it the more the positive reinforcement will help bring the goals to reality.
4. Update and re-prioritize your list weekly, monthly or even yearly as your goals in life change.
Finally, Remember to celebrate your accomplishments because you deserve it. You worked hard to get to those goals.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Advertising Your Website for Free using a Traffic Exchange
Because it is the start of a new month, I am sitting here working on my advertising budget for the month. If you are like me, and have limited funds for advertising, you are looking at ways to advertise for Free or at least low cost.
I wanted to give you a few ideas to try.
1. Traffic Exchanges: These are run with the idea to give the small business owner a chance to get seen. The following exchanges I use and recommend are run by WAHM's or Work at Home Mom's who are promoting their sites and helping others to promote their sites. They offer free and low cost advertising by way of ad button, banner ads and text ads. You join and agree to surf a minimum amount of sites per week,bi-weekly, monthly depending on the sites rules and in exchange you can place your ad for free for others to see. When joining there are several different options depending on your budget ranging from free to pro accounts which offer different incentives. The following are the traffic exchanges I use.
MomPoweredDreams
This one is fairly new but an awesome site. It is run by a WAHM friend of mine named Shanni who makes it her first priority to help other WAH's to succeed. Just click on the name to be taken to her site.
TheCinnamonHollow
This site is another of my favorites. It is run by a great WAHM by the name of Krystal. She also goes out of her way to help others. She offers a lot of bonus hits and makes it fun to surf. Check her site out.
WAHM-Trade
This site also offers great customer service and its owner is another WAHM who is very helpful. They are bit bigger than the other TE's but still offer that one on one service. Check them out.
FrugalWAHMAdvertising
This site is the newest of all the TE"S (Traffic Exchanges) I use so I can't fully evaluate it at the moment. It is run by 2 WAHM"S and I just started with them but have noticed good customer service as well. Check them out.
Well, these are the ones that I use. Of course there are others out there. Google Traffic Exchanges to find them. A lot of other TE's are larger and geared to different MLM and businesses. The ones listed in this blog are geared at the WAHM's( and I don't want to slight the WAH Dad's and grandparents either) and cater to the small at home business,etsy shops, craft businesses,etc.
Whether you choose one of these TE's or others out there, you can get your banner or ad button with a link to your business website seen by others and get your name out there. And, quite possibly, like myself make a few friends at the exchanges along the way.
(My next blog will cover how to get your ad buttons and banners made)
I wanted to give you a few ideas to try.
1. Traffic Exchanges: These are run with the idea to give the small business owner a chance to get seen. The following exchanges I use and recommend are run by WAHM's or Work at Home Mom's who are promoting their sites and helping others to promote their sites. They offer free and low cost advertising by way of ad button, banner ads and text ads. You join and agree to surf a minimum amount of sites per week,bi-weekly, monthly depending on the sites rules and in exchange you can place your ad for free for others to see. When joining there are several different options depending on your budget ranging from free to pro accounts which offer different incentives. The following are the traffic exchanges I use.
MomPoweredDreams
This one is fairly new but an awesome site. It is run by a WAHM friend of mine named Shanni who makes it her first priority to help other WAH's to succeed. Just click on the name to be taken to her site.
TheCinnamonHollow
This site is another of my favorites. It is run by a great WAHM by the name of Krystal. She also goes out of her way to help others. She offers a lot of bonus hits and makes it fun to surf. Check her site out.
WAHM-Trade
This site also offers great customer service and its owner is another WAHM who is very helpful. They are bit bigger than the other TE's but still offer that one on one service. Check them out.
FrugalWAHMAdvertising
This site is the newest of all the TE"S (Traffic Exchanges) I use so I can't fully evaluate it at the moment. It is run by 2 WAHM"S and I just started with them but have noticed good customer service as well. Check them out.
Well, these are the ones that I use. Of course there are others out there. Google Traffic Exchanges to find them. A lot of other TE's are larger and geared to different MLM and businesses. The ones listed in this blog are geared at the WAHM's( and I don't want to slight the WAH Dad's and grandparents either) and cater to the small at home business,etsy shops, craft businesses,etc.
Whether you choose one of these TE's or others out there, you can get your banner or ad button with a link to your business website seen by others and get your name out there. And, quite possibly, like myself make a few friends at the exchanges along the way.
(My next blog will cover how to get your ad buttons and banners made)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Starting Your Home Business is like Dance
I took my daughter to dance class today. I had a few hours to kill so I started to think about comparing starting your home business to starting a dance class. Take a few minutes and go on this journey with me.
You start your journey by researching dance and finding out what type of dance interests you. You check out the local dance studios to find the one that feels right for you. You sign up for that dance class and get excited as you purchase your equipment and supplies. Anxiety builds as you wait for that class because you are excited and eager to learn something new but you are also nervous and scared. You don’t know what to expect.
You arrive at the studio for your first class. You meet the instructor and everyone introduces themselves. You are now networking. You are meeting people with similar interests. They are getting to know you and vice verse. You find that you want to partner with them and you are reaching out past your comfort level.
Each week you attend class and practice your techniques. You are learning something new and you gain a new confidence with each step. You are now feeling good about yourself.
Before you know it you become an expert. You are projecting yourself with grace and poise. You project a confidence and knowledge to others and this positive attitude draws others to you.
You’ve accomplished something you never thought was possible. You can now coach others to be able to do the same thing. You are able to build your team.
Does this sound like your business?
You start your journey by researching dance and finding out what type of dance interests you. You check out the local dance studios to find the one that feels right for you. You sign up for that dance class and get excited as you purchase your equipment and supplies. Anxiety builds as you wait for that class because you are excited and eager to learn something new but you are also nervous and scared. You don’t know what to expect.
You arrive at the studio for your first class. You meet the instructor and everyone introduces themselves. You are now networking. You are meeting people with similar interests. They are getting to know you and vice verse. You find that you want to partner with them and you are reaching out past your comfort level.
Each week you attend class and practice your techniques. You are learning something new and you gain a new confidence with each step. You are now feeling good about yourself.
Before you know it you become an expert. You are projecting yourself with grace and poise. You project a confidence and knowledge to others and this positive attitude draws others to you.
You’ve accomplished something you never thought was possible. You can now coach others to be able to do the same thing. You are able to build your team.
Does this sound like your business?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Building Your First Website
You have a new home business, now what? Well, you need to sit down and start to develop your website. Now, if you have no experience with this, it may seem like a feat that is not to be accomplished. Honestly, you can do this. I developed and published my first website with no online experience and ended up liking the process. Doing it yourself will give you a great sense of accomplishment.
Of course, if you have the funds, you can pay someone to do it for you. Would you rather invest that large chunk of money into marketing your website? First thing you want to do is think about how much you want to spend monthly on your website. You can have a plain, no bells and whistles site or you can have the whole package. Personally, my first website is a “plain Jane” website.
Now, you want to name your site. Think of a catchy name that people will be drawn to. You want to make sure it will not be too complicated for people to remember. You can use hyphens and underscores in your name but try it out for yourself to see if it flows nice for you. Also take into consideration a title that corresponds with what you are selling. You don’t want to name your website “the jewelry lady” if you are selling candles. Another thing to remember is keep the name general if you plan to sell or promote more than one product. When you choose your domain name, check to see if it is available. I use www.Godaddy.com to purchase my website domain names. They are also budget friendly and offer hosting and website packages.
Now that we have decided on a domain name, its time to investigate host servers. There are many host servers out there and many of them are reliable and budget friendly so you will have to pick the company that you feel comfortable with. Personally, I used www.simple-web-site.com for my first site. It is user friendly and works with my budget. Remember, I had no experience with starting up a website so this site allowed me to learn as I go. As I said earlier, you can also use www.Godaddy.com to build your website. Personally for me it was not as easy to use. Now if your have money budgeted for your website, the best website builder is www.sitebuildit.com
This site offers you many things to help build and market a high ranking website. One drawback it the fact that you have to pay by the year. I personally use them and have started the process of developing my second website through them.
Now, if you don’t have the funds pay for host server. There are still options out there for you. I have used a great FREE site called www.freewebs.com
Another site is www.weebly.com Both are simple to use and make a nice plain website which is great for starting out.
We have covered a lot of information here but my advice is to take your time and check out all of your options. Ask advice of others in your business. They have been in your shoes so they can be your best source of information on what works best in your business. Take your time and don’t rush the process because “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so to speak. With time you will build and publish a great website and feel that great sense of accomplishment.
Of course, if you have the funds, you can pay someone to do it for you. Would you rather invest that large chunk of money into marketing your website? First thing you want to do is think about how much you want to spend monthly on your website. You can have a plain, no bells and whistles site or you can have the whole package. Personally, my first website is a “plain Jane” website.
Now, you want to name your site. Think of a catchy name that people will be drawn to. You want to make sure it will not be too complicated for people to remember. You can use hyphens and underscores in your name but try it out for yourself to see if it flows nice for you. Also take into consideration a title that corresponds with what you are selling. You don’t want to name your website “the jewelry lady” if you are selling candles. Another thing to remember is keep the name general if you plan to sell or promote more than one product. When you choose your domain name, check to see if it is available. I use www.Godaddy.com to purchase my website domain names. They are also budget friendly and offer hosting and website packages.
Now that we have decided on a domain name, its time to investigate host servers. There are many host servers out there and many of them are reliable and budget friendly so you will have to pick the company that you feel comfortable with. Personally, I used www.simple-web-site.com for my first site. It is user friendly and works with my budget. Remember, I had no experience with starting up a website so this site allowed me to learn as I go. As I said earlier, you can also use www.Godaddy.com to build your website. Personally for me it was not as easy to use. Now if your have money budgeted for your website, the best website builder is www.sitebuildit.com
This site offers you many things to help build and market a high ranking website. One drawback it the fact that you have to pay by the year. I personally use them and have started the process of developing my second website through them.
Now, if you don’t have the funds pay for host server. There are still options out there for you. I have used a great FREE site called www.freewebs.com
Another site is www.weebly.com Both are simple to use and make a nice plain website which is great for starting out.
We have covered a lot of information here but my advice is to take your time and check out all of your options. Ask advice of others in your business. They have been in your shoes so they can be your best source of information on what works best in your business. Take your time and don’t rush the process because “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so to speak. With time you will build and publish a great website and feel that great sense of accomplishment.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Marketing Tips for New Business Owners
According to Wikipedia," Marketing is "a societal process that is needed to discern consumers' wants; focusing on a product/service to those wants, and to mold the consumers toward the products/services. Marketing is fundamental to any businesses growth. The marketing teams (Marketers) have the task to create the consumer awareness of the products/services through marketing techniques; unless it pays due attention to its products/services and consumers' demographics and desires, a business will not usually prosper long-term."
Marketing is a creative process. It requires using creativity to advertise the products and services that your business offers. You are also concerned with anticipating a customer's future needs and wants. You also need to create or reorganize a business to be successful in selling the products/services to the consumer.
So, How are we to do this?
Set up our business/Formulate a business plan
Develop a website
Advertise the business
Market the products
Seek advice from others in the industry
Get customer feedback
Setting up your business:
The first thing you need to do is determine what business you want to get involved with. Do a research on the Internet and look at all the home business opportunities available out there. Look at what each company has to offer YOU for becoming an independent distributor. This is what is referred to as the "compensation plan".
You could base your decision on that alone, but it may end up being a product that you are not really interested in. In essence, what then happens is you don't have the desire to give 110% to something you do not truly believe in. Which brings me to the next step.
You need to find out what truly motivates you. In my situation, The candle business was the perfect fit for me. The compensation plan and the company's mission statement was what enticed me, not to mention my true love of burning scented candles.
Look at what the company stands for. Do they have ideals and beliefs similar to yours? Are they health conscious? Do they offer incentives for business partners to climb in the business? Do they offer training and support? Is this a product or service that the consumer will want or need?
Next decide how much money you are willing to invest to get started and sign up with the company of your choice and choose a starting package.
So, now that you chose the product/service you will base your business on, you need to decide how you want to build the business. Do you want to concentrate solely on the retail aspect or are your looking to truly build a successful business by building a successful team?
First you will need to set up a website. You can decide to build it your self or have someone design it for you. If you are going to use a web designer, it will cost you more in the long run. If you want to start a business without starting with a loss, you need to set a budget. It is possible to get it started on limited funds. That is where creativity comes in.
By putting time and thought into creating your Home Business you will be well on your way to being successful and achieving your dreams and goals.
Reference:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing
Marketing is a creative process. It requires using creativity to advertise the products and services that your business offers. You are also concerned with anticipating a customer's future needs and wants. You also need to create or reorganize a business to be successful in selling the products/services to the consumer.
So, How are we to do this?
Set up our business/Formulate a business plan
Develop a website
Advertise the business
Market the products
Seek advice from others in the industry
Get customer feedback
Setting up your business:
The first thing you need to do is determine what business you want to get involved with. Do a research on the Internet and look at all the home business opportunities available out there. Look at what each company has to offer YOU for becoming an independent distributor. This is what is referred to as the "compensation plan".
You could base your decision on that alone, but it may end up being a product that you are not really interested in. In essence, what then happens is you don't have the desire to give 110% to something you do not truly believe in. Which brings me to the next step.
You need to find out what truly motivates you. In my situation, The candle business was the perfect fit for me. The compensation plan and the company's mission statement was what enticed me, not to mention my true love of burning scented candles.
Look at what the company stands for. Do they have ideals and beliefs similar to yours? Are they health conscious? Do they offer incentives for business partners to climb in the business? Do they offer training and support? Is this a product or service that the consumer will want or need?
Next decide how much money you are willing to invest to get started and sign up with the company of your choice and choose a starting package.
So, now that you chose the product/service you will base your business on, you need to decide how you want to build the business. Do you want to concentrate solely on the retail aspect or are your looking to truly build a successful business by building a successful team?
First you will need to set up a website. You can decide to build it your self or have someone design it for you. If you are going to use a web designer, it will cost you more in the long run. If you want to start a business without starting with a loss, you need to set a budget. It is possible to get it started on limited funds. That is where creativity comes in.
By putting time and thought into creating your Home Business you will be well on your way to being successful and achieving your dreams and goals.
Reference:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Creating a positive self image
Self Image is a building block that affects all areas of our life from our emotions to how we deal with others. It is the core and identity of our being. How we perceive ourselves can be our greatest strength or our biggest weakness.
This has made me think about my 7 year old daughter and another child who feel that they are not wanted because of their skin color and the fact that they suffer with eczema. They both have a great personality and are beautiful, but our society has been instilling in them the "Perfect" body and skin color.They don't fit the stereotypical mold of perfect body image. How can this be possible at this young age?
Image, or how we perceive ourselves, can be hard on the mind. It can interfere with our life because it becomes the focus of our thoughts. Then if we don't like ourselves, it leads to poor self esteem. You feel you are non-deserving and become depressed. This in turn will affect your relationship with others.
So, as I sat with my daughter, I had to really get through to her. She is, after all only 7 years old with her whole life ahead of her. She needs to start thinking for herself and not worrying about what others are saying or doing for that matter. You have to go on living your purpose in life.
How to have a Healthy Self Image:
You need to celebrate your uniqueness- Start listing all the things you like about yourself and what makes you special, whether it is your beautiful eyes, smile, hair, etc. or even your thoughtfulness and kindness to others and celebrate those strengths. Ask your closest friend to tell you what they love about you. Write little affirmations to yourself, such as "You are Beautiful", "You Rock" and place these on your mirror or anyplace you might see them daily.
Don't compare yourself to other people- remember that you are unique and that no two people are alike. Even identical twins have a uniqueness to each one.
You need to learn to like yourself- start by treating your self with respect. Accept you for you and don't try to change anything because you want to please someone else. You need to please yourself first.
I sat with my daughter and we talked at length about how beautiful she is on the inside and out. She is unique and special for the person she is. We talked about how she can come to me with anything and to have faith in herself. She is now less obsessed with body image and has a better self esteem. I know she is going to become a beautiful young lady with a healthy self image.
This has made me think about my 7 year old daughter and another child who feel that they are not wanted because of their skin color and the fact that they suffer with eczema. They both have a great personality and are beautiful, but our society has been instilling in them the "Perfect" body and skin color.They don't fit the stereotypical mold of perfect body image. How can this be possible at this young age?
Image, or how we perceive ourselves, can be hard on the mind. It can interfere with our life because it becomes the focus of our thoughts. Then if we don't like ourselves, it leads to poor self esteem. You feel you are non-deserving and become depressed. This in turn will affect your relationship with others.
So, as I sat with my daughter, I had to really get through to her. She is, after all only 7 years old with her whole life ahead of her. She needs to start thinking for herself and not worrying about what others are saying or doing for that matter. You have to go on living your purpose in life.
How to have a Healthy Self Image:
You need to celebrate your uniqueness- Start listing all the things you like about yourself and what makes you special, whether it is your beautiful eyes, smile, hair, etc. or even your thoughtfulness and kindness to others and celebrate those strengths. Ask your closest friend to tell you what they love about you. Write little affirmations to yourself, such as "You are Beautiful", "You Rock" and place these on your mirror or anyplace you might see them daily.
Don't compare yourself to other people- remember that you are unique and that no two people are alike. Even identical twins have a uniqueness to each one.
You need to learn to like yourself- start by treating your self with respect. Accept you for you and don't try to change anything because you want to please someone else. You need to please yourself first.
I sat with my daughter and we talked at length about how beautiful she is on the inside and out. She is unique and special for the person she is. We talked about how she can come to me with anything and to have faith in herself. She is now less obsessed with body image and has a better self esteem. I know she is going to become a beautiful young lady with a healthy self image.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
National Crochet Month is the time to find new ways to find self-fulfillment
March is National Crochet Month and it is time to set new goals for ourselves and take a look at why crochet is such a beloved craft. It is time to get back into the craft you love.
Crochet offers many fulfilling ways to do something for yourself and others. It gives you gratification and pleasure in knowing that you made something with your own hands for someone that you care about. It makes you feel good when you see that you are appreciated for your talent.
I have been crocheting for 20 years and I enjoy this craft for many reasons. I enjoy being able to sit and crochet because it relaxes me and takes the stress away, if only for a short time. I love making something for my family and friends and seeing the look on their faces as they open the gift I spent countless hours creating. As I create something, I think about that person and send prayers and well wishes to them so in a way it is a vehicle of emotional expression. You can’t help but smile when you receive a crocheted gift from someone. You think about how much of themselves they put into that item.
During National Crochet Month it is the perfect time to expand your horizons and do something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Promote the craft you love so much.
Some ways to do this are:
1. Help others by crocheting items for organizations that collect for the needy. Check out www.lionbrand.com/charityConnection.html for a list of organizations and what they request.
2. Learn a new crochet stitch or technique such as filet or broomstick lace. Go on the internet and do a search for “crochet tutorials”. You can check out www.crochet.about.com for more info. They have free patterns, how to do filet crochet, and a range of other crochet topics. You can get free patterns daily by going to www.anniesattic.com/free_pattern_day/index.html. Also check out www.learntocrochet.lionbrand.com if you are new and need step by step instructions with diagrams. You can impress people when you give your next gift and it is more creative than the last.
3. Teach someone how to crochet. You know why you crochet and how it makes you feel. Go out and teach someone to crochet, even some basic stitches. They will thank you for it, and you will be part of the reason why crochet is an ongoing craft and each year more people take up crochet. Have them check out www.learntocrochet.lionbrand.com to help them step by step.
4.Share your feelings for crochet by joining an online crochet discussion group and forum. Start your own local crochet group so that you can share and trade patterns, help others with difficult stitches, participate in swaps and exchanges or even contribute as a group to charities.
5.Experiment with a new yarn you have never used before. You might like how it makes a project go from plain to extra-ordinary. Your choices are virtually endless.
The month of March will be here before you know it, so make the most of it. While you are getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, just remember that you need a reward too. Take the time to make something special for yourself, because you deserve it. If you are anything like me, I always see something I want to make for myself but never do because there is always someone out there that needs my creations. Keep doing what you love and enjoy yourself while crocheting. You will have a sense of fulfillment by the month’s end.
Crochet offers many fulfilling ways to do something for yourself and others. It gives you gratification and pleasure in knowing that you made something with your own hands for someone that you care about. It makes you feel good when you see that you are appreciated for your talent.
I have been crocheting for 20 years and I enjoy this craft for many reasons. I enjoy being able to sit and crochet because it relaxes me and takes the stress away, if only for a short time. I love making something for my family and friends and seeing the look on their faces as they open the gift I spent countless hours creating. As I create something, I think about that person and send prayers and well wishes to them so in a way it is a vehicle of emotional expression. You can’t help but smile when you receive a crocheted gift from someone. You think about how much of themselves they put into that item.
During National Crochet Month it is the perfect time to expand your horizons and do something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Promote the craft you love so much.
Some ways to do this are:
1. Help others by crocheting items for organizations that collect for the needy. Check out www.lionbrand.com/charityConnection.html for a list of organizations and what they request.
2. Learn a new crochet stitch or technique such as filet or broomstick lace. Go on the internet and do a search for “crochet tutorials”. You can check out www.crochet.about.com for more info. They have free patterns, how to do filet crochet, and a range of other crochet topics. You can get free patterns daily by going to www.anniesattic.com/free_pattern_day/index.html. Also check out www.learntocrochet.lionbrand.com if you are new and need step by step instructions with diagrams. You can impress people when you give your next gift and it is more creative than the last.
3. Teach someone how to crochet. You know why you crochet and how it makes you feel. Go out and teach someone to crochet, even some basic stitches. They will thank you for it, and you will be part of the reason why crochet is an ongoing craft and each year more people take up crochet. Have them check out www.learntocrochet.lionbrand.com to help them step by step.
4.Share your feelings for crochet by joining an online crochet discussion group and forum. Start your own local crochet group so that you can share and trade patterns, help others with difficult stitches, participate in swaps and exchanges or even contribute as a group to charities.
5.Experiment with a new yarn you have never used before. You might like how it makes a project go from plain to extra-ordinary. Your choices are virtually endless.
The month of March will be here before you know it, so make the most of it. While you are getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, just remember that you need a reward too. Take the time to make something special for yourself, because you deserve it. If you are anything like me, I always see something I want to make for myself but never do because there is always someone out there that needs my creations. Keep doing what you love and enjoy yourself while crocheting. You will have a sense of fulfillment by the month’s end.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Creating Success through Positive Thinking
I was listening to the religious channel and the preacher was talking about God. She basically said "What you see by faith, God will give it to you." I am a Catholic and I believe in God. I have faith, and believe that God will help me overcome many obstacles, but there are a lot of people that are not of the same faith as I.
As I sat there and watched the one hour show, I started to think about the power in positive thinking. It works in the same way as faith and beliefs.If you have faith in yourself, and believe you can do something, you will be successful.
Let's take me for example. I am a registered nurse who had worked in obstetrics and NICU for about 20 years. I got injured on the job and had multiple surgeries. I experienced complications and subsequently became disabled. I could no longer work as an RN, in essence I can't even work outside the home. Sure I went through a time of feeling depressed because I couldn't do what I loved anymore, and I didn't know what was out there for me to do. I was a nurse. Nursing was my life, my career. I didn't let my situation stop me. I wanted to make something of myself despite what life had dealt me. I wanted success. I just had to find it.I did a lot of research on the Internet and found out that I wanted to start a home business. As I sat there and listened to what was involved in getting started in a home candle business , I thought at first, how am I going to accomplish this? I have no knowledge of business or the Internet. I told family and friends, and they were skeptical. They told me "What are you thinking?" My husband said "Are you in your right mind?" Well, I needed to prove them wrong. In essence, this gave me the drive and push I needed.
Well, back to the topic, Positive Thinking. You need to have it to be successful in life. You have to work with it, meaning you can't sit there and wait for success to come to you. You have to take responsibility for yourself and work on your success. No one is going to do it for you.It is so powerful, that if you believe and remain positive, along with hard work, you can accomplish anything.
You are going to remain where you are in life if all you think about is what you now have or don't have. Dread and fear are two things that bring about failure. Bad attitude and the wrong mindset can also lead to failure. You can help yourself to change and have a better life if you change your mindset and attitude. You can change what you have or don't have by setting goals. Tell yourself "I can do something about my life." "I can change my situation." Ask yourself these questions:
1.What do I want to accomplish in life?
2.What can I do to accomplish this?
3.What do I want to do when(not if) I become successful?
4.What are my goals? What do I want to accomplish in one week? A month? A Year from now?
You need to sit and make a plan. Set it up with daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Break down the activities you need to do this by daily, weekly and monthly. Re-evaluate your goals and plan weekly and monthly and change it as needed. For example, my goal was to learn as much as I could about the home business I started and the Internet. I set aside 6-8 hours everyday to research books and articles on topics related to marketing because my goal is to have a successful on line business and to promote that business to others who want the same success. So in order to achieve this I had to learn how to market on the web, promote myself, and lastly my business. I listed to what the directors and executives in the business had to say. I approached people and talked to them about what I was promoting. I even wrote articles and posted in my blog about what I was able to accomplish.
Here are a few things to do to promote positive thinking, attitude and success:
1. Make a dream board. This can be a piece of poster board with pictures of objects that stand for each of your goals. Put this in a place where you will see it everyday. It gives you that push you need to keep your positive attitude.
2. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and say "I am a success." Keep that positive attitude all day as are out and about because positive thinking makes you more approachable to others.
3. Make yourself do something that scares you. Take yourself out of that comfort zone. For me, this was talking to people about my business on the phone. I set my plan to talk to 2 new people each day, and I overcame my fear.
4. Write in a blog or journal daily or when you accomplish something that makes you feel good. This gives you positive reinforcement that you are a success and you can do anything you put your mind to. Go back once a week and read you postings. It will give you a sense of accomplishment which will boost your positive attitude.
5. Write and publish articles. Get out of your comfort zone. Let others know you are successfully showing them what you learned as you worked to achieve your success.
6. Be persistent. You need to keep going even if you might have setbacks along the way. Be consistent with your goals and plan of action. You will be able to see progress, even in small ways.
If you want success, you have to have the right mindset and a positive attitude. You have to overcome your fears. You can't passively sit and wait for success to come to you. You need to be energetic and active in finding what is needed for your success. If you are passionate and have drive, positive thinking will make your success a reality.
As I sat there and watched the one hour show, I started to think about the power in positive thinking. It works in the same way as faith and beliefs.If you have faith in yourself, and believe you can do something, you will be successful.
Let's take me for example. I am a registered nurse who had worked in obstetrics and NICU for about 20 years. I got injured on the job and had multiple surgeries. I experienced complications and subsequently became disabled. I could no longer work as an RN, in essence I can't even work outside the home. Sure I went through a time of feeling depressed because I couldn't do what I loved anymore, and I didn't know what was out there for me to do. I was a nurse. Nursing was my life, my career. I didn't let my situation stop me. I wanted to make something of myself despite what life had dealt me. I wanted success. I just had to find it.I did a lot of research on the Internet and found out that I wanted to start a home business. As I sat there and listened to what was involved in getting started in a home candle business , I thought at first, how am I going to accomplish this? I have no knowledge of business or the Internet. I told family and friends, and they were skeptical. They told me "What are you thinking?" My husband said "Are you in your right mind?" Well, I needed to prove them wrong. In essence, this gave me the drive and push I needed.
Well, back to the topic, Positive Thinking. You need to have it to be successful in life. You have to work with it, meaning you can't sit there and wait for success to come to you. You have to take responsibility for yourself and work on your success. No one is going to do it for you.It is so powerful, that if you believe and remain positive, along with hard work, you can accomplish anything.
You are going to remain where you are in life if all you think about is what you now have or don't have. Dread and fear are two things that bring about failure. Bad attitude and the wrong mindset can also lead to failure. You can help yourself to change and have a better life if you change your mindset and attitude. You can change what you have or don't have by setting goals. Tell yourself "I can do something about my life." "I can change my situation." Ask yourself these questions:
1.What do I want to accomplish in life?
2.What can I do to accomplish this?
3.What do I want to do when(not if) I become successful?
4.What are my goals? What do I want to accomplish in one week? A month? A Year from now?
You need to sit and make a plan. Set it up with daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Break down the activities you need to do this by daily, weekly and monthly. Re-evaluate your goals and plan weekly and monthly and change it as needed. For example, my goal was to learn as much as I could about the home business I started and the Internet. I set aside 6-8 hours everyday to research books and articles on topics related to marketing because my goal is to have a successful on line business and to promote that business to others who want the same success. So in order to achieve this I had to learn how to market on the web, promote myself, and lastly my business. I listed to what the directors and executives in the business had to say. I approached people and talked to them about what I was promoting. I even wrote articles and posted in my blog about what I was able to accomplish.
Here are a few things to do to promote positive thinking, attitude and success:
1. Make a dream board. This can be a piece of poster board with pictures of objects that stand for each of your goals. Put this in a place where you will see it everyday. It gives you that push you need to keep your positive attitude.
2. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and say "I am a success." Keep that positive attitude all day as are out and about because positive thinking makes you more approachable to others.
3. Make yourself do something that scares you. Take yourself out of that comfort zone. For me, this was talking to people about my business on the phone. I set my plan to talk to 2 new people each day, and I overcame my fear.
4. Write in a blog or journal daily or when you accomplish something that makes you feel good. This gives you positive reinforcement that you are a success and you can do anything you put your mind to. Go back once a week and read you postings. It will give you a sense of accomplishment which will boost your positive attitude.
5. Write and publish articles. Get out of your comfort zone. Let others know you are successfully showing them what you learned as you worked to achieve your success.
6. Be persistent. You need to keep going even if you might have setbacks along the way. Be consistent with your goals and plan of action. You will be able to see progress, even in small ways.
If you want success, you have to have the right mindset and a positive attitude. You have to overcome your fears. You can't passively sit and wait for success to come to you. You need to be energetic and active in finding what is needed for your success. If you are passionate and have drive, positive thinking will make your success a reality.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Starting a Home Business
Starting a business is hard work and requires dedication and commitment on your part. You must be willing to invest time and energy to that business in order to become a success.
Being fairly new to the network marketing business, I started by reading anything I could find out there on the Internet. That process has led me to a wealth of information.
Here are some things that I found to be important as you build your business:
1. Building your business is not only selling the products:
The first and most important fact is that you need to sell yourself first. People need to see you as someone who is committed, knowledgeable and trustworthy. You need to convey to them your professional side. Let me ask you, would you want to buy from a complete stranger?
I would be wary if a stranger came up to me and said he had the next best thing and I would be a fool not to buy. I need to know more before I take that leap. The more people know about you, the more they are willing to listen to what you have to say and they can trust that you know what you are talking about.
2.Building a Business DOES require Work:
There are people out there that are selling get rich schemes, telling you that they can help you build a down line for you with no effort on your part. The truth is, getting and maintaining your business does require work on your part. No one can build your business for you. Sure, your sponsor and up line are there for advice and a knowledge base , because they were in your shoes at one time in their careers and know the best way to get business off the ground.
Another thing, most people are under the assumption that when they start a business they will have a lot of free time. That really is not the case. It is a well known fact that 95% of marketing businesses fail in their first 3 years.
So why develop a business to begin with? Well, honestly, it is a long term process. You need to be willing to devote time, and be willing to stick it out for the long haul. You won’t begin to see dramatic results until about 3 years into your new venture. You will notice progress along the way, but it doesn’t happen overnight, or as the old saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a Day.”
You need to devote at least 8-10 hours a week to getting the business started, promotion and advertising, building and maintaining a website and so on. You will also need to devote another 5-10 hours or more weekly to educating yourself on your business through books, articles, etc on marketing ,networking, and MLM. Remember to get out and sell yourself by joining networking groups and business forums.
3. Advertising YOUR Business is not the Best way to Promote Your Business:
Remember how we talked about the need for people to get to know you first? Well, you need to market yourself by networking. Join business and networking groups and forums, post advice and questions in forums, create a presence. Make sure your are a frequent visitor to those places because just making one post will not help you in the long run. Create and publish articles and newsletters on topics that you have knowledge about. Be willing to help others by sharing your knowledge.
4. Communication and relationships are what builds your business:
You need to be willing to interact with people. You want to show people you know what you are talking about by creating newsletters, articles, and blogs. Get them published online and well as off line. This will also give you a sense of accomplishment that you are working to make yourself a success.
There is much more to learn in order to get your business started but if you are serious about wanting success, set goals for yourself on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Devote time to achieving those goals. Get your name out there, educate yourself and others, and finally market yourself and then your business. This is a start, but if you work at it you will find success in network marketing and will get customers coming to you for not only your product but for advice and help in order to achieve their own success also. This sounds like a win-win situation. Good luck.
Being fairly new to the network marketing business, I started by reading anything I could find out there on the Internet. That process has led me to a wealth of information.
Here are some things that I found to be important as you build your business:
1. Building your business is not only selling the products:
The first and most important fact is that you need to sell yourself first. People need to see you as someone who is committed, knowledgeable and trustworthy. You need to convey to them your professional side. Let me ask you, would you want to buy from a complete stranger?
I would be wary if a stranger came up to me and said he had the next best thing and I would be a fool not to buy. I need to know more before I take that leap. The more people know about you, the more they are willing to listen to what you have to say and they can trust that you know what you are talking about.
2.Building a Business DOES require Work:
There are people out there that are selling get rich schemes, telling you that they can help you build a down line for you with no effort on your part. The truth is, getting and maintaining your business does require work on your part. No one can build your business for you. Sure, your sponsor and up line are there for advice and a knowledge base , because they were in your shoes at one time in their careers and know the best way to get business off the ground.
Another thing, most people are under the assumption that when they start a business they will have a lot of free time. That really is not the case. It is a well known fact that 95% of marketing businesses fail in their first 3 years.
So why develop a business to begin with? Well, honestly, it is a long term process. You need to be willing to devote time, and be willing to stick it out for the long haul. You won’t begin to see dramatic results until about 3 years into your new venture. You will notice progress along the way, but it doesn’t happen overnight, or as the old saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a Day.”
You need to devote at least 8-10 hours a week to getting the business started, promotion and advertising, building and maintaining a website and so on. You will also need to devote another 5-10 hours or more weekly to educating yourself on your business through books, articles, etc on marketing ,networking, and MLM. Remember to get out and sell yourself by joining networking groups and business forums.
3. Advertising YOUR Business is not the Best way to Promote Your Business:
Remember how we talked about the need for people to get to know you first? Well, you need to market yourself by networking. Join business and networking groups and forums, post advice and questions in forums, create a presence. Make sure your are a frequent visitor to those places because just making one post will not help you in the long run. Create and publish articles and newsletters on topics that you have knowledge about. Be willing to help others by sharing your knowledge.
4. Communication and relationships are what builds your business:
You need to be willing to interact with people. You want to show people you know what you are talking about by creating newsletters, articles, and blogs. Get them published online and well as off line. This will also give you a sense of accomplishment that you are working to make yourself a success.
There is much more to learn in order to get your business started but if you are serious about wanting success, set goals for yourself on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Devote time to achieving those goals. Get your name out there, educate yourself and others, and finally market yourself and then your business. This is a start, but if you work at it you will find success in network marketing and will get customers coming to you for not only your product but for advice and help in order to achieve their own success also. This sounds like a win-win situation. Good luck.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Reflections.....
I am sitting here doing some reflecting....
Another year is gone and we have just barely started 2008. I think of different milestones that have passed and more milestones that will approach in this New Year, a year that is just barely in it's infancy.
So I ponder the past year for a moment....it was a very difficult year for me with many challenges but on the other hand it ended as a very rewarding time in my life. People talk about regrets...I would say that I don't regret the decisions I made in the face of much adversity and challenge.
This past year has brought independence to my life, for the first time in a long time, I have felt a purpose for my existence....have come to terms with being disabled and unable to work in my chosen career as a Registered Nurse. I had been wrestling with that for a long time....a time span of many years that have come to pass.
I feel like I don't have to depend on others to carry me, but that I can let others depend on me for a change. I have found a new sense of self worth and these feelings and emotions have led me to become a better mother to my amazing daughter, who for the first time in her young life has found a way to express herself, despite her own disabilities.
Hannah and I have become a team....a Mother-Daughter tag team in a sense....and have come full circle from the previous year when I felt despair that she would never recover from the ADHD and mood disorder she was diagnosed with, and the many scary behaviors she was exhibiting. I had to let go and take one day at a time and I see now that we have come through this trying time in our lives and are stronger for it.I see a glimpse of the young women she is destined to become, as she is turning from infancy and little girl, and trying to be a "big girl".
I see Hannah trying to be more like me and this makes me want to be her Best role model. I want to show her that independence is a reality and that she can do anything she wants to do and that she doesn't have to give up anything.
This past year has also brought me into a time where I faced a struggle as to how to make ends meet.Unable to work, I did a lot of research online and found a wonderful person(or should I say God found her for me), who I feel has made the biggest impact on my life and become a mentor/partner in my home candle business. She arrived in my life at my lowest moment, with her amazingly upbeat personality, and taught me that with perseverance anything is possible.She was that inspiration I needed, because I saw what she was accomplishing in her life and she made it look so easy....
I, with no business background( just my knowledge of medicine and nursing) would be able to start a home candle business and successfully market online through my own website and blog.
If you approached me years ago and told me that I would do this, I would have laughed at you.
It is now a reality....
Not only has this opportunity transformed my life, it has made me feel alive for the first time in a long time. I am learning so much, I feel thirst for all knowledge I can find.I feel energized.
I have met a lot of wonderful people, a few who have inspired me and have mentored me, and many who have become my friends.
I have successfully designed my own website and a blog and this accomplishment has inspired me to work harder to achieve more and experience all that life has to offer.
So, now I contemplate what a New Year might mean to me.....
I need to set goals. I, like many others, have dreams.Perhaps they are similar to your dreams.
I want the be a better mom to Hannah, a mom that she is proud of. I want to inspire her as much as she inspires me in her young life. She has overcome a lot of struggle in India as well as here in our home and I am so very proud of her.
I want to learn as much as I can about being a successful mother and entrepreneur.
I want to have a successful candle business and I want to help others achieve that success also, by being a teacher and mentor to them.
I want to help those children still in orphanages in India who have dreams still unfulfilled....a dream of a family and parents.(I receive updates from the agency we used to adopt Hannah, and recently they sent me 2 pages of children...at least 20 children..still looking for a family..still needing to be adopted.) This breaks my heart because all children should have a family, parents who love them as much as I love my daughter. If I had the money, I would do it all again.
If you are someone who is considering adoption, please contact me and I will give you the information on the agency we used for our adoption.
My Goals:
1. Build my business through retail, fundraising and team building:
--I will promote my website by sending out 100 business cards/scent samples each month.
--I will make contact with at least 2 groups( school, dance, sports, church,etc.) each month to
fundraisers.
--I will strive to have at least one home party/open house each month.
--I will attend at least one trade show, craft fair each quarter.
--I will use lead options each month to build my team by giving people the knowledge base to
make an informed decision to make a change in their lives and achieve the success they
dream of.
--I will listen in on at least 2 conferences weekly.
--I will attempt to attend at least 2 seminars this year.
--I will use my knowledge to teach and mentor my team, by scheduling monthly team building
meetings once a month.
--I will be available by phone, email or in person to my team for any questions or needs they
might have each month.
2.I will promote adoption:
--I will get word out on adoption and try to let others know about children still in orphanages
that need families.I will call my agency to see what I can do to help, possibly promote a
fundraiser to help cover costs of the children's upkeep in the orphanages.
3. Become a better mother:
--I will take time to listen to Hannah and let her express her emotions and feelings daily.
--I will read articles, books,etc. on parenting to become better at it.
--I will attend all school, dance drama functions.
--I will be available for Hannah anytime she needs me.
--I will schedule Mommy-Hannah time out weekly.
--I will sit with Hannah daily to do homework together.
--We will have quality time together in the evening before bed.
Well, I could probably keep going...but this is a start.
The year is fresh, and many opportunities and challenges will come along the way.....but as long as I take one day at a time and remember my dreams(and Hannah's dreams)....and my goals,
I am sure that this New Year will become just as successful.
For those of you who dream of a successful home business...more time with your family....those dreams are attainable.
Don't give up on your dreams, whatever they might be, because with work and perseverance....Your dreams will come true!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
Another year is gone and we have just barely started 2008. I think of different milestones that have passed and more milestones that will approach in this New Year, a year that is just barely in it's infancy.
So I ponder the past year for a moment....it was a very difficult year for me with many challenges but on the other hand it ended as a very rewarding time in my life. People talk about regrets...I would say that I don't regret the decisions I made in the face of much adversity and challenge.
This past year has brought independence to my life, for the first time in a long time, I have felt a purpose for my existence....have come to terms with being disabled and unable to work in my chosen career as a Registered Nurse. I had been wrestling with that for a long time....a time span of many years that have come to pass.
I feel like I don't have to depend on others to carry me, but that I can let others depend on me for a change. I have found a new sense of self worth and these feelings and emotions have led me to become a better mother to my amazing daughter, who for the first time in her young life has found a way to express herself, despite her own disabilities.
Hannah and I have become a team....a Mother-Daughter tag team in a sense....and have come full circle from the previous year when I felt despair that she would never recover from the ADHD and mood disorder she was diagnosed with, and the many scary behaviors she was exhibiting. I had to let go and take one day at a time and I see now that we have come through this trying time in our lives and are stronger for it.I see a glimpse of the young women she is destined to become, as she is turning from infancy and little girl, and trying to be a "big girl".
I see Hannah trying to be more like me and this makes me want to be her Best role model. I want to show her that independence is a reality and that she can do anything she wants to do and that she doesn't have to give up anything.
This past year has also brought me into a time where I faced a struggle as to how to make ends meet.Unable to work, I did a lot of research online and found a wonderful person(or should I say God found her for me), who I feel has made the biggest impact on my life and become a mentor/partner in my home candle business. She arrived in my life at my lowest moment, with her amazingly upbeat personality, and taught me that with perseverance anything is possible.She was that inspiration I needed, because I saw what she was accomplishing in her life and she made it look so easy....
I, with no business background( just my knowledge of medicine and nursing) would be able to start a home candle business and successfully market online through my own website and blog.
If you approached me years ago and told me that I would do this, I would have laughed at you.
It is now a reality....
Not only has this opportunity transformed my life, it has made me feel alive for the first time in a long time. I am learning so much, I feel thirst for all knowledge I can find.I feel energized.
I have met a lot of wonderful people, a few who have inspired me and have mentored me, and many who have become my friends.
I have successfully designed my own website and a blog and this accomplishment has inspired me to work harder to achieve more and experience all that life has to offer.
So, now I contemplate what a New Year might mean to me.....
I need to set goals. I, like many others, have dreams.Perhaps they are similar to your dreams.
I want the be a better mom to Hannah, a mom that she is proud of. I want to inspire her as much as she inspires me in her young life. She has overcome a lot of struggle in India as well as here in our home and I am so very proud of her.
I want to learn as much as I can about being a successful mother and entrepreneur.
I want to have a successful candle business and I want to help others achieve that success also, by being a teacher and mentor to them.
I want to help those children still in orphanages in India who have dreams still unfulfilled....a dream of a family and parents.(I receive updates from the agency we used to adopt Hannah, and recently they sent me 2 pages of children...at least 20 children..still looking for a family..still needing to be adopted.) This breaks my heart because all children should have a family, parents who love them as much as I love my daughter. If I had the money, I would do it all again.
If you are someone who is considering adoption, please contact me and I will give you the information on the agency we used for our adoption.
My Goals:
1. Build my business through retail, fundraising and team building:
--I will promote my website by sending out 100 business cards/scent samples each month.
--I will make contact with at least 2 groups( school, dance, sports, church,etc.) each month to
fundraisers.
--I will strive to have at least one home party/open house each month.
--I will attend at least one trade show, craft fair each quarter.
--I will use lead options each month to build my team by giving people the knowledge base to
make an informed decision to make a change in their lives and achieve the success they
dream of.
--I will listen in on at least 2 conferences weekly.
--I will attempt to attend at least 2 seminars this year.
--I will use my knowledge to teach and mentor my team, by scheduling monthly team building
meetings once a month.
--I will be available by phone, email or in person to my team for any questions or needs they
might have each month.
2.I will promote adoption:
--I will get word out on adoption and try to let others know about children still in orphanages
that need families.I will call my agency to see what I can do to help, possibly promote a
fundraiser to help cover costs of the children's upkeep in the orphanages.
3. Become a better mother:
--I will take time to listen to Hannah and let her express her emotions and feelings daily.
--I will read articles, books,etc. on parenting to become better at it.
--I will attend all school, dance drama functions.
--I will be available for Hannah anytime she needs me.
--I will schedule Mommy-Hannah time out weekly.
--I will sit with Hannah daily to do homework together.
--We will have quality time together in the evening before bed.
Well, I could probably keep going...but this is a start.
The year is fresh, and many opportunities and challenges will come along the way.....but as long as I take one day at a time and remember my dreams(and Hannah's dreams)....and my goals,
I am sure that this New Year will become just as successful.
For those of you who dream of a successful home business...more time with your family....those dreams are attainable.
Don't give up on your dreams, whatever they might be, because with work and perseverance....Your dreams will come true!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
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