"I don't understand it! I was sure this time it would work. Everyone said this was the next big thing. And yet I'm just not having any results. In fact, I feel stupid everytime I try to share what I'm doing. What am I doing wrong."
What are you doing wrong? It sounds like you might be trying to live someone else's dream.
You were born for a purpose! Really! A purpose no one else can fulfill. What? You don't believe me? Why not? Is it so difficult to believe that you are a special person, born for a special purpose?
Could it be you just haven't yet discovered what your purpose is? What are your passionate about? What types of things do you look forward to doing each day? What is it that you can't wait to share with others? What skills do you have that can benefit others?
"I don't have any special skills." "I don't have a passion for anything. I just try to make it through the day." "No one would be interested in the things that interest me." I've heard all of these negatives repeatedly, from almost everyone of my clients while they worked to discover their calling. But by focusing on the positive and ignoring the naysayers surrounding them, they were able to overcome the self-doubt and indecision they were feeling. They set goals that truly meant something to them and then started working towards them.
So, let's get moving! Don't be afraid. Don't let procrastination and indecision run your life. Look around at all the successful people you know. What do they have in common? They share their passions, interests, and skills. And whenever self-doubt reared its head, they gave their fear a good, swift kick and sent it packing. You have passions, interests, and skill too. You know something or can do something that could help hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of people. And while you are serving others, you can serve yourself. Because following your passion and interests, and using the skills and talents you were given is a great way to earn a living. When you are doing what you love, what you are good at, using your skills, your enthusiasm shows. And enthusiasm is contagious. If you are excited about what you do, you will excite others around you. If you are good at what you do, people will recognize you as an expert in your field. Now wouldn't you prefer to work with an expert who is excited about his work? So would most people.
For many years I listened to others around me - my friends ("You go in business for yourself? You're kidding, right?"), my parents ("The only way to get ahead is to have a job that pays you a steady paycheck."), even my husband ("Are you sure this will work?"). Then circumstances changed and suddenly I had no choice. I had to do something different. And yet I still listened to those voices around me. The ones that told me to try the many different things I worked at because they worked for everyone else. But I'm not everyone else and they didn't work for me. It wasn't until I met some very special people who told me that to be successful, I had to do what I loved to do and was good at.
What's your passion? What do you enjoy doing? Where are your strengths, skills, and talents? What are you good at that you love to do? Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Figure out who you are and what you do and what is it that makes you different from everyone else? Then share it. And watch how quickly you become a success.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tomorrow is the First Day of Your New Reality!
Fact: Almost anyone can become a millionaire.
Fact: Almost anyone can become a successful entrepreneur.
Fact: It is possible to wake up excited about life every day.
Fact: You can turn your passion into your work - and make the first three facts part of your reality!
What if you start tomorrow believing that these facts are true for you? What if you make them part of your reality. It has been proven many times that when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.
Most people go through life thinking this is all there is. I was as guilty of this as anyone. I knew I'd never be rich. I came from a poor family. We couldn't afford the "fancy" degree from the "right" college. And then later, when I was making a decent living, perhaps I could have gone back to school. But I was on active duty, a young mom with two small daughters and an active duty husband as well. I didn't have the time to go to back to school. And while I had ideas for businesses of my own - well, I had children and financial responsibilities. What if my ideas didn't work? How would I take care of my family?
Fast forward 20 years. My life today is so different. I'm not rich - yet - but I'm on the way to being totally financially independent. I make a good living doing something I love. I am a successful entrepreneur. What happened to make it all possible? Granted, I am no longer on active duty. But I still worked a job for a very long time. The jobs I had demanded long hours and lots of travel so I still had no time for school. I still had two daughters - only now I also had a step-daughter. And I took on the care of my father who suffered from Alzheimers. I still had financial responsibilities and obligations. If you think three children are expensive, try spoiling seven grandchildren! So what changed? My perception. I had a dad who needed full time care and no money for a decent nursing home. I had daughters with children of their own that couldn't find decent, affordable childcare. I NEEDED to be able to stay home. I also NEEDED to be able to earn a living.
Then I was given a book as a gift. And in that book was a quote by George Bernarnd Shaw. "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." That's when I realized that instead of trying to adapt myself to the reality of my present life, I had to adapt reality to the life I needed. And when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.
Let's do a little exercise. Answer these questions. Do you believe you can be financially independent? Do you believe you can find a life's work that you are passionate about and that excites you every day? Not everyone wants the responsibility of their own business, but do you believe that you can earn a living doing something you love? If you answered truthfully - from your heart - yes! then you are ready to move forward. But if there was even the slightest hesitation or doubt before you said yes - then you are ready to move forward. It might just take a little longer to get there!
Open your mind to the possibilities of what could be if you accept it. Put away the "buts" and "what ifs" and "maybes" and just believe that you can have everything you need. Dream of your perfect life. What do you do? Where do you live? Write it down so you can look at it everyday as you learn the skills and techniques necessary to help you enjoy the life you dream of. Look at your 'fantasy' life regularly and begin to accept the idea that it isn't a fantasy at all but your new reality.
Fact: Almost anyone can become a successful entrepreneur.
Fact: It is possible to wake up excited about life every day.
Fact: You can turn your passion into your work - and make the first three facts part of your reality!
What if you start tomorrow believing that these facts are true for you? What if you make them part of your reality. It has been proven many times that when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.
Most people go through life thinking this is all there is. I was as guilty of this as anyone. I knew I'd never be rich. I came from a poor family. We couldn't afford the "fancy" degree from the "right" college. And then later, when I was making a decent living, perhaps I could have gone back to school. But I was on active duty, a young mom with two small daughters and an active duty husband as well. I didn't have the time to go to back to school. And while I had ideas for businesses of my own - well, I had children and financial responsibilities. What if my ideas didn't work? How would I take care of my family?
Fast forward 20 years. My life today is so different. I'm not rich - yet - but I'm on the way to being totally financially independent. I make a good living doing something I love. I am a successful entrepreneur. What happened to make it all possible? Granted, I am no longer on active duty. But I still worked a job for a very long time. The jobs I had demanded long hours and lots of travel so I still had no time for school. I still had two daughters - only now I also had a step-daughter. And I took on the care of my father who suffered from Alzheimers. I still had financial responsibilities and obligations. If you think three children are expensive, try spoiling seven grandchildren! So what changed? My perception. I had a dad who needed full time care and no money for a decent nursing home. I had daughters with children of their own that couldn't find decent, affordable childcare. I NEEDED to be able to stay home. I also NEEDED to be able to earn a living.
Then I was given a book as a gift. And in that book was a quote by George Bernarnd Shaw. "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." That's when I realized that instead of trying to adapt myself to the reality of my present life, I had to adapt reality to the life I needed. And when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.
Let's do a little exercise. Answer these questions. Do you believe you can be financially independent? Do you believe you can find a life's work that you are passionate about and that excites you every day? Not everyone wants the responsibility of their own business, but do you believe that you can earn a living doing something you love? If you answered truthfully - from your heart - yes! then you are ready to move forward. But if there was even the slightest hesitation or doubt before you said yes - then you are ready to move forward. It might just take a little longer to get there!
Open your mind to the possibilities of what could be if you accept it. Put away the "buts" and "what ifs" and "maybes" and just believe that you can have everything you need. Dream of your perfect life. What do you do? Where do you live? Write it down so you can look at it everyday as you learn the skills and techniques necessary to help you enjoy the life you dream of. Look at your 'fantasy' life regularly and begin to accept the idea that it isn't a fantasy at all but your new reality.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A September to Remember!
It's the start of a new month. How about making this month your best yet!
Take more action! Set your goals and start working on them! How?
Plan your work, outline your major goals, and the major tasks you want to accomplish.
Remember, as Mike Litman says, "You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going."
Decide now to make this month unique and memorable - the best yet!
Get out a pen and paper and identify what needs to be done in the next 30 days. What will you do? Let's share our goals with each other - we can help each other be accountable. It's been proven that sharing a goal with someone else actually helps make them more "real" and therefore more achievable.
Go the extra mile in everything you do. This month is going to be incredible for all of us. Are you with me?
Take more action! Set your goals and start working on them! How?
Plan your work, outline your major goals, and the major tasks you want to accomplish.
Remember, as Mike Litman says, "You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going."
Decide now to make this month unique and memorable - the best yet!
Get out a pen and paper and identify what needs to be done in the next 30 days. What will you do? Let's share our goals with each other - we can help each other be accountable. It's been proven that sharing a goal with someone else actually helps make them more "real" and therefore more achievable.
Go the extra mile in everything you do. This month is going to be incredible for all of us. Are you with me?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Many Faces of Kathie Thomas
Successful businesswoman. Award winning author. Dynamic speaker. Photographer. Wife, mother, and Baby Boomer Diva. These are just a few of the hats worn by BoomerBizCoach member, Kathie Thomas. And now Kathie has another achievement to add to her list - a nomination for the 2009 Australian of the Year Award. How does she do it all? Read more about Kathie in her recent interview with FaithWriters' Lynda Schab. Click on the link below for the full interview and prepare to be impressed!
http://www.kathiethomas.com/featured-author.htm
http://www.kathiethomas.com/featured-author.htm
Monday, July 27, 2009
Feisty Side of Fifty is On the Air!
Have you checked out what the ladies from the Boomer Biz Coach Community have been up to lately?
One of them has been quietly making a name for herself with her new radio show - Feisty Side of Fifty Radio! Elaine Williams writes a great blog - The Feisty Side of Fifty - which is always full of insightful discussions on topics and trends of interest not only to boomer-generation women, but women of all ages. But it seems that's not enough to keep her busy. She's embarked on a brand new outlet for her ideas with her radio show.
She's had some extremely interesting guests lately including Mary Higgens Clark (queen of suspense), Suzanne Braun Levine (Founding editor of Ms. Magazine and great friends with Gloria and the gang), Dr. Pepper Schwartz (relationship expert who has appeared on all the national talk shows) and Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (neuroscientist who had a stroke--she was > Oprah's featured guest, along with Eckard Tolle, on her "Soul Series").
She is so excited about the show's success - and since she is a member of inaugural group of the Boomer Biz Coach community, we are just as excited. After listening to a few broadcasts, we just had to share it with everyone. Since it's an Internet radio show (blog talk), you don't have to worry if you can't tune in live because you can download any program you'd like. You can see the line up of Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and click on the link to the show(s) you would like to listen to.
Once you have listened to a few of her interviews and read some of her blog posts, I know you will become an ardent fan like I have. And you will want to share her outlook on "maturing" so check out Feisty Boomer Boutique to pick up some suitable attire to proudly proclaim your boomer spirit.
Elaine Williams - fifty(ish), feisty, on the move, on the air - and a member of the Boomer Biz Coach Community.
One of them has been quietly making a name for herself with her new radio show - Feisty Side of Fifty Radio! Elaine Williams writes a great blog - The Feisty Side of Fifty - which is always full of insightful discussions on topics and trends of interest not only to boomer-generation women, but women of all ages. But it seems that's not enough to keep her busy. She's embarked on a brand new outlet for her ideas with her radio show.
She's had some extremely interesting guests lately including Mary Higgens Clark (queen of suspense), Suzanne Braun Levine (Founding editor of Ms. Magazine and great friends with Gloria and the gang), Dr. Pepper Schwartz (relationship expert who has appeared on all the national talk shows) and Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (neuroscientist who had a stroke--she was > Oprah's featured guest, along with Eckard Tolle, on her "Soul Series").
She is so excited about the show's success - and since she is a member of inaugural group of the Boomer Biz Coach community, we are just as excited. After listening to a few broadcasts, we just had to share it with everyone. Since it's an Internet radio show (blog talk), you don't have to worry if you can't tune in live because you can download any program you'd like. You can see the line up of Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and click on the link to the show(s) you would like to listen to.
Once you have listened to a few of her interviews and read some of her blog posts, I know you will become an ardent fan like I have. And you will want to share her outlook on "maturing" so check out Feisty Boomer Boutique to pick up some suitable attire to proudly proclaim your boomer spirit.
Elaine Williams - fifty(ish), feisty, on the move, on the air - and a member of the Boomer Biz Coach Community.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Where Have I Been?
I know - I sort of dropped out of site for the past few months. I admit - the anniversary of my dad's death hit me hard. I miss him more than I thought possible - especially if you remember how I used to complain about having to take care of him.
Then Dearl's health problems cropped up again and that has just taken my full attention. It is so hard to watch him slowly get worse as time goes on. But God has seen fit to provide me with not 1 but 3 distractions to care for. 3 new grandbabies in the last 4 months.
Reid Michel Henderson was born in April. He lives in Rogers with mom and dad so it will be very easy to spoil him!
Brianna Lynn Ditmore was born in May. Christine and Brian are currently stationed in Corpus Christie, so I had to go to Texas. I have been present at the birth of every one of my grandchildren and I wasn't going to miss this one. She was premature and had some health issues but she is fine now and is home.
Right after Brianna, I had to head to Jacksonville so I could be there to see Mylie come in to the world. Mylie was a bit later than we thought she would be so I have been in Jacksonville longer than expected. But she and Shelby, her mom, are both doing well.
And Dearl seems to be doing a bit better for the moment. I don't know how long we have - 2 years or 20 - but we have decided to just live each day to the fullest so what time we do have is spent with no regrets.
So - I am back home now and trying to catch up from neglecting everything for so long. Fortunately, most of my stuff runs pretty much on autopilot now so it won't take me long to just go in and update things.
Although I've been slacking off, the ladies from the Boomer Biz Coach program have been hard at work. Check out the latest project from Kathie Thomas. Kathie has taken up photography as her latest endeavor and she has some sensational photographs. In fact, one of her photos has been shortlisted for the Melbourne Map Guide. They found it on Flickr and plan to use it for the Melbourne Butterfly House at the Melbourne Zoo. You can check out Kathie's photos at http://www.photosbykathie.com/.
Meanwhile, please do me a favor? Take our travel survey on Boomer-Living.com. 6 short questions is all it takes and I would be very appreciative. Thanks! http://boomer-living.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118,
Glad to be back at work! Watch for further updates from the Boomer Biz Coach ladies!
Then Dearl's health problems cropped up again and that has just taken my full attention. It is so hard to watch him slowly get worse as time goes on. But God has seen fit to provide me with not 1 but 3 distractions to care for. 3 new grandbabies in the last 4 months.
Reid Michel Henderson was born in April. He lives in Rogers with mom and dad so it will be very easy to spoil him!
Brianna Lynn Ditmore was born in May. Christine and Brian are currently stationed in Corpus Christie, so I had to go to Texas. I have been present at the birth of every one of my grandchildren and I wasn't going to miss this one. She was premature and had some health issues but she is fine now and is home.
Right after Brianna, I had to head to Jacksonville so I could be there to see Mylie come in to the world. Mylie was a bit later than we thought she would be so I have been in Jacksonville longer than expected. But she and Shelby, her mom, are both doing well.
And Dearl seems to be doing a bit better for the moment. I don't know how long we have - 2 years or 20 - but we have decided to just live each day to the fullest so what time we do have is spent with no regrets.
So - I am back home now and trying to catch up from neglecting everything for so long. Fortunately, most of my stuff runs pretty much on autopilot now so it won't take me long to just go in and update things.
Although I've been slacking off, the ladies from the Boomer Biz Coach program have been hard at work. Check out the latest project from Kathie Thomas. Kathie has taken up photography as her latest endeavor and she has some sensational photographs. In fact, one of her photos has been shortlisted for the Melbourne Map Guide. They found it on Flickr and plan to use it for the Melbourne Butterfly House at the Melbourne Zoo. You can check out Kathie's photos at http://www.photosbykathie.com/.
Meanwhile, please do me a favor? Take our travel survey on Boomer-Living.com. 6 short questions is all it takes and I would be very appreciative. Thanks! http://boomer-living.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118,
Glad to be back at work! Watch for further updates from the Boomer Biz Coach ladies!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
YOU the Entrepreneur!
By Mary Eileen Williams
The reasons for starting your own business are numerous and vary from individual to individual. Although each enterprise is unique, there are several key components that form the foundation for every successful venture. It goes without saying you need to perform your due diligence: assess the marketplace, analyze the competition, build a business plan, and secure funding. However, there is much more to the process and these additional factors can make or break your chances for success.
Growing a business, whether online or brick and mortar, generally requires a substantial outlay of resources in the form of money, time, or both. But the intangibles that make up who are you as an entrepreneur are of equal, if not greater, importance. Personal and interpersonal factors, i.e. how you feel about what you do and how you present yourself to others, are the keys to successfully establishing yourself in the marketplace.
Essential components for succeeding as an entrepreneur include having a passion for what you do, the skills to do it, your personal temperament and style, and your ability to effectively articulate what you provide to customers and clients. Accordingly, anyone contemplating going into business should carefully consider the following:
How passionate are you?
What is your level of commitment?
Which aspects of your life are you willing to forego to build your business?
How enthusiastic are you about the product or service you provide?
What drives you to perform at your best?
Which external rewards are important to you, e.g. income, recognition, authority?
How do you get a sense of internal reward; how does this make you feel?
What is your personal vision of success for yourself?
Analyze past achievements and identify your unique abilities:
Identify at least ten examples of when you felt especially successful.
What are the key elements of your successes?
Which skills did you use to achieve these outcomes?
Which talents come naturally to you?
Using which of your abilities energizes you the most?
Which of your skills do others most often recognize and complement you on?
Your Personal Temperament and Style:
What personal traits do you possess that make you successful?
Which types of environments contribute to your sense of satisfaction and success?
How do you feel validated?
How do you contribute in meaningful ways?
Who are you as a person and what makes you unique?
Spreading the Word—Your Added Value:
What is your level of experience performing this service or promoting this product?
In which environments did you gain this experience?
What do you bring to the marketplace that others do not?
How is your service/product relevant to the current needs of your potential customers/clients?
In which ways will people or organizations benefit from working with you?
How does your product or service outperform the competition?
What are the ways you add value?
Without a doubt, there is much to consider when stepping out on your own. Nevertheless, with a passion for what you do, an in-depth knowledge of your unique skill-sets and style, and an ability to distinguish yourself from the competition, you are well on your way to success. Your passion, commitment, flexibility, and vision will stand you in good stead as you embark on one of the most exciting and rewarding ventures of your life!
About the Author
Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., N.C.C. has close to twenty years combined experience as a career/life transition counselor, workshop facilitator, university instructor, and writer. Both her blog, Feisty Side of Fifty, and her radio show, Feisty Side of Fifty Radio celebrate the lives of women fifty and better.
The reasons for starting your own business are numerous and vary from individual to individual. Although each enterprise is unique, there are several key components that form the foundation for every successful venture. It goes without saying you need to perform your due diligence: assess the marketplace, analyze the competition, build a business plan, and secure funding. However, there is much more to the process and these additional factors can make or break your chances for success.
Growing a business, whether online or brick and mortar, generally requires a substantial outlay of resources in the form of money, time, or both. But the intangibles that make up who are you as an entrepreneur are of equal, if not greater, importance. Personal and interpersonal factors, i.e. how you feel about what you do and how you present yourself to others, are the keys to successfully establishing yourself in the marketplace.
Essential components for succeeding as an entrepreneur include having a passion for what you do, the skills to do it, your personal temperament and style, and your ability to effectively articulate what you provide to customers and clients. Accordingly, anyone contemplating going into business should carefully consider the following:
How passionate are you?
What is your level of commitment?
Which aspects of your life are you willing to forego to build your business?
How enthusiastic are you about the product or service you provide?
What drives you to perform at your best?
Which external rewards are important to you, e.g. income, recognition, authority?
How do you get a sense of internal reward; how does this make you feel?
What is your personal vision of success for yourself?
Analyze past achievements and identify your unique abilities:
Identify at least ten examples of when you felt especially successful.
What are the key elements of your successes?
Which skills did you use to achieve these outcomes?
Which talents come naturally to you?
Using which of your abilities energizes you the most?
Which of your skills do others most often recognize and complement you on?
Your Personal Temperament and Style:
What personal traits do you possess that make you successful?
Which types of environments contribute to your sense of satisfaction and success?
How do you feel validated?
How do you contribute in meaningful ways?
Who are you as a person and what makes you unique?
Spreading the Word—Your Added Value:
What is your level of experience performing this service or promoting this product?
In which environments did you gain this experience?
What do you bring to the marketplace that others do not?
How is your service/product relevant to the current needs of your potential customers/clients?
In which ways will people or organizations benefit from working with you?
How does your product or service outperform the competition?
What are the ways you add value?
Without a doubt, there is much to consider when stepping out on your own. Nevertheless, with a passion for what you do, an in-depth knowledge of your unique skill-sets and style, and an ability to distinguish yourself from the competition, you are well on your way to success. Your passion, commitment, flexibility, and vision will stand you in good stead as you embark on one of the most exciting and rewarding ventures of your life!
About the Author
Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., N.C.C. has close to twenty years combined experience as a career/life transition counselor, workshop facilitator, university instructor, and writer. Both her blog, Feisty Side of Fifty, and her radio show, Feisty Side of Fifty Radio celebrate the lives of women fifty and better.
Working Moms, Save Time, Save Money – Eat In!
By Betty Lynch
With everyone worried about today's economy people are looking for ways to save money. One great way to ease your budget is to prepare more meals at home instead of eating out.
Check out your weekly grocery store ads and see what is on sale this month. If chicken is on sale, pull up My Country Kitchen's website and click on the category for chicken. Find a delicious chicken recipe, check your pantry to see if you need any of the ingredients and add them to your shopping list. Continue to check out the grocery store ads and the website until you have all the meals planned for the week. Planning your meals ahead of time and only purchasing what is on your shopping list will save you money.
Once you are home from the grocery store, wash and clean your herbs, lettuces and vegetables, put your chicken and/or meat in sealable bags and label for your dishes. If you need to marinate your meats, add the marinades in your plastic bags and then store in the refrigerator. Place your recipes on a magnet clip and place on the front of your refrigerator. This will keep all your weekly recipes organized and ready for use.
Too busy to cook? Set aside a couple of hours when you get home from the grocery store. If you need to brown ground beef for a dish you are going to have that week, go ahead and brown the meat while you are putting away the groceries. Boiling chicken ahead of time is also a great time saving tip. Then store the meat in labeled plastic bags. This will also cut down your preparation time during the week.
Every time you cook a meal at home instead of picking up the phone to order pizza, put that money that you would have paid for the pizza into a money jar on your kitchen counter. If you go to freezer and pull out a half gallon of ice cream and fix your own ice cream cones instead of going to the local ice cream parlor, put that money into the kitchen money jar. If you fix your own soft drink before you leave the house, instead of stopping by the drive through to pick up a drink, put that money in the kitchen money jar. Or better yet, fix your own coffee every morning instead of stopping by your favorite coffee shop on the way to work, put that money into the kitchen money jar. See how quickly the entire family can save money. I am almost willing to bet you that your entire family will love saving money. The money jar creates a fun way to break old habits of always spending money. Once the money jar is full, plan a special outing or trip with the kitchen money jar savings.
Save time, save money, and spend more time with your family over a home cooked meal. What could be better than that?
Betty Lynch, author of Back to the Table with My Country Kitchen, and owner of My Country Kitchen, Easy Answers to Bring Your Family Together. My Country Kitchen prides itself in helping family's cook easy, convenient meals so that the family can save money in today's economy. Recipes, tips and ideas for easy and nutritious meals are only a click away. You may visit her website at http://www.mycountrykitchen.com;/ Email at: blynch1490@gmail.com
With everyone worried about today's economy people are looking for ways to save money. One great way to ease your budget is to prepare more meals at home instead of eating out.
Check out your weekly grocery store ads and see what is on sale this month. If chicken is on sale, pull up My Country Kitchen's website and click on the category for chicken. Find a delicious chicken recipe, check your pantry to see if you need any of the ingredients and add them to your shopping list. Continue to check out the grocery store ads and the website until you have all the meals planned for the week. Planning your meals ahead of time and only purchasing what is on your shopping list will save you money.
Once you are home from the grocery store, wash and clean your herbs, lettuces and vegetables, put your chicken and/or meat in sealable bags and label for your dishes. If you need to marinate your meats, add the marinades in your plastic bags and then store in the refrigerator. Place your recipes on a magnet clip and place on the front of your refrigerator. This will keep all your weekly recipes organized and ready for use.
Too busy to cook? Set aside a couple of hours when you get home from the grocery store. If you need to brown ground beef for a dish you are going to have that week, go ahead and brown the meat while you are putting away the groceries. Boiling chicken ahead of time is also a great time saving tip. Then store the meat in labeled plastic bags. This will also cut down your preparation time during the week.
Every time you cook a meal at home instead of picking up the phone to order pizza, put that money that you would have paid for the pizza into a money jar on your kitchen counter. If you go to freezer and pull out a half gallon of ice cream and fix your own ice cream cones instead of going to the local ice cream parlor, put that money into the kitchen money jar. If you fix your own soft drink before you leave the house, instead of stopping by the drive through to pick up a drink, put that money in the kitchen money jar. Or better yet, fix your own coffee every morning instead of stopping by your favorite coffee shop on the way to work, put that money into the kitchen money jar. See how quickly the entire family can save money. I am almost willing to bet you that your entire family will love saving money. The money jar creates a fun way to break old habits of always spending money. Once the money jar is full, plan a special outing or trip with the kitchen money jar savings.
Save time, save money, and spend more time with your family over a home cooked meal. What could be better than that?
Betty Lynch, author of Back to the Table with My Country Kitchen, and owner of My Country Kitchen, Easy Answers to Bring Your Family Together. My Country Kitchen prides itself in helping family's cook easy, convenient meals so that the family can save money in today's economy. Recipes, tips and ideas for easy and nutritious meals are only a click away. You may visit her website at http://www.mycountrykitchen.com;/ Email at: blynch1490@gmail.com
Virtual Assisting – a Journey
By Kathie Thomas
When I began my business at home almost 15 years ago, it was to escape the corporate world and rat-race and to be home for our five daughters. I was fed up with meeting after meeting after meeting and little time at my desk to get the real work done. I was also fed up with trying to shift my hours so I could be home to take this daughter to that event, that daughter to this club and another daughter to a doctor’s appointment. And heaven forbid if one of the kids got sick, what then? We were an isolated family who had shifted interstate from all our friends and relatives. What were we thinking?
Well, whatever it was, we did the right thing. My husband had agreed that I should try running a business from home and I took 12 months’ leave without pay from my government, steady, reasonable-paid position to step out into the unknown and set up a business when I wasn’t sure what the demand would be, how much I would make and where the clients would come from. Twelve months later I was happy to give in my notice knowing I would never return to a ‘job’ again.
Thankfully I had been reading for months business books about networking, marketing, promoting yourself and making sure you could ‘Be Seen, Get Known, Move Ahead’, a book by Robyn Henderson, one of Australia’s networking gurus and Marg McAllister. The first book I’d read of Robyn’s was ‘Networking For $uccess’ and it was this book that I based much of my business practices on. I was amazed that when I wrote to Robyn and told her how much I enjoyed her book, she actually wrote back to me! I had thought I’d be too ‘small’ for her to be interested in me but over the years I learnt that it was people like me that helped Robyn move ahead too. And so I’ve taken several leaves from her books to apply into my own practices.
There is value in learning from others, watching, copying, and trying things out. I don’t mean watching to copy exactly what they are doing – you don’t want a copy-cat business, but I do mean watch and copy how they do things – how do they connect with others? How do they promote? How do they remain visible? How do they network? And so on. There is much in aligning yourself with someone you view as successful and then copy their moves and emulate them.
We all know that if you mix and mingle with a certain crowd, something has to rub off. And that applies to both good and bad – think of ‘one bad apple…’ and you’ll know what I mean.
What do I do? Originally I set up a home based secretarial business which was well equipped to adopt the new Internet when it came on the scene only two years later. I had no idea I was going to pioneer a brand new industry in my country of Australia. How could I? That industry is the Virtual Assistant (VA) Industry and I love that I have been able to witness its birth and nurture its growth. Today I not only provide Virtual Assistant services, but I also provide VA coaching, manage a VA network, and write one of the industry’s top blogs. I also mentor over 2,000 VAs via two forums and participate in many other forums for the industry.
Life has been good for the most part and I’ve been allowed to stay home full time, watch my daughters grow up into young women, be home on the odd occasion my husband was sporting injuries and needed home care and haven’t had to ask for time off when family emergencies have required my presence. Having built the VA network meant I had others I could lean on when my clients needed looking after – during holidays, illness and other situations.
It has also allowed me to pursue other interests of mine, namely writing and I’ve successfully published books and had many articles published in printed publications and online. I have also had the opportunity to speak to many through seminars, conferences, webinars and other avenues, sharing this lifestyle of working at home and being present for family – something close to my heart.
I invite you to come and visit my site and learn more about what I do and I am happy to answer questions and reply to your emails – it’s you who keeps me going!
Kathie M. Thomas, “A Clayton's Secretary”What is a Virtual Assistant? Think of a corporate secretary or PA and her/his boss. Two offices apart, communicating by intercom, email and voice. Now place them in different cities, states or countries. How do they communicate? By phone, fax and email and that’s how we service you too! Do you need admin or secretarial support? We have a very capable team waiting to service your needs.
Keep in touch with the Virtual Assistant industry by subscribing to our blog at www.vadirectory.net/blog/
"A Clayton's Secretary"®, PO Box 2918, Cheltenham, Victoria, 3192Ph: +613 9585 5780, Fax: +613 9585 3785
When I began my business at home almost 15 years ago, it was to escape the corporate world and rat-race and to be home for our five daughters. I was fed up with meeting after meeting after meeting and little time at my desk to get the real work done. I was also fed up with trying to shift my hours so I could be home to take this daughter to that event, that daughter to this club and another daughter to a doctor’s appointment. And heaven forbid if one of the kids got sick, what then? We were an isolated family who had shifted interstate from all our friends and relatives. What were we thinking?
Well, whatever it was, we did the right thing. My husband had agreed that I should try running a business from home and I took 12 months’ leave without pay from my government, steady, reasonable-paid position to step out into the unknown and set up a business when I wasn’t sure what the demand would be, how much I would make and where the clients would come from. Twelve months later I was happy to give in my notice knowing I would never return to a ‘job’ again.
Thankfully I had been reading for months business books about networking, marketing, promoting yourself and making sure you could ‘Be Seen, Get Known, Move Ahead’, a book by Robyn Henderson, one of Australia’s networking gurus and Marg McAllister. The first book I’d read of Robyn’s was ‘Networking For $uccess’ and it was this book that I based much of my business practices on. I was amazed that when I wrote to Robyn and told her how much I enjoyed her book, she actually wrote back to me! I had thought I’d be too ‘small’ for her to be interested in me but over the years I learnt that it was people like me that helped Robyn move ahead too. And so I’ve taken several leaves from her books to apply into my own practices.
There is value in learning from others, watching, copying, and trying things out. I don’t mean watching to copy exactly what they are doing – you don’t want a copy-cat business, but I do mean watch and copy how they do things – how do they connect with others? How do they promote? How do they remain visible? How do they network? And so on. There is much in aligning yourself with someone you view as successful and then copy their moves and emulate them.
We all know that if you mix and mingle with a certain crowd, something has to rub off. And that applies to both good and bad – think of ‘one bad apple…’ and you’ll know what I mean.
What do I do? Originally I set up a home based secretarial business which was well equipped to adopt the new Internet when it came on the scene only two years later. I had no idea I was going to pioneer a brand new industry in my country of Australia. How could I? That industry is the Virtual Assistant (VA) Industry and I love that I have been able to witness its birth and nurture its growth. Today I not only provide Virtual Assistant services, but I also provide VA coaching, manage a VA network, and write one of the industry’s top blogs. I also mentor over 2,000 VAs via two forums and participate in many other forums for the industry.
Life has been good for the most part and I’ve been allowed to stay home full time, watch my daughters grow up into young women, be home on the odd occasion my husband was sporting injuries and needed home care and haven’t had to ask for time off when family emergencies have required my presence. Having built the VA network meant I had others I could lean on when my clients needed looking after – during holidays, illness and other situations.
It has also allowed me to pursue other interests of mine, namely writing and I’ve successfully published books and had many articles published in printed publications and online. I have also had the opportunity to speak to many through seminars, conferences, webinars and other avenues, sharing this lifestyle of working at home and being present for family – something close to my heart.
I invite you to come and visit my site and learn more about what I do and I am happy to answer questions and reply to your emails – it’s you who keeps me going!
Kathie M. Thomas, “A Clayton's Secretary”What is a Virtual Assistant? Think of a corporate secretary or PA and her/his boss. Two offices apart, communicating by intercom, email and voice. Now place them in different cities, states or countries. How do they communicate? By phone, fax and email and that’s how we service you too! Do you need admin or secretarial support? We have a very capable team waiting to service your needs.
Keep in touch with the Virtual Assistant industry by subscribing to our blog at www.vadirectory.net/blog/
"A Clayton's Secretary"®, PO Box 2918, Cheltenham, Victoria, 3192Ph: +613 9585 5780, Fax: +613 9585 3785
Leverage – One Of My Favorite Things About Network Marketing.
By Linda Gracy
If you’ve read anything at all by Robert Kiyosaki, you probably are aware that “trading time for money” is the worst way in the world to make money. Yet 95% of Americans are doing exactly that.
There are two main reasons trading time for money is the worst plan:
1) There are only 168 hours in a week and
2) There is only 1 of you.
So unless you require NO sleep, and are one of those rare people who earn $200 or so per hour, there is just no way you are ever going to get ahead financially by trading time for money. (And if you did, you probably wouldn’t have any time to enjoy the money!)
To get ahead, there are three key principles you need to put to work:
1) Leverage your time.
2) Leverage your money.
3) Create passive residual income.
Today we’ll address principle #1, leveraging your time. Leveraging your time means putting it to use operating a system whereby you get paid for other people’s efforts in addition to or in place of your own. For example, do you think Bill Gates has to get out of bed, show up at his office and punch a time clock to get paid? Hardly. He knows what rich people have known for decades: The above principles, starting with Principle number 1. He has systems in place which use other people’s time to create vast amounts of money for him whether he gets out of bed or not.
Both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump recommend Network Marketing as the best way for the “average joe,” who doesn’t have a lot of money to invest (i.e. “leverage”), to create wealth. Network marketing, unlike a job, puts all three of the key principles to work.
This is why I have made network marketing my career. I didn’t want to have to spend 40 hours of my life every week working when I could put in 5-10 hours instead, yet be paid for hundreds of hours of work, thanks to the efforts of the people on my team. They don’t mind, because they have the exact same opportunity I do to leverage THEIR time. We have a saying: TEAM stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More.”
I just typed up a step-by-step plan for one of my new team members, outlining the simple steps needed to reach an income of over $10,800 per month her fifth month in the business. Thanks to the concept of leverage, she will only have to sponsor 4 people herself, then help each of them sponsor 3 people. If each person down the line just sponsors 3 people, that’s where her income will be. Her income will continue to grow as the size of her organization grows, whether she ever personally sponsors any more team members or not.
You may be thinking that for a company to pay out this kind of money, the entry fee must be really high. Nope. Under $300. Where else but in network marketing could you invest less than $300, put in a small amount of effort at the beginning, and watch your income grow that fast?
Sure, I know, “It’s not a perfect world. Not everyone will sponsor their three.” True! But some people will really mess it up and go out and sponsor 10 or more. It’s impossible to predict exactly how the organization will grow. But the point is, as long as SOMEONE is sponsoring SOMEONE, the organization WILL GROW. I ask you: Does your paycheck at your job grow like that?
Linda Gracy is a network marketing veteran and successful team building coach. She had a successful 20-year career with one company, while simultaneously searching diligently for her dream company. After finally finding it a little over two years ago, she is now an Executive Sales Manager, with a team of over 1600 reps. You can view her site at http://www.300KPerYear.com
If you’ve read anything at all by Robert Kiyosaki, you probably are aware that “trading time for money” is the worst way in the world to make money. Yet 95% of Americans are doing exactly that.
There are two main reasons trading time for money is the worst plan:
1) There are only 168 hours in a week and
2) There is only 1 of you.
So unless you require NO sleep, and are one of those rare people who earn $200 or so per hour, there is just no way you are ever going to get ahead financially by trading time for money. (And if you did, you probably wouldn’t have any time to enjoy the money!)
To get ahead, there are three key principles you need to put to work:
1) Leverage your time.
2) Leverage your money.
3) Create passive residual income.
Today we’ll address principle #1, leveraging your time. Leveraging your time means putting it to use operating a system whereby you get paid for other people’s efforts in addition to or in place of your own. For example, do you think Bill Gates has to get out of bed, show up at his office and punch a time clock to get paid? Hardly. He knows what rich people have known for decades: The above principles, starting with Principle number 1. He has systems in place which use other people’s time to create vast amounts of money for him whether he gets out of bed or not.
Both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump recommend Network Marketing as the best way for the “average joe,” who doesn’t have a lot of money to invest (i.e. “leverage”), to create wealth. Network marketing, unlike a job, puts all three of the key principles to work.
This is why I have made network marketing my career. I didn’t want to have to spend 40 hours of my life every week working when I could put in 5-10 hours instead, yet be paid for hundreds of hours of work, thanks to the efforts of the people on my team. They don’t mind, because they have the exact same opportunity I do to leverage THEIR time. We have a saying: TEAM stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More.”
I just typed up a step-by-step plan for one of my new team members, outlining the simple steps needed to reach an income of over $10,800 per month her fifth month in the business. Thanks to the concept of leverage, she will only have to sponsor 4 people herself, then help each of them sponsor 3 people. If each person down the line just sponsors 3 people, that’s where her income will be. Her income will continue to grow as the size of her organization grows, whether she ever personally sponsors any more team members or not.
You may be thinking that for a company to pay out this kind of money, the entry fee must be really high. Nope. Under $300. Where else but in network marketing could you invest less than $300, put in a small amount of effort at the beginning, and watch your income grow that fast?
Sure, I know, “It’s not a perfect world. Not everyone will sponsor their three.” True! But some people will really mess it up and go out and sponsor 10 or more. It’s impossible to predict exactly how the organization will grow. But the point is, as long as SOMEONE is sponsoring SOMEONE, the organization WILL GROW. I ask you: Does your paycheck at your job grow like that?
Linda Gracy is a network marketing veteran and successful team building coach. She had a successful 20-year career with one company, while simultaneously searching diligently for her dream company. After finally finding it a little over two years ago, she is now an Executive Sales Manager, with a team of over 1600 reps. You can view her site at http://www.300KPerYear.com
Five Ways to Use Craft Fairs to Increase Your Product Sales
By Barb Ireland
It’s that time of year again! Spring is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but spring is one of my favorite times of the year. For some of us the weather is getting warmer, the grass is getting green again and birds are singing. This time of year also marks the calendar with plenty of craft fairs, street fairs and summer fun. And for the crafty business owner spring can bring in dollars! Below are some great tips for both beginners in this industry and seasoned crafters as well. For the newcomer this type of selling can help you gain confidence and learn selling skills by interacting with customers. So read on and find your gems.
1) Hand out those business cards and flyers! Keep in mind this is totally free advertising for future sales, and remember word of mouth travels fast, and this is your main mission.
2) Gain custom orders. Have a sign somewhere stating you will do custom orders. This is a wonderful way to develop a relationship with any buyer, and could produce future sales.
3) Do be selective. Not all shows are going to have a lot of traffic. Make sure you discuss traffic with the person in charge of the craft fair.
4) Experiment with the set up or your station or booth. Try different eye-catching designs, lighting, and banners and so on.
5) Survey your market. Obtain consumer’s reactions to your products. Ask them for suggestions or comments on your items and really listen to what they say. This will help you discover what they are looking for and what the buying trends are for the season.
Most of all have fun and interact with buyers, greeting them with a smile. This will always leave a good impression and help build a lasting buying relationship.
This article is by the crafty diva chick- Founder of www.makeadiapercake.com Barb Ireland has taught well over 10,000 women on how to make diaper and towels cakes for fun or profit. May be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.
It’s that time of year again! Spring is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but spring is one of my favorite times of the year. For some of us the weather is getting warmer, the grass is getting green again and birds are singing. This time of year also marks the calendar with plenty of craft fairs, street fairs and summer fun. And for the crafty business owner spring can bring in dollars! Below are some great tips for both beginners in this industry and seasoned crafters as well. For the newcomer this type of selling can help you gain confidence and learn selling skills by interacting with customers. So read on and find your gems.
1) Hand out those business cards and flyers! Keep in mind this is totally free advertising for future sales, and remember word of mouth travels fast, and this is your main mission.
2) Gain custom orders. Have a sign somewhere stating you will do custom orders. This is a wonderful way to develop a relationship with any buyer, and could produce future sales.
3) Do be selective. Not all shows are going to have a lot of traffic. Make sure you discuss traffic with the person in charge of the craft fair.
4) Experiment with the set up or your station or booth. Try different eye-catching designs, lighting, and banners and so on.
5) Survey your market. Obtain consumer’s reactions to your products. Ask them for suggestions or comments on your items and really listen to what they say. This will help you discover what they are looking for and what the buying trends are for the season.
Most of all have fun and interact with buyers, greeting them with a smile. This will always leave a good impression and help build a lasting buying relationship.
This article is by the crafty diva chick- Founder of www.makeadiapercake.com Barb Ireland has taught well over 10,000 women on how to make diaper and towels cakes for fun or profit. May be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.
5 Practical Tips for Working Sick
By Claudia Meydrech, CN
Whether it's due to the economy, sincere dedication to the job, or pressure from the boss, sometimes it's hard to take time off when you're sick. Working when you're sick not only affects you, but those around you. I can't tell you how many times my dear hubby comes home from the office and tells me that a co-worker was hovering over his desk, coughing and sneezing...not fun! I would guess that most of us have been on the giving or receiving end of a situation like that, including myself, and hope that the following practical tips will help you:
1. *Stay home* - I know, seems obvious, but as a courtesy to those around you, and because you need to take care of YOU, it is best to stay home and rest. Many jobs offer the option to work from home, see if this option is available to you and take advantage of it.
2. *Have disinfectant wipes or spray on hand* - Have you ever watched the show "Monk", with the charming OCD detective played so well by Tony Shalhoub? He can't go anywhere without his "wipes". With the cold and flu season upon us, being a germ-a-phobe may not be a bad idea! Keep a container of disinfectant wipes and/or disinfectant spray at your desk, and wipe down all
affected surfaces regularly when you or your co-workers are ill.
3. *Wash your hands regularly* - Studies show that this simple act is the #1 way to avoid sickness.
4. *Carry hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial hand gel* - If you are in a situation where it is not easy to find time to wash your hands, this is the next best thing! Hand-shaking is a courtesy that we extend to clients and co-workers, but also a great way to spread germs, and hand-sanitizer is an excellent, quick solution. Another time this can come in handy is when you have an unexpected lunch or dinner date and can't leave the table before eating. I always have a tube in my pocket-book.
5. *Do all you can to build a strong immune system* - If you get sick frequently, it may be a sign that you have a compromised immune system. There are many things you can do nutritionally to build your immune system, using both foods and safe, effective herbs that are targeted toward strengthening the immune system. A trained Nutritionist should be able to help you reach your health potential!
Love yourself, and those around you by thinking twice, and planning well, the next time you wake up and consider whether or not to reach for the phone and call in sick.
Claudia L. Meydrech, CN is a wife and mother to 2 grown children, and resides in Northern New Jersey. She has been helping people find health through nutrition and herbs from her home for over 20 years. Claudia's website, http://happynutritionist.com is a popular site visited by many on a daily basis. She also maintains several blogs, including http://www.happynutritionistsnuggets.com, http://www.herbulletin.com and http://weedsandseedswap.com. Sign up for her newsletter athttp://happynutritionist.com and receive 3 free eBooks.
Whether it's due to the economy, sincere dedication to the job, or pressure from the boss, sometimes it's hard to take time off when you're sick. Working when you're sick not only affects you, but those around you. I can't tell you how many times my dear hubby comes home from the office and tells me that a co-worker was hovering over his desk, coughing and sneezing...not fun! I would guess that most of us have been on the giving or receiving end of a situation like that, including myself, and hope that the following practical tips will help you:
1. *Stay home* - I know, seems obvious, but as a courtesy to those around you, and because you need to take care of YOU, it is best to stay home and rest. Many jobs offer the option to work from home, see if this option is available to you and take advantage of it.
2. *Have disinfectant wipes or spray on hand* - Have you ever watched the show "Monk", with the charming OCD detective played so well by Tony Shalhoub? He can't go anywhere without his "wipes". With the cold and flu season upon us, being a germ-a-phobe may not be a bad idea! Keep a container of disinfectant wipes and/or disinfectant spray at your desk, and wipe down all
affected surfaces regularly when you or your co-workers are ill.
3. *Wash your hands regularly* - Studies show that this simple act is the #1 way to avoid sickness.
4. *Carry hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial hand gel* - If you are in a situation where it is not easy to find time to wash your hands, this is the next best thing! Hand-shaking is a courtesy that we extend to clients and co-workers, but also a great way to spread germs, and hand-sanitizer is an excellent, quick solution. Another time this can come in handy is when you have an unexpected lunch or dinner date and can't leave the table before eating. I always have a tube in my pocket-book.
5. *Do all you can to build a strong immune system* - If you get sick frequently, it may be a sign that you have a compromised immune system. There are many things you can do nutritionally to build your immune system, using both foods and safe, effective herbs that are targeted toward strengthening the immune system. A trained Nutritionist should be able to help you reach your health potential!
Love yourself, and those around you by thinking twice, and planning well, the next time you wake up and consider whether or not to reach for the phone and call in sick.
Claudia L. Meydrech, CN is a wife and mother to 2 grown children, and resides in Northern New Jersey. She has been helping people find health through nutrition and herbs from her home for over 20 years. Claudia's website, http://happynutritionist.com is a popular site visited by many on a daily basis. She also maintains several blogs, including http://www.happynutritionistsnuggets.com, http://www.herbulletin.com and http://weedsandseedswap.com. Sign up for her newsletter athttp://happynutritionist.com and receive 3 free eBooks.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Baby Boomer Business Coach Is Born
I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the business and marketing industries. I have enjoyed success beyond anything I ever imagined. And I want to combine that knowledge with my experience as a master trainer and coach and help other baby boomer women build businesses that will enable them to enjoy the same freedom and security I have.
The first group of women are already well into the program. Each of them has already accomplished much in just 3 short weeks. They deserve to be recognized for their achievements. This blog is for them - a place where they can share what they have done, what they are doing, what worked, what didn't, and their thoughts on how they have grown through the coaching process.
I hope you'll stop by this blog often just to see what they're up to!
The first group of women are already well into the program. Each of them has already accomplished much in just 3 short weeks. They deserve to be recognized for their achievements. This blog is for them - a place where they can share what they have done, what they are doing, what worked, what didn't, and their thoughts on how they have grown through the coaching process.
I hope you'll stop by this blog often just to see what they're up to!
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