Monday, June 27, 2011

Ladies, Starting a Home-Based Service Business? Heed These 5 Important Tips

What a rainy week it's been here in Florida. Talk about depressing, dang!

Now let's get down to business!

So you've been thinking of starting a business from home. You've got some skills, don't have a lot of space for inventory, so you figure it might be a good idea to start a service business. In fact, it's a GREAT idea - you just have to be prepared to get your business off the ground and balance all the work/life responsibilities that are on your plate.

This article is going to provide you with easy-to-follow tips to do just that, but first, if you still don't know what type of service business to start, here are a few popular suggestions:

Ghostwriting for the Internet: Write articles, reports and other information for online business owners.

Transcription Business: Create written records of audio recordings, meetings and more.

Virtual Assistant Business: Provide administrative support, secretarial services and more for other companies.

It doesn't matter what type of service business you start, there will be some challenges along the way. Here are some tips to help you as you go along:

1. First and foremost, set your working hours and ensure everyone in your household is aware of them and respects them. If you happen to be a mother or have other interruptions during the day, there's nothing wrong with setting aside smaller chunks of time where you'll be working. This isn't the "real world" work setting anymore - it's better. You work at home and you can decide when you work.

2. As a service business, you have two very important roles. One of those roles is to provide service for your clients. The other is to FIND those clients and the time involved in this is something many service-providers don't take into account. Ensure you have enough time for providing services and the marketing tasks for your business - or hire some help to make the most efficient use of your time.

3. Charge a fair and rewarding rate. Even if you charge your clients for each hour you work for them, there are many tasks (administrative, marketing, etc.) that you don't get paid for. To set a rate that is worthwhile to you, you need to decide what type of overall income you desire and figure out how many hours total (all business activities) you want to be working. If you find you can't charge a rate that is worthwhile, consider another business idea or target a specific type clientele that is willing to pay the rates you charge.

4. Be choosy about your clients. It can be tempting to simply take on any clients because you may need the cash. Unfortunately, bad clients can drain your time, suck up your energy and end up being more work than they're worth. Resist the temptation to just take any clients because your business will be more fruitful in the long run if you work with easy-to-manage, low-maintenance clients.

5. Don't bite off more than you can chew. If you find yourself taking on more clients than you can handle to earn more money, revisit tip #3 above. You may be concerned about giving your clients a good deal, but they actually suffer when you can't provide the quality service they deserve. Instead aim for fewer clients, charge more and give them stellar service.

If you keep these things in mind, your transition to a work-at-home service provider will go much more smoothly. It's not always easy and when you're first starting out, it can be tough to find that balance and a schedule that you can work with. But stick with it and keep refining your process and you'll find yourself owning a very rewarding business that you absolutely love.

Recommended:

To get more at home business ideas, be sure to visit Just Add Sweat - they're your source for step-by-step guides for starting your very own home-based business. You'll find the guidance you need to get your business off the ground, real-life success stories from women just like you, and more.

Click here to go to Just Add Sweat








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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Is your Marriage Going the Way You Want It To?

Is your marriage going the way you want it too? Does your love life
seems a little on the dull side! In every marriage there are going
to be those little ups and downs; but, it's how we deal with those
ups and downs that really matter. Below are a few tips I've learned
that might help in keeping your marriage "Alive."


1) Me

Try and use the word "Me" less! You probably don’t even realize how
often you use that word. Same with using the word "I." It’s so easy
to automatically want to talk about yourself. It’s a habit, not a
good one but still a habit. Once you catch yourself using that word;
stop and try to think of something else to say in it’s place. Like
maybe "You" or “Yours.” How is your ingrown toenail doing? How are
your chapped lips feeling?

2) Lighten Up

Laugh, act silly, tell jokes! If you are anything like me you are the
"Mature One;" sometimes I feel like I’ve lost my sense of humor because
I am always being the "Mom." Responsibility tends to suck the life
out of you. Try and find some humor in life, even if it means reading
a book of jokes.

Here’s a starter, “What did one Volcano say to the other?"
I Lava You!

3) Think Back

Find a nice, quiet, relaxing place and close your eyes. Think back to
when you and your spouse first met. What attracted him to you?
Remember how jealous you got when someone flirted with him? Remember
how you felt just being around him; you didn’t want to leave his side.
There once was passion there and yes, you can get that romance back.
Think back to that minute that you knew he was the one you wanted to
spend the rest of your life with.

4) Communicate

When he comes home from work don’t start griping about the kids, your
job, etc. {there’s time for that later.} Find interesting things to
talk about; if necessary dowhat I do! I keep a pen and Paper lying
around and when ever I find or hear something interesting I write it
down. It could be about something you heard on the news; something you
saw on “The View.” Even something you read in the newspaper. If you
found it interesting, your spouse may too!

5) Ask Questions

During those quiet times with your spouse, when you can't think of
anything to say; try asking some "off the wall" kind of questions.
Below are a few examples:

What would you do if you won the lottery?
If you could live anywhere, Where?
If you could have one physical thing changed, what?


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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Rainy Day Crafts for Kids & Adults

Rainy days can be a drag for children and adults alike. Despite the weather outside though, there is fun to be had inside as well. Rainy days are the perfect time to break out the arts and crafts that will drive away the rainy day dreariness. Crafts are perfect for all ages and ensures that nobody is left out.

Crafts for Small Children

Children age two and up can sit at the table with paper and crayons. While the younger children may not have a long attention span, coloring will help to keep a child entertained when it is not feasible to play outside. Cut out some shapes on paper and let the children decorate the shapes. For more fun, break out some glitter markers and some stickers. Foam is also a good option for younger children. Foam does not tear easily and is very versatile which makes it a good material for young children to craft with.


Crafts for school aged children

Children who are attending school are likely more adept at handling items such as scissors and glue. Popsicle sticks are a great item to have on hand for rainy days. Popsicle sticks can be used to build houses, picture frames and many other things. The possibilities are unlimited and your child’s creativity is the limit. Paints are also a good idea. Lay out some paint, brushes, paper and some water and paper towels for cleanup and let your kids paint the day away.

If the children are in middle or high school, they are adept at doing more than coloring or painting. Craft ideas for older children include painting on a canvas, scrapbooking and other paper crafts, as well as building crafts out of wood and other items. Cross stitching and fabric arts are good deterrents from the weather outside as they are time consuming.

Crafts for adults

There are many different crafts that adults can do. Jewelry making and scrapbooking are two of the most popular activities. Sewing, whether by hand or machine, is an activity that can take up a lot of time and therefore drive away the rainy day blues.

Crafting does not have to be and is not age oriented. There are many different craft types, with different levels of difficulty available for pre-school age children all the way through adulthood. Keeping craft supplies on hand will make a rainy day easier on everyone.