Don't Let Work At Home Benefits Backfire

If you are like me, there are a lot of reasons you decided to work from home.  At the time you made the decision, all those reasons sounded like wonderful solutions to the problems of working outside; commuting, childcare, and restrictive schedules, to name a few.

You now have you home office arranged and you're enjoying the good life and all the benefits of working from home.

Except...

Some of the benefits have actually morphed into unexpected trouble. Let's take a look at a few of the ways work at home assets can turn into liabilities, and how to correct it.

I Can Spend More Time With My Family

Skipping the commute and time at work for a day at home with the kids, spouse, and pets is a common reason for working from home. Everyone is happy you're right there in your office, close at hand, all day long, accessible at the drop of a hat.

The problem is, of course, you don't get any work done. You are just a few steps away from everyone's wants and needs, so why wouldn't they call on you? The solution is to set up boundaries and schedules. You have to treat your workday as if you were gone from the house. Schedule in plenty of play time, as well, and you will enjoy that extra time with the family that you wanted.

I Can Get Housework Done While I Work

If you worked outside the home for any amount of time, you'll remember how much you disliked having to spend your evenings and weekends doing household chores. Now that you're working at home, you can easily get those chores done during the day.

The problem created by this benefit of working at home is you lose focus rather quickly. On the way down the hall you pick up the laundry. Then as you head to the laundry room, you see dishes in the sink. Each little chore will end up growing into larger chores if you allow it. Instead, choose an hour during your day to catch up on a few things that would have otherwise waiting until you arrived home at night after work. Your evenings are free, like you wanted, and the housework gets done.

I Can Work When I Want And How I Want

The image of pajama-clad work at home folks is not that far-fetched. Many people like the idea of getting the kids off to school and spouse off to work, then getting cozy with another cup of coffee and snuggling on the couch with their laptop, answering emails and starting their work day.

Unfortunately, this lovely scenario can backfire. When we are in this cozy mode, we can lose track of time. The day disappears and we are still in our pajamas and deadlines are looming. Now we are stuck working into the night trying to get things done. This is not the 'when and how' we planned. In order to make this benefit work is to, again, set a schedule. Treat your work day like, well, a work day by punching a time-clock you create for yourself. Get ready, get dressed, and get to work.

I Can Have My Own Peaceful Little Office

Having your own space after perhaps sharing desks or cubbies with other workers sounds like a nice thought. No more office politics. No more gossiping. No more stress. Right? Just the peace and quiet of your own keyboard clicking away.

Peace and quiet. And more peace and quiet. Now you're feeling lonely and isolated. You begin to miss the camaraderie of having co-workers. The solution is to create a similar circle of co-workers in your work at home situation. Reach out to people in the same type of work, either through professional groups or social media. Find forums that are engaging and purposeful. And don't forget to wander out of the house routinely to meet up with friends for some face-to-face fellowship.

 

There appears to be a common thread among people who work from a home office. Most work-at-home folks say they chose this career path for family, convenience, and for a more relaxing work environment. All these benefits of working from home are possible to achieve, but they each have pitfalls, which are avoidable once you recognize the risks.

Creative Businesses You Can Run From Home

So you want to start your own business.  Awesome!  There is only one small catch - what type of business to start? 

Deciding what type of business to start can be a difficult decision - or not.  If you base your decision on your skills and interests, coming up with the right business for you can be a relatively simple decision.  The first step, then, is to determine what your skills are and how they relate to your interests.

I am very good at teaching and coaching others.  I am also very efficient at organizing things.  I love to talk and write and I've been told I communicate very effectively.  Math and science are a breeze.  And I have an amazing memory for facts and figures.  I have also been told I have quite the flair for the dramatic. I am extremely quick at learning other languages.

I'm not very artistic.  I can't draw a straight line.  Even my stick people look odd.  I am also not very athletic.  I enjoy some sports and I love the outdoors, but I am not going to win any medals.  I get bored easily and I detest routine and repetitive tasks. 

I love music, art, travel, books, gardening, teaching, parties, cooking, theater, animals, outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, science - especially astronomy and physics, history - particularly medieval, languages and I am quite the do-it-yourselfer.

Now, taking a look at my skills, my interests, and areas where I'm not so skilled - what types of business are good for me? 

First, I got started in meeting and event planning.  I'm a good organizer.  I love to travel and have parties.  I'm great with words and language (helpful in reading and understanding contracts) and I communicate well and love to talk (helpful in contract negotiation).  I enjoyed it and probably would still be involved if not for the current economic situation.  More and more companies are cutting their meeting budget.

I like animals, I love to travel, and I write well.  Sounds like the start of "Traveling Bob."  A travel blog and site written by a dog?  Why not?  It's been fun - and profitable.  Creative enough to hold my interest (remember I tend to lose interest quickly).  Unique enough to catch the public attention.

I still needed something else to do.  I am a certified master trainer.  I love to design training courses and curricula.  And I love to help others, especially those who are much like me.  BoomerBizCoach is the perfect business for me.  It taps into many of my skills and interests. And there is a definite need for this type of service.

The point I'm trying to make is that by combining your skills and interests, and making sure you account for the areas you are lacking in, you can easily find the perfect home business for you.

I have a friend who is a military wife.  She is also the garage sale queen.  She loves everything about them - organizing and running them, shopping at them, finding that perfect item for a great price, or selling an item at a great price.  She watched as military family after family held their own garage sales either before a transfer or right after.  And she listened as most of us grumbled and groaned about it.  And she saw a niche for her perfect business.  She organizes and runs garage sales for military families.  She does all the work.  Clients pay her a commission out of their earnings.  And these are usually more than average since Chris is very good at what she does.  Chris has been doing this for a number of years now, and still loves what she does.

Jessica loves photography.  She takes fabulous photos.  But she doesn't stop there.  She then uses photo editing software to turn them into truly unique pieces of art.  Now she has a very successful photography business.  People come to her to get work they can't get anywhere else.  I even have one of her photos - a portrait of the women in my family that looks like we all posed together for it, when in reality, my grandmothers and my mother had passed on many years before the photo was created.  It's beautiful and one of my treasured possessions and I gladly paid her price when I saw what she had put together.

David, a client, loves computers.  He also loves to write and does so very well.  After several years at the local poultry plant, David was offered the chance to write the company newsletter and a new business was born.  David now publishes newsletters for several local businesses who don't have the staff to create their own and gladly pay him to perform that service for them. 

I could give example after example of friends and clients who have taken what they know, combined it with what they love, did a little creative brainstorming, and came up with the perfect home business.  You can do it also.  Not sure how to get started?  Take advantage of my free workshop that helps you do just that.  You get all of the tools necessary to help you assess your skills, talents, passions, and interests, plus a 60-minute coaching session with me where we work together to help you find the right path for your business.  Interested?  Contact me at mwhiteley@boomerbizcoach.com.  Let's find that perfect business you can run from home.

Join the Ranks of the Work at Home Professionals

Let's face it.  The economy may be getting better but most of us still aren't feeling it where it counts - in our pocketbooks.  And the unemployment rate is predicted to continue to rise in spite of the fact that we are coming out of the recession.  So, you've lost your job, the economy is still not growing, the unemployment rate is still higher than ever.  You hear that working from home is the answer to your problem.  Are you supposed to believe that?  You'd better!

Thousands of women successfully run home businesses. You can too!  It really is easier than you realize.  All you need is an idea and the desire and drive to get started.  How?  Follow my step by step process and you'll be up and running in no time.

1.  Decide what your business will be.  This is actually probably the hardest part of the whole process.  There are so many ways to make a living from home today.  The best thing to choose is something you love.  What are your interests and hobbies?  What are your skills?  Where do these - skills and interests - overlap?  That is probably your best direction when just starting out.  I love graphic design.  I'm always having great ideas for a new design for the Traveling Bob store.  But I don't know a pixel from a pasteboard, so I'm probably not going to make a living as a graphic designer.  I am a certified master trainer and coach and I love helping others.  I'm never happier than when I'm in front of a room full of people and I see the light in their eyes that says they get this.  A coaching/training/mentoring business is ideal for someone like me.  So the first rule of business success - do what you enjoy and what you are good at.

2.  Get your domain name.  You can't start a business online without one.  And you don't want to wait or you make lose it.  I had to learn this lesson the hard way.  I had ideas for several mini-sites with great names.  But I waited to purchase those domains until I was ready to launch the business.  By the time I finally got around to it, the domains were gone.  What is even more frustrating is that a couple of them aren't even being used.  They were just purchased by someone who is in the business of buying and selling domains.  I can now still purchase it if I want to pay about 10x the amount I would have paid originally.  Legal?  Yes.  Ethical?  Business is business I suppose.  However, I won't pay the amount being asked.  And if I a great idea for a domain name suddenly comes to me, I purchase it right then.  I may not do anything with it.  But for the price it costs, it's better to buy it and have it if I want it than to discover it's not available when I'm ready.  Where do you go to buy your domain name?  There are literally hundreds of places.  I use http://www.godaddy.com/.  The prices are reasonable and they are reliable. 

3.  Decide exactly what you will market.  A product?  A service?  Both?  What type of product?  An actual physical product or an infoproduct?  What type of service?  Will you offer it strictly virtually (online) or will you actually physically connect with your clients?  What about a combination of the two?  Can you offer both a product and a service? 

4.  Create your product or structure your service.  If you don't know exactly what type of product to offer, check for affiliate programs that are a good fit with your business.  If you want to design your own infoproduct and don't know how, there are loads of resources to help you.  If you need suggestions on where to get help, read my blog post on the "Top 10 Internet Marketing Gurus".  Any one of them can provide the assistance needed. 

If your business is service oriented, decide what types of services you will offer and how you will package them.  Will you provide just a single service?  Multiple services?  Will you have different packages and fees?   

5.  Build your website.  If you know computers at all and have the time and patience, you can build your own.  If not, there are plenty of template-based applications available.  My favorite is Site Build It! because it works, even if you're like me and know nothing about web design.  Or you can hire a professional web designer.  No matter how you do it, though, get a site up.  Even if it's just a blog to start while you build your actual site. 

6.  Choose your host.  Once again, there are lots of choices.  If you use Site Build It! to create your site, they will also host it for you.  If you have chosen some other means of building your site, then you will have to decide which hosting service is best for you.  Research what's available and make your choice based on which service best suits your needs.  Not sure?  Ask.  If you know someone with a site you like and you trust their opinion, ask for a recommendation.

7.  Promote, promote, market, market.  The coolest site and greatest product or service in the world won't make a bit of difference if no one knows how to find you.  Become a master at "tooting your own horn" and driving traffic to your site.  Once again, if you don't know how, there are tons of resources to help you learn.  Study this blog.  Check out those "marketing gurus" I mentioned earlier.  Read.  And read some more.  And then most importantly - put what you have learned into practice.  If you make a mistake, that's okay.  You learned something.  As one of my favorite internet geniuses, Mike Litman, says, "You don't have to get it right.  You just have to get it going."  Or in the words of Bob The Teacher, "Take Action. Revise Later."  You can always come back and fix or revise what isn't working.  But if you don't try something, you'll be right where you were when you started - nowhere. 

Follow these seven steps and you will soon join the ranks of the work at home professionals.  Find your passion.  Match it to your skills.  Plan your business.  Work your plan.  And market, market, market.  Maybe one day you'll make my Top 10 list!       

I'd Rather Be Fishing!

I'm sitting here struggling to come up with something to write about today. I have a list of topics I want to post about in each of my blogs. I keep it right here by my computer. And yet, as I'm looking at the list, none of them are inspiring me.

And then it came to me. It has nothing to do with the topics. They are all good ideas for things I think most home business builders want to know. But the truth is it's a beautiful day - not too hot for the first time in weeks. My daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren are camping at the lake for the week celebrating my grandson's birthday which was Monday. He has been wanting to go camping all summer and this is one of his presents - getting Mom to go camping! And the plain simple truth is - I don't want to be blogging about business. I want to be on the lake with my family!

Which gave me the idea for my post today. Sure I can say the heck with it and turn off the computer and go to the lake. Many of you are probably saying why not? After all, it is his birthday. And you're right. One day less at the computer probably won't make or break my business. But - I took off Monday to spend the day with him. And I am taking the boat out later this evening so he can sleep on the boat with me. And I'll be out there all day tomorrow. So now it's not just one day - it's several. And several days away can make a difference.

I hear the whispers in the background. Just work a little _______ (fill in the blank: harder, longer, more, smarter) when you get back and make up for taking the time off. Let me tell you something from experience. That never happens. You may have the best of intentions but let's be honest. There are only 24 hours in a day. And no one wants to spend most of them working. Besides, if you push yourself too hard or too long, you can actually find yourself further behind. Your body and mind need rest to recharge and the more tired and stressed you become, the more mistakes you make.

Treating your business like a business means you work when you are supposed to - no matter what other things may try to lure you away. Yes, one of the beautiful things about working at home is being able to set your own schedule. And I did. I agreed that I would not work Monday, Friday evening, or Saturday. Now I have to count on myself to stick to my agreement, no matter what.

Granted there are times when emergencies require you to be more flexible. Life happens. But the sun shining and the birds singing and the lure of the lake calling is not an emergency.

Does my grandson mind that I'm not with him right now? Is he missing me? Maybe. But he also understands that "NeeNee" works to pay so he can attend his private school, and he and his sister can have things they want that Mommy and Daddy can't get them. And he knows that because I work from home, I am able to spend more time with him than his other grandparents who all work outside the home. I can stay with him when he has to miss school because he is sick. I can go with him and his sister on field trips when Mommy and Daddy can't take off from work. I can pick them up after school and take them for ice cream or walks in the park. And I can send them to good Christian schools where they get the foundation they need for their futures. And that means more to me than a few extra hours on the lake.

And so here I sit, working for a few more hours. But soon, I will turn off the computer, hook up the boat and trailer, grab the dog, and head to the lake to spend some glorious hours with my boy!

What little temptations are trying to lure you from focusing on YOUR business?

Have You Checked Your Alignment Lately?

It's Wednesday and I've accomplished absolutely nothing this week. I just can't seem to get motivated. I guess it's time to check my alignment once again.

What's that? Check my alignment? Why whatever do you mean?

Let me explain. About eight years ago, I was in the same situation. I had lost all motivation. I just couldn't find the excitement and the passion for my work that I'd had in the past. I actually dreaded having to go to work each day. Then I read an amazing article. It said that just as your car will squeak and make unpleasant sounds when it is not in alignment, so too will your soul when your business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values.

Before investing more time and efforts to take your business or organization to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you, and, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.

For example, eight years ago my father, who had Alzheimer's, moved in with me. At the time, I used to travel quite a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market the business for the company I worked for. To be successful and get promoted, I needed to travel and speak and network more frequently. There were lots of late nights and long weeks and too many weekends when I was not at home.

But, family life is on the very top of my priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever my work required that I travel for an extensive amount of time, my inner self experienced a misalignment. I still went ahead and did what my “head” told me I was supposed to do, but my heart was centered to my values. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don’t make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions. And that is exactly what happened. Whereas I once enjoyed traveling and meeting with our clients, now I simply wanted to get the trip over with so I could get home. I started making excuses to cut trips short or to send someone else. And when I had to go I was sick and depressed most of the time. I did not give clients the attention they had come to expect. I knew I had to do something or instead of getting that promotion, I would be looking for a different job!

In the article, it said that one of the easiest ways to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a “Desire List.” Ask yourself , “What do you want?” Then, begin to jot down your list of answers. Don’t judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don’t be ashamed to say, “I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat.” Or, “I want to be the most influential leader and the expert of experts of my field.” Or, “I want to be a famous dancer!” Just let things flow. Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial “wants” are really saying, “I want to be recognized.” “I want to be trusted and respected.” “I wanted to be loved by my family members.’ “I want to be understood and loved for the real me.” “I want to make a difference in this world.”

Your wants and desires express your values.

Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignment:
1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?
2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?
3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar? For me, the answer was fairly simple - and terribly scary! I decided to quit my job and start a business that I could run from home at least part time.

If you are a busy business owner or organizational leader, you will have many activities and to-do’s everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get your alignment checked periodically. It's the best way to keep yourself headed for success. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Starbucks for a lube job with a Grande White Chocolate Mocha and an alignment. Once I get myself straightened out, I'll run much more efficiently!

There's Gold In That Thar' Internet!

I just finished reading an article about online marketing in which the author compared it to the California gold rush. The article said that just as hundreds raced West in the hope of striking it rich, so too are hundreds now rushing to get online with the same dream. And, it says, just as so many struck out in California instead of striking it rich, the same is happening to the vast majority of online marketers.

Are people really making millions online? Yes, they are. Are they the minority? I don't know. I don't have the data on that. Are there plenty of people making a decent living online? Yup! That I do know because I'm one of them and I know many others. Can you make a fortune online? I don't know. It's possible. But I DO know that you can make a living online just like many of us are already doing.

How do you get started? First, you need to decide what your business will be. Will you become an affiliate others' products? Will you create your own products? What types of products and/or services will you offer?

Second, it's a business. Treat it like one. If you think you are going to sign up for free affiliate programs, put up some free classified ads, then sit back and watch the checks roll in, don't quit your day job. It doesn't work quite that way. You can't own a McDonald's franchise without a little upfront investment. The same is true of any business. You can find some legitimate businesses that are very inexpensive to start. It only cost me $299 to start with Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing. And there are some very good affiliate programs such as SBI that are free to join but pay very good commissions. But you still need to invest a little bit in advertising.

Once you have decided on the basis of your business, you need to learn all you can about your internet marketing and your business in particular. There are many ways to do this and you will find all kinds of "gurus" offering to help if you will pay them enough. Some of them really do know what they are talking about and some of them don't. I can personally recommend some of them and you will find them mentioned in many of my earlier posts. You can also read this blog from the beginning for help. Be prepared to spend a little bit of money on some of the better books, courses, and seminars. Consider it part of your "online marketing degree!"

Let everyone know you are in business! This seems to be one of the biggest obstacles for most online marketers. Either they think they can't afford to advertise or they don't know how to do so effectively. Some, especially the network marketers, are afraid to do so because they think no one will take them seriously. Let's face facts. You can't slap a McDonald's on a street corner and expect to do business if no one knows McDonald's exists. You can't expect customers to find you if they don't know who you are. Tell people! If you don't have money to advertise, start by telling everyone you know. You can do that pretty inexpensively and you know far more people than you realize. When I started in Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, the first thing I did was send an email or a postcard to everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) I could think of telling them what I was doing and inviting them to visit my website. Some of them ignored me (FHTM is network marketing, after all). Some didn't. Some of those that visited became my customers. Six of them even became involved in the business with me. Those six have helped me build a team of over 300. Not too bad for a few emails and a postcard or two. And the ones who laughed? They aren't laughing so much anymore!

Work your business. The number one reason most internet marketers fail is that they give up. They just quit. They don't make thousands of dollars overnight and so they just stop working. Do you know how much my first FHTM commission was? 84 cents! Eighteen months later I'm not going to tell you how much I make, but it's enough to support me quite nicely. Am I a millionaire? Not yet. But I make more than enough to live on. So get up and go to work every day. If you have to keep your regular job while you build your business, that's okay. Just be sure you do at least one thing everyday to move your business forward.

Internet marketing is just like any other business. You will get out of it what you put into it. I can't promise you will get rich. I can promise you that if you find a legitimate business or affiliate program, take the advice of those who have gone before you, let people know you are in business, concede that you aren't going to get rich without some investment, and most importantly, WORK YOUR BUSINESS and DON'T GIVE UP - you can make a living online. Heck, if I can do it, so can you!

Build A Team of Experts

My husband and I are getting ready to file our taxes and as usual, the discussion comes up - do we need to make some changes for next year? As business owners, we are faced with the fact that we make all the decisions concerning our business. The choices are endless! Is it time to incorporate? If so, should I become an LLC or is an S Corporation better?

Should I let Dearl talk me into using the Blackberry he bought me for Christmas (which is still in the box) or stick with my trusty system of Day Planner and Post-It notes?

Where should I focus my marketing this year? With all of the dire warnings about the economy, will some methods work better than others?

We desperately need a new computer. I want another PC. Dearl wants a Mac. Who is right?

Is it time to hire an assistant? If so, should we use a virtual service or actually hire someone to come to our office?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. AAAGGGHHH!!! It's enough to make you crazy! Especially when the wrong choice can have drastic consequences for your business.

If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to these or other business questions, it's time to build yourself a team. My team consists of personal friends and professional acquaintences whose advice I trust. I simply need to pick up the phone or dash off a quick email or text message for all of the support and answers I need.

To build your team, simply make a list of all the questions you have. List all of the professional services you need or may need in the future. Then start thinking of all the people you know that can fill one or more of these needs or answer one or more of your questions. My team consists of my accountant (I hate numbers!), a lawyer (always good to have someone whose up to speed on legalities), my daughter the computer geek, my friend Ken the marketing guru, and my friend Karin who is also an entrepreneur and is a good one to turn to when I have questions about communication. (She's the one who keeps me from blasting off emails I may regret later!). I also have friends who keep me up to date with the latest Alzheimer's research and the current services available for my dad (they work for the area Agency on Aging), a nurse and a holisitc health practioner that provide me with the latest health news (Dearl's heart), and two grandchildren who remind me when I'm not taking enough time for the important things in life ("Nee-Nee, why haven't you been by to see us lately? We miss you!")

How do you find the people for your team? You probably already know many of them so just ask. Tell them you are forming a team of advisors for your business and would like them to be part of it. Lay out the ground rules for their participation such as how to contact them, when to contact them, will they be compensated for their services, etc. Once you have them in place, ask them for referrals to people who may fill other needs for you. If they can't make any recommendations, then get out and network. I met my lawyer through the Girl Scouts and the nurse at a women's networking luncheon. And I have a whole network of internet marketers I can turn to for advice just from attending the jvAlert events. And of course, there is the wonderful group of ladies that make up the Baby Boomer Divas. They are a never ending source of support and advice!

"Solopreneur" - it's just a word. It doesn't mean you have to go through the business experience alone. Build your team. Use your team. And one day when someone who is just starting out on their own asks you to be on their team, remember where you came from and say yes!

P.S. The general consensus from my team of experts has been to ditch the Day Planner, burn the Post-It notes, and USE THE BLACKBERRY. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I trust their advice so here goes. Wish me luck!

Give It Just a Little Bit More....

What's the difference between the very successful business person and the mediocre one? The successful ones always give just a little bit more. That little bit of extra effort can separate the superstars from the rest of the pack. They make that one more sales call, the extra follow-up call. They do the presentation when they wish they were out with their friends. They never forget the thank you note or the birthday card. They give their clients and customers the extra attention that says "you're special" and turns prospects into buyers and buyers into loyal customers.

Ask yourself today - what little bit extra can you do that will take your business to the top?

Treat Your Business Like a Business

So you have decided that this is the year to start your home based business. Great! Working from home is a great way to be in charge of your own life and make the kind of money you've always dreamed of. It's been life-changing for me. I work when I want to work and relax when I want to relax. Of course, that caused problems of its own when I first started working from home. When you start working from home, especially if you are working in network marketing or MLM, people will not consider it a real business. When I first started and was struggling to make a living, my own husband would ask me how much longer I was going to stay home and play instead of finding a "real" job. You have to remind everyone that you are serious about this. It IS a real business! And you have to be sure you treat it that way if you expect others to take you seriously. Don't think you can invest in a business, pay the startup fees or enrollments fees, and then just sit back and watch it grow. You have to work your business like you would a "traditional" business.

There are some ways to be sure you do this. First, make yourself a schedule each week. Having set hours for working your business will help ensure you actually work on your business. It doesn't have to be 9-5 Monday through Friday. I'm an early morning/late evening person so I do a lot of work between 5:00 - 8:00am and 9:oopm - midnight.

Second, let everyone know what you are doing. You have to promote your business. If you are uncomfortable telling your friends that you are doing network marketing or MLM, perhaps you need to take a second look at your choice of home businesses. If you believe in your business don't be ashamed of it.

Third, dress to go to work. Every morning before I go to my home office, I shower, dress, put on makeup, fix my hair - all just to walk down the hall from my bedroom to my computer. I feel much more professional when dressed for "work" and that attitude of professionalism comes across in my phone calls and other interactions. When you have a meeting with a potential client or dowline member, be sure to dress appropriately then also. Too many times I've gone with downline members to presentations and have been surprised at their appearance. They've invited all their friends to tell them about our wonderful opportunity and so they show up in jeans and a tee shirt or scuffed shoes and stained pants. How are you going to convince your friends that this is the opportunity they've been looking for if you still look like you always did? How will you convince a potential client to take a chance on you if you don't look clean and polished and put together? You don't have to wear designer suits or expensive jewelry. Just be neat, clean, professional, and confident.

Treat your home business like a business! Work hard, don't give up. If you do, you WILL find success! Remember, it's not going to happen overnight. But develop some business discipline now and work on your goals every day. Soon, you'll be working from your laptop on a beach while your unbelieving friends are still tied to their JOBS!

My First Ezine!

All of my marketing guru friends tell me I need to start an ezine. I have put it off for as long as possible, thinking it would be too difficult and time consuming. But after listening to them tell me I REALLY needed to do it, it was such a great marketing tool, etc, etc - well, I finally gave in and published my first issue. And you know what? It was much easier than I expected.

First I chose my listserve. My more experienced ezine buddies all suggested Constant Contact. I did look at a few others, but Constant Contact suited my needs so I signed up with them (www.constantcontact.com).

Next I had to decide on content. I wasn't sure exactly what my ezine should look like, other than the fact that it shouldn't be too long. Who has time to read these days? But I solved that problem fairly easily. First I found an ezine template at HomeBiz Tools (www.HomeBizTools.com). And then I got promises from some of my marketing friends to supply some guest articles. So all I had to do was fill in the blanks with a little content of my own and we were off and running.

So, how did it turn out? See for yourself. Simply send an email to wealthtogether@hotmail.com and request to become a subscriber. It's free. Then tell me what you think.

If you are running a home business, you really should consider an ezine of your own. It really is easy and a great way to generate extra revenue. When you do, be sure to add me to your subscriber list!

Making Money with Affiliate Marketing

Okay! You've decided I'm for real and you really do want to learn how to make some extra money from home. Unless you already have a product to market and some experience in internet marketing, I suggest you start out with some affiliate program. These can help you earn some steady income AND help you learn the ins-and-outs of online marketing without risking a huge investment.

I know, I know. You know someone who knows someone who tried several different programs and didn't make a dime. In fact, they lost money. Well, I can introduce you to others who have made millions just through affiliate marketing. And you can do it too. You just need to know how.

Step one: Set some goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic goals. With a Timeframe for achieving them. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed (SMART) goals - I'm sure many of you have heard that terminology before, so I'm not going to discuss it in great detail right now. Having set goals will help you stay focused on what you are trying to achieve.

Step two: Set up a base. Yes, most affiliate programs provide you with a web page. But which is easier - driving traffic to dozens of sites that look just like everyone else's or driving traffic to one unique site with links to all your affiliate programs. Building your own website is ideal and there are several ways to do that even if you know nothing about web design. An even easier and less expensive way is with a blog such as this one. Either way works as long as it is full of content designed to draw internet surfers in to your page. Notice I said content - not advertising! There are several blog sites such as this one and each one offers instructions and templates to help you get started. If you really want to spend the money on a website then I suggest you purchase SiteBuildIt! (http://buildit.sitesell.com/wealthtogether.html).

Step three: Choose your affiliate programs. There are so many different programs to choose from. Luckily, there is an easy way to find them. There are several sites you can go to with lists of hundreds of affiliate prgrams. I recommend Affiliate Showcase, run by my good friend Ken McArthur (http://www.AffiliateShowcase.com/?46035). It provides you with access to literally hundreds of programs. You can even become an affiliate for Affiliate Showcase! Once you become a member of Affiliate Showcase, Ken will give you access to all the information you need on how to market your affiliate programs. And I will devote future posts to that same topic.

For now - set your goals, build your base, choose your programs. And post your achievements here in the comments. List your link so we can all visit your blog or website and check out which programs you've chosen. Let's get started!