Boost Your Creativity for Better Business

Creativity is all around us and each of us has the ability to be creative - it's just a part of who we are. Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes it doesn't. If the latter is the case for you and creativity seems challenging, it doesn't have to be. All you need to do is train yourself to be creative and you'd be surprised that it can be as simple as practicing your powers of observation and becoming better aware of your surroundings.
Here are some tips you can try that will help you improve your observation skills that will in turn help improve your creative skills.

Pay attention to details - this one requires you to slow down and be mindful about what you're doing and where you are. For example, when you get dressed, pay attention to what you do first, second and so on. When you leave your house, look at and notice the color of the door. Little things like this will help you learn to be present in the moment, no matter what you're doing and this can carry over into creativity. When you're mindful of what you're doing, you see things in a different light and your creativity begins to come alive.

Do something different - sometimes all it takes to not only hone your observation skills, but to also get the creative juices flowing, is to simply take the time to do something different. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate like running off and taking an exotic vacation, though. It can be something as simple as visiting a new place locally you've never seen before. When you do something new, you're more aware of what's going on around you because you're paying closer attention while observing what it is you see, smell, hear, feel and taste. 

Go to a park, coffee shop or some other public place with a pen and notepad - this one is fun because people watching can be very interesting. Set aside some time to head to a nearby park (or anywhere public) and observe those around you. Pay attention to how they walk, what they're wearing, and how they interact with others.

As you observe them, begin to write down different details. Pay attention to your senses and write about things you see, hear and smell. Don't spend too much time thinking, just write whatever pops into your head. Again, not only does this help you improve your observation skills, it helps you learn to focus and be mindful of what's going on around you. And as you do this exercise and begin writing, you'll start using those creative thinking brain muscles that need to be exercised.

Being mindful and observant is a skill we can all improve upon. Too often we go through life missing many of the details, but if you make it a point to notice what’s happening around you, you’ll soon find many creative ways to use what you learn in your writing, artwork, or other creative endeavors.

Success Story! Meet Faye Nulman

One of the reasons I love attending events is that I always meet such interesting people.  Like my friend Faye.  I was fortunate enough to meet her at Wendy Lipton-Dibner's Move People to Action event in January.  After she stopped my migraine in its tracks in a few minutes during a break by the pool, I became intrigued by her business and spent the rest of the weekend learning more.  I love her and I know you will too.  Meet Faye Nulman!
 

1. Faye, tell us about yourself.  This question always gives me reason to pause; as each day it feels as if I am someone new based on lessons learned, experiences from the previous day and even the weather or if I have meditated/practiced any yoga that day. 

A more nuts and bolts answer:  In hindsight, a trend setter.  Having been raised in a traditional family where the women work in some low level job, get married and have kids, I started out following that model and broke it when I chose to divorce after 21 years in a marriage with 2 children.  So for the first time in my life truly being on my own I was now single parenting, working full time; I decided to go back to school for massage therapy in addition to everything else that was going on in my life!    From one decision my world has evolved into me realizing my potential as an Intuitive Transformational Empowerment Specialist; a human GPS for emotional, personal and life guidance. An International speaker and educator utilizing my years of training and personal one on one work incorporating modalities such as: EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Strategic Intervention Coaching, Access Bars, Reiki, Massage Therapy, Raw Foods, Yoga, Sound Healing, & Relaxation Meditative modalities to ingrain a sense of positive energy flow within each client or group. 

2. Tell us about your business.    My business is a healing practice. What started out mostly as massage therapy has evolved into integrated modalities being customized to what a client requires. Depending on the day and or the client, we can be looking at EFT/Coaching sessions, Access Bars/Reiki/Amethyst Bio Mat, Yoga/Meditation, Crystal Singing Bowl Meditation/Healing.  An exciting development with the crystal bowl meditations was my recently released CD: Crystal Bowls for the Soul! Feedback has been outstanding as to positive experiences with increased sleep, an ensuing of peace. 

A recent appointment example: Client was involved in a car accident one year prior to our session, had been in constant pain for that year.  We originally decided they needed to have an Access Bars Session while on the Amethyst Bio Mat to help delete the old “stuff” in their brain and to ease some of the pain.  In speaking with the client once they arrived, we decided to work with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) while they were on the bio mat.  Not only were we able to release a ton of held stuck negative emotions surrounding the accident, the client left with no pain!  Cookie cutters don’t apply here.  Every client’s needs are customized. 

3. Why did you start your own business?  I don’t truly know if we start our own business or we choose something different from what we have been raised to know.  When there is a deep yearning for something different rumbling through our minds, we begin to search for answers; as we come to those answers we see different possibilities and then decide how to proceed.

4. How did you choose this particular niche?  After being in the corporate world for far too long and having a deep sense of knowing this was not the way to be, I began looking for something that would allow me to give back in the world.  Having been adept at back rub contests between friends as a kid, I believe the information was there but took awhile to be seen.  I guess I was a closet healer!

5. What do you like most and least about being your own boss? Like most:  choosing when to work and with whom I want to work.  Like least: paperwork!

6. What personality traits and skills are needed to run a business?  Staying focused when required.  It can be quite easy to just want to not handle the business basics.  You get to be the boss looking over your shoulder as if you were in a J.O.B. (Just Over Broke) and the boss/employee.  Being able to switch gears on a dime also helps.

7. What has been the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur?  Feeling guilty about taking time for ME.  When you are an entrepreneur you always want to be available for your clients.  The reality is, that does not serve anyone well for the long run.  The most important thing you can do for your business is to take YOU time, consistently.  It feeds you on a spiritual level and gives you the energy you require to keep doing what needs to be done.

8.  Do you have any resources that you have used to build your business that you would recommend?  A large part of the evolving and expansion of the business came in the form of education.  Areas where I was either challenged or had a desire to learn more.  Also being aware of what the clients were requesting and I didn’t yet have training in. This created the space for the interlacing of modalities so that if say “x” didn’t serve this client, then we could go to “y”.  That’s the nuts and bolts aspect.  The deeper aspect came from doing A LOT of personal transformation work.  When funds were low, tapping into as many free resources as were available to help open dark spaces internally.  Then taking bigger plunges and doing organized programs.  As you expand, you bring that to your business.  No one escapes looking inward.

9. Do you have any tips to share on promoting yourself? Smile! No one wants to hang around someone who is grumpy.   Have lots and lots of person to person conversations.  Ask for referrals from happy clients.

10. What other advice would you like to share with someone starting their own business?    You owe it to yourself to try. Fear of losing a paycheck kicking in?  Start part time developing your business, then when you feel comfortable in at least having a foundation built, move into it full time.  IF for some reason it doesn’t work out, you can always find a different arena to play in or go back to a J.O.B.

11. How can we contact you to learn more about your products and services? 

Website:  www.akneadedescape.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Kneaded-Escape/184997056851?fref=ts

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=12316149&trk=hp-identity-name

Blog: https://akneadedescape.wordpress.com/

Phone: 732-895-5926

Email:  info@akneadedescape.com

12. Is there anything else you would like to share?  Create your own because you feel passionate about what you are choosing.  If you are going into this just for the money, you will soon feel as tied down as you did with an employer.  Know that there are always avenues for expansion, you just need to ask yourself:  How does it get even better than this?!

It's Time to Talk About Writing Blog Posts

Let's answer some questions I've been asked about writing blog posts.

Which comes first - the title or the post?  Actually, it doesn't matter.  Sometimes I have a great title in mind inspired by something I've seen or read.  And sometimes my beginning title isn't so great but a better one comes to me as I'm actually writing the post.  The key is to create a title that will encourage readers to visit your blog and read your post. 

What about the actual post?  Are there rules to follow?  Again, not really - and what rules there are can be bent a little if it makes your post more engaging.  This is not your high school composition class.  This is you sharing your thoughts, your knowledge, and your passion with others.  That allows for a bit more flexibility.

Should my blog post be structured in a particular manner?  There is no definitive structure for a blog post.  It is a good idea to let your readers know what the post is about as soon as possible.  I try to establish that in the first paragraph or so.  If you aren't writing educational or factual posts, then that isn't as important.  But you do need to capture your readers' attention as quickly as possible.

The end of your post is just as important as the beginning.  Don't leave your readers hanging.  Don't leave them wondering if there should be more.  When you are finished with what you have to say, summarize or draw some conclusion, but leave no doubt that your are finished. 

How long should my post be?  Truthfully - as long as it needs to be to say what you want to say.  You will notice that some of my posts are longer than others.  As long as you aren't rambling about things that have no bearing on your topic, that is usually not a problem  That being said, the average blog post is generally between 250 and 400 words.  Any shorter, and you probably not going to get as much bang for your buck.  Any longer, and unless you are providing lots of good, useful information, your reader may get bored and stop reading.  That doesn't mean you can't occasionally go shorter or longer.  Again, good content is the most important factor in blogging.

Sometimes I feel like I am writing a lot of fluff just to have "filler" for what would otherwise be an extremely short post?  How do I avoid this?  You don't always have to.  Sometimes, you just need to have some fluff.  Remember, your readers come from diverse backgrounds.  What makes sense to one person may completely confuse another.  If adding some filler helps make your post more cohesive and understandable, go for it.  Especially in instructional posts, more detail is often better.  No one is going to become a regular reader of your blog if they can't get what they need from it.

So when do we leave the filler out?  Just as we don't want to leave out important details or clarification for the sake of shortening our post, we don't need to make the same point three or four times just to make it longer.  If you have already made your point, you're done.  Move on.  Likewise, if you're telling a story, there is no need for elaborate, flowery narratives or extraneous details if they don't add to the story or don't clarify what you are saying. 

Like everything else in business, there are guidelines for how to write blog posts for maximum effectiveness.  But the bottom line is this - write what you know, write what you are passionate about, provide useful, interesting content, and everything else is negotiable.

Starting to Blog

So you've decided to start blogging.  Good for you!  A blog is a great way to begin creating an online presence for yourself.  However, before you create your first post, there are some things to think about.

1.  What is your blog about?  The answer to that questions is what do you know?  Are you an computer expert?  Then that's what you write about.  Do you know a lot about gardening?  Then maybe you should write about that.  It's best to pick a subject that you are knowledgeable in.  That will greatly increase your ability to continually have topics for blog posts.

2.  What is your passion?  Passion is important in blogging.  Your enthusiasm will show through in every post.  And it is easier to sit down and write habitually when you are passionate about your topic.  So if you are equally knowledgeable about computers and gardening, for example, choose the topic you are most passionate about.

3.  What is the purpose of your blog?  Are you looking for a place to share your ideas and passions?  Do you plan to monetize it to make money?  Is it part of an overall marketing plan for your business?  Are you trying to share your expertise and gain influence and publicity?  All of these are possible through blogging but you must know what your goal is to help you create your blogging style.

4.  Where will you host your blog?  There are several good platforms available.  The two most popular are Blogger and WordPress. Both have good and bad points.  Personally, I use Blogger because I find it much easier to work with than WordPress.  However, I have many friends and clients who swear by WordPress.  Choose whichever is easier for you.  The key is to choose a good, reliable platform that is comfortable for you to work with.  You can also choose to self-host your blog but I do not recommend that if you are just starting out.

5.  What will it look like?  Both Blogger and WordPress have many free themes you can use to create the look of your blog.  Some bloggers feel that free themes aren't effective; that the only way to look truly professional is to buy a theme.  I disagree.  What matters most is the content.  If you are habitually posting insightful, compelling content, the theme is secondary as long as it is easy to navigate.

Congratulations! You have just taken the first steps in starting your own blog.  That wasn't so bad, was it?  Next step: get writing!  We'll talk about that in our next post.



 

Are You a Boomerpreneur?

So you're thinking of starting a business.  You're retired and bored.  Or you need to supplement your retirement income.  Or maybe your nearing retirement age but know that you won't be able to afford it.  Congratulations!  Starting a business at our age can be rewarding in many ways.  But the first thing you need to do is ask yourself a question.  Are you ready to be a Boomerpreneur?

 

Be honest now.  Are you ready to face the challenges and, yes, risks, of starting a business at this stage in life?  Are you self-motivating?  Is your family supportive?  If you answered no to any of these questions, then it will make reaching your goal much more difficult.

 

Here's a quick checklist.  How many of these can you answer with a "yes."  The more yeses, the better your chances of success!

 

1. Are you self-motivating?
2. Do you have a support system (family, friends, or hired employees)?
3. Do you manage your time effectively?
4. Are you willing to take some risks?
5. Do you communicate effectively?
6. Do you have something that you are passionate about that you can turn into a business?
7. Are you ready to set goals and create a plan to reach them?
8. Do you have the financial means to start your business without touching retirement savings?
9. Can you manage your finances wisely?
10. Can you promote yourself and your business?
11. Are you healthy enough to put in the hours and do the work?'
12. Do you have or can you learn the required skills?
13. Are you organized?

If you didn't answer yes to most of these, then you may want to rethink becoming a Boomerpreneur.  It does take most of these to be successful.  Starting a business isn't for everyone.  

 

However, if you are only lacking a few of these, then congratulations!  You may be ready!  The skills and traits you have can significantly contribute to your success.  And you may be able to learn or acquire what you lack.

 

So, are you a Boomerpreneur?  If so, let's get started!  Not sure how?  Visit my Boomer Business Ideas website for ideas and information.  Of check me out at MelodieannWhiteley.com to learn more about a very simple yet profitable and rewarding business that you can start today.  And welcome to the world of the Boomerpreneur.  You're going to love it here!      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the Little Things that Really Add Up

Sometimes, saving money on your tax return comes down to little more than keeping good records. And that means tracking all those little expenses, because they can add up throughout the year. Sure, you know to deduct that new computer you bought, and the money you paid the accountant, and you’re even taking your home office deduction. The question is, are you capturing all the small expenses, too?

Frequently Forgotten Expenses

It’s staggering how much goes into running a small business, and how quickly things can become tangled between business and personal accounts – especially for sole proprietors. Think about it. You’re doing your grocery shopping and remember you need a new desk calendar, so you toss one in your cart. Or you’re Christmas shopping on Amazon and see a good deal on printer ink, so you stock up. Or maybe you’re meeting a potential client for breakfast and while you remembered to deduct your meal, you forgot about the mileage to get there.

These types of common but small expenses can quickly add up to a major tax deduction. The trick is remembering to deduct them, and keeping solid records. Some of the most common (and often overlooked) business expenses include:

• PayPal and other payment processing fees. If you get paid via PayPal, then you know they charge around 3% of each transaction for the service. These fees add up fast, so make sure you’re keeping track and adding them to your tax return as “bank fees.”
• Dues and subscriptions. Do you belong to paid forums or membership sites related to your business? These charges are deductible as well.
• Office supplies. This includes small stuff like paper and pencils and printer ink, along with big-ticket items like furniture and computers.
• Domain names and hosting. Your Hostgator bill, GoDaddy purchases, etc.
• Advertising. Whether you do pay-per-click via Google or Facebook, buy solo ads on mailing lists, or pay for post placement on other websites, it’s all deductible. And don’t forget your mailing list provider!
• Commissions. Do you have affiliates? Deduct those payments!

Keeping Good Records

The key to making the most of your tax deductions lies in keeping good records. For most small businesses, the simplest solution is to use a software program set up specifically for this purpose, such as Quickbooks or Peachtree. No matter what solution you choose, though, make sure you consistently record your expenses. The last thing you want to do is scramble at the end of the year to find receipts and enter data. That would be a nightmare.

Instead, set aside time each week (or more often, if necessary) to update your books. If you find it overwhelming and you tend to put it off, consider hiring someone to maintain your accounts for you. Remember – what you pay him or her is deductible as well!

Finding all those hidden expenses can mean the difference between a huge tax bill and one that is more manageable. While the things listed here will get you started, it’s a good idea to also speak with a tax professional. Make sure he or she fully understands the nature of your business, so he or she can ask the right questions and make appropriate recommendations for your business write-offs.

It's a Family Affair! How to Save on Your Taxes By Hiring Your Kids

For small business owners with kids, the most often forgotten deduction is sleeping in the next room: your children. Sure, you deduct them as a dependent, but if that’s the only tax savings you’re getting, you’re missing out.

As a business owner, you can legally hire your children and avoid paying many of the taxes that go along with having an employee. Things like income tax withholding are not required for the underage children of the business owner unless you are a corporation. Sole proprietors and LLCs do not have to deal with payroll, even though technically your child is an employee. You also don’t have to cover them on your worker’s compensation insurance.

Even better, your kids don’t have to pay income tax on the money they earn. To a point, anyway.

All that said, though, there are a few rules you have to follow.

Work, not Just Chores

You have to be careful that your kids are actually working in the business. Things like raking leaves and doing dishes won’t qualify – unless your business is a lawn service or a restaurant, that is. Instead, have them do tasks you would normally either do yourself or hire outside help to handle.

Depending on the ages of your kids, such tasks might include:

• Internet research
• Video editing
• Site updates
• Basic graphic design
• Addressing envelopes
• Simple bookkeeping

You will also need to be able to show proof of hours worked, and that the pay was reasonable. In other words, you can’t pay your child $50 an hour for a job that – if anyone else were to do it – would normally pay $10 an hour. Set up a timesheet, and make sure he or she fills it out and turns it in every pay period, so you can have it on file.

Paying Your Kids

Each pay period, you’ll pay your children just as you would any other employee or contractor. As we already said, there’s no payroll tax or other deductions to worry about, so they get paid everything they earned. Even better, your business can claim the expense.

What about income tax? Your kids (and everyone else, for that matter) can earn up to $5,950 tax free. That’s the standard deduction, and it applies whether you pay your child or a total stranger, so it just makes sense to keep that money in the family if you can.

Not only that, but since you’re the parent, you still get to claim your kids as dependents. So your kids earn money tax free (which is a great way to start teaching them about budgeting, etc.), your business claims the expense without worrying about payroll taxes, and you claim the deduction. It’s a perfect system for getting work done while at the same time saving a substantial amount of money on taxes every year.