What's On Your Reading List?

As a boomerpreneur, you know that reading is important.  And I'm sure you have made a resolution to read more this year.  Of course, actually reading is tougher than resolving to do so.  Use this problem-solving guide to help you on your way to keeping that resolution:

If you think you don't need to read: The average adult reads fewer than two books a year.  If you read a book a month, you are automatically in the top 5% of the population when it comes to educating yourself.  Reading informational, educational, or inspirational books is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to give yourself a competitive edge.

If you think you don't have time to read: No free time to crack open a book?  I have one word for you: AUDIO.  Books on CD, books on tape, books downloaded from places like audible.com, podcasts... you have lots of choices for listening to books.  Borrow a few from the library, download a book from the Internet, and load up your MP3 player.  Listen away while you're mowing the lawn, exercising, watching the kids' soccer practice, or driving around town.

If you don't know what to read: If you don't know where to start, choose one area you'd like to improve upon, whether it's public speaking, networking, technical skills, or time management.  Then head over to Amazon.com and look at top-sellers in that field, or put out a call for suggestions on your Twitter stream, Facebook page, or blog.  Pick one and go.  What are some of my recommendations?  Check out my list of books you should read!

If you forget what you read: Even the most dedicated readers can burn through books, then move on the next, only to forget what you read in the first volume.  While knowledge is great for knowledge's sake, it really only becomes wisdom when you put it to use.  By reflecting on what you read and choosing one or two lessons to implement in your own life, you will convert your knowledge to wisdom and improve your business.  Think about joining a business book club where you read a business-related book a month or quarter, and discuss what you're learning.  That will also help the lessons sink in.

There's a famous quote that says that a year from now, you'll be exactly the same as you are now, except for the people you meet and the books you read.  Start now on your path to a bigger and better you.

 

What are some of your recommendations for a great read this year? 

Create a "Study Group"

According to those who have been there before, the key to success in law or business school is getting in with the right study group. These partners not only give you buddies to study with, they keep you accountable and on-task. If you let yourself down, you let down the whole group.

Entrepreneurs have "study groups" also.  Only we call them "masterminds."  Finding accountability partners can be key to a successful business venture.  A good mastermind will be comprised of fellow business people who can support your efforts, help you brainstorm problems, and keep you on schedule,  The right mastermind can mean the difference between passing and failing.  Here's what to look for in your own “study group:”

A variety of skills.  The best groups have members with expertise in different areas.  The tax accountant, the paralegal, the sales trainer can all advise each other and provide different perspectives on the same topics.  If everyone is in the same industry with the same background, you may have a lot in common, but you won't be able to brainstorm as effectively.

Similar commitment level.  The most important element may very well be a common level of commitment to your goals, whatever they may be.  If one member is a little lax and the others are all gung-ho, the mismatch will soon drive everyone crazy and cause bad feelings.

Regular meeting times.  Whether you're meeting by Skype, in person, or in a chat room, make a regular weekly or monthly appointment, and keep it!  Nothing will submarine a group faster than no-shows or constantly changing meeting times.

Structured meeting.  The meeting doesn't have to be scripted down to the last minute with a pre-released agenda, but at least having a time limit on each member will ensure no one hogs the whole time – or never shares his or her progress at all.

Resource-sharing.  One of the most valuable roles an accountability group can play is providing recommendations and referrals.  Looking for a great graphic designer, bookkeeper, or webmaster?  Your “study group” should be your first stop.

 
One final thing to keep in mind is that masterminds, like friendships, are created differently. Some will last a season as you launch your business; some may last only a few weeks or months.  I belong to one that has met for two years!  Be ready to let your group go if it's no longer fitting your needs.  It will be hard, but if it's not helping you further your goal, it may be time to move up and on.

Coming up next:  What's on your reading list?

Getting Ready for 2015: Set Your Schedule

As 2014 winds to its inevitable close, boomerpreneurs are anxiously poring over their numbers, figuring out what worked and what didn't and what can they do better in 2015.

I, too, am preparing for 2015. And there are a number of changes I plan make this year.  I'll bet they are somewhat similar to yours!  So let's start 2015 together by looking at some things we can do next year that will pay off in a big way. 

The first thing I need to do is look at how I schedule my time.  I'm sure you have the same question I do - how do you allow enough time for product creation, customer service, networking, enrichment, research, and just plain goofing off? It is possible – and these hints will help:

1.            Start with the most important stuff – money-making tasks.  You've heard the saying, “Pay yourself first.”  The same goes for setting your schedule.  Start by setting aside time for the activities that will add to your bottom line.  That means product creation, partnership/affiliate efforts, and marketing.  Sometimes, this is the stuff you don't want to do, or that seems to be less pressing, so it falls to the bottom of the to-do list.  But by slotting it in first, you will assure you don't run out of time for this critical element.

2.            Don't overbook yourself.  We can be tempted to fill our schedule to the point where if anything goes wrong, it throws our whole day off.  Build in buffers of time so you have the room to recover if things go awry.  That could mean giving yourself an extra day to complete a report, or giving yourself an extra 15 minutes to get to your destination.  If you don't need the extra time, you can relax, catch up on reading, or return phone calls.

3.            Keep a running list of 15-minute tasks.  Have a ready list of to-dos that take 15 minutes or less to complete, and when you find yourself between projects, knock a few of these off.  They could be maintenance items, like filing papers or cleaning off your desk, or they could be research-related, like checking out a few blogs or reading an article.

4.            Protect your time.  Time sucks will gladly take away all your free time, if you let them. They'll have you babysitting their chihuahua, listening to their boyfriend woes, and accompanying them to the home show to check out the latest and greatest improvements in fertilizer.  The solution: Just say no!  Sure, any one activity won't take up too much of your time – but soon you'll find yourself spending more time watering their plants or helping with their time sheet than you do on your own projects.  Don't let it happen by cutting it off early on.

5.            Review your day.  At the end of the day, go back over your previous work hours. What was time well-spent?  What felt critical in the moment but ended up being completely wasted or unimportant?  Figure out what went right and what went wrong, and make adjustments for the next day.

Time is your most precious asset.  Setting a schedule that supports your long- and short-term goals will help ensure you invest this precious resource wisely.

 

Coming up next:  Join or start a mastermind...

 

 

Check Your Closet

The New Year is just days away.  We've all begun looking at last year.  What worked.  What didn't.  What do we need to change?  We've checked our marketing.  We've checked our pricing.  We've looked at making changes to our products.  Now add one more thing to the list.  Check your closet.

When you work from home, you can think that your wardrobe no longer matters.  After all, who sees you, sitting behind your keyboard?  It might be true that the only person who sees you is your cat and the UPS man, but there are still a number of reasons to upgrade your wardrobe – or at least make sure your shirt is spaghetti-sauce free.

1.            Clothes Make the Woman (or Man).  Tom Gunn knows the truth: If you look better, you feel better. It's kind of like taking the time to set a nice table, even if you're dining solo.  Putting in the effort to wear clean, flattering clothes, even if you're the only one who will see them, will make you feel better about yourself.  And when you feel more confident, you act more confident.  That feeling will come across in your emails, your voice, and your decisions.

2.            You Never Know... You might think that you won't run into anyone worth meeting at Starbucks or while out picking up a bag of dog food. But potential contacts, clients, and referrers are everywhere – even behind you in line at Wal-Mart.  It's better to be prepared than to be sorry.  You'll be a tad hesitant to approach someone, or respond to their overtures, if you're dressed in a stained Razorback t-shirt and a pair of too-tight jeans.

3.            Put Yourself Out There.  If you aren't on YouTube, you should be!  And while you don't need movie star good looks, you should at least get out of your pajamas before filming a video to put forth for the world to view.

4.            There Are Times... Every once in a while, you will need to enter the public eye – at an industry event, a networking get-together, or a trade show.  The time to find yourself a few attractive, comfortable outfits is not the day before you get on a plane.  There's an unwritten law that the more desperately you need a new pair of pants, the less likely you are to find them.

This isn't to say you need to go out and spend thousands on a closetful of clothes.  But you can head to a reasonably priced department store and find a few separates that you can deem your new work wardrobe.  You'll feel the impact immediately on your productivity and your self-confidence.

What is Thirty One?

Guest post by Mitzi Lane

I get that question a lot. Thirty One’s mission statement reads, “We believe in celebrating, encouraging and rewarding others for who they are. Through God’s strength, we have built a family of individuals who feel women deserve to treat themselves to something special. Our commitment is to provide women with a fulfilling, enjoyable and rewarding experience.”

I started my journey with Thirty One in July 2011. I had received a Thirty One thermal for a gift and loved it. I called my friend and asked where she bought it. After looking at a catalog, I decided to join. For the small investment of $99, I started my career with Thirty One.

I joined Thirty One to make a little extra money and pay for daycare for my infant daughter, but God had bigger plans for me.

Since joining Thirty One, I have been able to pay off my student loan, pay cash for vacations and bless families in need.

In July 2014, I prayed that God would direct me in what I need to be doing with my Thirty One business. HE gave me the “school supply” idea. I contacted some area school teachers and the “Cinch Sac Fundraiser” began. I posted the idea on Facebook and had an abundance of support. I was able to collect enough money to purchase 66 cinch sacs. My husband and I had so much fun buying school supplies to fill the cinch sacs for the kids. It was a team effort. My three year old loved helping us put the supplies in the sacs and she helped us deliver to the area schools. What a blessing we got, knowing that the kids would be able to start school with the supplies they needed.

God continued to bless my business. In December I asked for HIS guidance again. God laid it on my heart that I needed to help the kids again. There are so many kids who do have socks and gloves to keep them warm. I contacted the same teachers as before and they agreed. Currently, I am gathering socks and gloves to donate to the area schools. Several people donated $5 to purchase the Timeless Memory pouches and I will fill them with socks and gloves. I am so excited to deliver the “bag of warmth” to the school.

God never ceases to amaze me. Because of God, I have been able to bless people with the necessities that they need. To see a kid smile, because they have new school supplies or warm gloves is so heartwarming.

Christmas is the time to give, but I think that we should give each day of the year.

Mitzi Lane is an Independent Senior Director at Thirty One Gifts.  Visit her website at www.mythirtyone.com/mitzilane.

Tis the Season for Giving Back

The Christmas season is all about giving. Gifts to those we love. Gifts to those less fortunate. Giving back to those who have helped us along the way.

Well, I want to give back too and I could use your help in a big way.

I know some of you have questions about using social media to build your network marketing business. Well, I have someone who has the answers. His name is Brian Basilico and he wrote the book on social media relationships – literally! So if you ask the questions, Brian will give the answers. We’ll share our experiences and pool our knowledge to try and make everyone's life easier.

We’ll be doing all this awesomeness on Monday night, December 29 at 7:00 pm Central time. We’ll answer all your questions about building your team, running a network marketing business and how to use the internet and social media to do it.

You can register for the event today! Just hop on over to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5842819446783941633 and sign up!

Then, while you’re waiting for the big day, here’s how you help. Send in your questions. We don’t know what we don’t know until someone asks. And your question may be the same one a fellow network marketer has but is afraid to ask. So post them here in the comments section. Or email them to me at melodieann.whiteley@boomer-business-ideas.com. We'll take them both ahead of time and on the night of the event.

Get in on the action! Whether you have no experience or tons, we need you! See you on the
29th...

Clean Out Your Desk

I have a plaque in my office.  It was a gift from a friend who has actually seen where I work.  It says, “A Clean Desk Is the Sign of a Sick Mind.”  I think she was trying to make me feel better, because I admit my desk is usually in a state of disarray verging on total chaos.

This lack of organization has been known to cause some problems because at least once a day I have to stop and search my desk for some item or document that I need to work.  And apparently I am not alone.  According to experts, Americans waste almost 30 minutes a day – 180 hours a year – looking for misplaced items.  If your hourly fee is $20, that's $3600 a year!  I would wager that there are many things you could do with an extra $3600 or 180 hours this year.

One of the first steps to getting organized is eliminating the clutter, and one of the first places you should tackle is your desk.  Here's a six-step approach to streamlining your workspace:

1.            Set aside some time.  The scenario you want to avoid: getting elbow-deep in the organizing process, only to have to dump it all back in the drawers and boxes because you have to stop to finish a report, host a webinar, or pick your kids up from school.  While how much time you need will depend on the size of your space (and your mess), a good rule of thumb is an hour for a desk, bookshelf, or file drawer.

2.            Pull it all out.  Even though it will make a mess, the quickest and easiest way to start your organizing process is to clear out the drawer, shelf, or desktop.  Strip it down to the studs and wipe the surface free of dirt, dust, and stray paperclips.  Then you'll have a fresh surface to work from.

3.            Sort.  Sort the items you pulled out into categories, such as paper, writing implements, books, manuals, etc.  As you are sorting, toss any obvious offenders, such as scraps of paper, broken items, outdated receipts, etc.

4.            Decide.  Choose how many of each item you need – pens, blank notebooks, etc. – and then toss, recycle, or give away the rest.  Trying to decide what you need to keep? Think about what you have space for, as well as what you're likely to use in a reasonable amount of time.  You might have room for seventeen replacement cartridges for your printer, but will you use them all before you upgrade to a new printer?

5.            Organize.  Replace the items in a logical manner – printing supplies near the printer, business books on a single shelf, computer manuals near the computer, etc.  Also think about keeping the most frequently used items in the most accessible place, and less-frequently used items in more remote locales.

6.            Maintain.  Unfortunately, organizing is not a one-time event; you must set aside regular times to file paperwork, clear the counters, and take out the trash.  Even just five minutes at the end of the day is sufficient to keep a handle on pile build-up.

Organizing is a great way to start the new year.  It will help you get a grip on any new needs you have, as well as remind you of tasks and projects awaiting your attention.  You'll be ready to tackle whatever comes your way with a clean desk, and a clean mind.