We are days away from spring.

Can you believe it? How is your year going? Are you reaching your goals, resolutions, and dreams? Have you been getting those projects done?

Or… Do you need a friend to help you troubleshoot, problem- solve, organize, and get out of your rut? Could it be time to Spring Clean and get some real help so you can make this year really count? Is it time to get a plan that will help you set and reach your goals…get things done…make those resolutions a reality…and live your dream? I can help!

I am so excited to announce our next coaching program which begins next Monday afternoon. This program is just perfect for wherever you are…

–> With an idea and absolutely nothing ready to have a business?

–> No idea where to begin?

–> Got everything ready to go, but just cannot find time to get it done?

–> Struggling with getting your family on board (Or at least busy so you can snag time to work)?

–> Been working, but just not getting response on the internet and have NO idea why?

Yep! If any of this is YOU, then this program is JUST FOR YOU. Instead of me writing any more, let me take you to the site so you can learn more about this coaching program. You will LOVE it! Learn more here….

>>>> http://www.Writers-Nook.com/SpringClean.html

See ya there!

With much love,
Cindy
http://www.Writers-Nook.com

Time to Spring Clean Your Business!
Join us! This is the year to go for your dreams!
http://www.Writers-Nook.com/SpringClean.html

Practicing good Christian business principles is essential to having a business that honors God.  As a Christian business owner, don’t you want God to be pleased with how you do business?  After all, your business is a gift from God, and it is only right that you run it in a way that gives Him honor.

As you look around today at businesses, especially those on the internet, I think you will find many that do not adhere to Christian business principles.  They may not even know what they are.  You will see businesses that make false claims or are run in way that is totally self-serving.  Not to mention all the scams that take people’s money and promise them things that they cannot follow through with.  It’s very sad.

However, we have a chance to be different and to stand out from the rest in our business dealings.  Don’t ever think that your business is separate from the rest of your life and doesn’t need to follow Christian principles.  This is not so.

We need to be honest and fair when we are dealing with others in our business, whether it be customers or employees.  We should treat them with kindness and respect and go the extra mile to help them.  Offering excellent customer service is a basic Christian business practice that you should consider.  Don’t be surprised if you see your business take off as a result.

Other business principles that we, as Christians, should be exhibiting are looking out for others’ needs, even at the expense of making a sale.  If we cannot give a customer what they really need, we should be happy to recommend another product or solution. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Giving is another area where we can please God with our business.  God wants us to share and help each other when there is a need.  Giving part of the income from your business is one way you can be obedient and help others in the process.  However, don’t let people take advantage of you.  Some people believe that, as Christians, we should give everything away and not make money on it.  I do not believe this is Biblical.

Adopting good Christian business principles will not only honor God, but will also bless your business.

Want more insight into Christian business ethics?

Laurie has created a 34-page eBook that gives Scriptures and insight into running your business in a way that honors and pleases God.  You can pick it up at http://www.christianhomebusinessconnection.com/christian-business-ethics.html at a discount until Feb. 3 – only $9.95! Don’t miss it!

What are Christian business ethics?  In simple terms, it means running your business in a way that is upright and based on Christian principles.

Today, there are many dishonest dealings done by businesses.  They may have prices that are way too high,  less than quality products, or make claims made that are simply not true.  I shudder at the scam business opportunities that prey on people who are desperate for a better way.   This is not the way to please people or God.

Christian business ethics must include honesty, fairness and treating others with kindness and respect.  I believe these are the basics, but if we really want to run our businesses on Biblical principles, we should go beyond the basics.  What about outstanding customer service and turning the other cheek when someone is nasty to us?

Running our businesses based on Christian standards doesn’t mean letting people walk all over us.  I think we can look at Jesus for our example in this.  Jesus was firm but kind.  He didn’t let people get away with just anything, but always reacted in a way that stood for what was right.  He gave when He had the opportunity, but He also worked as a carpenter for a living.  So, I believe He worked to provide for His needs and to also have something to give to others when they needed it.

There will be times when, as a Christian business owner, you will have the opportunity to share some of your earnings with others who need it.  Don’t let those opportunities go by!  You will be blessed in the long run when you give to others willingly.

There may be other times when you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you, asking for everything for free.  You will need to be discerning about when God is calling on you to help someone out and when you need to be firm and not give everything away.

Ask God for wisdom in this and He will give it to you.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5

Christian business ethics are not meant to put a burden on you, but rather to give you life and blessing.

Want more insight into Christian business ethics?

Laurie has created a 34-page eBook that gives Scriptures and insight into running your business in a way that honors and pleases God.  You can pick it up at http://www.christianhomebusinessconnection.com/christian-business-ethics.html at a discount until Feb. 3 – only $9.95! Don’t miss it!

Wondering how? It is easy! Recycle. There’s no need to just use great content once. Recycling your content benefits everyone in a way that builds your business while reaching those who learn best by different modalities–visual, auditory, hands-on. A good way to do this is to think about each piece of content and how you can reuse it to the max.

A few ideas may be:

#1 – Take a special download report and use the content for article distribution. The report is only available for download on your website but you can use several articles within the report to distribute to article directories. That content will then work to bring you new subscribers to your site. When they come, you will have visitors who are looking for more of your ideas.

#2 – Use product content to create an autoresponder series. If you have an info product available for sale (or a free one) you can take snippets of that content and turn it into an autoresponder series. This way your customers can preview the content through the AR series and the AR series can promote the actual product. Always think of creative ways to use your ideas again and again!

#3 – Use the content on your website for a product. If you have articles on your website or blog you can easily turn these into a product. Simply choose a collection of articles you’ve previously written and make them available in download format for customers.  You can choose to use this content as a free giveaway to gain more subscribers, or you can turn it into an actual product for purchase. Not everyone is likely to look through your whole website or blog to find the content. Also, people will often pay for the convenience of having the information at their fingertips without having to search for it.

#4 – Use your newsletter to attract search engines. If you have a regular newsletter which you send out make sure you also add it to your website or blog pages after sending. This will help you attract more search engine traffic and will give customers an archive to view previous newsletters.

#5 – Turn your audios into content. If you have audios on your website, use them to get more free search engine traffic. Have the audios transcribed and place them on your website or blog pages. This also gives your customers options, as some people will prefer to read rather than listen to an audio. Don’t forget to take your outlines and write “companion” articles or re-purpose into other products like ebooks, audio sets, bundles, etc. Don’t use those ideas just once. Re-purpose! You spent the time and hard work thinking it out, use it again and again.

#6 – Use your ideas for your own podcast. Got articles or ebooks? Why not re-purpose the content for a podcast. Talk about a great way to reach more people with your message. And, what a super way to continue to grow your business. Don’t forget to promote your articles, ebooks, mailing list, ecourses that continue learning the topics. Re-purpose and promote and re-purpose! Build a strong business.

#7 – Take your ideas and make companion information product. All it takes is an idea to begin a whole line of products on a topic. Take those outlines and use them to the max! Write articles. Compile an ebook. Record an audio series. Set up a Membership Site. Compile a home study course. Develop a coaching program. Think BUSINESS not just article. Think BUSINESS not just book. Take your ideas and build a strong and profitable business.

With a little thinking and planning you can make your content go a long way. Your idea can become more than just an article or a book. Your idea can become an entire business that is very, very successful. Why not dig into one of your “oldies” and repurpose it today?

Staying positive, even in the face of adversity, can help you conquer challenges.  When you think positively, you are envisioning your success.  Failure will not be an option; you will move past the obstacles in your way.  When a person thinks positively, they will attract positive people and positive outcomes in their life.

When you find yourself facing a roadblock, try to find a way around it.  It can be easy to give up.  Giving up will not bring you any closer to accomplishing your goals.  In fact, giving up can make you feel even worse and cause more stress.

Finding a way to forge ahead and reach your goal or accomplish your task will help you grow as a person.  You will feel more confident and able to take on new, more difficult challenges.

It can be difficult to take on a new positive personality.  It is not realistic to expect anyone to change completely overnight.  Taking small steps toward positive thinking will create big changes.

When you wake up in the morning, envision a few positive thoughts.  Imagine yourself having a great day.  Think about all of the wonderful things that will be happening to you.  Think about what you would like to see happening–attracting new clients or being contacted by a reporter who wants to feature you in a magazine story.

You may want to consider creating a “dream board” or a “dream book”.  Write out all the things you would like to accomplish.  Look through magazines and find pictures that correspond with those goals.  When you find a picture you like, cut it out and pin it to a bulletin board or paste it into a scrapbook.

Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars with this project.  If you see a picture of a house you would love to live in, put it on your dream board.  Find a picture of a car you’ve always wanted or a picture of a place you would love to travel to.

Take a moment each day to look at your dream board or flip through your dream book.  Think positive thoughts such as “one day, I will own that car” or “one day, I will take a vacation here”.  This can inspire you and motivate you to work hard and achieve success.  Your dream book is giving you a glimpse of your rewards.  Now, it is up to you to take action.

How do you decide if coaching can benefit you? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

#1 – Could I use an impartial person to run my ideas by?

Your friends and family may be great to turn to for help, but remember they are slightly biased. You have heard it said that they will tell you what you want to hear–this is not the time for that! Even if they gave great ideas, it doesn’t help if they don’t specifically understand the inner dealings or your business or market.

Having an impartial person dissect your ideas and plans can be very beneficial, particularly if that person is in your field and has already achieved the success you hope to achieve.

#2 – Could I use help with the smaller picture and details of my business?

For many entrepreneurs the “big” picture is easy to see but it’s the smaller details that can tie them up in knots. What shopping cart to use? What pages to include on your website? How to start a PPC campaign? How to begin an online teaching ministry?

In this instance an online coach can offer help and guidance – from helping you choose the right software to actually helping you plan your first pay-per-click marketing campaign to helping you plan and present your first online class.

#3 – Could I use motivation and guidance?

For many of us, this is the part of business that’s the most difficult. It’s easy to write down a to-do list and business plan, but much harder to actually do it, much less make it a success. A good online business coach can help you overcome these hurdles. If you have someone that you’re accountable to, then you’re more likely to follow through and get things done.

This isn’t a situation that should make you feel bad or shameful; many, many people struggle with accountability and find that having a person they are accountable to or a deadline is the best way to achieve their tasks. Once I hired my first coach, I saw so many differences in such a short time that I made the commitment to always have a coach to work with me along the way. I have one helping me right now. Coaching will take you further than you can imagine. They will help you will take your business uplevel.

These three questions should help you decide whether coaching is right for you. If you do decide it’s something you’d like to try, it’s important to find the right coach – as not all are created equal.

Here’s what to look out for:

* Find someone that has already achieved what you aspire to. Make sure the person has a proven track record and can back up their talk with references, testimonials and REAL results. You should be able to easily “SEE” their success–look at their website… their products. Look them up on Google. See how much they have out there for themselves. Tune into their webinars. You should be able to see real results or keep on looking!

* Find someone you can relate to. A coach with a harsh style or “bootcamp” mentality may or may not be right for you. Only you can determine that. Perhaps you’d respond more to someone that approaches things from a gentler approach. Or maybe you really respond well to tight deadlines and someone who pushes you through the phases. Whatever the choice, it has to be right for YOU. Taking the time to find the right coach FOR YOU is really important.

* Ask any potential coach specific questions and read their answers carefully. This will help you choose the right person for your needs.

* Find someone who wants to see you succeed. It’s unfortunate, but there are some coaches who keep their students in a certain place. This ensures that the person doesn’t outgrow them and continues to use their services. This is not the right coach for you.  A good coach will push their students to succeed beyond their wildest dreams. A good coach accepts that at some point their student may outgrow them and need to move on. It’s important to look for this in a coach, as this way you can be sure that they will always advise you on what is ultimately best for you and your business.

Ready for a business coach? This is the year to take your business uplevel. If you need that boost, a business coach just might make the difference in getting where you need to go.

Announcing! We are on the countdown for our first online group coaching session! YEP! We will be sharing details early this week. This session just might be the perfect topic for you. If you are not on our mailing list, scroll back up to the top of the page and sign in. Our subscribers will be sent a very special offer early next week–it only last for one week, so don’t miss it! Sign up for our mailing list TODAY!

1. Get a vision. First things first. Who are you? What are YOU all about? What is YOUR message? When others come to you, what do they ask you? Take some time to really think this one out.  Your blog will only be a success when you find YOUR voice. Pull apart and get a vision. Keep your blog simple, clear, uncluttered, and focused. Stick to who you are. Don’t change up every day. Don’t add in content that does not go along with your message. Get a vision for what you are to be all about and be ONLY that.

2. Set it up right. Don’t take short-cuts. If you want to build a successful business, invest in your “home on the web.” This is not an area to skimp by or put off. Grab your own domain and host your site yourself. The reasons are more than I can cover in an entire article, but the biggest reason is that you are building a business. Build your business with a solid foundation. If you are a writer, invest in your own name TODAY as a domain. If you are setting up a site for a particular business venture, grab your domain for it. My favorite hosting service is Mom Webs: http://www.writers-nook.com/MomWebs.html You can grab your domain and set up your hosting account in just a few minutes. Also, ask them to install Wordpress for you. They will even install an adorable theme for you for around $10. If you have a blog that is hosted by a free service, they can even help you to pull your RSS Feed (all of your past posts) into your new site–PRICELESS! They are super! Wordpress is another big MUST that will help you get started on the right track. I love that you can set up your site and add a good theme in just a few steps. Again, set it up right. A good design will take you along the path to success. It will make a huge difference in YOU and your audience. Don’t skimp on this step. Set up your site for success. Invest in a good, solid home on the web.

3. Keep growing and learning. A great site takes time to build. Keep it growing. Commit to add fresh new content to your site every day–articles, audios, videos, tip sheets, downloadables, printables, etc. Keep it growing and expanding. Stay on the cutting edge! The best way to do that is to keep on learning. Right now, I am studying through a new set on blogging. I can’t believe all of the new ideas for plug-ins, social networking options, etc that are new THIS YEAR. I set aside time each day to learn new things either through reading or listening to shows/seminars. Talk about a great way to make my site all it can be. You won’t be there immediately, but you will get there. Commit today to grow and learn. Never stop. Stay creative. Stay on the cutting edge.

4. Make sure that your site reflects YOU. Make sure that your site helps others get to know you and your heartbeat. Include your pictures, your audios, your videos, your writing, and what you love. Let them get to know YOU–your heart, your interests, your knowledge, your life, your expertise. Let your site help to build your brand. Instill in peoploe who you are and what you have to offer. Be the Google-the place people go to search–for your market. Be the place they go when they need help.

5. Don’t be shy about what you have to offer. Now, first, be mindful that some things are annoying–banners/blocks all over the page, apps all over the page, flashing letters, crazy fonts, etc. BUT, some things really work to make your site profitable–

–>  Offer Q/A–have a spot/category just for answering questions. As you answer questions, don’t shy away from linking to resources that you recommend. Hyperlink words or resources to pages with more information. Watch the responses.

–>  Post articles–not only can you link to any recommended resources/products within the article, but you can also have a nice pitch for products in your resource box at the bottom of the article. ALWAYS pitch something–one of your products, your mailing list, your radio show, etc. Give them access to other things that will help them with that topic.

–>  Link to your store–make it easy for people to find what you have to offer. Keep it neat. Keep it simple. Keep it prominent.

6. Bring others in to help you. Feel overwhelmed? Let others help you. There are so many ways that you can get help as you build your site. You can bring in guest bloggers–those who love the same topics and can share their articles, audios, and videos on your site. I have many friends who are always ready to share fun freebies–they help my site to be a great spot on the web, but they also promote what they have going on. It is win-win-win! You can even get the visitors to the site to join in and share great content. I began offering what I call “Mommy Homework” years ago. “Mommy Homework” is a weekly topic of discussion on my blog. Those who participate earn credit toward our products. Of all of the things I read each week, “Mommy Homework” is my most favorite. Imagine how awesome it is for those who visit my site. Before I go on, you can also use affiliate tools/resources on your site. Many affiliate programs offer great articles, audios, and downloads to help you promote their products. If they are complimentary to your site, use them! A good example of resources that are ready-to-go is found in my affiliate program. Join me at: http://www.CindysAffiliates.com.  You don’t have to be a lone-ranger. There are lots of options for content to use on your site.

7. Build a great site. Remember that your site will grow for years to come. Keep building! Keep your content fresh and alive. The best way is to take time in solitude to brainstorm, develop your message, and pour your heart out into your writing, audios, and videos. Take that time! Pour your heart out! Make your site a place of ministry. You won’t be there immediately, but I promise that in 6 months you will look back and be so proud of your hard work.

Happy blogging!

Need more help?

Check out these great shows (and others!!) on blogging that have been featured on my Writer’s Radio Show:

Blogging and Podcasting

Mailbag: Websites, Blogs, and MORE!

Let’s Talk about Blogging

Does it always seem like you are under the gun to get things done?  Time seems to get away from you and you don’t know why.  Maybe what you need is a way to effectively manage your time.

Time management is an age-old problem.  Remember Wimpy in the old Popeye cartoons?  He’d pay on Tuesday for a hamburger today.  Why not pay now?  Procrastination is the enemy of all who try to manage their time.  If you have been bitten by the procrastination bug, it’s time to take an antidote.

Time management issues can be dealt with in three stages:  planning, tracking and assessing.  Just like with other issues in life, the best way to handle them is head on, before the problem gets to be too big for us to even want to look at it.

1.  Planning – Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.  We’ve all heard it and it’s true for the most part.  You have to have somewhere to start or you’ll spend half of your day deciding what to do.  Planning begins with the end – deadlines.  Know how much time you have for each task you have to accomplish.  Within that timeline, you can break down the larger goal into more manageable pieces. 

This method is less of a drain on your resources and your brain.  Use a planning tool like a calendar.  The calendar, preferably a computerized one, needs to have the capability of looking at a several views:  daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.  Use the calendar to map out work and personal tasks so that nothing gets overlooked.

2.  Tracking – How are you using your time?  Use tracking software to monitor how much time is spent on business projects and how much is devoted to each project.  Tracking lets you see where time is being lost.  Maybe it takes too long to do the research for a project or the final organization of it.

If your desk is unorganized, you could be losing what amounts to hours just trying to find what you need.  Time tracking software allows you to create categories for the way that you spend your time so you can easily follow.  If you don’t want to make that investment, create a time tracking spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel to prioritize tasks each day and track the time you work on them.

3.  Assessing – So, where did the time go?  Are you spending more time on minimum priority projects and less time on high priority ones, or is it vice versa?  Take a look at where you are developing black holes of lost time.  On your logs, choose a place for comments about what exactly you did during the time spent on each category during the day.  If writing up a proposal is supposed to take two hours but it is taking you four, what is being missed?

It is easy for time to escape us.  For a business, time is money that you are losing.  Re-evaluate how you spend your time and tighten up on projects that are taking too long.

What is a Blog?

A blog is actually an online journal of sorts. With a blog you can upload daily posts about anything that you want. Some people create personal blogs as a way to keep in touch with family members. Pictures, videos and other information are uploaded so your loved ones are current with what is going on with you.

Here we are going to talk about business blogs. This is a blog that you begin to attract traffic in order to sell products or services. To be interesting to others, your blog will need to:

•    Have updated content for visitors
•    Be marketed to draw traffic
•    Register with search engines so it can be found in the rankings

How to Start

If you are new to blogging or web design, there is a great option for you! Mom Webs is offering blog installation and set up services for only $10 when you host your site with them. You will be up and ready-to-go. Best of all, you will be ready for success. You don’t want to host your sites with “free” blogging options out there. You want to get started on the right track.

Before you start posting, decide what will be the theme, or niche of your blog. A jack-of-all-trades type of blog doesn’t do as well as one that is geared towards a certain niche. If you like crafts, that can be your niche. Create posts that talk about how to craft, what to craft, how to make crafting profitable and so on. Once you have decided on a path, it is time to create that great content.

How to Make Money While You Blog…

In order to make money with your blog, you need to have people visiting it. That is where marketing comes in. To draw traffic to your site, you have to get the word out about your blog. Tell all of your friends and family members that you are online with your blog for a start.

Also, begin today to include the link to your blog on each and every article that you write. Take the time to write up a bio to include at the end of each article. In that bio, tell a bit about yourself, tell what they can find at your blog, and share the link to the blog so they can find more information on that topic.

What Next???

Any money-making venture will take place once you have built your readership with interesting posts. Then you can put into play a number of profitable additions:

•    Google AdSense
•    Selling Advertising
•    Affiliate Marketing
•    EBook and Special Report Marketing

The simplest one to pursue is Google AdSense. You are using targeted advertisements to create revenue for your blog. You are paid per clicks on the ads.

There are other options where you can get paid when someone makes a sale on that website. That is more likely to happen when you join an affiliate program. Join affiliate program that work well with your website niche.

EBooks are downloadable electronic books that you can create yourself and sell on your website. They can be on a variety of subjects but in order for them to sell, you must be able to offer new information to your customers. Don’t have enough information yet for a whole book? Why not create a mini-ebook or a special report. Set it up the same way as an ebook. Do be sure to clarify exactly what the customer gets–if it is an ebook (number of pages) or a special report.

Blogs can be used to build revenue. Start with your chosen niche and market your blog to find the traffic you need. Then, utilize these ideas to turn a profit.

Who are your customers?  That would depend on who you are trying to reach with your product.  If you’ve done a test run of your product, you may have an idea that the ideal customer for your business is women aged 18-50, for example.  That is a broad category, but you have to start somewhere.

Your advertising begins in areas where women are likely to see and give you a second look.  Your advertising begins to pay off when the traffic to your business website increases along with sales.  But the commitment to your customers doesn’t end here.

You have gained customers but they have haven’t been properly identified.  How did they hear about you?  What are their lives like?  This sounds like a big job to tackle but you can figure out this information with a little effort.  Your advertising dollars are precious and spending them on advertising forms that won’t pan out is unwise.

Offer customer surveys to learn about the people who buy your products.  This type of communications gets customers talking to you about you.  Ask them to evaluate everything from the checkout process to the types of products you offer.

For a more targeted approach, mail email confirmations that link to an online survey for everyone who buys a product from you.  The information helps to flesh out a more detailed picture than just women aged 18-50.

Track customers with monitored offers as well.  Monitoring customers lets you find out where they are from and by what method they reach you.  Offer coupons with barcodes, online offers, and perks for referrals.  You can determine how the customers shop, what you have that they want, and what advertising strategies to pursue next.

A referral is one of the best endorsements you can get from a loyal customer.  Someone who shopped with you has recommended that others do so, too.  When customers register with the site, ask them if they were referred by anyone.  Reward those referrals with free merchandise or an extra percentage off on their next order.

Now that you know how to track customers, take the time to read their survey answers and referrals.  Their answers are important and can also better your customer service to them.

Lastly, stay ahead of the technology game.  Keep up with new breakthroughs in your industry so you can offer better products that your customers will love.  When your website stays current and fresh, customers will continue to visit.

Do you know anything about your customers?  Use the above advice to learn all you can about them.  Cater your advertising efforts to your customers when you find out how they reach you and what will keep them coming back.

Why do you procrastinate?  There are several reasons and some might surprise you.  Fear of failure is one reason.  No one wants to be make mistakes but they are a part of life and they do happen to everyone.

Fear of success is also a reason why you might procrastinate.  Here is the rationale:  If you succeed you will be expected to do so all the time.  The pressure alone can stop your work.

Stress causes procrastination, too.  It is easier to deal with a problem by hiding and pretending it will go away than meeting it head on.  The problem is that the day you are ready to deal with it never comes.

Use the following tips to stop procrastination from hindering your work.

1.  Make a list. Use dashes instead of numbers so the items on the list aren’t ranked in any particular order.  Add deadlines so that you can prioritize the list.  As you finish a task on the list, cross it off with a colorful pen.  Every time you look at the list you will get a sense of accomplishment.

2.  Set aside time for other tasks. All work and no play, as they say.  Sometimes when you work, you’ll notice your mind thinking about taking a break and doing something else.  We’ve all done it.  Avoid those breaks in productivity by scheduling time to get away and take a break.  Knowing that you will get a break makes you want to stay focused on your work until that time.

3.  Don’t overload your schedule. If you have too much to do in a small span of time, procrastination will surely creep in.  No one wants to slack off at work, but biting off only as much as you can chew is not the same thing.  You are more productive when you can manage your tasks instead of drowning in them and missing all of your deadlines.

4.  Find coping mechanisms. Stress can lead to procrastination.  Deal with the stress before it affects your work.  Learn breathing techniques; take an exercise class; chant a mantra.  Whatever will relax you can also keep you working.

5.  Stay organized. A desk piled with papers, folders, and sticky notes is not what you want to see every morning you walk into the office.  Keep your desk neat and everything where you can find it when you need it.  Organization stops you from abandoning the task at hand because of a misplaced file.

Procrastination is hard to beat because it comes from within us.  Use the above tips to regain your level of productivity in the workplace.

Want to SAMPLE our Ultimate Writer’s Expo? Well, here is a wonderful session that will give you a taste of the wonderful speakers and workshops featured during our Ultimate Writer’s Expo. Stephen and Kerry Beck accidentally discovered a step-by-step formula for creating profitable information products. Want a peek into their “formula?” Well, you MUST join us for this session! Stephen will join us for the morning for a crash course on how we can create best-selling information products. Don’t miss this one!

Download by Mp3

Get to know Stephen online:

http://www.8WeekstoProfits.com
http://www.FamilyeBiz.com

Get Started (OR RE-Started) Writing On the Right Track!
Pre-order Your Set NOW!
http://www.Ultimate-Writers-Expo.com/

Grab your set today!

Let’s begin by looking at the basic or ordinary places you can place your logo:

- Your website. This is kind of a no brainer. If you don’t have your logo on your website then where to you use it?  Your website is quite often the first place people become aware of your business – it’s their first memory and your first opportunity to brand your business.

- Your blog. Again, this is a chance to link your blog brand with your website brand.

- Your business cards. Business cards are becoming less and less common however you still don’t know when you’re going to run into your next great customer.  Keep a few up to date business cards in your wallet and make sure they have your logo on them.

- Your product packaging. If you ship any products then include your logo on the packaging.  This doesn’t have to be elaborate; it can simply be included in your return address.

- Your letterhead. Okay if you have an online business chances are you’re not communicating via snail mail too often however even if you’re emailing an agreement or a proposal it can have your logo in the header.

- Your invoices too can have a header with your company logo.

- Direct mail pieces. If you utilize direct mail like postcards or even long sales letters, there are many opportunities to include your logo.

- Your company newsletter. Your logo can be used in your newsletter’s graphic header to unify your brand.

- Promotional giveaways like Frisbees or pens.

Now let’s explore some of the not so ordinary locations to place your business logo:

- On your car. Many business owners have taken to painting their car as a rolling advertisement.  While you don’t have to go so far as to make your car look like a rolling billboard you can have a magnet created to stick to your car when you feel like doing a bit of drive by advertising.

- Twitter, Facebook and other social media often allow users to upload avatars or images to represent their business or themselves. You can use your logo as your avatar or image.

- Email signature. A little creativity and you can include your logo in your email signature.  This way each communication helps increase brand awareness.

- Sponsor a team or organization locally and place your logo on promotional tools like t-shirts or hats.

Have your logo travel with you.  If your business is represented anywhere your logo can tag along.  It doesn’t matter if it’s something as simple as a business card or more advanced like your social marketing avatar.  Just don’t paint it on your dog!

Novelist Holly Lisle walks you live through the creation of your own characters in this 2-hour workshop: at the end of the workshop, you’ll have a deep, fascinating protagonist, an exciting antagonist, a secondary character or two…and maybe even a plot. Bring a notebook and a pen, write while you listen, and participate in the workshop discussion. Get to know Holly better online: http://HollyLisle.com and http://HowtoThinkSideways.com/

Download by Mp3

Want MORE Help Get Started (OR RE-Started) Writing On the Right Track? Join Our Ultimate Writer’s Expo!
http://www.Ultimate-Writers-Expo.com/

Today’s Topic: So, What Do I DO Now?

You know you want to be a writer, but what do you do now? How do you get started on the right track. OR, how to you get started AGAIN on the right track? Cindy will kick it off sharing some of her secrets to success as a writer. Then, she will open the lines for you to join in and and ask YOUR questions, introduce yourselves to one another, and pow-wow writer-to-writer. She has some fun gifts for those who join us live today. So, make plans to join us for the whole show. You will be inspired, encouraged, and equipped for your call as a Christian writer!

Download by Mp3

Dear friend, this year is the year of fullness. I have committed to make this year a year of commitment, accomplishment, and productivity. Want to make this year the very best ever too? Let’s find some keys to productivity. Let’s dig in and get moving strong. Ready? Well, today let’s look at one of my biggest keys to productivity…

Take time to write EVERYTHING down!

Talk about a key to productivity! If there were one thing that I really believe makes the difference in my own productivity, it is this one discipline. I know, I know what you may be thinking…

“But, Cindy, I write things down and that is as far as they go.”

or

“I write things down, but then I can’t find it again.”

or

“I get too overwhelmed when I see ALL that needs to be done.”

Oh! You are going to love this, beloved! Let me take you by the hand and show you how to make this work for you. It is soooo important. You see there are some secrets that productive people have. Want a few?

1. They have ONE PLACE to write things down. Now, this does not mean that it you will have only one place forever and ever. Let me give you an example from how this looks for me. I always have my “Little Black Book” in my purse. No, not for phone numbers of old beaus–I am married to the ULTIMATE beau!   Rather, I invest in one small notebook that is small enough to carry everywhere I go, yet big enough to hold my goals, lists of steps to reach those goals, brainstorms, etc. This is SO IMPORTANT! Invest in ONE notebook as YOUR “brain” for this year.

2. They take time to pull aside and “brain-dump.” Yes, you read correctly. Want a secret to productivity? This one will make sense as you pull it all together. Yes, dump your brain regularly. Actually, take some time to dump out everything in your brain now–all of those things that need to be done, all of those things you wish for, all of those things that you want to do, but cannot find time to do. Dump it all into your “little black book.” As little things come across your mind, dump them. That will be your “place” for every idea, hope, dream, goal, to-do, and wish to all be dumped off of your brain and “kept” for you. Wondering why this is a secret to productivity? Glad you asked! The leading hindrance for most people is the stress of having to remember or not forget details. This distracts. This takes the focus from what you need to be doing. Actually, this contributes to forgetting what needs to be done in the task you are doing at the moment, causing things to take longer than they should. Not to mention, we are much, much less likely to ever do things that float in our head as well-wishes. Instead, dump it all in a safe place–your very own “Little Black Book.”

3. They plan. They plan yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily. You probably know this. However, do you know how to make it work? This is an essential!  Here is how I do it.

Every year, I plan a nice Mommy Getaway to really evaluate and plan out the next year. I cannot express how much of a difference this makes for me. I am not talking about putting every day on the calendar. I am talking about sketching out the events of the year and planning my projects for my home, business, family, and myself. I PENCIL in my yearly plans. I also spend time brain-dumping anything that may be floating in my brain. I love this time. It helps to give me a grasp on my year and get in gear.

Of course, this is not enough. Each month, I pull back for an afternoon or weekend to plan out my month. I go back to my yearly plan and pray over what REALLY needs to be on my calendar. Once the final projects and events are chosen, I brainstorm all that needs to be done (all of the things to do) for that project to be completed. Now, do note that because I have “my place” for brainstorming, my little black book, I can brainstorm as things come to mind all along the way. This makes that monthly planning very easy.

Another thing that helps me along the way are my checklists for common projects–like all of the things to do to finish a book or an audio set or prepare a seminar. I have done those things so many times that I have developed checklists so I remember each step that needs to be done to get everything ready. Same thing for my holiday meals or other home projects. Talk about a time saver. Well, wondering what you do with those? I take those and put them on my monthly calendar at a good pace to get things done incrementally.

Each week I make sure that everything is done for the week before and take a good look at what will be done the following week. If I need any supplies, I pick them up over the weekend so I am ready to go each day-nothing can mess up your schedule like missing what you really need to get things done.

Finally, every day, I plan the night before. I end each day going over my daily list of things to do. Any of the the tasks that did not get done for the day are moved to the following day’s list. I also plan in the next steps and make sure that everything is ready to go when I wake up. I get SO much more done when I have a clear picture of all that needs to be done before the day begins. Want a key to productivity? PLAN!

4. Work your plan! Finally, want to know the difference between writing things down, having the perfect plans, and getting things done? This is it! Productive people work their plans! This means that we don’t just write things down. But, we also have a plan for working the plan. This is the bottom line that determines whether we are productive or not. So, how on earth do you do this one? A few quick tips:

–>  Keep your planner WITH YOU! Keep it out and keep it with you. I have a small daytimer that I can carry with me all of the time. All of my important information is WITH ME all the time.

–>  Set up your planner to work with YOUR LIFE. My daily things to do probably look very, very different from yours. What I need in my binder is different today than last year. One key that really made a big difference for me was when I finally set up my binder with forms that *I* needed. In fact, that is the story behind our Make Your Own Brain-in-a-Binder that I developed for my own planner. I always buy a nice binder and throw out anything that does not work with my life. Then, I print out pages that help me to put all of the things I need in one place. I use my planner all day long every single day. It goes everywhere with me. The key was in setting up my planner to work with MY life and all of the things that I do each and every day.

–>  USE IT! Nothing helps me more than having my binder out first thing in the morning over my Quiet Time (to pray over my day)…sitting out in the family room all day…going back over all of the things to do all throughout the day (after each task)…going back over my day as I wrap up the evening…AND most of all, planning the next day right before I go to bed so everything is ready to get going the next day. USE that planner. Watch to see the difference!

Yes! Write things down. Make that time. It will make a HUGE difference in your productivity. It will help you to get a plan for reaching for those dreams.

So, what do you think?

Ready to make this year the very best ever? Want to make this year the most productive year ever? Why not take time today to write everything down? Why not begin today to put those dreams on your to-do list, bit-by-bit, day-by-day?

Have you tuned into our NEW Writer’s Radio Show? We are rolling now! Join us at Blog Talk Radio each and every week for our new shows. You will be fired, inspired, encouraged, and equipped. Tune in live OR download our shows to listen at your convenience. Tune in here!

Oh! I TOTALLY relate! In fact, the past few months, my heart-cry has been to stay focused. Everywhere I have turned, I have heard messages on staying focused…saw articles on being focused…and talked with my friends about being focused. As a result, I have found a few great secrets that have really helped me to stay focused on the most important things in my life and get more done at the same time. Want to know those secrets? Well, let’s dig in…

BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A QUIET TIME…

I know what you just thought…”BUT! Cindy, that gets me off track for the day!”  Oh! Beloved, nothing can help to focus on the REAL plan for the day…the best opportunities…the most important. Actually, on those days that I am very, very tempted to skimp on my Quiet Time, I actually find that I am better prepared for the day that bombards me just moments later. Maybe it is the fresh perspective. Maybe it is renewal of my heart and mind. Maybe it is slowing down to remember to choose the best in everything for that day. Whatever, I never lose by taking time to let God fill my cup first thing each day. Want a great secret to staying focused this year? Begin each day with the best tool for getting focused–a Daily Quiet Time.

Make it easy!

Begin with Daily Bible Reading. Begin with just reading 5 minutes…or in 10 you can usually read through the Bible in a Year using any program! JUST TEN MINUTES A DAY!!

Choose a plan–one that will get you in the Word and NOT frustrate you. And…while you are choosing, choose a new Bible. Each year I choose a different version for Daily Bible Reading. Talk about a HUGE difference! I have been a Christian for 34 years. One of my frustrations (now this is being honest) with Daily Bible Reading is that I found myself skipping over certain passages that I *THOUGHT* I knew. Oh! Struggle with that too? Well, why not try a new version this year? It will make words jump out and seize you! It will make those stories come alive! Last year, I chose to read through THE MESSAGE version of the Bible. It was SUPER! It made such a difference in making God’s Word come alive that I decided to choose another version for my Daily Bible Reading this year. Just begin! Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Instead just dig in and let God talk to you. HE WILL!

As you begin with your Daily Bible Reading, keep a journal close by. Each day, jot down your favorite verse from the day in your journal. I love that this one discipline helps me to stay focused and tuned in for the study…but it does more… I am amazed that almost every day someone comes across my path who needs the Words that God gives me during my Quiet Times. Give it a try! The Word will stick to your brain and be on the tip of your tongue. Plus, it will keep you focused each day on the most important things! Give it a try!

Finally, during your quiet time, read the Bible, copy a verse that jumps out at you, and take some time to just pour out your heart to God and listen to Him before jumping into your day. He wants for you to come to Him and pour out your heart. He doesn’t want for you to walk through your journey by yourself. He delights in being there with you communing with you along the way. Begin each day with some time with Him…you will be amazed at how much more you will accomplish and how focused you will be each day!

WRITE IT ALL DOWN…

Another secret! Actually, this one needs to become a lifestyle thing. Let me explain! Several years ago, I began the New Year (2006) with a bit of frustration. I had so many dreams…so many desires…so many goals…so many to-do’s. In fact, I had had those dreams,desires, goals, to-do’s for many years. Each year, I would dreamily resolve to “go for it” yet again. And…again the next year. Know what I mean???

Well, 2006 was a year of change for me. Looking back, this was one single factor that really made the difference! This has made a world of difference for me every year since then. Want my secret?

I took some time during the last week of December 2005 to just brainstorm anything and everything that I really wanted to do and accomplish. Oh! You should see the poor journal that housed those dreams, desires, goals, and to-do’s! Such a treasure as I look back and see all of the amazing things that were DONE as a result of just writing it all down and then working it!

I just kicked back and spent the time to get everything out of my brain and into the journal. When I woke up in the middle of the night and something was on my brain, I got up and wrote it down. I kept the journal close for the whole week. I wrote out everything–the little things that I just could not find time to get wrapped up…the projects that seemed to never fit into my schedule…the business goals that I had…the financial goals (including how much money I owed on my debts–remember 2006 was my attack year on my debts and I ended the year with ALL of them paid off!!! WOoohooo!)…the dreams that just seemed a bit out of reach.

I wrote down everything that came across my mind.  I compiled them in the journal as to-do lists for different areas of life–the financial page listed each bill I owed with the amount I owed. For my writing goals, I listed books I wanted to finish and project ideas that were on my heart. I even wrote out my dreams for an online radio show–YEP! That far-fetched dream became reality as I began Mom-to-Mom Radio Show in January of 2006. Only a dream. Just needed focus!

Want to know the fun part about this? I reached ALL of my dreams, desires, goals, and to-do’s that I wrote down in January by May. Yes, you read that correctly–BY MAY!! I had to sit down and begin a new journal then with the same format, except I was much more bold in my dreams, desires, goals, and to-do’s. Of all of the years of my life, 2006 was record-breaking! As a family, we reached for greater things and grasped onto them! We dared to go for all of the “impossible” things with focus and determination. It made all of the difference in the world to have it all written down. To mark off each accomplishment was priceless! Yep! This was another secret for staying focused.

Since then, this has become a major part of my life. I saw such a change in my personal productivity that I made this a lifestyle. I regularly pull back for a getaway to really go over my “little black book” and see what has been done, what is yet to be done, and add more dreams and desires to the list. It makes a world of difference for me. But, that is not all, I also take that notebook out each month and each week to dig out any projects that need to be written into my calendar. Those things to do are part of my weekly things to do. Now, they are no longer wishes or dreams, but they are books, projects, and accomplishments that are my HISTORY.

Want that? Why not try it for your New Year and see how it works for you? I think you will love it!

USE A DAILY TO-DO LIST…

A few years ago, I read a book with my children for a homeschool unit study we pursued during the last four years of my son’s school years. I know, I know. It was a study that took on a life of its own. It began with a simple biography about a great businessman. We continued through as many biographies as we could find. We STILL pursue these studies even though my son graduated almost 3 years ago!

What’s the point? Oh! This is a good one!

We read one book about Mary Kay. You always learn so much when digging into the lives of others. One of the life-changing things that I learned from her life was from one thing that she attributed to her success–her daily to-do list. Daily, she kept a list of 5 things to do for the day. Each day the list changed. She wouldn’t list the impossible. She just plugged away each day on 5 vital things for THAT DAY.

I pondered that for a while. I knew that my biggest struggle was having bigger plans than I have hours to work on them. I decided to pray for my daily “5 things” for the day each and every day.

Talk about a great secret for getting and staying focused!

First, it keeps us from going day-after-day never getting “anything” done. You know that feeling? It comes from a lack of purpose and direction. Keeping a journal with all of the stuff on your heart for the year is great. Then, we can look at our daily to-do’s and add those other things into that list of five things. I try to add ONE THING per day from my journal, even if it is a little thing. Of course, there are days that I have to be realistic and limit myself to the demands of the day. I am OK with that when I have hope that I will not put off the heartbeats for years to come. Adding them into my “5 things” regularly helps. Also, on those days that I am blank or that I happen to have some extra time to myself, I go through my journal and work through some of the simple tasks that I can attack. It worked great this year!

Oh! On those days that I have 25 things to choose from…you know that those days pop up constantly, don’t you?…Well, on those days, I write all of them down on a Post-it Note. As I look at my day, I jot down my top five essentials for the day from that list. If things go better than planned, I always have the others to keep on working on. But, this helps me to be sure that I begin plugging away on the things that need to get done to finish up things as soon as I can. It clears my brain and keeps me focused on working my plan. It helps me to accomplish much each day. And…keeps me focused all year long. I don’t get overwhelmed as easily. I don’t miss big things or let big things pile up any more. Give it a try! This year will be your best year yet!

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GREAT (FOCUSED) PEOPLE…

I don’t know about you, but I really grasp for more in life when I have a big dose of encouragement and inspiration. Nothing fires me up more than people who are focused on going for all that God has in store for them. I just LOVE their passion for success! They challenge me to keep growing, keep moving, keep grasping for my dreams. They inspire me to step out there and trust God for those impossible things that intimidate me. They keep my brain turning and fresh. They spur me to reach for the very, very best!

Do I sound blessed? Did you just “wish” you had others like this? Have you written yourself off?

Oh! Beloved! I am not advocating that you scrap your friends and family.   Rather, I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to show you those that can step into the gap there. Ask God to show you opportunities this year to surround yourself with great people.

Years ago, one of my friends told me that great people are only as great as those that they surround themselves with. Talk about inspiring me! Well, she went one step forward…she said that a mediocre person could become great by surrounding themselves with the very best people in all areas of their lives. I have pondered that since she said it. It is SO true!

I have endeavored to surround myself with great people. They are everywhere! I am not special. You have them around you too.

We live in a complicated culture. Whereas, life is not simple like the lifestyle our grandparents had where they could learn from others while sitting on the front porch sipping tea and chatting (yep, I am from the South! WINK), they also did not have access to so much at their fingertips. We have the internet. We have books, audios and media.

Take time to get to know others. Take time to learn from others. You would probably be surprised at what is deep inside of those surrounding you.

I want to know the greatness hidden inside of those surrounding me. Everyone has something great in there. Digging into their greatness instills greatness in me…AND challenges them to reach for more greatness. It makes the most of our time together.

Of course, those people are the ones that I am around “in person” in my life. But, I also have some choices with my free time. I can surround myself with great people through books…online classes…audios…and other methods of study. I plug into great people regularly who are reaching for the best. They inspire me. They fire me up! They keep me growing!

Wanta get and stay focused? Those that surround you can make or break you! Surround yourself with focused people!

GET RID OF ALL HINDRANCES…

Anybody sitting there and thinking of all of the reasons that you cannot do ONE THING I have written…

…You have little ones that constantly interrupt your quiet times?
…You don’t have TIME for a quiet time?
…You have too much to do each day to write down your list in a journal?
…You don’t have any money for a journal–it IS after Christmas???
…Your day is so full of things wrapped around the children that you could never plan for “5 to-do’s” each day?
…Those around you are YOUR problem!

Oh! Beloved! I DO understand! And…this is YOUR year!

Take a peek at Hebrews 12: 1-2 (I LOVE IT in The Message)…

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

This passage really fires me up! It was one of my key verses. It follows the chapter reminding us of the great men and women of faith throughout Scripture. Then, continues in this passage telling us what it is all there for…to remind us to lay aside every encumbrance, the sin that so easily entangles us, get busy running the race, staying focused on Jesus and HOW HE ran the race. It is SO good!!

It doesn’t tell us that our circumstances will be ideal. It doesn’t tell us that everyone around us will “get it” and support us or get on board with us. It doesn’t tell us to change those around us. It simply reminds us to get focused on Jesus and get rid of all of the hindrances so we can run the race faithfully!

I have no idea what you will be facing this year. My year last year was not perfect. I had some very, very tough times from time-to-time. I had times that I got tired and weary along the way. I had times that everything I touched seemed to crash. However, a big secret to grasping onto all of the things that God had in store for me was to get rid of all of the hindrances and run the race faithfully. God didn’t demand that I do everything perfect, rather He simply wanted for me to keeping my eyes on Jesus while I faced all of the tough stuff. To stay focused!

I had to look past the impossibilities. I had to lay aside every hindrance and every encumbrance. I had to repent of my sins, confessing them so I could be healed and run the race with strength and stamina–sin zaps our strength and stamina. I had to drop my excuses–yep, that is what they were! I had to let go of everything that had been hindering me. Want to stay focused? Get rid of all of the hindrances today! You have a great year ahead!

READY?

On your Mark…Get Set…

We have a great year ahead! Are you ready to go for it? Are you tired of setting resolutions and fizzle on January 2nd? Are you sick of being where you are? Are you ready to go for those dreams? Do you want to have the best year yet?

Oh! Try out my secrets! Stay focused! Make 2009 your best year yet!

It’s easy to overlook marketing altogether. But it’s also easy to overdo it and really mess up with marketing. Business owners who get “marketing madness” face problems as well. Overspending on marketing can eat into your profits, possibly even destroying your business. And it’s also possible that if you market too heavily, people will begin to tune you out.

There are several possible reasons for marketing madness, such as:

* Business owners become overly concerned about market share. Having a good amount of market share is great, but it’s not the be all and end all of being in business. You don’t have to crush the competition to make profits and grow your business.

* They believe that more is better. Whether it’s running full-page ads in the newspaper every week or buying numerous commercial slots on the radio, some marketers feel that the more they’re seen and heard, the better. Name recognition is a wonderful thing, but your market could get tired of hearing the same message over and over.

* Business owners believe that every new product, price change, display rearrangement or procedure improvement needs to be shouted from the rooftops. While it’s smart to use discounts and exciting news about your store, service or website to gain recognition, there is such a thing as overkill.

* Marketers aren’t targeting their efforts to the right market segment. If you’re not marketing to the people who want and need what you have to offer, you might as well be whistling in the wind. But some do not realize this and simply throw more money into advertising without thinking more carefully about who they are advertising to.

* They go after the same leads for too long. While it’s important to make multiple contacts, there comes a point after which you’re just wasting your time. Rather than continuing to spend money pursuing leads that have shown zero interest, why not find some new ones with potential?

* Marketers may not be measuring the results of their campaigns properly. It’s essential to evaluate the success of every campaign so that you can adjust it if needed, and so you’ll have information on what works and what doesn’t for future reference. If you don’t, it’s easy to overspend on campaigns that aren’t doing well.

Marketing madness can result in unnecessary expenses and burnout. By carefully evaluating all of your marketing endeavors, you can avoid wasting money on things that do not work and get better results for your marketing dollars. Sometimes it pays to market smarter, not harder. Don’t mess up with marketing!

Businesses are like relationships:  commitment is an absolute must if they are to succeed.  Here are some tips for staying focused and pulling through the hard times.

* Write a mission statement if you haven’t done so already. It should concisely detail the purpose of your business and its key philosophies.  Many writers neglect to do this unless it is required to obtain funding.  But a mission statement can help you remember why you wanted to start a business in the first place.

* Set goals. If you don’t have something specific to work toward, it’s hard to stay motivated.  By setting challenging yet attainable and measurable goals, you increase your chances of succeeding whether you meet them or not.

* Don’t overwork yourself. Starting and running a business is hard work, and it’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of endless 16-hour days.  It’s rather ironic that this commitment to your business can result in burnout, which can leave you without the energy you need to keep going.  While it may not be feasible to take a vacation when your business is just getting off the ground, it doesn’t hurt to take a day off every now and then.  Taking a breather will give you time to regroup and remember why you chose the path you’re on.

* Outsource the tasks that bore or frustrate you. Small business owners, especially writers, often fall into the trap of thinking they must do everything themselves.  Sometimes they are on tight budgets and don’t feel they can afford to hire help, while others are unwilling to let go of the total control they have.  But if you’re suffering from a lack of motivation, outsourcing can get you back on track by allowing you to focus on the things you love about your business.

* Evaluate the state of your business. If you’ve hit a rough spot, perhaps a change of plans is in order.  You may need to focus your offerings more tightly, rethink your marketing methods, evaluate time wasters, or invest in better equipment.  By isolating and solving the problem, you can get back to business as usual.

Sometimes it’s hard to maintain the level of commitment that we have in the initial phases of a business venture.  By doing what it takes to remain focused and remembering why we chose this path in the first place, we can keep ourselves motivated.  When we reach our goals, we will realize that it was all worthwhile.

An online relationship coach is one of the many business opportunities available to you. A relationship coach is someone who looks at the relationship that you are in and helps you to make it better. This is a very easy idea to take to the Internet. Through emails and newsletters, you can help someone to improve their relationship and earn yourself a few bucks in the process.

When someone is trying to lose weight, they often seek the help of a trainer or weight loss coach. You could become an online weight loss coach. Through weekly check-ins and tailored online fitness programs to give your clients, you could easily coach someone to weight loss success. By being an online weight loss coach, you will increase your client base with people who do not want to meet face to face with their coach.

One of the most popular coaching areas is life coaching.  Life coaches are people that help you to bring balance into everything in your life. An online life coach is an easy way to help people to find what is going wrong in their life and help them to fix it.  You can help your clients through newsletters and e-books as well as individual coaching.

Businesses are always looking for coaches to help motivate their employees. Perhaps in your life you have learned some great sales techniques. These can easily translate to an online business coach. You could coach a sales team online through web casts how to increase their monthly sales. This type of online coaching will always be in demand.

If you have ever felt that you are an expert in job hunting, then you need to look into online career coaching. There are many people who do not understand the steps to finding and getting a profitable job.  The wealth of information that you have on the topic will make it easy for you to become an online career coach.

Any type of coaching that is done can be taken to the online world to make money. People are always looking for ways to help them to achieve their goals. They turn to coaches to help them to fill in the gaps of information that they do not know about. Use the information that you already know to find an online coaching job that will make you money.

Working at home can be challenging, but there are things that you can do to better your chance for success. Read on to find out the top ten tips for mothers who want to work at home successfully.

1. Set up your work space to match your personality. If you are bubbly and enthusiastic, use bold bright colors on your walls, and even for your mouse pad and file folders. Have matching accessories that reach out and make you want to use them. If you tend to be quiet and laidback, a more subtle approach may be more your style. Surrounding yourself with your comfort level, will actually encourage you to spend time in your home office and enjoy what you are doing.

2. Be organized. Lack of organization is the single biggest time waster and energy zapper. It’s too easy to get off-track and lose focus on the task at hand when you can’t locate that crucial piece of information.

3. Use a planner to organize your day, your week, and your month. Make lists, prioritize planned activities, and then set out to accomplish what’s on your list. It’s so satisfying to cross things off the “to-do” list.

4. Set up a work schedule. Although this may vary from one day to the next, after all that’s one of the perks of working from home; be realistic in your expectations. Be careful not to over-schedule yourself. Working too many hours is often a bigger problem than devoting too few hours to a home business.

5. Have call display on your phone. Only answer if it’s business related, during your scheduled work hours, if at all possible. Ask family and friends to understand that you will be unavailable at times each day, and to leave a message.

6. Be professional in your dealings with your clients. Even though you are at home, maintaining a business-like atmosphere makes it easier for you to act professional and be treated like a professional, rather than just someone who is working at home.

7. Have set times to read and respond to daily emails. Unless an email relates to your current project, don’t open it until it’s the designated “check email” time. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of quickly checking and the next thing you know a half hour has elapsed.

8. If you find that you are having difficulty devoting the necessary time and energy to your business, here’s something different to try. Treat your home business as if it belongs to someone else. Although you love your boss, she is very demanding. You want to show her that you can do this job well, but to do that you’ll have to put forth a solid effort. Sound kind of silly? By pretending that you have a boss you may be more likely to treat your home business like a real job that you want to keep and work that much harder at.

9. Eliminate distractions whenever possible. That may mean that the blinds on that window right in front of your computer are closed or that the TV in the corner is off.

10. Stay creative! If you have small children at home, you may want to be very creative about balancing them and your business. Do remember that this season with little ones is very, very short. You don’t get this time back. It is very, very difficult to balance work at home and tend to the needs of children at the same time. Stay creative! Get up a little earlier–I used to get up 2 hours earlier every day. I wrote almost all of my books in those early morning hours. I also stayed up later than them. I put them to bed every night on time. After they were in bed, I snagged that time until dad came in from work to brainstorm, write, set up books, work on my website, etc. I still get SO MUCH done that time of day. Plus, I can end the day feeling productive. Another thing that helped when the children were little was taking work with me. If you set up an Idea Notebook with your ideas, brainstorms, and writing, you can take it with you to the park or to lessons. You can also take a smaller laptop with you too. Use that time that would be lost to plug away. Just stay creative!

Keep in mind that working at home is challenging, but greatly rewarding. Following these tips will help you to overcome the challenges and become a successful work at home mom who still has her sanity at the end of the day.

All too common is the business owner who feels they have to do everything themselves in order for things to go smoothly in their online venture. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! In case you’re curious about why so many online business owners are singing the praises of outsourcing, keep reading to see just five of the many benefits it can obtain.

More Value for Your Time
When you own an online business, one of the most important things to remember is how much your time is really worth.  When you think about the dull or repetitive tasks that you are doing, you’ll find this work is not worth your high per hour price tag!  When you outsource, you’ll pay someone else to take care of those responsibilities while you give attention to the more important, money-making projects.

Saving Resources
Think about everything that goes into the tasks that you would outsource.  This will range from things like your time and space to costs such as Internet and software. After awhile all of these costs add up. For instance, graphics software can get quite expensive.  If you are outsourcing an activity, you get more than just the task itself out of the way.  You will also get someone who specializes in areas of your business that you may not know quite as well as or have no desire to learn. More than likely these people will already have the tools needed to complete their assignment. Depending on the project, this might save you money and learning time.  This brings me to the next benefit of outsourcing.

Going to the Experts
The tasks you are outsourcing might not be ones that you have no desire to learn about, whether they are troubleshooting, manufacturing, taking orders, website design and maintenance, or something else.  By handing the work over to an expert who enjoys and makes it their business to know these things, you’ll be able to take advantage of their knowledge in the area without having to learn it yourself. This in turn will give your customers or clients more than you could possibly give them yourself.

Expand
When you outsource, you will soon realize that you are in a great place when it comes to getting more involved with your business.  You will be able to expand and provide everything your customers need.  Outsourcing frees you up to try new things with your business, learn more and experience new aspects of your industry.

Accountability
When you outsource, you will have a contract with the person or company you are working with. By having someone else who is depending on work from you, you are more apt to stay ahead of the game by planning better and making sure that you’re tasks are getting completed as well.

When you first begin learning about and implementing outsourcing techniques within your business, you’ll find out those boring or repetitive tasks can easily be handed off to someone who enjoys doing them. This will allow you, as the business’ owner, to free up more time to concentrate on more important aspects of your business such as product creation, advertising, networking and other marketing practices.

These are the things that will help your business to grow even more profitable.

Are you a slave to your Online Business? Break the chains. Check out www.OutsourceWeekly.com to find out how!

In the wonderful world of writing, a personal brand is an essential element of the success that you will experience. It is not an extra. It is not something for “big-time” writers. It is an essential element that determines how successful a writer can and will be.

Branding consists of your creative ability to intrigue others with your words, your unique approach to particular topics, your ability and your skill in composing enticing pieces, your personality and unique values, as well as your potential to excel in the writing type of your choice. Here, I will share with you some keys to how writers can develop their personal brand.

Who are YOU?

Time for some homework. Grab your journal. Let’s begin by a really tough, but vital assignment. Let’s look at WHO YOU ARE. Prior to beginning the process of creating your personal brand as a writer, it is important to take the time to take a good look at yourself. Who are YOU? What is your message? What is your purpose? What is it that YOU and ONLY YOU can offer others? Why are you doing what you are doing? What sets you apart from all of the rest? Take some time to really look at your unique gifts, talents, abilities, knowledge, perspective, and experience. What do you have to offer? You must know this or you can never communicate a strong brand to others. What will they find when they come to you?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Next, let’s dig into the next homework assignment. You should identify the particular strengths that you have, as well as areas of weakness. It is important to ensure that you base your branding endeavor on your strengths, and that you do what is necessary to increase your growth where your weaknesses lay. Just get honest. Your success depends upon first how honest you are with yourself, then how clearly you can market what YOU are all about. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. BE YOURSELF! As you get to know YOU and what you have to offer, you will find that others will also want YOU (and only you) and what you alone have to offer. The more clear that you are about your strengths and weaknesses, the more clear your business will be to others. You will become the “go-to” guru for your strength. And, you will not lose focus trying to be what others are and copying them.

Where do YOU fit in?

Ready for the next step? This is good! You are making tracks.

You have gotten to know who you are and what you do best. Once you have determined this, it is time to decide which writing market you will pursue. Yes, there are countless markets to pursue. Don’t look for a market that “appears” to be profitable. Instead, write what you know. Look for the market where you are the most efficient and qualified. Chasing a dollar will merely wear you out and it will be obvious to that market-people want relationship, not to throw away their hard-earned money. Without a calling or gifting in a particular market, there will be a tough climb that usually ends in failure. People are very bright. They are keen to sniff out the imposters. They will never receive you like YOUR market—the one where you fit in. You must determine how your writing can offer something unique to others. Once you have determined this “unique” fit, it is important to use that as your personal brand.

So, How Do We Develop Our Personal Brand?

Perhaps the biggest question that is asked in regards to branding is how a writer can develop their personal brand. This is a question that comes up time and time again as the need for writers increases. This is the big question as a writer begins their business. This is the big question when a writer looks for the secrets to success. So, how do we do it? Here are some tips…

• Forge relationships—bond! You must simply engage in a “bonding” process with the community of individuals that you are seeking to work with. The “community” that is seeking your style of writing, the topics and pieces that you are qualified for, are important people to keep close. You should work to establish working relationships with these individuals. Sway away from the “what’s in it for me” attitude, and jump in to the “how can I help this customer” attitude. It is important to put the customer/client first at all times. Doing this will help in building trust, and developing relationships. In the end, it will also play a large role in the branding that you seek as a writer.
• Find your twist! Find ways to be completely unique. Go back to our earlier questions about your self. Get to know who YOU ARE and what you have to offer. Focus on that. Give everything you touch YOUR personality. Remember, my personality will not work for you any more than your personality will work for you. However, my personality will work for me and your personality will work for you. Dare to be yourself. Give your entire business your personality. As you do, you will find your unique way of reaching others. You will find your brand.
• Stay focused! Don’t get distracted looking around. You will get off track. Don’t look at what others in business are doing. Don’t look at the successes of others. Don’t look at the projects that others are working on. Rather, get your “thing” together and stay focused on that good work. Take regular time apart to get away with God for clarity and focus. Seek God for what you need to be doing. Stick to what needs to be done to get it all done. Stay focused. You won’t smear your brand. Your brand will be crystal clear to you and to those who need you and what you have to offer.
• Use the internet! In order to increase the effectiveness of creating a brand as a writer, you should take full advantage of the many resources that are offered on the internet. You can start a personal blog showcasing your writing talents and there are many website owners looking for ghostwriting talent. Freelance writing sites encourage many writers to register and bid on particular jobs posted by clients. Many of these resources offer compensation for the pieces that you compose. In some instances, this income is residual. In other instances, you are paid per project that you complete – much like “piece work”. If you are looking to create a specific type of brand, ensure that all of your writing is focused on topics that are relevant to that brand.
• Build through the years! A strong brand does not happen in a day. It takes years of sowing, growing, planting, and nurturing. It will never be completely done. You are building your name. You are building a legacy. You are investing in a destiny. Build through the years.

If you want to jumpstart your career as a writer, it is absolutely essential to ensure that you take branding very seriously. You should decide what type of specialty you have in writing, and what you want to accomplish as a writer, then pursue that dream. Remember, passion is important when it comes to writing. Branding is important to succeeding in writing. If you have been wondering how writers can develop their personal brand, then the advice listed here is sure to be beneficial to your endeavor.

TOP TEN WAYS TO FIND TEN MINUTES A DAY (TO DO THE THINGS YOU LOVE)
by Kathy Grubb
www.10minutewriter.com

New Mom Katie had a great idea. With the holidays quickly approaching, she thought she could host her annual baklava making party. She hadn’t hosted a party in years.  Not since before she got pregnant.

She decorated the house, organized the ingredients and invited her husband’s sisters and sisters-in-law, (specifically the ones who might be the most impressed with Katie’s domestic, culinary, creative skills.)

But Katie’s plans didn’t go so smoothly. Her plans to carry her nine-month-old son, Ian, backfired. He cried, fussed, spit up and demanded to be nursed. So she couldn’t hear herself give instructions to her guests.

At one point she just thought, “Why bother?” 

This was a lot of trouble.

Yet, the baklava turned out fine, the conversation was lively and her family had a good time anyway.

As she cleaned up the mess when the guests left, she was satisfied.  She made a way for her hobbies and passions to return to her. Even if it was just for an afternoon.

Katie, like all other mothers, have their hands full of responsibility, and no one would argue it’s priority. But I would like to suggest that we look at our days, our weeks and our months and carve out a few moments to play in our passions. We can make a way to do the things we love.

How do we find the time?

1.  Turn off the TV. Say no to the shows that if they cancelled, you wouldn’t even notice. TIVO your favorites so that you can watch them another time. Wouldn’t it be terrible to get to the end of your life and discover you had never written that novel? And sadder still would be realizing that you saw every episode of UGLY BETTY instead?

2.  Get up a little earlier. Yeah, I know, mothers aren’t getting a whole lot of sleep as it is, but by getting up a half hour earlier, you could get a head start on your day.  Think of it, you could be fully showered and dressed, or written a few lines of your poem, ran a couple of miles, or had time alone with God.

3.  Set your timer. We’ll never run out of dishes to wash or laundry to do, so why not have everything take their turn?  Set a timer for 10 minutes, carry it around the house if you need to, do the half-to’s first, then spend 10 minutes on yourself, work on that sonnet or sketch the tree outside your kitchen window.

4. Take advantage of waiting. Do you have to wait for the soccer practice to be over? Do you spend a lot of time in doctor’s waiting rooms?  Pack appropriate stuff for you to do, like read that novel (instead of People),  memorize that poem (just don’t say it out loud) or finish the cross stitch (it will be done in no time.)

5. Stay organized. Disorder steals precious time away from our passions.  If we spend all morning looking for Junior’s sneakers, instead of puttering in the garden, our frustration will only grow.  Take the extra step to put things away, keep a schedule and eliminate distractions.

6. Communicate with your family. Can your husband or mom cover for you an hour or so a week so you can take that dance class? How about your children, can they help? There’s nothing wrong with explaining to them that you want “play time” too.  Make an agreement: if you get 20 minutes alone, then you can have 30 minutes doing something fun together. (Just remember to keep your word.)

7. Trade with a friend. You want to join the book club at the library on Monday nights.  Your girlfriend wants to get to the gym on Thursday nights.  Trade childcare around your interests, that way everybody gets a chance to do what they love.

8. Rethink meals. You have to eat everyday, right? Can you plan, in advance, all your shopping and cooking? The less time you spend at the grocery store, the more time you can spend on yourself. Additionally, put those appliances to work! A little time along with your crock pot and bread machine in the morning can free you up later in the afternoon.

9. Delegate household responsibilities. Start giving kids simple things to do at about 4 1/2, gradually adding more as they get older.  If you can delegate setting the table, clearing the table, washing the high chair and sweeping the floor, you’ve already added ten minutes to your life to do what you want. Of course, you must gently teach them how to do it and reward them for a job well done.  If you have to wait for the work is done to play, so do they. (It also won’t kill them to earn their TV, DVD, or computer time.)

10. Pray about your daily schedule. Perhaps there are blindspots in your life or your household managment that needs a bigger nudge.  Maybe you’re overscheduled and need to cut back for everyone’s sanity. Maybe by changing a bad habit, you could replace it with a good one.  No one knows your life better than the God who made you and filled it with blessings.  Ask him what he thinks, you might be surprised by the answer.

We may have a tendency to believe that we’ll get back to our old selves, our old passions and hobbies once the children are different from what they are now (which might mean in school, out of school, in their own bedroom, or out of the house).  But I believe that those passion need not wait.  We certainly can’t do them full time, but we can do a little.

We fill our time with what we most desire.  We all get the same 24 hours a day.  If we worked at  our passions 30 minutes a day, that’s 3 and half hours a week, 14+ hours a month, 168 hours a year.  Even a little bit adds up.

Like Katie’s little disaster, it might not be perfect, it might even be messy, but let’s take the chance and at least try.

I believe we’ll all be the happier for it.

About Kathy Grubb…

Kathy Grubb is a wife, mother of five, homeschooling parent, baker of bread, doer of laundry, and writer who lives in Boston, MA.  She thinks that if she can find the time to pursue her dreams, anyone can.  She blogs at www.10minutewriter.com

Think the only place a business logo can be used is on your website and business card?  Not true.  There are many creative and effective places to use your business logo for maximum results.

Let’s begin by looking at the basic or ordinary places you can place your logo:

- Your website. This is kind of a no brainer. If you don’t have your logo on your website then where to you use it?  Your website is quite often the first place people become aware of your business – it’s their first memory and your first opportunity to brand your business.

- Your blog. Again, this is a chance to link your blog brand with your website brand.

- Your business cards. Business cards are becoming less and less common however you still don’t know when you’re going to run into your next great customer.  Keep a few up to date business cards in your wallet and make sure they have your logo on them.

- Your product packaging. If you ship any products then include your logo on the packaging.  This doesn’t have to be elaborate; it can simply be included in your return address.

- Your letterhead. Okay if you have an online business chances are you’re not communicating via snail mail too often however even if you’re emailing an agreement or a proposal it can have your logo in the header.

- Your invoices too can have a header with your company logo.

- Direct mail pieces. If you utilize direct mail like postcards or even long sales letters, there are many opportunities to include your logo.

- Your company newsletter. Your logo can be used in your newsletter’s graphic header to unify your brand.

- Promotional giveaways like Frisbees or pens.

Now let’s explore some of the not so ordinary locations to place your business logo:

- On your car. Many business owners have taken to painting their car as a rolling advertisement.  While you don’t have to go so far as to make your car look like a rolling billboard you can have a magnet created to stick to your car when you feel like doing a bit of drive by advertising.

- Twitter, Facebook and other social media often allow users to upload avatars or images to represent their business or themselves. You can use your logo as your avatar or image.

- Email signature. A little creativity and you can include your logo in your email signature.  This way each communication helps increase brand awareness.

- Sponsor a team or organization locally and place your logo on promotional tools like t-shirts or hats.

Have your logo travel with you.  If your business is represented anywhere your logo can tag along.  It doesn’t matter if it’s something as simple as a business card or more advanced like your social marketing avatar.  Just don’t paint it on your dog!