Can a Small Business Be A Big Brand?Do you think of your business as a brand? Because it is one, whether you view it that way or
not. Even if it's just you, a solo-professional, working out of your home. Even if yours is
a small local business marketing to customers in your own hometown.It's still a brand.The question is, is it a strong brand?Does it stand for something?Does it have an image?Does it create a perception in your prospects' and clients' minds?Either way again, the answer to these questions is yes.But if you haven't taken steps to create your own brand, your brand may not stand for what
YOU want it to
ll working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."
Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg
Business KissingHave you noticed how suddenly everyone’s kissing. I’m not talking continental kissing, pecking one cheek, and then the other. I mean a bit of a hug then a kiss on the cheek or the side of the face at least. And it’s not just extended family and very close friends here. Though certainly they’re at it too. No, I mean kissing in a business context. Seems to me the rule is, if you have ever met the person before even just once, then you greet them with a kiss. Male-female kiss, yes. Female-male kiss, sure. Female–female absolutely. Male-male, actually I’m not sure. Maybe my readers can enlighten me.Everyone’s doing it. Ban
It's more possible than ever to make the leap from an office job to "work at home," and this site is not just about work at home opportunities; it is about US, the real people who make up the "work at home network" on the internet.
This series of articles will focus on the reasons we work at home, the challenges we face, and things that enhance the work at home lifestyle. I've discovered so many things that help me work online and enjoy a professional office at home, and many of them are for pure enjoyment. That's why I work at home in the first place!
For example, I got up this morning, had coffe with my husband and chatted until about 9:00, then I washed the dishes, got dressed, threw a load of laundry in the wash... and settled down to check email about 10:00 am. That's what I call a great morning, and a perfect schedule for me. Your hours may be different - if you're a morning person, you'll probably get started hours ahead of me, and you'll be finished long before I start my "night shift."
I prefer a quick once-over in the morning, then a long, long break all afternoon. My kids homeschool, and that's when we do their lessons. They're not morning people, either! For a few hours after they finish, we play with our exotic parrots, the kids ride four-wheelers in the country around our campground, and I often spend the quiet time in the afternoon reading, researching, or watching a movie. At night... that's when I set the world on fire at my "home office."
Being able to schedule my work around my "peak times" and "bad mornings" is my favorite thing about working at home, but other parts of it are very important to me, too.
One of the best things is working with a laptop. I can take it anywhere - and I do. We're at our winter home right now, on beautiful Lake Bruin in Louisiana, and when the weather is nice, I just take the laptop outside, wi-fi button turned on, and I work on my creative ideas while I watch the clouds drift over the lake. The sound of wind chimes is soothing in the background, and those are the times when I think, "This is the life!"
Other times, the phone rings, it's someone with a big ad agency that I am dying to get together with, and the dog starts barking, the parrots begin to riot, and the kids come crashing into the room arguing... and those are times when I think, "I wish I were at the office!" But truth be told... I'll never go back. Even with the challenges of working from home, it's well worth it.
There are just a few things I would strongly recommend to anyone just getting started with a home office:
If at all possible, a separate room or area of the house that can be a "quiet place" for your phone callsA combo scanner/fax/copier to take care of all of your office communicationsA good, fast internet connectionA comfortable, truly ergonomic computer chairA desk that is comfortable and has storage space, made for computer useI can't emphasize enough - be good to your body when you work at home! Take care when selecting your chair, and don't forget about comfort. You'll be spending a lot of hours there.With just the most basic office set up, you can accomplish anything, but from the very beginning, you're going to have to draw some lines in the sand. If you want to work at home to enhance your life - don't forget to enhance your life! Here are a few guidelines below, to help you balance work and family life. You MUST separate the two, at least a little.
Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. You won't make any more money by working 12 hours a day than you will working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg
Job Do's and Don't Of Asking For A RaiseFeeling overworked and underpaid? If you’re starting to feel like you deserve a raise, here are eight DO’s and DON’Ts to build your confidence and tact (and what to avoid!) in asking for the salary you feel you deserve.DO1. Devise a “Plan of Action”. First and foremost, get a strategy together. Make a note of the specific projects you’ve undertaken and the results you’ve accomplished. List all of your job skills and the features that make you an asset to this company. Find out what a typical raise is for someone with your experience in your area of occupation. Know the facts and be realistic in your request.2. Ask
u'll probably get started hours ahead of me, and you'll be finished long before I start my "night shift."
I prefer a quick once-over in the morning, then a long, long break all afternoon. My kids homeschool, and that's when we do their lessons. They're not morning people, either! For a few hours after they finish, we play with our exotic parrots, the kids ride four-wheelers in the country around our campground, and I often spend the quiet time in the afternoon reading, researching, or watching a movie. At night... that's when I set the world on fire at my "home office."
Being able to schedule my work around my "peak times" and "bad mornings" is my favorite thing about working at home, but other parts of it are very important to me, too.
One of the best things is working with a laptop. I can take it anywhere - and I do. We're at our winter home right now, on beautiful Lake Bruin in Louisiana, and when the weather is nice, I just take the laptop outside, wi-fi button turned on, and I work on my creative ideas while I watch the clouds drift over the lake. The sound of wind chimes is soothing in the background, and those are the times when I think, "This is the life!"
Other times, the phone rings, it's someone with a big ad agency that I am dying to get together with, and the dog starts barking, the parrots begin to riot, and the kids come crashing into the room arguing... and those are times when I think, "I wish I were at the office!" But truth be told... I'll never go back. Even with the challenges of working from home, it's well worth it.
There are just a few things I would strongly recommend to anyone just getting started with a home office:
If at all possible, a separate room or area of the house that can be a "quiet place" for your phone callsA combo scanner/fax/copier to take care of all of your office communicationsA good, fast internet connectionA comfortable, truly ergonomic computer chairA desk that is comfortable and has storage space, made for computer useI can't emphasize enough - be good to your body when you work at home! Take care when selecting your chair, and don't forget about comfort. You'll be spending a lot of hours there.With just the most basic office set up, you can accomplish anything, but from the very beginning, you're going to have to draw some lines in the sand. If you want to work at home to enhance your life - don't forget to enhance your life! Here are a few guidelines below, to help you balance work and family life. You MUST separate the two, at least a little.
Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. You won't make any more money by working 12 hours a day than you will working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg
Success with OutsourcingAt first, outsourcing gives a company a splendid opportunity to get high quality work performed by skilled and experienced specialists at reasonable prices that off course leads to significant cost savings on software development and support.Also, outsourcing allows their customers to focus on their core functions. Thus, outsourcing its IT maintenance work allows company to concentrates on its core competency tasks and as a result can deliver better services and products into the market.
Other advantages and benefits of outsourcing include the following: provider alternatives, share risks with a vendor, elimination of recruitm
iana, and when the weather is nice, I just take the laptop outside, wi-fi button turned on, and I work on my creative ideas while I watch the clouds drift over the lake. The sound of wind chimes is soothing in the background, and those are the times when I think, "This is the life!"
Other times, the phone rings, it's someone with a big ad agency that I am dying to get together with, and the dog starts barking, the parrots begin to riot, and the kids come crashing into the room arguing... and those are times when I think, "I wish I were at the office!" But truth be told... I'll never go back. Even with the challenges of working from home, it's well worth it.
There are just a few things I would strongly recommend to anyone just getting started with a home office:
If at all possible, a separate room or area of the house that can be a "quiet place" for your phone callsA combo scanner/fax/copier to take care of all of your office communicationsA good, fast internet connectionA comfortable, truly ergonomic computer chairA desk that is comfortable and has storage space, made for computer useI can't emphasize enough - be good to your body when you work at home! Take care when selecting your chair, and don't forget about comfort. You'll be spending a lot of hours there.With just the most basic office set up, you can accomplish anything, but from the very beginning, you're going to have to draw some lines in the sand. If you want to work at home to enhance your life - don't forget to enhance your life! Here are a few guidelines below, to help you balance work and family life. You MUST separate the two, at least a little.
Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. You won't make any more money by working 12 hours a day than you will working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg
Buying a Business in Australia - Market has Hot and Cold SpotsThe market for private businesses has shown some distinctly hot and cold spots over recent months. At the larger end, businesses with a turnover in excess of $20 million, interest from private equity firms is pushing prices higher. However in the middle market, businesses with a turnover of $5 million to $15 million, prices have eased as buyer sentiment has softened.Some experts believe that this is due to people looking to reorganise their financial affairs to take advantage of the changes in superannuation legislation in the lead up to the July 2007 deadline. This is based on a number of business owners pushing ahead wit
canner/fax/copier to take care of all of your office communications
A good, fast internet connectionA comfortable, truly ergonomic computer chairA desk that is comfortable and has storage space, made for computer useI can't emphasize enough - be good to your body when you work at home! Take care when selecting your chair, and don't forget about comfort. You'll be spending a lot of hours there.With just the most basic office set up, you can accomplish anything, but from the very beginning, you're going to have to draw some lines in the sand. If you want to work at home to enhance your life - don't forget to enhance your life! Here are a few guidelines below, to help you balance work and family life. You MUST separate the two, at least a little.
Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. You won't make any more money by working 12 hours a day than you will working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg
Creating an Irrestible BrandHard times create amazing successes.Despite all the talk today of an oversupply of goods and services, industry consolidation, menacing imports, stalled prices, and shrinking margins, a few remarkable businesses have discovered how to make their brands irresistible to more and more customers. And they have done it in remarkably speedy fashion, seemingly coming out of nowhere to virtually own their markets. Consider, for example, Google, which went from being a nonsense word to a global verb and supernova of the Internet in only three years, which then led to its becoming a publicly traded company with an $80 billion market cap.
ll working 6 hours - if you stay focused and don't allow distractions during your "work day."
Set limits with spouse and children. Work time is work time. When you're working, let your family know that you expect them to honor your time and space.It's perfectly okay to schedule your work around your family's demands - and often necessary - but do be sure to have some structure, and let everyone know when you expect to be undisturbed.Treat your work space as separate from your home. Even if you don't have an "office," create an area that is ONLY for work-related items. It's hard to focus on your goals when there is a dirty laundry basket or car parts on your desk!If you can't afford a separate phone line, coach your spouse and kids about how to answer to the phone professionally, and create a professional answering machine message.That's just the tip of the iceberg about HOW to work at home, and future articles will cover where to get office supplies, how to work from home in rural areas, great services available to small, small businesses, and much more.
For now, just create your own world wherever you can. Get started - that's the important thing. The rest is a matter of taste and lifestyle - and it's a work-at-home lifestyle that is uniquely yours!
Your Work at Home Coach,
Anne Pierson
Learn-to-work-at-home.com
Sometimes it can be hard to strike a good balance between keeping up with all the newsletters, ezines and other online reading material that you need to stay up-to-date and informed, while at the same time keeping them from slowly take over your day and wasting valuable and highly productive time. This article offers some helpful advice for how to create and manage a workable business reading system that keeps you on top of news and updates without snowing you under an avalanche of information overload.
Make a distinction in your communication between reinforcing and changing. Decide which way you want to go, and then choose the appropriate strategies, tactics, and tools.
Have you tried doing business with a major corporation lately only to be left angry and in total frustration? The levels of incompetence seems to be rapidly growing by the day. Common sense has left us forever and has been replaced with the ever-growing ignorance, emotions and incompetency of these screw-balls that are running the asylum.
