BLOG Home-Based Business Challenge #2 Time Management

02/16/2011 10:15:00

We'd like to know how you manage your work time at home! Please add to the discussion...

Here's My Tip:

First of all, let me say that I just wrote an entire page about this and lost my Internet connection suddenly...and as a result...lost what I wrote (lesson to self - create copy on a Word document then paste it in!). Now there’s a time waster!

Anyway, to recapture my thought…

One way to create more balance with family and business is to schedule as much as possible – even allowing scheduled time for family activities. Most of us know when we will be working and when our family spends time together – so make a general schedule for your week and use that as a sort of template from which to add or change as each day or week plays out. Use an Excel sheet Sun – Sat with the times along the left side – like an appt calendar – or any other electronic calendar that allows for easy editing. Then, post your schedule for the day/week somewhere noticeable so that everyone can see your plan and walk them through it at the beginning of each week. It will help them to feel like they play an important part in your business week and they might even help to create the weekly plan – reminding you of events you forgot about!

For those of you with “little ones”… keep a special “work” basket with toys and other items they can play with or pretend with that they only have when they are in the office (“work” room) with you. That way, they will feel that those items are “special” and look forward to your special work time if you position it the right way…be creative!

For the “bigger ones” – significant other included… You might try closing the office door when you are in “work” mode – allowing for emergencies and other important events to interrupt. Help your family to understand that even though you are home working, to try to treat it as if you were working away from home! Remember, though, to open the door when interruptions aren’t as critical.

As a rule, keep family time precious. Business calls that come outside of your business hours – and we all know that we easily get pulled by work on weekends, evenings, etc… - even responding to e-mails, Tweets, etc… will signal to your family that business is more important. Trying to keep a distinct separation, as best as possible, will keep you “in the moment” with your family and will help you to unwind and enjoy the reason you work from home in the first place!

The Challenges of a Home-Based Business - In the Beginning

02/08/2011 14:04:00

Welcome to Our Blog! It is our hope that this platform will encourage our visitors to share their experiences, tips and overall wisdom of running a small business be it Internet-based or bricks-and-mortar! Please feel free to add your wit, charm, intelligence and business acumen to this blog so that all who read it will gain a positive experience by doing so.

"Where do I start?" This might be the first question you have after you've made your decision to open your own business. After you've come up with the reason for doing so, your product/service being offered, the name, the legal documents, financial info, etc...you're ready to put out the "OPEN" sign. It's exciting and challenging all at once!

Today's Tip:

Whether you are a new, local business or a new business that offers your products/services world-wide, one thing is absolutely KEY to your success...

Marketing and Networking!

If no one knows you're "there", why would they seek you out??

Marketing and Networking go hand-in-hand. Today, even if you are marketing your business through all forms of social media, are you networking within your local market? By this, I mean, are you "getting out in the community" meeting others face-to-face?

Getting started by networking in your community - not only through networking events, luncheons and seminars, but also through participation in community events, charitable causes and school functions - will provide you with a local base of clients/customers upon which to build your business. For some, this is the stumbling block! It's so much easier to hide behind the computer and "create"! Make it #1 on your To Do List...think about ways to become involved in your community and local networking organizations...Be Visible!