25
Aug
“Firsts” for Entreprenurs
dear erin

Bob Allen was a guest speaker at our last Balch Springs Young Entrepreneur Club meeting.  He talked about firsts for entrepreneurs. Below is an outline of what he talked about.  (I have added a few of my own ideas too.)

First Impressions

  • It is vitally important to dress the part.  You don’t want to show up at a meeting wearing jeans and a band t-shirt when the “gig” would clearly call for slacks and dress shirt.
  • Look who you are talking to in the eyes.
  • Have a firm, but not bone-crushing handshake.
  • Speak clearly and don’t use slang.

First Contact

  • Have your “elevator speech” ready.  This is a 10-15 second “speech” that you say when somebody asks you what you “do”.  Practice this, rehearse it, know it inside and out.  It should roll off of your tongue easily and smoothly.  It will help to watch yourself in the mirror while practicing!  (Also note: you want to make sure you don’t offer a huge, broad scope of things you can do.  Narrow it down to what you do best!  This will make you and your talents more specific, and more likely to get the job!)
  • Be prepared for success!  Take a portfolio of your work, a CD with a recording of what you do (if it applies), letters of reference… whatever you can take that will help the potential client see how great you are!
  • Focus on what you can do for them.  Let’s take a musician for example… You want to focus on what you can do for this client during the gig.  You will entertain their crowd, create a light & happy atmosphere, allow the crowd to request songs… (whatever it is that you know you will be able to do!)

First Opportunity

  • Be prepared to jump in and do it!  You wanted this opportunity – be ready to take it!
  • Will you need help?  It is okay to ask for help.  Suppose you are a photographer, and your niche is child portraits.  Well, this particular client wants to hire you to do portraits of dogs!  You will probably need some help getting the dogs treats while you take their picture.  (This is a very simplistic example!)  Don’t be afraid to ask somebody you look up to to help you.
  • Be prepared to offer barter.  Especially if you are first starting out.  Bob said that instead of taking payment for creating a website for a business, he exchanged haircuts for his work.  This is an excellent way to get your foot in the door, and get referrals and testimonials!
  • Make sure you have some sort of written agreement between you and your client.  After you believe things are worked out and ready, at least send them an email stating what you believe to be true with the arrangement.  Ask for them to send a reply either approving what you said, or making clarifications.

There you have it!  A good list of ideas you should know for any “first” you encounter on your entrepreneurial journey!

As always, if you have any questions, please comment or contact me.  You can also contact Bob Allen for State Farm insurance needs, or to book his band!

Category: Young Entrepreneur Meeting Topics  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
11
Aug
Fail Already!
dear erin

Why is it that so many people would rather sit on their couch and complain about not having the life they always saw for themselves, instead of actually going after that life? I’ll tell you why -

FEAR

They are afraid of failing at the one thing they want the most for their life.  After all, if they fail at that, what do they have left to dream of and hope for?

What this type of person does not see, or understand though, is that in order to attain your dreams – they must be willing to take that step and, yes, fail.  Failure is a part of the process, but not the failure that most people envision.

The key to the “failures” they encounter is learning from those mistakes, and building on them.  What did they learn?  What should they do different next time?  How is the next attempt going to be different?

People have heard all of this before.  It can be very difficult to get past the fact that “failures” are almost inevitable when it comes to pursuing something that is worth while.  The key is to realize that “failing” can be a very good thing.  Each “failure” takes a person that much closer to their ultimate goal.

Frankly, for most people, it is going to take actually doing something, taking that action, taking that risk, to realize that failing is not that big of a deal.

If you are one of these people, take that risk.  Decide you are ready and you are along for the ride – because the ride is fun!  And the destination is worth it.

If you feel stuck, let me know.  That is what I am here for.  I can help you pinpoint something you will love to do, and show you how you can make money from your passion.  And, as always, there is a 100% guarantee.

Category: Uncategorized  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
27
Jul
Companies Cut the FAT (employees) & Aren’t Looking Back
dear erin

I read an article on Yahoo today.  I will save you the time of reading the depressing article in it’s entirety.

Basically, companies (large and small) have had to cut back on employees so they can still turn a profit.  In doing so, they have learned that they can get by with less employees and profit more money than they have in years.

Bottom line: they aren’t hiring anymore!

Where does this leave you, the unemployed & underemployed?  Out of luck.  That’s where.

Or are you out of luck?  This is the time to venture out on your own.  Apparently, nobody else is going to give you the opportunity to work for them… so it is time to take your future into your own hands.  It is time for a career change – a career change that will put you in charge of your future.

Does it scare the tar out of you, or give you hope?  Whatever you feel, know that it can be done.  AND it can be done quickly and cost effectively.

You no longer need an actual store, employees, or products to start a business.  You don’t even have to be able to provide a service.  You simply have to think creatively.

Do you have products or a service that other people want?  That is fine too – there is a way to market those things right from your kitchen table.

Need help coming up with a plan, or even what to make your business be?  That is what I’m here for.  I can help.

Category: This-n-That  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
25
Jul
Excuses
dear erin

You know what you want to do, but you are allowing every excuse in the book to stop you from taking that first step to accomplish your goal.  Why are you sabotaging yourself like that?

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure. ~Don Wilder

Harsh quote, isn’t it?  You need to hear it.  You need to see it.  You need to feel it…

When you make excuses for yourself, you might as well throw in the towel entirely.

Your next step is to take action!  Be excited for it.  Plan your path.  Do it!

But the question is, why are you making the excuse in the first place?  What do you have hard-wired in your brain that makes you think you can’t accomplish something that you actually want?  And, who told you the lie that you are carrying around with you?  (Parent, teacher, clergy, best friend, spouse, yourself…)

The first step to getting through the excuse barrier is to identify the limiting thought that is holding you back.  Thoughts like:

  • “I’m not smart enough to make things happen.”
  • “That will never work.”
  • “Every time I try something, it fails.”
  • “I am a failure.”
  • “I am stupid.”
  • “I need a ‘real’ job.”
  • “I’m not educated enough.”
  • “I don’t have enough money to do it.”
  • You don’t have enough time to do it

It is time to get those limiting beliefs out of your head!  Here is a simple thing you can do to finally go after what you want:

Write down your top three excuses.  Now for each one, follow it with these two words, “Until Now”.  So if your top excuse is “I don’t have enough time to do it.”, it would become, “I don’t have enough time to do it until now.”

Next, write a small paragraph stating why that excuse is no longer valid.

“I don’t have enough time to do it UNTIL NOW.  I realize that this goal is important to me, and I won’t feel complete inside until I get it accomplished.  I am willing to find the time in my schedule to work on my goal.  If I don’t have the extra time, I will make the time.  I can cancel things that aren’t important to me so I can work on my goal during those times.  This will work because when working on this goal, I will feel good and energized!  I will find myself again, and that is worth anything to me.”

Do you need help with ridding yourself of excuses or creating your plan?  That is what I’m here for!

Good luck – and GO FOR IT!

Category: This-n-That  Tags: , , , , , , , ,  4 Comments
24
Jul
Everybody Deserves a Break
dear erin

Okay, so I took a little more time off than a weekend for my daughter’s birthday!  You know what?  I loved it!

My kids and I normally talk, but this past week we have spent so much time talking and laughing… it has been wonderful!  We had a lot of fun just being together…

That brings me to my point: Everybody deserves a break!

Even if you are lucky enough to be doing what you love, you need to make sure you take that time off to simply be.  It seems, especially when we are doing something that we love to do, we get so wrapped up in doing that thing because the time just flies by while doing it!

Even while living our passion, it is important to take a weekend off, turn your brain off, and enjoy the life you already have.

As an added side benefit – I have received so many new ideas this past week that is really going to catapult me to where I want to be – both financially (earning one million dollars) and in helping other people.

To wrap up:

  • Time off from “thinking” and “doing”
  • Time with kids – having a blast
  • Renewed & Relaxed
  • New ideas that simply came to me – when I wasn’t even looking for them…

All from taking a break!

Category: This-n-That  Tags: , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
16
Jul
When Something Makes You Feel Icky
dear erin

Have you ever done something that you know should be a good idea; but it leaves you feeling icky, or bad inside?  Maybe you literally have a stomach ache, headache, or maybe you just get in a really poor/negative mood after doing it.

Those feelings are trying to tell you something.

Yesterday I did something that I thought would be awesome.  It was a wonderful idea.  I felt like I was on a mission in coming up with the idea and writing about it.  After I had it all ready, I started posting like crazy to Twitter, Facebook, and message boards.  I needed help from other people to make this idea happen, so I was ready to tell anybody and everybody that would listen.

But, in doing so, I got really upset.  Thoughts would come into my head… “Nobody is going to want to do this.”, “Nobody will take the time for this.”, “Everybody will think that they can’t help.”

I really got myself pretty pissed off!

Then, I really got upset when a message board reported my article as spam.  SPAM?!  All I was trying to do was help the American society as a whole!  How could they say I was “spamming”.  Ugh.  I was infuriated!  (Still kinda mad about that…)

The point being… When I was writing the article, I was very excited about it.  I know, deep down, that this idea could work.  I know it could change the future of America.  But, even while writing the article, I was getting upset inside.  I was thinking how it wasn’t going to work…

I have no doubt that somebody can take this idea and run with it.  However, that person is not supposed to be me.

I should have listened to those feelings I was feeling from the start.  (I think it was my stubbornness that made me keep going.)  I should have realized that even while it was a great idea, my feelings were trying to guide me away from it.  If I only would have listened to my feelings, I would have saved myself a lot of anguish and negativity yesterday.

My moods often dictate if I am on the right track or not.  On days when I need to check myself, I feel my muscles above my eyebrows and around my lips get tired.  (Yes, I must draw in my whole face!)  Normally, it is after I am so far in to what I am doing when I feel my face contorting; so I feel like if I “give up” on it, I will have wasted my entire day.  I think I have learned my lesson…

If at any time, you are not feeling good about what you are doing – STOP!  You are not on the right path.  If you have bad feelings, either physically or emotionally, you are only going to bring more bad things to your life until you get rid of those feelings… and doing that thing that gave you the bad feelings will just keep you going in a hideous cycle.

That is a brief explanation on how you create your own life with your thoughts…

Bottom line – if you don’t like how it makes you feel – STOP!  If what you are doing makes you happy and positive – KEEP DOING IT!

Do you have trouble figuring out these things?  Do you need help getting your thinking straight?  (When your thinking is aligned with your “self”, your life will run smoothly.)  I can help.  That is what I am here for!

Category: Main Idea, This-n-That  Tags: , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
08
Jul
Idea for the Unemployed & Underemployed
dear erin

A recent article I read stated the stone cold facts about recent college graduates not being able to find a job. More precisely, that generation not being able to find a job that matches their college degree. The article said that young adults in their 20’s are facing basically the same predicament as people did during the great depression. In fact, 14% of people in this age range are unemployed and living with their parents.

Sobering, isn’t it?

It went on to say that they are having to take jobs that are not what they want to take.  Now, for us older generations, we have come to learn that sometimes in life you simply have to do certain things in order to survive.  These young adults have not yet learned this lesson.

But should they?  Really, should anybody have to learn this lesson?  Why does it seem like a “right of passage” into adulthood?  Why should we expect our kids to endure such a somber way of life?  And for that matter, why should we endure such a way of life?

As I continued reading this article, it stated that the young man in question, Scott Nicholson, has been doing some work on the side.  He has been mowing lawns, he put up a fence, and is a volunteer firefighter.  Sure, I am sure this is something the college graduate did not see himself doing when he graduated from college – but what if he thought a little bigger.  I little more outside the norm of society?

Scott is in search of a career that would yield him a high paying job in marketing for finance.  He obviously can’t find work in those fields.  What if he created his own job?  What if he took his knowledge of marketing and finance and started a business?

Do you think this is a radical decision based on the fact that he doesn’t even have much money coming in?  I am here to tell you that he (and you) could start a business for basically nothing; and he (or you) could be making a profit within the first week.

It is simple.  Here is the outline:

  1. Decide what you want to focus on. (I can help you with that – that’s what I do!)
  2. Get together a group of friends/acquaintances who can even out your “team”.
  3. Start marketing that idea for free or inexpensively and build up client list. (Also – what I can teach you.)
  4. Hire laborers to do the work for under what you are charging the client.

That’s it.  It is so ridiculously easy, yet highly profitable.

In the case of Scott Nichols, I would suggest this:

  1. Start a lawn/home improvement business and offer to always check the outside of the home for fire dangers.
  2. He is already savvy in marketing and finance, so he would just need to add a person to take care of phone calls from clients (if he didn’t want to do this on his own).
  3. Start getting word of mouth referrals, ask his current clients for referrals, post on craigslist, make a simple website (it would cost under $10 per month), hang fliers on doors, and offer great incentives for hiring his business over somebody else (free fire safety check in one).  Of course, Scott already knows all of this because of his degree…
  4. Advertise on craigslist and in the newspaper for laborers to actually do the work.  (This can include hiring people to hang fliers.)

Potential Profit: (Let’s do some assumptive math…) Monthly totals in red.

  • Hire an assistant to take the calls and book appointments: 15% of gross income ($576)
  • Fliers: $30 per month ($30)
  • Website: $10 per month ($10)
  • 3 people doing the work: $7 per hour per person – $21 per hour in labor ($61 per day labor in this example) ($1464)
  • Total cost to run business per month: $2,080
  • 4 yards per day (6 days a week) @ $40 per yard = $3,840 gross per month
  • Profit per month: $1760

And this can be much, much more if he increases the amount of yards done in a day.  And for what?  A few hours of his time each week – just to make sure everything is running smoothly.

This method can (and is) used for virtually anything.  The key is to focus on something that you really enjoy and love doing because it will shine through in your final product or service.

My point being… if you are unemployed, underemployed, or can’t find work for any reason, you can make this work for you.  If you are living with your parents – they will be so happy that you are doing something to bring in an income!  This business model has the potential to be so lucrative that you might even want to consider changing careers.

If you need help with coming up with your own idea to make this model work, a creative way to market it, or any other aspect, please contact me.  I can help.

Category: Free Quickies, Main Idea  Tags: , , , , , , , ,  2 Comments
11
Jul
I Wish…
dear erin

I wish you had the belief that you have given to me.

I wish you had the confidence that you have given me.

I wish you saw in yourself what I see in you.

I wish you would jump in and make your life the way you dream.

I wish my words would encourage you to take that leap.

I wish that one day, you will see that it is because of you that I am the way I am.

I wish you would realize that you can do anything.

I wish you all of your dreams.

I wish you knew you deserve those dreams.

I wish you loved you as much as I love you.

Category: This-n-That  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
13
Jul
What’s That in Your Pants? Oh. It’s Your Head up Your Ass.
dear erin

Yesterday morning, I had to leave the house very early for a dentist appointment.  Six-thirty to be exact.  That may not be early to some of you – that might be running late!

As I was driving, I was thinking about all the people that were driving into work.  There were a lot of them!  Everybody in a hurry, driving their SUV’s and sedans to work – in what seemed to be autopilot mode.

I thought about them, on Sunday night, setting their alarms for the next morning and going to bed.  I thought about them waking up to the annoyingly horrid, “eh, eh, eh” of the alarm and shuffling into the shower after they started their coffeepots.  Then I thought of them kissing their spouse and kids and rushing out the door so they could get to work on time.

What a nasty circle… get up, go to work, come home & go to bed, get up, go to work, come home & go to bed, get up, go to work, come home & go to bed… Oh wait!  It’s the weekend!  Let’s do something FUN!

For WHAT?  To work at a job that will simply pay their bills?  To be told what to do by a person who is making a hell of a lot more money than they are, and to make that person look good?  So they can pursue the things they enjoy on the weekend and for two weeks out of the year?  I ask again… for what?

I know.  We all have bills.  But, do you know what?  That is an excuse.  Bills will get paid.  When push comes to shove, we all find a way to make things “work”.  (Or else a lot more of us would be living under bridges.)  So what else besides bills?  To live in luxury?  What luxury?  A big house that people never get to enjoy because they are working?   A nice vehicle to drive to work in?  Fancy “toys” (boats, 3 wheelers, the latest electronics, etc.) that they only get to talk about and not use that much?

And on a side note – do they really want these things, or are they just buying them to “fit in”?  Are they buying these things because that’s what their co-worker bought?  Perhaps it is because their boss bought it, and they want to get “in” with the boss… Maybe they actually did want the toy – but only to fill a void they feel in their lives.

Why do people live like this?  Why are people okay with getting a 3% raise each year when the national inflation rate averages about the same?  Why do they succumb to going to a job that they find lackluster (at best) just to exist in a life where they find little satisfaction?  Why?

“Well, what am I supposed to do about it?”, somebody asked me.  I told them to look at their lives.  What did they like, and what didn’t they like?  What could they live without so they could live with a whole lot more?

It is time to downsize, America.  It is time to re-evaluate what is really important.  This isn’t for the sake of your finances (though it will help).  It is for the sake of your life, your happiness, and for your spirit.  We are all here on this earth for a reason.  What is your reason?  Why are you here?  What makes you happy?  What excites you?

When you do what you enjoy, you will be happy.  When you do what makes you happy, you will succeed.  When you succeed, you will be helping other people.  Now, that is a circle of life we should strive for…

This can be a radical concept for many people to get their heads around.  We have been taught, since birth, the “way the world works”.  I am telling you – it doesn’t have to work like that.  You can literally create the world, and the life you want.  Not only can you create it, you do create it.

When you change the way you think, the way to allow yourself to see things, the reason you want to get up in the morning… you can have the life you want.  No more rat race.  No more working for somebody else.  No more promoting other people’s crap online.  No more trying the next new scheme that pops up before you.  Take if from me – you must do what you love in order to find real success.  If you don’t, you might find temporary success.  You might find “success” they way our society defines it… but, there is a much greater definition of success.

What is your definition of success?

Before I get all kinds of hate comments – let me add this: If you love the job you go to everyday – good for you!  This article is not for you.  This article is for the bulk of society who is simply surviving.  If you have found your bliss, your passion… no matter where it is… good for you!  Tell us about it!  :)    If you haven’t found your passion, or you don’t know how to make a living from it, that is why I am here.  I can help you.  I promise, I won’t be angry when you email me.  :)

Category: Main Idea, This-n-That  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
14
Jul
When Life Gets in the Way
dear erin

Sometimes we are so far caught up in our daily list of things we need to get done, that we can’t even conceive living a life filled with passion (let alone making money from it).

I get that.  I’ve been there.  Kids, dishes, laundry, bills, kids, bedtime stories, your bedtime (nope – not yet), more dishes, picking up the house, quality time with spouse (if your lucky), getting things ready for next day, then falling asleep on the couch.  With so much to do, how are we supposed to fit in time for ourselves, let alone our passion in life?  (Life isn’t supposed to be so hectic.  And, it doesn’t have to be so hectic…)

The truth is, it can be done; and it can be done with just a few changes.  No, these are not time consuming changes.  Chances are, they are changes that need to be done with your thinking.  Can you believe that?  Change your thinking and change your life?

Here is a quote I received from one of my clients:

“Working on changing the thinking…..Thank you for providing me a framework for that.  I knew I needed to change that, but didn’t know how to go about it.  Those phrases are perfect!”

She continued to say that the words I suggested to her popped into her mind throughout the day and she was able to have a more positive outlook on what she was doing. (Plus, by doing that an uncanny coincidence happened that evening that will further her on her quest to live her passion!)

Imagine that – just by changing a few words in your mind you can change your outlook on life.

These words/phrases that I am talking about are not the same for everybody.  It is totally different based on your upbringing, current situation, and overall mood.

By changing your thinking, you can easily get over hurdles like:

  • Weight Issues
  • Health Issues
  • Being Unorganized
  • Paying Bills Late
  • Being “Moody” or Sad
  • Relationship Issues
  • Marital Issues
  • Being “Lazy”
  • etc…

Of course, there are some instances where more than just a simple change of thinking needs to take place.  I can find that too.  I can look at your life and see where problems are.  I can offer suggestions to get over those problems and to make your life easier… but then again… you are probably going to have to challenge your current thinking process because chances are you have those problems in your life due to your thinking.

For example: You have WAY to much cleaning.  You always have dirty dishes to wash and put away, clean fingerprints off the walls, pick up your kids messes, make your kids meals, pick up your hubby’s dirty laundry and put it in the hamper (that is 2 feet away from where he threw it on the floor), etc…

You may or may not realize what it going on here.  You are picking up after everybody else.  You are taking care of their messes.  Who cleans up after you?  Nobody.  You shouldn’t have to clean up after them either.  Kids are amazingly smart.  They can learn that if they make a mess, they are going to have to clean it.  They can get a soapy rag (you might have to get it for them if they are tiny), and clean the peanut butter from the wall.  They can pick up their own toys.  Your husband can learn to actually put his dirty clothes in the hamper and start some laundry if it needs to be done.  (Really, he can do this!)

Did you read the part above where it read, “You shouldn’t have to clean up after them either?”  Did you realize that?  If you do or don’t believe that you really don’t have to pick up after everybody (and you’re still doing it), there needs to be a change in your thinking.  Then, after the change in your thinking takes place, I can suggest tangible ideas to support that new line of thinking.

After you get these “everyday” problems sorted out in your life, it is much easier to want to live a life that is full of passion – and make a living from that passion.  And that, my friend, is what life is all about.

I am a creative consultant.  I can help you change your life.  Are you ready for a new beginning?


Category: Main Idea, This-n-That  Tags: , , , ,  2 Comments
04
Aug
8-5-2010 Meeting Outline
dear erin

Below you will find the topics for our Young Entrepreneur Club meetings.

This is merely a basic outline of general items that will be discussed.

Things may easily be added, revised, or switched in order.

We will also be having guest speakers who are accomplished business people.

Preliminary Meeting Topics Outline

What is your dream “job”?

Write / Draw  it on poster board.  Include what you want to learn about!

Anything is possible
It’s okay to dream!  In fact, you must.
Scientific Proof
Books to read
Think & Grow Rich
The Magic of Believing
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
Acres of Diamonds
The Master Key to Riches
Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement
The Law of Success
The One Minute Millionaire
The Success Principles for Teens (Jack Canfield)
Anything by: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Dr. Joseph Murphy, Bob Proctor, Joe Vitale…

Right Mental Attitude
Limiting Beliefs
Negative Influences (Possibly: friends, parents, online group, YOURSELF!)
Watch your thinking!
Positive Thinking
Positive Influences (Possibly: friends, parents, mentors, online group, YOURSELF!)
Ways to stay in a positive frame of mind
Half & Half paper (use good half for affirmations – morning & night & carry with you at all times.)

What it takes to be an entrepreneur

Goals
Why they are important
How to set
How to track

Creative Thinking
Mind Mapping

What are your wildest Dreams?
Any idea will work – it is how you spin it

Different types of businesses

Starting a business

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
Business Plan (Including registering business name)

Marketing
What marketing is
How to think like your customer
Market inexpensively/free
Marketing Plan

Open Your “Doors”!

More to come…

Category: Young Entrepreneur Meeting Topics  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
02
Aug
Busy Behind the Scenes!
dear erin

I have been creating what some people call a “Mind Movie”, and I am still in the process of creating my mp3 session to completely lay out my affirmations.

A “Mind Movie” is basically your affirmations that flash in front of you with pictures and music.  (There is scientific proof as to why & how this works.)  When you watch your mind movie every morning and every night, things are supposed to change dramatically for you.

I am all in!  Life always has the potential to get better, right?!  I did my mind movie in powerpoint, then uploaded it to google docs.  If you want to watch it, you can:

My Movie

This was the very cheap, and labor intensive way to create one of these movies.  If you want to do it the professional way, go here.   I am not an affiliate, so don’t worry about me providing this link to make some cash.  It is purely just that good.

I will upload the mp3 when I have it completed.  It should be today.

So, why am I doing all of this?  Because there is a stronger force within you that you need to realize.  Call it whatever you want to call it.  It exists.  It is there, and when you learn to work with it, you will benefit a million times over.

Imagine having a phenomenal force working on your behalf, 24 hours a day!  We all need to learn to tap into this power.  It is there for us to use.

Good day to you, and happy manifesting!

Category: Millionaire, This-n-That  Tags: , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
26
Jul
Sarah “Mo” Smith
dear erin

1.  What made you start your journey to be an entrepreneur?

I love money.  Not in the “love of money is evil” sense, but in the Money pays the bills and if I have a lot of it I can pay the bills and have some left over for savings, shoes and maybe a vacation.   I got my work ethic from my Dad, though he and my Mom would rather it be used to clean my room growing up, but I know that I need to work hard to make money.  If I can do the same amount of work and keep it all rather than give 70% of it away to my employer, and get to be my own boss then yes, sign me up!

2.  What do you do to work from home?

I have a background in Recruiting in both an Agency and Corporate environment and started doing that from home in 2007 part-time basis.  I went back into an office environment in 2008 but was forced to work from home again in early 2009 due to health issues.  I just launched a Job Posting Service, using all my Recruiting abilities but with none of the stress (that I can’t handle right now).  I also started an online store-front called ilovetheusastore.com, this site features t-shirts, car magnets, postcards, hats etc with a patriotic theme.  I started this after starting a I Love the USA site on ning (which is down since they started charging but may be back up in the near future as a blog site).  I have always been creative, and artistic, the entrepreneur in me says why not try to make money off of what you like to do for fun.  I love photography, so I have a site that sells Note Cards that are prints of my photographs, as well as custom invitations, announcements and holiday cards.  Since I am already designing Note Cards, creating custom business cards and marketing materials wasn’t a huge leap.

3.  Which one of the things that you do from home is the most lucrative for you?

I would say the Recruiting when I am physically able to do it, as it has the largest fees. I am currently writing a book on Recruiting and working on an online training, as well as one on one training for new Recruiters and those wanting to get into the industry.

4.  Are you seeing a profit from your efforts yet?

I have from my Recruiting efforts but with the New Job Posting Service and the other arms of my brand are just going live and being launched I am not seeing anything from them yet.  However, since most of what I do is custom or a service there is a nice large overhead for me to work with, and not much that I have to pay out of pocket in the beginning, which is great.

5.  If you are, how long did it take for you to make a profit?

Not counting recruiting fees, no profit yet.

6.  Are you doing what you love, or doing what brings the most potential for profit?  Why?

That is such a hard question, there are so many things that I enjoy doing, which is why I think my brand had such diverse arms.  I love photography, but there isn’t a lot of profit there all at once, it’s slower.  I love creating and designing things, thus the note cards, business cards and patriotic products, but again, the profit margin is lower and it takes longer to gain customers.  Recruiting and the Job Posting Service provide the most profit as the only thing it costs me is my time, and finding the customers for Recruiting is easiest, the Job Posting Service, well that will come when it comes.

7.  What are your biggest obstacles to working at home?

Stopping.  I am a recovering (kinda) work-a-holic.  I love to work, I love to be busy.  So, turning it off is the biggest challenge.

8.  What are your greatest joys in working from home?

Home Schooling my daughter, we made the decision when she was born that she’d never go to day-care and would be home schooled.  Even when I was working outside the home, my husband was home with her during the day.  She’s turning 5 in a few weeks, and is reading and will be starting 1st grade English in the fall.  Seeing her grow up and being there when I realize that she is in the other room reading to her stuffed animals is the greatest joy.  That, and I can go to work in my PJs.

9.  What is one thing you wish you could change about working from home?

I would love to have an office/school room.  Where we live right now just doesn’t lend itself to that kind of set-up.  I would also love to furnish it from IKEA.

10. What are your future goals/plans?

Well, I just brought the final (for now) domain for my brand, MoFreeTea.com, which I will be selling imported teas and eventually spices.  All will be packaged and shipped by hand.  I hope to finish my first book by the end of summer and launch the first Recruiter Training in Oct 2010.  I hope to have all the branches of my brand launched by the end of the summer.

11. Are you happy with your entrepreneurial path so far?  Why/Why not?

I am, I like the path(s) I am taking; I would like it more if I had more traffic and purchases happening but that takes time, and I am ok with that.  Especially since, I don’t have all my products up yet.  I don’t like that it does take money to make money so in some instances I am not able to do everything that I want to since I don’t have a strong income stream yet, but it will take time, and I know that.

12. What advice do you have for other people who want to quit their 9-5 and work from home?

Be smart when making the transition.  Not everyone can work from home successfully.  If you are independent, a self-starter and don’t feel that you need of constant interaction with your co-workers then it shouldn’t be problem. If you feel the need to have face time, in real life, not video conference then it may be an issue. Be honest with yourself and your family as this can drastically effect the finances and day to day activities of your life as well as theirs.

Have a clearly defined plan, and a nest egg.  Know what you are going to do, how you want to do it, and have the funds/resources in place to be successful.  If you can start gradually that is a good thing, for example, if you are going to need a website, get that paid for, designed while you are still working.  Really anything that requires large upfront costs if you can get that paid for while you still have an income stream coming in will take some stress off of you.  Know that unless you already have clients it will take awhile for the money to start flowing in a significant stream.

You can see what Sarah is up to, or utilize one of her services here.

Category: Interviews  Tags: , , , ,  13 Comments
17
Jul
On Hiatus…
dear erin

I will be M.I.A for a few days to celebrate my daughter’s 13th birthday weekend!

Happy Birthday Pixie Pie!

Category: Uncategorized  One Comment
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