Motherhood Incorporated

 by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

If your home business requires occasional client visits, the state of your home office can make or break a business deal.  When my husband and I were looking for someone to photograph our wedding we visited a few photographers working out of their homes.  One invited us into a poorly lit kitchen to review his portfolio, while the contract-winning operation invited us into a home office that displayed quality and professionalism from the start.  I’m not saying that the state of your home office alone will win your clients over, but every interaction leaves a lasting impression.  Here are four tips to make sure the impression you leave is a good one:

1.  Clear the clutter.

Put away anything that doesn’t need to be out.  A disorganized home office will leave your clients wondering if you will drop the ball when it comes to their projects.  This is especially important when you are working with multiple clients on proprietary information.  Your customers need to know that they can trust you to be discreet.

2.  It’s all business.

Your office may be located in your home, but it should reflect a business environment.  Though you may enjoy hanging your children’s artwork and other personal effects in your workspace, when clients come around it is time to tuck these items away. 

3.  Critical cleaning.

Don’t waste time cleaning everything from top to bottom.  Focus from the waist up, on the areas that capture the eyes.  A quick dust over surfaces should suffice.  Do make sure that your guest bath is clean.  Wipe the mirror and sink, and run a brush around the toilet bowl.  Finish off by emptying the trash cans.  We all feel more comfortable in a clean environment.

4.  Liven it up.

A few strategically placed plants or a vase of fresh flowers can do wonders to brighten a room.  If you are fortunate enough to have a blooming flower garden, cut a few blooms and bring them inside.  Adding natural color to your office space will make it calm and inviting, something you can enjoy even after the close of the business day.

www.sandrabeck.com

www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

This morning I was babysitting a friend’s son.  With three toddlers in the house, you might assume that any chance of productivity was out the window.  I did, until I switched on my PDA to assess my options for nap time.  As I perused my To Do list, I noticed a phone call I needed to make and decided to give it a try.  With the kids happily playing at my feet, I cranked the volume up on my cell and went for it.  Mission complete, check. 

Counting my blessings, I wondered if I could pull it off again.  I returned to the To Do list, this time sorting by the phone call category.  Two more phone calls to make.  Dare I push my luck?  I went for the glory and it paid off big, check, check.  My PDA helps me make quick decisions on how I can most productively use my time. Here are a few tips on making your PDA work for you:

To Do List

Store your To Do list on your PDA, link up any important contact info you may need so everything is at your fingertips when you are ready for it.  Categorize similar action items, so you can easily complete multiple tasks while you have the resources readily available.

Date Book

Use the date book to schedule appointments and set aside time for routine tasks.  View your date book with the To Do list, and you can quickly plan your day.  No more erasing or scratching out required, reschedule items by dragging and dropping them into a new time slot.

Contact Info

Keep all your contacts at your fingertips by storing them in your PDA.  Quickly find any address or phone number when you need it.

Synchronization

Your PDA’s synchronization capability is easily one of its best features.  Back your PDA up onto your computer, and you can rest assured that you won’t lose vital information.

Email

Many PDAs come equipped with emailing capabilities.  Load email onto your PDA, and you can read and respond to messages while you are out and about.

Expense Tracking

Keep track of your expenses and budget while you are out.  Easy access to your financial planning info will help you make informed decisions about how much to spend, and prevent you from forgetting to write it down later.

Notes

Save paper by taking notes in your PDA.  You can store the notes on your computer later, and keep your purse or brief case from becoming cluttered and heavy.

Software

There is a plethora of software available for PDAs.  Pocketgear.com has a nice selection of business and fun applications, many of which are free to download.

www.sandrabeck.com

www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

 I caught up with Lucy Rosen, president and founding member of Women on the Fast Track, an international networking organization for business women.  Here’s what Lucy had to say:

What are the benefits to networking? How many words do I get? New relationships. Opportunities for new opportunities. Opportunities to connect others. Opportunities for jobs / information / resources, but I think the biggest one is the opportunity to help others.

What networking advice has benefited your career?  Everyone has value. It may not be a good fit for you, but that doesn’t mean to write them off.  It means file them away to refer them to someone else!

Where can a woman find networking opportunities?  Local clubs, organizations, associations, online, at schools, alumni groups, other mothers, other women, newspapers, radio, and magazines. Virtually every daily paper has a business section and usually it appears on Mondays. In that section would be a list of all the networking “things” happening in and around your community.

What advice do you have for women who want to network, but feel shy or uncomfortable?  Most of the time we feel shy or uncomfortable because we think we don’t have anything to give. We are the “givers” not the receivers- so it’s much more comfortable for us to give than to receive. If there is a feeling of not having much of worth to give – start making a list of all the different people you know – from your neighbor, to the woman on the PTA you met, to the different jobs you have had and who you know from there. I reconnected with someone from high school that I hadn’t seen in 30 (gulp) years… She was looking for a job in accounting, and I happened to know an accounting firm that was looking to hire – so there you go! It worked.
How can a business woman start a networking group in her area?  They can call me and I will help them start Women on the Fast Track chapter!

You can find out more about Lucy Rosen and Women on the Fast Track by visiting her website at www.womenonthefasttrack.com.

www.sandrabeck.com

www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  by  Susan A. Haid/ Lily’s Truth

Available at Target and other online local Retailers.

A few months ago, I purchased a multi-colored, rotating disco ball lamp for my kids. My intent was to have some fun from time to time dancing with my kids. What has surprised me is this: the addition of this tacky, retro-style lamp to my family room decor has turned our TV-dominated evenings into Boogie Nights.

My kids are 4, 8 and 11 years old. When I initially plugged in the “ball”, of course, I was the only one dancing for the first ten minutes.  My kids glared at me like I was the weirdest mom on Planet Earth.  Then, one child couldn’t resist the urge to move…then the next…and the next.  Soon, we were shaking, lurching, rocking, and bopping like it was 1999.  Since then, my kids have not stopped shaking their booties. We dance every day, at least once, sometimes more.   We have fun, we laugh, we  move it, move it. Try it and see the effects of this simple, no rules approach to joyfulness.

Can you imagine dancing with your parents when you were a kid? This is a memory I am thrilled my children will have to cherish. I will cherish it too, more than words can express.

These Boogie Days and Boogie Nights provide a beautiful, healthy example of liberation to our children. Moving the body frees the spirit, not through discipline or structure but rather through free expression. Free Expression.  Let those words sink in…

I want to raise my children to be free of repression. I want to raise my children to be wildly creative. I want my children to have the the outrageous courage to think outside the box. I want my children to know that every day there is time for joy.

So, for the rest of our lives, my kids and I will be dancing like the stars in our little family room. We won’t be waiting for a party, or a wedding, or a night out to do the wild thing.

By the time you read this, I’ll be workin’ it with my kids, or maybe even by myself.  It doesn’t matter. It’s a happy thing…cut loose…try it.  Have you watched your kids dance lately?  It’s pretty entertaining.  You won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face.  I guarantee it.

For more tips and tools for parents, visit www.lilystruth.com where you will find cutting edge, New Energy concepts in parenting.

By Sandra Beck/ Motherhood Incorporated

 When you have a small business chances are that your marketing budget is also small.  That doesn’t mean that your marketing plan has to be small.  We’ve already talked about internet marketing, blog marketing and social networking as great ways to get your message out to the masses and we’ve also talked about the advantages of branding to make all of your marketing count, now it’s time to think outside the box.

You know who your target market is and you=2 0know what your unique selling proposition is, how can you effectively let people know about your product?  It really depends on what your product is.  If you are a cup cake business specializing in really cool cupcakes for baby showers, you might want to team up with your local baby boutique and offer a coupon for ten percent off your cupcakes to expectant Mom’s who register at the boutique.   For the cost of printing a few coupons you can effectively reach your local target market.

If your business is offering services to business owners you may want to check out the local chamber of commerce and all of their social functions.  Some Chamber events will even let you do a “live commercial” just for attending.  What a great way to notify local businesses about your services.

It’s crucial to consider where your target market ventures.  Do they go to coffee houses or are they shopping for diapers?  If you know where they go, you can formulate a way in which to court them.  Contests, coupons and incentives are great ways to get your business’ name well known.  People may lose the coupon but they tend to remember your name if you’ve branded yourself well.

The main thing is to seek out your target audience in a way that is conducive to their daily rituals.  If your product is good and you’ve affectively addressed its unique selling proposition you should have no problem attracting your target market.

To learn more about Starting Your Own Business, check out www.sandrabeck.com and www.motherhoodincorporated.com.  You too can work from home, have time with your family and make a great living with what you already know!

By Sandra Beck/ Motherhood Incorporated

When was the last time you were on FaceBook?  If you aren’t on FaceBook yet and you have started your own business you need to stop reading this Blog right now and go register yourself on FaceBook. 

Did you know that is estimated that 25% of the world’s population is already on FaceBook? 25% – that includes children, people who don’t have computers, people who can’t read, and people who don’t even know what the internet is (Let’s face it we all know someone who just “doesn’t get the internet”) So if 25% of the world is on FaceBook it is safe to say=2 0there are plenty of potential customers for your business on FaceBook, enough that you simply can’t afford to miss this opportunity.

For those of you who are on FaceBook already you might be thinking, “I just opened a business; I don’t have time to be talking to high school friends on FaceBook!”  It’s time for a little shift in your thinking.  FaceBook is an opportunity to tell people about your business in a passive, non-intrusive way. 

There are several different options; first there is the status bar.  This is the bar that allows you to tell your friends what you are thinking, feeling or doing.  Why not fill that with something positive about your business. “Jackie is…Thrilled about her new website for her miniature cupcake business.”  Or “Rebecca just finished writing a 13 page business plan for h er client” It sounds ridiculous but people will ask questions, “Really, I didn’t know you knew how to write a business plan?”  Now their question has gone out not only to your friends but also all of their friends.  In all likelihood you have just told 300-500 people that you write business proposals or make cupcakes or whatever it is you do.  For every person who comments on your status the number goes up.

Three weeks later if some one needs miniature cup cakes or help with a business proposal, do you think they would rather hire a friend or a friend of a friend – or try to find an unknown person?  They would rather hire you.  Even if you set yourself the goal of entering one positive comment about your business a week (which will take you less than 5 minutes) you will see positive results for your business.

Another great thing to do is import your Blog20into your facebook page – you’re taking the time to write the Blog, why not share it with your warm market, people who already know you are good at what you do?

Once you have mastered FaceBook and have a sizable number of friends, make a FaceBook page for your business, this is different than a regular FaceBook page.  It allows you to have fans of your business instead of friends and gives you great ways to market your business on FaceBook!

Social Networking is a great way to utilize passive marketing.  Search the web to see if there is a social network that is specifically geared toward your business.  For instance Active Rain is a social network just for Realtors.  Use your social networking; it’s fast, efficient and FREE!

To learn more about Starting Your Own Business, check out www.sandrabeck.com and www.motherhoodincorporated.com.  You too can work from home, have time with your family and make a great living with what you already know!

by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Are you a strong writer with a keen eye for detail?  Do you enjoy research?  Then grant writing may be the work-at-home career for you.  Grant writing doesn’t require an expensive education, though strong writing and grammar skills are a must.  Grant writers must also be comfortable with the financial aspects of business.  If you’ve got the skills, why not try out this flexible, family friendly career?

The Technology

Equip your home office with a telephone line, fax, and computer with Internet access, and you will be ready to work.  If you don’t want to invest in a fax machine and second phone line, consider using an online fax service.  For a nominal fee, you can send and receive faxes via email. 

Getting Started

It is easy to gain experience and familiarity with the grant writing process, if you are willing to work free of charge.  There are many nonprofit organizations looking for grant writing volunteers.  A quick search of the web will turn up plenty of opportunities.  Idealist.org and VolunteerMatch.org both match willing volunteers with nonprofits organizations in need.  Developing needed career skills is even more fulfilling when you are helping out a cause you care for. 

Build a Portfolio

Keep track of the grants that you have written and record any awards gained by your hard work.  Potential employers will want to know that your work produces results, and in grant writing that adds up to more than just writing samples.  A proven record of success will keep the clients knocking on your door.

Choosing a Niche

Once you have built an impressive resume, you may find it beneficial to choose a niche or specialty.  If you have background in medicine or education, then that may be the market for you.  If you enjoy helping a worthy cause, specializing in the nonprofit sector may make for a gratifying career.  Whichever area of expertise you choose, capitalize on your strengths and interests.  Specializing will help you gain credibility with your clients.  If you are willing to put in the time and effort, you too can enjoy the flexibility of working at home as a grant writer.

www.sandrabeck.com

www.motherhoodincorporated.com

by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporate

 When my youngest climbed out of bed Tuesday morning, he was all giggles.  Once I flipped on the light, I was surprised to see that his eyes were red and runny.  I immediately started running over my plans for the day, which I knew were about to be changed.  No childcare or playgroup, and I’d have to squeeze a trip to the doctor in somewhere.

Sick days and snow days strike us all.  If you’re one of the lucky ones, they are few and far between.  Still, the stress of a sudden change of plans can be lessened, or even disappear altogether, if we put a plan in place for the unexpected.

Plan Ahead

As work-at-home moms, we have to consider the possibility that we may be called on to care for our children in a pinch.  Part of the flexibility of working from home means that our spouses may depend on us as an emergency back-up plan.  It is best to come up with a family plan for these situations ahead of time.  Does your spouse expect you to care for the kids every time an unexpected situation arises, or can you share the responsibility?

If you know it will be up to you to make alternate arrangements, try to plan for these situations when you are negotiating project deadlines with your boss or client.  Adding a little “fluff” to your timing will allow you to breathe easier if you have to spend an afternoon in the doctor’s office, instead of at your desk.

Have a Backup for Your Backup

Your mom usually takes the kids when they are sick, but today she has plans.  Turn to plan B.  Investigate some alternate options before hand.  Try forming a group of willing mothers in your neighborhood to share snow day responsibilities, or look for a flexible daycare program in your community.

When All Else Fails, Keep the Kids at Home

Prepare some activities for your children ahead of time.  We keep a rainy day box with some books, art supplies, and small toys.  The rainy day box becomes an exciting event when the kids only see it occasionally.  Make sure they can safely enjoy the activities on their own, and you will get some work done while they play.

If you know there is severe weather on the way, check out a movie and some books for the kids from your local library.  You may not be quite as productive as usual, but you can prevent yourself from falling too far behind.

www.sandrabeck.com

www.motherhoodincorporated.com