Have you thought about taking your own “break” for the summer? I’m not talking about taking a week or two off for a family vacation or stay-cation.   I’m talking about have you thought of not doing any more networking (online or offline), no more blog posts or articles, no more marketing?

My primary reason for choosing to be a work at home mom-preneur was to have the flexibility to be available for my children when they needed me.  Last summer was my first full summer working from home. I knew enough that I had to have a plan for keeping their brains from turning to mush over the summer.  What I didn’t know was how difficult it would be for me to focus on building a business and meeting their needs at the same time.  Thinking about last summer has tempted me to put my business on hold.   Then, I remind myself that I’ve made a decision to have a business that contributes a substantial income for my family.  Right now it may seem like a good idea to put everything on hold, but it will I still feel this way in August when I don’t have any new clients or leads.  I constantly re-evaluate and ask myself, “Is this your business or your hobby?”

Because I’ve decide I need both – the ability to be the primary caregiver and to bring in an income – then I have to treat my business like a business.   Businesses have strategies or plans for how they will succeed.  Here are some of the most important strategies I’m employing in my home based professional service business this summer:

1. I set up a kid swap with one of my best friends who is also a mompreneur.   We have agreed she will have both sets of kids (5) on Mondays and Wednesdays and I will have them on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This gives us both almost 16 hours each week to do our high pay off tasks that keep our businesses growing.
2. On the days when I have all the kids, during lunch time or in the evenings when my kids are in bed, I will do more of maintenance tasks like checking emails, responding to comments on my blogs, reading business books, etc.
3. I’m designing a daily schedule for my children, so they know what’s expected.   This daily schedule includes their chores and their activities.  One of the reasons children are so productive in school is because they are very familiar of the expectations.
4. I’m going to ask for help from my husband when I need it.  There will be one week during the break when we won’t be doing the kid swap.  On this particular week I know there is one day when I have multiple appointments.  I’ve already asked my husband to plan to help me with the kids’ activities on that day.

Okay, your turn.  What are your plans to help you business continue to grow throughout the summer?

Welcome, Good Life Divas!

Ok.   You’ve been wondering around on the internet for months trying to get up the courage to do what’s in your heart.  It’s time to take some action.   Are you going to let the days, weeks, months, even years keep passing by?

• You think if you read enough articles, subscribe to enough blogs, buy enough books or attend enough conferences, you’ll be good enough.

• You’ll have the expertise, the credibility, the confidence and the courage it takes to start your own business.

• I’ve got a secret…   It’s time to stop reading and living vicariously through others.  It’s time for you to use your creativity and your passion and bring your ideas to life.  It’s time to bring your idea to life.  YES!  I’m talking to you.

This website and some other things I’ve got up my sleeve are going to get you moving in the right direction.

Just like you, this site is a work in progress.  I’m creating a section with resources to help get you out of “PARK” or “REVERSE” and to get you driving towards your goal of entrepreneurship.

I’ve spent the last 18 months learning from service based entrepreneurs like you. Emerging entrepreneurs who’ve only dreamed about and talked about what it would be like to birth their business dreams, because they weren’t quite sure where to start.

• Are you ready to live your working life on your terms?

• Are you ready to put corresponding actions to the things you’ve been dreaming about?

• Are you ready to unlock gifts and talents you didn’t even realize you had?

Get ready to serve the world in a way that only you were designed to.

(Saturday 6/12,6/19,6/26 from 12N – 1:30p)

This class is for the emerging and the stuck internet based entrepreneur.

The emerging entrepreneur is overwhelmed with or unsure of what it takes to start a business

Questions this group has:

• what kind of business should I start? (service or product based)
• how to build a website?
• how will my customers find my website?
• do I need a business plan?
• how do I stand out from my competition?
• how do I start a biz if I don’t have any money?
• can I make money doing this?
• where do I get a logo, biz cards, etc?

“Stuck” entrepreneurs have started a business already but aren’t getting the results they want

Questions this group has:

• I put up a website, why aren’t customers buying?
• I’m networking with other business owners, why aren’t I getting any leads?
• why aren’t I hitting my business goals?
• how do I make money doing this? am I charging enough?
• why are people buying from my competitors, but not me?
• I’m spending all this money on advertising and marketing,  where are the new customers?
• does my home life have to suffer because of my business and vice versa?

Class 1: The #1 thing you must know before you launch your business

Class 2: If you build it they will come and other myths

Class 3: How to NOT become obsolete & Self Promotion is NOT a dirty word

You will write the first draft of your own 1 page business plan, determine your ideal client, learn strategies and tools to use to stand out online and observe successful online businesses.  You will NOT learn how to create a website.

Sign Up for Activity #365TW.470 TODAY!

• Professional Blogging

• Virtual Assistant

• Sell on eBay

Welcome Back, Good Life Divas!

I haven’t posted anything new in this area of the site in a while because I’ve been… **drum roll, please** …blogging.  Yes, it’s true I’ve finally stepped into the 21st century and begun blogging.  Blogging is where I get to share my family, career and personal development insights with you on a more personal level.  Usually on a business website you will mostly find the nuts and bolts of what that particular business is about.  For example, if the site is about photography, you will find articles about how to create a flawless family photo.  If it was a gardening site, you might find an article on how to prepare the soil for plants.  On the Good Life Diva site you will find articles on how to start a business or how to pay for childcare.  On my blog I can be more personal about my own challenges and triumphs as a mompreneur.  It also creates an interactive community environment where I share my thoughts and you share yours.  We can “talk” to each other.  The Good Life Diva blog spot is an area where “we can stop being polite and start getting real.”

I want to invite you to join me each week (this will be a challenge for me I must admit) and leave a comment on your feelings about the various topics.  At GoodLifeDiva.com we want to help you come alive again in your relationships with your children, your spouse, your family and your friends by helping you rediscover who you are.  I have no greater desire than to see you living the Good Life that has been prearranged for you.  You can only do this if you approach life fully engaged. 

Thank you for allowing me to travel this Good Life journey with you.  Here’s a post to get you off to a great start: What makes you come alive?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Hello, Good Life Divas!

Whether you know it or not, being organized plays an important roll in the success of your business. Being organized also keeps you well balanced and it reduces frustration. Entrepreneurs are responsible for managing every position of their business; from being the secretary, answering the phones to becoming the president, facilitating board meetings. If organization isn’t a part of the plan, everything can easily fall to pieces.

Organizing the finances of one’s company can be quite overwhelming at times. Most entrepreneurs just fly by the seat of their pants in one of the most if not the most important part of running a successful business with longevity. Not to mention staying organized also keeps you in compliance with all state and federal laws.

You can contribute to the success of your business financial organization by doing the following:

• Don’t co-mingle business and personal information. Make sure your company has a business checking account that has nothing to do with your personal transactions. Don’t make it a habit to use the company credit card for personal purchases, nor use your personal credit card for company purchases. When you co-mingle you allow room for errors, you allow room for recording incorrect financial information, not to mention, it’s a serious red flag to the IRS.

• Set up a filing system. You wouldn’t think that a filing system would play such an important part of your company financial organization, but it does. Important documents such as lease agreements, insurance policies, employee files, and credit card and bank statements should be filed in a safe place that’s easy to access. There are many reasons why you should keep a filing systems such as for-audit’s performed by state agencies, insurance companies can determine insurance rates; lawsuits, IRS audits, etc. You never know when you might need that one document you can’t find because you are not organized and don’t have files set up.
  Just because you don’t feel as though you need these documents right away, when dealing in the world of business, there are no limits to the possibilities of things that could happen. Plan to succeed, not fail!
• Use a “user friendly” accounting system. Do some research on a good, inexpensive accounting system that will take care of your business needs, which should also, capture your business records. Make sure the system you find will be suited for the type of work you do. This system should include records such as vendor and customer information, your business income and expenses; basically all of your business transactions. We recommend the number one leading small business user friendly accounting system, QuickBooks. If you’ve never used QuickBooks, but would like to sample it; email us at: info@priorities1st.com and we will be happy to send you a link so that you can try a sample download.

The bottom line is this. The more time you spend setting up your business to run more effectively and efficiently, the more extra time you will have to focus on the heart of your business. Having a good filing system and accounting system in place can save you time and money, prepare you for tax season or audits, and most of all allow you to know your bottom line! Visit our website Priorities1st.com to learn more on business financial organization and visit the IRS at www.irs.gov and search for publication 583.

Tortina Bunton – Your Small Business Diva
Priorities First, Inc.
www.PRIORITIES1ST.com

As the owner of Priorities First bookkeeping and accounting firm, Tina brings over 20 years of accounting experience in the construction industry with her. She helps small to medium sized businesses manage millions of dollars on a monthly basis. Tina has worked with various service and industry clients assisting them in reducing taxes and building strong successful businesses.

Do you have any burning questions for Tina regarding bookkeeping and starting your own business in the new year? Please, email your questions or comments to info@goodlifediva.com. Your questions will be answered in an upcoming Good Life Diva newsletter.

You must evaluate the return on that child care investment to make sure the benefits out weight the cost. For instance, if you have 5 children and most of them require after school care or full-time child care your decision might be easy. It isn’t going to happen! But what if you do make a little extra above your child care expenses? Is that little bit of extra enough? Let’s see…

Have you considered the following additional expenses that go along with working outside the home?
1. professional wardrobe or uniform
2. dry cleaning
3. additional gas
4. lunches at work
5. taxes
6. additional grooming to look the part
7. housekeeping
8. professional organization fees, licenses, etc.

The decision is not always cut and dry; “Girl, you need to go to work!” If you estimate the monthly cost associated with the above items, you may find that working outside the home is causing more financial stress than is necessary.

The Motley Fool website has lots of calculators for you to determine the costs of making certain decisions like working outside the home, purchasing a home, or paying off debt. Check out the should my spouse work too? calculator.

If you don’t want to work outside the home, you may not have to. Calculate the cost, and present your case. Many times an at-home mom can benefit the home financially. Let’s look at the other side of the coin.

A home economist (mommy) has the unique opportunity to produce financial benefit to the home without even making an extra dime.

Are you willing to…
1. cook at home for most meals?
2. clean the home regularly?
3. do laundry and iron everything?
4. manage the finances?
5. paint your own nails?
6. do your own hair?
7. clip coupons?
8. work out at home or take walks?
9. carpool the kids to and from school?
10. home school your kids?

If you said yes to most of those items, you are adding value that needs to be considered. Mothering is not an easy job but it is rewarding. Take note of all you do and pat yourself on the back. If you work outside the home be proud of your accomplishments and the example you are setting for little girls who desire the same lifestyle. If you stay home with your kids, be proud of the sacrifices you have made to excel at the most important job in the world.

Ericka Young – Your Personal Finance Diva
Owner, Tailor Made Budgets
www.Tailor-MadeBudgets.com

Ericka has provided personal finance coaching to individuals and businesses for nearly four years through Tailor Made Budgets. She is a certified financial counselor through Dave Ramsey’s Lampo Group and is now helping her clients give their dreams a place to flourish every day! As an associate of Glinda Bridgforth (who has appeared on Oprah and Larry King Live) she has had the opportunity to coach people all over the country.

Do you have any burning questions for Ericka regarding getting your personal finances in order for the new year? Please, email your questions or comments to info@goodlifediva.com. Your questions will be answered in an upcoming Good Life Diva newsletter.

Welcome Back, Good Life Divas!

The Audacity of Hope

audacity: insolent boldness, especially when imprudent or unconventional  (source: wiktionary.org)

hope: a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance — i.e., believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary (source: wikipedia.org)

I love the title of President Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope.  Haven’t we all heard or said, “the audacity of ____, who does he think he is; he’s got a lot of nerve.”  We usually think of audacity with a negative connotation.  This also makes the book title so interesting.  To put hope, such a positive word, with audacity gives hope a little bit of sassiness or spunk.  It gives hope an attitude. The audacity of hope is that hope believes that no matter what your circumstances look like right now they can get better.   The nerve of hope to believe that out of this economic crisis will be birthed businesses and our country will come out better on the other side of it.  The nerve of hope to believe a person can fail his or her way to success.

The economy was the primary concern for the majority of Americans for this year’s election.  I’m sure with this concern comes worry and anxiety regarding the future of our careers.   Maybe you’re reading this and you are in need of some hope, some inspiration to believe the dreams in your heart won’t remain dreams, but will become realities.  I dare you to be bold enough – to have the fearlessness to dream again – to believe in the possibility that you can live a Good Life regardless of the economy.  Be audacious – dare to break out and begin living the Good Life that’s been prearranged for you. 

As great as hope is it’s going to take more than hope to see the fulfillment of your dreams. You have to put some action behind it.  What is one thing you can do TODAY that will move you closer to your dreams?  When that one thing is done, what is another thing?

I have the audacity to believe this career guide, the newsletter, the videos, the career kit and the many other services and products that will be published by Good Life Diva has the ability to empower you to live your working life on your terms. Please, leave me a comment letting me know one thing you will do TODAY that will move you closer to your dream of a fulfilling career or starting your own business.

Need some inspiration to keep you moving forward with your big idea?  Watch this StartupLucky.com interview with Melanie Notkin, the founder of SavvyAuntie.com the first and only community for Aunts: Aunties by Relation (ABR), Aunties by Choice (ABC), Mommy Aunties, Great Aunts, Godmothers, and all women who love kids.    SavvyAuntie.com enables and empowers Aunts to exchange ideas, get advice, find gifts and connect with other Savvy Aunties.    SavvyAuntie.com gives Aunts a unique and modern approach to learn, connect, share and celebrate Aunt-hood.   Auntie Melanie is a former interactive and print beauty editor and former interactive marketing and communications executive for global Fortune 500 companies.

In the interview Melanie speaks passionately that NOW is the time to get started in a business.

SHORT ON TIME?  The MUST-SEE snippets of the video

00:36:19-36:49 NOW is the Time!
00:37:40-00:42:00 Melanie Notkin’s 3 Tips to Success for Startups
1. Passion, 2. Hard Work (you won’t succeed if you don’t care) and 3. Legacy

with Ashley Logsdon of 48 Days, LLC.

Ashley Logsdon is a life coach, personal success manager, advocate, volunteer, and devoted wife and mother.   She works from home for 48 Days, LLC, a Career/Life coaching internet-based company that believes that 85% of the process of truly finding the work you love is by looking inward.  Ashley specializes in family and relationship coaching, personality profiles, customer excellence and satisfaction, and both 48 Days to the Work You Love and No More Mondays curriculum.

Ashley is also active in her community, coordinating her neighborhood Tour of Homes, play groups, fundraiser events, and advocating for organizations with a cause. She loves the mission of KEZA and wears a KEZA necklace every day.   Ashley has also been an advocate for other organizations, such as Thistle Farms, Kiva.org, The Greater Good Network, the ONE Foundation, Save Darfur, etc.

Family is her top priority, and she firmly believes in the power of serving and loving others.   Her favorite quote of the moment (there are many) is:  You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with finer spirit of hope and achievement.  You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand. – Woodrow Wilson

Good Life wisdom Ashley will share in her interview:

• how to keep family as the priority
• the unique challenges of working from home and running a homebased business
• lessons she learned from her own mother regarding work and family
• how she keeps the different areas of her life in harmony
• how she gives back to the community on a local and global level
• learn about an amazing organization Ashley volunteers with and how it’s changing the lives of women in other parts of the world