Time (47)

Multitasking is Dead

Do you know why you can’t get more done?No? Then kill multitasking – totally eliminate multitasking from your business life.Have you ever had this happen to you? You're working on a project that requires your full attention and creativity, such as writing your newsletter or designing an information product, and suddenly a family member or employee interrupts you while you were concentrating - deeply. Even if you tell them you are busy and go back to work, it takes you quite a while before you can re-align your mind into what you were doing before.Focus and discipline is what helps you complete a project. If you are a home-based business owner, “projects” usually have profit tied to them and so you must be able to focus and be disciplined enough to say “no” to something else clamoring for your attention at the same time. Here are some things I have started to doing to keep me focused on what I’m doing while I do one thing at a time:1. Clear your desk of anything unrelated to your current project. Believe it or not, those slips of paper, notes and things you “intend to get to” are commanding your attention and draining your energy – energy you need to focus on the task at hand.2. Plan your day out so that you can focus in on one task at a time. Set times to complete urgent tasks, reading and responding to emails (I suggest twice a day for checking email), marketing and listening to teleseminar recordings. Then keep to your schedule. Unless a real emergency presents itself, don’t veer off of your schedule. Complete one project or task and then move on.3. Complete those tasks that have the highest rate of return for your business. High rate of return items are the things that will accelerate your success and increase your bank account.4. Take short breaks away from your desk and office. Go walk the dog, play music, cook or read something purely recreational. Doing something completely unrelated to your business or technology will refresh and reinvigorate you.5. Create your schedule for tomorrow. Schedule your high rate of return items first and then whittle down the remainder of your to do list. If a project or task took longer than you intended and you were not able to mark it off today’s to do list, move these items to tomorrow’s to do list but after the high rate of return projects or tasks.I believe if you stop multitasking and really focus on the project or task at hand you will find that you accomplish more, reduce your stress and increase your profits.Read this article in it's entirety.Carmin Wharton is a home-based business expert and the founder of e-BlackWomenNetwork.com, a membership community designed to take businesses owned by women of color from start up to prosperity. Carmin's mission is to help women earn what they're worth and make it big in their home-based business on their own terms.
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TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN or WOMAN!

HAVE A PLAN BWe are into another fast moving week! The news headlines are somewhat gloomy with all the economic pressures that people are dealing with. Today, I spoke with a 57 year old, wonderful woman. She was in tears describing to me her job of the past 20 years, from which she was just let go. I felt awful for her, not so much because she was laid off, but because she has no Plan B in place. Her Plan A (job) is now in shambles, and without a Plan B working for her, she is on shaky grounds. Her financial house is swaying with the times. Not a great place to be for sure. In fact a very uncertain place. So the message today is, don't wait until your Plan A is in jeopardy to get your Plan B going. Job security is fading into the past. Relying on anyone besides yourself is a bad play. The sooner you recognize that, the quicker you can get a Plan B set up and firing to stabilize and secure your financial house. Don't get caught with your pants down!If you have a Plan B (your business) already set up, then you've got to kick into high gear and accelerate your growth. Your business needs to be organized so that it brings in short term income and you build towards the long term residuals, without quitting along the way. Let's do it!TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN or WOMANThere is one commodity which is so slippery that many times it escapes and we are not quite sure where it may have disappeared to. Once gone this commodity is irretrievable. What is that commodity? It's TIME!One clear reason that many home based business owners have a tough time getting off the ground is time management. It is poorly addressed.A large portion of home based business owners are working part time or in some cases full time. So yes, time is limited in any given day. Add family, overtime, errands and a number of miscellaneous issues, and yes, it does narrow the time down. However, despite this limited time frame to work your business, it is possible to run a super successful business.But the fact is, your business will work when it is treated like a business. And for your business to work for you and return a profit - you have to work it! Below is a simple chart to use to allocate time. Time is divided into 8 groups. For example 'Household Tasks' may include, sweeping, washing dishes, laundry etc. So put your activities into one of the 8 groups. For everyone, your situation is unique. So work with that. Now, for 1 week, you need to track yourself diligently and fairly. No cheating. You would be amazed to see where the hours are disappearing."Time is what we want most, but... what we use worst" ~William Penn24 HOUR CHALLENGE

(1) Make a chart like this. Keep it simple. Don't complicate things. This is a daily tracking device. So you would need to duplicate this 7 times for the 7 days of the week to track accurately.(2) Be aware of time. Be conscious how you are spending your time, so you can record effectively. The numbers in the 'Hours' column are a sample. As you track your time, you will insert the correct numbers for the day there and eventually totaling up for the week.(3) Track yourself for this week, today all the way to Sunday, and account for your time. No cheating!(4) Assess where your time is going by the end of the week.(5) Are you happy with the way your week went? Did you get the results you were planning to achieve this week? If not, you must change some things around. For your business to turn a profit, time has to be allocated to engage in the revenue producing activities which would allow you to earn a profit.(6) So let's get pro active about our future and make today count.

www.NadiraHaniff.comwww.180DaysToProfit.comFollow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/nadirahaniff
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You Can Buy a Home Now!

First things first.Why would any one have a blog, a web site and write articles on buying a home in this economic climate?If you’re thinking this woman must be totally out of it, well, in some ways, but not regarding purchasing a home.The best first mortgage and down payment assistance programs currently available were all created during times of national economic hardship. FHA 3% down payment mortgages and VA 100% guaranteed mortgages are just two programs created when folks had a need for low down payments to be able to purchase a home.As we pull out of this financial crisis, I believe more assistance will become available, not only for homeowners, but also for first time homebuyers.If you have a stable job history of two years, have paid your bills on time, kept you credit accounts down to a minimum, and have some money saved, there is no reason why you can’t be in a home of your within a few months. Now is always the best time to own a home.Myhomedownpayment.com is a nationwide directory of down payment assistance programs for low-to-moderate income families (most of us fall into this income group). Down payment assistance and closing costs programs exist on the national, state, county, and city levels. Take advantage of these programs.You need to be willing to do your homework, find ethical and knowledgeable real estate and mortgage professionals to assist you, and begin to enjoy the pleasures of home ownership.The author, Yasmin Sabur, is the founding member of My Home Down Payment and myhomedownpayment.com, e-education businesses promoting affordable housing through mortgage down payment assistance programs for low-to-moderate income families.
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The Big Gyrl Now, entry #1

Ladies I need to share this with you. That's what blogs are for right? Well, I recently attended the Delaware Black Awards a couple of weeks ago. I am proud to say that Big Gyrl Clothing was a finalist for the Best Retailer Award! Unfortunately we did not win, but we are all winners. Well, according to previous emails sent from DelawareBlack.com, it was going to be an elegant affair so I immediately starting thinking about a fabulous dress to make. Life becomes extremely hectic and busy in an instant and I did not get a chance to make my dress until 3am the day of. I finished the dress at 10am Friday, ran errands like a maniac, and by 6pm, was ready to attend the event. The dress is chocolate brown on the bottom and mint green on the top. There is gold detailing on the bottom of the dress with mint green and chocolate straps on top. The neckline was a braid of mint green and chocolate material. The dress was sleeveless with a train in the back. I wore my open toed gold shoes with an amber stone in the middle. They were strapped around the ankle. The event was held at the Grand Opera House which is a very popular place for comedy shows, concerts, orchestras, and other events. So my man and I finally arrived at the event. While we waiting in line I looked around excited seeing who was there and checking out other dresses. The only thing i saw were suits, business suits, jeans, a couple of plain garments, nothing elegant. Oh well, I always stand out no matter where I go, its just a positive nature and disposition that I have and carry with me, especially at a networking event. What I did not like were elevator eyes looking back at me. I will smile at everyone but most women would look like 'umph'. I am familiar with it, I have always and presently receive the Umph look everyday, but what bothers me is that 1- you are a grown a** woman looking at me like that because I have a beautiful and flattering gown on and you decided to where something casual, who's fault is that. 2- Do not hate on the big gyrl of the room and whisper and laugh when you cannot say anything to my face, who is the weak one? 3- We live in a country now that has a black president and you want to keep a petty mentality like this, come on, are you serious? I tell you ladies of BBC and I hope that I am not talking about anyone here and I pray that you do not act the same way as some of the ladies at the event was. Don't hate on the woman doing her thing. I am a fashion designer, I take risks in business, life, love, and clothing, I am not afraid of wearing anything and do not have a care in the world who talks about me. Until you live for yourself, you are not living at all. For us to overcome the major obstacles of racism, glass ceilings, etc. we must remove the hatred amongst each other. Who was standing there crying at Barack Obama's acceptance speech, Jesse Jackson. Did you know that he was on live television earlier this year saying he wanted to cut barack's testicles off? But yet despite all of this, he was overjoyed that obama won, he stood there crying tears of joy, not hatred and it takes a real man like obama to have someone who said such a thing to be there. I go through the same 'umph' situations at work but eventually the same chicks that talk all that mess, come around and ask where did I get this from, and they learn to respect me and my business. The awards night was wonderful and I met some great contacts for business. I did receive compliments on my dress as well, met some future models, and politic'd with the guys. All in all, with or without creating enemies, I had a great time. This is the first entry of the big gyrl now blog series where I will speak of various big gyrl comedies, tragedies, and life issues and successes. Hope you enjoyed this and if you are a hater or umph girl, don't you think its time you made a change? Maybe if you focused your energy on yourself instead of someone else, you will be halfway close to where they are.Keep motivated and have a fashion fabulous week!S
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Black Vendors Network is currently looking for vendors nationwide to take advantage of discounted vendors space. BVN has partnered with various organizations nationwide that are in need of vendors for their events. No longer would you as a business person that would like to exhibit your business products & services have to look for your next event. BVN has partnered with organizations to bring you quality events. Join BVN today and start taking advantage of the savings.Imagine saving up 20% on your next vendors booth....Well at BVN we are making that happen.www.blackvendors.ning.comMembership packages are also availableBlack Vendors Network is also looking for Event planners or Event host that would need vendors for their events nationwide. Join in with us today and take the headache out of locating vendors / exhibitors for your next or upcoming events.Join at www.blackvendors.ning.com or send an email to bvn@theblackbizcafe for more information about partnering with Black Vendors Network.
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I am currently scheduling "Power of 10" workshop for corporate, ministry teams and women's groups. Each workshop is scheduled with a maximum of 10. Schedule your workshop today email monarchpublicationsllc@yahoo.com include name, telephone number, email address, date and location.Photobucket
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Super moms, let's get organized

As a mom with small kids and a business to run from home…things often get hectic. You’ve seen me in the parking lot with two kids under the arms, and another hugging one leg, while I load the van, talking to someone on my Bluetooth, with the coffee running intravenously through my veins. And everyone seems to think it’s the super powers that keep me going. Oh no, it’s the coffee. But seriously, there is no secret about what has to happen to keep me from tearing my hair out. The only way to get things done is to be organized. Here are some tips that keep me sane:1. Before my work week begins, I write down the goals I want to accomplish. I usually have 2 categories, one for my business and the second for my household.2. I make my goals realistic ones, for example, this week I will make 6-10 prospect/marketing calls.a. Your goal shouldn’t be make 20 calls, because the chances are with your hectic schedule you may not be able to achieve this goal;b. Then you will feel like you didn’t accomplish your task.c. However, once you’ve accomplished your goals, see if you can add-on to those goals.3. For all my appointments and calendaring of things to do, I make sure to use my computer to prompt me to check my “to-do” list each day. I put a reminder on my computer to “alert” me to check my events, or tasks on my calendar.4. Each week I try to focus on a different aspect of my business, e.g., marketing this week, newsletter next week; website week after next, and so on, and so on. And all these tasks are put on my calendar on my computer.5. I do my sales/marketing tasks in the morning when the kids are asleep or occupied with playing. I do these in the morning because I know by the late afternoon I’ll be too drained to make effective phone calls. It’s easier to answer emails throughout the day because I’m using my fingers; however, a fresh, sunny voice is best for me first thing in the morning. Again all these tasks are entered into my calendar on my computer.6. When I run errands, I always have my business cards with me within easy reach. Easy reach is very important, because you never want a prospect to see you fumbling around for your business cards. Their very first impression of you should not be that you’re not organized.7. And just an important aside here: Following-up with your prospects is very important. If you say you’ll call/or email in XX amount of hours, or YY days, make sure you keep your promise. Not keeping your end of the bargain is a sure way to loose a prospective client.8. At the end of the week, I analyze my goals and achievements and try to figure out what my next goals are, and then the cycle continues for the next week.So we super moms who stay at home with our kids, and run a business from our home, and who sit on the PTA organizations and who volunteer, etc, etc. don’t get overwhelmed. If you write your tasks down and attack them a little bit at a time, our tasks will not seem so overwhelming. And believe me, we are all overwhelmed with our duties as a mom, and CEO of our homes and business.Please feel free to add some tips that have helped to keep you organized. We can all use ideas of ways to make our days as super moms run more smoothly and more effectively. So let’s share, share, share.
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