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Margaret is putting together a Bridal Show!

Posted by Margaret Salmond on May 19, 2008 at 8:00pm

OK Im working on a African American themed bridal show for the Bay Area to take place the 2nd quarter of 2009. Im excited becuase we havent had one in the Downtown area in forever, let alone one that caters to us.Im currently working on checking the Federal trademark as well as googling the name that Im interested in and getting the paperwork together for the service mark with the State of CA. Not sure if I want to do a Federal trademark or not since I dont plan on taking this out of Cali.One of the good things that I have on my side is that Im being mentored by Richard from AFWPI. He is a funny guy and we talked for almost 1 hour earlier today and he gave me lots of direction of what not to do (So good to have a mentor!)Im going to keep you all posted on how it goes down.

LinkedIn Information

Posted by Solutions Now! Radio on May 19, 2008 at 7:51pm

Hello,Please join me on LinkedIn. My information is below.--Sincerely,Candice L. MasonDirector of Communications, Solutions Now! GroupHostess, Solutions Now! RadioTelephone/Fax: 1 (888) 851-9035eMail: solutionsradio@aol.comWebsite: http://blogtalkradio.com/solutions_now_radioMySpace: http://myspace.com/solutions_nowLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/candicelmason

How to Determine What's HOT

Posted by Barbara Howard on May 19, 2008 at 4:25pm

Every small business owner knows that competition is tough, but he or she may not be able to pinpoint exactly what changes are needed in order to get to the top. Conducting business as usual may no longer be sufficient. Investing in the technology that is now available can be a great help or a bank breaker. It seems that most small business and home based business are either starving (they don’t have enough technology) or they are obese (they have everything piece of new technology that comes down the pike).There is, however, some fairly new technology that every small or home business owner needs. It can answer questions like; how can small businesses identify noteworthy trends, Identify an existing hot demand and make better decisions faster? Answer: business intelligence software. Business intelligence is the crystal ball of the 21st century.Purchasing business intelligence (BI) software is one of the most strategic investments that a business can make. Using data mining, reporting and querying, BI helps businesses understand, monitor, manage and respond to specified situations. This software empowers decision-makers — and staff — to connect the dots around key business numbers in a way previously unimaginable. BI helps you figure out:· Which customers are profitable?· Which customers appear profitable but aren't?· Are you close to — or far from — reaching critical milestones?· When is the best time to launch a marketing campaign?· What was the best performing product or service last quarter?Business Intelligence software may be more of an investment than small businesses can bear. It can certainly be pricy. Small business or home business owners, however, can subscribe to BI services on the Internet at a fairly reasonable cost. There are several to choose from.eBay also published a “Hot Items” list the first week of each month. It gives valuable information to eBay sellers who use drop shippers.Learn more at the Mentors Club.Next Post: Protecting Your Commissions

Affiliate Marketing - Do You Need a Website?

Posted by Barbara Howard on May 19, 2008 at 4:24pm

The most important and indispensable thing to assure your success in affiliate marketing is your own website. The first step in any successful affiliate marketing business is building a good, credible and professional looking website. Your website is the jump off point of all your marketing efforts. Therefore, you must first build a user-friendly website, which will attract your prospects and motivate them to click on the links to the products and services you are promoting and make a purchase. You must first focus your efforts in building a website that will cater to what your prospects need.Above all else, make your website full of original, relevant and useful content. The most important thing you should consider is that almost all web users go online to look for information, not necessarily to go and buy something. People will love articles that are appealing and helpful. Keep in mind that, in the internet, content is still king and good quality content will not only build your credibility, it can also help you achieve a higher search engine ranking. By posting relevant and useful articles, you establish yourself as a credible expert in the field, making you a more dependable endorser of the product or service you promote. Establishing a good name is a good step in building up a dedicated consumer base. Dedicated customer bases are the life blood of affiliate marketers.You must use every possible means on your website to motivate prospects not only to visit your site but also to click and proceed to the websites of the products and services you are promoting.When you are creating your website, the possibilities are endless and are limited only by your imagination, originality, resourcefulness and resolve. You can always explore other ideas and adapt other strategies, which you think might help you become a high rolling affiliate marketer but not until you have a great website.Learn more at the Mentors Club.Next post: Identifying What's Hot

Taking Back Our Business

Posted by Kasheia on May 19, 2008 at 3:00pm

In dollars spent, the beauty industry is one in which black folks put a lot of hard-earned cash into. But in terms of dollars earned, we are far behind. This is utterly saddening.So, finally after months of deliberating what business I will start, I've decided to combine my love of hair, product-junkieism, and my people to open a beauty supply store that will feature black-owned product lines that aren't found in the Korean-owned BSS and even in black-owned salons.After starting a hair care journey that has tought be so much about my hair and the misunderstandings I carried all my life, I learned about the products I use and why I used them. This also meant cutting out completely many of th products that I used since childhood. I even wore my hair chemical-free for a year and a half before recently deciding to relax again, for now. Most disturbing about my journey, however, was the awakening I received about the products sold in the drug stores and BSS. Some of the most popular products marketed for "our" hair were full of carcinogenics, neurotoxins and other harmful and questionable ingredients. After searching and searching for products that weren't going to destroy my hair, I came across women who were fed up with the products of big companies who knew nothing about our hair. I met women who were full of entrepreneurial spirit and took hair care into their own hand, creating some of the best products available to black women.These products are free of the harsh chemicals that have been destroying our hair and full of natures most nourishing gifts. These kitchen scientists have created successful ventures and have blessed many a black woman who has been looking or alternatives to bad hair care products.Unfortunately many women still don't know why their hair won't grow past shoulder length. Many women still believe that petroletum and mineral oil greases are the best thing since sliced bread. So I plan to use my knew found knowledge to spread the word about hair products that are truly designed for our hair by offering these products for sale to women in a store dedicated to uplifting black entrepreneurs and educating black women about their hair, whether natural or chemically processed.My plan is to offer not only black-owned hair care lines, but also skin care lines, cosmetics, hair supplies and beauty tools.

My Name IS Beautiful!

Posted by Nicole on May 19, 2008 at 2:52pm

Black Women Embracing & Defining Our BeautyJoin in as we celebrate the things our beauty, radiance and strength as Black women. No two butterflies are alike, yet they are all described as beautiful. We are each unique and possess a beauty that is our own. Check out the My Name Is Beautiful project at: http://www.mahoganybutterfly.com/allprofile.aspx.Stay Beautiful!Nicolewww.mahoganybutterfly.com

Do you need your hair with a Weave that look like a star call Denise

Posted by Paula Moffett on May 19, 2008 at 2:43pm

Are you tired of weaves that just do not look right on you? Are you still looking for that natural looking weave? Are you tired of open crowns, lumps and bumps. Now its time to stop looking!!My name is Denise Nelson and I have been a licensed hair stylist for 25 years. I specialize in hair care and hair treatment for damaged hair. I only use and sell high end professional hair care products sold only to licensed salons. As you know your scalp is just as important as your hair. Without a healthy scalp you can not have healthy hair.****Special***** Full Head Weave any style(Sewn In Or Tracks)To make an appointment contact Denise 310 678 0499 or 310 532 7299Connaisseur of Hair & Nails 13975 Van Ness Ave Gardena, CA 90249-2913http://www.astepaboveyourvision.com/salon.html

Loving Yourself

Posted by Courtney R. Franklin on May 19, 2008 at 2:39pm

If someone asked you if you love yourself, what would your answer be? Most young people will quickly answer yes without giving any thought to what it means to show themselves real love. So many of the teens that I meet talk about being in love with someone else, but when I ask them if they love themselves, they are often left speechless and confused.Loving yourself means accepting yourself for who and what you are right now. It means letting go of the past and being confident enough to trust that you will find the path to a bright future. Criticism and negativity are the enemies of self-love. When you are overly critical of yourself and hold on to negative feelings, you will remain stuck in a cycle that is being driven by your own negative thoughts. Until you silence that negativity, and show yourself UNCONDITIONAL love, you will never be able to heal yourself and move forward.Self-love is an issue for many of the teens that I meet. They go from one relationship to the next, each time giving more and more of themselves, and getting very little in return. They often ask me what they are doing wrong, and my answer is always the same: your relationships WILL NOT succeed unless you love yourself FIRST. When you love yourself, you demand the highest levels of respect and treatment from others. Your love for yourself will not allow you to accept less than what you know you deserve. Once you begin loving yourself, not only will your relationships with others improve, but you will also be comfortable enough with yourself to know that you do not need to be in a relationship to be happy.Loving yourself can end the pain that comes from rejection, lost relationships, low self-esteem, a troubled past, etc. With a love for yourself, you are able to put the past behind you and move forward without fear. Instead of judging yourself, learn to love yourself. Appreciate yourself for who you are and know that you deserve only the best that life has to offer!Courtneywww.guideourgirls.ning.com

So you want to start or are starting up a business?

Posted by Christine on May 19, 2008 at 2:00pm

Every business begins with an idea and a goal. Sometimes the goal is to make money, to help others, or a desire to share one’s knowledge or creations. In any event, many people start businesses for different reasons. Statistics from the US business administration show that in 2006, 649,700 small businesses opened and 564,900 closed. From this statistic alone, it seems that many small businesses do not survive for the long haul.Unfortunately, I witnessed this statistic first hand with a black bookstore in my neighborhood. When the store first opened, of course, it was a novelty, and many folks from the neighborhood stopped by and made purchases. A black bookstore? Whoa! I was there almost every week because it was such an enjoyable experience. Where else could you go where you could browse through books that reflected you (or at least someone you knew, lol)? And it was not just fiction. It was here where I first discovered the science fiction writings of Octavia Butler and Dr. Alvin Poussaint. (But I do digress) The point is, within the next two years, the shelves became more bare and dusty and the people scarce. The owner even solicited his customers with money to keep the shop going and collected over $10,000 from us. Even after that effort and support from the community – the store still closed!What happened? Well, I know from my own observation, the wife of the owner would often come into the shop and take cash from the register and comment to her husband that she was going grocery shopping (I kid you not!). They drove the latest model of Mercedes Benz sedan (not a problem with that, but then don’t solicit your customers for $$$ to keep your store open) and often, the store was closed in the middle of the day. There were no sales, no specials, no saving programs, no new book introductions, no children’s story on Saturday – nothing. Certainly, he was personable enough and very willing to help customers, but did not seem to copy the business practices of the larger retailers. As a side note, I ordered a cookbook for my mother, and it took him a MONTH to get the order in.I write all this to say that it’s great to start a business, but for those just starting out, like me, and for those who have been in business for years, know that to do it correctly, to be in it for the long haul and to NOT become one of those statistics it takes hard work, dedication and a determination to achieve those goals and to make your work profitable. Over the course of my blog, I hope to both share my experiences of starting a business, running a business, and the business resources that assisted me along the way.Please, if you have specific questions, feel free to message me or post them in the comments.

Calling in sick...

Posted by Natasha Crawford on May 19, 2008 at 1:18pm

I was so excited to start my blog to document the journey of my business. I thought for a while about what my first topic would be. And the only thing on my mind right now...is that I can't call in sick. It's one of the "luxuries" of working for someone else that I hadn't realized I gave up - until this morning. So, here I sit at my desk, with a cup of tea and a big box of Puffs. Calls must be made, meetings need to be kept.It just reminds me of the importance of taking care of my physical health. The business doesn't run if I'm laid up in bed for the day. I'm just grateful that I don't feel too badly. So maybe everything on the "to do" list won't get done. And I may need a mid-day nap. But for now...I'm off to prepare for a conference call.

a little about me!!

Posted by Cassandra on May 19, 2008 at 11:50am

Hello all!! welcome to my little part of the world.I am passionate about all areas of fashion! My personal passion is plus model development. Being a model, I understand the current fashion industry standards of what a model should be-you only want to aspire to be what you have seen and what you know. This doesn't mean that there isnt room for a different perspectiveFashion is inclusive of all shapes and sizes. I am a model who loves the runway people!! I am a resident model for local Ashley Stewart Stores. Participated in and secured a sponsorship for the Detroit leg of the Stilettos and Curves fashion show tour.I am a freelance fashion writer as well. I am the current fashion contributer to SassySistah.com-a online mag designed to eliminate labels placed on models.I am C.E.O. of 3diva productions. The company specializes in fashion show production.I am so looking forward to networking with all of you. Thanks so much for stopping by!!Peace and Blessings!!

FREE MONEY MAKING WEBSITE

Posted by LINDA MCCLENDON on May 19, 2008 at 1:47am

Order Your Flat Iron or Hair Dryer in 2 Days with FREE Shipping!

Posted by Elana Pruitt on May 19, 2008 at 12:16am

"Talk about convenience! Missiko.com, a Philadelphia-based consumer-driven Web site featuring the newest innovations in the hair & beauty industry, offers 2-day FREE shipping on purchases $50 and over. That's an amazing deal, especially if you're like me and truly hate waiting on the products you crave.I heart my pink CHI flat iron, as it is has been my must-have hair care tool for the last year..."READ MORE!Hugs,Elana

"It's A Girl" 2pc HandPoured Soy candle set =Sale=

Posted by Shavonne D. on May 18, 2008 at 11:52pm

THE PERFECT BABY SHOWER GIFTSet Includes: Two round glass jar container candles( As seen in picture above )Color: PinkScent: Pink VanillaIt's a Boy Candles also avalible at my site check them out alsoThis Set Only : $15.00

CLICK PHOTO TO GO TO MY WEBSITEThank You,Little Lite Candles

Beneath the Ice: Ice diving emerges as one of last great scuba adventures

Posted by Debrah on May 18, 2008 at 8:41pm

By MARK SCHOOFSMay 10, 2008; Page W1The White Sea, RussiaEvery winter, hordes of divers head to the congested, overdeveloped scuba-diving destinations of the Caribbean and the Red Sea. But there's a less-traversed option: Fly to Moscow, take the railroad 27 hours north, and drive two hours along snow-covered dirt roads to a village almost on the Arctic Circle, along an inlet of the White Sea. Then, take a snowmobile to a small black triangle cut into the ice.Ice diving is one of the last great scuba adventures. WSJ's Mark Schoofs ice dives in the White Sea in Northern Russia and gives a peek into an underwater world full of sea creatures.Ice diving is one of the last grand scuba adventures. Popular destinations include Antarctica, Newfoundland and certain lakes in the Austrian Alps. One of the best -- and least known -- is Russia's White Sea.There, diaphanous, rainbow-tinged comb jellies (like jellyfish without the tentacles) float by. On rocks lie starfish and related brittle stars of every description. There are ophiuras, whose thin, spidery legs are striped wine-red and cream-white, and there are glittering, ruby-red crossasters with stubby legs, each tipped with delicate, filament tentacles. Luxuriant forests of large round anemones, each one ivory or pink-orange, look like some 1960s hallucinogenic art installation. Among them live multicolored sponges and algae, colonies of barnacles and tiny neon-lavender skeleton crabs. Wolf fish hide in crevasses. On the sea bed billow acres of low-growing kelp, whose undulation is as mesmerizing as a Bach fugue.Above it all is the ice, almost alive, filtering sunlight into varying shades of emerald and gold. When one finally ascends back up through the ice hole, or maina, one literally ascends into light.Marine life in the White Sea is so rich partly because cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, and in winter, the water is below freezing, about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That means divers need gear -- lots of it. A dry suit, unlike the more common wet suit, is mandatory. With a zipper derived from a NASA design, and a seal on the neck, it keeps the body perfectly dry.On my recent seven-day diving trip here with a Russian company, I wore three layers under a dry suit: a union suit made of polypropylene to wick away sweat, thick fleece long johns, and an even thicker Thinsulate-insulated undergarment that looks like a snowsuit. I wore two pairs of socks and Thinsulate booties, plus chemical toe warmers that react with air to generate heat. I used them on my hands, too, where I wore three layers of gloves under rubber outer gloves.My head was in two neoprene hoods, a thin one underneath a thick one that tucked into a collar to protect my neck. A mask covered the skin around my nose and eyes. Only my lips, which held the mouthpiece connecting me to the air supply, were exposed directly to the cold water. Lips have such good blood flow that they don't go numb but merely tingle upon entry.Donning all this gear, plus fins, tank, and the lead weights that help a diver sink, takes about half an hour. We suited up in mobile huts on skis, where gas heaters made me feel like a mummy working out in a sauna. Slipping into the cold water was a relief.But the cold harbors danger. Valves can freeze, either blasting a diver with free-flowing air or shutting off the air supply altogether. Every air tank for ice diving has two valves, not the standard one for warm-water diving, and the mouthpiece valve has a freeze-resistant design. Even so, I encountered an emergency. I wore a vest that inflated and deflated to control buoyancy, and a valve on it froze open, ballooning the vest and sending me straight up. I was pinned against the ice, unable to swim freely, with the air in my tank rapidly flowing out. The safety of the terrestrial world was less than a foot away but walled off by impenetrable ice.This is the second danger of ice diving: To ascend to the surface, one must return to the ice hole. Out of air and wearing close to 100 pounds of gear, even 25 yards underwater can be a long, even lethal distance. Each diver is secured to a rope connected to two other people: a buddy in the water and a tender on the surface. My buddy saw my trouble and gave the emergency signal: Four yanks of the rope, and our tender hauled us in. We skated along the ice's underside, a sensation so fun and beautiful that I forgot the danger. Up on top, our tender doused the valve with hot water from a thermos, and we resumed our dive.Living so intimately with ice, one realizes it is anything but static. A brilliant sun shone during the first two days. But then a heavy snow fell, and when we went to the maina, the water seemed to have risen, forming a puddle on the ice. The weight of the snow had pushed the ice down, forcing water up through the hole. On another day, we were diving when a storm roared in. Our guides, concerned that large waves on the open sea would create surges capable of cracking the ice, decided we would leave.Even without storms, the tides rise and fall more than six feet, so the ice at the shore continually cracks, refreezes and cracks again. Underneath, the constant friction sculpts the ice into breathtaking forms through which light streams as if through a kaleidoscope.Topside, the muted light of a snowstorm or a sunset brings forth the full range of color in arctic ice: every conceivable variation of white and grey and a softly iridescent blue that seems to emanate from deep within. At night, the wind sweeps stretches of ice clean of snow, and they gleam obsidian black. The underside of the ice is bubbled like a sponge, and in many of the holes live tiny crustaceans. Blow scuba bubbles, and they fall out like living rain.Two former marine biologists, Dmitri Orlov and Mikhail Safonov, founded the outfit that organized this expedition, the RuDive Group, which offers world-wide scuba tours. In 1996, after the Soviet Union crumbled and science funding dried up, Mr. Safonov and Mr. Orlov began offering diving lessons, and in 1998 they began taking customers to the White Sea.Five years ago, they opened their own diving center there, with comfortable wooden chalets offering accommodations from hostel-style dorms with shared baths to private rooms. Meals are hearty, often featuring local smoked fish, fresh vegetables and fruit and preserves made from local berries.About seven years ago, Mr. Safonov recalls, a woman ice-diving with a predecessor company he and his partner founded and ran died in a Moscow lake at a depth of about 10 feet. The exact circumstances weren't clear, but spurred largely by the event, RuDive now requires all customers to have ice-diving certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Customers can get ice-diving certification at the start of their trip. RuDive has added to the standard training to enhance safety.In 1999, Mr. Safonov participated in what is believed to be the first successful scuba expedition to the North Pole. The ice there forms underwater "castles," he says, and the water is as clear as air. Last month, he returned from RuDive's fifth successful polar diving trip. The cost: $40,000 per person.RuDive's White Sea center has two captive beluga whales, owned by a Russian aquarium and held in a netted sea pen. The one-ton males circled in swift arabesques, then came straight at me, playfully biting my leg and fins the way a dog would. It was amazing fun, but the experience had traces of the amusement park. It was an escape from reality, not an immersion in it.By contrast, the maina, its black water a portal between worlds, feels exhilaratingly real. When a snowstorm transforms the topside into a swirl of white, it's the perfect moment to slip into a winter of anemones and comb jellies and luminous green-gold ice.Article courtesy of WSJ.com

June Is Marketing Success Month

Posted by Tammy Freeman on May 18, 2008 at 7:07pm

Join us this June for an awesome month full of information to help you achieve marketing success!Brand University: The Marketing Success Conference for Women Entrepreneurs has something for everyone! Starting at just $29.95 you can learn about the following topics:REGISTER AT WWW.MARKETINGSUCCESS2008.EVENTBRITE.COMYou - The Superstar!Using New Media and Social Networking Strategies To Build Your Most Important Brand - YOU!Cynthia de Lorenzi, Founder Success In The City andCEO of the Patriot GroupThe Solopreneurs Guide To Strategic Marketing:(MBA Not Required)!Tammy Freeman, The Lifestyle EntrepreneurFounder and CEO, Synergi Group, LLCDo It Yourself MarketingKirsten FullerFounder and Editor-in-Chief, Reservations MagazineSelf-Publishing Secrets:Stop Making Excuses and Publish Your Book Now!Sanyika Calloway Boyce, The Financial Fitness CoachClient Building 101: Know Your Niche!Francina Harrison, The Career EngineerHow To Tell Your StoryAfter The Elevator PitchRebekah Pierce, Average Girl Magazine, LLCOne Hour Marketing Plan BootcampNikki Woods, Full Circle MarketingDirect Mail BasicsGail Diggs, GCD Writing and MarketingCreating Newsworthy Press ReleasesJill Watkins, Write On Target Communications, LLCBuild A PR MachineCinnamon Bowser, Nail TaxiHarnessing the Power of Television PublicitySanyika Calloway Boyce, The Financial Fitness CoachPre-Conference Teleseminar Topics:(Even if you can't make the conference, you can get access to these great teleseminars!)How To Increase Sales ThroughPower PartnershipsDenise Trifiletti - Women's CommunityIt's Not Who YOU Know ButWho KNOWS YOU!Francina Harrison, The Career EngineerPassion Marketing:Wear Your Heart On Your SleeveTo Generate Bigger and More Sales!Tammy Freeman, The Information BrokerFounder and CEO, Synergi Group, LLC8 Key Ingredients To BuildCustomer LoyaltyNikki Woods, Full Circle MarketingYou've Built Your Website, Now What?Gail Diggs, GCD Writing and MarketingCreating Powerful and Compelling TaglinesJill Watkins, Write On Target Communications, LLCAttend Brand University Marketing Success Conference For Women Entrepreneurs...Your Business Will Never Be The Same!REGISTER AT WWW.MARKETINGSUCCESS2008.EVENTBRITE.COM

BlackHairopedia.com - My New Website - A Black Hair Directory

Posted by LaShanda Henry on May 18, 2008 at 9:30am

Blackhairopedia.com Black Hair Web Directory featuring Black Hair, Beauty, Body and SkinCare Websites, Products, Blogs, Books, Magazines, and more.http://blackhairopedia.com Blackhairopedia.com is still new. Right now I am working on adding websites to the directory. My goal is to create one big portal for anyone and everyone looking for the best black hair sites. This way you don't have to search endlessly to find great sites, and wonderful products. In addition to hair websites, Blackhairopedia will also feature sites dedicated to Body & Skincare products, Fashion, Style, and Beauty Blogs. More updates to follow - www.blackhairopedia.com -lhenry Link to us on myspace- http://www.myspace.com/blackhairopedia

Indie Confidential: Prepare For 5 Indie Business Pitfalls

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on May 18, 2008 at 3:58am

What You Don't Know Could Hurt YouThis post is about the stuff most people don't talk about because it hits too close to home. But I don't want you to be caught like a deer in the headlights as you grow your business, so I'm telling you the real deal on some of the most personal issues you will encounter if you are successful in your business.These things apply to just about any business, but they are especially important to prepare for if you are Indie, meaning you are not only running a business but also managing a home and trying to have a fulfilling personal life at the same time. Like any girlfriend worth her salt, I'm going to tell you like it is. If you don't know already, it's not all sweetness and light, as some would have you believe.1. You Will Have to Say "No" to Your Kids For the Sake of Your BusinessYesterday, I posted about how great it is to be available to my kids as I also run my business. That is true, and everyone says that. But the part I saved for this post is also true: I tell my kids "no" a lot. If I was at a full-time job, someone else would be telling them "no" a lot. I'm glad it's me, but the fact is that, because I'm here all the time, they ask me for a lot of things they can't have. All the time.For example: As I wrote this post at 1:30pm EST, my 6-year old daughter came into my office and asked if she could take a bubble bath. Right now. If I was not here, she'd be with with a baby sitter and she wouldn't even ask the question. Following the advice I always give her to ask for what she wants out of life, she asks to take a bath, even though she knows the answer is going to be no.So, as great as it sounds to always be around, get ready to be the bad guy a lot.2. Your Spouse or Significant Other May Not Support YouOK, I know your spouse or significant other is wonderful and I'm not hating on them. But I have seen this more than once so I have to tell you the real deal. Once your business starts making money, you may find yourself making more money than your spouse. Many spouses can handle this with no problem, seeing as it means they will benefit from your success too.But many will also become a little on the jealous side. They may become a bit defensive as they see you raking in more cash than you did last year, while they are still making the same amount of money, and having to stretch each dollar further in this weakening economy.How do you respond? Don't get bogged down in their perception of your success. It's their problem, not yours. If you feel as though you are fulfilling your God-given calling in life with your business, then don't compromise that for anyone. It may mean having to change the dynamic of your relationship. So be prepared. Always walk blameless before the people you love, but be careful not to compromise your principles in order to accommodate their warped perceptions of your success.3. You May Gain WeightThese days, the success of your business hinges significantly on your ability to use technology. In order to use technology, you have to be still, at least for a period of time. You can't be doing an aerobics class at the same time you are programming your new shopping cart, updating your website, figuring out how to use Twitter, tweaking your business plan or writing your next book.Try to get some exercise. Don't be like me and wait until so many years into your business before deciding to shape up.See? I told you I would tell you the real deal, from experience. I'm a no holds barred kind of Indie.4. Haters Will AboundIf you are financially successful, the haters will come. Sometimes, they don't mean to hate, they are just unable to handle your success in the face of their lack of it. There's nothing you can do in advance to handle this. Just be prepared for it and understand that it may mean that your interaction with some people may have to change. Always surround yourself with cheerleaders. Non-cheerleaders should be fired from your inner circle.If you find that some haters are family members (and you most likely will), well, I guess you can't fire them. But you can minimize their adverse impact on you and your business. How you do that depends on the hater and whether they are willing to change with you. If they are not, be prepared for a tough road.5. You Will Not Have Enough MoneyIt would be great if, as you make more money each year, you also had enough money each year to expand your business exactly as you desire. Alas, this will hardly ever be the case. If you have not experienced this yet, you just haven't been in business long enough.For this reason, it is critical that you adopt a frugal mentality. Watch every penny and don't let go of a cent unless you have to in order to provide quality products and services to your customers. This is the only way to keep more of the money you make.So what do you think?Am I touching any nerves? Have you found these things to be true? Or am I way off base? Would love to know your experiences too.For more of my "real deal" Indie Business tips, subscribe to my blog today.Related PostsBoots and Hard Hat RequiredFamily Second, Yet Still First

You Can't Build Trust Online If...

Posted by Jim Neusom on May 16, 2008 at 3:41pm

Greetings Family,(Contact Information At Bottom Of Page)It's your friendly neighborhood "Digital Drummer" again (smile)The advice below came from a good friend of mine and Digital Drummer, Chris Curtis of Tech Talk Philly (900AM WURD).Chris is good people and through her website WBO (Web Business Ownership), she helps small business owners on the web, make educated decisions about doing business on the Net.By trade, Chris is a triple-threat web developer (web design, web programming, Internet marketing) and an Internet business consultant who proactively assists business owners in shedding their fears and inhibitions about competing in the global marketplace.If you want to learn from one of the best in the industry on how to build, manage and grow a profitable web business, you'll do well to contact her about your project. Think I'm joking...check out www.webbusinessownership.com and see for yourselfRemember, We Must Share The Knowledge (Network)...To Share The Dollars!!!Peace and Gods Blessings,Jim Neusom***************(Advertisement)*********************Need some great ideas for corporate or personal gift-giving?Then go to City Lights Software(http://www.citylightssoftware.com )and see some of the most unique afrocentric gifts available online!We Deliver ONLINE - Direct To Your Desktop for just $14.95Please take the time to purchase one our afrocentric screen savers TODAY!Don't Just Talk the Talk...Let Your Dollars Walk the WalkIf you have any problems with purchasing online contact me direct at sales@citylightssoftware.com or call (213) 944-4176******************************************************You Can't Build Trust Online If...By Chris Curtis1. You have no web site.MySpace, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles are appropriate for the audiences for which they are intended, but when you're doing business online, YOU MUST have a decent web site."If you cannot afford one, one can be appointed to you by any decent web professional. "2. You're using FREEMAIL.You might know it as Gmail, Yahoo, MSN or whatever other free email address you can attain. There's even some pretty cool ones out there. There's a time to be professional, and a time to relax. If you're doing business online - serious business - and not some side gig for extra dough, you can't expect that people will trust you do what you do if you don't have the whole package.3. Your web site looks a mess.My greatest petpeeve on the world wide web. When your web site is a mess, its perceived that so is your business. If you're going to have a site, at least put some muscle into it and try to make us believe that you're worth a customers' time.A quick visit to www.webpagesthatsuck.com might give you some idea if yours sucks or not!4. You don't look believable...People say all kinds of things to get attention, and to build business. Testimonials, articles, press releases, audio, videos and other things that can establish your credibility can help your customers feel safe about doing business online with you. If you don't have any - take the time to make some, or clearly you may need to work on your marketing plan.5. You don't show and/or tell...Online, its easy to be anybody you want to be. Having a picture up there shows that you're willing to connect with the people who come to your site, and having a bio or a short blurb about yourself lets people know where your head is. You don't necessarily need both. Either will do.6. You don't clearly define your product, service or self....A few cryptic lines about whatever it is that you want your customers to buy into just won't do. If you are passionate about your 'thing', you need to make sure that there's enough information for a reasonable person to make a decision about what you'd like them to do online - WITHOUT having them go to another site for more information. Once you send them away, they might not come back.FYI - I went to a site the other day of a seemingly reputable organization. They wanted a $100/yr membership fee and I was all ready to sign up until I realized that they had NO phone number listed on the site, NO pictures of officials or members, and all the email addresses were listed next to names with no explanation of who these people were.Needless to say, I didn't sign up, but I hear they do a lot for the community. Whose business are you missing out on?There's lots more, so all the Internet Business Professionals and Web Pros out there, please add to the list! These things are SO important.- CC***************(Advertisement)*********************Looking For More Exposure, Want To Help A Good Cause, Need Money???Come on over to www.freshfaces2u.com and register to win $10,000 dollars CASH!At Fresh Faces2u it's NOT about how you look...But Who You Are!Join us in our mission to change the image of women in the mediaSign Up Today At Fresh Faces2u.com**********************************This Online Journal was brought to you by InterServe Networks. Feel Free To Forward To Your Network Of Online FriendsWe Practice Responsible E-Commerce Marketing and Privacy Policies. We do not indulge in or encourage Spamming. We never send unsolicited emails. You are receiving this message as part of our opt-in subscriber mailing list or you are a member of an affiliated newsgroup.For comments or suggestions please contact us at the following;Jim Neusom (jneusom@yahoo.com)Executive Director/PublisherInterServe Networks/City Lights Software, Inc.www.citylightssoftware.comwww.freshfaces2u.comwww.myspace.com/jimneusomwww.myspace.com/freshfaces2uTo subscribe to our opt-in mailing list simply send an email to; The_City_Lights_Reporter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ( on Myspace go to http://blog.myspace.com/jimneusom )

The New Family Business

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on May 16, 2008 at 2:30pm

Nine Reasons Why Home-Based Business Ownership Works For ParentsSo you’re a parent, or thinking about becoming one. No matter what your background or walk of life, you are probably dealing with the question of combining parenting with holding down a job outside the home. If you ponder these things, you are not alone. I wondered the same things as a new bride in 2000.My husband and I wanted a family, yet his job as a camera man on ABC's Nightline required him to work from late in the afternoon to long past midnight. I worked like crazy from morning until after the dinner hour at a Washington, DC law firm. We had a fantastic combined income, yet we knew that it would be impossible to have a child with our schedules and the stress caused by our jobs.I took action by starting a business from home. For the first year, I worked part-time for $500 a month at a small law firm while my husband covered all of our bills, so I could transition out of financial heaven. I delivered our first child in October 2001, and by January 2002, I was sitting in my home office nursing my baby while drafting up my next online newsletter. (Here's one of the more humorous editions, published a few months after she was born.)It's not always easy to simultaneously work from home and manage the home too, but then, parenting is never easy. And neither is making a living. But when you work and parent from the same location, the two tasks are combined in a way that makes it sensible to do both.Here are 7 reasons home-based business ownership can work for you and your family.1. Your Heart In Your HomeIf you're like me, you know that parenthood is not just something we do to populate the world or create little clones of ourselves. Parenthood is a calling. An irresistible leaning that leads to a commitment of your time, talent and resources to accomplish a specific goal.If you are called to parenting, then you want to do everything you can do pursue that calling as successfully as possible. Home-based business ownership allows you to earn a living in a way that acknowledges and facilitates your ability to put your home first.2. AvailabilityWhen you have children, especially when they are young, being at home allows you to put their needs first, not only emotionally but also physically. That's impossible when you are someplace else all day. It's hard to put your home first when you're sitting in rush hour traffic thinking about how someone else is curling up with your infant or watching your toddler take her first steps.3. FlexibilityLets face it, parenting requires flexibility. One minute, everyone is healthy and the next, sniffles abound -- and at midnight no less! Parenting requires you to turn around on a dime, go with the flow and change plans quickly. If you have to check in with a boss and a few co-workers every time your child has a fever or your spouse goes away on a business trip, it's hard to be flexible.Having a business at home allows you to create your schedule based on the needs of everyone in the family, not worrying about the schedule of those outside your home.4. Environmental BenefitsWorking at home facilitates an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Reducing your automobile emissions is a great way to start living a more earth-friendly lifestyle, yet people who work outside the home usually have no control over the distance between home and work. It can take up to an hour during rush hour to travel a distance that would otherwise take 15 or 20 minutes. Being at home for work eliminates your contribution to the toxins caused by so many cars on the road. It also shows your children how your choices are actually helping to care for the environment.5. Economic BenefitsIf you don't drive as much, you save money on gas -- and who doesn't need to do that these days? You also save money in other ways: dry cleaning, suits, fast food and more. Plus, the tax benefits to a family with a business that takes the deductions it is entitled to are too many to name.6. Unlimited Personal PotentialWhen you control the pace of your career advancement, the sky is the limit. Take Indie Beauty Network member Lela Barker, owner of Bella Lucce in South Carolina, for example. Six years ago, she was a single mom with no job and no place to live. She moved into her mother's basement with her daughters and started whipping up sugar scrub.Recently, corporate revenues passed the million dollar mark. The growth has caused her to move production to a facility, but she's still close to both home and her daughter's schools. Lela travels the globe working with some of the world's most luxurious spas and hotel chains to develop upscale products. She schedules everything around her children and husband. Her potential as a business woman is unlimited, yet her heart remains in her home first. This sets an excellent example for her girls and for other young people watching her success.7. Entrepreneurial and Life EducationThis morning, before my husband took our 4-year old son went to school, my son and I took a look at the family business bank statement. I showed him the "plus" and "minus" signs so he could see for himself the connection between money coming in and money going out, and how that translates into food on the dinner table and additional Spiderman paraphernalia.He doesn't understand the details, but he gets the gist of it: mom and dad work together to generate the cash needed to provide for him and his sister. This is just a small sampling of how we use our business to teach our kids crucial life skills they will need in the future.8. RelationalLet's face it, keeping a marriage together is a challenge. When you work with your spouse, the challenges are compounded. Not only do you have to make things work personally, you also have to make them work professionally. When your marriage and your profession are interdependent upon one another in this way, special mountains need to be climbed.But as Indie Beauty Network member Maggie Hanus of a Wild Soap Bar in Texas says, "The family that grinds together also binds together."I have found this to be true, as the business gives me and my husband one more significant reason to work out any personal differences we may have (and we do have them), and this benefits everyone.9. FunIt's fun to work from home and make a living at the same time! We make up our own days. Sometimes, we just get up and go swimming or for a walk. We can pack up the Blackberry or laptop (or not ...) and take the day off at the zoo or to another fun location. We can work all night and play all day if we want to.I sometimes have neighbors, some of whom also work from home, over during the day for a meal. It's a fun way to socialize that doesn't happen in too many neighborhoods any more.What about you?Are you a parent who works from home? How is it working for you? Tips to offer? Or maybe you're a parent trying to figure out how you can make the transition I did, so you can enjoy the benefits of working from home and owning your own brand too. Let me know if you're out there! If there's enough of you, I'll put together a free seminar just for you!

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.