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In addition to the fact that no matter how hard you work or how successful your business is, it’s nearly impossible to convince your friends, family and especially your parents that you actually have a job, working from home has some other challenges.

The overall key to success is to realize that your home is set up for your personal life, not your professional life. At the office you have all the resources you need to get your job done; at home, you have to decide between what you need, what you can afford and what space allows. At work you have co-workers; at home you have family.

If you’re new to or are considering telecommuting or working from home, here are some ideas to help you get off to a good start:

1. Set up a designated office – even if it’s just part of a room. When you walk in that area, consider yourself to be punching-in for the day. Make sure the rest of your family respects this area and treats it as your “Corporate Headquarters.” Set up your office hours and stick with them. This will help you distinguish between your personal and professional life and prevent you from getting sidetracked by non-work-related distractions.
   
2. Designate one outside space or third space as an alternative office or meeting space. Some people use coffee shops; others actually rent office and meeting space by the hour. While etiquette experts say it’s fine to work from home, clients may feel uncomfortable when asked to meet at your home (unless you have a separate office space with a separate entryway). Whether it’s the local coffee shop, or even better, a rent-by-the-hour meeting and office space, meeting with clients on the outside of your home office creates a professional impression while still allowing you to retain the freedom of the work-at-home lifestyle.
   
3. While one of the much-touted advantages of working at home is the ability to work in your pajamas, avoid that temptation and get dressed. Getting dressed symbolizes the beginning of the day and helps get you into work mode.
   
4. Install a separate telephone line for your business. If this is not possible, answer your phone in a professional manner during your business hours.
   
5. Avoid isolation by joining professional organizations, chambers of commerce, or a business networking groups. Also, consider renting space occasionally or even once a week from temporary office space providers.
   
6. Meet people face-to-face every so often. Even though technology has enabled us to work in virtual space, the power of the face-to-face encounter cannot be underestimated. If you have co-workers, go to lunch. If you work for yourself, be sure to find others who do the same and meet regularly for coffee or lunch.
   
7. Get broadband cable or DSL. These services are no longer considered luxuries. Your clients and colleagues expect you to have fast Internet access and the ability to view rich websites and receive large files in your email.
   
8. Consider going wireless. Why tie yourself down to one corner of your office? A wireless router and card for your laptop can be had for around $100 and will give you great flexibility. Once you have a card, you can stay connected while on the road by stopping by one of the growing number of wireless “Hotspots” available in cafes, hotels and airports.
   
9. Protect yourself. Make sure you have the latest anti-virus software and keep it updated. Anti-spy software is now just as critical as anti-virus software. Lavasoft’s Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy can both be downloaded for free at download.com. Also, consider a personal firewall. Zonealarm, McAfee, and Symantec are just a few of the popular packages available.
   
10. Consider hiring your own personal “computer geek.” You have a plumber, electrician, and a handyman to maintain and fix all of your household appliances, so why treat your computer any differently? Computer technicians typically charge from $65 to $125 per hour (just like a plumber) and offer a range of services from keeping your computer and software up to date to installing wireless networks and firewalls. Best of all, they come to you in your home office. Call someone BEFORE you lose your hard drive so that they can be ready for any unforeseen events.
    

We were so impressed with these products from France that we had to share them with you. La Falaise Organic Beauty boasts seven product lines of shower gels, soaps, salts and lotions with ingredients like organic calendula and sweet almond to argan seed oil.

To enter the giveaway, click here.

Contest ends March 1, 2010. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

In order to reach your goals you must commit to taking action steps. If procrastination is an issue in your life then you must to take steps toward changing the habits that keep you from taking charge of your life.

Here are 40 tips to stop procrastinating:

1. Plan your next day, hour by hour, the evening before
2. Make one to-do list
3. Write your tasks down
4. Put it on a calendar
5. Learn to say “No”
6. Schedule 2 hours of uninterrupted time in which to work on your tasks
7. Commit to not checking email during scheduled uninterrupted time
8. Commit to turning your phone off during scheduled uninterrupted time
9. Commit to not checking for texts during scheduled uninterrupted time
10. Get your spouse or children involved in what you are doing
11. Partner up with someone who will hold you accountable
12. Hold yourself accountable
13. Report to someone else
14. Let your family know what you are doing and get their support
15. Give yourself deadlines (time and date) to finish a project
16. Set your desk up to be conducive to productive work
17. Do your biggest task in the morning or first thing before anything else
18. Do the most difficult task first
19. Do the item that will yield the most results first
20. Require yourself to finish at least one action step before going to bed
21. You can maintain high standards but being a perfectionist may hold you back
22. Take a break to rejuvenate, but decide on a specific to complete after your break
23. Build momentum by getting one, then two, then three things done
24. Break a large action step into bite size, manageable pieces
25. Find a way to get started by doing the easiest part first, build momentum
26. Make your decision and stop wavering; it’s holding you up!
27. Face your fear
28. Identify your obstacles
29. Finish a task before you start on a new one
30. Get organized
31. Make your task fun
32. Reward yourself
33. Don’t over plan
34. Create a routine and plan recurring tasks at the same time every day
35. Be disciplined
36. Have a sense of urgency
37. Just do it and stop thinking about it
38. Believe in yourself
39. Say affirmations every day
40. Look at your goals every day

Take a step over that line of procrastination and make things happen in your life. Your success or failure is up to you.

Send us your questions on hormonal balance & mental health at http://bit.ly/bEYbWR - We will be interviewing the world renown Dr. Erika Schwartz http://bit.ly/9mDY1Q - answers will be posted in March.

Get the facts and do something about it - A Must hear!- "Sistas and Heart Disease" on Sumatra BlogTalkRadio - http://tobtr.com/s/881381

A 27 month, Life-Changing Program Ending With a FREE TRIP TO EGYPT

Open To Children 7 to 14, and Adults 21 and Over

The African Genesis Institute program is a 27-month educational and cultural program for youth between the ages of 7 and 14, and adults focused on developing an understanding and awareness of Ancient African Culture as well as the African experiencein America.Enrollment is now open for the "Class of 2012".

Students who enroll now and successfully complete the 27 month program, will be able to travel, along with the rest of the students on an 11 day, expense paid trip to Egypt in July, 2012. Since 1998, nearly 3000 youth and adults have traveled to Senegal,The Gambia, Ghana in West Africa and Egypt in North Africa.

Visit www.BlackBusinessNetwork.com/TeamDollar and click on dzert club for more info and the list of cities with
live presentations over the next 30 days. If your city is not participating visit this website and find out how you can join a sister city and still participate in this program. Remember the purpose is to take a youth along this educational journey with you.

JOIN US AT THE DESTINY BLACK EXPO EXHIBITION
WHICH WILL BE HELD
MARCH 13TH 2010 1:00 PM EST
In Benton Harbor, Mi

THERE ARE TWO PACKAGES AVAILABLE

PACKAGE ONE

PACKAGE ONE WILL INCLUDE A BOOTH TO SELL YOU PROJECTS ( BOOKS. CDS ETC,)
THERE WILL BE BOOK SIGNINGS
THERE WILL BE A PROMOTION PACKAGE
WHICH WILL ENCLUDE FREE ADVERTISING
TELEVISION & RADIO MEDIA INTERVIEWS
AND MUCH MORE
YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN UP $ 1,500
THIS PACKAGE WILL ALSO ENTITLE YOU TO A SPACE AT
THE MEGA GOSPEL SUPERFEST WHICH WILL BE HELD
AUGUST 7,2010

THE COST OF PACKAGE IS $ 45.00

PACKAGE TWO

PACKAGE TWO IS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE
BUT, ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
( DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT)
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SHIP YOUR PRODUCTS TO THE EXPO
A MINISTRY STAFF PERSON WILL BE ASSIGNED TO YOUR BOOTH
FOR YOU. (ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO YOU AFTER THE
EXHIBITION)
THERE WILL ALSO BE A PROMOTION PACKAGE
RADIO MEDIA ADVERTISING
OPPORTUNITY TO WIN UP TO $ 1,500
THIS PACKAGE ALSO ENTITLES YOU TO A BOOTH AT
THE 2010 MEGA GOSPEL SUPERFEST, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN AUGUST

THE COST OF PACKAGE TWO $125.00

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CONTACT Karen Pfeifer at karengod4me@aol.com

call 1-269-925-1636

Payment due in by March 3 2010
send money order to Gwen Spinks
p o box 672
Benton Harbor, Mi 49023

OR
attend our Destiny Black Expo Book Exhibition Explosion.
We are having anointed authors come and fellowship with us.
There will be book signings
Television and Radio interviews will be available
You don't have to be an author to attend.
book lovers $ 14.00 entry fee

Advertise with From A Writer's POV. Our prices are as low as $5. We are placing ads in our newsletter that our subscribers will see when we send out our newsletter.

We are taking submissions right now for our newsletter to go out on monday. Do you have something to advertise?

Book Signing

National Event

Web Event

Book Release

Party

Sale etc

Advertise with us. Our prices start as low as $5 and their are two options to choose from.

Check us out today: http://fromawriterspovmagazine.com/issue/february-2010/section/paid-advertisements

To see exactly what our newsletter looks like and how your ad will fit on our newsletter, check out our most recent newsletter: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410199103

Thanks, Dominique

CALL EGO EXTENSIONS TODAY!

877-246-4914

Reflecting on my day today, I took a moment to visit this site. And my mind kept repeating a situaiton with a client that I needed to get out of my head.

So here it is. Do you have anything you just have to get out? Feel free to share this space...

Do you allow past failures to keep you from success today?

Scripture: "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. " ~Isaiah 43:18-19

Today's Thought: Everybody fails. Those who succeed discover how to pick up the pieces of their failures and move on. Learn from your failures so that you don't repeat the same mistakes, but don't be intimidated by an occasional misstep or stumble. Keep looking ahead.

Establish a plan to overcome common or repeated obstacles. If you can avoid it, don't pay twice for the same experience. Work your plan out point-by-point, monitoring progress at each step.

If you learn from past mistakes, you will no longer have to look back with regret or sorrow. Today is a new day, filled with new possibilities and fresh chances. Set your mind on creating something new and you can move forward with confidence and achieve business success.

"For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again" ~ Proverbs 24:16

Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Robin Roberts
Co-Anchor of Good Morning America

Robin Roberts is anchor of ABC's Good Morning America. Under her leadership, the broadcast has won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning program.

When not traveling around the country or the world covering breaking news events, Roberts is at GMA's studio in Times Square conducting interviews with a diverse group of newsmakers. Her headline-making interviews include: President Barack Obama; First Lady Michelle Obama; actor Sidney Poitier; basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his battle with leukemia; and Lisa Niemi on the loss of her beloved husband, Patrick Swayze.

Roberts has also done extensive reporting around the globe.

She traveled to the Middle East with former First Lady Laura Bush, who was on a mission to raise awareness about breast cancer in the Muslim world; to Africa with former President Bill Clinton for a first-hand look at the AIDS crisis in that part of the world; and to Mexico, where she scaled the Mayan Pyramids as part of GMA's “The New 7 Wonders of the World” series.

Roberts also broadcast live from inside the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta in October 2009. It was the first time television cameras were permitted inside the CDC's special command center tracking the H1N1 "swine flu" virus.

http://www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/home/womensconference/speakers.html

The Anti Hair Slave is hosting a Sedu Flat Iron Giveaway! 1 lucky reader will win a 1.5 inch Sedu Ionic Ceramic Pro Flat Iron (valued at $120)!

All you have to do is visit The Anti Hair Slave and enter to win, it's that simple. Use this link to enter!

Good Luck Ladies!

DID BISHOP T.D JAKES GET A SPEEDING TICKET??????

Returning home from a month long tour of Africa. T.D Jakes plane lands at National Airport in Washington DC.

Once the Reverend is off the plane, His limo pulls up. Standing their for a minute , T.D Jakes smiles and says to the driver " You know i've done a lot of things in my life. I've been everywhere i've always wanted to go but i've never driven a limo" .

And then He ask the driver would he mind if He {TD} took the limo for a spin. The driver says " Sure Mr. Jakes , by all means , take this baby for a spin. Better yet take us home" .

So everybody got in the limo and TD Jakes takes off. A few miles ahead is a Rookie state trooper, he just got out of class yesterday and he's setting up his first speed trap.

He looks up and here comes this limo, speeding, doing 90 miles an hour in a 45 miles an hour speed limit zone. Oh the young officer is excited, its his first stop. He turns his police lights on , sounds that police siren and he's off to stop that limo..

Once the limo is stoppped , the young rookie walks up to the driver side window and knocks on it. The window comes down and he sees it T.D Jakes, the young officer says " Excuse me i'll be right back".

The young Rookie radios in to his Supervisor

" Sir, I know sometimes when we stop somebody important we usually let them go with a verbal warning" .

The supervisor says " Yeah son , thats right, Who did you stop The President".

The rookie replies, " No Sir", so the supervisor says " Is it the Governor". the young rookie replies " No, Sir".

Now the supervisor is short tempered with the young rookie so he says" Well who is it son" .

The young rookie replies " Well Sir, TD Jakes is the chaffeur, so it must be Jesus

I recently became an Avon representative. It was a purely pragmatic decision; I hadn’t perused an Avon book in many years. I bought a license to sell the brand because name recognition coupled with minimal start-up costs ($10) made Avon an ideal business for my fledgling entrepreneur clients making their first foray into network marketing. I didn’t even bother shopping the website before my initial meeting with my district manager. I thought I knew the product line – lipstick, bubble bath and other girly-girl stuff. My interest was in the marketing model and the compensation plan; satisfied with both, I schlepped home all the paperwork, samples and books I received in trade.

In an instant I owned Avon and I know you know, the more you know about your product the easier it is to sell. So I poured some coffee and checked out my website. OMGoodness ya’ll. I know it sounds cliché, but this is not ur momma’s Avon. Yes, there’s still mascara, fabulous fragrances and all the primp and pamper Avon is famous for, but there is so much more – creations to brighten your home, too kool clothes and cute comfortable shoes. I expected ye olde make-up shoppe and found my new one stop, right price boutique extraordinaire.

If you’re like I was and Avon is only a distant memory of beautiful bottles on grandma’s vanity, I invite you to discover for yourself why it’s not ur momma’s Avon. It’s so kool; we even deliver direct to your door; look for the Free Shipping offer.