Dec 17 2008
Yesterday I mentioned 4 Google services that can be used to help ease the costs of running a business. Each service comes with its own set of benefits. While some businesses won’t need one service, another might depend on it completely.
To continue from where we left off, here are some more Google services that you can use to save money in your business:
Dec 16 2008
It has long since been known that Google is one of the big hitters when it comes to search engines but they offer so much more. For businesses with a low budget or that are just getting started, Google also offers a handful of services which can help people fill their needs without the price tag.
The most obvious thing that Google has going for it is the ability to keep your files under your account, online. Computers crash and important files get lost, however, you can get away with reaching important files from any computer when you have them saved off-site.
Dec 15 2008
I was linked to by FarandSavage through his Link Love and Lemonade post on Wednesday. I wanted to post my own little link love return and pass on the torch to 10 new people when I realized I don’t even read 10 different people in the today.com network (yet!). Then my friends who do leave the network aren’t really into these things and I wouldn’t want to put the pressure on them to pass this on… so I am going to unofficially share some lemonade with all of you. It won’t be 10 and it’s not actually the lemonade award but it means I am thinking of you. 
So, here are 5 blogs you should consider visiting on the today.com network!
1. http://untilgradschool.today.com/ - FarandSavage may have sent the love first but, in my defense, I do read the blog and find it worth mentioning again.
2. http://barelymyself.today.com/ - I follow her on Twitter and I love the fact that she likes to write. Actually, from what I have seen, she is the first person I’ve met that keeps more regular blogs than me. That takes dedication and passion, something I can honestly appreciate.
3 & 4 go to http://rememberwhen.today.com/ and http://mosaicmoments.today.com/ - I put them both together like this because they are both written by the same woman, Kristy. Two weeks ago I also posted an interview with her talking about her roll as mom and President of IMDSA. If you don’t remember it, click here. Anyway, I regularly follow Remember When… and I do stop in to read Mosaic Moments when I have a chance. She’s a very inspiring woman and nothing is more fun than remembering those things from back in the day!
5. http://travelover30s.today.com/ - This is the last link mention I have for today but that doesn’t mean it is in last place. I’m not over 30 and I don’t travel, however… I still stop in when I have a chance to read the latest posts. Lis knows what he is talking about and he shares useful information for those that enjoy traveling, whether or not you’re over 30. 
I really hope you’ll take a moment to peek into their blogs, they’re worth the look!
Dec 15 2008
I have a Policy Council meeting tonight. As I was thinking about the reading I need to do so I can be somewhat aware of what we’ll be voting on tonight, the topic for this post hit me. As mompreneurs, it’s not unusual to find ourselves having to balance a schedule which keeps us working or handling something that has to do with our child’s schooling. For many women that might be homeschooling or, like in my case, staying active in the public school system.
Dec 12 2008
This is not to say that your kids can’t help out with tasks within your business, I am thinking much more along the lines of not bringing business into your time with family.
One too many times I have allowed my work stress and work frustrations to come with me once I walk away from the computer. That is simply not fair to my family. When I am cantankerous and unhappy over something I was working on, it’s not fair to pass that on when interacting with everyone else.
No one is perfect and we all get frustrated once in a while. When was the last time you let a bit of that irritation over something you were dealing with within your business come with you when you walked away? Were you a little extra snippy and impatient? This is exactly why we need to leave it behind! We, as in me and you.
I think sometimes we forget to shut down those frustrations until the next time we load them back up. It can be hard, we don’t have an on/off switch working our emotions. There is one thing I have learned from my own experience, though… Once I find that trick to turn off work and move back to mom, everyone is much happier.
Dec 11 2008
First, I would like to thank farandsavage for bringing this business opportunity to my attention. I had never heard of Green Irene before farandsavage shared the link with us and it was nice reading about the business through their recruiting website. The opportunity sounds like a good one and they are definitely worth the mention.
If you haven’t gathered from the title, Green Irene is an eco-friendly business based around training consultants on those basics. As an Eco-Consultant, you would need to sell information. The main plan is a $99 green home makeover, a 60 to 90 minute consultation which shares with the customers the different areas which could be improved within their home. By providing these consulting services, it will eventually lead to the sale of products which the customer can use to help improve the eco-friendliness of their home.
Dec 10 2008
It’s not often I hear about a pet that has inspired a business. However, I have never heard a story as touching at this one. The Simon family’s nearly 13 year old daughter has juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, a form of epilepsy which can continue to get worse into the teen years. After the passing of their family friend, she was ready for a new friend to enter her life. Eventually she did get a new friend, Daisy, who was a loving nearly 13 month old Golden Retriever.
As inspiring as Daisy and the Simon family story is, what makes it fit in on Today’s Mompreneur is the business which Daisy inspired. The mom had been trying to find a way to combine her background in writing and research to create a home business when Daisy gave her the “aha” moment she needed.
DAISY’S PAW PRINT NEWS℠ was born.
Dec 09 2008
I think it is about time for another day of rest… although this time it isn’t much rest.
The next time you take a day off to spend it with your family, attempt to juggle! You regularly juggle your business and family life, why not spend some time with your family to learn how to juggle for real? If you have a teacher within your community, take the family for a lesson and see what you can do. However, if not, you can also buy books and movies which will show you those tricks to juggling.
Nothing creates a feeling of closeness like spending time with your family in an attempt to learn something new. Although juggling is just one idea, it gives you a chance to stand and work at something that continues to be fun try after try. This is also an activity that can keep your older children interacting with any of your younger ones if you have a family made up of a wide age span.
Even if you think juggling won’t be much fun, just give it a moment of your time. Watch your kids come to life with you as everyone starts tossing and dropping items all over the house.
Photo Credit: backpackphotography
Dec 08 2008
The day I started working from home was the day I realized I would have to take extra special care of my computer. It had become my lifeline and the only way I could connect to earn an income. No computer would mean no income.
If you find yourself in the same position, that can only mean one thing: you must do everything you can to ensure the longest life out of your computer!
Some of the simplest steps can help ensure the longest life from your machine. Here are a few ideas for you:
Dec 05 2008
I am stubborn, hard-headed, determined to do everything myself, but I can’t. I like to learn new talents, but that easy-to-distract attitude often has me spreading into too many avenues. I don’t like to ask for help.
That do it yourself attitude can get you into trouble, especially in business. If you concentrate on too many tasks at once, it can slow you down. This is why there is nothing wrong with asking for help, hiring an Independent Contractor, or even hiring an employee. When you delegate tasks out, you can concentrate on the more important things within your position as founder, president or CEO - whatever it is you call yourself. Those are titles that come with their own list of duties and you need others to cover your butt when necessary.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some form of knowledge in these areas. Although you hire employees to help, you need to know what is going on to stay in tune. Just be careful of how much you put on your plate at one time. You don’t need to go to school to become a bookkeeper if you want to know what your accountant is doing with your money.
