Friday, June 30, 2006

Time Management

 
Summer is out and for the past couple of weeks I have felt like I didn't have enough time to get everything done.  Especially not enough time to spend with Katie.  She has spent a lot of time on her own.  While school is in session I know that she gets a three hour break everyday to play with her friends and have a good time so I don't feel too guilty about working.  Now however, she is bored.  Just last night I was thinking that I really need to just stop and set aside a few hours everyday to take her somewhere or play games.  So I am up earlier this morning and trying to get as much done as possible.  While I was looking for something I found this article which addresses this issue exactly and I want to share it.  It sure made me stop and realize that it really is the "important" things that matter and Katie is definately "important"..
 
TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS

By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

I have spent most of the last twenty years researching, studying,
writing and speaking about Time Management and Personal
Productivity. I
have learned a whole lot and my full-time mission now is to share
that
knowledge through my writings, seminars, consulting and keynotes
with
people who want to get more done in less time in their business
and
personal lives.

One important lesson I learned is that there are three simple,
yet
powerful Time Management Secrets. Knowing these will go a long
way to
helping you to better manage your time each and every day and get
more
done in less time and with less stress.

1. We all have too much to do. Almost everyone I speak with tells
me
they have more to do than time permits. This says a lot of good
things
about you. That you have too much to do means many have entrusted
a lot
to you. People who seldom have enough to keep them busy and are
always
looking for things to do may not have earned this level of
confidence
from others.
2. There is never enough time for everything. If you have too
much to
do, by definition, you will not have enough time for everything.
In fact
you will only accomplish but a tiny fraction of what you will
want to
accomplish in your lifetime. You will leave undone far more than
you
ever get done in this world. Your life is going to be like a
sandy
beach. Take one grain of sand and let that represent all that you
accomplish in your lifetime. The other billions of grains of sand
will
represent all of the other things you might have done.
3. While there’s never enough time for everything, there’s always
enough
time for the important things.

Early in our marriage, my wife and I were both working, our
social life
was packed and we didn’t seem to have a spare five-minute block
of time
in our days. Soon we were to receive our first daughter and a few
weeks
before she came to us my wife and I were agonizing over how to
find the
time to take care of this new addition to our family. Babies,
they take
a lot of time!

But what happened? Jennifer came along and we made the time for
her. Did
we still have a social life? Sure, but it was different.

Three years later, our second child Pam arrived, and once again,
we
found the time to attend to this new responsibility and still
have time
for other things.

While there is never time for everything, there always seems to
be time
for the most important things in life. “Necessity is the mother
of
invention.”

But you don’t have to wait until circumstances come upon you
forcing you
to attend to the most important things in your life. You can do
it now.
Each day in Daily Planning, identify the most important things
you want
to get done in your day. Place a high priority of those items and
leave
undone the less important things.

You won’t get it all done but you will get the most important
things
done.

The secret’s finally out.

 
 
 

FREE list of paid survey sites:  www.katieshugs.com

 

FREE information on government grants, auctions, and more!  www.freefromscams.com

 

All new all scrapbooking website!  www.scrapbooking4us.com

 

 

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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Positive Attitudes

Here is a great article I found on how to maintain a positive attitude.  It was saved in a two year old email and the author was not identified.  If you know who the author is please let me know.
 
8 Ways To Maintain A Positive Attitude
There Is No Obstacle Too Great

1. Become mindful of your thoughts and let them occur without
judgment. As you recognize self-limiting beliefs and feelings,
eliminate them by focusing on positive thoughts about the present
and future.

2. The author Charles Dickens advised, "Reflect upon your present
blessings, of which every man has many - not on your past
misfortunes, of which all men have some." Don't brood over
mistakes, carry grudges, or harbor hate.

3. Worrying is a wasted effort and the breeding ground of doubt.
It will lead you to contemplate potential losses rather than
effective solutions. The antidote to worry is positive action.

4. Adversity comes to each of us in time. Expecting rather than
dreading this adversity can make challenging periods seem less
daunting and will allow you to accept that you possess the
strength to conquer each obstacle as you have conquered obstacles
in your past.

5. Assume that hidden in every setback there is a lesson.
Consciously choose to think of the challenges you face in a
positive way: as a learning experience, an opportunity to
demonstrate your strengths, or the first step on a new path.

6. Think about what you desire, not what you fear. Visualize
future successes with the belief that you will achieve them, and
then take action. When you are working diligently toward a goal,
there will not be time to ponder the obstacles.

7. When negative thoughts and feelings threaten to overwhelm you,
take a "time out" and do something that makes you happy. Letting
yourself be swept away in a favorite activity or meditation will
inspire well-being.

8. Be confident that no matter what adversity you face, you will
be strong enough to remain positive and optimistic. Knowing that
there is no obstacle you cannot overcome will give you that
strength.


 
 

FREE list of paid survey sites:  www.katieshugs.com

 

FREE information on government grants, auctions, and more!  www.freefromscams.com

 

All new all scrapbooking website!  www.scrapbooking4us.com

 

 

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Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Top ten ways to move your business forward


10. Every day pick up the phone and provide the best
customer service ever!  Remember, customer service is to show you
care.  Showing you care often leads to results. 

9.  Make a goal to meet two new people to share about your business
with today.  Everyday.  Sharing with everyone is not pushy (that is
kind); going back to the same people over and over can lead you
to feeling pushy and them to feel resentful.

8.  Start conversations everywhere.
  For example, while in line, ask "Where are you from?" and "what do you do?"
This opens a lot of doors as they will most likely reciprocate with "What do you do?"
After they answer, say "I have my own business with
__________.  Are you familiar with it?"  The conversation will flow from there.  Listen for opportunities.

7.  Ask yourself every day, "What do I want to accomplish
today?" and "How will I fit in five contacts
professionally."  Don't forget to make a couple of those contacts
new people. 

6.  Success is a choice.  Choose to decide that you can do what
it takes to build a business.  Throw out the words "I Can't"  You can.

5.  Schedule two classes or shows a week. This will keep your skills
 and confidence growing.  A week without a class or show will cause you to feel like you are starting and stopping.  That takes more energy. 

4.  Deciding that you want to make money is the first
step to earning money.  Why else are you working?

3.  Whenever you have a cancellation or postponment, choose to work anyway.
  Don't let other people change your plans knowing that
work is what will lead to success.  Make customer service calls,
do personal shopping appointments, take your family out and meet
new people while enjoying your family, etc.

2.  Decide that everyone you share your business with
deserves an invitation to join you in your business.  Just ask!
"One of the things I love to do is help others start their own
home-based businesses, too.  Have you ever thought about
starting your own business and working from home?

1.  Make your motto: "Share, don't push."  Sharing is finding
out if someone has an interest in something you have to offer.
Selling is something you do for people who ARE interested in what you have to offer and WANT to know more. 
 
 

FREE list of paid survey sites:  www.katieshugs.com

 

FREE information on government grants, auctions, and more!  www.freefromscams.com

 

All new all scrapbooking website!  www.scrapbooking4us.com

 
 
 
 
 
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Monday, June 26, 2006

Paid Surveys and information

I am beginning to feel like I am about half an inch tall and standing in the middle of a huge forest of giants.  All of the giants want to know about surveys and whether or not they are legitimate.  Some of the giants are willing to pay for the information and other giants have found a couple of free lists.  Im standing way down below and screaming at the top of my lungs that they can take surveys and do it for free and not have to worry about signing up with worthless sites.  Every now and then one of the giants looks down and hears me but more often than not they don't hear me.  They think, oh this company has over 500 survey companies!  I will pay them $40.  Another giant says, this list is free and has 300 companies!  I will sign up.
It never fails.  A week later I see the giants and they are all screaming that surveys are a scam!  They are only getting entered into contests and they can't waste their time on that!  They paid their $40 and all they got was a LIST..gasp! 
Okay so I am ranting and raving..  I spent tons of time researching survey companies, finding the legitimate companies and I yell about it as loud as I can and still hear people complaining that they lost money or they are getting nothing but spam.  Now I know I will never reach every person out there who wants to take paid surveys but when these people are frequenting the same message boards that I am and just seem to have skipped over everything I had to say and still forked over their money I have a really tough time not feeling frustrated.   On the other hand, if they read what I wrote and still paid money for a list I guess I shouldn't feel sorry for them at all! :)
 
FREE list of paid survey sites:  www.katieshugs.com
 
FREE information on government grants, auctions, and more!  www.freefromscams.com
 
All new all scrapbooking website!  www.scrapbooking4us.com
 
 
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Friday, June 23, 2006

Adsense ready websites

We have talked a lot about different ways to work from home.  One new scheme that I see a lot is to sell people ready made websites with adsense already on them.  The basic claim is that you get a couple of hundred google adsense ready websites.  Just put them up, add your code and they are ready to go.  All of the SEO work is done for you!  They also claim they are websites that are "proven" to work. 
One glitch in this system is the chance that they are selling the same websites to multiple people.  You buy your domain name but the content is the same as hundreds of other peoples. 
The second problem is "whose" adsense code is really being promoted? 
If this has been a work at home program that you have been giving thought to trying, please take a moment and read this thread:  http://www.howtocorp.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl/read/55186
 
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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Success

How do you define success?  I think this is an important question for any potential work from home parent to ask of themselves before they start.   If you are thinking of becoming a work at home parent, what will make you feel successful? If you don't know the answer how will you know when you are a success?

I feel successful because I am actually making money from my efforts but I think for me personally I will consider myself a success when I can quit my weekend job and not worry that I am making less.  

I guess this means that for me success is defined by the fact that I don't have to work outside the home.  For others success might be defined as being able to effectively help someone else meet their goals or feel better about themselves.  Still for others might define their success by reaching a specific goal. 

I would like to hear what success means to you.  Do you consider yourself successful?  Regardless of whether or not the answer is yes or no, why do you feel that way?

 
 
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Friday, June 16, 2006

I want to start a Blog

If you are thinking of starting a blog to make money there are a few things you should think about first.  Be sure you pick a topic you enjoy and like.  So many bloggers get started by just writing about their everday lives or rambling in general.  It is kind of like the website thing where people feel if they just put up a website people will find it and they will make money.  If you don't have an interesting topic who will want to visit?  Luckily, humans have a wide range of interests and you can find all kinds of interesting topics.   Take a look at other blogs and see what interests you and go from there.  Use keywords in your posts when you are blogging.  Keywords will help people find you in the search engines.  Exchange links with other relevant sites.  Random exchanges won't do you much good.  Read the terms of service for your affiliate companies.  I am always amazed at how many people sign up to use adsense and then complain when they get kicked out because they were using autosurf programs or other content based advertising.  Of course they don't know WHY they were booted but if you read the terms it becomes pretty clear.   Promote!  Find message boards that deal with your topics and become active.  Don't just throw out random posts that tell about your site.  Actually spend the time to be involved with the community.  Have fun.  This is the most important of all.  If you aren't having fun you won't stick with it. 

 
 
 
Ipsos 
 
 
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Thursday, June 15, 2006

What time do you start your day?

What time do you start working if you work from home?  I usually start around 6:30 but there have been a few times when I started at 5:30 a.m. and found that I got SO much more done in those first few hours than I do when I start later and have to work around kids.  Katie is usually up at about 7:30 so if I get up and get started by 5:30 that extra hour of piece and quiet seems to make a world of difference! 
What time do you start and when you seem to get the most done?
 
 
 
Ipsos 
 
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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Diversify

It is pretty easy to get on one topic and get stuck there.  I am trying to learn these days to diversify a bit.  The best part about it is that I don't get in a rut. 
If you are blogging about one topic and have numerous variations on that one topic you will find that you run out of things to talk about frequently. 
I believe most of us have interests in more than one area but we fail to take advantage of that.  For instance I am not a very political person but I LOVE to express my opinions about this area.  It would be an easy thing for me to start a political blog and move beyond the wah stuff. 
If you are already blogging take some time today to think about what other things you are interested in besides the topic of your blog.  Think about the things you enjoy but don't give much thought to or even something you want to learn more about.  Start a new blog and leverage that knowledge!
 
 
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Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

We've all heard this before but did I heed this advice?  Not very well.  One of the most important if not THE most important things you can do after you build a website is get traffic to it.  If you don't have traffic, you may as well not have a website. 
Recently I've seen the traffic to www.katieshugs.com drop off in a big way.  Especially over the past week.  At first I put it down to the fact that the weather is nice and not as many people are sitting around their computers.  This may still be a contributing factor.  I haven't changed any of the things I normally do to drive traffic so this made a little bit of sense but I am talking about a drastic change in traffic levels.  Well yesterday when I was at one of the forums where a large majority of my traffic comes from I noticed an announcement had been posted.  Turns out they have had some upheavals with members spreading rumors about their moderators and THEIR traffic has dropped by a considerable amount.  Well, there ya go!  I don't spend a lot of time promoting all over the web like I see others do and I felt comfortable with the traffic levels I had so I never worried much about it.  With the decrease though, it is affecting my income a great deal so now I need to be concerned.  Just goes to prove, don't put all your eggs in one basket!
 
 
 
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Thursday, June 08, 2006

Problogger

Now that you know all my goals for blogging I wanted to share with you some other bloggers goals.  I think it is helpful to see all the different directions people take their blogs and find out what they view as important. 
Darren at Problogger is currently running a group writing project for bloggers and it is all about goals.  There are three different installments this week so far! 
It is all very interesting and reading about everyone elses goals has given me even more to think about when it comes to my own.
 
 
 
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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

How lazy can you get?

How lazy can one person get?  If it's me, pretty darn lazy!  I am one of those people who is always telling my kids how important it is to practice what you preach but I am also one of the worst at following through with my own advice sometimes!
I have preached often here about how important it is to set goals for yourself.  It really doesn't matter if the goals are for your personal life, your working life, etc.  We all need goals to tell us what exactly it is we are working towards and help to motivate us. 
So why can't I do this?  Well I do it.  I really do.  I was just realizing that I need to do it differently maybe.
One of the goals I shared with you was that I want to have ten websites up by the end of July.  So to meet this goal I recently started two new blogs, one is at www.scrapbookingideas.blogspot.com and the other is a secret mystery blog.  You will have to find it! 
This puts me up to 3 websites, 1 message board and 5 blogs!  With about two months left I should have no problem meeting this goal.  Now, here is where a new problem comes in.   Although all of the blogs are up and running, I don't really feel they are finished.  There are a lot of things I would like to do with them to make them more personal and attractive.  I want to add some different colors and play around with the fonts a little among other things.
Most everyday I tell myself, I will work on this.  Do I?  Nope.  I keep focusing on just the one goal.  Getting everything built and launched. 
Now it is great to meet your goals but don't you think it also important to do a job well when you do it?  Especially when you consider the number of people who might be looking at your work!
Goals are funny little things when you think about it.  Some people can set a goal for themselves and stick to it quite easily.  For me, I need to share.  I need other people to make me feel guilty and I will feel guilty if I tell you I will do something and then I don't do it.   
So, let me tell you my goals so I can stay focused;
Before I can build another website or blog, I must finish what I started.  
I will get each blog it's own personality by setting aside the time to go in and change the colors and fonts.
I will learn more about HTML and how it works.
I will spend more time driving traffic to my blogs.
Finally, I will figure out why Technorati hates one of my blogs and get that fixed!
 
Connie
 
 
 
 
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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Back to the basics

The beauty of the internet is that you always have a fresh new audience.  There is never a danger of everyone in the world seeing what you have to offer all at the same time and then never returning.  It is ever changing and ever growing.
Because of this I have recently been getting a lot of emails with questions of exactly how to make money from home with affiliate advertising and blogs or websites.  Since this is my favorite way to work from home I just wanted to put up a link to all the affiliate advertising and blogging information I have written before.  
Start at the bottom of this page and read through this month and the next and you should have most of your questions answered or at least have a good understanding of how this works:
 
 
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Thursday, June 01, 2006

My real day off

I finally got a day off!  It was NOT an easy thing to do.  I spent most of the afternoon fighting the urge to check and answer emails or update my blogs. 
We spent the morning at the doctors office.  Hubby has developed Bursitis and it is not getting better so we took him for a steroid shot which cost over $300 and still didn't help.  Then it was time to take Katie to school.  After she was in school I actually sat down and finished the book I was reading which is only about two weeks overdue from the library. 
By the time I finished reading I was definately ready to take a nap but of course that didn't happen.  I was too afraid I would forget to wake up before school was out.
With the exception of cooking dinner, snacking all day and watching a couple of shows on tv, that was the extent of my long awaited day off.  Hopefully next week will be more exciting! 
I really did have to question WHY it was so hard for me to just sit still and enjoy the day off.  I know it is important and that we need to rejuvinate our minds, souls and bodies but it was not an easy task!   I think it is one of those things that we just have to get in the habit of.  Give yourself a break at least once a week right from the beginning and it will be easier and easier as time goes on. 
 
 
 
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