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Dear
Friend,
April
is here and Spring
isn't far behind.
It's
a time for renewal, and it may be the perfect time to re-dedicate yourself
to making your stamping business a success!
However,
running
a home-based business can be pretty tough.. My Coaching clients face
lots of hurdles on the road to success, many of which are covered in my
E-book, "Stamping
Is My Business!" Some people have it
rougher than others, though, which brings us to this month's
topic:
Top 10 Tips for Moms with
Home-based Businesses
Women
who run businesses from their homes and who are also parents face
particular challenges in juggling work and family. Work/family balance
issues are experienced on a moment to moment basis, often rather intensely
- the dishes need to get done, your children need your loving attention
and so too does your business need nurturing. How do you do it all? How do
you have a successful business, a healthy and fulfilling home/family life
AND stay sane?
Here are a few tips:
1.
Know your priorities and be realistic about them.
It's difficult to be everything to everyone. Know your priorities and stay
clear about them. This will help you to say no to the less important
things.
2.
Know what motivates you and be clear on your goals.
It's easy to get sidetracked, especially when the line between home and
work is so fine (i.e. when you're staring at a dirty kitchen and have 50
calls to make). Understanding what motivates you will help you stay on
track for those times when you get de-railed, discouraged or overwhelmed.
3.
Maintain a separate space for your work.
It's easy to get overwhelmed if your home life crowds into your work area.
It's important to have a separate space that allows you to concentrate and
focus. Make the space perfect so you're both efficient and comfortable.
4.
Maintain boundaries with your time.
Even if you have young children at home (doubling the difficulty of your
working from home!), it's important to maintain boundaries. Work within
your family structure, then create hours that can be 100% focused on your
business - uninterrupted. Communicate your schedule to others, and set
limits as necessary.
5.
Organize yourself as completely as possible.
The challenges of working from home are quadrupled if you've not set up a
structure that supports you. For many of us, structure was provided by our
employers - it's now up to us to create our own structures. Experiment
until you create the perfect structure that brings out your best.
6.
Create a network that supports you.
Invest in your business by hiring people who can support you, both ongoing
and/or on a temporary, as needed basis. A
Coach or consultant can be invaluable. Create
a
support structure that's
bigger than you need now, so your growth is unquestionable and effortless.
7.
Know exactly what it is you need to accomplish.
Know what your work priorities are for the day, and have both a big
picture view of what it is you're creating, while also knowing exactly
what it is you need to accomplish on a daily or weekly basis. Keep your
eye on both.
8.
Connect with others who are juggling the same demands as you.
Find
a network of people who are similarly
and successfully juggling the demands of home, family and business
- such as a Coaching group.
It
helps to know you're not alone. Be
role models for each other and share tips that work. Support from someone
who has "been there, done that" is invaluable.
9.
Take time for yourself and for your partner.
All the success in the world is meaningless if you lose touch with what's
most important. Yes, your children and your business require the largest
chunks of your time and energy, but it's also important to nourish the
relationships that sustain us. You'll be quickly drained if you don't do
this. Take time for yourself and don't neglect your relationship.
10.
Schedule time off for yourself.
As harried as you might be, it's important to take time off. Take time off
from your role of parent, business owner, entrepreneur and
spouse/household manager. See a movie, go to the beach, do pottery, take
tai chi or do weight training. Develop yourself in ways that are unrelated
to your roles in life. You'll be more powerful and effective as a result
of taking this time for yourself.
Tax
Reminder
Don't
forget...Tuesday, April 15th is Tax Day. If you haven't already done
so, make sure you file your taxes. If
you have to file an extension, you can download a copy of IRS Form 4868 at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf.
Remember,
this is simply an extension to file your taxes. It does not extend
the time you have to pay your taxes. If you do not pay the amount
due by April 15th, you will owe interest, and may incur a Late Payment
Penalty.
If you were running your stamping
business out of your home in 2002, you may have some legitimate tax
deductions. We cover what you can and cannot deduct in Chapter
Nineteen of " Stamping
Is My Business!"
To order a copy, click
here.
If
you feel like you may have some deductions, consider consulting an
accountant. At the very least, a tax preparation program, such as
Turbo Tax, could be a big help.
Book
Recommendation of the Month
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Rich
Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the
Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
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by
Robert T. Kiyosaki
I
recommend this book to all of my Coaching clients. Kiyosaki
offers a unique perspective on money and its influence on us
The book illustrates the various ways people think about money, and
how each viewpoint affects our economic decisions, and ultimately,
our success. If you've ever decided not to do something
because you were afraid
of how
it would impact you financially, this book is a must-read.
Click
here for more information or to order a copy through Amazon.com. |
Send
Me Your Questions and Suggestions
If
there's a particular question you'd like to have answered, or a topic you'd
like to see covered in a future edition of this newsletter, please send me
an e-mail. Also,
if you have any feedback or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
If
I can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to give me a call at
718-852-0790 or send me an e-mail.
As always, feel free to pass this on to anyone you believe would
benefit from it.
Warmest
regards,
John
Sanpietro
john@stampingismybusiness.com Stamping
Is My Business! Homepage
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