Thankfully we’ve had an in-house team of web squirrels to find these jobs from the launch of hiremyparents so I’ve been able to do less and less of it over time. Slowly stepping backwards, smiling all the time, no sudden moves. I can now focus on the parts of hmp I enjoy, things I’m good at.

However, there are home business owners out there that do everything. Think about it! Everything! The marketing, the buying, the data/web updates, customer service, fixing the crap that always seem to take up half a day, sales calls, blog, production, follow-ups, coffee – everything!

Its small wonder that most go to the wall with the owner’s heart in tatters and 2 mortgages hanging round his/her neck.

The answer is, of course, outsourcing. Find yourself a quality and trusted job board (hint hint) and put your needs up there and wait for the the resumes. But hold on that’s more bloody work. Before you know it your inbox is filled with resume chuckers that throw you an email just because your job’s in a certain category. So what do you do?

Filter them!

Instead of giving an email to send responses to give potential outsourcees a link to a Q&A form. You can set one of these up for free at places like http://www.surveymonkey.com/. Here you can get details of experience, expected wage, qualifications and whatever you feel relevant to the position.

The effect of this is twofold: 1) you get to know what you want to know about the applicant not what their resume wants you to know, and 2) you get rid of the resume chuckers – only people that really want the job and believe they can do the job are going to fill out a fairly lengthy form.

If you still get flooded with potential outsourcees then filter them again. Send them to another form that really drills down on your needs. After that you can be fairly certain that a) the individual really wants the job (half the battle when you’re outsourcing), b) they’re qualified for the job, and c) they’ll do it for a price you can live with. Result!

 

Think about what the term ‘balance’ means to you.  Are you picturing a pair of scales with equal amounts in each dish?  The definition of balance in Dictionary.com is ‘a state of equilibrium or equipoise’.  Is this what you’re trying to achieve in your life?

The fact of the matter is that life is never equally doled out in these measures.  Sometimes, work can take up all your time and then you have days upon days with the kids during school holidays.  No wonder people are always stressed and feeling guilty that they’re not putting enough time into various areas of their life – and let’s not even get started on exercise, visiting relatives and all the other little things that take up our time.

So, what’s the answer?  Well, firstly, I think it’s to address the very term.  Why not call it work/life compro-balance?  Simply by changing the term, it changes expectations and beliefs about what is possible to achieve.  The ‘compro’ in this case represents compromise ‘a settlement of differences by mutual concessions’ by Dictionary.com definitions.

The use of this new term reflects the achievement of ‘balance’ in life much more truthfully as in the pursuit of this state, there will always be concessions made.  There is simply not enough time in the day to achieve everything we want to and whereas use of the old term seemed to indicate this was possible, the new allows people to understand it isn’t always.

Think about the term work-life compro-balance, does the use of this term relieve the pressure of trying to be all things to all people?  Allow you the opportunity to forgive yourself if you don’t get everything done in the day?

The second step of the process is to use the term to re-evaluate what you’re trying to achieve.  List the areas of your life that need to be attended to, for example, sleep, children, husband, work, friends, business, housework, exercise, including things that you might like to do but have never been able to before.

Then, think of your life as a 100% whole, acknowledging that the time we have is finite and we can’t create any more out of thin air.  Divide this whole into those things you are required to do (they will need to be factored in first), followed by those you want to do.  It’s up to you how you do this but a weekly or monthly representation would be more effective as some things are only done once a week or month.

By looking at your results you will be able to see a representation of your time and how much you truly have for exercise or coffee with friends.  When you have this understanding, you can not only start trying to reallocate percentages by, for example, hiring a cleaner to allow time for exercise but you will also have an understanding of why you aren’t able to fit certain things in your life, thus reducing guilt and the feeling of pressure.

The resulting feeling of understanding and the knowledge that you are in control of all aspects of your life – that is true balance.

Alli Price runs Motivating Mum, a website and events business offering support and advice for mums in business, or those starting up.  www.motivatingmum.co.uk

 

More Work/Life Balance Articles…

What is Work/life Balance? | Sally Lever

on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much – the wheel, New York, wars and so.

Work/Life Balance… or Blend? | davefleet.com

The more you are passionate about the work you do, the more that work BECOMES life.

Work Life Balance – What’s it Worth to You? | BALANCE ACT

When considering your work life balance, take some time to ask what it’s worth to you. Your answer may hold the key to what to do next.

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An important element to creating a long-lasting profitable business is finding good wholesalers willing to work with you.

But, after a while, things slow down and you hit a wall. You find yourself chasing after prospects and wondering why it is taking so long to convert prospects into clients.

However, the process of finding a good wholesaler is not easy. There are a lot of scams out there, such as middlemen charging fees for the “privilege” to buy from them and inflating wholesale prices.

Even if you find a legitimate wholesaler, they may not want to deal with a small business much less a home-based business. This is actually the biggest challenge of small business when looking for a wholesaler, especially if the wholesaler is already servicing big businesses. Why bother with the small fries when you’ve got the big boys knocking on your door?

So how do you find good wholesalers?

1. Attend tradeshows: Tradeshows are a great way of finding suppliers, manufacturers and drop shippers for your business, especially if you require more specialized products. There are a number of tradeshows out there specializing in various segments – from kitchen and bath, to apparel to construction supplies.

Note though that some tradeshows are not open to the public, and you need to show proof of business identification. You may be asked to present your recent invoices, business cards, credit reference sheet showing companies you purchase from, and tax registration (Certificate or Business Registration Certificate indicating you are retail business). If you are just about to start your home business, you may show letter of intent from an attorney or bank on official letterhead stating the intent to start a new retail business.

To find tradeshows in your industry, you may want to check:

2. Industrial Directories. If you are looking for wholesalers in industry sectors, check out industrial directories. Thomas Register http://www.thomasnet.com is the most respected of industrial directories out there, and their web site offers about 67,000 product categories that you can search from.

Other industrial directories

3. eBay. An easy way to find wholesalers is through the online auction site eBay http://www.ebay.com . Wholesalers are everywhere on eBay, even dominating most if not all of the categories with their vast number of listings. Each category – from home and garden to clothing and accessories to cell phones – has a sub-category called wholesale lots where most of the wholesalers list their items.

4. Trade Magazines. Get hold of copies of trade publications on wholesaling, as they typically feature wholesalers, manufacturers and drop shippers. These magazines are mostly free, and feature a lot of ads from wholesalers that you can contact.
Examples of trade magazines include:

5. Online Directories. The web is full of online directories that list wholesalers, manufacturers, drop shippers and suppliers – with some more reliable, updated and screened than others. Make sure that you use specific keywords in your search (e.g. hair band wholesaler) instead of the very general terms (fashion accessories wholesaler) to help you narrow your search. Be careful though as some will sell you list claiming to be verified and updated listings of wholesalers.

About the Author:

Nach Maravilla is the CEO and Founder of PowerHomeBiz.com, an online magazine for home business entrepreneurs.

Other wholesalers for your home business articles…

Wholesale – How eBay Helps Your Wholesale Business Boom | THE Work …

When this happens expect that you will be needing a workspace in your home because you will probably get a lot of orders for stocks that inventory is already needed. You will need therefore business stuff like a computer, printer, …

My 5 favourite home business tools are listed below but there is one thing you really need – something I came across by accident after setting up a new computer in my office – a second screen. Trust me, with two open screens my productivity shot through the roof, less ‘tab snapping’ and great for having a ‘resource’ screen and a ‘working’ screen. Try it.

OK, so here they are, if you have any suggestions or if you’ve found a better option let me know in the comments.

1. Lastpass – I love this one. All those passwords you’ve got written down can now be kept in one place. Unlike microsoft explorers password storer this one holds your passwords on a secure server that you access with just one master password. After logging in it fills all those user/pass forms in for you automatically. It even stores profiles that you can use to fill in your address and credit card numbers. This one alone must save me an hour a week – highly recommended.

2. Ping – If you’re still adding the updates to your blog on all the social network sites by hand then you need this badly. Ping.fm takes your blogs feed (or any feed) and then passes it on to over 30 different social sites making sure you get the best exposure. It takes a while to set up the accounts but once done you will literally save days in the month.

3. only2clicks – I’m sure this probably says a lot about my personality type but I really hate bookmarks. A dropdown where you have to search for the site you need or the group that it’s in – hurts my eyes and my brain. The solution for me was only2clicks – a bookmarking site that stores your saved pages as screenshots under relevant tabs. It just produces a much nicer experience for me and I find I can navigate a great deal faster.

4. AWeber – Now I love my members, I really do, but if I had to write an email to every one and welcome them to the site I would get nothing else done. And then there’s the explanation emails, the new feature email, the new jobs email – the list goes on. Thankfully, there’s Aweber. This is the most robust autoresponder service on the web. As soon as a new lead signs up on your website for free info or a call back or to receive a newsletter AWeber starts delivering the info they need. It drip feeds information to your potential customers hopefully convincing them of your service or professionalism until they decide to bite and give you money. It stops your leads from going cold and turns them into eager buyers without you having to constantly keep them up-to-date manually.

5. RSS – We’ve all heard of RSS and you may have clicked that link a few times to see what happens. But it seems that few people in the non-webby business world have actually grasped the power of it. It is the perfect method to consume focused information. If you have a company in the widget industry you can go to every top website or blog in that industry and grab their RSS. Those RSS’s are then put into your favourite reader and you have the most comprehensive and cutting edge newspaper in the world. Every day when you boot up the computer you will have all the latest news from your business world at your finger tips.

For the nuts and bolts of RSS take a look at the video below and don’t forget to sign up to mine.

Those are my 5 favourites, if you have any further suggestions then please comment so we can share them.

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1. Meet Expectations. Although the adage, “It’s better to give than to receive,” is a sentimental favorite, those with whom you do business expect to be remembered during the holidays. Holiday greeting cards help smooth your business relationships during the rest of the year by meeting expectations during the Christmas season.

2. Improve Customer Relations. Whether you have a business-to-business enterprise, provide a professional service, or own a retail store, chances are that your success is built upon maintaining relationships with your customers and clients. Christmas cards show your customers and clients that you appreciate their business, and that you want to share the spirit of the season.

3. Cost Effective. Perhaps you already buy holiday gifts and remembrances for your best customers or clients, but business holiday cards allow you to reach many more people for relatively little money. You can purchase personalized business holiday cards for as little as $1.40 each, including options to select among many different styles and verses, several colors of ink, and imprinted envelopes. This is an excellent investment in your business.

4. Excellent Return on Investment. Chances are, you and your company receive business Christmas cards from your vendors and suppliers. So, you understand the warm feelings that arise when you read their holiday cards, and you probably experience a “carryover” positive impression when you do your purchasing in the New Year. If you doubt that business holiday cards generate an excellent return on investment, ask yourself this: All other things being equal, which company would you choose to do business with – the company that sent you a holiday card every year or the company that only contacted you when it was time to reorder or collect payment?

5. Limitless Choices. With the rise of Internet and ecommerce, companies have an unprecedented opportunity to select business Christmas cards that reflect their company’s image and values. The best online sources for business holiday cards have a wide variety of high quality card designs. In addition, the best online greeting card companies offer a free choice of verse, free coordinated foil-lined envelopes, free samples of Christmas cards, and a multitude of choices for personalization.

In today’s business world, you need to take advantage of every opportunity to differentiate your company from your competition. Sending business Christmas cards is a small gesture than can mean improved customer relationships and an excellent return on investment. You really can’t afford not to send holiday cards to your customers, clients, and associates.

1. Are You a Salesperson?

Some people have a natural talent for sales, while others couldn’t sell water to someone stranded in the desert. For the home based worker who has the ability to sell, network marketing may be the perfect home based business. Network marketing typically involves selling products in one or more niche markets, as well as selling the opportunity. Also known as multi-level marketing, network marketing pays commissions based on a percentage of your sales and on the sales of your “downline,” or those you have recruited to sell the product. Each opportunity has its own commission plan, and many pay bonuses on top of commissions.

2. Are You Experienced?

If you have years of experience being a home worker, you probably have a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, if you’re new to being an entrepreneur, you probably need training. Look for a company that offers the tools and training you need in order to succeed. The type of training you receive can encompass everything from weekly conference calls or webinars (Internet-based seminars), to one-on-one coaching from your upline, to training manuals and other written materials.

3. Are You Internet Savvy?

If you know your way around the Internet and know something about setting up and hosting websites, the possibilities are endless. You can create your own websites, for example, and start generating affiliate revenue and Google AdSense revenue.

If you haven’t the foggiest idea of how to set up and host a website, be sure to find a company you can partner with who will do the heavy lifting. There are many Internet-based opportunities for the home based worker from companies that provide what are called “replicated sites.” They’ll design and host your websites for you, so that all you have to do is work on marketing in order to drive traffic to your site.

4. How Much do You Want to Work?

Before selecting a home based business opportunity, honestly assess how much you want to work. If a stay-at-home mom needs extra money, she may only want to work two or three hours a day. If someone wants to quit the rat race and work full time as a home worker, money for moms simply won’t be enough income. Sometimes a single home based business will provide all of the revenue a person needs, while other times you have to embark on several opportunities to diversify and multiply your revenue streams.

5. How Hands-On do You Want to Be?

Some home based business opportunities require that you be actively involved on a day-to-day basis, either in order fulfillment and customer service or in marketing your websites or businesses. Other opportunities are more passive in nature, in that you have to spend a lot of time initially, but they become self-perpetuating. If you’re a home worker who enjoys being an ongoing active participant, choose an opportunity that requires you to interact with other people. If you prefer to be hands-off, select a business that will basically run itself.

Niche Too Small
Is your niche too small? Finding a small market to target with your business is key to success, but sometimes people narrow their niche too much. While doggy dental products could be a wonderful niche (as almost any dog owner can attest) you could even narrow your focus down to a certain type of dog (such as lap dogs) but going for one specific breed would be taking it too far.

Target Market Too Small
Is your target market too small? If you are looking only at one community or small geographic region then you may well doom your product to failure. It is far too easy to saturate a small market and it is far too easy for any marketing mistakes to end your campaign before it gets off the ground. In today’s economy with the availability of global marketing you need to think big when you are planning your target market.

Budget Too Small
Is your budget too small? You don’t need a million dollar advertising budget but you should have some seed money to get your business and its marketing campaign off the ground. It is possible to build a business from nothing but it is also a lot more difficult and you might find yourself making some mistakes that cost you a lot more down the road than putting a little money up front.

Schedule Too Small
Is your schedule too small? Do you have enough time to devote to your business?  Starting, running, and growing a business takes time. Some people get swept up in the planning and dreaming stages and never really start their business. Other people start before they have completely planned everything out and quickly get mired down by unexpected difficulties. While others do everything right in the planning and startup but once the business is running they get overwhelmed by day-to-day business and never think aobut ways to improve and grow their business.

Mind Too Small
Is your mind too small? You need to open up your mind’s eye to continually seek new opportunities to find new customers, to find new potential partners, to find new ideas for products, and to find new opportunities for marketing. Flexibility and adaptability are key to surival in today’s business climate and you always need to have new ideas cooking to grow and expand your market and your business. This means raising your head up out of the trenches once in a while. Yes, you might need to dodge the occasional missile lobbed your way but this is the only way to see those opportunities heading your way.

If you do your best to avoid these five not-so-small mistakes then you will be on your way to small business success.