#1 – Set a schedule. One of the best ways to stay productive when working from home is to separate work from home. By setting work hours you say to the world and to yourself “I’m now working and can only deal with work.” Once your work hours are finished you can then move on to other tasks. This is exactly what you would do if you worked outside the home.

Being strict with yourself and setting a work schedule means that you not only get more done but you keep motivation at an all time high. It’s very demoralizing to fall behind on your work and this can really send any motivation you have into a nose dive. Avoid this trap by working to a set schedule.

#2 – Create a goals board. Creating a visual reminder of why you do what you do is extremely motivating. This can be a simple cork board that you add written goals to. You can also add pictures of your family and other reminders which help you feel what you do is worthwhile. Keep this board in sight so that you see it each time you sit down to work.

By simply having a visual reminder of why we’re doing what we do, we can remain motivated and moving forwards towards our goals.

#3 – Take a break. While this may seem counter-intuitive, it’s important to take a break from your business to recharge your batteries. Stay motivated by planning a special day out or a few hours at a coffee shop or anything that’s special to you. If you have something to look forward to, you are more likely to stay motivated because there’s an end reward in sight.

#4 – Take care of yourself. Feeling run down or tired can often be mistaken for lack of motivation. Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and taking a few minutes each day to get fresh air and exercise. It may seem like you don’t have time to exercise or eat right, but think about the time you will actually gain in the long term. Feeling healthy and energized will mean that you can concentrate better, work more productively and feel better all around – all of which leads to increased motivation and productivity.

As a mompreneur you can stay motivated and on task by creating the right balance between work and home life. The tips above will go a long way to helping you get started.

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Imagine this: You live in a world where almost all consumer goods are the same, the products all look alike, restaurants serve similar food and pretty much everything looks the same.

It would be a boring and problematic world, because consumers would have lots of choices, but all of which look the same and fulfill the same purpose.

Successful brands are inevitably linked to their respective niches, e.g Coke is famous for its cola, Mcdonalds is known for burgers and so on.

What you need is top notch branding that makes you stand head and shoulders above your noisy competitors who are simply using price- slashing techniques or hard sell.

The question is, do you have the mega budgets of companies like Mcdonalds or Coke to spend on branding? Probably not.

But is it possible to brand your business so effectively that people identify it with the niche it is involved with?

Yes, and in fact right now I am going to recommend you a unique eCourse that contains powerful branding strategies you can use to transform your business into a force to be reckoned with in your niche!

And guess what…the invaluable advice on branding you’re about to get is free.

Sign up for your free weekly eCourse on Branding Your Business Online:

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Jimmy D. Brown is about to shut down his Small Reports
Zone site permanently. He’s “retiring” ALL of his current
products and services, beginning with this site.

As he was making preparations to shut the site down, he
realized that there were several small reports that Nicole
and he had planned on adding to the site but never got
around to doing it.

In fact, Nicole had a download page and the files prepped for one great report entitled, “The Ultimate Free Traffic Model“. It was originally part of one of Jimmy’s larger products and they had extracted it to sell on the site for $15 along with the other reports.

While he easily COULD have sold hundreds (really thousands) of copies of the report this week as part of his retirement, he decided to give away complimentary copies of this paid report.

No charge. No lists to join. For real no charge. Here is the original download page that Nicole setup…

Download your copy today. When he shuts down the site today, this freebie will be gone too. No reason why you shouldn’t at least get a copy of it before it’s gone.

*** AND DON’T FORGET ***

Today is THE last day to purchase any of his small reports from his Small Reports Zone.

Today at 10PM Central time he will be shutting the site down and no longer accepting any new orders.

They are all on sale for only $10 each!

NOTE: My recommendation is that you at LEAST get a copy of his 65-page “operations manual”, Homepreneur Habits. If you spend only $10 all year, this is the best value you’ll find anywhere. Period.

The rest of them are pretty darn good too.

Grab the complimentary copy of the unreleased paid report. And order copies of anything else you want. They’ll all be gone tonight.

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Name of the Product

Product Description: The report shares proven techniques that will help you increase your profits by showing you how to get your existing customers to spend more.

Who This Product is Intended For: People that write and/or sell products or services and would like to increase their income.

Uses: This report reveals several ways to offer additional products to your customers to increase your earnings. You’ll learn how simply asking for a sale is sometimes the easiest way to get it. No matter what you sell, you can always sell more and upselling makes it so simple.

Pros: This report is short and easy to follow. A quick read, it includes step-by-step instructions on when, where and why to use the upsell technique. You’ll find several ideas to help you understand how upselling works. The examples, hints and tips found inside will make it easy for you to apply it to your own product or service. You’ll even discover how NOT to do an upsell. Yes, it can be done wrong and the techniques will not work if you do it this way.

Cons: None immediately visible.

Personal Opinion: The Upsell Report not only gave me more than enough ideas to get started with plans to include an upsell in my product offerings, it also provided inspiration to start brainstorming my own ideas.  I am confident that I will be able to successfully implement these ideas into my business and become profitable by doing so. It’s funny how you hear upselling all the time in life (think toy stores, fast food restaurants, etc.) but many people don’t apply it to their online business as frequently. The fact that it works is reason enough for me to put this technique into place in my online business.

Are you ready to get more money from every customer? (And, have them thrilled to give it to you?) Check out The UPsell Report.

Note: Grab this special report quick as it will no longer be available after Friday, February 26.  Only $10!

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1)You can buy traffic via google adwords or by buying ezine ads
2)You can work on SEO to get people to your signup list via search engines
3)You can write and distribute a bunch of articles which each will result in a few signups

Do you see a common theme here? You either have to spend a lot of time or a nice chunk of change to build your list. Neither of which is a good option in my opinion.  I used to do all three of these and while they all work, having to spend all that money or time get’s old pretty quick.

I was about ready to give up on this whole list thing when I came across this report by one of my favorite Internet Marketers - Jimmy D. Brown. The report is called “How To Drive Free Traffic To Your List Page With Ezine Articles” and you can get your copy here.

I started by writing just one article based on the step-by-step process that Jimmy outlines, got it out there and quickly built my list of over 1200 subscribers. Best of all, I’m still seeing new signups from this one article almost daily.

To your success,

Dawn

P.S. Don’t put this off, get the report today here and start building your lists faster than you thought possible.

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Name of the Product

Homepreneur Habits:  How To Run A Successful Home Business
By Jimmy D. Brown

Product Description: A Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Home Business Owners

Who This Product is Intended For:  Anyone that wants to run a successful home-based business but is overwhelmed by where to start and how to run a business effectively.

Uses: This report shares ways to set up and operate your office so you can more easily maintain your business.  It will also help you establish a workable schedule. You’ll learn how to you implement systems that work for your individual business.

In this report, you’ll also find photos of Jimmy D. Brown’s office which I found fascinating. I now know what his desk looks like, what kind of white board he uses, and what tools he finds essential to running an almost 7 figure business online.

Pros: It includes easy-to-understand language and uses photos to illustrate points.  You’ll find systems that can easily be tailored to specific situations and implemented with ease.  Jimmy shares real-world examples as well as includes a bonus FAQ section.

Cons: None I could identify.

Personal Opinion: Homepreneur Habits is THE report that I’ve been looking for ever since I started my own home-based business over 6 years ago.  From the beginning, this report takes you through and shows you through words & pictures the “hows” and “whys” of setting up a home office for ease and comfort.

Then Jimmy goes a step beyond and shares how to set up a weekly work routine, day-by-day in such a way that makes it obvious that implementing a schedule is not only a do-able, but a preferable and profitable, way to work. Each time I read it, I learn something new to implement.

Where you can Buy it: Grab your copy here

Note: Grab this special report quick as it will no longer be available after Friday, February 26.  Only $10!

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Networking exposes you to other business leaders, entrepreneurs and motivated individuals. Even if you don’t have a single competitive bone in your body, when you network online and offline, you’re going to be inspired by the energy, ideas and productivity you see in those around you. It’s actually a great reality check. It gives you the unique ability to mingle with like-minded individuals who may have a different perspective, a different experience or a different story than you do and have achieved success.

Networking also forces you to stay on your game. If you’re putting forth the effort to network, and it’s recommended that you do, you’re going to have to be at your best. When you communicate with people, you want to put your best foot forward and make a positive impression. When people ask you what you do, you want to be ready, willing and able to give them an informational and inspirational elevator pitch. Because you just never know when you’re going to meet your next great business partner, a superior customer or one of those coveted Paul Revere types of individuals who spreads news faster than CNN. Meet a Paul Revere type of individual, get them excited about your business, and you’ve just launched your business into a whole new game.

Networking is usually a scheduled event, so it accomplishes two things. It motivates you to be prepared before you head to the website or event. And it makes you put some serious thought into how you present yourself both online and off.

Networking forces you to think about your business, where it’s going, what your future plans are, and how you want to be perceived. For most people, networking with other successful people inspires their competitive spirit. We see other successful people and think, “If they can do that, so can I.”  We hear great ideas, product launches, marketing tactics and business strategies and we think, “I can do that better than they did!” or “I wonder if I can achieve more sales and profits than that?”  Competition is very motivating!

Finally, networking both online and off (though online networking can be done in your pajamas with unruly hair and unbrushed teeth) makes us feel and act more professionally. Though there are some people who forget that and behave badly online and off. For the most part, the simple act of being a professional makes us feel more professional. We start to feel less like a person who works at home in their pajamas and more like a business person, an entrepreneur, a CEO.

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One way to see where you are losing time is with a time log.  We stress “where” instead of “if” because everyone loses track of time.  It becomes a problem when that loss of time leads to burning the midnight oil to meet client deadlines, or stress because one or more activities coincide with each other.

Stress is one likely result of lost time.  Consistently finding yourself in stressful situations can affect your entire life and your health.  Avoid all of that with a few simple experiments.

One is using a time log which was mentioned earlier.  A time log can be as simple as a spreadsheet document that you can fill out with the names of activities you did during each day of the week.  A time log is like a food diary.  It tracks your current time management habits for later evaluation.

Where does most of the time get lost?  It could be at the beginning of the day.  When there is not a plan in place to govern your tasks for the day, the day can get off to a sluggish start.  You spend time deciding what to accomplish or you begin with one area and see what falls out.  Because you have missed deadlines or forgotten about projects, your day is spent playing catch-up and apologizing to clients.

The same goes for the family side of your time.  It is hard to find the balance between family life and business.  Without a schedule it is next to impossible.  A forgotten deadline could mean you are working well into the weekend when you were supposed to take a family outing.  Do you skip the outing or delay the project work longer?  It is a tough decision that will leave you stressed either way.

Consider charting your time as a way of keeping it from escaping you.  You can keep a big chart in your office.  A large chart can be purchased if it meets your specifications.  The days of the week run along the top with the times running along the side.  Color-code the chart for easier reading.  Choose two or three colors for business activities and do the same for family activities.

Whenever you get a deadline, record it on the chart.  Scheduled family activities are also recorded.  Each day, block out time for work, personal time and family.  In a smaller planner or a digital calendar, record the details of the plan for the work and personal blocks for each day.

A chart can help organize your time better than keeping everything in your head.  At a glance you can see what your schedule will be like each day.

More time management tips…

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Mired by negative thoughts? They can hold you back from achieving all you’re capable of. Negative thinking can be considered as habit, created by lifelong limiting beliefs, comparing yourself to others and some is just plain old procrastination. When you learn the cause for your negative thoughts you can release them and unlock your business potential. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Start by catching yourself whenever you have a negative thought. It’ll probably contain the words,

• “I can’t”
• “I’m not good at”
• “I’m afraid”
• “I never have”

You get the picture, right? It’ll be negative. When you’re first starting on this road to letting go of your negative thoughts, don’t judge yourself. Simply recognize when you have negative thoughts and what they are. You may even want to write them down. Keeping a journal of your negative thoughts for a couple of days will help you analyze where they’re coming from.

Once you are beginning to recognize your negative thoughts, you can start changing them. Ask yourself where the negative thought came from and if it’s true. Most of the time our negative thoughts are just a habit, or they’re based on a limiting belief that really has no validity. For example, “I can’t go to college, no one in my family ever has.” Is it true? No, of course you can go to college; your family has nothing to do with your ability, goals, and decisions.

So up until this point you’re recognizing or becoming more conscious of negative thoughts when they appear, and you’re starting to question their validity. Next, it’s time to change those “I can’ts” into “I cans.”

You have a negative thought pop into your head when you’re contemplating something. You recognize it, you question if it’s true and now you begin to turn it into a positive thought. Every time you think, I can’t, stop yourself and create an affirmation that tells you, you can.

“There’s no way I can reach my sales goal of $100,000.” Is this true? No, where there is a will there is a way. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Your affirmation may be, “With some creativity and careful planning, I can reach my sales goal of $100,000.” Now you can sit down and make it happen.

Fear, doubt, insecurities and negative thinking are something most people battle with from time to time. The difference between successful people and everyone else is that successful people don’t listen to that negative talk. They push it aside, mold it into something they can use and persevere to achieve their goals and dreams.

The great news is that once you begin making a habit of turning negative thoughts into positive ones, the negative thoughts will diminish. You’ll have them less often and they’ll be replaced by a can do attitude. You’ll develop a habit of positive thinking and then your full business potential can be achieved.

“You’ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.”  ~ Ralph Marston

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” ~Willie Nelson

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Today’s talk is with Maura Perry from Craft Sassy.  Learn more about Maura, why she started her custom scrapbook business as well as some success tips she learned along the way on her scrapbook business journey.

Tell us about your scrapbook business?

CraftSassy is a custom scrapbook paper printing business that allows both retail and wholesale customers to design and print their own unique custom papers by the sheet or in smaller quantities than usual for wholesale contracts- respectively. This is “real” acid/lignin free scrapbook paper, we do not use photo paper. Our papers are printed using environmentally friendly inks.

Why did you decide to start your scrapbook business creating custom papers?

It was a bit of a fluke. I was not working at the time and doing a lot of scrapbooking. I was frustrated because I wanted specific papers and couldn’t find them. My husband’s company had recently started offering their customers web-to-print and digital printing, and I was able to print my own papers. I figured that I couldn’t be alone in wanting this type of custom service.

How did you first get started in your scrapbooking business?

When I knew that I wanted to pursue a business in scrapbooking, I did a ton of research and joined a scrapbook business owners group (Scrap Biz, which is no longer in business) where I was able to bounce my ideas off people that were already established in the industry and fine tune my ideas.

What tools/resources would you say are essential to succeeding in this type of business?

Writing a detailed business plan was key, in my opinion. You need to do the research and be totally honest with yourself as you are doing it. This industry is saturated and you need to have a concrete plan about how your particular business is going to survive. Also, being willing to change that plan as needed and refer to it along the way.

Finding mentors, such as I did with Scrap Biz, that you can bounce ideas off of and network with, was huge for me.

What are some mistakes you may have made getting started in your own business?

It was small and I caught it quickly, one of the businesses email addresses was somehow not linked to my inbox. I caught it within a few days and it was okay. That however has made me particularly cautious to double check everything, whether it is technical or otherwise.

What is your favorite/most effective method for gaining new clients (especially when you first got started)?

The best / most effective thing I did when CraftSassy first opened, was to have a professional marketing person write a press release, and posting or submitting it to as many free and low cost PR sites, as well as online and print industry publications as possible. This one thing has in over a year and a half, continued to pay off for us in the form of customers, brand recognition and further press which includes some articles in major publications.

What is your favorite way to grow your business online?

Networking is, in my opinion the best way. Social networking, message boards and commenting on blogs you like are all relatively small things that you can do in a few minutes that have a great impact. I can always see the difference in my web stats and business (when I am “good” about keeping up with these things.)

What is one mistake you have made and learned from?

We all make mistakes; you have to be willing to make mistakes if you are starting your own business. You also have to be willing to “own” them. On the rare occasion that something does go wrong, the press goes down or an order has a problem, we own it and do whatever it takes to make it right. To me it doesn’t matter what happens or whose fault it is, I want the customer to be taken care of.

Based on feedback from your customers, what are some of the benefits you provide?

For small business and kit clubs, we provide a way for them to have high quality, branded, niche, regional or exclusive papers that set their business apart from others.

For the consumer, it allows them to have more creative freedom. Whether they are scanning their child’s artwork or printing a digital layout, each paper they design add a more personal layer to their finished project.

How can other scrapbook owners benefit from Craft Sassy?

I really think that the possibilities are endless: local school paper, regional event or landmarks, unique designs that are exclusive because you “own” that design. We also do a lot of custom work so you can have custom sizes, paperweights, we can even do die cuts, stickers and binding by custom order.

How should someone determine if starting their own scrapbook business is right for them?

I’d say you really need to ask yourself;

A.    Do I really have a solid, marketable plan?

B.     Do I have the time and more importantly the desire to dedicate to all aspects of the business (accounting, follow-ups, marketing, customer service and shipping to name a few).

Do you consider yourself successful? Why or why not?

As a relatively new business that is very unique, I think we have been very successful in getting the initial attention needed to create a solid foundation. I see limitless potential for this business and am excited to see where it takes us.

Any final words of advice you would like to add?

Did I mention how important it is to have a plan?

***You can read more about craftsassy.com on page 12 of the fall issue of Scrapbooking and Beyond!

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Thank you Maura for sharing with us. I think many who are considering or already started their scrapbook business will gain some valuable insight from her experience.

Looking to get started in your scrapbook business? Be sure to get the scrapbook business roadmap which will guide you along the steps that Maura talked about. And it is free for signing up for the Scrapbook Business Tips newsletter. And if you need help with your scrapbook business plan, be sure to visit Scrapventurereports.com.

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