Low Tech. Who Me?

Those of you who know me also know that I am a pretty low-tech person when it comes to computers. 

The router on my computer from which both my husband and I get internet access for our wireless computers has been slowly failing.  It would cut us off the internet at least once a day, and this week it was three to four times a day.  So, it was time to buy a new router.

Whenever we buy any new computer-related equipment, it becomes a major ordeal for us to get everything up and running.  Today was definitely no exception.

The salesman at the office supply store advised us to purchase a mid-priced router that we just had to plug in and it would automatically set itself up.  Yeah, right!

We brought it home, and I loaded the software.  It was no surprise to us when we discovered it did not connect us to the internet.  We did everything we could figure out, disconnecting, reconnecting our modem and router and re-booting our computers.  It still did not work.  We called the store where we bought it, and the salesman advised us to call our internet provider.  Apparently our internet provider had to reset something on their end, and voila!  It worked!

We thought we were good to go until I tried to print something.  Of course, I’d forgotten that the new network would be unable to connect to my wireless printer.  I searched the printer’s support site, and it gave step-by-step instructions on how to connect it to the new network, but when it reached the step to push a button on the router that did not exist, we were stuck again.

I called the support line for the router, and I was told that since the printer was from a third party, it was out of their “scope” of training.  He said he would be glad to connect me to their partner support company that could help me if I signed up for their contract.  No thanks!

We searched the printer’s support website and “Googled” for help.  After hours of struggling, we finally found a way to set up the printer using a cable.  Whoopee!  It worked! 

We now have a new router that is connecting us to the internet just fine AND my printer is communicating with my computer!

So, other than this blog, I have gotten no work done today.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Those of you who know how to work with all these electronic gadgets easily likely are laughing right now.  I have come a very long way with my technological knowledge over the past few years, but I still have a very long way to go!  You can stop laughing now!

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Do You Qualify to be a Home Business Owner?

So, you have been thinking about starting a home business for a while.  Perhaps you just can’t bear to go back to work after having your first baby.  Maybe you have a full time job, but you are struggling to pay the bills and want to supplement your income.  Or, is it that you are just sick of fighting the traffic every day and you really don’t like your job anyway.  There are innumerable reasons why people want to work from home.  Whatever your reason may be, I suggest that you “interview” yourself first to see if you “qualify” to be a home business owner.  To determine whether this is a realistic option for you, here are a few questions to ask yourself before you quit your job or pay a single dime toward any business. 

·        Why do you want a home business?  This is important.  Write down your reasons, your goals and what you hope to accomplish.

·        Have you done lots of research on a variety of businesses and found one you would be proud to represent?  If so, have you checked out the company on the internet on third party sites to see what those outside the company say about it? 

·        Are you passionate about the product or service you would be promoting?  If not, it is unlikely you will be successful.

·        Have you compared the products you will be offering and why they are better than those of their competition?

·        Have you thought about the target market to which you will be marketing the business?

·        Have you looked at all of the costs involved in starting the business?  I’ve seen companies that have a very low start-up cost, but once you get into the business, you learn there are a variety of “hidden” charges.  Even those companies that claim to be “free” will have some kind of expenses to operate.

·        Can you afford to pay the monthly fees and other expenses required to operate the business out of pocket for at least three months?  Many companies say you’ll be earning a six-figure income in a very short period of time.  A six-figure income is rare even after a year in business with any company.  Expect to be paying out of pocket until you reach profit mode.

·        Do you truly have the time to work a home business?  If you have an outside job, how much time will you be able to devote to your business?  Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, will you be able to work around your children’s schedule with their soccer games, band practice and orthodontist appointments?  Are your children old enough to know they cannot disturb you when you are working?

·        Do you have a space in your home where you can work without the background sounds of the TV or the kids playing?  You’ll need a space dedicated to your “home office.”   

·        Are you self-motivated?  Working at home, you’ll have no boss setting your work schedule or telling you what to do.  Will you be able to create a work schedule and stick to it?

·        Have you discussed the idea of a home business with your family?  Without your spouse and children supporting your efforts, you’ll be under greater pressure to succeed quickly.  That simply may not happen.

·        Are you willing and able to make the sacrifices that a home business requires?  You may have to work harder and more hours than you have ever worked on any job.

Answer all these questions honestly.  If you try to fool yourself, you will suffer the consequences. You will end up losing money and time, and you will add stress to your life that will affect you and your family.   There is no shame in not being a good candidate to work and operate a home business.  If the answers to these questions make you a good fit to be a home business owner, be prepared for it to be the hardest job you have ever loved.  I wish you great success!

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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Overcoming the Time Management Challenges with a Home Business

So, you think you finally have your “dream job.”  You no longer have a boss to whom you must answer.  You no longer have to work 8-5.  You are free!  Well, not quite.

After a couple weeks with your new home business, you notice that you’re hardly spending any time with your family, the house is a mess and you are exhausted!  Now you’re wondering if your dream has become a nightmare. 

Time management can be a huge challenge for home business owners.  If you don’t learn time management skills, it is very likely you will be unproductive, earn little or no money, and you will be unhappy – not to mention your family’s displeasure. 

A large percentage of people want to work from home so they can be home with their children.  Realization sets in after a short time and they feel as though they have to choose between working their business and being with their family.  However, if they have a schedule, they can “do it all.” 

A work schedule takes planning ahead and communicating with your family.  First look at your family’s schedule.  When does the baby nap? When are the kids in school?  When does your spouse return home from work?  Next, determine how many hours you want to work each day or each week.  Although it need not be written in stone, write down when you will start work, when you will take breaks and when you will stop work for the day.  It is easy to get so involved with your business that you lose track of time.  This is one I have been guilty of doing.  

It helps to speak with your spouse about your work schedule.  If your children are old enough to do household chores, hold a family meeting and involve everyone.  Ask for volunteers or assign tasks to each family member that will help reduce your household responsibilities.  A rotating task schedule can help prevent arguments between siblings.  Joshua clears the table and loads the dishwasher on Monday and Wednesday, and Lisa does it on Tuesday and Thursday.  Alternate the days when each child folds the laundry.  You get the idea. 

Be sure that your family members understand that during your work hours, you are not to be disturbed unless there is an emergency.  Ask your family and friends not to phone you during those hours.  Here is one of the most difficult things I had to do… Accept the fact that your house will not be as clean as when you did it all yourself.  

Your weekly schedule should include family time, work time and some “you” time.  If you don’t allow time for relaxation – time to read a book, have lunch with friends or go to the hair salon, you will simply get burned out.  My own work schedule includes completing certain tasks daily, weekly or monthly – both for my business and my home. Mine has a place for tally marks so I can check off tasks as I complete them.  I find it helps me stay organized.  

To help reduce your time in the kitchen, plan out a menu each week and buy and prepare meals in bulk.  Then freeze them.  Buy rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to save time cooking.  They are already cooked, inexpensive and can be used in a variety of different recipes.   

Use your time wisely.  Sometimes work time, “you” time and family time can be combined.  While you’re waiting for your daughter in her dance class, check your email of return a call to a prospect.  Bring a book when you take your son to his orthodontist’s appointment so you can take a few minutes to relax. 

You can use an online planner or write your schedule down with pen and paper, but have it in print!  Do not keep your schedule in your head.  You must be able to look at it. 

It may take some time to plan out your family and work schedule and a little time for you and your family to adjust to it, but once that happens, you will discover that it was well worth the time.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).  

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On this Date in History…

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/today-history-050206767.html 

Today is October 26, 2013, the 299th day of 2013. There are 66 days left in the year.

On this date:

·        In 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.

·        In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

·        On Oct. 26, 1861, the legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph. (The last run of the Pony Express was completed the following month.)

·        In 1881 – The legendary gunfight at the O.K. corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona.  It was between the Earp brothers and J.H.Halliday on one side and two Clinton brothers and two McLaury brothers on the other side.  [Tidbit:  I live about 30 miles from Tombstone, Arizona.]

·        In 1942, Japanese planes badly damaged the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands during World War II. (The Hornet sank early the next morning.)

·        In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed a measure raising the minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents an hour.

·        In 1958, Pan American Airways flew its first Boeing 707 jetliner from New York to Paris in 8 hours and 41 minutes.

·        In 1972, national security adviser Henry Kissinger declared, "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam.

·        In 1980, Israeli President Yitzhak Navon became the first Israeli head of state to visit Egypt.

·        In 1984, "Baby Fae," a newborn with a severe heart defect, was given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant in Loma Linda, Calif. (Baby Fae lived 21 days with the animal heart.)

·        In 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists.

·        Ten years ago: Thirteen deaths in Southern California were reported as wildfires fed by hot Santa Ana winds flared into gigantic waves of flame that devoured entire neighborhoods.

·        Five years ago: U.S. military helicopters launched a rare attack on Syrian territory, killing eight people in a strike Damascus condemned as "serious aggression."

·        One year ago: After leaving more than 40 people dead in the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy headed toward the eastern United States, with forecasters warning that it would merge with two winter storm systems to create a megastorm.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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I Want Outta Here!

My husband and I want to return to Southern California to live.  We both lived in or near Los Angeles most of our lives until 1995.  We moved to Southeast Arizona, but now, we want to be close to our family again.

We put our house up for sale nearly two YEARS ago.  We have a large house that is really beautiful.  I wish we could move it to California.  We are on our third real estate agent.  The first two suggested the same listing price.  In those 18 months exactly ONE person looked at our house. 

Our current agent told us our house was priced way to high.  Although we’d love more money, we want to move, so we lowered the house by $40,000!  In the few months since we reduced the price several people have looked at the house.  No offers have been made.

Early this week, an agent called and asked if she could show our house.  She was already in our sub-division, and her clients had asked if they could see our house.  The agent did NOT suggest looking at our house; the clients asked after seeing the “for sale sign.”  I asked the agent to give me five minutes.  I ran around picking up a few things, and then I left the house.  (All the agents ask us not to be home when they show the house.)

The agent and her clients came and left.  We received no offer from them.  Out of curiosity, my husband called the agent that showed our house a few days ago.  He asked her what feedback she received from her clients.   She said they loved the house, thought it was “gorgeous,” but they didn’t like the monthly homeowners association fee.  There is NO monthly association fee!  We pay $35 PER YEAR!  When my husband told her that, the agent said, “Oops!  Sorry, but the couple already put an offer on another house.”

We have learned that there are 4000 houses for sale in our city (40,000 population).  There are about a dozen for sale in our sub-division.  The competition is great. 

We may well have had an offer if an uninformed real estate agent had told her clients the correct HOA fee.  Our own agent was upset when we notified him about the situation. 

We are very frustrated.  I was hoping to be in California to celebrate the holidays with our family this year.  We have accepted the fact that it isn’t going to happen.  We are saving all our money for the move, and a trip out there for the holidays would take money from our new house fund.

Well, I feel better now that I’ve written down my frustration.  I have a home to live in, food on the table and a wonderful husband.  I am truly grateful for all that I have.  I realize that we are more fortunate than most.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Do You Make These Network Marketing Mistakes?

The most common mistake I see is network marketers who don’t take advantage of the training offered by their company.  Many people assume that, since they were in network marketing before, they “know it all.”  There are two flaws in that way of thinking.  1)  If you knew so much, why did you leave your previous company(ies)?  And 2) Every company is different.  They sell different products and likely have different ways of marketing those products. I highly recommend ongoing training.  After nearly three years with my company, I am still learning!

Another serious mistake I have seen repeatedly in the network marketing industry is trying to SELL their products.  First of all, in today’s internet age, relationship marketing is more effective than selling to prospects.  (I have covered this in previous posts, so I won’t go into it now.)  In addition there is such a thing as too much information.  Virtually every company and internet marketer has a website.  If it is a good site, it will make sales for you.  After building a relationship with someone, you can tell them briefly what your product and business is about.  If they are interested in learning more, send them to your website! 

Don’t beg.  Too often reps in the industry practically plead with prospects to join or purchase their product.  If you are serious about your business, behave professionally.  Once you have introduced the opportunity, service or item you are offering, you can answer questions, but do not get pushy or sound desperate.

Anyone who has been in network marketing for any length of time has heard the often used saying, “Some will.  Some won’t.  Next!”  A mistake often made by reps is counting on a particular prospect.  Even those prospects who sound really excited about what you have to offer frequently are not truly interested.  Our industry is a “numbers game.” You will get “no’s.”  Do not take it personally.  They are not rejecting you.  They simply don’t want your product or opportunity.  Move on.

I do NOT like hype in marketing.  Don’t try to promote your business as a way to earn a “six-figure income.”  I have grown weary of hearing that!  I have no idea how much a prospect will earn if they join my team.  Maybe they will put in no effort.  Maybe they will not follow instructions.  Maybe they have poor work habits.  There is no way I can predict how much – or even IF – a prospect will succeed with my business.  No matter how well you are doing, you cannot possibly know how a new rep will do.

The worst and most foolish mistake network marketers can make is to join a company and do nothing.  I have seen so many reps sign up and then join the “witness protection program.”  They seem to disappear off the face of the earth.  They pay for their business, but never work it.  They don’t attend training; they don’t market their business; and they don’t return phone calls or emails from their sponsor.  They simply do nothing.  Eventually they quit and blame the company for their “failure.”

There certainly are other mistakes people make I network marketing.  Those included here are the ones I have witnessed repeatedly.  If you could identify with any of these, contact your upline and get help now!  Don’t wait.  With your sponsor’s help, you can start out fresh and become successful – if that is truly what you want to do.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

You Big Bully!

Over the past few years, we have heard more and more about bullying.  It has always been going on, but with the internet and other electronic media, it has become even more prominent.  In a few situations, it has resulted in the victims committing suicide.  It has been reported that some mass-murderers were victims of bullying in their youth. Thank heavens, these are rarities, but many adults suffer their entire lives because they were bullied as children.  The following article provides some facts about school bullies.  (Source:  http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/school-bullying.html)

School Bullying

School bullying refers to all types of bullying done on school property, whether it is peer-to-peer bullying, bullying of younger children by older children, or bullying in which a teacher is either a victim or a culprit. Keep reading for more information on school bullying.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly a third of all students aged 12 - 18 reported having been bullied at school in 2007, some almost daily. This article gives a general background on school bullying. 

Types of School Bullying 

There are different categories of school bullying, and some of the categories overlap. Here are some of the most important categories that are frequently discussed: 

How Many Bullies 

• Pack bullying is bullying undertaken by a group. The 2009 Wesley Report on bullying prepared by an Australia-based group, found that pack bullying was more prominent in high schools and characteristically lasted longer that bullying undertaken by individuals. Pack bullying may be physical bullying or emotional bullying and be perpetrated in person or in cyberspace. In person, it can take place in schoolyards, school hallways, sports fields and gymnasiums, classrooms, and on the school bus.
• Individual bullying is one-on-one bullying that may take place either in person or online, as well as being physical bullying or emotional bullying.  The Wesley Report found it to be more prevalent in elementary schools. It can take place everywhere that pack bullying can, and also in smaller areas into which a pack can't fit, such as bathrooms.

Mode of School Bullying 

• Physical bullying is bullying that takes the form of physical abuse, such as pushing, shoving, hitting, fighting, spitting, and tripping. Threats of physical harm and attempts to force people to act in ways they would prefer not to are also included.
• Emotional bullying is bullying that involves factors other than physical interaction, such as insults, derogatory remarks, name calling, and teasing. Also included are attempts to ostracize the victim, such as being left out or ignored, which is sometimes referred to as social bullying, as distinguished from verbal bullying. Emotional bullying could also take the form of purposely misplacing or hiding someone's belongings. Emotional bullying can be done in person or through cyber-bullying. 

Medium of School Bullying 

• Face-to-face bullying is bullying in which students confront each other in person.
• Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place online, through email, chat rooms, social networking services, text messages, instant messages, website postings, blogs, or a combination of means. Cyber-bullies may conceal their identity so that their victim experiences an anonymous attack. The content of cyber-bullying can consist of all of the types of content mentioned in emotional bullying above, including posting insulting and derogatory comments about someone or sending such comments to someone; sending mean or threatening messages; gossiping about someone online including posting sensitive or private information; impersonating someone in order to cast that person in a bad light; and excluding someone from an online page or group. Unwanted contact, also known as harassment, is another form of cyber-bullying. 

Specific Targets of School Bullying 

• Homophobic bullying is sometimes distinguished because it has a particular target population.
• Bullying of students with disabilities is another type of bullying with a focused target population.
• Racist bullying is a third type of focused bullying that targets people of a specific race or cultural.
• Religious bullying targets people who have specific religious beliefs. 

Facts about School Bullying 

The NCES report reveals that: 

• There is noticeably more bullying in middle school (grades 6, 7, and 8) than in senior high school
• Emotional bullying is the most prevalent type of bullying, with pushing/shoving/tripping/spitting on someone being second
• Cyber-bullying is - for the middle grade levels - the least prominent type of bullying, but it is greater in the last three years of high school than in grades 6 - 9
• Most school bullying occurs inside the school, a lesser amount on school property, and even less on the school bus. The least occurs in other areas
• Middle school students, and particularly 6^th graders, were most likely to be bullied on the bus
• Sixth graders were the most likely students to sustain an injury from bullying, with middle schoolers more likely to be injured than high school students and the percentage going down every grade from 6 to 12
• Victims of bullying display a range of responses, even many years later, such as:

1.      Low self-esteem

2.      Difficulty in trusting others

3.      Lack of assertiveness

4.      Aggression

5.      Difficulty controlling anger

6.      Isolation

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Success?

“That is too hard.” 

“Why bother trying?  You’ll just fail.”  

Are these messages you say to yourself?  Negative self-talk can prevent us from reaching our goals. Most of us have used negative self-talk at some point in our lives.  The important thing is to recognize that you are doing it.  Then you can move forward.

This damaging behavior goes beyond negative self-talk.  It can include procrastination; dreaming of a great future, but doing nothing to achieve it; worry, fear and doubt; anger or overly-assertive behavior that is out of character for you; and feeling worthless or undeserving.

If any of these behaviors sound familiar, you likely are self-sabotaging your success.  To reach your goals and dreams, you must recognize it and overcome it to move forward – and quickly!

The first step in breaking the self-sabotage cycle is to recognize it.  Does it seem that you are failing repeatedly when you know you have the skills and abilities to succeed?  Are your goals remaining far-away dreams?  Are you putting off tasks and actions that are preventing you from accomplishing what needs to be done?  Do you lack motivation or find yourself becoming frustrated?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you must act fast to stop the destructive behavior. To change your negative inner thoughts, ask yourself a few more questions.  Are these damaging thoughts based on reality?  Have you failed in the past when you truly gave a task your best effort?  Why do you believe you are thinking so poorly of yourself? 

Your responses to these questions will likely help you clarify the reason(s) behind your behavior. You can then move forward to begin changing your self-talk from negative to positive.  You ARE capable of reaching your goals, attaining success, if you leave your past in the past, and recognize your fears and face them as challenges that you can overcome. 

Start by setting a few small goals that are fairly easy to reach in a short period of time.  Put a deadline on each one, and slowly increase the difficulty and time it will take to achieve them.  As you complete each of these mini-goals, it will motivate you and build your self-confidence. 

When you look at others who are attempting the same or similar goals, are they achieving them?  Do you truly believe they are smarter, more talented or skilled than you are?  If you are honest with yourself, you will likely realize that if they can do it, so can you!

Think of how much stress you have been putting on yourself with your negativity.  Once you push yourself, use your skills and let go of your self-doubt, you will be able to release the anxiety and stress you have had for so long.

None of this will happen overnight, and I will not pretend that it will be easy; but once you begin to believe you can do whatever it is you strive to do, you will be able to accomplish all tasks before you.  You will, in fact, reach each of your small goals and set new more challenging goals and overcome them as well.  Finally, in time, you will put a plan in place that will help you to accomplish all your goals and dreams. 

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.