Tips on Creating a Productive Home Office

Some of us are fortunate to have a great home office, but not all home business owners have that luxury.

The comfort, freedom, and convenience can be amazing, and certainly being your own boss is a dream come true for many. 

A large part of whether or not you are successful working from home depends on the environment in which you work.  If you work in a healthy, productive situation, you have a much better chance of succeeding with your internet marketing business. 

Distinguishing between our home life and our work life can be a major problem for those with home businesses.  Because of this, if you have not yet done so, select an area in your home where you will work.  If you have a separate room to use specifically as an office, that’s great.  If you do not, however, choose an area where you will work your business all the time, even if it is a small desk in the corner of your bedroom.  This is psychologically important.  When you sit down to work at the same place each day, you are telling yourself that it is time to work. 

Physically separating yourself from your home life is important, but mentally creating that separation is equally important.  One part of the mental separation is creating a specific work schedule, the hours that you will be working, which should not include the rest of the time that you are simply “at home.”  

Everyone is different, but I have found that getting dressed, fixing my hair and makeup puts me into “work mode.”  People talk about working in their pajamas.  I could not be productive that way.  Even though I am in my own home, I am “going to work,” and I must dress appropriately. 

If your family and professional life is not clearly separated, you may find that you’ll be less productive when you work, and you may not feel as relaxed during your family or leisure time. 

Regarding family life, this is an area that can be challenging for work-at-home parents.  Unless you have very young children, I suggest you discuss your plans for your home business.  Make it clear when you will be working and should not be disturbed.  If you are working in a “communal” area of your home, be sure everyone understands that your work hours are quiet times.  If you do not establish specific rules about what you expect from your family when you work, you will find it next to impossible to accomplish the work required to be successful. 

To prevent headaches and eye strain, whenever possible, use natural light in your work area.  If it is not possible to have natural light, studies have shown that “full-spectrum” light bulbs offer the best light for a work environment.  Although primarily a marketing term, full-spectrum bulbs generally have brightness similar to daylight, and the bulbs have the best color rendering capability. 

If your work chair is uncomfortable, it will become a distraction and you will likely work fewer hours.  The right chair helps keep us be more focused and improves our sitting posture.  Your chair should provide lumbar support and offer height adjustment. I have had a great experience with my own office chair, which was much less expensive than the many other options I found in my local office supply chair.  You are going for comfort, not expensive features that some stores offer.  My chair was less than $100. 

Research has shown that having one or more plants near your work area or office can help you be more productive, lower blood pressure and stress.  So, you may want to consider a plant or two. 

My final tip is to remember to take breaks!  It is easy to become so involved in our work that we sit at our desks too long.  Every three hours or so, take a break.  A 15 to 30 minute, even an hour break once a day can sharpen your mind and give you more energy.  If possible, go outside for some fresh air.  Take a walk.  We need a change of scenery when we work at home to keep us alert and to avoid “cabin fever.” 

Having a comfortable environment in which to work, with no distractions can greatly improve your productivity and frame of mind.  I hope these suggestions help you enjoy “going to work.”

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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. 

Pets are Family Too

We love our pets.  For many of us, our pets are considered family members.  The unfortunate thing about those particular family members is that Americans are spending billions of dollars on their pets, and spending is at an historic high.  I’m not just referring to dogs and cats, but also reptiles and tanks of fish.  Of course, Americans are not the only ones spending their hard-earned money on their pets.  But in America alone, The American Pet Products Association estimates that more than 50 billion dollars was spent on pets in 2011, and that number is increasing each year.

How is that money spent?  The biggest expense is food, which is about half of all the money spent on our animals.  Veterinary bills are next, with supplies and over-the-counter medications being in third place.  And, there’s also grooming and boarding, which can add up to huge sums as well.

I worked for four years in a veterinary hospital as their collections agent.  I was the one who sent out all the past-due bills and letters.  I learned that pet owners will spend almost any amount to be sure their pets are healthy and happy.  Even when they can’t afford it, people will go into debt to care for their four-legged family members.  I remember one woman who brought her elderly dog to a Veterinary Cardiologist for open-heart surgery.  She spent tens of thousands of dollars.   When it comes to cutting back during a poor economy, pets are one of the last expenses to be reduced. 

There are pet insurance policies which, like human health insurance, may cover a percentage of their veterinary expenses.  Prices vary greatly on pet insurance, and if a pet doesn’t need any expensive treatment for years, the insurance premiums certainly can add up.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to reduce pet care expenses other than paying expensive insurance premiums.  Pet Care Savings Programs are now available in most large cities and in some small to medium sized cities.  Xpress Healthcare® offers one of best and its features include:

• 25% savings on network veterinary services.  (Not available in all cities.)

• 10% to 35% savings at participating providers on pet services such as boarding, doggie day care, training, pet sitting and grooming.

• 10% to 35% at participating merchants on pet supplies such as food, beds, toys, treats and vitamins
• Free pet ID tag(s) and 24-hour location service for lost pets
• These programs can be used for nearly all animals, from companion animals such as dogs and cats to exotic animals such as birds and reptiles
• Our savings plan is NOT insurance.

Pet Care Savings Program is only part of Xpress Healthcare’s® Lifestyle Select Discount Package.  For only $19.95 per month, all the pets in the household are covered by these discounts, plus you and your immediate family will receive Roadside Assistance, Legal Services discounts, and LifeLock® Identity Theft Protection.

We’ll never stop loving and pampering our pets so it is good to know that we can greatly reduce the cost of their care.  (Only available in the United States),

Visit http://PetCareDiscounts.info/ for details.

Please Note… Discounts on the following are at the veterinarian’s discretion:

• Food and flea products.
• Low margin medications.
• Non-medical boarding and grooming. 
• Any outside services, such as lab work or outside specialists. When products are not discounted, members may still find discounts from our participating merchants.

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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). 

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

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

Charges Possible for Toppled Ancient Utah Rock

I saw this report on the news today and just read this article.  Remember as you read this article, it is about Boy Scout "Leaders!" http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/charges-toppled-ancient-utah-rock-20612183 SALT LAKE CITY October 18, 2013 (AP) By MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press Utah authorities are mulling whether to press charges against a Boy Scouts leader who purposely knocked over an ancient Utah desert rock formation and the two men who cheered him on after they posted video of the incident online. Two of the men, who were leading a group of 14 to 16-year-old Boy Scouts on a trip, said the top of the rock formation was loose and they feared it was dangerous. "This is about saving lives," Dave Hall, who shot the video, told The Associated Press on Friday. "One rock at a time." The rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park is about 170 million years old, Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg said. The park in central Utah is dotted with thousands of the eerie, mushroom shaped sandstone formations. In a video posted on Facebook, Glenn Taylor of Highland, Utah, can be seen last Friday wedging himself between one formation and a boulder to knock a large rock off the formation's top. Taylor and his two companions can then be seen cheering, high-fiving and dancing. "This is highly, highly inappropriate," Swalberg told the Salt Lake Tribune. "This is not what you do at state parks. It's disturbing and upsetting." Hall, who is also a scoutmaster from Highland, said some of their Scouts were jumping on the structures and they noticed a large boulder on top of one structure was loose. "My conscience won't let me walk away knowing that kids could die," Hall said. Taylor told Salt Lake City news organizations on Thursday that he felt the rock move when he put his hand on it. He said after he knocked the formation over, he wished he hadn't and he realized he should have contacted a park ranger. But he also said he feels he did the right thing. "As it is, I feel guilty because I have a conscience," he told the Deseret News. "But my conscience also says I did the right thing." Hall, too, said he wished they had contacted a park ranger, but did not wish they hadn't knocked it over. Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith confirmed the men are members of the organization, saying in a statement that the organization is "shocked and disappointed by this reprehensible behavior." Boy Scout troops spend countless hours in state and national parks, guided by the principle of leaving nature the way they find it, Smith said. "The isolated actions of these individuals are absolutely counter to our beliefs and what we teach," Smith said. "We are reviewing this matter and will take appropriate action." Swalberg said State Parks authorities are conducting a criminal investigation. Brent Langston with the Emery County Attorney's Office said his agency is aware of the incident has not yet started evaluating whether they'll file charges. The men involved could face a misdemeanor or a felony depending on how much officials determine the formation was worth, Langston told the Tribune. "Some things can't be replaced, like photographs in a family album, but they have great sentimental value," he said. Hall said he and Taylor were both "immensely sorry for any damage that we may have caused," or any embarrassment they brought to the Boy Scouts or anyone else. But he also said, "One more rock falling to the ground is not going to destroy the beauty of the park. Eventually, the erosion brings all of them down." ======================== 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

How Long Does it Take to Build a Network Marketing Business? Well, that depends...

When you first start a network marketing business, you’ll likely need a reality check.  If you expect to be earning money your first week, month or even two months, sorry but it probably won’t happen.  You must also realize that as a business owner, your income can fluctuate from month to month.  It is an unfortunate fact that not all ABO’s are willing to put in the time and effort required to succeed, so they quit.

When we work for someone else, our income is usually steady, but as a business owner you are not paid immediately, but this is a sacrifice you must be willing to make. If you are not willing to do so, your business will be short lived.  In the long term, you can be rewarded handsomely, but in network marketing in the short term, it can be difficult.

No business – whether it be a network marketing business or a storefront, it is important to realize that your business offers you a long term financial solution. If you’re expecting to be earning thousands of dollars within your first few months, you will likely be disappointed.  If anyone tells you otherwise, don’t believe it!   I am not saying it is impossible to earn good money in a short period of time; but for the vast majority, it takes time.

The great advantage of a network marketing business is that it is an uncomplicated and affordable way to achieve financial freedom.  But, as I said, it offers a long term financial solution, so you must be willing to make a long term commitment to get your desired results. If you work your business consistently and persistently, persevere in your efforts with a positive attitude, and you are patient, your sacrifices will pay you back in the years to come.

The biggest problem that most network marketers face at the beginning is that they feel as though they are spending money to get their business established but seeing no results.  How is this different from opening a hair salon or a retail store?  

A huge advantage of starting a network marking business is that it is low cost.  Most traditional small to medium size business are in the red for years before they start to earn positive cash flow.  This is why we see so many small businesses close down within the first few years. Once you earn enough with your network marketing business to cover your monthly expenses, you are in profit mode.  In many businesses, it could be as few as five transactions; with others more. 

As you’re building your home business, it is important to keep the big picture in mind.  Many fail because they expect success to happen.  In reality, success comes to those who make it happen.  Anyone who fails at network marketing does so because they chose not to put in the time and effort.  People who quit their network marketing business – and of course, many do so repeatedly - do so because they were not committed enough or were unwilling to persevere.  

The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t in any given network marketing company is the individual’s commitment, dedication and persistence towards achieving their goals.

Going forward what does this mean?  It means that you should expect that in at least your first couple of months you will likely pay out money with little or no income.  As you continue working your business, your exposure will multiply month after month, and then you will begin to be rewarded financially for all your ground work.

As you are first starting out in your business, you need to make a commitment to yourself, your team and your business for at least your first year, giving it all the effort it requires to become established.

As you work towards achieving your goals, it is important to remember that perseverance is not a long race; it is instead many short races.  By identifying your long term goals and setting smaller goals along the way, over time, you will see the results of your efforts.

Who was Benjamin Clark?

This is an abbreviated version of the article posted at http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/11/the-story-of-an-unsung-9-11-hero.html.  I encourage you to read the full article at the website.

This is an abbreviated version of the article posted online.  I encourage you to read the full article at the website.

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The Story of an Unsung 9/11 Hero

By Michael Daly - Sep 11, 2013 4:45 AM EDT

At midnight every September 11, Elsie Clark hangs a banner on the fence alongside the front-yard memorial to the 39-year-old son who perished at the World Trade Center.

“In Loving Memory
Benjamin Keefe Clark
9/11/01”

Benjamin Clark remained in the South Tower of the World Trade Center helping countless to safety.

The son was not a firefighter or a police officer.

He was a chef.

But a morning that began with him preparing meals for the people at the Fiduciary Trust Company suddenly led to him becoming as brave as any first responder. A Fiduciary official would later credit Clark with saving hundreds of lives as he made sure that everyone in his department along with everybody else in the company’s 96th floor offices in the South Tower was safely exiting the building.

He then paused on the 78th floor to assist a woman in a wheelchair.

“He could have gotten out,” his mother says. “Everybody else did.”

The mother would ascribe some of his courage to him having been a Marine for eight years.

“My son was a Marine, so you know he wasn’t going to leave anybody behind,” she says.

More than a Marine, he was Benjamin Clark, since his earliest years ever ready to lend a hand to whoever might need it. He had only to see a neighbor in need of assistance big or small and he would exclaim, “I’ll help! I’ll help!”

“He was always there to help,” his mother says.

Upon seeing others suddenly in the most mortal danger, his everyday decency had become uncommon courage. A chef known for his fabulous meatloaf and for remembering everybody’s name and favorite meals had proven as courageous as if he had stepped off an FDNY rig.

“A hero,” his mother says. “My hero.”

…

The enormity of Benjamin Clark’s sacrifice is made apparent by the photos of his own five children hanging in his mother’s home. He had been happily married to a wonderful woman, LaShawn Clark, and he had been the happiest of dads.

“His wife and the five kids were his life,” Elsie Clark says. “If my son could have walked around with those kids in his pocket every day, he would have.”

She says that her grandson, Taj, had awakened at 4 a.m. on 9/11 as his father was getting ready for work.

“Taj woke up and told his dad, ‘Don’t go to work today. I don’t have a good feeling today,’” she says.

…

More than 1,200 people attended his memorial service at the Marriott in downtown Brooklyn. They included people who were alive only because he had urged them on to safety.

…

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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). 

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

How Can I Stimulate Team Sales?

I have found that when I have team contests, my team members are more active with their businesses. 

I started a new contest a few weeks ago that will run indefinitely.  I want to thank Andrea, one of my team members, for the idea for this competition.

As we all know, Goals + Action = Results.  Therefore, the more action team members are taking, the better the results will be. 

I sat down and created a list of tasks that I believe all network marketers should be doing to build their business.  I assigned a different number of points that could be earned for various tasks based on the time it takes to perform and the difficulty level. 

To win the contest, team members must earn points.  I believe that team training calls are very important to a successful business, so I’ll award team members when they dial into calls and more points when they participate in the conversation.  ONLY those who are on team calls can win the contest. 

• ·        When team members post a comment on IBOToolbox, for instance, they get two points.
• ·        If they write and post a blog, they earn five points. 
• ·        If they sell a product, they earn 25 points.
• ·        If they present our program to a business or group, they earn 10 points.

These are a just few examples, but there are many more tasks for which team members can earn points.  On our team call, whoever is participating in the contest shares what activities they performed during the week and the total number of points they earned for those activities.  By sharing what they have done during the week, other team members are learning new ways to market their business from one another, and they are challenged to do those activities themselves.

At the end of each month, I award a small prize to the person with the most points.  At the end of each quarter, I award a slightly larger prize.  I don’t spend much money on the prizes.  They are an acknowledgement of team members’ achievements, and everyone loves to win contests!

I have been using contests to inspire my team members for some time.  I have had different types of contests, and I change them periodically to keep them fresh.  The contests encourage everyone to work harder on their businesses.  And, we also have fun with the contests, which makes our team calls even better. 

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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. 

Changing Your Mind

Most of us are comfortable with our daily personal and professional routines.  Our day-to-day practices and schedules are familiar to us, so, many of us are resistant to change.   Even though we realize that change is part of life, we sometimes fight it anyway.

With technology today being in a constant flux, we really must have the ability to adapt readily.  It is, in fact, an important skill if we want to succeed. 

At least as often as not, change is an improvement.  Changes can be exciting and fun and keep life interesting.  But there are times when we actually fear change.  We’re afraid it will affect us negatively.  However, if we learn what the changes entail, we may find that truly is positive.  

Even if you dislike the change, it is important to accept it so you can move forward.  It may take some time to adjust, but the sooner we begin, the sooner we will be comfortable or at least accept it.

Another way to look at change is by facing it as a challenge.  Meet it with enthusiasm, and learn as much as possible about it.  It may turn out that it will provide you with new opportunities about which you never dreamed.  Face changes bravely and head on!

When we cling to status quo, your business can become stagnant.  It will cease to grow.  Learn how the change will affect you and your business.  Instead of being afraid or unhappy, seek out ways that the change can help you.  Part of our personal and professional growth is to step out of our comfort zone.  

Ask others in your company for feedback; ask them how they are adjusting to the change.  If you use your network of co-workers as a support system, you can all share ideas and work through the adjustments together. 

Once you accept and adjust for changes, each additional change will be easier to face.  Changes are inevitable, so learn how to face them positively, and the fear of change will evaporate and instead become challenging and exciting.   

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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, http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.