Author Archive
Tips For Effective Time Management
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the greatest challenges many people face in business and in their personal lives is that there never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything they need to do, let alone finding time for things they want to do! They look with envy at those who are able to successfully fit work, family, personal, and other activities into their lives. The reality is that we all have the same 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year – it’s how we choose to spend that time that makes all the difference.
In order to develop a time management system that will be effective for you, it’s helpful to start with some formal or informal assessments to help you compare the way you are currently living your life with the way you would like it to be. Identify the obstacles that are preventing you from managing your time effectively. Become aware of your biological rhythms to determine what type of activity you do best in the morning, afternoon, evening, and late at night. Explore your personality type preferences, and the way they affect the way you perceive and deal with time.
Depending on your specific challenges, some of the following strategies may help Read More→
10 Ways to Deal with Work-at-Home Weight Gain
Posted by: | CommentsNot surprisingly, studies have shown that people who work at a desk are more likely to be overweight than those
with more active jobs. The risk is probably even higher for those of us who work at home. For one thing, it’s easier to forget to eat a meal when you don’t have scheduled lunch and break times, increasing the likelihood of overindulging when you do eat.
In addition, because the entire office is usually in one room, you have no more trips to the photocopy room, the mail room, or the file room. For some people, job-related stress helped keep their weight down, a discovery that may not be made until that stress is eliminated.
It’s no secret that weight gain has a negative impact not only on your appearance, but on your health. Taking care of yourself is especially important when you’re self-employed, because Read More→
What to Look For in a Mentor or Coach
Posted by: | CommentsThe following article is by coach Gary Glasscock, MCLC, MSLC, The Life Connections Coach at www.ManifestingYourLife.com.
Before deciding to seek out a mentor, you must first determine what you hope to gain from the relationship. That means you need to spend time thinking about both your short and long term goals. Once you’re fully clear on where you want to be, the selection process becomes that much easier.
When people think about mentors, they often visualize a classic business setting, where everything is formal and methodical, but mentoring relationships aren’t limited to business. The truth is, you may desire a mentor for any number of reasons.
Consider these types of mentors:
Life Guidance. These life mentors are often referred to as “life coaches.”
Spiritual Advisors. You can look to a priest, pastor, or friend to mentor you spiritually.
Everyday Mentors. Sometimes we even have unofficial mentors who are simply people we admire in our community or peer group.
Choosing a Mentor
When looking for a mentor, seek someone who possesses the qualities, skills, and experiences you hope to one day have yourself. A mentor should be someone who fits your idea of success, has a positive attitude, and openly shares his or her knowledge with you.
You might want a mentor who’s at the pinnacle of success within your field so you can learn from the best. Alternately, you might want to select someone as a mentor who’s only slightly higher ranking than you, this way you can learn what you need to help take you to the next level.
Choosing the high ranking executive helps you with long term goals, while selecting the mentor who’s closer to your own experience level makes it easier to focus on a specific area of expertise so you can achieve your shorter term goals.
An ideal situation may involve both types of mentors. This way you get a well-rounded experience that allows you to benefit both in the short and long term. Either way, you should find someone who isn’t afraid to challenge you to reach your true potential.
Establishing a Beneficial Relationship
When you’ve selected your mentor candidate, draw up a plan to present to them detailing what you hope to give and receive from the relationship. This will help the potential mentor decide if they can provide you with the experience and knowledge you desire.
It’s only fair to both of you to be as upfront as possible about your expectations. If you aren’t clear on what you hope to gain, the relationship has little chance for success.
Successful Mentorship Begins with You
Once the relationship has been established, actively communicate your needs to the mentor in order to take the sessions in the direction you’d like to go.
You should be in the driver’s seat, even though you’re the junior party in the relationship. Without providing your mentor with guidance, the mentorship may not be fruitful for you. After all, if you don’t let your mentor know what you need, he can’t possibly give you what you hope to gain.
It’s important throughout the relationship for the mentor to be supportive. A good mentor will be patient with you. They’ll create an open and welcome environment that allows for earnest questions and concerns while making you feeling safe.
A successful mentorship will enable you to feel more confident, skilled, and knowledgeable. The reward for the mentor will be seeing the results of the positive impact they were able to make on someone else’s life.
Follow these tips to find great mentors in any area you’d like to strengthen and enjoy a relationship that brings fruits to your labor and greater life fulfillment to both of you.
To learn more about Gary or to read more of his articles go to www.ManifestingYourLife.com.
Putting a price on your logo
Posted by: | CommentsThis is a guest post by graphic designer Jennifer Harris at Keylime Creative . Jennifer designed the Baby Boomer Entrepreneur logo you see in the header of this blog.
I often get requests to design logos, and of course the first question asked is “How Much?” I dread the question because after being told, most potential clients are in shock. What most don’t realize is the process and the worth of a logo.
Your logo is the first link most people make with your business. It’s what you build your business look and feel on.
What if you were to spend hundreds, perhaps even thousands on advertising over the next couple of years on your business and never once used a logo? Do you think your potential customers would come to know who you are on text alone. Perhaps. If they read it, and look specifically for it. But most potential customers don’t think like that. They need to be hit over the head a few dozen times. That’s where your logo comes in handy.
Say your product is worth a pair of reasonably priced, sensible shoes. $50. Every potential customer sees your logo about 6 times before buying them. In one month you sell 30 pairs of shoes. 30×50/6= $250 x 12 months = $3000. Your logo made you $3000 in one year. While you can’t live on that, as your reputation grows so does your worth of your logo. Next year you might be selling 60 pairs of shoes and each potential customer only needed to see your logo 5 times. If you have more than one product…. do you see where I’m going with this?
Your logo is the one thing that is going to last your entire business lifetime. Investing in it now will turn results for you in the long run.
But your still asking why should I pay more than $50-$100 for something I could do with clip art in Read More→
