A few years ago on KUTV I spoke with Brooke and Caitlin about success. Is it achievable? How do you know you have reached it? Is it possible? How do you manage success every day? They were great fun to chat with! Watch the video HERE on KUTV.
Here’s my own story of success…
In July of 2017, I sat at my desk with a successful career as a digital marketer and online speaker/trainer. I had started as an entrepreneur in 2011 as a virtual assistant working with real estate agents. From there my skills and my business had grown into something that I truly enjoyed doing. Digital marketing along with branding, websites, sales funnels, and basically flipping online businesses was as thrilling to me as racing around a race track is for Indy drivers. I had found a bit of success. Yet…
As I sat there at my desk thinking over the last 5 years it hit me! I had basically created a job for myself. I was my boss and my boss didn’t give me any vacation time and if I wasn’t working I wasn’t getting paid. The name of my business was my name and if I wanted to retire… well, let’s just say that wasn’t going to happen.
Was this what success felt like?
This realization made me step back and take a 30,000-foot view of my business and my life. This is something I do in my own business every quarter and something I have all of my clients do as well.
“Success grows with you and you grow with Success!” – Sheila J Davis
It was true that I had worked with and helped thousands of virtual assistants build their businesses through my academy. I found true joy in working with them.
I loved my clients and enjoyed flipping their businesses. Working with them to create a powerful brand, improving or building their websites for increased revenue, showing them how to automate their business, and creating sales funnels that are powerful and effective.
Somehow I felt empty.
Something was missing. It wasn’t just about money, it was about the impact and influence I had on the world. On the women specifically that I felt needed my help to achieve their success.
“If your bucket is empty, and there is a hole at the bottom, it’s time for change.” – Sheila J Davis
I knew something had to change, I just had no idea how fast and how amazing the process would be!
Time For a Mentor!
Over the next two months, I went on a journey to find where my success was and how to reach it. I worked with a brilliant and amazing mentor, Brooks Gibbs. He can tell you that my journey to find what success was to me was painful and incredible at the same time.
What Brooks helped me realize was that my passion to help and serve single women, military wives, and women who found themselves in a situation of, “Oh Crap! Now what?!” was possible!
Thanks to his guidance, patience, and willingness to help me serve my purpose in life I had discovered what success was to me! It was creating a network where women could find trusted resources, build relationships, network with each other, and even where I could create a non-profit to provide even more.
Truth be told, we have only just started and we have a long way to go. There is so much more! I’m thrilled, however, that my journey lead me to where I am today!
I AM STATEMENT
I’ve been thinking that my I Am Statement has changed my life and I want other women to find the same strength I have by creating their own! So, I got a few of my favorite women together and we made a video of all of us reading our statements. I hope you find it inspiring and I hope you create your own or even submit yours for us to showcase on our next I Am Video!
“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – John Rohn
Our first I Am Statement Video
Whether you’re saving for a family vacation or you want to buy your first house or you just want to increase your savings, you’re not alone. It’s more important than ever to have a financial plan in place. For some that may include turning their hobbies into cash. This can be easily done with the right resources and can be a lot of fun; no matter if you’re wanting just a little extra cash or if you want to turn it into a full-time business.
FB LIVE: Turn Hobbies into Cash – Here’s the HOW TO!
KUTV Fresh Living: Top 3 Steps
More and more people are becoming entrepreneurs, especially in Utah. Utah is listed in the number one spot on CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has Utah listed #1 for innovation and entrepreneurship and #2 in high-tech performance in 2017.
With the economy like it is and with so many people staying home more due to COVID-19, many people are spending less and becoming penny pinchers due to lack of income. We are finding that we aren’t able to have as much fun as we wanted five years ago.
There are a lot of very talented women who could turn their skills and/or hobbies into cash or into a real business. It’s not as hard as you think and there are loads of amazing free resources to help when you’re ready.
I quit my day job in 2011 when I found the need to be home with my children due to their health. Now 7 years later I have been providing services for and mentoring and training hundreds of women all around the world on how to start, build and grow their own businesses from home. Many have started virtual assistant businesses, health. life, or fitness coaching businesses, and other businesses as well including small online shops.
The Internet is full of amazing people who are ready and willing to help. However, there are some that just can’t be trusted. More than half of my clients over the last 7 years have told me horror stories of being ripped off by online providers. I myself have been taken advantage of a few times when I didn’t do my research. That’s why I want to help be a resource for women who want to find the right people to work with so I started YES! Women’s Network.
Aren’t sure where to start? Join YES! Women’s Network today for help getting started by meeting women who are already doing what you want to do.
There are a lot of ways you can turn hobbies and skills into cash; and it’s lots easier with trusted resources, free or low-cost training, and inspired connections. The good news is… you’re in the right place!
Here are some ideas to get you thinking about how you could earn some extra cash:
#1 – Crafts
So many women are blessed with the gift of craftiness. Homemade creations are highly sought after personalized gifts. If you are crafty you could turn this into a surefire way to make money selling your goods. Homemade and vintage items are where many shoppers are turning for original creations. Especially if you are already selling your creations at local festivals and farmers’ markets. How many times I find items that I want to be able to buy more of and when I ask the owner if they are online and they say no. This surprises me! If you are crafty be sure to consider not only offline sales but online sales as well. Before you know it, your homemade creations, whatever they may be, could be the latest Internet craze.
#2 – Shopping
Do you like shopping? I’m not a fan of shopping and I avoid it at all costs, but my daughters love to shop. Becoming a personal shopper could save you money and make you money at the same time. There are so many busy men and women who would prefer to hire out their shopping. If you’re a great shopper you could help your clients with everything from making travel arrangements, finding hotels, buying personalized gifts, or even doing personal shopping like for groceries and household items. Personal shoppers could help their clients find clothing, pick up medicines from the pharmacy, or even just running errands. Personal shoppers could charge anywhere from $15 – $20 an hour or 10 to 15% of the total purchase according to paysale.com. Just be sure you don’t shop for yourself while you’re shopping for your client or it would defeat the purpose.
#3 – Baking
Baking is a talent that so many busy men and women are envious of. Who doesn’t love a homemade fresh cookie or loaf of bread? Many entrepreneur friends of mine have said that having a personal chef is at the top of their bucket list. If you have this skill you may want to take advantage of it and share your talents with others while making some cash. I see on Facebook several times a week one of my friends selling her cinnamon rolls. She posts that she is going to make x number of pans, how much she wants for them, when they will be ready, and they sell out every week! The majority of people who don’t have time to bake are willing to pay for it, especially if they can pay online and pick it up on their way home. This could turn into catering small events like baby showers, weddings, family reunions, small office parties, or other gatherings. As long as you’re selling baked goods that don’t spoil (like cream pies, etc.) you don’t need a license to sell at most farmers’ markets, although some do require you meet their standards and guidelines to be accepted [source: mt.gov]. If you stick to one or two items and do them well — bread and muffins, for example — invest in a creative logo and packaging, and set up a plate of samples, your products should sell themselves.
#4 Pet Walking & Care
Do you love pets and just can’t get enough? Why not try doing dog walking and pet care? Instead of spending money to get your own why not have the freedom to care for other people’s pets? Most dog walkers charge between $10 and $18 per walk depending o the location and the number of dogs. Overnight dog sitting can be billed for even more according to Christine Rochelle in her article for aol.com. It’s best to start your business with people who know and trust you. It’s a big responsibility to take care of someone’s pets. Once you have established a small list of clients you could ask them to recommend you to their friends and coworkers.
#5 Organizing and/or Cleaning
“I would pay someone to just come in here clean up and get me organized!” I’ve heard this many times from entrepreneurs who work 10-15-20 hours a day. Many of us spend our days sitting in front of a computer and simply don’t have time to clean out the garage, deep clean our kitchen, or take care of our yards. If this is something you enjoy doing, I can practically guarantee you that you can do this and make some pretty good money. I actually know several organizers personally who are doing pretty well. They are hired to take care of hopelessly unorganized people for a fee. The organizers I know will to and either helps their clients or actually do the work for them. Everything from cleaning out a disorganized closet to shopping and stocking their homes with things like linens, toiletries, and everyday items. Especially around the holidays when they also help with the putting up and taking down of decorations.
#6 Administrative, Writing, Editing, and others
This is how I first got started as a real estate virtual assistant! When I first needed to work from home I wanted to take the skills I had from the Corporate world to start my business. I loved working with real estate agents helping with their paperwork and I knew I could do it from anywhere as long as I had a phone and the internet. From there I grew my skills into being a speaker, digital marketer, coach, mentor, and creating this network. Now, my daughter does editing for many of my clients and I help with building online businesses. If you think about it, anything an administrative assistant does now can be done from anywhere except putting a piece of paper in a folder. An most offices are digital and filing in person isn’t needed. So, if you like writing there are businesses looking for you to help with their blogging. There are businesses looking for help with editing, marketing, data entry, editing websites, research, help with social media, graphic design, and many other administrative skills. There is a virtual assistant academy on YES! Women’s Network that will teach you what you need to know and other resources to get you started as well.
Other hobbies that could turn into cash:
- Photography
- Website Design
- Graphic Design
- Drawing
- Music
- Couponing
- Blogging
- Affiliate Marketing (selling other peoples products)
- Mowing Lawns and Shoveling Driveways
- Selling from our Garden
- Canning
- Garage Sale Flips
- Tutoring
- Teaching Classes
- Decorating Homes
- Running Errands for the Elderly
- YouTube – Teach Lessons
Here are a few hobbies turned cash of clients and friends of mine. They are all having a lot of fun. Some are making more money and have turned into a real business than others, but all are making money from home which is super cool!
Lanmom Originals
Ridgetop Virtual Solutions
Pam Bennett
GigiGoes
Tiia Lin
Primary Wellness
The Happy Gal
Everflect
Paula’s Kitchen
Somer Lang
Scrap n’ Things
Love to Bake You Happy
Love You Dear Photography
New Mexico Farm House Designs
Build It Mom
Just One Elle
Romance Enhanced Consulting
1 Sister 2 Sister
Crafty Thrivin LLC
Beyond the Shaker
Hand Picked Daisy
Decide what you like to do and what you want to do then join YES! Women’s Network and let’s find a way you can turn that into cash! Be sure to join our community and share your ideas with us so we can all pitch in and help you get started today.
Have you recently decided to shift gears or make a change in your life? Anything from learning a new language to changing jobs or your career can be both exciting and frightening at the same time. Why?
You can prepare but you can’t always control the pace of your progress.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary transition means “passage from one state, stage, subject or place to another (i.e., change)”. Some of the synonyms for transition include development, alteration and the word shift, which is where I’ll focus for a few minutes.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck behind someone who’s new to driving a car with a manual transmission (aka stick shift)? It gets obvious pretty quickly when you’re on a hill and they start to drift backwards.
There’s no way to avoid this newbie because you’re on a two-lane road and can’t pull around them. So you sit helplessly — watching and waiting for impact.
Sometimes you may feel, regardless of your efforts, your progress has slowed to a crawl. Let me remind you… even though you’re only inching along (like in rush hour traffic) and it feels like you’re sitting still – you’re NOT.
So STOP being so hard on yourself!
Even when a shift or transition is positive it doesn’t happen without detours.
Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we have to be “perfect” even when we know that’s unrealistic.
Follow a Process
When you’re trying to learn new skills or brush off old ones (like interviewing for a job in a new arena or starting a business) you need to remind yourself there’s a process, and possibly a learning curve to get from points A to Z.
Every goal requires a process. Occasionally, the sequence doesn’t matter, but usually doing things out of order take much longer and that’s when you are able to execute the steps that way.
Using my car example, I never thought of myself as being well coordinated, but despite that perception I still had to follow a specific sequence of steps.
After starting the car, I had to put it in gear to drive it. I had to depress the clutch, then shift to first gear, depress the clutch, shift to second gear and so on as my speed increased. All the while I had to maintain consistent acceleration with my right foot.
The first few weeks were mentally exhausting – probably the way you’re feeling as you learn a new skill (language or instrument), search for a new job, prepare yourself for a new career or business, etc.
Eventually, you’ll discover your rhythm and won’t have to think about each step. Once you have a plan, you’ll have a better idea what you need, and how to get there.
Just remember, you aren’t the first person learn how to fill in the blank. There’s only one way overcome your hindrances. You have to be willing start over even when you have temporary failures.
People Who Overcame
Thomas Edison was told he was “too stupid to learn anything” as a child and even fired from his first two jobs because he wasn’t his productivity was didn’t meet the standards set by his employers.
Lucille Ball was seemingly a late bloomer as an entertainer but “I Love Lucy” has been in syndication for decades. She also ended up being the first woman to run a TV production company (Desilu Productions).
Walt Disney failed and declared bankruptcy before forming the Walt Disney Company.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the celebrities who uses both her first and last names but is known worldwide by only her first name. Yet, she’s been very open about the multiple episodes of molestation and rape she endured as a child. Still she overcame those traumatic experiences as well as several in her professional life before launching her Oprah show which ran for 25 years. Of course, she started her OWN Network after walking away from her popular Chicago-based show.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States endured many public defeats, as well as private ones. Before he was elected president in 1860, he experienced devastating events such as his sweetheart dying, business failure, a nervous breakdown and political losses.
Read more inspiring stories here:
Despite situations that would have deterred many people, these leaders in their fields persevered. They stayed focused on their goals rather than dwelling on their defeats or being deterred by them.
When they experienced failure they kept going. Use their examples to inspire you. Your goal may not be life-saving but it can be life-changing, which means somebody is waiting for you to step up and tell people what you have and how you can help them improve their lives, their businesses, etc.
In summary:
Shifting gears can be both thrilling and scary at the same time, but transition allows us to find more fulfillment as we enrich the lives of others.
Sometimes we are Our Own Worst Enemy.
It’s important to remind yourself when you set a goal, it doesn’t mean the achieving it will be all smooth sailing. You may stumble and even feel like giving up occasionally.
Although, it may be intimidating the most direct path to attaining our goals can be met by following these steps:
- Identify your goal.
- Picture yourself achieving it.
- Implement your plan.
- Be patient with yourself during the process.
- Reach your goal!
Share in the comments the one goal you are working on right now.
Have you encountered obstacles? If so, how have you motivated yourself to keep going rather than allowing them to stop your progress?
There are some simple and free ways you can immediately begin doing now to be able to increase your income right away. Once you have money coming in you can then begin working on new ways to bring in even more while already earning. Here’s a replay of our mastermind training.
*This training is specifically for health/life/fitness coaches, however any business offering a service could use these techniques and find huge success. Other businesses, what do the training of the how, would benefit from many of these steps but they may want to make small adjustments to these suggestions.
Thank you to our sponsor Lock n’ Load Marketing! “If it tires you out, hire it out!”
Here is a breakdown of what we covered in the training. However, this is not a replacement for the training. We covered more in-depth conversations about the why and how each of these steps will work. Enjoy!
Step 1 – Analyze Your Business
Become a free member of YES! Women’s Network and get free access to my business analysis (Google Doc and Video Training). This proven tool has saved some of my clients up to $1,200 per month and increased sales immediately with just simple adjustments.
- Find out where you can make cuts in your budget
- Learn where you’re making progress and where you are losing money or time
- See what is working in your business so you can do more and make more
- Know where you can make cuts in your efforts by stopping what’s not working
- Make changes to the way your business is run on a daily basis and save time and money
- And many more ways you will be able to immediately save money and make more with simple small changes
Step 2 – Know Who Your Ideal Client Is
This will immediately help you see why some of what you are doing is working or why it’s not working. When you become a member of YES! Women’s Network you’ll also get free access to training if you need help determining your ideal client.
- Know what your ideal client wants
- Find out how your ideal client wants to receive your product
- Learn how much your clients will pay for your services and which ones they want
- See how you could tweak or change your branding to attract more of your ideal clients
- Understand more about what your ideal clients expect from you before, after, and during working with you
Step 3 – Do More of What’s Working
This gets money coming in right away or more of it coming in more quickly. So many of my clients do a little of everything. But why would you waste your time on what’s not working? Once you complete your Business Analysis you’ll see where you can make more money.
- If you aren’t doing anything yet, anything you start doing will get you started, so don’t wait! Do something and then do more of what’s working when you start
- Create a membership to get regular money coming in using what’s working for a monthly fee (offer a monthly membership and a yearly membership)
- Offer an individual program as well as a group program (for those who cannot afford the individual program)
- If certain products are selling really well consider raising the price just a little and doing more promotions
- For services that are working find ways you can break it up and make new programs to reach more prospects
- Find four streams of income that are really working well and do more of these (services, products, memberships, affiliate marketing (Smart Passive Income), guest blogging (or podcasts, speaking, etc), become a resource, and so many other ways
- Quit doing things that are not working or make changes to see if you can make them work
Step 4 – Start Now
There is no need to have a website or all of your social media in place before accepting clients.
- Reach out to people you know and ask if they need what you are offering
- Post on your own personal social what you are planning to do
- Look in the local newspaper or online job board to see if anyone is looking for your services
- Be ready to take payments
- Have a plan for what you’ll do when people say yes
- Learn how to make a pitch that works
Step 5 – Branding
It’s so important to have a consistent brand. Even if you don’t have a logo, you can start branding through imagery. Do branding FIRST. If you don’t do branding first you’ll confuse your prospects, lose them, and have to re-do a lot of what you are putting your efforts into.
- Always use the same colors by using the exact hex code for your colors (Use this page if you wonder what colors go well together and what their numbers are http://htmlcolorcodes.com/ Or if you have an image that has a color you like go here https://imagecolorpicker.com/)
- Always use the same fonts by giving your designer the name of your font or send them the font files
- Create a brand style guide to show your designer that has your logo (even if it’s just the name of your business with no “logo” or icon), font names and how they are used, color codes and how they are used
- Use similar photos or images when posting on social so they look similar
- Be sure that you’re using styles that will help your followers will recognize that what they see is you
- When using social media be sure that the images on social match your website, print marketing, banners, etc
Step 6 – Social Media, Website or Other Online
You don’t have to have a full website to get clients. Here are some ideas for an online way for prospects to find you:
- Social media – be sure there is a way for them to contact you even if it’s through PM messenger
- Landing page – where they can give you their email or contact info, get your contact info or contact you through a scheduler through a link
- One page website – that shows what you offer, has your contact information, where they can give you their info, or where they can click to contact, pay, or schedule
- Create a way to take money – Using something like Paypal, Stripe, or Square or other options so that you can take payments when prospects are ready to buy
- Online schedulers are a great way to let prospects schedule times to chat with you
- Business Cards – use the back to give them something they want to keep
- Flyers at local businesses or libraries with your contact info or where they can find out more
- Free online classes via Zoom or other webinar platforms or even on Facebook Live
- Free offline classes also are a great way to reach your prospects and show your knowledge
- When you’re ready for a full website be sure you are not determining who you work with by price. Find someone who will do a great job within the time frame you need. Have them show you what they have done and speak with past clients to be sure they will do a great job. Check out their testimonials and look at the people who gave them.
- Check out my tools page for the tools I use for my business and my client’s businesses
If you need help with a website, please contact me today and let’s talk about your requirements. If we can’t help you we will find a vetted person who can.
Step 7 – Systems & Processes
These will save you time and money faster than just about anything you do. Also, these will make it possible for you to hire help and they will know what needs to be done.
- Start now! No matter where you are in your business do this every day
- Keep track of what you are doing and write down the steps
- Make videos to show your virtual assistants or other outsourced help how to do tasks
- Create systems and processes manual in Google Drive or on your project management system
- Use a project management system to track who is doing what and when
- Communicate with those who are helping you
- Train the people who work for you well using step by step explanations so they can jump right in and do work for you
- Keep track of the platforms and resources you use for each of your tasks and list them on the steps
- Use lastpass.com or logmein.com for password sharing
- To find a vetted VA CLICK HERE and contact any of the VAs listed or complete the RFP so I can help you find one
- Join YES! Women’s Network Gold Membership to access How to Hire and Train a Virtual Assistant
Step 8 – THE GOLD of Doubling Income #1 Tips
Do these things regularly to double income by the end of the year.
- Facebook Live!
- While shopping
- While at the gym
- While planning means
- While cleaning out fridge
- Get the store or gym or wherever you are doing the FB Lives to sponsor your FB Live to say where you are and post a link
- Share your knowledge freely (See video for why and how)
- Be authentic – Be yourself and show them you care about them
- Be sincere in all you do – Prospects are tired of fake coaches, they want someone who is real and really cares
Give them what they ask for and don’t charge them for the education of it. (This works for businesses who sell their services only.) Show them you know what you’re talking about and what you can do for them.
Let them Love You!
Show your clients how to do what you’re doing, they will LOVE you and know that you are the real deal. The prospects who can afford your services will hire you without questioning it. They already know that you will be able to help them because they have seen you do it.
They don’t have time to learn what you are an expert at doing already. They need to be spending time working with their clients and hire you to help with the rest.
I know these things work because I’ve seen it work for my clients and it works for me for my own business as well.
Prospects are tired of seeing sleazy sales. They are tired of giving away their email and being disappointed with what they get, so they are more hesitant than ever. Show them you are the real thing and they will hire you.
I’m here for you!
Do you need help with finding ways to double your business or analysis where you are? Let’s chat!
You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to fail along the way. Failure is a consistent part of success. The most successful people fail far more often than those who are less successful. If you see every failure as a lesson, then you will learn from your mistakes and use them on your road to success.
Life is full of setbacks. The question is whether you allow failure and other setbacks to derail your efforts. Everyone can learn to better deal with these common annoyances on the road to success.
Failure is a funny thing. It feels embarrassing and catastrophic, but that’s rarely the case. You fail every day. When you think your keys are in the kitchen drawer, but discover they are not, you failed. However, you don’t let it bother you. Instead, you just look somewhere else. Try to adopt the same approach to all failures.
Dealing with failure can be that simple. If your first attempt doesn’t work, try something else. The same can be said for your 30th failed attempt. Most people try a time or two and then give up. They decide it either can’t be done, or the stress of failing becomes too much to bear.
Try these recommendations to overcome failure:
Maintain your composure.
Nothing will derail your progress like becoming emotionally distraught or quitting altogether. Undesirable results happen more often than not. It’s important to understand this fact. When you expect that you’ll sometimes fail, it won’t bother you nearly as much when you do. Just keep going.
Determine what went wrong.
If possible, determine the error in your approach. Do your best to understand exactly what happened and why. If you don’t understand the issue, you can’t correct it.
Maybe you just need to try again. Some things just naturally have high failure rates, like sales. For some products and services, you might face 100s of failures between successes. There’s no reason to fret, just try again. And again. And again.
Alter your approach.
It’s important to keep improving your method. No matter how great you are at something, it can always be better. Take a few minutes each day and adjust your approach. Learn from others who are successful and have failed multiple times.
Look for alternatives.
Maybe you need to try a completely new approach. There are often multiple ways around any obstacle. Maybe you can find a better alternative. For example, if you’ve been cold-calling for clients, maybe it would be better to:
- Cold-email
- Ask people you know for referrals
- Show up in person
- Attend meetups or conventions
- Send postcards
- Pass out flyers
- Send lumpy mail
If you’ve thoroughly investigated one method, try another.
Sharpen your axe.
Sometimes it’s not about how hard you chop at the trees. It’s about how sharp your axe is. Develop yourself each day. Work on your general sales skills, if you are a salesperson. Learn something new to advance your career forward, like a new skill or software application.
Work on your coping skills.
Figure out the best ways to handle the stress and other negative emotions that commonly accompany failure and setbacks. Keep your options healthy. Calling a friend, exercise, and meditation are examples of acceptable options. Using drugs, alcohol, or food are examples of unhealthy coping strategies.
The Other Side of Fear is Freedom
You can’t succeed if you can’t handle failure. Most of us are far more afraid of failure than we should be. Just remember on the other side of fear is freedom. A failed sales call isn’t a life and death matter. The most successful people fail more often than they succeed. It’s just part of the game.
One of the best ways to predict your success is to look at your ability to handle failure. Successful people handle failure without any undo fuss. Try this next time you fail and see if you can turn your failures into successes!
We would love to hear from you! What steps do you take to deal with failure or fear? Leave us a comment below.
Good Luck!
Does the question ‘how much do you charge?’ fill you with dread?
You’re not alone! Many of us find pricing our services a challenge. Especially when we’re working on different projects that come in all shapes and sizes. There’s no ‘1 price fits all’.
Female entrepreneurs, in particular, have a habit of underselling themselves. Yep, I’ve been guilty of that in the past too. We aren’t doing anyone any favors for not charging our worth.
Here are some tips to charge your worth as a business owner or freelancer….
What are the actual costs?
Always start by working out what your actual costs would be to deliver the work or project. Including everything from travel costs, supplies, to technology. or anything that you will have to pay to get the project completed.
The biggest thing is that we forget to charge for…our TIME!
Your time is not free. Remember that your client is tapping into your expertise or your network of contacts.
It took you years of investment to acquire your knowledge and contacts and taking advantage of that is a cost you must charge for.
Work out how long it will take you to deliver the project
Add some more time on for the unexpected time things take. It always takes longer than you plan. So it’s better to factor more time in. You cannot go back to the client later and ask to be paid for extra time spent.
I’ve never known a project or service not to overrun even if just by a little. Give yourself a good buffer.
Price in your skills and expertise
People are coming to you because you are an expert in what you do. You have the skills and expertise that they need to make their project come to life. Be it web design, accounting knowledge, coaching skills…or whatever area you work in. You have what they need.
Getting to where you are right now didn’t happen overnight right? I’m guessing you had to study and invest in your education. Possibly you took on lower paid jobs in the early days to get experience. All of this needs to be taken into account when pricing your services.
Clients aren’t just paying for your time, but also your experience and knowledge.
Look (and be) the part
If you’re a web designer charging premium prices, but your own website is outdated, has broken links and doesn’t reflect a quality brand, why would anyone think you’ll do differently for them? Your brand needs to reflect the price you’re charging. Do you want to charge a premium price? No problem. Just be sure you’re offering a premium service and have the credentials to back it up.
Taxes and extra costs
Don’t forget to include and work in the cost of any taxes to your pricing and don’t forget that you will be taxed on the profits. Personally, I quote all my prices tax-free and then add a note that all prices are plus taxes. In most cases, the taxes are recoverable to the client.
Have confidence in yourself and your abilities
Most of all, have confidence in your skills and abilities. If you don’t then you will never charge what you are worth because you’re downgrading the value of your services. If you have confidence that you can deliver an amazing result for a client, then toot your own horn if you must. Self-confidence breeds confidence in you by third parties.
Got any other pricing techniques to help you feel more confident charging your worth as a business owner or freelancer? We would love to hear them! Share your tips with us below…
Want to chat with me about your pricing, book a FREE call at www.calendly.com/lorikarpman.
The key to success in a home office-based business is to conduct yourself as you would at an external office.
Home offices have many advantages including the savings on traditional business expenses such as rent and transportation, meals and parking. There is usually no traffic jam between your bedroom and your office! There is generally also less staff to manage and the total overhead expenses are very low. Additionally, you save time by not have to commute to work and can set your own hours and priorities.
Many equate home-based businesses with small returns but that is the farthest thing from the truth. Home businesses can earn just as much, if not more in many cases, than bricks and mortar ones. And at significantly less expense. Like any business, returns are based on effort and productivity.
It takes a real commitment and discipline to work at home. The commitment aspect was discussed in Part 1 of this blog series.
Home Office Setup
In this post, we will look at the important considerations in setting up and running a home office. Let’s look at what is required to make your home office one that supports you, your business and your success.
EQUIPMENT
The first step is to make a comprehensive list of all the things you will need to run your business.
Being successful in a home office requires creating a space that promotes efficiency and productivity. It also must be a space you enjoy spending time in.
It must be set up with the same tools, furniture, and equipment that an external office would have. This includings a computer and printer, business phone, storage, a proper desk (not an Ikea table!), office supplies and personal decorative items.
Insofar as equipment is concerned, a phone, a computer and an all in one printer are the standard basic requirements.
If you are working on your computer all day a dedicated work desk may be all you need.
It can be tempting to skimp on key equipment and splurge on less necessary items, such as office carpeting. Money should first be invested in creating a proper workspace. Invest in a good solid wood desk and a comfortable executive chair that can provide back support.
If you see clients at your home office you will need guest chairs and maybe even a small conference table, space permitting.
STORAGE
Most businesses need storage, but how much you need depends on how paper-driven your business is and the number of supplies you use daily and/or if you are required to carry inventory.
A bookcase can be an excellent storage unit. You can put your files in nice file folders and supplies into decorative baskets. Then add some fun and interesting personal items to make it feel like a reflection of you.
I personally have a separate dedicated home office space with a big mahogany executive desk (that I am in love with!) 2 chairs, 2 small filing cabinets, and a bookcase. All in all, my home office is a real “workplace” designed for work and nothing else.
As a decorating note, the color blue is associated with success. My office walls are a lovely sky blue.
Making your list of requirements will help you to determine how much dedicated space you will need for your office.
DEDICATED SPACE
This can be a separate room or a secluded part of the house where you can work quietly.
Sometimes you can use partitions to create the enclosed home office feel.
If you are always on the phone then enclosed dedicated space is best, unless you are home alone while you work.
If you are using a room in your home you can deduct a portion of your rent or mortgage and utility expenses from your revenue at income tax time.
ROUTINE
Next, you need to create a daily workday routine and determine your office hours. Setting a routine will help you differentiate business hours from private time. Your hours should correspond to the hours that your clients keep so you can always be available to them.
If you need to leave the office forward your office telephone to your cell phone. Being available is quintessential in client-based businesses.
Establishing regular office hours can also help minimize distractions, and unannounced calls, or drop-in visits from friends or family.
Once your office hours are set, don’t forget to hang a clock on a wall or place one on your desk, even though your computer has one. When working from home it is easy to lose track of time and before you know it you have worked 15 hours 4 days in a row!
GO HOME!
Even though you work from home, there still comes a time when you have it to call it a day and “go home”.
My morning routine consists of getting dressed for work, putting on my jewelry and then opening the lights in my office. At the end of the day, I close my office lights and door, change clothes and remove any jewelry. It may sound silly but removing my jewelry is significant as I do not wear any in my private life. Now my private time begins.
INVEST
Invest in your home office. If you need to purchase equipment such as a computer or a printer, for example, do not try to save a bundle. These are your work tools and you need to have items that will stand the test of time; not break down just when you need them the most.
When it comes to phone lines make sure you have a separate and dedicated business telephone number. You don’t want your children to answer the phone or be able to pick it up during one of your own calls. This gives the impression that you are not running a real business. Of course, this can include using a cell phone, or a VoIP (Internet-based) phone.
A toll-free number is always a good idea.
LIGHTING
Have lighting right above you and a smaller task or desk lamp for close up work. This prevents eye strain and headaches often associated with long term computer use.
DIGITAL SECURITY
When it comes to your digital data make sure you purchase a backup drive or subscribe to an online service. You should automatic backups scheduled every day, or even several times a day.
Losing all your information in a crash or from a virus is every business owner’s worst nightmare. There are great online backup service providers that back up to a cloud and are not expensive. Personally, I like Carbonite, as it is efficient, quick and cost-effective.
It is important to have a battery backup for your computer in the event of a power failure. This gives you the time you need to save documents and close files before it all gets lost.
Make sure you always have the latest anti-virus software. A virus can shut you down for good.
INSURANCE
Make sure to purchase proper business insurance. Home office contents are not generally covered by a standard home insurance policy and therefore requires an extra rider.
You should also consider business interruption insurance against loss of income. This will protect you in the event that you cannot operate your business because of a flood, fire or theft.
Ensure your assets are at replacement value (and not at today’s value). This would be what it is going to cost to replace the item years from now.
If you are required to carry inventory you will need additional insurance coverage for it.
BRANDING
Make sure you have a professional email address with your company name, not a Yahoo or Gmail account. A proper email address shows your professionalism and realism.
A website is especially important even if it is only one page, Again this shows that you are in business for real.
Separate the personal from the professional in order to keep things in order.
FINANCES
You will need to set up a proper business bank account. Income and expenses of your business and your personal income and expenses should never be mixed.
Store personal bills, checks, mail and records in a different place in your home from your office. Fully segmenting these two parts of your lives.
At tax time this is invaluable as there are many deductions to be had for home office space, equipment, and supplies. The more you can prove that the office is a completely separate and dedicated entity the better in terms of tax benefits.
What this all comes down to is that a home office is a place of work during working hours.
The more effort you put into creating a dedicated workspace that suits your needs, personality and lifestyle, the more productive and hence, successful you will be.
You will be spending a lot of time in this space to take the time to really “make it yours” with personal knick-knacks, photos and other items that make you feel supported and productive.
TIPS OR QUESTIONS
Share your home office tips or questions with us below. We would love to hear from you!
8 Million People Work At Home
Over the past 10-15 years the number of home-based workers has increased exponentially.
There are 2 types of home workers; (1) those employed for corporations and working at home often called “tele-commuters”, and (2) business owners and the self employed.
According to recently released data from the US Census (2018), 5.2% of workers in the US worked at home in 2017. That’s 8 million people!
The rise has been aided by improved internet connectivity and the demand for more flexible work environments. In fact, the number of employers offering a work from home option has grown by 40% in the past 5 years. The number of regular telecommuting employees (excluding the self-employed population) has grown by 115% since 2005.
Increased Productivity
The same study showed that two-thirds of managers report that employees who work from home have increased overall productivity.
What’s more-, 86% of employees say they’re most productive when they work alone at home as it is devoid of distractions like the noise, the water cooler gossip, loud colleagues or meetings that are a waste of time.
Sixty-eight percent of millennials say that the option to work at home significantly increases the value of a position and would greatly influence their desire to work for a particular company.
I do a lot of work in the franchise industry and home-based concepts are enjoying a growth spurt of enormous proportions. There is a home business for every skill you can think of from financial services to home cleaning, to décor, coaching and consulting, and literally hundreds more. A large proportion of home-based workers are women.
I have had a home-based office for nearly 20 years, and I must admit I love it. Many people who work in conventional offices comment on how lucky I am and that they too wish they could work from home. But, having a successful home office is a challenge and must be worked at.
Self Discipline Is Key
A home-based office is a wonderful place to work and can extremely lucrative provided you have the self discipline to manage one. Discipline is the key to success. You must still have a “work routine” even though you are not in an external office.
This means getting up every morning at the same time and getting dressed “for work”. It is not a license to get up late and work in pajamas. Your clothes have a large emotional and psychological impact on your productivity. When you are dressed for work you feel more professional. You do not need to be dressed to the nines, casual Friday attire is acceptable. You should be appropriately dressed so that if someone wants to meet you at the last minute, that you would be able to go out with some small changes or as dressed.
It also means that you do not do any chores such as laundry or cooking during working hours. You would not have this luxury in an external office so why would you at home?
Working hours are for business only- otherwise the day is a blend of personal and business tasks and nothing really gets done well. When work gets mixed with chores, the days blend into one another and people wonder why they are not productive or generating enough revenue.
This takes a high degree of discipline and commitment. It is essential to treat your home office in the same way you would treat an external office.
Dedicated Space
A home office is a professional space dedicated solely to work. It is not a corner of your dining room table but a distinct space that is equipped and organized like an external office. Ideally it’s a separate room, or a secluded space where screens can be used to delineate the office boundaries.
Dedicated Time
The next essential task is to develop habits that signify the beginning and end of the work day. I come to work in the morning and my day begins when I open the lights in my office. I am now at work.
At the end of the day, I close the lights and “leave” my office. It is only at this time will I do errands or chores.
You must develop some meaningful action, such as closing your computer or turning off the ringer on the phone, to signify that the work day is over. This is essential so that your working hours are more productive and when you leave the office your time is your own and you can enjoy it without guilt.
Days of the week will become meaningful and you will enjoy a balanced quality of life. While it may sound silly- I only wear jewelry on work days. For me, putting on and taking off my jewelry signifies the beginning and the end of the work day and differentiates work from play time.
No Better Place to Work
The reason people fail to be successful in a home office is because:
(1) they do not treat their home office with the same respect as an external one and/or
(2) they lack the self discipline required to create and maintain routines and structure.
It is critical to maintain a normal workday morning routine as discussed above.
Respect and discipline are the keys to home office success. There is a misconception that home businesses make less money and are small business. That could not be further than the truth. However, like any business it depends on the efforts of the owner.
Working from home actually adds challenges. But if you have the skills to meet them, there is no better place in the world to work.
In Part 2 we will discuss how to set up your home office for success.
Your Home Office
How do you make your home office a success? Share your ideas and comments below.
Often when people hear the term “Law of Attraction” (LOA), they usually respond by saying ““it’s all hooey” or “its voo-doo”. However, for us believers, it is a life altering concept that can provoke profound positive (or negative) change in our lives.
According to Wikipedia, the Law of Attraction is the belief that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts a person brings positive or negative experiences into their life. The belief is based on the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from “pure energy”. And that through the process of “like energy attracting like energy” a person can improve their own health, wealth and personal relationships.
Power of Our Mind
The work of quantum physics has demonstrably shown the incredible power our mind has over our lives.
You don’t ever have to understand the physics part to enjoy the benefits of the LOA. The LOA is a force in life whether you choose to believe (or utilize) it or not.
Every second of the day, the universe is responding to our thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative. By using our thoughts positively, we create positive outcomes by manipulating the universe into giving it to us.
Hundreds of years ago the Law of Attraction was first thought to have been taught to man through the immortal Buddha. Buddha wanted it to be known that ‘what you have become is what you have thought’. This belief is deeply intrinsic to the Law of Attraction.
Western Culture came up with the term ‘Karma’ for what the universe brings. What you give out to the world (such as joy, anger, love or hate). That is what will ultimately show up in your life.
Choose What You Want
In its simplest form, LOA is about choosing what you want. Then feeling the emotions associated with already having it, and then “releasing desire”. That is, let go of the outcome and relax.
It’s like putting an order in at a restaurant. Once you’ve told the waiter what you want. There is no point in getting anxious, because you know your order is on the way.
When we choose to utilize the LOA, we are choosing to manipulate reality to our benefit.
By choosing positive emotions we are telling the universe that we want more of these feelings in return.
And if you really want to get specific, you can use visualizations to tell the universe exactly how you want those feelings returned to you.
Affirmations and Visualization
To use the LOA effectively you must use cognitive reframing techniques as well as affirmations and creative visualization. These will replace limiting, self-destructive negative thoughts with ones that are more aligned with what we want… that is, positive thoughts.
A key component of the philosophy is that in order to effectively change a negative thinking pattern, you must also “feel’ that the desired outcome has already occurred. Meaning you visualizing the positive situation you want to create. This combination of positive thought and positive emotion is believed to allow one to “attract” positive experiences and opportunities by achieving resonance with the energy of the LOA. If you want to be in abundance, think, feel and act as if you are already in abundance.
Movement of Energy
The LOA is a universal law, similar to gravity, and is about the movement of energy. The concept of movement of energy has been scientifically proven. Everything emits energy and it’s the level of which will determine what shows up in your life.
The best way to ensure lack is to focus on “lack”.
What you focus on grows.
If you focus on abundance, your life will become more abundant.
Now this does not mean that business will just fall into your lap. You must take action consistent with creating the desired outcome. Like networking or doing a webinar for example, to gain exposure to people who want and can pay for your service.
However, more business will come your way from your efforts and positive beliefs. To make it work for you, you just have to set the intention of what you want and then become a vibrational match to it.
Let’s say you want to lose weight for example. You would imagine and visualize how you would look and feel at your goal weight.
You Shape Your Life
The most challenging part of the LOA is accepting the realization that if we create what happens in our life then every single one of your experiences in life, good and bad, has been shaped by us alone. For many, this is a bitter pill to swallow. Especially if you feel that you have been dealt a particularly hard life or current situation.
Rejoice though because the universe is always on our side, it roots for us to win! The more time you dedicate to learning how to use the Law of Attraction effectively, the more fulfilling and rewarding your life can be. There are no restrictions; open your mind and enjoy the natural abundance of the Universe.
Life is a blank canvas of possibility; you are in control of what the finished picture looks like. If you can hold onto an idea and a belief, and actually see it in your mind’s eye, you can make it happen- with some effort on your part of course.
