Just over two years ago, when my husband was presenting all the “perks” of owning his own business, the idea of having more time as a family really appealed to me.  It was probably the biggest selling point my husband could present.  I don’t believe that either of us were prepared, however, for sharing our family time!

Yes, I admit, we do spend more time together as a family.  But very rarely do we do anything or go anywhere without my husband’s phone ringing.  Nine times out of ten, it’s a business call that he “has to take”.  At restaurants, movies, the park, family gatherings…EVERY CALL COUNTS. 

One evening had been particularly rough, and the two of us were just sitting down to watch some of the many shows we’d recorded on DVR.  About 15 minutes into our first show, at around 11:30pm, his phone rang.  To say I was irritated is putting it mildly.  He answered to find a very intoxicated man requesting a quote for a windshield replacement.  Being the good businessman that he is, he looked up the part and price, and gave the man a quote.  The man scheduled the job for the next day.  My husband called me after doing the job to inform me that he had met his first customer who actually jumped up and down with excitement about having his windshield replaced!  Yes…he was still drunk.  But he was a happy customer, and we made money we wouldn’t have made if Patrick hadn’t answered that call.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

I am constantly reminding myself that the decision “we” made (in quotes because I only take responsibility for it when it’s good!) to become business owners requires us to be on call all the time.  If we miss a call, the next glass company may get that job.  And in this economy, we can’t afford that! 

This is why Patrick carried his phone into the ocean this past June…he was waiting for a call.  The call came, but several hours later when the phone was being eaten alive by the salt water after the largest wave EVER struck my husband…and his shirt pocket (where the phone was nice and safely waiting).  By the time Patrick could get back in touch with the caller, all eight jobs had been contracted out to another company.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

So, do we enjoy our added family time…YES.  Do we like sharing it with strangers?  Not really!!!  But we have learned rather quickly that owning our own business is not an eight to five gig!  It’s all day, every day.  The key is learning to appreciate what it means.  Our business is growing.  We’re making more money.  We’re a step closer to reaching our goals.  We’re succeeding!

Photo by Mykl Roventine via Flickr Creative Commons.

Not that I’d pay $200 for a pen anyway…

Did you know that your computer mouse can become “infected” with the same virus that “sickens” your computer?  I found out the hard way.  Last week our desktop acquired a virus, and we have been unable to use the computer since.  As a favor, since I’m not at all fond of the “schmancy” mouse my husband purchased for the laptop, he took the mouse from the desktop and traded them out.  Little did we know we were giving our laptop the virus! 

 I was stunned when my friend Kathy  wouldn’t use her mouse to fix my laptop because she didn’t want it to get “infected”.  Immediately it clicked (no pun intended) that we had spread the virus ourselves! Evidently, since they operate under the same system, they contract the same viruses.  WHO KNEW???  Okay, maybe many of you…but I’ve mentioned my tidbit of knowledge of the day to several people who had no idea! 

So, the next time your computer gets a virus, put it and it’s mouse in quarantine…or you may start an epidemic! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/3608025579/

One of the most difficult things to do is to find ways to save money on health insurance. When you have a home business, it can be even more difficult to do what you need to, since you don’t have the help of an employer who pays part of the health insurance premiums. You can find group rates, though, it you look hard enough.

But another thing you can do is to get a higher deductible. Check the deductible on your health insurance plan. In many cases, you might only have a $500 deductible. If you can afford a higher deductible, like $1,000, $2,500 or even $5,000, you can save on the premiums. Sometimes, you can save as much as $300 a month, just by getting a higher deductible. You will have to pay more out of pocket, but if you plan ahead, and have a savings account for this (maybe a Health Savings Account), you can more easily afford it.

In the end, a lot of things about your home business come down to cash flow. While it’s nice that you can get a tax deduction for what you pay in health insurance premiums when working from home, having something more tangible day to day that helps keep things moving properly in terms of your cash.

I’ve done some editing in my time. I still occasionally do some freelance editing. But I’d much rather do writing. This is because editing seems like it should be easier. Just go through and correct things? Okay! But there’s more than that to editing. Before you take on editing (or any freelance job), consider that freelance editing can be time-consuming and tedious. And more difficult than writing when it comes to agreeing on a price with your client. Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts offers these 8 reasons that editing is harder than you think it is:

1. Estimating an editing job accurately is difficult.

2. You have to read every single word.

3. There’s always something subjective when it comes to editing — no matter how objective you try to be.

4. Editing a bad piece can actually take longer than writing a new piece.

5. Some clients get upset when you change what they wrote. (Even if that’s what they asked you to do!)

6. There can be leakage from someone else’s style into your style.

7. Too much time editing can result in your seeing errors everywhere.

8. Your writing, in turn, is often held to a higher standard when you are an editor.

It’s not hard to see why the editing jobs I take on are few and far between. What about you? Do you like freelance editing?

As I’ve been preparing my workload for the holidays, I’ve had some time to think about what I’m thankful for. There are some days that it seems almost tempting to leave this whole freelancing home business behind and just go work a traditional job. But those days are few and far between — especially when I stop and think about why I’m thankful to be working from home. As Thanksgiving approaches, here are some things that I am thankful for when it comes to working from home:

* I can be here for my son.

* I can arrange my own schedule.

* I have time to go to the gym.

* I have been able to take guitar lessons.

* I provide a good income for my family.

* I can spend more time with my husband.

These are all things to be grateful for this holiday season. What are you thankful for, when it comes to your home business?

Today I slept in. I find that when I don’t get up and get going on my work, my motivation suffers. And, in fact, I’ve been sort of petering out today — and my day’s just begun! One of the hardest things about having a home business and being responsible for your own schedule is that you have to motivate yourself. It’s really easy to just say that you can do something later. Procrastination can be a real problem.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to help keep you motivated — at least enough to power through your day. Here are some ideas for motivation when you work from home:

1. Build breaks into your schedule so that you feel as though you are getting a little refreshment. I plan a short morning break, and a longer break for lunch. It helps me feel as though I’m not just sitting at the desk all day. Plus the food gives me a little boost. Bonus points when I choose a health snack/lunch.

2. Break down your goals so that they are manageable. I like to be able to check things off my list. When I see that I am accomplishing something, it helps keep me interested in pushing forward, rather than giving up.

3. Take care of yourself with some daily exercise and rest. It’s amazing what doing a little exercise each day, and making it a point to relax at some point, can do for your mood and your motivation. You don’t have to spend hours and hours on this, but I find if I take a half hour for some exercise, as well as take some time to read a book or meditate, I feel refreshed and energized.

While money can be a motivator, I find that it isn’t always the best motivator. Indeed, sometimes it’s just about feeling better and wanting to do something.

What helps you keep your motivation level high?

Technology today makes it possible for nearly anyone to begin a home business as a photographer. With digital cameras, and the ability to make prints from sites like Shutterfly and other photo sites, it is possible for anyone with talent to provide photography services. If you have a talent for taking pictures, a knowledge of PhotoShop and a little business savvy, this can be a good home business for you. People are always looking for professionals for:

* Weddings

* Holiday parties

* Special events

* Milestones (high school graduation, etc.)

* Family portraits

In addition to this, it is also possible, if you have a certain level of professionalism and talent, to work providing photos for advertising, catalogues, corporate needs and industrial events.

One of my favorite pictures of my son was taken by a friend of mine who operates a home business as a photographer. She had a light kit she bought herself, backgrounds provided by colored sheets and props from around the house. All of this was in a room set aside for the purpose. She also excelled at outdoor photography, providing free natural backgrounds.

This is a great home business idea, and one that can be started with reasonably small expense. You might benefit from community photography classes and PhotoShop classes, though, to hone your skills.

One of the things that can help you earn a little bit more in your home business is to be assertive. Interestingly, people who are too agreeable make less money. This comes from a study reported in the Daily Mail:

Personality traits can have the same impact on earnings as intelligence,’ he added. ‘Our statistics show that being nice does not pay for women, whereas working hard does.

‘This is probably, in part, because agreeable people are too passive in conflict situations and are poorer wage negotiators.

‘Traditionally, women are more passive and likeable at work. This shows that to be successful in the workplace, women have to adapt to more alpha male-like behaviour.’

This can apply in your work from home situation, just as it applies in the office. How many times have you accepted low-paying work, or not given a true estimate of the value of your time and effort, in order to be more agreeable to the person you were trying to woo. While you may feel that some of this type of “niceness” is required during tough economic times (you might have to take what you can get), it is important to realize that unless you are assertive, you will not be paid what you are worth.

Asking for a raise when you work from home requires that you understand your value. While you may need to compromise, there is no reason why you can’t show a little assertiveness: Go out and get what you are worth! But you have to show that your product or service is worth the price. And, you have to be in a position to walk should you be completely lowballed. That’s part of being assertive.

This is a guest post from Joey Asher. He has some good ideas for helping your business during these tough times.

The difference between life and death for many businesses today is one big win – one new piece of business that will allow your firm to ride out the economic storm. If that’s the case for your business, then you better know how to deliver a killer pitch: a new business presentation that allows your firm to stand out from the competition.

Over the last 23 years, my business has helped businesses win billions of dollars in new business contracts. In that time, we have learned that the key to winning business isn’t showing that you’re the “best”.   Your prospect usually can’t tell which firm is the best. And if you’re on a short list of candidate companies pitching for the business, all your competition is most likely excellent.

Rather, the key is showing that you’re going to be the best partner for the project. To do that, you need to execute five fundamentals.

Fundamental #1. Present a solution and nothing else.  Many of your competitors start presentations by talking about themselves. “Before we start, let me tell you about how our company began . . .”  Blah. Blah. Blah. Who cares? Your prospect only cares about is how you can save them money, grow their revenues, or reduce their risk. Detail your plan to help your prospect and tell stories about how the plan has worked for others.

Fundamental # 2. Keep it simple.  I watched three construction firms pitch to build a new school. No presentation had less than 10 points. None of the messages were memorable. Instead, you should hammer at three messages. “We’ll build your project on time. We’ll meet your budget. We’ll deliver quality work.” Simplicity separates you from the competition.

Fundamental # 3. Speak with Passion. If you’re one of three firms competing, you know that your competition can do a great job. Personal style can be the separator. “When it’s close, many of the decisions just come down to who connects with us best,” one CEO told me.  Passion in the voice helps you connect.

Fundamental #4. Leave half of your time for questions. Questions address your prospect’s hot buttons. Your competition often makes Q&A an afterthought. Avoid that mistake.

Fundamental #5. Rehearse. “I can always tell who has rehearsed,” said one CEO who has heard hundreds of sales presentations. Most people don’t rehearse much. Practicing sets you apart.

In a recession, the pool of new business is small. Focus on fundamentals to grab your share.

This article is adapted from Joey Asher’s new book “How to Win a Pitch: The Five Fundamentals that Will Distinguish You from the Competition. It is available at www.howtowinapitch.com and on Amazon. To read Joey’s blog go to www.talkingpointsblog.com.