Women in Business

Smart Women Serve It Up The Right Way

Love Maria!

If I Don't Get Out of This House I'm Going to Go Crazy!

Apr 7, 2010 - © Lea Moore

The work is piled up on the desk. Your business is thriving and you have been working

80 hours a week to keep up with the demand. You get out only often enough to go to the

grocery store and take or pick the kids up from school.

While you sit at the computer trying to accomplish something that seem remotely productive,

the laundry is washing, the evening meal is bubbling in the crock pot, and the phone is ringing.

Your bed still hasn't been made. Your husband will be home with the kids any minute and you

still haven't picked his suit up from the laundry. You know that when he walks through the door

he's going to ask about it and then, when you tell you you haven't had time he'll say, "Well, what

have you been doing all day?"

To top it off, when you try to concentrate on the task at hand (the one that brings in the money) you

find that your mind goes blank and your fingers won't do what they are supposed to on the keyboard.

You wonder when you will be able to get it together and make everything happen that is supposed

to happen in a day's time. If you just had two more hours in a day you might be able to find the time to

go out to dinner an a movie once a week, or sit on the sofa with your honey and cuddle.

But if you take to the time, you'll end up so far behind that you'll lose customers because their work

won't be finished by the deadline. So what can you do?

Well...Here are just a few suggestions.

1. Would it be worth your sanity to spend $30.00 a week to have a houskeeper come in and do the

vacuuming and dusting? Call one. It will give you two or three hours, one day a week, when you can

concentrate on work while she does the chores. Do all those "little" organizational tasks that will make

the rest of the week run so much more smoothly.

2. How old are your children. At the age of 9 or 10, they are old enough to earn a few dollars by helping you

do the filing and it will make them feel very important in your life. They will feel like they have just spent

some quality time with thier mom, and you will have saved 20 minutes of your time.

You can spend that 20 minutes, later in the day, playing ball or tag in the back yard

(or taking that well deserved bubble bath).

Independent Contractors - Market Yourselves

April 07, 2010 - © Lea Moore

Do you have a multitude of skills and a desire to be your own boss? Do you have skills that

are industry specific as well as generalized? Do you know how to market yourself to the organizations

that are most likely to provide you with competitive reimbursement, as well the possibility

of a benefits package?

Here are some helpful suggestions to marketing yourself and your skills in a manner that is

competitive with the highest level of professional executives.

The most important thing you can do for yourself is to be confident of who you are and what you are

able to accomplish.

Know yourself. Know your market. Know how to interact professionally with even the highest executive

of a world-class organization.

If you are having a little trouble expressing confidence in yourself and your abilities, even though you are

certain in your heart and in your mind that you manage a project or task, the first thing you need to do is

find an organization that will provide you with the skills to do so. I suggest that you make contact with

a company that provides career-consulting services that include job search and interview skills training.

Even though you are not looking for that average 9 to 5 job, you still need the skills to portray yourself in

the best light, and with the utmost confidence. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this.

You can contact your local colleges and vocational schools. Most of them will provide you with 1-2 day

courses in interviewing and job search skills.

There are a number of great self-help books available at large retail stores and on

the internet that will assist you.

Additionally, you may find a vast amount of free information by subscribing to career search websites such

as Headhunter.net, CareerBuilder.com, Employment911.com, and other career websites.

They offer a wealth of knowledge.

But, the most viable and helpful resources are found with organizations that specialize in career search skills

enhancement.

These companies offer intense training packages that will assist you in developing your own personal style

of interview skills. They have knowledgeable, well-trained career consultants who will boost your esteem

and provide you will invaluable knowledge of what headhunters are looking for.

Although these individual training sessions tend to be more expensive than those you can get at the colleges

and vocational school, you will have the advantage of one-on-one training with a professional.

You will receive anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours of individualized training that is tailored to

suit your profession.

1. What do you serve? Using the example of eating out, is it All-American, Italian, French, Greek?

What type of business do you have? Are you a coach, speaker, real estate agent, attorney,

pet store owner? Are you serving what people want and need? One quick tip is to Google your

business idea and see what comes up. If multiple pages come up, then you may have a winner on your

hands. If you get no results, you may need to re-think your idea. Example: If you Google “mani/pedi for dogs,

” you’ll see that there is a very small market for this. It’s not a service that enough people are looking for to

build a successful business.

2. How do you serve it up? Is it eat-in or take-out? Is it buffet-style? Is it formal or casual? How do you

serve your client the product or service? In an office? By phone? Privately, one to one? Group programs?

This is key to growing a business with happy clients who will send referrals your way.

I offer my coaching services for women in several ways to make sure that I have different choices

for different women’s needs.

3. Your comments, please – Do you ever notice the manage r walking around the restaurant asking

if you have everything you need? Or maybe they bring you a comment card at the end of the meal asking

for your feedback? The best way to find out what your ideal client wants is to ask them. I send out

surveys to my existing clients and potential clients at least one time per year and sometimes two.

I learned a long time ago not to live in a vacuum when it comes to marketing.

Don’t sit in your office all alone trying to figure out what your ideal client wants and needs.

You can ask them and they will be happy to tell you! It’s so easy to do online.

I use a company called SurveyMonkey.com and there are several others as well.

You may be wondering how Greg and I ever go out to dinner since we both have different ideas about

the dining experience we each want. Guess what? We take turns. Sometimes we go more formal and

sometimes we order at the counter and grab a table for two. “Taking turns” won’t work with your ideal client.

They want it their way. Take some time to look at your own programs and services.

Find out what your ideal client wants and serve it to them in a way that will make them happy.

You’ll have them coming back again and again.