Success Depends on Properly Balancing Work and Family

Many articles that give tips for balancing work and family are written based on the idea that you want to keep them separated. But since these two major areas are a big part of your life, why not try to integrate the two rather than segregate them? You may find that you are more motivated and that your business becomes more successful if you turn it into a family endeavor.

When the whole family is invested you can tap into the unique talents of each member and there less chance of resentment developing over the amount of time you are spending building the business. Balancing work and family is not easy but if you work at it, you may be able to create the supportive dynamic you need to build a successful business.

Tips for Balancing Work and Family

Have a Family Meeting

Before starting the business have a family meeting to discuss the idea. Talk about your hopes, how having a home based business will benefit everyone and how balancing work and family is your main goal which is why you are discussing it together. Answer any questions or concerns they may have about the venture.

While you want to talk about the business in a positive light, don’t sugarcoat the truth. Be honest and let them know that in the beginning it will take a lot of work and a team effort to get the business off the ground. Don’t be afraid to solicit suggestions from them about how to make balancing work and family easier.

Let Them Help

There have been many psychological studies done which have shown that the more a person becomes invested in something the more they care about it. For example, a tactic that many marketers use is to help people visualize using the product they are selling. One a person sees themselves using a product they become emotionally invested and are more likely to make a purchase.

Getting the family involved in the business will increase their emotional investment in it. They will care about its success and having your family in your corner rooting you on is the best feeling in the world. So try to find something they can do to help. For example, one way I balance work and family is I get my kids to help me make videos for my online shopping business. Not only do I get to spend time with them but the children love being my little “business partners”.

Share the Rewards

Sharing the rewards of business success with the family is a great way to reinforce the work and family dynamic you have established. Whether it is a financial reward (extra allowance or purchasing something that has been wanted for awhile) or emotional reward (spending more time doing fun stuff because the bills are getting paid) let the family share in the fruits of your combined labors. If they see the rewards, they will be more amendable to supporting the business.

Balancing work and family is a challenge. But if you approach it the right way you can build the successful business you want and have a supportive family by your side every step of the way.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

(photo credit: smallestbones)

For more tips on business development, social media, and balancing work and family, visit my article archives.

Are You Hoarding MLM Businesses?

There is something that has had me scratching my head for awhile and wondering about the thoughts that go through people’s minds. Some business owners I have met are running multiple mlm businesses and sometimes in addition to a full time job. It is one thing to want to maximize your earning potential but how many is too many?

Although it seems like a good idea on paper, running multiple mlm businesses is actually counterproductive. First, you are splitting up your time, energy and resources between multiple projects. That’s like attempting to talk on your home phone and your cell phone at the same time. You can’t really give your full attention to either conversation and you actually spend more time trying to complete both conversations than you would if you focused on having one at a time.

Multiple MLM Businesses Breeds Confusion

Another reason trying to build multiple mlm businesses at the same time is probably not a good idea is because of the possible confusion that may result as you attempt to market yourself. When you meet a prospect how will you determine which business opportunity to pitch to them? If they show no interest in one opportunity will you then launch into a sales pitch about your “other” opportunity? It is already difficult to engage people enough to sit through one sales presentation. It is highly unlikely that a prospect is going to allow you to continue to take up their time with another one.

Are You Allowed Multiple MLM Businesses

Lastly, you may want to check your contract with your network marketing company for possible non-compete clauses. Some of these network marketing companies are competing fiercely with each other and will not tolerate a network marketer concurrently promoting another mlm business in the same industry. Doing so can result in you having both of your mlm businesses taken away by the parent companies and sued for damages. Not to mention the hit to your credibility as you attempt to sell competing products to the same people in your social network.

Now I want to make it clear that I do not oppose owning more than one business. I firmly believe that financial security requires that you have multiple streams of income flowing into your bank account. That way if one stream fizzles out, you have several others that will take care of your needs until you find something to replace it.

However, I also believe in being smart about your business development. Work on building one business to a successful level before jumping into another one. When you are focused 100% on what you are doing, you’ll communicate your vision more effectively, connect better with prospects, and spot opportunities quicker. Which all means you will achieve success much faster.

If you are starting multiple mlm businesses because you are not experiencing the success you want or none of them are providing you with what you need to succeed, then read a few articles on this blog for ideas on what you can do to kick start your business.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your MLM businesses online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

Business Failure is a Fact of Life

This year 97% of all home based businesses will fail. That statistic may seem abnormally high but just because a business does not go bankrupt doesn’t mean it didn’t fail. Much of the home based business failure occurs simply because the owner gives up and goes inactive in their business.

The causes of business failure vary. Between family and a job, some people aren’t able to put in the necessary time. Others are impatient expecting to get rich quickly. When that doesn’t happen usually they quit one program and move onto another they think will generate the millions of dollars they seek.

However, the Main Three Reasons for Business Failure are:

1) Lack of Effective Marketing

I just can’t say it enough. Marketing is the backbone of your company and often determines whether you will experience success or business failure. An average product that is marketed effectively will always outperform a superior product marketed poorly.

Customers have changed the rules of marketing so if you are using outdated methods, such as cold calling and high pressure, then you are basically cutting yourself off at the knees. Customers don’t like to be sold. They would much rather buy and using techniques that attract customers to you will net you better results.

2) Business Failure Caused By a Bad Opportunity

Sometimes the business opportunity itself is doomed from the start. With the number of scams, frauds and fake opportunities on the market today, it is not surprising that entrepreneurs sign up for programs that end up being nothing but money pits. In which case, small business failure is inevitable.

The only way to protect yourself from getting scammed is to become educated on the difference between legit home businesses and scams. Review the compensation plan, look at the marketing plan, check out the products, read reviews of the company. Before parting ways with your money, do your homework. If you don’t like what you find move onto something else.

3) Lack of Commitment

I touched on this earlier but it bears repeating. Unfortunately, what some people are looking for is not a home based business but a get rich quick scheme. It may be that they are smothered in debt or maybe really want to get out of the nine to five grind. Whatever the case, they are setting themselves up for business failure because they are unwilling or unable to commit to doing what it takes to build a business.

Without commitment, you won’t have the fortitude necessary to overcome the obstacles you run into on your way to the top. Building a business is not all rainbows and roses. However, if you are willing to accept that and to put in the time and effort, then you will create a business that will give you the financial and personal freedom you desire.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

For more tips on avoiding business failure, check out the articles in my archives.

Greenwashing Hurts Everyone

There is a terrible fraud being perpetuated in the ecosphere that threatens to undermine the trend towards green living and is causing many consumers to unknowingly pollute the environment while under the impression that they are saving it. It’s called greenwashing and many unscrupulous businesses are indulging in this deceptive marketing tactic to con you out of your money and stomp on the environment at the same time.

What is Greenwashing?

The simplest explanation of greenwashing is when a company makes misleading, or outright false, claims about the Earth-friendliness of their company, products or business practices. It can be something as basic as claiming a product is green when in fact the environmental benefit is negligible to outright deception by launching a wide scale marketing campaign extolling the company’s new green initiatives when in reality the company is doing nothing of the sort.

Companies who participate in greenwashing are pretty clever when it comes to hiding the truth about their eco-friendliness and it can be a challenge separating fact from fiction. To help you avoid giving money to companies that choose to greenwash their business rather than clean up their act, I’ve put together a few tips for spotting a greenwashed product.

Educate Yourself

By far the easiest way to spot greenwashing is to understand what green really means. At its heart being eco-friendly means doing no lasting harm to the environment. So from its inception to its disposal a green product should have no adverse affects on the environment. It’s the same with businesses. Corporations should run their companies in a way that has little to no negative impact on the planet.

When you see a product on the shelf that claims to be eco-friendly, think about how the product was created, the impact it might have on the environment with its use and what happens to it when it is disposed of. If that product adds to environmental problem in any way, chances are it’s not as green as the manufacturer would like you to think.

Beware of Seals

Another area where companies try to pull a fast one is in the use of official looking seals and labels. Some seals, such as “Green Seal”, are valid because the product was independently verified by a credible third party. However, other seals are unregulated and thus are self-serving at best. Research which seals are official and lookout for those products that carry them.

Superficial Changes May Indicate Greenwashing

The most transparent form of greenwashing is when a company makes changes that are purely for show. For example, changing a product’s packaging to emulate the color scheme of similar green products, adding buzzwords like Eco or Enviro to the name of the product or spinning a product’s marketing pitch to make it appear to be Earth-friendly.

Usually your gut instinct will warn you when a company is trying to pull the wool over your eyes with these types of tactics. So if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. It is a good idea to take the time to find companies who are truly committed to the environment and, therefore, whose products you can trust to be green.

Greenwashing is a sad and senseless fact of this move towards eco-responsibility. But as more and more people wise up to the deceptive tactics of unscrupulous companies the sooner they can be exposed for the frauds they are.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

Click here for more articles on going green and greenwashing.

Why a Green Business?

In a previous blog post, we talked about the definition of a green business and some reasons why you would want to build a sustainable business. In addition to creating a healthier and more stable environment for current and future generations, having a green business can be very profitable. Your business overhead will be lower and you’ll be able to command higher prices for the products you sell.

How you go green depends very much on where you are in your business. People who want to start a green business will definitely have an easier time of it than people with an already established business. In either event, here are a few tips for building a sustainable business that will help you prosper in this new era of eco-responsibility.

Tips for Developing a Green Business

Start Small and Build on Success

When you want to go green, it can be tempting to make sweeping changes in order to hurry along the process of becoming more eco-friendly. But sudden changes can be difficult to maintain especially if you have employees. Instead of hitting hard and fast, go slow and steady to give everyone involved plenty of time to adjust.

Think Long Term

Get into the habit of thinking long term when making business decisions. A major aspect of a green business is the fact that the business has little to no negative impact on the environment. Therefore, whenever you make decisions about how your business is run, think about the long term consequences of your actions. What may seem inconsequential now may have a huge impact down the road.

Reduce Your Impact

If you manufacture products, work to reduce the impact your production has on the Earth. This includes reducing your consumption of resources, such as water and electricity, and reusing or recycling as much of the waste you produce as you can. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint but you will save money in the process.

Get Employees Involved with Your Green Business

If you employ people, get them involved in the company’s quest to go green. Solicit input about ways the business could be more eco-friendly. Offer incentives for helping the company achieve its sustainable business goals. Promote the reality that being an eco-friendly company takes team work and make sure you let them know how much you value all their efforts to help the business move in the right direction.

Get with the Green Program

Connect with an environmental group and involve your company in local green programs. The program can be as basic as planting trees or as elaborate as helping to raise money for green organizations by hosting fundraising events. If you have the time, space and knowledge, you can even create your own green community program which will give you a unique edge over your competition.

Building a sustainable business is a process that may take several years to complete. Take your time and implement changes that will stick. Before you know it, you’ll have a green business that you will be proud to own. If you are an entrepreneur looking to start a green business of your own, download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your green business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

Judging by the statistics published by the Small Business Administration, it would seem that running a successful home based business is an impossible task. After all, only two-thirds of businesses established each year make it to their two year anniversary. Out of the lucky ones who survive, only 44% are able to keep their doors open for five years.

But don’t let those numbers discourage you from taking the leap from cubicle slave to entrepreneur. Being in control of your time and income is a worthy reward that far outweighs the risks associated with going out on your own. Here are the five secrets to building a successful home based business that will help make sure your business sticks around.

With the right strategy, you too can own a successful home based business

Sell Products People Want

Have you ever heard of the Thirsty Dog! brand of bottled water? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t. It was specially flavored bottled water marketed to dog owners for their pets to drink. The problem was that the majority of dog owners thought buying bottled water for their dog was a colossal waste of money and the product bombed.

One component of building a successful home based business is selling something people want to buy. Before wasting both your time and money, study the market to make sure there is a need for what you have.

Make it Easy for Customers to Buy

People want to buy from you. They really do. They just don’t want to have to jump through hoops in order to do so. Some businesses unwittingly scare away customers by throwing up unnecessary roadblocks that interrupt the selling process. These roadblocks can be anything from unfavorable payment terms to a convoluted check out process.

You want the pathway to a customer purchase to be as smooth as possible. The more difficult it is for customers to buy from you, the easier it is for them to walk away; taking your dreams of having a successful home based business with them.

Market Your Business Effectively

Building a successful home based business requires that you have the right kind of customers; people who want to buy. It is important to attract these customers using a marketing strategy designed to get them to come to you with their money.

One effective marketing technique is to give something away for free. For example, if you sell cosmetics, hosting a free class on makeup application benefits you two-fold. First, you’re presented with an opportunity to sell. Second, sharing your knowledge demonstrates your expertise and customers are more likely to buy from professionals who know what they are doing.

Track Your Progress

Monitoring and measuring the results of the actions you take in your business is a great way to ensure that you stay on target. It also helps you to identify trends so you can make valuable changes that benefit you and grow your business.
For example, if you sell organic dog treats and find that you get a lot of orders from veterinary clinics and dog kennels than you do from individual customers, setting yourself up as a wholesaler would probably be a good move.

Develop Multiple Streams of Income

If you look at other successful home based businesses that have been around for awhile, you will find that the majority of them have developed several ways to generate income. They do this to protect themselves against the natural business cycle where demand for their products may be high one moment and low the next.

Developing multiple streams of income ensures that, if the need for one of your products or services hits a low point, you will still have enough money to support your home based business until demand increases again.

It’s a challenge to build a successful home based business but doing so is rewarding both personally and financially. Use these five secrets to ensure your business thrives and sticks around long enough for you to reap the rewards of your efforts.

(photo credit: SearchEnginePeople @ Flickr)