The Health Benefits of Working From Home

Have you ever thought of working from home and how it would benefit you, not only mentally and financially, but physically as well? Do you find yourself eating an unhealthy diet, rarely finding the time to work out and not having much of a social or family life at all?

Often when you really look at the big picture, what looks like a rewarding, full-time career may actually be more “draining” than you think. At the end of the week, you sit back and realize … you have drained your gas tank, your body is dragging and your newly deposited paycheck was quickly applied to your car payment, your clothes bills, your lunches out every day and your childcare bill. Too tired to cook, you pick up your dry cleaning and your children and head to the nearest drive-thru. Does that sound like you?  Maybe it’s time to take a second look at working from home, and once you finally find the right business, you will be amazed at how much it could positively impact your health and your life.

Here are some great benefits:

Save time on commuting – The average work commute is approximately 30-45 minutes. Multiply that by two to get back home at the end of the day, and you have spent close to 10% of your day just on travel alone (over 5 weeks a year!).  Working from home allows you save all of this time. It can help you get a bit more sleep in the morning and have more time for yourself in the evening for activities and leisure.

Save money on transportation and clothing – Arguably, the biggest money-saving benefit from working at home is the transportation cost savings, with the clothing often not far behind — no suits, no dry cleaning, etc.If you work from home, you may not even need a car at all.  

Expenses are deductible – This can work for both employees or self-employed people. You may be able to deduct your Internet, phone, supplies and even the square footage that you use in your home as an office. This saves you some of the cost of those items previously all considered personal expenses.

More flexible schedule – When working from home, you are not under the same discipline as office workers, who need to be working from 9 to 5 every weekday. Chances are, your schedule at home will be much more flexible. If you have appointments or need to run errands, you don’t need to take time off from work to do so. It’s much easier to tie in your personal schedule with your work schedule when you work from home.

Less stress and anxiety – Do you know people that have had to take extended time off from work due to stress-related illnesses, burnouts, etc? An office can bring about a lot of competition, gossip and backstabbing among co-workers. This type of environment takes its toll after a while both mentally and physically. Working from home will save you these headaches.

Increased productivity – With all the time that you are saving from not having to commute to work and not socializing half the day with co-workers, most people find themselves being much more productive when working from home. As long as you remain motivated and driven, working from home can be much more effective for delivering results.

More work-life balance – A work-from-home position can have big payoffs when it comes to finding the eternal balance between having a career or simply bringing in extra money and nurturing a family. According to survey conducted by Staples Advantage, more than 80 percent of employees say they now have a better work-life balance because they work from home. Women entrepreneurs are also making strides, at one and a half times the national rate. Technology has levelled the playing field for women finally and we are seeing women transform when they start working from home. Their lives suddenly become much more balanced.

People who work from home are more satisfied with their sense of freedom and control. They structure their time so they’re able to work out regularly and take breaks throughout the day, and they’re more mindful of themselves and what they need to lead a healthy life. 

http://naturespathways.com/editions/south-central-wi-edition/archived-issues-scw/item/1625-the-health-benefits-from-working-at-home#.U56-jvldXeI

How To Make Money From Your Blog

While most bloggers start out writing their blogs simply because they are passionate about their subject matter and want to share their enthusiasm with others, once they discover how easy it is to start making money from blogging at the same time, they quickly adapt to monetizing their blog.

Blog monetization is actually quite easy, especially once you have attracted a large number of followers or have produced a lot of high-value content. It can be a double-edged sword, however, because if your readers start to suspect that you are only blogging for commercial purposes, they may be less likely to follow your blog.

Unless you are creating a blog for your business or organization, a better idea for personal blogs is to follow the 4:1 rule: For every blog that promotes products or services, provide your readers with four blog posts that are non-commercial and simply provide helpful information they can use in their everyday lives. This will make them much more receptive when you do ask them to buy something.

How to Promote Affiliate Products

Affiliate products are those that are promoted by you but are actually sold by somebody else. Whenever one of your readers follows a link and buys the actual product, you receive a percentage of the sale as a commission.

WordPress does not allow you to promote affiliate products if you are using the free service to host your blog, but if you have a self-hosted blog you can do anything you like, even if you use WordPress to create and maintain your blog.

Creating your own blog and monetizing it is not as hard as it may seem. There are many options for creating a blog and many ways to make money from it. A great way to build a free blog is on Blogger by Google. The blogging platform is simple to setup and easy to post in.

Another great free option is Blog.com. Get a free account and start blogging right away. The only problem with many of these free blogging options is that the money you could be making on your own blog is being siphoned by the actual blog owners.

Probably the biggest player in affiliate marketing is Amazon. The world's largest online retailer has a program called Amazon Associates in which you can sign up for free, select products from among the tens of thousands they offer for sale, and promote those products on your blog posts.

http://EzineArticles.com/7723576

Top Five Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting A Business ...

Starting a business is exciting ... and scary. One of the best ways to boost the excitement and shrink the fear is by being prepared.

While it's difficult to plan for every possibility and challenge that may occur, you can get yourself on the path to success by considering these five questions before jumping in with both feet.

1. Have I set goals and do I have a plan for reaching them?

As the proverb says, "He who fails to plan, plans to fail," and this is especially true when starting a business. Without a clear idea of where you want to go and how you plan to get there, you may find yourself stumbling through the stages of starting a business and facing unwanted stress and frustration.

One of the most important steps is setting goals that outline what you want to accomplish in the short term (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, etc.), as well as over the long term (2 years, 5 years, etc.). Once you have created your goals, it's time to make sure you have a plan for your business that will guide you along the way. It's also helpful to understand your motivation for starting a business in the first place.

2. Will I be able to follow my plan without breaking any laws or regulations?

There are a number of legalities that you should consider when starting a business. Here is a list of some of the legal areas you should explore:

• Deciding on the structure of your business (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company)
• Registering a business name
• Obtaining necessary licenses and permits
• Planning for business taxes

3. Have I fully considered the financial implications of starting a business?

Money is a major concern when you start a business, especially if you will be leaving behind a steady paycheck and if your business has significant start-up expenses.

Some business financing options to consider to ease the financial transition include starting your business on the side while continuing to work full time, working a part-time job until your business becomes established, waiting to start your business until you have saved up a financial reserve, and borrowing the necessary funds to bridge the gap.

4. Is my support network in place?

We accomplish very little in life completely autonomously, and the same is true in business. Even if you plan to be a sole proprietor, you can benefit tremendously from creating an external support system to keep you on track.

Your support network may include family, friends, colleagues, a mentor, a coach, and anyone else who can help you navigate roadblocks. When you have an effective support system in place, you will find that you have a cheerleader, consultant, moral support and even a devil's advocate when necessary.

5. Do I have what it takes to make it as a business owner?

Being a successful business owner requires a unique mix of personality and small business character traits. While there isn't a standard formula that makes one type of person more successful than another, some entrepreneur-friendly personality traits that can ease the process of getting started as a business owner include passion, drive, dedication and self-discipline. And it doesn't hurt to be an effective communicator and someone who is willing to take measured risks.

These five questions are likely to spur a few more specific to your situation. Now is the time to consider all of the possibilities ... then you can let your enthusiasm trump the fear.

http://sbinformation.about.com/od/startingabusiness/tp/questions.htm

How To Find New Business Ideas In Everyday Life

The idea for Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom was born on a family vacation. Walt Disney was visiting Tivoli Gardens, one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, when he realized he could create a bigger, better version in California. His method is not unusual: Great entrepreneurs find new business ideas by paying attention to opportunities in everyday life.

"The world around you is filled with ideas that can be useful," says Andy Boynton, co-author of The Idea Hunter (Jossey-Bass, 2011).

None of those ideas will come to you by thinking really hard in a vacuum. You have to get out in the world and practice behaviors that lead you to new ideas. "Innovation is not about how smart you are; it's about the hunt for ideas," Boynton says. "Behavior trumps IQ."

By learning to think and act in ways that bring new opportunities to light, you can find a constant stream of business ideas in everyday life. Here are three tips to help you find inspiration in the world around you.

1. Keep a list of opportunities. "At any given time, there's a job that has to get done," Boynton says, meaning the world is full of problems that need to be solved. As you go about daily life, keep a running list of jobs that others have abandoned, ignored, or failed to address effectively. Each is a potential opportunity.

"Start with your own experience," Boynton says. Ask yourself, what bugs me? What could be easier? More fun? More convenient? Your own frustrations will guide you to real problems that can drive a new business idea.

2. Hunt for ideas in diverse places. New ideas require creativity, which thrives on novelty and diversity. You might find a great idea while you’re on vacation or unexpected inspiration in an experimental art exhibit. "If you open your eyes, the answer is there," Boynton says. "But your world has to be broad enough and diverse enough to feed you the ideas you need."

Your search needs to be intentional. "When effective idea hunters talk to people, they’re not just going through a social dance," Boynton says. They're looking to learn what others know or do -- mining the world around them for useful ideas.

3. Notice how others solve business problems. In any situation, you are surrounded by problems that someone has tried to solve. Each is an opportunity to learn. Start noticing how convenience stores organize inventory, how packaging catches your eye, or how Amazon encourages impulse buys. You might find a better way to solve the same problem or inspiration for solving a different problem.

"You really can borrow and reuse ideas, and reapply them," Boynton says. "If you develop a mental habit of [noticing others' solutions], it opens your eyes to what's out there."

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225348

How Richard Branson Is Helping Aspiring Entrepreneurs ...

Virgin Startup is a new non-for profit company, supporting & mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs ...

Testing Business Ideas

One of the best ways to avoid starting a new business that’s doomed to failure is to test your business idea rigorously before you launch.

Just because you’re good at something, enjoy doing it or dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur doesn’t mean you have a sound business idea.

If your new business is to succeed, there must be sufficient demand for your products or services at the prices you intend to charge. It doesn’t matter how much knowledge, personality and drive you bring to your new business. If people don’t want what you’re offering at the price you charge – your new business will fail. Simple.

How To Do Basic Market Research

Although the very words ‘market research’ conjure up images of clipboards, questionnaires and a small army of researchers pestering shoppers on a busy high street, for most small businesses the solution is much more basic.

The key to success can be to spot a gap in the market and tailor your business to fill that ‘niche’, so you become the number one supplier within that market. Even if you’re a ‘me-too’ business or if you plan to sell something that’s already proved popular, you should still carry out some market research to seek honest feedback from potential customers.

Pre-start market research for most new businesses need not be sophisticated or expensive, you simply need to know who your customers are and what they think about your products or services.

Don’t make the mistake of simply canvassing friends and family, because most will be reluctant to criticise. Plus, they probably only represent a small proportion of your market, at most, it won't be reliable market research by any means.

Speak to potential customers you don’t know. Find out their opinions about what you plan to offer. Do some real-life product testing. Crucially – ask whether they’d buy your product/service at the price you’re asking. If the answer’s no, you need to reconsider.

For small businesses that sell to few customers (possibly other businesses), market research will involve meeting potential buyers to discuss products/services and prices. For those aiming for mass-market appeal, the answer might well involve asking questions to people on the high street, where free samples always come in handy. You might do some door-to-door market research. Write down all responses and learn from them. 

Weigh Up Your Competitors

Effective market research also involves assessing the competition and web-based searches are a good place to start. Also flick through the pages of business directories and local papers/magazines. Even walking around the area in which you’re thinking of setting up will reveal much about the competition you will face.

Find out how many businesses in your market offer products/services similar to yours. Determine how much they charge and what terms they offer (eg buy now, pay later, etc).

If there are too many competitors or some whose prices/terms you cannot match, your business idea might not be viable.

Assess Your Market Research

Be honest when considering the results of your market research. Pay particular attention to feedback on prices and never simply ignore those who tell you they don’t like your products or prices. Ask what they would prefer you to sell and/or how much they would pay. If this is considerably lower than your price, find ways to cut costs, if possible.

Important flaws in your business idea might be exposed, but better to find this out before you commit time, effort and money to starting a new business that will never succeed.

You might decide your only option is to think of a different business idea. Don’t be disheartened. Many successful entrepreneurs have had to work their way through numerous bad business ideas to arrive at good ones.

Alternatively, your business idea might simply need a tweak here and there to enhance its chances of success. If you’re really doing well, your market research will make you even more confident your business idea is a sure-fire winner.

http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/testing-business-ideas

This Is The Most Important Habit For Business Success

In this 90-second video, behavior expert James Clear talks about the most important habit any entrepeneur needs ...