Janeane's World

Debt - Get A Healthy Attitude Toward It

2013-05-16T12:26:00.001-04:00

It is thrilling to help your business by taking a healthy look at debt. Often entrepreneurs are afraid of debt. This fear of debt can prevent entrepreneurs from growing their businesses as they should. However, once an entrepreneur has a healthy understanding of debt and its place in business, there is opportunity for growth. It is important to understand that every business has debt. Business debt includes all of the following items:

rent
employee,payroll and employee related taxes
supply costs
taxes
association and membership fees
website associated costs

: photo credit: The Eggplant via photopin cc

A quick look at this list will show that almost every business has debt. Debt is commonly defined as a state of owing money. Most businesses have short-term debt. Like the items included in the list above. These are debts that are due to be paid off in a period of less than one year. Businesses may also have long-term debt which includes things such as loan payments, credit card payments and mortgage payments. Since the reality is that almost every business has debt, it is imperative that entrepreneurs get a healthy attitude toward debt rather than an adversarial one.

Debt need not be the enemy of business operations and entrepreneurs. In fact certain debt can be thought of as a good thing. For example, every day that an employee works, that employee is owed a debt by the business, a paycheck. It is good to have employees, to provide jobs and be part of helping the American economy to grow. Employee payroll associated debt can be thought of as good debt. This is not the type of debt that normally scares entrepreneurs. The debt that normally scares entrepreneurs is loans. However, a loan is sometimes needed in order to finance items needed for business operations.

Before becoming indebted for any thing, large or small, it is important for an entrepreneur to look at several factors to make sure the business will be able to manage the debt. For example, a business that wants a loan to purchase new computer equipment should look at the following factors:

income
current expenses
cash flow
profit and loss statement
accounts payable
accounts receivable
purpose of the loan
Projected return to be had on loan funds

If after the analysis is done it is determined that the company has the ability to repay the loan and the loan will benefit the company in a real and significant way, then the debt to purchase the computers can be considered good debt and probably should be taken. If however, the analysis shows that the company cannot afford to make the proposed loan payments or that the benefit to the company would be insignificant or non-existent, then the debt may be considered bad debt and probably should be avoided. What this brief analysis shows is that debt itself, simply by the nature of being debt is not a good or bad thing. It is simply a fact of operating business. Instead of being afraid of debt, start to realize that it is a part of business and on its own is neither good nor bad.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Healthy Look at Debt

In conclusion, in order for a business to be healthy, an entrepreneur must get a healthy attitude and understanding of debt. An entrepreneur must learn to manage debt adequately, correctly and without fear. So, the question for you this thrilling day is, how to you control debt in your business?

Correct Attitude While Out of Work

2013-05-01T13:13:00.001-04:00

It is wonderful to have the correct and right mental attitude while you are out of work. If the condition of the economy in America has taught us anything over the course of the past few years, it has taught us that jobs can disappear with no notice at all. As a result, you may find yourself unexpectedly out of work. One of the most important things you can do for yourself if you find yourself involuntarily out of work is get a correct mental attitude, the right mental attitude. It is important to have the correct aka right mental attitude because a bad mental attitude can lead to disastrous results. Let's examine some products of a bad mental attitude:

Sadness
Anger
Depression
Fear

: photo credit: Enokson via photopin cc

Being unexpectedly without work and income is not a pleasant thing. After all, our jobs and the income they provide make it possible to pay the mortgage, utilities, food and all the other expenses that make life better. No matter how bad things are, you must get the correct attitude, the right mental attitude. The reason you must get and keep the correct and right mental attitude because it determines the outcome you will experience. If you analyze the results that a bad attitude brings, you will find a bad attitude produces:

Bad company
Misery
Sadness
Lack of opportunity

When you are a sad, depressed, angry or fearful person, you are bad company to be around. Those characteristics make you a miserable person. It is important that you get the correct or right mental attitude while you are out of work. The correct or right mental attitude will help you to get a job and to be happier while you are out of work. When a person has a correct or right mental attitude, she is:

Resolute
Hopeful
Adventurous
Determined

These characteristics are what give you the strength to keep going through the work needed to handle life while you look for work. When out of work it is important to behave as though you will find a job before things are totally ruined for your family. Have a sense of adventure because sometimes good things are things outside our comfort zones. Additionally, determination helps us to hang on when things are bad and to believe things will get better. These characteristics will get us good results and help us move from joblessness to full and satisfying employment.

The reason we need to develop characteristics that create a correct or right mental attitude while out of work is because when we sow a correct or right mental attitude we reap:

A good reputation
People who want to help
Positive results
Less stress

There is an idea commonly circulated now called The Law of Attraction. The idea is that the attitude you give the world is the attitude the world will give back to you. There may be some truth in this idea. After all, while misery loves company, no one wants to be that company!

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Correct and Right Mental Attitude

In conclusion, it is wonderful to keep the correct mental attitude while you are out of work because it will make life smoother and happier for you. So, the question for you this wonderful day is, how do you keep a good mental attitude when things are not going well in your life?

Use Technology to Keep Healthy

2013-04-29T12:39:00.001-04:00

It is terrific to use technology to get back to basics and stay healthy. Modern technology has taken a lot of the drudgery out of getting into and staying healthy. When I was a very young teenager, I bought Jane Fonda's step aerobics workout book. I worked my way through the book page after page and used another book to hold the pages while I did the exercises. When I was a child, personal computers were out of the price range of most people and the idea of using the computer to research issues of health was not done. Over the course of my lifetime, things have changed in incredible ways. Today there is an enormous variety of ways most people can access information on health and fitness. For example:

DVDs and CDs for the television or computer
Internet websites and YouTube videos
Video games and programs
Applications for the laptop, tablet and cellular phone
E-books
Fitness devices like the Fitbit and Garmin devices
Athletic shoes with built-in computers that connect to cell phones and smart devices

All of these items are eons beyond my old Jane Fonda step aerobics workout book. DVDs are available in almost every exercise discipline known to man. It is exciting to be able to change workout style each day if one chose. This means that while working out with DVDs at home, a person never need be bored. Additionally the easy availability of the internet makes it easy to get information about health, illness and a variety of healing methods. With a few key strokes of a keyboard or a few swipes on a smartphone, one literally has the information of the entire world at one's fingertips. This means that at a very basic level, one has all the information one needs to find out what not only what good health is, but also how to achieve good health.

Almost everything we do in life is better is we have our health in order. Good health is the basic foundation we need to make everything else we do in life. With the technology available today, it is easy to find out new ideas for getting healthy. Whenever one hears about a new health study on a news report, one can immediately do an internet search and instantly get more information on the topic.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Basics - Use Technology to be Healthy

In conclusion, it is terrific to use technology to learn about good health, to get healthy and stay healthy. Technology can make what used to be hard boring work easier and fun! So, the question for you this terrific day is, how do you use technology to get healthy or stay healthy?

Celebrating National Poetry Month with Langston Hughes

2013-04-23T01:38:00.001-04:00

April is National Poetry Month so I am celebrating it by sharing a little about my favorite poet of all times, Langston Hughes. Hughes is one of the most famous and prolific poets and writers of the Harlem Rennaissance period in America. That period was the birthplace of a great number of incredible poetry that has influenced my life. One of my favorite gifts of all time a book, The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes My husband bought me this paperback volume about ten years as a birthday gift and I have read it so much it is getting a little worn and crumpled. I have been a Langston Hughes fan since I was a young child. I like his books as well as his poems. He is my all time favorite. If anyone wants to get me in a good mood, pull out some Langston Hughes verses and I will melt in your hands. My husband just has to mention some of my favorite Langston lines and turn to putty in his hands.

The following poem is my favorite poem of all times, I see it as a metaphor for my life as a woman, a wife and a mother. My life has not been a crystal stair, but I am still climbing, still moving and still succeeding.

Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you:

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

It's had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So, boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps.

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now—

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

I do not have the space to share all the rest of my favorite poems, so I will just share a few lines from a few of my favorite poems. Sit back, relax and enjoy these beautiful words. Once you have read each, take a moment to sit back and just enjoy the rythym and flow of the words.

Dream Variations

To fling my arms wide

In some place of the sun,

To whirl and to dance

Till the white day is done.

Then rest at cool evening

Beneath a tall tree

While night comes on gently,

Dark like me-

That is my dream!

I like this one because of the freedom and imagery of flinging arms, dancing with wild abandon and then being enveloped by my friend, the night.

The following poem I liked as a child because I pictured myself walking along these great and glorious rivers instead of along the Schykill River in Philadelphia.

Negro Speaks of Rivers

. . .

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy

bosom turn all golden in the sunset

. . .

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I like the following poem because it paints such a beautiful picture in my mind. It reminds me of patriotism and the promise of America.

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

I liked this one because I grew up in the days before a black president was a reality and I dreamed of the day it would come to pass.

I have shared several great poems by a fantastic poet with you. I have bared a little of the real me by sharing my celebration of National Poetry Month with you. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, how are you celebrating the National Poetry Month?

What a Thing to Say - I Had Nothing Better to Do

2013-04-22T12:23:00.001-04:00

You can find serenity in building a love that stands the tests of time, in-laws and children. When you find that serenity, you will also find peace, comfort and strength.
Over the years, my husband has said some incredible things to me:

I love you
Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife
I do
Women don't become beautiful until they get past thirty
I will love you when you are 90 and your butt sags to your knees
I had nothing better to do that day

: photo credit: Millzero Photography via photopin cc

The last statement was something he said once during an argument when I asked him why he married me. At first I was upset with his response. What did he mean he had nothing better to do? I got a major attitude. He tried to calm me down and get me to listen to his explanation. But, I was not having it. Then, all of a sudden, I got it. I realized he had given me a wonderful compliment. What Darren was trying to explain to me was, that of all the things in the world that he could have been doing, there was no option better than choosing to share his life with me.
When we got married all those years ago, Darren was the perfect tall dark and handsome figure. He had a decent job, was a college student and had the whole world before him. In other words this was a man with many options before him. He did not have to get married, he chose to get married. In addition, since he was a major hottie, there were plenty of women who would have loved to marry him. This I know, because I had more than one tell me. However, even with all the choices available to him, there was nothing he could think of on March 31, 1990 that was better than marrying me. In my mind that is good stuff!

Twenty-three years have come and gone since our wedding day. A lifetime of things have taken place. We have lost parents and grandparents. We have gained and lost children. We have had the for richer, for poorer, in sickness and on health and the for better or for worse talked about in our wedding vows. We have lived in apartments and houses and in the city and in the suburbs. We have been so busy we saw each other only a few minutes per day and we have been around each other twenty-four hours per day for years at a time.

Some things have over the years. Instead of our home being a cozy apartment for two, it is a crowded house of six with two pets. We no longer get up at 3 am just to drive to New York for hamburgers. Hugs and kisses get interrupted by little voices saying, "Ewwwww, that is nasty." Spending plans now include school supplies, children's toys and lots of bandages. Television programs now get switched quickly with the approach of little feet in the night. Instead of fighting each other for sheets and blankets, we now must join forces against the attack of twin fingers and stinky feet.

When I think about love, romance and companionship that starts when people are young and lasts way past them being old, I think of Darren's kind of love. Over the years, the two of us have grown and developed. The people we were at nineteen and twenty-four are different from the people we were when we married at twenty-three and twenty-eight. Now at forty-six and fifty-one we are different from the young kids who got married all those years ago. However, some things have remained and grown stronger:

Mutual respect
Deep friendship
Physical attraction
Blind trust
Support: mental, emotional, and physical

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Serene Sunday, What a Thing to Say

The things Darren did twenty-three years ago that got on my nerves, still get on my nerves. I still do not like it when I ask him if it is raining and have to listen to the history of precipitation before getting my answer. I still don't like it when he gets bossy. The sweet things he did back then to make me smile, still make me smile. He still knows I will forgive almost any offense if the apology is accompanied by a ball of yarn or a book. I like that he still doesn't like to see me cry and is always my hero. The way he has always adopted my dreams as his own and believed in every venture I undertake still fills me with indescribable joy.

In conclusion, I am thrilled by the fact that after all these years, I have a husband who had nothing better to do than marry me and spend his life with me. So, the question for you this serene day is what is your recipe for building a love that lasts?

Click here to check out a story about the line Darren used to hook me forever the day we first met.

After Tragedy Comes The Next

2013-04-16T00:25:00.003-04:00

It is terrific to know that no matter how bad things are now, there is a next on the way. Right now, all over the news, radio, and social media people are discussing the tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon. Those discussions are good and important because when a tragedy occurs, those of us left behind want to understand what happened, why it happened and how we can keep the tragedy from repeating itself. We mourn the victims and pray for the survivors and the families of those involved. Everyone around the nation and around the world wants to know what happened and why. Parents are searching for as many answers as possible so they can explain things to their children. First we want to know what happened, then we want to know why. Then comes the next.

A basic fact of life is that no matter how bad the tragedy, no matter how many tears we shed, there is always a next. The next is where hope abides. The next is what we figure out when we tell our kids that a bad thing has happened but we will go on, there will still be Elmo and SpongeBob. The next is what happens when we tell our employees to take the rest of the day off to be with their families and come back to work tomorrow morning. The next is when we have dinner ready when our husbands come home and convince them, that things will be ok at home while they are away. When tragedies happen, we all come together, families, friends and even strangers huddle together for protection, comfort and understanding. We cling to hope and pray for understanding. Then comes the next.

: photo credit: QueenNeveen via photopin cc

As we sit and try to figure out what happened in Boston, as we seek to understand the who, what, when, where, why and the how, it is important for us to hold on to the knowledge that the next is coming. We cannot change the bad thing that happened. In truth, we may not be able to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in the future. What we can do is be assured that next is coming. The next is important because in the next we have power, we have control, we have hope and we have possibilities. In the next, we can reach out and do kind things for the families of those who died in the tragedy. In the next, we can look for ways to be of service to the survivors. In the next we can look for ways to comfort those around us who were not directly affected or involved but are hurting. The tragedy has happened, now comes, the next.

The next thing, the next step, the next action to take varies from person to person. There is no definitive thing to do next. Undoubtedly, we will all be doing something next. Some will ignore the events and pretend they never happened. Some will look for ways to be of service to the survivors. Some will try to figure out the whys and the hows. One thing we will all do is whatever is next. Because like it or not, deny it or not, want it or not, the next is coming. In conclusion, it is terrific to know that we do not stay in tragedy forever, the next arrives. Just like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the next is coming. So, the question for you this terrific day is, now that we have experienced this tragedy, what is your next?

Spring Into Business Improvement with A Customer Referral Plan

2013-04-12T12:52:00.001-04:00

It is thrilling to do some spring cleaning in your business and improve your customer referral policy. Spring cleaning is often thought of as the deep and thorough cleaning that takes place after the long winter has ended. While spring cleaning is usually thought of in connection with a home, spring cleaning should also be done in your business. Entrepreneurs should take time on a regular basis to evaluate the condition of the business, to find ways to improve the business and its operations. An important place to concentrate cleaning and improvement efforts is the area of customer referral.

: photo credit: nffcnnr via photopin cc

Every entrepreneur knows that customers make the business go around. After all no matter how wonderful the product or service, how well-trained the employees or how innovative the business model, no business can succeed without customers. An entrepreneur should always have in mind ways to satisfy customers and how to get more customers. Satisfied customers advertise your business with the stories they tell others about you and your business. It is critically important to your success that those stories be good ones. Therefore, the first step in creating a good and sustainable customer referral program is to satisfy your current customers.

Look at your business operations with a critical and objective eye. Ask the following questions about your customer service policy:

do you have a written customer service policy that is understood and followed by all employees
do customers know your hours, locations and refund policies
how do you handle customer complaints
what is your return policy
what is your customer loyalty program

Once you are satisfying your current customers, the next step is to get your current customers to refer others to your business. There are several ways to do this:

ask customers to write referral letters immediately after the satisfactory experience
ask customers if they are willing to accept phone calls from potential customers
have customers fill out customer experience cards to be shared with potential customers
create a blog for your business where you share stories from and about satisfied customers
create a customer forum section on your website that allows customers to talk about their experiences with your business and its products and services

There are several things to ask for when getting referral letters or stories to share from current customers. These things include:

the name of a particularly good employee
a problem that your product or service helped solve
how a dissatisfied customer became a satisfied customer
the customer's favorite thing about working with your business
happy stories about results achieved from using your business' products or services

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Thrilling Thursday Spring Cleaning-Customer Service

An interesting fact is that there are as many ways to create a good customer referral plan as there are businesses. In order to be as successful as possible as an entrepreneur, it is important that you create a customer referral plan that works for your business. Also keep in mind that customer service is an ever-changing area of business operations. Things that satisfy customers today and make them refer customers to your business may no longer work tomorrow. Customer service is an area that needs continuous work and attention, do not rest on past successes.

In conclusion, it is thrilling to have a policy that gets your satisfied customers to refer more customers to your business. So, the question for you this thrilling day is , are your satisfied customers referring you more business?

Spring Into Action in the Face of Fear

2013-04-11T11:57:00.001-04:00

It is magnificent to spring into action in the face of fear! There are many situations in life that require a person to take action, and to take that action, now even in the face of fear. Fear is commonly defined as the state of being afraid or apprehensive. Taking action now means that you move and do what needs doing, now. Fear, if left unchecked, unchallenged and free to roam, makes it difficult to take action now. The next time you have something to do that causes you to feel fear, find your courage and take action anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, instead it is taking action in the face of fear. You must find the courage to spring into taking action now in the face of fear. In other words, when it comes to taking action now, you must put on your big girl panties and your fake it until you make it dress and get to doing what needs doing!

: photo credit: Lynn Friedman via photopin cc

In order for things to get done, action must take place. Fear is not sufficient justification to put off taking action. Bad things happen when fear stops a person from taking action now. Some of the things a person can expect when she allows fear to stop her from taking action now are:

embarrassment
failure
disappointment
missed opportunity
loss of income

None of these are things that a person wants to experience. However, what is exciting about having the courage to act and take action in the face of fear is that if you do it once, you can do it again. In other words, if you find the courage just once to take action in the face of fear, that action will give you strength to take action again in the face of fear. You cannot wait for pretty words, perfect situations, and just the right moments. When it is time to take action, take it!

There are several wonderful things that happen when you find the courage to look past fear and take action now. A few of these things are:

achievement of the desired results
success
satisfaction

It feels good to take action when you should and move towards getting the results you want. There is something good and wonderful about working towards a goal and achieving your desired results. Success is habit-forming. Once a person has success in one area, the feeling of satisfaction that is obtained is so pleasant that one wants to feel it again and again. Therefore, it is good to find courage in the face of fear and take action now. The problem is that some people do not know how to find the courage to take action in the face of fear.

There are a two tricks that I have found helpful when I am scared to take necessary action:

the five second rule from Lost
be like Nike

In the first episode of the television show Lost one of the characters told another that he found the strength to battle his fear by allowing panic and fear to run wild for five seconds, five seconds only and then he went into action doing what needed to be done. I have used that tactic on several occasions with success. The first time I used it was before the television show aired. But once it did air, I always used that story as an example of a way to handle fear. For example, when I defended a client charged with murder for the first time, when the jury walked in to start the day I was scared to death. As I sat in my chair I acknowledged that I was scared, nervous and afraid. I admitted it to myself and thought about it for five to ten seconds. Then I shook my head, pushed the fear aside and got down to business. I was later able to enjoy the success and satisfaction of my client being found not guilty by a jury of his peers.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Spring into Action in the Face of Fear

I have also used the Nike, "just do it" attitude to take action when I was afraid to act. When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my twins and my husband was rushed to the hospital I was terrified. However, I had to get my two children out of the house and around the corner with me to the hospital. At that point I could either do what I wanted to do which was sit and cry or I could hide my fear and get to the hospital and handle the business that needed handling. So, I sucked it up put the kids in the car and went around the corner to the hospital. There was no pausing, no hesitation. There was only just doing it.These are not pretty stories. It is not pretty to be afraid. It is not cute to find the courage to take action in the face of fear. But, it is a thing that needs doing.

In conclusion, it is magnificent to find the courage to spring into action and act now in spite of fear. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what do you do to get things done when you feel afraid?

Spring into Family Improvements with Compliment Day

2013-04-10T07:29:00.001-04:00

You can find serenity in having compliment day with your family. Sometimes, when there is more than one child in a family, sibling rivalry occurs and the children will bicker and argue with each other. Often when that bickering and arguing occurs, it tends to drive a mother off the ledge into insanity. Or perhaps that is just at my house. I am the mother of four children ranging in age from 17 to 5. As much as it shames me to admit it, on occasion, my children bicker and argue as if they do not realize they are supposed to love one another.

: photo credit: Soulfull via photopin cc

After one afternoon of breaking up one too many fights, I created compliment day at the Davis house. One day per week everyone in the family is showered with compliments by the other members of the family. We worked out the following schedule:

Sunday - Dad's day
Monday - Little Twin's day
Tuesday - day off used for emergencies or if someone needs extra
Wednesday - Big Twin's day
Thursday - My Son, my son my golden one's day
Friday - Teenie Bopper's day
Saturday - Mom's day

By dividing up the week in this manner, everyone gets a day to be treated to compliments and no one has to wait more than a week to be a recipient of the good stuff. The original plan was for the compliments to be given out spontaneously by everyone in the family. What things evolved to was compliments only being given out when mom says so, at meals and when the recipient of the day asks. The person who is receiving compliments has the right to request compliments whenever desired and whoever is asked does not have the power to refuse.

This system has been working out remarkably well for our family. It is easy to apply and can be followed by any family. Human beings are social creatures who need to be loved, cared for and appreciated for who they are. When a person is the recipient of kind words, true words, genuine compliments, that person cannot help but feel good. I know many people who go days, weeks, months and in some cases years without ever receiving a true and kind compliments from another person. My children are blessed and fortunate because they will grow up knowing that they are loved and worthy of good and kind words.

Think about it for a moment. How would you feel if you knew that one day per week you were guaranteed to receive kindness and praise from those around you? Would this make you feel better? While sitting and receiving the compliments, would you chest rise, your shoulders pull back and your head raise a little? It is a good application of the Golden Rule. The children learned that if they give good compliments, the others will give them good compliments. At the same time, if they give out stinky compliments, they get some pretty stinky compliments in return. The following are a few of the stinky compliments:

you eat your dinner every day
you are smart for a boy
you have three pretty shirts

Here are a few of the good compliments:

you are the rainbow
you are the best sister
you are my big brother hero
you always make me smile
I knew when I was born and I first met you that you would love me forever

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis,serene Sunday, compliment day

I have come to enjoy my compliment day. As a mom, there are so many times when my children take me for granted and think my contributions to the family are small and not worthy of note. However, on Saturday when it is my compliment day I feel really good. I am often amazed at the quality of compliments I receive. The last one in the good list above came from my Little Twin. I must admit, my little one has GAME, big time.

In conclusion, you can find serenity in having your family members compliment each other. So, the question for you this serene day is, when was the last time your family members spent time complimenting one another?

Better Blogging and Better Business

2013-04-09T13:25:00.000-04:00

In this article I am going to give you some great articles on blogging and business that I have found interesting during the past week. Be sure to check both sets of articles, there is often relevant overlap!

For Bloggers

1. Many bloggers write purely for the sheer joy of getting words and ideas from their brains onto blog sites. There are other bloggers who write for money, to earn a living. For these bloggers, this article from the people at Hongkiat.com will give you ideas on where to go to get paid for writing blog posts and articles. http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/sites-to-get-paid-blogging/

2. Bloggers like most people use Facebook for a variety of reasons. This article from Blogging Basics 101 talks about how the various Facebook rule changes may impact how a blogger runs contests on a blog site. http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2013/03/5-reasons-not-to-ask-for-facebook-likes-comments-and-shares-for-your-giveaways/

3. RSS feed services are heavily relied upon by bloggers for a variety of purposes. Now that Google has announced Google Reader will be done away with in the near future. This article by a writer with competitor Feedblitz talks about the demise of Google Reader and why RSS feeds are here to stay. http://www.feedblitz.com/rip-google-reader-first-thoughts/

4. Bloggers are often concerned with Google rules about syndicating articles and duplicate content. This article from Google explains how they view syndicated articles and how they view duplicate content on a site. http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66359

5. Changing fonts in Wordpress is a task that has driven more than one bloggger to consider throwing her computer through a window. This article from Lexilyn Studio may help keep some computers safe. http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66359

For Entrepreneurs

1. Entrepreneurs are increasingly finding that LinkedIn is a good tool for making connections and developing relationships. This article from Virtual Social Media discusses how to use LinkedIn groups for business purposes. http://www.virtualsocialmedia.com/how-to-use-linkedin-groups-effectively-for-business/

2. Entrepreneurs are increasingly learning the power of blogs and bloggers. This article from Smart Boy Design tells entrepreneurs how to write a corporate blog. http://smartboydesigns.com/2013/03/18/write-corporate-blog/

3. For entrepreneurs, it is always time to think about taxes. This article from the people at Daily Worth discusses the rules for deducting home offices on a tax return. http://posts.dailyworth.com/posts/1729-home-office-check-deduct-it-hmmmm#.UU2mYxyG2So

4. While entrepreneurs are increasingly learning the importance of social media, often they are making mistakes with application. This article from Stream Feed explains why social media efforts may not be working. http://www.steamfeed.com/social-media-not-working-for-you-heres-why/

5. One thing that is certain to drive entrepreneurs insane is email. This article from The Self Employed gives five ways to get a handle on email. http://theselfemployed.com/technology/5-no-fail-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email/

If you come across an interesting article for bloggers or business people you would like me to highlight here, please email it to me at: janeanedavis@janeane's world.com. It is sensational to get better at what you do. So, the question for you this sensational day is what steps are you taking to make your blog and business better?

Spring Into Action in the Face of Fear

2013-04-05T11:40:00.002-04:00

: photo credit: Lynn Friedman via photopin cc

embarrassment
failure
disappointment
missed opportunity
loss of income

There are several wonderful things that happen when you find the courage to look past fear and take action now. A few of these things are:

achievement of the desired results
success
satisfaction

There are a two tricks that I have found helpful when I am scared to take necessary action:

the five second rule from Lost
be like Nike

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Spring into Action in the Face of Fear

Spring into Family Improvements with Compliment Day

2013-04-04T07:25:00.001-04:00

: photo credit: Soulfull via photopin cc

Sunday - Dad's day
Monday - Little Twin's day
Tuesday - day off used for emergencies or if someone needs extra
Wednesday - Big Twin's day
Thursday - My Son, my son my golden one's day
Friday - Teenie Bopper's day
Saturday - Mom's day

you eat your dinner every day
you are smart for a boy
you have three pretty shirts

Here are a few of the good compliments:

you are the rainbow
you are the best sister
you are my big brother hero
you always make me smile
I knew when I was born and I first met you that you would love me forever

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis,serene Sunday, compliment day

Spring Into a Classic With Sun Tzu and The Art of War

2013-04-03T10:58:00.001-04:00

It is sensational to look at an old classic book and find a modern use for it. There are thousands of books that make the list of classic treasures that students are forced to read throughout their educational careers. Some of those books stand the test of time and others do not. Some classics make me smile when I think of them, like The Communist Manifesto. Other classic books make me scream in disgust and wonder why educators choose to torture students; like the book Moby Dick. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a classic book that has lessons to teach modern women.

: photo credit: Beni Ishaque Luthor via photopin cc

The Art of War is a thirteen volume book written, by Sun Tzu. The book discussed the proper way to wage war and how leaders should conduct themselves on the battlefield. At the beginning of almost every translation of The Art of War, is the story of Sun Tzu and his methods convincing Ho Lu, King of Wu that his methods for conduct on the battlefield were good and would work on any group of soldiers in actual battle conditions. The king had read Sun Tzu’s writings and asked if Sun Tzu’s methods could be tested on 180 women living in the palace. These young women were put under Sun Tzu’s training methods and the results were so satisfying that Sun Tzu was put in charge of the king’s army and waged war on the king’s behalf.

Interestingly, many of the principles found in The Art of War are applicable to the modern woman at home and in the work place. It is not unusual for the modern woman to wage war on the local school board when advocating on behalf of her children. It is not unusual for a woman to attend a parent teacher conference, a business project meeting, a church planning committee meeting and go to the supermarket all on the same day. It is important to note that each situation requires a different type of behavior. In order to be successful in each of these arenas the modern woman must identify the field upon which she finds herself and behave in a manner appropriate to the situation in order to achieve her desired outcome.

In the Art of War leaders are cautioned to:

plan
check out the situation being faced
maneuver with care
attack with proper preparation

These are all strategies that will help the modern woman handle her responsibilities with care, precision and appropriate tact. In order to juggle work and responsibilities at home, a woman must have a plan. She must be able to quickly and efficiently examine the situation in which she finds herself. When moving from one responsibility group to another a woman must be able to maneuver in and out of the various areas with grace and purposeful movement. Finally when a woman must go on the attack, no matter if in a meeting at work or to protect the interests of her children at school, she must do so with proper preparation so that her efforts will be successful.

One thing that was particularly interesting to me about The Art of War was the amount of preparation, study and self-development that needed to be undertaken by leaders. It would do the modern woman well to be continually vigilant and to continually seek out useful information about those with whom she comes in contact. It is a well established principle that one should prepare for war in the time of peace. Additionally a steady diet of self-improvement is healthy for every woman.

In conclusion, it is sensational to look at an old classic book and see that it still has lessons for the modern world. So, the question for you this sensational day is what old classic has taught you something recently?

Take Action Now and Find the Next Step

2013-04-02T11:20:00.001-04:00

It is magnificent to spring into action and take action now by figuring out what should be the next step. In order to be successful you need to both take action now and be on the look out for what your next steps should be. By doing this, you will be able to see both the big picture and all the small important details that are so crucial to eventual success.

: photo credit: WDAsso via photopin cc

I encourage people who read this blog to Take Action Now. I stress how important it is to move forward on plans now rather than waiting for a mysterious "someday" to take action. A step that goes along with taking action now is being careful to consider what should happen next. What comes next is an important part of taking action because the action you take today has an impact on the actions you will be able to take tomorrow. At the same time, if you know what steps you will take tomorrow, you can make better and more informed steps today. When taking action now, it is important to know what is coming next so that you are always able to take action and are never stuck wondering what to do next. By paying attention to what is going on around you, being careful and considerate in the action you are taking now and figuring out what you should do next, you are able to move continuously and with confidence.

It is important to always have a plan of action. The old saying, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail," got to be an old saying for a simple reason. That reason is because it is true. While we need to take action now, it is crucial that you act with a plan. If you are moving from A to B, you should act purposely and with your path in mind. Part of that planning is the recognition that after you get from A to B there is still a C and D and some unknown next place that you must visit. It is important to recognize in your planning that you cannot plan for everything at the same time. Some plans cannot be made until after other plans are completed. That means that while you take action now, you must be on the look out to see what is the next step in your journey, what will be needed for the journey to continue. This is why when you take action now, you must be looking out for what your next step should be.

When you take action now, you start working toward achieving the goals you have set for yourself, you move in a coordinated and specific way towards completion. One way to ensure that you are always in a position to take action now, to keep moving is to always be on the lookout for the next step you need to take. For example, when you get up in the morning you have a routine:

wake up
get out of bed
take care of all bathroom and hygiene needs
get dressed
eat breakfast
go to work
work
come home

That list, while long and encompassing many subcategories, is not the end of your life or even the end of your day. You must still move on, there are steps that still need to be taken such as dinner, family time and preparation for the next day. In all you do, you must continue. As long as you live, if you want to control your destiny, you must always be moving onward.

Sales people are told that they should ABC, Always Be Closing. All people who want to be successful, who want to reach their goals should ABC as well. In that case, ABC means, Always Be Continuing. Progress is made with forward movement. This means in your taking action now, it is important that you know what is coming down the road so that you can keep going, that momentum is not interrupted while you stop to figure out what to do next. In physics, one learns the principle of inertia, which means an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion. By taking action now and being on the look out for what needs to be done next, you can continue to move, you can use the principle of inertia to keep moving towards your goals.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Magnificent Monday, take action now, next step

In conclusion, it is magnificent to take action now and keep moving forward by figuring out what the next step should be on your journey. Take action now towards accomplishing your goals. While working towards your goals, follow the plan you have set for yourself and always be on the look out for what you should do next. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what is your next step?

Springtime is Here - Update Your Resume

2013-04-01T10:23:00.001-04:00

It is wonderful to get a new start on a job search by updating your resume. Your resume should always be accurate, up-to-date and error free. Resumes can be used to secure a promotion, a new position or to get new customers. Just as you should never sit on your laurels, you should never sit on your resume. Instead always look for ways to improve your resume, make it better and keep it relevant.

: photo credit: scottkellum via photopin cc

The typical resume tells the story of how and where a person has worked over a period of time. Modern job searches are often done electronically so that an employer does not see the applicant, but instead looks at a dozens or even hundreds of resumes that come across a computer screen. In order to be successful in the modern job hunting environment, it is crucial that applicants find ways to make their resumes stand out from others.

Normally a person who prepares a resume is an employee who is looking for a new job. Another popular source for resume creation is people who are hoping for promotions at their current places of employment. If you are an individual who is looking for a job be sure your resume, at a minimum has the following information:

list of names and locations of places worked for the past ten years if possible
detail the duties done for prior employers
give information on projects successfully completed
descriptions tailored to the job requirements of the types of positions you are seeking
highlight special accomplishments including money saved for employers, sales quotas exceeded and special awards won

Another group of individuals that should keep an up-to-date resume on hand is entrepreneurs. The resume of an entrepreneur will differ from that of an employee searching for a new job. For example, an entrepreneur's resume will normally have only one job, the entrepreneurs current business. The typical entrepreneur should have a resume, not to seek a new job, but to highlight work done in order to impress future clients or potential venture partners. If you are an entrepreneur preparing a resume, be sure your resume at a minimum has the following information:

list of projects successfully completed for clients
names and locations of clients for who work has been done
a detailed listing of awards won
select social media mentions

Whether you are an employee seeking a promotion or new job or an entrepreneur hoping to gain new clients please remember to use CUPS when reviewing your resume. CUPS is a proofreading method taught to elementary school students that remains useful and relevant throughout life. CUPS stands for:

Capitalization

Underlining or emphasis

Punctuation

Spelling

This means you should always make sure that the proper words are capitalized. There are rules for capitalization, do not capitalize just for style. Use appropriate underlying, italics and bold in your resume to add emphasis where appropriate. Punctuation is important because a misplaced period or common can change the meaning of a statement or phrase. Finally, be sure to carefully check your spelling. Spelling mistakes make your claims that you are detailed oriented or pay attention to details appear to be lies. Proofreading is an important part of the resume updating process. One of the easiest ways to make a poor impression on potential employers or potential clients is to have a resume full of grammatical errors, poor spelling or improper capitalization. Everyone has heard the expression, "You never get a second chance to make a first reaction." In this digital age, with employers having resumes delivered to their in boxes twenty-four hours a day, resumes with errors are quickly and easily tossed into an electronic wastebasket.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Wonderful Wednesday update your resume

Once the resume is written, work is not done. You should think of your resume as a living breathing thing. It needs to be updated, tweaked, fine tuned and carefully nurtured. Once you create your resume, store it electronically and be sure to pull it out and look at it at least once a season. When you do this seasonal review, make sure you include any new honors, awards and achievements. When possible change the wording you use to fit new vocabularies and terms of art in your industry.

In conclusion, it is important to keep your resume up-to-date at all times so that you are ready to hand it over to a potential employer or business contact at any time. So, the question for you this wonderful day is, when was the last time you updated your resume?

Spring into New Technology With Cloud Based Storage

2013-03-29T08:03:00.000-04:00

It is terrific to spring into action by taking advantage of cloud based storage technology. Storage mediums for computers have changed drastically and over the course of the past twenty years. When I purchased my first computer 20 years ago, we used 5 inch floppy disks for storage. Later the floppy disks dropped in size to 3 inches. Later there were jazz drives, portable hard disk drives, compact discs, DVDs, SD card and flash drives available as storage options. Today cloud based storage options are all the rage. Cloud based storage is a way of referring to storage systems that internet based.

: photo credit: blmurch via photopin cc

One of the advantages of cloud based storage systems is that in addition to having storage on your device of choice, you have the ability to access your files anywhere you have internet access. Cloud based storage systems are convenient because most automatically sync your files that are in the cloud drive on your device. This means that even if you forget to manually sync, your files are up-to-date. There are now numerous cloud based storage system that range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per month. This article will deal only with the free cloud based options including:

Drop Box
Google Drive
Sugar Sync
Sky Drive

Each of the programs has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Dropbox -can be used to store all kinds of files, ranging from word processing documents, spreadsheets, video files and photographs. Dropbox can be used to store your files in the cloud, on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Dropbox allows you to send people specific links to files you select so you can share your files with ease. Dropbox starts you with 2 GB of storage capacity for free, but allows you to purchase additional storage space. Dropbox has an interesting feature in that if your friends sign up for additional storage space based on your referral, Dropbox will give you additional storage space. There is no ability to create files in the cloud based version program.

Google Drive - is similar to Dropbox, but is a Google based program. Google Drive stars users with 5 GB of storage for free and allows users to purchase more storage space. Google Drive allows you to create documents from the cloud based program that you can sync and share. Google Drive also gives you the ability to add a large variety of programs from the Google App Store to your Google Drive.

Sugar Sync - similar to Dropbox and Google Drive without the ability to share individual files with others. There is no ability to create files in the clouds based version of the program.

Sky Drive - this is Microsoft's cloud based storage system which lets you store and share Microsoft Office documents, files and photographs. Sky Drive start new users off with 7 GB of storage space. Sky Drive also allows you to create Office documents in the cloud that you can add to your drive and share.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Terrific Tuesday, cloud based storage

As this brief discussion indicates, there are a great number of similarities between the various cloud based storage programs. There is no definitive answer to the question of which program is best overall. It is largely a matter of preference. I have used all of the cloud based programs listed here. In fact, I still use three of them. I use Dropbox with a client in Louisiana because that is the program of choice for that client's firm. I use Google Drive with my blog partners on our website Pushing Lovely. I use Sky Drive for all my own files for my business, blog and personal files. When I signed up for my Sky Drive account several months ago, I got 25 GB of storage for being an early adopter of the program. I like it because I can store files on my desktop even when I am not online. So, the question for you this terrific day is, what do you use for large scale computer storage?

Do It - Spring Into Action - Don't Wait

2013-03-28T10:34:00.001-04:00

spring into action. Procrastination happens, that is a fact that cannot be changed or ignored. There is another fact that cannot be changed or ignored, sometimes, you have to just suck it up and do it, spring into action.

: photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc

There are a myriad of reasons why people do not spring into action.
Among the reasons people refuse to spring into action are:

procrastination
fear of failure
fear of success
lack of knowledge

Procrastination is commonly defined as putting off intentionally and habitually. This means that when a person procrastinates, it is her practice to put off doing what she is supposed to do over and over as a regular matter. It is the opposite of springing into action. If you are a person who has a procrastinating spirit, you must start new habits. When you are tempted to put something off for tomorrow, you have to find a way to hold onto it, and get it done today. Instead of finding excuses to put things off for tomorrow, find a reason to get it done today. The reason can be anything that motivates you. Just find it and get it done.

Fear of failure is another thing that keeps many people from springing into action. Some people think if they do not try, but sit on the sidelines, they are not playing the game and therefore cannot lose. Don't fall for this faulty way of thinking. Failing to take action now, even if it is because you are afraid to fail, is taking an action. Since you are taking action anyway, choose to take an action that gets you closer to achieving your goals. You cannot let fear of failure control you. Instead of letting fear keep you from acting, do a worst case/best case scenario analysis. Imagine what is the worst thing that could happen if you sprung into action. Then think of the best thing that could happen if you sprung into action. Once you have done this analysis, you have no fear of the unknown. If you know both the best and worst possible outcomes from taking action, you no longer have to be afraid. Don't let fear rule you, spring into action, now.

On the opposite side of fear of failure, is fear of success. Incredible as it may seem, there are people who are afraid to succeed. For these people success is scary and something to be avoided. Success can mean new opportunities and new responsibilities. Sometimes people are comfortable where they are, moving on to something new, even if it is something better is scary. You cannot let fear of an unknown future stop you from moving. You must find a way to be brave. The future ahead may be sunny and bright if you succeed, enjoy that success. Accept the new opportunities and responsibilities with a brave heart. Be still and know that success breeds success. This means the first success you are afraid to encounter may lead you to more success, act, spring into action.

Lack of knowledge is another reason why some people refuse to spring into action. It is important to realize that sometimes, the necessities of life dictate that we must act even without full knowledge. Indeed, in many instances, full knowledge is not provided until after action is taken and results are analyzed. There are a great many unknown factors in most calls to action. However, a way must be found to move in spite of the fear of what is not known. If you find yourself in a situation where you must take action, but are experiencing fear due to your lack of knowledge, stop, acknowledge the fear, spend five seconds or less realizing the fear comes from a lack of knowledge. Once that step is complete, stop, spend a few moments gathering whatever knowledge is available, then spring into action. You must learn to gather knowledge as you move forward and practice doing so.

In conclusion, when it comes to carrying out your plans, spring into action now,there is no reason to wait. Procrastination, fear of failure, fear of success and lack of knowledge are all things that stop a person from springing into action. Do not let these things control you. Instead spring into action, do what is needed to reach your goals and accomplish your mission. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what are you going to do to spring into action and get things done now?

Do It - Spring Into Action - Don't Wait

2013-03-27T05:03:00.002-04:00

It is magnificent to do it now, to spring into action and get things done. There are a lot of reasons to explain why people refuse to spring into action. Procrastination happens, that is a fact that cannot be changed or ignored. There is another fact that cannot be changed or ignored, sometimes, you have to just suck it up and do it, spring into action.

: photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc

There are a myriad of reasons why people do not spring into action.
Among the reasons people refuse to spring into action are:

procrastination
fear of failure
fear of success
lack of knowledge

Improve Family Life - Spend Alone Time with Each Child

2013-03-22T12:21:00.001-04:00

You can find serenity for your family by spending alone time with each child. Most parents who have more than one child know that one of the most precious gifts you can give a child is one on one attention. Very often in families with one or more children parents spend time with children in a group rather than on a one on one basis. When you are part of a multi-child family your children often will get only a very little private time with you. Quality of life in your family will get better if your children feel special, loved and are able to have private time with you.

: photo credit: hepingting via photopin cc

Being a parent to more than one child is challenge for a variety of reasons including:

children crave attention
children want to feel special
children want to feel their valued
children want confirmation that their parents love them
there are a finite number of hours in each day
there is a finite amount of energy each parent has at any particular time

By spending time with your children on a one on one basis you are able to satisfy all these desires. The great thing about one on one time with your children is that you do not have to spend a lot of time or do a lot of expensive things in order to satisfy a child's desire for one on one attention. the following are a few activities I have done with my children that made them feel special:

ask child set the table to for dinner as you prepare dinner
have your child read you a story as you drive to errands
take your child to the local coffee shop to watch movies on your phone, tablet or laptop computer
let your child help pay bills by picking a bill from the pile to be paid next
brag to your child about a work accomplishment
allow your child to sit and tell you her favorite thing that happened at school each day
get one child up a few minutes earlier than the rest for hot chocolate time
allow one child to stay up a few minutes later to share secrets

As this list shows, there are a lot of things you can do easily to give a child a little one on one attention and make the child feel special all at the same time. So, the question for you this serene day is, what are your tips for giving your children each one on one time and making them feel special?

Make an Action List - Spring Into Improving Your Business

2013-03-21T10:16:00.001-04:00

It is thrilling to spring into action and improve your business by creating an improvement action list. One of the worst things a business owner can do is get complacent. A complacent entrepreneur does not think about ways to improve her business. Complacency means the death of innovation, improvement and growth. If you find yourself growing complacent with how things are going in your business, step back and look at your business through the objective eyes of an outsider.

: photo credit: IvanWalsh.com via photopin cc

When you look at your business with objective eyes, look at the following areas (not listed in order of importance):

income
expenses
cash flow
employee turnover rates
customer retention rates
return on investment
adherence to business plan
retained earnings

If all these things are at the top of the range expected for a business of your size, in your industry, excellent. If there are one or more areas that are not at the top of the charts, you have the first items that should be placed on your business improvement action list.

: photo credit: Poster Boy NYC via photopin cc

A business improvement action list is a list, not in order or priority, of areas where action needs to be taken so that improvements in the business can be made. In some businesses, the action list is something that all members of the business can contribute to creating. In those businesses all owners and employees are encouraged to think of ways to make the company better and to share those ideas. Management goes through the lists on a regular basis and selects items to act on, decides where improvements will be made. At other companies, business improvement lists are created by select persons only. Either method is fine. The method for creating the improvement action list is not the important part. The important part is being on the lookout for areas to improve.

If an entrepreneur works under the ABI plan aka the always be improving method she will always find areas to improve and over time will improve every area of her business. Improving a business is similar to improving home. You start with a remodel of the living room including new curtains and furniture. Once that is done, the dining room looks dated in comparison. Once dining room has been improved the kitchen looks out-of-place. Soon the entire house has been recreated. A similar thing happens when one starts improving her business. If you improve your employee retention rate you will notice improvement to the customer service procedures are needed.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Thrilling Thursday improvement action plan

If you want to be successful as an entrepreneur, it is important to avoid complacency and to always be on the look out for things to improve in your business. It may not be possible to remember every item that needs to be improved or ideas on how to make the improvements. That is why it is important to have the list in writing. It can be stored electronically or via the proven and true pen and paper method. This is another area where method of putting the information together is not important. What is important is that the list gets created, maintained and at some point, acted upon. So, the question for you this thrilling day is what are you going to put on your business improvement action list?

Spring into Networking in the Real World and Online

2013-03-20T12:07:00.001-04:00

It is wonderful to network by using contacts you have met only on-line as well as those from the real world. The world is getting smaller and smaller as technology enables us to meet people from around the world on-line and travel gets easier and easier in the real world. As we meet more and more people with whom we would like to maintain relationships, networking becomes increasingly important.

: photo credit: Thompson Rivers via photopin cc

Normally the term networking is used to describe a situation under which two or more people with common interests who support one another share information and services. Due to the popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and the like, many people have a network of people they know only in the virtual world. In my own life, I started a business with two women I know only on-line. We will be meeting in person later this year, by then our business will be eight months old! People who work at home, are sole proprietors or naturally shy may find that social networking allows them to build a network of people who will provide support, friendship and opportunities to smile at a convenient time and in a convenient place aka whenever you want on your smart phone, tablet or laptop computer.

In the real world there are more ways to meet people than this article has room to explore. This is the place where traditional networking takes place - the real world. We meet people, get their business card, write down their phone numbers or type their contact information into our electronic device of choice. No matter whether the contact is an on-line contact or a real world contact it is important that we maintain the relationship and not let the contact wither on the vine so to speak. Here are a few ways you can build or maintain a relationship with your contacts:

contact day
clip list
social media groups
text message
computer video chats
quick call

Contact day - start a list of people you want to maintain a relationship. Create an actual list so that in one place you have the name, address (physical or e-mail) and phone number of people with whom you want to make sure you maintain a relationship. It is important to have all the contacts on-line and real world all in one place so you can go through the contact steps all at one time, all in one place. Next pick one day per month as your contact day and on that day reach out to those on your contact list. Reach out to the people on your contact list via email, telephone or by good old-fashioned hand written letter.

Clip list - as you read magazines on your tablet device or surf the internet, if you find an article that will be of interest to someone on your contact list clip it and save it to give to that person. I use a clipping program for Evernote that lets me save web pages to an Evernote file I have created. Then I can send the "clip" via email right from my Evernote program in a matter of seconds. If you send your contacts timely, relevant and useful information, they will like hearing from you and look forward to receiving your messages.

Social Media Groups - this is a great way to stay in contact with and maintain a relationship with on-line contacts. An amazing amount of networking, job referring, support and advice takes place via social media groups. My favorite social media group, Pushing Lovely on Facebook amazes me each day with the support, advice and encouragement that members provide to each other. It is particularly amazing because this is a group of women that meets mainly on via Facebook updates.

Text Messages - this is a great method of contact for people who are shy or have a lot of people to contact. With text messaging you are able to send a short message of encouragement, support or advice to a contact in seconds and a response is not needed. In mere minutes, you are able to send quick text messages on any subject to dozens of people and thus keep in contact with ease.

Computer video chats - the availability of technological advances and programs like Skype and Google+ hangouts it is very easy to talk with people and see their faces. This is a great method of communication and helps build and develop relationships. These programs make it easy and inexpensive to see a person you are speaking with and is much easier to arrange than an airplane ride across the country.

Quick call - never forget the value of hearing someone's voice on the telephone. For people of my generation, a telephone used to be for talking and not just texting. It is still nice and appropriate to make a telephone call to stay in touch with people on your contact list.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Wonderful Wednesday Networking IRL and OL

In conclusion, it is wonderful to network with people you know in the real world and those you know only on-line. When we think of our personal and professional networks, we must increasingly look for more and creative ways to maintain connections with those who are important to us or whom we want to be important to us. So, the question for you this wonderful day is how do you network?

Dare - Spring Into Action - Why Get a New Tablet

2013-03-18T09:10:00.002-04:00

It is terrific to take a dare and explore how the latest technology can make things better for your business. It is a well-known and established fact that sales of tablet devices have increased in popularity over the past several years. In some cases, consumers are choosing to purchase tablet devices instead of desktop or laptop computers. Entrepreneurs would be well served to take this fact into consideration when purchasing technology for the office.

: photo credit: viagallery.com via photopin cc

A tablet or tablet pc is commonly defined as a portable computer that use a touchscreen as the primary input device. On computers one typically says she is opening a program. On tablets, one typically says she is opening an application or app. Most tablets are smaller in terms of square footage and weight than a traditional laptop computer.

Tablets are made by a variety of manufacturers on a variety of platforms including Android, Apple and Windows. Which platform is the best? It depends on your personal preferences and business needs. I am not an Apple person so I never buy or recommend their products, but I admit it is my personal preference. In reality, most tablets are very similar in form and function so it is best to buy something that fits your personal taste preferences.

Tablets are commonly used for entertainment applications such as watching movies, listening to music or even reading books. Entrepreneurs should note that tablets are useful tools for business owners and can be used for a variety to business tasks including:

writing
research
presentations
information storage
photographs

Among my entrepreneurial activities, I own a consulting firm geared toward advising small businesses, write a daily blog that accepts paid advertising from sponsors and have started an e-book publishing company. For my work, a tablet is a waste of money and space if I cannot use it to write with ease. I have used several brands of tablet and find that I am able to use them for writing both with and without a stylus with ease. For entrepreneurs who travel, tablets have the additional advantage of being small in size and possessing better battery life than most laptops which make them easy to use on buses, trains and airplanes. Once upon a time a visit to the local coffee would reveal many entrepreneurs with their laptops out as they drank coffee and handled business matters. Today, those laptops are increasingly being replaced by tablet devices.

Most modern tablets have the ability to connect to wi-fi networks or have built-in internet connections. This means that they can be used to do research via the internet with ease. The ability to do research on a tablet device, to store and have that research in pocket or on hand later is an incredible boon and benefit for busy entrepreneurs.

There are several tablets currently on the market that are large enough to use by entrepreneurs to share presentations with clients and employees. Gone are the days when giving a presentation meant pulling out a big white screen and a cumbersome roll of slides. Entrepreneurs are now able to give presentations on the fly with no notice or help from AV club geeks by pulling a tablet out of a purse or briefcase pocket. The ability to give a presentation in line at the bank or while watching children play at the playground have made it easier for entrepreneurs to do business.

Additionally tablets are good for information storage as well as the taking and reviewing photographs. Another note about tablets is that they make it easier to manage a calendar and to do list than a smart phone does. Tablets have large bright screens that make manipulating information and dealing with data a breeze.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Terrific Tuesday dare to use a tablet

In conclusion, technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past five years and will continue to do so in the future. Take out your tablet for more than just watching movies and start using it for running your business. So the question for you this terrific day is what are you going to dare to do with the latest technological advance?

Completion - Spring Into Action Now, Don't Wait

2013-03-15T13:29:00.001-04:00

It is magnificent to get important tasks completed, so spring into action now! People spend a lot of time managing their to do lists. Trying to figure out what to put on the list, how to organize items on the list and what to keep off the list. The thing people do not spend careful thought and attention on is actually completing the things on the list. That is a shame, because the completion is the most important thing when dealing with items on a to do list. Before reading this article, look at your to do list to see your list completion rate.

: photo credit: Arwens Abendstern via photopin

The goal of this article is to talk about completion, getting things finished, done and crossed off the to do list. Here we will explore who needs to work on completion, why completion is necessary, and some ideas on how to complete items on the to do list. This topic is relevant because almost every person who is alive has a to do list. Look at the following people for example:

infants alive only minutes have to do lists: eat, dirty diaper, cry
toddlers have to do lists: eat, play, drive parents crazy
teenagers have to do lists: eat, go to school, drive parents crazy, plan for future
adults have to do lists: work, take care of home, raise children, pay bills, take care of parents

As this list indicates, almost every person alive has a to do list. This means everyone needs to be concerned about getting things off the to do list. There are two popular ways things can be removed from the to do list:

complete the items on the list
cross the items off the list even if they haven't been done and hope for the best

It is obvious that the first option above is the better and more productive of the two options. Therefore, the mission of a person with a long and ever-growing to do list should be to get the list completed. While it is relatively easy to escape the completion of the items on the to do list, it is rather difficult to stop the growth of the to do list. Completion will bring us satisfaction, accomplishment and a sense of well-being. After all, we create our to do lists because there are things we must accomplish, things we must get done. This is why we feel unsuccessful and like failures when we do not get our to do lists completed. The inability to get the to do list completed is such a common problem that there are a myriad of programs for our computers and smart phones to get our to do lists done. Some of the currently popular methods include:

do the easiest job first
do the hardest job first
first eat the frog
attack the list by priority and importance
do the job that generates the most return first
prioritize tasks according to level of importance
tackle tasks based upon due date

It does not matter what method you use for completing tasks, the most important part is the act of completion, not the completion method. When it comes to doing things on your to do list, if you do not have a favorite "get it done" method, start with the item at the top of the list and get it done. Once you have done this repeat this process until every item on the list is done. It will be hard and it will be time-consuming. However, none of that matters. When it comes to dealing with the to do list, life demands that you show up like a grown up and get through the list. Grown-ups get done, what needs doing, even when it takes a long time, even when it is hard.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Magnificent Monday, completion, spring into action

In conclusion, it is a great feeling to cross things off the to do list and to be able to say you have completed something you set your mind to accomplishing. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what are you going to complete today?

Spring Into Action - Make One Improvement at Work

2013-03-14T14:30:00.001-04:00

It is fantastic for an entrepreneur to spring into action by making one improvement in her business. It is scary to look at a long list of improvements needed and not know where to begin or if the list will ever get completed. There is reason to smile however. The list can be completed, it can be managed. Step by step, piece by piece, the list can get done, and completing tasks is contagious. Spring into action and start making improvements with your business because it is necessary, it is important and it can be done.

: photo credit: Arno Meintjes Wildlife via photopin cc

Most entrepreneurs have a long list of improvements needed for their businesses. Those lists get longer and longer with each day that passes. Sometimes it is overwhelming to admit just how much work is needed to keep a business up and running. For many people, when the list of improvements needed is too long it gets scary. Those people go from scared to paralyzed and then stay at paralyzed. It does not have to be that way. Imagine for an instant what things would be like if instead of acting scared and being overcome by paralysis, one chose to eat the elephant.
Think about the old riddle,

Question: How do you eat an elephant

Answer: One bite at a time

When you think about it, the riddle just makes sense. An elephant is a big thing, a giant thing, a thing way to big to think about eating. Just the thought of sitting down to eat an elephant is an overwhelming thing. However, if instead of looking at the whole elephant you look at the job of eating an elephant as just taking a bite, the task seems more manageable. A person can take a bite because a bite is not scary. A bite of chocolate makes you want more. A bite of a red velvet cupcake makes you want more. A bite, a first step is not scary at all. A bite of the list of improvements needed is not scary, it can be managed.

If an entrepreneur took her list of improvements needed, and took the eat an elephant approach, the to do list would be a little less scary and a lot more manageable. Instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer large size of her list of improvements needed, it may be a good idea for her to spring into action, pick one item on the list, any item, and deal with that item, just the one item. Make one improvement, then sit back for a moment and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and pride of purpose. Action is contagious, once the joy of completing one item on the improvements needed list is done, it well help spur on more action.

One by one, bite by bite the list of improvements needed will get smaller and smaller as the entrepreneur eats her elephant. Each completed task attracts attention to another task in need of completion. As the newly established pattern continues, the question stops being, "How do you eat an elephant," and becomes "Would you please pass me a napkin? I am done my meal." The eat the elephant approach is not the only approach, but it is my favorite.

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Fantastic Friday Spring into Action, Eat an Elephant

In conclusion, it is fantastic to spring into action by making one improvement at a time because it can start an avalanche. The elephant of a list of improvements you have for your business can be managed, can be completed and can be done. So, spring into action, pick something, anything and get it done. Then repeat that again and again, just one thing at a time. So, the question for you this fantastic day is, what item on your business' list of improvements needed are you going to spring into action and complete today?

Fall in Love With Your Business and Create a Winning Team

2013-03-13T12:24:00.002-04:00

It is thrilling to fall in love with your business and create a winning team to help it grow and thrive. An interesting fact about human nature is that people work harder, stronger and smarter for loved ones than for strangers. Many entrepreneurs think of their businesses as their children, their offspring, or loved ones. Just as you would not leave your child in the care of just anyone, you should not trust your business to just anyone. In order to succeed as an entrepreneur, you must build a team of people who will work with you and for you in an effort to make your business a success.

: photo credit: Barack Obama via photopin cc

Everyone has heard the expression, "It takes a village to raise a child." Another expression that should become a common feature with entrepreneurs is "It takes a team to run a business." There are all kinds of people who are necessary team members if your business is to be successful:

human resources manager
financial adviser
strategic planner
operations manager

A human resources manager will be the person responsible for hiring, training and helping to retain employees. It is not easy to find the right employee for each job function and a person who is going to be in charge of human resources, must be able to understand how the company functions, able to assess people and able to manage people and their expectations. It is the human resources manager that works out employee disputes, handles benefits questions and helps keep the office morale where it should be. The company's financial advisor is responsible not only for the short-term day-to-day finances of the company, but also for helping the company to meet its long-term financial goals. A business exists for many reasons, one of the most important of which is to make money. It is critically important that a business pay careful and close attention to the state of its finances. An entrepreneur must be ever mindful of cash flowing both into and out of the business. Finances are an area of the business that cannot, should not and must not be ignored if an entrepreneur is going to run a successful business. Another important team member is a strategic planner. Yet another popular expression that almost every person has heard is, "If you fail to plan then you plan to fail." An entrepreneur should have a strategic plan, a road map for how things are going to be done. When picking a strategic planner, an entrepreneur should look for a person with business experience, a good frame of reference and the ability to learn new and relevant things on the fly. The operations manager at a company is the person who makes sure that in working day-to-day, the strategic plan gets carried out at the business operates according to plan. All of these roles are important to the entrepreneur trying to run a business.

Out of necessity on many occasions, an entrepreneur fills all these roles alone. Of course, that is not the ideal, but it is a fact that in many small businesses, there is one person who has to do all these jobs without any outside help. However, as soon as possible an entrepreneur should find people to help share the load. An entrepreneur can get others to help with these duties in many ways including the following:

get a team of advisers - people who will give advice on a regular basis for free
hire the people needed to fill the positions
become associated with an organization like SCORE that provides advice from retired executives
join appropriate industry groups
find and join social media networking groups for your industry and participate in discussions in order to give and receive guidance
read, read, read and read - if you cannot get outside experts, become an expert yourself by reading everything you can on these areas to build your working knowledge

: Photo Credit: Janeane Davis Thrilling Thursday Build a Team to Help Business Thrive

In conclusion, it is thrilling to fall in love with your business and create a winning team because we all work harder, smarter and stronger for those we love. As an entrepreneur, treat your business like a treasured loved on and find a team to help you run your business. So, the question for you this thrilling day is, how are you creating a winning team for your business' success?

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