It is an extensive list, so take time and digest what you can, subscribe to those sites that are of interest to you, and when you’re ready…come back for more!

Business Start-Up

GWN Lifestyle presents  Who’s Going To Stop You From Being a Successful Woman Entrepreneur? posted at GWN Lifestyle.

Sarah Paine presents Make Money With Blogging - 5 Tips posted at Sarah Paine.

Frederic Patenaude presents  Make a Living With eBooks posted at  Frederic Patenaude Talks, saying, “With a growing e-book market, who would not like to make a living writing e-books? I am giving you some invaluable hints about writing your own!”

Raymond presents  Cheap and Affordable Ways To Create A Virtual Office For Your Small Home Business posted at Money Blue Book.

Dave Origano presents  The Growth Stages Of My Online Business posted at Online Marketing & Exponential Business Growth Blog.

Leadership

Sagar presents  17 Ways to Stop Being a Perfectionist and Get More Done posted at Bootstrapper.

Marcus Hochstadt presents  5 Key Steps To Internet Business Success posted at Marcus Hochstadt, saying, “So you want to be a successful Internet business entrepreneur? Do you know the steps to take in order to achieve your goals and success? Marcus Hochstadt has listed 5 key steps everyone should take when wanting to achieve Internet business success.”

Dave Origano presents The Characteristics Of a Highly Successful Entrepreneur posted at Online Marketing & Exponential Business Growth Blog, saying, ” To bring you one step closer to success you should make it a weekly activity to review and improve on these traits…”

Marketing

Nadege presents  Branding You posted Clearly Envision.

Gley Yahya presents  How to Increase Profit Without Increasing Traffic posted at Work At Home Start Up Guide, saying, “Would you like to learn how to increase profit, how to increase sales without increasing your website traffic? If so, Here’s your chance to learn how to take your existing resources and cross them over in such a way that they begin to build themselves.”

GWN Lifestyle presents  7 Low Cost Marketing Tips posted at GWN Lifestyle, saying, “7 different ways to market your business at a low cost.”

Carol Bentley presents What do you think. . . print or PDF posted at Carol Bentley.

Mark Riffey presents Telemarketing can work, but not like this posted at Business is Personal.

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Advertising On A Budget posted at   Tip Diva, saying, “Starting up a small business or offering a service isn’t always cheap - but promotion and advertising can be. Here are ways to advertise your business or service for little or no cost.”

blue skelton presents Media Production and Presentation in Blogging posted at Blue Skelton Publications, saying, “The most important part of Media Production is presentation. Blogging is no exception. I have realized that to be a good blogger, you have to provide organized and relevant information about a topic. Here is a basic organization strategy that I utilize in my blogging and marketing.”

Donna Kozik presents Write the Book: What’s Your Mission? posted at My Big Business Card, saying, “Market yourself and your business more effectively with one of the best marketing tools out there: a book. Here Donna Kozik of MyBigBusinessCard.com shows you how to get started with a solid mission statement.”

WebSiteWerx presents Email Marketing for Ecommerce - Part I: What Is It? Why Do It? posted at  WebSite Werx, saying, “Email marketing for ecommerce. What it is and why you should be doing it.”

Ed Rivis presents Powerful Marketing Tactic posted at Ed Rivis.

Productivity

GWN Lifestyle presents Set Your Goals and Achieve Them posted at GWN Lifestyle, saying, “Tips on goal setting and working to achieve them.”

Carol Bentley presents Outsourcing or when DIY writing is best posted at Carol Bentley.

Kingsley Tagbo presents HOW TO OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION IN 8 EASY STEPS posted at IT-CAREER-COACH.net.

Website Management

Vahid Chaychi presents How a Website Can Boost Your Business posted at Weboma.com, saying, “Whether you like it or not, Internet is important nowadays and you have to consider it in your business. Having a website makes you more professional, reliable and accessible.”

Cindy King presents Consistency For International Business Success posted at Get International Clients.

Fred Black presents Google Dip posted at Fred Black: Internet Business Blog.

Ed Rivis presents More Content = More Sales posted at Ed Rivis.

Marcus Hochstadt presents Getting Your Pages Indexed In A Matter Of Hours posted at Marcus Hochstadt, saying, “There exist several methods for getting your Web sited and pages indexed in a matter of hours. In this article, Marcus Hochstadt shares one of them. You set it up once and then put it on auto pilot.”

Work-Life Balance

Lela Davidson presents Negotiating Flexible Work Arrangements: Part 1 – Set Yourself Up For Success posted at Parenting Squad, saying, “Whether your goal is to maintain professional skills, contribute to the family income, or you just need time with other adults, you may want to consider a part-time or flexible schedule.

Life. Money. Development. presents 10 recommendations for fighting panic and stress posted at  Life. Money. Development.

Dr. Joe Capista presents What can a dentist teach me about business, life and success? posted at The Success Triangle, saying, “Learn proven insights from a wildly successful dentist who understands the relationship between one’s personal and professional life to create Total Success.”

Other

Mark Riffey presents Starbucks’ Howard on the Hotseat posted at Business is Personal.

Terry Dean presents 21 Ideas for Hot Press Releases - Part 1 posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry Dean.

Rob Moshe presents Live Your Best Life By Serving Others posted at  Rob Schaumer.

Kenton Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at KentonNewby.com.

Kenton Newby presents 10 Ways Article Writing Can Stack the Deck in Your Favor posted at KentonNewby.com.

Anya presents How To Upsell And Cross-Sell To Achieve Rapid Sales Growth posted at Gavin Ingham.

A special thanks goes out to all the featured authors for making this first edition of TIPS a success.  There were over 150 submissions that were narrowed down to make this list, so I’m sure there is something useful here for everyone. 

Due to the overwhelming response, all future editions will be limited to 1 or 2 topics.  The topic for our next edition will be “Building and Maintaining Your Client List.”  Only topic-relevant articles will be accepted, and please…No over-the-top sales pitches and affiliative promotions.

If you would like to submit an article to the next edition of TIPS, use this submission form.  Past posts and future hosts can be found here.

While some make a conscious effort to change this, and have succes doing so, there is an even greater number of people who simply say,

“I enjoy working late and sleeping in late.  I seem to be more productive and get more done in those late hours.”

I beg to differ.  It is my belief that most people do want to start their day early.  They’ve read the many articles backing the theory that an early start makes you more productive.  They realize that starting sooner equals finishing sooner.  They too could use those extra daylight hours. 

So what is the problem?

Many of them find it hard to establish a routine, their bodies become use to sleeping late and working late, or they have tried to wake up early with no long-term success, and therefore regress back.

For that majority, whom I’m certain will enjoy and benefit from greeting the day a little earlier, here are 10 easy steps to help you fight the ”Late Syndrome” and etablish an early-morning routine to get more out of your day.

1.  Gradually train your body.  The mistake that many people make when deciding to become an early riser is that they try to make the transition too quickly.  As with anything else, your body has to be trained to do something different than it is use to.  If you currently wake up at 9am, do not try to wake up at 5:30am tomorrow, and expect to have any success. 

You have to make the transition gradually.  Start by decreasing your wake up time by 30 minutes.  If you normally get up at 9am, set your alarm to wake you up at 8:30am.  Do that for a couple days, then decrease that time by 30 minutes.  Continue with this pattern until your reach your desired wake up time.

2.  Get into bed earlier.  In order to maintain your early morning routine, you have to get into bed early enough to allow your body sufficient rest.  This may be hard at first, especially for those who have gotten use to staying up late. 

In the event that you find it hard to go to sleep, and end up staring at the walls for hours on end, you will have to train your body to shut down, just as you train it to wake up.  Try going to bed an hour earlier than normal on the first night, and and hour earlier every subsequent night until you reach your desired sleep time.

Getting into bed by 10pm each night, should be sufficient for a 5:00-5:30am start.

3.  Set your alarm clock and place it far from the bed.  Having your alarm clock within arms reach will increase your chances of pressing snooze and sleeping in.  To avoid this, put your alarm clock as far away from your bed as possible, but close enough for you to hear it loud and clear.  This way, once it buzzes, you have to get out of bed to turn it off. 

Once you’re up, fight the urge to get back in bed.  It will get easier with time, but you must first get your body into the habit of getting up and staying up.

4.  Read yourself to sleep.  Keep a book or 2 next to your bed for late night reading.  It is a good way to wind down.  It will also serve as a clear indication to your body that it is about time to shut down for the day.

5.  Get up and shut off your alarm clock immediately.  If you let your alarm clock ring without immediately turning it off, you run the risk of becoming immune to the sound.  You may only be able to take it for a few minutes the first time, but before you know it, your body will get use to the sound and be able to sleep right through it.  Not only will you irritate the heck out of your spouse, significant other, or roommate, but you will have set yourself back. 

6.  Grab a cup of coffee/tea/juice and jot down your To-Do List for the day.  It is better to write down your to do list in the morning rather than before you go to bed.  If you write them down at night, your brain will immediately begin to process the information, thinking of ways to complete each item, the order in which to execute them, etc.  This will only disrupt your sleep pattern, keeping you from getting a good nights rest. 

On the other hand, if you write your list in the morning, you not only have a reason for getting up early, but you start the day with a newly created task list, and an early start on marking things off. 

7.  Eat a healthy breakfast.  Nothing will jump start you quicker than a healthy, filling breakfast (as they say, it is the most important meal of the day).  Studies have shown that eating a healthy breakfast can make you more alert, focused, and productive. 

Going long periods without eating can cause your blood sugar levels to become low, causing your body to crave something sweet.  As a result, you will end up snacking on unhealthy foods that give you an immediate rush, but cause your body to shut down even quicker. 

To avoid this, you can grab a bowl of high fiber cereal and add your favorite fruits (berries, banana slices), a bowl of oatmeal with some added crunch (almonds, walnuts, dried apples), a fruit salad topped with your favorite yogurt or blended up into a rich smoothie, or you may opt for the traditional breakfast.  Eggs are high in nutrients and lean meats can be a good source of daily protein.

8.  Exercise or meditate.  This doesn’t mean you have to become a fitness junkie or join the nearest gym.  You can simply take a morning walk around the neighborhood, follow along with your favorite aroebics tape, or try some simple stretches and yoga techniques.

9.  Take a refreshing bath/shower.  Many people who work from home, get into the habit of waking up and going straight into their office to start their daily work load.  This is bad habit that should be avoided at all costs, as your productivity is directly linked to how you feel. 

You should get into the habit of getting up and fully preparing yourself for the day, even if you are working from home.  This doesn’t mean dress as if you are going to meet a client.  Sweats or jeans and a t-shirt are fine.  Just don’t start your day in your pajamas.

10.  Check your email and start your day.  A good way to ease into the day is to start by checking your email.  Once done, you’re ready to begin tackling those things on your “To-Do” List.

To wrap up, many independent professionals and entrepreneurs work harder and longer than they need to.  One of the main reasons for this is an unstable daily routine.  Work on adopting a healthy early morning routine that will be the foundation for the rest of your day.  It will make you more productive, and provide you with the extra time to enjoy other things.  Remember…all work and no play leads to a dull, boring life, even if you are your own boss.

No more file incompatibility issues.  No more timely installations and annoying updates.  No more added fees for bigger files. 

You Convert It is a free web-based conversion tool that allows you to convert any file (audio, video, images, and documents) into just about any format. Unlike other conversion applications, You Convert It is user-friendly and easy to use, requires no installation and currently operates with no filesize limit.  You can convert a file and have it sent to your email within minutes!  Here’s how:

Enter the email address where you want the link to the converted file sent.

Browse to select the file you wish to convert and choose the format you wish to convert to.  Currently, you can upload up to 5 files at a time for conversion.

Click “Convert It.”  Within minutes you will receive an email with a link to the converted file.  If you wish to download the file at a later time, the link will remain active for up to 7 days.

Your biography page will allow you to identify yourself as a “real” person behind the business.  This is very important!  Many consultants make the mistake of operating behind the mask of a business name.  They never really make a personal connection with their clients, and as a result, their projects are far and in-between.

One of the reasons people choose to use the services of small businesses and consultants is because of their accessibility.  Unlike big companies, they are easier to contact, usually quicker to respond, and more personable when providing their services.  So when you, as a consultant, hide behind your business for the sake of being perceived as a bigger entity, or more professional, you lose your identity, which is a big part of what makes a consultant successful.

To help you make a more personable impression, create a biography page that gives your clients the opportunity to meet you.  You should keep it personal, yet professional, and consider including the following:

1. Current professional photo(s)
2. Background information
3. Excerpts from your resume
4. Your client list
5. Contact information
6. Awards/Certifications
7. Professional affiliations
8. Link to your website
9. Link to your resume
10. Link to your work portfolio

If you have a business site, create your bio as another page within your site (such as www.yoursite.com/yourbio).  It is not mandatory that a link to your biography page be included on your main site, as it recommended that you only send out your bio on a case by case basis.  You should, however, include a link back to your home page from your bio page. 

The design and color sheme of your bio page should not drastically vary from that of your main site.  You want to keep those things as consistent as possible to maintain the connection between you and your business, but still provide a personal touch.

Challenge (Grab your notepad):  Jot down a few things that you would like to include in your biography page, and make a quick sketch of how you would like the information to be laid out on the page (photos, headings, links, etc).

To lighten the load, here are 3 tools to help you create, search for, and register a domain name that is right for you.  So, put on your creative cap and get started.

Domain Name Generator - Allows you to type in keywords related to your business name, products, or services.  It uses those words to produce a list of possible domain names.  You can then check the availability of those domain names with varying extensions (such .com, .org, .net, .biz).

Whois (by Domain Tools) - Allows you to type in a domain name and retrieve information regarding who registered the domain, the date it was registered, when the registration expires, the contact information of the registrant, and more.

Dotster.com - Allows you to do a bulk search for several domain names at once.  From that list, they will identify the domain names that are available, and those that are not.  They will also register your domain, host, and design your website.  

Note: Article Contains Sponsored Links

I decided to take today to relax, and do some reading.  As luck would have it, I ran across a timely Writing Project hosted by Daniel over at Daily Blog Tips.  The project encourages bloggers to write about their goals for 2008.  

With this blog being less than a month old, with tons of potential, I decided to grab a cup of coffee, along with a buttercream pastry, and start writing.  So, here are my top 5 goals for 2008: 

1 - Post weekly articles.
Before launching this blog, I created several articles.  I could have easily posted every day for a couple of weeks, but decided against it.   Why?  I didn’t want to begin posting articles at a rate I knew I would be unable to maintain for the long haul.  I figured it would only give a false impression to my readers and frustrate me.

Since launching this site, I’ve been spontaneously posting 1-2 articles per week.  In 2008, I plan to post 1 article on Thursday of each week.  This way my readers can expect new content once a week on the same day, and I can maintain my normal life.  As the year progresses, I plan to expand that number to twice per week, by filling Tuesdays with a guest post.

2 - Build a list of quality guest writers.
My time only permits me to write one article per week, so I would like to build relationships with other bloggers and have them guest post on my site.  By mid-year my goal is to have 8 writers, rotating each Tuesday.  That way, each writer will be contributing to the site once every 2 months.  As a result, new content will then be posted twice per week (Tuesday - by a guest writer; Thursday - by me).

If you are interested in being a guest writer, contact me with a link to your site, and a line or two about your interests and/or areas of expertise.  Each article you contribute will contain proper credit to you and your site.

3 - Increase traffic.
As many might say, “What is the purpose of having a site if no one knows it’s there or cares to visit?” 

To increase my readership, I plan to actively promote this blog by: (1) adding it to my business cards (2) partnering and building relationships with other bloggers (3) submitting articles to directories in my niche or field (4) participating in blog projects, like this one, and (5) writing good, quality content that trainers, consultants, and/or freelancers can learn from, and appreciate.

4 - Increase Subscribers.
Everyone knows that loyal readers are key to having a successful blog.  They provide a sense of community.  They offer their opinions and help out other readers when you are unable to respond.  They are good at turning a boring, mundane article, into one with edge and flare.  So, by the end of 2008, my goal is to have at least 600 subscribers. 

If you are new here, you may want to read more about the site and what it has to offer.  If you feel the information will benefit you, you can subsribe via email or RSS.

5 - Maintain Momentum
There are tons of blogs popping up everyday.  People think of an idea, purchase a domain and storage (or start off with a free service), write a few articles, tag on a couple ads, and they think the rest is a walk in the park.  For the first couple of months, they are riding on the high of starting their own site, publishing articles they assume others will read, and potentially making money from the comfort of their home.  Way too easy!!!

Then before they know it, the thought of failure begins to creep in - they notice the daily visits to their site continues to linger below the 100 mark, their ads are not profitable, they only have a couple subscriptions from a few loyal friends, and their number 1 reader is their number 1 writer.  As as a result, their creative juices begin to subside, and another blog is left hanging out to die.

My final goal is to not have that happen to “Train The Trainer.”  I hope to maintain momentum throughout year, continue writing good stuff, and build solid relationships with my fellow bloggers.  Hope you do the same!

Well, that’s it - my top 5 goals for 2008.  I tend to work better with a shorter list.  As the year progresses, I’m sure I will evaluate the success of those goals and add to them.  If you would like to stay updated on what’s going on around here, grab our RSS Feed or subscribe to our email notifications. 

~ Have a safe and memorable holiday and plenty of success in 2008! 

To differentiate your company from others in the industry, you will need a good name.  It is an essential element in branding and promoting your business, and should not be taken lightly. 

When choosing a name, here are a few things to consider:

Your business name should reflect what you do. 
It should give some indication of the services you provide and/or the products you offer.  Research has shown that businesses with more descriptive names perform better than those with non-descriptive names.  One reason for this is customer perception.  For example, let’s say you are looking in your local directory for a Computer Repair Technician and you see two companies listed - one is “Advanced Computer Repairs” and the other is ”Take 1 Services and Repairs.”  Based on the name, you would probably perceive ”Advanced Computer Repairs” to know more about computers, and would therefore contact them first for your repair project.

Avoid using location-based names.  For example, “Atlanta Training and Consulting” may sound like an ideal name for a training business located in the Atlanta area, but what if you decide to expand the company to service other areas.

Your business name should be easy to remember.
You want your name to stand out among your competitiors, but be easily remembered by your customers.  It may be hard to find the median between the two, but the extra effort to do so, will greatly benefit your business in the long run.

Avoid using acronyms, as they rarely, if ever, mean anything to the customer.  You want to start out with a full name, and if an acronym surfaces as you develop your standing in the market, that is fine.  However, do not make the official name of your business an acronym.

Your business name should be considered for domain name potential.
At some point during the life of your business, you will want to pursue an online presence.  This may happen as soon as you create the business, or after some intial assessment period. 

An online presence is important!  You want to make sure that your business name is transferrable to a domain name.  I would go even further to say that once you have chosen a business name, you should immediately search for, and purchase, a suitable domain.  This way you will be sure to get the name you want, or at least know if you need to go back to the drawing board.

Challenge (Grab your notepad):  If you are planning to start a business (now or sometime in the future), and you know your field or industry of interest, take an hour or so to write down 6-8 potential names.  After drafting the list, consult with friends, colleagues, and family members to come up with the top 3 names.

This article was featured in the January Edition of “Career and Job Advice” at Ask the Career Counselor.  For more career tips, visit the January 2008 Carnival of Career and Job Advice. 

To keep yourself organized and focused while working in the office, you should create a daily schedule and post it near your desk.

To help you get started, I have listed a few items that you can include on your schedule, with a brief description of each.  

Check and Respond to Voicemails and Emails:  It is a good idea to set specific times to manage your voicemails and emails, maybe 2-3 times per day for 30 minutes each.  This way you do not feel obligated to step away from an important task to answer the phone or respond to an email. 

I use to check my email every time I was alerted of a new message, or answer the phone whenever it rang.  I would stop mid-way through a task to answer the phone, and once the conversation was over, I had a hard time re-focusing, or I would immediately respond to a new email, and by the time I responded to that one, another one came in.  Before I knew it, I had spent half the day responding to emails.

Now, I have specific times for checking and responding to both voicemails and emails.  This minor change has made all the difference in me getting through my daily tasks without working longer hours.

Organize Business: This includes maintaining your calendar, creating and mailing invoices to clients, signing and mailing contracts, paying bills, purchasing needed materials, etc.

Brainstorm/Research:  Fresh ideas are key to running a successful business and maintaining leverage.  Never get laxed with what you have accomplished, and always seek out opportunities to expand and grow your business. 

I usually set aside an hour to brainstorm and write down new business ideas.  A lot of my ideas spark from an interesting conversation, a website I have visited, a book I recently read, etc. 

Client Contact:  You should take a few minutes out of your day to make a new client contact or follow up with an existing client regarding future projects.  You can find new contacts by searching the phone book and/or online job boards.

Project Preparation:  If you have an upcoming project, class, or seminar, you should spend a couple hours looking over the information and preparing your materials.  It does not matter how many times or how familiar you are with a topic, there is always room for improvement, a better way to relay the information, or more to learn.

Website Maintenance:  If you have a business site, you should take time to keep it updated.  If you have a webmaster who does your updates, you should use this time to jot down new information that you would like to be presented on your site, or any changes that need to be made.  Your online presence is very important, so be sure to keep your site well-polished and up-to-date.

Miscellaneous Tasks:  There are several other tasks that will pop up during the day, and you should set aside an hour or so for those tasks.

Breaks:  Think of your business as a normal job, and be sure to take a break every now and then.  Never try to do too much at one time.  It will only cause frustration and burn-out.

If I am working all day in the office, I usually take a 30 minute break in the morning, an hour lunch, and a 30 minute break in the afternoon.  By doing so, I maintain a sense of focus and routine, my ideas flow easier, and my work load seems lighter.

Challenge:  Using this template I created, or your own, take time today and create a generalized schedule and post it in your office.  Determine a time-frame for each task (for example, 9:00a - 10:15a).  Feel free to include any of the items I’ve mentioned above.  By doing this, you will be more organized and efficient with your time in the office.

As a independent professional, you will spend a lot of time attending meetings, conferences, seminars, and training sessions.  These events are a way for you to connect with other consultants and clients, thereby extending the reach of your business.  Since a business card is small in size, it is the perfect tool for communicating and networking at such events.  It will build brand recognition and awareness, and the more people who are aware of your brand, the more customers you will attrack.

Your business card is an extension of you, and, in your absence, it will work for you.  It will promote your products and services, provide proof of the legitimacy of your business, and provide a way for others to contact you.  Simply put, it will be your traveling sales agent for years to come.

With this in mind, it is important that your business cards look professional.  Keep their design sleek and simple, and reflective of your business.  Never hand someone a card that is bent or torn, as peoply directly associate quality with success.

It is also important that your business cards have up-to-date information. When handing a card to a potential client, or even another consultant, never scratch off your old information and pencil in your new information.  If anything changes, take the time to purchase new cards.  It may be the difference between someone taking your business seriously, or taking it as a joke.

If you are looking to grow your business, I highly recommend that you invest in a set of business cards, and keep them readily available. You never know when you are going to run into a partner for an upcoming project, be introduced to a new vendor, or meet a potential client.  Get your first set today for free, and put them to work for you!

Note: Article Contains Sponsored Links

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to determine if you are fit to be an independent consultant.

Are you a self starter?  As a consultant you are your own boss.  You set your own schedule.  You contact and follow up with current and potential clients.  You negotiate your pay rates for projects.  You work with vendors to purchase and gather materials.  Therefore, you have to be a self-motivated initiator.  You must be able to create a plan, set the guidelines, and follow through.

Are you an extrovert?   Though you may work from home or out of a small office, you still have to maintain ongoing relationships with your clients, vendors, and other consultants in your field.  They are the key to your success.  Without them, you will not be in business for long.  Therefore, it is important that you foster those relationships and keep all lines of communication open and enjoyable.

Are you organized?  Most consultants, and especially those just starting out, are their own Marketing Specialist, Sales Representative, Scheduler, Human Resources personnel, etc.   Therefore, it is important that you be well-organized and keep up with important documents, emails, contracts, dates, and deadlines. 

Are you creative?  As a consultant, you must have a high level of creativity.  You have to be able to think outside the box and come up with unique ideas to set yourself apart from the competition.  There will be other consultants and small businesses going after the same opportunities.  You must differentiate yourself so that a potential client has a reason to choose your services as oppose to someone else’s.

Are you flexible?  Your clients are your source of stability and income.  If you are continuously unable to accommodate their needs, they will soon send their business to another consultant, regardless of the relationship.  To avoid this, you must be as flexible as possible with your schedule, and go above and beyond to ensure that your customers are happy.

These questions are by no means an exhaustive list to determine if you are fit to be an independent consultant, however they do provide a good starting place.  Most successful consultants are leaders and initiators, they are effective communicators, they think strategically, they are well-organized, and they keep a flexible schedule, even if it means working longer hours.

This article was featured in the January Edition of “Career and Job Advice” at Ask the Career Counselor.  For more career tips, visit the January 2008 Carnival of Career and Job Advice.