If you’re going to start a business, keep in mind that you might already know several people who can help you get things going. Here are some quick tips to help you find the right people to help start your business fast:
- Look at your immediate circle of friends and family to see if anyone has any special skills you can use.
For example, if you’re going to set up an office, do you know anyone who has experience in this area? Maybe they can take you shopping for essentials or steer you away from impulse purchases you’ll never use?
- Do you know anyone who has started a business and knows what forms need to be filled out and where they should be submitted?
Could they give you an hour or two of their time to walk you through the steps?
- Conduct a search online to see if you can find people to work with or mentor you as you get started.
There are a lot of great sites to help you start a business and you’re bound to find some like-minded friends who might be great to work with.
- Put the word out that you’re looking.
Let people know at the churches and organizations you belong to that you’re looking for help and the right people might start looking for you.
- Have everyone you know spread the word that you’re looking for help too.
“Friend of a friend” can be another great way to meet people who can help you.
- Look for people you’ve worked well with in the past and see if they’re interested in working together again.
You may rekindle a working relationship that leads to big sales and success.
- Check out what’s offered in your local business bureau or city business organizations.
Look to see if there’s a small group specializing in the field you’re going into. You might find the right person who is also looking for you.
There are many ways to find good people to help you start and grow your business. It’s up to you to spread the word that you are looking and conduct the appropriate research.
Check back soon for more helpful tips. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with your comments, questions and suggestions at info@jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
How I Beat Radio Interview Nerves
Recently, I was the featured guest on Global Talk Radio’s “Calling All Authors”. And since I am fairly new to media interviews, I was pretty nervous right before the call.
But as a new entrepreneur, I know it’s important to use the press to build awareness and credibility for my business. With this in mind, I worked with my publicist to prepare, and here are my suggestions to help you get ready for your next radio interview:
Listen to the program.
This may sound fundamental, but you really need to listen to the show you are going to be on.
Be aware of the host’s style and how he or she interacts with guests.
What kinds of questions does the host ask? Does he or she put the guest in the “hot seat” with tricky questions?
Also visit the radio program’s website for additional information about the host, the target audience and past guests. If you conduct research in advance, you’ll be less likely to face surprise questions while on the air.
Create talking points.
Once you review the show, develop a list of the things you’d like to discuss on the air. And if applicable, share it with the show’s producer so both of you know what to expect.
Perhaps you’d like to talk about a new product or service that relates to a current issue or news story?
Maybe you’ll be giving your expertise and opinion about a particular industry trend?
Whatever you decide to discuss, just be sure to provide valuable information. Rather than using your interview strictly as a sales tool, think of it as a way to provide interesting and useful information to listeners.
This way, you will establish credibility that helps to attract new customers.
Practice.
When you have a list of talking points ready to go, practice what you are going to say. You don’t want to sound like you are reading from a script so really know the material backwards and forwards.
If possible, tape a practice interview with a friend or co-worker and then listen for mistakes. Try to speak slowly and really enunciate your words.
I was ready for my interview, but I still had butterflies in my stomach when it was time to make the call. And that’s o.k. It helped me focus on what I needed to say and kept me energized (due to the time difference between Germany and the U.S., my interview was at 11:00 p.m.!).
Best of all, the interview flew by, and I was able to get all of the key information in that I wanted to talk about. So if you are nervous about doing radio interviews, just remember that it’s natural. And by taking the time to adequately prepare, you’ll feel a lot more confident and improve your chances for success!
But as a new entrepreneur, I know it’s important to use the press to build awareness and credibility for my business. With this in mind, I worked with my publicist to prepare, and here are my suggestions to help you get ready for your next radio interview:
Listen to the program.
This may sound fundamental, but you really need to listen to the show you are going to be on.
Be aware of the host’s style and how he or she interacts with guests.
What kinds of questions does the host ask? Does he or she put the guest in the “hot seat” with tricky questions?
Also visit the radio program’s website for additional information about the host, the target audience and past guests. If you conduct research in advance, you’ll be less likely to face surprise questions while on the air.
Create talking points.
Once you review the show, develop a list of the things you’d like to discuss on the air. And if applicable, share it with the show’s producer so both of you know what to expect.
Perhaps you’d like to talk about a new product or service that relates to a current issue or news story?
Maybe you’ll be giving your expertise and opinion about a particular industry trend?
Whatever you decide to discuss, just be sure to provide valuable information. Rather than using your interview strictly as a sales tool, think of it as a way to provide interesting and useful information to listeners.
This way, you will establish credibility that helps to attract new customers.
Practice.
When you have a list of talking points ready to go, practice what you are going to say. You don’t want to sound like you are reading from a script so really know the material backwards and forwards.
If possible, tape a practice interview with a friend or co-worker and then listen for mistakes. Try to speak slowly and really enunciate your words.
I was ready for my interview, but I still had butterflies in my stomach when it was time to make the call. And that’s o.k. It helped me focus on what I needed to say and kept me energized (due to the time difference between Germany and the U.S., my interview was at 11:00 p.m.!).
Best of all, the interview flew by, and I was able to get all of the key information in that I wanted to talk about. So if you are nervous about doing radio interviews, just remember that it’s natural. And by taking the time to adequately prepare, you’ll feel a lot more confident and improve your chances for success!
Are You Kids Ready for Back to School? Start Preparations Now
Isn’t it amazing how fast the fun, summer months speed by?
It’s almost time for your children to go back to school. And after being away from books, teachers and a regular learning schedule for so long, there are a few things you can do now to help your children prepare for the school year ahead.
In addition to talking about all of the upcoming and fun school activities with new and old friends, help your children feel positive about learning new things.
Here are three of my favorite tips:
· Review lessons with a game.
During the summer months, it can be very easy for children to forget what they learned in school the previous year. And when fun, outdoor activities are calling, the last thing they want to do is school work.
To help them remember what they learned, try to develop a game that reviews previous lessons. Perhaps you can:
- Create a question and answer game with flash cards;
- Play a Pictionary®-type game where children draw answers or act them out;
- Purchase an educational video game for the computer or television;
- Visit a museum, library, garden, science center, or other learning institute and review what was seen and done while there; and
- Develop your own fun activities specific to your child’s learning needs.
For correct answers, offer a small prize or spend time together at a fun activity. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Simply try to think of interesting ways to help your children review lessons and get ready for the school year ahead.
It’s almost time for your children to go back to school. And after being away from books, teachers and a regular learning schedule for so long, there are a few things you can do now to help your children prepare for the school year ahead.
In addition to talking about all of the upcoming and fun school activities with new and old friends, help your children feel positive about learning new things.
Here are three of my favorite tips:
· Review lessons with a game.
During the summer months, it can be very easy for children to forget what they learned in school the previous year. And when fun, outdoor activities are calling, the last thing they want to do is school work.
To help them remember what they learned, try to develop a game that reviews previous lessons. Perhaps you can:
- Create a question and answer game with flash cards;
- Play a Pictionary®-type game where children draw answers or act them out;
- Purchase an educational video game for the computer or television;
- Visit a museum, library, garden, science center, or other learning institute and review what was seen and done while there; and
- Develop your own fun activities specific to your child’s learning needs.
For correct answers, offer a small prize or spend time together at a fun activity. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Simply try to think of interesting ways to help your children review lessons and get ready for the school year ahead.
· Start an earlier wake-up and bedtime schedule.
At this point your children are probably accustomed to sleeping in and going to bed later than usual. As the first day of school draws closer, try to start a regular time for going to bed and getting up in the morning.
This way, your children will be more acclimated to regular sleep hours for school and ready to start without being too tired.
· Shop for school supplies.
Since most children dread the thought of returning to class, you can help change their attitude a little bit now. Help them get excited about school by shopping for new supplies, clothes, shoes, and other fun items.
Look for special, back-to-school sales to save money. By finding personal and unique items specifically for school, you’ll help your children look forward to wearing and using these things when classes begin.
Help your children prepare.
These are just a few of the many ways to help your children prepare and look forward to the new school year. By spending some time with your children on special, educational activities now, the transition from summer to back-to-school will be much smoother for both of you.
For more help on this topic, see:
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/get-ready-school
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Child-Ready-for-Back-To-School
http://parentingteens.about.com/od/education/a/back_to_school.htm
And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to contact me below. Thanks!
What are your kids doing this summer while you work? – 7 No Cost Tips
Are you having a hard time keeping your kids busy this summer while you fulfill your work responsibilities?
Here are several no-cost tips to help keep them busy while you accomplish your goals:
1. Check out programs at your local library.
There are often contests during the summer to encourage reading. Some libraries have a weekly or monthly movie afternoon and offer classes on a variety of subjects.
2. Plant something.
This is fun and costs nearly nothing. For example, use an old plastic cup (hammer a nail through the bottom a few times to make holes for drainage) and fill it with dirt from the yard. Then, grow a dandelion!
This may sound funny to plant one just for fun, but it’s very easy and grows fast. And for just a few cents, you can buy a packet of seeds.
3. Check for classes offered at local stores.
Call nearby gardening centers and craft stores. Often, they offer free, or very low cost, classes that appeal to both kids and parents.
4. Get your kids to help you.
If you work from home, look for various tasks to give to your children. Once they know the alphabet, you can have them alphabetize or file documents.
Fun jobs can include sticking mailing labels on envelopes, sorting papers, organizing your desk drawers, and shredding papers (if they are old enough to think safety first).
5. Review catalogs.
Save all the catalogs you receive. Then, have your kids go through them with a marker circling things they’re interested in.
Later on, you can look them together and review what they’ve found. If nothing else, you’ll have some great ideas for gifts your kids will be happy to receive.
6. Teach household chores.
Provide some lessons on tasks to do around the house. For example, you can show your children how to separate dirty clothes for the washing machine, fold clean clothes, set the table, dust, and water the plants.
Older children can do the laundry, load the dishwasher or make a simple meal. To make it fun, you can offer simple rewards for finished tasks that are completed in a timely manner.
7. Have children organize their room.
Try to turn this into a fun activity by providing a specific goal. For instance, have younger children place all their books, dolls, action figures, blocks, or other toys in a pile then sort through them by subject, color, characters, etc.
With older kids, give them a task (vacuum, dust, make the bed, take out the garbage, etc.) with specific deadline times. Then, reward each task accordingly. Maybe they collect a sticker for each accomplished task and then turn them in at the end of the month for an ice cream cone, CD, trip to the park, special family time, etc.
The summer months can be a fun and productive time for both you and your children. Be creative and think of ways to get your children involved in educational activities that will help them learn and grow.
And it doesn’t need to be difficult. Remember, just by conducting some research and planning activities in advance, you can save a lot of time, money and stress.
Here are several no-cost tips to help keep them busy while you accomplish your goals:
1. Check out programs at your local library.
There are often contests during the summer to encourage reading. Some libraries have a weekly or monthly movie afternoon and offer classes on a variety of subjects.
2. Plant something.
This is fun and costs nearly nothing. For example, use an old plastic cup (hammer a nail through the bottom a few times to make holes for drainage) and fill it with dirt from the yard. Then, grow a dandelion!
This may sound funny to plant one just for fun, but it’s very easy and grows fast. And for just a few cents, you can buy a packet of seeds.
3. Check for classes offered at local stores.
Call nearby gardening centers and craft stores. Often, they offer free, or very low cost, classes that appeal to both kids and parents.
4. Get your kids to help you.
If you work from home, look for various tasks to give to your children. Once they know the alphabet, you can have them alphabetize or file documents.
Fun jobs can include sticking mailing labels on envelopes, sorting papers, organizing your desk drawers, and shredding papers (if they are old enough to think safety first).
5. Review catalogs.
Save all the catalogs you receive. Then, have your kids go through them with a marker circling things they’re interested in.
Later on, you can look them together and review what they’ve found. If nothing else, you’ll have some great ideas for gifts your kids will be happy to receive.
6. Teach household chores.
Provide some lessons on tasks to do around the house. For example, you can show your children how to separate dirty clothes for the washing machine, fold clean clothes, set the table, dust, and water the plants.
Older children can do the laundry, load the dishwasher or make a simple meal. To make it fun, you can offer simple rewards for finished tasks that are completed in a timely manner.
7. Have children organize their room.
Try to turn this into a fun activity by providing a specific goal. For instance, have younger children place all their books, dolls, action figures, blocks, or other toys in a pile then sort through them by subject, color, characters, etc.
With older kids, give them a task (vacuum, dust, make the bed, take out the garbage, etc.) with specific deadline times. Then, reward each task accordingly. Maybe they collect a sticker for each accomplished task and then turn them in at the end of the month for an ice cream cone, CD, trip to the park, special family time, etc.
The summer months can be a fun and productive time for both you and your children. Be creative and think of ways to get your children involved in educational activities that will help them learn and grow.
And it doesn’t need to be difficult. Remember, just by conducting some research and planning activities in advance, you can save a lot of time, money and stress.
Mom Business Owners - 5 Ways to Increase Your Energy Fast
As a mother and entrepreneur, taking care of your family while dealing with the stress of running a business can really zap your energy.
To help you have enough oomph to go from sunrise to the late hours of the evening, here are five simple steps you can take now:
1. Exercise!
For many of you, this is the dreaded “E” word and not at the top of your priority list. But it doesn’t have to be.
If you hate the thought of going to the gym, find something that you like to do. There are many ways to get in shape such as: dancing, playing tennis, cycling, walking, swimming, taking yoga, and more.
Look for creative, fitness alternatives. After all, if you find an activity that you enjoy, it will be much easier to fit it into your daily routine.
And if this doesn’t work, find a workout buddy. Not only can you motivate each other, but you’ll get a much-needed break from family, work and life stressors.
And while you’re at it, try to set fitness goals. Whether you want to lose weight, build strength and stamina, play a better game of tennis, or even train for a marathon, even the simplest goals will help you get the healthy exercise you need each day to jumpstart your energy levels.
2. Snack Right!
Take a look at what you are eating each day. It can be very easy to grab a handful of candy without even thinking about it. And once you have an idea of where you need to make some changes, start small.
Where you would normally have a bag of chips, have a bowl of popcorn or low-fat crackers. Try an apple or banana instead of a candy bar. It can also help if you have your favorite fruit ready to go and sliced into small pieces.
By cutting out high-sugar snacks and replacing them with more healthy alternatives, you’ll give yourself an energy burst. Remember, it only takes a few changes to make a difference so you don’t need to transform your entire diet overnight.
3. Get Enough Rest!
It can be difficult to get enough sleep when you are worried about your children, business success, bills, and other time-consuming activities. However, sleep is essential if you want to have enough energy to accomplish all of your tasks and stay healthy.
In fact, according to the best-selling book, “You Staying Young,” by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, MD, “lack of sleep is associated with mental decline and overeating (which leads to major aging conditions).”
It’s a Catch-22, but you can get the shut-eye you need. To start, schedule your time accordingly. Designate a certain amount of time for reading e-mails, making calls and handling business priorities. Also write down your family schedule and leave room for last-minute activities and emergencies.
Then, try to go to bed at the same time each night. And if you can get up an hour or two before other members of your family, you’ll be able to get some work done and get a jumpstart on the day’s activities.
4. Prioritize!
Get the tough jobs done first. Focus on your most important tasks and finish them as soon as possible. This may be difficult, but it will allow you to move on to other activities without worrying about upcoming deadlines and unfinished work.
Also, try to get any extra projects done in advance. This will give you extra time for unscheduled activities and keep you ahead of schedule.
5. Get Organized!
With a crazy schedule, it can be very easy for things to get out of control fast. But if you are organized, you’ll have less stress.
For example, if you need something but know you’ll have to look through piles of things to get to it, you can feel run down just thinking about it. But if things are where they should be, you can sit down and get your tasks done without distraction.
These are just a few steps to help you have more energy and get on the fast-track to business success while raising a family.
It can be difficult to handle all of the responsibilities of being a mother and business owner. But by reviewing your current eating, exercise, sleep, and procrastination habits, you can start making simple changes to have an abundance of energy to get it all done!
To help you have enough oomph to go from sunrise to the late hours of the evening, here are five simple steps you can take now:
1. Exercise!
For many of you, this is the dreaded “E” word and not at the top of your priority list. But it doesn’t have to be.
If you hate the thought of going to the gym, find something that you like to do. There are many ways to get in shape such as: dancing, playing tennis, cycling, walking, swimming, taking yoga, and more.
Look for creative, fitness alternatives. After all, if you find an activity that you enjoy, it will be much easier to fit it into your daily routine.
And if this doesn’t work, find a workout buddy. Not only can you motivate each other, but you’ll get a much-needed break from family, work and life stressors.
And while you’re at it, try to set fitness goals. Whether you want to lose weight, build strength and stamina, play a better game of tennis, or even train for a marathon, even the simplest goals will help you get the healthy exercise you need each day to jumpstart your energy levels.
2. Snack Right!
Take a look at what you are eating each day. It can be very easy to grab a handful of candy without even thinking about it. And once you have an idea of where you need to make some changes, start small.
Where you would normally have a bag of chips, have a bowl of popcorn or low-fat crackers. Try an apple or banana instead of a candy bar. It can also help if you have your favorite fruit ready to go and sliced into small pieces.
By cutting out high-sugar snacks and replacing them with more healthy alternatives, you’ll give yourself an energy burst. Remember, it only takes a few changes to make a difference so you don’t need to transform your entire diet overnight.
3. Get Enough Rest!
It can be difficult to get enough sleep when you are worried about your children, business success, bills, and other time-consuming activities. However, sleep is essential if you want to have enough energy to accomplish all of your tasks and stay healthy.
In fact, according to the best-selling book, “You Staying Young,” by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, MD, “lack of sleep is associated with mental decline and overeating (which leads to major aging conditions).”
It’s a Catch-22, but you can get the shut-eye you need. To start, schedule your time accordingly. Designate a certain amount of time for reading e-mails, making calls and handling business priorities. Also write down your family schedule and leave room for last-minute activities and emergencies.
Then, try to go to bed at the same time each night. And if you can get up an hour or two before other members of your family, you’ll be able to get some work done and get a jumpstart on the day’s activities.
4. Prioritize!
Get the tough jobs done first. Focus on your most important tasks and finish them as soon as possible. This may be difficult, but it will allow you to move on to other activities without worrying about upcoming deadlines and unfinished work.
Also, try to get any extra projects done in advance. This will give you extra time for unscheduled activities and keep you ahead of schedule.
5. Get Organized!
With a crazy schedule, it can be very easy for things to get out of control fast. But if you are organized, you’ll have less stress.
For example, if you need something but know you’ll have to look through piles of things to get to it, you can feel run down just thinking about it. But if things are where they should be, you can sit down and get your tasks done without distraction.
These are just a few steps to help you have more energy and get on the fast-track to business success while raising a family.
It can be difficult to handle all of the responsibilities of being a mother and business owner. But by reviewing your current eating, exercise, sleep, and procrastination habits, you can start making simple changes to have an abundance of energy to get it all done!
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