Make it Great

Have you heard about Dani Johnson? Of course you have. I have as well. I also signed up to FREE to recieve emails and listen to her training calls, but then I deleted my account made a mistake when pushing buttons on the computer. I am so smart aren’t I?

But, I was guided right back to her after I went astray. I felt like the Prodigal Son, minus all the betrayal and such, just the being lead back part.

Dani Johnson is a great coach and speaker! If you need confidence or some direction. which am I sure you do, please go to her website and listen to her 1000s of FREE audio.

Did I mention it is all FREE? Get over to Dani Johnson, ASAP! Please, for your sake and mine.

Here is the link to this website and please do not cry when the page loads out of sheer enjoyment and feelings of thankfulness that you have found her. Yes, her website is that great if not greater. Go now: www.danijohnson.com

Jarmelia Ladson

I got to interview Jackie and she makes candles! I think it doesn’t need to be said how much I love candles! I was so interested in hearing what it is like to work from home making candles and selling them. I only sell them I don’t have to make them. She is a strong woman, that is all there is to that!

My interview with Jackie:

 Me:  Why do you work  from home as opposed to working a regular 9-5? What is your why?

Jackie: I worked outside the home for 15 years, mostly because I had to to pay the bills and provide health insurance.  In the process, I missed 90% of my son’s life until he was 7, which just broke my heart.  When I remarried in 1999, my husband made it possible for me to stay home with my son, and find something to do from home.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity!

Me:  What type of   challenges have you faced while working from home? How did you 
overcome these challenges?

Jackie: I think the biggest challenge I faced working at home is inspiration.  You have to be your own inspiration, and keep yourself heading toward your goal.  The best way for me to overcome this is to set goals, and then each day work on meeting those goals.  If you’re working at home, and/or running your own business, there is no one to push you but you.  Keeping a list of goals within sight and reviewing them daily or weekly helps to keep me on track.  And reminding myself that if I don’t do it, know one else will either, is often the push I need to get in gear.

In my case my husband is my biggest supporter and my business partner, so I’ve been fortunate not to have to juggle that issue.

My second biggest challenge is maintaining professionalism.  It’s difficult to remain professional when the dog is barking, the children want snacks, and the neighbor is at the door.  Part is mindset, part is location.  Mindset goes back to if you dress the part, it’s easier to act the part.  If you answer the door in sweats and say I’m working, the neighbor thinks “yeah right”.  But if you answer the door dressed as if you were on your way to work, and tell the nieghbor “you’d love to chat but you’re in the middle of a conference call”, they’ll listen.  And locating office workspace in the back of the house also helped with street traffic and the kids, etc.  If the kids can enjoy their normal space, they’re more likely to keep busy and not be underfoot.  Planning snacks and an entertainment “to-do” list ahead of time, the kids are eaiser to pacify.  Or even hire a babysitter for a particularly busy afternoon, and tell the baby sitter to act as if you’re at the office and call you on your cell phone if she needs anything.  Be creative to create your workspace.

Me: What have you learned about yourself since becoming a business owner? How have
you grown as a woman?

Jackie: What have I learned?  I can be the biggest procrastinator on the planet!  But if I don’t get the job done, no one else will either.  I won’t get fired, but I still won’t have a job because there won’t be any revenue.   I’ve learned that it would be easier to work for someone else, because I could actually take a real vacation.  But I would soon tire of it and pine for the daily challenge of running my own business and the freedom. I’ve learned that I really enjoy helping people and enjoy helping other people start their own business.

Me:  What type of  business do you have? What do you sell or promote?

Jackie: We are a family owned candle manufacturer in Northwest Illinois.  We have doubled our business 3 times since starting April, 2001.  We make and sell jar candles, decorative candles, wax melt tarts, votives, and other air freshener products. 

Me: What makes your business different from the other businesses in your particular category?

Jackie: This is a good question, and part of the reason for our continued growth!  There are 2 things that make us very unique. 

We have a diversified marketing/sales plan.  We market our products primarily through School and Non-Profit group fundraisers.   We donate 50% of the total sales to the school or organization, which is more than most programs.  Add to this the fact that our product is very affordable, and everybody wins.  We believe in sharing! 

We balance this market with Retail through our website, wholesale in the US and Canada, and through our Independent Consultant program.  Normally a company will pursue 1 or 2 markets, but not all 4. 

Me: How have you advertised your business? Which have been the mostsuccessful? Any downfalls?

Jackie: Our downfall has been not advertising from the beginning.  We let the expense of advertising discourage us.  At the beginning we relied on word of mouth, which did work very well for us in the local 60 mile-radius area.  Two years ago we began advertising in Country Sampler magazine, which targets a very direct group of our target consumers.  It did take the first year to establish our presence, and drive steady traffic to our website.  This year we have started an advertising program with PTO Today which targets 11,500 PTO organizations with our Fundraising information.  These are both very targeted ads that are designed to drive traffic to our website and our programs.   After one year, Country Sampler has been wildly successful for our wholesale program, and retail website sales.  We expect the same results from PTO Today.

Me: What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to join your company? 
What would you tell them about your industry?

Jackie: Our industry is very competitive, mostly because of the sheer numbers of people who want to make and sell candles.  What makes things different is not looking at that $10 sale, but looking at the bigger picture.  We are never thinking about just tomorrow, but thinking about what we’re doing to fuel the business in 6 months.  You have to plan ahead!  And you have to look at the big picture.  Always.

If someone wants to join our company, we get excited!  We are currently working hard to build our Wholesale Distributor program, which is an exciting opportunity.  We are looking for truly motivated people that are serious about starting and growing their own business!  They are truly independent, but we are here to help every step of the way.  It’s an exciting opportunity that so far has branched into 2 states just since the first of the year.  Working at home and running your own business should be a fun and rewarding experience, not something that you start dreading, or that costs you too much money to get started.  We don’t ask for our Distributors to pay a huge start up fee.  There is no start up fee.  We want to help people truly take charge, and run their own business, control their own destiny, and create their own income.  No gimmicks, just simple marketing.  Common sense.  

Me:  What would you say to someone who was about to give up on owning a business and 
working from home? How would you encourage them to keep pushing?

Jackie: I would tell them to sit down and start 2 lists.  One, write down everything positive about owning your own business and/or working from home.  And write down EVERYTHING!   Then the second list should be everything that bothers you about the business, and the downfalls.  This will help to truly evaluate your situation.  This way you can see the positives in writing.  It helps, trust me.   Seeing the negative list in writing makes it easier to tackle.  Make a plan!  For each negative on your list, come up with 3 ways to turn it into a positive.

And don’t be afraid to ask for encouragement from a trusted friend or relative!  Everyone needs a cheerleader!

Jackie Payne
Bushel Basket Candle Co
7 Years
www.bbcandle.com 

Jarmelia Ladson

I have found my long lost brotheren. I actually stumbled upon someone who felt the same way I did about the SplashPage.I think it was more than just occurance it was meant to be, that I find him one day. I thought for so long that I was alone with my deep feelings against the Splash Page but I am not!

Here is a snippet of his blog post:

Think of running into your local gas station in a hurry to pay for your gas. Imagine opening the front door and entering a hallway with another set of giant mahogany closed doors at the end of it which have ” WELCOME TO COMPANY X “WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST” written above them. You have to walk forward and press down on the big heavy handles to enter….(the offline equivalent of having to do an extra click online). Now doing that once may not seem so bad, but would you still return to this gas station [website] if another one was built beside it with no extra door [splash page], just a place to make your payment [substitute with primary goal of your site]?

http://mikekujawski.wordpress.com/?s=splash+page

That was so great I was almost moved to tears and a standing ovation! But, I thought that was a bit much for a post from someone I didn’t know…….

I think we all should read this article it really is an eye-opener.

Jarmelia Ladson

I got to interview Jennifer, she has quite a few companies she works with. She has some home based businesses that are a bit uncommon, but yet interesting. I was interested in hearing her veiwpoint on working from home due to the uniqueness (is that a wiord?) of her companies.

Enjoy!

Me: Why do you work from home as opposed to working a regular 9-5? What is your why?

Jennifer: Several reasons: I can adapt my work schedule around my family and take time off as necessary. I want to be in control of my income as a direct result of my efforts. I don’t want an annual salary with a 3% increase every year. I want unlimited income and I’m willing to do the work to get there!

Me: What type of challenges have you faced while working from home? How did you overcome these challenges?

Jennifer: Children, husband, motivation, etc. Children and husband thinking because I work from home I can drop anything at any time to take care of things while they are at work and school. I’ve had to train them that I will do it for them when I’m done working. Now that my husband and daughter are seeing the income from my businesses, they understand how important it is to allow mom to work! It’s also easy to get distracted by household/personal things when you work from home. I had to set up an office in an extra bedroom and the only things I keep in there are for my business. When I’m in there, I only concentrate on business and my family knows when I’m in my office, they should only bother me when it’s important (easier to do for older children).

Me: What have you learned about yourself since becoming a business owner? How have you grown as a woman?

Jennifer: I’ve learned that I can take care of myself and my kids independently if I have to. I have pushed myself to “get out of my comfort zone” and meet many other people to tell them about my business. What I’ve found is that it’s easier and easier and I’ve made some terrific friends along the way. I’ve also learned that I am a skilled manager and motivator of a team of people.

Me: What type of business do you have? What do you sell or promote?

Jennifer: 1) Morgan Dane Designs Handcrafted Sterling Silver Jewelry, 2) Rodan + Fields Dermatologist Clinical Skincare

Me: What makes your business different from the other businesses in your particular category?

Jennifer: 1) Morgan Dane’s jewelry is designed by our owner and unique to our collection. We offer the best hostess and consultant benefits of any other direct sales jewelry company. We can do home, catalog or online parties, or sell directly to customers through our own Consultant ecommerce Websites 

2) Rodan + Fields is the only skincare line developed by dermatologists and every customer receives 24/7 access to our Nurse Connection team of dermatological nurses. Our products contain real medicines to solve real skin concerns. We have the backing of cosmetic giant Estee Lauder and we offer the most generous compensation plan of any direct sales company. We don’t do parties or stock inventory, and the business can be operated online and offline.

Me: How have you advertised your business? Which have been the most successful? Any downfalls?

Jennifer: I primarily advertise online through other direct sales Websites and offline at events such as bridal shows. Online advertising can be very time-consuming, but definitely worth it! There’s a lot of low-cost advertising that has the potential to reach a very large group!

Me: What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to join your company? What would you tell them about your industry?

Jennifer: In any business, it’s important to set goals. Some people want to earn “fun” money, and for them a goal might be a party or new preferred customer a month. Others want to quit their outside jobs and work from home full-time. For them, a goal might be 4 parties, 4 preferred customers, and 2 new team members each month. It helps when you actually write down on paper the results achieved if you meet these goals. Actually seeing on paper that you can quit your job in a year if you have 4 parties and recruit 2 new team members a month is quite motivating! Specifically for Morgan Dane, I’d say we’re the company for you if you love our jewelry and want to represent a “new line” in your market. Women LOVE jewelry and it’s the hottest direct sales business out there, but you have to also love jewelry to represent it. Morgan Dane offers the best consultant benefits: no minimums or quotas, no annual fees, generous sales and downline commissions. We also have the best hostess rewards of any jewelry company (30% free jewelry with only $100 party sales and one customer order!) so hostesses are EASY to find! Rodan + Fields can be for you if are a consumer or potential consumer of our product–clinical skincare containing real medicines for real skincare concerns. There’s a lot of skincare companies out there, but Rodan + Fields already has a loyal following and customer base–they were the #1 clinical skincare line at Nordstrom’s before moving to direct sales! And, they are the creators of PROACTIV SOLUTIONS and are backed by Estee Lauder, so the company is bound to be huge! We’re in pre-launch now, so it’s a great time to join the company for substantial earnings. Our national launch is in Spring 2008 and only pre-launch consultants will receive new customers and new team members from those national tour dates!!

Me:   What would you say to someone who was about to give up on owning a business and working from home? How would you encourage them to keep pushing?

Jennifer:  It takes a LONG time to really get a new home business off the ground. Go in to it knowing that success will be slow, but steady if you keep at it. Set small milestones for yourself in order to keep you going. For example, I set a goal of two new team members a month in each of my businesses. When I achieve that I feel good about myself and my business, AND each month my income increases because I’m building my team!

 Jennifer Hickman

 Morgan Dane Designs http://www.Indulgein925.com.

Rodan + Fields Dermatologists Skincare

Corporate Website: http://www.rodanandfields.com.

I found myself nodding and saying “Tell it!” while doing this interview! I almost broke out in a prayer, but I figured that would be a bit much for an interview……

Jarmelia Ladson

I can’t tell you how many people start a home-based business and then get so upset over the costs that start rolling in! Myself included….. I see it everyday “Start your own business for 19.95!” “No cost to start up!”, “Broke, no hands, no feet, no brain? We can help you work from home!” That last one was a joke but you get the point.

When I joined Mia Bella, I was so excited to get started I had my credit card in hand and I was ready to go! I was pumped up… way up. But then I started seeing the costs per month increase more and more…

If you are starting a home business or thinking about it here are some costs that you will need to keep in mind:

• The monthly costs that you company asks you to pay
• Business Cards
• Sales aides (catalogs, fliers, sales kits, etc.)
• Website- even if you are given one from your company, you will likely end up getting a personal one as well.
• Ways to capture leads- Lead pages, Splash pages, Team pages, different advertising costs
• Product- If you have to keep inventory on hand

These are just some of the costs you will have to take into account. So if you just have 19.95, think of that as just the down payment. This saying is so true “It takes money to make money.” Oh yes, it does.

Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t take lots of money. But it does take more money than most people expect, to start a business.

I had to learn to research everything, no matter what it was, I learned not jump on any bandwagons. Just because my whole team is doing a new lead campaign doesn’t mean I can afford it nor will I jump right into it. I have done this and ended up with about $50 down the drain. It was my fault because I didn’t research well enough.

I advise you to write down everything you plan to buy and calculate all the costs. Get a nice round estiamte of how much it is going to cost you a month to get yor business off the ground. If you can’t afford that cost, consider working a work at home job to help supplement your income. This will help you make the money you need and grow your bussiness at the same time.

Try Work PlaceLike Home and WAHM to see what is available in your area.

I got the opportunity to interview Kim, who is fairly new to the WAHM world. The first time I went on her website, I think I clicked on every link she had! Her invitations and announcements are so adorable. I can really tell she has a love for her craft and has a genuine heart.

My interview with Kim:

Me:  Why do you work from home as opposed to working a regular 9-5? What is your why?

Kim: I knew when I became a mother that I would want to stay at home and raise my child.  I love being able to be here for her and watch her grow up.  I have always wanted to own my own business and be able to do what I love to do.  I love being able to set my own hours and have the ability to sit in front of my computer and just design.

Me: What type of challenges have you faced while working from home?

Kim: I have had to learn that not everything has to be done all at once.  My family is the number one priority.

Me:  How did you overcome these challenges?

Kim: I have started making lists of what needs to get done in terms of the business and give myself deadlines on when I should get them done.  This has helped me to stay focused and organized.

Me: What have you learned about yourself since becoming a business owner?

Kim: Since becoming a business owner I have learned that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to.

Me: How have you grown as a woman?

Kim: I am the first to say that I am very hard on myself but this business has shown me that I have a lot of strengths. My overall self esteem has definitely gotten stronger.

Me: What type of business do you have? What do you sell or promote?

Kim: I specialize in making custom photo adoption & birth announcements, baby shower & birthday invitations, thank you cards, video montages (photo slideshows set to music), & more. I sell these products in my online store. Here

Me: What makes your business different from the other businesses in your particular category?

Kim: I believe that my designs are unique and modern.  I also pride myself in having excellent customer service. I want my customers to be 100% satisfied in their final design. I will work with them until it’s perfect.

Me:  How have you advertised your business?

Kim: All of my advertising comes from networking and word of mouth. I have participated in link exchanges and I hand out my business cards.  I would like to participate in baby fairs and craft shows.  I also have a friend who has offered to take flyers, business cards, and samples of my work to hand out and display at a show she is exhibiting at.

Me:  What would you say to someone who was about to give up on owning a business and working from home?

 Kim: I would say not to give up.  Owning your own business takes a lot of hard work but if you put forth the effort you will succeed.  When a customer says that they love the card that I made for them I realize that it is all worth it.

Me:  How would you encourage them to keep pushing?

Kim: I would be supportive, listen to them, and offer to help them in anyway that I can.

Kim

Little Ladybug Designs

http://www.littleladybugdesigns.com

Thanks Kim!

I am so glad I got to interview Traci Keyes, she has to be one the sweetest women I have had the pleasure to meet over the internet! I am sure you will enjoy hearing about how she made and is still making it working from home.

My interview with Traci: 

Me: Why do you work from home as opposed to working a regular 9-5? What is your why?

Traci: I love being able to stay home for my children. I currently do home daycare, which gives me this opportunity, it’s a good job, however, not my dream job.  My on line businesses are actually part of me, they are my dream jobs.  They have allowed me to take my passions and put them to “work”, sorta speak.  lol  Doing what I love to do and being there for my children, IS my dream job.

Me:   What type of challenges have you faced while working from home?  

Traci: Some of the challenges that I find myself in, is that I have to watch the time, I have to focus on time management and keep in mind that my family comes first.  I tend to loose myself when it comes to my on line business’s. 

 Me: How did you overcome these challenges?  

 Traci: I make a time deadline, I decide how long I will work on a project, and then walk away when that time is up.  I take breaks, and make sure that my on line business does not become the main focus on my day.  I also allow my children to help and assist with my business.  With my handcrafted projects, my children love to test them out, make suggestions and the older ones even help in the overall creation of some of them.  With my photography/photo editing, my children love to help in the background decisions of the products, they enjoy helping me move “props” and come up with great ways to take pictures.  My business’s bring us together a lot of the time. 

Me:  What have you learned about yourself since becoming a business owner?  

 Traci: Some things I’ve learned about myself is that I’m more motivated that I thought, I’m also a lot more focused that I gave myself credit for.  When tasks need to be done, I find a way to accomplish them.  I also found out that even I need help from time to time and that relying on friends and family is not a bad thing. 

 Me: How have you grown as a woman? 

 Traci: I think my overall confidence level has improved as a woman, mother and business owner.  I have more pride in myself, my home and my business

Me:  What type of business do you have?  

Traci: I have a handcrafted gifts web site in which I make everything in my store.  Cute little gift ideas for children.   I also have a photo editing business in which I help people edit their photos for their own web sites.  This has become a passion and is something that I also love doing.         

 Me: What makes your business different from the other businesses in your particular category? 

 Traci: There are literally hundreds of stores on line and on the street that sell gifts for children, even handcrafted gifts for children.  However, mine are unique and creative.  Each product is something I made with my own two hands.  Most of the toys and gifts you see for children are not handmade anymore, it’s a lost art, and  I feel that this is something you don’t see a lot of anymore.  Everything is mass produced.  I can honestly say that my things have a lot of time and love into each and every product.

Me:  How have you advertised your business?

Traci: I’ve done a lot with my business.  I have business cards, magnets, pencils with my name and logo on them, refrig calendars, flyers, I have set up “shop” in craft shows, signed up with link exchanges on line, and send out monthly newsletters. 

Me:Which have been the most successful? 

traci: So far I feel that craft shows seem to really be the best avenue for my handcrafted gifts store.  As for my other business, word of mouth seems to be the best way to go. 

 Me: Any downfalls? 

 Traci: The only downfall I feel is that on line it’s hard to get noticed.  

Me:  What would you say to someone who was about to give up on owning a business and working from home?  

 Traci:  I would say just hold on a bit longer.  Someone once told me that for an on line store, you won’t really see any “profit” for 3-4 years.  This is somewhat disheartening to hear and very discouraging especially when you put all you have into a store, however, if you give up, if you throw in the towel, how will you ever know if you could succeed?  There have been many times I wanted to give up, but in the back of my mind I’m always going to wonder if I could have really done it. 

Me: How would you encourage them to keep pushing? 

 Traci: I would offer my friendship.  It’s hard to make it today in the business world and everyone needs a friend to encourage them, brighten their day, and lend an ear.  I would offer my friendship, be the one that gives them that added push to be the best that they can be.

Traci Keyes
The Moonlight Attic
http://www.Themoonlightattic.com
Handcrafted Gifts for Children

2 fellow WAHMs will be joining us today!Kim with Little Lady Bug Designs and  Traci with The Moonlight Attic! I am so excited, I can’t wait to hear about them and their wonderful businesses!

I know this may seem a bit “off topic” but it isn’t.

As women working from home we often spend long hours in front of the computer. I know for me personally, I sometimes spend up to 10 hrs a day on the computer.

Since I started working from home, I have noticed a lack of energy, a bit of weight gain, and I have some bad eating habits. I think this problem is common among women who work from home, due to not moving around much. We aren’t burning off the food we take in. I decided to start doing something to change this, here are some things I have adapted into my lifestyle.

• Drink half my body weight in water, everyday. This helps to contstantly flush toxins out of my system.
• Eat 3 meals a day and not eat past 10pm. I have been known to snack here and there and then eat really late at night after all my work was done.
• Don’t drink coffee at night! Duh right! But I am known for this and its starting to catch up with me really quickly.
• Eat salads and other vegetables at least once a day. If I don’t get to a salad I eat a fruit cup or something. I never noticed how much I don’t eat vegetables and that can’t be healthy.
• Work in blocks of 3 or 4 hours at a time and then take a break to eat, or just relax.
• Do Pilates or another exercise routine every morning.
• Wake up early, I try not to get up later than 8:30 AM.

Doing these things has helped me stay focused and feel better about myself. I feel more refreshed and clear headed.

Try some of these things if you want and tell me how they work out for you!

So on this website I frequent called WAHM, they have a  folder for business people to converse and share information. Well, I keep seeing the same questions and topics related to “What makes people succeed in a Home Based Business?” and “Why do some make it and some don’t?” This question seems to be on a lot of people’s mind, so I will take upon myself to answer it. Ahem.

Well I can’t answer it, I tried but all I can do is give my opinion on it. So here is my  view point on it all. Sorry to let you all down..

Why do some succeed in working from home and others go back to 9-5?

First, I don’t believe anyone is a failure, nor do I think anyone can fail at working from home. We all work from home for our own reasons and all have our own goals. There is no guideline to follow that says if you are not on this level of your business in 3 months you fail. That is not the golden rule. So, even-though someone may fail by our standards, who are we? Our standards should only count for ourselves and no one else.

Just because something doesn’t work out doesn’t mean you failed at it. I don’t think it is very encouraging for people to hear, “If you have to go back to a 9-5, you are a failure!” I wouldn’t say that to anyone.

So why doesn’t working from home work for a lot of people? Depends on the person and their individual situation. It could be bad timing, money, stress, family or other influences that may cause someone to leave a business. None of us are an island and we all have things going on our lives that we can’t always just shake off and put on the backburner.

No matter why someone leaves, I think we all should remember that there are 2 sides to every story. For all the success stories and top achievers, there will always be those who don’t make it that far. For all the positive things about a company, there will always be some negatives. No company is perfect. So no matter what we believe about our companies, everyone isn’t going to agree, in fact a lot of people won’t think our companies are the best.

Just live your life and try to be encouraging to others along the way. Having a big business with lots of moola is no fun without friends and family to share it all with. If you drop all your friends in the beginning and step all over people to get to the top, you probably won’t stay there very long.