Work Shak Archives - Page 75 of 123

Friday Fun Video: Olympic Sport Slapface

SO, with The Office coming back in another month, you’re pretty much going to see lots of The Office for Friday Fun Video. Because it makes me laugh.

Happy Friday!

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For a Successful Blog, You Need More Than Good Content

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

You have probably heard all about how you need a blog for your home business. Your home business may even be based around a blog. But in order for it to work, you need a successful blog. And while good content and good writing can take you a long way, you need a little bit more than that to get the extra oomph that puts you into success territory.

Things you need — in addition to content — for a successful blog

Darren Rowse, the Problogger himself, has a list of some extra things that you need to make a successful blog. Here is what he says you need:

* Mojo. You know, that "it" factor.

* Luck. Yes, luck.

* Trust. Are you authentic?

* Expertise and authority. What qualifies you to give others tips and avice?

* Charisma. An ability to connect.

What do you think it takes to build a successful blog for your home business?

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Home Business Tax Tip: Hire a Professional

by Miranda Marquit 1 Comment

One of the things I did last year, as the taxes for my home business become more complicated, was finally hire an accountant to take care of tax preparation. Perhaps the most useful home business tax tip is to have someone else figure your taxes. Chris Bibey at the Tax Center offers this regarding your taxes:

As a new small business owner you may feel pressured to wear many hats.
Of course, there are some things that you will do well and others that
you will need help with. One area in which you may need help is with
taxes. Do yourself a favor and hire a certified public accountant to
assist you from day one.

I found that it is much easier to keep track of my income and expenses, and then have someone else take care of the taxes. The headaches, the time spent deciphering forms and trying to make sure I’ve got all the deductions and credits I’m entitled to just isn’t worth it any more.

Yes, it costs $473 for the accountant to take care of the home business tax stuff. But the $350 it cost for the business tax return can be deducted on next year’s taxes — and I can use the time I would have spent to make more than what I pay the accountant.

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Promoting Your Home Business: 4 Ideas You Might Be Overlooking

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

When it comes to promoting your home business, there are so many ideas. But are you overlooking some of the tried and true methods that have been around for a little bit longer? Sparkplugging offers these 4 ideas you might be overlooking as you promote your home business:

1. Button and banner ads. This is old hat on the Internet, but it may not be a bad idea to give it another glance.

2. Social networking. Consider the "big boys" — Facebook, MySpace and Twitter — but realize there are other social networking opportunities out there as well (Squidoo is one).

3. Local articles. You can get offline and check out whether local publications accept submissions. A great way to establish yourself locally as an expert.

4. Local networking. Again, you can get offline to meet other home business folks in your area. But the Internet can help with this: Meetup.com is a great resource for finding local people to meet with in person.

Do you have any favorite ideas for promoting your home business?

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I Got a New Chair for My Home Office!

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

What a difference a chair can make! You can see it to the left — it’s the black one. I recently got a new chair for my home office (paid for from my separate business checking account). This chair is much better than my old one. I am more comfortable, and more productive. And my arms and shoulders hurt much less (read: not at all).

Here are some of the great things about the new chair for my home office:

* Better padding/more comfortable.
* Better back support.
* Sits higher, so that my arms and shoulders are in a more ergonomic position.
* Puts me in a better place to view my computer screen.
* Has wheels, so I can get to my files more easily.

Have you recently acquired some home office furniture that makes your life easier?

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Friday Fun Video: Dwight K. Schrute

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

I’m getting excited for The Office to come back next month. So expect a lot more in terms of videos relating to The Office.

Happy Friday!

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Are Your Home Business Earnings Protected By Life Insurance?

by Miranda Marquit 2 Comments

For the longest time, my husband and I had the same life insurance coverage. We figured that my home business of freelance writing wasn’t making that much more than what he was making. But then, last year, two things happened that made us change our tune:

1. We bought a house.
2. We figured our taxes and realized how much my home business does bring in.

Armed with this knowledge, we decided that my insurance coverage needed to be upped to pay off the house and to provide for the raising of our son should the unthinkable happen.

So we bought a term life policy that covers me. This is in addition to the smaller universal life policy that we already had on me (we kept my husband’s coverage the same).

Life insurance is one of those necessary things. If you have a home business, make sure that you go back and get the coverage you need. Your home business may be contributing more to your household than you realize.

I recommend this article on the 8 common life insurance mistakes to help guide your decision.

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4 Tips for Working at Home with Children

by Miranda Marquit 2 Comments

As a WAHM, I am well aware that sometimes children can be tricky when combined with the whole working from home thing. However, there are 4 things I’ve found that can make the whole experience much better. Here are my top 4 tips for working at home with children:

1. Have an office. Whether you just partition off the back part of the family room, or whether you have your own room, it is important to have an office. This gets the idea across that you are working when you are in your office, and it creates a space for you that is your home office, rather than a mere part of your home.

2. Figure out a steady work schedule. I have a general work schedule. I work in the mornings. This schedule is pretty regular. This schedule not only keeps me sane, but it also helps my son — he knows exactly when I’ll be working, and when he might need to amuse himself.

3. Take a break to play with your kids. I’ve found that if I take 20 to 30 minutes to play with my son, he’s much happier for the next hour and a half to two hours. Before he gets to the pestering stage, I suggest that we play a game together or go for a walk together. That way he feels loved and attended to, and I have more peace to work with.

4. Train them in phone etiquette. I schedule my calls and interviews. If I need to interview someone, I explain to my son that I will be on the phone, and that he needs to wait until I am off. We shut the office door (which is usually open), and he plays by himself. If he has been very good while I am on the phone, I make sure to praise him.

Do you have any tips for working at home with children?

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Do You Feel Lonely in Your Home Office?

by Miranda Marquit 2 Comments

Sometimes (not during the summer, when my son is with me), I feel lonely here in my home office. When I worked in a more traditional office, I was never lonely. I had co-workers and clients to speak with.

Now, though, sometimes, when my husband is at school/work and my son is at school, I feel occasional pangs of loneliness. Sometimes I feel loneliness when my husband and son are at home — loneliness for a little female interaction.

One of the main advantages of working outside the home is that you have people to interact with on a regular basis — people who know where you are coming from because you have similar experiences with the same job. Even if joined neighborhood women for a gab session while the kids play, I find it hard to relate to them. I’m the only WAHM in the bunch.

So, I like to look online. I look for other WAHMs, and "chat" with them. And, every now and again, I take a "lunch break" and meet my aunt for some quality, face-to-face girl time.

What do you do when the home office gets lonely?

Image credit: Vmenkov

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Home Business Lessons from the Olympics

by Miranda Marquit 1 Comment

Many people are rather excited about the Summer Olympics. I must admit that I, for the most part, only watch the swimming events. Sometimes I watch soccer with my husband.

At any rate, there are all sorts of lessons to be learned from the Olympics, and some of them are even relevant to your home business. Here are five things that Brandie Kajino, at the Home Office Organizer, has learned from the Olympics:

1. Nothing replaces hard work.
2. Winning with your friends around rocks.
3. Life isn’t always fair.
4. Everyone has a story.
5. We really can all get along.

I would also like to add that the Olympics inspires me with stories of persistence and dedication. Many athletes participating in the Olympics have admirable stories of persistence in the face of overwhelming odds, as well as dedication to see their training through. Both are traits needed for a successful home business.

Are there lessons you are learning from the Olympics?

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