Staying Motivated With Your Online Business

In the beginning you can be really motivated to pursue something and think that it will never end. Until you realize you aren’t as motivated to do things like you were in the beginning. So what happened? Does it mean you are not passionate about your business? Does it mean you should stop and do something else. No not at all. Instead what you can do is find ways to make sure you stay motivated.

Be Sure Of Your Ultimate Goals:

Start by asking yourself the following questions:

* Why did you start the business in the first place? What was it that made you want to be your own? What did you feel at that time? Are you prepared to go back to what it was before?

* What are your competitors doing that you aren’t? What can you improve and make a bit different with your unique touch? Take time to evaluate your growth compared to others in your niche.

* Have you defined your ultimate goals? Going back to when you started, how have these goals changed? Have you been sticking to the original plan or have you take a turn here and there? What effect has it had on your business?  In order to move forward you need to stay focused.The goals you set will determine the path along which you will travel. But, if your goals are non-existent or they aren’t strong enough to support your business, then it is time to re-evaluate and change them to become the appropriate platform to help you gain success.

Take time to answer these questions, don’t rush.  You want to be sure you are walking the right way and not the impulsive way.

How To Push Forward When It Feels Tough

* Don’t walk  alone. Consult a trusted advisor or business coach.  That way you can get help to regain your focus and set out a new course for your business if needed.

* Surround yourself with people who know what you are going through. Start to visit and participate in forums. Seek new forums and new connections.

* Go local. Do some research on local networking groups for business owners. You may find that your knowledge is highly appreciated and you will get new ideas for your own business.

Lastly, cut yourself some slack. As long as you are committed to your business, give yourself the space to grow.

4 Ways To Get New Inspiration and Motivation

* Look at your goals and try to find three new angles of marketing. What resources do you have at your disposal that you are not using?  Decide whether or not they are worth pursuing and decide which one is best for your business.

* Take time to work on things you are passionate about. This may not always be possible but if you try to increase the amount of time you work on something you actually like chances are that you will get more energy to tackle the more boring tasks in your business. Do  a test for a limited amount of time and outsource the boring parts while you focus on the fun parts. You may also find that you want to keep outsourcing it.

* Change the way you go about your day. Routines are good but if you always do the same thing the same way you can easily miss out on details. Imagine you are new at a job, you want to pay attention so you can learn and be productive. Do things in the wrong order or a different way to try something new. Changing your schedule can help you find new and improved ways of doing things in your online business.

* Take better care of yourself. Without you there is no business, no matter how much you outsource. You need to be involved and motivated to motivate and encourage your helpers. Make an active choice to take better care of yourself. . Manage stress, get good sleep, exercise and move your body and of course eat healthy foods. These will all help you focus and concentrate when you have time to work on your business. Take time to go for walks in the forest, to do something you like and try not to think of business.

3 Easy ways to make sure you stay motivated and on track with your online business:

  1. Use the Business Journey Map to create your goals and get motivated again.
  2. Connect with fellow online workers at WAH Balance community page. A great way to get to know others and get asnwers to your questions.
  3. Make sure you are subscribed to the Success Newsletter (you will find info in the sidebar). I promise you that it is full of valuable tips to help you grow your online business and not full of self promotion.

Want to share how you stay motivated with your business? Leave a comment below!

Filed Under: Business growth Tagged With: , , ,

WAH Balance Internship Now Open!

How I wish there had been an Internship available when I started on this whole online business journey. I can only imagine how much it would have cut my learning path. Learning from those who have been in business for quite some time is a true blessing.

And now that can become reality for you or someone you know! There are two great Internships open right now. One is for those who want to serve online business owners with administrative services (VA) and the other one is for those wanting to offer design and WordPress customization services.

As an Intern for WAHBalance you will learn the basics and beyond on how to fully assist your future clients and attend to their needs when it comes to online marketing.

Skills to be learned include:

  • Search engine optimization and keyword research
  • Information product creation and editing
  • Social media set up and maintenance
  • WordPress setup and maintenance
  • Email marketing
  • Affiliate marketing basics
  • Link building and content creation – includes ghost writing, blogging, article writing and marketing
  • Landing and sales page basics
  • Video creation and marketing basics

Click here to learn more about this Internship and how to apply.

The Ekko Web Solutions WP Internship is great if you want to offer design and WordPress customization services in your business and need real hands on practice.
When the Internship is finished you will be able to offer your services to clients either as a VA or Web Designer.

Skills to be learned include:

  • Design basics and beyond
  • Installation and Setup of WordPress
  • Installation and usage of plug ins
  • Customizing a WP Theme
  • How to back up and keep a WP site secure
  • Search Engine Optimization basics

Click here to learn more about the Internship and to apply.

During this Internship you will work with me personally to learn the ins and outs of running an online business. It is my goal that once the Internship is over you will be able to start offer your services to clients.

I look forward hearing from and working with you!

Do you know of anyone who would benefit from being an Intern? Please share this with them! Thanks!

Filed Under: Business growth

3 Easy Yet Powerful Ways to Overcome Overwhelm

Do you feel that overwhelm is getting the best of you and you are not reaching the goals you want? Overwhelm can be difficult to deal with unless you know how to.

As a business owner you cannot afford to let overwhelm get the best of you. That will only stall you and keep you from achieving what you want.

Learn three easy yet powerful ways of dealing with overwhelm. YouTube Preview Image

 

How do you deal with overwhelm? Please do leave your tips in the comments.

Filed Under: Business growth

Organize Your Life For Success

We all know how demanding life can be with everything that needs to be done. There are always things to do and keeping up with it all can be quite stressful. If you have a family you know that the demand for your time and attention makes it all more difficult for you to balance everyone’s needs. Add a business to that and you need to stay even more focused.

For years I’ve heard moms and online business owners asking for ways to get organized. I’ve asked for it. And I have searched and tried several lists and options. But none have given me what I searched for. As a mom I wanted ways for me to stay organized and I was especially interested in ToDo lists and menu planning.  As an online business owner I wanted something for me to keep track of projects, sites, affiliate programs etc.

There are plenty of organizers out there but none had really what I wanted. So I decided to fill the gap and create a new set of organizers. And I am happy to announce that they have helped plenty already.

Kitchen Harmony – Trade Your Stressful Life For a Calm and Organized Life.

The Kitchen Harmony package will help you get organized in no time. If you want a clear picture of what needs to get done and how to keep your family’s budget on track this is for you. You will receive practical tips and guidance on how to become more organized and how to make your life less chaotic.  The less stressed you are, the more time and energy you can give your family.  The package contains various menu planning lists for you to use.

This is what you will find inside the Kitchen Harmony Package:

  • The Kitchen Harmony report. A short report packed with tips on how to get more organized and save time, stress and money!
  • Family Calendar for 2010 + 2011 - with spce for notes, budget and meetings
  • A Budget planner so you can plan your grocery shopping and easily see what is for dinner
  • An Inventory list so you know what food you have at home and can save even more money when you go shopping
  • A Grocery list - buy only what you need withthis handy little list
  • TWO monthly menu planners - all to help you plan your family’s breakfasts, lunches and dinners
  • TWO Weekly menu planners - if you prefer to plan from week to week these planners are for you
  • One Cleaning list - no more stressing over what needs to be cleaned

    • An easy “Who Does What” planner - get the whole family involved and save your sanity at the same time.

    You can get your copy of  Kitchen Harmony here.


    The WAH Organizer – The Easy Way For Online Business Owners To Get Organized

    When your business is online that means you have lots of information all over the place. How do you keep track of email accounts, passwords, affiliate programs etc? If you have clients and projects to tend to then you need an organized way to stay on top of it all.

    Learn how to

    • get organized no matter if it is your digital files or home office that needs a deep cleaning.
    • how to set priorities for working your business
    • tips on what you can do to save time
    • how to make sure you are not stressing the last minute to get something done
    • how to ensure you are working your business around your life, not the other way around
    • how to work towards your financial goals
    • information on using a business plan (an easy to fill out business plan is included)
    • how to organize and plan your day
    • working your business when you are on vacation or an emergency arise

    And that is only the information included in the report! What will help you get organized quickly are the lists and to do plans that have been created exclusively for online business owners!

    These organizers are already being used by several online business owners, simplifying their lives.

    “The WAH Organizer is a terrific tool! As a newbie I especially appreciate it because the information and ready-to-use forms guide me through the process of getting organized without too much time and frustration.  Instead of looking at a pile of papers on my desk, I put Linda’s organizing system in an easy to use 3-ring binder which makes working at home so much easier and nicer!  There is a great deal to glean from this product, but my two most favorites are the Quick Stat Evaluation form and the Tax Tidy tip on p. 6 of the ebook–both useful business tools.” Sheri Prest-Herman, LearningPavilion.com

    Need to get organized? Get your copy of the WAH Organizer here

    Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook!

    Filed Under: Business growth, Success

    Are You Ready For a Change?

    The world is going through some economical difficulties and has been for quite some time now. Hard working family providers are having their nightmares come true when they receive the dreaded “You’ve Been Laid Off” notice. All of a sudden they have Nothing. Their world goes up side down and they don’t know what to do to put food on the table.

    Latest news has it that another 1500 workers in Wisconsin will be laid off due to some political issues. What will happen to these families? How many of these families have a back up plan they can live on once out of work?

    For some this may turn out to be the best news ever. Those who have plans to start their own business or explore new things will take the opportunity to learn new things and grow.  But probably most of these 1500 are not doing the happy dance right now but instead only seeing a dark troubled time ahead.

    A few years ago I read something that changed my whole perspective on how we live our lives. Right now this post fees very timely- It is called “Why We Are Broke And How To Fix It” by Naomi Dunford from IttyBiz. Please do go read it and come back here.

    Back?

    Now tell me: how does this reflect on you and your life? How are you diversifying your life and your business? How are you spending your time? Are you preparing for change so you are ready for it when it comes?

    If you have a business you may think this does not apply to you, but it does. Are you making the most out of your business? Are you ensuring you have a back up when needed and IF need? Are you constantly waiting for something to happen or are you actively working towards a better tomorrow?

    Don’t wait – prepare yourself.

    Need help to see the possibilities in your business and everyday life – contact me so we can work on how you can leverage what you already have and make it work and prepare you for difficult times.

    Please leave a comment and share your reflections on how this affects you and the way you live your life and run your business. What have you done in your business to ensure you security if something happens?

    Filed Under: Business growth

    Do You Need To Accelerate Your Business Growth?

    Do you need to accelerate your business growth? I have a feeling many new online business owners will reply yes to that question. If you feel as if you are not taking the right steps to grow your business continuously then something must be done.

    First step to accelerate your business growth:

    - Analyze if you really need to accelerate or you should just go at a steady pace. Don’t try to run before you can walk. Slow can be good.

    Second step to accelerate yur business growth:
    - Find out what you need to do and just do it!

    It is tough to run and online business. There are a million things to do and if you aren’t careful you will slow yourself down. Don’t dwell too long on what is right and what to do. Just do it!

    One simple solution to accelerate your business growth:
    - Get help!

    You can get help in form of coaching, learning products, tools and outsourcing. Be careful of what you choose though. Many times the most inexpensive way isn’t the best way. Many times the most expensive option will be the best one. You will need to think through your options carefully before deciding anything.

    It doesn’t matter what you need done, getting help with a few things will be better than leaving money on the table because you didn’t take the right action.

    Don’t be afraid of asking for help when you need it. Even if you think the answer will be no. you never know what will actually happen. I have had amazing results because I took action and went after what I thought would be impossible. I once paid $60 to get access to a $597 product and service and it has had a huge impact on how I run my business now. Had I not taken the step and asked for help I would have missed out big time! That is a saving of $537 just for taking a chance!

    Make sure you are taking advantage of what is being offered to you!

    I am dedicated to helping other small online business owners using the power of the internet to their fully rights and I’d love to help you too! Just talk to me! Send me an email, sign up for a consultation to discuss how we can grow your business faster than you ever could on your own. Get help to unleash ideas and options for your business. Don’t try and do everything yourself! I’ve been there, I know it doesn’t work! Remember: Time is limited– make the most of it!

    Bonus tips:
    Create products that will help time and time again without your needed intervention. Think of how you are leveraging your time!

    Today’s question:
    Do you feel as if you need to accelerate your business growth? What specific action have you taken that has helped you grow your business?

    Filed Under: Business growth Tagged With: ,

    Are You Working on Tomorrows Profits?

    Sometimes it can feel as all your work is not making any difference in your business. Especially if you do not have a real goal and plan for your business and know how to achieve them.

    Time management can also be an issue. You spend too much time on things that doesn’t make you any money.

    Social networking with a goal
    Social networking on Twitter etc is all good and is actually encouraged but is it making you money? There are various ways to use twitter but if you find you are tweeting more than you are working on your business then perhaps it is time to take a break.

    Your goal doesn’t need to be money, it can be to increase your email subscribers, get a potential client to check out one of your products, make contacts and much more.

    Stay on track and do not let the talking take too much time if it isn’t actually bringing you closer to your goal.

    How to make sure you are working on tomorrows profit
    Every business has different needs. Right now maybe you need to increase your social media networking, or perhaps you need to do some link building. What you need to do is recognize your most important current needs. Not what you think you should be doing. Do some regular evaluation where you are with your business and plan according to that. Time is scarce – make the most of it!

    Imagine that something you do today would have a huge effect on your business tomorrow. What would that be? Is there anything you know you should be doing but you are not doing?

    Most importantly:
    What are you doing today that will bring you profit tomorrow?

    Are you spending your time the right way or do you think you can improve? How do you evaluate what is time wells pent and what is not?

    Filed Under: Business growth Tagged With: , ,

    Learn How To Balance Your Online Business And Offline Life

    How on earth is it possible to balance your offline life and you online business? This is something that many online entrepreneurs struggle with. How can you balance your offline life and your online business without going crazy at the same time?

    Way too often we see biz owners trying to do it all themselves and then not understanding why it isn’t working. If they are spending so much of their time working on their business, why is it that they don’t see the results and their family life is in total chaos?

    It Doesn’t Need To Be Difficult – There Is Help To Get
    What we miss out on many times is that we are the ones making it difficult for us. We often miss the real problem and concentrate on things that aren’t really important. Or are of less importance. And then we stress and stress until we hit the bottom and think it is about time to pack it up.

    Well it needn’t be so difficult. You probably just need to figure out what works for you. No business is the same and no person is the same so what someone else does might not work for you.

    Look at what strategies you put up when you started your business and see how well they are aligned with what you have today. Perhaps you need to change your strategy a bit to make sure it works for you today.

    One thing is sure: there are ways for you to find balance with your online business and offline life! Sometimes it just takes a bit longer to get it all together.  For an easy start below are five easy steps for balancing your business and family life.


    5 Easy Steps For Balancing Your Business And Offline Life

    1. Take a good look at everything you do every day. Are you doing things that are helping you make money or really grow your business or are you spending time on unnecessary things?
    2. Once you have analyzed what you do every day check if you can get help from someone else to do it so you can concentrate on what really makes you money. Remember: Sometimes it is necessary to spend money to make money.
    3. Talk to your family and discuss your current work schedule and what the ultimate work day would look like.
    4. Make sure you have a set time when you start and finish work. Come 5 o’clock – turn off the computer or stop what you are doing. Decide on a time you will finish work and do it.
    5. Concentrate on one thing at a time.  If you are focused you will be able to perform a better job and save a lot of time while doing so.

    Don’t go at it alone, get help if you need to. Talk to other online biz owners and ask how they do it. Don’t accept defeat, if you have a bad day continue working on what you started the next day. It will improve and it is normally never as bad as we think it is.

    How do you deal with balancing your online business and offline life? Have you taken any particular action to achieve a balance that works for you? Please share your experience in the comments.

    Filed Under: Business growth Tagged With: ,
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