Search Results for: blog the importance of business mentors

Exchanging Ideas for the Good of the Business

Many of us start our home businesses with a bucket full of great ideas for how we want to do things. If we are coming from another career or years of working in a traditional job, perhaps we have saved up all of our ideas for how to do things better or ways that we want to NOT make the same mistakes we have witnessed. Still, for the good of our home businesses, we need to branch out and get ideas from other people too. Networking, mentoring and just sharing ideas about how to do business can be extremely beneficial … Continue reading →

Interviewing Potential Mentors

I know that it can be awkward trying to find and get to know mentors and colleagues who we think COULD be mentors. When I sat down to write this, I thought about how a few years ago, someone I barely knew called me and asked to take me to coffee in order to ask me questions about my work. It was someone who was interested in making a career switch and doing the sort of work I was doing at the time and he wanted to find out more about what I did, how I felt about it and … Continue reading →

Who Would You Invite to a “Fantasy” Business Support Group?

Some of us are lucky to have business mentors in our lives who encourage and support us as we work to build our home businesses. Others of us might have colleagues, ex-co-workers, and others who we can turn to when we need ideas or information. But, there are also those individuals out there who are NOT a part of our little daily lives–but whose ideas and information we would love to have. I don’t know about you, but there are people both living and “passed on” who I would love to have as mentors. If I had my way and … Continue reading →

Senior Citizens as Business Mentors

Where do we turn for mentors and advisors? As a matter of fact, what makes a good mentor or advisor for a small home business owner? My first and foremost prerequisite is that I want someone who has actually “been there” and can offer personal experience and hands-on help. Retired senior citizens can be a great resource for the small business mentor. It seems that the older generation of adults and workers has more experience with running small businesses than people my own age. I don’t have statistics on this and it is purely my opinion based on anecdotal experience, … Continue reading →

Admitting to Emotions in Business

You have probably heard people say things like: “It’s just business,” or “This is not personal, it is business.” Is it really true that business and emotions DON’T mix? I know that some of my favorite bosses and most effective coworkers and mentors have actually been people who brought their emotions and feelings into work. I’m not talking about people who throw temper tantrums and act moody in the workplace, but passionate, thoughtful, caring, emotional people. I think that a strong case can be made for the importance of having a healthy attachment to one’s emotions and bringing them into … Continue reading →

Do You Miss Being Part of a “Team” Now That You Have a Home Business?

One of the focuses in many workplace environment in the last couple decades has been the encouragement of a “team” approach to work. Many companies organize themselves into teams instead of departments and individuals are evaluated on how good of a “team player” they are in the work environment. Going solo with your own home business may be a bit of a culture shock if you’re used to working as part of a team. Not being part of a team means that you are in charge of making all the decisions, but it also means that you really have to … Continue reading →

How Networking on Message Board Forums Can Enhance Your Home Business

Earlier this week, I was contacted by a friend about a business venture that she is starting. Interestingly, I have never met this person nor have I ever heard her voice, but I feel an amazing connection with her and I am anxious to assist her with her project. Late last month, someone e-mailed me and said, “Traci, there is a great blogging job available that you would love”. I applied, here I am…and she was right! I have never met that person either, yet I consider her a dear friend. For anyone involved in a home business, networking with … Continue reading →

Letting Go of Self-Doubt

Next to guilt, one of the most self-defeating and troublesome personal emotions to carry into your home business is self-doubt. While it is perfectly naturally to wonder at times if you are doing what you should be doing and/or making the right choices, self-doubt can actually sabotage your ability to be focused, take chances, and build a successful home business. Concern, interest, self-reflection—all of these are valuable traits that can help us evaluate our work efforts and focus in on doing the best job possible in our home businesses. However, if we are constantly doubting ourselves, second-guessing our decisions, and … Continue reading →

How’s Your Phone Personality?

Do you do much of your work or the daily operations of your home business on the telephone? Chances are, in this modern world of technology–you are interacting with clients, customers or vendors on the phone throughout the day. How long has it been since you gave yourself a little evaluation and looked over your phone communication skills? Do you know how well you are coming across with people over the telephone? The key to having a good telephone personality is to come across as friendly and professional. Of course, it will depend on the type of work you are … Continue reading →

Direct Sales – The Upside of the Ground Floor

Bill O’Reilly would be proud of me today because I am going to take a “fair and balanced” approach to one of my previous posts, “The Downside of the Ground Floor”. I was a Founding Leader for a popular direct sales company (I actually joined before the company officially launched). I also became a leader with another company that was four years old (and widely popular) when I joined. I certainly have experienced the pros and cons of being in both positions, I argued in my “downside” post that it is often more difficult to be a charter consultant for … Continue reading →