In the high-paced home based business industry, sometimes we get caught up in a crazy whirlwind of activity–especially on the internet. Your mompreneur business is no exception. But how much of that is actually necessary and how much of it isn’t? Shouldn’t we be putting our focus on those things that actually work? Better yet, shouldn’t our time be spent doing those things that will MAKE US MONEY? Well, of course!

So, the question is, what are you doing everyday in your business? Are you organized about how you spend your time? Do you know as you complete each task what effect it will have on your bottom line? Specifically? Or if it doesn’t have an effect, is it’s purpose defined well enough to justify your doing it at all?

If you answered no or I don’t know, then you need a business makeover, toute de suite (that’s French for “right away”).

We all love makeovers, don’t we? They are fun and the end result is usually always surprising in a good way. So, let’s make this fun, too.

First of all, if you don’t have a mission statement for your mompreneur business, then get one. This will be the core of all of your communications and will most likely be tied to your brand. I am not going to go into detail about how to do this, as I know that there have been full length books written on the subject. Good Day Mompreneur has one (located at the bottom of every page of our website), and so should you.

Secondly, take a look at your week. What do you have scheduled for yourself? Appointments? Conference calls? Meetings? Webinars? Hopefully by now you already have an idea of what your week looks like and you know when you are going to work on your business.

Notice that I did NOT say “work in your business.” I said “work on your business.” This means that right away you are going to have to identify ways to improve how you operate on a daily basis.

Let me give you an example. Say you have a blog that is getting an okay amount of traffic. The few affiliate products that you have sell occasionally, but there are plenty of other opportunities that you have not capitalized on, in the form of other products you could either create or promote for others.

Most of your time up to this point has been creating excellent content. Some of it is optimized for keywords that you have researched, and some of it is not. You also spend a lot of time visiting other people’s blogs posting comments in order to leave a link going back to the main page of your site.

All of a sudden, you notice that the YouTube video you put up last month got more traffic than your blog. Not only that, but every time you post something original on your Facebook Fanpage, you get an average of 10 comments. The problem is, whenever you go to your profile, you end up spending an hour at least looking at pictures of other people on your friends list.

Here is where the rubber meets the road. You want to make more money. So you need to make a list of everything you are doing that seems to be moving you in that direction. Then you want to number your list in order of money-making priority. Rewrite your list, starting with your number 1 on the top.

Now, if we were to apply the 80/20 rule, and you had 10 things on your list, you would want to draw a line separating your top two tasks from the rest. Those are the things you want to spend 80 percent of your time doing. The bottom eight items would get 20 percent. You get the idea.

The trick is knowing how to order your list. The first priority should be to make more money from your existing traffic. Researching other opportunities will most likely be the easiest way to accomplish this.

Looking at our example above, Facebook and YouTube activities seem to be getting the most attention. Those would go at the top of the list, too. You just need to figure out how to monetize in those places. Adding a well-placed link to either of those places would be a good move.

Everything else needs to take a back seat. In fact, you can even outsource some or all of them. That’s what I would do, anyway.

You will be surprised at how much more freedom you will have–and how much more money you will make.

I’m typing this from a cafe.  This is not terribly unusual–I work from a cafe every Monday while I wait for my kids to finish their youth government program.

What is unusual is that even when I’m at home, I work from a mobile office.  I’m selling my house and the stager who came to teach all the magic tricks that were going to get my house to sell, told me that having a home office looks too, well, work-y.  Papers, files, staplers–they all create an image that isn’t relaxing enough for someone to want to buy my house.

So I’m on the road all day, every day.  I move from one room to another, following the sun as the day goes on.

I can give a long list of down sides to having no office, but I have discovered a plus–I am now an expert on mobile office solutions.  And as Mompreneurs, following the wiles of our kids and husbands and mothers and friends, we are often on the road as we conduct business.

The following is a list of ideas to take yourself mobile and a great opportunity to indulge your love of office supplies!

Top Recommendations for Mobile Mompreneur Offices

• Get a mini-office kit (the kind with a tiny stapler, tape, scissors, etc.) and keep it in your computer bag.  Mobile offices degrade into chaos easily.  It’s handy to be able to staple, clip and highlight when you need to.




• If you’re a post-it person, try Linoit for an online post-it bulletin board.  Who says bulletin boards stay at home?




• For blog posts ideas, use your phone to record voice messages to yourself.  Many computers now come with voice recognition software to transcribe your notes.  Record your great ideas and have your e-secretary transcribe them!




• Use the plastic file folders to carry your important documents with you. They’re waterproof and fold up on all sides so your papers never fall out–no matter what size they are.




• Use Evernote to keep track of all your ideas, notes, and brainstorms.  If you use Outlook, Onenote is very similar.




• Always back up your mobile office computer.  I use Mozy for automatic “I don’t have to think about it” back-ups.  Traveling with your computer greatly increases the chances it is stolen or damaged.




• Become App Savvy.  If you have a smart phone, use its full capacity.  Many project management and CRM sites now have apps.  Carry your office in your phone.




• Consider an online accounting system so you can update when needed.  Many of the GoodDayMompreneurs use Freshbooks.




• If your business receipts are getting lost, try ProOnGo.  Snap a picture of your receipt and your receipts are saved.  The GoodDayMompreneurs haven’t tried this yet but it looks interesting.




• Find out if your bank has picture deposits for the (many!) checks from your clients.  Save yourself a trip to the bank with mobile deposits.




• Always carry a protein bar in your purse so you can keep you energy going.  If you have a favorite tea, carry a few tea bags.  It’s distracting to sit in a cafe if you can’t enjoy your favorite drink.




• Put on business casual dress in the morning.  It’s easy to forget that you are at work when you are working from a cafe or out of the front seat of your car.  Use your dress to remind yourself what your priorities are.




• Make a realistic to-do list for the day.  Mobile offices are not as efficient as stationary ones.  Resist making a list that you’re bound to fail at.




• The front seat of your car is better for phone calls than a cafe; it’s quieter and you can focus on your phone call.




• Libraries often have free wireless and you don’t have to buy a drink.  Plus the kids have lots of books to read while you are working.

What are your mobile office secrets?  Leave a comment below about how you conduct business when you are on the go.

Have you noticed how many of us are overcommitted? Mompreneurs are notorious for this. Worse is when we say we are going to do something and then we fail to follow through. I am sure the excuses are good ones. I mean, we can’t possibly have the time to do everything right?

But have you ever wondered the effect our failure to follow through on what we say can have on ourselves and others? Let me give you an example.

Let’s say that you have a client who wants a red banner added to their site because they are having a grand opening. Obviously, time is of the essence, because the day of the actual event may be quickly approaching. Also, the fact that the client has asked to have it done makes it a priority-one assignment. But there are nine hundred others things you need to do for this client. Of course, you tell them you will do it right away.

A week goes by and it still isn’t done. But you are getting caught up with other equally important things. The problem is, the one thing you said would be done right away has not appeared.

Okay, stop right here. Number one, your clients probably considers you unreliable. But more importantly, you have broken a commitment to yourself. What you say has no meaning. And the more you allow this to happen, the less your word will be worth to you and to everyone with whom you have any kind of transaction. Including your husband and children.

Remember: You are only as powerful as your word. If you say you are going to do something, DO IT! As you build the habit of keeping your commitments, the more powerful you will become. Your word will become law in the universe! Everything you say will manifest itself!

Wait a minute, though. You are probably thinking that you cannot possibly commit to doing everything. Than don’t. It is as easy as that.

The key, then, is to commit slowly and complete fully. Only take on those things that you know you will be able to see through to completion. And don’t do it half-heartedly. Put your all into it.

What would happen if everyone did this? Or even just mompreneurs The world would be a lot different, wouldn’t it? Try it. You will be amazed at the changes you see in your own life and in your most important relationships.

“Mompreneur” is a funny word–part Mom, part businesswoman.  If you think about it’s roots, mother and entrepreneur, it should refer to lots of business women.  Brick and mortar store owners, inventors, start-up owners, franchisees, internet marketers–they all could be called Mompreneurs.

In reality, “Mompreneur” tends to mean someone who is involved with the internet.  It is rarely used outside the online world.

When you’re a Mompreneur, you know the word.

But when you’re not…

No one knows what a Mompreneur is.

This isn’t unique.  Many engineers and technicians have jobs that are industry specific and no one knows what they really do.

However, what is unique about Mompreneurs is that no one knows what you do AND you have few ways to connect with others who do know what you do.

This can lead to loneliness.

Community is very important for all business women.  There are many online communities for Mompreneurs, but where do you go if you want an old fashioned cup of tea with a friend who understands?

At GoodDayMompreneur, we’ve been discussing this problem.  With the release of our Mompreneur Rescue Deck, we’ve been thinking about where Mompreneurs gather.

When you work all day at a computer and spend your time divided between family and work, where do you go to find other women who do what you do?

We’ve brainstormed ideas:

• Local bookstores
• Conferences, conventions and expos for internet businesses
• Network marketing events
• Schools and churches
• Local friends

Community is important to keep your spirits up, exchange ideas, get help when you have problems and feel part of something bigger than yourself.  And as much as we all love our internet friends, do you find yourself missing contact with real people?

I’ve found myself swinging between my virtual Mompreneur friends, who understand my hilarious coding issues and the chaos of a sticky space bar key, and my offline friends, who come to my house and attend theater productions with my kids.  The two worlds rarely meet.

Sometimes I wonder if Mompreneurs need a way to identify ourselves and find each other in a crowded room.  Do we need a secret handshake?  Should we all wear purple hats?  What about a code phrase like “The dog is in the laundry room” and you answer “The chocolate spilled on the stove”?  How can I find other women who do what I do?

Leave comments below about where you find community–the warm blooded, non-virtual kind.  If you have a community source, how do you identify yourself to offline people so they understand your online life?

Ah, the dream…

You wake up and grab a cup of Joe.  You journal.  Your kids wake and give you sleepy Good Morning kisses.  You play with them a little and decide to check your emails.  You write a blog post, check the money that came into your account overnight, do a couple of errands and finish the day with a beautiful dinner that you prepared with organic vegetables and a recipe from the new Indian Cookbook you just bought.

Do you live the dream?

Of course not.

If you’re like most mompreneurs, by 8:15, your day is already crazy.  The house is a wreck, you’re already behind on the schedule you made for yourself the night before and you have 3 fires to put out in the next hour.

Some days it’s hard to remember to brush your teeth…

…which brings us to the question:  Do pajamas count as business clothes?

Sure the fantasy says that you can do your work at home in your pajamas.  We’ve all heard the dream that you can be comfy and casual but still make gobs of money.

If you’re looking for the answer, the Mompreneur Rescue Deck gives a resounding “No!”  Get dressed, comb your hair, and put a little effort into your appearance, even if you work from home.

The 4 GoodDayMompreneur Gals have good reasons for our opinion.  We know how slouchy you feel with an all-pajama-day day.  Sure it’s fun once in a while, but every day?  It’s too much.

And slouchy clothes lead to a slouchy attitude.  You’re in BUSINESS–remember?  You’re selling stuff.  Providing value.  So start to value yourself so that your attitude comes through when you talk to clients.

The Rescue Deck is full of Mompreneur wisdom–it’s practically a Magic Eight Ball for business Moms.

• Wondering what why people roll their eyes at you when you start to pitch your biz?  Ask the cards.
• Think it’s time to organize your post-its?  Ask the cards.
• Like having business calls locked in the bathroom?  Ask the cards what to do.

We recommend that you get your personal “fortune-teller/advice lady/funny girlfriend/sassy gay friend in a deck” and start running your business the way you should be running it–the GoodDayMompreneur way!

Get your Mompreneur Rescue Deck today.  And when you do, leave a comment for us below–Do pajamas count as business clothes in your business?

Just the other day I was telling a friend that my husband could never do what I do, on a daily basis. A typical day in the last few weeks goes something like this:

• Wake up self and child
• Make breakfast and pack lunch\
• Drive 25 miles to school with a carpool of kids
• Stop at the grocery store
• Get gas
• Drive 25 miles home and arrive just in time for a 10 AM meeting
• Spend 1 hour on the conference call while cleaning the bathrooms
• Call 10 clients
• Make 10 sales calls
• Wash the kitchen floor
• Drive 8 miles the other direction to get the mail and go to the bank
• Drive back home and finish emails and blog posts
• Pack up for a live vendor table event the following day
• Pick up daughter from carpool
• Make 20 Valentine’s card
• Create a Valentines party costume
• Make Dinner
• Clean Kitchen
• Chop firewood and start fire
• Get child ready for bed
• Read to her for 15 minutes
• Pray that she falls asleep quickly
• Finish daily correspondence with sales team
• Lay out clothes for tomorrow
• Read motivational book
• Review goals and affirmations
• Sleep.

No wonder we mompreneurs often feel frazzled and overwhelmed. Which is why the Good Day Mompreneur ladies created the Mompreneur Rescue Deck.

Imagine a “foot rub for your soul” contained in a deck of cards. In moments of “aaahhhh!” you can reach for a card and start to smile –even to laugh!

Author Ivy Larson said this about the Mompreneur Rescue Deck,

As Mompreneur’s we know so well the importance of supporting each other and laughing through the struggles and the juggles. This deck of wisdom and comic relief is the perfect solution – the ideal mompreneur gift – the Calgon moment.

MompreneurRescueDeck.com

Moving Desktop 101

It was a dreaded day in the past. Something I only did when I absolutely had too – move to a new PC.  It would take hours (no let me correct that – last time it took days) to move and update my computer.  And any Mompreneur know how frustrating.   Who has take kind time?

PC Transfer software  (Yes –really)

Someone had heard our complaints and whines.  LapLink hear us and created PCMover.

PCmover is the only software that moves programs, files and settings from your old PC to your new PC that I can find on the market.  Talk about a time saver.  It will even restore from an image (or old hard drive) or perform an in-place upgrade.  Thank you!

Even better, you will not need to find all your old CDs or the dreaded serial numbers because all of your programs are just transfer and ready to use.  (I can’t tell you the time it took last time I moved computers just to re-install software.  They have the ways to move to Windows 7.

How does PCmover work?

PCmover has an easy-to-use wizard will guide you in selecting which programs, files and settings you want on your PC. When done, your new computer will have the personality and functionality of your old PC.  No major learning curve.

And it is safe since it does not remove anything from your old PC and  will not overwrite anything on your new PC. This pc transfer software even includes an easy “Undo” feature just in case.

PCmover Tool

If it is time for an much needed upgrade – consider this $40 program to help do it for you.  Save yourself time and brain power.  Visit laplink.com/pcmover for all the details.

Mom entrepreneur Nichole Cooper shares her favorite work-from-home tips for moms with Rana Burr at the “Live the Dream” event in Las Vegas October 2-3.

Here is Rana Burr right after returning home from the “Live the Dream” event in Las Vegas sharing her favorite mompreneur ideas when it comes to organizing your work space, organizing your finances, and organizing your time.

Do you remember back when you first started dating? The guy had to be “THE ONE”.  He had to have every attribute on your imaginary (or written in your diary) list. There were quite a few who turned out to be frogs, instead of prince charming, but on the journey the list got modified and updated.

Speaking from the position of someone who is married, I did not marry  a man who has every attribute on that list. In fact, the guys who had some of the things I thought were so important when I was younger, turned out to not have the traits that really make a relationship stand the test of time. My husband is the kindest, most generous, dependable and thoughtful man I’ve ever met. It took me awhile when we were dating to let go of the fact that he wasn’t six feet tall and didn’t ski double black diamonds or even know how to change the oil in a car or use a drill correctly.  He did not shine out like all those macho pretty boys.

I am filled with gratitude that I was mature enough to see what really mattered in the long run and to marry a man who will stand by me and be my partner for life.

Sorting through your options for a home based business is a similar process. Some are way more sexy than others. The “crowd” sways this way and that, spouting the benefits and potential of the hottest newcomer on the block. Friends and family often can’t see what you see, and offer opinions on your choices that just confuse you and create self-doubt — especially when you are just getting started as a mom that works from home.

So how do you find “THE ONE”?  I have to laugh here just a bit, as there is a definite process of trial and error…a period of dating so to speak. Occasionally, your early choices turn out to be perfect. Often though, they are stepping stones to where you ultimately need to be. This process can certainly be shortened by exploring deeply, researching thoroughly and getting advice from those who of us  work at home moms who have been doing this for awhile.

It’s a good thing to reach out and ask questions.  It’s predictable that your initial foray into working from home will not be where you end up.  Along the way you will grow and learn and as you develop your expertise in you home business of choice, the work at home world will enlarge with options you didn’t even know existed when you began.

Let’s start today. In the comments section below, ask your question or share your story. Good Day Mompreneur will address your topic in future episodes of Good Day Mompreneur TV, for your benefit and for others as well. We look forward to hearing from you!