ProfitBrite

Creatively Balanced Women in Today's Marketplace

I could be writing about the fact that more and more women are making it to CEO and other executive positions and women's salaries are rising and closer to what men's salaries are as we've made our way into the 21st century. That is very good news in the business world and hopefully will be much more equal sooner than we think. But there's another way women are making sufficient and even lots of money starting their own small business that actually allows these women to work from home and use their creativity and/or have fun while working and earning extra money to help the family sustain a decent living. I've met at least 10 women from different parts of the eastern seaboard who are designing, editing, baking delicious and nutritious foods, making pottery or other works of art, creating idea circles that think of regional and communal ways to earn a living. These women all have family responsibilities in one-way or another. Most have children that they want to be around for when they come home from school and others are care givers to grandchildren or elderly parents. All these women have figured out ways to earn and take care of family priorities.

I'd like to share a couple of the women's experiences with you in this article and the first I'd like to write about is my daughter, Megan. Aside from her being my daughter, I have to say that Megan has shown the world, so to speak, that she can keep her education and career going while raising two beautiful girls with her husband, Jake, who is continuously supporting all aspects of their lives. This family knows how to balance work and family life. Megan makes it look so easy, but I know how hard it must be to keep everything going in the family household: Working from her home office and making a decent living and contributing very well to the family income, raising two girls and putting them on a healthy, learning routine throughout the day (with the help of her husband, of course, and the grandparents, friends, and great neighbors of which are all very happy to support) and is not afraid to ask when she needs help, and finally getting involved in her community and networking with people who generate ideas for business needs and ownership. Megan is also an artist and when she has spare time, spends it on making beautiful pottery (and she encourages her daughters to join in to her gardening and artwork to give them a well-rounded education). Megan is a great example of the new generation's entrepreneurship!

I have another example of a woman who is doing many things to keep her family unit going and thriving. She lives in the south and has the most beautiful piece of property by the Blue Ridge Mountains. She and her husband, after searching for a great place to settle, finally found their dream home. Having visited them a few times now, their place truly is a dream come true. They have two beautiful dogs and they are surrounded by ponds, woods, hills, wildlife of all types and wonderful hiking areas to enjoy. Her husband works long hours and keeps things going, but the economy hasn't allowed for many choices. So, this very good friend of mine decided to find some creative things to do to keep money coming in and also take care of her elderly mother's needs. She has come up with many creative ideas to keep afloat. In addition to being a talented writer and editor, she bakes the most wonderful cookies and treats of all kinds for bake sales, friends, gifts for special occasions and everyone I've ever spoken to about her baking skills have said that they'd spend a fortune on her goods. She also has a part-time job and meets lots of interesting people in a beautiful resort that caters to animals, which is her passion. This woman knows how to balance life and work, and is the reason why she is such a positive and delightful person to be around!!

I have at least eight more stories that I can write about and I continue to hear more because I'm focused on searching them out. I have learned a lot from these women, having to balance owning a business with my husband and our own families, and traveling to help my elderly parents in their final years so they can maintain their quality of life. Here's what I took away from being aware of how women are doing these days...the women I have met:

Knew exactly what was most important to them and why.
Knew how to prioritize their time and try not to overbook their days.
Set learning and goals in order to learn and grow while keeping the family unit going.
Knew how to ask for help and support, with respect and dignity.
Were able to communicate at high levels in order to let everyone know what's going on.
Asked questions and did the research.
Were well educated and went for creative ways to enjoy their work.

I hope this article will inspire other women to do what they love as much as they can. Men too, because I know how happy my own husband is doing the work he loves. It's not just for women that I write this article, but it is encouraging to see so many creative women out there in the world!

Lorraine is the co-founder and primary personal coach at Priority Learning. Prior to starting Priority Learning with Ralph she served 30 years in the food industry and as a pension consultant to businesses large and small. Lorraine brings valued leadership and administration skills and is recognized as a personal organization/efficiency expert. The driving force in Lorraine's approach to business is her love of coaching others and seeing the change that others create in their business and personal lives. In addition to Lorraine's role as a coach and leader she is Priority Learning's primary researcher spending much of her time looking for the best new ideas for our clients.

Lorraine Twombly [http://www.prioritylearningresearch.com]Organizational Development Consultant

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Creatively-Balanced-Women-in-Todays-Marketplace&id=...] Creatively Balanced Women in Today's Marketplace

Don't Build An Internet Business If You Want to Make Money

Starting any Internet business is not as easy as the so called experts or 'Gurus' would have you believe. It takes a lot of very hard work, sweat and tears. There's this vast learning cycle that appears to dominate anything that's connected with the Internet work scene and if you have no computer or programming experience then it can be sheer hell.

Getting questions to even your most basic questions could leave you banging your head against the wall, if not suicidal. You work late into the night trying to figure out why you can't quite understand the instructions in an on-line workshop, in e-books and tutorials, which quite literally leave you with a thumping head, tiered eyes, asking more questions than you started with. Some are so badly written you couldn't work out what they where trying to teach, with its reader throwing it against the wall...mind boggling.

If the hard work isn't enough you then find yourself ripped off, because you have just purchased the latest 'Get rich quick' program, which required hours of work with very little financial return and is in reality 5 years out of date.

Or what about the software programs you downloaded, which according to the designers were idiot proof, but you need a degree to operate them. And on top of all this there are those times when the computer slows down or even crashes and you end up losing the latest project you where working on...how frustrating is that.

You hope, hunt for answers, cry behind closed doors, and begin to believe that the whole worlds against you, but the question is this...is it worth all the blood, sweat and tears and the answer has got to be...'Yes'!!

People are earning money on the Internet, and in some cases they are earning a lot, but there is no such thing as a "Get-Rich-Quick solution", anything worthwhile needs time, effort and lots of motivation. The Internet offers you more than just e-mail and surfing; it has the potential to change your 'Financial Freedom' for life.

So what are the advantages to owning your own online business, let's take a quick look:

1. An Internet Website is your window on the world. Unlike any other business an Internet business is in effect 'Global' the moment it goes on-line. There are 1.5 billion people on the Internet, which represents a whopping 100 Billion dollars Industry...and still expanding. The Internet gives you the opportunity to tap into this massive wealth of people, just 1% would represent 1 million dollars, with an average business seeing an annual return of around 3%.
You have the opportunity to expand your business beyond your widest dreams...globally...no other business can offer that potential.

2. It online making money 24/7 'Automated'. And this is the fun part. If you take a holiday from work, you get x number of weeks holiday pay. Let's say you are holidaying in some beautiful sun soaked location, you are sitting in your sun lounger on a fine white sandy beach with a cold drink in your right hand. The clear warm seas are lapping the beach, you are surrounded by beautiful girls and palm trees...isn't this what you've been working your butt off to enjoy.

Sounds great doesn't it, but this is where the dilemma lies. We all know that when your times up, you have too return to work. You've got no choice, you have to leave all that fantastic sun, beach, and girl's behind and return home and return to work. I don't know about you, but as soon as my flight takes off, I missing the place already.

Now this is where a profitable Internet business comes into play. Your business is fully automated and continues to make you money, now you can stay on the beach and enjoy all that sun, warm seas, beautiful beaches and gorgeous girls. Its working even when you are sleeping...are you beginning to see the wider picture!!

All you need is a laptop computer and you can stay there until your hearts desire.

3. Fortunes are made. There's no doubt about it and there are vast amounts of money to be made from running your own online business. It's true it does take time, money, and tremendous energy to make it work, but the rewards can be considerable.

But like the old saying goes 'if you are not in it, you can't win it'.

To summarise, there is a great deal of time, effort, blood sweat and tears that goes into making a profitable and successful Internet business. But the feeling of satisfaction, self gratification and wealth outweigh all other considerations.

Remember that you will be building a real business, so treat it as such, and you will build a profitable business that will serve you well throughout your life.

John Judge

Check out my YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmnvX0lJg3Y Find out about the Internet Shopping 'Revolution'.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Dont-Build-An-Internet-Business-If-You-Want-to-Make...] Don't Build An Internet Business If You Want to Make Money