Separating Your Personal Life From Your Business
By Scott Hollingsworth

If you work from home, chances are you already know that you are really pulling double duty.

You probably work on your business while doing the laundry, corralling the kids, or fixing dinner and lets not forget all the phone calls from family and friends expecting you to run errands or just go out for an afternoon of fun.

One of the hardest parts of running a home business is separating your work from your family and social life. Here are a few proven ways to keep your home life running smoothly while keeping your business on track.

1. First, create a work schedule and stick with it. It may be tempting to answer personal calls during the day or take business calls after-hours, but doing this actually shows that you are expendable not dependable and people will take for granted that you will always be there for any little things that come up. Even though family comes first, stay true to your business hours and resist the urge to chat with friends or pick up groceries during working hours.

2. Your friends may consider working from home an invitation to chat during the day or just go out for coffee or shopping for an afternoon. Make it clear that your business hours are just that for business. Leave personal calls for after hours, and you will find that your friends will gradually accept your schedule without feeling slighted.

3. Just because you have to set up a work schedule, it does not mean that you have to keep the same hours as everyone else. One of the benefits of working for yourself is setting your own hours to fit your most productive times. Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, you will find that you will get much more done when you are attuned to your body natural rhythms. Some people work in the morning, take a break in the afternoon when the kids are home from school, and work again in the evening. Schedule your work time when you feel the most productive and you will find that things get done easier, faster and better than when you were dragging along during those same rigid work hours that every one else has.

4. If getting after hours business calls or work day personal calls is a problem, it helps to have a separate business phoneline, or at least an answering machine, or voice mail, to take the incoming calls. This also gives your business a more professional appearance to clients than if you and your family make and receive calls from the same phone line.

5. If at all possible, try to separate your home office fromthe rest of your home. If you do not have the luxury of aseparate room, a room partition or screen can be just as helpful. This also serves as a visual cue to family that you not working and should not be bothered.

6. Dress and act professionally while working. Some people find it helpful to dress in casual business attire during their working hours. This reinforces that just because you are working from home does not make you any less of a professional. Answer the phone with your name, or business name, and keep your children off the phone during business hours. Also, spend money investing in the tools you need to do your job right. A cellphone, fax machine, or even a budget computer can help turn your home office into a true workspace.

If you follow all of these tips and stick with them, chances are you will find a routine that not only makes you feel productive and active in your business, but also projects the message that you mean business literally!

Scott Hollingsworth
To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit:http://www.profitmakingsite.com/newsletter-signup.html
  

Dotcomology - The Science of Making Money Online

Click Here To Follow 3 Easy Steps And I Will Personally Build A Money Making Website For You That's 100% Ready To Take Orders And Pull In Massive Residual Profits...

Newbie Training Videos - 47 High Impact Internet Marketing "How To" Videos

The Value Of Each Customer
By Scott Hollingsworth

Just what is the value to you of each customer over his or her lifetime? This is a
crucial number for you to know because it helps to determine how much you might be
willing to spend to acquire a new customer. Equally important, it makes you realize
how much it costs to lose a customer once you've got him.

Federal Express is one of many companies that focus on the value of a customer. If a
mid-sized company sells 30 packages a week at $25 each, that's $750 a week, or
$18,750 a year. If a customer gets angry over a $25 shipment and switches his
business to a competitor, Federal Express loses thousands of dollars. That's why every federal Express supervisor is authorized to grant a $100 refund on the spot, no questions asked, for any delayed shipments. $100 is a very small price to pay to keep an $18,750 a year customer. That's why you must become aware of the lifetime value of each of your customers.

To compute to value of a customer, answer these simple questions:
If you continue to provide acceptable service and quality, how long will the customer patronize your business?

How much will the customer spend in the average year? Make certain to include the
sales increases that are sure to take place.

What's the total value of this customer?

This number should be engraved in your mind, and you should share it with all of your employees. It will help you focus on the critical elements of building your business. It will also remind you to treat each customer as if he or she is the only customer you have. If you don't do this, you may not have many at all.

The more you use the net, the more you'll be able to nurture long term relationships
because when customers move, they can still buy from you.

About the author:
-------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.ProfitMakingSite.com
  

Dotcomology - The Science of Making Money Online

Click Here To Follow 3 Easy Steps And I Will Personally Build A Money Making Website For You That's 100% Ready To Take Orders And Pull In Massive Residual Profits...

Newbie Training Videos - 47 High Impact Internet Marketing "How To" Videos