From Small Business Informer:

In today’s world of two income families, rising divorce rates and out of control children, many families are stopping to consider what went wrong and what can be done to turn things around.

The decline of the American family may be greatly due to the overwhelming amount of time constraints placed on parents. Both parents are now expected to work full time jobs while being excellent parents, keeping up the household responsibilities and trying to squeeze in a social life. Time is divided between soccer games, PTA meetings, homework, cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, errands, visiting friends, hobbies, home repair, vehicle maintenance, volunteer work, reading, after hours meetings with clients, going to the gym, doctor’s appointments, retirement and college fund planning, quality time with the kids, conversation with your spouse, sex and getting your hair done… Whew! No wonder we are exhausted before ever getting out of bed!

Many families are looking at working from home to relieve some of the stress while still bringing in income. Home businesses allow you to set your own schedule and work at your own pace while considering your responsibilities in all aspects of life. No more explaining to the boss why you simply cannot work over Tuesday night or you will miss your son’s first public performance as a tree (which is actually more important?).

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From Entrepreneur.com:

Bypass some of the most common mistakes made by startup entrepreneurs, and you’ll zero in on a better business plan.

Jessica D. Herrin’s first experience presenting a business plan to investors taught her many lessons, including a hard-knocks course in humility. During the dotcom boom, Herrin’s plan for an online wedding gift registry called for selling products directly to consumers and also through retailers. Herrin, a business school student at the time, lacked wedding industry experience, so she didn’t know retailers would never support a startup that competed with them. “When we presented the plan, people looked at us like we were crazy,” Herrin recalls.

But the 34-year-old Burlingame, California, entrepreneur turned out to be crazy like a fox. She revamped the plan to employ a retailer-only distribution system and eventually got funding for her gift business. And before she even began to solicit investors for her latest business, a custom jewelry maker, she spent time with a retailer partner who showed her the industry ropes. As a result, Herrin was able to quickly raise the $350,000 in seed money Luxe Jewels needed to get off the ground in 2004. Today, Luxe has $1.2 million in sales, 10 employees and a CEO with a strong appreciation for the power of avoiding deal-breaking mistakes in a business plan.

Business plan experts, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs say Herrin’s experience is common. Many business plans sport fatal errors that virtually guarantee a hostile reception from lenders or anyone else who views them. Unwary entrepreneurs plant red flags throughout their plans, from the executive summary to the financial statements, says Linda Pinson, a Tustin, California, business planner and author of Anatomy of a Business Plan. But the most common mistake, Pinson says, is a broad lack of internal consistency. An entrepreneur will, for instance, describe marketing costs one way in the section on marketing, then give another figure for marketing costs in the financial statement. “That’s the kiss of death,” Pinson says. “If [the business plan] doesn’t work, how is the home business going to work?”

Full Article Here

From Venturecountystart.com:

Simi Valley will be sending more than 1,800 letters to home businesses that might not be registered with the city, asking them to pay current and up to three years in back taxes.

On Monday night, the City Council voted unanimously to start a compliance program. Letters will start to be mailed next weekend.

If a home business owner does not have what is called a “Business Tax Certificate,” they need to get one, city officials say.

The compliance program is not meant to punish at-home businesses, as many people don’t know the certificate is even needed, said Jim Purtee, director of administrative services.

“One of the council’s directions was to make the letter very friendly,” Purtee said.

State law allows cities to collect the current year business tax, up to three years of back taxes, and up to three years in penalties — equal to the tax.

From The American Chronicle:

There’s an exciting new “down-home” kind of business springing up among homeowners all across the country. It’s called Bed and Breakfast.

Basically, this is a transplant of European Hospitality, adapted and refined to the American way of doing things. To foreign visitors, it’s the comfort and hospitality of home—staying overnight “with people of the land” and enjoying a hearty breakfast—without the traditional gaudiness and plastic feelings visitors get from most big cities in the United States. To U.S. citizens, it is a welcome alternative to the same old hotel/motel circuit.

Now, all it takes is a spare bedroom, a good cook ad an outgoing personality. Prices per night range from a low $25 to $100 or more.

If you have an extra bedroom, a large home, or extra space in your farm house, you have the necessary beginnings to start making extra income as a Bed and Breakfast Inn. One of the beautiful aspects of this idea is that so long as you’re hosting “overnight visitors” on a small scale no licenses will be required. It’s always best, however to check with your local authorities just to be sure.

Full Article from the American Chronicle

What does it take to be successful in this field? Ambition, personal drive, motivation, desire and perseverance are the forerunners. Without these, all the skills and experience in the world won’t enable you to succeed. However, combine those with your personal skills and experience, and you’ll have what it takes.
Also, take into account the following: Are you ambitious, constantly striving for more fulfillment in life? Are you not fully satisfied until you’ve done your absolute best? If so, working from home is for you. There are no limitations. The more you put into the business, the more you’ll get out of it. You control your paycheck. Only you can determine what follows that dollar sign on your tax return each year.

Are you a self-starter? You alone are the one who will make this business a success or failure. The amount of time and energy you invest will determine just how successful you are with your business. Are you motivated enough to make things happen? In the beginning stages, a business will require a tremendous amount of hard work and long hours, often without immediate results. You need to be willing to invest that time and await the results with confidence.

Are you creative? Can you think of a new idea and within days make it a reality? What a joy it is to tap that inner imagination and create a new idea for your business. Whether it’s an effective advertising piece or a dazzling brochure for your clients, you have the power to make it work.

Full Article: Home-Based Business – Is it Right For You?

From Entrepreneur.com:

Protect your business by getting familiar with some of the more creative scams entrepreneurs are falling prey to these days.

They contact you by phone, fax and e-mail. They’re ready with invoices for you to pay, services for you to order and PO boxes to collect your money. Modern scammers have thought of everything: The only thing that stands between them and your money is keen awareness on your part.

What types of scams are most popular these days? From overpayments that need a refund to inquiries about selling your business, the following “smart” approaches are luring even cautious entrepreneurs.

A “Heavy” Pre-Pay Shipping Scam
“As soon as the TTY operator told me the call was coming from Nigeria, while the woman had me on hold, I knew something was up,” notes Bruce Webber of Webber Floor Covering in Maple Heights, Ohio. Webber had received calls from TTY operators before, working on behalf of the hearing impaired. In this case, it was a call from a woman who wanted to order tile for a church in Alaska. But when she put him on hold for a few moments to try to send him an e-mail, Webber commented to the operator on the lengthy wait.

“I’m not sure if she did it on purpose or just let it slip…typically they don’t tell you where the caller is calling from, but she did” says Webber, who had read in a floor covering industry magazine that such scams were going on. The idea of using a TTY operator is to make the call untraceable and possibly to play on the sympathy of the victim, who believes he or she is helping someone with a hearing disability. When Webber told the operator he didn’t realize the call was from overseas, the caller overheard him and quickly got off the line. She never rang back.

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News from thenewsherald.com:

The letter begins: “It has come to our attention that you have been conducting a business at your home.”

And in that moment, thousands of individuals each year learn they are just as big as the Big Three when it comes to filing the right state tax forms.

Home-based businesses, one of the few growth sectors of Michigan’s economy, have now come under new scrutiny from cities, townships — and the state — looking to plug budget holes.

Armed with a wide range of formal and informal sources of information, local tax assessors are searching out these small businesses that might have been — unknowingly — violating state tax law.

The result: Unsuspecting sole proprietors — and even telecommuters — may now be filing their first-ever Michigan Personal Property Statement.

A statement that could lead to hundreds of dollars in property taxes being paid to their hometown, their county, their school district and the state.

Read More…

Press Release from PR.com:

Internet Auction Solutions (IAS), the leading service provider for Internet home-based business support, recently announced the release of their newest suite of services. These include the industry standard Auction PI market analysis software package, the “Bright Builders” coaching/mentoring program, and the respected “Doba” product sourcing service.

This newest offering of services, coupled with Internet Auction Solutions’ business development launch strategies, proven track record, and strong SEO marketing campaigns, have become the industry standard in creating successful home-based and small business startups.

Internet Auction Solutions brings a decade of expertise in integrated eBay and Internet marketing, strategy and business development, and new business launch services to its clients. While always being focused on a client’s return on investment, Internet Auction Solutions injects passion into every engagement it manages and is energized by what the future holds for these new home-based eBay businesses and their owners.

Read Full Press Release

Press Release from PR.com:

Chicago, IL, February 21, 2007 –(PR.COM)– The Launch of Global Abundance Program (GAP), a Division of Universal Software Consulting, has taken the Internet marketing arena by storm. One of the top marketers for GAP, The Pinnacle Group, says the GAP home based business opportunity was recently launched with a simple and very powerful purpose, to attempt to totally eliminate any chance of failure for those involved.

In short, GAP is a comprehensive lead generation, marketing, product presentation and closing system designed to empower its members to achieve financial success. The company’s co-founders Mike Churchill & Tod Bell have extensive experience with online business opportunities. And while Mike and Tod knew they had the skills necessary to succeed, they also knew that the vast majority of others did not.

Most importantly, through working with many such individuals, Mike and Tod were able to isolate the 3 most important elements causing home business failure:

1. Lack of sufficient, qualified prospects;
2. Inability to deliver professional, effective product and opportunity presentations;
3. Closing the sale.

Read Full Press Release

News from YahooFinance:

StagedHomes.com, creators of “home staging”, the most important new marketing practice for the residential housing market, reveals the next cutting edge opportunity for home based business owners. Introducing, Senior Stages, the new division of StagedHomes.com dedicated to serving the 55+ housing market.

Consistent with their ability to recognize career opportunity through trends in Real Estate, StagedHomes has partnered with experts in senior relocation and home modification to create the national “CRTS” training program, Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist.

Beginning with 3-day classroom setting instruction, the CRTS program is designed to educate home based business owners in the basics of how to identify and communicate with their 55+ clients and how to manage and coordinate a home transition. Whether learning to relocate a couple from their family home to retirement living or move an elder to a community setting or help a widow age-in-place, the CRTS program provides fundamental tools required to get started in the industry.

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Excerpt from StartUpNation.com:

Before Becky Boyd turned her basement into an office for her public relations business, MediaFirst PR, she fell prey to the “just let me check another e-mail” syndrome that ails many home-based entrepreneurs.

“We had a computer in our living room, and it was so easy to run in there and go online and start doing e-mail,” says Boyd, who works with her husband, Jim Caruso.

After founding the company in 1992, the pair worked offsite. But they moved home because, well, they liked being there. It was easy, convenient, required no commute and – a big plus – their young son wouldn’t have to sit in after-school daycare.

They built out the basement of their 4,000-square-foot, three-story house, creating two offices and a computer closet. Every day, Boyd dresses for work like she would for an offsite office. She sets hours, too, which is imperative for home-preneurs who can get swept away by the compelling forces of working where you live.

“It’s very hard to leave work at work because work is always available,” says Boyd, who has to fight the urge to work 16-hour days and fill weekends with earning income. “It’s not like I have to drive anywhere, fight traffic. I just go boom, and I’m in the office. You have to make a concerted effort to get away from it.”

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Home businesses are catching on fast in the modern world. With so many ways to communicate instantaneously (phone, fax, PC), it is now easier than ever to create viable earning options at home. We can do everything from our home office now that we could previously only do in a corporate environment.

Home businesses allow a person to be his or her own boss. So many people dream of being able to start a business, but are simply unsure of how to go about doing it. Fortunately, there are resources out there to get people up and running.

Work at home opportunities can be incredibly successful to those who bring energy and enthusiasm to the endeavor. It’s a smart time to look into a home based business opportunity, with its many rewards and the joy of creating one’s own schedule and business goals. Franchising has really been taking off in the past few years, and provides the ideal opportunity to explore one’s business potential.

Home Businesses Are Taking Off!
A legitimate home business opportunity provides a chance to explore one’s visions and goals. There has never been a better time to start a business, given the prevalence of computers, telephones, and personal computers. Wholesale merchandise can provide exactly the platform one needs to enter the marketplace.

From Entrepreneur.com:

Definition: A business whose primary office is in the owner’s home. The business can be any size or any type as long as the office itself is located in a home.

Two out of three companies (of all sizes) begin in a spare bedroom, garage, basement or sometimes even a bathroom. That’s how companies as diverse as Apple Computer, Baskin-Robbins ice cream, Electronic Data Systems, Hallmark cards, the Lillian Vernon catalog, and Purex began. Of course, the internet makes operating a virtual company from home more feasible and popular than ever.

If you want to hang your shingle at home, either permanently or temporarily, here are some things you must consider:

First, is it legal to hang your shingle or sign at home? This is one of the many possible restrictions on your being permitted to make your home a working castle. Whether and how flexibly you can operate a business from your home is covered in local zoning ordinances and also by the covenants, codes and restrictions (CC&Rs) of homeowner and condo associations.
How are you going to separate your home and your workplace? While the demanding hours required to start any business affect an entrepreneur’s family, when you bring the workplace into the home, your family’s needs must be taken into account even more.
How are you going to establish and maintain a professional image? This is especially important if your address is on Cow Path Lane, your dog loves to bark, or your teenager loves to play his drums in the room next to your home office.
Most cities and many counties have zoning ordinances that limit, to one degree or another, whether you can operate a business from home. While many communities have modernized their zoning ordinances to recognize that a computer-based business isn’t like a noisy auto body repair shop, an odorous hair salon or a 6 a.m. gathering point for a construction or cleaning crew, many communities ban certain kinds of businesses and prescribe limitations that may handicap some businesses. Here are some common activities communities don’t like and may restrict within their zoning code: [Read More]

We still need farms and factories, but the bulk of our future is built on ones and zeroes–pure data. And here’s the beauty in that: we no longer need to work in a centralized office. Data, the livelihood of more and more workers, can be sent to or accessed from anywhere. You can work for yourself or just by yourself from the comfort of your own home.

International corporations will continue to devour smaller companies, but in the online marketplace, everyone has a voice; everyone is a click away and a delete button from good bye. Home based internet businesses let anyone with a modem set up shop from anyplace–and compete against the big guys. Not every business will survive, but the playing field is much more level online.

Excerpt from Entrepreneur.com:

“There are key habits you must develop if you want to become a successful home business entrepreneur. The absence of any one of these habits can be costly, if not fatal, to your business. When you become competent and capable in each of these areas, you’ll be able to accomplish extraordinary results, far faster and easier than your competitors. Without further ado, let me introduce the 7 habits of business success:

1. Plan ahead. The better, more thoroughly and more detailed you plan your activities in advance, the faster and easier it’ll be for you to carry out your plans and get the results you desire once you start to work.

2. Get organized before you get started. Once you’ve developed a complete plan for your work at home business, you must then organize the people and resources you need before you begin–and you must make this a habit before the start of any new project you launch.

3. Find the right people. Fully 95 percent of your success as an entrepreneur will be determined by the quality of the people you recruit to work for you…..

4. Learn how to delegate. You must develop the ability to delegate the right task, to the right person, in the right way…..

5. Inspect what you expect. Once you’ve delegated a task to the right person in the right way, it’s essential that you monitor the performance of the task, and make sure that it’s done on schedule and to the required level of quality…..

6. Set specific, measurable standards and score cards for the results that you require….

7. Develop the determination to win. To succeed greatly in work at home business, and to become a self-made millionaire, there are additional habits you need to develop…..

Read Full Article Here

Book Review: Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants:

Be your own boss — easily, efficiently and successfully — with this bestseller! Whether you’re an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: You need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.

Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:

*meet business start-up requirements *pick a business structure *set up home or outside offices *obtain permits and licenses *price your services or products *comply with strict IRS rules *establish sound business relationships *avoid unfair contracts *draft good agreements *keep good records *get paid in full and on time *and much, much more.

Learn More About Home Business Taxes.

Article Excerpt from BusinessKnowHow:

“Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, you may have decided to break free of your job to live your dream of working from home. You’re ready to seize the opportunity for freedom, unlimited earning potential and chance to live your life exactly the way you want.

One of the biggest challenges you will face during the first two years will revolve around cash flow and money management.

In order to give yourself the best chance possible of surviving the first two years so you can thrive from that point on, it’s imperative that you achieve mastery in five areas:

1. Gain control over your spending today
2. Create a personal and business budget
3. Increase your financial IQ
4. Explore sources of capital
5. Think like a successful business owner…..”

Article Continues Here

Excerpt from StartupNation Article:

“So you’ve started up that home-based business and can’t wait to make calls and seal deals in your slippers and sweats?

Nothing wrong with that, but the fact is it’s not going to inspire confidence in your clients, customers, referrals or anyone else in the outside world if they know you’re proofreading your key presentation while accelerating on your NordicTrack.

For you to function best as an entrepreneur, it’s probably necessary to set up some borders between your business and home life by creating a separate environment that encourages focus, efficiency and professionalism while you’re on the job.

Here are some ways to create a professional structure, inside and out, for your home-based business:

Organize your time….
Present yourself and your home-based business professionally…..
Maintain good records and credit for your home-based business…..
Make your home-based business high-tech…..
Keep in touch with other professionals….

Read Full Article Here

One of the most important ingredients of home business leadership is integrity. It is the integrity that lies within you which can fuel your home based business toward developing leaders who follow your lead and duplicate downline.

With all the hype in the industry, it is easy for us to fall victim to taking on approaches to building our business which tear down any integrity we may have built up. It is extremely important to take a stand today and begin building with integrity.

You should not approach building integrity by telling others you have integrity. Integrity MUST be earned. To build integrity, it begins with you doing the things you say you will do. You must live your work at home business by taking on personal responsibility for your success before you can lead others.

Keep in mind that the more credible you become by leading with action, the more confidence people will have in your ability to lead them. The more people are confident you can lead them, the greater the results you will begin to have and the more duplication you will begin to experience in your business.
Know that you must never waiver from a solid core belief within you of who you really are. Do not lead with hype nor mislead your prospects or downline. Integrity comes from within and leading from the heart is where it begins.
Integrity not only builds confidence, but it also builds trust. Integrity has a high influential value and can facilitate high standards. Don’t wake up and say, “I have integrity” ~ Rather wake up and Earn IT!!

TIP - Integrity is a part of your character and without good character, you can never build long and lasting relationships.

Here’s a great article excerpt from BusinessKnowHow:

“One of the biggest challenges you will face during the first two years of your home based business will revolve around cash flow and money management.

In order to give yourself the best chance possible of surviving the first two years so you can thrive from that point on, it’s imperative that you achieve mastery in five areas:

1. Gain control over your spending today
2. Create a personal and business budget
3. Increase your financial IQ
4. Explore sources of capital
5. Think like a successful business owner

First things first. Gain control over your spending today - Honestly evaluate your spending habits and identify where your money is going. Are you living beyond your means and buying things you don’t really need?

Read Full Article Here

Blogging is the latest innovation to take the web by storm. According to blog tracking firm Technorati, there are currently 14 million blogs with 80,000 more being added every day. And 30 percent of all 50 million internet users are blog readers. In short, a lot of people are reading and writing blogs.

Yet despite their popularity, you may be one of those people who doesn’t really know what a blog is or what relevance blogging has to your home based business. In this article, I hope to answer those questions and cover the basics of using blogging to deliver favorable business results.

So just what is a blog and why should you care? Basically, the word “blog” is short for web log, a frequently updated web-based journal that’s intended for general public consumption. So what do people write about? Anything from personal stories (from the mundane to the bizarre) to theme-centered creations (finance, politics, parenthood) to businesses (philosophies; updates; branding methods) to…you name it!

Read More from Entrepreneur.com

“The three greatest essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” … Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison is a prime example of a man who achieved by following the three greatest essentials of hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense. In thinking about the three essentials to achievement that Thomas Edison mentions, I believe it is much like a three legged stool. You need all three legs of the stool to keep the stool standing.

A question often popping in our minds as we strive to succeed in our home based businesses, is, “why do others succeed and we seem to struggle?” Fortunately, you don’t have to ask that question any more!

You and I were made to achieve. We were born with a natural desire to achieve and succeed. We have the power within us to unleash this desire into a burning desire to achieve and succeed in all that we do. Realize, this power we have internally has not have been given to us to just let the power sit idle. Nor were we given this unique personal power of achievement without also being given the ability and opportunity to realize it.

You must first know your strengths and weaknesses before you can be a real achiever. Take some time to think about your home based business and what you want your business to be. Once your strengths and weaknesses are identified, you can begin working toward your goals and dreams.

Keep a firm understanding of the difference between achievement and success. Yes, there is a difference between achievement and success. Achievement is the knowledge you have studied, applied, and result in moving you forward in all you do. Success is being praised by others.

The key is to aim for achievement and success will follow. Break your plan into small stepping stones of achievement. Seeking steady progress like this will ultimately add up to Long term achievement and ultimately a successful home based business.

10 Steps to Running a Successful Home-Based Business

No one wants their home based business to fail, but that prospect is something that every business owner thinks about. Luckily there are steps you can take to help ensure your success. These steps are easy to follow and will help you along your way to becoming a home-based business success instead of a failure.

1. Plan ahead.

2. Put money aside. Don’t begin your business with delusions of overnight success.

3. Organize your time.

4. Organize your space.

5. Stay focused. Remove as many distractions as you can from your home office and stay focused.

6. Figure out home business tax laws now, before it is too late. Don’t wait to research the tax laws that will impact your new business.

7. Advertise your business. You can’t afford to wait for your customers to come to you — you need to go out and get them.

8. Get the proper equipment.

9. Cover your assets. You cannot afford to lose money when it could be prevented by having proper insurance for your home business.

10. Do not get discouraged. Success does not come overnight. It will require dedication, hard work, and a lot of extra effort to make it a reality.

Read Details from AllBusiness.com

If you are thinking about starting your own home-based business, the available options can be almost dizzying. However, there are many tried and true home-based businesses that may be just what you are looking for. Below are the top 25 home-based business ideas, in no particular order.

1. Personal trainer. If you are fitness-minded, you can start your own career as a personal trainer. Check out the National Federation of Professional Trainers for information about the certification process.

2. Yoga instructor. Begin sharing your expertise with others by teaching yoga classes. There are a number of online resources, depending on the school of yoga that you practice. The Yoga Alliance Web site provides information on yoga schools, certification, insurance, and so on.

3. Tutoring. You can start a business tutoring students by advertising at schools, the local YMCA, and other places frequented by families. If you have children, talk to their teachers and determine the needs of your school district.

4. Business coaching. Have experience with management or some other specialized business skill? Share it with others by becoming a business coach. The International Coach Federation provides certification and a coach referral service for its members.

5. Consulting. If you are an expert in your industry, consider beginning your own consulting business.

6. Medical and legal transcription. If you have transcription skills and the necessary equipment, you can easily work from home for a variety of different companies. Check local community colleges or online for transcription training courses.

Read the Rest from AllBusiness

“Leaving corporate America to run a homebased business is the ideal situation for many people: There’s no boss breathing down your neck, no boring meetings to attend and no 45-minute drives in rush hour traffic. Working from home can be a rewarding experience, but it’s easy to forget the basic rules of running a successful business when it’s 10 hours of just you, your computer and the distractions of home.

To help you stay on track, we’ve contacted homebased business expert Rosalind Resnick, CEO of Axxess Business Centers Inc., a New York small-business consulting firm. Resnick is a former business journalist who has regularly contributed her expertise to Entrepreneur.com. She’s put together eight helpful tips for keeping your homebased business running smoothly.

Structure your day. The problem a lot of homebased business owners have is that they no longer have a boss standing over them making sure they get their work done, or a tangible start and end of each workday. It’s easy to let time slip by as you head to the refrigerator, catch a few minutes of TV, or dive into a project first thing in the morning, neglecting the other tasks you need to perform to keep your business running smoothly.

Create a structure that mimics what you had in the workplace. Structure your day so you have a start and finish time, with certain hours set aside for specific activities. A general rule is to spend the first hour of the day prospecting for new clients. Send your emails, write your letters and make your phone calls first thing so you don’t forget to do it later.

Use Outlook or some sort of contact management software to serve as a visual reminder of what you need to accomplish that day. Live and die by your to-do-list. Try to have everything crossed off by the end of the day. Even my own children know that if they want me to do something for them during working hours, they have to put it on my to-do-list or it will never get done. ”

[Read Tips 2 - 8 from Yahoo Small Business]