You've already made up your mind that there has to be more to life than careers, cubicles, and commuting. Yet, the prospect of making a major life change when you're already feeling caught between a "clock and a hard place," feels overwhelming.
Here are five simple steps even the busiest person seeking a major career change can take to get the process rolling:
1. Turn griping time into planning time.
How much time do you spend every week blowing off steam about your lousy job? Instead of wasting precious time complaining about what you DON'T want, use the time to create a clear mental picture of what you DO want. Then make a plan for getting from here to there. Five minutes a day spent working your plan will move you far closer to your goal than 15 minutes of griping.
2. Keep your goal front and center.
Get out your calendar and set a target date for when you want your new life to begin. Besides being a great source of motivation, knowing how much time you have until "D-Day" lets you create a realistic plan for hitting it. Next, find creative ways to keep your dream, literally, in your face. As you come across images or quotes that reflect your dream, place them around your workspace, in your daily planner, on the refrigerator -- any place you're sure to regularly "see" your destination.
3. Buy with an eye to the future.
If your dream involves working from the comfort of home, you probably won't need all those business suits overrunning your closet. Resolve now to make do with the work wardrobe you already have. When you do take the leap, you can donate your business attire to an organization like Dress for Success that assists men and women just entering the job market. Spend the money you've saved instead on things you'll need for your new career or venture -- like courses, buying or upgrading a home office computer, purchasing equipment, inventory, and so on.
4. Avoid the nay-seers.
Erma Bombeck once said, "It takes a lot of courage to show someone else your dreams." Erma knew that most people -- especially those closest to you -- tend to discourage change of any kind. Unfortunately, other people's skepticism, like the flu, can be contagious. And, unless you've built up your immune system, these dream killers can knock you for a loop. Don't look for support from pessimistic family or friends. Instead seek out people who can give your dream the support it deserves.
5. Do what you can -- but DO SOMETHING.
As one Chinese proverb reminds us, moving a mountain begins by lifting one stone. To keep from being overwhelmed -- while still making headway -- break your larger goal down into more manageable steps. Then, no matter how hectic your day, pledge to take at least one small step. Before you know it you'll have turned your dreams into your life.
Valerie Young abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at Changing Course, a career change website for people who want be their own boss and work at what they love. Her career tips have been cited in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Woman's Day, MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage. Go to http://ChangingCourse.com/work.htm for a free report on how you can make a career change that gives you the freedom to do work you love.
Practicing Good Hygiene at Work
In this highly competitive world, businesses are often looking for new ways to improve their productivity and generate profits. Often the answer to this question is simple. It all starts from dealing with your office environment. Keeping it clean.
A healthy workplace with healthy workers equates to increased revenue for the company. This statement shows you the magic formula to many successful businesses in the world.
One often associates a well kept house with an immaculate looking housekeeper and a messy house with a frazzled looking housewife with disheveled hair. For customers and potential clients a good impression is priceless. It is essential that your offices look clean and that your staff is healthy.
Having a spick and span workplace goes a long way in improving the productivity of your workers and increases the revenue generated by them. By keeping the environment clean your workers are less likely to fall sick and take sick-leave. It will be easier to keep them working and producing for your company.
It is not difficult to keep your office clean. There are a vast number of janitorial cleaning companies to choose from in the Orange County area. By hiring a reputable and professional cleaning company you can be assured that your office is thoroughly cleaned before your workers start work each day.
The professionals will make sure that your toilets are sanitized, stocked with toilet rolls and anti-bacterial soap is available for use at every sink. Your carpets will be regularly vacuumed to prevent the growth of dust mites and your lights will be periodically maintained. They will also help to insure that your office air quality remains good and that it meets the guidance issued by EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Through contracting cleaning companies whose cleaners have been Green Clean Institute Certified, you can be assured that you are having the best qualified cleaners keep your office looking its best. You need not worry about the office meeting industry wide cleaning standards or the introduction of harmful germs and bacteria which may result in your employees suffering from the Office Building Syndrome.
By keeping your office clean, tidy and presentable it will leave a good impression on both your employees and clients. Employees will feel appreciated knowing that their employer has their welfare at heart through your efforts to keep their workplace hygienic and a pleasant place to work.
Contracting a janitorial cleaning company to look after your office space would be a great investment for your business. Consider hiring one today.
Universal Building Maintenance provides janitorial cleaning services throughout the Orange County. To request a proposal do visit our website at http://www.ubmaintenance.com
A healthy workplace with healthy workers equates to increased revenue for the company. This statement shows you the magic formula to many successful businesses in the world.
One often associates a well kept house with an immaculate looking housekeeper and a messy house with a frazzled looking housewife with disheveled hair. For customers and potential clients a good impression is priceless. It is essential that your offices look clean and that your staff is healthy.
Having a spick and span workplace goes a long way in improving the productivity of your workers and increases the revenue generated by them. By keeping the environment clean your workers are less likely to fall sick and take sick-leave. It will be easier to keep them working and producing for your company.
It is not difficult to keep your office clean. There are a vast number of janitorial cleaning companies to choose from in the Orange County area. By hiring a reputable and professional cleaning company you can be assured that your office is thoroughly cleaned before your workers start work each day.
The professionals will make sure that your toilets are sanitized, stocked with toilet rolls and anti-bacterial soap is available for use at every sink. Your carpets will be regularly vacuumed to prevent the growth of dust mites and your lights will be periodically maintained. They will also help to insure that your office air quality remains good and that it meets the guidance issued by EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Through contracting cleaning companies whose cleaners have been Green Clean Institute Certified, you can be assured that you are having the best qualified cleaners keep your office looking its best. You need not worry about the office meeting industry wide cleaning standards or the introduction of harmful germs and bacteria which may result in your employees suffering from the Office Building Syndrome.
By keeping your office clean, tidy and presentable it will leave a good impression on both your employees and clients. Employees will feel appreciated knowing that their employer has their welfare at heart through your efforts to keep their workplace hygienic and a pleasant place to work.
Contracting a janitorial cleaning company to look after your office space would be a great investment for your business. Consider hiring one today.
Universal Building Maintenance provides janitorial cleaning services throughout the Orange County. To request a proposal do visit our website at http://www.ubmaintenance.com
Discount Office Supplies And Equipment At A Glance
As an Entrepreneur and a person that has a home business I know how important it is to have the right products and the best products at a reach. I try to be consistent in where I buy my products, but hey, when a new site comes along and it really grabs my attention I usually will switch over to the new-found site. High prices don't always mean high quality, and this is the type of thing you take notice at with these stores that aren't classified as discount, but by looking at their prices you would think they were at a discount. The top five things I could NOT live without are my desk, chair, printer, laptop and telephone. Now, I have checked the prices at these cheaper stores, against the places I usually shop at and I have to say I completely guffawed at the price differences. Pretty much the same products on the cheaper site, and yet they were much cheaper in price!
Like I said above, cheap prices don't necessarily mean cheap quality, especially if they are the same brand you would buy for double the original price than at the cheaper store. Hey, I'm all about saving money. If I can go to store A and buy a leather chair for $130 or go to store B and buy a leather chair for $200, which one do you really think I'm going to pick!?! Plus on some of the big name office equipment stores you will have to pay a fee per shipping and handling unless it's over a certain amount. For example, one of the major sites has a chair for about the same price as the cheaper store for the Managerial Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair, Black Leather/Black Frame, but at the major site they charge almost $100 for shipping and handling alone! The cheaper site doesn't charge shipping and handling at all. It's these small little aspects that make a huge difference's in your life.
And just because a site is cheaper doesn't mean they won't have the same brands as everyone else. Take the Basyx for example, it's on both sites, but one is cheaper with free shipping and handling. The less expensive site also offers the same supplies and equipment as the big dog stores such as:
Office supplies - Binders, Calendars, Cutting And Measuring Devices, Desk Accessories, Folders, Labels, Stamps, Office Accessories, Paper and Printable Media, Staplers, Tape, Writing And Correction Supplies.
Technology - Audio Visual Equipment, Cables Adapters And Power Products, Computer Components, Imaging Supplies, Office Machines, Storage media.
Break room & Janitorial - Facility Maintenance, Fans, Heaters, First Aid Supplies, Carts, Hygiene Products, Safety And Sanitary Wear, Paper Towels, Tissues, Wastebaskets And Garbage Bags.
Furniture - Cabinets, Racks, Shelves, Carts And Stands, Chairs And Sofas, Desks And Workstations, Tables.
If I continue to go on, I will be here for an hour. Seriously these sites offer everything you would, could or will ever need or want. What product brands do they have you ask? Alright fine I'll list a few if I must! Xerox, Maxell, Kleenex, Procter & Gamble, etc. And they also have ink toner, I don't know about you but ink gets expensive! Not on these sites! They are at least half of what they are at places like Best Buy and Staples. I mean really, have you heard a point I have made yet that wouldn't make you want to shop at these cheaper stores? Cheaper in price, Better in quality, free shipping and handling. I don't really think there is a negative aspect to these stores, at all, whatsoever. Go check them out yourself. Pick a product or an item you bought from one of the big whig stores and compare it to the less pricier one. I'm sure you will see, exactly what I see!
This author is a HUGE fan of Office Products
Like I said above, cheap prices don't necessarily mean cheap quality, especially if they are the same brand you would buy for double the original price than at the cheaper store. Hey, I'm all about saving money. If I can go to store A and buy a leather chair for $130 or go to store B and buy a leather chair for $200, which one do you really think I'm going to pick!?! Plus on some of the big name office equipment stores you will have to pay a fee per shipping and handling unless it's over a certain amount. For example, one of the major sites has a chair for about the same price as the cheaper store for the Managerial Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair, Black Leather/Black Frame, but at the major site they charge almost $100 for shipping and handling alone! The cheaper site doesn't charge shipping and handling at all. It's these small little aspects that make a huge difference's in your life.
And just because a site is cheaper doesn't mean they won't have the same brands as everyone else. Take the Basyx for example, it's on both sites, but one is cheaper with free shipping and handling. The less expensive site also offers the same supplies and equipment as the big dog stores such as:
Office supplies - Binders, Calendars, Cutting And Measuring Devices, Desk Accessories, Folders, Labels, Stamps, Office Accessories, Paper and Printable Media, Staplers, Tape, Writing And Correction Supplies.
Technology - Audio Visual Equipment, Cables Adapters And Power Products, Computer Components, Imaging Supplies, Office Machines, Storage media.
Break room & Janitorial - Facility Maintenance, Fans, Heaters, First Aid Supplies, Carts, Hygiene Products, Safety And Sanitary Wear, Paper Towels, Tissues, Wastebaskets And Garbage Bags.
Furniture - Cabinets, Racks, Shelves, Carts And Stands, Chairs And Sofas, Desks And Workstations, Tables.
If I continue to go on, I will be here for an hour. Seriously these sites offer everything you would, could or will ever need or want. What product brands do they have you ask? Alright fine I'll list a few if I must! Xerox, Maxell, Kleenex, Procter & Gamble, etc. And they also have ink toner, I don't know about you but ink gets expensive! Not on these sites! They are at least half of what they are at places like Best Buy and Staples. I mean really, have you heard a point I have made yet that wouldn't make you want to shop at these cheaper stores? Cheaper in price, Better in quality, free shipping and handling. I don't really think there is a negative aspect to these stores, at all, whatsoever. Go check them out yourself. Pick a product or an item you bought from one of the big whig stores and compare it to the less pricier one. I'm sure you will see, exactly what I see!
This author is a HUGE fan of Office Products
How Do You Spend Your Time
If you're not sure where all your time disappears, keep a log of your time for a week or so. Make a note of everything you do through your normal working day.
Include work and personal time, from when you wake up, how long you take for meals (too much, too little?) until you go to bed. There are no right or wrong answers, at this stage you're just getting an idea of where your time goes.
Now, answer the following questions to see where you are spending your time in the course of a normal working week.
When do you plan what you're going to do ... today, this week, this month?
How do you prioritise your tasks or do you do them as they come up?
Do you usually finish what you planned to do each day?
How much of your time is spent dealing with crises or unexpected matters?
How do you manage interruptions from upsetting your work?
How much time each day do you spend on paperwork?
What proportion of your time spent at meetings is productive?
When in the day/week do you get interrupted most?
When in the day/week do you get interrupted least?
Do you choose how to use your time, or do other people manage your time?
Are you able to say 'No' to your colleagues/boss?
What tasks do you tend to delay or put off?
What tasks do you tend to avoid completely?
When is your most/least productive time of day?
If you had another hour every day, what would you do with it? What can you change about the way you work to get an extra hour in your day.
Look at how and where you're spending your time and decide what changes you need to make in order to use your time more effectively.
Could you get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later.
Spend a few minutes at the beginning of each day to plan your working day and you'll be able to get more done and be more productive. Look at where you potentially 'waste' time and decide what you can do to change it.
Make sure you're getting enough breaks during the day. It's all very well working hard but how productive is that working time? If you're getting tired, you won't be as effective, take frequent breaks.
In order to make the most effective use of your time you need to make sure that you're focusing on what's important. Prioritise your tasks and actions in order of importance or urgency. Ensure you spend most of your time focusing on the important to avoid them becoming urgent later on. Get the high priority tasks done first and break larger tasks down into smaller ones.
Clare writes on several topics to help busy, stressed individuals and small business owners organise their lives more effectively.
She is the author of Time Management For Dummies. Read more articles and get free Time Tips from www.clareevans.co.uk.
Include work and personal time, from when you wake up, how long you take for meals (too much, too little?) until you go to bed. There are no right or wrong answers, at this stage you're just getting an idea of where your time goes.
Now, answer the following questions to see where you are spending your time in the course of a normal working week.
When do you plan what you're going to do ... today, this week, this month?
How do you prioritise your tasks or do you do them as they come up?
Do you usually finish what you planned to do each day?
How much of your time is spent dealing with crises or unexpected matters?
How do you manage interruptions from upsetting your work?
How much time each day do you spend on paperwork?
What proportion of your time spent at meetings is productive?
When in the day/week do you get interrupted most?
When in the day/week do you get interrupted least?
Do you choose how to use your time, or do other people manage your time?
Are you able to say 'No' to your colleagues/boss?
What tasks do you tend to delay or put off?
What tasks do you tend to avoid completely?
When is your most/least productive time of day?
If you had another hour every day, what would you do with it? What can you change about the way you work to get an extra hour in your day.
Look at how and where you're spending your time and decide what changes you need to make in order to use your time more effectively.
Could you get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later.
Spend a few minutes at the beginning of each day to plan your working day and you'll be able to get more done and be more productive. Look at where you potentially 'waste' time and decide what you can do to change it.
Make sure you're getting enough breaks during the day. It's all very well working hard but how productive is that working time? If you're getting tired, you won't be as effective, take frequent breaks.
In order to make the most effective use of your time you need to make sure that you're focusing on what's important. Prioritise your tasks and actions in order of importance or urgency. Ensure you spend most of your time focusing on the important to avoid them becoming urgent later on. Get the high priority tasks done first and break larger tasks down into smaller ones.
Clare writes on several topics to help busy, stressed individuals and small business owners organise their lives more effectively.
She is the author of Time Management For Dummies. Read more articles and get free Time Tips from www.clareevans.co.uk.
Your Mom Skills Equal Business Success
Many women today wish they could be work at home Moms so that they can be home with their children. Can your Mom skills help you run a successful business? You bet they can! Your Mom skills are your best asset and will serve you well to start and become successful at building your own business.
You are already run very important corporation, your home and family! You organize schedules, plan events, make sure food and household supplies are stocked, manage the budget and a multitude of other tasks every day. As a woman and a mom you have unique talents and skills, these transfer over to running a business quite nicely!
Before you became a mom you probably worked, went to college or university. You may have worked in an office or in as a sales clerk in a store. Whatever skills you had as a single woman became the foundation for your skills as a mom. Consequently, what you learn as a mom, directly relates to what you learned long ago and when combined, can be transferred into other areas of your life including having a direct selling career.
I was thinking about my own mom skills today and which ones transferred into business skills for me. I bet most of them will for you too.
Do you love learning? If you are the type of Mom who enjoys learning new things and how to be a better parent you'll find this is an asset to your business. It seems like there is a lot to learn when you are starting a new business but if you take small steps you'll have it mastered in no time.
Do you look after the household budget? Your budgeting and money management skills will be a real asset to your business. If you don't look after this area you really should learn the basics. After all you never know what the future holds and you might need to know this.
Do you organize your families schedules? Most women do, so this will make you an expert in planning and organizing your business. Your business success depends on your making an action plan, and fitting it into your schedule.
Are you a nurturer? Most women are born helpers so your caring, nurturing side will enhance your customer service skills. You've probably dealt with some grumpy or unhelpful sales people in your day to day shopping so use that as an example of what not to do.
Do you like meeting new people? If you are a people person or crave some adult interaction a direct selling career could be the solution for you. It gives you the opportunity to get out and meet new and interesting people. Being able to talk to people and show an interest in them is a real asset.
These are just a few of your mom skills that can make you a business success story! If you have been thinking about starting your own business but didn't believe you had the skills, now you know that you do. Your dream of being a work at home mom could be a reality, if you are brave enough to give it a try.
Melody Thacker has been enjoying her direct selling career for over 20 years while raising her family and loves her Watkins business. She uses her nurturing skills to help others become a successful work at home mom too.
You are already run very important corporation, your home and family! You organize schedules, plan events, make sure food and household supplies are stocked, manage the budget and a multitude of other tasks every day. As a woman and a mom you have unique talents and skills, these transfer over to running a business quite nicely!
Before you became a mom you probably worked, went to college or university. You may have worked in an office or in as a sales clerk in a store. Whatever skills you had as a single woman became the foundation for your skills as a mom. Consequently, what you learn as a mom, directly relates to what you learned long ago and when combined, can be transferred into other areas of your life including having a direct selling career.
I was thinking about my own mom skills today and which ones transferred into business skills for me. I bet most of them will for you too.
Do you love learning? If you are the type of Mom who enjoys learning new things and how to be a better parent you'll find this is an asset to your business. It seems like there is a lot to learn when you are starting a new business but if you take small steps you'll have it mastered in no time.
Do you look after the household budget? Your budgeting and money management skills will be a real asset to your business. If you don't look after this area you really should learn the basics. After all you never know what the future holds and you might need to know this.
Do you organize your families schedules? Most women do, so this will make you an expert in planning and organizing your business. Your business success depends on your making an action plan, and fitting it into your schedule.
Are you a nurturer? Most women are born helpers so your caring, nurturing side will enhance your customer service skills. You've probably dealt with some grumpy or unhelpful sales people in your day to day shopping so use that as an example of what not to do.
Do you like meeting new people? If you are a people person or crave some adult interaction a direct selling career could be the solution for you. It gives you the opportunity to get out and meet new and interesting people. Being able to talk to people and show an interest in them is a real asset.
These are just a few of your mom skills that can make you a business success story! If you have been thinking about starting your own business but didn't believe you had the skills, now you know that you do. Your dream of being a work at home mom could be a reality, if you are brave enough to give it a try.
Melody Thacker has been enjoying her direct selling career for over 20 years while raising her family and loves her Watkins business. She uses her nurturing skills to help others become a successful work at home mom too.
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