» home business

Be Inspired, Entrepreneurs

Deb — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:46:29 +0000

For those of you who have not seen this video on our website, yet, enjoy.

If you know a homeschool family that could help up create a video like this for homeschool entrepreneurs, please contact me at deb@homeschoolent.com. Thanks!

**FYI-we are NOT selling the product they mention at the end, it’s just the most inspirational video for entrepreneurs I have ever seen. I promise, there are NO affiliate links…(except the company’s own. )

Thanks!

____

A great gift idea:

10 Ways To Survive The Family Business

Deb — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:12:04 +0000

The family business. Has somewhat of a ring to it, doesn’t it? I don’t mean the ‘ding’ you hear at a boxing match, either. It’s a dream of 82% of Americans to have their own business. It usually includes the hope of at least one other family member being a part of it, too. However, the reality of the day to day life can be a rude awakening and can surface personality traits we didn’t know we had!

If you homeschool then you already have some good experience with working together as a family. I’ve heard parents say they don’t homeschool because they would kill each other. I’m sure we all have our moments, but I think I can speak for most homeschoolers when I say we generally enjoy being with our children. I’m not saying if you don’t homeschool you don’t enjoy your children, but it’s already a natural part of our day, so working a business together as a family would seem to be a natural transition. So you would think.

Maybe it’s the time pressure that business can bring, or it could be the money thing, or a host of other excuses. There is no question that working a business with children can be frustrating. There. I said it. I know that there are many character building lessons for children that can be developed when you work a business with them, but I think it’s more a refining device for us. So, keeping in mind our children are really just on loan to us from the Lord, training them also trains us.

I guess it all boils down to loving one another more than ourselves. It may be very difficult and hard work, but the rewards far exceed any monetary gain. It may also be a way to pay off some debt or take that family mission trip or vacation. Whatever your motivation, here are some ways to survive the “Family Business”:

1. The purpose-filled life business. If you don’t already have a business, try to choose a business that helps others, one that gives your family a sense of purpose. This may sound idealistic, but I’m convinced that if you sit down as a family and pray about something you can all do to serve others you’re sure to come up with something. It may not make you rich, but if it’s a need in the marketplace, there will be business. Resist the urge to give your services away, unless of course your family can afford it. You are thinking of an entrepreneurial venture that does good, not a ministry (at least right now).

2. Assign work according to ability. Sit down together and list all the tasks that need to be done and what abilities or talents are needed to accomplish them. Then discuss what talents and abilities each family member has. Make a list of the positive qualities each member has and be generous with the adjectives. Keep it positive. Let each family member add their own weaknesses and/or tasks they absolutely detest. Do not mention anyone else’s weaknesses except your own to keep the peace. Make encouragement the rule. Oh, one more: remember that children are children – not miniature adults.

3. Respect each other. When you live with each other 24/7, it’s easy to get too comfortable with each other. It’s not hard to be courteous to people at church that you hardly know, but will find it easy to be abrupt with those you love most. Respect is a good habit to develop if you haven’t already.

Don't forget to take much needed breaks!

4. Pay children for the work they do. If you get paid, they should be paid if they contributed. Taking children for granted when you work at home is one of the reasons many adults who grew up in a family business want nothing to do with it. If they kept the baby happy and the house clean so you were able to work, there should be some reward. Yes, families help each other out, but if there is a business involved, a worker deserves their wages. Payments should be made in a timely manner and not be withheld for reasons not related to the work. Hope deferred makes a heart sick…

5. Delegate a portion of your family income for something special. It may be a charity or mission that is dear to your heart, or maybe a mission trip for your entire family. You could use it as your field trip fund to go places ordinarily out of your price range or a special vacation. I’m sure you can think of something!

6. Have a set time that your business is ‘closed’. It’s too easy to work 24 hours a day when you work at home. When you work for yourself, the work is never done. Your children will soon resent the family business if it always consumes your attention. Have at least one night a week as “Family Night” and make it special. If you have several children, make a point to have regular one on one, or one with Mom AND Dad’s sole attention.

7. Set frequent goals with rewards they can look forward to. Going out for pizza after a job everyone worked hard doing for weeks makes finishing it a celebration.

8. Try to keep things light and joyful. If the atmosphere has been stressed, or everyone is getting tired and cranky but there is work still to be done, take an energy break. Set the timer for 15-30 minutes and have a nutritious snack do the opposite of what you have been doing. In other words, if you have been sitting doing a repetitious job, get up and take a walk, or go shoot some baskets or just have fun for a few. If you have been up and around working physically, have everyone get comfortable and rest for a few and encourage each other with what they are all doing right. Put some praise music on if you just can’t take a break.

9. Invest in your workspace. Again, keeping your work area light and joyful, bright and clean organized. It pays for itself when the work area is pleasant. If you are on your feet a lot, there are special mats you can buy that cushion your stance. There are shoes that are better for your feet that you can buy. A stereo and some good worship music can make all the difference, too. Keeping things organized sometimes only takes a set of drawers or a new cabinet. Headphones that WORK are nice if you are one the phone much.

10. Accept each other for who they are, and know there will be times everyone will not get along. Make it a family and business rule to never let the sun go down on a disagreement. Parents set the example here. Try to make it a habit to begin and/or end each day with a brief time of prayer for each other. Not a prayer for the business, or more customers, or that the equipment will hold up, but for each other. It’s hard to stay mad at someone you pray for daily.

If you homeschool then you probably already have a list of your own that keeps things running smoothly. Adding a business to the mix can really bring out the best…and the worst… in all of us. That’s our human condition. It’s how we handle it that are the lessons we are really teaching our children.

Some other resources to help you on your journey:

Mom Advice encourages parents that they can indeed homeschool and run a home business, but not with out organizational skills. She gives some advice in her article, Homeschooling and Home Business, and offers some tangible tools including a printable planner and other downloads you can use (free) at: http://www.momadvice.com/resources/downloads.aspx

Entrepreneur.com offers an article, Running a Successful Family Business From Home that tells us 6 ways that 5 family businesses have made it work.

Find Your Business Idea From This List of 50 Start-Ups

Deb — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:17:04 +0000

There is no doubt that coming up with the right idea for your home business is absolutely the most difficult part of starting a business. It also goes without saying that it’s the most critical decision you will make, too. So how do you decide on what will work?

Researching your idea

It takes a great deal of time and effort to be sure your idea will be profitable. Surveying consumer habits, knowing the competition, and evaluating availability are just part of the process. Big companies will spend millions on research before actually launching a new product.

Timing

Many great ideas were launched before their time and fell flat. Timing is as important as how it is launched.

Determining profitability

It may be the greatest idea ever, but if you can’t make any money at it, then you may want to reconsider. . . unless you don’t need the money.

Is there a big enough market

This may be a subgroup of the first two, but knowing if the market you are targeting is actually big enough to support a new product.

The reason I wanted to list the very basics of deciding on a start-up idea is because I wanted to point out the work that has already been done on this list I found. You may notice that the majority of these start-ups are tech based, but it costs a great deal to launch any of these ideas. Rest assured that the market research has already been done – in a big way.

This list if from http://blog.louisgray.com. Louis Gray is focused on much of what is happening in Silicon Valley, but if you read much of his writing, you will notice he has a keen entrepreneurial eye. That’s why I wanted you to take a look at his opinion on the 50 Start-ups Worth Watching.

One more thing - don’t look at each business as something for you to start. Look at these 2 things:

1) WHO the start-up is targeting

2) The SOLUTION the start-up is solving.

Many, if not most, of these start-ups are social-networking based. If you are hoping to start an online business, then these are necessary (evils?) to get very familiar with. Social networking is here to stay – but will not stay the same. It’s rapidly changing, and if you hope to survive online, (especially if you are over 40 . . .-maybe 30) then learn from it. If you go through this list with your “entrepreneurial mind” you will never look at social networking the same. (IMO)

So-what do you think? What did you come away from this list with?

Family Business Ideas From a Family That Lives It!

Deb — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:50:37 +0000

In my constant search for great resources for homeschool entrepreneurs, I still can’t believe I’ve never come across this website, but better late than never! Written by a homeschool family with eleven children in upstate NY, Michael and Julie Anna Schultz have been booksellers online for over five years now AND they are powersellers on Ebay.

Leaving a lucrative job in corporate America four years ago, Mike is a stay at home father with their book business on Ebay as his primary income. He also travels all over America teaching eBay classes, as well as entrepreneur classes! Mike and Julie Anna’s have caught the ‘Homeschool-Entrepreneur’ vision – uniting families through home entrepreneurship.

On their website, FamilyBusinessIdeas.com, you will find many great ideas for your family business, as well as help on how to get started. They offer a very reasonably priced ebook giving you everything you need to succeed on Ebay selling children’s books, and a book for the WAHM, Cybermoms Home Income Ebook, also available on Ebay.

You can also subscribe to a monthly report that keeps you up to date on the most valuable books that you can be looking for to sell yourself. You may have one or more on your shelf at home!

Visit their bookstore at Book Jewels For Children.com

How To Start a Jewelry Business

Deb — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:27:50 +0000

It’s so much fun to create earrings and necklaces and the like, but how will you know if your creations are worthy of selling as a business? One way you might know is you have regular requests from others to make items for them and they want it so bad they actually offer to pay you for it. You’ll also know you have a talent for making jewelry if you receive frequent compliments on your handmade items when you wear them. One of the biggest indicators, though, is that you really, truly, enjoy doing it and somebody other than your mother likes it.

So, does that mean you should start a business selling jewelry? That depends. Starting a business selling those creations that you’ve enjoyed making is quite different from the art of creation. Often, those with artistic talent have a difficult time with the rigors of starting a business. Creating your jewelry on demand to fill orders is much different than making them for the sheer joy of it.

If you still think you’d like to start a business making jewelry, then I have the resource of resources for you. Jewelry Making at About.com is an information goldmine that has a wealth of information on everything you need to know about the jewelry business. Starting a business, finding products, even deciding on what kind of jewelry business you should start is covered by the About.com guide Tammy Powley. She even offers a free jewelry business crash email course.

About.com Jewelry Making Business

Here’s a few more resources to get you started:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/teenstartups/article53294.html

Homemade jewelry cleaner (and many other great tips for your business)

http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/jewelrybusinesstrends/Jewelry_Making_Business_HowTos_Industry_Trends.htm

A great piece of advice about what sells: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Arts-Crafts-Business-2598/Starting-homemade-jewelry-business.htm

http://www.craftmarketer.com/ Lots of free marketing ideas!

Can You Teach Kids To See Opportunity?

Deb — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:02:56 +0000

photo credit: khrawlings

I read an excellent interview with Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad) regarding prospering in a tough economy..and wanted to share this particular portion:

Q: What one thing would you tell someone who feels that this is the wrong time to be thinking about starting a small business?
A: I’d tell people to invest in themselves and teach their minds to see opportunities that their eyes don’t. This comes with financial education and personal development. This may be the very best of times for entrepreneurs with business ideas. Technology has leveled the playing field in terms of ease of entrance. In addition, there are more outlets than ever before to communicate your messages and tell your unique story.

One of the main missions of Homeschool-Entrepreneur is to encourage parents to equip their children with the ability to “see opportunity” in all situations. Like any other acquired skill, it takes instruction and practice. Once learned, it’s like riding a bike, it’s there for life.

The question still remains: HOW do you teach it to your kids?

First, I think parents have to have a good understanding of what it means to recognize opportunity -if they don’t already. I grew up with generations of entrepreneurs, so I thought everyone thought “entrepreneurially”. Discovering quite the opposite, I am seeing evidence every day of what John Gatto talks about how our culture (government?) works hard at creating ‘worker bees’. Homeschooling gives parents a fresh opportunity to teach . . and equip . . .our children to be everything God created them to be.

Don’t worry if you are learning right along with your children. It’s a great bonding process when you are on a somewhat level playing (learning) field with your children. If you are both learning how to think entrepreneurially, or to see opportunity, it’s a great confidence builder when your kid sees an idea first and you love it!

Secondly, the condition of the economy is a constant source of news headlines and can offer fertile ground to talk about solutions. There’s more talk every day about 2009 becoming the “Year of the Entrepreneur”. Never before has there been so much encouragement coming from every possible venue to think of ways to start your own business.

Another way to stimulate conversations about how different businesses survive economic pressures is to play Investopedia with your older student. Age is relative to maturity and competence, but this is a great time to have 2 Investopedia accounts and watch what happens to the stocks as conditions fluctuate. For those that aren’t familiar with Investopedia, it’s a stock simulator that uses real time numbers with your virtual $100,000 worth of stock investments that you buy and sell. No previous stock knowledge required. (and it’s free)

Another way to teach entrepreneurial thinking is to watch (suitable) TV. Really! Commercials on TV are usually only endured or used as time to grab a snack, but try to look at those commercials through the advertisers eyes. If that was your business, or your competitor, do you think you got your money’s worth? Was it effective in motivating the viewers to buy the product? You could even make it a school project to rate the commercials for effectiveness.

Another way TV can be an entrepreneurial learning tool are the many reality shows that demonstrate various business ventures. Cake Boss is a show about the inner workings of a cake decorating bakery, Everyday Edisons is a show illustrating how inventions are brought to market. I hope to compile a list of these type of shows for you soon. HOWEVER…always watch these shows with your student, you can discuss different situations in a light that suits the values that your family supports. It’s almost like having a chance to view the work world that your child will someday be immersed in, but now you have a chance to point out the good and the bad with them by your side.

Be on the alert for consumer frustrations such as products that don’t work like they should, or a problem that doesn’t appear to have a solution. How would you solve it if you had the money to develop a new product? A young lady (I think she was 12 at the time) that didn’t think the bacon was cooking efficiently in their family’s microwave designed a better way and it’s on the market and can now be found on Walmart’s shelves! I’ll have to look it up to be sure, but I think she’s a homeschooler!

These are just a few ideas to get your entrepreneurial gears turning, I’m sure you can come up with ways of your own. Be sure to keep a journal of all your observations, looking back later will be very enlightening, I promise! Starting a business of any kind is probably the best way to begin thinking like an entrepreneur, most people have no idea of all the details involved. The Small Business Administration has many resources to help you learn everything you’ll need to know and it’s completely free. Start Up Nation and Entrepreneur Magazine also has a wealth of ideas and information to help get you started. Of course, there’s our Homeschool Entrepreneur course too….

The important thing is to do just that…GET STARTED! Just DO it!

Helping Your Teen Start Their Own Business

Deb — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:51:55 +0000

Homeschooling has many advantages, especially when planning a high school curriculum. Meeting your state’s requirements, of course, is your first priority, but many people don’t realize how flexible those requirements are. I love the flexibility of gearing courses towards what my children are gifted in, not only because they enjoy it more (thus more cooperative), but we’ve stumbled on things they were interested in, too. Force feeding some subjects of course, can turn out good, too.

How many kids go kicking and screaming to their first music lesson only to discover music as a love of their life? My son resisted learning how to present speeches, only to discover he has a natural talent with giving speeches, and now enjoys it! I’m sure you have examples in your home. We never had any trouble encouraging our children to start a business, they liked making money. However, if it’s a “class” you offer as part of their school, you may discover they have a real knack for business.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a skill that will serve them for the rest of their lives. They will learn that at any point in their life, out of necessity or desire, that starting a business is very possible, and will know the basics that they need to consider before taking the plunge. A recent poll of high school students showed that 70% wanted to have their own business someday, but 90% of those had no idea how to start.

There are two common misconceptions about starting a small business. The first one being that starting a business is difficult, and the second is that it’s very simple. In a sense, both ideas are correct, it is relatively simple for anyone to start a business, but it’s difficult to make it work. This is why we believe entrepreneurship should be required in high school. Knowing exactly what it takes to start and successfully run a business helps anyone know that it’s very possible, yet have the tools necessary to make it work. The reason over one half of new businesses fail within 4 years is usually lack of good business techniques. It’s really not surprising that many new entrepreneurs go into business without knowing some of the most important business and financial basics. Be sure your child goes into life fully equipped.

That’s why as a homeschool parent, the freedom to incorporate an entrepreneur class in your curriculum is one of the best tools you could give your teen! So, I’ve had several requests to start a series on teaching our teens how to start a business, and that’s what we are going to do! If you have anything in particular you want us to cover, email us!

till tomorrow…Debbie

» home business

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