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Borrowed Article from Yahoo! Hot Jobs--- Comments

We can learn a lot from business articles on the internet like Yahoo! Hot Jobs and under Small Business there are great articles every day that will help the internet entrepreneur. Usually I catch these before I log into yahoo.com for my messages or when I log out. You can't help but see them unless you're too busy at that moment like I am a lot of the time. Once in a great while one is worth emailing to friends or put here to share. I hope it got your attention here so you learn a little something, you would have otherwise missed there.
God bless,

Adrian Castle - Google Me!

5 Skills for Work-at-Home Success written by Christina Couch, ClassesUSA, Yahoo! Hot Jobs

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5 Skills for Work-at-Home Success

Christina Couch, ClassesUSA, Yahoo! HotJobs

One thing Chad Brown doesn't stress about is his daily commute. Rolling out of bed, washing his face, and walking 10 paces to his computer, he's already at work. The CEO of Plus 1 Tickets, a home-based, ticket-brokering firm that sells sports, theater, and concert tickets throughout the nation, Brown is one of the more than 4.2 million Americans who are ditching the daily commute in favor of punching in at home.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost half of the nation's small businesses operate from home-based offices -- and why not? As employer loyalty wanes and low-cost, lightning-speed technology becomes more accessible, it's easier than ever to launch your own firm without leaving home.

Below are five skills you'll need to kiss the cubicle goodbye.

Entrepreneurship

Sure you've got industry knowledge, but do you have what it takes to be the boss? According to Tamara Monosoff, author of the best-selling book "Secrets of Millionaire Moms" and the CEO of the Alamo, California-based product marketing firm, Mom Inventors Inc., it takes more than good ideas to make a business work. "A successful business is really about knowing what steps you need, and taking action," she says. "It's about making a plan, setting concrete goals, and shaping the business the way you imagine it to be."

Entrepreneurship courses offered through your local chamber of commerce, small business association chapter, or online through schools like DeVry University can help new home-based business owners get off the ground.

Tax Planning

When you own your own business, it's all about thinking financially. "As a new business owner, one of the first things you need to know is how to structure your company to have maximum tax benefits," states William Ellyson, a Richmond, Virginia-based attorney who specializes in small-business issues.

Entrepreneurs can find basic tax planning courses through local community colleges and small business association chapters. Those looking for more in-depth knowledge can check out year-long financial planning certificate programs offered online.

Public Relations and Marketing

"The main thing my major has taught me is how to network," states Brown, a public relations major at Virginia Commonwealth University whose networking skills grew his ticket-brokering firm from a sideline hobby into a nationwide company with more than $150,000 in sales each year. "I've also learned how to effectively talk to clients and efficiently deal with problems."

No matter the industry, all home-based entrepreneurs must be able to promote their services, reach the target demographic, communicate effectively with clients, and create a professional image for the public. While four-year institutions like Virginia Commonwealth offer bachelor's degree programs in public relations, home-based business owners can also find PR courses through their local community college or chamber of commerce.

E-Commerce

"Five years ago, the attitude was 'Yeah, I know I need to have a website, but I'll get around to it,'" says Gene Fairbrother, lead small business consultant for the National Association for the Self-Employed. "Today you've got to have a Web presence to be in business." According to the market research firm, Forrester Research, Inc., e-commerce retail sales topped $175 billion last year, with the industry projected to grow another $160 billion by 2012.

Brown fine-tuned his e-commerce strategy, moving his products from eBay to larger ticket broker sites such as Stubhub.com and Ticketsnow.com, increasing sales by an estimated 200 percent. To learn how to set up, manage, and promote your business online, check out e-commerce courses offered online through the University of Maryland University College and the University of Phoenix.

Project Management

Being the CEO, chief sales officer, HR director, bookkeeper, and janitor requires expert multitasking. "It's very difficult to manage it all," admits Monosoff, who leads a multi-million-dollar home-based business while raising two children and writing a monthly column for Entrepreneur Magazine. "You have to have discipline, organization, and be able to prioritize."

Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:

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What did I do with my day?

What did I do today? Well, I haven't slept well in about 2 nights. I'm anticipating all the things I'll be getting to do as the weather warms up. Typically, in the deep south, winter ends early. I like that. yep. I get to disliking winter more and more the older I get. It rained all day. We welcome it especially now that we've suffered drought conditions for the past 118 years. I couldn't sleep later than 9:00 a.m., even tho I got to bed at dawn. The magnolia tree in the front yard of the big house is in full bloom with big purple and white flowers. We are lucky to see that because some years ice storms came and froze the buds on all the trees before they had their chance. That made me sad to see the magnolia's everywhere in years like that where there was ice storm after another freezing everything. No chance for the blooms to come forth. Today, I took things sort of easy and just read email and corresponded with friends. One of my friends that live close by has been real ill. I miss her a lot especially when we would talk on the phone every day and every evening. She's a real house cleaner and when she's not been sick, and goes from 4:00 a.m. until 7 in the evening. I'm not that crazy about housework. It can usually wait until it's really needed. Last night, all the laundry was done. It steamed up the windows with the dryer going at one point. I went outside in my bare feet today in the rain to check the mail... ---nothing great in there today in the mailbox. I tried to lay down a few times to see if I would fall asleep but no luck just chance to rest my eyes and enjoy the quiet. I took a hot bath. That was nice. I fed the betta fish, 'Bubz'. He's pretty cool in his little fishbowl with led light shining down on him through the peace lilly that he likes to hide in. He came out close to see me . Funny how much I wanted this little guy and how he makes me feel. I love how graceful he swims around. Neat. We had thunder that shook the house today for a while. This is tornado weather, too. The television seemed to be on all day bu the lights basically remained off. Save somewhere on this humongous electric bill that was $158.90 last month. Ridiculous how high the utilities costs have gotten. I sent my tax information to Sandy, so she could prepare my return, finally. Today was uneventful as most and on the quiet side. Thats how I rather like it tho most days, low key.

"What 'Legacy' will you leave for the world?"

I was married only after a couple of years when I met up with my step son. We chatted at a gathering together in my 2 bedroom apartment, in the somewhat spacious living room. Out of the blue, without much emotion, Sean asked me "what legacy are you going to leave to the world?" It was a profound and thought provoking thought, that now, even after a decade and half I still wake up every day; the question he asked me, slaps me in the face at some point every day I live. It is a very serious thing and everyone at some point in their life needs to ponder what they are going to leave the world after taking so much from it. I don't think we can ever do enough for our fellow human beings, the environment and many, many other issues where small things can make a big difference and change the world in great way.

I have wanted to do many things and have already but I am getting older and physically cannot do the things I could do when I was younger. I don't have stamina for physical work, but being a generous type of person which is valiant, honorable and virtuous. Whether or not it is altruistic or what the motive is for people to go out of their way to help someone they never met. It is hard to determine one's true motive. One would hope, --- just because. I want to think that I have been able to put myself in another person's shoes. An old native American Indian saying, “Before I judge a man, let me first walk a mile in his. mocassins.”. Being a 'nonjudgmental' person is when we can look at another fellow human being and have unconditional love for another. So the younger you are the more important it is for you to ponder the question of "what legacy you will leave to the world?" An act of kindness be someone expecting nothing in return. What a blessing for the intended receiver; They say, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Although it is very nice to receive from someone, scientific studies have shown that when an act of kindness is performed by someone .towards another endorphins are released in a chemical reaction in the brain. As we all know and heard endorphins are ‘happy’ hormones and make one feel good. So there is a feeling of well being.. Well, in short. if everyone on the planet did an act of kindness towards another, every day, what a world that world would be and not that as it is. From the words of a grade school child: what legacy are you going to leave for the world?. it is amazing how haunting those words are and they motivate me every day to try to do something; Even a little thing that might make a difference in the life of another. We can all do it. God Bless you. Thank you for Reading. Peace.