The Holidays are Upon Us!

Sorry it's been a while since I posted.  With school, activities, running my own business, and focusing on more family time, life is busy.  I'm sure it is for you too!

Plus the holidays are here so there were will be more activities, more get-togethers with family, more cooking and more SHOPPING and that means SPENDING MONEY.  Did you know the average household spends over $800 for the holidays and most put that on credit cards - so they do into debt to celebrate??  I do a holiday budget each year and we spend about $1,000 on gifts for all of our friends and family. That doesn't include, the tree, Thanksgiving dinner, holiday meals out, or host gifts if we attend parties.

But this isn't a post to tell you to spend less on presents.  That's not up to me and honestly I like being able to buy presents for people who matter to me.  But my challenge to you is, why not earn an extra $300-500 (or more) between now and Christmas to offset those costs?  By starting your own business now, and not waiting until a more "convenient" time, you can make the holidays happier and less stressful for you and yours.

If you are interested in learning more about joining my team, and having me mentor you through the next two months to earn that holiday money, email me at heatherserrano@gmail.com.  There is no obligation, this is just more information so you can decide if it's for you. Take a leap of faith and learn more - you may find that it's something that changes your life, like it did for me!

What is a Leader?

I had a chance this past weekend to attend the yearly Leadership Retreat for my network marketing company (Team Beachbody) - it was the first time we qualified and earned the trip and everything about it was just TOP NOTCH. 5 star hotel, great meals, great training, parties, workouts with celebrity trainers and being surrounded by amazing people. 

The first day, I'm not going to lie, I felt out of place, wondering "do I belong here?" or comparing myself to the other leaders, many of whom I'd seen on stage at the larger events or heard their names announced as top earners, point getters etc.  But as I got to know some of them better, and hear them speak about how they achieved the success they had, I had several key takeaways:

1. Anyone can be a leader. Everyone had a different story, but all of us were at this retreat because we earned it. Some did it faster, some make more money, some have larger teams & businesses, but we are all leaders.
2. Comparison truly is the thief of joy.  As long as you are doing your best, it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing.  On the flip side, if you see someone else is working harder than you and has what you want, then that's your lesson to work harder yourself.
3. The best leaders treat everyone else with respect and don't put themselves on the pedestal.  I was so impressed with the humility of some of these top leaders and the messages they shared. It's not about YOU as a leader, it's about those you are helping and leading. Set a good example and treat everyone like you want to be treated.

I'm so blessed and happy that I was able to be a part of this event, and I know now I will never miss another one of these, no matter what it takes to qualify, because I deserve to be there!

More lessons for you especially if you are in network marketing:

1. Start to build your leadership skills no matter how many people you have working for you or on your team. Personal development is key for this.
2. Set the example of how you want your team to operate. Ask yourself "if my team did what I did today, would their businesses grow?"
3. Always push yourself to qualify for leadership events or recognition in your company. Even if you don't make it, you will have pushed your business forward

Don't Cancel on Yourself

Most of the time when you make an appointment with someone really important - your boss, your best friend, an important client or customer, you don't cancel it. You don't just not show up right?

If Matt Damon (or insert your favorite celebrity here) made an appointment with you, would you cancel on him? HECK NO!

So why is it OK to cancel on yourself? You are a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON.  If you have made an important appointment with yourself, whether it's for your workout, or to work on your business, you need to SHOW UP.

Telling yourself you are going to do something and not doing something is lying to yourself - you also wouldn't lie to those other VIPs in your life either right?

Treat yourself as if you are important and worthy of the time you have set aside to get you to your goals. You deserve it.

Going Public

So you want to start your own business, or have started your own business, but one problem - you haven't told anyone about it!  This happens with people in my business all the time. They don't want to put themselves out there and "go public" until they have success either with the products or with the business, and then they feel like they can announce it. Some people are also nervous about what other people will think, or if they will be judged (I know I was!)

The problem is, if people don't know you have a business and that you are a resource for a product or service, they don't know to come to you (and buy from you) or to recommend you to their friends. You are delaying your own success.  Not to mention, having the extra accountability of people knowing what you are doing will push you to have more success. And people are going to judge you no matter what you do in life, what's important is that you learn to not to take it personally and realize that only you can determine what you want in life, and how you want to go about doing it.  I've learned not to worry about other people. Most people who are judgmental or rude are unhappy in their own lives, and there's nothing you can do about that! As they say, haters gonna hate. :)

So my most important advice is - don't wait until you feel like you are READY to talk to people about your business. Be honest and share your story - the easiest way to start is on social media - and include the following and be authentically YOU:

• why did you decide to start a business?
• why did you choose the business that you did?
• what do you have to offer people? Products? Parties? Coaching? Support group while using the products?
• how can they get in touch with you?

One exception: if you have a full time job now and you have to keep it under wraps so that your current employer doesn't think you are on your way out or are not serious about your current career, be very careful what you post and who can see it (you can restrict co-workers from seeing certain posts or block certain people).  

My Daily Schedule - how to fit in a full time business in 3 hours a day

The kids are back to school and I now have a window of about 3 hours to get the bulk of my work done (they are both in half days). Since people often ask me what I do and how I fit it all in, here's how I'm doing it:

7-8:30am - get the kids up and ready, and walk them both to school

8:30-9:30am - workout + Shakeology

9:30-11am - POWER HOUR (and a half) this is where I do all of my core activities which includes checking on my current challengers (those actively doing a fitness program in one of my groups), adding people to my network, emailing new customers, inviting people to my next fitness group or to join a business opportunity event, and scheduling social media posts for the day.

11-11:30am - Snack, quick shower and off to pick up the kids from school

Our current plan is that 2 days a week my husband or a friend will watch them for 2 hours in the afternoon so I can work on bigger projects like training, recording videos for my team, working on my blog and other social media activities, research, creating graphics & visuals for use on my blog & social media, and whatever else pops up.

The rest of the week, if I can, I will check in 1-2 times (early afternoon and early evening) to see if I have any urgent messages that can't wait. (often times during one of the kids activities when they are in a class)

After the kids go to bed at 8pm, I will catch up on anything I didn't complete and respond to messages.

I also do Personal Development for 20-30 minutes before bedtime.

I'm not my "AFTER PHOTO" Yet

This is something I hear a lot specifically in my fitness business but can also apply to many other businesses you may be considering starting. Maybe you are selling cooking products or cutlery but you are not a great cook yet? Make-up rep but you don't always have the perfect face on or know the right techniques? Weight to lose but want to work in fitness?

DO NOT let this be a reason for you to put off starting your business. Any business takes time to grow, and if you wait until you are "perfect" to start, guess what, you will never start - and you will never achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

It's crucial that you use the products your business sells, but you don't have to be the PERFECT example of them yet. What's most important is that you are willing to learn (how to apply make-up, how to eat better and exercise, whatever) and you want to help others do the same.

TOP REASONS WHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE YOUR AFTER PHOTO YET:

• It's OK to be on the journey with your customers. People connect with others who are like them.
• Especially if you are working full time now, with a future plan to work your new business full time, you won't get to that point if you don't start building your business. Even if you have very little time to dedicate to it, do something every day so you are moving in the right direction
• You get a discount or wholesale price on buying these products yourself (which gets you to your goal or the skill you want faster!)
• In any network marketing company, the sooner you get in the better. While position in the organization isn't everything, it is a benefit to you.

I also blogged about this on my fitness site HERE

Multi-tasking Doesn't Work

We live in a society where it's a badge of honor to say that you can do 3 things at once.  We put "Ability to multi-task" on our resumes. It sounds good - it must mean that you are super productive and efficient right? Ever done any of these: typing an email or IM while on the phone, having ten different browser windows open and bouncing between them, checking emails while posting on Facebook and checking your bank balance. How about checking your phone or surfing the internet while watching a TV show, only to realize halfway into the show, you had no idea what was going on? Ever check your phone or email during a meal with your family - there's no direct affect on productivity but it certainly isn't strengthening your relationships or making your family feel like a priority. Anything you can relate to? 

What I've learned is that all of this is actually making everything you do suffer - in quality, in the amount of time it takes, and it actually makes you feel more frantic. Do a gut check - it's true right? Do you feel like you get so much done because you multi-task? Your To Do List is totally crossed off every day? I'm guessing no.

I was at a seminar recently where the guest said that every time you get interrupted during something, it takes you 16 minutes to get back to the level of focus you had before the interruption.  Multi-tasking is YOU creating your own interruptions! Why would you want to do that?

If you take the time to focus on one thing at a time, you will not only doing a better job at it, you will get it done faster and your mind can mentally close the door on that task.

Tips:

• Find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. If you can shut or lock the door, do.
• Turn off your phone or leave it in the other room.
• Keep only the window open that you are working on, on your computer.
• Focus on one screen at a time. (I believe in limiting it to things that really serve a purpose but that's a whole other blog post!)
• Leave your phone at home or in the car when having a meal with friends or family.

Setting Business Hours

Whether or not you are working on your business along side a full time job, or it is your full time/only job, you need to set business hours. One of the dangers of having your own home-based business is that you can get sucked in to working 24 hours a day. Because most of the work can be done online or from your phone, it's always within arms reach.  But that's dangerous for many reasons.

1. It tells your customers you are always available to them and they will continue to expect an immediate response.
2. There is no work/life balance. The whole reason you started your business was for some freedom right?
3. It's harder to be present with your family and friends. It's very distracting to be "on" all the time. You need to learn to turn it off.
4. You will get more done if you have set time to work on your business and be productive. The busier I am, the more focused I am during business hours.

HOW TO DO IT

Working a Full Time Job:

• Get up 30 minutes early to get a few things done before going to work
• Use your commute time to work for personal development or conference calls
• Lunch Hour - use your lunch hour as your "Power Hour" (I will do a post about that later this week) and get as much work done at one time
• TV time in the evenings - go through your DVR and remove all of the shows you don't even really like. Use that time to work on your business.

Working Your Business Full Time:

• Decide what hours of the day you will work - for me that's while my kids are at school
• Don't work outside those hours
• Communicate those hours to your colleagues and customers and team members

In both scenarios, be sure to communicate to people when are you available for phone calls, and don't be a slave to emails or FB messages. Tell people I only check messages/emails once a day at this time of day so if you need something urgently, don't email it to me.  The people who are important to you should have your phone number or a way to reach you if it's urgent.

Every day a Vacation??

We just got back from a week vacation in Hawaii.  I checked in on my business a couple times a day, probably for a total of one hour per day.  I also posted a lot of what we were doing on social media (which is part of being authentically you which draws people like you to you and your business).  I got a lot of comments like "why are you checking emails on vacation?" or "Don't work, you are on vacation"  And my response to them was, not only do I love what I do, and it doesn't really feel like work, but working just an hour a day while on vacation allows me to take more vacations, and be home with my kids, and be my own boss. I didn't have to do any of that - I have no one telling me what to do or expecting anything from me. So I worked when I wanted to, when I could, without taking time away from my family.  (and when we had free WiFi - ha ha)

It's part of my whole philosophy (which many share) of designing your own life. I love that I can work from anywhere, on my smart phone. I love that while on vacation I got a great paycheck even though I did the "minimum" work required.  I have another trip planned next week for a seminar I have been really excited about, and I plan to work some on breaks, because it's exciting and my business is growing, and like any momentum, you don't want to stop it while going. But it's not because I have to, and it's not a burden. If you want to be successful, you make the time, and you want to do the things that will make you successful.

So while many people take a vacation to escape from their lives, ours was to create memories and enjoy our lives!!

The Importance of a To Do List

One of the most important things you can do to be successful in any area it so keep a To Do List.  I've learned so much of what I use from Chalene Johnson (highly recommend her free 30 day goal setting & organization challenge at www.30daypush.com) 
Why do you need a To Do List? Life is busy, things go fast, without the "map" of where you are going, how do you know that you are doing the right things to get to your goals?
The most productive and successful people are organized and stay on track with a To Do List.  
Here is a summary of key things that you need to do with your To Do List.

1. Create a master brainstorm list or brain dump of everything you currently need to do - for personal and professional.  Get in the habit of separating your To Do's into categories of what must be done today, what must be done this week, what must be done this month, and longer term goals like quarterly or yearly.
2. Put all of your current To Do's into your phone.  You need to keep your To Do List with you at all times - easiest to do if you keep it on your SmartPhone. Either with a to do list app like AwesomeNote or even just using the Notes app. This makes it easy for you to add something when it comes up or when a memory of something you need to do hits you.
3. Spend 10 minutes each night before bed or when you wake looking over your daily To Do List. Make sure it represents everything that MUST get done that day.
4. Create your to do list in the same place and time every day so it becomes a habit.
5. Add 3 things to your list to get you closer to whatever your big goal is.  So it shouldn't just be your regular every day to do's, but what's the one big thing you are working towards? Make sure these 3 things are bite sized things you can do in a short amount of time. This requires breaking down your big goal into small steps.

How to Use Social Media to Become a Six Figure Mama

We live in an amazing day and age where anyone can earn six figures or more by using the internet. Never before was it possible to reach thousands of people who want exactly what you are offering without leaving your house. 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest aren't just time suckers, I use each of these to build my business and meet new people. There is a ton of great advice on how to build your business on each of these platforms just a GOOGLE away! (and if you join a network marketing company, your team may already have free trainings on this - my team does - so ask before you commit)

I love social media because I'm not a face to face person.  It's not that I'm shy, I just have a hard time opening up until I really know someone.  It's also frankly easier to take a "No" online than in person, so in the beginning when you are building your business and it's harder to accept that rejection, you don't take it so bad. **Note that everyone gets rejected every day in life. It's no big deal!

So if one of your big excuses is "I don't know very many people" or "I don't want to just hit up my friends and family about this business/product" (by the way, you shouldn't "hit up" anyone - this is sharing the product and the opportunity and seeing if it's right for people not icky sales) then guess what YOU DON'T HAVE THAT EXCUSE ANYMORE.  90% of my current customers and the coaches on my team are people I didn't know before I started my business 3 years ago.  Most of them I met online! And they have become great friends and partners.

Here are some QUICK TIPS:

#1 rule in social media - keep your profiles PUBLIC so people can find you.

Facebook - be yourself, don't post links to your timeline, re-engage with friends from your friends list each day and ask them about their lives, NOT your business. Keep business related posts to 1 of every 5 posts.

Instagram - connect with people who like your photos, go to their profiles, like 3-5 photos and comment on a few that you find interesting. Ask questions. Start a dialogue.  Ask them if they want to connect on FB after several exchanges. Do not go around and post on every photo related to your business "hey want to connect on FB" or "here's my website".

Pinterest - always include a link to your blog or website in the description of your pins. You want to drive traffic to your website or offer page.

Twitter - use twitter search to find topics that relate to your business and respond to tweets and ask questions.  Give information and offer value - don't sell.

Taking Risks....to reap rewards

The reason it took me so long to start my own business was partly because I hadn't found the right opportunity yet, but mostly because I was scared to take risks. I wanted the consistent paycheck. I needed to know that each week my paycheck would be X dollars no matter what. What I didn't realize was that this meant that someone else was always going to be the one to tell me what I was worth. That meant someone else was always going to dictate my schedule and when I could take a vacation or leave early to do something with my kids.  That also meant I would always be working 40+ hours a week.  But I've always known that the 40 hour work week was kind of arbitrary because different people get a different amount of work done in 40 hours.  I have always been really efficient with my time, and what that meant was I ended up getting more work because I could complete it so fast. (most times without the additional benefit of pay or promotion)

So what changed for me? Having children was the catalyst. Multiple layoffs at work didn't help because I saw we were all expendable. Yours might be that your not making what you are worth, you don't like your boss, you have a long commute, you need the flexibility to be at home with your children or aging parents, you need to be able to move locations and take your job with you because your spouse travels or moves for work. You don't even have to have a reason other than you are smart and savvy and realize you deserve to design your own life and be your own boss and determine your own salary.

But you have to realize that yes you are risking FAILURE. And that's ok.  Failure is how we learn and grow.  Nothing happens miraculously overnight with no struggle. So you have to really want the end goal and work towards that despite the challenges.  Push past the "no's" that you will get and don't care what others think. People who doubt you do so because they don't have the confidence in themselves. Do not let them dull your sparkle!!

My biggest piece of advice is to start looking for an opportunity NOW if you feel like this is something you want to do 2-5 years in the future. Businesses take time to grow.  Network marketing business can grow much faster than traditional businesses, but if you are still working full time, allow enough time to grow your business on the side.  But you have to take the leap at some point, so do your research and decide.

P.S. I believe that I've found the best network marketing company out there - the mission is important, the company treats us amazing, and you are helping people. I would love to have you join my team today and start living the live you want to live. To learn more click HERE.

When's the last time you got a 50% raise at your job?

When’s the last time you heard of anyone getting a 50% raise, in 6 months no less, at their job? I'm going to go out on a limb and say NEVER. In fact most folks these days are lucky to get the annual 3% cost of living raise, all while working harder as layoffs are forcing those left behind to carry a larger load.

That's why you need your own business. And a traditional business will not create numbers like this. A network marketing business CAN. Our coaching business has increased 50% since January, and in just 6 months of 2014, we’ve already made more than all of 2013.

What has that meant for us? I was able to leave my full time job. I can take my kids to school and pick them up every day. We are taking our very first family vacation to Hawaii this summer. But best of all, it’s FREEDOM to do what we want and go where we want without asking anyone’s permission. It’s the ability to DESIGN our lives how we want them.

So get out there are find an opportunity that is right for you. Google is your friend. Search for network marketing companies that do or sell something you LOVE.
PS. And if any of this is at all appealing to you:

• Fitness
• Getting paid to lose weight (be your own success story!)
• Helping others
• Increased energy
• Setting a good example for your family
• Putting yourself on the path to financial freedom

Then we want you to join our team and we will show you how step by step, what you need to do each day to have the same success or BETTER. If are you interested in more information, use the CONTACT form to the right of this article and we’ll send you details on what we do. Or you can visit this SITE to learn more about what we do. It’s NOT for everyone, but why not see if it’s for you?

Consistency...how the Compound Effect works

I had the great opportunity to listen to Darren Hardy, CEO of Success Magazine and the author of The Compound Effect, speak at our yearly coach summit this past week.  I really connect to what Darren teaches - read the book if you haven't!  He is 100% right that the small daily things that are easy to do but easy not to do, can add up to be more than the sum of their parts.  Sometimes you don't see the results for months or years then BAM...HUGE SUCCESS!! So many quit because they don't see results, and they never get there because they weren't consistent and patient.

What does this mean for you and your business?

• Do the daily activities (for us Beachbody coaches that's using the workouts and eating healthy, inviting new people to join our challenge groups or our coaching teams, and doing daily personal development). Do them every day. That's what DAILY means, right? :)
• Keep moving forward - keep the ball rolling. It's much harder to get things going if you take a week or longer off and try to jump back into things. Momentum will grow and it will become easier but you have to keep going.
• Always be talking to new people whether it be face to face or on social media. Consistently post on your Facebook page or Instagram or blog. (this is how the search engines find you too!)

These don't have to be HUGE things or take a lot of time as long as you do them every day.  Darren tells a great story of 3 friends - two who each made slight adjustments (good and bad) and one who stayed the same and tracked them over 27 months. You will be shocked at their results - you can read chapter 1 of the Compound Effect and this story HERE.

And guess what - there is no magic opportunity or get rich quick scheme.  While I do believe that positive thinking has an effect on your life, you can't just think or hope. You have to take steps towards your goals. And work HARD at it if you want true SUCCESS.

P.S. You can learn more about joining my team of highly successful online fitness coaches HERE.

Why Network Marketing?

I used to think network marketing was super shady, the people who did it were "icky" and frankly that it was not a legitimate business. Yes I was one of those "is that a pyramid scheme?" people before I learned more about it, educated myself and realized that it's completely different. Not only is network marketing legal, it's the best way out there to create a six figure income and beyond in the shortest amount of time.  If you are wondering why I recommend network marketing instead of a tradition business, there are a ton of reasons why, but here are the top 5:

1. Initial investment is pennies compared to opening your own store/restaurant, creating a product etc. Where else can you start a business for in some cases under $200? Most business require tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands and you are paying that debt back for years. 
2. They say traditional business take 3-5 years to make a profit. You can make a profit month 1 with network marketing
3. You can work a network marketing business "on the side" while you still have a full time job and paycheck.
4. Where else can you compress a 30-50 year career into 3-5 years? (Great tip from Sarah Robbins)
5. The time is going to pass anyway. Why not create and design your life how you want it??

Eric Worre wrote a great book called "Go Pro" and he says what we have isn't perfect, it's just better. (Highly recommend you read it!)

So why wouldn't you choose the BEST option that's out there?

How to take NO for an Answer

When you own your own business, you have to put yourself out there - to prospective customers, business partners, and colleagues. Not everyone is going to be ready to buy your product or join your team. You are going to get more "No's" than "Yes's" - it's just how it goes.  That's why it's really important to realize a few things so on those days where all you hear is NO that you don't give up:

1. No doesn't mean no forever, it means not right now. Everyone comes to a decision when the timing works for them.   That's one big reason follow-up skills are important. Ask the person, can I follow up with you next month? And make a note in your calendar to do so.
2. It's not personal. They aren't saying no to you. They are saying no to the product or opportunity.
3. Remember a time in your life when you told a person no, it may be in this very business you are working on now. It probably took a couple times of really thinking about it to decide to purchase or join. See things from the other side.
4. Remind yourself that every NO brings you closer to the next YES.
5. Don't STOP inviting and talking to people. It's a numbers game. If anything, the more NO's you get, the more people you should talk to.

Timing is Everything

As moms, we are BUSY.  Not just our own personal "to do's" but our work responsibilities, household and automotive maintenance, cooking, things we do with and for our spouse, and especially all the things we do for our kids - everything from clothing them, bathing them, taking them to their activities, some days you just feel like you don't have a second for yourself. 

So why, you ask, am I recommending that you start your own business on top of everything? Because it's my opinion that it's the only way you will get yourself out of this vicious cycle of never having time to do anything. If you are reliant on someone else who tells you your work hours, work location, salary etc, then you don't have true life freedom.

There is probably never a good time in life to make a big change. You always have too much to do.  How can you squeeze in one more thing?  (more tips on finding time HERE)  A few exceptions when you should not consider this may be during times of extreme stress or life changes (then again it may be just what you need - a fresh start, something new to believe in).  But the kids starting summer break or the holidays, that's not an excuse. That's life. If you let things like that stop you, you are doing a disservice to yourself and your goals.

But there is also something to be said for being mentally ready. You may not be "there" yet.  You have to ask yourself what you really want in life and if you would be happy if nothing about your current work situation ever changed.  But I'm guessing if you are reading this, you aren't!

Bottom line...timing is everything...but sometimes you just have to take the LEAP. This is an investment in your future. This is a long term plan to design your own life. If you don't start, you won't ever get there.

Self-Discipline

The hardest thing I've found about running my own business at home is self-discipline.  Unlike your traditional "job", you don't have a boss telling you what to do and setting deadlines, or telling you that you did a good job. You are the BOSS. You set the meetings, the deadlines, and there is no "annual review".  

At I first when I left the corporate world several months ago, it was easy to keep busy. And the busier I was, the more I seemed to get done.  Then after about a month I had caught up on backlogged projects and household things that needed my attention, and I hit a mental wall. I struggled for over a month and got really lazy with my time, even taking TV breaks during the day because I was mentally wandering and not sure what to focus on. I also struggled a little bit with losing my identity.  I was previously Heather the corporate executive and I took a lot of pride in my work and in the company I worked for. I was proud of my teammates and colleagues. And even though it was my choice, suddenly that role was gone! I then posted a video on my Facebook page and asked for friends to give me their best tips and got the swift kick in the pants I was looking for! This are the key things that they shared, which truth be told I of course already knew:

• Make a plan. You can't "wing it" or chances are you will fail. This includes making a TO DO LIST (more on this in a future post) and SCHEDULING everything that needs to get done. 
• Keep "business hours". Whether you are still working full time and doing your business on the side, or doing your business full time. Set hours which you will be working and people can contact you about your business.
• Ask for help. If you are struggling with motivation, talk to a friend, ask friends on social media for their best tips.  Sometimes talking to someone else can be a huge inspiration boost!
• Set small goals and big goals, and revisit them on a regular basis (once a week).
• Remind yourself of your WHY: why are you doing this? Connect to that why emotionally. Visualize the life that you want and go for it.
• Give yourself some "Me" time everyone once in a while - to watch TV, take a bath, do something mindless and unproductive. Everyone deserves a break but it should be once a week not every day.
• Realize that you are human. Everyone slips up sometimes. But it shows your true character when yourself back on track.

What is your Passion?

So you have worked hard your whole life to get where you are in your career right?  Some of you are probably doing something you love, but chances are most of you are not.  I chose the entertainment industry because I love movies and I figured if I'm going to work at something, at least the field should be interesting. I wasn't excited about finance or business or insurance.  I sort of fell into my niche in the industry, creating special feature content for Blu-ray and DVD.  It was the best of many worlds - I got to meet and interview famous stars and directors, but I didn't have to work irregular production hours. I got the stability and regular paycheck of a movie studio.  And before I started climbing the corporate ladder, I got to be involved in less of the creative "fun" stuff. As my title and salary went up, it started to shift more to things like staff management, the politics of dealing with higher up executives, and lots of spreadsheets (I mean I like a good spreadsheet but some of these were crazy!) And then once I had children, the work/life balance definitely became an issue for me. My passion was for my family more than my job, which I think is pretty normal.  Some people can find a happy place with that. But I began to see that I could not.  So while I still adore movies and think the movie industry is a really cool place to work, it no longer fit my lifestyle and I wasn't passionate about it.

Me and Will Ferrell

So what are you passionate about? If you were to write down your top 10 hobbies and pastimes - what would they be? Take out a piece of paper and write them down.  It could be sports, travel, cooking, arts and crafts, music, fashion....what makes you happiest? What are things you spend time on that you currently aren't getting paid to do?

Then RESEARCH what is out there in these 10 areas. Are there home based business or products? Franchise opportunities? Companies that offer telecommuting?

For my money, nothing beats a home based network marketing business. You can start it "on the side" and work on it while you still have your full time job, until you build it up to replace your income. There is usually a very small up front investment.  Most companies offer free training. The "team" that you join has a vested interest in you succeeding so you will find that many companies have a family like atmosphere (or maybe I just got lucky!)

The internet is amazing! You can live in a podunk town in mid-America and reach millions of people from your computer. Do not think that you have to hit up your friends and family or "I don't know anyone". #1 you know tons of people and #2 there are tons more out there looking for what you have to offer.

For me, one really big thing was always fitness. Growing up overweight, I tried every diet or workout plan out there. I never stuck to anything. I wanted to be an actress as a kid but I was chubby and self-conscious, and hated rejection, so that didn't last long.  I used to joke about actors and actresses, well they basically get paid to stay in shape.  Hey I want a job like that, where I get paid to get and be fit.  It's ironic that years later, I found an opportunity that fits that description.  I had bought Slim in 6 and P90X years before there was a coaching arm of Beachbody, and they gathered dust in my garage.  But I never thought for one second at that time, that you could have a career based around fitness that could match my six figure movie business job. It wasn't until I saw a friend having great success with it, that I realized it was possible.

What is that "THING" for you??

Finding Time to Start your own Business

As a busy working mom, you probably have ZERO free time right? Work, your commute, family time, kids activities, and the like fill your days.  TIME is one of the reasons you feel so stuck. You probably think, I can't get out of the situation I am in because I can't find anything that will immediately replace my current income and I don't have the time to start something else on the time.  That is exactly what I thought.  I was lucky enough to be able to watch vicariously as a friend of mine who was just as busy as I was started her own business, in an industry that I was very interested too, and I saw that she was able to do it.  It wasn't easy.  She put in a lot of extra hours and gave up some sleep, but now she has a six-figure business working from home while her kids are in school, picks them up every day and the rest of the day is dedicated to them. That is exactly what I wanted. A big part of success is modeling what you do after someone who has what you want.  And one thing most successful entrepreneurs and "mama-preneurs" do is this:

So let's take a serious look at your time.

Television - how much time do you spend watching TV a day? Are there a few shows you could give up if it meant achieving the life you want?
Commute time - do you listen to talk radio or music on your drive? Use this time for personal development (audio CDs) or other trainings; or use this time for conference calls for your business
Lunch break - do you eat out with co-workers every day? Can you use that time to work on your business (online doing social media, prospecting, communicating with customers etc)
Hobbies - we all need an outlet and some fun for sure.  But can you put any of these hobbies "on hold" for just a couple of years and use that time to build your dream life? I think so.

One big time block that mama-preneurs often use to work on their businesses is after the kids go to bed. Can you clear out your 9pm - midnight schedule, whatever you do now during that time, and make it "Six Figure Mama" focused time??

Success doesn't come without sacrifice.  Can you find 10-15 hours a week to dedicate to a business? That's the minimum I feel like you need to start a serious business.