I've spent a lot of time in front of people showing, teaching, and helping people do things. I did a little showing this weekend. The 4 things below will help no matter what type of demonstration you do. 

     • Do it large         
          Large scale helps with large crowds - people could see my painting 50 yards away & could watch all day      
     • Engage Others
          Create an exchange with others - I let some children paint on the painting, fun and different for those families
     • Make it easy
          This isn't the time to experiment - I could do this type of painting without thinking
     • Open up
          Something like this is as more about meeting and talking with people than it is painting 

Love this charming, clever idea for business cards from Juicy Bits. Jessica (of Juicy) says, "I'm weirdly proud of them and simultaneously a little embarrassed by them.It's sort of like shouting out to the world "please read my diary!" Um, does anyone care?" I wouldn't be one bit embarrassed shouting with these business cards that "I'm a Creative" and look at what I do. Any other creative biz cards out there?

via Babble.com's EKSARRAN

     One only has to understand Social Media Mischief to know how social media can damage a business. I just have to say one brand name to give you the example of a sad social media story - Dominos®. A million YouTube views before the pizza group even knew it had a disaster.
     Does this apply even if your company isn't online? (The question that begs to be asked is, "Why isn't your company online?") But, Yes, it applies. Everyone else is online. As a home-based business owner sometimes we don't see a need for something until after the fact. And usually that is a result of some kind of business meltdown.

Here are 5 reasons to set a Social Media Policy even if you are a one person operation. 

Sometimes in the moment of social media we say or do things that are impulsive. That's part of the authenticity - spontaneity. But not all spontaneous acts are created wisely. Understanding what you ultimately want to put across may cause you to pause and actually not want to click and post.

When you ask someone to write copy (text for your use) or design something for your business this can be part of the package that you give them. You want others who will create for you to familiarize themselves with what your brand and business are all about. It will help them to know if they are a good fit for your project and saves you time, money, and headaches.

 If you wait until you need a SMP then you'll hastily put one together and its flaws will go out with it. Your needs may not really be met with it as well. Doing one upfront will give you the time to work and revise it so that it becomes a useful tool.

Home businesses have a habit of taking off. It's usually accompanied by an incredible increase of work demands. Which in turn requires more help. After hiring an employee is not the time to be working up a SMP. The new hire needs to know your vision, values, and policy from day one.

Your policy will help everyone "speak the same language." Once in place, it will be a starting point to monitoring your brand online.  It will also be common ground on which to begin mediation if the need arises.
If you don't have a SMP there is no need to panic. But, be proactive. 

If you don't have the resources to hire a lawyer to set your policy, do decide what kind of policy you want. 
Here is an article from Susan Heathfield to help you get started. 
Protect and promote yourself with a Social Media Policy. Get and stay social.

Their way to share thanks with others - give a pocket wish away - with a token coin. 
Show and share your appreciate with Lisa & Cristin over at Wishes In My Pocket tokens

Relationships are what keep us interconnected to others. It's the intimate associations of a spouse, siblings, parents, relatives and children that entertain, enrich, empower, and edify us. In turn we seek to sustain and strengthen them. When we make significant changes in our lives we measure it against those bonds that we feel strongest about. It is essential to address those alliances when asking the question, "Should I start a home business?"

Things will change. You will only have so much to give and a new business will be taking some of your life. What time and talent allocated to family should go to what is important to them. Have a dialog to determine what that is. What do they want you to continue doing? What are they willing to give up? For a spouse, it might mean maintaining daily phone calls while letting go of lunch dates, joint attendance at events or get away weekends. For children, that might mean maintaining daily homework reviews but letting go of being room mother, car pooling or attending certain events. For siblings it might mean keeping the monthly family get together but skipping the birthdays, plays and movies. Making sure you are doing what is beneficial in their eyes will go a long way to help them feel that you have remained connected. 

Spouses and children can fear the unknown. When those significant people feel disconnected or displaced they will lash out to bring things back to the normal and known weakening you mentally and emotionally. Families that are currently strained will be taxed further, possibly to the breaking point. We don't want the very business that starts out to boost us and our family be the very thing that ruins the relationships in the process. Recognize and address the fears of your family, talk about the adjustments that need to be made. When the future possibilities are prepared for fears subside and a sense of faith follows. It's still unknown but it doesn't seem unworkable.

A couple's relationship is one of the most intimate kind of connections and is therefore essential in the discussion of starting a home business. It will require strong, solid support from your spouse. If your spouse is used to a certain way of life they will continue to expect that way of life unless there is some real dialog about what is changing. Spouses will need to know that these issues were visited so that no one is surprised by the turn of events. They still may be surprised because discussions are different than daily life but it is helpful to know that expectations were addressed beforehand and it's just a matter of readjustments. 

Here are some Family Council Questions to start the conversation about considering a home-based business.


Q1   What areas are you willing to give up my involvement in?
Q2   What areas would you still like me to be involved in?
Q3   Who and how can you contribute to the home business?
Q4   What time periods should be devoted to family?
Q5   What things should we maintain for a strong couple's relationship?
Q6   What things would need to be sacrificed?
Q7   What will be the shift in responsibilities?
Q8   What are some positives and negatives to starting a home business?
Q9   What are the long term and short term results and rewards?
Q10 Is it going to change the focus of what our family is about?

Because you value these people in your life consider the following:

• Throughly evaluate where your relationship with your significant other stands and the strength and support you can expect.

• Honestly calculate the pros, cons, and concerns you have for your children's progress while starting and running a home business.

• Respectfully deliberate with extended family about what they can and can't do to support your family and home business.

• Openly investigate how your friends might lend a hand and what that would mean to your friendships.

Starting a home business will take its toll on those close to you.
 If the foundation of your family is healthy and happy then starting a home business will be another life choice that can enhance the experience.If the family associations are neglected or non existent then starting a business may make a further divide. 
In assessing whether to start a home business, the value of the relationships around you 
will add to the degree of your success.

You are the vision. You are the investor. You are the builder. You are the decision maker. You are the daily grind. Without out you there is no day to day. There is no business dream. Without you there is no success. You are foundational. Critical. Indispensable. A home business doesn't start on its own, someone has to start it. Do you see the requirement of you for your business? 

The first thing to consider when thinking of starting a business (or if your business is in struggling) is your health and well being. You are the go-to gal. (Or guy.) You need to be emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually healthy. Running a home business takes its toll in each of these areas, exacting a price from you. When you are on top of your go-to game then the demands will not outweigh what you can deliver. If you are shaky in these areas then your business will be as well. 

Things don't have to be perfect but they should be in place. If you are physically facing a health crisis it is not the time to start a business. If you are going through a traumatic situation with your children it's probably not the time to start either. Get yourself to a place where those areas are "settled". Here is a quick quiz and some specific areas to evaluate your condition of wholeness.

Quick Go•to Gal Quiz

Q1  Do I feel rested and ready for the day on a regular basis?
Q2  Do I maintain healthy eating habits, diet and weight?
Q3  Do I have a time or place that rejuvenates and relaxes me?
Q4  Do I have a calm coping manner when faced with problems?
Q5  Do I have enough reserve energy from daily activities that adding extra duties will not deplete me?
Q6  Do I exercise enough to improve and maintain a condition of fitness?
Q7  Do I have a great capacity for thought in many differing circumstances?
Q8  Do I come to conclusions that don't conflict with my convictions?

• Sleep  - Know personal sleep requirements and make a schedule to accommodate the need. Place a high priority on being rested.

• Eat  - Make breakfast a minimum obligation of the day. Develop and eat a healthy menu that is easily combined and consumed.

• Relax  - Schedule a small amount of time each week on something that requires nothing out of you. Relax. You need a place or time that gives and doesn't take.

• Cope  - Lay claim to coping techniques that give a high degree of success in difficult situations. Create personal patterns that leave you cool, calm and collected.

• Energy  - Raise beyond the requisite capacity for vigor and vitality. Business necessitates energy levels beyond your current expenditure. 

• Exercise  - Set an exercise program that is effective as well as enjoyable. Then it's likely to happen. Maintaining fitness keeps one's body in a condition of readiness.

• Intellect -  Acquire knowledge, make sense of situations, and distinguish the details to keep the mental juices flowing. The power to think is the life blood of your business.

• Ideology - Explain your individual ideology and establish it as a guide for business behavior. Exhibit conviction in your credo especially in conflict.