Blog Barefoot|Consultant|Entrepreneur|Empower Individuals

While waiting on a flight recently, I was reading a magazine and taking some notes when something whizzing by caught my peripheral vision. I didn’t take much notice.

But then, a flash of yellow and the sound of giggles got my attention again and this time, I put down my magazine to see what was going on.

 

The hallway in this particular airport was ‘ramped’ and I was seated next to a fairly slanted part of the floor. A young boy, probably 10 or 11, on his brightly colored walker had also discovered this part of the floor and he was building up speed, hanging on to his walker, then lifting up his feet and careening down the hallway, laughing hysterically and having the time of his life.

 

Honestly, you couldn’t help but smile ‘ear-to-ear’ at how much fun he was having. Then, at the bottom of the ramp, where the slope stopped, he would turn around and drag himself to the top of the ‘hill.’ What affected me the most, was that he was still smiling even though it was obvious that this part of his game was hard work and even painful for him.

 

But then, he’d get to the top again…back up a few steps, build up speed and WHEEEEEEEEEEE zoom to the bottom of the ramp.  He was being noisy, but no one minded. He brought us all out of what we were doing and we were grinning as widely as he was. At one point, I was very tempted to go stand at the bottom of the ramp so that I could help him back to the top…but with one look at the determination and strong will on his face…I knew that would taint the game for him. His payoff for the hard work was the RIDE down and somehow, it wouldn’t be as satisfying if he weren’t having to work for it.

 

And as I watched him play and work tirelessly, it struck me: he was using his walker, his disability as a REASON to be having fun! He could be sitting by, moping, feeling sorry for himself that he couldn’t walk unassisted. He could assume a victim mentality, ‘Why do I have to have a walker, why can’t I walk like everyone else?’ But INSTEAD – he was using his walker as a motivation, a tool, a reason to be having MORE FUN than anyone else in the place! WOW!

Sometimes, we fall into the trap of:

 

“I cannot work with focus because of my kids.” or

 

“My husband doesn’t have a steady job and so I cannot work my business like I should.” or

 

“We’re too strapped financially for me to pursue a business.” or

 

“I’m too tired and stressed from my job to do something different.”

 

What if INSTEAD – we said,

 

“I’m so motivated to have more time with my kids, I will work with focus for a few hours so I can enjoy time with the kids later, knowing I’m bettering our future.” or

 

“My husband’s job is a bit uncertain, so I’m determined to generate extra income to assist with bills and to relieve some of the stress he must be feeling.” or

 

“Wow, I’m frustrated with being in debt and struggling to pay bills, I can work 3-5 additional income-producing hours this week so that we’re never in this same position of desperation again.” or

 

“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I will do whatever it takes to grow my business so that I can REALLY live my life instead of dreading each day.”

 

Do you SEE the powerful difference? I challenge YOU to see your current excuses as POWERFUL reasons to work your business, focus on your efforts and ENJOY the eventual results!

Then after you climb to the top of your ‘hill’ – even after the pain, the exhaustion and extra effort…you can back up a few steps, pick up speed and WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE – enjoy ear-to-ear smiles on yourself and everyone watching!  Forget the Reasons or Excuses and do it!!

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Tips by Carrie The Barefoot Executive
2 Comments »

WAHMs – work at home moms. You’re convinced that being a self-made business person will lead you to the path of flexibility, peace, and prosperity. You could never make ends meet with that measly salary you were paid anyway so it was time to chuck it. You’ve picked a part of the house to be your new cubicle, bought the equipment, and created your Excel spreadsheets. You’ve got everything figured out.

Thing is…

Your husband’s complaining that this is the umpteenth time you’ve served “dinner in a box” and he’s beginning to feel a little processed, your daughter is teething and begging for your attention and your aging mother-in-law who lives with you is screaming help because her crochet is missing loops and cross-overs. Fido also has a bad case of diarrhea. And the house, which is supposed to be immaculate, because now you’re home all the time – is a wreck!

What Do You Mean “Balance?”

Balancing family and work is a worthwhile concept and inspires the poet in some of us, but once you begin working at home, it’s a principle that isn’t compatible with the grand scheme of things. The fact is – and women who work from home will agree – a certain degree of periodical imbalance is necessary because it teaches you to be a juggler automatically. You won’t need to sign up for a course on balancing because work-at-home-moms achieve it effortlessly and beautifully – in time, of course.

The first few months will be helter-skelter. Eventually though, you’ll manage to identify your comfort level and adjust as gracefully as you can. So don’t worry that the balls are not synchronized when you juggle and the scales are tipped more heavily towards one side. To be a WAHM is not like going through a brand new, well-greased revolving door. Actually, it’s more like prying open a decrepit barn door that’s been shut for decades.

Welcome the chaos and the imbalance because they strengthen your soul, fortify your spirit, and test your mettle. When the chaos ends and balance finally reigns, you’ll realize that the hellish periods were worth it.

“In the not-too-distant past, many home-based business owners tried to camouflage the fact that they didn’t have fancy offices at posh addresses. They never divulged the fact that they wor^ked from home. Today, with the growing acceptance of home-based businesses, this dodge is, by and large, no longer necessary. On the contrary, having a home-based business is (almost) a thing to be proud of.” (Barbara Weltman, 1997)

“I Could Use Some Advice”

We’re delighted to share some:

• Months before your “JOB” resignation, remind your husband and kids gently that “mom can’t always be there for you and you’ll sometimes need to be independent when I’m working.” Say this often – so that the idea sinks in. (Yes, hubby needs to hear that too). Explain that there will be times where you will be inaccessible but assure them that the situation is temporary. 
• If you and can afford it, hire someone who could come in a few days and do some cooking and cleaning. Don’t try to be a super WAHM. You need to concentrate on your work and delegating tasks means less stress for you. How much per hour is a housekeeper or a few hours of a nanny? How much per hour can you be generating with your business? Do the math!
• Cut back on useless, time-wasting activities. Tell your friends you can’t play bunko, meet at Starbucks, or go shopping for awhile. Don’t browse fashion magazines, store catalogs, or surf the internet. Invest some time instead on the skills you need to get your business flowing smoothly. (TV? What’s that?)
• Arrange dental appointments, PTA meetings, and community work during times when your workload eases up. Space out your commitments and your deadlines. Don’t be afraid to say “NO” when you should. Just because you work at home doesn’t mean your job or business is any less important than women who work outside the home (this is a tough one that we all battle constantly!)
• Do spend quality time with your family – make it a scheduled priority. But don’t make your family an excuse NOT to work. Make every minute count that you’re with them. For awhile, it might be that you need to “pretend” you’re still reporting to someone else as a boss…until everyone figures out that you really ARE working!

Tags: Work at Home Moms by Carrie The Barefoot Executive
4 Comments »

Are you watching other businesses and events for “clues” about marketing your business? Do NOT make the mistake of thinking “they are in a different business than I am, this doesn’t apply!”
You can learn from all business models, regardless of what you sell or do!

This weekend, Mr. Barefoot and I took our gang to the Pumpkin Patch in another town. This is our 4th time to this particular patch. We drive an hour and 15 minutes to get there and no doubt, pass other patches that are closer to home. It’s a full day event and a feat considering the 4 rugrats we take along with us.

This year, we ALSO took 2 grandparents, 2 uncles, 2 nieces and a nephew. We had quite a gang.
Admission is free. And thousands of folks come through there. Seriously. Thousands.
You might say – well, they should charge admission they’re missing out. Not so! There is LITERALLY a pumpkin patch next door that is almost identical, but charges admission. They have about 1/5 of the traffic that this patch does.

Well, how are they making money if admission is free?
…Short answer – they keep you there as long as possible.
There are haystacks to climb. There are wooden picture cutouts of kids’ favorite characters to pose for pictures with. There are food concessions. There is pumpkin patch to pick from, a hayride, a mini-train ride, two hay mazes, and vendors to shop with and so much more.

The way they make their money? They make there money with  vendor booths and pumpkin sales.
Admission is free with a canned good donation to a local charity (CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING) – makes people feel good about this particular patch and also allows the charity to do promotion for them!
All the activities are FREE and encourage you to stay, stay, and stay.
They provide wagons to pull your children, your diaper bags, your pumpkins, etc.
It’s just smart overall.
They get a HUGE amount of prospective buyers to come with the promise of free activities and fun for the kids.
Then…while you stay, you choose pumpkins, get hungry, buy food, shop at vendors, etc.
Brilliant.

How can you apply that to your business? Free samples? Free demonstrations? Free reports or E-books? A free E-zine? (Subscribe to ours in the upper right of the screen if you haven’t already!) Free articles? Continued good content to keep “them” around?

Get as much POTENTIAL traffic as possible…then get them to like you, to stay, to buy.
Then…guess what? Just like the pumpkin patch – they will drive PAST other businesses to get to YOURS. And they will come back again and again and again…and they will bring family, friends and associates!
Pumpkin Patch Marketing – Very Smart! Very Effective!

Tags: Marketing by Carrie The Barefoot Executive
1 Comment »