–> Remember, these posts are better with your involvement, so please share your thoughts in the comments.

Every year, I share my latest method for making sure that summer is productive for me and for my kids. The kids are home. I have to get some work done, although I typically only work an hour or two each day during the summer. Still I don't want to be constantly interrupted or feel like the house is falling apart while I'm on the computer, right? That's not exactly a great boost to your creativity or productivity.

My kiddos are now 13 (daughter) and 18 (son), so things have sure changed in the many years that I've been sharing our summer plans, but this is the general system that we’ve been using since they were each toddlers. Why? Because it’s the closest thing to sanity that I can come up with here.

We have a daily checklist that the kids must complete before the TV goes on, the computer goes on, phones come out, or any game systems get turned on. They also must complete their daily list before friends are allowed in the house. I found that, if I left the time limit open, that the lists wouldn’t get done. However, if they know they can work through their tasks faster and be free of my tyranny – they work through it better. Of course, it is flexible if we make fun plans or if they have some sort of camp or we're traveling. This is just the day to day schedule.

Here’s their list that I posted four years ago when the kiddos were 9 and 14. It’s changed quite a bit since then as you'll see in a bit as they've gotten older. You can click on it to view it in pdf format.

I printed it out weekly and they just checked off the days as they went through them. If everything got done during the week, they earned bonuses.

For instance, my son has a Gamefly account. He keeps it as long as the backyard is cleaned up daily. If there is an issue, he gets downgraded from 2 games/month to 1 and then to zero. It really never becomes an issue. He’s really very self-motivated when he knows the rules. My daughter on the other hand… is a bit more stubborn.

Why were these systems so important to me when the kids were younger?

1. The kids knew what the expectations were in advance. They were better equipped to succeed and we were less likely to fight.
2. My husband and I were on the same page, because the rules were in black and white. (Again, less of a chance for misunderstandings.)
3. I didn't spend the days chasing the kids around saying “Did you brush your teeth?” or “Have you cleaned up the backyard?” I looked at their chart and it was right there in front of me.
4. It taught the kids that habits are important. And, that a family works on routine. And that running a home is a group effort. All good stuff.

So how has this changed over the years?

1. Now that the kids are older they have better habits. They brush their teeth on their own now and don't need to be reminded.
2. I want them to be their most awesome selves and I know that the days are long but the summer is short so if we don't plan and set goals at the beginning of summer, then we'll blink and have wasted an amazing opportunity to get more awesome.
3. My daughter will be going into Algebra in 8th grade and will be in a lot of honors classes. My son is going into the honors program in college. I want to do as much as I can this summer to help them to grow in a variety of ways to learn new skills and to sharpen their existing ones so that when life gets crazy again in the fall, they'll hopefully be a bit ahead of the game and won't have to be as stressed.
4. I still need to work a little bit during summer — even with a houseful of kids and friends over.

Here's what I've come up with…

The daily lists for the kiddos are now more about their own personal growth and their responsibility to the family this summer. As I said, they're old enough to remember to take their vitamins and brush their teeth. But I do want to help encourage them to become their best selves.

On that note, here's what I've come up with.

• 13 Year Old Daughter's Summer List (pdf)
• 18 Year Old Son's Summer List (pdf)

As you can see, my daughter is going to be working on her Algebra a bit this summer on Khan Academy while my son will be refreshing his calculus (since he's majoring in Physics, and he is expected to have his skills polished going into the fall). He also will be going through codecademy.com as he wants to learn to code and do some work for me.

My daughter is also taking a few classes through Florida Virtual School. She's taking Guitar and hopefully PhyEd, too. She wants to take  their photography course, too, but that might have to wait until next summer.

One last tip for battling the crazy. 

I've also added a sheet of House and Pool Rules to the front door so that all neighbor kids and friends know the rules without me having to go over them or deal with messes after the fact. Less stress for me, less misunderstandings, and I get to relax and enjoy the kids more.

• Dean Summer Rules (pdf)

Is it perfect?

By no means. But it does help me to get on the computer, do my work and more importantly get OFF the computer. It also helps me to have less stress, the house to be quieter and happier overall, and for me to feel like a better mom than I would if I was running around after everyone all summer.

I hope this gives you some ideas to make your summer run smoother too.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. What books would you recommend all teens read for personal success and growth? Help me add to our list:

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

PS again.  Another way to survive summer when you're not able to work as much as you'd like is to use PLR to help you to get your content written easier. Too subtle? lol. Click here for some that's running low and on sale.

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“Oftentimes people criticize those of us in the Business niche as not knowing how to make money elsewhere.

I figured I'd ask this week… Do you have a presence in other niches outside the business world? Care to share?”

I think you'll find the responses interesting.

Lynn Terry of Niche Success Blueprints says:

I do, and I always have – through my entire 17+ years in business. I personally feel it's tough to teach leadership if you're not a leader, motivation if you're not motivated, and business strategies if you're not a successful business owner. It's through in-the-trenches hands-on experience that you can inspire, share and teach other people what's working and what's changing, etc.

Of course, the majority of niche marketers don't teach what they do – they simply make an awesome living at it, quietly. The “Internet Marketing” space makes up a *very* small percentage of the people who are making a good living online.

My primary website is TravelingLowCarb.com where I share my fun travel adventures and what I'm eating along the way. It helps inspire people with a busy lifestyle to stick to a healthy diet – even when they're on the go, or juggling family/work/home/etc like me.

I have a great time with TLC! I run a low carb challenge group several times a year that currently has over 23,000 members. I'm very active on social media, sharing my food choices and travel pics. I get to work with fun brands, go new places, try new foods. And I get to help people make healthy lifestyle choices and achieve life-changing health goals. It's amazing fun!!

I love the idea of choosing a niche that takes you in the direction of your ideal lifestyle – what you most want to spend your time doing. And I do love to travel and eat! I recently took a “low carb road trip” and enjoyed a weekend on the beach, for the sole purpose of sharing how easy it is to “eat low carb on vacation”. You can't beat that for “work”. That trip increased my Facebook Page engagement by over 300%. Fun stuff.

I teach my business model and marketing methods in a series of weekly training modules called Niche Success Blueprint. I include live examples, and share everything I'm doing in my own business, to help others create a business that's as fun as mine – and show them how to take it to maximum profit potential with a variety of revenue sources.

When people ask me what I do for a living, I often joke “I get paid to eat. What about you?”

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

Most of my work is now in niches outside business, but here's a very important lesson I'll share through my answer to your question, which is… “No, I do NOT care to share”.

The lesson? Don't reveal your niches… especially to those who might be/become your potential “competition”

Shannon Cherry of Learn How I Get *Paid* to Attend Events says:

Most people do not know I am a best selling author and ‘media personality' in the parenting niche. It's kind of funny because I am certainly not an expert in parenting. I barely keep my head above water with it some days. I also am considered a wine expert and give presentations on how to discover new wines based on your personal preferences. (Hmmm… perhaps there is a reason I am considered a parenting expert AND a wine expert. I believe the two aren't unrelated )

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

When I first started out back in 2004, I went into a LOT of niches. A lot. Way too many to be honest.

I had (and still have in some cases) sites related to the following:

• Romance from a Woman's Perspective
• Food and Cooking
• Exercise Videos
• Home Decor
• House Cleaning & Organizing
• Preschool Themes
• Themed Kids Crafts
• Asperger's and Autism
• Dieting and diet trends
• Romance novels, specifically Paranormal and Time Travel ones.
• Kids books and getting your kiddos reading better
• Saving money
• Homemade Beauty Recipes
• Laser Hair Removal (don't judge me) lol!
• and more.

And, yes, I do still have some of those. Many of them still actually make a bit of money, so I've just sat on them for years and years and years – but I've been letting most of them go or selling them one by one.

I've already sold a few and there will be more announced soon, so stay tuned. If we're friends on FB or you're on my list, you'll see as I post these for sale.

I chose this question because I've always felt that I needed to have my finger on the pulse of what was working outside the Business to Business community in order to truly be a teacher to those who were in other niches, too. It's been a credibility thing for me.

As I've grown my business, though, I've gotten away from diluting my brand but I found other ways to still stay “real” to what's out there:

• I've worked for clients in other industries. I've actually worked as an Affiliate Manager for a few clients in niches outside of business – and it was very fun.
• I've had lots of one-on-one coaching clients who are in other niches. That way I can help them, we can see what works, and adjust. I've been so very fortunate to have worked with coaching clients in many industries – scrapbooking, family/parenting, Direct Sales training, and more.
• And, of course, at the Beachprenuer's Ladies Only Retreat, we attract amazing women in lots of industries. I love masterminding with them. I've been blessed to work with women in aromatherapy, personal organization, and raw food/smoothie niches, as examples.

I'd also like to give a shout out to my friend, Pat Flynn, who has ALWAYS kept it real and transparent with his peeps. For instance, he's currently working on a site about Food Trucks and using it as a case study for his peeps to learn from You can follow along here: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/foodtruckr/

So what about you?  Have you dabbled? If so, do you have any crazy niche stories that you want to share?

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. If you want to learn how to earn more passive income, no matter what your niche, check out the free audio on this page: incometweaks.com

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“What tools do you use to backup your business, including your docs, sites, etc.”

I think you'll find the responses interesting.

Rachel Rofe of Work Less to Live More says:

I'm pretty low maintenance.

Ever since my computer got stolen (and didn't get backed up properly!) a few years ago, I've just been putting EVERYTHING onto Dropbox. I can access everything super-easily that way, and I don't worry about what happens if another computer gets stolen. It's all right in there.

Lynette Chandler of Tech Based Marketing says:

For websites that run 100% on WordPress and have nothing else on them, I use the BackupBuddy plugin. I have it save to Amazon S3 so it is off site and can be retrieved even when the server is down.

For mission critical sites where the shopping cart is on, where there are non-WordPress systems like forums or static HTML pages, I use AutoSiteSaver. This is a solution we created that will grab everything there is to grab on a cPanel account.

Most WordPress plugins only get WordPress. While BackupBuddy can get non-WordPress stuff, I run into strange issues with it on occasion. That's when we run AutoSiteSaver. On top of that, AutoSiteSaver also gets your emails. So if you use an email address that runs on your domain and save them there, it grabs them too.

Another thing that is often a pain with plugins, you have to log into each WordPress site to set up and manage your backup. Even with systems like ManageWP you have to install the plugin on each site first. Depending what I'm doing, I often find backing up multiple sites on AutoSiteSaver much easier.

Here's why. If you have a reseller account and above, you will get access to something known as a WHM. In our system, all you need to do is enter the WHM credentials one time and it will grab every single site on that account. From there, I can choose to backup all, or not backup some.

It also saves all your backups to our system so you can access them when your own host is offline as well. That is important to us. Of course, you can also download those backups anytime to store where you want.

When it comes to my computers. I run BackBlaze for continuous offsite backup. As a safety net, I also use Time Machine. Then, there is AeroFS.

Aero is not a backup solution but it can be handy when one computer goes down unexpected. It is more like a personal Dropbox. It doesn't store your files but it will sync between computers. You can get started for free and because there is no data storage involved, you never have to worry about that.

Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts Podcast says:

I've been a Carbonite subscriber for a couple of years now. It backs up all of the files on my computer every night. What a lovely peace of mind that gives me!

I'm using Backup Buddy on my WordPress sites. I have it configured to send backups to my Amazon hosting account so if my hosting server crashes, I'm not too far from being back up and running.

I still have to do manual back ups of things like my Amember and member forum database – which is surely the most important thing! This reminds me to contact my smart tech partner about how to automate that.

Lynn Terry of Niche Success Blueprints says:

I'm a big fan of off-site backups that are automated. While I use solutions that are not, such as manually backing up source files to Dropbox, or an external hard drive, my primary sources are both automated AND off-site. In a worst case scenario, such as a flood or fire, you'll lose any devices (and files) stored in your home or office. And when it comes to manually backing up files, well… we've all experienced that moment of shock and (oops!) regret, right? Not fun!

I've been using Mozy for years to do automated backups, and it works great. I always say the real test is in the “restore” – and I've had to restore files from Mozy a number of times over the years. It was a total breeze. In a worst case scenario you could grab a new laptop, log in to Mozy, restore all your files and be back in business in short time. Definitely recommended.

That said, I now work across a variety of computers and devices – Macbook, PC, Android phone, iPad tablet, etc. Almost everything I do now is based in Evernote, which is a free “app” that is cross compatible. I have it installed on every computer/device and it automatically syncs between them all and is also always backed up.

I use Evernote to create products, for example. So I can move between devices, editing or adding notes/ideas, or working on the project. I may be sitting at my desk on my PC in the morning, grab my laptop and work from the deck in the afternoon, think of an idea while I'm out & about and add it from my mobile, etc.

Last year when my Macbook hard drive crashed, I was right in the middle of several big projects. Fortunately all of the sources files and notes were in Evernote, so I didn't miss a beat while it was off getting repaired. I simply logged into Evernote and everything was right there where I left it.

It's free, it's cross compatible, it syncs automatically – it's perfect!

I use it for everything from my task list, grocery list, goals & ideas… to writing my info products and webinar outlines.

Tony Shepherd of ‘Inside My Five Figures A Month IM Business‘  says:

Hi Guys,

I'm slightly nutty about backups since losing some sites in a hack attack several years back.

I'd (stupidly) assumed that they would have a backup of my sites.

Nope turns out they didn't

It was MY responsibility to back them up and one of the most important lessons I learned – take responsibility for EVERY aspect of your business.

So my my backup runs like this:

1. Main sites backed up weekly by my PA. She sends one copy to me and keeps another in a secure HD that I bought for her at her house too (not good to back up everything to one place) and another copy to cloud storage too

So that's my main sites and blog, niche sites, membership areas and sites from other businesses.

2. I back up my main content (newsletters, courses etc) once a month in the same way.

3. My lists from all the autoresponders I use are backed up every Monday, again one to me, one to my PA and one to cloud.

4. I do a BIG backup of what I'd call ‘everything I need' twice a year. I do this myself, manually and it takes a full day to complete including the next night too, for everything to download and copy. This 24 hour period usually involves at least one bottle of wine and takeout food being delivered more than once as I lock myself in my work room.

Strangely enough I find this really productive because it gets me back in touch with products, sites and content that maybe I'd neglected of even forgotten about and can re-market AND while I'm waiting for uploads and downlaods I watch all the traiing vids and stuff that I never seem to get around to on a normal week.

The backup from this goes to my HD at home and I store another copy at my mum's house. I can't stress how important it is to store a copy AWAY from where you work. If (God forbid) there was a fire at your home or office you'd lose everything if you stored your backups there too. Think cloud and physical storage AWAY from where you work, at the home or workplace of someone you trust.

I also have a personal folder on these external drives for photographs and videos of family life etc that I need to keep safe too. In terms of Software I don't really use any. I put procedures in place so my PA knows what to download and how.

I don't have much faith in software that puts it's own extensions on my files and then restores them itself. I prefer to grab HTML files and folders that I know how to work with and can just FTP right back into place should I need to

It takes longer and it costs me more in terms of employee hours, but I feel safer and it;s an area of business you really can't afford to scrimp on.

Alice Seba of The 30 Day List Challenge says:

I use SugarSync to back up all my files and my site back ups are handled through a service.

For my file back ups, SugarSync automatically backs up all my files within minutes of my creating them, so I don't have to remember to do anything. If I create a new folder, SugarSync will also back that up…I don't have to tell the software which folders to back up. Files can also be uploaded and synced via email.

What I really love about SugarSync is how easy it makes collaboration. I can give my assistants access to the folders and files they need and when they update them, the changes are automatically saved to my computer. I can also set it to have people view the files only, so they can't make any changes or I can share certain files or folders publicly (with an option password) if I prefer and they don't need a SugarSync account to access it. I have complete control over who can do what.

Much like other services like Dropbox, I can access all my files from my iPhone, iPad and pretty much anywhere I go. That means I can leave the laptop at home and still get stuff done on the go.

I don't just consider SugarSync a back up tool, but a productivity tool as well.

Shannon Cherry of Learn How I Get *Paid* to Attend Events says:

If there is one thing that always surprises me, is when a client says they have no backup plan. After all, if you work online, your assets need be secured… and as current as possible.

Let me give you a recent example why it's so important to backup. Last week, a client's website got infected with BaDoink! a security issue that redirects Apple devices that are viewing your website to a porn site. (We like mobile friendly, but not THAT friendly, right?!?) She contacted me in a panic. Previously, my site was infected but because I have automated backups, it was easy to go back to where the code was not tampered with, then fix the ‘leak' so it would not happen again. When I explained this to her, she began to cry, because she had not ever backed up, and her host didn't do it either. Basically she had to hire a security expert to remove the porn code and then remove the leak. A very costly mistake. However, I've heard of much worse scenarios.

There's a lot you can do to protect yourself when it comes to backing up.

1) Consider a webhost that does automatic backups. Just remember that that is a stop-gap. The best backup plans are the ones you do yourself.

2) Dropbox is my BBF (best backup friend). Everything is on it in the cloud, including all my files from websites, my computers, tablets and iphone. Since it does it automatically, I don't worry have to worry about it!

3) Speaking of websites, if you are using wordpress, I recommend backup buddy. It backs up your site automatically and you have a choice where the backup will be housed (for me Dropbox an on my webhost server). I purposely create this backup 3-4 days after my webhost's weekly backup.

4) Don't forget your lists! Aweber is my email service and I have a backup (essentially a file created by aweber) weekly. Again, this is saved to Dropbox.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

Wow! As usual, I got tons of great information. Thanks everyone.

I definitely agree that you should backup your documents, your pictures (including your family photos), your websites, and every other part of your business in an offsite location.

Having been through floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and lightning strikes in my 40 years, I'm kind of realistic about how stuff can happen when you least expect it.

However, if everything you just read went completely over your head, you may be interested in my 20+ page guide that walks you through the hows and whys and includes printable checklist to put together an Emergency manual for your business, too.

If you'd like more info, check it out here (BUT DON'T BUY IT):

For a better deal, grab a copy of my course BlogCPR
which will help you to make blogging easier
and you'll now get a copy of the “Avoid Disaster” ebook free.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. Please support my friends who contributed their vast knowledge in this post:

• Rachel Rofe can teach you to -> Work Less to Live More
• Lynette Chandler is a whizz at-> Tech Based Marketing
• Kelly McCausey talks to Solopreneurs on her -> Solo Smarts Podcast
• Lynn Terry is a Super Affiliate who knows how to create Niche sites in her sleep. She's revealing her -> Niche Success Blueprints
• Tony Shepherd is a hilarious, smart do-er who takes you -> ‘Inside My Five Figures A Month IM Business‘
• Alice Seba wants to help you with -> The 30 Day List Challenge
• Shannon Cherry loves to -> Get *Paid* to Attend Events

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“About” pages. What is your #1 tip for a great ‘About' page on your websites?”

I think you'll find the responses interesting.

Kristen Eckstein of Get Published on Kindle in 30 Days says:

A PR expert once told me to sprinkle testimonials throughout my lengthy bio on my About Page. I did that by taking screen shots of social proof and inserting those throughout. I've gotten many compliments from people who decided to hire my team because I was gently guiding them through why they should hire me.

In addition, I recently added a super fun graphic as my headshot on the page.

I got the idea partially from the word clouds that used to be so popular on websites and my VA, Natalie Collins, who was playing around with adding words to her photos. I created a really fun graphic that captures exactly what I'm all about in a way that draws visitors in and makes them stay longer, then of course, want to get to know me better.

What I've learned is an About Page should never be stuffy, unless that's the market you're trying to reach. Being myself on my About Page, even when it was sometimes against the better judgement of some critics, has helped me build my business in the way I want and attract the types of clients I want to establish a long working relationship with.

Lynn Terry of How to Get Social Marketing Results in Just Minutes a Day says:

I'll make this short & sweet. My top tip for your About page is to make sure you include a call-to-action on that page! Put yourself in the shoes of your visitor. Click on your own About page and read it. Now – what should you do next? What do you _want_ your visitor to do next, after reading this page?

Make sure that “next best click” is very clear and super obvious!

Tiffany Dow of Work Life Balance says:

My #1 tip for an About page is to weed out your non-audience by being highly transparent. I like an About page that uses first person, not something that reads like a sterile biography someone else created, such as, “Tiffany graduated from…” Boring!

I love to use a combination of video and text. Video is GREAT for an About page because it helps people get a feel for your personality better than plain words on a screen.

When I create my About pages, I don’t just talk about what I offer – I talk about what I don’t, or why the visitor may NOT like me. Why do I do that? Two reasons.

First, it helps those who will get offended by me leave early so we don’t have to end up arguing about anything. Second, it helps those who like my style instantly appreciate that I’m going to be myself – and not phony.

On one of my About pages, I specifically tell them upfront “I’m motivating for many people and offensive to a handful.” I tell them I’m blunt.

Tell people what you’re like in terms of teaching – what do you share, why do you do it, and how? Give them a reason to love or hate you – but most of all, avoid being boring and middle of the road. Nobody is attracted to that.

Lou Bortone of Video in a Day says:

I think “about” pages represent a huge opportunity for business owners, but I also think many people miss the boat on this opportunity. An about page is a chance to show off your personality, and give prospects and partners a better sense of what you're all about. An about page is also the perfect place for an “about me” video to show off your skills and connect with your web visitors. My tip for entrepreneurs is to make the most of your about page, and don't settle for the typical (boring) bio and head shot.

I have a ‘one page' website, so my opt-in video doubles as my about video, but I also use a pretty cool LeadPage template that serves as a “bio” page.

Alice Seba of The 30 Day List Challenge says:

Even though an about page is about “Me” or “Us”, it's like any other marketing piece you put together. It has to be about the reader. So while you may be singing your praises and giving some more insight into who you are, you have to show how this benefits your audience. The goal of your about page should be to show your visitor why they should pay attention to you and stick around to learn more.

I cover this in our Persuasive Writing Course and here is an excerpt from that course:

—- START EXCERPT —-

If people are thinking about doing business with you, they’ll often look at your About Me page. They want to know who they’re dealing with and if you’re qualified to help them with what they need. If you don’t have an about me page…make one. If you do have one…let’s see if we can make it better.

Start with a headline other than “About Me” – what can you do for your visitor? What’s in it for them?

Focus on your reader and not you. Obviously, you’re still going to talk about your qualifications and experience, but you’re going to relate that to your reader. So if you have a degree or background in an area, you’re going to show why that matters to them.

For example, “With 20 years experience as a personal chef focusing on healthy foods and promoting weight loss in my clients, I’ve brought together some of my favourite recipes and approaches to meal planning, so you can follow your own path to nutrition and optimal health.”

Include a call-to-action. Where should they go next? I’d recommend sending them to an opt-in offer. Something they can get for free to get to know you better before they buy anything…but they also get on your list, so you can email them some more.

A lot of About Me pages are in the third person and I think that can work, but personally, I think it’s a bit dull and puts a space between you and your visitor. Speak in the first person and use words like “we” and “I” and more importantly, use the word “you.”

In most cases, you can have fun with it…share your own opinions and personal philosophies. Show your personality and let them get a great sense of what you’re all about and why they should stick around for more.

—- END EXCERPT —-

Sorry, I think that was more than one tip, but they all fall under the main idea of showing your readers what they want to know.

Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Case Studies says:

My best tip for an effective and memorable ‘About' page is to always think of it as a work in progress. I like to share a little about how I came to be an online entrepreneur, but I also include up to date information and details about where I will be speaking, my latest published book, and other activities I am involved in. We are so much more than what we do in our businesses, and readers want to know more about our activities away from the computer.

I recommend setting up your ‘About' page with a picture that really looks like you, along with a couple of paragraphs that explain something about your background. Keep it light and informative. Don't let your page get bogged down with details of a job you had during the 1980s! Use this as a starting point to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with to the people who are interested in getting to know you better. I have two main sites and strive to keep both of my ‘About' pages current and interesting.

Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts Podcast says:

Whenever some great web content grabs my attention, I jump over to the site's About Page to learn more about the site and the author. Knowing I do that, I'm pretty sure lots of others do it too, so I've taken time to keep my own About Page updated. I want to make sure it's ready to represent me when someone comes to learn more about Solo Smarts and me.

I've decided to keep the opening focus of my About Page on how I got started in an online business. I'm trusting that many of my About Page readers are new and seeking hope and resources. By sharing how I started small and found success, I'm trying to make a connection.

After my opening, I share a testimonial from a customer. I change this out every so often.

Then, I move into sharing links that I'm proud of under these headings:

• Kelly is Hosting Events: (Beachpreneurs, Exposure & Profit)
• Kelly is Speaking: (Live in person events)
• Kelly is Guest Blogging
• Kelly is Featured

It might seem odd to link out to other sites from my About Page, but I see it as opportunity to show social proof that other smart marketers think I'm smart.

Finally, I invite my readers to curate me. I link to articles and videos they're welcome to take and republish on their own sites and encourage them to do so with an affiliate link back to my site. I'm planning to plump up this area of the page with fresh content that promotes my new courses. Curation is a popular practice these days and I want to make sure my community realizes how easy it is to curate me for profit.

P.S. You can learn more about curation from my course, Smart Curation Skills.

Shannon Cherry of Learn How I Get *Paid* to Attend Events says:

I hate most ‘About' pages. Why?

Too many people use it to brag, when an about page is clearly a selling tool.

You see, you should have different about pages that target different audiences. It is impossible that one size can fit all your audiences' needs. If you are a coach, for instance, you should have an about page for your potential clients. It should tell them why they should hire you. But if you also speak, your about page should be geared to those who are looking for a speaker. And if you want media coverage? It needs to show a journalist you have got the right stuff to be interviewed.

For example, here is my about page for my blog.

And here is my info directed at event hosts and those who hire speakers.

Do you see how they focus on the audience needs?

Also, did you see that the bios I shared have separate calls to action? After all, this is a selling tool, so you need to work it!

The bottom line is to remember: it's not about you, it's about the audience.

Yes, some of the information will overlap. But if you have focused on the AUDIENCE's needs, you are more likely to get the response you want.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

One of my goals for this week was to polish up my “About page” on this site. Mission accomplished – although I know it could use another bit of elbow grease to be even better. Hence the reason for asking this week's question.

Here's what I've come up with as of today..

The intro with my main goal for anyone coming to my sites, buying my products, or hiring me as their coach.

I then lead into my Official Bio to show off my mad skillz. 

Then I go directly into the “here's me in real life” pics, like this one:

And on to… 

Where I’ll Be Speaking Next:

• NAMS- Atlanta

Events I’m Hosting:

• Beachpreneurs Live – Daytona Beach
• Beachpreneurs Retreat– Pensacola Beach

Then some of my favorite testimonials that I've gathered over the years – 

A way to connect with me on Social Media – 

Connect with me here:

And I finished with the most important part…

All of the above is important to me, but this is my “Why”:

I'm thinking I'll switch things around a bit, but I'm already much happier with it than I was before.

What about you? Care to show off your “About” page or share someone's that you enjoyed reading? I'm all ears.

Talk soon.

Warmly,

Nicole Dean

PS. If you're interested in this topic, I wanted to tell you about a PLR package that we have at CoachGlue.com about “About Pages”.

It's called “From Lackluster to Blockbuster: Revamp Your ‘About' Page for Increased Credibility and Promotion” and it comes with the following:

* Report: From Lackluster to Blockbuster: Revamp Your “About” Page for Increased Credibility and Promotion (15-pages, 2983 words)
* 10 Checklists to help you revamp your “About” page

Note: This IS PLR. We just call it “Done for you Content” over there.

And, the price can not be beat. Whether you plan on reading this and applying it or creating a coaching workshop around it, it's a steal.

Check it out here:  http://coachglue.com/coaching-content/revamp-your-about-page/

The checklists that you'll get include:

* Your Blockbuster About Page Call to Action
* Your Blockbuster About Page Checklist
* Your Blockbuster About Page Inspiration
* Your Blockbuster About Page Killer Headline Brainstorm
* Your Blockbuster About Page Links and Resources
* Your Blockbuster About Page Opt-In Offer
* Your Blockbuster About Page Social Media List
* Anatomy of an About Page Testimonial
* About Page Video Script
* Your Blockbuster About Page Vision

Here's that link again: http://coachglue.com/coaching-content/revamp-your-about-page/

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“Working at home with kids (summer time). If you have kids at home – how do you manage your home during the summer to actually get work done?”

I think you'll find the responses interesting.

Lynn Terry of Get Social Marketing Results in Just Minutes a Day says:

My youngest child just graduated high school. I've been working from home for more than 17 years though, and started my first business when my two children were just 5 months and 5 years old.

My daughter (the youngest) was on my hip or in my lap through much of that first year. When it comes to babies, you'll do best to work with their schedule. Work or rest when they're sleeping (your rest is important too, Mom!) and learn how to type one-handed.

With older children, I found two things worked really well for me. The first is the “if/then statement” such as “If you clean your room(s), then we'll go to the pool.” It's very simple but very effective. This only works if you always stand by it, meaning you only do your “then” after they do their “if” – and you always move to the “then” after they've completed what you asked. It can't be something abstract like “if you're good” but rather something tangible and measurable. Works like a charm!

When my children were younger, I woke up earlier than them by a couple of hours to knock out my priority tasks for the day. That gave me a lot more free time with them to get out and do things during the day. I often made up for those hours with an afternoon nap, while they also had some downtime reading or watching a movie.

Of course there are times you need to work, and that's where the second tip comes in: I used an egg timer. While there are many programs and apps that do this now, nothing beats an old fashioned egg timer sitting right on your desk in plain sight. I believe my children were 5 and 10 years old when I first started using this method of “time management” and it worked beautifully!

When the kids would walk up to my desk to ask me a question (like “Where's the red ball?” or “Can we go to the park?” or – the questions are endless as you know, lol) I would simply say, “I have 23 minutes left on this work I'm doing, and then ___ (“we can discuss it” or “I'll help you find it” or whatever the case). After just a few days of this, they started waiting to ask questions until they heard the timer ding.

The key is to always be available after that “ding”. This accomplished two great things for me. It taught me to work in “time blocks” which forced me to focus on getting tasks done in a set amount of time, which I found much more efficient than “winging it.” And it also took all of the “heat” off of me – and put it on the egg timer. The children never asked “when this” and I never had to say “in a minute” (which is *never* just… a minute!) again. They simply looked at the timer, and waited for it to go off. It totally got me off the hook and made our lives SO much easier!

Working at home with young children is a challenge, but being a full time parent and having a successful career – under the same roof – is such a great thing! It's definitely worth it. Above all, clear communication is the best thing you can practice in your home. The if/then statement and the egg timer both worked well because they were clear and easy to understand. They also both really helped me to strike a good balance between being a good parent and running a business.

Tiffany Dow of  Work Life Balance says:

I have two kids at home this summer – a 9 and 14 year old. I also love to spend my summer working less, but oddly enough, I get more done. Might have something to do with not having 2 hour carpool treks anymore.

I try to relax about my schedule more during the summer. Some days, I work hard so we can play hard on other days. Some days are a mix. If I know we want to go swimming the next day, I will wake up early and get a bunch of work done by mid-morning (from 6-10 AM for example).

Then we’ll go swim, and come home around 3-4 o’clock. I might do a little more work that evening if necessary – or just relax. It’s important to have things for your kids to entertain themselves with.

My kids love arts and crafts and video gaming (my oldest runs a gaming blog). My youngest writes stories and uses stencils to create fashion stories.

If I invest in anything, it’s outings for the family (we recently went to an animal wildlife center and a wax museum) – or, toys for them to play with.

In the evenings, since we don’t have to wake up super early, I try to have family time every night – a movie, grilling out, and some chocolate fondue.

Summer is my favorite time – especially with my babies! We need to practice lots of self care and relaxation during these moments.

Alice Seba of The 30 Day List Challenge says:

I actually love summer because it's much more relaxed. I don't have to get up early to rush people off to school. There are no lunches to prepare ahead of time or homework to worry about. Still, keeping business running through summer does take some planning.

Here's what I do to get ready:

• Ramp up my outsourcing. I give more hours and responsibilities to my VAs, which not only helps free up my time, but usually increases my profitability at the same time.
• Work in batches. When I’m getting ready to go on vacation, I will write all my emails at once and schedule them. Then I’ll do blog posts. I find working through blog posts and checking off the items off a to-do list very motivating and I can get through everything quite quickly.
• Plan my distractions. I know I'm not going to work all week long, so I plan trips to the beach, for a hike or whatever I want to do ahead of time. Then I know how to plan the rest of my week accordingly.
• Bring my laptop. I know some people won’t do this and it requires some discipline, but it works if you can manage it, bring your laptop on vacation. I find bringing my laptop to catch up on about 15-30 minutes of well-defined tasks daily means that I can get away more often and I’m not running myself ragged trying to get everything done beforehand.

All in all, it's a balancing act of work, chaos and fun. Having a plan and help on hand means I can get through it with a smile on my face…at least most of the time.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

My kids are 12 and 17 but this is the system that we’ve been using since they were each toddlers. Why? Because it’s the closest thing to sanity that I can arrange here.

We have a daily checklist that the kids must complete before the TV goes on, the computer goes on, or any game systems get turned on. They also must complete their daily list before friends are allowed in the house.

I found that, if I left the time limit open, that the lists wouldn’t get done. However, if they know they can work through their tasks faster and be free of my tyranny – they work through it better.

Here’s their list that I posted three years ago. It’s pretty much the same today.You can click on it to view it in pdf format.

The other benefits are this…

1. The kids know what the expectations are in advance. They are better equipped to succeed.

2. My husband and I are on the same page, because the rules are in black and white.

3. I’m not chasing the kids around all day saying “Did you brush your teeth?” or “Have you cleaned up the backyard?” I look at their chart and it’s right there in front of me.

4. It teaches the kids that habits are important. And, that a family works on routine. All good stuff.

I print it out weekly and they just check off the days as they go through them. If everything gets done during the week, they earn bonuses.

For instance, my son has a Gamefly account. He keeps it as long as the backyard is cleaned up daily. If there is an issue, he gets downgraded from 2 games/month to 1 and then to zero. It really never becomes an issue. He’s really very self-motivated when he knows the rules. My daughter on the other hand… is a bit more of a battle.

My kids also take some classes through Florida Virtual School to which keeps them busy.  I challenged my son to work through Codecademy.com this summer (and he will receive a bonus if he does it on his own.)

Plus, they both have the opportunity to do some work for me in our business, but I’m not utilizing them enough yet.

Also during summer, I try to limit work to 1-2 hours per day – Monday-Friday. Some days, I work 10 minutes – just to quick check email for emergencies. Others are closer to 3 hours Am I letting some things drop? Yes. But, I’m finding that the important things, like getting a pedicure with my daughter – are getting done. And, it really helps me to sit down and FOCUS on projects and tasks that make me money.

Please share your tips. I’d love to hear them.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS.  I’m working on a book about working from home. So stay tuned for that soon. 

Remember, if you want lots of posts like this, check out my friends:

Lynn Terry – Get Social Marketing Results in Just Minutes a Day
Tiffany Dow – Work Life Balance
Alice Seba – The 30 Day List Challenge

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

This week I asked our panel of experts …

How do you know when to cut a project, client, or program…
even if it's a profitable one?

Lynn Terry of Clicknewz says:

My answer is going to be very short:

When it's no longer fun.

Or – when it becomes stressful.

Period.

When this happens I take a serious look at my options. I never (ever, ever!) let a site/product/project just die or disappear.

My options are to

1) sell it to someone who WILL enjoy it, or

2) outsource all the tasks involved with the project.

The latter is only an option if I can manage the project hands-off, still turn a profit, and be totally free of any stress related to the project.

Otherwise… to auction it goes!

I no longer have clients, but back when I did I always made it a point to connect them with someone who could take over when I chose to step out. It's important to maintain your reputation and your relationship, even if you no longer want to work with that client personally. My competitors always enjoyed the profitable referrals, which kept me in good with them too!

Shannon Cherry of The Business Building Live Intensive says:

A few years ago, I ran a successful membership program, which had been in existence for a few years.

For more than 8 months, I debated whether or not I should get rid of it. I asked my husband, and colleagues, and all of them said no because it was so profitable.

So I didn't. But it kept nagging at me. And what I realized was I had lost my loving feeling about the project, which had been going on consistently for 4 years. Frankly, I was bored with it. I was evolving and this program was keeping one foot in the past, making it difficult to transition from just being known as a publicity and public relations pro to a business and marketing pro.

So I ditched it. And as soon as the decision was made, I felt a weight had been lifted. And here's the fun part… I still profit from the content I created from that program. It's become blog posts and articles, and I've resold the ebooks I create too. So by quitting, both the content and me got a new lease on life!

Lain Ehmann of SuccessPLR.com says:

As entrepreneurs, we often start out saying “yes” to everything. We want to serve every customer, answer every email, and participate in every JV that comes our way. However, what got us to where we are now is not sustainable. We have to learn how to say “no,” and even to sometimes say, “no longer.”

There are some guidelines I use to make this decision:

1. Do I enjoy it?

If I don't like doing it, or don't enjoy working with the people involved, I need to say “no.” Sometimes a great working relationship can devolve, or you can outgrow a project or person. I went into business for myself so I could love my work. If I don't love what I'm doing, there's no point in it.

2. How else could I use the resources I'm dedicating to this project/person?

Sometimes, something is profitable, but I could be investing in something MORE profitable. For instance, if I'm holding on to something because I've always done it, what would I do instead? Does that have a higher payoff?

3. Am I holding on out of fear?

This can be really common with a money-making project, particularly as you transition to spending more time on your own business and less on freelance tasks or your day job. Are you only holding on to a client because you're scared nothing better will come along, or you're afraid what would happen if you let go? If fear is the only thing connecting me to something or someone, it needs to go.

I've found that rare is the time I regret cutting a client or project loose. In fact, I usually wish I'd done it sooner.

Take bold action, even if it scares the heck out of you!

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

It's funny. I asked this question because I was feeling overwhelmed. So what did I do about it? I am thinking about buying and taking over another business. ((Rolling eyes at self.))

Over the years, I've had bunches of clients and numerous projects. Of course, since there are only 24 hours in a day, those projects have had to be narrowed down and streamlined more so that I have time for what's important in my life – my kids, my husband, my family, my health.

While I'm about to share how I've decided what to keep and what to let go, please don't read into this that any past projects and/or clients were not valuable to me, nor great learning experiences.  They were.

This is a good time to bring back and talk about my R.E.A.D. system – which you've probably heard me talk about before. It's the first topic that I cover in my www.OutsourceWeekly.com course.

When I need clarity, these are the steps I go through…

R-Ruminate

E-Eliminate

A-Automate

D-Delegate

Obviously this post and this week's question is about the “E – eliminate” aspect of the formula. However, the decision really can't be made unless you know yourself and your know your numbers. That part comes down to the ever-helpful Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 rule).

If 90% of your stress is coming from one client, ditch him or her.

If 80% of your profits are coming from your mailing list, focus time on that.

If 5% of your income is coming from a website where you're investing hours of your time every day, then that's probably one to sell or walk away from.

ok. But how do you figure out your numbers? There are a few ways, but this is one that I use and I'll talk about it in my upcoming Productivity course. Watch for that.

In deciding what to keep and what to trash, I like to make a spreadsheet where I estimate my time spent verses my profits for the year.

If you can figure out approximately how many hours per year you'll be spending on a project and how much total income you'll make (after subtracting expenses) – then you can figure out how much your time is worth on that project.

For instance, let's say I have a blog about baking and I spend about 100 hours per month on it and make about $100/month. That would mean  my income was $1/hour. Yes, it's a business and that income will hopefully grow BUT…

If I also have a blog about dog training that I spend 100 hours per month and I make $1500/month on it, then that blog needs to be the one that gets more love – while the baking one should be reassessed and maybe let go.

It's a matter of knowing your numbers and prioritizing based upon that.

I know that math isn't sexy, but it is important if you want to make money and also still have time to live your life. (Both good things.)

Please remember, we only get so many breaths on this earth.

CHOOSE where you want to focus your time and energy.

CHOOSE where and how you want to make your impact on the world.

CHOOSE who you want to spend time with.

CHOOSE happiness.

So that's my two cents on that question. I would LOVE to hear how you personally make decisions and prioritize your projects, too.

Talk to me.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

Friday is the day where I give you free content that you can use on your blog – with your affiliate link, to make money with affiliate marketing. Hurray!

Not only that, but it’s copy/paste ready for you to profit.

So, yep. You can make money by publishing free stuff. Pretty cool eh?

So what do I have this week?

I have a new 30 page brandable report all about How to Get Started Making Money with Affiliate Marketing.

The report is actually the transcript of a presentation that my good friend, Lynn Terry taught at NAMS.

If you don't know about NAMS yet, be sure to check out this blog post/review:
Learn about the NAMS Conference in Atlanta

ok. Back to that free brandable report.

You can read it, and get details for branding it here:
Click here to Access the Free Report and get Branding Info

I hope that you have a fantastic week!

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

This week we're talking about making money – fast. At some point in our lives we all need a little extra income. Whether it's to pay for your teen's braces, save for a vacation, start up capital for a new business, or just every day bills and groceries, sometimes an extra $200 a month can make or break the family budget.

So I asked the experts ….

If your (neighbor/mom/sibling) told you he/she needed to make an extra $200 a month,
what would you suggest?

Lynn Terry of Clicknewz says:

I hear this question quite a bit, and my answer is usually the same. I recommend that they write for pay. Creating content is the one thing most online business owners struggle with, and many of them are outsourcing the task. For some it's a matter of being more technical than creative, for others it's simply a lack of time.

Quality content is like soap – it's a “repeat buy” product. Marketers need an endless supply of well-written content that attracts consumers. And when an online marketer finds a reliable writer that puts out great content, they tend to stick with them.

The pricing for content varies, but I find a standard rate is $10 per 300-800 word article. This is in more casual, less technical categories of course. Those are relatively short articles you can easily do in under an hour. Five of those a week would earn you $200/month.

The big question then is where to find these jobs, or writing opportunities. There are a number of sources, including job boards and networks, but I usually advise people to get personal recommendations – or to get personally recommended.

You might start by finding topics you like, and then searching out people you'd like to work with. Send them 2-3 articles to review, and give them exclusive reprint rights, and let them know that you're interested in ghostwriting for them on a regular basis if they like your work.

Shannon Cherry of The Business Building Live Intensive says:

Is an immediate need or can they transition into it gradually?

If the need is immediate, I would start by selling stuff you (and your family) doesn't need on ebay. It can get some cash coming in within a week or so.

I would then make a plan of attack for some ongoing income. Here's how:

1) Find a niche you like. (And I mean like! Don't do it because you think you can make money. If you don't like the topic and are only in it for the cash, it will show!)
2) Do some keyword research.
3) Buy a domain and set up a WordPress site.
4) Find a way to collect emails addresses.
4) Buy some PLR and sell it.
5) Find some affiliate products and offer those as well.

Last year, I set up a small niche site like this. I don't market it much, however, it consistently brings in about $140 per month, plus because of the topic allows me to write off some of my household expenses, giving me an additional $370 to play with each month.

Connie Ragen Green of Huge Profits Tiny List says:

In my previous life I was a classroom teacher, and I have two very special friends, Bernie and Sue Ann, who are now retired from teaching. I found out a few months ago that they were struggling to make ends meet on their pensions, and I recommended that they help some small businesses in their community.

Sue Ann writes well, and already knew about blogging. Bernie is a true ‘people person', so he got out and found a business to start working with. Together they post to a blog, write and submit articles, and set up social media for the people they are helping. They now have three clients – a chiropractor, an electrician, and a retail store. What started out only bringing them a few hundred dollars a month now earns them more than a thousand dollars each and every month.

Helping small businesses is also good for the economy, so you will feel like you are making a difference in many people's lives, as well as your own, simply by doing this as a way to earn some extra money on a part-time basis.

Felicia Slattery of Signature Speech Secrets says:

Hmmmm… an extra $200 a month would depend on who they were and what they knew. I hear those people who stand on the side of the road begging for money do quite well. But let's presume these are people who don't talk to the voices in their head and drink excessively to silence them.

In that case, again depending on who is asking for help, I might actually suggest a part-time job. When I waited tables in college the money was so great that even after I graduated and got a “real job” I kept right on waiting tables. I worked at a hotel and did the morning buffet on Saturday and/or Sundays. Most days I would leave with $100 cash in my pocket. That's $200 in one weekend. Easy. Same with a bunch of other easy-to-get low-income jobs working part-time.

So now let's say this person already has an online business. If they need an extra $200 just once, I'd suggest a “fire sale” of their most popular items. Or creating a sale with some Sexy PLR ;-). For a longer-term $200/mo fix, I'd suggest promoting someone else's continuity program or creating one yourself (depends on how much work you're willing to do for that $200!).

Other options: Add a “donate” button on your blog & ask readers to donate. Sell advertising space on your blog. A company would easily pay $200 for exclusive access to the ideal traffic for them (and many companies would gladly pay more).

Finally one last and fun way to make “extra” money is to go to http://Fiverr.com and figure out what weird, crazy or useful thing you're willing to do for $5. Do that thing 40 times in a month & you've got your cash!

The point is when it comes to making money there are MANY options. You just have to be creative and have an open mind!

Nicole Dean of here! says:

Thanks gals! Those are all great ideas.

It's really difficult for me to set a hard-and-fast rule as to what is the single BEST way to do this for one simple reason. That is: All People are Different. What's easy to me may be difficult for you and vice versa. So to say this is the ONE way that will get you to $200/month fast — would be unfair for you, because it may not be. Without knowing you well enough, I can't advise you.  Everyone is different.

That being said, there are two main paths you could take:

1. Sell a Service.

2. Sell a Thing (or as normal people say “a product”)

Either way, if you're in business, you've got to be selling something, right? There has to be a transaction that takes place where a person pays cash for something they want or need. That's how business works.

So, here's what I'd advise to that person.

• If he or she is unskilled in internet marketing at this point, then I'd suggest that they sell a service.

OR

• If he or she does have some online business savvy, then they may be ready to set up an income stream and market the snot out of it and get to $200/month from that.

OR

• Both

The service path is easier to begin. It would also be the fastest path to cash if that person was in a dire situation. We all have skills, whether it's sports photography, face painting, transcription (typing fast), or writing.

The “thing” path is easier in the long-run because you aren't tied to trading time for money.

What I would prefer is a little of each. If they need money fast, then I would advise that they take the two-pronged approach that I often teach.

Sell your Time (by Starting a Service Business)
while Building your Passive Income on the side.

In fact, that's what I taught my mom to do.

She's been working as a Virtual Assistant for me and my friend (for 4 years) while she's been building up her blog income (RemarkableWrinklies.com). She is now getting a side income from Adsense and affiliate marketing.

She even launched a new ebook:

MemoryLaneMeals.com

(Yes, I'm very proud of her.)

So, let's have it. What would you suggest to a friend who needs to make an extra $200/month? I'd love your input, too!

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

Recommended Resource for Learning about Passive Income

Right now, the place where I'd recommend you go to learn about affiliate marketing and growing an online business – especially if you're not making any money yet – is NAMS.

Click here to check it out
and be sure to look at the coupon on the page for a BIG discount!

Plus, I got to meet several of my customers. (Waving to you!)

I even hung out at the hotel gym with a customer who had
my undivided attention for the entire hour we exercised.
There will be NO sweaty-looking pictures of that, though! eek!
How'd that happen? Simple. She came up to me, told me that
she was a customer, and asked if I would have any time to chat
during the weekend. I said “Well, I've already got lunch plans,
but I'm going to the hotel gym after lunch. Want to meet me there?”
And, she said “Sure.” (Wow. Networking is so hard, right?)

If you're not attending live events yet – you are sooooo
missing out on money (and fun!). I get to meet customers,
find new affiliates, make deals, and build lasting relationships
at every event I've been to — even the bad ones. (Don't ask. lol!)

I know that it can be scary. I know it can be an expense.

But it is CRITICAL to growing your business quickly.

Each event I've gone to has directly increased my income
in some way. Either through the presentations, being able to
ask questions about things I was struggling with, or in meeting
people who ended up being friends (and promoting me).

My absolute favorite event to go to is the NAMS conference in Atlanta.

I've been to three of them and it's something I look forward to every six months.

Yes, even if you're a TOTAL beginner – you need to be there.

The next NAMS is coming up soon in Atlanta – and yes, I'll be there.
How to join me: Click here for Details

If you're a beginner, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions
and connect with others who you'll stay in contact with for years.

If you're at the intermediate level or feeling like you've
reached a plateau, you'll learn how to move past it.

And, if you're at an advanced level, you'll have the opportunity
to connect with all 25 instructors – who are all potential
JV partners for you.

It's a win, no matter where you are in your business.

Please come and meet me, Willie Crawford, Connie Green,
Susanne Myers, Paul Evans, Bob Jenkins,
Lynn Terry, and a slew of my other amazing friends.

• Bring your spouse.
• Bring your parents.
• Bring your favorite sibling.
• Bring your kids.

It's fun and learning for the whole family! (And, unlike some
events – it's clean so you don't have to worry about young
ears hearing things they shouldn't.)

Many people bring the people they love to NAMS. Not just once,
but every single time they go. I've brought my mom and my son. Bob Jenkins
brought his brother. Lynn Terry brought her daughter.

No excuses. Go to this page now – and make plans to attend. It can be a total game-changer for you.

Here's where you can learn more: Click here for Details

If you're coming to the NAMS conference, please let me know by commenting below so I can watch for you.

Have a fantastic day! You deserve it.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

I am asked this question often and I think it's safe to say that it happens to everyone.

This week I asked our panel of experts …

When you're having a bad day or where you feel like throwing in the towel and just saying ‘screw it' what do you do to pick yourself back up and keep plugging along?

I think you'll find the answers this week interesting and hopefully motivating.

Denise Wakeman of Blog Squad Tips says:

Depending on how difficult the day is feeling for me, I do a couple of things;

1. Go to the gym or for a short run.
That almost always clears my head since I'm away from my desk/computer and focus on my body. A good workout will do wonders for my mental state.

2. If it's really bad, I contact my business mentor.
She can always talk me down from the “screw it” place and talk me back up to recognizing my gifts and how I serve others and that i am appreciated.

Between those two things, I can usually get myself back to work with a positive attitude.

Mark Mason of MasonWorld.com says:

OK — you are asking for the secret sauce now.

Seriously, I run into this problem all the time. Like a lot of internet marketers, I have a day job, a wife, four kids, a dog, a cat, two turtles (Pumble and Tumble) and five fish. I also have a house with a ton of chores. I usually don't work on internet marketing until after 10PM, and some days it is really easy just to “screw it” (Nicki's words) and go to bed (or watch old Law and Order re-runs).

When I feel that way, I use one of 2 strategies:

1. Instead of doing NOTHING, I pick something that I want to do that is not on my list of things that I need to do.
Check out some new software, read some blogs, do some fun social media work. Basically, I goof off on non-critical BUSINESS tasks. Stuff that I usually do not allow myself to do when I am focused on making real progress. Then at least I get SOMETHING done.

2. I work on my Motivational Monday series.
Now, many people think that I publish motivational blog posts just to help my readers. The truth is, they help me too. I intentionally started that series to help me stay motivated too.

Most of all, people need to remember that internet marketing is a marathon not a race. Pace yourself. To me, that means that it is actually OK to say “screw it” every now and then.

Lynette Chandler of TechBasedMarketing.com says:

Such a timely question because I was feeling so ready to throw in the towel last night. Thinking back to the last times I felt this way, here's what I did.

Let it go, do something else, or if it is late at night go to bed.
Sometimes a few hours will do the trick but sometimes it could be a day, two maybe a week. But that's the beauty of doing what we do. Take as long as you need. If however you are taking forever to find your fire again then something is seriously wrong and you'll probably want to do a re-evaluation of the business and direction you're heading.

Sometimes the point of frustration is more about an unpleasant task that has to be done.
The last time that happened to me, I wrote to my assistant and explained to her the issue, that I didn't want to do or think about it. The wonderful woman took the entire thing off my hands and let me move on again.

Talk.
I'm not a talker by nature but have found I really need someone to just talk things out with me from time to time with a few good friends in the business and also my husband. The last time I did this, I ended up with a new vision.

Lynn Terry of Clicknewz.com says:

I walk out the door and drive straight to McDonald's to pick up a job application. About halfway there, I realize how insane that is and turn around, then get back to work.

Seriously though, it happens to all of us. It could be an email that is totally deflating, or a nasty headache, but sometimes there are just days when you don't “feel it”.

If I have something specific scheduled, I take a deep breath (and maybe a short break or power walk) and then work my way through it. More often than not though, I don't – my schedule is very flexible. So in most cases I'll step away from the office and take a nice long nap or watch an engaging movie.

A big part of taking care of my business is taking care of myself.
I don't take that lightly, as I know all too well how burn-out or mental fatigue can affect my work. Fortunately with a flexible schedule I can work when I am at my best, and when I'm feeling inspired and creative. And otherwise nap and read and watch great movies.

Shannon Cherry of The Business Building Live Intensive says:

Usually it's more than just one bad day that makes me want to throw in the towel. It's a bad week. And when it's bad, all I want to do is tune out and tune into Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

For me, it's Buffy. For you, it could be playing on Facebook or cleaning the house. Whatever you do, it's avoidance. And it's a sign something is up.

So here's what I do:

1) Allow myself some time to detach.
Sometimes just having a break from it all can do wonders. I allow myself a half-day to do what I want. They key here is to set a time frame and keep it. Then get back to work.

2) I make a list.
Sometimes it's overwhelm that's got me paralyzed and turns a bad day into a bad week. Usually, this is something I do with a partner – either my husband or my accountability partner. That way I don't get caught up in the list (which I already have in my head anyway) and start getting it done. Once the list is made, I select the top three things that MUST get done today. The rest, as they say, is gravy!

3) I think about my WHY.
Why am I in business in the first place? What is the motivator behind all I do (the good, the bad and the yucky). For me, it's my girls. I want to be home when they are home. I want also have time to be their advocate, as they are on the Autism spectrum. So I need to make sure the time I am working is productive. I think of this… and get cracking.

Susanne Myers of AffiliateTreasureChest.com says:

As you well know Nicole, I have those days on a somewhat regular basis and you know what the first thing is I do.

Step One – Send an instant message to Nicole Dean

Sometimes all it takes is to hear a “poor baby” or get a virtual hug from someone who understands this biz, understands “you” and gets why that one nasty email you found in your inbox is ruining your entire day. That's why my first step is to instant message Nicole. She sets me straight and reminds me that I don't really want to go back to an office job.

Step Two – Work on something productive

Next, I try to work on a little something that makes me feel productive. If it results in some comments, sales or new signups, even better. I might write a quick article or blog post and publish it, send out an email, or turn some articles into a short report that I can give to my list.

Just making myself do something to grow my business is often enough to get me in a better mood.

Step Three – Look at how far I've come

If none of the above do the trick, I open Google Analytics, Clickbank, Aweber and my shopping cart and look at where I was at a year ago. Seeing how much more traffic I get now, how many more affiliate sales I am making and how much my list and customer base have grown is a great “pick-me-up”.

It may feel like I'm taking one step forward and 2 steps back, but the stats show that I am making progress.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

Wow! I got a lot of responses this week – and I didn't even have to send a reminder saying “Hey guys… you gonna answer or what?” lol. This is obviously a hot topic.

Everyone has given great advice. So, I'll say “ditto” to all of my smart friends above.

Before I dive in with my answer, I'd like to, once again, say how amazing my friends are to be so transparent and honest in their answers. Instead of saying “oh, I never feel that way. I just sit on the beach and suck margaritas all day and my life is perfect” – they shared the honest truth.

YES. Some days are deflating.  Some days, you lose your mojo completely. Yes. Some days you question whether getting a job would *really* be a bad thing.

Goodness. This month, I got an email from someone who I thought was a friend (or decent acquaintance at the least) that felt like a punch in the gut. It was totally over the top. That royally sucked. (Before you ask, it's no one who you guys know from Expert Briefs. These ARE friends.)

Other things that can make me want to say “screw it” are…

• Technical snafus that roadblock me. These drive me bonkers.
• Spending time creating and sending an email or freebie that I think my people will LOVE and it tanks. (Yes, that happens.)
• Getting a refund request with the words “I don't mean to be mean but…” in it. (I can count the times on one hand that it happens, but I can personally remember every time it has in the years I've been online.)
• Creating a new product that people have been asking for – but they don't buy right away in the big numbers you thought they would.

Stuff like that can send you reeling.

It can make you question everything.

• Who you are.
• What you're doing.
• Why you're doing it.
• IF you're actually helping anyone.
• And, whether or not you should even bother.

Back to the drawing board, right?

Connect with Someone Who Understands.

The FIRST thing I do is always the same – I connect with someone who understands and knows me and who I trust.

I normally get on IM or Skype with Susanne, Melissa Ingold, or Ronnie Nijmeh, and get myself back on track. Sometimes I'll get on the phone with Lynn or Scott Tousignant but not often enough.

Reboot your Brain.

Then, I give myself permission to lick my wounds a bit and get away from the computer to “reboot” my brain and my emotions. I know that if I try to power through it – it's ineffective for me. I have to step away for awhile.

Some of the other things I do are similar to the others:

1. Spend time with the kids if they're home.
2. Go throw the ball for my Einstein puppy for awhile.
3. Go beat myself up at the gym.
4. Go on a walk.
5. Take a bike ride.
6. Read a book that's not work-related in any way shape or form.
7. Indulge in some TV time. (Normally the TV is off while I'm working.)
8. Take a nap.
9. Get a pedicure.
10. Walk around and clean the house.
11. Do some laundry.
12. Run errands.
13. Go outside and rake.
14. Clean my car.
15. Drive to the beach.
16. Ask my Joe to take me out to lunch.
17. Jump in the shower or bath. I swear there is something magical about the shower. I don't know if it's the steam or the sensory deprivation or what, but I get the best ideas in there.
18. Step outside by the pool with a piece of paper and pencil and start doodling until things make sense again.

Keep a Happy File.

I also keep a “happy file”.  I print nice emails that I get from people and keep them in one place so I can go back and read them when I need a pick me up.

I also mark the nice things that people say to or about me on Twitter.com as “favorites” so I can pull those up when I'm feeling down. Here's how it looks. You can do this, too. http://twitter.com/#!/NicoleDean/favorites

Take Time to See how Far You've Come.

One thing that I talked about in the Q&A this month at www.IncomeCPR.com is that I always recommend to my coaching clients that they set up a binder with their monthly stats in it. It's like Mark said, this business is like running a marathon. Oftentimes, you don't realize how far you've come until you take a moment to look behind you. And, like Susanne said, look back 6 months or a year – at your list size, your traffic, your income… and see just how far you've come. That always helps to spur me on.

Understand that it's NOT Just You.

Sometimes it feels like bad stuff only happens to you. It doesn't. Just for fun, here's podcast that I recorded back in April 2009, the day that my pedal fell off my bike WHILE I was riding it.  I know I laughed really loudly in this recording – I apologize to your ears in advance!

Poop Happens and Wrestling with Moths – mp3 file

As I always say yes, you will fall. And, yes, poop happens – even to the “successful”.

Dust off those britches and get back into the game.

Hugs,
Nicole Dean

Check out this Recommended Resource:

Rachel Rofe & Ronnie Nijmeh created a cool course called Time Management Tricks.

Check it out if you want more info on organizing your day so you can spend less time in front of your computer — and more time living life.