Staying Safe And Relaxed On Your Business Trip

A business professional can lead a pretty hectic life if they are constantly on the go, from one business trip to the next, to the next, to the...you get the point! Companies rely on their businessmen to represent them on the road, whether pitching new products or enticing potential clients. One big concern however is the safety of these business professionals. Since they are going to unfamiliar territory, sometimes in other countries, it is especially important to keep a few safety precautions in mind. Here are some tips for a business traveler when traveling!

• Know the area! Sure, you are probably in a place you’ve never been before but you can still do a little research and find out enough information to keep you safe. There are always places you will want to stay away from and places that you should visit to stay safe. Know what you can expect from each place that you go!

• Don’t dress up! Sure, you are probably going to be wearing business suits and dress clothes on your business trips but make sure you dress down your accessories such as watches, necklaces and rings. There is nothing more that will attract a thief in a foreign city then expensive ‘flash’!

• Act like you know the area! If you want to do your best to keep the ‘bad guys’ away from you when you’re on a business trip just try to act like you are a local. Tourists and traveler’s are often the first hit targets by criminals so if you pretend like you know the area and live around town you won’t have as high of a chance of getting mugged or getting in trouble.

• Avoid bad areas! Every city, in the United States and overseas, has their bad areas. Whether this means certain streets or corners or different restaurants, you should stay away from them when on a business trip. Bad areas can get you in bad trouble and you can’t guarantee your safety! Plus, your company would rather have you safe then sorry!

Business professionals can have safer business trips if they can just concentrate on staying safe while on the road. They are often labeled “road warriors” but in order for these warriors to stay safe they need to follow these important reminders! Business trips can be fun, interesting and most importantly, effective- but only if you are safe!

Staying Sane in a Home Business

An Overload Rescue Plan

Well, you finally did it, you've escaped the traditional, away from home work force and are now self-employed. You started your very own home based business. There you sit, in your nice new office, whether it's in the corner of the sitting room or in a converted bedroom, surrounded by your equally brand new toys, your computer, desk and some strategically placed shelves.

Your new multi-function center will print stuff, fax stuff and copy stuff. (It won't hang out the washing, but hey, you can't have everything.) You've even got work coming-in and the immediate worry about making a living has vanished. Hooray! Youreally can work from home!

At first, working from home is pure bliss. Then you get a week when everybody and their dog seems to want your services. After putting in a few late nights, you meet all the deadlines and think; phew, I'm glad that's over! You decide to relax and give yourself a day off. After all, you worked all through the weekend and earned it, right?

Unfortunately, the following week you find yourself off to a bad start trying to make-up for your day off. Before you know it, you find that you're dropping further and further behind. You reflect gloomily that when you were working for someone else, at least at the end of the day you were finished, what didn't get done didn't get done!

Well, it's time to take heart and set a few simple strategies in place that will keep you in control of your time, and your sanity. Consider the following:

1. Do NOT Accept Any New Work This Week.
Take a good look at what you have on your plate now, and carefully plan the week ahead. Your aim is to regain control. Tell new clients that you are fully booked, but you can put them on a priority list to be phoned next week. This will not only allow you to catch up, but make your services appear highly in demand.

2. Build In Time For Leisure and Rest.
Not only for this week, but EVERY week. A half hour walk; a twenty-minute break in the sun with a cup of coffee; a quick swim or a movie outing with friends, all these activities can recharge your batteries. You will find that you can achieve far more when you are rested and alert. How many times have you sat at the computer staring at the screen, achieving very little, because you're over-tired?

3. Tackle Urgent Tasks First.
If you're behind, your first step must be to contact all clients and arrange firm new deadlines. Make sure you base these new deadlines on what you can achieve, not what you hope you can achieve. If any existing client needs your services or products urgently, bump them up the queue.

4. Prioritize Remaining Tasks.
Scrap anything that is not essential, and delegate what you can. Consider involving family, business associates or friends to handle some tasks. Do not hand over tasks that must be carried out only by you as the principal of the business. Your reputation is important.

5. Set Achievable Daily Goals.
If you finish a task ahead of schedule, begin the next, but adhere to a definite cut-off time each day. What you are doing this week is establishing a system that will continue to work for you.

Getting out of trouble when your business is in overload is just like getting out of debt. Your business rating is similar to your credit rating, nothing can be gained by denying that a problem exists. Nothing can be gained by slipping deeper into the mire. Call a halt; contact the main players; set workable strategies in place and you can quickly regroup. Before you know it, your home business dream will be on track once more.

Staying Sane While Starting A Home Business

Starting a new business can be a harried experience. There are a myriad of decisions to be made, the budget needs stretched, the new secretary quits before the end of the first week: the struggles are endless. When starting a business from your home, you can add a slew of unique challenges to the list. Being aware of the potential pitfalls, and preparing for them can provide a way of preserving your sanity.

Friends and family members frequently assume that if you are home, you are available. Nothing can set your work back hours, faster than an unplanned visit from your mother. Setting clear boundaries regarding your schedule and availability for phone calls and visits can prevent misunderstandings early on in the life of your business.

If you are choosing to keep your small children home with you while you work, that carefully planned schedule can quickly become fodder for your three year old. Getting up early is often the best way to increase your productivity while those little angels are still slumbering away.

Having a contingency plan for days when the work load requires more attention than usual is an excellent way to head off disasters before they happen. Find local babysitters who are willing to come to your home to help out when needed. Recruit friends and family to provide occasional entertainment for short periods of time to allow you to work without interruptions. Anything that helps you keep focused is a good investment in preserving your sanity.

Running a business from your home has a few perks, especially at tax time. Consulting with a tax expert or accountant early on will arm you with the knowledge necessary to save you time and money when filing your first year’s business taxes.

Finding service providers that are both competent and trustworthy is a lesson in perseverance. The business directories, internet advertisements and even newspaper ads are clogged with scams and incapable providers. Seeking the advice of a seasoned home business veteran can be your salvation. Word of mouth will reveal strengths and problems with service providers.

If you find that you have chosen poorly and end up with a full sized, ten year old copier in your den instead of that sleek, all-in-one model with all the bells and whistles that you paid for, don’t despair. Don’t back down either. You can explain your dissatisfaction firmly and politely while explaining that the services were not acceptable. If after bringing the blunder to the business’ attention, you are still left feeling cold, you can report the offender to the Better Business Bureau: and call for legal advice.

Using good old common sense, a little street smarts and a lot of charm and honesty will help your achieve your business goals, while allowing you to keep your sanity and your home life intact.

Staying On Task With Your Home Based Business

Working from home may have always been a dream for you. It is a great way to stay home and tend to things that happen there, as well as cut down on commuting and saving gas, in a time when gas prices are higher than they have been in recent years. A home based business means that you are available when you family needs you, but that added availability can be difficult when you are working to complete a number of tasks for your business. Disruptions can happen in any work environment, but may happen more often if you work from home. If you become easily distracted, it may be very difficult to focus on the business tasks at hand, when you know that you need to start cooking dinner, or have several loads of laundry to wash.

Having an area that you work in that is away from these types of disruptions can help to ease your destructibility. Having your desk or computer set up in a room that is only for your business can help you to focus on the tasks that need to be completed that day or in the near future. Letting family members know that when you are in your office or at your computer, they should not disturb you, can help to keep them from asking questions or diverting your attention from your work. If you do not have the option to having your own room, you should consider moving your work into an area of the house that does not receive a considerable amount of traffic. Trying to work at 3 p.m. in the kitchen, when the kids are getting out of school and heading in for a snack may cause you to focus on them or making their snack, instead of working.

Set up a schedule for yourself that you strictly adhere to. Training yourself to work during certain hours of the day can keep you focused on working during those hours. Knowing that you will be able to work on housework daily from 2 to 5 pm, will cause you to not stress about getting the house cleaned or dinner cooked before your spouse comes home. This can also allow your family to give you those specific hours you have allotted to work during, without distractions. This also means that you should not work on your business other than the hours you have set aside to work on. Creating a to-do list can help also. You will be able to see when important deadlines are, and how best to complete the tasks in a timely manner.

Allowing yourself to not become distracted can help to improve your business and your will help to improve your home life as well.

Staying Focused And Avoiding Procrastination With A Home Business

Running a home business can be fantastic. You have the flexibility to set your own hours, freedom to make your own schedule and you get to be your own boss. Unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to stay focused. Your mind can wander, tasks can fall by the wayside, the kids are calling, procrastination sets in and suddenly, you're “working” 12-hour days.

Here are five great tips for staying focused while running your own home business:

1.Wake up earlier. Some of our best work is done in the morning, without the distractions of daily tasks. If you have children, getting up even just an hour before them can produce amazing results when you have a big task to tackle.

2.Turn off distractions, including email. If you like to check your email or social networking sites, set aside an hour of uninterrupted and focused work time where you will only work on the project at hand. Force yourself to not check email and concentrate on that one task for even just one hour. You'll be amazed at the results.

3.Get out of the house. Go for a walk or take your laptop down the street to a local coffee shop. Sometimes, getting out of your space is not only good for you physically and mentally, but it can also help reinvigorate your ideas. Next time you're struggling over a problem or facing a creative block, try a change of scenery.

4.Plan your day. Get an agenda and set aside blocks of time for each task or project. Not only will this help you stay focused, it will also help you track exactly how much time you really are spending on each client.

5.Set boundaries. Let your family know that the office is out-of-bounds and let yourself know that the work day is done at 6pm. By setting rules and boundaries for yourself, you're adding valuable structure into your business and preserving your separation of home and work.