How to pay for school supplies and school uniforms

Hey guys

It has been a while.  My head has been buried in the sand and I'm working like crazy with Mommies Who Want More.  In fact, I just took my head out to share this post and back in the sand it goes.

As you know, I have two sons.  My oldest will be starting formal school in August (he's been homeschooled since he was two).  I'm an emotional wreck about it too.  While I'm sad that he won't be around throughout the day, I'm excited that he'll make new friends and have his own new experiences.

Well, as most of my couponing mommies know, the back-to-school season has begun.  A lot of stores are putting their summer items on sale to make room for school-related items.  Now is the absolute best time to shop for both.  This past weekend, I bought two flotation devices for the kids for less than $7.  We live in Houston, so these things will get some good use until about November-maybe even December.  Every year, I usually pick up a few school supplies as fillers when couponing.  But now that I have a school-aged child, buying school supplies has become a priority rather than just a deal.  And I now see how expensive it can be.  And I am so glad I have a Netspend card to cover the cost.

Last summer, an internet marketing friend referred me to Netspend's free $20s referral/rewards program for new customers.   When you sign up as a new cardholder and load your free card with $40, Netspend will reward you with an additional $20 on your card for free.  In addition, you are eligible to refer this program and get additional $20s for every person you refer to this cool program as well.  As a result of becoming a cardholder and sharing this with my other mommy and entrepreneur friends, I have been able to earn $80 so far with this program!!! Even if you don't share this program with anyone, you get $20 just for being an active card member.  WINNING!!!

To order your card and become eligible for $20s for back-to-school shopping, go HERE.  Fill out the form and wait for your card to arrive.  Once it does, I suggest using PayPal to load your card since it's free.  Well gotta go.  Comment below if you have any questions.  Talk to you soon.

Until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity. 

Free Toolbox Review Part 3

Thanks for coming back for this final installment of the Free Toolbox Review

We've already covered:

• the payment structure/compensation plan
• payment methods
• cost
• how to get customers and/or business partners

Now let's talk about some of the benefits.

Free Toolbox Benefits

• Banner system to market other business to your FTB business partners
• Capture pages (at additional cost) to assist with marketing FTB 24/7 Webinar System, Built in Email system to email your team, Team Build function, free courses, conference calls and live webinars, a professional website and members area and customer support

How FTB Complements Other Businesses

• Fundraising- FTB can be used as a fundraising option for a primary business or start-up.  You can use the 5 levels as donation options with a different recognition/prize associated with each.
• Feeder Program- Overcome the money objection to your primary business with FTB.  It will train new recruits, help them earn start-up capital and "feed" them straight into your primary business.
• Multiple Streams of Income- You may love your job and/or primary business but want to make a little more. 
• Lead Generation- You can market FTB as a means to gather leads for your primary business.  This method helps qualify prospects because you get to see their efforts and skills and determine if you want to introduce your primary business to them without them ever knowing they were being pre-qualified.

So far, this has been the easiest business to earn income with.  Low one-time start-up.  Continued support.  Lead generation.  Feeder program. Training.  Check it out for yourself here.  Contact me via our contact form here or comment section below for any questions you may have.  If there is another business you would like me to check out for you, comment below as.

Until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Free Toolbox Review Part 2

Welcome back to part 2 of my Free Toolbox Review.  Here's a little refresher of Free Toolbox if you forgot.

How Are You Paid
Free Toolbox Payment Methods are the following:

• Check ($3 withdrawal admin fee)
• Chase Bank Quick Pay  ($3 withdrawal admin fee)
• Bank Wire ($25 fee)

Funds are available for release a week after they are earned.  You must have at least $25 in earnings before you can request a withdrawal of funds.

How You Acquire Customers and Business Partners
There are several ways to get your six customers or business partners in your business center.

1. You can market your business training to six small business owners and network marketers who need help growing their business.
2. You can market your business training to six aspiring business owners.
3. You can market your business training to two aspiring business owners who then market it to a total of 4 business owners, network marketers and/or aspiring business owners.
4. A combination of the previous three methods.
5. You can get spillover (credit) for customers of your upline (the business partner who helped you get started with FTB).  This method usually does not happen often and should be considered a bonus rather than a sure way to get your six.
6. The company hosts weekly conference calls and webinars to explain the business to prospective business partners.
7. The company is international so you can acquire customers from anywhere that accepts FTB payment methods as long as they have a credit card for payment.

Gotta go for now. I have a teething baby to attend to (the joys of motherhood).  In my next post, I'll cover how this business complements other businesses and the other benefits of the program.  In the meantime, get started here.  It's too easy to pass up.  Until then, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Free Toolbox Review Part 1

Peter Wolfing has done it again.  For those of you who don't know Peter Wolfing, he is responsible for creating businesses to help moms and entrepreneurs create multiple streams of income online for the past 20 years..  Free Toolbox is no different. 

This business can be a companion to any business you currently have or can be your very first business.  Free Toolbox provides 101 ways to market your business and generate leads.  So you can get into the business and learn how to grow this very same business and me successful. It is designed to allow users to see results quickly.

And the start-up fee is ridiculously low-- only $48.75.  Most home-based businesses today cost at least $100 ($99.95) to start.   Even if you cannot afford $48.75, you have the opportunity to start for as low as $1.25 and work your way up the five levels of training to get to $48.75.  Starting at the lower level only limits the amount of training you have access to which can affect your income so start where you are most financially comfortable.  I am personally helping moms get the first three training levels currently priced at $11.75 for $5 if they contact me via Facebook here.


How You Earn

There are 5 trainings levels called business centers each with a different cost:
Level 1: $1.25
Level 2: $2.50 + $1 one-time admin fee
Level 3: $5 + $2 one-time admin fee
Level 4: $10 + $3 one-time admin fee
Level 4: $20 + $4 one-time admin fee

You are paid every time you acquire six customers and/or business partners on a level. 

The payout is as follows:
Level 1: $5 - $1.25 renewal fee
Level 2: $10 - $2.50 renewal fee
Level 3: $20 - $5 renewal fee
Level 4: $40 - $10 renewal fee
Level 4: $80 - $20 renewal fee

So if you have six customers and/or business partners purchase all 5 levels of training, then you earn $116.25.

Watch this video on compensation.

Stay tuned for my next post about how to grow this business.  If you're interested in getting started right now with this great program, you can join here.  You can also comment below if you have any questions before getting started.  Until then, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Mommies Who Want More

In my last post, I told you guys that I had decided to dedicate my summer to helping other moms.  Since that post, I went into overdrive in creating a 90-day system for moms who want to own a business.  Now that I think about it, I wouldn't call it a system at all.  It's a boot camp; it's an all-out plan of attack on their finances to get them making  six figures a year by the end of summer.  I call this system/boot camp Mommies Who Want More. 

I am only working with women who are ready to wage war on their finances no matter what it takes.  I am in the process of selecting the seven women who I will be working with closely this summer.  Though I would love to work with every mother, I am a mother too and only have so much time to allocate in a day.  So seven is my max.  I am being very selective.  These moms have to be ready to take action.  I'm not looking for women whose decision to start the system/bootcamp is dependent on what the system is or what the business is.  Questions like those let me know that they're not in the right mindset to really do whatever it takes to succeed because let's be honest, if you are serious about being successful, you will do whatever it takes to make it succeed- no matter what the business is.  You don't have to love make up or coffee or weight-loss supplements to be successful. 

You just have to have the vision and the fire to be successful to market your business.  I know a young lady who loves makeup and signed up for a new make-up marketing company but hasn't succeeded with the business.  She doesn't have the vision or fire.  That's not who I am looking for.  I am looking for moms who have a fire in their bellies for something greater for their families than they have now.  That's it.  Everything else can be taught.  Passion can't.

I am super excited to get this going in June.  I will definitely keep you posted.

Until my next post, I wish all my moms, peace, patience and prosperity.

How I'm Helping Moms This Summer

If I could change one thing in this world, it would be?

Financial education or the lack thereof.

Think about it.  How much formal financial education did you gotten as a child or as an adult?  Many of us received none or very little in school and learned about finances via experience or antiquated thinking.  Most Americans know very little about two things:

• making money
• managing money (budgets)
• saving money

For this reason, I am making it my goal to work with moms with summer and educate them on how to be successful in all if these areas.

Why moms?
Moms are usually the backbones to the family.  They are usually the ones who are the CEOs, CFOs (Chief Financial Officers) and COOs (Chief Operations Officer) of the family.  They are the ones who make it their number one priority to make sure that their family runs smoothly.  But they struggle with how to do that because they don't understand money.

Struggle #1 Making Money
Many moms have bought into the idea of having a job to make money.  Trading time for money is terrible thinking- especially for moms.  This notion causes them to work overtime or get additional jobs just to make more money, which, in turn, causes them to lose more and more time with their family.  I want to help moms learn how to make money without being a slave to a job.  I want to teach them that they can have a job but not  NEED a job.  And if they desire to quit their jobs completely, I want to show them how to do that too.

Struggle #2 Managing Money
Even moms who seemingly have enough income to live comfortably are struggling.  Why? They can't seem to get out of debt or they overspend.  Failure to have  a budget and/or follow it only leads to debt, overdraft fess and payday loans.  I will show moms how to allocate money for debt and manage household expenses.

Struggle #3 Saving Money
One thing that stay-at-home moms don't think about is what they would do if they husbands lost their jobs.  They haven't set up savings and/or investments to cover lost income.  Sometimes if they have thought about it, they simply can't save for such an event because of Struggle #2.  Let's work on planning so that if such a thing happens, you will be prepared.

If you're a mom who needs help, connect with me on Facebook and send me a message. 

 

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Happy Mother's Day; My Gift to You

Happy Mother's Day to all my moms out there.  This weekend, I have a little contest for my aspiring work-from-home moms.

Check out the video and contact me.  www.facebook.com/rbabajide

Top 6 Network Marketing and Sales Objections and How to Overcome Them

Here's a quick video of tips and scripts on how to handle common objections. 

 What are some objections you get from your prospects or leads? 

Investing Isn't For Me

Just for kicks, I reached out via Facebook to a young lady who was employed with Family Dollar and asked if she would be interested in starting her own business. Indeed, she was. She was very interested in the business after I gave her a short overview so I invited her to a call my business partners were conducting later that night for further information.

After the call, I followed up with her. She said that she was no longer interested. She said, "I don't see me in an investing business. At first, I was on sure of what she meant because my company is not an investment company. After further discussion, I learned that she meant that did not want to invest her money in order to start a business. Well, I'll admit, I laughed because what lucrative business can you start without investing money? Sure I had ways to overcome this objections but it wasn't worth it. She was an "E" and was rather comfortable there. For her and other "E"'s, having a business sounds nice but wasn't her life's burning desire. So there was no use in overcoming her objection by telling her about our alternative fundraising option to help with the start up costs. There was no use in reminding her dreams and goals in relation to her present minimum wage job at Family Dollar.  She wouldn't get it. She was an "E".  She was not the future "B" I was looking for. 

This experience reminds me of two things: the necessity of exclusivity and the nature or network marketing.  As a business owner, you must be selective with who you introduce your business to.  They have to have the mindset and desire of a business owner before they ever become one.  If not, you'll waste a lot of time with people who will quit and hurt your business.  Mike Dillard writes:

The sad truth, is that most people in this industry did not buy a business, they bought hope. And hope is never backed by true desire.  Hope is for the undecided... Don't get frustrated. 80% of people who join you will never sponsor more than 1 rep or customer. Most people simply don't have the desire at a level of 100 to accomplish their goals through their new business. They just bought hope in order to quiet that little voice inside them that keeps nagging them to make a change. Once they buy the business, and they don't make $1,000 in 5 days, they can then justify their fear of change with the "logic" that it just "didn't work", and that they knew it was a scam to begin with... This is especially true with opportunity seekers."

See, my Family Dollar friend was a hope-seeker which explains why she was so interested prior to the call.  But when faced with the reality of what she was required of her, she backed away.  She has looking for an opportunity but did not have a desire to truly pursue it, which again shows the importance of selectivity.  We must be truly committed to building a business rather than making a quick buck. And when were are, we will not have to worry so much about the 80% because that number will be nonexistent and we will not have to worry about overcoming objections or naysayers or hope-seekers.


Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity. 

Facebook Marketing for Mompreneurs 101: Facebook's Algorithm

Though I have ventured into YouTube marketing and making videos, Facebook is still my first love and preferred method of marketing. If you've been following my posts and following my advice, I KNOW you have a business page and FB profile set up. ;) Now it's time to talk about how to use it.  In order to do that, we have to talk about Facebook's algorithm.  Here are a few details about the algorithm:

• It is set of instructions that governs what shows in any given visitor's newsfeed
• It has changed several times in the past year and half resulting in a decrease in the number of friends/fans who see posts
• It is composed of three factors: affinity, weight, time decay
• Affinity refers to relationship and interaction.  Facebook tracks how often a visitor interacts with a person/company.  The higher the interaction, the closer the relationship
• Weight refers to a Facebook post and the interaction.  Posts with more likes, comments and shares have a heavier weight.  Shares gives more weight than comments and comments give more weight than likes.
• Time Decay refers to how much time has past sense a post was created.  Older posts will not show in newsfeeds because, well, it's old. 

What to can you do?

Let's talk about the algorithm components as it relates to your business

• Affinity: For business pages, you need to focus on content.  Try different types of posts to find out which yields the most interactions and do more of those posts.  This helps those people see more of your future posts.  For a profile, have FB friends who are prime candidates for becoming business partners or customers, interact with them more via messaging, comments, likes, shares.  Facebook tracks your last 50 interactions so it is likely that they will see more of your posts in their newsfeeds.
• Weight: As interaction increases so does your reach.  So again, you need good content that yields interaction.  This interaction, gives your posts more weight over other posts and will show in more newsfeeds.
• Time Decay: There isn't much you can do about a post getting old. That's why it's important to post often.  Overkill is posting every hour so I would suggest posting 3-4 times a day if you can.  Again, make sure it's engaging content and not just posts selling your business. 

Next steps: If you would like more tips and tricks to navigate Facebook's algorithm and grow your business, I would suggest checking out FB Krusher and/or FB Krusher Elite.

Until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity. 

P.S. Connect with me on a Facebook here.

Wake Up Affluentry Review

My fifth video.  Two to go.  I may do a few more. Check out this review on Wake Up Affluentry and Affluentry Connection work from home opportunity.

Saving Money and Managing Money

Video # 4 

I am determined to finish my 7 videos.  Check out this great way to save and manage money for you and your business.

Be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Paying for College

I fell short for my video challenge last week but I decided to continue anyway.  I'm not a quitter so I have to finish what I started.  Here's Day 3

 

 



Comment below if you have student loans and let us know how you're paying them off.

How to Design Your Business Cards

For those of you who read my article on budget marketing and are interested in designing business cards, here are a few tips for designing your business cards (adapted from entrepreneur.com)

1. Use your logo as the basis. Make it the largest element on the card.  If you don't have a logo yet, check out Fiverr for logo designers for $5.  Before looking for a logo designer, be sure you have your brand established.  Everything that you do and that represents your business must illustrate your brand.  Below is my old business card for my baking business.  My logo is the focus of the card.

1. Keep it simple. Do not cram too much information on the card.  If necessary, use both sides of the card.  But be sure not to cram either side.  You can include the essentials on one side and the service(s) on the other.  For example, my card has too much information on the front.  I moved the social media platforms to the back of the card.  
2. Do include the essentials -- your name, title, company name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email and website addresses.  I would also suggest including your social media platforms as well.  Don't forget to state what you do either through slogan or services.
3. Make sure the typeface is easily readable.
4. Stick to one or two colors.  Color plays a major part in braking.  More than two colors can send the message of unprofessionalism and/or uncertainty of target market.  Be sure to research color psychology so you can select the best colors to represent your business.  

Feel free to comment below with any other questions job suggestions.  I hope this was helpful for you.  You can also check out others tips here.  

Until next I time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Preparing For Tax Season 2015

Day 2 of the Video Marketing Challenge

Since we are near the end of tax season, I did a quick video on business tax deductions to help you guys better prepare for next year.

Check it out

 

Video Marketing Day 1

My YouTube Debut

 

I was super nervous. What do you think?

 

4 Things Every Entrepreneur Should Have

1. Business Cards

If you read my Marketing on a Budget  article, then you know how effective these can be.  These are your mini billboards that travel with potential clients and current clients.  They advertise how you can help and the avenues by which they can contact you.  Check out Vistaprint. (Use that link and get a $10 coupon)

2. Website

In today's technological world, a website is your stamp of validity.  In a consumer's mind, your business does not exist if it doesn't have a website.  Furthermore, your business is not a legit business if it doesn't have a well-crafted website.  Remember your website is a reflection of your business and is usually the first impression a potential client gets of the company.  If you are unable to afford a web designer, I suggest creating one through Wix.  Their templates are very sophisticated compared to other free website templates.   I created a site there for my baking business www.bjbakeshop.com 

3. Customized Domain Name

If you use a free website hosting company like Wix, you need a domain name.  If not, your web address will be a sub domain of the wix site (i.e. fbismyoffice.wix.com) and that reads as low-budget or unprofessional. And though you may be on a fixed budget, you don't want a potential client t.  o know that.  My favorite place to buy domain names is Go Daddy because I can usually google a coupon code to get a name for 99 cents.

4. Social Media Presence

Customers, clients and prospects must be able to connect with you on a social level. If they cannot, then you will not be the cool kid on the block.  Of course, I recommend Facebook for various reasons (see here) but I also recommend started with the social media platform that you are most comfortable with.  Create a schedule on how often you with post and engage and what content you will post.  

Hope this was helpful.  Until tomorrow, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity. 

My New Venture: Video Marketing

Today, one of my business partners challenged me to participate in a 7-day video marketing challenge for our business. At first, I declined because I just started this 30-day blogging challenge.  Then, she said "It only takes 5 minutes to make a video."  It was then that I realized that I was making excuses.  Whenever we get faced with an opportunity to step out of our comfort zones, we tend to make excuses of why we can't do it.  I had been exploring the idea of starting a YouTube channel since last year but have made excuses. 

NOT ANYMORE!

So starting Monday, you'll be able to see me live (well not live) but you'll be able to put a voice to my words.

For any of you who are interested in video marketing for your business, check out this article on the benefits of video marketing.

Until tomorow's post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Best piece of advice

Hey guys and gals

I wanted to give you, what I would call, the best piece of advice for budding entrepreneurs.  Here it is...

GET STARTED

Of course you should have some sort of vision and plan but don't get so bogged down in details that you delay starting. Taking action gives your dream breath and makes it real, so the longer you wait, the more frustrated you become that the dream has not come to fruition.  Thus, the best thing you could ever do for your business is get started. Don't worry about failure because it will come whether you plan for it or not. It comes with the territory.  It's the nature and beauty of business. 

READY, SET, GO

Sit down today and work on your vision for your business and map out how you plan to get there.  Then, figure out your first step and do.  Even if that means establishing a Facebook page or securing a domain name, do it.  Move toward your dreams.

As always, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Marketing on a Budget

Hey guys.

You've been reading my posts on why and how to market on Facebook (if not, here's one).  And I hope you've taken heed and taken advantage of the free marketing.  But for those of you who would like to do some offline marketing on a budget, here are two things to consider: business cards and post-it notes.

Business cards are so convenient and be placed anywhere.  I like to leave my card with my tip at restaurants and outings.   I leave them in bathrooms on the sink.  I even leave them on shelves in grocery stores next to items that my target market is likely to purchase.  I also make sure I give clients at least two cards (one to keep; the rest to give away).  Vistaprint is the perfect place to shop. You can get 250 for about $10.  Right now, if you use this link, you'll get a $10 coupon for becoming a customer.

Another tool is the post-it note aka the mobile ad. Post-it notes are so convenient because they can go literally everywhere and easier to hold on too.  Did I mention they are cheap.  You can purchase a custom stamper for Office Depot or Vistaprint and apply it to a packet of post-it notes.  You want the information on your stamper to be brief and include contact information as pictured above.  You can also purchase custom post-it notes online.  I purchased custom notes to include my company logo so that they are more eye catching plus I am all about branding my business.

The next step would be to place your notes in high traffic areas: gas stations, Redboxes, ATMS, bathrooms, laundry mats, mailboxes.  The key is strategic placement.  You don't need to saturate one place with your mobile ad; one or two will do the trick.  Those who are interested will take it.  Those who are not will leave for the person is.  Win/win.  You can check out more post-it tips here and.

I also found this great article on marketing here.

You can even take a picture of the business card or post-it and post it on Facebook.  (Yes I had to sneak in Facebook.)

Until my next post, I wish you peace, patience, and prosperity.

I Hate My Life

So things are not going the way you want it to and you feel like they never will.  What do you do?  EVERYTHING YOU CAN!!!

This is exactly why I became an entrepreneur.  I realized that working for someone else would not give me the desires of my heart.  In fact, I would be working to give someone else the desires of their heart.  I realized that I had to determine the life I wanted and pursue it WHOLEHEARTEDLY.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would find myself in marketing and working online but here I am and it has been an incredible journey.  I am so grateful for everything that I've have learned and every person that I have met.  I look forward to what is come.

If you are an entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur comment below.  I would love to connect with you.  

What You Can Expect

This month, I have added another self-imposed deadline and joined the  Ultimate Blogging Challenge.  Every day for the month April, I will posting.  My goal is to post about marketing strategies and working on Facebook.  So check out the blog daily or subscribe to the blog so you don't miss out.  

Peace, Patience and Prosperity

If you haven't noticed by now, I end almost every post with the same wish for all of my readers:  I wish you peace, patience and prosperity. Though it is a cute use of alliteration, I really do wish this for everyone.

Peace
As a wife, a mother and a business woman, it can be very difficult to manage your time.  Sometimes, it can be down right frustrating trying to accomplish a day's work.  I have a friend that often tells me that I make this look easy-almost too easy.  Truth be told, it's an illusion like a duck- cool and collected on the top of the water and paddling for dear life to stay afloat.  Yup, that's me making it all look easy.  It's hectic sometimes but making it look easy comes for inner peace.  So, I pray this for every parent, entrepreneur, and spouse out there because I know how tough life can get.

Patience
I'm a work-from-home mom of a 5-year-old and 5-month-old.  That alone can drive you nuts.  Now add homeschooling to the mix and you've just created a monster.  Patience has never really been my strong suit but I must admit that having kids has REALLY helped me work on that.  I have to be patient with my kids when they don't do what I need them to do when I need them to.  And I have to be patient with myself when I feel inadequate as a mother and realize that I won't get everything right all of the time. 

Prosperity
To be prosperous does not only refer to having wealth, but also refers to having an abundance of positive things.  So yes, I wish you prosperity in all aspects of your life: your familial relationships, your career, your relationships with others and yes your business ventures.  It makes all the hard work and stress worth it.  There is no greater feeling than that of  a sense of accomplishment (whether great or small).  And as an entrepreneur, you have to have the courage to stick things out when they are rough and see it through until the end.  That is the only way that you will know what true prosperity feels like.  Prosperity is not really wrapped in money.  Prosperity is the freedom that money affords you for your hard work.  And it's time to get to work.

So until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity in ALL aspects of your life. 

What does retirement look like to you?

Hey guys

Sorry for being MIA this past week but I have been working extremely hard on adding an additional stream of income for the family.  If all goes well, my husband should be able to quit his job by the end of the year.  Yes, I said the end of the year.  This one stream will allows us to spend more time growing our other streams of income without having to work a 9 to 5 any longer.

Though a 9 to 5 provides some measure of security, we also learned a few months ago that it also can deny you time with your family, time for a vacation and time to enjoy life (read here).  If you remember, my post about the CASHFLOW quadrant, you remember that jobs force you to trade time for money.  Some people get excited about working 2-3 jobs but not me.  That's why I'm working hard to move on the other side of the equation and own a system/business that has people work for me.  This system/business will, in turn, allow my husband to expand our business into the investment realm and allow our money to work for us.  So essentially, we will be trading money for more money.


So what does retirement look like for me?

• a chef, nanny and maid
• $10,000 in emergency savings and growing
• $20,000 in the boys' savings accounts
• 3+ trips/cruises a year
• A four bedroom home with an office
• Sleeping in
• Enjoying my 30s with my husband (that should have been first on the list)
• Great performing investments. 

This is how we will get there..

• Pay off debt a year from now (I hate owing anyone ANYTHING)
• Retire my husband from his 9 to 5 job. (He deserves it)
• Two years from now, retire myself with this major income stream
• Let our system make money for us on autopilot
• Expand our territory

So what does retirement for you include? trading time for money  for 40 years or trading money (investing) for more money in a few years?  Comment below.  If you would like to trade money for more money rather than time for money, then join this event today.  

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

15 Best Apps for Busy Small Business Owners

Check out this article by the small business expert, Melinda Emerson.

Since Facebook is my office, I am often working on the go from my cellphone.  I love these apps suggested my Melinda.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Why did I get married?

This June my husband and I will have been married 6 years  though we like to say we've been married since the day we met 8 years ago.  We've been though 1 hurricane evacuation, 2 kids, 3 major familial deaths, 3 job losses, 2 resignations, 1 major flood, financial crises, and 1 new home.  And yet, none of those things answer why I married my husband.

Here's why

Last Thursday, I was having the hardest time with my 4 year old.   He drained me (which is why I suggested a sitter in this article).  I spoke with my husband earlier that day and he knew what I was going through.  By the time he came home from work, I had checked out- mentally and emotionally.  Guys, I was tapped out. I was feeling really low that day.  I was second-guessing my parenting, second-guessing my decision to stay home with my kids, second-guessing working from home and so much more.

My husband came home and did exactly what I needed him to do.  He kissed me ever so softly, got under the covers with me and held me until I fell asleep.  This, my friends, is why I got married.  He knew EXACTLY what I needed and did it.  My husband may not be perfect but he has my back when I need him most.

 

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.



Mompreneur News: Facebook to Change Business Page Look

(From Facebook Marketing Expert, Mari Smith's newsletter)

Facebook just announced that Pages are about to get a whole new look. Mostly, the changes make Pages now appear in the same design as our personal profiles. Here’s what to expect: 

* Your Page wall posts will now be displayed inone single column (phew, good news here - this is much easier to read and follow. However, we won’t be able to feature content, such as images, in that nice double-wide view).

* The row of four tab thumbnails at the top are going away - ugh. There’s been some confusion about this at first. App tabs appear under a “More” tab (just like Profiles) +  the app thumbnails also appear on the left column a little further down.

* Details about your business (aka the About section) + photos and videos will appear in a narrower left column. 

NOTE: You may need to make adjustments to your Page Cover Image, as the name and category appear right on the image in white text and your profile picture will sit a bit higher in the new design. The actual dimensions remain the same, which are 851px by 315px.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

A little mid-week encouragement

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Facebook Marketing for Mompreneurs 101: 7 Key Ways to Optimize Facebook Fan Page SEO

So you thought SEO was just for websites huh?  Google any company or person and of they have a searchable Facebook page, it will show up in the search results.  That means you need to beef up those Facebook posts and pages to make sure they up your search visibility.  

For example, Google my home-based bakery BJ Bake Shop.  When you search for the name, Google provides you with results that include the company's Google local page, its Google+ page, its website, its Pinterest page, its Twitter page and, you guessed it, it's Facebook page.  So I have been able to provide yet another searchable result for my business. 

So let's get to work.  Check out these tips for optimizing your Facebook page.

Also, comment below with the link to your business Facebook page.  Let's connect.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

10 ways to declutter your day (time management tips from a mom)

Ok.  So we've made our goals and made our plans.  Now it's time to take action.  This may seem like a daunting task because you have SOOO many daily tasks to do in addition to your goals this month.

Let's get a hold of our days so that we can accomplish our goals this month.

Check out this very good article on getting organized.  Great for stay-at-home parents.

How to Make Plans and Meet Your Goals

Ok.  So now we have our goals established for the month.  Now it's time make plans.  Planning is crucial to reaching your goals.  You need a clear-cut plan to how you will reach your goal; it's your road map to your destination.  

Here is a great resource to help you write your road map.  You'll find some awesome printables to map out your goals for March by month, week and day.  You can use these over and over for each month.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

March Goals

Happy March!!!

I'm a few days late but this new schedule is kicking my butt...in a good way.  I think starting this schedule at the end of February was a great idea because I get to start  the month of March on a good foot.  It has helped me declutter my day and focus on things that lead me to my goals.  I encourage everyone to have goals: annual, monthly, weekly and daily.  Even if you don't meet every goal, you have something to strive for.  If not, you will be all over the place and get nothing done.  I'd rather get 2 out 10 goals met rather than none.  Wouldn't you?  What goals have you set for yourself?

One Tired Mama

Today was the first day of my 16-hour schedule.  OMG!  I wanted to maximize my time and be more productive so I decided to schedule every hour of my day.  My days nsw begin with meditation and pumping (don't forget I have a 4-month-old).   And days end with baths and storytime.  Well my day began as planned but William and Joshua were not very cooperative this afternoon and my schedule was totally thrown off. (Side note: Now you see why I made the childcare suggestion). Needless to say, I have decided to shower in the morning.
I must say that I got a lot accomplished. But I am TIRED! I worked on two of my businesses, cleaned, cooked dinner and looked in another potential business (though I planned for 3). And that is only a few things I did today.  So I'm headed to bed tonight so I'll be rested for my 16-hour week day.  I'l let you guys how things are going in another week.  Please forgive any typos as I type this post from my phone while in bed with one eye open.
Until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prorsperity.

3 More Myths About Working from Home

Check out the first three myths here.

MYTH 4: The house will be sparkling clean now that you're working from home.

The reality is that the dirty dishes you left in the sink at breakfast will most likely be waiting for you come dinnertime. The time really flies once you get in the zone.  Truth be told, you will even wonder if you showered that morning or the night before.  This is were your schedule comes in (see Myth 6)  You must schedule in time to do housework if you can't afford a cleaning service.



MYTH 5: Working from home will be a breeze.

In many ways, telecommuting makes life a lot easier. It eliminates the time (and expense) of a commute. But working from home requires an extensive amount of self-discipline. Unlike working in a traditional office where your boss could check up on you (and keep you in check), you'll need to be highly organized, motivated and focused in order to successfully work from home.

MYTH 6: You'll love the peace and quiet of working independently.
At first, being able to work quickly and quietly without incessant interruptions from chatty colleagues will seem like a dream. But also take into consideration,  the sound of your little ones if you can't/won't have After a few weeks, though, you'll find yourself running to the supermarket just so you can chat up the produce guy or any adult you can find.  While working alone can be peaceful, it can also be isolating and lonely.  So consider how you will combat this.

Comment below with any other myths I may have forgotten.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

3 Myths About Working from Home

True story: Whenever I tell a work-away-from-home mom that my kids are home with me, they always say "Must be nice" or "I wish I could" That drives me nuts!!!!! Like everything, it has its pros and cons.

They have NO idea. Neither did I when I taught high school and wanted to be home with first son.  So I thought I'd use entry to debunk some of those work-from-home myths.

MYTH 1: You get to spend more time with your kids
You do spend more time with your kids but that also means you spend ALL of your time with your kids.  Though you get to really learn your kids' personalities and see their growth,  you also have to create a work schedule around those little personalities.  If you can, I suggest getting a sitter a few hours a day to get those crucial work tasks done.  You can also designate one day as a "serious work day" where you complete those major tasks for the week including any meetings, errands, phone calls, etc.  You can utilize a drop-in daycare. (I do).  You can have work-from-home job and be with your kids but, as you can see, it requires a schedule.


MYTH 2:  You have to be a salesperson to be successful

Home-based businesses come in all sizes, shapes, and flavors. While plenty of home-based sales opportunities exist — selling cosmetics and telemarketing, for example — that kind is just a small percentage of the entire universe of home-based businesses. Consider the following nonsales businesses and careers that can be done from home:

• Accountant

• Organic farmer

• Caterer

• Personal fitness trainer

• Income tax preparer

• Web site designer

In each case, you could build a successful business with little or no sales experience.  But you still must market your business.  Remember that there is a difference between marketing and selling.  Marketing is simply spreading the word about your service/product, which is crucial to every business.  Selling is convincing someone that they should pay for your product/service.  By doing great work or creating the best products, your first customers will tell their friends and associates, who will then tell their friends and associates.


MYTH 3: Work-from-home jobs that aren't free are scams
I know someone who went to work for American Express from home for $10 an hour with the chance to advance to $13. Not only was she chained to her desk from 6AM til 11PM at night sometimes, but she needed to install a landline, have a specific speed on her computer and a headset. So she ended up spending $150 to set that up.  She basically worked for free for two days.   With ANY at-home job, there are expenses for set up.

One of the companies I currently work for only requires a one-time set-up fee of $25 (sometimes less).  We have NO special equipment expenses and our start up cost actually gets you some cool stuff to try out and some to keep like Baby Einstein for $6.  I work for another company that has a one-time cost of $8.

I have a few other myths to discuss so until my next post, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Waiting for Perfect

If I only I had an extra $20 but...
When I get a tax refund, I will...
I have to wait until next month, then...
I thought about it but...

Since I work on Facebook, I often hear people's complaints of their financial whoas.  They contact me expressing their concerns for more money.  I hear about their living-paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyles. I meet the single moms or psuedo-single moms who have kids who they would like to stay home with.  I meet wives whose husbands are working so very hard to provide for their families but it just isn't enough.  I hear the stories of the mountains of debt they would LOVE to pay off.

They all come to me because they have seen that I get results and ask how they can do what I do on Facebook.  How they can work online and help out their husbands and/or provide for their families.  But once I provide them with the information, they decide to stay stuck. They say:

• If I only I had an extra $20 but...
• When I get a tax refund, I will...
• I have to wait until next month, then...
• It sounds good but...
• I have tons to do now, so I'll start in a few...

They decide to stay stuck in poverty.  An yes, it is a decision to be stuck in poverty.  You can either wait for perfect conditions or you can make moves to make your own perfect conditions.  Thus, whenever someone gives me their decision to remain poor, I don't push.  And even though I could pull ott my tools for overcoming their objections, I don't.

I have learned that poverty is a mindset, not a place.  As long as someone chooses to be poor, I can't help them.  Even if they decide to get started but have not fully committed to get unstuck, then they will quit and  will continue to be stuck. They will not put all that they can into making the necessary moves to get out of their predicament.

My only reply "This is probably not a good fit for you.  Best of luck to you." I would rather them be someone's awesome 'E' than a mediocre 'S'.  If you're considering of working online or becoming an entrepreneur,  my only suggestion is to start thinking like one.  You have to create the life you want and believe you can achieve it.  Stop waiting for opportunity because it will NEVER come.  You have to find it.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Readers' Choice

Tag you're it.  Comment below and let me know the topics you would like to read about here.

Two Must-Haves of a Successful Entrepreneur

If you read my post on the Cashflow Quadrant, then you are familiar with the four different types of people.  If you recall, the major difference between employees and specialists/small business owners is that specialists/small business owners OWN a job.  We don't have a boss who pays off.  We are our own bosses and we pay ourselves.  At times, this is a blessing and a curse.  And this is why you need two things to be successful: determination and support.

If you are not a go-getter, either you soon become one or you will give up. As a specialist/small business owner, you are responsible for everything- marketing, customer relations, social media relations, bookkeeping, etc.  And there are no paid off days.  Days that you don't work equals days you don't make money and in some cases, lose money. Consequently, you need to be pushing and making moves ALL THE TIME.

When there are days that you feel like you can't go any further (and you will have those days), you need your support team. It is also essential that your spouse/significant other is in your corner because sometimes they are the only ones who know exactly what to say or do to get you back on track.  It is so important that your person is on board that I would say that you may want to reconsider your business venture if they don't believe in it.  When you person is not in your corner for Day 1, then they will be a no-show when you have those tough days.  They may even encourage you to quit. And if you don't have an incredible amount of determination, you'll have two battles to fight: one with yourself and the other with your spouse.

I do not intend to discourage you from owning your job.  I just want to prepare you.  I don't want to paint the picture that life in the (S) quadrant is all beautiful.  In fact, it may be downright ugly.  But it does has its rewards.  Before you make any moves, I encourage you to consider if you have these two essential pieces of this entrepreneurial puzzle.  And if you don't, work on that.

Until my next post, I wish you peace patience and prosperity.

Facebook Marketing for Mompreneurs 101: 11 Must-Haves on Every Facebook Page

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Love these tips.

Facebook Marketing for Mompreneurs 101: Nine Reasons You Should be Using FB Infiltrator for Your Business

1. No technical knowledge needed to use app
2. Eye-catching opt-in and landing pages on your Fanpage and Newsfeed.
3. Professional "Buy Now" buttons to make sales in the Newsfeed.
4. App compatible with groups, pages and profiles
5. Cheap one-time cost and NO monthly fees
6. Attractive coupon templates to promote local businesses
7. Customer can do everything from Facebook which yields higher possibility of conversion
8. Easy-to-use dashboard to monitor effectiveness of campaign 

Click here to start using FB Infiltrator

Facebook Marketing for Mompreneurs 101: Facebook Marketing Secrets

FB Streamlines Billing for Advertisers (Repost)

Facebook began a test last October I n which it offered advertisers the option of being billed when they reached their billing thresholds or on the last day of each month, whichever came first, rather than being billed as often as every day. The social network officially announced the rollout of the feature in a Facebook for Business post Tuesday.

The new feature was introduced as follows:

• As part of our ongoing simplification efforts, we’re streamlining the billing schedule for advertisers on Facebook. Instead of being billed every day, advertisers will now be billed when they reach certain billing thresholds, and/or at the end of the month.
• Billing thresholds are set based on how much you’ve paid in the past. For example, if you are a first-time advertiser on Facebook, you will be billed once you reach $25, or if you reach the end of the month. After that first payment, you’ll be billed in $25 increments, or when you reach the end of the month.
• As you spend more, your billing threshold will continue to increase up to $2,500 as you make successful payments. You can check your current billing threshold in the billing tab of your Ads Manager
• If you spend more than $2,500 per day and would like a higher threshold, you can request an increased threshold by filling out this form
• Threshold billing will roll out gradually to accounts spending in U.S. dollars in the coming weeks, with other currencies following in the near future. To learn more, visit the Help Center

Earlier this month, Facebook began allowing Ads Manager users to download all of their monthly invoices.

Posted by David Cohen on February 18, 2014.

If you would help with advertising on Facebook, feel free to contact me rachelbabajide@gmail.com concerning my Facebook marketing consultancy services or check out this helpful tool to get you started.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

I apologize...but not really

Hey guys

I have been MIA for the last 3 days, so I guess I owe you 3 posts today.  It may be a little tigtt today but I will definitely get it done. My new philosophy in life is “If I can’t I must! If I can, I will! Failure is not an option!” I recently attended a class in which the instructor, Gregory Downing, gave us a list of what he called business plan agreements that included this agreement/affirmation. And even though getting 3 posts out today seems almost impossible, I most definitely will! That's why I don't really apologize; I'm making up for it today.

Another reason, I don't really apologize is because I've been spending some quality time with the hubster. This past weekend, we had the opportunity to lay the ground work for a potential stream of income. Though we have our individual business ventures, we believe in this business as it encompasses our family values and it is a business venture that we can build together. We're extremely excited about this.

Not only did we embark on a new business venture this weekend, but we also spent some quality time together. My husband works a lot so there are days when we may only spend a few waking minutes together. And believe me. I would miss 2 months of blog posts if I had to chose between spending time with him or blogging. Spending quality time with your spouse is really important in a marriage. Speaking on the phone is great but there is NOTHING like being in their presence.

As a matter of fact, close this blog window and go cuddle up with that special someone. You can read this blog another time...like tomorrow morning. Before you go, check out my handsome husband below. Comment below if you would like to book him for a shoot.

Until next time, I wish you peace, patience and prosperity.

Make a Decision TODAY!!!