We're still talking about the one thing that would make the biggest difference for your business over the next year if you were to do it. Karyn wrote: My business will be starting in late June or July if all goes well. I cannot predict any glitches we may have, but I think the most important thing I could do would be to get the word out.

Two things are important for a new business like Karyn's. One is making sure you have systems in place to support the business. And the second is getting the word out. After all, if no one knows you're in business, they won't know to look for you. Make sure everyone you know knows what you're doing and ask them to refer business to you. Word-of-mouth advertising is the least expensvie but most effective means of marketing your business.

Joan wrote: The one thing I would do differently, working from home in the coming year, is learn more about blogging. I have a country decor web site: Green Gables Country, www.greengablescountry.com I get a lot of positive feedback from people who order from me or check out the web site, but without spending a lot of money on advertising, it's hard to get the products in front of people. Going on blogging sites that are connected to the same idea seems to be the way to go, but I have to admit I have not spent time investigating this and learning how to blog. My goal this year is to put more effort into advertising my site through this venue.

Your idea is already paying off, Joan, since this is a blogging site and now you've gotten some free advertising by being included in this post! Seriously, most of us know what would help boost our business. But we're either too busy, too intimidated or too something else to buckle down and do what we need to do. That's why I suggest you just focus on one thing. That way it's not overwhelming. One thing is much more manageable than a long list of ideas.

What's your "one thing?"

Simply Yours,

The Most Difference?

In my last post I asked what one thing would make the biggest difference for your business over the next year if you were to do it. Here's what you shared:

Gina wrote: I've been thinking about this question a lot this week. The best answer I think is "Imagine a boss is watching me, and work like I want to impress her and get a raise."

Of course, I'm the boss, so as boss, what would I want to see in an employee?
•Someone who works diligently, but also takes care of her family & her health
•Someone with vision and a sense of purpose.
•Someone who doesn't play around on the computer too much.
•Someone creative, innovative, who thinks outside of the box, and is willing to take risks.

That's the kind of worker/boss I want to be.

And Laurie wrote:
The one thing I could do for my business over the next year that would make the biggest difference is to organize.

Here's my answer to the question:
Training would help me get farther faster with less frustration. I need to learn how to update my website myself, learn to use social media more effectively, and integrate existing techology into my life as a timesaver. I plan to set aside one day a month for the remaining months of the year to learn what I need to know to thrive, rather than just survive, as a small business owner.

Now it's your turn. E-mail me at mbyers@marybyers.com to share what one thing would make the biggest difference for your business if you were to do it over the coming year.

Thinking Big,

Are You Serious?

I started my business as a freelance writer, working while my children napped, watched a video, or played with friends. I felt lucky to be able to work from home and grateful for the income it provided. I took what came my way in terms of work and didn't actively market. Nor did I actively plan.

It wasn't until I'd been in business for many years that I realized I had a viable model. My income grew each year, I added new services, and 11 years after I started my business, I'm still at it. If I'm honest, however, I didn't really get serious about it until a couple of years ago. And I wonder how things would be different if I'd gotten serious sooner.

Are you serious about your at-home business? If so, are you:

• Actively tracking where new business comes from?
• Regularly reviewing your profit and loss statement?
• Aggressively planning in order to pay less in taxes and keep more of your income?
• Looking for ways to work less and earn more?
• Outsourcing so that you can focus on the "highest and best" use of your time?

We'll be discussing each of the above areas in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I'd like to challenge you to answer one question over the next week. What one thing, if you were to do it, would make the biggest difference for your business over the next year? I'd love it if you'd e-mail your answer to me at mbyers@marybyers.com

More on Expanding and Contracting

Yesterday I asked for examples of how you use the concept of "Expanding and Contracting" in your own businesses. Dana wrote:

"During my busy work times I expect more from my family. Menus are simpler and they contribute more to getting meals on (and off!) the table. Now that I have two drivers, I ask them to help with my errands and expect them to do all of their own. Same for laundry, picking up around the house, etc.

"Conversely, when I have less busy times, I pitch in for them and complete some of their assigned household tasks to help lighten their loads.

"So, expanding and contracting is a family affair!"

And Niki shared:

"It helps me to make a list of the things I must temporarily ignore during the contraction times because my focus must be narrowed. By doing noting those things which must wait, I don't forget what I realized was important but to which I could not devote my time while I was contracted. When I'm again expanded, I review the list and plug that task into the larger calendar. In that way, the task isn't forfeited, it's only delayed."

What can we learn? We don't have to expand and contract alone. In fact, we model valuable lessons for our children about juggling multiple responsibilities wisely when we invite them to help out and be a part of the greater family unit. In addition, contracting doesn't mean we're neglecting or forfeiting a task, only consciously delaying it. I like thinking about it this way because it takes the pressure off me to get everything done NOW! Instead of bending under the weight of my load, I'm simply choosing to do some things now and some things later.

Join the conversation: how do you use the concept of "Expanding and Contracting" in your business? E-mail me at mbyers@marybyers.com and I'll share your comments too.

Making Work at Home Work BLOG TOUR!

Welcome to the virtual book tour for Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof . The tour will begin on May 4th! I'm so looking forward to meeting new friends and hearing from you about your own Work at Home strategies and stories.

I feel really privileged that I was able to write this book. I wrote it with Work at Home Moms in mind. There are so many unique challenges about working at home that only another work-at-homer can understand!

~~~~~You heard it here first!~~~~~~

Making Work at Home Work will be launching a blog ring in May! I really want this site to be a consortium of shared ideas and advice in regards to WAHM! For more information go here! If you'd like to sign up, email me mbyers@marybyers.com. I'll be adding a page to this website where we'll be able to network. More details on that to come.

Contest! Win a copy of Making Work at Home Work (or another one of my books--your choice) AND a $25 Amazon gift certificate (for some WAHM essentials -- dayplanner, bubble bath, funky file-folders, toddler DVDs)! Winner's will be announced Tuesday May 27th!

There are three ways to win:

• Leave a comment on this post


• Sign up for my quarterly newsletter where I offer tips and advice about all facets of a women's life: WAHM, mothering, women's issues. More info here!


• Join the Work at Home Blog Ring. More info here.

Also...be sure to check out the bloggers' blogs...a few of them are giving away copies of the book too!

A little about the book:

Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business.

In addition to including her own experiences, author Mary Byers profiles real moms with home-based businesses who offer their hard-won advice.

The schedule of wonderful and talented bloggers who will be hosting the book on their blogs!

5/4
Martha at Our Family's Adventures
Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurialmind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics suchas developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between workand family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of beingboth "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business.

Katrina at Callapidder Days
In Making Work at Home Work, Byers offers work-at-home moms practical, helpful advice about combining the roles of Mom and Business Owner without losing their sanity or their family...This isn’t a “how to start a home business” kind of book.. Instead, this book is for the mom who is already working from home- It offers support, advice, encouragement, and motivation for work-at-home moms who want to maintain harmony in their homes while caring for their families and fulfilling their work obligations.

Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner
This is a must-have for anyone contemplating working from home, or anyone who is already working from home, but who wants to make things run a little more smoothly and make sure all their business-bases are covered!

5/5
Becky at In the Pages…
Mary M. Byers’ new book, Making Work at Home Work, would have been my "bible" during those early years of staying at home AND trying to make an at-home job work together! I needed this kind of advice back then, but am even benefiting from it now!

Sunny at That Book Addiction
If you're already working from home or are thinking about it Making Work at Home Work has some wonderfully helpful advice to help you balance home and work when you occupy both at the same time, whether as a part-time side job or a full blown career. She covers the two main aspects of working at home, which are keeping your sanity and being profitable.

Angie at God Uses Broken Vessels
Making Work @ Home Work: successfully growing a business and a family under one roof is a spectacularly well timed book for this season of my life as well as the many, many families that embark on this lifestyle. It's a must have reference guide for us!

Mikki at The View From My Beach Chair
I recently had the chance to read Mary M. Byers new book - Making Work at Home Work. Mary shares her wisdom by presenting practical ways to bring balance to the lives of those who work at home for pay. By describing her own experiences, and by looking at others others who run successful businesses, Mary provides realistic help to anyone who faces the countless challenges of working from home.

5/6
Christa at Christa Allan
Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics...

Heather at Mumblings of a Mommy Monk
Manu women are right in the middle of the stay-at-home vs. working mom debate. They do both! And because of that, they face unique challenges and blessings.I'm the first to admit that I thought working out of the home meant "easy" work. As I've discovered though, working at home can be full of challenges. Mary Byers has recently written a great book addressing many of these issues. Since I'm not an "entrepeneur," I shared the second half of the book with a few friends who are. They immediately appreciated some of Mary's ideas about how to simplify work at home.

Christy at Christy's Book Blog
Making Work at Home Work by Mary M. Byers is a perfect book for any mom who has an at-home business or is considering starting one...Byers makes the subject matter interesting and relevant making this vital for both beginners and pros.

Amy at The 160 Acre Woods
Mary includes a lot of research and has personally worked through a lot of the issues herself, which provides her with some great insight to the challenges and issues working at home mothers face. I appreciate Mary’s insight and honesty while addressing the subjects. She admits that finding balance was “sorely lacking” in the beginning, which really gives me hope! I’m not the only one!

Pam at Without Fear
I have long desired to move my freelance editing into a more lucrative business to supplement our household income, and I see Mary's information and tips as essential to seeing success in this area. I hope you will find it helpful in your business pursuits as well.

5/7
Margaret at The Cappuccino Life
With the modern incarnation of "SAHM" came all kinds of "business opportunities" for moms looking to make a little money on the side. I'm sure most of us have run into our share of scams and schemes, too. The truth is, there is no quick-and-easy way to make money "without working!!!!". Income requires work. And working at home requires time and effort. I think the most important point in Making Work At Home Work is that working at home is not quite the same as "Staying at home" and that moms who want a home business need to acknowledge that.

Tanya at In The Dailies
I am so happy to tell you about a new book. Mary Byers, author of The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No . . . And Live to Tell about It, juggles both a freelance corporate writing and speaking business with her responsibilities as a wife and mother of two school-aged children. She does it successfully and has just released a new book sharing how she does it

Scoti at Springs Writers

5/8
Laura at Lighthouse Academy
This book is invaluable.

Kaylea at My Scrappy Life

5/9
Mimi at Mimi's Pixie Corner
An essential book for anyone (man or woman!) working from home. It covers topics that I hadn't even considered before!

Pamela at Pammer's Ramblins

Danielle at Miss. Mouthy
Making Work at Home Work by Mary M. Byers is a fantastic resource for anyone working parent. It has practical “do it today” advice and longer term advice.

Kate at A Simple Walk
This book is filled with so much wisdom and I truly see working at home as an option for anyone interested. If you've ever considered working from home, or if you already do, I definitely recommend this book. The tips and ideas are invaluable. This is one book that I will be going back to over and over again as a reference source and as a source of encouragement.

Donna at Write By Faith
This is a wonderful resource on working from home for moms in any business whether it is selling avon, writing to other service businesses. I found myself nodding in agreement...

5/11
Lizzie at A Dusty Frame
I enjoyed the book and thought it was easy to read and filled with good information.
I especially enjoyed the interviews with other work at home moms.

Sarah at Real Life
I have just read the book, that is going to revolutionize the way I do business at home! Mary Byers covers every topic a Work-at Home mom needs to master in the day-to-day life of her business and her family.

Pam at Pam's Private Reflections
Ms. Myers offers straight forward and sensible advice to anyone who is running an at home business. While she caters to women who have already established a business, this is well worth the read if you are considering entering the at home workforce.

5/12
Karla at Modern Media Mom
Inside the book you will find practical tips and useful advice. The information is easy to follow and realistic. This is a fabulous book for any mom already working from home – whether you are just starting out or have been doing it for years. It covers everything!

Kara at Ramblings-n-Writings
Mary doesn’t pull any punches. Her writing style is straightforward. She tells it how it is... highly suggest that any woman who works from her home pick up a copy to read

Suzanne at There's No Place Like Home
This book will encourage the WAHM's to continue doing what they're doing and give helpful ideas on how to balance it all.

5/13
Virginia at Ginny Smith
Promoed first week of May on Reader Fun Page!

Lynetta at Open Book
Ever wanted to start a home business but didn’t know if you could pull it off and be a good mom to your kids? If so, this might be the book to read. A work at home mom herself, she provides many humorous anecdotes about mixing young children with a professional career. Her insights can point a would-be small business owner towards a peaceful and successful career.

DeeDee at FiddleDeeDee
When I was given the opportunity to review Mary M. Byer’s “Making Work at Home Work” I was elated. Finally, help has arrived!

Gina at Portrait of a Writer
Making Work at Home Work by Mary Byers shed new light on the whole work-at-home (WAHM), stay-at-home mom (SAHM) thing.

Kelly at Love Well
But I found this book has so much more to offer; it's really designed for someone who wants to make money with their at-home career, whether it's someone with a home-based business (like Creative Memories or Pampered Chef) or someone with flex benefits at their corporate job that allows them to work from home instead of their cubicle.

5/14
Revka at Our Family Porch
The good news is that Mary doesn't just leave you after she forces you to acknowledge the reality of your situation. Instead, she provides real, workable solutions to the many problems that she herself has encountered as a result of being a WAHM.

Deena at A Peek at My Bookshelf
"Making Work at Home Work" isn't just informative, it's enjoyable reading. That makes it worth a five out of five bookmark rating from me, with a tiny filing cabinet as a charm. Don't file this book away...read it!

Susan at His Morning Glory

Patty at Girlfriends in God

Jennifer at Quiver Full Family
It’s with great delight that I announce a new work that strives to guide mothers in their ambitions to work from home.

Joanna at Becoming His

Janice at The Nearsighted Bookworm
This book came at the perfect time for me as I search for a balance between work and home life. It was full of inspiration and helpful information for me and my life.

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