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This week on Parent Talk, Jill Hart and Neta Jackson

Getting us started on Parent Talk this week is Jill Hart of CWAHM.com!

 Here’s the Podcast!

Is it really possible to work from home? Does God care about things like business and success? I’ve worked from home for more than 10 years now and I look forward to sharing my experiences, successes, failures (yes – there are many of these!) and lessons learned.

We’ll look at some practical topics like:
What are some of the options available to work from home?
How can we succeed at home?

And some Biblical topics like:
What does God say about success?
Does God have anything to say about women working from home?

Jill Hart’s entrepreneurial career began in her teens when she spent a summer working with her father who ran his own business. When he put her in charge of a Coke machine and allowed her to keep the profits, she saw the benefits of being her own boss.… continue reading

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WAHM: Nine Ways To Find Inspiration, by Jill Hart

Every business owner has times of frustration. When nothing seems to go right and every customer seems to be displeased. So, how do we find inspiration to move forward during these times? Here are a few ideas:

1. Talk To Someone

Sometimes the best way to get the frustration out is to simply talk about it. That may mean coffee with a close friend or it may mean making an appointment with a counselor. Either way, WAHM, find a trusted person to talk with and who will give you godly advice.

2. Listen To Inspiring Music

There are certain songs that lift my spirits when I find myself “in a funk.” For me, tunes from Christian artists like Toby Mac, Britt Nicole and Lecrae are what get my foot tappin’. Find what works for you and make a point to really listen to the words and enjoy the music. Let it lift you out of the doldrums.

3. Do Something For Yourself

I know this goes against the grain for many of us, but there really does come a time when it’s okay to do something for yourself that you enjoy. It may be getting a pedicure, going out to lunch with a friend, or even grocery shopping by yourself (you moms out there know what I mean by this one).… continue reading

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On Working @ Home, By Jill Hart

It’s spring! That means sunshine, rainbows and daisies, right? It also means that it’s time to spring clean – and not just your house, but your business as well. Each spring I set some time aside to clear the cobwebs off projects that I’ve set aside and take stock of what needs to be put in order now that spring is dawning.

Spring Cleaning: Evaluate

I start off by taking a look and what IS working as well as what ISN’T working in my business. I hate to admit it, but not every grand idea that I come up with works in reality. I’ve had to learn that it’s okay to try new things; and it’s ok for some of those things to fail. The trial-and-error process is one way that we can determine what our customers are looking for. Don’t be afraid to make changes to existing products or programs if you see they aren’t bringing in the results that you had hoped for.

Spring Cleaning: Emphasize

Do your customers know all that you have to offer? Often when I’m re-organizing I realize that I haven’t given the proper amount of promotion or attention to programs that I already have in place.… continue reading

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 By Jill Hart, CWAHM.com

I can hardly believe it, but another year is coming to a close. As I stumble through this month of holiday parties, family birthdays and all the trappings of the Christmas season, I find myself left with very little time in which I can actually get work done. Which leads me to wonder – what will the new year look like if I end this one in such a jumble?

So, I’ve decided that in order to start the new year off right, I need to take some time NOW to get my mind and heart ready.  Here are some things I’ve decided to do to get ready for the new season God has for my business beginning in the new year – maybe they’ll help you, too.

Set Aside Time

It’s easy to forget the importance of setting aside time to work on our business in and of itself. We are commonly focused on our customers, daily tasks and the like that we don’t take time to think solely about what the future holds for our business.

As we near the end of this year, let’s dedicate a couple of solid hours to sit down and dream a little, plan a little.… continue reading

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By Jill Hart

Usually when I write something have to do with working from home, it’s about how to create an income. However, making money isn’t the only necessary ingredient in the stay-at-home recipe. The flip side of the coin is making some sacrifices and finding ways to save money.

When my husband and I first made the decision that I would leave the corporate world in favor of working from home, we knew it was going to take more than just me finding a way to bring in money from home. The amount that I would be making was half – or maybe even less – than I made at my corporate job. We needed to find a way to make it on his Air Force salary and my very small financial contribution.

Get Rid Of Non-essentials

In order to cut out some of our living costs, we sold one of our cars and for the next several years I drove around a lovely (I use that term loosely) car that had been my grandmothers. It certainly wasn’t my dream car, but it got me around town and we also saved a LOT of money when the time came around to pay tax and licensing fees.… continue reading

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by Jill Hart

I read an article online recently that called the beginning of the school year the “New Year for Moms.” I think that’s an appropriate title as it does feel like the start of a new year now that my kids are back in school. For those of us running businesses, it’s also just a few months before Christmas and time to dig in and get sales rolling again.

So, how do we get back on track after the crazy days of summer? Here are a few ideas.

Get A Plan

Planning is my favorite stage of organization. I get to brainstorm and dream about what God may have for me in the coming weeks and months.  One of the ways that I plan best is in talking things over with someone – a friend of colleague who is willing to listen and give ideas.

I know other business owners who keep a whiteboard in their office. On the board, they list dreams that they have for their business, action steps they can take to get there and even sometimes a timeframe of when each step needs to be completed.

Write It Down

I’ve learned over the years that my plans never get anywhere unless I write them down and give them a timeline.… continue reading

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By Jill Hart

For me, every day is filled with voices. There are the sweet voices of my children, the warm voice of my husband and even the near-silent voice of our gecko.

And then there are the voices in my head. Do you know the ones I’m talking about? The voices that urge you to quit; that ask you why you bother trying … you’ll just fail anyway. The voices that say things like, “No one cares about what you have to say or what you’re working on. You’ll never succeed at this.” Some of these voices are echoes of things that people have said to me. Some of them are echoes of things I believe about myself deep down. And some are lies from the enemy wh is bent on our destruction.

When I spend time in God’s Word I find another voice – one that encourages. “I can do anything through Christ Jesus my Lord.”

It’s not something we think about or talk about often, but one of the major hurdles that must be overcome to be successful in working at home (or in anything really) is learning which voice to listen to.

There will always be naysayers telling you that something cannot possibly be done.… continue reading

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By Jill Hart

As a Christian Business Coach, one thing that I work on with all of my clients is their definition of success. We live in a society where a successful person is defined as one who makes money and influences others. God’s economy, and His business practices, are upside-down when compared with the world’s. We’re told in Scripture that it’s better to give then to receive and in order to best the greatest, we must be servants just as Christ was.

God’s definition of success then, must be much different than what the business books say.  We never see the Almighty God of the Bible congratulating one of His followers on their financial success. The concept itself even sounds silly. And yet, isn’t that the standard that we hold ourselves up to? God must not be pleased with me, because I’m not successful financially. I must be doing something wrong.

But God’s definition of success isn’t monetary, it’s personal. As Mark Batterson says in his book, The Circle Maker, “God’s primary concern is who we’re becoming in the process.” He isn’t concerned with how many widgets we sold this week or the balance of our bank account. He isn’t honestly all that concerned with what we’ve done this week – business or otherwise.… continue reading

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by Jill Hart

Recently my business-sense was thrown for a loop. I had a discussion with a colleague about marketing efforts and how frustrated she was that she wasn’t seeing the increase in sales that she desired. A day or so later I had a conversation with a woman that I mentor about how great her business was growing, but how she still felt like she couldn’t reach the level of success that she was seeking. And then I talked with a wonderful Christian businessman who told me all about the success he was seeing in his business – he has been given awards by his company, all kinds of accolades and even an expensive car. And yet he was still straining toward the ever-moving target of success.

Those conversations left me wondering if I should be more focused on money making. Was I doing myself and my business a disservice by not climbing the so-called corporate ladder? I began to doubt myself and my decisions. I began to make a list of all the marketing efforts that I needed to begin to ramp up sales and make things happen.

But then, as I sat reading my Bible one morning, I felt God nudging me to take a good hard look at the real issue going on.… continue reading

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By Jill Hart

The balancing act – every mother’s nightmare. Many days we feel like circus jugglers with more plates in the air than we can possibly handle. The summer adds to the insanity with the kids at home, swimming lessons to attend and numerous other distractions. Over the years, however, I’ve learned a few secrets that help me keep things in perspective:

Keep God First

In Matthew 6:33 we’re told to seek God’s kingdom above all else. Like the apostle Peter who saw Jesus walking on water and asked to join him – as soon as we take our eyes off of Christ and begin to doubt, we sink.

In order to keep our eyes on Him, we need to be in relationship with Him. Schedule time in your day to read God’s Word and to talk with Him in prayer. Surround yourself with friends who love the Lord and who will point you back to Him when you struggle.

Don’t Be Afraid To Choose Family Over Business

As business owners, we do our best to maintain professionalism even when we’re working at our kitchen table with kids hanging on to our ankles. We have deadlines, client demands to meet and emails and phone calls to return.… continue reading

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One of benefits of working from home is the ability to have a relaxed atmosphere. You can set your own scheduled, work around your family and even lounge in your pajama pants from time to time.

However … one of the drawbacks of working from home is the ability to have a relaxed atmosphere. Yep, you read that right. As much as I love working from the comfort of my home, there is a serious side to my business as well. There are times when I must set aside my comfort and ensure that my clients get the very best from me.

The question that comes to mind then is how do we retain professionalism while we’re working at home? Here are a few ideas:

Take a shower - I smile as I write this because I know how basic this tip is. However, I know firsthand that it can be difficult to get motivated to get up and shower as if you were heading to an office for the day. Some days it can be hard just to find the time to shower (if you have small kids at home, you’re nodding as you read this). And don’t stop with a shower – put on a cute outfit, add a little makeup and get yourself feeling good.… continue reading

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According to the latest American Community Survey data, there are approximately 2.8 million people, not including the self employed or unpaid volunteers, who consider home their primary place of work. The struggling American economy has created the need for companies to cut back as much as possible. This has created growth in the work-at-home industry as it allows companies to save on expenses like office space, equipment and insurance costs.

However, the telecommuting world can be a hard place to get your foot in the door. Linda Dickerhoof, Public Relations Director at VIPDesk, one of the leading virtual concierge and virtual customer service providers in the United States, reports that they receive as many as two hundred resumes a day. With that kind of competition, it’s imperative that you stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when applying for telecommuting employment.

Do Your Research – This is, by far, the most crucial aspect of your work-at-home job search. There are many legitimate companies that hire at-home employees. However, in order to weed out at-home job scams, you need to know what “red flags” to look for.  A legitimate work-at-home opportunity won’t ask you for any sort of “affiliation fee,” nor will they send you any type of list of employers to contact.… continue reading

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