I know I’ve been very quiet lately, but I’m one of those persons I refer to in the title of my post – someone who has had to take a temporary, full-time job (without any benefits) because my husband lost his job.  Although I made more money last year through my businesses (http://onlinecommunitymagazines.com/, http://www.commercialcreationcenter.com/, http://multimediawebsites.biz/, http://RSSzine.com) than I had during any previous year (enough to have to PAY taxes on April 15th!), it came in waves, and we needed something constant, even if low paying, to continue to pay bills.

So I am going to talk to (and ask) you about how, as an entrepreneur, you can balance a full-time job without losing your clients, and still working toward building your business in the future. Oh yeah, and how to do that and STILL keep a relationship with a husband/wife, children, parents and friends in tact…  I’ve been thinking a lot about this because my present job is due to end in August, and I want to be ready to go “great guns” when I come back home to roost.

I have found many great things about working outside the home over these past months. I forgot how much I enjoy working with people face to face, and how much I love administrative work (I’m an Office Operations Supervisor for Administration).  But the really interesting thing for me is meeting so many different people, many of whom are in the exact same position as me – they’re doing this job because they or their spouse lost their job, so they’re having to take a break from what they really love and are trained to do.

I’ve tried to be open to what God wants me to learn from this experience, but also WHO he wants me to meet, because it doesn’t matter WHAT you know if nobody knows you.   I’ve realized that these are incredibly talented people in their own rights, forced into low-paying jobs due to the economy. I’m keeping my eyes open for potential partners and teachers as well as potential clients.

Also, being thrown together with a group of people from different backgrounds and experiences allows you to conduct “focus groups”, if you will, to get feedback on ideas from people outside of your normal “niche” or “industry”.  Sometimes they may have negative criticism which will help you get past hurdles you didn’t know existed.  Others may give you the neccessary encouragement you need to continue when your spirits are low.

So if you are someone in the same position as I am, I want to encourage you to make the most of your time out of your home and make as many contacts as possible.  Find people that you can rely upon as sounding boards for future ideas or even present products, and how they can be marketed or improved.  I challenge you to be less concerned with “selling”, and more concerned with “learning” during this brief hiatus (or less all-consuming period) of your business.

The other thing I have found is the challenge to continue to keep existing clients happy and satisfied, while still working 40 hours, and trying to still pay attention to my extended family of loved ones. My husband appreciates all of the work I do to take care of the family, and recognizes my need to make sure I don’t lose existing clientele so I still have a business to which I can return after this job ends. But honestly, I fluctuate between sheer exhaustion (from my work schedule) and my consuming obsession with making my business a success.  That leaves very little “together” time for family.

I am also trying to walk that thin line between trusting God to meet our needs and hold my future, and doing everything I can to be a faithful steward of what He has provided for me.  I don’t want to “make things happen” that aren’t meant to be (and will be unprofitable and unfruitful), but I don’t want to be one of those spiritual people who believes all I have to do is sit still and everything will be handed to me on a silver platter.

So as I navigate these treacherous, yet necessary, waters of life right now, I’m trying to stay clear of shipwrecking relationships, and of letting my business boat rust and possibly sink from lack of attention.  I’d love for you to tell me how YOU are handling this duality required of you at this time. 

• Are you trying to keep your original business afloat while you try to bring in a steady paycheck at an outside job?
• Are you continuing your blog, podcast, twitter or facebook updates?
• Are you taking this time to re-evaluate your business and think about ways of changing your products or marketing plans?
• Have you found that people presently around you outside of the house may possibly play key roles in the future of your business?

Please share your stories with me.  It will be such a great encouragement to me, as WELL as an encouragement to those who read your comments.

And when you comment, please make sure to put a link to your business.  After all, we’re all in this together, and I’d love to add one more link back to your business while you’re taking care of business elsewhere.

Penny Haynes, http://PennyHaynes.com

Great way to advertise yourself and your business is to do a video.  Office Max has really learned that lesson, by teaming with JibJab and creating ElfYourself!  They will get so much traffic, their elfish heads will spin.

Here is the one I created with my family – I love the way it turned out.  I laughed so hard (we are so NOT hip-hop, which is what makes it soooooo funny) I couldn’t breathe.  If you want to create your own (there are different versions) with up to five (5) people’s faces, click on the video to do it, or go to http://ElfYourself.com.

This is a live version of a song I wrote freshman year of college in 1982-1983.  The entire song came to me at one time while I was in the dorm hallway.  No one knows this, but it was inspired by and happened after I found out that someone who shall remain nameless who was there freshman year kissed my roommate.

I don’t believe I recorded this until my Senior year in college, and in this version (which had to be edited, because we had a stumble toward the end and had to start that part over – hence the laughter all of a sudden, because you don’t hear the comment I jokingly made about the informality of the concert).  But on the piano is the Dove award-winning Kyle Matthews (singer, songwriter extraordinaire).  Well, he wasn’t a Dove award winner back then, but eventually was, and wrote the massive Christian hit “We Fall Down” that Bob Carlisle and others recorded (along with a lot more songs).

Another college friend recorded it on an album in the late 80’s or early 90’s – a jazz singer named Gwen Hughes.  She put her own twist on it, and it was an Atlanta Jazz Radio favorite for a while.  I think she said it was a good “makeout” hit?  hehehehehe

Anyway, I am going to post some of my old songs on here just so my Facebook friends can access them – they’re not for professional reasons.  So if you were at the coffeehouses way back when, these are for you.

Penny Haynes (aka Penny Pinkus)

Furman University, 1982-1986

In this Marketing With Audio And Video show, we learn how Marty and Lori Prokop of http://huntingheadlines.com lead a community of 14,000, using audio and video to teach them how to process deer, cape deer, field dress deer and save $200 to $400 a month on groceries without coupons.

Penny Haynes, http://OnlineCommunityMagazines.com

Everyone has something of value to share, and probably on more topics than we recognize.  Make it a point to add value to other people’s lives with every post.

Everyone is at a different level of knowledge, and in a different situation.  Therefore, information that may be “old news” to one person can still be revelational to another person who is not that advanced.  So make sure that every post, podcast and page offers something of value to the people that will consume your content. 

Tip #9

Make every word and post count.  Give people something of practical value to use immediately every time you share something.  And don’t assume that they already know what you know – they probably don’t!  Gary Susman shares the following:

“If you’re blogging or podcasting to promote a business or your own personal brand, the questions you should be asking yourself are:

What can I post that will add value for the reader?

What do my readers want to know that I am equipped to tell them?

Which ongoing discussions of issues would be enhanced by the addition of my 2 cents?

Blogging, like any other social-media activity, is really participating in a conversation; it requires listening as well as speaking. That said, the adding value part is pretty easy, even if it’s just a quickie post linking to something posted elsewhere that you think would interest your readers.

You don’t have to be eloquent or long-winded, just enthusiastic about your subject. Whatever is topical in your field will keep you supplied with subject matter. It’s not important to blog frequently, just often enough so that readers know you’re engaged in what’s happening in your field, and that you have something new to offer whenever they visit.”

- Gary Susman Arts and Entertainment Journalist/Social Media Consultant, http://popculturewarrior.wordpress.com

Remember that what you post today could change someone else’s life tomorrow.  It could provide their “aha” moment and alter their business or personal direction.  So make the most of your knowledge, and share it as often as possible.

Penny Haynes, http://www.RSSzine.com