Welcome to The Work at Home Woman’s Business Book Club!

April’s Business Book Club pick is, The Napkin, The Melon & The Monkey by Barbara Burke.

Midpoint Discussion: Friday, April 16, 2010 – read up to chapter 5.

Final Discussion & Review: Friday, April 30, 2010.

Book Stats: 130 pages. 10 Chapters.

Book Description: As a customer service agent, Olivia has been trained to handle irate customers in a calm, professional manner. But one day she loses control and yells back. Terrified that she’ll be fired, she seeks out Isabel, the call center’s sage. The advice she receives from her wise mentor changes her life:

• SODA (Stop. Observe. Decide. Act) – a sure-fire formula for remaining calm in any situation
• Unplugging – a centuries-old practice to reduce anxiety and promote creativity
• Aha!s – 22 practical insights that become the framework for living a happy life

This modern-day fable shows us that the best way to reduce stress is to cultivate mindfulness. While we cannot control much of what happens, we can get better outcomes if we stop to see situations clearly and calmly. This book serves as both a powerful resource for business professionals looking for practical, easy-to-use tools for dealing with difficult people and an inspirational tale for those who want better relationships and a happier life. (more…)

Happy Wednesday! Today is the final discussion for Corporate Mom Drop Outs by Lucinda Cross.  I’ve really enjoyed reading this book; I’ve had so much fun reading other mom’s stories and entrepreneurial advice. Many of these women I already follow on Twitter, so it’s been nice getting to know more about them, and I’ve also found some great new women to follow on Twitter.

With that said let’s jump into the discussion…

Question 1: On page 132 Georgia Woodbine, bestselling author, speaker and life coach said, “Sometimes, when people are in a job they get so caught up with being upset about the job they can’t really absorb or appreciate what they need to learn. I always say that sometimes you’re on a job, but you’re really on assignment, meaning there are things that have to happen for your development. I think that’s where people fall short; they look at their jobs as if they’re their lives and their end all and be all”. Have you ever experienced this is your life? (more…)

By Anastasia Borisyuk

If you are expecting to find tips on how to keep your baby occupied while you work from home, you may have come to the wrong article. Look elsewhere. What I want to share with you instead is how to keep your job from creeping in on your most important role of mothering.

Most of us decide to work from home because we want to avoid daycare costs and we desire to take responsibility for raising our children. You find that perfect opportunity to work from home, but how do you keep it from completely stealing the purpose of being home in the first place? It is a fine balance that is different for every mother, but here is what works for us. I make the most of the time I have while the baby is sleeping – be it at night or during nap time. In one hour of uninterrupted time I can get the same amount of work done as in three hours with a baby crawling at the feet. While this method sometimes keeps me from getting enough sleep, it is the fastest way to get work done. (more…)

Do you work at home?

Yes!

How many children do you have?

Two, a 6-yr-old daughter and 11-yr-old son.

How many hours do you work a week?

Between 35-45 hours. So much of what I do is great fun and includes connecting with people I enjoy, so it seems odd to call it ‘work’ in a traditional sense.

Tell us a little bit about Vibrant One and how you got started.

I left my corporate HR job to start a leadership/executive coaching practice in 2005. A few months later I learned about an opportunity to work under the guidance of Dr. Christiane Northrup as a wellness business owner. I jumped on the opportunity because of my respect for her and my lifelong interest in mind/body (she is a world-renown author/OBGYN, pioneer in women’s health and mind/body connection). At first I did not really promote this part of my business, as I still did not fully understand the network marketing model and didn’t feel comfortable ‘selling.’  However the nutritionals were significantly impacting the health of me and my family. As I focused more on my own health and intuitive wisdom, I shared what I was learning with friends. My interest grew in sharing what I was learning more widely, via my blog, and holding private and community events. Early last year I realized that I was ready to devote my time fully to promoting vibrant wellness, and Vibrant One was born. (more…)

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Like the majority of average Jane’s out there, when I first joined Twitter the first couple of days I had zero followers. I remember when MamaSource added me, they were my first follower, and I felt so honored.

I very quickly caught the Twitter bug and started following all sorts of people and businesses; Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Dooce (Heather Armstrong) , The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) and Alyssa Milano.  I knew that it was highly unlikely that these web celebrities and stars would follow me back, but I was totally intrigued with the fact that I could interact with them, even if it was a one way conversation.

But there were others… people who I thought would and should follow me back, yet they didn’t.

I took it personally. (more…)