I met Hollee about a year ago on Twitter. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her speak and meeting her face-to-face at the Blissdom Blogging Conference. I just started reading Hollee and Becky’s new book, Good Enough Is the New Perfect: Finding Happiness and Success in Modern Motherhood - and here’s the two of them talking about it.

1. Are you telling moms that it’s OK to slack off?

HOLLEE: Absolutely not. The first line of the book makes that clear: This is not a book about settling. But it is a book about the challenges that this generation of women is facing, and how they can find a way to Have It All if they’re strategic in their choices. Good enough sometimes has to be good enough.

BECKY: Perfectionism can be a huge liability. In fact, in our data, that “constant need to be the best at everything” emerged as the single greatest obstacle to juggling work and family. It outweighed financial pressures, inflexible bosses, husbands who don’t contribute enough at home and more. Many of the most impressive and successful women we interviewed found their greatest success when they learned to let go of perfect. They weren’t (more…)

By Holly Reisem Hanna

I just finished reading Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose by Zappo’s CEO, Tony Hsieh. I have to tell you, it’s one of the best business books that I have read this year. First off, it’s not your typical business book, talking about business plans and how to start a business. Instead Tony uses real life stories and examples from his life, thus illustrating how purpose + passion = profits.

It’s funny, because I’ve never actually shopped at Zappos. I’ve been on their site a few times looking at different shoes, but never purchased anything. But now, after reading this book I want to live the Zappos experience for myself.

But I digress, back to the business lessons. This book is jam packed with so many great ideas and concepts, that I had a difficult time just choosing a few to highlight. But I went back through the book, read my notes and found 3 topics that really resonated with me, and I think you’ll really enjoy them. (more…)

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Update: Heather is no longer selling her e-book, Get Famous. If you know of a good resource for getting PR – feel free to leave it in the comments below.

In the past, I’ve tried to do my own PR campaigns. I would write a press release, send it out on some of the free press release sites, and then also pay for it to go out on one of the larger PR sites, like PR Web. Along with this I would contact a few local media outlets by email with my press release.

And then I would wait.  And wait. And wait.

I’d see a small spike in my traffic from the large press release site, but no bites from actual media outlets. And in all honestly, this was how I thought PR campaigns were done – you send out a press release and wait.

This year however, when The Work at Home Woman’s 2 year anniversary rolled around, I decided to hire a PR professional to try and secure some local and national media coverage for the site. While the campaign was very successful, it was also VERY EXPENSIVE and it didn’t receive the national exposure that I was hoping for.

Right after my anniversary PR campaign was finished, I received a copy of Heather Allard’s (The Mogul Mom), Get Famous, and all I can say is that I wish I would have had this when I was working on my PR campaign! Get Famous is 28 pages of pure, easy to understand information that is going to get you results. (more…)

By JC Ryan

You’ve always wanted to start your own business, and you know it will take self-discipline, focus, and determination. You also know that you must wear multiple hats—business owner, office manager, marketing director, administrator, financial officer, and creative director. You have your office space dedicated and stocked, and you’re ready to roll. One thing—one little, bitty detail—is holding you back: just what is it that you’re going to sell?

Self-Evaluation:

Sit down with pen and paper. Let your thoughts have free reign and avoid editing yourself. Write down anything and everything that comes to mind when you ask yourself what you like to do, what interests you, and how you like to fill your time. When there’s absolutely nothing else that comes to mind, put that list away and take a break. (more…)

Do You Hate to Sell But Seek Success in Your Business?

As part of the Business Book Club we will be completing Larry Keltto and Jim Sheard’s, Relationship Marketing for Solopreneurs: How to Build Rewarding Connections in Work & Life – A Path to Success for People Who Hate to Sell. Last month a group of women worked on Darrren Rowse’s 31 Days to a Better Blog and the group dynamic was very rewarding and made for an informative and diverse learning experience.

The exercise will start on Monday, January 3rd in The Work at Home Woman’s Forum and will end on Friday, February 25th. As a group we will read the book, complete the exercises in the workbook and discuss the day’s topic in the forum, where we can share our experiences, goals and insights. Last month the pace was a little too fast, so we will complete the challenge over 8 weeks (instead of 6) with exercises being completed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, giving you some additional flexibility. (more…)