Midpoint Book Club Discussion – Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months
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Welcome to The Work at Home Woman’s Business Book Club!
Today is the midpoint discussion for “Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months” by Melinda Emerson. This book is a month-to-month guide that will help you launch a business that works!
With that said, let’s get the discussion rolling…
Feel free to answer as many of the questions that you would like or add your own questions and/or commentary.
Question 1: I love that Melinda talks about having an entrepreneurial mindset, so many business books leave out this very important element of being successful as an entrepreneur. On page 45 Melinda states, “Every entrepreneur goes through these difficult periods. I certainly have been there. Times like these are when you need to focus on the positive and maintain your optimism”. As an entrepreneur how do you maintain a positive mindset?
Question 2: In chapter 8, Melinda talks about finding your dream niche. Often time’s people know that they want to be their own boss, but they don’t know what they should do or where to start. How did you find your niche and what advice do you have for others who are trying to find their perfect niche?
Question 3: On page 125, it talks about branding your business and that your brand is, “the image or culture you create for your product or service. It is also your business name and how that name is visually expressed. A logo is part of it, but a brand is much more. Essentially, a brand is how you want people to perceive your business”. What is behind your brand and how do you express the culture you want people to perceive?
The final discussion for “Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months” will be on Friday, August 13th. If you would like updates and reminders I will send out email reminders for the business book club, just sign up here (don’t worry this email address will only be used for book club updates).
The Next Business Book Club Pick: Chris Brogan’s Trust Agents.
A special thanks to Abbey Fatica of Living My MoMent for co-sponsoring the Business Book Club! Living My Moment supports mom owned businesses and blogs by offering free advertising, reviews and giveaways – do check it out!
Melinda Emerson was kind enough to give me a free copy of “Become Your Boss in 12 Months” to review. The Work at Home Woman does not participate in paid posts or reviews and always gives honest opinions. By purchasing books through any of these Amazon (affiliate) links you’ll be helping to support the upkeep and maintenance of this site.
Q1: When I start to feel discouraged, I spend more time with my daughter. She is the whole reason why I started my business and she’s my number #1 priority. Doing fun activities with her always lifts my spirit and puts things into perspective. I have also found that talking to like-minded colleagues and getting outdoors helps too.
Q2:I would have never thought in a million years that working at home would be my niche, but I went with what I knew. After my daughter was born, I searched for a long time to find a work at home job, but was disappointed with the information that was out there. Then when I started working for AWAI, the small publishing company that I work part-time for, I did lots of research for them on the various work at home sites and opportunities out there and decided that this knowledge needed to be shared, hence The Work at Home Woman.
For people looking to find their niche, I suggest writing a personal and professional inventory list of all the skills, hobbies and interests that you have. Then go through each quality and see how it can relate to a business. Like everything else finding your perfect niche takes time.
Q3: We all know that the work at home realm is littered with scams, so when I created The Work at Home Woman, I wanted to be known as a trusted and reliable source. My logo is how I perceive myself, an honest, work at home mom, who is happy to be able to stay home with her child full-time. I chose this specific color palate, because it seemed modern and upbeat. I tie all this together by providing prompt and courtesy customer service.