Last night my husband and I were telling friends about an incident that happened in a business we owned several years ago.  We all laughed over what happened and it helped boost them over some challenges they were having in a business.

“Yes,” I thought, “time does lend humor to situations we find difficult to laugh at the time they’re happening.” 

Since those experiences with the earlier business, Jim and I have tried to find humor in situations, even though we sometimes have to stretch to do it.  This doesn’t mean disregarding the problems or being slap-stick silly.  It has taught us to try finding some humor in our day to get through the tough times…and to inspire others

I frequently call to mind a quote of Florence Littauer’s in her book I’ve Found My Keys, Now Where’s My Car?  She relates various episodes of her life of getting through the tough times as well as developing her writing/speaking business.  At the end of each chapter, which she sparks with her definitive sense of humor, “Make the Tough Times Count.”

Sometimes you can do this with humor and sometimes not.  But humor will help lighten the load…and make a chuckling, often encouraging, story later on.

“Why bother to read?  I know what I have to do in my business.  That’s why I chose this as a home business in the first place,” you may comment.

Yes, you may consider it important to read technical and how-to books on your field of endeavor.  But why read success related books, people related books, and those to help you set  goals?  I thought the same way until I was introduced to some of these books and listened to some of the authors…who had achieved before they wrote the books.

I discovered a list on Jack Canfield’s site (Chicken Soup for the Soul fame)… Recommended Achiever’s Reading List. Some of these books are ones I’ve read, others I return to and re-read portions, and those I’d like to read in the future.

You don’t have to sit down and read an entire book in an evening or even a week.  I’m often reading bits and pieces…have a book in the bedroom, the living room, the “library,” in the car, and in my tote bag.

I heard a speaker recently say about reading in bits and pieces instead of feeling you have to read an entire book before going on to the next, “Your brain doesn’t know you’re reading from different books.  It only knows you’re reading what you need at the moment.”

Do you have favorite books?  They may be written on your career topic, business topic, or simply one that will boost you up when you’re meeting challenges.  Always have one or two that will make you laugh, too!

When I wrote the meme post,  Simply Successful Secrets for a home business, I mentioned having fun.  Comments I’ve received let me know that others feel this is important, too. 

Often we get so caught up into the challenges of our business, the busyness,  the pressure of meeting deadlines, and the balancing act between business and family  that we forget to have fun.  We forget why we decided to develop a home business in the first place and don’t focus on our dreams when and how this is taking us on our way.

We forget to stop, if only for a half hour, to do something purely enjoyable that will refresh us.   Take a day off to get away and come back with new enthusiasm. 

Find ways to have fun while working at your home business, enjoy what you’re doing and the people you’re working with.   Also, make a list of what you consider the advantages of operating your home business, either parttime or full time, and keep them in front of you.

Developing your home business has to be more than a whim, not something you give up as soon as you encounter challenges, discouragements, or boredom. No matter what you do, no matter how much you like it…or think you will, there will be downturns.

*Keep your goal in front of you.

*Remind yourself why you decided to develop your home business.

*Find a way to focus on why you like this business, even when encountering challenges.

*If you’ve come up against a wall, is there a way to deviate just a bit, yet still reach your goal?

*Take a break! We all need to get away from our business, no matter how much we like it. You’re likely to come back refreshed, with new ideas, and perhaps even a way to solve your problem.

Consistency and perseverence, with an eye toward your ultimate achievement…can be keys to success.

Yvonne of Grow Your Writing Business tagged me for this Simply Successful Secrets meme.  Aaron Potts, of Today is the Day started the meme whereby those tagged will list secrets of their success.  When the meme has run its course, Aaron will compile a master list of the participants from many areas of endeavor.

*Set goals – Have an overall objective, but set goals for each day.  I try to accomplish this by having a “to do” list.  I don’t always accomplish everything on my list, but it helps keep me focused.

*Be flexible – Your day and life doesn’t always go as planned.  Be flexible so you can accomplish your goals by another route without falling to pieces.

*Have or develop an interest in people - They are important for your business to succeed and for your life to be worthwhile.  Learn to be interested in what they’re doing and let them know they’re important.

*Perseverence and persistence  – These are imperative if you’re to keep going in spite of disappointments or seeming setbacks. 

*Have fun – Enjoy what you’re doing even though every moment many not be the most pleasurable.  However,  find the fun in your business and seek ways to let others see your enthusiasm.  Someone who’s upbeat and having a good time at what they’re doing attracts customers, clients and friends.

Just an extra one…take care of yourself and keep healthy...so you can enjoy the rewards of your business and life.

In order to become known around your area, participate in local and regional events, such as historical days, holiday celebrations, chamber of commerce events, tours, open houses, professional days at high schools,  and similar occasions.  You may not want to be involved in everything (you need time to run your business, too).  However, some participation can help promote your home business and get your name out there…as a business person and contributing member of the community.

Sometimes you simply pay for your name to appear on an ad supporting an event or cause.  Other times you take part in person.

*Open house – a number of businesses promote an event by running a special sale or even a sort of scavenger hunt for customers who visit on a particular day or weekend.

*School profession/occupation day – set up a display concerning your business at the school with other business people.  You explain what it’s like to operate your business.

*Donate an item for a fund raising auction or penny sale.

*Set up a booth for a historical day in town.

*Help organize one or more of the community events.

These are simply a few of the opportunities that might arise for you to become better known around your home region and to spread word about your business.

What have you participated in that you’ve found effective?

Find ways to include your home business in days/weeks/months of local and national recignition…and then let others know about it.  This is a way to become involved in a movement  that may be simply a local or regional one.  Or it might be a national time of recognition.  Tie in with it for unique promotions, or simply fun events, that will make your business name more recognizable. 

Let your customers know, by signs in your store and flyers you hand out to them.  Also, if you have a mailing list (nowadays, it’s often an e-mail, not a postal, list) let your customers know.  With online businesses, you will, of course, promote by e-mail.

For instance, Judy Howard, of Buckboard Quilts, has been participating in National Quilt Month (March) with a series of events.  To climax it, she designated March 29 as Charity Quilt Day. 

“This is a campaign to raise awareness and funding for the sacrificial volunteer work of hundreds of thousands of quilters who provide quilts for sick babies, orphans, homeless people, nursing homes, cancer and Alzheimer’s patients, soldiers and victims of disaster – those most in need of the touch of God’s love and comfort that quilts represent.”

This event will climax a month of quilting events, including those surrounding Centennial Stitches – Oklahoma History in Quilts.

Since I’ve signed up for Judy’s e-mail list, I receive notice of these events even though I don’t live in Oklahoma (USA).  (Incidentally, Judy’s business is the reverse of many home businesses.  She recently moved her away-from-home store to her home…something that the Internet Age makes feasible.)

See what days/weeks/months of recognition you can participate in to raise awareness of your home business.

Do you produce items that appeal or are used by youngsters?  Do you use promotions that might appeal to them, as well as their parents?  Is there a difference between how youngsters view purchases than the adults in their lives?

Ron E. discusses this sometimes controversial topic in a recent post, Marketing to Kids,  at Brand Curve and mentions “There is no law that dictates who is the sole decider on what to buy.  And although the mother might be the one actually buying (performing the action) , the kid has so much influence power that the decider title just might go to him/her.”

This reminded me of advice I’d received about picture books that appeal to youngsters versus those that catch the attention of adults. 

As a children’s librarian looked at, Tales of Adventure & Discovery,  the children’s anthology I’d written and illustrated, I’d apologized because the pictures were so simplistic. 

“Mary, the children like illustrations that look like something they could draw.  Adults select books with lovely art,” she said.

Later, a first grade teacher said much the same thing when she saw my illustrations.  She explained that children generally gravitate toward the books with simple drawings.  I’ve noticed, too, that my grandson, now 11 years old, often selects books with cartoon type drawings rather than realistic ones.

So, I kept this in mind when when I illustrated and produced a coloring book for youngsters and currently a picture book.  I have nothing against lovely pictures in children’s books and enjoy them myself.  However, I try to keep in mind what children like, too, when writing and illustrating  my books because, in many instances, the parents will go with what the children want.

Is this marketing to children in my home writing/publishing business?  You might say it is since I want to produce a product that will encourage children to read.

(Incidentally, check out Ron’s blog for more tips on the philosophy of producing items that kids will want, i.e….marketing to kids.)

Denise Grier, blogger for Leadership Turn, has written a very informative round-up of the b5media Business Channel blogs as she made a tour recently. Visit her blog and see the posts she’s chosen to feature about the business world as represented by this channel.

For Home Biz Notes, Denise mentioned  Listening to Your Home Business Customers.

Denise recently joined the channel and we all welcome her.

David Krug makes a very interesting point a post on his b5media blog, Work Boxers. “Spend 30 minutes each day interacting with people you’d normally not interact with.” He mentions this as a way to expand your influence and to get your name [and your business name] out there.

Yes, this is something to consider. Within your niche, your circle of customers and friends, you may be well known. However, don’t you want to expand your “circle of influence” and become better known…have your products and/or services better known?

So…spend some extra time each day (David suggests 30 minutes) to meet new people. This could be online or in person. When you’re in the grocery, talk to people instead of rushing through. Introduce yourself to the person behind, if you find yourself waiting in line. Chat with someone in the doctor’s or dentist’s office instead of sitting with your face in the magazine. (And I’m guilty of this, too!)

Jot an e-mail to someone whose blog or web site you enjoy. Did you find their book interesting? E-mail the author.

The list goes on…the ways you can expand your world and your home business.