HMM Networks Blogger News

Taking That Next Step in Your Career by @familycapers

2010-05-29T17:59:00.001-07:00

By Linda Enever – Hire My Mum Recruitment Specialist

In the current market taking that next step in your career may not be at the top of your mind. However often this type of market creates the opportunities, steps and openings for a well planned applicant to make their next career move as the reshuffling, restructuring and resignations occur.

This is the time to take advantage of such programs as Hudson’s Career Move service and speak with professional recruiters and head-hunters to get an assessment of the market, your skills and your ability to move to the next stage of your career.

Career Move and other such programs are designed to assist candidates in the process of career transition. Whether it’s beginning your career; changing careers; taking the next step in your career, or changing organisations, they help you to recognise your strengths, your skills, and define your career direction. On completion of programmes like these you will have a deeper understanding of your skills, values, motivators and preferences. This information about yourself is a great assistance to you regardless of the industry you are in now or hope to join.

Read more about Taking That Next Step in Your Career

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Funniest Facebook Ad picture I have seen LOL

2010-05-20T06:24:00.001-07:00

Click here to download:

image001.emz (29 KB)

Click here to download:

oledata.mso (35 KB)

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My new bike :)

2010-05-07T20:08:00.001-07:00

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Positive Thinking: Why Does It Work? by @Justine_Simard

2010-05-07T16:57:00.001-07:00

By Justine Simard - Hire My Mum Personal Development Specialist

You may have heard of the power of positive thinking, but maybe are not convinced enough to try it for yourself. I will explain here the 'mechanics' of positive thinking and how it affects emotions, and in turn behaviours, because for those of us work at home mums with an analytical mind, it sometimes helps to understand a process first before we believe in its power and apply related strategies effectively!

An important part of our brain to discuss here is the limbic system, which guides our mood and emotions, but also plays an important role in our attention and motivation. The limbic system, also referred to as our 'emotional brain' is responsible for our drives, and the stronger we feel about reaching for or avoiding something, the stronger our drive will be. While our feelings and emotions come from the limbic system, the neocortex controls our verbal ability, judgment, planning, and creative thinking. These is constant communication between the emotional brain and the neocortex, and together they shape our beliefs and behaviours.

I've recently heard the limbic system being referred to as a 2 year old child. This analogy was made because the limbic system, just like a young child, has poor judgement between right and wrong, doesn't distinguish between good and bad thoughts, and acts upon any information it receives as being true and real. Here is where it become interesting. Behaviours are caused or influenced by emotions. These emotions are generated by your limbic system, who is acting spontaneously like a 2-year old and making very limited judgment on the information it receives! Many work at home mums reading this might already have ideas on how to use this to their advantage! Put simply, you can manipulate the information you send to your limbic system for it to generate the productive emotions you need to achieve your goals.

Read more about Positive thinking why it does work

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Blogs- What are they? by @CleverStreak

2010-04-25T18:55:00.001-07:00

By Anne Maybus – Hire My Mum Web & Writing Specialist

Blog is short for 'weblog' which is a kind of diary or journal kept on the World Wide Web.

Problogger, quoting Wikipedia, says ‘A blog is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,” “posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. '

Blogs are useful tools for people in business. They are part of the social media revolution which has changed the way we relate to our clients. Today it is important to encourage conversation with your clients and potential clients so that you can build up a relationship with them. That makes sense, doesn't it? After all, who would you rather buy from - someone you know or someone you don't?

Blogs are also very appealing to search engines which trawl the web looking for fresh content to list. The more fresh content your website has the more the search engines will be drawn to it and the more often you will show in the listings. That means that your business has a greater chance to be found online when potential clients come searching.

Do you have a blog on your site? You might like to think about adding one. Next week we will look at how to keep the content fresh and interesting to readers and search engines.

Read all of Blogs- What are they?

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Marketing and Branding your VA Business by @DawsonDocuments

2010-04-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

By Erin Dawson – Hire My Mum VA Specialist

Marketing and Branding is all about getting you and your business known to the World. It is your Business’ image and what customers & clients will see and think about when they see your Business around. Will they be thinking “oh I need that for my businesses” or will they be screwing up their lip at the thought of your Business?

So how important is it?

Branding increases public awareness. A Business needs to create a brand that people trust and are familiar with. It is about the reputation behind your Business name and logo. When you see the Big Gold M, what do you think of? When you see a Letter “F” that is surrounded by Blue, what do you think of? (Facebook). This is exactly what successful Branding is. How do these people market to you and others? You already know the answer to that. So how exactly do you start Marketing and Branding YOUR Business?

Read all of Marketing and Branding your VA Business

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Less Multi-Tasking, Better Productivity, More Love? by @Justine_Simard

2010-04-22T14:03:00.001-07:00

By Hire My Mum Personal Development Specialist, Justine Simard

Women are renowned to be great multi-taskers. Work at home mums are undeniably one of the groups of mums who need this skill the most. I've written quite a few times about schedules and separating 'work time' and 'mum time'. However, it is at times impossible to separate those roles, and while multi-tasting a lot I've recently realised that I hardly give myself fully to one task at any given time. If my body, behaviours and thoughts are busy doing something, my mind is often active about a few other things at the same time. With this realisation, I have come to the conclusion that the key revolved around one easy conscious effort I could make to have better focus and productivity to any task at hand: Awareness.

As a work at home mum and full-time mum, my most important task is looking after my kids. However, with a growing home business requiring more thinking and planning, I found that I would often be sharing my focus between my kids and my work, at the same time. So I started this new exercise when starting an activity with my kids. I said to myself: 'I will devote my whole self to this activity and my kids'. No allowance for work thoughts, checking emails, of even putting a load of washing on. From the very first time I tried this simple commitment statement, I realised how much more aware and fulfilled I was while spending quality time with my kids. It meant I fully took in the moment, noticed the little things that make a mum's heart fill with joy and pride, gave more love and positive interaction to my kids, and fully indulged in the primary reason why I work from home - raising my kids. It also meant that I became more aware of all the mental disruptions coming through, so that I would purposefully shut them down and re-focus.

Read all of Less Multi-Tasking, Better Productivity, More Love? (Work At Home Mums)

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Home Office Organisation by Alex Barwick

2010-04-19T20:29:00.001-07:00

Content Writing Competition entry by Alex Barwick

Home office organisation does not mean turning your laundry into an office space. If you're a work from home mum who wants to do a work from home job it's crucial you spend time determining how best to be your own boss.

Finding the right space to be a work from home mum means finding a location you enjoy spending time in. If you don't you'll end up just wanting to return to work instead of being your own boss.

Home office organisation is made easier by realising you don't need a huge space. Knowing how to outsource and what the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing are will also make home office organisation easier.

Speak to someone you trust, someone who has been their own boss or been a work from home mum before. They'll be able to give you good advice with regard to any concerns you have about outsourcing as well as tips on how to outsource locally. If outsourcing is for your business this will impact on how much room and how you go about home office organisation.

Read all of Home Office Organisation

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Are You Looking For A Well Established Business To Run or To Compliment Your Existing Niche?

2010-04-18T21:17:00.001-07:00

Are You Looking For A Well Established Business To Run or To Compliment Your Existing Niche?

Hire My Mum is Australia's largest online boutique job board, specialising in work from home jobs for work from home mums.

This auction is for an established business; it is not an autopilot website, it is a real business. If you are looking for a reputable, established business in the work from home niche, then this is for you. You will be buying everything I have associated with the business; I will not be starting a new one, or using the name or anything remotely like that.

The business was established in March 2008 as a means of helping myself find work I could do from home, and it quickly grew by helping friends and family to do the same. Just two years later we have over 3100 members, growing by approximately 100 new members per week - without doing any advertising for over 6 months.

Why am I selling?

I am the owner and creator of Hire My Mum, and I have owned this business for two years. It started as a personal need to find work for myself and grew from the requests of friends and family to help find them some work from home roles. During this period I have learned a lot about online marketing and have established other businesses. Through this process I have discovered my passion for helping others to begin an online business. With many personal coaching clients I have had to make a decision between Hire My Mum and my training business.

Whilst it was a very difficult decision I have chosen to pursue my area of greatest interest. I believe Hire My Mum has developed a strong, positive reputation amongst members, employers and my competitors, and it is for this reason that I can sell Hire My Mum knowing whoever is the successful new owner, will be inheriting a reputable, ethical and well established business.

View the Flippa Auction listing

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Beginner Writers Course by @CleverStreak

2010-04-14T01:21:00.001-07:00

By Anne Maybus – Hire My Mum Web/Writing Specialist

When I finished writing my last blog post here I began to think about all the people who might feel the way I felt about writing. I would guess that there are a lot of us who want to test our skills but are hesitant about it.

It took me a long time to pluck up the courage to put my work out there to be seen. I don't want you to have to wait that long. I don't want you to have to do it by yourself, either. That is why I have put together an online course for beginner writers.

This course isn't about grammar or punctuation. It isn't like learning English at school. It is more of a hand-holding while you find out what it is that you want to write about, and while you find your voice. Some of us will want to write for our businesses, others for fun. Some might want to write poetry and others write a statistical analysis of subatomic pressure on amoeba. Who knows?

I wrote an article for Calm Space about my journey towards writing and it starts with what has become one of my favourite proverbs. " A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song." What that says to me is that if we want to write we should do it. You don't have to bring about world peace with it. You just need to express yourself. You can be sure that it will strike a chord with some of your readers.

If you want to try your hand at writing then come along with us on this course. We promise to give you constructive feedback and plenty of support and encouragement. I would love to be standing in a bookshop one day, looking at a recently published book and saying to myself."I helped her get there."

For some more information about the course drop into my Facebook page.

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Now What? Where are the Clients? by @dawsondocuments

2010-04-14T01:20:00.001-07:00

By Erin Dawson – Hire My Mum VA Specialist

Ok so you are over the overwhelming feeling of starting out in your Business, but where are the clients?

It will take some time to build up a relationship with customers and clients, but start small and work your way up.

When I first started in my Business, I asked Family and Friends. Yes I said start small. You never know who they may know and knowing a friend of a friend could work in your favour.

I suggest writing a template that introduces you and your services remembering to put in WHY people should use a Virtual Assistant, but more importantly, why they should use YOU. This can be something you keep for new clients or even when replying to adverts of jobs that may be advertised.

You will need to Market yourself. This may be hard, as I still find it hard to write about myself, but it is something you will have to overcome if you want to be successful in your Business.

Continue Reading -Now What? Where are the Clients?

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What does your resume "really" say about you? by @FCRecruitment

2010-04-08T17:20:00.001-07:00

By Linda Enever – Hire My Mum Recruitment Specialist.

We asked Career Adviser Linda Enever of FC Recruitment about resumes and what they really say about you. She believes this is a question not asked enough by job seekers; especially when a resume is most often the first marketing tool you use in your quest for a new career. So let’s do a review and look at what your resume “really” says about you.

Does My Resume Reflect My True Skills?

This is an easy question to say yes too. However look again; does each role on your resume have your duties and achievements outlined in a clear orderly fashion so employers can see at a glance why they should hire you?

Does My Resume Have An Objective?

When recruiters and employers talk about objectives they are looking for a career objective or summary at the top of your resume as well as a link to your skills in your past. Make your objective clear. Link it to your past roles and make sure you stand out. This is your first bold marketing statement and will encourage the reader to read on or not.

Is My Resume Consistent?

Consistent in terms of reading well and looking good - check for:

Continue reading What does your resume “really” say about you?

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Do You Write? by Anne Maybus @CleverStreak a Hire My Mum Specialist

2010-04-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

By Anne Maybus – Hire My Mum Web/Writing Specialist

Do you write? Do you wish you could write?

So many of us want to be able to write the novel we can feel inside us, or even write an article that we could get published in a magazine, yet we don't do it. Does that sound like you?

What is it that holds you back?

The biggest thing that held me back from showing what I had written was a lack of confidence. I was afraid of what people would say or think about my work. I was a big, fat coward.

Guess what? I am still a big, fat coward but now I just ignore that part of me and do it anyway.

I think everyone who creates something, whether it be with words, paint or something else, is nervous when it comes time to show off their work. In a way it is a little like exposing yourself (in the nicest possible way). There will be times that people love what you have written and times where they just don't see the point but what does it matter? If you think it or feel it then whatever you write is valid.

If you would like to write I have two things to say to you.

Read all of Do You Write?

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A Few Minutes For Your Body and Mind Series: Yoga Breathing By @Justine_Simard

2010-03-30T18:14:00.001-07:00

By Justine Simard – Hire My Mum Personal Development Specialist

Have you ever given up on an activity such as meditation or yoga because you don't have the time? For busy work at home mums, taking an hour to do meditation, pilates, yoga, relaxation techniques or mind training is often a luxury that we simply cannot afford to do on a daily basis. Have you ever considered doing some of these exercises daily but only for a FEW MINUTES? You would be surprised at the new flow of energy and mind power that can result from just those few minutes of self-awareness, meditation, relaxation or mind coaching.

The life of work at home mums is filled with schedules, stress, noise, demands, multi-tasking, physical work, travel and altruism. How often do you actually channel back into yourself, become aware of your body and mind, and create new energy which comes out from within? Personally, the only way I used to become aware of my body was when it was aching, and creating new energy meant drinking more coffee! I have however been trialling a few different methods and have discovered that not only I can use some techniques in just a few minutes every day, but they also create instant results in reducing stress, increasing energy levels, focusing my mind, empowering my spirit, and improving my mood. That sounds good doesn't it?

Read the full story A Few Minutes For Your Body and Mind Series: Yoga Breathing

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What you Need and Getting Started as a VA! By @DawsonsDocuments

2010-03-28T18:37:00.001-07:00

By Erin Dawson of Dawson’s Documents – Hire My Mums VA Specialist

Ok, so you want to be a Virtual Assistant (VA) but that’s as far as you have gotten so far?

Read on and this may assist you in starting your business and completing those next couple of vital steps.

When I started out with Dawson Documents, I was so overwhelmed with what I needed to do, to actually start working. Before I even thought about a client or completing work, there was so much more I had to do.

Research plays an important part in starting any Business. You need to be aware of what else is out there, exactly what they are offering, why they are offering it and what they are doing to get themselves known. You will need to know all of this and be clear with what YOU want to offer and what YOU want to achieve from your own Business. Google (www.google.com.au) of course is the number 1 search engine, so start searching. After doing your research you will find that some say the Virtual Assistant industry has become so popular because it helps women become entrepreneurs yet also achieves a work/life balance. This is just one reason I became a VA.

You have completed your research and you have your Business name, now what?

Read What you Need and Getting Started as a VA! the full story.

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Preparing for the job interview: by @lindaenever

2010-03-25T17:32:00.001-07:00

Preparing yourself for the job interview is a skill itself and one that many candidates over look when searching for that new role.

Often it is easy to dismiss the importance of the interview and the impression you make as you walk through the door, interact with people within the office, how you stand or sit and the research you have done beforehand.

When returning to the workforce as a Mum it can often be daunting and scary to face the interview process so here are a few hints to make sure you have your toolkit with you:

Research:

Commonly overlooked good research and knowledge can often rank you hire than skills and know how. Research the company/agency you are interviewing with. If it is an agency find out what roles they specialise in, the clients they work with and how long they have been in the business. It not only shows you are interested in the job but in the recruiter as well

Research and the ability to call on it in the view not only gives you confidence it shows that want to become part of their team and organisation and that the role is important to you.

Have your documents ready. Take a copy of your CV or Resume. Make sure it is clear, detailed and up to date; include copies of your qualifications and a portfolio of work is also important if you have one. Presentation is important so make sure your documents are in excellent condition and you have a copy to leave with the interviewer if required.

Dress for the interview …Read the full article Preparing for the job interview

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Ever fancied yourself as a virtual property developer?

2010-03-21T21:40:00.001-07:00

I recently went down to my local printers with a copy of the Learn How to Build and Sell Niche Blogs ebook (kindly donated to me by author Michelle Adams) on my USB stick as it is 203 pages and I wasn't printing it at home. So while I was at it I got a nice folder for it too, turns out it was a good choice.

When I was at the Ed Dale 30DC Home conference in February I met Michelle and was very excited about it because I had already been successful at selling 4 websites in the fashion that she teaches. Keep in mind that I have been building websites for at least 3 to 4 years now. So when I came across Michelle's book I was very keen to read it as I knew it was going to be something that the BiziMums readers could really benefit from. So here is my review, whilst I consider Michelle a friend these days (even though we've really only known each other for about 2 months) this review is impartial and I do tell you what I think of each module.

Learn How to Build & Sell Niche Blogs

By Michelle Adams - VRedVoice.com

The book is set out in 6 modules that are all very logical and extremely comprehensive. They are based on a real life example from go to whoa ... the only thing we don't find out in the end is how much she sold the example site for ! :)

Module 1
This module covered keyword and market research, the thing about online research is that there are so many factors to take into account and every guru has their own style of teaching it. Whilst I thought it was a little light on for explanation for a total newbie, it was still very thorough. Given that there are mountains of information about market research freely available in the internet it was probably a good idea to not bog down in it. After all the main purpose is to get you building and selling your niche blog site in the shortest amount of time possible. But I will say the way Michelle taught it was even an eye opener to me, extremely simple and intuitive.

The module moves onto content creation, I have to admit I learnt something here and didn't expect to find a section on Human ReWriter in a book like this.

Module 2
In this module Michelle covers how to set up your hosting accounts the right way ... you can take this advice or ignore it, you will still be able to do this type of business, but my personal experience has been that you are better off doing it properly from the start, it just makes everything else flow more smoothly. While the example uses Hostgator as the recommended host, you already know I use and recommend JustHost, they offer the same services, are cheaper and charge in Aussie dollars.

The next stage covered is the fun part where you install WordPress and start to see your business project come to life. Surprisingly in this module topics like permalinks structures are covered, normally they are confusing for a newbie but Michelle's simple description and imagery throughout the example case make this a non event for a newbie builder.

Module 3
I picked up some great tips and have made a mountains of notes by this stage and I was only up to about page 40!

Some new tools are introduced throughout the book and in this module Colorzilla is introduced, this tip alone will save me loads of work when I am making graphics or building websites. I usually take a screenshot and drop it into Photoshop then work out the colours etc, but this tool allows you to do that straight on any webpage. Especially useful in Michelle's methods of teaching as she covers extensively the way she themes a site to be the most aesthetically appealing.

Another tool introduced is one I use all the time FireBug, I will just quickly make one point and that is Michelle makes the assumption you are using FireFox and I would heartily agree that if you aren't using it you should be, I use Flock a version of FireFox, this tool is useful whether you are planning to sell your site or not.

By this point I am thinking that this book is amazing with the detail even if you aren't planning to build and sell niche blogs, if you just want to build a blog for your own use it will seriously help you.

This module focuses on one particular theme template, if you have any experience in building WordPress sites then you could easily adapt this information to your own personal favourite themes. The depth of detail related to how to customise colour schemes is quite impressive. A tutorial us given for another new tool I had never used before and will suit anyone with limited knowledge of graphics and doesn't own a copy of the popular but expensive Photoshop. Very quick and easily you will learn to create a customised header image for your new niche blog.

The details could be mistaken as being overwhelming but it is actually a very simply step by step explanation all the way throughout this book.

Module 4
Show me the money ... as you can gather this part of the book is about monetization and how to place banner ads and to find secondary digital products to add to your money making plans. At this point I am impressed with the theme used in the example, I have never used WooThemes before and it looks easy to use. I personally have a favourite set of themes by Studio Press.

The addition of an Amazon aStore is covered in detail and adds another level of monetization and service to the potential buyer.

Module 5
Probably the most exciting part of the process, the sale. In this module the sales process is explained, this is also the most nerve racking part since each sale is like an eBay auction where you get to watch the price go up. Michelle discusses strategies such as hold and develop or go straight to market for sale, for those choosing to sell immediately, it is discussed how to optimise your sales information for achieving the best possible result.

There are plenty of strategies for managing bids and bidders questions throughout the auction process, as well as managing the payment process and how to ensure you get your money quickly.

Module 6
Probably the scariest part is the handover or site transfer. If you follow the book to the letter up to this point you will be in the best position to have an easy handover. This is the most technical part of the book but is very well illustrated. Obviously with different levels of experience the difficulty will vary but for most people this will be an exciting learning curve especially with the guidance of this book.

In Summary
If I had written this book I would be very proud of myself, of course there are things I would have written differently but that is just because there are many ways to 'skin the proverbial cat' and as someone who has had success building and selling websites I think Michelle's strategy/method is excellent particularly for the novice.

I am also very excited as I have probably mentioned a few times now, because I know there are so many BiziMums who are going to really benefit from this book. At the modest investment in your education of $57.00 you will have no trouble starting a work from home business like I have done.

Oh I nearly forgot two important bonuses, the first being that included in this price for a short time is the free access to the VRed Vault, a private forum dedicated to providing support to all owners of the Learn How to Build & Sell Niche Blogs eBook. And the other bonus is a 60 day 100% money back guarantee … but I know you won’t need that!

You can obtain the Learn How to Build & Sell Niche Blogs eBook here.

Please leave a comment as I would really like to hear your thoughts on virtual property development.

Cheers

Please Note: This review does contain affiliate links as I am an affiliate marketer, so if you feel that any of the services mentioned would benefit you and you choose to purchase those services then I will receive a commission. However, the content within is not based on those referrals and I encourage you to seek non affiliate links if you feel so inclined rather than miss out on this valuable product

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Fortune Cookies

2010-03-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

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Time Management for WAH Single Mothers (Or, Have You Got A Genie?) by @ruddygood

2010-03-16T19:41:00.001-07:00

By Tracey Rudd

Time was, when I was rather good at organising my days. As a teenager fresh out of school, I had four simultaneous part-time jobs for a while. Later, I ran large multi-national retail chain stores with some success. Yet, nothing has challenged my abilities more than trying to organise my life around my current No. 1 profession, that of a single mama, juggling a new work-from-home freelance writing/blogging business with an external university degree.

Now, I hope your personal brand of insanity is a little kinder than mine but, whichever way you look at it, we women are rather good at taking on a lot and expecting ever more from ourselves.

I recently read a wonderful blog post debating the wisdom of the trend to multi-tasking, claiming, quite rightly, that it is impossible to do one thing well when you are thinking of other things at the same time, and I whole-heartedly agree.

Still, the reality for most single mothers is the constant need to juggle your responsibilities as a parent with your responsibilities as a business person or employee, often on a moment-by-moment basis. How do you do this, and retain your sanity, without hunting around in your attic for an old brass lamp (or a time machine)?

Read Time Management for WAH Single Mothers (Or, Have You Got A Genie?)

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Beyond The Income : Work At Home Mums Blog Post By @JustineSimard

2010-03-15T17:39:00.001-07:00

When I ask mums who want to work from home or start a home business why they want to work from home, the first answer is often 'to make money'. Many households struggle on one income, and many family cannot afford the lifestyle they want. However, I have been approached by quite a few women who don't necessarily need the income, but still want to do something else than just being a full-time mum. When we look into it further, there are indeed so many other benefits for work at home mums, going beyond making an income.

Firstly, there are obvious benefits for work at home mums, such as the flexibility to work around your kids, being your own boss, avoiding the time-wasting commute, and getting tax benefits. These lifestyle and personal benefits can allow women to fully merge their role as a mum and their professional aspirations. Most importantly, working from home can bring benefits which extend much further than lifestyle and income.

Beyond the necessity or desire to make an income while looking after your family, work at home mums pursue self-realisation, or the ability to exploit and reach their full potential. Being a mum in itself brings so many challenges, new skills and new experiences, yet many of us feel the need to do something else, something for ourselves and separate from our role as a mother and spouse. Being able to learn, develop and use our skills in a personal project brings a different kind of reward and feeling of accomplishment. It's not about being a super-mum. It's about being a great mum, and also being ourselves, with our own identity, ability and power to use our skills, participate and contribute.

Read all of Beyond the Income

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Eye Of The Baby Tiger - Video

2010-03-15T01:31:00.001-07:00

(22925 KB)
Watch on posterous

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My Family

2010-03-15T01:18:00.001-07:00

See the full gallery on posterous

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New blog article What is a VA? by Erin Dawson

2010-03-10T20:54:00.001-08:00

According to articles on msn.com, a Virtual Assistant (VA) business is one of the hottest home-based businesses going around. A Virtual Assistant can be so something every business needs, the costs are low to start, and although some businesses need to be educated on how a Virtual Assistant works, and why they benefit their company, once they know how to use a VA- they would most likely never go back to hiring a ‘Staff Member’.

There are many things to consider if you do decide to start your own Virtual Assistant business. This series of 5 Articles will help you understand just what it takes to be a VA. I will tell you what you need to get started, give you the resources that you need, what to do once you have started, how to get those clients, how to market and brand your Business and how to keep your business going.

Read What Is A VA?

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Build & Sell Niche Blogs (Virtual Real Estate Development)

2010-03-08T19:54:00.001-08:00

I have just downloaded my copy of Build and Sell Niche Blogs by VRed Voice (aka Michelle Adams) and that is an acronym for Virtual Real Estate Development.

I am planning to review this eBook here in the next few days, that’s if I can get through all 200 + pages in that time. So far it appears to be extremely comprehensive.

So stay tuned for the review

Build & Sell Niche Blogs - Virtual Real Estate Development

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Build & Sell Niche Blogs (Virtual Real Estate Development)

2010-03-08T19:53:00.001-08:00

I have just downloaded my copy of Build and Sell Niche Blogs by VRed Voice (aka Michelle Adams) and that is an acronym for Virtual Real Estate Development.

I am planning to review this eBook here in the next few days, that’s if I can get through all 200 + pages in that time. So far it appears to be extremely comprehensive.

So stay tuned for the review

Build & Sell Niche Blogs - Virtual Real Estate Development

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Office Pics

2010-03-07T18:41:00.001-08:00

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Untitled

2010-03-05T02:30:00.001-08:00

Visit Hire My Mum to gain instant download access to a FREE copy of my
business report, Learn How to Outsource Your Business in 2010. It's an essential resource for any business owner struggling to deal with
workload, family life or inability to grow ... We are but one person, but
our business doesn't need to be.

Learn how outsourcing can help
your business.

(2508 KB)
Watch on posterous

Learn how outsourcing can help
your business.

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Work At Home Mums: Making Time For Yourself.

2010-03-04T02:18:00.001-08:00

I wondered if this subject would be worthy of a whole article, however it is an important factor in the lives of work at home mums which is often ignored. I've often included in previous articles the importance of having a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance, with good eating habits, exercise, time to relax and to have fun. Although we are all aware of the benefits of having such balance, we often prioritise work and our children, only to find ourselves with no time left to look after ourselves.

Including time for activities which bring energy, relaxation and fun is simple, in theory. Most of us probably make new resolutions regularly around new healthy habits. Unfortunately, these often fade away or don't take place at all. So I have identified the 3 things which together make a strong plan for adopting and maintaining the activities which can help work at home mums be focused, productive, healthy and relaxed.

Read Hire My Mum Personal Development Specialist Justine Simards article Work At Home Mums: Making Time For Yourself.

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How To Succeed As A Single Mama - or - About That Missing Manual?

2010-03-03T17:54:00.001-08:00

Much like any other aspect of parenting, single motherhood doesn't come with a manual.

Every one's journey to single motherhood is a little different: some come through grief and loss, some come through choice, and some are unsure quite how they found themselves here but are daily growing to like the place better and better. Yet few of us arrive knowing what to expect, nor how to proceed once we've reached this place.

I stood in Borders in the heart of Brisbane a couple of weeks ago; always a pleasure for me, but with some of the gloss taken off by an impatient, footsore, rather hungry small boy. It meant that I had to make the most of the few minutes I had, and I made a beeline for the Parenting section. I was on a mission, satisfying an idle speculation which was rapidly becoming a truth – that there were almost no books on Australian bookshelves about single motherhood. There really IS no manual.

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Hire My Mum 7 Sunrise Video Pitch Entry

2010-03-02T18:39:00.001-08:00

Here is the Hire My Mum entry to the Sunrise Family Business video pitch, have a look and leave a comment, I love to hear your feedback.

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Work at Home Mums: Are You Serious?

2010-02-24T04:06:00.001-08:00

Is it really easier to work from home? While work at home mums enjoy more flexibility around their personal and professional commitments, they continue to have just as much desire and demands to perform in both roles. So how can mums ensure that working in a home environment and being their own boss doesn't negatively impact on the results they generate? Taking your professional role seriously while at home will be the key to creating successful outcomes, and here are 4 important factors in establishing a professional mindset and routine.

Read the full Work From Home Mums story here

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Pics from #30dchome

2010-02-18T11:44:00.001-08:00

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Would you like to get 5000 backlinks for your business?

2010-02-16T15:49:00.001-08:00

I have been an Elite member of the Self Starters Weekly Tips (aff) forum owned by Lynn Terry - Superaffiliate and SEO expert (she won't take credit for that, but if you only knew...), for nearly a year now and as a result was recently privileged to have an early bird preview of hers and Paul Short’s, old-school SEO guy , new product called 5000 Backlinks.

This is one of the most comprehensive backlink-getting packages you will find on the internet today. I was so impressed at what I learnt not to mention the literally 5000 backlinks they give you. It opened my eyes to ways of getting .gov and .edu links that Google just loves.

Can’t Wait! Click Here to go straight to 5000Backlinks!

If you have an online presence, whether it is an ecommerce site, a serious blog site, or affiliate selling site you cannot afford to miss out on this product. If there is one thing I have learnt this past 6 months is that you NEED back links.

And for those of you sitting there feeling like a dummy and wondering what on earth are backlinks … and don’t worry we have all been there … backlinks are links back to your site from someone else’s site. They are free to get and are gold on the Google search engines.

I have doubled the number of links on my sites since I have had it, and on Hire My Mum I have gone from an Alexa ranking of over 800,000 to 370,000 and dropping daily. Oh and don’t be mistaken this isn’t press a button and magically sprinkle fairy dust, then ‘ta da’ 5000 back links … No, it is a serious tool that you USE and learn from to build long term serious quality links to your site.

If you want to improve your SEO with a 10 year proven system, that’s right Lynn and Paul have been doing this for over 10 years each ( combined that makes them very old ), have a look at their product you won’t be disappointed.

Visit 5000 Backlinks site now!

Leigh Kostiainen

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8 Tips for Positive Thinking for Work At Home Mums.

2010-02-16T15:01:00.001-08:00

Positive thinking can help work at home mums succeed in their challenge to work from home while being a stay-at-home mum. Here are a few actions and positive adjustments you can make to get positive thinking and help you achieve your goals. Although some of the following pointers might sound superficial, try them for yourself, on a daily basis, and see how they will change how you are feeling and behave as well as the outcomes you achieve.

1. Act With Passion In the Direction of Your Dreams. As a mum and work at home business owner or professional, put your heart into everything you do, and bear in mind what you are doing it for. Even the littlest actions have an effect on your future outcome, and having your bigger dream or goal in mind will help you feel great regarding each step you're taking towards it, however small it might be.

2. Commit and Believe. Determination must be one of the most powerful mindsets to create success, for work at home mums or anyone! When facing each frustration, hurdle, or challenge, say: 'I WILL SUCCEED', 'I WILL DO IT', 'I HAVE THE POWER TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM'. If you have already set that you'll thrive, no matter what, and once you unconditionally believe that all your experiences, your actions and the world will come together to create your dream, you're half way there already!

Read the full story here

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32 Jobs, Tasks and Projects You Can Outsource

2010-02-14T01:48:00.001-08:00

32 Jobs, Tasks and Projects You Can Outsource

To help spark your creative juices, here’s a list of just some of the types of outsourcing jobs you should consider outsourcing in your business.

Affiliate management

Appointment Setting

Article submissions

Article writing

Autoresponder management and email population

Blog posts

Bookkeeping

Bookmarking and back linking

Cleaning

Customer Service

Drafting

Event Management

Filing

Forum Moderating

Graphic design

Link building

Office organisation

Planning and diary management

Powerpoint presentations

Proof Reading

Public Relations

Quote Typing

SEO

Shopping cart management

Social networking setup and management

Sorting and answering emails

Strategic Planning

Transcription

Travel Management

Typing

Video creation and editing

Website analysis

Visit Outsourcing @ Hire My Mum for details on what else you can outsourcing in your business.

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Hire My Mum on ABC Radio

2010-02-04T19:46:00.001-08:00

Today was a really fun day, I was invited to the ABC studios in Sydney to record a returning to work piece with the focus on Hire My Mum.

That's me in the ABC Studios

Read the whole story here

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A Work From Home Job is a Work from Home Business

2010-01-28T15:29:00.001-08:00

If you plan to step up and become a true outsourcing specialist you need to make; plans for a specific work space, time for networking both online and offline as well as making education a priority to keep abreast of web 2.0 jobs, 'new age jobs'.

Do you want to earn some spare cash to buy a few extra goodies? Or do you want to replace your current or previous income with a sustainable work from home business.

Read the full article

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To be sorted

2010-01-24T19:09:00.001-08:00

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Do You Offer Training Courses, Seminars or Webinars?

2010-01-19T22:46:00.001-08:00

Hire My Mum is soon to launch it's training course directory, aimed at women returning to work or who want to be able to work from home.

If you offer training courses and wish to list your upcoming course, seminar or webinar on the Hire My Mum directory contact Leigh Kostiainen at Hire My Mum for special introductory pricing and multi listing discounts. Members can RSVP right from your listing.

You may work in the personal development industry, financial and accounting arena, or offer internet marketing instruction, no matter what your field of experience and education offering contact Hire My Mum to be an early bird :>

Contact Leigh Kostiainen at Hire My Mum

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Learning Outsourcing Skills - Getting ready for Web 2.0.1

2010-01-18T00:58:00.001-08:00

The past 6 months have been a very busy time for me, I seem to be running at a million miles an hour trying to learn the latest skills required to make my online businesses a success.

The thing that is interesting now is that I know 'stuff' that amazes even me ... and I know there are tons, truly tons, of new online businesses who need help keeping up. Like me they realised you can learn everything you need to know but you just can't do everything on your own. It is unproductive to complete tasks that don't make money or are simply repetitive and not your specialty. Businesses have realised they need to outsource some tasks to suitably qualified or experienced contractors to help them get all their work done.

That is were learning new '2.0' type skills will open up opportunities that you never expected and you will end up with a consistent work from home income.

Click to read the full story.

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Find work from home jobs on major job boards

2010-01-14T16:38:00.001-08:00

It is a very difficult task finding work from home jobs, there are sadly too many scam jobs around and equally as many scammers who don't care that you have kids to feed and mortgages or rent to pay. They will take your money and it is not necessary.

Legitimate work from home job boards like Hire My Mum are here to protect your safety, we endeavour to view all jobs listed here. The major job boards can't offer you that same security but they do bring all the opportunities that are available.

The most difficult part of finding work from home opportunities is sorting through the full time jobs to see a part time or work from home job, or find the right keywords to narrow down your search.

Click to learn more

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Work From Home Scams

2010-01-06T20:01:00.001-08:00

One of the very most important priorities here at Hire My Mum, and one of the main reasons we began, is protection from work from home scams.

There are many internet scams going around and we try to check out every opportunity before we list them in our job boards.

BUT! in the rare event that we miss a scam or you simply need to know if a job you are looking at on other job boards, you can use the Australian Governments Scam Watch website to check if you are at risk of being scammed by a potential 'yucky internet germ'.

http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/WorkFromHomeScams

Are all work from home opportunities scams?

No of course not, in fact the area of work from home, telecommuting, internet home based businesses etc are growing and will continue to grow massively. This is a really important fact for our members. Late last year I identified this growth and began setting plans in place for our members to help them benefit from this change in traditional employment opportunities.

More details will be available soon, but in the mean time be sure to check out all opportunities before jumping in. And as ever if you find out a job listed on Hire My Mum is a scam, or you are simple just unsure, contact the admin or the moderators and we will check it out and remove any unworthy listings.

Leigh - Admin

Tags: Scams Work From Home Security Internet Scams

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Australia's Outsourcing Queen Hire My Mum

2010-01-06T18:18:00.001-08:00

Establising the dedicated outsourcing arm of Hire My Mum for businesses to learn how to outsource their business.

HMM Networks Profiles 2009 Clients Sites

2010-01-05T21:27:00.003-08:00

HMM Networks recently revamped the blog site to incorporate all the sites built in 2009 inclusive of their own and clients sites.

The list of HMM Networks owned sites are;

Hire My Mum

Grandparents Network

Twitter Business Women

BiziMums

Work From Home Mums Blog

Australian Freelancer Directory

The list of HMM Networks clients sites are;

Kellyville Rouse Hill Junior Football Club

David Reneke.com

Candles By Beverley

Mid North Coast Open Talent Quest

Mittagong Doll & Bear Show

IRC Industrial Relations Consultants

NorthWest Uniting Church

OFB Cycling

Soccer for Girls

Rouse Hill Local Transport Blog

Visit HMM Networks for full details and screen shots.

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Website Clearance Sale - Buy Websites Cheap

2010-01-05T21:27:00.001-08:00

Listed for sale today in a New Year Clear out sale are 3 well established sites with dedicated readerships and are ideal for anyone wanting to get started in internet marketing without all the hassle of building a website.

Grandparents Network

A social network for people aged 45+, for grandparents, great grandparents and non grandparents.

http://flippa.com/auctions/81932/Award-Winning-PR3-Social-Network-for-People-aged-45-plus

Work From Home Mums Blog

A return to work and starting an online business advice site. Ideal for a want to work from home mum.

http://flippa.com/auctions/81930/PR3-Work-From-Home-Mums-Blog

Forum-Moderators

Build up a training and registration service for forum moderators and site administrators. Database included.

http://flippa.com/auctions/81926/NO-RESERVE-Forum-Moderators-PR3

Check out these great deals listed at Flippa.com and start your 2010 with a new established home business, with little to no ongoing costs.

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HMM Networks Posterous Pics

2010-01-05T21:24:00.001-08:00

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2010-01-05T21:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to HMM Networks Blogger News