Guidelines for Preventing Identity Theft

Preventing identity theft is not a difficult task, as you simply have to put common sense into practice. Whenever you are through with any mail, prescription bottles or any other trash that contains your personal information you should shred what you can and black out info on pieces that cannot be shredded. This keeps those thieves who dig in trash searching for info to be left dirty and empty handed.

You also have to protect your information online. If you are interested in any information online that requires you to provide personal information, never provide your bank account or social security number. There are scam artists who will take your personal information and sell it to those who will use it to make purchases in your name running your credit.

You should also be wary when you use your credit cards or checks when shopping protect the visibility of these numbers as there are scam artists who will photograph your banking information for fraud use.

By following simple guidelines such as these you can ensure your personal information is safe from the eyes and hands of those who are up to no good. You should also be aware of your credit reports and what is on them as you can view for any criminal occurrences and report them if necessary.

Far too many times we believe that this can't happen to us but if you look you will find that your neighbor or even your sibling has had a level of this happen to you.

If you are looking for further information about identity theft, you can find an abundance of information online. By taking the time to provide yourself with knowledge of identity theft than you know how to protect yourself. Prevention is key to not becoming a victim of identity theft.

Knowing When to Quit Working

Home business professionals have many reasons for choosing to work from home. These reasons generally include spending more time with our families, setting our own work hours, having more freedom to do the things we want to do,and controlling our own destinies. These are all good, valid reasons for choosing to work from home. Unfortunately, many home business professionals lose sight of the reasons they started working from home in the first place.

Anyone who operates a home business knows that we tend to work twice as many hours as those who work in traditional businesses. Many home business professionals become work-a-holics, spending twelve to twenty hours per day, seven days a week, working. It becomes a habit.

This habit can jeopardize your health and your family. It can take away your joy of living. One day, you will wake up and find that you have lost everything that you were working from home to have. There are ways to avoid developing this habit. If you already have this habit, there are ways to break it.

Start by setting regular "office" hours, and regular "work" days. Let your family know what these hours are.

When you make your work schedule, make sure that all of your tasks are scheduled during these hours - no exceptions and no excuses. If you are already a work-a-holic, this will be hard to adjust, but you can adjust if you work at it. If you are not yet a work-a-holic, determine work days and hours, make a schedule, and stick to it from the very beginning.

Schedule two days off each week. This is your weekend, and should coincide with your family's weekend. Not checking your email for two solid days will be tough, but you can do it. Turn the computer off, close the door to your office, and go "home" for the weekend.

Make plans with your family. Get out of the house. Take your spouse for a walk. Go on a picnic. Go see a movie. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as it isn't work, and it includes your family.

If there are no family events planned for your weekend, find a hobby. Make sure your hobby doesn't have anything to do with your work, and try to include your family. The point of working at home, was to have more time to spend with these important people.

During your work week, after quitting time, take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries. Try to avoid thinking
about work. Eat meals with your family, watch television with them, play a board game or cards. Whatever you do, make sure that your office door remains closed until it is time to work again.

It is a good idea to plan at least one week long vacation during the year. Your business will not fail if you take a week off.

It may fail if you constantly take a week off, however. The key is to know how much is too much, and how little is not enough.

It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you aren't working during your "off" time. Taking time off will refresh you. You will be rested and ready to go when it is time to work again. You will find that you enjoy life more. You will enjoy working from home more. Your health may improve if you get more exercise as well. Your family will certainly enjoy having your
time and attention.

Until next time, keep reaching for your fullest potential!

What, Me...Start a Home Business?

Have you ever thought about starting your own business but didn't know where to start? Well look no further, over the next few weeks we'll be talking about ideas and what it takes to start your own home business. So get out your pad and pen and get ready to take some notes. This is just another step for the man/woman in the mirror.

Most folks in the workforce dream at one time or another of starting their own business. Have you ever heard the phrase.

"You need to fire your boss"? Many of us would like to do that! Yet when it comes right down to it, most will never venture to make it on their own. Even worse, statistics show many who do venture out on their own, fail within the first five years.

To succeed, you must have a passion and a plan.
Enter me. At the age of 45, I found myself an unemployed Purchase Manager as my textile factory shutdown. I looked all over to find a job of equal money and/or benefits. During a period of high unemployment, I was not successful in my search. Thus I began to look for ways to make money from home or starting my own business.

In my quest for my own business, I found that franchises offer a simple pre-packaged business or money making idea.

But most franchises would require a million dollar investment. I found myself looking elsewhere.

However, on the internet, there are literally hundreds of home business ideas from which to choose which will suit every personality and all levels of financing. From internet marketing to growing your own profitable home garden to sell gourmet foods to restaurants and catering services.


While brainstorming and searching the net, I found some of the following ideas for a home based business:

* mobile windshield service
* vending service
* answering service
* multi-level marketing (mlm)(I recommend SFI, a company with a 20 year track record)
* floral plant service for offices and hospitals
* pooper scooper service
* dog walking service
* gift basket service
* income tax service
* pool cleaning service
* landscaping service
* pet grooming service
* internet marketing
* IAHBE

Hopefully the ideas above will give some fresh ideas of your own. Once you do have your idea, it is a good idea to find someone else who has had success in this business. Then wherever possible, copy them as much as possible.

Whatever your choice for a home business, once you have made the decision to go forward. Go for it!! Do not accept no!

Remember to tell yourself "Failure is not an option". Too many businesses fail because the owner lacked confidence or passion. Like the now deceased coach Jimmy Valavano told his team many times: "Never, ever ever give up!!".

You MUST be passionate about your future, after all it's you that have to live it. So go for broke and pull out all the stops.

Good luck in all of your self endeavers and don't forget to enjoy your new found freedom!

Until next time, keep reaching for your fullest potential!