Keep Your Customers Coming Back

What Is RFID and Why Do I Need It?

1. Identify an area of your house that you can truly devote to being your home office. Not your dining room table!
2. Get a separate business line for your telephone so you can keep your personal and professional life separate. It will cost you money but save your sanity!
3. Buy a head set so you can have your hands free when talking on the phone. Often, you have to check a file on the computer or grab material from another area of your office. It will save your from neck strain, too!
4. Schedule a day a month or every quarter to clear your office clutter. Keep your office neat and tidy…it will keep your brain neat and tidy, too!
5. Back-up your computer, often, often, and often and store your back up in a fireproof area…even at someone else's home!
6. Get professionally done business cards…not "print your own". Your business card IS a reflection of your image…make it as professional as possible.
7. Web sites are not unreasonably expensive if you do your homework. Remember, it is a very important extension of your business, easily modified and managed.
8. A Time Management System - you will need it. Find out what works for you and stick to it. It may be more important NOW than it was in your corporate life.
9. Be sure to schedule time for yourself….a walk, running errands, a quiet cup of tea in the yard. These are important energy-boosters. And don't feel guilty about it! It is one of the perks of being your own boss!
10. Network, network, network. You will NOT grow your business sitting at home. Consider it an investment in business growth, not time off from the business. You can write it off as well.

Anne is a popular interview subject and has been interviewed by the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Canadian Living Magazine and has appeared frequently on radio and TV including, CBC Radio One, Global's MoneyWise, CFRB, Business Edge and other Canadian media.

Anne was born in Charlottetown PEI and holds a BSc (Agr) from the University of Guelph and a Masters in Business from St. Mary's University in Halifax. After her marriage and the birth of her children, Anne decided to return to an office environment but rather to work under contract to Kodak Canada from her home in Toronto.

When she met other women working out of their homes, Anne felt there might be an opportunity to network with these women and from that thought grew the idea that an organization would benefit the members. After planning for a year, she took the leap that founded the first chapter and three years later in 2003, left corporate life to run WHO on a full-time basis.

In the summer of 2004, Anne, her husband Doug, two children, a cat and a dog moved to Calgary where Anne is re-discovering her "Aggie" roots under Alberta's big sky. She has particular interest in reaching women working from home in rural Canada where networking can be pretty tough. Telemeetings are particularly useful for this group.

This marks the first of three submissions Anne has provided for SBBS Report a submission entitled "30 Home-based Business Tips" (Being the First 10). Like Anne, these tips are to the point, no-nonsense and practical with twist of wit and a sense of humour. Regardless of gender or working location, this advice holds something for everyone.

Welcome Anne, and thank you for sharing your thoughts with our readers.

To find out more about Anne Stone and WHO contact her at: 403 726 0785 or info@womeninahomeoffice.com. WHO monthly meeting dates across Canada can be found at www.womeninahomeoffice.com.