Business: The Swim Squad, founded by Aquatics Director Jordan Meher, provides-certified swimming instructors to drive to parents’ homes or community pools to teach swimming lessons.

Motivation: Consumer demand. “While in college, I used to drive around town and teach swimming lessons and was so busy I had to turn potential clients down.  After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, my phone continued to ring although I was trying to get a “real” job as an engineer.  After doing some research, I realized there was no program that would send instructors to a parents home pool!”

Outcome: “After 3 successful summers of running The Swim Squad, I have over 25 employees and just recently completed our Franchise Disclosure Documents to become a franchise and spread swimming safety across the country!”

Business:

Motivation: Layoff. “One Thursday I decided I might try my hand at launching a much-needed site in this region (Bucks County, PA). By Monday I had an abbreviated business plan and five pages worth of ideas. Bucks and Montgomery Counties, the suburbs of Philadelphia, are commonly known as BucksMont so the site is appropriately named bucksmontmom.com.”

Outcome: “bucksmontmom.com is receiving a great response and a strong following. I am currently planning two exciting events for the Spring. The advertisers are starting to contact me and the site continues to gain popularity.”

After many takes, several lighting adjustments and extensive advice from a few video pros out there, I finally taped my first Working Naked video. In this video I share three ways to figure out what you should be charging for your product or services. If your fees are too high you may lose business. But if your fees are too low and you’re working too many hours for too little money, eventually you’ll resent your clients.

Chris Brogan wrote the perfect to-the-point post about charging what you’re worth. Check out his daily rate.  If someone questions what you’re charging, remind them that they’re not paying for your time…they’re paying for your expertise.

After you’ve figured out whether or not you’re giving it up too easily, check out Dave Yankowiak’s interview with me on Anywhere Man. I was his first video interview or according to Dave, his “video guinea pig.” Look for more interviews to come on Dave’s info-filled, interesting and entertaining site.

How do you avoid giving it up too easily? Post your comments below.

1.  Do you spend time looking for lost items every day?
2.  Are your files overflowing with papers you haven’t seen since you’ve filed them?
3.  Do you use more than one calendar?
4.  Is your desk covered with little scraps of paper?
5.  Do you have stacks of magazines older than six months in your office?
6.  Do you use a to-do list?
7.  Do you keep papers and other stuff you never use?
8.  Is your workspace free of stacks of paper?

Answers

Question 1
Yes = 1      No = 0
Store similar items together.  Keep your office supplies in one place and your reference materials in another.  When you need something, there should be only one place to look for it.

Question 2
Yes = 1      No = 0
Go through your files at least once every six months.  Purge the papers you don’t need.  Ask yourself if you’ll ever refer to that paper again, if you could replace that paper if you tossed it and whether you’d jeopardize your business if you tossed that paper. If you answered “no, yes and no” respectively, ditch (recycle) the paper.

Question 3
Yes = 1      No = 0
Use only one calendar—it’s better if you can take it with you. When you use more than one calendar, you run the risk of overbooking or missing appointments.

Question 4
Yes = 1      No = 0
Avoid writing tasks to do, notes from conversations with clients and phone numbers on scraps of paper. Instead use a computer program, your handheld or a paper-based planner to keep all of your information in one place.

Question 5
Yes = 1      No = 0
As your stacks of magazines grow, your guilt level rises in proportion, right? Keep only one year’s worth of magazines and before you renew any subscriptions, decide if you’re getting any value from each magazine. And consider switching to online subscriptions.

Question 6
Yes = 0      No = 1
A to-do list keeps you on track and focused on important tasks.
When you take the time to list your tasks to do, you’ll save time in the long run.

Question 7
Yes = 1      No = 0
It’s natural to want to hold onto something because you “may need it someday.”  What usually happens is that when you need it, you either can’t find it or you forget that you own it.  Limit what you keep to what you’ll use again.

Question 8
Yes = 0      No = 1
The only papers you should have on your desk are the ones you’re working on.  Anything else should be stored in files or a stacking bin until you’re ready to handle them. Before you file a piece of paper that you’ll work on soon, record on your to-do list, any action you need to take.

Rate Your Organizing Skills

If you scored more than 4 points, it’s time to get organized.  Start by blocking out 3 to 4 hours to organize your office and don’t take any calls during that time.  Schedule other times to get organized and eventually your entire office will be under control.

If you scored 2-3 points, you could improve your level of organization.  Start with one area of your home office, and then move on to another.

If you scored 1 point, you don’t need to drastically change what you’re doing.  Instead, fine-tune your organizing skills.

How did you do on the quiz?

The Desktop Station keeps your supplies organized and in sight.

Do you remember the movie The Jerk and Steve Martin’s character yelling, “The new phonebook is here…I’m somebody now!” while dancing around?  I feel the same way about the new Container Store “Work Smart Office Sale” catalog…dancing around included. Now we can all get organized or at least have an office that looks amazing.  My three favorite products are:

Desktop Station. You Lookouts (who like to keep everything in sight) will love this product alone or paired with the Landscape Letter Tray and the Landscape Paper Drawer. Aside from holding pens, pencils, folders and other supplies, you can see clearly what’s inside.  No more hidden supplies.

Ultimate Portable File Box. As the weather gets nicer, you may want to work outside or catch up on paperwork during a long track meet or just work in another room because you’re sick of working in the same place.  This file box lets you store hanging folders with interior folders inside and the organizer compartment on top holds the supplies you’ll need while you’re away from your office.

Letter-Size Interior File Folders. These hip, colorful file folders will make you jump for joy (in case you don’t dance when you see the catalog).  Their patterns and colors could turn any home office from dull to dazzling.

What’s your favorite office organizing product (from any store or online)? Post your comments below.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated by The Container Store to mention their fabulous products or to dance.

Paint is one of the easiest ways to update your home office.

How would you describe your home office? Does it look a bit rough around the edges? Clients may not see your home office but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a nice, comfortable and even stylish place to work.  There are a few cheap ways to give your home office a facelift.

• Paint your walls and don’t be afraid of color.  Start with your rug, a piece of art or any furniture that’s in your home office and then match it.  It doesn’t have to be a perfect match (that’s boring). If you can’t find a color you like, make up your own color.  I created “Working Naked Gold” for my home office.

• Add window treatments.  Shades, valances and drapery can add color, pattern and interest to your home office. In the design industry, custom = costly. Fortunately there are some great ready-made window treatment options available from high-end stores to discount stores.  A few places to shop for reasonably-priced window treatments are The Great Indoors, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Tuesday Morning and even (believe it or not) Lowe’s.

• Use homemade accessories. What better way to get art for free than from your kids? Instead of tossing your child’s wobbly clay pot or pitching a vase, display it. My sons’ works of art (from a few years ago) fill my home office bookcases. They’re colorful and they have sentimental value.  Do you have a clay sculpture of a lion holding a penguin or a mouse surrounded by cheese and cooking utensils?  I didn’t think so.

• Create cheap (yet stylish) art. Enlarge your favorite photo, add a mat and frame, and then hang it. Or buy a book of reproductions, clip a few pages, slip them into frames and enjoy your new masterpieces. Frames are cheap and sometimes even expensive frames go on sale.

If you’re an obsessed entrepreneur—I include myself in this group—you’re going to make up the wasted time at night or over the weekend anyway, so cut loose. Here are four great ways to waste time (electronically):

• Create an Avatar of yourself. My younger son created an animated version of me through the South Park website. He gave me sunglasses—he thought they made me look cool—and an interesting outfit. For those of you who know me, the top half is purely wishful thinking on my part!

• Play one (or more) of the 3,000 free computer games on Addicting Games. I tried Valet Parking Pro but after a few tries the game let me know I drove too slowly to be a valet. Computer games are not my biggest strength.

• Download free apps from iTunes. A few of my favorites are Cool Facts, Pocket God and Bubble Wrap. I keep trying to convince my sons to create an app and make millions. They’re not interested.

• Watch videos online. YouTube and funny or DIE are filled with great videos that are the perfect timewasters. If you’re going to waste time, you might as well spend it laughing.

Working Naked is hard work so you can give yourself permission to waste time without feeling guilty.

What do you do to waste time?

FlexJobs has had to overcome a few misconceptions (I admit I had a few doubts), thanks to less-than-honest scam artists out there who are ready to cheat anyone. Fell offers a few questions to make it easier to tell whether an online placement company is legitimate or not.

• How much information do they provide up-front? Any company that has you sign up or provide personal contact information before giving you comprehensive details on what you are actually signing up for is a big red flag.

• Do the words “evasive” or “sketchy” come to mind when you look at their site and read the information? If there is anything that gives you a gut reaction causing you to wonder if it’s legitimate, that’s a red flag.

• Does the site provide contact information, including an address? If there’s a contact form, use it to try to talk with someone to ask some questions before signing up, or if there’s a number, try calling it. If you can’t reach a company as a prospective client, you will NEVER be able to reach them as a dissatisfied one.

• Check with the BBB, IC3.gov (the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership including the FBI), and even just google. Google the company name with the word “scam” and see what comes up.

Not only does FlexJobs offer legitimate jobs, they have a blog filled with helpful tips for finding the right online job and avoiding work at home scams.

Happy (online) hunting!

“For a new small business, there are a few tried and true online payment portals that people trust and are relatively easy to set up. PayPal and Google Checkout being the most obvious. Authorize.net is another relatively popular (and trusted by buyers) payment processor. CNet and Authorize.net have both published  comparisons.”

—Mika Lofton, MarComm 3.0

“I have used Yahoo Merchant Services since 2004 and with my previous employer since 2000. They have 3 different plan levels based upon your needs and they have the most secure shopping carts in the industry. They are also the biggest merchant cart hosting service out there and they have fantastic 24/7 customer service support that is free and included.”

—Melissa Lierman, TimeOutMom

“Shopify. It’s got one of the best back-end management systems that I’ve used, and it’s actually pretty easy to customize though the starter templates themselves are awesome. If you want to try a cheap (Free!) up-and-comer, check out Storenvy. “

—Dave Yankowiak, Lift Development

Which online payment system do you use?

As a web developer, I’m often asked how much it costs to build a website. If you want a simple and generic website that doesn’t do much, it can be relatively cheap. If you want something custom with beautiful design and interactive features that will really appeal to your site’s visitors, it gets a bit more expensive. Here are a few tips to set expectations up front and get exactly the website you want.

Share Examples of Sites You Like. One of the best ways for a developer to get a feel for your tastes is to show him or her a few sample websites. Discuss what you like/dislike about each example, evaluating elements such as fonts, colors, layout, graphics, functionality, sections, navigation, and content.

Show Your Existing Stuff. If you’ve done any sort of marketing for your brand in the past, show samples of those campaigns. This can include logos, brochures, business cards, catalogs, giveaways, newsletters, old websites, and advertising. Even if some of these things contain branding you no longer want to use, it helps the Web designer get a feel for where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going with respect to your brand’s evolution.

Have Some Ideas. Bring your brainstorms, daydreams, things you’ve seen, and things you haven’t seen. If there’s a feature you’ve never seen on a competitor’s website that you think might work on yours, discuss it with your design firm. In the age of Web 2.0 the sky really is the limit. However be open to feedback. Designers spend a lot of time on the web and can offer guidance on things that may or may not work.

Think About the User. Why would people visit your website? Why would they come back again and again? Can your website essentially become a virtual customer service employee for your company? Focus on the user. A lot of brands try to create a website with cool features and things that are there to make the company look good, but they forget the site is there for the user. Cater to them. If your end-user is having a great experience, you’re going to be happy with the investment you’ve made in your new website.

Determine the Essential Pieces.  You may not be able to afford everything you want in the first iteration of your new website. That’s fine and if you plan accordingly, adding features at a later time should be no problem. Dreaming big is good, but focus on the clearest path to launching a site that looks professional, has good content, and is shaped around the user’s experience. The bells and whistles can wait if they need to.

The more you can plan up front, the smoother the website development process will be. These tips will help both you and your designer visualize the website that you really want and put you on the path to a successful site launch.

Dave Yankowiak is a web-minded individual and owner of Lift Development LLC. He lives in Grand Rapids, MN and blogs about his “work anywhere” lifestyle on http://www.anywhereman.com.

1. Computers. Computers have come a long way from cabinet-sized hard drives to small laptops. From storing information electronically to keeping us on budget and on time, computers are invaluable for running a homebased business.

2. Handhelds. You say Blackberry and I say iPhone. Either way the Internet, contact information, to-do lists and anything else we need to function every day is in the palm of our hands.

3. The Internet. Anything you need to know is only a keystroke away. Encyclopedias, phone books, printed manuals…who needs them?  More updated versions of almost anything in print is available online.

4. E-mail. Communicating with someone halfway around the world is as easy as staying in touch with your favorite local client. No more waiting for snail mail or overnight mail. If you need an answer from someone, you can have it in seconds.

5. Voice mail. Leaving a message with a receptionist is annoying and time consuming.  Being able to leave a voice mail message instead of dictating your name, number and purpose of your call makes communicating easier and is a more efficient use of time.

6. Cell phones. Isn’t it great that anyone can reach you anytime on your cell phone?  Isn’t it awful that anyone can reach you anytime on your cell phone? That’s why there’s Caller ID.

7.  Scanners. The paperless office is no longer a dream, but a reality. File cabinets around the world are breathing a sigh of relief because they’re not as full as before. Instead you can scan papers and store them electronically. Don’t forget to back up anything you scan and save.  3-in-1 machines (printer/scanner/copier) are the ideal space-savers.

8. Videoconferencing. Face to face meetings don’t have to include an expensive flight, hotel and travel expenses.  Instead you can meet with clients virtually and best of all, you can sleep in your own bed at night.
Is there any piece of technology that’s making working from home work better for you?