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250 Questions to Ask Yourself

250 Quality Questions to Ask Yourself

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For decades, I’ve been fascinated by the life-altering effect of asking yourself empowering questions. 99% of people spend most of their waking day asking themselves the wrong questions.

Questions like:

  • Why did I say that?
  • Why did he do that?
  • Why did that have to happen?
  • What’s the world coming to?

None of these questions inspires great answers.  They usually serve to make us feel worse about a situation rather than better.

When you start asking yourself quality questions, you start getting quality answers.    When you ask empowering questions, you start feeling empowered.  And when you ask inspiring questions you start living an inspired life.

But what are these questions? I wondered about this exact question for years.

So I started making a list of empowering questions – the kind of questions that inspire better answers.

Questions that made me feel happier, more empowered, more joyful and more enlightened.

It turned out to be a very long list…

250 Questions to Ask Yourself

I’ve broken the list of questions up into sections so you can pick and choose which questions to use depending on how you want to feel or what you want to shift.

20 Questions to Ask Yourself to Raise Your Vibration

20 Questions to Ask Yourself to Raise Your Vibration

Pictures by Lee van Huyssteen of Belle Lumière Foto

  1. What is Your Highest vision for me? (c/o The Mindful Movement)
  2. What would the best version of me do now?
  3. How can I be of greater service to the world?
  4. What am I really here to do?
  5. How can I feel better now?
  6. Do I want to change the situation or do I want to feel better now?
  7. What can I do in the next 5 minutes to feel better now?
  8. Can I give myself permission to feel good before I get what I want?
  9. What if I just chose to feel better right now?
  10. How am I (insert word of your choice), right here, right now?  e.g. How am I happy? How am I abundant? How am I supported?  (the opposite of whatever you were feeling)
  11. How can I take the path of least resistance?  (c/o Abraham-Hicks)
  12. What does the world need from me today that I can readily and easily give? (c/o Mandy Morris)
  13. Is this fun?
  14. What lights me up?
  15. Will choosing THIS move me closer to my dream life?
  16. Will choosing THIS move me closer to who I am becoming?
  17. What would the person I’m becoming do now?
  18. What would my future self thank me for?
  19. What can I do that’s good for me (fun), good for others, and for the greater good?
  20. What can I let go of right now?

12 Questions to Ask Yourself in the Morning

Questions to Ask Yourself in The Morning

Examine the first thoughts that pop into your head when you wake up in the morning. If any negative thoughts come up, think of the opposite (what you’d like to be thinking instead) and pose it as a question.

Here are some ideas for you.

  1. What am I grateful for today?
  2. What am I focusing on?
  3. How can I focus on the positive today?
  4. What makes me feel alive?
  5. How can I choose LOVE today?
  6. How can I choose FUN today?
  7. How can I choose PEACE today?
  8. How can I choose PROSPERITY today?
  9. How can I focus on GIVING today?
  10. How can I be in SERVICE today?
  11. How can I light up the world today?
  12. What makes me smile?

12 Questions to Ask Yourself to Feel Free

Questions to Ask Yourself to Feel Free

One of my favourite questions I’ve asked myself for years to make me feel free of things that may be going wrong in my life, especially the little every day bothers and frustrations, is this one:

Will this matter in 3 years? Or even a year?  (Will I even remember I felt this way?)

The important thing to understand about emotions and most everyday situations is that they are fleeting.  They come up and go and getting upset, anxious and worried about them is usually pointless.

The Work by Byron Katie

While that question helps for small things, it is incredibly freeing to also question hurts that have been plaguing you for years.

Many people carry anger and bitterness into their dotage about things that happened to them in their childhood and struggle to let their resentment go and forgive those who hurt them.

What they don’t realise is that it’s their own thoughts now that hurt them, not the person who did them wrong way back when.
When I first read Loving What Is and started practising The Work by Byron Katie, I was able to let go of deep hurts from my own childhood and feel a joy bubbling inside me that I hadn’t felt in years.

Now, questioning my stressful thoughts has become a way of life and I let hurts go very quickly – nip them in the bud before they can fester and take on a life of their own.

How to Start Doing The Work

First examine, what hurts. Think of any situation or event that has caused you suffering in your life.

What makes you feel stressed, frustrated, angry, hurt or disappointed?  Make a list.

For in-depth preparation before you do The Work, you can fill out Byron Katie’s Judge Your Neighbor Worksheet.  You can download the worksheet and find videos of Byron Katie herself doing The Work at https://thework.com/

Now, pick the thing on your list that bothers you the most and ask yourself the questions below.

For example, you might write choose something as painful as abuse in childhood.

Here’s a little video I created for one of my online courses where I explain how to do The Work on the phrase “He (or she) shouldn’t have abused me.”

Doing The Work

Here are the questions in The Work that set you free.  There are four main questions and a few more questions if you find you’re working with a thought that’s sticking, not shifting easily.

  1. Is it true?
  2. Can I absolutely be sure it’s true?
  3. How do I react when I think that thought? (What happens?)
  4. Who would I be without that thought?
  5. Is there any (stress-free or peaceful) reason to hold onto the thought?
  6. What’s the reality?
  7. Whose business am I in?
  8. Can I think of a reason to let go of the thought?

Turn the Thought Around

Once you’ve asked these questions, it’s time to turn your thoughts around.

So you take the thought you chose and turn the thought around, by changing up the sentence, looking at it from different angles.

Let’s take the example above, he shouldn’t have abused me.

One turnaround could be:  I shouldn’t have abused him.

Think of all the times over the years when you were abusive to the person who abused you.  How did you treat them?

Another turnaround could be:  I shouldn’t have abused me. 

Consider how many times you abused yourself by thinking about or talking about the abuse.  Was this the abuse itself or your thoughts and memories of the abuse inflicting pain on you again and again?

Think of how you treated yourself every time you thought of yourself as someone who had been abused.  Did you think less of yourself or more?

Please note, that this isn’t about apportioning blame to someone or making them wrong.  Nor is it about taking the blame or making yourself wrong.

It’s about questioning the thoughts in your life that have caused you stress, pain, suffering and conflict in your life and then letting all that go.  It’s about letting go of resentment and choosing the path of peace. This is a process that helps you forgive past hurts and move on, free of resentment.

Diva Creation Game by Nicki Shira Byrne

I learned the Diva Creation Game from an awesome life and business coach named Nicki Shira Byrne.

Nicki is also the coach who taught me how to love clients into being.

She’s a real-life Diva (Nicki is a Singer) who has coined the phrase “divatude“.

The Diva Creation game I picked up a while ago while doing one of Nicki’s challenges.  Here’s how it works.

Think of something that makes you feel uncomfortable or stressed.

Then, play the Diva Creation game by asking yourself these 3 simple questions.

  1. How am I creating this?  (in my thinking right now)
  2. What would I like to create? (usually the opposite of what you’re experiencing right now)
  3. Who can I be right now to create this? (embody the feeling)

200 Afformations

200 Afformations

Sometimes called Askfirmations, these are Affirmations asked as Questions.

Personally, I feel they work better than affirmations because asking a question prompts your brain to come up with an answer. Your brain is wired to answer questions.

Afformations are questions you can fire that help you realize how great your life really is.

I’ve made a long list of 200 affirmations and not all of them may ring true for you at first. That’s okay because as you keep saying them, they will start evoking more positive thoughts and as a result, you’ll see your life transform.

You can use this list of afformations any way you like.

You could read through all of them or just pick what you need for the day.

You could read through them out loud as a morning and evening rampage?

Pick one each day that resonates with you and journal or meditate on that one question.

Tap them in using the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), as I did in this video on how to clear money blocks using afformations.

21 Afformations to Call in a Wonderful Life

  1. How do my days get to be so filled with such joy and wonder?
  2. How is my life getting better and better every single day?
  3. Why do I love life so much these days?
  4. Why is every day filled with magic and miracles?
  5. Why does it feel so wonderful to be alive?
  6. How did I get to be so happy?
  7. Why does a perfect life come so easily for me?
  8. Why is life so good to me now?
  9. Why do I always feel so peaceful?
  10. Why do I always feel so joyful?
  11. Why does life feel so magical?
  12. Why is everything working out so well in my life?
  13. How did everything start slotting into place?
  14. Why do I have so many things to be grateful for?
  15. Why is my life so easy?
  16. How come things are so crystal clear to me now?
  17. Why does everything always go right for me?
  18. Why is it okay for me to be happy?
  19. Why am I so richly blessed in all areas of my life?
  20. Why am I worthy of an amazing life?
  21. Why is my life so wonderful?

13 Afformations on Feeling Awesome

  1. Why do I wake up every morning so full of joy?
  2. Why do I go to bed every night feeling so blessed?
  3. Why do I feel so alive?
  4. Why do I have so much energy?
  5. What makes me feel so safe?
  6. How do I get to enjoy such peace in my life?
  7. Why do I feel invincible these days?
  8. What makes me feel so protected?
  9. Why am I so calm?
  10. Why is it so easy for me to relax?
  11. Why do I feel so content?
  12. Why do I feel so loved?
  13. Why do I love being so healthy, wealthy, and happy?

32 Afformations on Self-Love

  1. Why do I feel so full of love?
  2. What makes me so lovable?
  3. Why do I love myself so much?
  4. Why do people say such nice things to me?
  5. Why are people so helpful wherever I go?
  6. Why do I feel so blessed wherever I go?
  7. What makes me unstoppable?
  8. Why do I love myself so much?
  9. How did I get to be so confident?
  10. Why do I take such good care of myself?
  11. How did I get to be so proud of who I am?
  12. How did I become so powerful and strong?
  13. Why is it so easy to know exactly who I am?
  14. How did I get to be so clear on who I am?
  15. Why do I feel so wonderful about who I am?
  16. Why is my vision so clear now?
  17. Why does everything make perfect sense to me now?
  18. How did I get to be such a great problem solver?
  19. How come I always have the best solutions?
  20. How did I get all this insight?
  21. Why can I always work out what to do?
  22. How did I find such perfect balance?
  23. Why is it so easy to have order in my life now?
  24. How did I get to enjoy such a clean, orderly environment?
  25. Why is my life so peaceful?
  26. How did learn to flow so wonderfully with life?
  27. How did I so easily and rapidly start mastering every aspect of my life?
  28. How did I get to live the life I always wanted to be living?
  29. Why do I feel so grateful for every little thing that comes my way?
  30. Why do I have so much to be thankful for?
  31. Why am I so thankful to be who I truly am?
  32. Why am I proud of myself?

12 Afformations for a Happy Marriage (or Relationship)

  1. Why is it easy for me to attract love and keep it?
  2. Why does my marriage work so well?
  3. What makes us perfect for each other?
  4. Why am I the best partner for him?
  5. Why is he the best partner for me?
  6. How did I choose such an awesome partner for me?
  7. Why am I so grateful for my spouse?
  8. How am I a thoughtful, appreciative partner?
  9. How am I being loving?
  10. How am I being caring and kind?
  11. Why am so loved?
  12. Why is my home such a happy place?

11 Afformations for Healthy Family Relationships

  1. Why do I have such a happy family life?
  2. How did I get to have such wonderful parents?
  3. Why am I so loved?
  4. What makes me such a caring daughter?
  5. What makes me such a beautiful sister?
  6. Why do I  have such a loving family?
  7. Why am I such an awesome mom?
  8. How did I become such a loving mom?
  9. Why am I such a great role model?
  10. Why is everything I do a blessing to all those around me?
  11. Why do my loved ones enjoy time with me?

15 Afformations for Loving Friendships

  1. Why do I draw so many wonderful people to me now?
  2. Why do people value and appreciate me?
  3. Why am I such a wonderful friend?
  4. Why do all my friends love me?
  5. How did I get to have the best friends?
  6. Why do I attract such interesting people into my life?
  7. Why do people find me so interesting?
  8. Why do I have so many friends?
  9. Why do people love to support me?
  10. How do I nurture such quality friendships?
  11. Why is it so easy to attract caring people into my life?
  12. Why do people love doing nice things for me?
  13. Why do I attract positive people?
  14. Why are all my relationships so positive?
  15. Why do I attract people who bring so much happiness into my life?

19 Afformations for Success in Business

  1. Why do I love the work I do?
  2. How do I get to do what I love?
  3. Why am I important to people?
  4. Why am I of great value to the world?
  5. Why do I always achieve everything I set out to achieve?
  6. Why do great opportunities keep coming my way?
  7. Why am I so good at creating wonderful opportunities?
  8. Why is it so easy to stay focused on what I’m doing now?
  9. Why is it easy to prioritize my most important tasks now?
  10. Why do my clients love to support me?
  11. Why do I always arrive at the perfect time?
  12. Why did that meeting go so well for me?
  13. Why do people value what I say?
  14. Why do I always know the right thing to say?
  15. Why am I always in the right place at the right time?
  16. Why am I such a magnet to success?
  17. Why am I making sales every day?
  18. Why do my ideal clients love working with me?
  19. Why am I making money in my sleep?

35 Afformations for Prosperity

How to Clear Money Blocks using Affirmations, Afformations and EFT

  1. How do I get to earn so much doing what I love?
  2. How does money come to me in expected and unexpected ways?
  3. How am I drawing money to me in every moment?
  4. Why do I deserve all this money?
  5. Why is it good for me to be wealthy?
  6. How does it benefit others for me to be wealthy?
  7. Why do I so easily attract everything I want now?
  8. How have I paved the way to money?
  9. How can I pave the way to more money?
  10. Why am I so lucky?
  11. How do I always get to be in the right place at the right time?
  12. How did I get to be so wealthy?
  13. Why am I so rich?
  14. Why am I a magnet for money?
  15. Why is my income rapidly increasing now?
  16. How did I get to be so abundant?
  17. Why does wealth come so easily to me?
  18. Why is it now so easy to manifest all I want?
  19. How did I get to be successful?
  20. Why is it so easy to have success?
  21. How is it that I never miss a trick?
  22. How do I rise up to conquer all challenges?
  23. Why do I always have plenty of money?
  24. Why is it easy for me to make money now?
  25. Why is my bank balance always growing?
  26. Why is my business such a huge success now?
  27. Why do such wonderful people love doing business with me?
  28. Why am I so good at managing my money?
  29. Why is it easy for me to save money now?
  30. Why am I so good at investing wisely?
  31. How does money flow so easily to me?
  32. What is the easiest way to make money?
  33. How is more money lining up for me right this minute?
  34. Why do I feel good about making money?
  35. How do I always have more than enough?

Related: What’s a Money Blueprint and Can You Change Yours?

27 Afformations for Vibrant Health

  1. Why is it so easy to be so healthy now?
  2. Why is perfect health so easy for me?
  3. How did I get to have such vibrant health?
  4. How did I find it so easy to change my lifestyle?
  5. Why am I so healthy now?
  6. Why is it easy now to feel so attractive and beautiful?
  7. Why am I so slim now?
  8. Why do I love my healthy lifestyle now?
  9. How did it get so easy to focus on self-care?
  10. Why do I love exercising now?
  11. Why am I so confident now?
  12. Why is it so easy for me to remember what I learn?
  13. Why is studying easy for me now?
  14. Why do I feel so fantastic now?
  15. Why do I sleep so well now?
  16. Why do I have so much energy?
  17. Why do I wake up every day feeling amazing?
  18. Why are all the meals I cook so delicious and nutritious?
  19. Why do I love my daily exercise routine?
  20. Why do I love my daily walk?
  21. Why am I such a great cook?
  22. Why am I so happy when I look at myself in the mirror?
  23. Why do I love the way I look?
  24. Why am I so physically healthy and strong?
  25. Why am I my ideal weight?
  26. Why am I so emotionally healthy?
  27. Why is it easy to express my feelings?

15 Afformations for a Divinely Guided Life

  1. Why is it so easy to follow my Divine Guidance?
  2. Why am I so filled with Divine healing light?
  3. What makes me feel like I’ve found heaven on earth?
  4. Why is the world filled with such awe-inspiring beauty and wonder?
  5. How did I get to be filled with so much light?
  6. How did I get to be a light in this world?
  7. How did it become so easy to light up consciousness as I do?
  8. How did I get to be filled with so much joy?
  9. Why did God choose me?
  10. How am I being loving?
  11. How am I being forgiving?
  12. Why is my life so peaceful?
  13. How did learn to flow so wonderfully with life?
  14. How is it that my life overflows with all the goodness life has to offer?
  15. Why am I so thankful for all this and so much more?

3 Life-Changing Questions to Ask Yourself

Life-Changing Questions to Ask Yourself

Try out these questions if you want to shift your perspective on how you live your life.

1.  If I were to die tomorrow, would I feel at peace knowing I had lived a full, happy, loving and meaningful life?  Or would I die with my song unsung?

Phrased as an Afformation:  How did I get to live such a full, happy, loving and meaningful life?

2. Do I make people feel wonderful about themselves?

Phrased as an Afformation:  How do I make people feel wonderful about themselves?

3. What would I like my loved ones to say at my funeral?  (What legacy would I like to leave?)

The 3 BIG Questions to Ask Yourself

For as long as we’ve been on this planet,  philosophers, sages and people of all races, religions and creeds have pondered the 3 big questions, each finding their own answers by going within.

How do you answer the big 3?

  1. Who am I?  Want a quick answer to this one?  Try the Who Am I Quiz  It’s fun, free, and easy to do and kicks up some interesting insights into your personality.
  2. Why am I here?  (What is my purpose?)
  3. What is the meaning of life?  (Why are we here?)

250 Questions to Ask Yourself

So there you have it, my list of 250 quality questions to ask yourself when you want to feel happy, inspired and empowered. 

What questions do you ask yourself on a daily basis?  And do you feel they uplift you or bring you down?

Update:  8th July 2022

Want to get daily inspiration based on these questions?  Join our community on Facebook, Mindful Metamorphosis.

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How to Step Up and Stand Out Georgia Varjas Style

How to Step Up and Stand Out with Confidence, Courage and Creativity

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Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out and Rule It! How To Step Up & Stand Out.

In our recent interview, she divulges how she developed her 3 C’s – Confidence, Courage and Creativity during her career in showbiz and how you can use them in your life.

How to Step Up and Stand Out Georgia-Varjas-Style

How to Step Up and Stand Out with Courage Confidence Creativity

Georgia:  I think my experiences in showbiz, but particularly in the music business gave me these three very powerful words, which I write about and speak about and are in my books:

  1. Confidence
  2. Courage
  3. Creativity 

I call them the three big C’s. 

Being in the music business, you had to be confident. You’re going to go up on stage and you’re going to play from your heart sometimes from memory, but mostly improvised. 

So you had to have confidence. You had to have courage and you had to be creative with it. 

And so there were very big lessons in life, not just doing my art, my music, but also communicating with people in show business in the music business. Cause it was tough as a woman.  It was very much part of my life to develop these wonderful three big C’s as my skills.

Lauren Kinghorn: Would you like to give us three tips that you would give a young fempreneur, woman entrepreneur, who is just starting out, how to step up and really shine.

Georgia Varjas:  I think one of the most important things is to recognize that we have two fabulous communication tools available our voice and our pen.

Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out. In this interview, she gives 3 best tips on how to step up and stand out. #howto #stepup #standout #interview I encourage young women to develop that confidence, the courage and the creativity to use their voice and their pen to:

  • spread their message
  • their point of view
  • their expertise
  • their experience
  • their wisdom
  • their knowledge

Use these powerful tools and learn to redefine confidence for yourself.

Because for women, it is quite different, especially courage. Courage is not about Spider-Man and firemen. It’s about how we as women define our own type of bravery. It’s not about saving lives. It’s a very special thing. And I think women need to really redefine that.

Creativity, yes, we are very creative but we can also think creatively and that is a powerful message for young women.

I think the second tip I would offer is about decision-making. We’re not really taught or encouraged to make big decisions in our life. We make little ones like what we should wear and what we should drink and which road and bus to take.

But the big decisions in life, we often hesitate and turn to other people for expert advice. When we know if we tuned into ourselves and learned to make good decisions for ourselves, had more self-confidence, courage, and creativity, we would make better decisions and stronger decisions and recognize that we have the ability to do that.

And the third thing is very much about self-belief and self-love and bigging yourself up. 

Some cultures frown upon boasting and showing off when you’re talking about yourself, but self-love and self-belief are crucial.

Nature does it all the time, she shows her most beautiful colours. Why shouldn’t we?

And when you’re selling something, you’re going to sell it in its most beautiful and perfect condition. So why shouldn’t we be showing and sharing our talents and skills in the most positive way? 

So confidence, courage, creativity.

You can find the rest of this interview over on Fempreneurs Unite

And more below…

Lauren: What do you do for a living? 

Georgia: I am a Book Writing Coach

Lauren: What is your zone of genius?

Georgia: Helping my clients see their genius and the bigger picture.  My USP is I have experience in many genres.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?

Georgia: It was staring me in the face! 

I have been writing plays, poems, short stories, scripts for speakers MC’s and myself and of course, I have published 4 books and contributed to 6 anthologies.

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career? 

Georgia:  So many. 

As a creative person, I have moved from writing and producing plays to spending many years as a professional saxophone player and as a  Spoken Word artist.

I loved the music business, I loved my Spoken Word career and now watching writers turn into satisfied and fulfilled authors is just as exhilarating for me.

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?

Georgia:  The glass ceiling

&

Lauren: Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Georgia:  I can’t sit for too long. I have to get up and move my energy.

Either I walk around the garden and snip a few plants, or do some stretches, lunges or downward dogs…dance a little and even do a household chore.

Lauren: Do you have a message you would like the world to hear?

Georgia:  Several! Our voice and our pen are our 2 most powerful tools of communication. Grab your confidence, courage and creativity and use them.

Lauren: Is there a book that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?

Georgia:  I re-read and dip into Danielle LaPorte White Hot Truth 

Because she is discerning and not judgemental, she has humour and experience and shares generously. She talks about the paradoxes of wisdom and I wrote about them a lot myself in my books. Use And instead of But.

She says…Don’t just get what you want, BE what you want.

I like that!

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an entrepreneur? 

Georgia:  Keep learning and listening and turn all your mistakes into future fun stories.

Lauren: Is there anything you wish you knew when you started out as an entrepreneur?

Georgia: Not to be scared of tech stuff!!!

Lauren: What have you gained by becoming an entrepreneur?

Georgia:  I realise that the more I learn, the more I have to learn and that gives me the energy to grow.

And, I believe it is super important for women to be financially independent.

Lauren: Who has been enormously helpful to you? 

Georgia: My VA!

Honestly, all the amazing things she does behind the scenes for me!

I have always loved working in a team, so first credit goes to all team members paid and unpaid.

And people often come into your life just at the time you need more guidance or knowledge.

Lauren: Do you have mentors in business?

Georgia: With all the member groups and networking events online, I have been involved in I have come across some wonderful brainstorming sessions…these people, mostly women are my real mentors.

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success? 

Georgia:  Having first hand and recent experience as a writer and author has given me essential professional knowledge and wisdom for teaching and training new authors.

Also, the Women’s Writers Circle, which is a group program I run for women writing their first book.

It is absolutely inspirational to me, not just how they support each other but how they offer their best wisdom to each other too! 

Book a Virtual Seat on Georgia’s Women’s Writers Circle

Work with Georgia Varjas

Lauren:  If there was any way I could help you, what it would it be? 

Georgia:  I think you already are Lauren.

When we give generously and share our platforms with each other, you never know who is going to benefit from hearing or reading what you offer.

Lauren: Who is your target market? If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for? 

Georgia:  Women (or men)  with a message to share, with expertise, experience and wisdom that could really make a difference to someone else’s life.

And of course a few good stories.

How to Work with Georgia

Georgia has two Coaching packages available for those who are ready to write their books.

    1. The Premium Package, a 12-week one-on-one book writing program
    2. The Women’s Writers Circle- an 8-week group program.

Visit Georgia’s Website

https://georgiavarjas.com/

Follow Georgia

Follow Georgia on LinkedIn

Follow Georgia on YouTube

If you’re ready to write your book, schedule a free book planning call with Georgia.

Schedule a Call with Georgia

Enjoyed this interview? 

Check out our previous featured digital entrepreneur, Elizabeth Batalla and Learn How to Level Up Fast

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Inspirational Quotes Healthcare Workers

77 Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers (with Slideshow)

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These 77 inspirational quotes are dedicated to all healthcare workers, those brave souls who lay their own lives on the line every day for their patients.  (Scroll to the end for a slideshow presentation of all the quotes.)

I’m thinking of those who tend to our physical wellbeing as well as those who help us cope mentally and emotionally with the confusion, fear, anxiety, overwhelm, sadness and grief we are facing due to a pandemic of this magnitude.

These inspiring quotes are also a tribute to all those who work behind the scenes in the healthcare industry, ensuring that our systems work and our services are delivered on time and all those working for the greater good.

These motivational quotes are also for the thought leaders, spiritual leaders, politicians, authors, poets, actors, musicians, comedians, inspirational speakers and healers who help ease our fears and keep us positive during this crazy, awful, emotional period in history.

We salute you. We honour you. We thank you for your service to humanity.

Inspirational Quotes by HealthCare Workers

Inspirational Quotes by Healthcare Workers

Hippocrates

Greek Physician Famous for the Hippocratic Oath

Make a habit of two things: to help, or at least to do no harm.

Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.

Marie Curie

Nobel Prize‑winning Chemist

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

I am one of those who think like Nobel, that humanity will draw more good than evil from new discoveries.

Donald Berwick

Former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

I think health care is more about love than most other things. 

If there isn’t at the core of these two human beings who have agreed to be in a relationship where one is trying to help relieve the suffering of another, which is love, you can’t get to the right answer here.

William J. Mayo

Physician and one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic

The aim of medicine is to prevent disease and prolong life; the ideal of medicine is to eliminate the need of a physician.

Ewa Kopacz

Polish Prime Minister and Minister of Health 

I am a doctor— it’s a profession that may be considered a special mission, a devotion. It calls for involvement, respect, and willingness to help all other people.

Maxim Gorin

Founder of MGME Consulting and Co-Founder of LifeLine Ambulance

A great team isn’t defined only by its leader… a great team must have the ability to meet any challenge that comes it’s way. By collaborating, we can bounce ideas off one another and see what is most likely to make sense in the real world.

Abraham Verghese

Medical Doctor

In an emergency, what treatment is given by ear? Words of Comfort.

William Osler

Physician

It is much more important to know what sort of patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has.

Giorgio Baglivi

Armenio‑Italian Physician and Scientist

Let the young know they will never find a more interesting, more instructive book than the patient himself.

Danielle Ofri

Physician

The awe of discovering the human body. The honour of being trusted to give advice. The gratitude for helping someone through a difficult illness. These things never grow old. 

Rawsi Williams

Nurse and Attorney at Law

To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through – that is what it is to be a nurse.

Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers

Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers

Vivek Murthy

American Physician and Surgeon General

Our health care workers are the heroes of the Covid-19 response.

Stephen Ambrose

American historian

It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly.

George Michael

Singer-Songwriter

Nurses, doctors, teachers: these are the people who deserve the credit these days.

Sara Moss-Wolfe

Author

Nurses: one of the few blessings of being ill.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bodybuilder, Actor and Politician

Teachers and nurses get the best seats in heaven.

Joseph Campbell

Author

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

Inspirational Quotes Thought Leaders

Inspirational Quotes by Thought Leaders

Albert Einstein

Physicist

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Marcel Proust

Illness is the most heeded of doctors: to goodness and wisdom we only make promises; pain we obey.

Margaret Mead

Anthropologist

Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.

Jeff Bezos

CEO Amazon

We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.

Helen Keller

Author and Disability Rights Activist

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.

Maya Angelou

Author and Poet

They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Poet

The first wealth is health.

Lewis Carol

Author

One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.

Anne Frank

Author

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world.

Inspirational Quotes by Spiritual Leaders

Inspirational Quotes by Spiritual Leaders

Mother Teresa

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. 

I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

Dalai Lama

In this beautiful interview, the 14th Dalai Lama expresses his gratitude to healthcare workers:

So, regarding this illness, noble doctors, nurses, are even willing to sacrifice their own life. I really appreciate. Wonderful.

Selfish, think just (about) yourself is narrow. Shortsighted. …So altruism is (the) ultimate source of happiness…Altruism, that really brings inner peace, inner strength.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Real compassion comes from seeing the suffering of others. You feel a sense of responsibility, and you want to do something for them.

There is one aspect to our experience of suffering that is of vital importance. When you are aware of your pain and suffering, it helps you to develop your capacity for empathy, the capacity that allows you to relate to other people’s feelings and suffering. This enhances your capacity for compassion towards others.

As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

Reverend Edward Everett Hale

Author, Historian and Clergyman

I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Never bear more than one trouble at a time. Some people bear three kinds – all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.

Marianne Williamson

Author –  Excerpt from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ 

Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God. 

Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

 We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Buddhist Monk

Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos – the trees, the clouds, everything.

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom.

There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.

Inspirational Quotes by World Leaders


Inspirational Quotes by World Leaders

Theodore Roosevelt

American President

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.

Mahatma Gandhi

Indian Lawyer and Politician

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.

Where there is love there is life.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.

Nelson Mandela

South African President

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.

There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

Inspirational Quotes by Comedians

Inspirational Quotes by Comedians

I’ll close this post off with some humour because I’ve found that when I’m not feeling my best laughter truly heals.

Related: How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Enjoy these wise words by Hunter Doherty Adams, better known as Patch Adams.  You may remember the wonderful movie in his name, where Patch Adams was played by the late great Robin Williams.

Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams 

Physician, Comedian, Social Activist and Author

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.

Remember laughing? Laughter enhances the blood flow to the body’s extremities and improves cardiovascular function.

Laughter boosts the immune system and helps the body fight off disease, cancer cells as well as viral, bacterial and other infections.

Laughter releases endorphins and other natural mood-elevating and pain-killing chemicals, improves the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to internal organs.

Please live a healthy life – medicine is an imperfect science.

Oh, and as a parting shot, here’s a final quote by Patch Adams that seems fitting right now – this one goes out to anyone waiting in a long queue to have their vaccination.

Waiting in line is a great opportunity to meet people, daydream, or play.

Inspirational Quotes – Healthcare Workers from Lauren Kinghorn

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Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

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Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

Elizabeth Batalla founded The Institute for Achievement and Excellence.

Elizabeth has distilled her 30 years of experience in corporate management and training into her flagship online program, “Achieving Professional Excellence”.

The Institute for Achievement and Excellence

Course Details and GIVEAWAY

Find out more in our interview below or go to the full podcast on Fempreneurs Unite.

Level up Your Life and Be Unstoppable

Lauren:  In your own words, what do you do for a living?

Elizabeth: I help women to be unstoppable so they can achieve success and fulfilment in their professional and personal life.

Lauren: If you wear many hats in business, which of these do you love most, which takes most of your time and which brings in the most income?

Elizabeth: 

  • Love most: creating amazing content to help inform, instruct and inspire all who access it.
  • Most time: YouTube videos due to the animated content  – current animation technology is great but it still has a long way to go.
  • Most income: It is word of mouth – i.e. personal references.

Elizabeth Batalla – Zone of Genius

Lauren: What is your zone of genius?

Elizabeth: Helping others recognise how attainable achieving their dream(s) actually is, providing practical steps to accomplish it and adding a splash of motivation so they realise living the life they want is not something reserved for the select few.

Lauren:  Do you feel you are operating in your zone of genius in your business?

Elizabeth: Absolutely! It is the reason why I created The Institute for Achievement and Excellence. 

After 30 years in the corporate world and mentoring many along the way, I decided to package my formula for success in a form that is easily accessible to someone with internet access.

Learn how to level up your life fast with Elizabeth Batalla, founder of The Institute for Achievement and Excellence. Giveaway details inside.Elizabeth the Entrepreneur

Lauren: When did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth:   May 2020 – during the early stage of the global pandemic. 

I instinctively felt that the world would not be the same and judging from a couple of months prior to May 2020 – that the fallout would be intense and there would be many who would benefit from what I had stored in my head.

Lauren: Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: To do what I love full-time – help women to be unstoppable through easily accessible, high-quality masterclasses that can completely change their lives and ripple out to the lives of their loved ones.

Lauren: Is this your first entrepreneurial pursuit?

Elizabeth: No. I have tried other ventures but with the intention of doing it part-time. The Institute for Achievement and Excellence is the only venture I have dedicated myself to fully.

Lauren: What prompted you to start your own business?

Elizabeth: I was always interested in the possibility of being an entrepreneur but attempted it more as a hobby. I believe the pandemic was a turning point for many… I am one such statistic. I felt a shift in my priorities – from supporting women part-time as an element of my job description to empowering women full time as my burning passion.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?

Elizabeth:  After 30 years in corporate education and mentoring many along the way, there was an unmistakable trend in the type of questions, concerns, desires, guidance needed etc.

Of course, there is an overlap with some of the elements but for the most part, they can be categorised into 9 life areas.

The flagship program – Achieving Professional Excellence – addresses these elements.

Who Elizabeth Serves

Lauren: Who did you have in mind when you started your business? Who do you serve?

Elizabeth: Who I have in mind: Women! Women of all beautiful shapes, colours and sizes.

Although we have come a long way, women still do not enjoy equal opportunities in their professional and personal circles. A woman may not always have control over her situation but she has control over how she shows up in the situation. 

The woman I have in mind is someone who is keen to be the best that she can be, knows that investing in herself never ends and takes control of the outcomes in her life despite the challenges of inequality she faces.

Who I serve:  Predominantly women from 25 to 50 who want to achieve success in their personal and professional growth, want a holistic approach to the process and have minimal time to accomplish it.

Career Highlights and Challenges

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career?

Elizabeth:  The wonderful feedback from women who have completed the masterclass and are now experiencing a life they thought was only possible for others not for them.

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?

Elizabeth: Successfully navigating the world of male-dominated companies as a female…

Lauren: All things considered do you feel it was a good decision to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth:  Absolutely! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Daily Work Schedule and Rituals

Lauren: Where do you work most days?

Elizabeth:  I work from home because I like feeling comfortable and having access to all I need when I am working.

Lauren: How many days per week do you work on average?

Elizabeth:  Every day except on Sundays (from noontime, onwards). I step away from technology completely.

Lauren: How many hours do you estimate you work per day on average?

Elizabeth:  At the moment – 10 hours 😉

Lauren: Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Elizabeth:  Absolutely! I follow what I teach. I strive for balance. I have rituals in the morning, mid-day and night. I ensure that by the end of each week, I have given adequate time to all 9 of my life areas.

Passion, Vision and Message

Lauren: Do you feel you are living your passion?

Elizabeth: Yes… and sharing it with the world!

Lauren: Do you feel you have already created your best work?

Elizabeth:  I have… and more of my best is yet to come! 

Lauren: If you were to die tomorrow, would you be at peace knowing you had lived a full, happy and meaningful life? Or would you feel you were dying with your song unsung?

Elizabeth:    I am singing my song as we speak.

Lauren: Wonderful!  Do you have a message you would like the world to hear?

Elizabeth: Regardless of your starting point, your dreams are possible to achieve so never, ever give up on them.

Elizabeth Batalla – Advice for New Entrepreneurs

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth:   The number one piece of advice is: 

Don’t wait for the ideal time to start what you need to do to get where you want to go!

There is never a perfect time to take action so let go of the notion that today is not the ‘right’ day. The biggest obstacle is simply getting started. 

Start where you are, use what you have and do the best you can… but JUST GET STARTED.

Lauren: Is there anything you wish you knew when you started out as an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: My attributes of dedication, resilience and patience will be tested – CONSTANTLY.

They are required to maintain the momentum, recover from disappointments and control expectations because sustaining success as an entrepreneur is a race for the marathon runner, not the sprinter.

Related: Top Ways to Empower Women in Business

Lauren: What have you missed out on by becoming an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: The luxury of working 9-5.

The day of an entrepreneur starts earlier, ends later and spills over into the weekends.

Lauren: What have you gained by becoming an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: Patience, resilience and establishing clear boundaries.

Lauren: Do you feel you chose an easy path or a difficult one?

Elizabeth: Definitely a more challenging one. Being an entrepreneur is no easy feat. The highs/lows, successes/failures, mastery/madness – it makes living quite a rollercoaster of a ride.

Hopes, Plans and Fears

Lauren: What are your hopes and plans for this year?

Elizabeth: To help as many women as I can to achieve their professional and personal transformation goals via my masterclasses.

Lauren: What are your fears?

Elizabeth: What I am doing now! It takes a great degree of courage to step off the cliff of your comfort zone, so you can soar to the heights you are destined to reach.  

Tools of the Trade and Mentors

Lauren: Which tools of the trade have been enormously helpful for you?

Elizabeth: Online courses to bridge my knowledge gap. I invest in courses to learn the basics, how to do things correctly from the start, tricks of the trade etc. A lot can be learned from courses at a very reasonable price.

It is time, effort and money-saving. In this way, when I pay for coaches I get more value because the time I have with them is used more for strategic advice rather than basic guidance.

Lauren:  Who has been enormously helpful to you? Do you have mentors in business?

Elizabeth: 

Helpful: Everyone I come into contact with has value because that is how I choose to see others. As a result, I continue to receive help all the time (and I make sure to pay it forward).

Mentor: Not any one person as it depends on my point of focus or gap I am trying to close at the time. 

If you told me a couple of years ago that I would invest in special software and binge-watch how to create animated videos for my youtube channel, I would have thought that maybe you had one too many glasses of Champagne (or whichever drink makes you happy).

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success?

Elizabeth: Yes – a more in-depth understanding of the various social media and search engine platforms – it’s a challenge to keep on top of changing algorithms and regulations.

Lauren: Is there a book, song or movie that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?

Elizabeth:
There are many so I will share the one that started it for me. I like its simplicity – of the message, of the implementation and of the result. 

It is called:

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn. (orig. pub. 1925)
Another honourable mention is: Who Moved My Cheese by Spenser Johnson (orig. pub. 1998)

Spreading the Word

Lauren: If there was any way I could help you, what it would it be?

Elizabeth: To help me spread the word that there IS a proven formula available for achieving success and fulfilment in one’s professional and professional life.

Lauren: Who is your target market? If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for?

Elizabeth: Women 25-40, at the operational – mid-management level in their companies or in-between jobs, eager to improve personally and professionally and want to level up their lives (in a holistic way) – fast.

Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

Elizabeth BatallaGIVEAWAY

Elizabeth is very kindly giving away free lifetime unlimited access to her signature course, Achieving Professional Excellence to one lucky member of Fempreneurs Unite.

The program sells for $599.99 (plus charges) so it’s a VERY GENEROUS gift.

And it’s worth far more to you when you apply what is taught in the program because that’s how you will learn how to level up fast and be unstoppable.

If you’d like to be considered for this wonderful prize, make sure you’re a member of Fempreneurs Unite on LinkedIn (it’s free to join).  And leave a comment below this post or our podcast post saying why Elizabeth and her panel should pick you for the award.

She is looking for someone who is ready to level up in their professional and personal life yet may not be able to afford to invest in herself at this stage.

The closing date for the giveaway will be midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 24th August and we will announce the winner on Wednesday 25th August.

Post Update – 25 August 2021

Announcement – We have a Winner!

Our warmest congratulations to Elize Swanepoel, the winner of our Giveaway.  Elize left an amazing comment on our post on Fempreneurs Unite.

Elize is super excited to get started on Elizabeth’s course, Achieving Professional Excellence.   Thanks so much, Liz for so kindly offering this generous prize.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lauren Kinghorn (@laurenjeankinghorn)

 

Visit The Institute for Achievement and Excellence

I’m doing this program myself, so I’ll be publishing a full review as soon as I’m finished.  In the meantime, have a look at all course details here: https://courses.achievementandexcellence.com/

Remember that the signature course is a combination of every course Elizabeth has created.

Connect with Elizabeth

LinkedIn   Facebook

Affiliate Disclaimer: If you purchase anything through a link in this post, please assume I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

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How to Empower Women

Top Ways to Empower Women in Business

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Ways to Empower Women in Business

When you think of ways to empower women in business, it’s pretty hard not to think of the opposite, the people or circumstances that disempower women.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking of women as victims, sidelined or overlooked by men in power, marginalised, underpaid and more prone to hitting that glass ceiling.

Yet, if you’re a woman, empowering women starts with empowering yourself.

How to Empower Yourself

How to Empower Yourself

Empowering yourself starts with breaking out of that victim mentality and believing in yourself.

It’s not about the system, we know it’s broken, but we also know there are many, many women who rise to the top.

It’s not about them.  It was never about them.  It’s about you, who you are, what you want and what you’re prepared to do to achieve success.

When you believe in yourself, you will have the faith that opportunities will come your way and be ready for them when they do.

When you believe in yourself, you will get educated.  You will find a business mentor and accept their mentorship.

Related: Here’s Why Your Career Needs You to Keep on Learning

You will create a vision for your future, figure out your goals and put an action plan in place to achieve them.

You will commit to the hours and the weeks and the months it will take to see your vision become a reality.

And once you’re empowered and take on a leadership role in your business, you’re in the best place to empower other women.  Because empowered women empower women.

Now, YOU can become a business mentor. Now YOU can make a difference.

Why Focus on Women Empowerment in the Workplace?

The primary motivation to prioritize women empowerment in your business is, in many cases, varied organizations are often more successful. This is because women leverage many different perspectives, are innovative and offer deeper insights into their customers.

In our article below, we share 4 top ways to empower women in your business.

4 Top Ways to Empower Women in Your Business

Top Ways to Empower Women in Your Business

1. Connect Female Employees with Female Mentors

An efficient way of changing the way women think and provoking action is by introducing them to strong female role models within the industry and your company.

For instance, if a female employee is just starting her career, introducing her to more experienced female employees like entrepreneurs or women in leadership roles can be advantageous in assisting her with defining her career path.

A strong mentor-employee connection could also help with building trust among female workers in the company and their own ability to thrive in their profession.

This is especially true in a workplace that is predominantly male-dominated. Introducing them to women in senior roles can give them the confidence boost they need to work hard towards landing influential positions going forward.

Women leaders like Nancy Etz are all about giving women the tools to empower themselves by mentoring young women as well as by offering various scholarships.

2. Remind Female Employees They are Valuable

When you think of ways to empower women in business, it's pretty hard not to think of the opposite, the people or circumstances that disempower women. Read on. #howto #empowerwomen #waystoempowerwomen #empoweryourself #empoweredwomenempowerwomenWomen in workplaces that are mainly male-dominated often feel intimidated to voice their viewpoints, for fear of being dismissed or viewed as being too outspoken.

It is essential to remind women that their opinions matter and that they are valuable team members. There are various ways that your company can incorporate values.

The first step is bias awareness and training since you will not know what you are doing wrong until your actions are addressed head-on.

You can also promote a safer work environment where everyone feels confident to voice their concerns or challenges. Promote an open-door policy where female employees can turn for assistance.

3. Accommodate the Personal Needs of All Employees

Everyone has lives outside of the business. It is essential to encourage them to pursue their interest and needs, irrespective of their gender.

For instance, permit parents to knock off early when necessary, support an overall work-life balance of fellow employees, provide competitive parental leave, and be flexible wherever it is possible.

When employees flourish in their personal lives, they are more grateful to work for a company which in turn boosts productivity and loyalty. Don’t just encourage it, but be proactive about it. Organize family days and team-building exercises.

4. Vote for Female-Related Initiatives

It is essential to empower the women in your company by striving towards gender equality and enhancing the future of the work culture in your business.

Women are significantly under-represented in various sectors of the working environment. Hiring an equal gender workforce is a sure way to make a positive difference in your business, showing that both women and men employees are equal and valued team members.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed these 4 top ways to empower women in your business. I encourage you to start implementing them to create a better workplace for everyone.  Just remember to start with yourself.

This post was sponsored by Nancy Etz. All opinions are my own.

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What's Healthy About... really?

What’s Healthy Eating About… Really?

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What’s Healthy Eating About?

The first time I started questioning whether I really knew what healthy eating was about, was almost 30 years ago. I moved to a small town in the Klein Karoo called Montagu and met the renowned fruitarian, Essie Honiball.

At the time, Essie was 67-years-old and the picture of health, a joyful, sociable lady with boundless energy. She would come down to the hot springs, where I worked, to swim with her friends.

Essie told me she felt and looked younger than she did in her 30’s when she was dying of TB (Tuberculosis). She firmly believed that switching to a diet almost exclusively of fruit, nuts, and seeds was what saved her.

Essie Honiball lived to the age of 89.  Here’s an interview with Essie at age 86.

What Do We Need to Eat?

In Biology and Home Economics class at school, I had been taught we all needed to consume a varied diet of meat, fish, starch (grains), dairy, vegetables, and fruit.

The lesson was clear. If you’re not eating a balanced diet consisting of all the recommended food groups, you won’t get all the nutrients you require for good health.

  1. Proteins
  2. Carbohydrates
  3. Fats
  4. Fibre
  5. Vitamins
  6. Minerals
  7. Antioxidants
  8. Water

Yet I discovered that for some people, it was possible to live on fruit alone.  This idea blew my 20-year-old mind.  I didn’t become a fruitarian myself, though I’m sure it must have encouraged me to eat more fruit.

I went through my own health challenges in my late 20’s and started tuning into what my body needed. I started juicing and doing fruit and veg cleanses. I discovered that my body functioned best on fresh fruit and veggies.

It was while I was cleansing and juicing that I felt my healthiest, my energy levels were always through the roof, I was slim, happy, sleeping well, and free from pain.

Yet, for years, I kept following the healthy eating guidelines we were taught at school.   Eat all 5 food groups, have everything in moderation, drink 8 glasses of water, sleep 8 hours a night.  I knew the drill.

That’s what I was taught at school and so I believed it was the truth.  But is it?

Related: Aligning All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

What are We Designed to Eat?

On 9th September 2020, I made the switch to a wholefood plant-based diet.  My friend Mariana called me from Joburg for a catchup chat and encouraged me to look into it.

Mariana had been suffering from debilitating bouts of rheumatoid arthritis and found that she was able to virtually reverse her condition if she ate a plant-based diet. When she slipped back to eating normally, her symptoms would flare up again.

Mariana sent me some YouTube links to videos by Doctors who advocate a plant-based diet and I found the information so compelling, I decided to join Mariana in following a plant-based lifestyle.

One of the segments I found really interesting, was this. Humans are not designed to eat meat. We think we are because again, we were always taught at school that humans are omnivores, but it turns out we are not.  When you look into our physiology, it appears that we are actually natural herbivores, plant-eaters.

If you look at our jaw structure, we are not built to be carnivorous. We can’t kill an animal and tear it apart with our teeth.

Would we eat these piglets?And instinctually, we don’t want to.

If you saw a little rabbit or piglet with a broken leg on your path, what would you do?  For most people, our natural instinct would be to comfort and do what we can to save the wounded animal.

What would a dog or cat do in the same situation? Pounce!  And gobble it up. Because they are natural carnivores, meat-eaters and happy to prey on defenceless creatures.

The thing is, that by the time we see fresh meat in freezers at the grocery store, it’s been neatly chopped up, cleaned and packaged and we don’t think of it as a creature at all. We didn’t have to kill it ourselves so we don’t spare a thought for the life of the animal we are about to eat.

What is a Wholefood Plant-Based Diet?

It’s kind of like a vegan diet because it’s mostly vegetables, fruit, and grains but the emphasis seems to be more on eating plants and whole grains for optimum health.

You can call yourself a vegan and eat fried chips and loads of processed vegan delicacies.  That’s not the idea with a wholefood plant-based diet.

On the other hand, you can call yourself wholefood plant-based and sometimes eat eggs, dairy, fish, poultry or meat, from the best possible sources, such as organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised or wild-caught.

We were taught at school to eat a balanced diet of meat, fish, dairy, grains, fruit, and veg but what's healthy eating about, really? What were we designed to eat? And which foods makes us feel best?Why Eat a Plant-Based Diet?

I’ve found that people choose to live a vegan or plant-based lifestyle for three compelling reasons:

  1. To protect animals from harm
  2. To protect the environment
  3. To protect themselves from preventable diseases

What to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

So, what do people consume on a plant-based diet?

  • Vegetables – in season, fresh and organic where possible
  • Starchy vegetables – such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut
  • Fruits – including berries and melons
  • Nuts – ideally raw, unsalted macadamia, walnuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, almonds and nut butters
  • Seeds – such as pumpkin, flax, chia, sesame, sunflower and hemp seeds
  • Whole grains – such as rolled oats, brown rice, quinoa etc.
  • Legumes – chickpeas, lentils, peas, peanuts, black beans, etc.
  • Unsweetened plant-based milk – soya milk, almond milk, coconut milk etc.
  • Healthy Fats – avocado, coconut oil, olive oil
  • Plant-based protein mushrooms, tofu etc.
  • Herbs and Spices – including seasonings like nutritional yeast
  • Coffee, Tea, Herbal Tea

How to Eat More Fresh Fruit and Veggies? 

We’ve got so used to reaching for yummy goodies loaded with unhealthy sugars that we forget to eat our fresh fruit and veg.

Here a few quick tips to help you get in more fruit and veggies on a daily basis.

  1. Buy a variety of fresh, fruit and veggies, including berries, melons, nuts and seeds
  2. Begin each meal with raw, fresh fruit or veg or salad
  3. Aim to eat at least 5 different colours at each meal
  4. Begin or end your meals with veg and lentil or bean soup
  5. Make fresh smoothies or juices as snacks

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

What Not to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

  • Fast food and fried foods – pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, fries
  • Refined Foods – white bread, pasta, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, biscuits
  • Packaged and convenience foods – crisps, biscuits, health bars, frozen dinners
  • Processed animal products:  bacon, ham, macon, etc.
  • Processed vegan products – such as vegan meat, butter or cheese
  • Artificial sweeteners – and food or sauces containing artificial sweeteners

What to Avoid on a Plant-Based Diet?

Many plant-based advocates follow a vegan diet but if some feel they need to supplement their diets with animal sources, for whatever reason. If you’re going to introduce some form of animal product into your diet, follow the guidelines below.

  • Meat – eat very rarely, and if you do, make sure the animals are grass-fed, pastured and treated humanely, where possible
  • Dairy – as above
  • Poultry – free-range, grain-fed and organic, where possible
  • Eggs – as above
  • Seafood – wild-caught from sustainable fisheries, where possible

What’s Healthy Eating About?

So, what’s healthy eating about… really?

For me, it’s a wholefood plant-based diet, because of what I’ve read and researched about the many health benefits. And also because of how I feel when I’m eating loads of fresh fruit and veggies.

Essentially, you get to decide what healthy eating is about for you.  We are all different and our bodies respond differently to what we eat.

What I can tell you, is that your taste changes very quickly when you make the switch to a plant-based diet. Foods you thought you could never live without (like cheese, cream or meat) no longer hold their appeal.

I invite you to try it out for a week or two and see how you feel.

This post was sponsored by Anti-OxidantFruits.com. All opinions are my own.

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8 Dimensions Health Wellness

Aligning all 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

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8 Dimensions Health Wellness

Health and Wellness have been a big focus in my life.  I started teaching Aerobics when I still in High School and took over my Mom’s gym shortly after I finished school.

A couple of years later I also started studying and practising a number of different modalities, including Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Shiatsu.   I became particularly interested in holistic health and healing.  I was fascinated by how the mind, body and spirit are all connected.

I delved deep into every aspect of health and wellness over the years because I wanted to know how every secret on how to live long and prosper.

And yet, it took Harold at Bodybuilder Solutions to introduce me to the idea of the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness. Have a look at this post: https://bodybuildersolutions.com/the-best-resources-for-mental-health-and-physical-wellness/

And, here they are.

All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

I’ve placed them in the order that makes it easiest for me to remember, starting with the 4 that align with some of the chakras (or energy centres in the body).  I used their corresponding chakra colours on the infographic below.

There is a tremendous benefit in aligning all 8 dimensions of health and wellness. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. Do you know all the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness? If not, discover them in my latest post as well as keys I've learned over the years to help me align them. This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessChart #8DimensionsWellnessInfographic #health #wellness #wellbeing #selfcare

1. Physical (the base or root chakra)

2. Emotional (the sacral chakra)

3. Intellectual  (the solar plexus)

4. Spiritual (the crown)

The last 4 are not energy centres in our body but relate to aspects of our daily lives that can impact our health and wellness.

5. Social (Relationships)

6. Occupational (Work)

7. Financial (Money)

8. Environmental (Surroundings)

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

While it’s virtually impossible to be focusing on all 8 of these all the time and have them all in perfect balance, it’s certainly something worth striving for.

You might put so much of your time and energy into mastering one aspect of your life that the others go out of kilter.

On the other hand, when you achieve success in one area it may give you the confidence and motivation to tackle other areas of your wellbeing.

And there is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that’s when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being.  A feeling that all is right with your world and you’re doing just fine.

In this post, I’ll aim to give you some of the keys I’ve learned over the years that have helped me achieve this alignment in my own life, in the hopes they help you too.

Let’s take it from the top.

1. Physical Health and Wellness

Physical Health and Wellness

Deep down I think we all know the answers to this. They are simple to learn, but not easy to implement.

  • Exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes, at least 3 or 4 times a week)
  • Eat nutritious foods (especially plenty of fresh fruit and veg)
  • Get enough sleep (6 to 8 hours a night)
  • Drink enough water (around 8 glasses a day)

Those are the basics.  We all know them but we get caught up in what this expert claims and what that diet promotes and what that organisation recommends.

Related: Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

Here are my personal keys to making these work for you.

Exercise

You’ll only do it regularly if you love it and can incorporate it into your life. So find something you really enjoy doing. For me, right now, it’s walking my dog and jumping on the trampoline with my son, because that’s all I have time for.   But at other stages of my life, it’s been swimming, gym, dancing, yoga, pilates.   What moves you?

Nutritious Foods

I recently went wholefood plant-based which means I mostly eat a healthy vegan diet. Though I know that’s a big ask, so if this just sounds too extreme to you, please start adding more fresh fruit and veg into your diet and avoid eating overly processed foods and especially processed meats.

I have discovered it’s a brilliant lifestyle choice, especially if you are overweight or have heart disease, Type 2 diabetes or any other preventable health condition.   But don’t take my word for it. I’m just following the experts.

Here’s a great overview of plant-based nutrition by Dr Anthony Lim

Disclaimer: Please note that none of the recommendations in this post is intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

Sleep

Stop all digital activity, including watching TV at least half an hour before you go to sleep to have a good night’s rest.

Hydration

Water or tea is best.  One or two coffees a day is fine. A glass of wine a night (or your favourite drink) is fine but don’t overindulge too often.  In my book, sodas are a no-no.  I could go into the long explanation of why but then we’d never get to the rest of the post. 

2. Emotional Health and Wellness

Emotional Health and Wellness

We all want to be happy and free from anxiety, yet, sadly, most people aren’t.  We live in a world where millions of people are suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia and nervous tension and have resorted to medication for relief.

There are many natural ways to be happy and free from worry and I believe it starts with choosing happiness.

Once I made a conscious decision to live a happy life, the natural ways found me.

Here are some of the things that make me feel happy and at peace.

  • Guided Meditation or Visualisation
  • Being out in nature
  • Being in contribution
  • Caring for loved ones
  • Playing with or reading to my children
  • Caring for pets
  • Dancing, singing or listening to music

But what about those stubborn or particularly heavy emotions you just can’t seem to shake?

I’ve found Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) to be most useful in helping me release unwanted emotions.

For example, here’s a tapping session I did on Disappointment.

Once you know the basics of how to EFT, you can tap on any emotion that’s upsetting or depressing you.

The deeper you go, the more relief you feel, which could mean working on childhood wounds or past hurts that have stuck with you for years.

Related: How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

3. Intellectual Health and Wellness

Intellectual Health and Wellness

To be healthy intellectually, it’s important to use your mind by doing things like:

  • reading
  • study
  • research
  • travelling
  • and other intellectual pursuits that broaden your mind

It’s equally important to clear your mind of stress, worry and limiting beliefs.

I read a funny meme at a coffee shop the other day.

It said: “Give me coffee to change the things I can change and wine to accept the things I can’t.”

I’ve discovered that what causes most of our pain, suffering and stress is believing things should be different than they are.

So my best piece of advice for a happy life is to accept those things you can’t change and change the things you can.  i.e. Do your own inner work.  Let go of all those thoughts about what others did or should have done, what they said or should have said.

Instead, turn your thoughts to who you are, who would like to be around and what you would like to do with your time. Be in your own business.

Again, easy to say, not so easy to do. Until you meet Byron Katie and use her simple technique to unbundle those stresses and beliefs and turn them around.

Byron Katie designed a process of questioning your stressful thoughts, called The Work.

Here’s Katie doing The Work with someone on How to Have a Clear Mind and Healthy Body.

The Work is a great way to get clear on the thoughts that have been holding you back or dragging you down, sometimes for years.

I’ve found the best breakthroughs in my own life have come when I start out by doing The Work and then shift into EFT if big emotions come up.

These processes sound simple but they are life-altering. Try them out for yourself, especially on your most painful experiences and you are likely to see what I mean.

4. Spiritual Health and Wellness

Spiritual Health and Wellness

Our spiritual journey is deeply personal and a path only we can walk. This journey is usually ignited by the religion, faith or path we have followed since childhood.  For me, that faith was Christianity and it led me to A Course in Miracles.

Learning and teaching A Course in Miracles has given me tremendous peace.

Here’s one of my favourite lessons in A Course in Miracles.

Lesson 47, God is the strength in which I trust.

The spiritual perspective is that pain and suffering are caused by believing we are separate from God.

In a sense, this is the same concept Byron Katie teaches, just in different words. Where Katie might call it questioning what is or questioning the truth, on a spiritual level, when we question what is, we are questioning God.

When you draw nearer to God in…

  • prayer
  • praise
  • meditation
  • stillness
  • communing with nature, or
  • when you give love, and
  • forgive yourself and others..

you access your God-mind where you can safely embrace the peace that passes all understanding.

Related: Mama, When Last did You take Care of You?

5. Social Health and WellnessSocial Health and Wellness

Social health and wellness relates to our relationships.

We all know that if we are in an abusive relationship, whether it’s a parent, partner, child, work colleague or friend, it can take its toll on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

We also know that when our children “get in the wrong crowd”, their health can suffer.  Peer pressure and social pressure can drive people to do things they would never do on their own.

Just as unhealthy relationships can be devastating for our personal wellbeing, healthy relationships can turn our health around.There is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessPin

In my life, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have wonderful parents as role models.  My Dad was a Minister so I grew up in the Church. That really helped me build a strong healthy social structure within a loving community.

That foundation helped me seek out healthy role models at school and in the workplace.

It is far more difficult for children who grow up with unhealthy role models at home, to make healthy choices in their adult relationships.   This is where public service becomes important.

Our relationships with those in authority are extremely important, especially when we are younger and still building our strength and courage to stand up to authority when needed.

One amazing Grandmother, one child-centred Teacher or one caring Sunday School Teacher can change the trajectory of a child’s life and make the world of difference in a community.

If we want to see a healthy society, the responsibility falls on each one of us to give back to the community in whichever way we can.

6. Occupational Health and WellnessOccupational Health and Wellness

For me, occupational health and wellness have always started with being passionate about your work.

Job satisfaction is a huge part of your overall happiness as well as your health and wellbeing.  After all, most of us are working for the greater part of our day.

What’s interesting to note is that job satisfaction seems to have increased in 2020, according to this article: https://legaljobs.io/blog/job-satisfaction-stats/.

Perhaps the pandemic is creating a happier workforce because more people have been able to work at home or perhaps it’s because people value their jobs more now that so many jobs have been cut during the pandemic.

My best advice on the work front is similar to my advice on exercise. Find something you love to do, something that makes your heart sing, something that makes you jump out of bed in the morning.

Get to know your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses and be your biggest advocate.

7. Financial Health and Wellness

Financial Health and Wellness

Our relationship with money is usually complex.

Financial wellness is not only about how you make money, spend money or save money but also how you think and feel about money.

We grow up with a number of beliefs around money and they are not always healthy.

If you faced lack in childhood and you don’t address your money beliefs and money blocks, you may be facing lack in adulthood too.

So I would start by doing the internal work.

  • Examine your money beliefs and create new healthy beliefs.
  • Figure out why you want to make money
  • Where you want to spend your money
  • How much you want to keep and
  • Where you want to invest your money
  • And then you can turn your attention to the how.

If you’ve been hitting a few money blocks, you may find these money afformations helpful.  Afformations are much like affirmations, except they are questions rather than statements.

Isn’t it interesting how all these dimensions tie-up?  When you look at one dimension, you can see how each plays into the other.

  • Your work affects your finances.
  • Your thoughts and feelings affect your finances.
  • Your relationships affect your finances.
  • Your physical health can affect your work which in turn can affect your finances, etc.

And of course, vice versa.  Each dimension of health and wellness impacts the other.

8. Environmental Health and WellnessEnvironmental Health and Wellness

Your environment can affect your health in many ways.

For example, living in the city is considered more dangerous to your health than living in a small town out in the countryside. Not just because of the faster pace, traffic congestion and added stress but also because of the smog and noise pollution.

Cities bombard and sometimes overload our senses.

Your home or work environment can also affect your health. Most people find living or working gin a chaotic or cluttered environment to be more stressful than a clean, well-organized home or office.

And then there’s our impact on the environment, how we contribute to the health of our environment.

We all know by now that we can make simple lifestyle changes to improve our environment:

  • Recycle
  • De-clutter
  • Conserve Water
  • Plant trees and flowers
  • Use natural products
  • Consume less (minimalism)

But did you know that the single most impactful thing you can do for the environment is to stop eating meat?

Animal agriculture is having a devastating effect on the environment.

This video explains how the meat and dairy industry works.

Here are just a few ways eating a vegan or plant-based diet, positively impacts the environment:

  • Saves water (because our livestock consumes a lot more water than we do)
  • Reduces greenhouse gases, the leading cause of climate change
  • Reduces air pollution
  • Protects the rainforests
  • Protects endangered animals

Of course, the choice is always yours.  It’s not easy to stop doing something you’ve done all your life, especially if it’s something you enjoy, like eating meat or cheese.

I have found that when I find enough compelling reasons to make a change, I make it.  And it sticks.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy implementing some of my key pointers on the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness into your life.  I invite you to play with these ideas.

Try one or two of them on and see if they fit.  I’d love to hear which ideas resonated with you. Feel free to leave a comment below.

This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is not intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

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Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

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This post was sponsored by Vitamium

Finding natural ways to support the immune system has become a hot topic lately, with the Coronavirus pandemic in full force.  While building the immune system can’t stop you from contracting the virus (or any infection for that matter), having a healthy immune system may help you get over it faster and have milder symptoms.

But before we get into what builds your immunity, let’s start with the basics.

What’s the Immune System?

What's the Immune System

Simply put, the immune system is our body’s natural defence system against infectious diseases.

As we develop, our immune system develops with us.  We’re born with natural or innate immunity and also receive passive immunity from the antibodies in our mother’s breast milk.   As we get exposed to diseases or vaccines throughout our lives, we develop adaptive or active immunity.  So getting ill actually builds our future immunity.

However, our immune system can also break down as we age and it’s usually because of poor lifestyle choices.

How to Support the Immune System?

Following a healthy diet and lifestyle is your best chance at a healthy immune system.

If you’re not doing all this already, here are the dietary and lifestyle changes we recommend you make.

Let’s start with a healthy diet.

Dietary Changes that Support the Immune System

What foods support the immune system?  We all know the answer to this, deep down, don’t we?

It’s fresh fruit and veggies of course. And nuts and berries.  Organic if possible. And you’ll want to eat a variety of these every day. All the colours of the rainbow if you can.

Dietary Changes that Support the Immune System

I took these benefits to heart and switched to a wholefood plant-based diet 90 days ago.   Which means I started incorporating way more of the good stuff than I was eating before and eliminated virtually all processed foods, meat, chicken, fish and all dairy products.

Yeah, I know, it’s not for everybody, right?  And even following this incredible diet, touted to be the healthiest diet on the planet by many highly respected Doctors, I’ve still had to supplement because I’m missing out on some important nutrients.

So let’s talk supplements. If you’re following the Standard American Diet (SAD), you’re almost certain to be deficient in nutrients that boost your immunity.   Here’s how you can rectify that.

Invest in Immune Support with Elderberry

Vitamium Elderberry has been designed by experienced professionals to strengthen your immunity.

It’s completely natural and has no gluten, milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, soy or GMO’s. It’s also free from artificial ingredients, preservatives, fillers, chemicals and colourants.

Immune Support with Elderberry Vitamin C

Vitamium’s Elderberry capsules contain potent antioxidant ingredients known to support your immune system.

  • Elderberry Extract
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin B6
  • Zinc
  • L-glutamine HCL
  • Echinacea
  • Garlic powder
  • Turmeric

Oh, and great news! Vitamium is offering 50% off their Elderberry Capsules with Coupon Code NEWYEAR50

Get Eldeberry Capsules at HALFPRICE here.

Lifestyle Changes that Support the Immune System

While diet is probably the most important change you can make, there are other healthy lifestyle choices that also support your immune system.  Here are 6 changes you make today, that won’t cost you a dime.

Lifestyle Changes to Support the Immune System

1. Get Active

Find some form of exercise you love to do and do it regularly. You don’t have to run a marathon. It could be something as simple as walking the dog every day.  Or as fun as going out dancing.

2. Destress

Find a way to let it all hang out.  Whether it’s just kicking back and stroking your favourite pet or lounging about in a hammock.  Stress is known to weaken the immune system so slow down a little and smell the roses.

Following a healthy diet and lifestyle is your best chance at a healthy immune system. Here are the dietary and lifestyle changes we recommend you make. This post was sponsored by Vitamium and they're offering you 50% off their Elderberry Capsules for Immune System Support. #naturalways #immunesystemsupport #healthydiet #healthylifestyle #supplements #vitamium #eldeberrycapsules #sponsored3. Hydrate

Drink plenty of water every day.  If you really can’t stand water, you could try herbal teas. Avoid carbonated drinks as they are usually loaded with sugar and phosphates.  And avoid having too much coffee or alcohol as they tend to dehydrate (and there’s the sugar problem again).

4. Laugh

Recent studies such as this one have proven that laughter truly has medicinal benefits. Watching funny videos increased T-Cells (the fighter cells of the immune system).  Worth giving a try, right?

And it’s worth mentioning that simply being a positive person has a positive effect on the immune system.

5. Sleep Well

Get a good night’s rest as often as you can.  To help you relax into your 8 or so hours a night, switch off the TV and your digital devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime, avoid caffeine after midday and

And while we’re in the bedroom… did you know that sexually active people take less sick days?

6. Love Well

Being in a loving relationship is good for the immune system. But this isn’t bad news for singles.  Fostering loving relationships with your friends, family and pets has the same effect on immunity.

And here’s one final lifestyle change we highly recommend that can save you money – if you’re a smoker.

7. Stop Smoking

If you’re a smoker your risk of getting respiratory tract infections is greater and those infections are more likely to escalate into life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia.

How would you say your immune system is doing based on the dietary and lifestyle tips above?

Please note that none of the advice in this article is intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.

Also, we advise you to follow all government regulations designed to protect you from succumbing to the coronavirus. Continue social distancing, wearing a mask in public and sanitising frequently. 

This post was sponsored by Vitamium.  All opinions are my own. 

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How to get over the fear of public speaking

How to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking

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You step up to the mic, hands trembling, heart pounding.  You look out at the sea of faces hoping your jacket will hide the patches of perspiration forming under your arms.

At this point one of two scenarios can play out.

Scenario 1: The terror overtakes you.  

Your entire body starts shaking uncontrollably, you stumble over your first few words and run off the stage with your head in your hands.

Scenario 2: You take control.

You take a deep breath, stand up tall, smile and scan the room as the audience settles down… and you’re off.  You’ve got this.  You launch into your speech confidently, passionately and you deliver your message with the perfect combination of power, ease and grace.

The goal of this article is to guide you to this special hallowed ground, where the stage becomes your safe place, where scenario 2 plays out for you. Every time.

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

This post was sponsored by Sam Haskell

If the thought of public speaking causes you to sweat and have heart palpitations, it is quite possible you have glossophobia – the fear of public speaking.  And you are definitely not alone.  Glossophobia is one of our most common fears.

The words public speaking can cause anxiety and fear in many people’s minds who are otherwise confident and highly competent in their professions.

So why do people put themselves through the torture of public speaking when there are so many other methods of boosting business exposure?

Because stepping up and speaking in public gives the impression that you’re a leading light in your field of expertise.

It’s a way to set yourself up as an authority, a thought leader, much like becoming an Author, but with one difference – it’s instant. One Ted Talk, one talk on an international stage or one YouTube video gone viral and you could set yourself up as an instant expert.

Public speaking also offers effortless referrals as well as better sales opportunities.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s quiet those fears.

Here’s a step-by-step strategy that will help you become a confident speaker.

Step 1:  Start Small

If you’re a newbie when it comes to public speaking, begin small.  Practice in front of friends and family. Or get yourself a tripod for your smartphone or webcam and start making videos – for no-one to watch at first.

Once you’re confident in front of one or two people or in front of your own camera at home, you can start speaking to small groups and gradually move your way up to larger audiences from there.

Keep in mind that the size of the audience doesn’t make any difference (except that the more people in the audience, the more energy you have to feed off).  If you’re familiar with your topic, your jitters will start disappearing quickly.

Golden Tip:

No matter how big your audience, speak as if you’re speaking to one person, your best friend.

Speak as if to one person

Step 2:  Prepare Thoroughly

Nothing is as effective in easing your fear of speaking in public as knowing your subject, inside and out.

It helps to create a connection with your audience which is achieved through having confidence in your knowledge.

Practice your speech a few times before getting on the podium. And remember to have some back-up material just in case you have a bit more time left over.

Golden Tip:

Whether you attribute this to Brian Tracy, Dale Carnegie or Aristotle, most orators agree that a good speech follows this simple formula.

Tell them what you are going to say.

Say it.

Tell them what you said.

Step 3: When using Slides, do this

Most business presentations are drawn out monologues with seemingly endless bullet points and PowerPoint slides.

Some may suggest you discard the PowerPoint speech and rather make your material the focus point of the speech.

But if you need the security blanket of a slide presentation to jog your memory and keep you focused, here’s a tip for you.

Use one image, one word or one-phrase on each slide to promptly convey your message.

Golden Tip:

Harness the power of emotion.  Use visual images that are humorous, touching or shocking (depending on your subject matter).  This helps you emphasise your core points and also ensures your audience remember them.

Emotive Slides

Step 4:  Reframe

Nervousness and excitement are flip sides of the same coin. They create the same bodily reactions.

So in your mind, if you just reframe your nervous jitters as excitement jitters, you’ll be fine.

You can use that energy to deliver a powerful talk.

Golden Tip:

Expect the crowd to adore you – and they will.

If the thought of public speaking causes you to sweat and have heart palpitations, it's possible you have glossophobia. Here's how to overcome this common fear. #HowtoGetOvertheFearofPublicSpeaking

Step 5: Open Strong

You will be at your most nervous just before you start your talk.  So get very clear on how you will open your speech.

Give a lot of thought to how you will get the audience’s attention. Consider opening with a question, some light humour or a personal story.

Start with the end in mind.  Remember that in your introduction, you are setting the stage for your conclusion – tell them what you are going to tell them.

Rehearse your opening paragraph a few times so there’s no chance of you stumbling or mumbling those first few words.

Power poses are proven to work.  Do a power pose or look in the mirror, take a long deep breath, and tell yourself you are confident and you’re going to ace this.

Golden Tip:

If there’s nowhere to practice a power stance privately before you go up on stage, consider doing it with the audience – get them to stand up with you, smile and raise their arms in the air or high five the person next to them.

This way you’ll all have a state change.

This is especially important if you notice that the crowd is looking bored or restless after the last talk.  Movement acts as an icebreaker, and helps your audience feel more relaxed and receptive.

Step 6:  Speak Naturally

Becoming a master at public speaking does not entail memorizing your entire presentation word for word.

It’s worth memorizing key points and prompts and some examples and subtopics to talk about.

Show up as your authentic self.    Be as natural as you can.

Share some of your personal stories. This is always a good way of connecting with your audience.

Golden Tip:

Speak with passion. Your audience doesn’t care about how much you know, or how smart you are, they care about what’s in your heart.

Speak from your Heart

Step 7:  Engage Your Audience

Starting a monologue presentation places the onus on you to inform and entertain your audience.

Engage your audience by encouraging two-way interaction by asking questions, or cracking a joke here and there.

If you are going to use humour, just make sure it’s relevant and in good taste.  Laughter works.

And so do tears.  The goal is to help your audience remember your message and when they feel something during your speech they are a thousand times more likely to connect with what you’re saying.

Golden Tip:

Make eye contact with a few people in the audience during your talk.

Step 8: Close Strong

Every bit as important as your opening is your close.  A good close takes careful planning and just like the opening, should be rehearsed.

Your close is your conclusion or summary, the chance to tell them what you’ve already told them by highlighting your main points.

Again, you can harness the power of storytelling or humour to drive your points home.

End your speech with a challenge or call to action.  

And if the audience isn’t already on their feet giving you standing ovation or calling for an encore, give them an indication that you’re finished by thanking them for listening.

Standing Ovation

Golden Tip:

To increase the dramatic effect and power of your speech, think of your speech as an exquisite concerto.

Aim to build up to a crescendo at the end of your speech (raise your voice).  Increase your tempo as you dash out your most important points. And then slow it right down to a whisper as you deliver your last impactful sentence.

One Final Tip

The power of your imagination is strong. If you focus on your fear of public speaking, seeing yourself shy and uncertain on stage, that’s exactly who you will be.

Instead, use your imagination to visualise yourself on stage confident and in control, delivering your message with power, ease and grace.  Be the inspiration to the world you were always meant to be.

Your message is powerful. Do it justice. Write that brilliant speech and deliver it with passion. Step up and SHINE. You’ve got this.

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How to Clear Money Blocks using Afformations and EFT

How to Clear Money Blocks using Affirmations, Afformations and EFT

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How to Clear Money Blocks

I recently completed a stunning 21-Day Money Mindset Reset by Elise McDowell of House of Brazen.

In this post, I’ll share some of my favourite takeaways from the course as well as a little twist on Money Affirmations, a lesser-known form of Affirmations taught in Noah St. John’s Secret Code of Success.

This fabulous course helped me:

  • Identify what my money blocks are
  • Learn how to clear money blocks
  • Feel what it’s like to have lots of money
  • Recognise how much money I’ve already manifested
  • And manifest more money

You can get the course on Teachable from House of Brazen. *This is an affiliate link.

How to Clear Money Blocks Using Affirmations

There was an exercise in the 21-Day Money Mindset Reset on creating powerful Money Affirmations which I found really useful.  However, I’ve added my twist – based on what I’ve learned about Afformations from The Secret Code of Success.

What I’ve done in this post, slideshow and video, is to take the Money Affirmations you’ll find in this post and converted them into Money Afformations.

What are Afformations?

Afformations are very similar to Affirmations except that they are questions rather than statements.

Why I like using Afformations is because I know that the minute you ask a question, your brain starts searching for the answer.  So as you fire these questions out, the answers start coming to you.  The invisible starts becoming visible, showing up in your physical world as your thoughts become reality.

Personally, I like to use both: Affirmations and Afformations.

Read more about Afformations vs Affirmations here.

Here’s the slideshow of all the Afformations I crafted to shift my money blocks.

Money Afformations from Lauren Kinghorn

How to Clear Money Blocks Using EFT (Tapping)

Elise McDowell also included a fabulous EFT session in her 21-Day Money Mindset Reset.

What is EFT?

EFT is the abbreviation for Emotional Freedom Technique and most people refer to it as Tapping.

It’s the best technique I know to release any unwanted or negative emotions or shift limiting beliefs – fast.

What you do is tap on pressure points while you talk through the thoughts, feelings and beliefs that are coming up for you and especially those that you feel are holding you back or robbing you of your joy and peace.

How Does EFT Work?

The way I understand EFT from my Shiatsu training, is that each pressure point relates to an organ in the body and each organ in the body stores a different kind of thought, belief or emotion.

So when you tap on the pressure points, the body can release the emotions that are stored in the organs.

How to Clear Money Blocks Using Afformations

I’ve been using EFT for years but I haven’t thought of using it for this purpose (to clear money blocks), so I’ve really been having fun with it lately.

I’ve recorded a few EFT sessions related to the topic Tapping for a Year-End Bonus, Tapping on Money Blocks and Money Affirmations and created an EFT Playlist on my YouTube Channel.

In this video, I’ve done an EFT session, tapping on the Money Afformations you’ll find listed below (and in the slideshow above).

Money Afformations

What work can I do to ensure money comes to me now?

What work have I done to ensure money comes to me now?

How have I paved the way to money?

How can I pave the way to more money?

How can I lay the foundation to attract money?

How can I manifest all the good things I want?

How am I great at manifesting money?

How is money coming to me now?

How am I in flow?

How does money come to me in expected and unexpected ways?

My favourite takeaways from House of Brazen's 21-Day Money Mindset Reset and my take - How you can use EFT, Affirmations and Afformations to clear money blocks. #howtoclearmoneyblocks #Afformations #AfformationsvsAffirmations #EFT #Tapping #EmotionalFreedomTechniqueWhy do I deserve all this money?

What am I focusing on?

How am I focusing on happiness today?

How am I focusing on giving today?

How am I choosing work that gives me joy?

What will I love doing today?

How can I manifest money whenever I want it?

How does it feel to be debt-free?

How does it feel to be financially free?

What positive thoughts do I have today?

How am I drawing money to me in every moment?

How does money flow easily to me?

How am I healing my relationship with money?

How does having money make me feel? 

Why I do deserve to have money?

How can I choose joy today?

How can I visualise myself having money?

How can I choose to feel wealthy right now?

Am I counting my blessings?

How many gifts have I been given?

How is more money lining up for me right this minute?

How am I open to receiving money?

Am I open to a life of abundance?

How can I feel so happy I draw money to me?

How does money come to me in fun, easy and surprising ways?

How can I feel good about money?

How do I always have more than enough?

How can I make financial wellbeing my new reality?

What is the easiest way to make money?

How excited am I to receive money? 

How do I have all I want and need?

Would You Like to Clear Your Money Blocks?

Here’s your prescription.

For the next 21-Days:

Tap on your Money Afformations and/or Money Affirmations in the morning and evening.

Or better still, learn what your money blocks are and how to create your own personalized money affirmations by doing Elise’s 21-Day Money Mindset Reset.

You can find all Elise’s House of Brazen courses on Teachable. * This is an affiliate link.

Please leave a comment below if you try tapping on these afformations and affirmations. I’d love to hear how it goes for you. Which do you find more powerful? Affirmations or Afformations?

*** If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

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Make Money Online with these High Income Skills

Make Money Online with these High Income Skills (Video)

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When you start a web-based business, it can be extremely easy to fall into the trap of playing around online.

I could spend days on Pinterest and Instagram enchanted by the gorgeous images, clicking through to read every post.

I could just as easily spend hours a day commenting on Facebook posts and watching inspiring Ted Talks on YouTube.

And I did at first – waste. time. online.

Playing. Enjoying. Indulging. Learning. Growing.

And that’s one of the benefits of the world wide web and social media, isn’t it? It’s entertaining, it’s educational, it’s informative.

But you raised your hand and said,

I want to make money online.

Make Money Online with these High-Income Skills

I want to make money online

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

You want to become a Digital Entrepreneur, don’t you?

You want to generate real cash.

You want to build an online empire.

When you’re ready to make money online, when you need cash in your pocket or money in the bank to feed hungry mouths at home, it’s time to stop playing and spring into action. It’s time to hone in on the skills that produce the most income.

High-Income Skills

Here are the Top 3 High-Income Skills to either learn in your business or outsource to experts.

1. Sales and Presenting

2. Copywriting

3. Lead Generation

That’s why I recommend you keep these top of mind while you’re building your online business.

Focus your attention on mastering these skills.

Choose one of these skills to master every year you’re online and by year 4 you’ll be a master Digital Entrepreneur.

Incorporate these skills into your daily action plan.

Make sure you are practising these skills every single day. Because if you’re not, you’ll never build a profitable online business.

And here’s another massive benefit of mastering these skills.

Each skill makes you more valuable in the marketplace.

Let me show you what I mean by this.

Inspired by this list of the 8 Highest Paying Side Hustles on Fiverr (CNBC.com), I created my own list of the 10 hottest skills to make money as a freelancer.

Join Fiverr as a Freelancer here. *This is an affiliate link.

These are the side hustles you can turn into main hustles.

10 Hottest High-Income Skills to Make Money Online

Make Money Online with these High Income Skills (Video) |

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Here are 5 High-Income Skills that fall under the Category Sales and Presenting.

1. Video Marketing

Just think of how much money YouTubers are making online.

2. Public Speaking

Here’s a strategy you could use. Start with small unpaid talks locally and then advance to Tedx Talks and before you know, companies will be booking you for paid talks.

3. Coaching

Once you’ve learned how to do something and do it well, you can coach others to do what you do.

4. Consulting

If you are experienced or have a highly sought after skill-set, become a Consultant. Why sell your skills at wholesale to a company when you can be selling them at retail?  When you work for yourself you can charge premium rates.

5. Course Creation

Course Creators are making a killing online. This is one of the hottest skills you can master because it’s not paid by the hour. There’s a lot of initial work involved in creating a course and getting it off the ground. But once it’s done that course can pay you over & over again. *Passive Income Idea.

Copywriting

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Here are two High-Income opportunities that fall under Copywriting.

6. Business Copywriting

You’ll be doing a lot of writing as a digital entrepreneur. Writing articles on your website and, if you want to build Domain Authority, it’s wise to write for other sites too,

In time you’ll learn to write emails to send to your subscribers. You’ll also be crafting posts and Adverts for social media.

Email marketing and Social Media Advertising could also fall under Lead Generation.

7. SEO Content Writing

Search Engine Optimisation is an art in itself and that’s why it’s very handsomely paid. SEO Content Writers learn how to research keywords and insert meta tags to get posts ranking on page 1, position 1 of Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Lead Generation

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

This one falls under Lead Generation.

8. Website Building

And in particular, building Sales Funnels and Landing Pages.

These high-income skills fall under lead generation.

  • SEO Content Writing
  • Email Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Social Media Ad Copy
  • Social Media Marketing (Targeting Ads)
  • Designing Ads for Social Media

And that leads us to another High-Income Skill, that falls into its own category.

9. Graphic Design

Graphic design could be added as the 4th high-income skill to master.

Because you’ll be using graphic design in virtually everything you do online, creating an article, creating a post or infographic for social media, creating a YouTube thumbnail. And that’s exactly why graphic design is in such high demand.

You’ll either need to learn how to do it yourself or outsource it to an expert.

10. Mobile App Development

This one is for the techies. And, in fact, there are many technical skills you might learn along the way in your digital marketing journey that could make you wealthy.

For example, you might add an online store to your website using WooCommerce. Once you’ve learned how to do this, you’ve acquired a technical skill you can either teach to others or do for others — in other words, you have a saleable skill.

So here’s a killer strategy for you:-

Learn. Sell. Teach.

Any skill you can master online is one you can either SELL as a Freelancer or TEACH as a Coach.

Starting a web-based business can be daunting. There are so many ways to make money but which one should you focus on? Find out in this post. #makemoneyonline #highincomeskills #highestpayingsidehustles #fiverr

When I learnt about these high-income skills, I changed the way I view my online business. I stopped wasting time on low-income tasks and started focusing all my attention on high-income activities.

How do you spend most of your time online?

Are you doing course after course but never applying your knowledge and turning it into income?

Then check out my no. 1 recommendation

At Wealthy Affiliate,  you cannot complete a certification without applying your knowledge.  It’s a great way to learn because as you apply each lesson, you’re building your online business.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up, How to Create a Video for Your Online Business

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What's a Money Blueprint?

What’s a Money Blueprint and Can You Change Yours?

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I can’t afford that. I can’t do that. I don’t have time.

Do you think I’m made of money?

Do you think money grows on trees?

Sound familiar?

If you grew up middle-class, as I did, this is probably what you heard your parents saying.

And you might have caught yourself saying these kinds of phrases to your kids too.

On the other hand, if you were born into wealth, you may have a very different money blueprint and firmly believe there’s an infinite supply.

How to Clear Money Blocks using Afformations and EFT

So What’s a Money Blueprint?

Your money blueprint is every thought or belief about money that was passed down to you by your parents and your parent’s parents or by the community you grew up in.

It seeps into your unconscious programming during your formative years as you observe and tune into your lifestyle, home surroundings and your family traditions.

By the time you’re seven years old, your beliefs are pretty much carved in stone.

Dr Bruce Lipton, the author of the Amazon Bestseller, The Biology of Belief (Get it now on Amazon), explains that this is because our brain waves are in theta from the ages of 0–7 years, almost like a state of hypnosis.

That’s why young children seem to absorb everything like a sponge.

How does this affect your money blueprint?

  • If you were brought up poor, you’re likely to remain poor.
  • If you grew up in a middle-class household, you’ll have a middle-class money blueprint as an adult.
  • And if you were fortunate enough to grow up wealthy, you’re all set to be wealthy. And this happens unconsciously.

Yet how is it then that some people go from rags to riches? What about self-made millionaires?

Or from riches to rags? What about those trust fund kids who gamble away the family fortune?

What do these people do to overturn their unconscious programming?

What's a Money Blueprint and Can You Change it? Find out in this post. #whatsamoneyblueprint #canyouchangeyourmoneyblueprint #makemoney #moneyaffirmations #moneyafformations

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Can You Change Your Money Blueprint?

YES.

According to Dr Bruce Lipton, there are two ways.

  1. Hypnosis — go back into a theta state to reprogram your unconscious mind
  2. Repetition — repeated statements and behaviours become patterns and become habits

This is why Affirmations work.

Start and end your day with statements like these:

Money Mindset Affirmations

  • I enjoy making money.
  • Making money is fun.
  • The more money I make, the more people I can help.
  • The wealthier I am, the more I have to give.
  • I use my money to better the lives of myself, my family and others.
  • I choose to live a rich, full life.
  • I am a money magnet.
  • Money flows freely to me.
  • I am wealthy.
  • Money comes to me in expected and unexpected ways.
  • There is always more than enough money in my life.
  • I deserve to be paid for the gifts I offer to the world.
  • The more money I earn, the more I can upskill.
  • I constantly attract opportunities that generate more income.
  • I am grateful to be wealthy.
  • I get to have, do and be whatever I want.
  • I have the best luck with money.

Once you’ve repeated positive affirmations often enough, there’s a shift in your subconscious mind and the new belief becomes part of you.

Using Questions to Develop a Millionaire Mindset

And there’s another powerful to change your unconscious programming — I believe an even more powerful way.

It’s by asking the right questions. Don’t miss my post on Affirmations vs Afformations.

Robert Kiyosaki, Author of the bestselling book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Get it now on Amazon), says,

“Questions open the mind, statements close the mind”.

So, instead of stating,

I can’t afford it or I can’t do that or I don’t have time.

The rich will ask,

How can I afford it? How can I do that? How do I leverage my time?

So let’s turn those Affirmations into Afformations (questions).

Money Mindset Afformations

  • How can I enjoy making money?
  • What’s the most fun thing I can do today to make money?
  • How can I make more money this month so I can help more people?
  • How do I become wealthier so I can give more to others?
  • How can I use my money to better the lives of myself, my family and others?
  • How do I choose to rich, full life?
  • How do I become a money magnet?
  • Where can I see money flowing freely to me in my life?
  • How can I become more wealthy?
  • How do I get money to come to me in expected and unexpected ways?
  • Why is there always more than enough money in my life?
  • Why do I deserve to be paid for the gifts I offer to the world?
  • How can I earn more money this month so I can develop my skills?
  • How do I attract opportunities that generate more income?
  • What am I grateful for today?
  • How can I get to have, do and be whatever I want?
  • How did I get so lucky with money?

How did that feel? Did you feel a shift in your money blueprint?

Tapping on Money Blocks

Here’s one more tapping session to help you shift your beliefs about money.

Practice some EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). In this video, I’m tapping on money blocks.

Wishing you all the best as you overturn your unconscious programming and change your money blueprint.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up, Rich Dad, Poor Dad (A Book That Changed My Life)

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How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing

How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing (Part 2)

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In Part 1 of How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing, we focused on how to choose the right affiliate marketing company.

Today’s post is about YOU, your part in creating a rip-roaring Affiliate Marketing empire. You’ve chosen the company (or companies) you want to align yourself with and now it’s time to start promoting their products and services.

How to Promote Affiliate Products

How to Promote Affiliate Products

Image Credit:  Free on Canva Pro

There are two distinctly different paths to follow when it comes to promoting affiliate products. You can use:

  1. Paid Methods (Advertising)
  2. Unpaid Methods (Organic Methods)

I’ll focus on unpaid methods in this post because, if you’re new to Affiliate Marketing, you probably don’t have much cash flow yet. I’ll touch very briefly on paid methods though, just so you know what your options are.

Paid Methods

Here are the most common paid methods to market affiliate products.

  • Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC) e.g. Google Ads and Bing Ads
  • Social Media Advertising e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest
  • Video Advertising e.g. YouTube Ads

Advertising online is based on volume. You have to put out a lot of Ads to get a return on your investment, which is why I recommend you start with organic methods.

Unpaid Methods

Very simply, these are free ways to draw traffic to your affiliate offers. Well, no marketing methods are entirely free, there is a cost involved. The cost is your time.

Because driving organic traffic to your affiliate offers usually requires you to create a lot of content — and targeted content at that.

This is how you build a career as an Affiliate Marketer. This is your journey, this is what you’ll be doing most days as an affiliate marketer, while you are building trust with your market and authority online.

We can also call this Trust Marketing or Relationship Marketing.

Content Marketing

Content Marketing

There are many different ways you can create content online. Here are the seven most common ones.

7 Types of Content to Promote Your Affiliate Offers

  1. Blog Posts
  2. Social Media Posts
  3. Videos
  4. Podcasts
  5. Sales Funnels
  6. Emails
  7. Digital Products (eBooks and Courses)

The Purpose of Content Marketing

The purpose of all Content Marketing is to

  • Educate
  • Engage
  • Inform
  • Inspire
  • Entertain

Bear these 5 aims in mind as you consider each piece of content you put out.

GOLDEN TIP:

If all you’re doing is promoting your affiliate products, you’re basically spamming your audience. Aim to give value to your audience in each and every piece of content you post online. That’s how you build a tribe, a loyal following and ultimately how you will build a client base.

Blogging

1. Blogging

The most common way to promote affiliate products is by setting up a blog or niche website. Bloggers create posts that highlight and address challenges or solve problems their visitors might be experiencing.

They also create reviews of products they feel will further benefit their audience.

It’s worth learning the fundamentals of Keyword Research and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) if you want to drive organic (free) traffic to your posts.

However, keep in mind that it takes time to generate organic traffic and build authority.  Be prepared for the slow build.

GOLDEN TIP

Did you know that you could be a blogger without owning your own domain or creating your own website?

Simply write your posts and publish them here on Medium (as Stories) or on LinkedIn Publisher (as Articles).  There’s a massive benefit to doing it this way.

Publishing platforms already have Authority and traffic. You’re more likely to get visitors reading and commenting on your posts than when you’ve just started your own blog.

Your posts also rank faster in the search engines. A whole bunch of benefits, really. Just saying. 🙂

Related: How to Start a Blog (FREE)

2. Social Media

Social Media can go hand-in-hand with blogging or stand-alone. Here’s what I mean by this. Blogging and Social Media As a blogger, you can build social media profiles linked to your blog.

Each time you create a blog post, you also share your post on your chosen social media platforms. You can also create Groups on Facebook Groups or LinkedIn to build a tribe, a free version of a membership site.

But be warned, Facebook has been known to shut down groups with no notice. Social Media Influencer You can also utilise the power of social media even if you have no blog or website of your own by becoming an Instagrammer or a YouTuber.

Infographics If your top skill is graphic design, design infographics or illustrations to share on social media. Unique social media posts with images that really pop can drive huge traffic to your offers.

3. Videos

If writing is absolutely not your thing and you come across much better on camera, go video. Video marketing is hooooge right now and it’s here to stay.

Again, you can use video as a blogger by embedding your own videos in your posts, or you can skip the blogging bit and just become a YouTuber. You can also use video as a Social Media Marketer.

Live Video is one of the biggest trends, with Facebook Lives and Instagram Live leading the way. Did you know that you can also go live on YouTube? And even LinkedIn is starting to introduce Live Video now.

4. Podcasts

Not quite ready to go video yet? Why not try the audio version, Podcasts? Oh, and it’s really easy to create a podcast from a video — simply record the audio version and upload.

And if you are brave enough to go video you might as well set up a podcast while you’re at it. This way you can reach a wider audience with each piece of content you create.

GOLDEN TIP

While we’re on this subject, why not put some extra effort in and do this…?

For each topic you cover, create 5 types of content

  1. A blog post on your own website (if you have one)
  2. Repurpose your content and create a post on a publishing platform (e.g. LinkedIn or Medium)
  3. Create corresponding social media posts and/or infographics
  4. Create a presentation on Canva or Powerpoint and upload it to Slideshare
  5. Shoot a video and upload it to YouTube

This technique can have a huge impact because you can link to each platform from each platform, giving your audience new ways to find you.

Sales Funnel

Pic of Sales Funnel Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

5. Sales Funnels

Here’s another technique that can stand alone or work well with a website. Serious affiliate marketers build sales funnels to drive traffic to their affiliate offers.

Not sure what a sales funnel is? Totally understandable if you’re brand new to affiliate marketing.

It took me nearly 4 years to find out. Wish I’d got this information sooner because it’s a critical piece in your success as an Affiliate Marketer.

Essentially, a sales funnel is a nifty way to guide your prospects through the sales process — to turn your prospects into buyers. Most sales funnels start with an email capture form so that you can start building a relationship with your prospects or customers by email. And send them your freebie.

Read more here.

6. Emails

This brings us to email marketing. I never quite understood the value of email marketing until I realised that my website traffic had kind of come to a standstill.

With each post I published, I’d get new visitors but I wasn’t retaining my old visitors. Email marketing is a way to keep your website top of mind.

With a gazillion websites putting out great content every day, you need a way to entice your visitors to keep to yours. If you’re not reminding them, who will?

7. Digital Products

Once you have a body of posts you’ve created on one topic, you’re ready to start creating your own digital products. Digital products fall into one of two main categories.

  1. eBooks — free or on Amazon Kindle
  2. Courses — these can include Video Courses, Email Courses, Webinars, Virtual Summits or Masterminds

Consider which of these methods suit your personality and which work best for your audience.

In each product you put out online, you can pop a link to your sales funnel and drive prospects to your affiliate products.

And, at this stage of the game, you might even consider creating your own affiliate program to market your products.

Here’s where the Affiliate Marketer becomes the Digital Entrepreneur.

Are you excited? Wishing you all the best as you build your rip-roaring online empire. You’ve got this!

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up, What’s an Email List For?

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How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing

How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing

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There are two important steps to making money in affiliate marketing.

The first step to making money as an Affiliate Marketer is to choose the right Affiliate Marketing Company.

The second step is promoting affiliate marketing products. Because this second step is such a big step, with many moving parts, I’ve dedicated another post to it.  Scroll down to the end of this post for part 2.

How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing

How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing | Make Money Affiliate Marketing pin

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Marketing Company

People are attracted to Affiliate Marketing for the same reason that they are attracted to a Franchise. It’s kind of the online version of a franchise because you’re buying into a turnkey system.

The more you have pre-built into the system, the more you have “done-for-you” by the company, the easier it’s going to be for you to succeed.

How do Franchises increase their success rate?

  • They build a solid reputation in the market
  • They offer popular products or services
  • They offer a turnkey system
  • They offer excellent training

Outstanding affiliate marketing companies focus on the same qualities.

That’s why many people start out working for big giants in the industry, like Amazon or Walmart, because they are already trusted names and they offer such a wide range of products. I know many affiliate marketers who have gone the Amazon route and are making brilliant money.

  • But do they offer a turnkey system and the training to implement it?
  • Do they offer high-ticket products?
  • Can you do repeat business with your customers?

Now, I promised in my previous post about Affiliate Marketing Training Courses that in this post I would discuss the course I’m doing now. So here you go.

The only Affiliate Marketing company I’ve come across so far that offers the kind of training and support that gives you a turnkey system, an online franchise, is the company I review here.

I never quite understood how to make money from Affiliate Marketing until I understood the Value Ladder and created my first Sales Funnel.

The Value Ladder

Here’s a quick diagram to give you some insight.

The Value Ladder Best Way

Essential Elements of a Top Class Affiliate Marketing Opportunity

Use this handy checklist when looking at a new affiliate marketing opportunity.

Checklist

1. Product Value

  • Do they have products your customers want?
  • Are customers happy with the products?
  • Are many customers asking for refunds?
  • Do they have a full suite of products, from low to mid to high-end?

2. Commission Potential

  • What percentage commission do you earn per sale?
  • Do you just get paid for one initial sale or every time a customer buys?
  • Do they have a full suite of products, from low to mid to high-end?
  • Will you be paid on your customers for life?
  • Will you be able to lead your clients to make higher purchases by building their trust over time? (Value Ladder)

3. Training, Coaching and Support

  • Do they offer basic and advanced training?
  • Do they have Coaches who can assist and support you one-on-one?
  • Do they offer live Events and Masterminds?

4. Marketing

  • Do they have high-converting sales videos to help you promote their offers?
  • Do they have a sales team that calls customers for you?
  • Do they use Events and webinars to help you convert more sales?

5. Systems

  • Do they have an effective tracking system to track every customer?
  • Do you have access to this system?
  • Can you track your customers and their sales?
  • Or does the company hold that information?
  • Can you do repeat business with your customers, for life?

6. Integrity

  • Does the company have a good reputation?
  • Do they treat people right?
  • Do they pay people on time?

When all these elements are in place, you can focus all your time and attention on your side of the bargain…

How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing

Step 2: Promoting Affiliate Products

I’ll discuss how to promote affiliate products in my next post. Stay tuned for How to Make Money in Affiliate Marketing Part 2.

P.S. I found one company that ticks all the boxes above. Click here for my review.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up: How To Make Money in Affiliate Marketing (Part 2)

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What's Affiliate Marketing About?

What’s Affiliate Marketing About?

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Affiliate Marketing is touted as being your best shot at the laptop lifestyle. Affiliate Marketers who have made it are pictured on a magnificent beach, in some exotic destination, living the dream.

But what’s Affiliate Marketing About? Is it for You? And what does it take to be successful at it?

Let’s find out.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Here’s a handy diagram I found on Canva that illustrates the basic concept of Affiliate Marketing.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

The simplest definition of Affiliate Marketing.: Merchants pay Affiliate Marketers a commission in return for sales.

How does Affiliate Marketing Work?

Here’s another Canva diagram that gives more detail.

How Affiliate Marketing Works

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Digital Marketers join a Merchant’s Affiliate Programs
  • Affiliates Promote Products or Services to their audience on their websites or social media channels
  • Some of their visitors click on a link in their post
  • This link leads to the Merchant’s website
  • Some of these visitors purchase a product or service from the Merchant
  • The Merchant pays their Affiliates commission for each sale

Affiliate Marketer in action

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

What Do Affiliate Marketers Do?

Their role is simply to promote products online.

Often they do this subtly, by just dropping a link to a Merchant into a post.

Here’s an example. Did you notice that I placed a link over the words, “Free on Canva Pro” in the captions below each image on this post?

Canva is the Merchant and I’m the Affiliate. I’ve been promoting Canva for ages because it’s a fantastic graphics tool and great source of free images. I was thrilled when they finally introduced an Affiliate program.

I only started adding their Affiliate link into my posts a few days ago (very subtly) and I was interested to see today that those links have already been receiving clicks (14 so far).

Now I don’t expect tons of conversions (people upgrading to Canva PRO), because the FREE version of Canva is so brilliant. I used it for years and only upgraded when my online business started making reasonable money.

But hey, if I’m crazy about something, I might as well promote it. And if I earn a commission for doing so, marvy!

What’s Affiliate Marketing About? from Lauren Kinghorn

Affiliate Marketers also Review Products and Services.

Here’s an example of a more detailed review I created on Canva when I had just upgraded to Canva for Work (now called Canva Pro).

Video Reviews are becoming extremely popular too.

Now, let’s answer the underlying question that’s probably on your mind.

Is Affiliate Marketing for Me?

Who me?

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

6 Top Benefits of Affiliate Marketing

1. Low Start-Up Costs

There’s no need to invent, design, create or manufacture your own product or service to become an affiliate marketer because affiliate marketers promote existing products or services.

Therefore, all Affiliate Marketers need to get set up in business is a website, landing page or sales funnel.  Some Affiliate Marketers don’t even bother to create their own website but instead, create video reviews and promote affiliate products on YouTube.  Others build an email list and promote their affiliate offers via email.

Many affiliate programs are free to join. You can find a product or service you’d like to promote, read reviews of existing users and craft your own review, without even trying out the product or service yourself.

2. Low Overheads

Affiliates don’t have to buy in or keep stock, which also means no warehousing or shipping costs.

Affiliates don’t need staff to help them run their Affiliate Marketing business, most work alone.

Affiliates get to work from home. All they need is a laptop and WiFi.

3. No Hassles

Affiliates don’t have to deal with Customers directly, nor handle complaints or refunds.

4. High Income Potential

Especially if you’re selling high ticket products and working for a merchant paying high commissions.

5. Do it Right Once, Get Paid for Life

It can take some time for Affiliate Marketers to gain authority online and start generating significant traffic to their posts and reviews. But once they do, they are set for life. Once one or two posts go viral, the sales start rolling in.

Here’s where it gets really exciting. This is how Affiliate Marketers earn passive or leveraged income because a well-crafted, evergreen post or sales funnel can continue to generate sales for years.

6. Work from Anywhere

Once sales are happening on autopilot, that dream of becoming a digital nomad can become a reality.

I’ll keep exploring the topic of Affiliate Marketing over the next few days. If you’re keen to learn more, look out for my future posts or read my review on Legendary Marketer.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this post, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up:  What’s An Affiliate Marketing Training Course?

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What's the Best Way to Make Money Online?

What’s the Best Way to Make Money Online? (Video)

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Finding the perfect path to wealth online can be a tricky business. The internet can be a gold mine or a minefield, depending on which opportunities capture your attention.

I’ve been building a business online for nearly four years and over this time, I’ve started following a number of incredible Mompreneurs and Fempreneurs, all Superstars in their niches. I read their posts, I subscribe to their email newsletters, I follow them on social media.

And they all have their own take, their own special sauce.

  • One will say the best way to make money online is to create and sell eBooks.
  • Another will say it’s by creating online courses.
  • Yet another will say it’s by becoming an Influencer on Instagram or YouTube.
  • Virtual Summits. Dropshipping. Affiliate Marketing. e-Commerce. Membership Sites.
  • I’ve seen women succeed online as Inventors, Virtual Assistants, Freelancers, Authors, Podcasters and Coaches.

So what do you do? Who do you listen to?

What really works, for everyone, every time, anywhere in the world?

What’s the BEST way to make money online?

The Short Answer:-

Affiliate Marketing, Done Right.

The long answer:-

Affiliate Marketing that…

  • Incorporates The 4 Core Business Models
  • Satisfies all 3 of Jay Abraham’s Profit Activators
  • Offers valuable low-end, mid-end and high-end products
  • Ensures that your Customers can ascend the Value Ladder
  • So that you can earn commission on them for years to come

Phew! That was quite a mouthful, so let’s break our long answer down into each core component I’ve mentioned.

The 4 Core Business Models

These are the most highly profitable business models on the Internet.

1. Affiliate Marketing

2. Digital Products

3. Coaching and Consulting

4. Events and Masterminds

Building an online business can be confusing. So many opportunities, so many paths. It helps to have a roadmap, a blueprint and it helps to know the best way to make money online. #WhatstheBestWaytoMakeMoneyOnline #DigitalEntrepreneurship #DigitalEntrepreneur #AffiliateMarketing #HighTicketAffiliateMarketing

Image Credit: Created on Canva Pro

Jay Abraham’s 3 Profit Activators

All 4 of the Core 4 satisfy Jay Abraham’s 3 Profit Activators, the 3 simple things you need to be focusing on in business to generate maximum profit.

1. Get more Customers

2. Do Repeat Business with those same Customers

3. Sell High Ticket Products to Increase Revenue

Focusing on all 3 of Jay’s Profit Activators, gives you (or any company for that matter), the best chance of turning a profit.

Make Money Online

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

An Average Affiliate Marketing Company

Will focus only on the first profit activator — bringing in more customers to generate more sales.

***If their products are also very low-priced, you’ll have to sell a lot of them, i.e. find a lot of new customers, to generate significant income.

A Good Affiliate Marketing Company

Will teach you to create a sales funnel and build an email list in order to do repeat business with your customers.

A Great Affiliate Marketing Company

Will also provide you with high-value, high-ticket products to sell to your customers so that they can ascend the Value Ladder.

An Outstanding Affiliate Marketing Company

Will incorporate the 4 Core Business Models into their offering.

AND, if you’re interested in growing and developing your high-income skills, they’ll also teach you to create your OWN Digital Products, Coaching Programs, Events and Masterminds.

Value Ladder Best Way to Make Money Online

Image Credit: Created on Canva Pro

An outstanding Affiliate Marketing Company will teach you to become a Digital Entrepreneur.

But where do you find an outstanding Affiliate Marketing company?

If you’d like to partner with an outstanding Affiliate Marketing company, learn how to become a Digital Entrepreneur and run a profitable online business, I recommend Legendary Marketer.

In case you missed it, you can read my full Legendary Marketer review here.

*If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Next Up:  What’s Affiliate Marketing About?

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What's an Online Sales Funnel?

What’s an Online Sales Funnel? (Video)

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I never understood sales funnels until I understood The Value Ladder.

This post will make a whole lot more sense to you if you read this post first: What’s the Value Ladder? A Brilliant Way to WOW Your Customers

You’re back? Great! Now let’s discuss Sales Funnels.

So… What’s a Sales Funnel?

It’s a step-by-step process to lead your prospects down the garden path.  

Haha, no… scratch that. Although… some unscrupulous salespeople… no, let’s not go there.

It’s a step-by-step process to lead your prospects up the value ladder.

Successful sales funnels turn leads into prospects,

prospects into buyers, and

buyers into raving fans, advocates and buyers for life

Sound good to you? Fab!  Let’s jump in.   Here’s an example of a Basic Sales Funnel.

What's a Sales Funnel? A step-by-step process to lead your prospects to make a purchasing decision. Watch the video over at LaurenKinghorn.com #WhatsaSalesFunnel #DigitalMarketing #OnlineMarketing #ValueLadder

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Here’s an example of a simple Sales Funnel that we all understand. If you have children, you’ve probably been to McDonald’s at some point, right?

How does McDonald’s generate leads?

My guess is they get most of their leads from word-of-mouth (referrals), by children seeing their big M, which brings me to their positioning (location, location, location), billboards and Advertising.

Their best form of lead gen in my opinion?

The free toy that comes with the Happy Meal. I often wonder whether my son is begging me for McDonald’s because he wants the Happy Meal or the free toy. Sometimes we go in just to buy the toy because it costs next to nothing (which I think would make it a loss leader for McDonald’s. Don’t worry McD, all is not lost. We usually buy ice cream as well).

What happens once you’ve placed your order?

The clerk upsells you on other products (remember the movie Supersize Me?).

Perfectly working sales funnel right there.

Online Sales Funnels

But you’re building an online business.  So let’s apply this knowledge to digital marketing.  Remember this diagram?

The Value Ladder

Image Credit: Template on Canva Pro

Let’s work through these steps, one by one.

Step 1: Lead Generation

So the first function of any Sales Funnel is to generate leads. In the illustration above, you’ll see a bunch of lead generation ideas.

If you’re building an online sales funnel, you’ll do that by creating a lead magnet or freebie. You then promote that lead magnet on your website, in your posts, on social media and possibly through paid advertising.

Step 2: Turning Leads into Prospects

The lead magnet’s goal is to turn a lead into a prospect. You’re giving out a free sample or taste of your product or service to create awareness and pique someone’s interest.

In an online sales funnel, you can safely assume you’ve converted a lead into a prospect or qualified lead once they’ve joined your email list.

Step 3: Turning Prospects into Buyers

Now you want to expose your prospect as many times as possible to your offers until they buy.

If you’re smart, you’ll do it subtly. So you won’t sell, sell, sell but entice, entice, entice.

The best way to do this in an online business is by offering valuable information that you know your prospect is looking is for, by solving their problems, by delivering information and inspiration and building a relationship with your prospect. We’re back to the Value Ladder.

The more value you give and the more freely you give it, the more your prospects will want to buy from you.

Monthly membership sites are wonderful because it gives your customers a chance to interact with you and each other and fosters goodwill.

Step 4: Turning Buyers into Buyers for Life

Don’t try selling everything at once. Build a solid relationship with your customer over time.

Once in a while, drop in a link to your Premium Offers or Exclusive Offers — not in every article you publish or every email you send out.

As you build trust, you can offer your customers your best products — those products you’ve been working on for years. The products that will give them their best results.

These also happen to be the products with the highest price tag. Your highest value offers will, naturally, be your most expensive — your high ticket items.

The trick is to ensure your buyers feel those high ticket products are worth every cent.

If you’ve built a number of sales funnels that gently take your prospect through the buying process (over time), giving them a positive, transformational experience every step of the way, your high-end offers will feel like an investment.

So always, always, keep the Value Ladder in mind and offer more than something is worth, every step of the way. That’s what will keep your buyers clamouring for more.

How to Create a Sales Funnel

I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of creating a Sales Funnel here as I’m no expert.

Suffice to say, I started out using Click Funnels for my initial Sales Funnel and I’ve since reproduced that funnel using the free version of Mailerlite.

Want an easy way to build your first funnel?

I received my first shared funnel from Legendary Marketer as I joined Click Funnels. You can too.  Here’s the sales funnel I built.

Please note: Before you go ahead and join the 15-Day Online Business Challenge via my sales funnel for $7, you’ll find two Special Offers in my review post below.

Spoiler alert:  You can get access to Free Traffic Bootcamp for as little as $1 or $1.99.

Next Up:  Should I Join Legendary Marketer? (My Legendary Marketer Review) 

Find all the content I created for the entire 30-Day Challenge here.

*If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

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What's the Value Ladder?

What’s the Value Ladder? A Brilliant Way to WOW Your Prospects (Video)

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I recently did an Online Challenge to learn how to take my business to the next level.

On Day 1, I learned information that completely revolutionised the way I run my online business.

If you’ve never heard of the Value Ladder and you’re not using a sales funnel in your business, read on.

What’s the Value Ladder?

The Purpose of a Value Ladder is to gently steer your prospects to your best offers by providing value — every step of the way. It’s how you build trust, how you foster long-lasting relationships with your customers or clients. And it’s also how you sell your high ticket products or services.

How to WOW Your Customers into Buying from You again and again

  • The more value you offer in your free gift (lead magnet or content upgrade), the more likely a prospect will turn into a customer.
  • The more value you offer in your initial offer (entry-level product), the more likely a customer will buy your premium offer.
  • The more value you offer in your premium offer, the more likely your premium customer will become an exclusive customer.
  • If you keep providing value to your customers, you’ll gain customers for life.

The point is that for a Value Ladder to work effectively in your online business, you need to deliver so much value that they can’t wait to take the next step.

Here’s an example of a Value Ladder.

Wow your Customers into buying your products again and again by understanding the Value Ladder and creating a Sales Funnel. Learn More... #whatsavalueladder #salesfunnel #digitalmarketingstrategy #onlinemarketingstrategy

Image Credit: Template on Canva Pro

I never understood what a Sales Funnel was until I understood the Value Ladder. So let’s apply this knowledge to your online business.

You have a website and you have products, services, digital products or online courses you’d like to sell.

Here’s an example of simple sales funnel you can set up.

Sales Funnel Page 1: Email Capture Form

Offer a Free Gift in exchange for an Email Address

The first thing you’ll want to do is entice your readers to join your email list.

Because once your website visitors become one of your subscribers you can contact them directly, keeping them updated on your latest posts and special offers. This keeps your website top of mind.

Otherwise, you’ll just have new people visiting your site every time you publish a new post. Your goal is to develop relationships with your visitors and keep them coming back to your site again and again.

This is your first step in turning a visitor into a raving fan and that’s why it’s really important to make a great impression.

So, create something really special for your visitors and offer it as a free gift.

Wow your Customers into buying your products again and again by understanding the Value Ladder and creating a Sales Funnel. Learn More... #whatsavalueladder #salesfunnel #digitalmarketingstrategy #onlinemarketingstrategyImage Credit: Pinterest Pin Created on Canva Pro

Free Gift Ideas for You…

  • eBook — turn one or more of your most popular posts into an eBook
  • Content Upgrade — create a checklist, worksheet or PDF summary of a post and add the email capture form in the post
  • A free trial or free sample — e.g. if you’re an author, you could offer to send the first chapter of your book
  • Video tutorial — position yourself as an expert by creating video training
  • Mini email course — Create a few shorter videos as a mini email course, send 1 video a day
  • Offer expert advice — solve a problem you know your audience is dealing with or offer a 10-minute call
  • Online Challenge — create a 5-day challenge that will help your visitor make a breakthrough
  • Competition or giveaway
  • Quiz or Survey

Sales Funnel Page 2: Product Sales Page

Offer a Product in Exchange for a Small Fee

On your next page, you’ll offer a very low-priced product that gives your visitors a taste of what you have to offer.

Again, you can use any of the ideas above, but be sure to give even more value than you did the first time.

For example, if you gave away a free eBook or the first chapter of your book, you could offer your complete, published book at a discounted price. If you offered a short Online Challenge, you might want to offer a longer Challenge or a more difficult Challenge. And so on.

Sales Funnel Page 3: Thank You Page

On this page, you’ll simply Thank your customers for joining your list or buying your product and tell them what to do next.

You can deliver the product automatically or tell them to look out for an email with their login details.

Conclusion

Can you see how you’re building a relationship with your customers, building their trust by giving VALUE?

Even if you have the most incredible $1000 product in the world, no one’s going to buy it unless they know and trust you.

Even if you have the most brilliant copywriter writing the most amazing sales copy for you, nothing can take the place of someone actually trying out your products or services and experiencing the benefits for themselves.

Use The Value Ladder to WOW Your Customers into Buying from You again and again.

Want to see a Real Live Example?

The best Value Ladder I’ve ever seen was for Legendary Marketer. I learned so much in their 15-Day Online Business Challenge that I created my first Sales Funnel to market it.

Check out my Legendary Marketer here.

Next up: What’s a Sales Funnel? (Free Traffic Bootcamp Day 4)

Find all the content I created for the entire 30-Day Challenge here.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

Wow your Customers into buying your products again and again by understanding the Value Ladder and creating a Sales Funnel. Learn More... #whatsavalueladder #salesfunnel #digitalmarketingstrategy #onlinemarketingstrategy
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How Can I Start an Online Business?

How Can I Start an Online Business? (Video)

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Are you thinking of starting an online business?

It All Starts with You.Are you thinking of creating your own online empire? Brilliant! Wonderful! Stupendous! Good on You! Here's my best advice. Start with YOU. #HowCanIStartanOnlineBusiness #StartwithYou #ItStartswithYou #DigitalMarketing #DigitalEntrepreneurship

When I started out online, I had no idea of where I was heading. My initial plan of action was to build a website as a platform to launch the book I was writing.

I never finished that book.

I got sucked into the great, big wondrous digital vortex called the internet like a speck of dust into a Roomba.

My website morphed into something far from my original vision and quickly turned into 3 niche websites.

While I was learning new skills and getting to grips with the technical aspects of web building and internet marketing, I was also on a steep learning curve to find my unique place online. To find that special message I could deliver better than anyone and those special someones who craved my message most.

You see, the thing with building an online business that no one ever tells you is that it takes a while to find yourself online.

How long before I start making money online?

Because in the beginning, when you have Dollar signs in your eyes, it’s easy to be dazzled by every opportunity that crosses your path, regardless of whether they suit your skillset or interests.

Let’s be honest… how many of us have tried something borderline scammy, knowing in our heart of hearts that something was off? Yup, me too.

I believe the number one reason we do this is not because we’re bad people. It’s simply because we’re impatient.

We start out with the misconception that we’re going to build an online empire in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.

In my experience, that’s simply not true.

If you’re going to create a solid online business that sustains you long-term, you need to treat it like you would any business. You’ve got to be in it for the long haul.

Typically, in the first year of business, most entrepreneurs lose money.

In the second year, you might break even and start making some side income.

And in the third year, you should start turning a profit.

I found this to be pretty spot-on for my online business.

Now, I’m not saying it will take you that long. But I just want you to be aware that it might take you a little longer than expected to find your happy space online. To save you having a desperate moment that leads to a lapse of reason somewhere along the line.

Please don’t be that kid in the back of the car, chanting, “when are we going to get there?” You’ll miss all the fun. The joy is in the journey.

When you start an online business, there’s a lot to learn. And so many directions you can go in.

So here’s my best advice. Start with You.

Image Credit: Free on Canva Pro

Your Interests

Get clear on what you’re passionate about. Choose a niche that will hold your interest for a good couple of years. Something that’s close to your heart. Something you can talk about for hours on end with your friends.

When you were little, who did you want to be when you grew up? That might give you a clue to your future as an internet entrepreneur.

Your Skills

Match your online business to your personality, skill-set and experience.

Here’s an example from my own experience. I’m an out-and-out extrovert. I feel energised at events, I thrive on being around people. When I first started out online, I spent most of my time researching and writing.

Two years down the line, I started attending networking events and speaking at some of them. It breathed new life into my business. And I felt alive.

It made me realise I needed to start speaking more. So I’m dabbling in video and podcasts now. And I’m currently planning my first Online Summit.

Your Goals

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see your business in 5 years? What are your hopes and dreams for the future? Do you need to make a ton of money or just enough to supplement your current lifestyle?

Your Audience

Who do you want to serve? Who do you connect with and relate to? Who would benefit the most from what you have to give?

Your Solution

What do you have to offer? What problem do you solve? What’s your message to the world?

Now start looking into your business options online. As I mentioned earlier, there are many, many options to build a sustainable business online.

Any of these roles might take you to the top.

Blogger, Dropshipper, Freelancer, Website Developer, Graphic Designer, Content Writer, Editor, Proofreader, Digital Marketer, Social Media Manager, Course Creator, Online Influencer, YouTuber, Instagrammer, Author, Speaker, Teacher, Trainer, e-Commerce Expert et al.

Let me simplify it for you.

If you want to fast-track your success, here are the four biggest money-spinners online.

Affiliate Marketing

Digital Products

Events and Masterminds

Coaching and Consulting

So get started. Do your soul searching and your research. And recognise right off the bat, that you’re probably going to reinvent yourself many times.

Next Up: What’s a Value Ladder? A Way to WOW Your Customers  (Free Traffic Bootcamp Day 3)

Find all the content I created for the entire 30-Day Challenge here.

* If you purchase anything through a link in this article, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

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Tips on Becoming a Top Networker

Tips on Becoming a Top Networker

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#TipsonBecomingaTopNetworker

Are you a born networker who just loves connecting with people?  

Or do you dread going to business networking Events?

Either way, you’ll benefit by these notes I prepared to accompany my presentation at Entrepreneurs Indaba on Saturday, 25th May 2019.   I uploaded the slides to Slideshare.  Here you go:

Tips on Becoming a Top Networker from Lauren Kinghorn

When you become an Entrepreneur, it’s virtually impossible to avoid Business Networking Events. Word-of-mouth marketing is still the best form of marketing around, which makes networking events a necessary path to wealth.

*Amazon Affiliate Link up ahead. At no cost to you, I’ll earn some commission if you buy the book I recommend.

Where I Learned Networking Skills

I consider myself a born networker because I’m an out-and-out extrovert.

Yet when I cast my mind back to High School,  I think I can attribute my networking prowess to reading Dale Carnegie’s brilliant book “How to Win Friends and Influence People“.  Get the book on Amazon.  #AffiliateLink

Here are his 6-steps to getting people to like you, just one of the important life lessons I learned from Dale Carnegie.

How to Become Likeable

  1. Take a genuine interest in the person you’ve just met.
  2. Engage them with your winning smile. Be friendly and open.
  3. Do your best to remember their name. Use it once or twice in conversation or ask for it again if it’s slipped your mind. Ask them to spell their name if you didn’t quite catch it.
  4. Listen intently to what they are saying.  Don’t listen just to respond, listen to understand.
  5. Discuss their interests, ask questions, go deeper.
  6. Make them feel like they are important. Give them a sincere compliment on something you’ve observed about them.

I really took his advice to heart at the time. So much so, that after a few months of practising his techniques on my friends, my best friend sat me down one day and said,

“Hey, when are you going to tell me how things are going with you?  You only ever ask any of us how we are and what we are up to.   It’s like you’ve disappeared”.

Teenagers are so impressionable.

Dale Carnegie’s advice is still relevant today. He was teaching how to become an Influencer before it even became a thing.

“The only way on Earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it.”

Dale Carnegie

I went on to become a Network Marketer and eventually became Head of Networking for a company, so I’ve done loads of networking training and gained tons of experience since then.

After all those years immersed in the field, networking just comes naturally to me now.

I find that something that comes naturally can be difficult to articulate, so I did heaps of research online to prepare for this presentation and write this post, getting different perspectives and latest best practices.

The best video I watched by far, was this one by YouTuber and #GirlBoss, Hannah Ashton.  It’s so upbeat, it makes for the perfect pep talk before you walk into a Networking Event. Hannah is GORGEOUS! Enjoy!

Business Networking Tips

Business Networking Tips

1. Be Prepared

First impressions count so dress professionally or dress in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd. Most people are going to be wearing a combination of blue, white and black, so just adding some colour could do the trick.

Don’t leave home without your business cards or marketing materials.

Know your 30-second, 1 minute and 2-Minute Elevator Pitch off-pat. It will help you feel at ease and get the right points across when you’re talking to complete strangers.

How to Craft an Elevator Pitch

Start out with a friendly greeting and give your name, company name and designation.

Here’s a 3-Step Formula to help you craft an Elevator Pitch that packs a punch.

  1. Ask a Rhetorical Question related to your business and what problem it solves:  Did You know that…
  2. Share Your Skills – What do you do best? Who do you serve? How do you help others?
  3. Mention Your Goals – What are your goals and plans in the next few months?  What are you looking for?  Ask for help.

Here’s my current 30-second elevator pitch. I can say more or less according to how much time is allotted in the session.

Hi, I’m Lauren Kinghorn, the Founder of Inspiring Mompreneurs.  Did you know that Content Marketing is replacing Advertising? That’s how I make a living. I’m a Digital Entrepreneur. Companies pay me to write and publish posts on my 3 niche websites.  I also promote Mom Entrepreneurs and I’d like to do more for all the amazing women Entrepreneurs I come across every day, online and offline.  I’d like to teach Moms to build their authority online. So this year, my plan is to create some online courses and publish a book or 3 on Amazon Kindle. I’ve also set my sights on doing a Ted Talk.  I’m currently looking for more paid writing and speaking opportunities.

Once you’ve written your pitch down, all that’s left to do is practice, practice, practice.

Any time you meet someone and they ask what you do for a living, you’ve got an opportunity to give your elevator pitch.

Once you’ve got it down pat, it will flow.

And then you’ll be ready for that day that you step into the lift and your favourite Dragon from Dragon’s Den is there and heading up to the top floor.

2. Set an Intent

Why are you attending this particular event?  Is it to gain referrals, land a new job or get a sale?

Are you about to launch something new in your business and you’re keen to get the word out?

Do you want to bounce ideas off people in the know?

Are you looking for support and encouragement?

Even if it’s just something as simple as to make new friends, make sure you set an intent beforehand.

3. Befriend

Look for the person who’s alone at the coffee machine and strike up a conversation with them.

Or join a big group where there’s already lots of friendly banter going on.

Avoid interrupting 2 people who are already deep in discussion as that probably won’t leave a good impression.

Love it or hate it, business networking is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success as an Entrepreneur. Here's how to ace it. #tipsonbecomingatopnetworker #businessnetworking #networkingevents4. Ask Questions

People naturally love talking about themselves. Here are some great questions to ask to open people up.

A few Conversation Starters you could use:

  • What brought you here today?
  • How did you get into your industry?
  • What inspired you to start your business?
  • What do you love most about your job?
  • What do you love least about your job?
  • What did you enjoy about the last session?
  • What was your biggest takeaway in the last session?
  • What do you do in your spare time?
  • What are your passions or hobbies?
  • What’s your target market?
  • Who would be a great referral for you?

For more questions, click here.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting you bombard them with all of these questions. Just pick one or two you’re comfortable with and make them your go-to questions if you feel you’re at a loss for words.

5. Listen

Once you’ve asked a question, give them the floor.

Now is the time to practice active listening.  i.e Listen to understand, not to interject with your thoughts on the subject. If you listen carefully, your next question will allow you to go deeper and that’s how you get to Connect.

6. Connect

And this is what networking is all about. Making meaningful business connections.

As you get to understand their business and their business needs, you’re looking for connections, synergies or common ground. You’re looking for where you could collaborate or form alliances.  You’re looking for some way you can help each other or inspire each other.

7. Refer

If you don’t think you can be of service, but you know of someone who would be a perfect fit, refer them on to your friend.

This is a great point in the conversation to ask two questions I mentioned earlier:

  • What’s your target market?
  • Who would be a great referral for you?

8. Follow Up

If you’ve made a brilliant connection, make sure you set up another date to discuss further.

Or if you have a great referral for them, put them in touch with each other.

At the very least, visit their website and connect on LinkedIn or their preferred social media platform.

Take the next step to start forging a business relationship.

And here’s my most important tip to bear in mind.  If you forget everything else, just remember this:

Successful networkers give way more than they take. 

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” 

– Winston Churchill

One quick point before I sign off:   If you’re extremely introverted, Online Networking might be the perfect option for you, I’ll cover that in a future post.  I’ll be following up in the next week or two, with separate posts dedicated to Online Networking and Speed Networking.

Were these tips useful? Are you feeling pumped to attend your next business networking event?  Have you got your Elevator Pitch prepared?  Feel free to share it below. Practice makes perfect.

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Online Reputation Management Guide

Online Reputation Management Guide for Business

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#OnlineReputationManagementGuide

I just delivered a Presentation on  Online Reputation Management at the Social Media and Marketing Conference in Cape Town hosted by Ayihlome Training Projects in Cape Town.

Here’s the presentation on Slideshare:

I have prepared this post for the delegates who attended today as further information and for anyone interested in Online Reputation Management for Business.

What is an Online Reputation?

In a nutshell, your online reputation is public opinion on the internet about you, your company, your staff, your products or services.

And it matters.

The Value of Your Online Reputation

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and five minutes to ruin it.”  Warren Buffet

How the public perceives you as an organisation is critical to your success. Having a positive reputation will drive quality business.

Word of mouth marketing is still the most effective form of marketing around.  Online it’s called Social Proof.

On the other hand, negative Press can have disastrous effects, especially if left unmanaged.

Awareness and Impact

Are you aware of your online reputation and the impact it is having on your business?

The first step to taking charge is to find out what people are saying about you or you or your organisation.

“Treat Your Google Page 1 as your Business Card’ – Neil Patel

How to Monitor Your Online Reputation

  1. Google your name or your company name in Incognito or Stealth Mode.
  2. Set up Google Alerts here:  https://www.google.com/alerts  You will receive an email every time your organisation is mentioned online.  Read more about setting up Google Alerts here.
  3. Google the name of your company and the word review to see what online reviews come up.
  4. Go to https://www.hellopeter.com/ and type in your company name.
  5. You’ll also find Employee Reviews on Indeed.co.za  e.g. https://www.indeed.co.za/cmp/Armscor/reviews
  6. Try a free brand monitoring tool like Talkwalker’s Free Social Media Search 
  7. Talkwalker Alerts also offers an alternative to Google Alerts.
  8. You can find negative reviews found on 40 different sites at Go Fish Digital’s Complaint Search
  9. There are a number of paid tools to find Reviews online as well, such as The Brand Grader, Social Mention, and Reputology. Find them at Influencer Marketing Hub.
  10. Alternatively, you can employ the services of an Online Reputation Management company. Find them at Top SEOs.

Once you have an idea of what the public is saying about you, it’s time to take charge.

It’s crucial that you respond to both negative and positive reviews if you want to create a good impression online and win the favour of the public.

What's your reputation as a company? Here's a handy guide on how to monitor your online reputation and respond to positive and negative reviews online. Enjoy! #OnlineReputationManagementGuideHow to Respond to Positive Reviews

1. Thank Your Customer for taking the time to write the review.

2. Mention your business name so the review shows up in Search Results.

3. Throw in some marketing, highlight a special or special attribute of your business.

4. Invite your customer to come back for more.

5. Offer something exclusive to loyal Customers, if you can. Even if it’s just signing up for your free newsletter or joining your group of VIP’s, i.e. raving fans.

How to Respond to Negative Reviews

1. RESPOND.  Replying shows that the business is not just sweeping this problem under the carpet and is taking corrective measures. But don’t respond too quickly.  If you’re emotional about the criticism you won’t be able to respond in a positive, helpful way. You also need some time to gather facts and come up with a plan to rectify the situation.

2. Apologise and sympathise with the customer’s situation.

3. Say Thank You or I appreciate your feedback.

4. Explain why your service is great and how you’re going to remedy the situation or improve the service.

5. Provide the customer with someone offline who can help them with their complaint.

5. Keep it short and sweet.  Respond in a positive way.  3 Sentences should be enough.

6. Make sure you don’t mention your business name.

7. Take feedback to heart and make improvements.

Try please people but remember you can’t please everyone, eventually, you will get a negative review.

Prevention is better than Cure

Online Reputation Management isn’t only about handling negative reviews. It’s about fostering goodwill and building trust.

Here are some ways you can develop great relationships with your customers and build a good reputation.

  1. Deliver on Your Promise.  Never overpromise and under-deliver.  If you make unrealistic claims you’re bound to disappoint consumers.
  2. Meet your Deadlines.
  3. Ask Customers for Positive Reviews and Testimonials.  Social Proof Your Website.
  4. Be Proactive. Learn from your mistakes – respond to negative feedback by making improvements.
  5. Ask for help if necessary. Employ the services of a good PR company or Online Reputation Management Company.

Understanding the link between online and offline

Is there a difference between online and offline reputation management?

Unless you are serving a market that has no access to the internet whatsoever, I think not.

These days, going public with a complaint, or with positive feedback for that matter, generally means going online.

Should a complaint about your organisation be so big to make it onto the News, it’s going to hit the online world just as hard.  For every print magazine, newspaper or TV channel, there are literally dozens of online publications sharing the same news.

The Bottom Line:

Get your Online Reputation Management right and your general reputation in the market place will improve too.

Get it wrong and you’ll be in trouble as a whole, staff morale will be low and revenue will be down.

Exploring the Blurry Line between Personal and Professional in Your Online Environment

If you’re in a leadership position in your company and you display the organisation publically in your profile, be very careful what you say online about your organisation.

Everything you do online, on any social media platform, is public.

5 Tips to Help You Maintain Professionalism

Tip 1: Don’t Go Public with Negativity

If you’ve had a bad day at the office, you’ve dealt with difficult customers or overbearing Managers, talk it over with your spouse or your friends.

Whatever you do, don’t discuss with your colleagues. Office gossip is dangerous.

Follow the basic rule of Business Management:

  • Negative goes up – speak to your Superiors if you are having any challenges at work.
  • Positive goes down – build the company up while you’re building your team

And definitely, don’t Tweet about your bad day or mention it on Facebook on your way home from work. Tomorrow will be better but once your emotions have subsided will post will still be there.

Tip 2: Politics is Personal

Don’t air your political views on social media.  Don’t share office politics on social media either.

Tip 3: Clean Up Your Personal Profile

Look back on your social media posts and if you find negative or political comments, delete them.  Clean up your profile.

Tip 4:  Separate Private and Professional Where Possible

Don’t send personal emails from your business email address.  Set up a Gmail address for all personal correspondence.

Tip 5: Be Positive

Share posts that inspire and uplift.  Build a personal online reputation that creates a good reflection on yourself and your organisation. Become an Ambassador.

Make Yourself Proud.

Be the Light in the Darkness.

Over to You

How do you think the public perceives your Organisation?

How quickly does your organisation respond to public criticism?  

Are you using any tools or employing any companies to help you with Online Reputation Management? 

I welcome your views in the comments below.

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How to Become a Digital Entrepreneur #HowToDigitalEntrepreneur

How To Digital Entrepreneur – Plus 5 Awesome Benefits

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How To Digital Entrepreneur

This post is for anyone who is interested in Digital Entrepreneurship.  I originally wrote it for the lovely ladies who participated in our Twitter Chat. You can find it by logging into Twitter and typing the hashtag #XWBizChat in the search bar.

A million THANKS again to Gwen Serrotti and Erika Kruger of Xtraordinary Women for hosting a Twitter Chat and inviting me to be their guest Twitter Chatterer or Guest Twit? Hehe.

I learned so much from Gwen Serrotti, Founder of Xtraordinary Women through this amazing experience. Gwen is super organized and a fountain of helpful tips and advice.  She explained exactly how to participate in a Twitter Chat and which Free Online Tools to use to Schedule Chats and keep abreast of the Chats as they are happening.

It inspired me to make this video for my fellow members at Wealthy Affiliate:

Click the link below for my video Tutorial ↓

How to Schedule Tweets Free of Charge

How to Schedule Tweets FREE

Let’s get back on topic. You’re here to learn about Digital Entrepreneurship, right?

There’s only so much you can put in a Tweet, so I’ll flesh out a few of the concepts we chatted about today.

Today this is a post.  But that’s just the beginning.  I’m also planning to:

And that, in a nutshell, is the path to Digital World Domination. That’s how you become a Digital Entrepreneur.  Well, kinda.

Let’s get into a few more nitty-gritty details.

What is a Digital Entrepreneur?

What is a Digital Entrepreneur?

There are many, varied definitions of Digital Entrepreneurship but in my mind, it’s simply this:

A Digital Entrepreneur is anyone who’s making a living online.

This means you may already be a Digital Entrepreneur and just not know it yet.

  • Are you involved in E-commerce?  Do you buy and/or sell products or services online?
  • Are you a blogger or Influencer creating digital content like Sponsored Posts?
  • Do you create content online like Reviews to promote products or earn Affiliate Income?
  • Do you create your own Digital Products, such as eBooks or email Courses and eBooks?
  • Are you an Author selling books on Amazon Kindle or directly from your website?
  • Are you a Freelancer offering editing, website design, graphic design, logos, Virtual Assistance, etc?
  • Do you own a Digital Marketing Agency?
  • Are you a Digital Marketer?
  • Are you a YouTuber creating Videos and earning from Advertising or Sponsored Posts?
  • Do you sell your craft products on Etsy?
  • Do you buy and sell products on eBay?
  • Do you have an Events company and market your services online?
  • Are you a Social Media Manager?

If you said YES to any of these, you’re a Digital Entrepreneur. If you have any kind of internet business, if you’re transacting online, you’re a Digital Entrepreneur.What are the Benefits of Digital Entrepreneurship?

What are the Benefits of Digital Entrepreneurship?

There are endless benefits of being a Digital Entrepreneur. Here are my top 5.

1. Low Investment

For starters,  there are virtually no barriers to entry. Compared to starting a brick-and-mortar business, the startup costs are very low.  You also have very few overheads.

2. Work from Anywhere

You can work from home or work from anywhere, as many travel bloggers do. In the beginning, you’ll probably burn the midnight oil but once you’ve built some Authority online there’s a good chance you can earn Passive Income – where you do the work once and get paid for it over and over again. Like selling an eBook or Online Course or creating a brilliant Evergreen post that generates Affiliate Income or Ad Revenue for years to come.

3. Sweet Freedom!

In a nutshell, Digital Entrepreneurship is your best shot at Financial Freedom and Time Freedom. You get to fire your boss (not immediately, get yourself set up first please) and choose your own hours.  You get to write your own cheque every month.  Okay, not at first, but once the ball gets rolling. As a Mom, it affords me the opportunity to fetch my son from school every afternoon and enjoy free play with him.

4. Own Your Work

Authors now have the opportunity to own their work, whereas before, their Publishers did.  Oh, and their Publishers and Book Store Owners earned more profit from their books than the Authors did themselves – before the Internet. Now Authors can market their books from their own websites and social media pages.

5. Tax Benefits

As a Business Owner, you can write off all your business expenses as Tax deductions. Even though there aren’t as many expenses as in a traditional business, this is still a win. In short, you have the benefits of owning your own business, minus many of the frustrations and overheads.

What are the Drawbacks of Digital Entrepreneurship?

What are the Drawbacks of Digital Entrepreneurship?

Like all Entrepreneurship, when you start out, you need to learn every aspect of your business and BE everything. You’re the Owner, Marketer, Bookkeeper, PR, HR, etc.

It can be overwhelming, all-consuming, and lonely.

It’s terribly easy to fall into the trap of working all the time, especially as your business is literally at your fingertips – either on your smartphone or keyboard.

How Do You Get Started as a Digital Entrepreneur?

How Do You Get Started as a Digital Entrepreneur?

  • Find a Pain or Frustration in your life & the world. Solve it.
  • Then figure out how to get your message out to those in need.
  • Immerse yourself in your niche.
  • Get help and coaching from Authorities in your niche.
  • In time you become an expert.
  • You become the solution.

Wealthy Affiliate

This is where I got started on my journey to become a Digital Entrepreneur and I don’t think it’s a community I will ever leave Wealthy Affiliate. Kyle and Carson, the Owners are constantly enhancing and upgrading their Platform to be on Trend and give their members more bang for their buck.

They know Affiliate Marketing and the Online Industry better than many as they’ve been building businesses online for years.

You can read my full Wealthy Affiliate Review here.  And I’ll be adding a video soon.

Their Online Entrepreneur Certification Course is the perfect place to start your journey as a Digital Entrepreneur. And you can do Level 1 free of charge and then decide whether you want to go further with the Course.

How Do You Scale Your Business as a Digital Entrepreneur?

How to Scale Your Business as an Entrepreneur?

This is something that I always struggle to do when I set up a new business. When I built my massage practice in my 20’s, I never learned how to scale and burnt out as a result. I’m very mindful that I may be heading out for burnout soon if I don’t start outsourcing some of my work soon.

Here are some tips if you think you’re ready to start scaling your business.

  • Don’t try to scale too soon. Make sure you have a predictable income that covers all your expenses first.
  • Then create a system that allows you to scale by leveraging your time & efforts.
  • Think BIG.
  • Outsource to other Online Entrepreneurs who Freelance or work remotely.
  • Hire or Partner with people with opposite skills to yours.

There are so many ways to generate passive income when you become a Digital Entrepreneur. But most of them require quite a bit of set-up first.

First, you have to put in the work, to establish your business and to establish yourself as an authority online. It’s also important to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie, so you know what you’re comfortable holding onto and what you’d like to outsource.

Over time, you put systems in place and create content or courses or digital products and marketing funnels that generate income while you sleep.  It’s a process.

Are you ready to begin this journey? Join me at Wealthy Affiliate and I’ll catch you in the membership forum, or leave a comment below.

Affiliate Disclaimer:  If you purchase anything through a link in this post, please assume that I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

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What is Health and Wellness About?

What is Health and Wellness About?

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I’m taking my health back.  It’s high time. I know what health and wellness is about because I’ve spent more than half my adult life in the health and wellness industry. Yet I’m 46-years old and I’ve let myself go.

I’ve slipped into bad habits.  

  • Barely exercising
  • Overeating
  • Eating comfort foods and unhealthy snacks
  • Crazy Sleeping Habits
  • Drinking more coffee and wine than water
  • Little or no self-care
  • No downtime
  • Digital Addictions at an all-time high

Oh, I have my reasons, I have plenty

  • Who has the time to exercise when you’re running 3 websites, a household and running after a 5-year-old?
  • How can I say no to a second helping of my hubby’s food when it tastes so good?
  • How will I get everything done if I don’t wake up at midnight and work until 3 am?
  • Limit my coffee intake? Noooo… Everyone knows coffee is the fuel that drives Moms.
  • Drop my evening glass of wine?  Nooooo… that’s how I transition from Mommy to wife.
  • Huh? What’s self-care?
  • Where do I find 20 minutes in my day to meditate or journal?
  • How can a Mom Blogger NOT be on her phone and laptop all the time?  Digital Marketing is my life. And my livelihood.

But those are not reasons. They are excuses.  

They are an illusion, my mind playing tricks on me.  

There is another way.   And it’s time to find it because I can see what years of neglect is doing to me.

The Effects of Poor Habits over Time

Not paying attention to health and wellness has changed the way I look,  the way I feel and the way I feel about me.  And if I continue on this path, it could have much more serious effects.

That Frumpy Housewife Look

Bottom-line:  I’m indoors, on my bottom, blogging more often than I’m not.

And it’s showing on my bottom. And on my hips and waist-line. And even in my face.  Ugh.  My face looks fat in pictures.  I don’t recognise me.

I’m getting frumpy.  I’m looking more and more like a housewife every day.

My hair is frizzy. My skin is lacklustre. My fingernails are chipped. I have that unkempt look.

Health Niggles

And it’s showing up in niggly little health problems.

Getting coughs and colds more often than I should, followed by fever blisters. Ouch.

A funny, constricted feeling in my throat when I eat chocolate, bread or pastries.  Food allergies are mounting.

Lethargy.  My son asks me to jump on the trampoline with him and sometimes I just can’t. All I want to do is lie on the couch for a while.

Bloated tummy and constipation leading to piles every now and then. (Did I say that out loud?)

Pain in my fingers.

When I get up it sometimes, it feels like my back can’t straighten properly anymore, like I’m walking arched over.

And my back aches. And sometimes my hips.

I climb out the car and it feels like I’ve put my back out.  I can’t walk for a couple of minutes, the pain is so intense.

Headaches on the increase. And the occasional debilitating migraine.

Loss of Control

It’s also showing up in my mood, my frame of my mind. I’m not myself.

I’m increasingly irritable, short-tempered and I shout a lot.

I’m argumentative.

I jump from one task to the next.  I’m easily distracted.  I forget things.

Poor Health Creeps Up On You Slowly

Does this sound familiar?  Or is it just me?  These little health challenges start creeping up on you, don’t they?

We call it ageing.  We say it’s normal.  But it’s not.  It’s a bunch of poor lifestyle choices piled up that slowly start eroding our vibrancy.

I remember reading somewhere that what happens as we age is we become less and less active.  As our lives become more sedentary, we start packing on the kilos. Very slowly.  So slowly we barely notice.

If we pack on a mere 1kg a year, that adds up to 10kg’s a decade.

Which explains why when you’re in your 20’s you can be lovely and slim and still get away with it in your 30’s.

But in your 40’s and 50’s you’re now 30 or 40 kilos heavier than you were in your 20’s and feeling it.

And what if you’re putting on 2 or 3kg’s a year?

How's your health doing? Do you wake up in the mornings bright, chipper and pain-free? Are you feeling well? Or have you started to let your health slide, like I have? The Start of my Health Coaching Journey. #WhatisHealthandWellnessAbout #HealthCoach #Banting #Keto #LowCarb #RealMealRevolution So, Take Back Control Slowly

So in January this year, I started taking back control, gently.

Tackling issues that were bothering me, one at a time.

Choosing new, positive health habits I could incorporate into my life.

Re-introducing Exercise

I started saying Yes more often to my son when he asked if I would jump on the trampoline with him.

I invite him out for walks more often.

I park further away from his School so we can do a short hill-climb on the way in.  Little changes.

Adding Healthy Food Choices

I mentioned my food intolerances to my friend, Lucy and she told me she had started juicing celery and it had cleared up her allergies and she was feeling better in her clothes.

I figured that would be really easy to incorporate into my everyday life.  Juicing veggies is not new to me but I’d never juiced celery before as it’s not one of my favourite veggies.

So I make my veg juices with celery as a base and add pineapple, carrots, ginger and beetroot, depending what’s in the house.  A few times, I’ve added spinach or cucumbers into the mix too.

Drinking my veggie juice out of a wine glass dupes me into thinking I’m having a glass of wine. And most of my mixes taste better than wine (some combinations have been a bit yuck, I must confess).

Eliminating Foods that Harm

I’ve been weaning myself off bread and pastries for a good few months and I decided it was time to cut out gluten altogether.

Chocolates were the next thing to go.

Because I felt these were the things that were making me feel bad (the bloating and that horrible, constricted throat thing).

Then I noticed that most sweets made me feel yuck too, so I gave up most of them too.

It took me a few months longer to let go of my evening glass of wine. And I only did it because I found it unfathomable that I could eat no bread, biscuits or chocolates and STILL not shift the weight.  My new mantra: wine is for weekends.

Wellness and Weightloss

I was 2 weeks into this new plan:  no gluten, no chocolates, no sweets, no wine during the week when an amazing thing happened.

My friend and fellow blogger, Sharon Atkins aka Super Shazzer just completed her Wellness Coaching Course and offered me 12 Weeks of Free Coaching.  Woohoo!  What a win!

When the student is ready, the Master appears.

Free Wellness Coaching? Bring it on

And Sharon’s Coaching is super gentle and gradual, just the way I like it.  Yet the results have been astounding.

I’m only one week in and I’ve already lost 2.2kgs and 0.5cm’s around my waist.

The remarkable thing is that we only made one small change in Week 1.

Reduce Sugar Intake Slowly

Sharon recommended I reduce my sugar intake in my coffee, very gradually, by adding just a few granules less each cup.

I was drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee with 2 heaped spoons of sugar per cup. I decided it was too complicated to do it that slowly so I just dropped down to 1 spoon of sugar per cup from Day 1.

I’ve been having my coffee with cream instead of milk for a couple of years because I don’t like the taste of milk. I was interested to discover that cream is a better option than milk because it has fewer carbs. Who knew?

I also became aware of how often I was drinking coffee and opted for Rooibos Tea instead of coffee a few times.  I don’t drink milk, cream or sugar in my Rooibos so it’s a great substitute. 

Real Meal Revolution Diet

Sharon is a Certified Banting Coach through The Real Meal Revolution (RMR) so she introduced me to some of the basics of RMR last week and signed me up on their website.

The Real Meal Revolution is a low-carb diet, similar to the Keto Diet.

They recommend eating meat, healthy fats and veggies and reducing or eliminating starches and grains.

With this awareness, I tried wherever possible last week to skip adding carbs to my meals. I had my bolognese without the pasta, I had my steak and salad without the chips.  I even had a burger without the bun when we out for a meal at Roco Mamas on Friday night, I did steal a couple of my hubby’s chips though.

The thing is, I haven’t been that disciplined this week.  I really just raised my awareness and decreased my sugar intake and results have been encouraging.

How to Join the Real Meal Revolution

There are 3 ways to join the Real Meal Revolution.

  1. Join Online via the RMR Website
  2. Free through Coaching Sessions with an RMR Certified Health Coach (like I did)
  3. Buy one of the Real Meal Revolution Books.

Real Meal Revolution – Amazon

Real Meal Revolution BookReal Meal Revolution 2.0The Real Meal Revolution LOW CARB COOKING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll keep you posted on my Health Coaching progress and share some more tips and views on Health and Wellness over the next 12 weeks.

Featured post
How to Build a Successful Blogging Business

How to Build a Successful Blogging Business

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One of the highlights of my 3 years as a blogger was the moment Robyn Lambrick’s email popped into my inbox on 7th January inviting me to give a 30-minute talk for Xtraordinary Women on

How to Build a Successful Blogging Business

I have created this resource for you to accompany my Presentation just in case you missed the live talk.  My friend, Susanne Hobbach also videoed the talk live. You’ll find the videos at the end of the post.

You can find the Powerpoint Presentation on Slideshare at the following link:

Slideshare

I have built 3 niche websites over the last 3 years and achieved some successes (and failures) along the way. I’ve had moments, glimpses into the future as a successful blogger and I’ve learned what it takes to succeed in this business.  (Hint: Inspiration. Work. Time.)

Read on for all the nitty-gritty details.

Affiliate Disclaimer: I make a commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Let’s start with the advice I learned years ago in Dr Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.

Are you keen to set up a blog and turn it into a business? Here's how. #HowtoBuildaSuccessfulBloggingBusiness #MakeMoneyBlogging #BloggingforBusinessStart with the end in mind 

Okay, I did a quick fact check and I see he said Begin with the end in mind, but anyhoo.. you get the idea.

If you can answer the question below, you’re ready to get cracking.

Why do you want to start a blog?

To get those grey cells working, sit down with a piece of paper and a pen and jot down the answers to the questions below:

  • What’s your ultimate goal? 
  • Are you blogging as a creative outlet or hobby?
  • Do you have an existing business you want to promote online?
  • Or do you want to start an online business by creating a blog?
  • Do you want to create an e-commerce site?
  • Sell your own products online?
  • Sell digital products?
  • Or sell other people’s products or services online?

Set an Intention

Getting clear on your goals upfront can really fast-track your success.

But if you’re like most of us, you’ll probably flail around for the first 3 years, throwing everything at your proverbial blog wall and seeing what sticks.

It can take a while to find your groove.  And that’s okay. Everything you learn along the way will serve you.

Follow Your Passion

As with any grand entrepreneurial endeavour, blogging starts with PASSION.

For some, that’s really easy. They know what they’re into and can’t wait to get the words out.

For others, there are so many things they’re interested in, they just don’t know what to choose.

And for others, it takes a lot of thought to come up with an idea.

It’s a good idea to come up with a narrow niche.

  • This is a b r o a d niche:  Moms
  • This a narrower niche:  Mom Bloggers
  • This is a very narrow niche:  Mom Bloggers who Homeschool their children

Here are a few prompts to help you get some clarity.

How to Find Your Niche

Choose something that…

  • You can write about it for years to come
  • Makes your heart sing
  • You know a lot about
  • Or want to learn about

A nice little technique to help get your creative juices flowing is to think back to when you were little.

Cast your mind back to what you wanted to become when you grew up and then weave your lifelong passions into your blogging business. #HowtoBuildaSuccessfulBloggingBusiness #MakeMoneyBlogging #BloggingforBusinessWho did you want to be?

I notice for my 5-year-old, it’s been different things at different stages of his life.

A Ballerina at 2 (before he knew men are called ballet dancers), an Enduro Biker at 3, a Superhero or Ninja at 4 and a Scientist at 5. (Because they make cool explosions and stuff).

As a little girl, I dreamt of fame and fortune as a movie star, balanced by my dream of becoming a Playschool Teacher and years later I settled on Bestselling Author (still working on that one).

I secretly still hope some version of fame is in the picture. Oops, now the secret’s out.

Which childhood dream would you like to fulfil in your blogging career? 

This is your chance.

You have a clean canvas.

But don’t sweat it.  Don’t waste too much time over this step.

Your first site probably won’t be your last.

If you have no idea what your niche is and what you’re going to do with your website, I recommend you buy a domain in your own name and just

GET STARTED

And understand it will take time.

How Do Bloggers Earn Money?

So if you’re thinking about blogging as a BUSINESS, I’m sure you want to know where the money comes from.

When most people ask me this question, they almost automatically end their sentence with, “through Advertising, right?”

Well… yes and no.  That’s definitely not the only way and it’s not a way I choose to monetize my sites.

To simplify, I’ve broken this down into 3 main earning categories and then listed 3 ideas below each. (Does this simplify things or confuse you?)

1. Marketing

If you’re into marketing and sales, you’ll probably be attracted to the marketing side of blogging.  Many moons ago I was a Copywriter and I find my copywriting, some would say salesy style often creeps into my posts.

Advertising

Let’s start with the elephant in the room, Adverts.  You need loads of traffic on your site before Ads generate any meaningful revenue and I find them annoying and distracting. Who’s with me?

How it works:

You set yourself up with an Advertising Network.  Initially, you can start out with Google Adsense but as your traffic grows, you can move to AdThrive, Mediavine, Media.Net, Viglink or Skimlinks etc. You then place ads wherever you’d like visitors to see them on your site and earn revenue per visitor or per click.

The good thing about advertising is it’s pretty passive income. You set up your ads and carry on blogging as normal and money pops into your account each month. Or trickles if your audience is still small.

Affiliate Marketing 

If you’re googling to find a specific product or service or compare products and services, you’ll probably happen on an Affiliate Marketing site. Affiliate Marketers publish reviews for a living.

How it works:

Bloggers align themselves with companies that serve the same audience they do. These companies then pay them an affiliate commission for using or testing out their products or services and then writing a review, recommending their products or services.

Affiliate Marketing can be hugely lucrative (some companies pay handsome commissions) and can also provide a form a passive income. Write a brilliant review once and get paid for it over and over.

If you want to learn how to build niche websites and monetize them using Affiliate Marketing, I highly recommend Wealthy Affiliate.  I’ve taken their first Online Entrepreneur Certification Course and have started on their Affiliate Bootcamp.

Those who have completed Affiliate Bootcamp are making the big bucks. Have a look at how Grace, aka Little Mama, is doing… 2018 Year in Review: $40K Thank You Wealthy Affiliate!

Join us at Wealthy Affiliate.

Starter Membership is FREE. 

E-Commerce

Anything that is sold on the internet is considered e-commerce (electronic commerce). So you could essentially be doing e-commerce if you’re selling on eBay.

How it works:  

There are many ways you can conduct e-commerce from your website, here are a couple of common examples.  You could set up a Shopify store on your site and market tons of different products. Or you could set up a WooCommerce store and sell your own products and services and Amazon products.

2. Creation

If you like creating new things. If you’re a good writer, speaker or come across well on audio, you’ll do very well by creating. Bloggers make their money mostly by creating.

Content 

Otherwise known as Blog Posts.  They can refine their skills by creating rich Content or SEO Content, which simply means they’ve done their keyword research and included keywords in their content writing and meta descriptions.

Courses

If you have something to teach, online courses are definitely a way to go.  The Course Creators I follow have made literally millions of Dollars selling their knowledge and experience.

eBooks

eBooks are another clever way of repackaging and repurposing your content. You can sell your books on Amazon Kindle or directly from your site or give them away free on your website to build your following or list of email subscribers.

3. Influence

Another way bloggers earn money is through Influencer Marketing.  Some of the ways, bloggers build their authority online is via:

  • Social Media
  • Link Building
  • Creating a membership site
  • Public Speaking (e.g. Ted Talk)
  • Creating Courses and Webinars
  • Publishing Books on Amazon Kindle
  • Vlogging

How it works:

As your authority grows online, companies start reaching out to you to offer you products or services to review and promote.

Here are 3 common ways to earn as an Influencer.

Sponsored Posts

Lynne Huysamen of Kaboutjie is one of the best online influencers I know.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that Lynne has been one of my mentors and I am eternally grateful to her for teaching me how to turn my blog into a business.  She has also given me incredible business referrals.

Lynne and I met online at Wealthy Affiliate but she lives in Saldanha Bay, about 150kms from Cape Town. I was so honoured that she accepted the invitation to my talk and made the journey.

Lynne and I make most of our blog income from Sponsored Posts, Lynne just makes a whole lot more than I do. 🙂

Thanks to Sponsored Posts…

  • Lynne has a brand new LG washing machine and microwave.
  • She’s been flown up to Durban to spend a night on a cruise liner.
  • And so much more.

Instagram Influencers

If you’ve been on Instagram for any length of time, you’ll have seen Instagram Influencers posting pictures of themselves enjoying life.  It’s an amazing way to get famous online.

Instagrammers sell amazing lifestyles. They are often beautiful or highly sophisticated and you’ll find them flitting around the world to exotic places. They have massive followings and huge clout.

Instagram Influencers build themselves as a brand and in turn, brands sponsor them to do posts.

(Lynne is also an Instagram Influencer by the way).

YouTubers

YouTubers are very similar to Instagrammers except their focus is on creating amazing videos.

Lynne Huysamen is also a YouTuber by the way.

That’s the thing, most successful bloggers don’t just choose one route to wealth. They choose many or even all of the above.

Oh my goodness, I see my blog post is turning into an ebook…

It’s showtime…

Huge Thanks to Susanne Hobbach for taking these live videos:

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Featured post
Should You Quit Your Job to Start a Business?

Should You Quit Your Job To Start A Business?

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Should You Quit Your Job To Start A Business?

Many people toy with the idea of starting a business, and nowadays it’s much easier than it’s ever been thanks to the internet and social media. However, the process of actually taking that idea from dream to reality is not as easy as some people like to make out, and can also be extremely overwhelming when you’ve never been involved in starting a business before.

Here are some thoughts to consider…

Have you had enough of the 9 to 5? Thinking of quitting? Let's stop to consider all the ins and outs first. #ShouldYouQuitYourJobtoStartaBusinessMoonlight first or just quit?

Another big question that people often ask when thinking of starting a business is whether they should quit their job outright to devote everything to their business or whether they should keep their job whilst building their business on the side.

The truth is there really isn’t any right or wrong answer, and it’s completely dependent on what actually works for you. Whilst some people will have super strong opinions for both sides of the argument, you have to remember that this is only their opinion and not a universal fact that works for everyone.

When are you most productive?

Just like some people swear by the benefits of getting up at 5am everyday, other people are far more productive in the middle of the night, so there may be studies to support one side or the other, but these are still very individual matters, and whilst some people may find that quitting their job gives them the motivation and drive to make a success of their business, others would find this to be far too stressful and actually rather counterproductive if they were constantly worried about how the rent or mortgage was getting paid.

The fact is, there’s simply no right or wrong, and it’s important to remember that some of the best side hustle ideas have come to fruition when someone had the creative time, freedom and energy to focus on their business that could only be afforded to them due to the fact that they had a regular steady income coming in at the same time.

Who will support you if you can’t?

When deciding whether or not you should quit your job when starting a business, it’s also important to think of the other people in your life who may be affected by your decision rather than if you only had yourself to think about.

For example, if you have a partner, how would they feel about you quitting your job? Would they be willing and able to take over the bills if needed until you started making a profit in your business, or do you have savings that could keep you going for a few months?

Do you have dependents?

Also, if you have children, then this is incredibly important – you need to be sure that you’ll still be able to provide for them during this time, and if you just don’t feel like the risk is worth it, then perhaps it’s best not to quit your job, but instead set yourself a clear deadline that you can use as your motivation for getting your business up and running by a certain date.

No matter which decision you make, just be sure it’s the right one for you and your family and don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making one that doesn’t feel right for you.

Image Credit

I quit my job to have a child. And then started my blogging business a couple of years track so I could work from home. None of this would have been possible without my husband’s financial backing.  He supported me for 2 years when I didn’t work at all and it was nearly another 2 years before my blogs took off.  

Businesses can take time to build.  Are you in a position to take it slow?

Featured post
How to start a Side Hustle that Rocks 2020

How to Start a Side Hustle that Rocks 2021

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How to Start a Side Hustle

Are you thinking of starting a side hustle?

When I think Side Hustle, I think of something that you can start small, in your spare time that could turn into a real business over the years.

It’s not uncommon for working Moms or stay-at-home Moms to start something on the side that they are truly passionate about and find that it develops into something awesome. Something way bigger than originally planned.  A full-on business.  An empire.  Some m

A side hustle can be just that, something you do in your spare time for some spare cash.

Or it can be the birth of your entrepreneurial journey.  

It can allow to you work from home, full-time.  Or set you free to become a digital nomad.

Either way, it all starts with YOU and your passions, your interests, your strengths.

Why start a Side Hustle?

  • If you’re stuck in a dead-end job, bored out of your mind, you’ll be looking for something that makes your heart sing, something that suits your personality.
  • Or you may be in the right job right now but you feel you’re running yourself ragged for a boss and you’re looking for something for a bit of flexibility and time freedom.
  • Or maybe you’ve just got from maternity leave and realised you’d rather be home with your baby.  You’re looking for something you can do from home.
  • Or you’re just plain done with the daily grind and the daily commute.
  • Or you might be where I was a year ago, you’ve started working on your main hustle but it’s taking longer than you expected to bring in money so you try out a few side jobs for extra cash.

Whatever your reason for starting a side hustle, you’re going to want to choose something you’ll enjoy.  

So here’s where I suggest you start.  First, find out your Wealth Profile.

Huh?  What’s a Wealth Profile?

Glad you asked.
How to Start a Side Hustle Infographic

Do You Know Your Wealth Profile?

Roger Hamilton identified 8 Different Wealth Profiles and created the nifty Wealth Dynamics Profiling Test so that you can discover your own personal Wealth Profile.

The test works very similarly to any other Psychometric Profiling Test, except this one is to help you uncover which path to wealth would be best for you.

To put it simply, you’ll learn what type of entrepreneur you are.  Once you are armed with this knowledge, you’re going to be able to make money faster because you’ll be working within your own strengths, passions and interests.

Do what you love and the money will follow.

Marsha Sinetar 

Very briefly, here are the 8 Wealth Profiles.

  1. Creators are best at creating. They love new ideas and starting new projects.
  2. Stars love to shine brightly or promote something or someone.
  3. Supporters are great team leaders.
  4. Dealmakers are matchmakers, often matching investors and opportunities.
  5. Traders know how to strike when the iron is hot.  Timing is everything to them.
  6. Accumulators build their wealth by building their asset base.
  7. Lords rule quietly, behind the scenes. Their focus is on money, not people.
  8. Mechanics create systems or franchises that work. Perfectly.

You can read more here or click here to Take the Test.

Okey dokey. Now that you know Your Own Personal Wealth Profile, you can take your pick of Side Hustles from the lists below:

Side Hustles for Creators

As a Creator, you are really spoilt for choice. There are so many side hustles online for those who love Creating and Inventing.

You could create Handmade Greeting Cards for:

  • Paper Magic Group – http://www.cssindustries.com/web/guest/paper-magic
  • Recycled Paper Greetings – http://www.prgreetings.com/Recycled Paper Greetings

Or Write Card Greetings for:

Blue Mountain  pay up to $300 per poem – Go to https://www.sps.com/greeting-card-guidelines-submissions

Calypso accepts written submissions as well as artwork – https://www.calypsocards.com/Submissions_ep_49.html

Photographer? Sell your Photos

  • Dreamstime – Make 50 – 80% profit each time your photo is sold – https://www.dreamstime.com/sell-stock-photos-images
  • Fotolia – 50% for each photo sold – https://us.fotolia.com/
  • Shutterstock – Refer uploaders, Refer buyers, Provide pictures for 25 cents per purchase (no exclusivity clause) – https://contributor.stock.adobe.com/
  • http://www.photostockplus.com/ – Pay you 85%
  • https://prime.500px.com/ – Pay you 70%
  • https://www.bigstockphoto.com/ – 30 cents to $3 per image
  • https://www.bigstockphoto.com/ – 50% plus 15% of profits for referrals plus 10% for referring other photographers

Writers could Freelance for Content Mills:

  • Constant Content –  https://www.constant-content.com/about/writer-guidelines.htm  – $7 to $20 per article
  • Text Brokers – https://www.textbroker.com/how-does-textbroker-work
  • Post Loop – http://www.postloop.com/

Comedy Sites

  • Cracked pays Writer or Artists –  http://www.cracked.com/write-for-cracked/ – pay $100 per article or artwork

Sites that Pay you to Write

  • Listverse – write a list – get paid – http://listverse.com/write-get-paid/ – Pay $100
  • Love to Know – https://www.lovetoknow.com/Careers/careers.html
  • Knowledge Nuts – http://knowledgenuts.com/submit-a-nut/ – $10 for every knowledge nut

Bloggers and Content Writer’s can:

Or find freelance jobs on:

  • Job Boards: https://problogger.com/jobs/
  • http://snipsly.com/ – write short articles (only 150 words) – 80% of Adsense Revenue

Are you an Influencer on Pinterest? Ready to make some money with Viraliti? Sign up now. Read more at laurenkinghorn.com #howtostartasidehustleSide Hustles for Stars

If you’re a budding Music Star, you might want to rate music at:

  • Slice the Pie – https://www.slicethepie.com/ – 2 to 20 cents per review
  • Hit Predictor – http://www.hitpredictor.com/
  • Music XRay – http://www.musicxray.com/ work your way up from 5 cents to $1 per review (the more you work, the more you earn)

Into Advertising and Promotions? 

Come up with Slogans – http://www.namingforce.com/

Create and Sell Videos:

Both Creators and Stars may love this one.  Make High-Quality Videos you expect to go Viral and sell them to:

  • http://www.break.com/
  • https://www.youtube.com/ – Make money on Advertising
  • http://official.dailymotion.com/en/ – Make a higher cut on Advertising but to a smaller audience
  • http://www.metacafe.com/ – Earn 5 times what you can on You Tube

Or Rent Out Your Videos:

  • https://www.brightcove.com/en –  Post videos or self-shot movies for rental for minimum $1 and earn 70% of the Revenue
  • Either Rent or Sell Videos on Amazon Instant via https://www.createspace.com/

For Social Media Influencers:

  • Viraliti – Are you a Pinterest Influencer?  Viraliti is a  way to monetize your Pinterest account.
  • http://paidpertweet.com/ – up to $5 per Tweet
  • https://www.loop88.com/pinners/ – Pin what they tell you to and get paid (previously Pin Booster)
  • https://sharemagnet.com/account/signup/ – Like It, Share It, Earn Cash, Share on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other favourite social media platforms.
  • https://sponsoredtweets.com/  – We connect influential content Creators with the world’s biggest brands.
  • http://twitpub.com/ – convince followers to sign up to a Premium Feed and earn 80% – sign up to sell tweets or buy tweets
  • http://gen.video/ – influencer marketing on Video

Side Hustles for Supporters

Sites that pay you to Tutor:Are you ready to start a side hustle that rocks 2020? It helps to know what type of entrepreneur you are first. Here are loads of side hustle ideas based on the 8 different entrepreneur profiles. #howtostartasidehustle #entrepreneurprofile #wealthdynamics

  • For Peer to Peer Tutoring: https://buddyschool.com/
  • Happy Tutors:  http://www.happytutors.com/  (there is a cost to be listed)
  • Tutor Hub (UK only) : https://tutorhub.com/ (paid per minute)
  • Verbal Planet:  https://www.verbalplanet.com/tutorhome.asp

Psychic?

  • https://www.keen.com/give/advice.asp – Paid for Psychic Advice (not accepting new listings at the moment)

Or Have Knowledge you’d Like to Offer Others?

  • https://www.maven.co/  – Become a Maven Micro Consultant “Everyone knows something”

Sites that Pay You Write Reviews:

  • Review anything on Review Stream – https://www.reviewstream.com/writereview.php – Write Reviews – get paid $2 per review plus 10 cents for votes
  • Review Software – http://www.softwarejudge.com/ – limited to 3 reviews a day.  $1 per review, popular reviews up to $50

Side Hustles for Deal Makers

Deal Makers might enjoy this one:  Get paid for your opinion

Become a Mock Juror:   

  • https://www.onlineverdict.com/  (only for US citizens over 18)  (20 to 50 minutes reviewing each case, pay $20 to $60 per case)
  • http://www.ejury.com/jurors_signup.html   – $ 5 to $10 per review

Sell Your Used Laptops or Phones:

  • https://www.bestbuy.com/site/misc/best-buy-trade-in/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat133600050011
  • https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=9187220011
  • http://www.nextworth.com/
  • http://www.cashyourlaptop.com/
  • http://www.quicklaptopcash.com/
  • http://www.sellalaptop.com/

Side Hustles for Traders

Online Trading – You might want to start out by checking out these sites:

  • https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/the-best-online-brokers-for-beginners/
  • https://www.thebalance.com/top-online-stock-trading-sites-3140818
  • https://www.reviews.com/online-stock-trading/
  • https://www.stocktrader.com/online-stock-brokers/

What if you just want to play games for a living?  These might suit Traders who just want to have fun and don’t mind taking risks:

Games of Chance:

  • Cash Dazzle – http://www.cashdazzle.com/ – Play Spin and win
  • Lala Loot – http://www.lalaloot.com/
  • Play and Win (UK) – https://www.playandwin.co.uk/
  • Exodus 3000 – http://www.exodus3000.com/
  • Pogo – http://www.pogo.com/
  • World Winner by GSN – https://www.worldwinner.com/ – may also suit Accumulators

Know a lot about Finance And Investment?

  • Share your Knowledge at Seeking Alpha – this could work for Traders or Accumulators
  • https://seekingalpha.com/page/become-a-seeking-alpha-contributor – Earn up to $500 per article

Side Hustles for Accumulators

If you’re an accumulator, and you’ve accumulated a lot of books, here are a couple of places to sell them:

  • https://www.sellbackyourbook.com/
  • http://www.ckybooks.com/

Accumulators may also enjoy this side hustle. 

Get paid to be a Mystery shopper:

  • A Closer Look – Become a Mystery Shopper (North America Only)  – https://insight.a-closer-look.com/ShopperApplication-Start.aspx
  • A Customer’s Point of View – Become a Mystery Shopper – http://www.acpview.com/mystery-shopper-application/
  • Shoppers View – Become a Mystery Shopper – https://shoppersview.com/shoppers/ – includes work from home with telephone mystery shopping
  • Anonymous Insights – http://www.a-insights.com/shoppers.html
  • Mystery Shoppers Inc – http://www.mystery-shoppers.com/shoppers/
  • Secret Shopper – https://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/ShopperIntro.asp – worldwide
  • Field Agent – https://app.fieldagent.net/  – make money with your phone
  • Swagbucks – https://www.swagbucks.com/

Side Hustles for Lords

If you’re an Expert in anything, you can get paid for your Expert Opinion:

https://www.experts123.com/

https://www.justanswer.com/ – Doctors, Lawyers, Vets etc. – make $5 to $25 per response

Small Biz Advice – http://www.smallbizadvice.com/

Virtual Bookkeepers

https://www.accountingdepartment.com/

This game is definitely for the Lords among us:

  • http://secondlife.com/ – Anything you can do in real life you can play online
  • Exodus 3000 – http://www.exodus3000.com/

Lords might also make great Virtual Bookkeepers

  • https://www.accountingdepartment.com/

Side Hustles for Mechanics

If you’re an expert in anything, you can get paid for your expert opinion:

  • https://www.experts123.com/

Mechanics also Make Very Good Affiliate Marketers. Start here.

Of course, once a Mechanic has mastered the basics, they will more than likely want to start their own Affiliate Program:

  • Read this post first: https://moz.com/blog/roll-your-own-affiliate-program
  • https://www.affiliationsoftware.com/
  • https://www.leaddyno.com/how-to-start-an-affiliate-program/
  • https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/how-to-start-an-affiliate-program/

501 Free Sites Money PantryRetired?

How about trying?

  • Bingo Zone: http://www.bingozone.com/

Enjoyed this post?   Then you’ll love the book I just bought for only $3.44 in the Amazon Kindle Store.   It’s AWESOME!!

501 Free Sites You Can Use To Earn Extra Money by Money Pantry

I found most of these Side Hustle ideas in this book and there are so many more.

Over to You

Which side hustles have you tried?

And have you ever started a side hustle and found it turned into your main hustle?

Do let me know if you try any of these. I’d love to know how they’re working out for you. 

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Can You Really Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate? YES. I have PROOF. Read more at: laurenkinghorn.com

Can You Really Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate? YES. Here’s Proof.

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So let’s see… maybe you’re where I was a couple of years ago. Maybe you’re surfing the net looking for ways to make money online. And you’ve stumbled upon a few Wealthy Affiliate reviews like I did.

You think it sounds like a good idea, but you’re just not sure yet because no-one seems to be answering the burning question…

Can You Really Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate?

So I’m going to answer this question for you right upfront.

The answer is YES.

YES, You Can Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate

How can I be so sure?

Because I’ve made money on Wealthy Affiliate.  As have many other Members.

You can have a look at my first two income reports if you need proof.

Income Report 1

Income Report 2

Now don’t laugh. I know $500 or $600 a month isn’t fortunes.

And I know it wasn’t the fastest business growth I’ve ever experienced as an Entrepreneur.  I hit my highest month as a Digital Entrepreneur when I made over $1000 in January 2021.

But bear with me here.

YES! You really Can Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate. I have Proof. Read on. #WealthyAffiliate #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateReview Wealthy Affiliate is Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

So if you’re looking to make a fast buck, I wouldn’t recommend you go the Wealthy Affiliate route.

Having said that, I’ve only found a few ethical ways to make fast bucks online but they weren’t dependable ways. They weren’t sustainable, long-term, pay-the-bills-monthly kind of ways.

They were 5 Bucks here, 20 Bucks there… I made 50 Bucks once doing Website Testing for Userlytics (as described in my first Income Report). And that was easy money. I thought I was in the money!  I was so excited!

Only to find it was a once-off.  I’ve never made another 50 Bucks with them again.  I’ve only done one other Test for them and it was months later and they only paid me $25 this time.  This is still great considering how little time it took me, but like I said, not sustainable. I can’t live on $25 or even $50 a year.

And then there are a lot of Online Scams offering Quick, Easy Money but when I’ve looked into those I’m never prepared to do what they require me to do because well, it just seems sleazy.  You know, those companies that tell you to go make purchases and then cancel them a few days later.  I just can’t do that kind of thing.  It doesn’t seem ethical to me.

Affiliate Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

So How Do You Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate?

The simple answer is you make money on Wealthy Affiliate by learning how to create your own website(s) and then monetizing them.

To answer that question properly, I’ll ask and answer another one first.

What is Wealthy Affiliate?

Wealthy Affiliate is an Online University that teaches you how to build your own website or websites and monetize them.  Wealthy Affiliate is set up by these two guys, Kyle and Carson:

Wealthy Affiliate Founders Kyle and Carson

Their Step-by-Step Success Formula looks like this:

Wealthy Affiliate Formula

And you’ll learn how to do this in their very first Online Certification Training, which, by the way, is available Free to Starter Members.

You can Sign Up Free Here

Let’s Talk About Timing

I found Step 1, Choosing an Interest the easiest part. I already knew what I wanted to blog about.  If you have an existing business or passion you’d like to write about, this should be quick and easy for you too.

Step 2, Building a Website, was relatively quick and easy for me too. Kyle shows exactly how to do this in the first Online Certification Course. you set up the framework of your website in his training and even create your first couple of pages: Your About Me Page and Privacy Policy Page and write your first post.

Step 3, Attracting Visitors, is the Step that usually takes the longest time (unless of course, you’re already someone famous, with a huge social following clamouring to hear your every word), it’s going to take some time to write enough rich content to build a loyal following, i.e. Traffic to your site.

Kyle teaches you how to access organic traffic, which simply means visitors finding your site when they are searching for something on Google, Bing or Yahoo (or any of the Search Engines).  This is where Keyword Research comes in.  More about that later.

Step 4, Earning Revenue.

Kyle compares the Two Main Ways to Make Money with Your Website, namely:

  1. Advertising
  2. Affiliate Marketing

And teaches you how to set these up.

Although Affiliate Marketing is the main way Kyle recommends earning revenue from a website, there are also tons of other ways to earn money that you will learn along the way (and I’ll touch on some of these later).

What Exactly Do You Learn about Monetizing a Site?

Oh so, so much.

In Kyle’s Online Certification Training and Affiliate Bootcamp, you’ll learn:

  • How to find and join Affiliate Programs
  • How to find Affiliate Networks
  • How to add Affiliate Links to Your Pages and Posts
  • How to gain instant access to MILLIONS of products to sell
  • How to leverage Product Reviews
  • How to Get Paid for Ads on Your Site
  • How to Set up your first PPC Campaign
  • How to Scale Successful PPC Campaigns

And more… so much more.  Wealthy Affiliate doesn’t just teach you how to make money, it also offers you ways to make money.  Here are 3 more ways you can make money on Wealthy Affiliate.

Further Ways to Make Money on Wealthy Affiliate

Wealthy Affiliate also offers a few others way to earn as well, namely:

  1. They have their own Affiliate Program where you can excellent commission either monthly or annually.
  2. They also own Jaaxy and Jaaxy also has an Affiliate Program where you can earn excellent commission.
  3. Through their Open Education Project, you can earn money by creating popular tutorials.

1. Wealthy Affiliate’s Affiliate Program

On top of teaching how to succeed with well-known Affiliate Programs such as Amazon, Clickbank etc, Wealthy Affiliate also has its very own lucrative Affiliate Program.

Know nothing about Affiliate Marketing? Don’t worry, Wealthy Affiliate has got you covered. Kyle teaches you how to make money step-by-step in Affiliate Bootcamp.

Even Starter Members (Members who sign up free) are able to take the first Phase of Affiliate Bootcamp and are entitled to the following commission.

  • Starter Members earn $ 4 for the first month when one of their Referrals goes Premium ($ 19)
  • Starter Members earn $ 11.75 every month thereafter for their Premium Referrals ($ 49)
  • Starter Members earn $ 117.50 a year when one of their Referrals opts to go Yearly ($ 495)
  • Starter Members earn $ 23.25 a month for monthly Premium Plus referrals ($ 99)
  • Starter Members earn $ 232.50 a year for yearly Premium Plus referrals ($ 995)

Premium Members earn double what Starter Members earn:

  • Premium Members earn $ 1 for every new referral who joins and completes their profile
  • Premium Members earn $ 8 for the first month when one of their Referrals goes Premium ($ 19)
  • Premium Members earn $ 23.50 every month thereafter for their Premium Referrals ($ 49)
  • Premium Members earn $ 235 per year when one of their Referrals opts to go Yearly ($ 495)
  • Premium Members earn $ 46.50 a month for monthly Premium Plus referrals ($ 99)
  • Premium Members earn $ 465 a year for yearly Premium Plus referrals ($ 995)

I created the little spreadsheet below to illustrate these figures:

So essentially, if you are very risk-averse or have no money to put down at all, you could:

  • Join as a Free Starter Member
  • Complete the First Online Certification Course
  • Complete the first Phase of Affiliate Bootcamp
  • Build a Free Website (you get a free Siterubix website on Starter Membership)
  • And EARN the Commission to pay for your first month or two at Wealthy Affiliate

This works especially well if you market offline as well as online (i.e. if you have friends who are keen to build their own websites too and jump in with you).

Think how excited you’ll be when your first website is up… and remember Enthusiasm sells.  If you show your website to someone you know has been considering setting up their own website, they may just buy in.

2. Jaaxy

Jaaxy is a brilliant Keyword, Niche Research and SiteRank Tool.  Read more about Jaaxy here.

I use Jaaxy for every single post I publish, whether it’s a guest post, contributed post or my own.

Jaaxy is a tool many bloggers use even if they are not members of Wealthy Affiliate and therefore it has a stand-alone website as well.

The awesome thing is, there is a Free Version of Jaaxy for Wealthy Affiliate Premium Members, Jaaxy Lite, which is perfect when you’re just starting out.  There are two elite versions of Jaaxy. Jaaxy Pro and Jaaxy Enterprise.

More good news is that Jaaxy these are available at Half-Price for Premium Members and Jaaxy Enterprise is free to Premium Plus Members of Weathy Affiliate.

3. The Open Education Project

Once you’ve been a Member of WA for 3 months you can start sharing your own knowledge by adding your own Tutorials or Video Training.

You can earn ongoing income this way.  Wealthy Affiliate pays you based on how many people have read or watched your entire training, liked it, commented on it and how responsive to are you to comments and questions.

Bottom line:  The more popular your Training is, the more is you earn.

This is how Wealthy Affiliate has landed up with an incredible bank of Training, other than the official courses. I even have a few Tutorials of my own (been a bit slack, I know).

My most popular tutorial by far is this one: How to Earn Money from Blogs (before you have significant traffic)

Are there other ways to make money with a website?

Sure. There are plenty of ways.  Once you have built an Authority website, you have a valuable asset.

Here 10 more ways you can make money with your website:

  1. Sponsored Posts
  2. Paid Guest Posting 
  3. Paid Membership to Your Site
  4. Sell Advertising Space
  5. Pay Per Click Advertising
  6. Sell your own eBooks
  7. Sell your own Courses
  8. E-Commerce (sell your own products online) – See my RedBubble Store
  9. Flip Websites (or sell your site once it has some Authority)
  10. Create a Paid Business Directory Page

And you can learn how to do all this in Wealthy Affiliate.  Remember, other than the core training, there are also thousands of tutorials added by Wealthy Affiliate Members, many of whom are experts in their field.

You also are learning valuable skills you can market

You might find, for example, that you actually love the first bit you learn at Wealthy Affiliate – creating the framework of a website and that’s a skill you can market.  I made a few bucks this way when a friend of mine wanted a very simple website created for her Playschool.

Here are a few skills you might learn while you’re building your own site, that others will pay you to do for them.  You can sell these skills on freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork or to your friends.

Marketable Skills

  1. Content Writing
  2. Website Development
  3. SEO Services
  4. Keyword Research
  5. Digital Marketing
  6. Social Media Management
  7. Online Training (eg. Udemy)
  8. Designing Images for Social Media
  9. Email Marketing
  10. Copywriting
  11. Editing
  12. Proofreading

Wealthy Affiliate Success Stories

There are many members of Wealthy Affiliate who are earning money doing all kinds of things online.

I’ll highlight 5 Wealthy Affiliate Success Stories:

1. Steve of I’ve Tried That

I discovered Wealthy Affiliate when I read a review post about Steve of I’ve Tried That and so I’m actually one of his referrals. Here are a couple of his popular posts on WA:

Earnings Report: Here’s How I Made $8,871.03 from Blogging in May 2019

2. Nathaniell Brenes of One More Cup of Coffee

Here are some of my favourite posts by Nathaniell of One More Cup of Coffee.

Your First Website Doesn’t Have to be a Home Run

How $0.01 Turns Into $2178.10

3. Lynne Huysamen – Kaboutjie

Lynne Huysamen of Kaboutjie is making Thousands of Dollars a month with Sponsored Posts and Paid Guest Posting opportunities. She has also received a free washing machine and microwave to review for sponsored post opportunities.

Perks of Blogging – Free Stuff

4. Janelle B.M. aka Cashed Up Nomad

Janelle of the Cashed Up Nomad just used all the knowledge she gained at Wealthy Affiliate to sell a really big ticket item online, a Catamaran.  Don’t miss her awesome post:

I Sold a Very Big Ticket Item On My Website – hundreds of thousands of buckeroonies! 

I took a screenshot of the Pricing page as Janelle said she will be taking this website down soon, now that the Catamaran it has been sold.

As you can see below, it was priced at $212,000 AUD Negotiable (am not sure of the price the buyer settled on).

Janelle Sold a Big Ticket Item Online using knowledge gained at Wealthy Affiliate

 

 

 

 

5. Chris Myles aka Benji’s Dad

Chris Myles is a popular YouTuber who started out at Wealthy Affiliate. You can find him at Benji’s Dad.

I’m doing his Premium Plus classes on building a lucrative YouTube channel and they are awesome.

Chris also has a successful blog and is a Super Affiliate at WA,  here’s his most recent Vegas experience.

Las Vegas 2020 WA Super Affiliate Conference: A REAL Eye-Opener

More Success Stories

Here’s another great post showing Proof Of Income by Wealthy Affiliate Members. Don’t miss the Featured Comment.

Comment Here if You’ve Made $500 – Don’t miss the Featured Comment and the Comments by Loes and Marion Black about how much they earn from their Tutorials via The Open Education Project.

Wealthy Affiliate Overview

  • Name: Wealthy Affiliate
  • Owners: Kyle and Carson
  • Website: wealthyaffiliate.com
  • Price: Starter Member – Free,
  • Premium Member – $49 per month or $359 per year

Wealthy Affiliate Rankings

  1. Training: 10 out of 10
  2. Support: 10 out 10
  3. Website Builder:  10 out of 10
  4. Research Tools: 9 out of 10
  5. Site Comments Tool: 10 out 10
  6. Site Feedback Tool: 9 out of 10
  7. Site Content Editor: 10 out of 10
  8. Managed WordPress Hosting: 9 out of 10
  9. Site Support: 10 out of 10
  10. Success Stories: 10 out of 10

My Overall Ranking of Wealthy Affiliate:  98/100

Over to You

I’d love your comments below. Have you made money with Wealthy Affiliate?  

Or are you ready to give it your best shot?

Join Today

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How to Start a Blog Free

How to Start a Blog (FREE)

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Do I Start Blog Free?

The answer is YES and NO.  Here’s why.

When I first started blogging, I started with a free WordPress Site.

It didn’t look too hot (ugh) and I never really got anywhere with it. So in this case, my answer would be NO.

Maybe it’s because I wasn’t ready to start blogging yet but I suspect it’s more likely because I lacked SUPPORT and TRAINING.

Probably the latter.

Then, a couple of years ago, I discovered a far better way to start blogging free. And this is the way I recommend you start blogging free. This is how to turn that NO into a YES.

Because this is how to start a blog free AND get Support and Training.

The Better BEST WAY to START A BLOG FREE

Ready to start a blog?

Affiliate Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this post (at no extra cost to you).

In November 2015, I stumbled upon Wealthy Affiliate and signed up for their Free Starter Membership which includes a free website. 

While I was a Starter Member, I did Wealthy Affiliate’s Free Online Certification Course.

In this course I learnt:

  • How to make money online
  • How to find my niche
  • How to create a niche site
  • How to drive traffic to my site (free) using keywords  (WA even provides a free keyword tool)
  • How to create my first few pages of content

I created this blog:  Toddler Teacher

I’ve done nothing to this blog since mid-January 2016 because that’s when I decided blogging was for me and it was time to up my game.

You can Start Free but Don’t Stop There

After doing this course and creating my first site, I realised there was real money to be made in blogging.

I also realised that to make money down the line I would need to invest some money upfront.

You can get some real figures in the first income report I published about 18 months after I started blogging.

On the 18th of January 2018, I signed up as a Premium Member so that I could take advantage of the rest of the Training, Tools and Support Wealthy Affiliate had to offer.

Which is a whole heaping LOT.

This was the best decision I ever made as a blogger.  

Or should I say decisions?

Because I’m referring to my first decision – to try out the free membership and start a blog free.

And my second decision – to invest in more training and support once I was ready to go Pro.

To Go Pro it’s Best to Purchase Your Own Domain

Did you notice that my free site Toddler Teacher, has a long URL?   Its full name is toddlerteacher.siterubix.com

Whenever you create a free blog it’s going to advertise the free service you’re using in your title.

My blog could just as easily have been called toddlerteacher.wordpress.com or toddlerteacher.wixsite.com.

Once you’re ready to start blogging as a business, you’re going to want to change that.

You’re going to want to buy your own Domain.  

So in this case, if I’d decided to go pro with my test site, I would have purchased the Domain:  toddlerteacher.com

However, by this stage, I had a couple of other names in mind.

Ready to Go Pro?

On 19th January 2016, I bought my two .com Domains, Happy Human Pacifier and Inspiring Mompreneurs from Wealthy Affiliate (for $13.99 each per year).

Create a Successful Blog

Are there brilliant bloggers who are self-taught?

SURE.  But at some point, every one of them has invested in their education.

Either through trial and error, blood, sweat and tears. And years of experience.

Or through buying a blogging course and actually doing it, going through the steps.

  • For me, I was ready to invest 2 months in.
  • Others may only invest 2 years in.
  • And others know they’re ready to invest 2 minutes in.

But I’ve never heard of any Top-Earning Blogger succeeding without any training or support.

In fact, many of them learn the ropes and then offer their own Training and Support.

Which is what Kyle and Carson at Wealthy Affiliate are doing.  Paying it forward.  They have the know-how and they are sharing it.

So… if you’d like to start a blog FREE and, in time, turn it into a business, here’s what to do next:

Sign Up Free Here

And then decide for yourself whether you want to upgrade to Premium.

Looking forward to welcoming you to Wealthy Affiliate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to pop them in the comments below.

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Make Money with an Online Blog laurenkinghorn.com

How I Grew My Blog Income by 600% in 6 Months

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Make Money with an Online Blog

Are you ready to make money with your online blog?

In this post, I’ll share my second Blogging Income Report and explain exactly how increased my blog earning by over 600% in the last 6 months.

Affiliate Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

You may recall in my first Blogging Income Report I also shared Income Reports of 7 Top Mom Bloggers. This time I’ll only be sharing one Income Report other than mine. Because it’s one I’ve been as eager to read as I am to read my own numbers.

It’s the Annual Wrap Up posted by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of  makingsenseofcents.com

In 2016, Michelle earned just shy of a Million Dollars and so I have been reading her monthly income reports all year with great interest.  I knew she would earn in excess of $1 Million this year… and, of course, she did.

Here’s Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s Annual Wrap Up for 2017:

I Made $1,536,732 In 2017 – My December Online Income Report and Annual Wrap Up 

Michelle’s Income Timeline has been particularly inspiring:

  • In 2011, Michelle started blogging as a side hustle
  • In August 2011, she launched Making Sense of Cents
  • In February 2012 (6 months later), she made her first $100
  • In 2013, Year 3, her business income totalled $116,519.
  • In 2014, Year 4, it totalled $163,929.
  • In 2015, Year 5, she made $320,888.
  • In 2016, Year 6, she I made $979,321.
  • In 2017, Year 7, she earned $1,536,732
  • In 2018, Year 8, her goal is to earn $2,000,000

About half Michelle’s income comes from Affiliate Marketing and about another 35% comes from selling her own course,  Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, which is why I’m super keen to do her course.

I set a goal to purchase Michelle’s course once I have completed Affiliate Bootcamp at Wealthy Affiliate.

I have noticed that massive incomes are being made online by Affiliate Marketers and I am a firm believer that, in time, Affiliate Marketing will become one of my main sources of income too.

My main source of income this year has been people paying to guest post on my site – and I highly recommend this to any blogger who has taken the time to build their site to a Domain Authority of at least 10. (If you don’t know your sites Domain Authority, go to moz.com and download their free toolbar).

It can take a bit longer to start seeing Affiliate sales, but once they start coming in, you’re set.

The way I see it, there are 3 Distinct Benefits of Affiliate Marketing over Paid Guest Posts and they are all to do with time versus money.  

  • You don’t get paid by the hour, you get paid when visitors buy what you are promoting in your post
  • You can do the work once (write one blog post or create one video) and be paid over and over
  • You can make money in your sleep (your website never sleeps)

Now, I know that having advertisements on your site has the same benefits, but I’ve noticed income from Advertising is generally lower (unless you have huge traffic you’re earning practically nothing from Advertising) and I decided I just don’t like having Ads on my site.

Too distracting. Too busy. Too annoying.

I figure If Top Bloggers like Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Sarah Titus and Melyssa Griffin can earn 6 or 7 Figures with zero Advertising Income, so can I.

2018 – My Year to Crack Affiliate Marketing?

All signs this month seem to be pointing towards me going flat-out with Affiliate Marketing this year.

Sign 1:  Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Affiliate Marketing Secrets

First-off, I got featured in a book by Adam Houge on Top Affiliate Marketers, called Affiliate Marketing Secrets.

The ebook launched on 15 January (my interview is on pg. 105) and guess who’s featured on Page 25?

Yup!  You guessed it – Michelle Schroeder-Gardner.

Soooo excited to be featured alongside so many Affiliate Marketing Superstars. I also blogged about this one Inspiring Mompreneurs on the Day of the Launch.

By the way, the ebook is still available FREE of charge.  This offer is time sensitive.

Get Affiliate Marketing Secrets Free here. 

Sign 2 – The Work at Home Summit

I’m subscribed to Michelle’s email newsletter and on 20th January, she sent me details of the Work at Home Summit.

This is a Free Online Event that runs from Monday, January 29th to Saturday, February 3rd 2018.

And Michelle Schroeder-Gardner is one of the Speakers at the event.

So I jumped at the chance to become an Affiliate of this event as I can’t become an Affiliate of Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing until I’ve bought and done the course myself. Can’t wait!

This way I get to learn from and work alongside not only my Blogging Hero, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, but also other Top Bloggers I follow, like Selena Soo, Rosemary Groner of the BusyBudgeter.com, Julie Stoian of CreateYourLaptopLife.com and Emma Bates of KidsCashandChaos.com.

How do you earn Affiliate Commission from a Free Event?

During the Event, we will all have the opportunity to join The Work-At-Home School and this is where Affiliate sales can be generated.

Affiliates can earn 40% Commission on each Sale. The Work-at-Home School offers packages to suit all pockets.

Work at Home Summit

Get Your Free Ticket to the Work-at-Home Summit here.

Or

Join the Work-at-Home School Affiliate Program Here.

Sign 3 – Super Affiliate Challenge

The second sign was when Kyle, co-Founder of Wealthy Affiliate launched his Super Affiliate Challenge.

The Challenge is a rigorous pilot program to build an elite group of Wealthy Affiliate members, hand-picked by Kyle to become Authority Affiliate Marketers by the end of the year.

To be chosen you had to apply first.

I applied (along with 800+ other members) and on 24th January I found out I was accepted (as did about 100 other members).

Become a Super Affiliate. Join Wealthy Affiliate Today.

Our first task is to complete Affiliate Bootcamp Phase 1.

Hey… why don’t you join me? 

Did you know that at Wealthy Affiliate, the first Phase of Bootcamp is completely free?  Along with 2 free websites, access to over a million stunning free images as well as free access to Jaaxy, the most brilliant Keyword and site ranking tool on the market.

Click here to Join Wealthy Affiliate free

And, Finally onto…

How I Grew My Blog Income by 600% in 6 Months

Let’s break it down a bit further.  If you recall, my first Blogging Income Report was based on the first 6 months of 2017.

Do Bloggers Earn Income Blogging

  • In the first 6 months of 2017, I earned $ 214.16
  • In the second half of 2017, I earned $ 1,313.32 (Just over 6 times the amount)

Here’s a Month by Month Account so you can see my Income Timeline clearly:

Lauren Kinghorn Blog Income by Month 1

Lauren Kinghorn Blog Income By Month 2

GRAND TOTAL YEAR 2  = $1,527.48

Are your ready to make money with your online blog? Read more at laurenkinghorn.com #makemoneywithanonlineblog #affiliatemarketing #bloggerincomereports #workathomesummit #affiliatemarketingsecrets Affiliate Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.As you can see, my Top Earning Month for the Year was November, when I earned $ 625.

Business was booming, I finally felt my blogs were taking off! And I was EXCITED!!

I was certain I’d hit the $1,000 mark in December… but alas, business slowed in December.

So I set my sights on having my first $1000 month in January but this month has also been a bit on the slow-side.

I’m at $ 587 so far for the month with just a few days to go.  Eek!

Still… $600+ a month is nothing to sneeze at, considering where I was just a few short months ago.

Which was basically nowhere –  not able to cover my own expenses or assist with my family’s expenses.

What this Means To Me

  • Since December I have been able to cover my own debit orders.
  • Which means I don’t have to ask my husband to deposit some of his salary into my account each month.
  • I was also able to cover my Wealthy Affiliate Expenses for the upcoming year.
  • I was able to buy a nice Christmas present for my hubby.
  • I was able to treat my Mom to a delicious Spa Day in January (I went along too, my hubby’s Christmas present to me).
  • I was able to cover the annual bonus for the lady who cleans our house once a week.
  • I have been able to pay for some of my own coffee dates and playdates for my son.
  • I was able to pay for my son’s Holiday Club in the December/January holidays.
  • I was able to pay for my son’s Pre Primary School T-Shirts.

So… where did the money come from?

The short answer, almost all the money came from Paid Guest Posts or Contributed Posts.

Remember, I started offering this as a Gig on Fiverr in January?

Well, once I had a good few Guest Posts up on my sites, I started getting emails from people asking to Guest Post.

And so I decided to add a Shop to my site where I offer this as a Service.

This was still ad-hoc income, until mid-November, when I was referred to a company who sends Contributed Posts to Bloggers and they started sending me an average of 1 post a day.

A post a day keeps the bill collectors away.  🙂

The Benefit of Allowing Paid Guest Posts:

  • It’s a quick way of adding new quality content to my site
  • Most of the content is written specifically for my site by professional content writers
  • Most content I’ve received is high quality, well-written with very few grammatical or spelling errors
  • Images are usually supplied by the client
  • Some clients even add internal links into their content
  • Many clients don’t require social media sharing (they are simply paying for their backlink within the text)

How I use Paid Guest Posts to Build My Site:

  • I choose one Keyword per post and use that as the Permalink and somewhere in the first paragraph
  • I write an opening and closing paragraph – to maintain my voice throughout my site
  • I reformat each post to improve readability (shorter paragraphs, bullet points etc.)
  • I correct spelling and grammar where needed
  • I format images in keeping with other images on my site
  • I add another internal link if I remember a post that ties in well to the new content

Detailed Breakdown of Blog Income

For those interested in Stats, here are a few more for you.

Here’s the breakdown of blog earnings from July to December  2017.

Again, I’ll go in order of Highest to Lowest Income:

Lauren Kinghorn Blog Income 2017I firmly believe that in the coming year Affiliate Commission will overtake Paid Post Income for me.

And I also plan to focus on creating my own Products and Training Courses this year.

They say that when you start a new business:

  • You lose money in the first year – Check
  • You break even in your second year – Check
  • You make money in your third year – Woohoo! Bring it on!

I am very happy with the results of my second year of blogging. I broke even and I made a few bucks.

I hope this post has given you a good idea of how you can make money from your online blog.

If you have any questions or if you have your own blogging story to share, please leave me a comment below.

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How I Grew My Blog Income by 600% in 6 Months | Make Money with an Online Blog Pin
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7 Top Mom Blogger Income Reports and Mine

Do Bloggers Earn Income Blogging? YES!

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Do Bloggers Earn Income Blogging?

Do Bloggers Earn Income Blogging? Absolutely! But it takes a while. Here are 7 Top Blogger Income Reports and my first one.YES!!!  Is it instant?  Nope!!   As with all entrepreneurial pursuits, it usually takes quite a while before bloggers start earning a living wage.

I’ve been researching income reports of Mom Bloggers for a few weeks and decided it’s time I compiled my first one. You can scroll down to read it only if you promise not to laugh.

But first, here are some of my favourite Mom bloggers who make a small fortune online and happily share their Income Reports.

7 Top Mom Blogger Income Reports

Affiliate Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Rosemarie Groner aka The Busy Budgeter is living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. She's earning over $100,000 a month online. #makemoneyblogging1. The Busy Budgeter

Rosemarie Groner’s last published personal Income Report was in January 2017. She made $ 86,438,83.  Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Nearly $60,000 – Sale of her own Products
  • Nearly $20,000 – Affiliate programs
  • Nearly $5,000 from Advertising
  • $3,600 from Sponsored posts

Rosemarie’s Products: Top Seller: The 90 Day Budget Boot Camp Workbook, plus The Pinterest Strategy Guide and The Core Affiliate Strategy

You can access all her Income Reports here.  Rosemarie mentioned in June 2017 that her blog is now generating around $100,000 a month.

One thing I love about Rosemarie’s income reports is that she encourages you to share your own reports in the comments below her income reports.   Rosemarie, we love you for this!

In June 2017 she took this approach of helping new bloggers get their income reports out to her audience one step further.  Instead of publishing her own income reports, she’s now publishing Reader Income Reports and offering feedback and actionable advice to new bloggers to help them increase their income. Here’s her first one.  

Sarah Titus is living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. She's earning over $75,000 a month online. #makemoneyblogging2. Sarah Titus

Sarah Titus made $75,226.10 in July 2017, nearly $70,000 was from her online store.  Here’s the breakdown:

  • $ 69,707 – Sale of her own Products
  • $4,137.15 – Affiliate Commission
  • $ 1,026 – Miscellaneous Income
  • $ 355.95 – Network Marketing (passive income)

Her most popular products are The Honest Bloggers Bundle, First Day of School Signs and 18 Month Monthly Calendars.

What’s really cool is that Sarah Titus offers bloggers the opportunity to make 40% Commissions selling her products as an Affiliate. There’s a link to join as an Affiliate at the bottom of this page, her online shop.

Abby and Donnie Lawson are living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. They no longer publish income reports but in October 2016 they earned over $51,803. #makemoneyblogging3. Just a Girl and Her Blog

Abby Lawson is no longer Just A Girl and her Blog. Her blog has become a family business incorporating her husband and full-time partner, Donnie and her sister, Brittany who helps with Social media.

The Lawson’s have stopped publishing Income Reports, their final reported earnings were  $41,700 in December 2016 and their highest income month that year was October when they earned $ 51,803.  Here’s the breakdown for October:

  • $32,642 – Affiliate Income
  • $19,161 – Product Income

You can find a list of all their income reports here.  Their Top Selling Product by far is Building A Framework e-book and course.

Alexa Mason is living proof that single Mom bloggers earn income blogging. She earned over $13,000 in April 2017. #makemoneyblogging4. Single Moms Income

Alexa Mason publishes Quarterly Income Reports on her website and sends monthly reports to her email subscribers. Her best ever month was April 2017, when she earned $13,185.14.

  • Nearly $ 9,000 – Affiliate Commissions
  • $ 2,177.02 from Advertising
  • $ 1,800 – Sponsored Posts
  • $ 300 – Freelance

Alexa is very clear about the fact that it’s taken her 5 years to get to this income. I love that she publishes an annual timeline to show how her site has grown over the years:

Caroline Vencil is living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. She only went full time in February 2016 and in June 2017 she earned $9,500. #makemoneyblogging5. Caroline Vencil

Caroline Vencil has been blogging full time since February 2016 and she made $ 9,665 in June 2017.   Here’s the breakdown:

  • $ 5,095 – Affiliate commission from a long list of Affiliate Programs
  • $ 2,674 – from the sale of her own products
  • $ 1,892 – from Advertising

I think this is phenomenal income considering Caroline only started her blog in August 2015.

Caroline is a teen Mom who got married when she was 20. She blogs so she can stay home with her 3 children.

Her Top Selling Product by far is Pinterest Group Board Master.

Tabitha Philen is living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. She's stopped publishing income reports but in April 2016 she earned nearly $7,000. #makemoneyblogging

Note: April 2016 Stats – Am sure Tabitha’s income has more than doubled by now.

6. Inspired Bloggers University

Tabitha Philen’s last published income report was in June 2016 when she earned $ 3,182.28 documenting May’s income. She earned a lot more in April, so I’ve focused on her May 2016 Income Report where she earned $6,845.44. Here’s the breakdown:

  • $ 3,730.75 – InspiredBU Product Sales
  • $ 2,669.24 – Meet Penny Advertising
  • $ 328.24 – Meet Penny Affiliate Earnings
  • $ 108.02 – Meet Penny Product Sales
  • $ 8 – InspiredBU Affiliate Earnings

I absolutely love this info Tabitha shared in her June 2016 Blogger Income Report:

If you have an average of 50,000 page views a month, you could be receiving:

  • $400 to $500 a month from Adsense (with specialized topics earning more)
  • $600 from three sponsored posts a month
  • $100+ a month in affiliate sales

Tabitha also has brilliant post here: How Much Money Do Bloggers Make?  You can find all her Income Reports here.

Victoria Pruett is living proof that bloggers earn income blogging. She retired her husband and is earning over $5,000 a month off a small blog. #makemoneyblogging7. A Modern Homestead

Victoria Pruett doesn’t publish official income reports, but she has been sharing her income ever since she started treating A Modern Homestead as a business.  In her latest post, How I Retired my Husband she passionately tells how she’s now earning $5000 from a small blog (65,000 page views) in only 10 hours a week.  Victoria gives the breakdown in percentages:

  • 45% – Sale of her own Products
  • 35% – Affiliate Sales
  • 20% – Advertising

Don’t miss our interview with Victoria on Inspiring Mompreneurs.  I also reviewed her fabulous book, Make Money Blogging at Any Level.

My First Income Report

Do Bloggers Earn Money Blogging? Yes, but it takes a while. I earned $85 in Feb 2017, my best ever month so far.I’m still a newbie blogger, learning the ropes so I don’t have a flashy “rags to riches” story to tell. Yet.

My primary job is being Mommy to my little one so I also can’t say progress has been speedy.

In my first year of blogging, I earned a sum total of… drum roll… $50.  From a Side Hustle. (Userlytics, see below).

My expenses were $ 378.98  so I made a loss of $ 328.98.

I’m now in Year 2 and the picture is starting to improve.

From January to June 2016, my Gross Income was $214.16  Expenses totalled $198.49.

So in the first 6 months of 2017 I made a teeny PROFIT of $ 15.68.

In my best months, February and April 2017, my profit was $45.79 and $ 33.86.

This is from a mix of side hustles and blogging income because, when you’re starting out in the blogging world you kind of try everything you can at first and see what sticks. Or at least, that’s been my approach.

Deep down, I know what I should be doing is focusing all my attention on Affiliate Income and creating my own Information Products but every now and again the perceived need (panic) to MAKE MONEY NOW rears it’s ugly head and that’s when I get distracted by side hustles.

Having said that, I’ve uncovered a couple of side hustles that take up very little time for a nice side income.

First I’ll tell the story in order of Highest to Lowest Income.

  1. Field Agent –  $106 (Side Hustle)
  2. Fiverr – $ 76 (Blogging  Income)
  3. Userlytics – $25  (Side Hustle)
  4. Wealthy Affiliate  – $7 (Blogging Income)

And here’s a month by month account so you can see how much it fluctuates.

  • Jan:  $8
  • Feb:  $85
  • Mar: $22.13
  • Apr: $74
  • May: $7.56
  • Jun: $17

As you can clearly see my two biggest income sources were:  Field Agent and Fiverr

Field Agent

Field Agent is one of my side hustles and one that’s trending at the moment – Field Agent now has over a million agents worldwide. They currently operate in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Mexico and Romania.

Field Agent is an app you load on your smart phone that gives you access to jobs they call “missions”. It’s kind of like being a rep except you don’t work for just one brand.

I’ve done 23 missions so far and earned R1405. I can only attest to the South African experience of Field Agent as I haven’t worked as a Field Agent anywhere else in the world.

If you are a Field Agent elsewhere I’d love you to share your experience in the comments below.

Mostly, I’ve gone into stores with my smartphone and answered questions about a particular display.  All the missions I’ve done so far involve taking photos of the display, barcodes etc. When these missions become available you have to snap them up quickly because only one agent can visit a store. In our area missions disappear quickly.  The Field Agent app displays all the participating stores in a 90km radius from you (you set the radius when you sign up).

I’ve also done a KFC mission twice. In these missions agents buy a meal at KFC and report back about the quality of their service and the meal.

Once I know what I’m doing, a mission takes me about 10-15 minutes. The first one may take a bit longer, maybe 30 minutes. One mission pays between R35 and R170. Though income is on the low side, when you work out what your hourly rate, its not half bad. In the States missions pay between $3 and $12, according to their website.

I only wish more missions were available. I would be only too happy to do this for a few hours every month.

Fiverr

Here's my round-up post of 7 Top Mom Bloggers and my first Income Report. | makemoneyblogging | topmombloggers | sidehustles | bloggingforincomeIf you don’t know by now, Fiverr is a Freelance website where you usually sell your services for a song, well 5 Bucks, for starters.

The trick to making money on Fiverr is to find a service you can sell for cheap that’s not going to take hours and hours of your valuable time.

Or better still, sell a service that’s quick and easy to provide AND benefits your blog.

So that’s what I do. My gigs on Fiverr bring in some side income while also building rich content on my blog.

By end June I had completed 11 gigs on Fiverr and earned $76 so my average per gig was $6.90.

Some are quick, easy income and others take me longer. I kicked off with a $5 gig that took me 5 days to complete because I offered my Premium service at my Standard price.

The important thing for me is to always give my absolute best in the shortest possible time. As a result, I’m happy to report that I’ve earned 5 Star reviews thus far.

Here’s my Top Selling Gig:

I Will Publish Your Breastfeeding Article on My Website

I suppose I could make more money in the short term on Fiverr freelancing as a writer or editor or proofreader, but that would be too time consuming. As a blogger, I figure the best use of my time, long term, is time on my own blog.  

Join Fiverr here

Userlytics

If you were wondering where my first $50 came from in my first year of blogging, it was from a website test I did for Userlytics.  It was my the quickest 50 bucks I’ve ever made. Took me about 45 minutes to download the software and do the test.  Unfortunately, tests for South Africans are rather few and far between. I’m averaging one a year at this stage. This year’s test paid $20 as it only took about 20 minutes.  They threw in another $5 because I experienced a few technical difficulties and had to re-do the test.

This website testing company is really great that way. Payment is usually really fast, via Paypal.  Although you can sign up online, you deal with a real live person who manages your account. My account Manager is Silvia Gutierrez (mail to: sgutierrez@userlytics.com). If she still needs more testers once I’ve completed a test, she offers me a referral fee to share the test with others.  They don’t seem to have an affiliate program (yet).

What is website testing exactly?

Here’s a quick rundown of the process:

Initial Set Up:

  • Initially, you have to qualify as they are looking for a particular target market for each website
  • Complete the qualification form and email it
  • Download Java and their video recorder

The Test

  • Visit the specified website
  • Discuss your impressions and answer certain questions
  • This is captured on video
  • Answer some questions about your user experience on the website or opinion of the offering
  • Upload the recording
  • All instructions given are written messages on screen. There is no interaction with any person during the test.

After my first test I signed up for a number of website testing sites, but many sites are not open to South Africans (boo) and most tests pay just pennies. If you live in the USA you have the best chance of landing website testing opportunities.

Here’s a link to a great post on The Work at Home Woman: 11 Sites that will Pay you to Test out Websites

Wealthy Affiliate

Here's my round-up post of 7 Top Mom Bloggers and my first Income Report. | makemoneyblogging | topmombloggers | sidehustles | bloggingforincomeOh my… how can I do Wealthy Affiliate justice in one short paragraph?  It’s such an indispensable resource for me.  It’s where I get my blogging training, tools and community support.  It’s also where I registered my domain names and where my sites are hosted (included in their monthly fee is hosting for 25 sites)!

I’m working on a full Wealthy Affiliate Review. Watch this space.

In the meantime, you’re welcome to take a sneak peek, WA offers a Free Trial here.

Oh, by the way, my post on Userlytics, has by far been my most popular blog to date on Wealthy Affiliate, with 123 Likes and 173 Comments so far.  You can find it here: Yay! Just made my first $50 Online

Hope you found this post both useful and encouraging.

Would love to hear how blogging’s going for you.  Have you tried any side hustles?

P.S.  

In response to my first comment below.  This post is about Mom Bloggers because I’m a Mom Blogger. I will follow up with a full round-up post of all the Mom Bloggers I follow who publish income reports, perhaps even one with all bloggers.

I would have loved to add Melyssa Griffin and Michelle Schroeder-Gardner to this list but they aren’t Moms (yet).

Melyssa Griffin only publishes an income report the month she launches a program, her last income report was in December 2016 when she raked in a cool $ 283,680. 

After Melyssa, the two top income earners that I know of are Patrick Flynn of Smart Passive Income and Zach Swinehart of EO Fire.  In June 2017 Pat earned $ 184,095 and Zach, $ 135,301.

Michelle Schroeder’s made almost $ 1,000,000 last year blogging and in June 2017 she made $ 121,861.

Two brilliant Round-up Posts here:

Suzi Whitford of Start a Mom Blog – 53 Blogger Income Reports
Millenial Boss  – 35 Bloggers Making $1,000 to $ 300,000 a month

Happy reading!

PPS. Find my second income report here.

Your Shero's Journey

Your Shero’s Journey | Mini Workshop

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Your Shero’s Journey

Would you like a little taste of transformation coaching?

When I start working with a new coaching client, I love to kick off with the Hero’s Journey.

Because it’s a fabulous way for someone to…

  • See themselves as a SHERO on their own story
  • Identify which Shero’s Journey they are on right now
  • See how far they have come
  • See which steps to take next

Mapping out the Hero’s Journey together also gives me a chance to get to know your hopes, dreams, desires, trials and tribulations, to see where I may be of help in your journey of transformation.

Just for you, just fun, I’m running mini-workshops, where we work through the 12 Stages of The Hero’s Journey.

Our first mini-workshop was on Tuesday, 11th April and 6 amazing Sheroes joined in the fun.   I’ll post some clips from the call soon.

A few ladies in our Mindful Metamorphosis community were keen to attend but missed the event, so here are the details of our second Your Shero’s Journey Mini Workshop.

Your Shero’s Journey Mini Workshop

Where are YOU on Your Hero's Journey

Your Shero’s Journey is about recognizing your own greatness in a fun, light way.

Join us for YOUR SHERO’S JOURNEY

When:  Thursday, 4th May 2023

Time: 8:30am SA 🇸🇸 | 7:30am UK 🇬🇧 

Duration: 60 – 90 Minutes

What:  Group Video Mini Workshop

Where: On Zoom 

Price:  Only $7 per person (R 125) 

Book Now for Your Shero’s Journey

Book Now in Rands via YOCO’s Secure Payment Link (R125)

Or in Dollars via PayPal ($7) 

Once you’ve made the payment, please register below so that I can send you the Zoom link.


Can’t wait to see you there!!!  

And if you cannot make it on the day, for any reason, I’ll send you the replay.

What is the Hero’s Journey? 

What is the Hero's Journey?

At the centre of every movie or story is a hero.

Usually, this hero isn’t a superhero endowed with superhuman powers, but an ordinary person who has risen to the occasion or faced their demons when the going got tough.

Even superheroes start out as a regular guy or girl. Think about the nerdy Clark Kent who becomes Superman, or his cousin, Kara Kent, who becomes Supergirl.

Even the greatest Supershero of all time, Wonder Woman, adopted the secret identity of nurse, Diana Prince in DC Comic books.

Not only do most stories follow the tale of a hero’s journey but that journey tends to follow a similar

path.  This same journey narrative has been used over and over and over again for as long as we have been telling stories.

Think of the timid Frodo Baggins who saves the world in The Lord of The Rings.

Or Santiago, the Andalusian shepherd boy with big dreams of finding gold as told in The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho.

These stories prove that the greatest act of courage is taking the journey into yourself.

The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell is famous for identifying the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey in the history of storytelling and mythology and exploring the psychology behind why we are so intrigued by these stories.

The 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey are used in movies and literature because the human mind finds a story that follows this process irresistible.

  • We simply can’t turn away from our hero.
  • We want to know what happens to them.
  • We want to see them succeed.

Stories and myths help point to something beyond what humans can understand with their rational thoughts.

They point to the source of the meaning of life.

So, whether the hero embarks on an intentional quest or is propelled into an unintentional journey, it becomes a serendipitous adventure.

The stories might be about the slaying of dragons or overcoming overwhelming odds, yet all hero myths are actually about the transformation of the consciousness of the hero.

The death of the old self and the birth of the new.

The moral objective of every tale is pushing beyond the perceived limits and dedicating themselves to a greater cause.

When an ordinary person does extraordinary things, it gives us hope.

It tells us that maybe, just maybe we can do it too.

How does the Hero’s Journey Relate to Me?

How does the Hero's Journey Relate to Me

The truth is, each one of us is the hero (or shero) in our own life’s journey.

Related:   Midlife Awakening

These stories draw us in because we can relate to them.

The books we read or movies we watch bear witness to the dream we hold in our hearts.

We relate to the 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey because we see our journey, our destiny.

Each of us sees a little part of ourselves in every unsuspecting (s)hero.  We relate to:

  • Their feelings of dissatisfaction.  
  • The dream for a better life.
  • The fears we face stepping into the unknown.
  • The frustrations of the struggles.
  • The glory of victory.

In this workshop, we will answer as many questions as we can to:

  • gain insight into your own shero’s journey
  • determine where you are right now, and
  • gain clarity on the steps you still need to take to complete your journey.

By looking at your own life and your current situation through the lens of the Hero’s Journey, you can see yourself more objectively.

You might be able to see what is happening more clearly including where the story is leading.

The beautiful thing about exploring your own shero’s journey is to you get to be the playwright or screenwriter.

You get to write the script.  

BECOME the SHERO of Your Story

YOU are the SHERO of your Story

Are you ready to see yourself as the SHERO of your story?

If you haven’t registered already, here are those details again.

Your Shero’s Journey Registration Details

Step 1: Pick a Payment Option

Pay in Rands via YOCO’s Secure Payment Link (R125)

Pay in Dollars via PayPal ($7) 

Step 2: Register Below to Get the Zoom Link and Handout



Can’t wait to see you there!

invisible aligners

Invisible Aligners: An Alternative to Metal Braces?

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Invisible aligners: Can they be used as an alternative to metal braces? There is more than one way to straighten teeth.  And although traditional metal braces have been used in clinics around the world for more than 100 years, it is no longer the only game in town, with aligners becoming more and more common. So, how does Invisalign London stand up against the traditional brace?

The Foundations Of Orthodontic Treatment 

invisible aligners as alternative

Costs And Value 

Exactly what different people want and what course of treatment they accept is going to be fairly subjective, but an investment in your own health is really a good idea.

The question is how great an investment do you want to make and is it entirely in money, time, or both?Not to mention how important the results are for you.

Having a purely aesthetic goal should not be seen as any less significant; an increase in confidence and self-esteem can reap very tangible benefits that really bring into question whether an aesthetic treatment is far more than might meet the eye.

Children vs Adults 

There is a significant difference between when care is delivered to patients that are either children or adults, but it may not be based on the reasons that you are thinking.

There are no physiological biases that make orthodontistry particularly useful in adolescence; adult teeth do need to be present and natural teeth have to be present but apart from that, the age range where a patient can benefit from treatment is unrestricted.

What does change between younger people compared to adult patients is the demands of their lives. Adult patients have professional and personal responsibilities that can be disrupted by wearing braces, a similar level of disruption to an adolescent may be very unwelcome but is unlikely to obtain packed issues like mortgage payments or promotion.

Invisible Aligners: An Alternative to Metal Braces? | invisible aligners as alternative to metal braces

These complications add a further dimension of cost and a degree of risk to engaging in adult orthodontic work. Thankfully, there has been an improvement in treatment options allowing low-impact orthodontic care in adults to become a very real option and growing in popularity.  Allowing treatment missed earlier in life to be caught up on, or aesthetic goals to be reached.

Invisible Aligners: An Alternative to Metal Braces? 

Role Of The Clear Aligners 

The role of clear aligners is not to make a traditional metal brace redundant, but instead, to provide a low visual impact alternative for correcting mild-to-moderate misalignments on the front teeth.

What makes them so different from braces is that instead of returning to the clinic every 6-weeks for adjustments, all of the necessary adjustments throughout the entire course of the treatment are pre-designed into the sequence of aligners.

So swapping from one to the next ( approximately every two weeks) is the equivalent of an adjustment. These adjustments occurring more regularly can be less extreme than those done with a fitted brace, making them far more durable and less uncomfortable.

invisalign

The total quantity of force that any particular aligner can exert onto your teeth is quite limited; this is because tension is stored in the material itself, rather than the archwire. Hence, the use of a sequence rather than a single aligner for the course of the treatment.

Conclusion

We hope you have found this post about invisible aligners and whether they are a suitable alternative to metal braces helpful. To conclude, their role is not to replace metal braces entirely, but instead offer an eye-pleasing alternative for addressing mild to moderate misalignments on the front teeth. For the right situations, they offer a more convenient and affordable solution. It also saves you the inconvenience of visiting a dentist every six weeks for adjustments.

Why Starting An Online Business Is A Good Investment

Why Starting An Online Business Is A Good Investment

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Why Starting An Online Business Is A Good Investment

If you’ve always wanted to start your own business but are too afraid to take a huge risk with the investment, then an online business model might interest you.

There are many different ways you can run an online business, and there’s bound to be one that fits your needs and investment range.

Unlike with most business models, you can take much smaller risks with online models, and put in a much smaller investment – if you take the right opportunities.

Starting An Online Business Is A Good Investment

Image Credit:  Canva Pro

It’s much cheaper to set up and run

You don’t have to go all out and rent any properties for your online business to get some recognition, you can go ahead and set up shop in an already established online market.

Take Amazon, for example, everyone knows Amazon, and all of the shops Amazon owns are online stores.

You can use these sites to sell your products, and you’ll benefit from their popularity, meaning you don’t have to go above and beyond trying to direct traffic to your items. If you’re only trying to sell a small number of products, or not trying to reach a huge audience – this is a great option for you.

It’s worth knowing that when you sell items on these sites, you’re not making 100% of the profit, as it costs to run your store on an already established platform.

Sites like Etsy charge even more if the product you’re selling was found through an advertisement that was put up on another page.

Even if you have your own website set up, you’re still not going to be paying as much as you would if you needed your own property. You can have a site hosted nestify.io/woocommerce-hosting/, and there are a lot of services that will build your site for you if you’re not happy with the website-building services out there.

It requires less input

If you’re not yet ready to sell your life away to your own business, then an online business shines here. Once you’ve got things up and running, you don’t need to be giving your online store your full attention. If you were to be working on a shop floor – you would have to be active all of the time whenever a customer comes in, but that’s no longer the case with online shopping.

A lot of orders can be handled automatically, and depending on your business model, you may not even come into contact with the products that are being sold.

It’s a little less hands-on, which is a turnoff for many entrepreneurs, but you can continue to maintain your social life while trying to run your business at the same time. It’s not going to be idiot-proof, but there’s a lot more room for mistakes when you don’t have to interact with customers as often.

If you’re new to the idea of running a business, the online route may feel a lot more comfortable for you. There’s a lot less pressure on your end, and you have a lot less to manage in terms of assets related to your business.

Ever thought of owning an online business but never had the courage to take the plunge? Here's why starting an online business is a good investment.

Upskilling is cheap or free

You don’t have to know everything there is to know when you’re just starting out.  You can take it one baby step at a time.

And virtually everything you need to know you can learn on YouTube free of charge.  Sure, it might be a good idea to take some paid courses but there is so much free information out there too.

Once you’ve chosen a direction for your online business you can look into who’s out there doing what you’d like to be doing and model what they are doing.  Many top online business owners are more than happy to share their knowledge and their business has become teaching other online business owners how to succeed.

Everything you learn is an investment in yourself

As you equip yourself with knowledge and learn new skills, you’ll find you gain confidence and know-how in more ways than you can imagine.

These skills can also be used for all your future endeavors.

No learning is ever lost, especially when it comes to being an online entrepreneur.   Even if you don’t succeed at first, you gain valuable experience.

Over to You

Have you ever thought of starting an online business but lacked the courage to take the plunge?

We trust you feel more secure now that you know why starting an online business is a good investment.

dental-laminates

Dental Laminates – Your FAQs Answered

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Ever wanted a whiter smile without the gels or bleaches? Have you ever heard of porcelain dental laminates?Attached to your teeth, dental laminates are a great way to instantly whiten, straighten and correct minor imperfections in your smile, all while not being invasive or uncomfortable to have fitted. Great!

In this article, 5 common questions about porcelain laminates are answered, helping you decide if they are the right treatment for you.

Dental Laminates – Your FAQs Answered

dental-laminates1. Do they hurt when they are put on?

No, veneers Wagga do not require any numbing agents or injections when they are put on.

Your dentist will remove a small fragment of the front of the tooth and then will gently place dental cement onto the roughened surface. Once the laminates are placed over the cement and set in place, the treatment is complete!

2. Can they fall off?

Laminates can fall off, but they rarely do.

For instance, they can fall off if there has been untreated gum disease that has caused the gums to swell, one situation which will result in a higher chance that your laminates will fail.

Or, of course, if they weren’t attached correctly, they also have a higher chance of spontaneously loosening from the surface of your teeth.

Most dental teams will be happy to reattach loose laminates, providing that the underlying cause is not decay or gum disease, which will need treating before any reattachment.

3. Do they stain easily?

Interestingly, porcelain dental laminates do not stain as easily as many people think they do.

The porcelain used to create them is surprisingly hardy and is not as porous as the natural enamel of teeth, hence, it does not absorb stains as easily and is more blemish resistant.

But that does not mean that laminates are completely immune to staining. If you smoke, consume red wine or other food and drink that are high in tannins, this can cause your laminates to stain quicker.

4. How long do they last?

A dentist examining a patient's teeth Description automatically generated with medium confidence

With correct care, dental laminates can last up to and over 15 years.

Remember, that for your laminates to last, you will have to brush your teeth twice a day, attend dental check-ups and will need to keep an eye out for issues that can cause the laminates to fall off, such as gum disease.

While your dentist cannot stop you from smoking, it is worth noting that a link has been found between smoking cigarettes and drinking excessive quantities of alcohol and a shorter lifespan of dental laminates. So, if you are wanting your laminates to last for as long as possible, talk to your dentist about smoking cessation plans.

5. Are they expensive?

Many dental surgeries that offer porcelain laminates are also able to offer their patients payment plans, which can help them to spread the cost.

Of course, this is often subject to a credit check and so, you should shop around when you are looking for a dentist who can offer you either financing or payment plans to get the best deal. Alternatively, you can ask your dentist about composite bonding which offers many of the same benefits as laminates, but without the higher price tag. Just make sure the dentist you choose has a reputation for good results when using composite bonding.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve answered some of the questions that you might have had about dental laminates, theres is nothing stopping you from booking a consultation and getting the smile that you’ve always wanted.

DISCLAIMER 

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

invisible-aligners

Invisible Aligners – Covert Orthodontics

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Today we will be sharing some information on invisible aligners. With the increase in adult orthodontic patients, the standards and expectations of treatment have changed, pushing clients towards orthodontic solutions which are more subtle and convenient and which fit into a modern, fast-paced, professional lifestyle. Invisible braces Clapham or clear braces are one of these covert orthodontic solutions that is becoming ever more popular.

Invisible Aligners – Covert Orthodontics

invisible-alignersWhat are invisible braces?

Invisible braces are low impact or subtle orthodontic tools, but are not necessarily braces in the traditional sense, although some are. Products like Incognito which is a translucent ceramic brace fitted to the back of the teeth, and thus visually discreet, is an example of an invisible brace.

There are other types of braces, which are fitted to the front of the teeth, but have thin wires and clear or enamel-coloured brackets, reducing the appearance of them, making them practically invisible.

Then, there are dental aligners which are gum shield like devices that go over your teeth. They are thin, translucent and push teeth into new positions over time, but are not technically a brace.

Do Low Impact Orthodontics Work as Efficiently as Traditional Braces?

Metal braces have had more than 100 years in clinical service, building up an incredible track record in their effectiveness addressing a wide range of orthodontic misalignments.

Low impact orthodontics are much newer and therefore do not have this body of research, but pound for pound, they are just as effective as traditional braces.

For many conditions, particularly minor or cosmetic misalignments, a traditional metal brace may be unnecessary when a cheaper, more comfortable and less invasive option is available.

 Maintenance and Everyday Use

Day care and maintenance is an important part of good treatment, as poorly maintained tools result in a less effective or ineffective treatment or create secondary issues. A badly cleaned brace keeps food particles in contact with the enamel for extended periods of time increasing the chances of forming cavities.

Most systems which are reliant on brackets and wires are also permanently fixed in place; this means you have to use the mouthwashes and interdental brushes when keeping them clean. It is also important to avoid foods which are particularly sticky, like toffee or can have hard grains or kernels like popcorn.

If you’re using a removable system like a clear aligner, you will be able to remove it before eating and it will simply require you to brush your teeth before replacing the aligners in your mouth. They also have far less impact on your dietary choices.

Progress and Check-ups

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Monitoring progress so that the treatment schedule can be altered if issues arise is an important aspect of responsible and professional orthodontic care. Most low impact orthodontic systems will require tightening or adjusting throughout treatment in much the same way as a traditional metal brace.

This is not true for aligner-based systems where all of the modifications, the force and direction of the force applied to the teeth is pre-designed in the sequence of the aligners, so simply moving on to the next aligner in the sequence is equivalent to an adjustment in the brace.

But it is still important to attend regular check-ups with your dentist or orthodontist and to check for signs of reversion to make sure your tooth position is still in synchronicity with the aligner you’re currently using.

Conclusion

We hope this post about invisible aligners has answered some of your questions to help you decide whether it is for you or not. Remember always book a consultation with an experienced and reputable dentist or orthodontist for any cosmetic or surgical dentistry.

How to Invest in the Stock Market | how to invest in the stock market

How to Invest in the Stock Market

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How to Invest in the Stock Market

Many people are interested in investing in the stock market but don’t know where to start. Investing your money can be a gratifying experience, but it is essential to understand the risks associated with every investment.

Here are five steps for investing wisely and managing risk effectively.

5 Tips for Successfully Managing Risk

5 Tips for Successfully Managing Risk

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1. Check Your Emotions at the Door

Emotions are a natural reaction to the stock market, but they can also lead to wrong investment decisions.

Before you invest in the stock market, take some time to calm down and think about your goals. Make sure that your emotions aren’t dictating your actions.

Your emotions will affect your investment decisions in the long run.

For example, if you are angry, it’s not a good idea to invest when your head isn’t in the game. When people are emotional, they often make unwise choices that will hurt their portfolio returns over time.

2. Picking Individual Stocks Is a Bad Idea

It’s important to remember that you are not picking stocks when you invest in the stock market – you are buying shares of companies.

This means that you should do your research before investing and choose companies with a good track record and will be around for the long run.

Don’t just buy a stock because someone told you it was a good investment – make sure you know what you are getting into. For example, SMSF Investing in cryptocurrency is a good option.

3. Plan Ahead for Panicky Times

A stock market is volatile, and it’s essential to be prepared for when things go wrong.

Have a plan in place, so you know what to do when the stock market takes a turn for the worse.

This could mean having a set amount of money you are willing to lose or knowing which stocks you want to sell if the market starts to tank.

By planning, you can avoid making rash decisions in panicked situations. You can follow the tips below to help you plan:

  • Think about what you want to accomplish with your stock market investments
  • Set an amount that you are willing to lose before investing in the stock market
  • Have a plan ready for when the needs take a turn for the worse

4. Avoid Trading Overactivity

You should avoid trading activity altogether when the market is volatile.

For example, as soon as there is a significant drop or increase in share prices, take some time out before deciding whether to buy or sell them off.

You should step back and think about things rationally rather than be forced to make snap decisions under pressure because this could lead you down an unprofitable path that can further compound existing losses even more severely.

5. Be prepared to take risk

The stock market can be a great place to invest your money and see healthy returns, but it’s important to remember that risk is always involved.

By following these five tips, you can successfully manage that risk and maximize your chances for stock market success.

If you’re still unsure about getting started in the stock market, consider working with a financial advisor who can help you create a personalized investment plan. With some careful planning and smart investing, you could be on your way to making some serious profits in no time.

afford-your-dream-house

3 Guidelines That Will Help You Afford Your Dream House

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There is no denying that many people want to buy a house that they fall in love with. They want to own their dream house, yet the sad reality is that many first-time or even existing homebuyers feel that buying their dream house will never happen.

But, what if there was a way to turn that thought into reality and be the proud owner of a fantastic abode that you’ll always love coming back to after a long day at work? It’s not an impossible challenge, and it’s easier than you might think to achieve that goal.

Here are some ideas to help you make the thought of owning your dream house into reality:

afford-your-dream-housePay Off Your Debt

As you know, you need to have a cash deposit available before you take out a mortgage. One of the best ways to help you afford your dream house is by paying off your debt.

Doing so means you won’t have to pay for that alongside your mortgage payments and other home-associated costs each month. As you can appreciate, having no significant debts to pay means you can save up for your dream house quicker and come up with a big deposit.

It’s worth reviewing your regular bills each month and determining which debt you can pay off and which unnecessary expenses can get canceled. Freeing up as much of your money as possible is the objective you need to keep in mind.

Put Down A Large Deposit

Next, you need to save up as much as possible for a large deposit on your dream home. The reason for doing that is simple: the amount you need to mortgage will be smaller, and thus your monthly mortgage repayments will also be small.

You might be wondering how to achieve that if you don’t earn a lot of money. The answer is simple: find ways to make more money! Of course, the answer, in practice, isn’t so easy, but it’s worth considering the following suggestions:

  • Look for a better-paying version of what you do now;
  • Get a second job;
  • Do some moonlighting from home, such as offering an Internet-based service like web design or copywriting.

You’ll soon see the amount rise substantially when you start saving up money. Consider putting away as much spare cash as possible to create a large deposit. The financial pain (i.e., not having much disposable income afterward) will undeniably be worth the gain.

Choose The Right Mortgage For You

Last but not least, there are mortgages out there to suit all kinds of requirements. For instance, you could consider a specialist mortgage, such as an FHA one. Be sure to check out FHA FAQs to learn more about what’s available for your needs.

Also, ensure that you get plenty of advice about the different mortgage offers out there. The reason for doing that is so you do not end up selecting a mortgage with a high interest rate or unfavorable terms that could see you heavily penalized from a financial viewpoint.

Conclusion

We hope that you have found this article insightful and that you will consider these three guidelines to help you afford your dream house.

how-to-fix-my-crooked-smile

How To Fix My Crooked Smile – Consider Teeth Straightening

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Many people have a less than perfect smile and ask the question: how can I fix my crooked smile?

Having uneven teeth can substantially affect a person’s self-esteem. However, imperfections like a misaligned smile or issues with bite – an over, under or crossbite, can result in people feeling embarrassed to smile. Apart from the emotional effects, a misaligned smile can also cause physical issues. Besides having issues with cleaning your teeth it could also result in infections and plaque build-up.

A beautiful, aligned smile after undergoing an Invisalign in Sheffield treatment can lead to a healthier and more hygienic smile. The results of a teeth straightening treatment is long-term.

Keep reading to find out what you can do to make your smile healthy and looking great. See for yourself how this brace can benefit your overall wellbeing and physical appearance.

how-to-fix-my-crooked-smileWhat Can I Do To Fix My Crooked Smile?

When considering an Invisalign treatment, you will be happy to know that you can benefit from a free smile evaluation and a visualization of what your teeth will look like after treatment.

Potential patients often have access to a 3D technology tool to show them the results they can look forward to. You will be invited to work alongside your dentist to determine whether this treatment is the best solution for you. The dentist will always be on hand to ensure that you have access to the treatments that can best enhance your smile.

Here is some more information about Invisalign braces and how they work.

How Does The Brace Work?

Invisalign is a tried and tested method for teeth straightening, and this method gives them a sense of confidence. The dentists will provide you with a series of aligners that fit snugly over your teeth.

These aligners will gently coax the teeth into their new positions. This will happen over time, with a new aligner supplied to you every couple of weeks. You will be able to see the changes that occur from day one.

Once the aligners have been used and your teeth are in their new positions, they will give you a retainer. This will ensure your brand new smile remains in place and prevent any issues in future.

What Should I Do Next?

If you think this type of treatment could be the right option for you, then it is time to get in contact with your preferred dental practice to begin the process.  There is no  need to feel self-conscious, and you never have to ask yourself again: “how can I fix my crooked smile.”  Invest in an Invisalign teeth straightening treatment today and never look back.

Conclusion

Everyone deserves to feel confident in their smile and this procedure can accomplish just that. You no longer have to hide your smile when you have your picture taken, attend social gatherings, or go to work meetings. Take advantage of your free Invisalign consultation at a reputable dentist and start to transform your smile into a beautiful and aligned one.

seo-for-dental-websites

The Importance of SEO For Dental Websites

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The coupling of strong dental websites and good search engine optimisation or SEO is crucial for effective dental marketing and attracting new patients. In this era of digital technology, everyone searches for their needs online. That is why you need to make sure that you make use of all the available tools at your disposal. You need to take advantage of their potential to boost your business.

Speak to a good digital dental marketing team today to get professional advice and assistance. They can help with setting up and maintaining a bespoke, modern, informative, and functional website. Such a website can help teach potential patients everything they need to know about your practice and the services you have on offer.   This will subsequently help to attract new patients to grow and expand your dental practice.

seo-for-dental-websitesKnowing your competitors

To put together an effective dental website, it is a good idea to first scrutinize competitor websites to see what they look like and the services they offer.

This will give you a good idea of what to include and what you need to do to stand out from the crowd.

Gaining The Upper Hand Over Competitors

You must find out which fields of dentistry the dental practices in your area specialize in, and look for gaps in the market.

With this information, you can put together a website that offers not only what your competitors offer, but also what they do not. This will go a long way in giving your website a competitive edge.

Furthermore, with this information, you can create an attractive and functional website that is informative, educational and puts you ahead of your competitors.

You have to highlight the significance of regular dental check-ups and the detrimental effects of failing to do so. This will encourage patients to book an appointment and address their dental needs.

How Does SEO work?

Once you have an optimized website in place, you should implement a combination of methods and techniques to improve search engine optimization (SEO) for your website. This means carrying out keyword research to find out which dental terms are most commonly searched for in your area. Be sure to use these keywords throughout your website repetitively and strategically. Once you do this, Google will recognize that you have the answers to what potential patients are trying to find out about dental needs.

By regularly carrying out keyword research, you can keep up with the current trends and use this to update and maintain your website. You can also create new content in the form of videos and blogs to upload onto your website. Or you can share on social media channels. The more you can engage with your patients, the more efficient you will be with boosting the success of your dental practice.

Conclusion

We hope this post about the importance of SEO for dental websites has been useful.  Speak to a good dental marketing team today to find out more about the different techniques that can be used to maintain SEO and how they can help attract more patients to your website and your dental practice.