Work at Home Grandmothers

We haven’t had a “featured grandmother” in quite a while, so it was wonderful to hear from Debbie Johnson today and have a chance to share her story with you.  I hope you enjoy reading it…oh, and if you would like to be featured, please write to me at claudiascorner[at]gmail.com.

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After receiving a legal secretarial degree from Bryant and Stratton and working at GE for engineers for six years, I quit to raise our two boys, born exactly one year and three weeks apart. (My husband said, “We’re not going to have your mom watch TWO, are we? Mind you, I was sobbing at the time as he went out the door with our oldest.)

Seven years later a third son arrived on the scene and I worked at a quaint little local restaurant an evening or two a week to bring in a little extra cash. (And, admittedly, to remind myself that I still could “process thoughts” – Oh, the stories I can tell!!)

I’m thankful to have been able to work around our family, but where does a closing-in-on-40 year old woman go to find a job? For me it was an Oral Surgery satellite office 20 minutes away which I managed for two doctors. They kindly allowed me the opportunity to work while updating my computer/office skills. Six years later, with one son in college, another a senior in high school and the third closing in on high school, I needed a full-time job to help with college expenses and high school extra-curricular activity bills. And that is how I ended up at a local business as a sales coordinator for nine years.vI know – trained for lawyers and worked for engineers, doctors and salesmen – nothing “relates”, does it?  Plus, nobody needs “secretaries” anymore – everyone does their own thing on computers! And, NOW I’m closing in on SIXTY!!

After we were blessed with 6 (yes, six!) grandchildren, with two more on the way, I left that job two years ago. In hindsight I am even more thankful because my father went to be with the Lord (and mom) this past Dec. 26.  These past two years were filled with many medical appointments for him that I am SO thankful I could do.  (I was thankful at the time, but even more so now!) I LOVE being with my grandchildren, but I’d also like to help my husband financially. Plus, they say our brains “go to mush” if we don’t use them.

Ameriplan®, USA, offers the chance for me to do it all. Yes, it’s network marketing and I’m learning, learning, learning – which is FUN! It’s VERY affordable to begin your own business. Plus, this company provides things I NEED in addition to a paycheck – discounts for dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic needs, as well as help with child ID, legal fees, medical expenses, identity theft (the fastest growing crime in America) and much more.

If you’d like to check out what this company has to offer, please visit one of my websites at:

www.freedomathometeam.com/DJohnson70 or

www.IBOPlus.com/DJohnson70 or

www.mybenefitsplus.com/DJohnson70 .

Or I’d love to hear from you via e-mail at DJohnson70@ameriplan.net or by phone at 716-355-4223.

We women need to STICK TOGETHER!! And we aren’t getting older, we’re GETTING BETTER!!

God Bless you all!

Debbie Johnson

BAM Media Enterprises is offering a Media Teleseminar this coming Friday, this will be a big help to those of you who want to better market yourself, and your business. It’s short, but VERY sweet, here’s the information I received about the seminar today:

Join veteran journalist Beverly Mahone for one of the shortest, jam-packed teleseminars you’ll ever hear!

In less than 30 minutes, you can find out some of the most effective and creative ways to get your name in front of the decision makers. Learn how to pitch your story idea. Find out specifically what journalists are looking for when it come to finding people to interview.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!

In addition, you will also receive an abbreviated list of media contacts to get you started.

Yes, all this–in less than 30 minutes and it’s all FREE! So if you think it’s your time to shine, let us help you turn on the spotlight.

If this interests you, please visit this link to register.

This is not a Sponsored Post.

I was looking about for something to share with you today, and came across a site called jobsformoms.com. Even though it is supposed to for Moms, I’m guessing it will provide information that will be valuable to those of that are Moms of grown children as well…and Grandmoms.

They charge a small fee to join, but claim to have a nice selection of jobs that are “scam free”, the site has been around for 10+ years. After you have visited, come back and let us know what you think.

If you know of other sites like this that might help us, please contact me or a comment.

My son and sister have been looking for jobs using sites like Craigslist for some time, and while they are a good source (my husband and son have both found jobs using the site), they both tell me that many work-at-home business opportunists are using the site to fish for new people for their downline.

While I don’t think all ads posted are scams, which are generally defined as dishonest schemes for making money by dishonest means, or a way to trick somebody to obtain money or other goods from somebody by dishonest means…it may be a bit of trickery to post deceiving ads that look like they are salaried jobs when they are actually work at home opportunities for network marketing companies.

Do I have anything against network marketing? Not at all, a well run network marketing company that doesn’t make outlandish promises can be a good way to bring in extra income, but I do have a “pet peeve” about sounding like you are something you are not.

If you are posting an ad for a Work at Home job, be honest about what you are offering, and the how it will benefit the person, this way you can be sure that whoever “bites” on your ad is really interested, and not just a “lead” who is likely to be turned off when they hear what you are actually offering.

We have talked about it before, and it’s worth talking about again, the importance of your presence on the web, and finding the right webhosting service for your business.

One of my favorite things to do is to build and add to my business website, and to write on my blogs through the web hosting service that I use. Finding a good service that is cost efficient, yet provides you with the tools you need is essential. In fact, you can visit this link to a site that lists the top 10 webhosting services of 2009.

When you are looking for a service, you want to consider some of the following:

• How many domains does the service allow you to have?
• How many email accounts?
• How easy is it to transfer your site from one domain to another if you want to move to a new hosting service?
• How much disk space do you have to work with and how much bandwidth?
• What “extras” do they offer?
• Do they offer you templates to build your site?
• How many FTP accounts?

Those are just a few things to consider in your search if you are interested in building your own sites for your business.

What do I think about FREE web hosting?  I used it for a while, but you can only do one site, and, well, let me just give you this link to a blog post that explains it quite well called Free Hosting Is Not Always The Best Choice.

Actually her name is not “SuccessGrand“, that’s the name of her blog. The author of the blog is Sandy McFerren, and she’s also a member of the Work at Home Grandmothers network - see the “widget” in the sidebar to jump over and pay a visit.

Sandy has been married about 20 years, and has at least 2 grandchildren. She has two children, a son and daughter…just like me:-)

Sandy shares personal insights and business ideas at her blog. Stop by and pay her a visit…her posts are great and maybe it will encourage her to share even more.  You’ll find a picture of her there with her grandchildren.

Does your business need a makeover? I’ve heard of people getting makeovers, but not a business, so was curious when an opportunity to explore what AT&T ’s idea of a “makeover” is came my way.

All of us know about AT&T, and know that they are a huge company, but they are showing their concern for those of us who are small business owners through their AT&T Small Business InSite.  

I can think of many areas in which the way that I do business could use a makeover if I were to win the contest I’ll be mentioning later. I do a lot of work on the web, but also do some Nutritional Counseling and help people find natural alternatives for their health concerns.

 Here’s just a few areas I could use a makeover..to view them visit the site and look along the top of the page at the tabs and visit the drop-down menus:

1. I could use some help learning how to work anywhere and still stay connected.  This is something that I know would be helpful to me as I work from home…which means that I (and many of us who work at home) work between keeping up with things that we to maintain our home.  That can include shopping, and other things that take us away from our desk and home, so having a means of communication with me at all times so that during my business hours customers can keep in touch is essential. 
2. There is information on managing your technology…I am often overwhelmed by technology and could use a lot of help in that area. Perhaps, like me, other work-at-home grandmothers or baby boomers may not know as much about technology as “younger” business owners who have grown up with technology, or who have been trained in school programs that exist now, but didn’t when we were in school.   
3. The “Idea Exchange” Tab shows courses that you can take to develop your skills…definitely something that would benefit me with my “business makeover”. 

 When I visited the links above, I found that they are having a contest, and the winner will receive a business makeover, which includes a year’s worth of AT&T Products and advise from the experts.

Head on over to one of the links provided and see if you can find as many things to help you in your business as I did…as a matter of fact, I know you’ll find more!

I don’t have to tell you that the real estate market is going through challenging times. We have had a foreclosure or 2 on our street, though it there is anything about living in a modest neighborhood, it’s the fact that people don’t tend to over-extend themselves and are forced to live within their means…so those of us who have been living modestly and simply all along know how to survive during times like this.

Many are learning to work the real estate market as it is in their favor. I know some who are getting distressed market training so they can help buyers and sellers to make the most of their purchase.

I know others who know how to buy and sell properties with little money of their own, I don’t know how they do it, but if this is something that interests you, maybe the information available if you  click this link may be useful to you.  Check and see if the tools provided might help, and whether this might be a way for you to bring in some income.