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My non-technical family thought I’d lost my mind when I’d decided to NOT go get another 9-5 job upon the collapse of my newspaper business.

The wolves were closing in and circling to foreclose on my home.  But I was not going to give up!  I’d rather die trying.  I refuse to return to corporate America to another job in this male dominated society of good ol’ boys in DFW where I would be totally miserable.

By the grace of God, many things have fallen into place and have allowed me to purse my dream of developing software products and websites.

1. I’ve sold one of my websites www.aMomEntrepreneur.com
2. My husband was totally on board and supportive.
3. I’m very hard headed.
4. I’ve been able to put together a talented team of programmers & creative individuals.
5. My vision for the software product is crystal clear – even if my family didn’t/doesn’t see it.

The idea behind the product Simple Sell came as a result of being sick and tired of being sick and tired of waiting on an overpriced, under-responsive webmaster to create a few things.

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a Mom Entrepreneur

I love March because I feel it is the home stretch to spring and open toed shoes.
I spent time this weekend thinking about purpose. Purpose in what I am doing and why I am doing it. I know that in many areas of my life I tend to gravitate toward the nearest shiny object and while that has always worked for me for the most part, it’s also kept me so busy with a million balls in the air that I feel with more purpose I can have a little more breathing room to enjoy more down time.
Part of being able to have purpose, and therefore focus on what is really important, is to not lose sight of yourself Ensure you are being fulfilled and not making your purpose about someone else. I think that sometimes can be hard. We have people in our life we want to take care of and want to do things for and it is so easy to do that at the expense of who you are and what you want. But that’s not good for you or the other person. There needs to be that balance.
So here’s to purpose and focus and taking care of you!
Cheers-
Laina

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• New Laina Turner iPhone app (lainaturner.com)
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Marc Lerner was diagnosed with MS on May 15th 1981. Instead of taking a back seat to the disease Marc said “this has been an amazing challenge and a journey of self-discovery.” He wrote a book, A Healthy Way to be Sick, to share how he learned to cope with a chronic illness. Marc said “I found that, no matter what the challenge we face, the key to consciously deal with it is found in The Wisdom of the Body. I have found that the natural reaction of a person in a struggle is to look outside for the solution. By developing one’s inner wisdom, you can consciously participate as a partner with your doctor.”

Marc has an inner strength we can all learn from. It is hard to face any challenge life throws in our path without wanting to run toward finding that easy solution. But really when it comes down to it we must be strong. Stay strong and fight to overcome any challenge.

For National MS Week 2010, Marc was featured in his local paper,
AnnArbor.com on 3-17-10.

Marc also gives tele-seminars for the chronically ill and disabled to teach
them four main life skills; positive self-image, self-trust,
freedom from negative thinking, connecting to The Wisdom of
the Body. marc says “In my seminars, I am often told by the
participants that these are the skills that everyone
needs—not just those in a health crisis. In 1982, I
founded Life Skills Institute and continue to serve as its
president. Please go to A Healthy Way to be Sick to
review my e-book, which was endorsed by Bernie Siegel. Go to
Life SKills Inc to view the rest of my work.”

Thanks Marc for being a positive role model and such an advocate for Multiple Sclerosis.
Laina

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In today’s tough economic times, many small business owners are faced with the need to tighten up processes and downsize their employment force in order to stay fiscally sound, or at least somewhat fiscally sound. As I have had clients come to me on how to best communicate this to their employees, I always say the same thing. Honesty is the best policy.

Here’s the thing. I like to think that people are inherently good. Your employees want you to succeed and prosper. Yes some do think the business owner has unlimited money but maybe that is because you have not been clear enough to them that you in fact do not have a money tree in the backyard. It is ok to tell your folks that things are tight. Get them to understand what you are going through and get them bought in to your vision. If they have a clear picture of what is going on they will support you in your time of need and work just as hard to see the business make it. After all they also have a vested interest in survival. The job outlook right now isn’t the best and keeping a sinking ship afloat will be worth their while.

Now I realize that being all Polly Positive here does not apply to each and every situation. But if you trust your people tell them where you are at and what you need from them. It will really work, I promise.

If there are more small business topics you would like to read about please comment and let me know! Or check out But It’s my Business.

Laina

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Related articles

• New Laina Turner iPhone app (lainaturner.com)
• Small business owners, managers challenged to ask for help when they need it (thegazette.com)

Yeah, I know that title doesn’t make any sense but I was having a hard time focusing on what I am supposed to be doing. Partly because I am not sure where to start and partly because where I should probably start isn’t really what I feel like doing. It made me wonder how much time I waste on “thinking” rather than actually doing? Then half way through wondering I realized I was doing it again. Thinking not doing. Sometimes it can be hard to get your self motivated. Especially about things that are less than fun. I decided to start doing all the things I don;t want to do first and then leave the “fun” stuff for the afternoon. At least it will give me something to look forward to.

How do you keep yourself motivated and on track? Here is an interesting article on the subject.

Laina

So, today I found an old planner I thought I would reuse. It had been effective in the past (not sure why I stopped using it except I happen to have a fetish for office supplies, ahhhh post-its). I have felt very unorganized lately and thought that a fresh start with a tried and true method might help. I started going through some of the used pages looking at what I had been up to over a year ago and came across something that I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or feel mortified. It was an appointment reminder with a therapist (didn’t work) who is now dead (I didn’t do it).

Now the morbid part of me just had to laugh. I want to then post it on Facebook because seriously, it’s pretty funny. I mean really how often do you open up your planner and see a meeting item with a now deceased person. Granted if that person was a friend or relative it might be sad but this was someone whom frankly, although was an ok person, was kind of a pain in the ass (I mean I didn’t go to therapy just to have this person tell me I was nuts – I already knew that). So what do you think?

Am I a horrible person to laugh at the misfortune of someone else? Or is it ok to poke fun at something that we all know is inevitable?

Have you downloaded my iPhone app yet?
The NEW Laina Turner iPhone app

Laina

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I read an article the other day about the importance of staying positive in this current economic environment. You read all that stuff about the Laws of Attraction and while you may dismiss some of it as hogwash (yes I borrowed that from my grandmother) it is true that positivity breeds positivity and the opposite is true. Or else they wouldn’t have come up with the saying one bad apple spoils the bunch.

I have heard a lot of people comment lately about the upcoming holidays and how it is going to be more stressful than normal this year because of financial constraints. Well life is stressful and the worst stress is usually caused by financial issues so what can you do. If you maintain a positive attitude, and just as importantly, TAKE ACTION, to your goals. It will happen.

I stay positive by remembering all the good things I do have instead of focusing on the negative. What do you do? Share with us so maybe you can help someone.
Laina
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One of my favorite inspirational books is This Is Not the Life I Ordered. It is simply a journaling of the main characters and their life stories and their journey’s and how they persevered and were able to receive strength from each other in order to make it through those times of success and failure. I would encourage you to pick up a copy as it is one of those books that is good to have on the book shelf for those times you need a little pick me up. Let’s take today for example. It’s Monday, and because of a lot of craziness in my life, I definitely needed some inspiration to get me going. Throughout this book are quotes that I enjoy and the one today that caught my eye was from Cicely Tyson. It says “Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch- what make you go beyond the norm.” What it said to me today is that instead of letting those challenges get us down we need to look at them as ways to make us better. It’s not always easy but it’s a better alternative than being sad and depressed about what might seem like an insurmountable challenge.

Laina

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Chiczofrenic – Barbie & Ken

We all remember back when we were young and it was all about Barbie dolls and Baby Alive. If we had brothers there might be a stretch Armstrong and some Hot Wheels thrown in. However, how many of us played house. Traditional ‘play’ acting for girls and boys alike. Mimicking our parents and grandparents or people we may have watched on television. Is this where we learned that we wanted to have that perfect life? Did the those folks really portray the perfect life? It’s what all the people against Barbie and Ken were fearful of, the ideas that people could be perfect. We played with the perfect Barbie, in her perfect clothes, her perfect corvette, and perfect Ken. Did we feel this was how life was supposed to be? Perfect?

How did you feel the first time you realized that life wasn’t going to be like Barbie and Ken living the life in the Dream House? I know I’ve felt cheated at times. I thought life was supposed to be all rainbows and marshmallows. Damn that fantasy! It set some high expectations that now I must reach or live disappointed. Trying to achieve that dream is what is driving me crazy these days (among others). How about you?

Laina

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I hate the telephone. I was never a big fan of the phone but as the years pass I become even less thrilled with actually talking when texting or email will suffice. Before you go thinking I am some kind of introvert or don’t like people it’s not that at all (I like most people….the ones that aren’t annoying). It’s more about time management. It is a better use of my time to just text/email a quick request without all the meaningless chit chat that often goes along with a phone call. If I have the time it’s one thing but if I don’t it just frustrates me to listen to someone. Especially when we already discussed that specific topic.

However, I don’t think most people really get it, even when I tell them. Here’s an example, I tried a little experiment. On my voicemail I recorded a message that said I don’t like checking voicemail and often don’t. If you want to get a hold of me it would be better to text or email me. It only took a day and a half before my voicemail was full with people who obviously don’t listen to messages either. So then I just left my voicemail box full and every time someone told me it was full I just played stupid and blamed it on At & T (sorry AT & T).

I am not trying to replace actual human connection with technology just wanting to be more effective.

What are your thoughts on this?

Laina

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