Hi Everybody!

I was just wandering around the forums this evening and noticed no one has been posting here lately.  I don't know the reason why, but I thought I'd try to stimulate a little action.  As you may know, I edit the Blissness column in the Daily Muse and I'd love to know what kind of articles YOU would like to see in that column. 

I'm currently employed full time, but I've just started working toward starting my own home-based internet business. 

I had my own business until 23 years ago when I went to work for my current boss.  At that time I had a word processing/paralegal business that lasted about five years.  It died a painful death when we moved 40 miles further away from my customers--who were already 20 miles away!  To give you an idea of just how much things have changed since then, I ran my business on a 48K CPM based machine.  CPM and the Apple operating system were at the top of the heap before IBM and Microsoft got into the game.  When I started back to work full time I had to learn DOS and a lot of other things I'd never seen before.  We saved everything to 100K floppy disks.  My dearest wish was to own a 1 or 2 megabyte hard disc.  Today I carry a 2 gigabyte MP3 player.  WOW things have changed!

I'd like to know:

                   Do you have your own business now?

                    Do you have plans or want to open your own business?  (If the answer to this is "yes", please answer the next four questions as if you already have your business up and running)

                   Full-time, part-time or ???

                   Is your business home-based?

                   What is the nature of your business?

                   Do you work alone or with employee(s)?

                   What questions would you like to see answered in the Blissness column?

                   What topics would you like to see articles on?

Since the Daily Muse is for you, the reader, I'd like to be sure I'm providing content that suits your interests and needs.

If for any reason you'd rather contact me directly than post here, I can be reached at lindakwilliams2002@yahoo.com.

I hope all of you will respond.

Thanks!!

Linda aka QBUdoesart

 

I've done freelance artwork in the past, and the hardest part for me was deciding how to price my art. Suppose I were to sell in the Artella shops. How do I put a value on what I've done that doesn't drive business away because it is too pricey?

Thank you for your column!

~copper cat

I don't have a home-based business, but my husband does, so I'll answer for him.  I forward him articles I think he'd find interesting, so while he doesn't read the Daily Muse regularly, he reads when I send him stuff. :)

 

My husband is a musician who runs a recording studio, located in our basement.  Last year he released two albums: one of local acoustic band Communist Yard Sale, and one from his own solo electronica project, Binary Souls / Other Dimensions.  Music (and his biweekly webcomic) is his full-time job.  Another solo album and a print comic are planned for this year.  He's always interested in inexpensive and non-obnoxious marketing ideas.

I just love the Blissness column and it's been giving me "booster shots" this week. Thank you!

To answer your questions: 

I have had two successful businesses in the past (one service and one retail) that I prospered but did close when I moved to another part of the country. Having said that, I am relaunching a life and creativity coaching business here in my new area. Right now it will be part time, home-based, and I will work alone. 

As far as what I'd like to see in Blissness columns, well, any and everything is great. I do love success stories of women who are doing it now and tips on how they got there. I find that to be inspirational. Marketing and time management is always fun. (Did I just say they are fun?  Well, I think they are!).

 

Thanks, Wozzie!  I'm always glad to hear that people are seeing some things that they like.  I use a very complicated and sophisticated system for selecting articles--I only use the ones that I find interesting or think would be helpful for others.  Of course, that leaves far too much to what appeals to me and that's why I thought I'd try to get some input from others.

 I'm glad to hear you're getting back into your own business.  I'm anxious to get mine off the ground, but am finding it difficult to find the time and energy I need to get it going.  I could really use much longer days--or perhaps I should just try for an alternate universe where I have unlimited time and no responsibilities, but when I return to this universe not a second has passed since I left.  Gee--I like that Idea--if only I could make it work.  Now that would be something worth selling shares in!

 Good luck with your new endeavor and feel free to provide suggestions for Blissness at any time.  It's much more fun to do the column when I know what others would like to see.

 Linda

 You are very welcome and I definitely appreciate the column!

 You mentioned your internet based business. What exactly will that be? I understand about wanting the alternate universe as I want that too! 

I love the Blissness column and always find it helpful.  I especially love anything that is geared toward creative people -- not just in terms of the type of the business, but just the whole mindset.  This is why I think Marney's work for creative entrepreneurs is really special...because she speaks "our" language, which is so different than what is traditionally out there in most business-starting and business-building materials.  It would be great to hear more from Marney in the Blissness column, although I know she is so, so busy!  But I find her approach so refreshing and helpful because it combines real "passion" with valuable information and know-how.

I already have all of Marney's business-building products myself, but maybe some reviews and/or excerpts from these various ebooks and courses would be helpful for Blissness readers?  Just a thought.

Thanks for doing this column, Linda.  You do a great job!  I also see your name under the Creative Quickies and I love that column, too!

Tara