Conversation
by Yank Elliott, MBA & IAHBE Writer

It has long been taught that networking is one of the best ways to promote your personal objectives. My ex-wife was a master at this; it helped her rise from student to a top-level executive position at the same college where she received her undergraduate degree later in life. She instilled the networking philosophy in our son; using his network of acquaintances from college days, he received three job offers shortly after graduation. He has used these networking techniques to build his business from zero into a lifestyle many times better than what I have done...

As a writer of occasional books, I have always had a problem figuring out how to get them published. The best place I found for on demand publishing, until now, was Lulu; I will continue to use them, but I plan to try this new source I discovered from Cool Tools. It is the self-publishing division of Amazon, CreateSpace. What caught my eye in the Cool Tools review were the many ways Amazon helps small publishers. It also won’t hurt to become associated with the largest bookseller in the world...

The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts To Change Your Life And The World, by Lynne McTaggart
reviewed by Yank Elliott, IAHBE Writer

I can hear it now: “What in the world does this book about weird mind and consciousness stuff have to do with home-based business?”

Well, if the ideas discussed in the book are conclusively proven, they could mean you can more easily persuade employees and customers of the value of your ideas, products, and services. In addition, if you can become proficient with these techniques, you may be able to influence the actions of your competitors, government regulators, your bankers, and others you want to help you. These ideas have been used for thousands of years in other cultures, but the modern Western scientists have been very reluctant to even consider studying the idea of consciousness because of the difficulty of defining consciousness in exact mathematical terms. All this is rapidly changing with the increasing understanding of quantum mechanics...

For-Profit Hobby Business
by Yank Elliott, MBY & IAHBE Writer

I have always encouraged the operation of sideline businesses as a way to protect financial security. Even highly paid doctors and lawyers, along with accountants, and other professionals should find some business they feel some passion for and play around with it to see if it will work. If one thing doesn’t work, try something else. If started early enough in one’s career, preferably at least with entrance to college, by the time illness, other disability, or some drastic industry change comes along, like offshoring jobs via the Internet, the professional should have a decent side income to rely upon...

Simple Home Budget Lite
Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7

A personal budget manager for everyone. Enter transactions of all kinds and analyze income and expenses shown in the summary color-coded overview chart.

SimpleTimer 1.3
Mac OS X 10.1, 10.21, 10.3 10.4, 10.5, 10.6

A simple and easy way to quickly create timers and reminders for daily tasks. Features include one window for every timer, ability to set up the timer just like you would do with a "real" kitchen timer, multiple timers, and more.

More Ideas...For-Profit Hobby Businesses
by Yank Elliott, MBY & IAHBE Writer

If your business has taken a hit during this severe recession, as mine has, you may be looking for additional sources of income. An idea that has received little coverage in the media in past years, has recently become a much discussed subject once more. Many articles are now being published in all the media dealing with careers and part-time jobs regarding the possibilities of turning your hobby into a money making business. I have written about this several years ago, and just recently, I wrote an article for IAHBE entitled “For-Profit Hobby Businesses.” There were so many good ideas about hobbies for profit, my research found too many possibilities for just one article. That is the reason for this article...

1099 Bombshell Concerns Us All
by Yank Elliott, MBA & IAHBE Writer

NOTE: This opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SFI or IAHBE.

This article may appear, at first, to be political...but let me assure you, it's not. It's about a provision in the Health Care Reform Act that will affect owners of home-based or small business. Pay attention to this!

The potentially serious problem we’re now facing is buried deep within the 2,409 pages of the health care bill in Section 9006. This section requires ALL companies, even the smallest home-based business, to issue tax Form 1099 to every individual, corporation, or other business to whom you pay more than $600 in a year. This includes all goods and services of whatever kind, not just contract workers as the law now states. The new requirement is slated to become law January 1, 2012...