Ideas, inspiration, and resources for entrepreneurs. My business ventures and adventures, including tales of my sons' entrepreneurial education. All content copyright 2005-2007 by Mary Jo Tate. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:26:00 -0600 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:26:00 -0600 I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog. It covers: The best blogging techniques. How to get traffic to your blog. How to turn your blog into money. I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free. To your success! Mary Jo Tate http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/448292/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/448292/ Successful entrepreneurs always remember the importance of building a good team instead of being the Lone Ranger, and I couldn't agree more. This lesson was brought home to me . . . again . . . in a very powerful way on Friday when, in what can only be attributed to temporary insanity, I scheduled my 7yo son's birthday party for 1:00-3:00 to make it convenient for the other moms in our homeschool co-op . . . and forgot that my 15yo, 12yo, and almost 11yo sons--who are my right-hand men--would still be in class. Oh well, I thought, surely a single mom of 4 boys can handle 6 boys ages 6-8 for 2 hours on her own. Right. There were no problems greater than a bit of spilled milk (literally) . . . and no one even cried over it. It was more the strain of preventing potential disasters by keeping all 6 boys in the same general area (upstairs OR down, inside OR out) so I could supervise their ongoing re-enactment of every battle known to man.  (We have quite a collection of swords, Nerf guns, light sabers, and Civil War-style wooden muskets.) I'm used to delegating most of this kind of thing to my lieutenants . . . who were AWOL in logic and music classes. The moms picked up their kids at 3:00 . . . just as the almost-11yo's friends came for HIS party.  (I was being SO efficient with back-to-back parties, doncha think?) The 11yo bunch was much more self-sufficient, and my two older boys were home by then to help with crowd control  as needed.  I sat down to rest and actually dozed off on the couch for a few minutes despite the full-volume activity all around me. When I regained consciousness . . . and sanity . . . I was reminded of what a tremendous blessing my four boys are. We've been on our own for nearly 6 years now, and they have become extremely responsible, independent young men. They pretty much run our household (well, except for cleaning toilets!) so that I can work from home and continue homeschooling them even as a single mom. It's amazing what our children can do when we raise our expectations for them. And it's reassuring to see their increasing confidence and capability and to think how well those will serve them in the years ahead. I'll be sharing my secrets for raising responsible, independent children . . . and managing your time wisely to grow your business . . . in a 4-week teleseminar starting this Thursday, Sept. 13. You can listen to an audio preview of the course content and register for the class here: How Do You Do It All? But don't delay, because the class starts in 4 days, and registration ends Wednesday. I look forward to talking with you! Blessings, Mary Jo Tate http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/388225/ Sun, 9 Sep 2007 20:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/388225/ When you're writing a salesletter or other copy, do you ever think how great it would be to have it reviewed by a top-notch copywriter? I do!   My friend David Garfinkel is widely regarded as the best teacher of copywriting, so he's the person whose copywriting advice I value the most.   I was thrilled to read on his blog this morning that he is making available, at no charge, an audio of a 90-minute critique he did of someone's salesletter.    I haven't even listened to it yet, but I wanted to go ahead and let you know about it right away. This is a rare opportunity to learn from the best. Get the audio here. After you listen to the audio, take a moment to drop back here and leave a comment. To your success! Mary Jo Tate http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/375444/ Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/375444/ As a single mom homeschooling four energetic sons while running a growing home business, I've learned a few things about balancing family and business.   In fact, the #1 question people ask me is: "How do you do it all?"   Here's the short answer: I don't, and I redefine "it all."   I'll be sharing my best strategies in a special teleseminar starting September 13, so I'd like to hear from you.   What are your biggest challenges in balancing family and home business?   To share your challenges, simply leave a comment here on my blog.   To thank you for participating, I'll send you my top 10 tips for "doing it all." Be sure to leave your e-mail address with your comment if you'd like to receive that special report.   I look forward to hearing from you!   Mary Jo Tate   P.S. - To learn about the class, visit www.HowDoYouDoItAll.com.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/356856/ Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/356856/   I hope you're planning to join me in Colorado Springs and/or Atlanta for Rhea's Entrepreneur Days. You can get all the details here: www.FamilyBusinessEducation.com   I've posted frequently about the value of this wonderful conference, so I won't repeat myself here. But I want to let you know about the exclusive bonus package I've assembled just for you when you register through my link. (To make sure you're eligible, use the link above and be sure to type "Mary Jo Tate sent me" in the comment box on the registration form.)   BONUS #1 — How to Find Clients When You’re Just Starting Your Business. Downloadable MP3 audio and transcript of one-hour class with marketing expert Martin Wales. ($99.00 Value)   BONUS #2 — How to Use Powerful Testimonials to Market Your Business. Downloadable MP3 audio and transcript of one-hour class with marketing expert Martin Wales. ($99.00 Value)   BONUS #3 — Essential Strategies for Polishing Your Writing by Mary Jo Tate. In over 27 years of professional editing and writing, I’ve identified the most common mistakes that trip up writers everywhere. Now I’ve distilled hundreds of picky rules into the essential principles you must know, with examples to help you put them into practice. This handy e-book will help you polish your own writing. ($19 Value)   BONUS #4 — Entrepreneur in Training by Forrest Tate. A teenaged entrepreneur shares the valuable lessons he has learned from millionaire mentors. This e-book is packed with encouragement, ideas, and tools for entrepreneurs. ($19 Value)   BONUS #5 — How to Get Maximum Benefit from Attending a Conference (and Avoid Information Overload and Analysis Paralysis!) by Mary Jo Tate. This special report offers 24 strategies to implement before, during, and after a conference to ensure you make the most of your conference experience and take action afterward so that what you learn has a lasting impact on your business. ($10.00 Value)   Attending Rhea's Entrepreneur Days has literally changed my life. It has multiplied my business and helped me educate my four sons. If you're ready to change your life, join me there!   To your success!   Mary Jo Tate   P.S. - Remember, find out all the details about Entrepreneur Days here: www.FamilyBusinessEducation.com   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/355672/ Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/355672/ No matter what business you're in, effective copywriting is essential. Expert copywriter Ray Edwards will be teaching about copywriting at my friend Rhea Perry's family business conference in August. Ray has even agreed to do a special presentation for Rhea's Proteges at the Protégé workshop on Thursday called "Secrets of Writing Copy that Sells for the Rich and Famous." If you would like to meet a world-class copywriter, who won Armand Morin's Better Your Best Contest and $25,000, join me this August. If you'd like to get to know Ray before then, Rhea will be talking with him on the phone tonight, June 28 at 9 PM Eastern. He'll teach "7 Principles of Writing Copy That Convert Browsers Into Buyers." That's a lesson I want to learn! The number to call is 620-782-8800 The passcode is 72383#. To learn more about the conference, go here: http://www.FamilyBusinessEducation.com And to learn more about Rhea's Proteges, a program which can help you jump-start your business (and which gets you a 50% discount on the conference), go here: http://www.rheasproteges.com/cmd.php?af=601775 I hope to see you at the conference!  (I'll be speaking at the Protege workshop on "How Do You Do It All?"--a real-life perspective on balancing family and home business.) To your success! Mary Jo Tate P.S. - When you register for Rhea's Entrepreneur Days or join the Proteges, be sure to put "Mary Jo Tate sent me" in the comment box so you'll qualify for my exclusive bonus package. http://www.FamilyBusinessEducation.com http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/349169/ Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/349169/ I've written here before about the powerful impact that Rhea's Entrepreneur Days has had on my family and my business. I'm excited to let you know that Entrepreneur Days is coming up again in August, in two locations:  Colorado Springs and Atlanta!  So you can choose whichever location is more convenient. You can learn some things from teleseminars, home study courses, e-books, and so on, but nothing beats the power of attending a live event. Networking is half the value. I've gained as much from the people I've met and gone to dinner with as from the speakers . . . and that's saying a lot! I'll soon be announcing some exclusive bonuses for everyone who registers through my link, but don't wait for that. Go ahead and find out all about the conference now: Get all the details here! There's a discount for early registration, too, so don't sit on the fence. Take action now! Feel free to leave a comment on my blog if you have a question. I'll be glad to answer it. To your success! Mary Jo Tate FamilyBusinessEducation.com P.S. - To make sure you are eligible for my exclusive bonuses, be sure to use the link above AND to type "Mary Jo Tate sent me" in the comment box on the registration form. You'll be glad you did! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/343803/ Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:15:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/343803/ In 2001, as a homeschooling mom of boys ages 9, 6, 4, and 6 months, I suddenly became a single mom. A year later, my child support ended. I was broke and reluctantly went on food stamps. I had years of experience as a freelance editor, so I resumed that work, but I didn’t know much about running a business. That’s when I met Rhea Perry.   At Rhea’s Entrepreneur Days, a conference for families who want to have home businesses, I gained a vision for what was possible as a successful entrepreneur and got the specialized education I needed to move ahead. I began taking action on what I was learning when I joined Rhea’s Protégés, a mentoring program which gave me extra motivation and the resources to grow my business.   Because of the changes I implemented and the products I developed, my income doubled in 2006 . . . while working only 20 hours a week so I could spend more time with my sons. I no longer qualify for food stamps, and I even won Rhea’s Protégé of the Year award for the most improved business.   God has blessed my family abundantly, above all that we asked or thought, and Rhea Perry has been one of His primary vehicles for doing so.   Tonight, Rhea is hosting a call to explain her Protégé program.   As a member of the program, you’ll receive a discount on the upcoming Entrepreneur Days conference. You also get a one-hour personal consultation to help you discover what your strengths are so you can determine which career direction to pursue.   There are many more benefits to Rhea’s Protégés; you can read about them here: http://www.rheasproteges.com/cmd.php?af=601775   I’ve learned from experience how valuable the right education and mentoring can be. If you are an entrepreneur or would like to be one, I highly recommend that you listen in to this call.   The live call is Tuesday, May 22 at 9 PM Eastern Time.   The number to call is 1-620-782-8800.   The passcode is 51988#.   There is no charge for the call, other than your usual long-distance fees.   If you want to join a group of families who are working toward financial independence, then don’t miss this call!   Blessings, Mary Jo Tate http://www.rheasproteges.com/cmd.php?af=601775   P.S. – I apologize for the short notice. It’s always best to be on the live call, because there’s usually an opportunity to ask questions at the end. However, if you miss the call tonight, the recording will be available on the website soon.       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/332125/ Tue, 22 May 2007 15:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/332125/ On August 17th, Alex Mandossian--one of the best marketing trainers I've ever encountered--will reveal his closely-guarded "Virtual Book Tour System" he has tested for the past 3 years.If you're in a hurry right now, listed below is your private registration link and VIP Code.><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< Here's your private access link; click it now: http://www.VirtualBookTourInfo.comYour VIP Discount Code is: "VBT-3964"(Saves you $79 from the normal $99 tuition)><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><-->>> Authors, Info Marketers, Publishers <<<--Because you're reading on, let me get more specific about WHO should attend this call.If you're an author, info marketer or publisher and you're sick and tired of humiliating "book tour" appearances or marketing campaigns that are inadequate, then this training is for you.Alex Mandossian has taken the old "book tour" concept to stratospheric new heights because his new and improved system lets you connect directly with your readers and audiences with nothing more than a telephone in your hand!This means you can promote your books not just in a few cities, but internationally ... ... and all at once!! -->>> What You'll Learn In Just 2 Hours <<<--The "Virtual Book Tour System" is a revolutionary concept for selling more books (or info products) and the idea was born at a book signing featuring former Vice President Al Gore.><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><Here's your private access link; click it now:http://www.VirtualBookTourInfo.comYour VIP Discount Code is: "VBT-3964"(Saves you $79 from the normal $99 tuition)><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< In just two hours, Alex promises to teach you: * Why the traditional book marketing and promotion sales model is now obsolete...* How to "repurpose" your content to rake in 50 times more profits with practically no work...* How to "outsource" your busywork to reliable vendors to give you laser-like focus on selling...* How to build your own online lists, even if you're just starting from scratch...* The precise step-by-step blueprint for doing your own Virtual Book Tour - from the comfort of  your own home or office...* How to interview famous authors, and much more!! -->>> Short-List Of Virtual Book Authors <<<-- During the past 3 years, Alex has conducted more Virtual Book Tours than anyone else on the planet.Maybe you've participated in a few of these?* Harvey Mackay (We Got Fired)* Joe Vitale (The Attractor Factor)* Gay/Katie Hendricks (Spirit-Centered Relationships)* Mark V. Hansen/Bob Allen (Cracking The Millionaire Code)...but wait, there's more... * Michael Masterson (Automatic Wealth)* Chris/Janet Attwood (The Passion Test)* Mireille Guiliano (French Women Don't Get Fat) * Bobbi DePorter (Quantum Success)* Stephen Covey (The 8th Habit) ...and there are still others...* Loral Langemier (The Millionaire Maker)* David Allen (Getting Things Done)* David Bach (Start Late, Finish Rich)* Marc Allen (The Lazy Person's Guide To Success) -->>> What If You Can't Attend? <<<-- I encourage you to register with your VIP Code, even if you can't attend this tele-training because you'll get access to the recordings by the following day.  That means you can listen to the call over and over again so you don't miss a morsel of content!Click the private registration link now and remember to type in your VIP Discount Code so you'll save $79 on your tuition cost.><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< Here's your private access link; click it now:http://www.VirtualBookTourInfo.comYour VIP Discount Code is: "VBT-3964"(Saves you $79 from the normal $99 tuition)>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><Speak To You Soon,Mary Jo Tatehttp://www.VirtualBookTourInfo.com http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/183691/ Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/183691/ To learn more, turn up your speakers, and click on this link:   http://audiopostcard-003.com/Y.asp?7723311X1166   Listen for me...   Mary Jo http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/158168/ Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Entrepreneurs/158168/