On September 2nd I appeared on ABC 7 News  'View From the Bay'.

Watch the video on ABC 7 News were I discuss successful business techniques that will help you run your household.  

Five smart reasons to run your home like a business:
Inspired by the "Your Business from A to Z" section in "The Accidental Entrepreneur: 50 things I wish someone had told me about starting a business."

1. Let your budget dictate your needs and not your wants. Part of running a successful business is being flexible, but one of the most successful ingredients is being resourceful with your money. Let's call it your investment. Being flexible within a variable budget and not spending beyond your means is the key to success.

2. Build a strong team. In business there are competitors, but when it comes to running the home, your friends are not your competitors, but part of your team. It's like managing a project team. Enroll your family and friends to assist you. You do not need to do it all alone! Talk to one another and share ideas for cutting costs and getting jobs in the household done more effectively. Structure a different venue each week where you meet at someone's house to take time out, kick back and share! A problem aired is a problem solved. Make it your task each week to come to the table with one solution for saving money whether it is a coupon, a bulk buying scheme or hot deal! Like a business leads group, that way the other people in the group are also doing the work for you!

3. Plan and implement daily with periodic cost saving strategies. Every top CEO has a specific business plan and the "to do" list fits that plan, whether it be on their blackberry or on their calendars at work. Make your own and if needs be, make them daily. Consider renaming your to do list to "play list." That way it is much more interesting when you wake up in the morning and think, "What's on my play list today?" Having a to do list when you go to the grocery store for example, saves on money, economically adds to food stuffs you already have in the house (no throwing food out!) and even saves on gas. Also chunk your errands that are in close proximity to each other so that you go one time. By planning ahead and being organized you save on gas by not repeating trips to the stores. You also make sure you use those coupons within their expire dates! All good business people learn over time how to cut financial corners as well. Here's a good one for going green: Don't buy cleaning products. All you need is lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar! Another idea for cutting costs is to review how many services you pay automatically by credit card monthly. Perhaps you really aren't using some services to full capacity. Cancel the automatic payment on those!

4. Believe in yourself to make it happen, but at the same time know when to get help. Knowledge is power and information is essential. Sometimes, surfing the Internet can help, reading a book, or just sharing a household problem. There are also professionals out there who are good at steering you towards taking the principles you've learned to an even higher level, where you can make money from a home based business.

5. Make sure to reward your own CEO as well. Sleep peacefully at night knowing you have done the best job possible in these economically challenging times.

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I will be signing books at A Great Good Place For Books this week.

December 4, 6:00- 9:00pm

It's the Annual Holiday Stroll! It's festive and fun

Join Susan and  local authors at A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 LaSalle Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611

May 22, 12:30pm
Stacey’s Bookstore, 581 Market St., San Francisco, CA
Download PDF flyer.

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