Most of us start our home-based business careers alone. We are just a one man or a woman band. Most of us do not have an office to go to, and there is no water cooler place to chat with other human beings. We also tend to spend a lot of time in front of a computer without having any human contact. There is nothing wrong running your business every single minute of the day year round, but you might consider at least sharing your expertise with others. This will help you maintain the vital interactions with the people you care about and who care about you. We all can learn from others, and if we cut ourselves out of these human connections, we stop being influenced by others as well as a role model to those around us.

Below is a list of activities which you can instantly use to change your life.

1. Find some kind of physical activity. Movement and exercise simply reduce the stress levels. Being outside takes the mind away from your business-at least for a short time, allowing you to maintain a fresh perspective. If you have chosen a team sport to get involved with, the best part is becoming a part of that team and interacting with other people.

2. Find someone to talk to. A mentor or a coach is ideal if you can afford them. They are your eyes and ears, and because they are not part of your business, they are ideally placed to take an eagle eye look at you and your business. They also know other entrepreneurs who are facing the same exact situation as yours and are willing to share their knowledge and expertise for your benefit.

3. Find a networking event where you can share the news of your business to other entrepreneurs in the audience and listen what has happened in their lives. You learn to share, give, and listen, which are all qualities that make you a good networker. Remember that networking is not direct selling of your products or services; it is to get to know other entrepreneurs in your group and offering assistance to them and accepting theirs when offered.

4. Do something completely different from your business. If your business is sitting next to the computer all day long, find an activity where you are doing almost the opposite. If you speak on the phone during your office hours, find an activity where you are mainly listening to others.

5. Help others by joining a charity. Find a way to help others by using the skills, knowledge, expertise, contacts you already have. Very few things are as fulfilling as seeing someone else to succeed because of your efforts, support and help. There are plenty of people who would really value what you have to offer but perhaps do not have the finances to pay you immediately. Besides, research shows that people who volunteer are more likely to report being happy with their lives than those who don’t.

Your business success is important but so is your well being. Do not let loneliness isolate you from the rest of us.

© 2008 Accidental Small Business Owner

When times are tough, and let’s face it, they are quite often tough for small business owners, how would you keep your existing clients and attract new customers on a shoe string budget? How much would you say it will cost to talk about your business? And is it worthwhile?

There are two ways to communicate with people who could be your potential clients. The first one is using Internet and particularly various online social networking sites and the second one is to become a member of a local business networking organisation such as HBN.

If you choose the former one, all you have to do is to find a suitable social networking site on the Internet and become a member. Once you done that, you can then choose a subject which is close to you and your business interest and find either an existing group of people who share your passion or create your own brand new group and invite others to join. To create an online event, all you have to do is to invite other group members to your event and simply talk to them about your business interests.

An online event can be a webinar or a teleseminar where people whom you have invited hear you speaking and they have a chance to ask questions during the event. In the case of the former one you can also share your slides of a particular business topic with your audience.

If you have chosen your subject carefully, you will soon have a group of like-minded people, who have shown interest in you and what you do. You may not be able to sell them directly but as always there is more than one way to skin a cat. And if online social networking is all too much to you, there is an army of helping hands available who are willing to support you all the way through if you think you lack the knowledge or skills to create an online presence.

Online networking is a great way to find out about potential new clients but if you would like to meet people face to face, then just find a local networking organisation and find out what they are up to.

You can join a business networking organisation and meet likeminded soul mates. It simply means that you have to stand up in front of your fellow entrepreneurs, introduce yourself and your business, pass your business cards around and communicate with the other members of the business network. The more often you repeat the above-mentioned process, the easier it is for people to remember you and your business and hopefully provide you referrals if they cannot do business with you directly.

Talking is still one of the most cost conscious ways to communicate and to connect with other people. It is really good to talk. Try it and you might like it.

Accidental Small Business Owner ©2008