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Frugal Meets Function

June 6, 2011 By

Times are tough all around, so how can YOU save a little green while growing your business? Here are some of my favorite frugalities!

Join an online fax service instead of installing a secondary phone line.  Why?

  • It is more than half the price of the phone line
  • it uses no paper (save your faxes as PDF files on your computer)
  • it uses no toner
  • it uses no electricity
  • it frees up valuable desk space
  • no long distance charges
  • you can ACCESS it from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection

The first question I get from clients regarding this system is, “what about signing contracts and sending signatures?”.  My response is to smile and refer them to my next favourite office item!

Some online fax companies to check out:

Sign up for online signature and document sending!   This brilliant, little service (that also happens to be free) offers:

  • the ability to sign, track and file any papers in one easy online step
  • real time visibility
  • no software downloand to install or learn
  • 100% secure, compliant signature controls and audit history
  • support for both e-signatures and hand written signatures
  • no long distance fax charges for those exceptionally long contracts or line & catalogue sheets!

Just imagine being able to send a 200 page contract to the other side of the world, electronically, have all the pages initialled, final pages signed and dated back in your inbox without ever ever ripping out a single staple or feeding a single sheet into the fax?
Check out www.echosign.com!  There are other services out there but EchoSign seems to have it all locked up.

Start using Skype or VOIP for all outgoing calls
Skype and VOIP are huge money savers if you don’t have an unlimited phone plan for long distance. The cost varies but generally the rates are lower than standard phone rate.   What you can do is start by using Skype for all your outgoing calls and then use your office phone or cellphone for all incoming calls.  Assuming you have a free incoming call plan.  Why is skype so functional?

    • One of the great things about Skype phone calls is that you can share your screen, documents, and websites with      the person on the other end of the line.
    • Assuming all your other contacts and clients all have Skype; it is a super convenient way to execute conference   calls.  Since it is free, you can host a meeting (up to a maximum of 25 people) and literally stay in touch, brainstorm, network with people on the other side of the world.
    • I don’t need to spell out the obvious phone line savings here do I?

Stop using sticky notes and discover Evernote!
This is truly my favourite software download, EVER.  For all you Mac fans, it works with your i-phone, i-pad and laptops, so get excited!
This lovely program allows to literally organize any thought, note, message, document, image, webpage details, contacts and more.  It allows you to upload ANYTHING at all, label it, add as many tags as you need (I have yet to max out a tag list).  Why do I use it so much?

  • can upload any piece of information in any format and label/organize it in 2 seconds.
  • Unlimited tags let’s you organize projects by client, by month, by delgated employee name, by industry, by country …anything!
  • If you subscribe to the Voice2note.com feature, you can also leave yourself voice memos and the system will transcribe it to text and at your next upload, the file is waiting in your inbox to be labelled and tagged!
  • This replaces every scrap piece of paper in your office, briefcase, notebook and it all auto saves and syncs with your i-phone

These are just a few tips that ANY Mompreneur can implement and see financial rewards from.  If you have any other great frugality business tips, be sure to send them my way at info@leahchevallier.com or post them on my blog at www.leahchevallier.com

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The Secret to Successful Solitude

May 26, 2011 By

I confess: I’m an introvert. I know it’s hard to believe since I babble and blab my life story all over the Internet. But when it comes to how I spend my day and the surroundings that fill me with energy, I need a good bit of solitude. Guess that’s what makes me suitable for the home office environment! And it’s what led me to create a practice of journal writing, yoga, running (solo!), reading and prayer.

Yes, I love to spend time alone. I thrive on it! Maybe it’s because I have three young children and I’m constantly reacting and responding to the needs of others. Or maybe it’s because I’m not very good at shutting out distractions and I need quiet to hear the conversations taking place in my head. Whatever the reason, the benefits of some “me time” in my day are extraordinary!

When I start my day with an hour of solitude (by journaling, running or some other solo-practice):

  • I’m happier and more fun to be around!
  • My body has more energy to help me lead a productive day!
  • I’m more patient with my kids.
  • My mind is overflowing with creativity.
  • I feel connected to God and comforted by his presence.

Could you use a little alone time in your day? If so, I’ll let you in on some of my secrets to successful solitude. What I’ve discovered is that there are three key ingredients (Three P’s) to practicing daily solitude:

  1. Permission: Give yourself permission to be fully present and embrace the quiet. That means letting go of the thoughts that wander through your mind about where you “should” be right now, and what you “should” be accomplishing and who you “should” be spending time with. Just accept the gift of silence and solitude and let it seep in through your pores and fill your spirit.
  2. Priority: If you’re a busy mom, then solitude does not naturally occur. You have to schedule it into your day. Physically enter it into your calendar. Sure, there may be windows of opportunity when the kids are not home and you can sit down with a cup of tea, but are you actually going to do that? I won’t. Unless it’s on the calendar!
  3. Proclaim: Sometimes it’s necessary to set expectations so that your loved ones know what you are doing and why it’s so important. A friend of mine once told me she woke up every morning at 5 am just so she could have an hour alone before her kids stumbled out of bed. One day her daughter set her alarm so she could join mom for some “girl time.” Very sweet. But it took away mom’s only hour of quiet during the day! So be clear when you set your schedule and let your family (and possibly friends and colleagues) know that you need this time alone because it fills your spirit and makes you a better person!

Want to really experience the benefits of solitude? Take the Solitude Challenge and travel solo. Go on a quiet retreat in the mountains, rent a beach cottage in the off-season or visit a charming little town you’ve always wanted to explore. Take a journal with you and write or doodle your way through the adventure.

Be sure to let me know what you discover!

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Being a Mom and Having It All – Is that really possible?

April 14, 2011 By

super-mom

As a mother of 2 active and beautiful kids, 2 wild and crazy dogs, 2 busy businesses with a very supportive husband, it may look like I have it all together.  Well, maybe on the outside. But to make it all happen… to get things done… and to make sure nothing falls through the cracks is a pretty daunting task 24/7.  It requires the skills and the strength of a Super-Mom!

I always kid around about being a Super-Mom.  The mom that does it all, has it all and is successful at it ALL.  But, hey!  Am I kidding myself?  At one point, I had to stop (in exhaustion) and look around… I noticed a stressed out family. As they say, “when Mom’s happy, the house is happy.”  Well, when Mom is stressed-out, everyone can feel it!  Since I was so overwhelmed with trying to do it ALL, I didn’t seem to notice the little, precious things my kids where saying and doing each day!  I was missing the point!

And my aha moment came and I thought to myself, “This is NOT what my family needs – they don’t need me to be Super-Mom!”

Linda Anderson from Mom-to-Mom said it best:

“SuperMom, it turns out, would not really be that great a mom after all—even if she really did exist.  Why?  Because real kids do not need a SuperMom.

Why?  Because SuperMom is trying to do so many things, accomplish so much, fit so many things into her schedule, that she often misses the most important things.  The things—or rather the people, the husband and kids—right in front of her.

In addition, SuperMom tends to do way too much for her kids—to give them too much, to protect them too much, to hover too much.  At the same time she tends to expect too much from her kids just as she does from herself.  After all, a SuperMom must have SuperKids, right?  Talk about pressure!

No, your kids do not need SuperMom.  They need RealMom.  They need a real, authentic mom who acknowledges her human-ness, her limitations, even her mess-ups.  She is willing to apologize when needed, to live within healthy boundaries, and to learn along with her children.  RealMom laughs a lot more than SuperMom.

Most importantly, she is willing to acknowledge that she doesn’t “have it all.”  But she knows where to go to get what she needs.  No, she doesn’t have all wisdom, all strength, all patience, all knowledge.  But she knows the One who does have all these things.  The One Who promises to be strength in our weakness, wisdom in our confusion, and patience when ours has long ago run out.”

“Nuff said.  I hang my cape.

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