Wow, I didn’t realize how lost I was without my web presence! Both sites operational again and all is right with the world. Protect your online presence, its important to your business! www.execsolutions.com & www.businesswomenspeak.com!

Life in server land is once again doing its best to make me crazy. Both my execsolutions and businesswomenspeak websites are down. Of course the weekend is here so I am learning patience!

Wow has January just run with the 2010 theme! Better news every day in our lives and I know its happening because we believe it to be a better place than 2009. My goals include blogging on issues that will help business owners – everyone can see if I can meet my goal

Two days till Christmas – where did the time fly away to? I hope we can slow down just enough to embrace the moments of life that are important – take the time to say thank you to those who care about you!

Well, I don’t think many people will be too upset to see 2009 in the record books. Unfortunately its a record in too many negative ways.  There is a silver lining at the end of this 2009 tail: People, Relationships, Trust,  Savings, Family, Spirituality, Faith and Hope.

Yes, these are words I associate with 2009:

People - how many people did you personally connect with this year?  I connected with many more people than I had in a long time. I talked to old friends, classmates, college alumni, an amazing amount of people, all in an effort to touch the hearts and minds of lost friends – it was good for the soul and put a smile on my face.  You never know who will be the connections of your future until you touch the past.

Relationships: Wow, change your perspective and find out who your real friends are!  Relationships are a two way street. Sometimes you can give and give and give and never receive.  Why?  Well who really knows but you may discover that people only associate with you if they think you are in the “acceptable” categories of which they approve!  I added a whole new business approach to my life this year – many have judged and exposed the place in life they are coming from – such as “we are too good for you now that you don’t fit our “idea” of what you should be”  – Well, in reality I am still who I am just expanding my business applications.  In this case – really finding out who is a “fair weather friend!”

Trust - big word for 2009.  When all looks well – everyone wants a piece of you, especially for free, when things don’t look as well – then the true trust in relationships is revealed.  I trust different people today then I did two years ago – my gut senses are working really well and that makes 2010 an exciting future to look forward to fulfilling!

Savings – I think most of the US market realizes that savings matter.  The WWII generation lived by this motto, but the 60’s and 70’s generation lived for the now.  The Dave Ramsey have it, save it, free yourself in the future motto is one that many people will now live by and be better for.  This may give our lifestyles a little shove into contraction for a while but in the long run, just as a company watching their actions will benefit and be stronger, so will the individual benefit and be stronger.

Family and Spirituality - No matter how far away your family is physically, we are better connectors today – why?  Now we realize all can be lost in a moment and people/family and your spirituality will be the sustaining factors is the storms of life.  Never should we turn our backs on this, always should we celebrate it.

Faith and Hope - Yes, I am a faith-based person – hope will always spring eternal because I have more to do and contribute than I have in the past.  I will not allow the day-to-day noise to override the most important realization that I have hope!

So, take these few words and think if they apply in your life.  May you have the most blessings that this Holiday season can bring to you and without a doubt it will be a Happy New Year!

Busy Christmas shopping and forgot about tax time prep? Don’t forget you have only the rest of December to add a home based business to your tax life. Trust me you will be happy you did!

Spruce Up Time is followed by Tax Time – if you are looking for tax benefits I must ask “Do you have a home based business?” In this economy a little extra income in a home based business can help – more tomorrow!

You should check out this state of the art site I joined ; It’s a customizable page that combines the best news, videos, music, and social networking with cash-back shopping from the biggest retailers such as Target, Best Buy, and Tiger Direct. Check out  http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=470576905995910129451 or visit my Blastoff Homepage at http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=470576905995910129452

Wow, the week just got away from me!  Now there are just 19 days till Christmas and just 25 days till the end of 2009.  Well most will be happy to say goodbye to this year! 

Ok, first things first: How do we spruce up the money tree??  Yes, I already said Organize.  Every piece of paper could be a receipt, an email address of a contact, a phone number of a person you want to speak to.

Find and sort all of them: 1. The receipts are a must for tax benefits. They will help you prove every business expense you have, even if you are a W-2 earner.  Remember, you spend on your job and do not get reimbursed for everything?  Yes, you can deduct expenses for your job – check with your tax preparer.

 2. email addresses are the relationship builders. It’s the way most communicate beyond the personal phone call.  Organize your email addresses in some contact management tool – you never know when you get a bug to start a business and want to let all your contacts know about your new opportunity,

3. Phone numbers are a close relationship builders.  I am not one for talking on the phone but it helps when you want to really be sure that your appointment is on time, your business associate will be at the meeting or you just need to contact a friend.

Then its time to FILE, yes the boring task of filing papers.  Have you ever said “Now where did I put that paperwork from the doctor’s office?  It’s just like losing your keys, if you don’t have a designated spot in your files for all your medical records, you will be wasting precious hours searching and searching.  Take the time to file.  If possible, use a scanner and save files on your computer and back up on to a CD or back up drive.  No matter high-tech or low tech, be sure to label files and use them.

Now with 25 days left till the end of the year, there is plenty of time to talk about accelerating expenses and delaying income if possible or is it better to increase income and move expenses – sounds crazy but it depends on your tax bracket and where you believe the tax rates are going!  I believe they are going up and up – enjoy some Christmas cheer and ponder these questions – back with you tomorrow if the holiday bug doesn’t swallow me up again!

28 Days to Christmas Yes, my gift? The 28 things you can do to spruce up your Money Tree! Tip #1 while all shop, you organize. Your Money Tree should have all that was spent hanging like ornaments on the 2009 tree – gather all & tomorrow we will show you why! Happy Holidays