Moms in Slippers

Typing, A Part of My Life

 

Typing has always been a part of my life.  This may sound a little strange because I speak of typing as if it were a being.  For me, it has been a way of life helping me to earn a really good living. 

 

My typing skills have helped me to procure a job as a medical transcriptionist.  It also landed me into the internal medicine department where I worked as program coordinator of the internal medicine residency program for 12 long years.  Moving into my 13th year as program coordinator, I was recommended for an even higher position; assistant to the program director; a position I believe I highly deserved and a position I welcomed and embraced wholeheartedly.  This position, however, was short-lived and extremely stressful; not because of the work or the load on my shoulders, but because of the hungry staff of attending physicians  that I was forced to deal with on a daily basis.  The weight of the stress was more than I cared to bare, but through it all, I carried this burden patiently and quietly.   

 

Everyday that I walked into that office was a day I had to prove that I was more than capable of doing one heck of an outstanding job, my typing skills along with my writing abilities and superior customer service skills allowed me to do just that.  I shared my skills with my co-workers who said that our working environment was much more tolerable and so sweetfully peaceful when it was just us in the office.  For one, I never demanded anything of my co-workers simply because I did not feel that they were under me; I believed them to be my equals.  I treated them fairly and bestowed upon them the utmost respect; something the attending physicians knew nothing about.  I didn't have a whip to crack; just a heart to create the much needed peace in our work environment in an effort to endure and to make each work day a little bit better for each and every one of us.

 

My typing and writing skills gave me the power, along with my immediate supervisor, to generate letters when the residents needed them.  I worked hard everyday and never ever received any kind of training that petained to my job.  Whenever I asked for help I was always told, "learn on your own" and I did.  I learned how type master schedules and other schedules that included beside teaching rounds, clinic, night and weekend schedules and every other schedule that was necessary for the housestaff to be able to do their jobs smoothly, efficiently and professionally. 

 

Typing schedules taught me how to use the computer; it taught me how to use portraits, landscapes and tables which was an enormous help.  Changes to the schedules were constantly being made and since I was the one making the changes, I learned something new on the computer evreyday. This is how I became a computer whiz. This is how I became proficient in everything I produced.

 

I then began typing memos, creating flyers, scheduled interviews for potential housestaff, recorded and transcribed meeting minutes and took orders from four doctors all with a different agenda.  It was difficult to say the least.  I took orders from four doctors, one vice president and the director of medical education.

 

With each one hungry for power, each one possessing a different personality and with each one telling me how to do my job their way, it became next to impossible to do the job I was expected to do and it was almost impossible to do and produce the kind of work I had become accustomed to doing which was the very best, but I never gave up.  This was evidenced in my last annual raise of five percent.  Though I was grateful to receive this increase, it did not reflect the hard work that I demonstrated everyday eight hours a day, five, sometimes six days a week.  I knew I could do so much better.  I knew I deserved a better job with a higher and much better pay and don't we all.  Leaving my house to travel to a job all year long is worth about $25,000.  My skills alone are worthy another $25,000 - working eight hours a day five days a week with a lunch break that gave me only enough time to wolf down my food was worth another $25,000.  Having to endure the unnecessary stress brought on by the arrogance and the just because I'm your boss gives me the right to talk and treat you like dirt mentality was worth $100,000.  It seems we never make what our skills, talents and abilities dictate that we should make.

 

On June 18, 2002, I released the weight of the stress from off of my life and at 1:38 I collected my belongings, walked away from that office and job and left the building.  

 

And so my typing skills have saved me from having to travel to work in an office environment where unhappiness lurks.  My typing skills have taken me into a whole new life; my very own home-based business; not just one, but several, and although business is slow right now, my businesses are mine all mine.   

 

I left those attending physicians behind; they may have the initials M.D. after their names, but I have the very thing that gives me happiness and contentment; peace along with my typing skills.

 

Written by Cynthia G. Boyer

owner, Moms in Slippers

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Graphic Design

 

When I began typing and transcribing in the comfort of my home, I never dreamed that I would find another passion; one that has given me so much more than I ever thought was possible and I don't mean monetary gain.

 

What I started out making coloring and activity pages here and there, it quickly grew into a whole new venture. 

 

I stumbled across a software program that allowed me to create and design Christmas, Thanksgiving and birthday cards.  When I first began using this program, it was so hard to figure out, but the more I used it, the more I loved it.  I was fascinated by it although at times, I became frustrated because of the difficulty I encountered when I tried to create new designs.  I didn't give up and as time passed, the difficulty I was experiencing became less and less and I was on to something big!!! 

 

This great software program that I was using promised me a 30-day trial and just as soon as I was able to figure out this program, my 30-day trial had ended and since I didn't have the money to purchase the program, I had to let it go.  I thought about that program almost everyday and hoped that I would be able to purchase it at some point.  Well, I found that same software program and was able to purchase at an excellent price. 

 

I ordered the program and it came in the mail about five days later.  I immediately downloaded it to my computer and picked up where I left up or should I say, that was my hope, but again, the difficulty of use set me back just a little.  I worked on it everyday and even though it came with a manual, I figured that since I was able to figure it out on my own with my free 30-day trial (even though it took me all 30-days) I knew that I had the ability to figure it all out again and I did, but this time the time was less and I was on my way to creating some half way decent designs.  Looking back on them now, they look kind of sickly and need to be improved upon. 

 

We all know that when we practice something enough, we get better and better; like when Wilt Chamberlain was a kid, he practiced and dribbled that basketball every single solitary night until he was drafted into the National Basketball Association.  I don't believe that this holds true in every situation of life.  I believe that I have been blessed with and given this talent to design.  It is truly a gift. Oh sure, there are a lot of designers out there; some are so phenomenal that it takes my breath away when I witness the beauty in their creations.  I believe that my designs are unique in that I use exuberant colors, some really dark, but lightened by a stroke of light and some are really bright, but for some reason, I just love to design with the darker colors because I believe that the radiance in my designs make them different; I take no credit at all for what I do.  

 

And so, this typing and transcriptionist have found a new found love and passion; it burns so deep within me that I feel the need to design and create everyday of my life.  I'm like a writer; sometimes my creations creep right into my head and other times, I just can't piece the design together; it is then when I walk away, take a break and regroup just to return to the computer later in the day or the next day.  Whatever the case or situation may be, I never give up;  I just keep designing and with every creation I make, it is always different from the one before. 

 

www.cyndisdigitalpalette.blogspot.com

www.treasuresofhisgrace.blogspot.com

 

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Succeeding Online

A Simple Internet Business Model 

With the myriad forms of information on starting a business on the internet, there's simply too much in the way of software, marketing tips and gadgets and gizmos for your website to know where to begin. In addition, yOu've got to manage your-self - your time, your emotions and your energy. Here's some ideas for starting an internet business.

Coming up with a profitable business idea. Finding your niche is a first hurdle for many. The balance must be struck between something you have a great knowledge about and something that a huge target market is very hungry for. You don't have to set aside days, weeks and month for market research by any stretch of the imagination. If you can identify a niche where people are searching and buying - or competitors are paying decent amounts for google advertising say - you may well be on to a winner.

Building a website. Being able to do basic webmaster tasks is an asset - for example, adding pages, being able to refine menu systems and how to set up your site on the net. Providing high quality content to your visitors is going to make them more likely to want to buy something from you either there and then or on a revisit to your site.

Thirdly, you can start finding ways to make your site as "sticky" as possible - the marketing side. First up adding a signup form and having an ezine you can keep in touch with prospects is a must. Many internet marketers stipulate "the money is in the list. After you've built a list, either from natural traffic to your site, or selling a budget item on ebay for example, you can start a forum or message board and start a sort of community which drives your presence through the addition of user-oriented content.

Your product must be something people will really really want. A starter product would be an ebook that you sell through your site that has excellent info in it. You must differentiate from the crowd and decide to provide the best ebook on the subject there is.  This will help create leads for further selling of higher end products, and you will be increasing cash flow of the business and generating loyal customers.

Converting a visitor in to an ezine subscriber does not mean you have a passport to send a barrage of sales messages. Better to give them value in a content based ezine and announcement list, with subtle sales emails once a week or so. You can also gain repeat visitors to your website by reminding them that your website is there, or informing them you have a new blog or forum that they can get amazing information from - for free! An internet business can be very prospect driven. Your job is to effectively create satisfied, paying customers out of visitors to your website who are willing to buy more from you.

Prospects and prospects who are buyers can be marketed to about the higher end products and services you are providing. You can also leverage these people to help you to get more traffic, by encouraging them to use a tell-a-friend script, to spread the word about your site, or by giving them user-driven content experiences such as an interactive forum, messages board or some other feature to allow participation by your people. Traffic techniques to start out with include using search engine optimisation on your site, generating backlinks from other sites, directories and blogs, social bookmarking and article submission to article directories and ezine publishers.

This article was written by Shenmeng Bei of
http://www.successfulinspirations.com Check
out one blog used for marketing right here:
http://www.gratitudebook.com/blog And here
is a site example http://www.goingfree.org

 

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Working for Yourself!

 

If you've ever thought of starting a home based business, your thought is in the right place.

 

I love working at home.  I love working for myself.  I love being the world's greatest boss, me!

 

Yes, I've worked in corporate America long enough to tell you that I don't miss it and never want to go back into it.  I don't want to go back to the office politics, the arrogant boss and the not-worth-my-time getting out of bed driving to work in mile long traffic salary! 

 

Yes, I love working in the comfort of my own home where I pay myself what I know I'm worth.  My pay is not just in the form of money, but it comes in many rewards that cannot be measured. 

 

Yes, I love answering to myself.  I love scheduling my vacation around my own time and I love being home when my son leaves for school and when he comes home from school.  Now, talk about living the life; being my own boss is truly what I call living the life!  The good, wonderful and oh so sweet life! 

 

I take all of my talents, gifts, skills and abilities and I utilize each and every one of them in a way where I am helping, not just myself, but others as well.  Serving God and helping other women start a home based business in addition to creating and designing is what I do best and it is what I love to do!  Doing things I love; implementing my own ideas that allow me to use my gifts; starting new business ventures with what seems to be my endless list of talents gives me terrific pleasure that cannot be measured by any degree, job or career in corporate America.

 

Working for my self has in deed been a real challenge.  At times it can be difficult, but only because when you deal with people, there sometimes may be a disagreement, but it is nothing that I cannot handle or deal with and believe me, it is minor compared to having to deal with an office staff and a boss who just doesn't have the skills needed to be anyone's boss.  So I'll take the minor disagreement that I can solve in a matter of minutes over taking steps to walk back into corporate America.  No, thank you, but I am perfectly happy right where I am.  I am loving my hours, the freedom to do things my way, the flexibility and all the other million rewards that come from being my own boss.  Just knowing that I can take my lunch break at 10 in the morning is enough to shout rejoice.  Just knowing that I can quit working at 12 noon if I so choose to makes me want to sing!  Just knowing that I don't have to accept that project from Dr. Nose if I don't want to is enough to make me work at home forever! 

 

Have you started your home based business yet?  If not, what in the world are you waiting for.  Come on and join the rest of us who are enjoying all the fantastic and endless benefits of being the boss.  You won't have any regrets.  How could you when you'll be working for the world's greatest boss, too, YOU!!!!!

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Best Tips To Get Organized For Work At Home Moms

 

If I was to come into your office area right now, would you cringe? Don’t feel bad, I’ve been there too! But you know you don’t work at your best when things are a mess, or all the important stuff is swimming around in your head. Here are some great tips to start getting better organized.

 

Email is your best friend and your worst enemy. If you don’t take charge of it, it will take charge of you! Outlook is a terrific tool to keep track of your emails, your daily schedule, your to-do list, client phone numbers and email addresses and more. I use the folder function to act as an online file cabinet. Really, it’s simple and it works great! I just create a folder by subject and drag pertinent emails into it. Then when I wonder, “What did we talk about last time?” or “Where’s my log-in for that account?” I know right where to go.

 

Paper, paper everywhere…are you buried? Maybe a computer system isn’t for you, but all is not lost. If you don’t have a planner, get one! There are many kinds of planners to choose from, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Find one that fits your needs and use it to keep track of doctor appointments, school meetings, your work schedule, etc. Set up a good old-fashioned rolodex or file box to keep track of phone numbers, emails and other information.

 

I also print out e-books that I buy and put them into report covers with a clear plastic cover so I remember to read them and they don’t go to never-never land on my hard drive.

 

Now, tax planning. Neglect your record-keeping and you’re asking for a real headache down the road. An easy way to keep track of receipts is to get a hanging file folder and 12 manila envelopes. Have one envelope for January, one for February and so on. During the month, throw all your receipts in the corresponding envelope. When the month is over, tally up your receipts and write it on the outside of the envelope. That way, when tax time comes, most of your work will already be done. Or again, use a simple Excel spreadsheet or just a spiral notebook to keep track of your expenses by category. Remember to track your income too!

 

Take some time each day to “take care of the little things” and you’ll stay organized, feel less stressed, and get more work done!

 

© 2007  Becki Maxson

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Becki Maxson juggles a husband, three teenage sons, Boy Scouts, meals, laundry, volunteer stuff and home business in Rocklin, CA.

 

She is the founder of http://www.KingdomWork.com, an online resource for Christian home-based business owners, and is a Marketing Mentor for Advantage Conferences.