As we age, it seems like we become more and more hard-pressed to fulfill those, yet unfulfilled, dreams. We’re working harder, having less fun and setting ourselves up for some medical issues down the road if we don’t slow down. Are you living on a street known as “Stressful Alley?”

Stress is predicted to be the biggest health problem in the 21st century and if stress is spoiling the quality of your life, then you need to take some necessary action to reduce stress naturally and find some much needed relief.

Feeling as if you’re trapped in a rut or that your life is going nowhere is another part of stressful illnesses and this feeling can trigger depression. Doing the same routines day in, day out isn’t good for us and although we do need some security, needing it too much can cause problems. Take yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new. Start a fitness program, try a new sport, learn a musical instrument, go on a activity holiday or take up a new hobby. New experiences add to the pleasure you get from life and keep your spark alive.

When you’re suffering a stressful, depressive or anxious episode, a feeling that somehow, it’s your fault can creep in. In blaming yourself this way, guilty feelings arise and you feel even worse. But you’re not at fault in anyway, you didn’t suddenly decide to suffer from stress, depression or anxiety and I know you’d ditch them right now if you could! Stress, depression and anxiety have specific causes that certainly aren’t your fault. Never blame yourself and concentrate on treating the causes instead.

Burnout is an ever increasing problem in our society. As if a full working day isn’t enough, many people return home and have to do even more work to run the family home, prepare meals, time for the children and a multitude of other activities and people all clamouring for attention. So make “me time” a priority. Have at least one 20 minute break away from your work station where you can relax in peace. At home, schedule periods each day so you can rest and relax. These times are so important to both mental and physical health and they’ll help relieve stress, depression and anxiety.

It’s been said many times: What you focus on becomes your reality. It’s true and in life, little things can make a big difference. If you continually focus on problems, on little things that annoy you, on the irritating habits your loved ones have and on all of the inconveniences we all experience in daily living, your going to be unhappy. Instead, focus on the little things that make life worthwhile but that many of us take for granted: a sunrise, a smile, an act of kindness, a star filled sky, a hug from your children, a kiss from your lover or support from your friends and family. We all have many wonderful things we can focus on everyday instead of expecting them without regard and the more you focus on these little things, the happier you’ll feel.

Baby boomers are a different breed from previous generations, and we demand different choices for retirement. Forty years and a gold watch wasn’t going to do it for me so after 25 years I made the choice to leave Corporate America and pursue my passion to “do it my way.”

So what choices are you facing as a baby boomer?

Previous generations retired after working for one company for 25-30 years, and after that stint, they got a pension plan. Retirees had a small house paid for, a nice Social Security check and a pension. Add to that a life expectancy of around 70 years, and you’ll have a perfect retirement plan. (Unfortunately, my dad didn’t get to enjoy his retirement because he passed away at age 52.)

Nowadays it’s a different reality for sure. Life expectancies are creeping up past 80, pension plans are quickly disappearing, and full retirement is no longer at age 65, but rather 66, plus we can expect that to change even more in the future. The fact that so many of us baby boomers are poorly prepared financially doesn’t help the future outlook.

So, more and more, boomers, like myself, are seeking entrepreneurial opportunities to help shore up their inadequate retirement savings.

But businesses can and do fail, often.

Think about the math of failure and recovery. If you start a business when you’re around 50 years old, and it takes about four years to fail, how able will you be to start yet another venture when you’re closer to retirement age?

Networking is hard both off and online. Handshaking and backslapping takes a lot of effort for offline promoters, and web cash flow takes entirely new techniques.

Being on your own means you set your own procedures and policies, serve as your own human resources, sales, marketing, payroll, tax and accounting departments, plus fax and phone answerer - the list goes on and on.

Regardless of how you envision your golden years, you still have to plan for some type of retirement; whether it is off to the Caribbean or possibility in an assisted living facility. How you choose to live in the future will be determined by you choose to live RIGHT NOW.

First of all, women network differently from men. Men tend to function from a “Good ‘Ol Boys Club” mentality and are often far more strategic. They will arrive at an event and try to gauge who they should talk to and who they need to be introduced to. Women, by nature, are much more personable and will, often times, exchange a meet and greet with others without making business the focal point of the discussion.

On one hand, men tend to find it easier to have business relationships on a range of different levels. Women in business tend to start out by developing a friendship base and don’t always understand that business is about strategic positioning and building a network of people around you who provide resources, consultations, partnerships, advice, etc on a variety of different business related levels.

I admit I am still relaitvely new to online networking but I have discovered some things that work and things that DON’T work.

1. Join one or more online networking communities: Actively participate. No matter which community you choose, however, after joining, you need to participate.

2. Start a blog or write a regular column for a web site or e-newsletter: You can start a blog (basically an online diary) on one of the larger blogger sites or online communities; you’ll create more buzz for yourself.

3. Develop an e-mail newsletter for your business: Create an e-mail database of clients, customers and friends, and send them regular content that drives them to your own web site.

4. Never forget that online networking is still about developing trust: In order to drive business to your company by word of mouth, you must focus on developing real, personal relationships with people.

5. Research your market: You have two ears and one mouth; listen more than you talk. Through participation in these communities, companies can learn about consumer interests and reactions with a candor rarely found in focus groups and surveys.

6. Create Competence: If becoming an expert in your field is part of your marketing strategy, social networks give you a much more accessible outlet than the media. You can speak up in a mailing list, discussion forum, or blog, and reach hundreds or thousands of people. Say something useful, original, and profound, and you will get quoted and linked to, reaching even more people.

7. Build and reinforce your brand: Every signature in an e-mail or on the Web, and every profile online, is an opportunity to reinforce your brand.

8. Stay away from Negative Posts: If someone is criticizing another individual for something they may have said or done, the best thing to do is not to offer a comment at all. Chances are you don’t know the dynamics of the situation and it could be more harmful to you in the end. Also, don’t initiate negativity because you will be viewed as a naylsayer and that is a sure turn-off.

One more thing, even though it appears online marketing is much more impersonal that one-on-one contact, trust me, it still has impact. People will still form opinions about you by the words that you write and the topics you bring up. They can also influence others in their opinions of you as well. And those opinions will either establish you as a successful online businesswoman or will have you frustrated over spending TOO MANY HOURS on the computer!

Small business owners have so much to do every day – the business of your business (or what you’re actually paid to do), marketing, administration (emails, voicemails, etc.), bookkeeping. The list goes on and on…

And that’s only one part of your life!

In order to have a balanced life, you need to manage your time correctly otherwise you’ll be stressed out, burnt out and frazzled!

Here are the top 3 things I do to make sure my small business runs smoothly:

1. Eat your frogs every day

Every day decide on a maximum of 6 things to do. Before you even put them on your list, ask yourself if they bring you closer to your business goals or not.

Then do the most important task first. It often seems like that one is also the most difficult task. Once that is out of the way, your day gets better and the rest is a breeze.

This way, even if you don’t finish your 6 items, the most important tasks will always be done. I use this method for responding to emails too.

2. Remember Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion.  Many times we don’t know how long something will take so we allow hours and hours for simple tasks. If you genuinely don’t know, then start keeping a time log for tasks you do routinely, like writing a weekly Ezine, daily blogging or posting to forums.

Once you have an idea of how long regular tasks take, set a timer when you do them in the future and aim to complete in that set time, every time.

3. Have monthly, weekly and daily checklists

For anything you do more than once (or plan to delegate to a virtual assistant), make a list as you go along.

My monthly checklists have accounting and computer back-up, my weekly checklists have article submission and blog planning, and my daily checklists have checking web stats. This is so that you don’t waste time having to rethink your steps of action every day, week or month, or worse still, you forget to do something important. I have a whole system for automating your business (Business Control Journal) as part of my Organise your Business system.

I suggest that you have some self-care items on your lists too. I read every day for pleasure and aside from a 20-minute planning session for the week ahead, I take the weekends off.

If you start implementing these 3 tips on a consistent basis, I guarantee that you’ll free up at least two hours a day.

I’d rather spend an extra two hours with my family; wouldn’t you?

About the Author

Marcia Francois is a time management and organising coach who empowers small business owners and other busy professionals who want to make the most of their time. You’ll get simple, practical organising and time management secrets to help you work less and enjoy life more! Visit www.takechargesolutions.org for your free Organising Success Pack.

Have you or someone you know on your job been experiencing some health issues lately that may have resulted in you having to take time off from work?  If so, it could be that your boss is making you sick.

Research evidence suggests that good leadership has positive effects on employee health and well-being, including decreased sick leave and disability.

Recent studies indicate qualities associated with good leadership included treating employees considerately and truthfully, providing social support, and providing inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation.

Workers with good leadership were 40 percent more likely to be in the highest category of job well-being (ie, with low rates of symptoms like anxiety, depression, and job stress).

There was also moderate evidence linking good leadership with reduced sick days and disability. Good leadership was associated with a 27 percent reduction in sick leave and a 46 percent reduction in disability pensions.

Some studies found that good leadership was associated with increased job satisfaction, although this evidence was relatively weak. There was no evidence showing a significant effect of leadership on measures of job performance.

Several characteristics of work can affect employee health. Studies have shown that factors like job control and support influence measurable health outcomes, such as sick leave. Leadership is thought to be one of the most important factors mediating the relationship between work and health.

The findings support the “job well-being pyramid model”: a theory suggesting that a strong foundation of leadership, healthy work environment, and good working conditions reduces worker health problems.

Just about anybody you talk to today will tell you they are a part of or know something about Social Media. Facebook, which was once the popular hangout for high school kids, is now gaining popularity among adults. There are even communities within the website to suit your particular interests. You also have MySpace, Ryze, Plaxo, Ecademy, Twitter, LinkedIn, Squidoo, Eons, Ning and the list goes on and on.

As someone who networks heavily online, I am continuing to learn which sites are of most value to me as a woman in business. But I also realize there is nothing that takes the place of face-to-face networking.

Joining business organizations or networking groups allows you to interact with like-minded people who can be invaluable sources of information and support - and increase your business success. For example, many networking groups offer members the chance to present their business to the group, or get specific business advice. Business organizations with Web sites often allow members to list their businesses in their online directories for free, or advertise without cost on their sites.

Besides the support and camaraderie, belonging to business organizations can increase your business’ credibility. Many potential clients or customers view membership in relevant business groups as a sign that you’re an established business and accepted by your industry.

I’m a member of my local Chamber of Commerce and glad to be connected to these fellow businesses:

Insurance Center of Durham

Rapid Results Fitness

Always Remembered Mailing Services

Leon Bullard—Health and Vitality Specialist

Geeks on Call

La Tropicale Catering

Thrifty Office Furniture

Durham Crisis Response Center

Comfort Inn

Swedish Nannies

I found this wonderful article through the Powerful Entrepreneurs Networking Group I belong to. It’s written by Lisa Hunter of Extraordinary Women Thrive. With her permission, I am sharing it with you.

Extraordinary Woman Dilemma:

You’re down on yourself for being the world’s biggest procrastinator. You’ve got X thing to do and you’re dragging your feet, doing anything but. No amount of cheer-leading, badgering or bribing yourself is getting you there. What is the problem- why do you keep beating around the bush with this?!

What There Is For You To Know:

You’re stalling for a reason. Procrastination is actually a gift to you from yourself. It’s your Inner Knowing telling you something is off. Maybe it’s the timing. Maybe Project X is not what you need to be doing. Maybe you really do need a little break. Maybe this project is a big deal for some part of you and that part of you wants acknowledgment. The stalling is keeping you from burning unneeded energy because something is off.

The Biggest Procrastination Story Ever:

I’ve got a procrastination story that lasted seven years! When I was a performing musician, I constantly had the to-do list item “Make cold calls to book gigs” on my list. Every week I’d put the item at the top of my list only to watch myself do anything to avoid it. “Procrastinator!” I accused. “Stop being such a dud. Get on with it already!”

For seven years I replayed this same routine. Then, finally, one day I realized, “I hate cold calls. And when I check deep within myself, I have a strong sense that cold calls are not what’s going to bring my success, even though everyone says you have to do them.” I dropped the cold calls and soon after discovered an unusual approach that happened to really work for me.

Try It On The Fly:

Ahhh, how nice would it be to skip the self-flagellation of “You’re such a procrastinator” and instead skip right to what’s really going on? So next time you find yourself dragging your feet about something, cast away the “Procrastinator” label and don the “Inner Knowing” label instead. Take a minute to sincerely ask yourself from the heart, “What is really going on?”

Tips For Troubleshooting:

If you still can’t identify what’s really going on, that’s okay. The big juice here is having recognized that your Inner Knowing is telling you something is off rather than kicking yourself thinking something is wrong with you. Congratulate yourself on this! And keep checking with your Inner Knowing. It’s like a muscle- the more you play with using it, no matter how clumsy your attempts, the more you’ll get to know it and recognize when it is tapping you with some information.

I’ve always been told you can never get too much education. Even at midlife, there are opportunities to improve on your existing skills or to gain new ones.

More and more Universities around the country are offering online courses to help those of us who are interesting in learning more than we already know. And the cool thing about these courses are they’re absolutely FREE. Although you won’t be awarded any college credits or a degree, you will gain some additional knowledge:

The University of Washington’s FREE courses include Greek mythology, American Revolution and Heroic Fantasy.

Teach yourself sign language from Michigan State University. Browse through the vast treasures at the Library of Congress.

You can study theology at Covenant Seminary. Course offerings are delivered via a combo of free downloadable .pdf files and podcasts, and include subjects ranging from Church History to the Modern Reformation.

Learn mathematics with this extensive list of free online math courses from Whatcom Community College. Visit Carnegie Mellon University and take Biology, Causal Reasoning, Statistics, and more, all for free.

Penn State University offers a free Swedish language course, in addition to a free Hungarian language course. Or, you can take an Italian language and culture course from Brooklyn College. California State also offers a free Conversational Mandarin Chinese course, and you can learn Turkish from the University of Arizona.

The University of Washington School of Medicine offers free CPR classes online, complete with video and instructional guides. You can also take health courses from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; anything from adolescent health to population science.

Learn linear algebra from the University of Puget Sound. Learn about bioterrorism and other hazards from the University of North Carolina.

Spending time on the internet is proving to be more and more of a learning experience.

The Easy Glider takes each day as it comes. These are the boomers who just bought a condo near the beach, for example, and are happy to relax there with their spouse, take walks in the morning and cook dinners together. They enjoy every day and have no interest in going back to work. Easy gliders are usually financially secure and do not have to worry about long-term retirement costs.

The Adventurer makes daring changes with his or her life. They may have retired from one career, then gone back to school and started another career. The longtime teacher who becomes a massage therapist is a good example, or the accountant who earns a culinary arts degree and begins catering parties. Adventurers may be motivated by financial needs. If they have not saved enough for retirement, they need to figure out another source of income.

Adventurers also love to travel. Grandma is no longer knitting in a rocking chair.  She’s off on a week long cruise with her girlfriends.  Grandpa, meanwhile, is taking a cross-country trip on his Harley-Davidson.

The Continuer continues to use existing skills, interests and activities but modifies them to fit retirement. The math professor who retires from the university but continues to tutor students in math, for example, or the realtor who sells her busy and demanding practice but continues to occasionally list houses for friends or relatives. A continuer could be someone who worked as a preschool teacher who now baby sits young children.

The Searcher tries out different careers or hobbies to find something that will bring him or her happiness. Perhaps they’ve started making pottery through a ceramics class, but then find themselves drawn to a class about writing mystery novels. Maybe they’re taking up fishing again, or some other activity they haven’t had time for in years.

This searching also occurs on a spiritual level. Retreats involving prayer, meditation and a deepening of faith appeal to searchers, who are reflecting on what they have learned in their lives, and how they want to spend their remaining years. Most boomers will have a “searching” phase during or after retirement.

The Involved Spectator cares deeply about the world. They love their family members, feel connected to their faith and care about their community. However, because of illness or other circumstances, they are not as involved as they used to be. Someone who has been very involved in her church for many years, but now can only manage spending a few hours a week helping on Sunday mornings, is one example. Another is a grandfather who was always very involved with his grandchildren’s lives, but who sees them less now because of his health concerns.

The Retreater is the boomer who is confused and upset about retirement. The change may have been traumatic for them. They miss their former coworkers and have not been able to make new friends. Instead, they have retreated to their home to watch TV, withdrawing from friends and family. Although a person might be in the “retreat” category for a while, he or she can also transition from this into a more positive stage and become a “searcher.”

So which type of boomer are you?

Could you locate one of your important financial documents at a moments notice? Do you know details about your current financial status? (Besides “I’m broke!) Have you made long term plans concerning your finances? If you’re like most people and answered no to these questions, you need to do some financial organizing. Making sure you have some type of filing system, figuring out a budget, keeping insurance up to date, and establishing a will are all important steps to becoming organized.

First, you should set up some way to organize all of your financial documents. There are programs and websites that can be helpful in getting you started. An excel spreadsheet is an easy way that you may already have on your computer. You also need a filing system for paper documents that you need to keep. Some things will need to be kept forever, such as, birth certificates, divorce papers, life insurance policies, military records, important business documents and social security cards. Other things need to be kept for 6 years such as, bank statements and cancelled checks, investment records, and tax returns. Everything else needs to be kept until it is updated and then old versions can be discarded. Always make sure to dispose of financial papers properly by shredding or burning them.

Once your documents are filed and organized, it’s important to get a budget down on paper. Make sure to list all of the income you have in bank accounts, all property owned, stocks, bonds, cars, and jewelry as your assets. Then list all liabilities that you currently owe on, for example, your house, car, credit cards, life insurance, loans, etc.. Subtracting liabilities from assets will give you your net worth. Next you will need to look at your monthly income and expenses to see if you are making more or less than your spending. If not, find some ways to cut corners and save more. If you are bring home more than you’re spending, think about putting some of the extra cash into your retirement fund.

Making sure all of your insurance policies are up to date is another important aspect of financial organization. Keeping health insurance and disability insurance current is important in the event of an illness or accident that might leave you out of work for a while. A health impairment of any kind that interferes with your work can be financially devastating, especially if your finances are in a disorganized state. Also, if anyone depends on you financially, you should have life insurance at an amount that would be beneficial to your family to continue on at their current status in the event of your death. Having insurance can make the difference in your financial security because you never know what could happen tomorrow. Insurance makes sure your needs would be met.

Finally, when all of your finances are organized, budget is set and insurance is updated, it’s important to set up a will. If something were to happen to you or you and your spouse, you would want your children taken care of and your financial wishes carried out. A will is a legally enforceable declaration that will do exactly that.  Once established, a will can be changed or revoked by you at any time. So keep it updated with your present wishes.

Take steps today to set up a filing system, create a budget, update insurances, and establish a will. Taking care of all of these things will help you become organized and free your mind and home of all your financial clutter.

Platinum Diva Member

What advice do you have for women who are looking to start a business?

Find your passion, something you would do for free; then, decide how you can make some money while doing it. If you follow your heart, you will never have a bad day at work.

What advice do you have for women who are frustrated with where they are in life right now?

At 45, I made a decision to change the direction my life was headed. I did something really big—I enrolled in a university full-time. I believed in myself enough to know that I could graduate in four years and complete my degree requirements, fulfilling a long-held dream to finish my college education that I had started so long ago. When I graduated from a certificate program in 1993, from a “junior” college, the dean handed out the certificates and said to me, “Don’t stop here, keep going.” Those words haunted me until the day I decided to finish my formal educational.

During my college years, actually in my first year English class (composition) the professor told me I had the gift of writing and that one day I would write a book. I thought she was just being nice and supportive and didn’t really take it to heart. I laughed, telling her that if I ever did write a book, I would dedicate it to her. When she found out I was actually researching writing a non-fiction novel, she exclaimed, “I knew it!” It took all four years, many professors, lots, and lots of essays for me to believe in my abilities. One day, I will have my book published, and my first college professor will be the only dedication on that page.

So my advice to other women who are frustrated as I once was, YOU are the only one who can change your destiny! Do something BIG and take charge of your life.

What are your keys to success?

Faith, research, education, perseverance, marketing, networking online and in person.

What is your website URL?

http://www.valuedservicevas.com/

How can someone get in touch with you?

Email:  Teri@valuedservicevas.com

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/teridempski

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1370019300

MySpace:  teri_dempski

Twitter:  Teri8D

Skype:  teri.dempski

1. There is no glass ceiling—only the ceiling you put on yourself: Don’t buy into stereotype that it’s a man’s world. Regardless of gender, each person brings a unique set of valuable talents to the table. If you’re not sure of all you can offer, do a personal inventory of your strengths and areas of expertise. Then ask yourself, “To what level of success should someone with my experience be able to achieve?” Believe in yourself and your experience and you’ll be able to attain whatever success level you just outlined for yourself. And if you should find that your current skills can’t take you as far as you’d like to go, get the additional training you need. Don’t let anything stifle your professional goals.

2. Make being a woman an asset: Women and men are wired different—no one can deny that. But rather than try to diminish your female attributes, be proud of them and use them to your advantage. Women have numerous natural qualities that make them more adept in the boardroom and in all areas of the workplace. For example, women tend to have better intuition than men. They understand emotion better. They’re great communicators and listeners. Women tend to multi-task with ease. All these traits are essential for leading today’s workforce. Therefore, use these traits to your advantage. If your intuition tells you something isn’t right, speak up—you may just save your company from making a costly mistake. If there’s a misunderstanding during a meeting, use your communication skills to help clarify points. If the male-oriented logical way of thinking isn’t convincing that new client to sign the contract, put your emotional sales pitch to good use. Use your natural feminine traits and watch your success soar.

3. Learn how to play the game of business: Know what business skills are needed in your company or industry, and sharpen those skills on a regular basis. Such skills can range from contract negotiation to customer service to purchasing to management. If you’re not sure which specific business skills will help you, ask your supervisor for input. Some women are apprehensive about developing traditionally male-oriented skills, such as hard-ball negotiating skills, because they fear they’ll lose their femininity in the process. The key is to just be yourself. Don’t try to fit an image of what you think you’re supposed to be, do, or act like in a given circumstance. When you’re not authentic, you’re not in your power and you fall short. Be true to who you are and you’ll win every time.

4. Project confidence: People can tell when someone is truly confident. Those who display confidence rise through the ranks quicker, earn respect faster, and lead more effectively—even if they’re not the most knowledgeable person in the company or department. To project confidence, be proud of your expertise, and don’t be afraid if you don’t know all the answers. You can’t be all things to all people, and that’s okay. If you don’t know something, tell the person you’ll find out the answer and get back with him or her later. There’s nothing more powerful in business than the presence of a confident woman.

5. Don’t take it personal: Some women report that men still talk down to them in the workplace or don’t take them seriously. If this happens to you, try not to allow that negativity to affect you. Most of the powerful and secure men don’t talk down to women and actually want women in the boardroom and everywhere else in the company. They know women have much to offer. Unfortunately, some men are still from the “good ole’ boys club” and are scared of women in business. When you run into one of these types of men, don’t give them any reaction at all. Any negativity they display toward women usually stems from their own insecurity. So stay poised and remember that the comment or action is not about you—it’s about them. The more confident and authentic you are, the more others will respect you.

Courtesy of the Nova Scotia Business Journal

The good news for women in business is that the gasoline prices have dropped a little bit.  The bad news is the oil companies have made billions of dollars in profits.

Take Exxon Mobil Corp. for example.  The company broke its own record for the highest quarterly profit for a U.S. company on Thursday, joining other major oil companies in posting stronger earnings on the back of sky-high oil prices.

Exxon’s second-quarter net income rose 14 per cent to $11.68 billion.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S RECORD HAUL:

- Exxon earned more than $128 million a day, or nearly $1,500 every second during the quarter. The company said that was after it paid $4,100 a second in taxes and $14,700 a second in expenses to run the business.

- Exxon’s quarterly earnings were slightly larger than the annual gross domestic product of Afghanistan, which was $11.63 billion in 2007, according to the World Bank.

- With Exxon’s quarterly profit, one could potentially buy Gap Inc., Ford or Starbucks, which have market capitalizations of $11.67 billion, $10.76 billion and $10.69 billion, respectively, according to Reuters data.

- $11.68 billion could buy roughly 179,692 new Cadillac Escalades, or 15.57 billion individual Snickers chocolate bars.

It could also wipe out hunger around the world and take care of the entire baby boomer generation for the rest of our lives.