You’ve created your vision for your family life and business. You made a list of goals, and you’ve identified systems that can help with efficiency, time management, and overall household peace. Now it’s time to break down your systems and goals into smaller tasks and start implementation.

So far, you have created a vision for family and business, and you’ve set some attainable goals. How are you going to get everything done and feel great at the end of the day? It will take a system. Or two. Or three.

When my week runs smoothly, it is typically the result of me creating a plan and following through with it. All events have made it into my calendar and I refer to it throughout the day. I have made a menu plan that works around our schedule, bought the groceries and have the recipes out and ready to use. I’ve made a list of goals and tasks for the week and have been diligent and focused in my work. I’ve built in some self-care activities to reconnect with myself and others.

You’ve probably heard that one of the keys to a successful practice is to create a vision and a plan to go along with it. I’ve got something else to add to this.

In order to move forward, it’s important to create structure in your LIFE. This will help you immensely in giving you the mental and emotional space necessary to invest in your business.

If you’re not sure what I mean, perhaps these questions will help you:

* Do you have a time management system that helps guide your day?
* Do you feel peaceful in your home environment? Is it a a place that’s comfortable for you (tidy, organized, filled with objects and people you love)?
* Do you have a positive relationship with money (is it coming in, is it sticking around, do you know where it is and where it’s going)?
* Are you nurturing your sacred relationships?

Although I’ve had my own business for ten years, I’ve never had a good grip on keeping track of my mileage. I could never remember to write down the miles in those little booklets, and basically what I’ve done is estimate miles based on the appointments I kept in my calendar. I bet I lost out on mileage deductions over the years for all the small trips I made.

In July, I researched and decided to try Trip Cubby, an iPhone application created by App Cubby. For $4.99, it’s been well worth it!

I love my iPhone, and I’m always searching for great apps to make my work and my life more efficient. Here are the apps that I use most frequently for work, life and play

Balancing your home life while building your birth business takes practice and experimentation. Many birth professionals are also mothers of young children, and much of the work we do managing our businesses is at home while we’re also mothering and running the household. As business owners, how do we make time for it all?

Set an intention today that you will attract more clients by preparing several interview packets. By having a few packets that are ready to go, you will be sending a message out to the Universe that you’re ready and willing to receive more clients into your practice.

What should you include in your interview packets? Here are some suggestions:

For the home business owner, time management is critical for maintaining peace of mind and peace within your family. It’s important that you be as productive as possible in the time you set aside for work so you can enjoy life more when you’re away from it.

Word-of-mouth advertising is one of the least expensive and most powerful methods of marketing you can do for your business. When it comes to something as intimate as attending a birth, women want to be able to feel safe and trust her team. If you are recommended by someone she already does business with or otherwise knows and trusts, you are more likely to gain her business than someone she finds on a directory or online through an internet search.

Marketing is telling people what you do and how your services will solve a problem people have. One important factor you must understand about marketing is that it is a continuous process. The “Rule of Seven” in marketing means that it takes an average of seven times before a prospective client will buy from you. That being said, it’s not enough to print up some business cards and brochures to hand out, build a website, and wait for business to come. There is much more to do in order to effectively market your business and attract customers.