Melbourne – Mecure Welcome Hotel

and other places of interest.

Sharyn McCaskey

15th September 2011.

 Melbourne never ceases to fascinate, inspire and amaze me, for one who hates to shop and lives in jeans and boots I certainly brought back a bag load of girly clothes and to everyone’s surprise even worn them.

Tops that would cost in WA $45.00 I was paying on average $8.00 in Melbourne, most definitely the fashion capital of Australia.  The shops on the main street of Melbourne were full of specials and all different styles, There were great buys at The Queen Victoria Markets but in some cases the prices were higher than shops, perhaps because they a ready market in the tourist trade. 

The Queen Victoria Markets is a great day out, the food hall smells divine, I could have stayed there wafting in the cheese and ethnic smells for hours, but I think security would be concerned as to why a lady who is so obviously not “hooty tooty” had her nose in the air sniffing. 

I had a desire to go and sit and watch people “lost in time”, I am passionate about history and I had a real need to eat food that had a taste to it, something Italian. I also wanted to be alone but be in a crowd at the same time.  The answer was MELBOURNE everything on my list and more.

Travelling alone at 48 can be daunting, you have your good points and bad; you want to be free to make your choices of where you are going but when you get there you want to share it with someone. Oh the conundrum do I go alone or with a friend, so I was alone for a few days and then a friend joined me from Tasmania.    

Being budget minded but expecting loads for my dollar, I searched for reasonably priced accommodation in the heart of Melbourne City, close to all transport and restaurants.   It had to be clean, friendly and offer a full breakfast service.  Mecure Welcome Hotel…ummm I think I will be the judge of how welcoming you are…

Well blow me down and push me over, 3.5 star rating with a 5 star and above attitude and service. Picture this I arrived late in the evening, tired and ragged after the long trip from WA, not a pretty sight I can assure you, yet the man behind the counter was either blind or extremely customer focused, he smiled warmly, booked me in, showed me to the breakfast area, the internet room, the gym facilities and something I was not expecting in a 3.5 star hotel, The Concierge Service!. 

Next morning, after breakfast and looking a bit more human I went to the concierge desk, I found that this information source was all I needed in Melbourne.

They were so different, all were cute, all well mannered, all immaculately dressed and each made me wish that were my son. As I watched them over the week and used their services, I was proud and chuffed to see each had a real genuine desire to please their clients. I noted they really enjoyed their job and each excelled in customer service.

What impressed me was their knowledge of the city, from prices of tours, feedback on places and tours, suggestions and ideas; nothing was too much trouble for these men and in fact for the whole staff of the Hotel.

Based on what I was interested in they suggested I go to Sovereign Hill, do a day tour of Melbourne and take a trip on the Puffing Billy.   They contacted AAT Kings and APT Tours for the trips and handled all the bookings for me.

The coach trip down was so warm, did I say I went to Melbourne in winter… brrrr, you can tell the Melbourneites they were the ones with only one jumper on.  

Each driver was different on each tour; each was friendly, knowledgeable, entertaining and made the day thoroughly enjoyable.

My favourite place was Sovereign Hill, I love the old ways and our history, my dream was to go to the village, sit in the restaurant, have few people around, watch the people go past in their old style clothes and immerse myself in the history. 

Imagine then when I got there I find all my wishes adhered to and my favourite meal as the special for the day, potato and bacon soup. Oh my, I was in heaven.

The next day was a tour around Melbourne on the free city tram system, I spent hours in the Immigration Museum, went to the docklands district and found Melbourne Goal.  Arriving only one hour before closing time I knew a trip back to the Goal was a must, during my time I stalked the place and visited it four times, did I tell you I love history.

If you can, take a few hours to walk around Melbourne, I loved finding the alley ways which were full of shops, galleries, history and the quaintest restaurants all huddled up side alleys and laneways.  I can assure you the food at these places does not disappoint.

Visiting Puffing Billy was cute, a must for a day of something different, I had scones jam and coffee and visited three or four lovely old towns, again with thanks to AAPT – AAT Kings, the guide was friendly and made the day memorable, you actually feel like you are part of their family on these trips, even if you are on your own, you somehow feel “included”.

Recently I attended a dinner party with some contestants of Master Chef, I was told go to a restaurant and order something you have never eaten before, this was my goal at Lygon Street.    Before you even sit down the journey begins, so much fun bantering with the spruikers at the front of each restaurant, “come and eat here”, “I will give you wine”, “we will shout you bread”  

We arrived at one place and the spruiker said “we can offer you knives, forks, a seat under the heater and great food”. No gimmicks and I love I was getting to eat with utensils so I was sold on La Notte Restaurant. 

At this time, Carolyn from Tassie, who was used to the weather and wore the one jumper, had joined me, we ordered wine, she ordered her meal and I said to the waiter… Surprise me!    We discussed my desire; off he went to the kitchen, knowing I wanted anything as long as it had taste and no mussels.  

Three meals ended up on my table after each bite I was making such appreciative noises that the lady at the other table said “Ill have what she’s having”.

Pasta with Chicken, Lamb in red sauce with potatoes, and a slice of pizza, the staff and food was so delightful I visited or should I say stalked that restaurant a few times as well…. Lucky it was in walking distance to the Melbourne Goal.  

If you love history Melbourne Goal is it. I spent hours in their on my own, reading all the storyboards, looking at all the exhibitions and imagining what the prisoners must have felt.  Such an interesting and fascinating place, having worked at Fremantle Prison being a guide on the night and tunnel tours for years I wondered what it would be like being the tourist instead, off I went to a night tour, funny after doing my job for so long I was chuffed to be reminded of the build up and excitement that waiting for the tour can bring.  

Before the tour we were asked if we wanted to use the facilities if so they were at the other end of the building, “oh no” and “in the dark not me ill hold” were the cry’s of some of the patrons, me I walked many nights on my own in Freo Prison, one of the most allegedly haunted sites in Australia, so going through the dark of Melbourne Goal on my own was not an issue for me, or so I thought.

With my little torch I walked straight threw the dark foreboding prison up the stairs, my footsteps moving faster, my heart beating wilder, I was just about to enter the toilets when I stopped, for all along the corridor I could hear someone following me.  Here I was so brave.

Suddenly a hand grabbed my arm and a voice said “are you lost do you know where the toilet is”  … it seems whilst I was brave to go on my own some of the women had followed me… ghosts I think not but a good scare to start with.

The guide, Damien was great, a 45 minute tour where he shared stories of past prisoners, of the gallows, of the flagellators and the whipping post and of course of Melbourne’s most infamous prisoner Ned Kelly. 

After the tour, they turn the lights on and you are able to wander the prison at your own pace, as this was my third visit back and knowing that a guide knows more than what is on the wall, I proceeded to ask Damien and his associate a series of questions.

Such lively discussion followed of which I completely monopolised their time. Bless them they welcome every question and shared in their knowledge of such a beautiful place, yes I do see the beauty in it and shared with me many stories of inmates, the building and its history, I was the last one out, I was hoping they allow me the privilege of being locked in their but apparently I had to commit a crime to do so and don’t think I did not seriously think about doing that.

 Mecure Welcome Hotel, Melbourneites, the tour guides, the bus drivers, the concierge, the atmosphere, the food, the clothes, the galleries, the art, the history, the trams everything was fabulous. Going to Melbourne is so cosmopolitan, especially compared to WA.   It is like visiting another country but not needing to exchange your money or get a passport.

Melbourne and Mecure Welcome Hotel most certainly lives up to the name, you are very inviting and welcoming and I can assure you I will be back… after all I need more time at the Melbourne Goal.

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

LUNA PARK

By Sharyn McCaskey

December 2011

Your excited, you can see the face, that old familiar fella with the big smile and all the teeth, your heart starts to pound, you grab your mates and start to jump up and down, “im so excited” you scream.

The funny thing is you’re 49 year old women who cannot wait to get on the rides.   Memories of those childhood days spent a Luna Park all come rushing back.  Lining up for the Big Dipper, sharing a laugh with mates, being scared in the ghost train, and spending time with ohhhhh boys who you liked but weren’t sure if they liked you.

 My husband who is 52, who I am fairly sure after 32 years together actually does like me, was just as excited as I was. I am sure at one point he skipped, now as a 5ft 11 heavily tattooed and big muscled man who works in the mines of West Australia, seeing him skip with excitement off the ferry to the entrance amused many of those around him.

 As soon as you walk in you realise you have stepped back in time, we walked past the stalls, the rides, the giant Ferris wheel all the way through until the entrance of Coney Island, we gasp as we comment “nothing has changed in 25 years”, it is all exactly the same.   

 We rush over the to giant dip, grab our mats and high tail it upstairs, we turn left to the highest run and as I am about to slid down I think hang on .. This IS scary and I chicken out and move to the other slide and await my turn; onto the landing, feet into the back, await permission to go and then weeeeeeeeeeee ….

 I am scared and laughing all at the same time, the only difference between 1975 and 2012 is that my husband is sitting at the bottom of the ride with an Iphone video …. I must admit one does not worry about ones looks when whizzing down a slide.

 We rode all the rides in Coney Island and watched the kids on the big circle being “slide off” we recalled stories of our youth and again discussed how much has changed but not changed at all, the safety aspect was either not their in 1975 or simply as adults we actually notice the warnings and the watchful eyes of the staff.

 As kids I suppose we just never registered their existence, it is nice to know they are there and keeping the kidlets safe, I do recall other bigger boys would take over the rides and push you off at times, that was certainly not going to happen in today’s Luna Park.

 After Coney Island we venture out and up to the Wild Cat, now that ride offers a great view and at the same time, makes your heart stop as you ride the rails, up, down, sideways and inside out it seems.

 We spent hours at Luna Park, riding the dodgems, laughing at the mirrors, one took about 10 kilos off me and I thought about picking it up and sending it home to my bedroom, I’m still thinking how do I get it delivered to WA.

We waited for the giant Ferris wheel and our turn in the cage, to take us up so that we could have a wonderful view without the whooshing of the wild cat of Sydney Harbour; some of the best shots of the harbour bridge were taken of our holiday from the top of that ride.  

 Mac, my husband, took my concern over the height as an invitation to sit on the same side as me and be romantic; I appreciated his efforts but moved quickly to the other side to even out the balance.   Whilst it is high and I actually considered not going up, it is fine once your in the cage/ride.

 The staff, the actors, the dancers, the stilt walkers and the entertainment which is on constantly has you asking in a rushed voice… “Where do I look, where do I go, and what do I do”. 

 All of a sudden you start hearing music from the 1920s and then 15 boys and girls come out and perform for 30 minutes dances and songs from that brilliant Andrew Sisters and Jazz era, they danced and sung up and down the park, high grade performances and very entertaining they were.   

 As a child, Coney island is where Luna Park finished but today there is a whole other section of kids rides behind the island, don’t forget to visit that section, we had our drinks and sat their wishing our son was with us, actually to be honest we didn’t as it was fun on our own…..are we bad. 

 We did suggest to our son who is 24 that this would be a brilliant venue for a day out with him and his mates and his girlfriend and wished him all the fun of the park, so we felt we had done our part in including him.  

 The cost we found brilliant, as if you wanted to go on rides all day, you brought a pass and then it scanned you onto the rides, so if you were unsure of the rides but still wanted to reminisce or spend a day watching some great entertainment with views to die for of the Sydney harbour then it would not cost you a cent, that is the true value.

 At Luna Park, you pay if you want to ride, for what you eat, which was so nice and not overpriced.

 I knew my visit to Luna Park would be a highlight of our NSW holiday, I just did realise how many fantastic memories would come flooding back and how much those feeling and memories had a physical content to the day, I was on cloud 9 for that day and few days after.   

 Luna Park is not just for the kids, the families and the grandparents, you can now add, those who are middle aged and want to have a great day out.

REVIEW:- The Ex Factor

Play at the Rockingham Theatre Company

Attended Sunday 19th March at 7.30pm

By Sharyn McCaskey

 You and your future wife are about to open a bed and breakfast and you need to have the inspector approve your establishment and give it a star rating.

 Money is tight as your ex wife has been “haemorrhaging your money” with her maintenance agreement, due to her high spending on brand name clothes and shoes.   Your opening date draws near and you have quite a few things left to achieve, the delay being caused by your Sudoku obsession.    

 You mix up your dates and guests start arriving a day early, expecting dinner and a room all of which they have booked and paid for and all of which are not ready.

 Factor in a wet night, problems with the stock on the farm, a suspected broken foot, tension between the owners of the B & B, a deaf husband and a date with the inspector, who as it turns out is bringing her boyfriend who has a connection with chippendale, home made wine and a meal for two of curry now needing to feed seven and this is only the first act.

 Sue Murray, in her first time on stage in a major role, does a fantastic job of playing the inspector who as it turns out is the ex wife!

 Rockingham Theatre again delivers a fast paced, funny production that is enjoyable to watch and a very entertaining evening out.

 The cast of mostly regular thespians lead by David Heckingbottom, under the direction of his new wife Larraine Craig, they were married and had their honeymoon during the rehearsals of this production, do Rockingham Theatre proud with their consistent professional standard; a special mention must go to Helen Brown  who does an outstanding job of playing Jane.    Alison Gibson and Michael Stocks are funny in their respective roles as does David Jones and Terry Winter.

 The show opens on Saturday the 24th and runs over the two weekends, tickets are available at the Rockingham Visitors Centre or on line at www.rockinghamtheatre.com.  With some nights close to being sold out it is suggested you purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

A list of FREE online websites

for Australian Businesses to list their business on

and why you should have a presence on line.

 By Sharyn McCaskey Marketing Expert

Mdvs Business Services

I am shocked by the comment “Facebook is not for me”, some business owners are not embracing social media marketing and SEO.   They prefer to keep with the “I have an advertisement in the local yellow pages and I might do an advertisement in the paper if I have a special on” attitude.

Without effective marketing your business will fail.  Often, 90% of money spent on marketing is 100% wasted.

I like many other semi attractive, intelligent 49 yr old women, have not read a paper in years, do not watch unrecorded TV, thus eliminating all adds, I have not seen a physical yellow pages book for at least 5 years (do they even print them anymore) and if I want to know something I will “Dr Google it”.

News and information that I need finds me on social media.   

On a recent trip through the USA we did not book a motel that did not have a series of positive ratings on hotels.com, I will search on line for everything I want or need and will then search to see if that person or company is ethical, this response can always be found in two clicks of a mouse by simply Googling.  

Even looking for products or services in my own backyard, Rockingham WA, with 5 gold plate award winning restaurants and our constant award winning beaches, I will still first look on line to shop or compare prices or to simply look up an event or phone number.

At the VERY least, you need an on line presence on the many sites available that list your business for FREE.   In Australia we have many websites that can support your business…You will need your ABN and phone and address, you should also have in your 2 or 3 line synopsis of your business, keywords that are related to what you offer.

Be aware that after listing your business for FREE you will get a phone call in a few days asking you to up scale to a bigger paid add.  This is something I would not do as the FREE listings will action the need to have my business name have a presence on the net over and over and over and over.   This multiple presence can help in your Google Placement Listing for when your clients look for your type of business or business name.

I uploaded Rockingham Process Servers, to the free sites and now this business is listed as business 1, 2, 3, 4 up to 19 out of 138,000 on a Google search.

Be active on line, I cannot stress enough to have a page on www.linkedin.com.au and a Business page on www.facebook.com.au, these sites are your own private TV channel, able to upload information, photos, videos, events and feedback about you for your clients and friends.    

Best of all.. ALL this marketing is FREE and it where 75% of people go to find something, the first thing many do is Google,    Go on, do a Google search on your business. Are you there, don’t you want to be #1. 

If you don’t have a website, then why not, www.weebly.com is one of many FREE website pages you can upload, or have a gander at this offer http://www.crazydomains.com.au/register/order_my_page.html 

Crazy Domains have a great deal, a website for 7 years for $252.00.

To remain at the top of the Google page you need to work your site, I have my Facebook page my home page, therefore every time I log on I update something, interact with a client or upload a photo or story, simply once at the top you need to remain there, and 10 minutes scheduled everyday on your internet and social media marketing is all you need to maintain your presence.

As a gift from MDVS Business Services, I have spent time collating this list so that YOU can start uploading your business today,  Good Luck and have fun, it is time consuming but it is worth it, schedule to action 4 of these a day, with a few short weeks you will be uploaded.

For a copy of her easy to read book,  At No Cost to You!  

Please email Sharyn on mdvs@iinet.net.au  

Or call 0408 863331

FACEBOOK, EMAIL and SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING for YOUR BUSINESS

The list of the FREE sites for you to upload your business on:-

http://directory.r-tt.com/?GGLWD002

http://local.yahoo.com.au/

http://perth.gumtree.com.au/

http://www.aussielocal.com.au/

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/

http://www.iti.com.au/

http://www.promoteperth.com.au/

http://www.proprietor.com.au/get-listed

http://www.proprietor.com.au/get-listed

www.alphabiz.org

www.atozpages.com.au

www.aussiepages.com.au

www.aussieweb.com.au

www.australiaonlineadvertising.com.au

www.blacknwhite.org

www.businesspages.org

www.dlook.com.au

www.ezybiz.com

www.freebusiness.com.au

www.gettingbusinessonline.com.au/wa

www.google.com/local/add

www.hipages.com.au

www.ineedto.com.au

www.inperth.com.au

www.localbusinessguide.com.au

www.ourperth.com.au

www.rayv.com.au/addbusiness

www.rockingham.wa.gov.au – or your own local council always has a portal for your business

www.searchmysuburb.com.au

www.sensis.com.au

www.shopseek.com.au

www.startlocal.com.au

www.streetsofperth.com.au

www.thegreendirectory.com.au

www.truelocal.com.au

www.tucows.com

www.web-directory-australia/org

www.webfind.com.au

www.websitesfromaustralia.com

www.whitepages.com.au

www.yellowpages.com.au

 It is with the help of Jenny Cronshaw at www.partydecor.com.au  

and

Erin Dawson from www.dawsondocuments.com.au

that this list is complied… THANK YOU both …..

Contact me for any support your business needs

 

The ONLY way you are legally able to enforce debt collection fees is:-

IF your client has signed an agreement to do so BEFORE your contract/work was actioned.

  

Copy of a letter sent to ME when I queried as to the LAW

FROM :-

WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE SERVICE 

CRIME INVESTIGATION SUPPORT PORTFOLIO

CRIME SERVICES DIVISION

COMMERCIAL AGENTS

297 HAY STREET

EAST PERTH WA 6004

TELEPHONE: (08) 9231 7199

FACSIMILE:(08) 9231 7188

YOUR REF:

W.A. POLICE REF

ENQUIRIES: Sergeant Glossop 6229       

 Sharyn McCaskey  

Rockingham WA 6168

Dear Sharyn

Please find attached, a written response to your question relating to financial charges, which can be preferred by licensed debt collectors when collecting a debt from a debtor.

I must state that I am not a legal practitioner and this response is my interpretation of the Act and my opinion of how particular legislation within the Act should be applied, My following comments does not consider any written contract which may or may not be legally binding and does not consider any court orders.

Section 26 of the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964 provides the legislative authority for the Governor to make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying the Act into effect and in particular may make regulations for all or any of the following purposes;

Section 26 (d) of the Act states;

Prescribing the charges that a debt collector is entitled to charge, recover or receive from any debtor of a creditor for or in connection with the collection of a debt from the debtor on behalf of the creditor where the debt is paid by instalments and prescribing that the maximum amount thereof shall not exceed two and one half per centum of the amount of the debt and providing for a minimum charge.

Regulation 13 of the Debt Collectors Regulations 1964 states;

Charges by Licensee;

A licensee may charge, recover or receive from any debtor of a creditor for or in connection with the collection of a debt from the debtor on behalf of the creditor where the debt is paid by instalments a sum of 50 cents or a sum not exceeding two and one half percent of the amount of the debt, whichever is the greater amount.

When one also takes into consideration Section 14 of the Act, I interpret the Sections previously mentioned as allowing a debt collector to charge an amount of 50 cents or two and one half percent of the debt which ever is the greater amount if the debtor pays the debt to the debt collector by instalments.

If the amount of debt sought is paid in full, then there are no provisions in the Act to allow a debt collector to seek fees, charges, commission, reward or other remuneration ancillary to the debt itself.

Any costs associated with the collection of the debt are borne by the person on whose behalf the service is done, Section 14 of the Act requires that the creditor and the debt collector agree upon fees, charges, commission, reward or other remuneration in respect to the collection of the debt, this agreed amount cannot be added on to the existing debt incurred by the debtor.

Yours faithfully

D.W Glossop

Sergeant 6229

Commercial Agents

Call me for ANY debt collection questions you have

I have been asked about the Tagging for a while now and let me say FB are sometimes simply ”HAVING THEIR OWN POOY DAYS”

But the basics of it is …..

If you are IN a friend page and you are tagging a friend that can BE done by placing the @ or using a CAPITAL LETTER

you can even tag a friend of a friend PROVIDED their settings allow it.  Provided you have liked the page or the page has liked you, you should also be allowed to @tag a business page.

If your in a group setting… you usually can only tag a PERSON cause groups dont allow business pages to join..

Business pages..

are you IN YOUR BUSINESS PAGE…. NOT on the page but IN IT.  (you have click the link.. use fb as …….. )

You can tag a business who likes your page or your page likes them…. so you have a “relationship”

with recent changes from the 12th September it seems one cannot tag a friend page if you are IN your business page, even if you have a mutual fb relationship

 If you find it still does not work.. BLAME FB… I know I do …

But sometimes I REFRESH my page and it works…. ???

If you have any questions please feel free to call me

Sharyn 95292828 or 0408 863331

The Technique. Active listening is really an extension of the Golden Rule. To know how to listen to someone else, think about how you would want to be listened to.

While the ideas are largely intuitive, it might take some practice to devel…op (or re-develop) the skills. Here’s what good listeners know — and you should, too:

1. Face the speaker. Sit up straight or lean forward slightly to show your attentiveness through body language.

2. Maintain eye contact, to the degree that you all remain comfortable.

3. Minimize external distractions. Turn off the TV. Put down your book or magazine, and ask the speaker and other

listeners to do the same.

4. Respond appropriately to show that you understand. Murmur (“uh-huh” and “um-hmm”) and nod. Raise your eyebrows. Say words such as “Really,” “Interesting,” as well as more direct prompts: “What did you do then?” and “What did she say?”

5. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what you are going to say next. The conversation

will follow a logical flow after the speaker makes her point.

6. Minimize internal distractions. If your own thoughts keep horning in, simply let them go and continuously re-focus your attention on the speaker, much as you would during meditation.

7. Keep an open mind. Wait until the speaker is finished before deciding that you disagree. Try not to make assumptions about what the speaker is thinking.

8. Avoid letting the speaker know how you handled a similar situation. Unless they specifically ask for advice, assume they just need to talk it out.

9. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until they finish to defend yourself. The speaker will feel as though their point had been made. They won’t feel the need to repeat it, and you’ll know the whole argument before you respond. Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so we have the ability to sort ideas as they come in…and be ready for more.

10. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification, but, once again, wait until the speaker has finished. That way, you won’t interrupt their train of thought. After you ask questions, paraphrase their point to make sure you didn’t misunderstand. Start with: “So you’re saying…”

As you work on developing your listening skills, you may feel a bit panicky when there is a natural pause in the conversation. What should you say next? Learn to settle into the silence and use it to better understand all points of view.

Ironically, as your listening skills improve, so will your aptitude for conversation. A friend of my partner once complimented me on my conversational skills. I hadn’t said more than four words, but I had listened to him for 25 minutes.

Dont you just love the photo.. you kinda know that this guy did it right all his life.. such tenderness you know HE LISTENED

STOLEN from the status of Julie Donkin 

SMS Marketing – The Pitfalls of this Marketing Strategy

SMS or short message service marketing became increasingly popular in the early 2000s.

This marketing strategy had a lot of benefits and advantages that soon it became a legitimate advertising channel especially for those who run small business firms and companies. But slowly the pitfalls and negative aspects of this marketing strategy came to the front and today; its popularity is rapidly diminishing.

Since there is very less cost and investment in this type of marketing, companies send out thousands of advertisements via SMS to the mass market. This has led to strong disapproval from most of the people as they get irritated and annoyed at being disturbed so often with random and useless messages. Most companies tend to overlook the personal details and send messages to a large group of people without stopping to think if the advertisement is going to be useful to them. And the result; constant buzzing of the phone which irritates the mass and makes them develop a strong dislike to this kind of marketing.

SMS marketing, if not carried out effectively, can cause serious damage to a company or brand as it elicits different kinds of negative responses in customers. Most often, customers are not given the information on how they can stop receiving these advertisements if they are irrelevant to them. This makes the recipients think that no one is controlling the process inculcating negative feelings.

SMS providers often provide business owners the ability to import their customers’ numbers without their permission. This has led to the misuse of this marketing strategy where spam messages have become the order of the day. The irritation of the recipients has risen to the point where no one even bothers to read the messages even though some of them might be relevant and beneficial. SMS marketing has only advocated and popularized the use of the ‘delete’ button among consumers today.

Home Based Business – Your Route to Freedom and Financial Independence

Home based businesses are often considered to be secondary in nature;

But there can be nothing farther from the truth. In fact home based businesses are now currently earning as much or even more than their partners, and with close to 68,000 registered home based businesses many are turning to the work from home concept.

Builders used to focus on the front room of the home being a “loungeroom” now you will find these in the back of the house and the front of the home has on many plans “office”.

In particular this sort of business suits the modern woman does not like being confined a box or ideal.  Nor often she does not want to be the overly ambitious career woman who does not have time for friends and family. 

Today, women are looking for jobs that will give them financial independence as well as help them achieve the right work-life balance.  Home based businesses can be perfect for this.

This kind of a career opportunity allows people the freedom to earn a living without compromising on the quality time that can be shared with a family. If diarized and with time management skills a home business can allow you to work at your own pace and schedule, giving a person plenty of time to cook her family’s favorite meals or cuddle up for a movie together, attend a luncheon or function, play golf, join a club or anything that you have a interest in.

Home based businesses also can offer financial freedom.  In many cases this is very important to the modern person who does not like to be dependent financially on another individual.  

What was once a niche market today is a normal part of many lives, running a home based business and the trend is only continuing to grow.

This career option also gives women the opportunity to network and make friends. Women love to communicate and share their ideas; hence a home based business gives them plenty of time to connect and bond with similar women.

One drawback is the focus on business during business time, be strict with family and friends they cannot just drop in at the office in town, so make the same rules apply at home, schedule your work time.

If you can make sure you cannot see your home, eg have your garage turned into a office, or place a partition connecting your office to the rooms that you cannot visually see you are home.  

Make sure you stay connected as this aspect to business can be lonely, join business groups and meet up with other like minded home based businesses this gives you the personal connection which is much needed in life to stay motivated and focused and not so lonely, and make a point of dressing for work that also can work physiologically for you to stay in the work zone.

Setting up a home based venture does not require too much investment, and the costs are minimal, hence the returns can be very profitable. There is no longer the stress and tension of having to wake up early, do the household work, take care of the kids and then run out for work.

A home based job allows you to run your life at your own freedom and pace. Above all the personal satisfaction that today’s woman gets in being able to have a career from the comforts of her own home is well awesome.

Mostly though NEVER underestimate the power, the privilege and the for thought you had to start a home based business… it is no longer the way business will do work in the future it is the way business conduct business now..  

I hate hearing, I am only a home based business, 68,000 people cannot be wrong and you know you ARE a home based business and that kinda rocks…