Another email scam?

I would say so.  It's from Wellsfargo saying that they needed me to update my account information.  Strange thing is is that I don't have an account with them!

I do know that there are a lot of email scams going on and for the most part I just delete them and continue on with my other email.  But then I had a thought about wondering how many if any of the people have fallen for it.  So I did a little bit of "research" and found some information from Wellsfargo's own legitimate site.  Here is the link:

https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/email_fraud/report

Be sure to click on that link if you have ANY questions about whether or not your email might be a fraud.

Do you want to know one of the benefits of working from home?

Its that on a day like today when its cold and raining outside you're working inside!  As I was getting some tea I looked out the window and noted how rainy it was and how quiet it was outside.  I was thinking that everyone was nicely tucked inside their houses (or apartments) and not having to have to go anywhere if they didn't want to.  That brought back memories of my last job when I worked for someone else.  I shudder to think about it because at this moment I would be in bed getting my next four hours of sleep before I would have to get up and get ready to go to work.

Let me tell you a little something about myself - I have always been a night owl kind of person and it shows in the timesheets that I provide to some of my clients.  I also know for a fact that there are others just like me and some are even more of a night owl than I am!

My point is this.  If you want to be able to work at home be aware that whatever it is that you want to do there is already someone out there who is doing just what it is that you want to do or are doing something close to it.

Time and time again I see people posting about how they want to start their own adult site.  I just saw on my local news a profile they did of a guy that owns his own adult site and to tell you the honest truth he is making so much money that it is obscene!  If you even made one tenth of what he was making you would be deleriously happy! 

Still don't think its possible?  Well tell the guy that I mentioned above - tell that to him and he will look at you as if you were crazy!

Looking for investors................

I keep seeing this posted over and over again and a lot of times it is posted in such a way that whoever posts it hopes that investors will come knocking at their door (or at least to their email box).  While I can't rule out this type of method entirely there are more constructive ways of getting this accomplished.  But I get the feeling that people that post this want to go through as little work as possible.

My personal opinion is to avoid investors if you can and the main reason why I say that is because once you take on an investor (or partner) your business isn't your business anymore.  However if you want an investor or partner the best way to accomplish this is to show them "what's in it for them".  Just think about it - why would they want to invest/partner with you?  Take the answer to that question and then put it in presentation form and present it to them. 

And where can you find "them".  Don't let anyone tell you that there aren't any investors around because they are wrong.  There are still angel investors, venture capitalists and just plain individual investors around.  You just have to know where to find them.

"Work At Home" Opportunities?

I know that a lot of people want the security of finding a company that will let them work from home.  I have yet to find such a company.  One of the forums that I belong to has suggested finding others who work from their own home for a company and talking to them to find out how legitimate it is.  There are those that telecommute meaning they do some of their work at home but they also spend time at the "office" as well.  They have usually worked for the company for some time and have built up an honest reputation and are allowed to do some of their work from home.

But as for companies that offer legitimate work from home opportunities I have not found any!

Grant Funding for a church/ministry?

I received an email asking about "religion" grants.  While I did send a private reply back the term got me to thinking.  In its broadest, possible sense I would say that there are religious grants however the problem lies with what you want the grant specifically for.  There are grant programs for studying religion, there are grant programs for teaching religion and there are even grant programs for starting a ministry - for example if you want to provide an extension of a ministry then there are those ministries that will provide funding for you to do so.  There is even a category of grant funding if you wanted to receive funding for doing religious art!  What about designing and providing religious jewelery?  What about funding to write a book about religion?  What about funding to help you "spread the word"? 

So I guess that the answer to the question of whether or not there are "religion" grants out there would be a YES!

Work

I haven't posted for a few days because I have been busy meeting a deadline.  I'm glad to say that I did meet it!  It had to do with the single mother that I mentioned and how she wanted some grant programs that she could apply for.  I was able to find 4 funding programs for her to apply for and I'm awaiting word on what she is going to do next.

Starting A Webcam Business?

Well it doesn't take too much to start a webcam business.  Of course you will need a webcam and depending upon whether or not you want to be able to streamline(show live pictures) or just offer stand alone webcam shots there are some basic things that apply.

I have a webcam page.

If you look at the page you will see the latest webcam shot that I took.  Now streamlining (in my case) is proving to be difficult because I'm still not getting the setting right to be able to upload the latest webcam shots.  But if streamlining is something that you want to do and you don't want to be bothered too much with the technical aspects of uploading recent webcam shots there are websites that will do that for you.  Me on the other hand - I'm going to figure out what it is that I'm not doing right and as soon as I do you will be seeing streamlining on my webcam page.

But getting back to those of you that want to start your own webcam business like I said before you will need a webcam.  I have a logitech webcam which cost me less than $50 and this was sometime ago.  Of course there are more sophisticated webcams out there now.  Hopefully you already have a webcam that came with your computer but if you don't you will want to make sure that the webcam that you do get will be compatible with your computer.  You should be able to find this out by looking on the webcam's packaging.  If not you can always ask the salesperson for help.

Of course you will also need a webpage.  If your Internet Service Provider doesn't provide you with your own webspace then you can use one of the free webhosting sites online.  And that is what a lot of people do now!  There are also some websites that are specifically for webcam users so that's an additional option that you should look into as well.

Since this will be your business you are also going to have to decide how you will be paid.  Are you going to charge for membership/access to your webcam page?  Are you going to accept advertising?  Are you going to "freelance" and take on specific webcam shots for clients?  Or you can do a combination of them all! 

How will you accept payment?  You can accept cash, credit card, money orders and/or checks.  Each has their own specific process for being able to accept that kind of payment.  For instance being able to take credit card payments will require either you having a merchant account or going through a third party.

There are countless examples of those who are doing exactly this - having a webcam business online and they all don't have to do with sex.

If you only knew what I knew!

Some surprising information that I am finding out!  Number one - the information that I posted yesterday about my latest client has to be changed!  One of the funding programs that I mentioned said that the grant award was $20,000.  Well I found out that that is still true HOWEVER they have added another award (which will now be their top award) of $50,000.00!

Number 2 - I have also found out that even the government programs have some surprisingly juicy tidbits of information!  Did you know that there have been government grant funding programs that have not had enough people applying for them!  It is just so hard to believe this kind of stuff!  A $50,000.00 (not the program I mentioned above) went BEGGING for applicants!  And what kind of program was it?  It was grant money to start a business!

This is just too much!

No for-profit grants huh?

As I mentioned before my most latest client is a minority single mother who is currently enrolled in college who is is looking for grant money to help start her own daycare business.  So far the information that I have found for her includes:

1.  An Entrepreneurial Grant program that awards a $20,000 grant to help start one's business.  A business plan has to be submitted and judged by a panel so I will include a sample business plan for them to have a reference.  A copy of the the program's application will also be included as well as the web site address, physical address and telephone number of the program itself.  The deadline is in November so she still has a good amount of time left to apply.

2. Another entrepreneurial grant program that provides $1,000-$5,000 for support of new small businesses. They also have many different programs to help support new businesses.

3.  An organization that celebrates independence through education by awarding grants and scholarships to single parent women and their children.  This funding program provides money directly to the Colleges,  Universities and student loan providers for the purpose of helping these women complete and pay for their education. The program also offer assistance for childcare, books and other basic needs.

So if anyone tells you that there are no grant funding programs for individual or for those starting their own business you can print out this page and show it to them!

Grant Myth #2 - Grants are only given to non-profit organizations?

Again this is another myth.  My most latest client is a single mother that is looking for grants for starting her daycare business in her home.  If she lives in an area that has a very high need for providing daycare services she will be able to apply for the grant programs that are offered in that area.  There are many of these kinds of grants available for for-profit daycare simply because the need for providing daycare is so great.  One daycare received enough grant money to operate their business simply because they provided 24 hour daycare services. 

There are also a number of entrepreneurial grants for both minorities and women for financial help to help start their own business.  Mind you I said business and NOT non-profit!  The government also has grant programs that are open for ALL to apply - meaning the general public and that includes individuals as well as for-profit businesses.

So this is another myth about grants.

If you think that there are grants only for non-profits then you haven't been looking in the right places!  As a matter of fact there are some examples of individuals and for-profits that have received grants that I have on my grants page. 

http://members.aol.com/Roseb441702/grants.htm

These are not made up people and businesses.  They are actual grant recipients that are not non-profits.  So if you think that only non-profits are eligible for grants then please go to my grants page and read about those that have received grants.

Saturday was "housework" day!

That's right!  Cleaning and scrubbing and mopping and just general stuff!  I think I was at the computer for about an hour!  But here is a handy piece of advice that I have learned and it is that sometimes you have to put your mind on something else.  It helps clear your mind when you go back to work.  Often times a problem will come up and it frustrates and worries me so and I find that when I'm thinking or doing something else an answer will come!

PS - Don't worry though I'm back at the computer now!

Grant Myths!

Here is a comment that I commented on - from another message forum

You mention foundations, and yet they are limited by the IRS to limit their giving to non-profits. Anything between 'big business and corporations' and a for-profit entity is a CONTRACT for services, not a GRANT. For-profit entreprenuers try to hire my firm all the time. I never take them as grant campaign clients, knowing that the chance of them receiving any kind of return on their investment is slim to nil. If that doesn't bother you, fine. We're obviously operating from very different motivations. Just let the buyer beware. There is NO FREE LUNCH. As long as you can sleep at night....

~

We are operating from very different viewpoints. Number one foundations by law are required to give away a percentage of their revenues each year in accordance with their MISSION STATEMENT. In other words the objective of the foundation is what is important and not the entity that applies for their grant.Here is an excerpt from Smartmoney's site:
"ANSWER: The adage "there's no such thing as a free lunch" certainly applies here. The good news is that, yes, in some circumstances the government (at the state or federal level) as well as private foundations will provide grants to people trying to get a fledgling business off the ground. But that doesn't mean the money comes easy."There is a New York based non-profit that provides small GRANTS and business-development assistance to applicants with low income. One woman received $700 to help start her sewing business. Now I already had this information as a result of doing research for a woman that wanted to start her own business. The quote I found because I did research and on and on.As for big companies and corporations operating on a "contract" basis. That is simply not true. There is a big corporation that offers grants in the amount of $100K. Their selection committee invites applications for projects that fall into the following areas: science and medicine; technology and innovation; exploration and discovery; the environment; and cultural heritage. The Selection Committee will choose five awardees who will each receive a check for $100K. What is the eligibility requirement? You have to be an INDIVIDUAL! If a group is applying then one person has to be the designated applicant.Now how did I find this information? I looked!My motivation is this - The one thing that a person needs to start a business is desire. I mean what is one of the primary reasons that we have started businesses of our own? So we can be our own bosses. What motivates me is the fact that people think that there is some kind of secret to starting (and maintaining) one's own business when all there is is work. What motivates (and inspires me) is hearing stories about people who have started their own businesses on LESS than a shoe string. The one that comes immediately to my mind is the woman who is a single mother who started a gift basket business (without a computer mind you!) and got a small grant to grow her business. Another one that comes to mind is a web design company that got a grant because they filled the need of a grant. All examples of "where there is a will there is a way".One more thing. One of the reasons I started this business is the fact that these comments about there being "no grants for no things no time" bugged me no end. I knew this wasn't true for the simple fact that all you have to do is pick up the business section of a Sunday newspaper! Now that we have 24 hours of news, every now and then a business related newstory having to do with grants will come on. So I decided to find out for my own self and I did. I have found more information than one one person could fathom - all on a subject that people say does not exist. The fact that the information is not easy to find does not mean that it is not out there. It just means that it is not easy to find. So people get frustrated, they give up or worse they get angry to the point that they feel that if they can't find it then it doesn't exist! The sad fact of the matter is if you can not find the information you have to keep on looking. That is the only way that you are going to find it. If you want a grant bad enough or your desire is high enough then you will keep on looking - plain and simple!

Blog Troubles!!!!!!!

Hopefully what I see isn't the same thing that you see (hopefully). The format of this blog is coming out wrong! I do remember having this problem before and it kind of solved itself on its own. I'm kind of hoping that the same thing will happen now. But I have been thinking about it and I remember seeing this type of problem on other people's blogs (one in particular that I have a lot of respect for). But that doesn't mean that I want this un-correct format to stay so I'm going to have to analyze the coding to see if I can correct the format.

On another note - As you know I work from home and that is a lot of what this blog is about. So many people want to work from home and that is one of the reasons that I decided to start this blog. First you have to make the decision that you want to work from home. Many people have started their own business (and I am one of them) simply because they hated their regular jobs.

One thing that concerns those that want to work from home is what kind of job can they do at home. Many times I have said that the fastest way to make money is to find a need and fill it. Businesses such as starting a day/childcare business, doing yard work and running errands are good businesses to start because there is always a need for such services. As an example my next door neighbor hired someone to do his yard work and I had a chance to talk to him and he said that he had more work than he could handle!

Unfortunately a lot of people want the type of work at home job where they can work for a company. I have yet to see a company that legitimately has this kind of opportunity. But that is what a lot of people want.

Trees?

I'm always saying that most grants were created to fill a need and this is a very good example of one.  My own local area has started a program where trees will be planted in certain areas (with the property owner's permission).  With about $200,000 in grant money, trees will be planted in the area.  For one thing there are a lot of older trees and some of them have died off leaving gaps in the streetscape.  But there are other reasons for this program as well.  I have a list of them but will tell you about a few of them.

1. They reduce the running water caused by storms and in turn that minimizes that might occur in creeks.

2. They provide shade in the summer and help create a barrier against cold winds which in turn helps to save energy costs.

Not to mention that trees are nice to look at.

It's all in an effort to help the community look more nice and trees do provide beneficial benefits to the area and the community.

If you think that your community would benefit from something like this you should definitely take a look into these kinds of programs.

How soon will I get paid?

So many people want to work from home and/or start their own business but time and time again I have seen them say that they need money fast! Like I have said before the fastest way to make money is to find a need and fill it. The best way to make money is to take something that you love to do and turn it into a business. If you want money fast try a business that has a high demand like starting a daycare service, running errands for others and even doing yard work! My neighbor next door is elderly and he has hired someone to do his yard work and I had a chance to talk to him and he told me that he has more work than he can handle! Wouldn't you like to be able to say the same about YOUR business?