Category: Working Parents

Teaching piano form home isn’t as hard as you may think. Even if you’re not an accomplished musician, you can easily line up a few students to start teaching. Plus, you get to work in the comfort of your own home.

This earns you a nice income of about $35.49 an hour.

You get to flaunt your skills while helping others and earning cash. What could be better than that?

And it’s easier than you think. Teaching piano from home requires little effort but comes with big rewards.

Ready to start making money? Here we go!

What You Need to Start Teaching Piano From Home

There isn’t much required to get started. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, this is a great way to work from home. Here’s what is needed.

Experience

This one is obvious but you don’t need to be classically trained to teach. If you start out by teaching little kids, there isn’t much experience needed.

You need to know how to read music and learn the basics. This can be easily researched on the internet.

A Piano

Another obvious one but sometimes people think keyboards will suffice. They don’t.

You need to teach your students how to get a feel for an actual piano. This will also allow them to start gaining strength in their fingers.

Training Books

These are good to keep on hand for both you and the students. You can lend it to them to study overnight so they’ll be prepared for the next day.

A Quiet Space

Your students will want a quiet place to practice. You don’t need a fancy studio as a guest room or a clean garage will work.

Chatalbash piano teachers created their own home studios to get the job done. This proves you don’t need to rent out a tiny apartment or music studio to get started.

Create a Business Plan

While you are teaching piano from home, it’s still good to write up a business plan. This will help you keep on track with your goals.

You’ll want to include your business concept. Are you set on teaching children or do you want college students?

What about your competition? You’ll need to know how many others are teaching piano as well. You’re not only competing against other at-home teachers but institutions too.

Set Up Payment Terms

You want to get paid for your hard work, right? The first mistake work-from-home people make is that they’re too flexible with getting paid.

You need to set strict payment guidelines to ensure you’re getting what you’re worth. You can have students pay for a group of lessons or on a weekly or monthly basis.

Don’t worry so much about pleasing the students with your pricing. If they want the best, they’ll pay for it.

Promote Your Business

You can’t get students by sitting at home hoping someone will come knocking on your door. Take your business to the streets by handing out flyers or putting an ad on social media.

Once you have a few students, don’t forget to book more lessons for them. That loyalty is what you’ll need to stay afloat. Don’t think of it as pressuring them; if they loved your teaching style, they’ll be more than happy to sign up again.

Wrapping Up

Teaching piano is a great and rewarding experience. And making a little cash on the side doesn’t hurt either.

You don’t need expensive equipment or years of knowledge. All it takes is willpower and ambition.

Looking for more ways to earn money while working from home? Check out our most recent blog posts!

If you’ve ever considered working towards your real estate license, you’re in good company. As of June 2017, there were a total of 415,458 real estate licensees, including brokers and salespeople.

Even if you don’t have prior experience in the field, a career in real estate is possible for anyone. It’s important to note, though, that passing the exam to get your real estate license does require work.

Choosing to invest the time in getting a real estate license could have a significant payoff for your future and the future of your family. Working in real estate offers many benefits, in addition to a fulfilling career.

Below, we’re reviewing the top reasons why getting your license to work in real estate is a worthwhile investment.

Read on to learn what you can get out of the job, and how becoming a real estate agent can benefit you and your family.

1. Get Access To MLS Deals With A Real Estate License

The ability to legitimately access your local Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, is one of the biggest benefits to getting your real estate license.

If you’re interested in acquiring multiple properties or purchasing a rental property, this could be a huge asset to you. You won’t have to rely on an agent or Realtor to notify you about new deals because you’ll hear about them as soon as they are posted.

That will give you a competitive edge over others in your area who may be interested in similar properties, but don’t have a real estate license themselves. Rather than getting word of a good deal every few months, you’ll have access to all the local deals that are available.

You can make an offer as quickly as possible, and secure the perfect property or properties for your needs.

2. Flexible Income And Hours

While real estate can be a fulfilling career, you don’t have to work full time to make it worth it to get your license. If your goal is to earn a little extra income — rather than to support your family full time — real estate is a great way to accomplish that.

Once you have your license, you can choose how many listings you take on based on your income goals for that month. If you’re saving up for an expensive item or luxury vacation, you can list more houses. If you don’t have any pressing financial needs, you can take a month off.

How much you choose to work is entirely up to you, which also makes it a great career option for parents or anyone who wants flexibility during the day.

A career in real estate is not a 9-5, in the office kind of position. Your schedule will depend on your listings, and while it’s important to be available to your clients, you will still have time during the day to get other things done.

You can also choose to start smaller with fewer listings, and then scale up as you gain more experience and your client base grows.

3. Build Strong Community Relationships

Working as a real estate agent or broker is much more than a desk job. It requires you to be out in your community on a daily basis, which provides you with a great opportunity to make connections and build relationships.

Open houses will give you the chance to meet members of your own community, including your own neighbors and people who are new in town and looking for a home. Your success in real estate can depend a lot on client recommendations and word of mouth, so it’s important to build strong relationships whenever you can.

Networking events will also help you meet others in the real estate industry, who could learn from or potentially work with in the future.

Meeting more people can help you close more deals, but the benefits of being an active member of your community go far beyond business. Through your work in real estate, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know people you would never have met otherwise.

4. Make Dreams Come True

So many of us have the same goal for our career: we want to do something that can make a meaningful impact on another person. Working in real estate can empower you to do just that.

As a real estate agent or broker, you’ll have the opportunity to assist first time buyers, who have been working hard to find American dream homes for their families. You can develop a relationship with your clients that’s hard to find in other fields.

Once you get your real estate license and are working in the field, you’ll find that selling homes is about so much more than the commission. It’s about helping people find a place that’s theirs and making their dream of becoming a homeowner come true.

5. You Can Work Anywhere

Life is unpredictable, and it’s hard to know with certainty where you’re going to be in a year, or five or ten. That’s why a career in real estate is such a practical choice — it can be done anywhere.

Each state does have its own requirements that you’ll have to meet in order to get your real estate license, but once you’ve gotten your license in one state, you’re better prepared to work anywhere.

Working in real estate is also a great way to get to know a new area if you do move. You’ll quickly get a sense of different neighborhoods, and will have many opportunities to meet different people.

Want More Flexible Career Options?

Once you have your real estate license, there are lots of ways you can use it to design a flexible career for yourself and earn additional income for your family.

Having a job where you’re able to work when you want to can be extremely important, especially if you’re also trying to juggle the demands that come with being a busy parent.

For more information flexible ways that you can earn additional income for your family, please contact me at any time.

It can be a downer to have to leave some of your favorite jewelry pieces at home when you go to work every day.

Sometimes, we want to jazz up our style a little bit. Jewelry is always a great way to do that.

But, there are rules about how to wear jewelry at a workplace that can feel overwhelming. No one wants to break any of them, so it feels easier to go without than to take that risk. So, that beautiful pendant sits in your jewelry box all week instead of spicing up your outfit.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

Learning the best way to use your jewelry while at work isn’t hard. A few good tips, and you’ll stay professional and beautiful.

Tips on How to Wear Jewelry at Work

Know Your Workplace

Unless you work at home, you have to worry about your boss and co-workers.

Some companies are stricter than others. Some don’t allow jewelry at all. Whether it’s for safety reasons or for aesthetic reasons, it’s good to know what your environment is like before pulling out the biggest ring you own!

Take a good look around and get a general idea of how your boss and co-workers would react to you wearing your best jewelry. You could even ask them for their opinion. That way, you know for certain what’s acceptable and what’s not.

The Two Piece Rule

How much is too much? It’s hard to know when to stop. Is just one necklace okay? What if you want to put on an entire ensemble?

Whenever you aren’t certain how to wear jewelry at work, go with just two pieces! Any more and you might begin to look a little too flashy. You can’t go wrong with simple wedding rings and a matching set of earrings.

Less is More

You always want to remain professional and classy.

After all, you don’t want to have your clients think you are looking a little too dressed up. When choosing your jewelry pieces, make sure to pick things that are a bit more simple.

One bold piece can be a great choice. Put on too many, and it will begin to look out of place at a work environment.

A good way to make certain you are looking professionally appropriate is to stop at a mirror before heading out.

Take a good look and edit your wardrobe accordingly. Some people say it’s best to take off one accessory every time before going to work.

Don’t Forget Statement Earrings

These often-overlooked pieces are perfect for wearing at work.

They look stylish and clean.

Plus, they go with a variety of outfits and accent a number of fabulous accessories. They leave your hands-free, and won’t get caught on things as you try to do your job.

They also bring focus to your face so that you can bring extra emphasis to that winning smile of yours.

Tell us your favorite ways to keep your work outfits looking their best!

Is your life in a constant state of stress?

Do you find yourself always looking for the keys on your way out the door, or not knowing where you put your cup of coffee?

If so, you need to get organized now.

Get rid of the mess in your head by reducing the mess in your environment with these 5 simple tips.

1. Clear the Clutter

The best form of cleaning house is to start by identifying what doesn’t need to be there.

Do you really need three almost-empty bottles of shampoo in your shower? Is there a better place the kids can put their homework instead of on the kitchen counter?

Identify the places in your home and office where you may have more than you need. This includes physical objects laying around and responsibilities on your “to-do” list which might not be as important as you think.

If you are stuck on deciding what is considered clutter, refer to the 80/20 rule.

2. Set Boundaries

Once you have cleared things out, keep them from sneaking back into your life.

Set boundaries at work and at home to honor the expectations you have for being organized.

At home, this can look like a daily or weekly cleaning schedule or an assigned place for random items.

In the office, it means learning the importance of saying “no” every once in a while and standing your ground.

3. Plan Ahead

Boundaries are the rules of the game, and planning ahead is like a cheat sheet.

Good planning prevents you from falling back into bad habits or taking on too much. Put all your commitments in one place to ensure nothing overlaps.

Yes, this means every meeting, soccer practice, and/or date night. Take all the hats you wear and keep track of them together. It will make things much easier, and who knows, you might even get to sneak in some time to celebrate you as well.

4. Make It a Team Effort

One of the best ways to get organized now is to share the new boundaries and plans you have with the people closest to you.

Maybe ask your partner to take care of dinner one night a week or for the kids to help with the laundry. The more you get the hubby and kids involved, the more your home can start to look like it’s the headquarters for OCD Home Inc.

A team effort means everyone is invested and everyone can support each other, too.

5. Have Fun

No matter how much you need to take on to get organized, always remember to have some fun along the way.

Play music when you mop the floors or have a mini dance party while you put away the dishes. If you’re cleaning your cubicle, leave little notes of encouragement tucked away for later.

Additionally, make time to relax without attaching an expectation to it. Sometimes the best way to get organized now is to put something off for later and drink a cup of tea instead.

Take Back Your Life and Get Organized Now

Nothing is ever perfect, but if your life looks like chaos most of the time, something has to give.

The sooner you make the decision to get organized now, the sooner you can start to breathe a little easier at work and at home.

Have you recently started using some of the tips above? Leave a reply about your experience!

Women and our shoes. Thanks to the Internet, the possibilities are nearly endless. That doesn’t mean we can wear whatever we want, whenever we want.

Every day you open the closet and every day you ask yourself the same question: “What shoes do I wear to the office today?”

For the not-so-fashion-conscious lady out there, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Today, we’re talking about how to pick out the perfect dress shoes for work, so that your boss notices your killer pitch and not your worn-out soles.

The Best Dress Shoes for Work

Classic Black Pumps

When in doubt, throw on these dress shoes to wear to the office. They go with nearly every possible ensemble, from skirts to suits.

Just like the lady wearing them, they’re sophisticated and business-like, but can still be sexy when they need or want to be.

If you like having the illusion of longer legs, have a backup pair of neutral colored pumps. To keep it as professional as possible, go with a two-inch heel or shorter.

Flats

As long as the style is business-like, these shoes are great, especially if you’re in a busy office where you find yourself getting up and walking around. These shoes are the best for having style without sacrificing comfort or mobility.

Boots

Keep a pair of boots around. If a rainy day hits, you don’t want to ruin your pumps or flats.

It’s not hard to find a pair of these shoes for pretty much any occasion — not just a thunderstorm. Plus, they’re great for helping ladies who wear small sizes shoes look like they have more proportionate and balanced feet.

Shoes You Should Never Wear to the Office

Open-Toe Shoes

If your office attire is business formal, business professional, or business casual – and let’s face it, if you’re working in an office, it’s likely one of these three — open-toed shoes should not be considered dress shoes.

Crazy Colors

Pinks, yellows, and oranges. You love them and every lady has a pair or two in her closet. Unfortunately, they aren’t appropriate for work so Monday through Friday, leave them at home.

This rule includes shoes that have polka dots, zebra or leopard prints, and any other trendy patterns or designs.

Stilettos

You know what they say, “The taller the heel, the less appropriate it is for work.”

Who says that? We do.

These shoes are great for a girl’s night out or clubbing, but for business attire, they really aren’t doing it for us as dress shoes.

Flip Flops

If you’re looking to get canned, one great way to do so is to wear flip flops to work and see how many times you can walk by the CEO’s office before being reprimanded.

It won’t take long.

Wrapping it Up

So now you know what to wear and what not to wear. You can’t go wrong with a classy pair of pumps or even some nice Mary Jane’s.

A lot of your attire possibilities depend on your office’s dress code. To next level your outfit, match your shoes with your bag and any other accessories you’re rocking that day.

What do you think about today’s post? Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you.