megram - Index

megram - 55Ottawa - Index

Lessons learned
My conclusion is that living a good
life today is the best preparation possible
for all our tomorrows.We need to
be active, generous, helpful and kind;
and we need to be sure that our conduct
is always guided by the highest
principles. These friends left a lasting
and positive image with all who were
privileged to know them. They have
been a great example to others as well
as to me and my family.
Teresa McCarthy is an image consultant
certified by the Association of
Image Consultants International
and is the Director of Canadian
Operations for Fashion Fit Formula.
She and her daughter Terry Lee are
founding partners of Image
Solutions Group.
Teresa’s Tips
At the beginning of the
week, jot down the things that
need doing and then spread
them out over the week.
Schedule get-togethers with
friends.Entertaining need not be
expensive and time-consuming,
especially if barbeque season
can be stretched a bit longer.
Cut down on television time
and instead use the time to connect
with friends through visits,
telephone calls, cards, letters,
and e-mails.
Plan one big task for each
day and if you don’t have something
urgent to do for yourself,
try to do something for someone
else.
Remember that there is joy
in giving and, as we have been
told so many times: “What you
send out, you get back.”
Retirement? Bah!
Tips for running your own business after you retire
These days, turning 65 years old
hardly means the end of work,
settling down and hibernating
into a retirement home. More and
more individuals are transitioning
from retiring from one job to starting
their own business as part of their
post-retirement plans. Popular choices
include running a bed and breakfast
and freelance photography, just to
name a few.
To set up a successful business
after you “retire” and switch to a new
home-based career, there are a few
fundamental things you should consider
in order to get yourself off on the
right foot:
1. Make space in your home that
can be dedicated solely to your new
business. Whether this is an entire
office, or just a corner of a room, you
will want to have your computer files
and hard copy files contained in one
space for your business.
2. Obtain the tools you need to
operate your business efficiently.
Namely, make sure your Internet service
supports your needs. Consider an
September 2008 • Ottawa 16 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
accelerated Internet service such as
Netscape (www.join.netscape.ca) that
keeps costs down. (For $18.95 per
month, it delivers speeds up to 19
times faster than dial-up and doesn’t
require a high-speed infrastructure if
you are living outside an urban city.)
3. Check out the competition
both by geography and service offerings.To
have a healthy, profitable, sustainable
business, make sure that what
you are offering provides something
in addition to or different than what
others are doing.
4. Build a budget that reflects not
only your expected income from the
business, but also factors in monthly
expenses, mail charges, software fees
and material costs.
5. Start promoting your business
by talking to friends first. Use your
own social network to get your business
off the ground. You could even
consider hosting a potluck with
friends to show off your new business
savvy.
Source: News Canada