Week 10-Small Business Creation

This week has been horrible (what else is new). I just finished this week's last assignment and turned it in 24 minutes late. I was selfish and didn't do any homework except crocheting my challenge towels on Thanksgiving. On Friday I thought I would have plenty of time to work on homework but I was getting stuff ready for our tree lot. Saturday was another day of Christmas tree lot and I was stuck with no internet for most of the day. I wasn't planning on that. I worked on homework from 1am-4am this morning. Now I need to finish this assignment and get it in.

I enjoyed the interview I did with Paula Weeks at Anytime Fitness. She had a great story to tell just like my other interviewee did. I was so glad when I walked in there and it was a female to interview. Unless it's Curves, most gyms have a male owner. I was still nervous and out of place but she helped me feel comfortable.

The franchising assignment we had to do this week seems like it would be much more useful before last week's assignment of choosing a franchise. It would have helped me make a more educated choice.

The information about Steve Jobs was great. I had not really known much about him before this. I had heard his name and that he was dying of cancer. It makes you think about life in that those who have money seem to "have it all" but they can't buy time or health.

$100 Challenge Update
I have 10.8 towels made out of the 12 I bought supplies for. I made and sold a potato bag and a Bag Bag to one sister in law and another sister in law bought two towels and gave me a donation. With what is committed, I should be close to $100 in sales but I have to earn what I spent on supplies. I was surprised at how quickly the Potato Bag went together when I was sewing it. One good morning would get everything finished. The Christmas tree lot might get in the way though.

Potato Bag Instructions

Microwave Baked Potato Bag

This unique bag creates fluffy baked potatoes in your microwave.

Instructions: Wash potatoes. Do not prick. Wrap one to three potatoes in wet paper towel(s) and place them in the bag. Microwave approximately 4 to 9 minutes. You'll have to adjust the timing according to your microwave and potato size. 

Safe to wash in a washer and dryer. Try other foods: corn, tortillas, sweet potatoes, rolls.

Week 9-Small Business Creation

This has been a whirlwind week. I tried to get as many assignments done before Tuesday as I could but this class was too heavily weighted on Saturday (Monday). I have everything done except the write up for the interview. I'll get that done before Monday morning deadline but I'm too tired tonight to do a good job. I have to decide if I feel okay about doing it on Sunday since it's only one assignment for the week. I got everything else done even though I was gone Tuesday and Wednesday with my husband, substituted at the middle school on Thursday and was gone again Friday and Saturday. I'm actually 3 and a half hours from home right now.

Catherine Rohr was an interesting lady. She made me ponder my attitudes toward people. As I was leaving town yesterday, I was fueling my car and a man was all of a sudden by me. He told me he was begging for food or for gas. My first instinct was to tell him no because of all the scammers around that beg. He walked off but then I thought about a chocolate milk I had just bought for myself. I could have given him that since I hadn't opened it. I couldn't see where he went and have felt guilty all weekend because I didn't help him because of my attitude towards the scammers doing the same thing he was doing.

I loved the story of Burt's Bees. That is so expensive and I haven't bought any of it. We have had a couple hives of bees (both died out over the winters) which made me more interested in her story. She took a pile of discarded beeswax and became a millionaire. Amazing!

$100 Challenge update
I haven't gotten to sew anything although I had good intentions of sewing while I'm visiting my son and daughter-in-law but as usual the other assignments took priority. I came to Utah to go to Time Out for Women with her. It was a present for my birthday, Mother's Day and probably Christmas. While we were enjoying the presentations I was able to crochet the tops on two towels. Four down 12 to go on the first round of supplies. I will have to devote some time next week to sewing. I keep saying that and the days and weeks just keep ticking by.

Week 8-Small Business Creation

This week has been full. I had about half of E-Myth left to read. I've been trying to catch up in addition to getting ahead for next week. It has been several weeks since I've could get everything done for Saturday. I can't turn in my book report because I was 5 minutes after Planned Maintenance started. I always remember during the day but starting about 8pm I forget it's coming. 

I was able to do my Franchisee interview today. I have never been more at ease with someone. In the past, I have interviewed two friends and was more nervous than today. The work that we've done in the last couple of weeks came up during the interview. She said that she wasn't in it for the money above a living. This reminded me of Matt Stewart when he said that when he concentrated on making money his businesses didn't do as well. We also talked about the kinds of people she liked to hire. 

$100 Challenge Update

I got a few rows crocheted on a towel. I am getting very worried about this. Time is slipping away. I just can't seem to get a block of time (or any time) to get these items made. The two unscheduled days I had to sub really hurt me this week but it is another commitment I have taken on because it's the special education classroom. It is hard to get a good sub for them. I know the kids and it is almost like not having a sub at all. Cross your fingers for me this week. 

Week 7-Small Business Creation

I guess I was an emotional wreck last week in all of my classes especially Friday and Saturday. I had such good plans to get ahead for the vacation days (which thankfully got postponed). Those plans didn't come to fruition. I had my new grandchildren over on Saturday. The baby cried quite a bit but the worst problem was my own kids fighting over the grands and not doing what I asked them. I had had it by the end of Saturday. I purposely didn't do this Saturday night because I didn't want to completely blast everyone and everything. This coming week will be filled with two weeks in one because I will be gone most of the next week. I feel the stress creeping in.

It was quite frustrating to start the week finding out that I didn't have to read everything that is posted for us. It's refreshing to know now though. I did watch/listen to the video of Bob Sutton. It was good but had some language in it that I didn't care for. He made some excellent points though. Bosses that treat their employees like crap aren't good for morale.

The Leadership Style Survey was another frustrating assignment. Some of the assignments through my classes over these two years make me feel dumb as a stay at home mom. We are told to think about our family as our business but some of those questions were completely not applicable. It is probably eye opening for those in the workforce.

I have to find someone to interview this week. I don't know who to even interview. I don't really want to run a Taco Bell but I think that or Denny's owners are who I'm going to choose from.

My $100 Challenge project is in the exact same spot as it was last week. It is so frustrating. It's my own fault. I had hoped to get $300 to donate but now I'll be lucky to get my $100 profit sold.