Or, while trying to convince a potential client how you would be best choice if he’s looking for quality, professional results your 2-year-old is proclaiming proudly, "I went poo-poo Mommy!" over and over.

I've known others who have tried to mask their true work environments using some creative metaphors. For example: "As soon as my colleague completes his current assignment" really means..."As soon as my 5-year-old is done with his Mr. Potato Head CDRom" "We'll be outsourcing finishing work" really means..."My teenaged daughter will be earning her allowance by collating and stapling your reports" "I have an urgent matter to attend to" really means..."My 3-year-old has been awfully quiet for past few minutes and she was recently asking for a haircut"

Does this mean I should lock my kids in their rooms while I’m on phone? While that can at times seem like a perfectly sensible idea, usually basic time management helps to avoid these situations. My view is that if a client thinks that quality of my work will be less just because I have children, he can look elsewhere.

Maybe I’m shutting door on some business, but I refuse to have my children feel that they come second. And I do, in fact, think of myself as a Mom first, and a business owner second. Besides, I think that day is getting nearer that people really won’t mind their projects delivered with a few soggy Cheerios on them.

Think about how people will be using your software, should it be web based or a stand alone application?

Will you offer a free demo so people can try before they buy? Will there be different version of your software for different markets? These are just a few of questions you must ask yourself when you create "blueprint".

4. "How to find a first class programmer"

Armed with a detailed software blueprint you now need a programmer to pull whole thing together for you.

There are several types of programmers around, some better than others and you need to ask as many questions as possible.

I highly recommend getting some references first and speaking to them on phone at very least.

Here are a couple of places you could try online where you can "bid" for their services, always aim for quality rather than size if you're looking at a company.

http://www.ework.com http://www.freeagent.com http://www.elance.com

If you want low cost programming on a big project you could try looking offshore to countries like India, Russia and other Eastern European countries. There are some highly talented programmers out there!

At end of day you must do your homework wherever you decide to go.

If you're lucky you may just find a programmer to work for free - just to build their portfolio! When you've finally selected your programmer you need to do these things:

- Agree a price. - Agree a timescale for completion. - Agree a payout schedule. - Agree a contract for project.

5. "It's all in packaging" What documentation are you giving with your new software? Tutorials? A basic set up guide? An A-Z reference file? I would suggest all 3 and you're covered.

Be sure to make it all as easy to read as possible.

6. "Promotion is essential!"

Now it's make it or break it time.

Keep in mind as with your software you need to plan your site with great care and in smallest possible detail.

For best results create a direct response website which answers every question your potential customers may have.

Always emphasise benefits and use every opportunity you can to collect email addresses to follow up on. You could offer a demo or a 30 day free trial. What about a walk through showing screen shots? There are so many things you can do here!

To really succeed here are 7 key ingredients to creating your very own software empire:

1. A series of "hot" software products 2. A website that gets people to "click." 3. A regular involvement in joint ventures. 4. A useful, selling machine ezine. 5. An affiliate sales force doing most of selling. 6. A viral marketing campaign. 7. An automated sales and delivery process.

Whilst above isn't a definitive guide it should give you a good idea about what's involved and how you can easily do same.

"Enjoy!"