4. You can specialize in a business like this. One specialty that comes to mind is to place your vending machines in health related establishments - health food stores, vitamin shops, doctor or dentist offices, etc.

Then, instead of putting regular candy into your machines, you could offer sugar-free treats instead. With raging epidemic of diabetes and obesity in U.S. right now, couldn't you imagine how popular a sugar-free vending machine might be? Especially with doctors and health related establishments? You could also offer mixed nuts, granola bites, or any other combination of healthier snack alternatives.

5. You can grow this business as slowly or quickly as you'd like. Small vending machines can be purchased for less than $50, and most of small snack or "gum" machines are less than $100. By starting with one inexpensive machine and a decent location, you can make up your investment in just a few short weeks... or less!

If you re-invested your earnings by purchasing just one new machine each month, you'd have 12 by end of year. And they'd be fully paid for too! So everything earned is yours to keep.

So, whether you want a little additional income each week, part-time supplemental income, or full-time business income - take a look at vending machines. Once they're in place, there's very little work on your part... but an ongoing stream of income for you to enjoy.

To get you started today, here's a great resource for finding inexpensive vending machines online. I think they might actually be cheapest vending machine source I've ever seen. -- Vans Vending - http://www.vansvending.com

Kathy Burns-Millyard

6.Going it alone. Successful careers involve a nurturing support group of readers and peers. Your quest should include support of your friends, other authors, book coaches, readers and others who will help you maintain your enthusiasm while providing ideas, assistance and feedback.

7.‘Event’ writing. Write a little each day rather than ‘going away’ to write your book. Stress is an author’s biggest enemy. When you attempt marathon writing, you’re putting an unrealistic burden on yourself. “What happens if I come back and my book isn’t written?”

8.Self-editing. Avoid unnecessary self-editing. It’s far more important to complete first draft of your book than to agonize over perfection of every word.

Editors will ensure that grammar is correct and ideas appear in proper order. But they can’t do anything until you submit final manuscript.

9.Failure to promote. Publishers are not promoters. Publishers are skilled at editing, manufacturing and distributing books. But they are not set up to give your book marketing attention it deserves. A single publicist may represent over 100 books!

If you want your book to succeed, you have to promote it as well as write it.

10.Failure to back up and save. Save frequently when writing. Always save before printing. Never turn off your computer without making a copy of your files for off-premises storage. Never end a writing session without printing out a hard copy of latest version of chapter you’re writing.

11.Failure to plan future profits. Before writing your book, create a book marketing plan. Book sales should be just first step in an ongoing relationship with your readers. Your plan should identify opportunities from consulting, newsletters, audio/video recordings, seminars, speeches and yearly updates.

A book can, indeed, change your life. But you must take charge; take a proactive role in promoting and leveraging its success.