There are businesses in corporate offices that are more fun houses than companies...and they don't inspire any confidence in me either, so I am not picking on home-based businesses.

The purpose of this article is to remind all of us (home-based and non-home-based) that how we present ourselves is of paramount importance.

When you answer your telephone, answer it in a professional manner. When you go to an outside meeting, if you are home-based, dress for meeting, not for home. If you have clients come to your home, be sure it is presentable, and that you are too. Just because you work out of your home, does not mean, shorts and a T-shirt are appropriate for meeting a client. Have your identity package (business cards, letterhead, brochure) done professionally, proofread and spell check any correspondence that leaves your office.

Your first impression, whether in person, by phone or correspondence is a lasting one. Make it a good one and you'll have clients for life if you treat them right - old fashioned way.

The only place I've ever found I was wrong is with restaurants. Some of those little holes in wall have turned out to have best service and best food, so I guess when it comes to businesses, you can't judge all books by their covers, just most of them.

Copyright 2001, DeFiore Enterprises.

All of us are still working. The majority of our group are either self-employed or independent contractors. Many of us run home-based businesses. While we are still disheartened with rise in costs, at least our work environment is a happy one, and one we feel in control of. For those in our group still working in corporate America, that's just an additional concern and stress for them. Is their job safe? Will they be downsized? Laid off? We went back and forth on work issue and found that while running your own business is a risk, we have a lot more control over our destiny than if we worked for someone else, and hence, a lot less stress. Plus we can't fire ourselves.

We all wondered where it will end. So many of us thought we would be retired by now, or at least contemplating it within next ten to fifteen years. However, with all medical advances and hundred-fold costs of so many things, that is not an option. Retirement is no longer something people do automatically between 55 and 65. Today, retirement age is in 70's. For many of us, thought of another twenty or more years of working is a depressing one, in addition to making us very angry and grumpy to say least.

Hopefully this article will provide some insight to those who wonder why over 40 generation is so angry and grumpy at times.

Copyright DeFiore Enterprises 2002