Think & Grow Rich by Napolean Hill - Listen on MP3

No time to read?

Napolean Hill's popular book, "Think and Grow Rich" can now be downloaded and listened to on your mp3 player.

For more details, click here.

Question(s): What Do I Sell (and Where Do I Get It?)

The 2 biggest questions you must have answered if you want to run a profitable internet business are..

1. What do I sell?

and

2. Where do I get it?

It doesn't matter if you sell on eBay, Yahoo stores, or your own website. Finding hot products to sell is something you'll always have to do for your business. I know companies who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year just to source products.

You don't have to do that.

A company called Worldwide Brands will handle the heavy lifting of product sourcing for you and let you concentrate on growing your business.

If you don't already know who Worldwide Brands is, let me tell you about them...

Worldwide Brands is the top product sourcing company in the world. They have the world's largest database of genuine, factory-direct, drop ship and wholesale suppliers. Everyone in their database has been personally contacted and pre-qualified.

They also do educational presentations for eBay Live, host Product Sourcing Radio, and are the Official Product Sourcing Editors for eBay Radio.

Early this year, they unleashed the OneSource tool and immediately gave online sellers the ability to use the same wholesale and drop ship suppliers that big name department stores, eBay Powersellers, and eCommerce store owners use.

With OneSource you get:

* Instant access to millions of products and thousands of drop ship, light bulk, liquidation, and import VERIFIED wholesale suppliers that you can use to source products to sell for a profit.

* Detailed demand, competition, keyword, and pricing market research.

* A lifetime 100% money back guarantee.

* 100% FREE customer service and hours and hours of free online education material.

Take a look at OneSource here: OneSource at WW Brands


Right now, they are offering a limited time $30 discount to OneSource. The discount will only last until the end of November, so you need to move fast to take advantage of it.

I can't recommend this product enough if you're looking for wholesale products to sell. It's a great place to find wholesalers & dropshippers who have products you can buy and sell for a nice profit.

Even the 'Dean of eBay University' Jim "Griff" Griffin recommends it to you. Click here to see what he had to say about OneSource.

EBay University instructor Janelle Elms said...

"They're the only legitimate sourcing company that I'll recommend to the eBay University students."

And Andy Jenkins, who has done over one million dollars drop shipping items, had this to say...

"There's a whole army of people behind this database. It's the first place and usually the last place we look."

Make sure you get this powerful product sourcing tool for your online business.

Click here to get it now for $30 off the normal price.

Free Download - eBay Workshop Collection 2007

I have a valuable freebie for you today.

It's from Worldwide Brands, the creators of OneSource. They have the world's largest database of genuine wholesale suppliers and every year, they hold workshops for eBay sellers on how to find wholesale products for their eBay business.

They recently compiled all of their 2007 eBay workshops into one eBook.

The workshop titles included in the ebook are...

* From Hobby to Home Business

* How to Compete in a Crowded Market

* What is the difference between Liquidation, Closeouts, and Surplus

* Understanding the Basics to Importing Physical Products to Sell

* Building Supplier Relationships is Very Important Especially for the Holiday Season

You can download it for free here: Free eBay Workshop Collection Book

It's a great book and I'm sure you'll get a lot of value from it.

Also, if you sell on eBay or plan to in the future, OneSource is a great place to find wholesalers and drop shippers for your eBay auctions.

And there are 2 big reasons you should become a member of OneSource today:

The first reason is right now, they are running a $30 discount to a lifetime membership to OneSource. The discount only lasts until the end of November. It's the lowest price you'll be able to get a lifetime membership to OneSource.

Click here to get the full details on OneSource and get the discount: OneSource Information

The second reason why you should get OneSource is wholesalers have begun offering steep discounts on their products. They are trying to get inventory out of their warehouses before the end of the year, so they won't have to pay taxes on the inventory.

That rarely happens this time of year.

But, with the combination of the housing and mortgage market, the low consumer confidence index and wholesalers overestimating retail sales, wholesalers are looking for a way to liquidate goods immediately.

It's a great opportunity to stock up on items to sell right now and for the first quarter of 2008. But you need to take advantage of this now.

This window of opportunity closes on December 31st, 2007.

Chris Malta, the founder of Worldwide Brands, explains how you can take advantage of this rare opportunity and buy low from wholesalers and sell high for nice profits in a brief audio.

You can listen to his 8-minute audio here: Wholesale Opportunity

Enjoy the free eBook and the audio!

Until next time!

WAHM Resource - SiteBuild It!

Although I still keep a job away from home, I still consider myself a WAHM. Why?

My ultimate goal is to afford to stay home as a work at home mom. Life is just ticking away and I can't afford NOT to press on toward my stay-at-home goal.

My latest project: I signed on to build my next web site using SBI!.

Many WAHM's have used SBI! and the wonderful tools they offer. However, I'm sure there are many work at home moms that don't have a clue what I'm talking about.

So... What is SBI!?

SBI! is a short for "SiteBuild It!"

SiteBuild It! is a complete business builder for those of us that want to start up an Internet presence (or business) but do not know how to go about it or where to start. It takes you from brainstorming your idea(s) and picking out the idea that will be your best for being a success.

I know - perhaps I'm sounding "hypie" (is that a word?).

But I've been through the site building "fun". I've been through the mill of advice and how-to's of setting up an Internet business.

It takes a lot of work! And doing it all by myself has been and continues to be an education for me.

Benefits of SBI!

SBI! takes away the pain of:

• learning how to pick the best keywords,
  
• how to select a subject (we all know a lot about one or many things),
  
• how to build content,
  
• how to set up your web page,
  
• getting your web presence to qualified people interested in your subject matter - and then
• how to monetize your website.

I'm tired of "poking and hoping."

SBI! has been around on the Internet as long as I can remember (1998?) - perhaps before. I joined their affiliate program, but never really promoted it. I could not afford to spend my money on a program that I didn't know anything (really) about and had not tried. It had also not (IMHO) withstood the "test of time."

But here it is, 2007, and SBI! is still around.

And (now) I want to build my next "web venture" with less pain and more success.

The comforting part of this is: SBI! comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if you decide you don't like it or it will not work for you.

So, for those of you who may be interested in my SBI! project, I'm still in the brainstorming stage, so I haven't yet decided on my niche.

But so far, the tools and the forums are top notch. I'm sure I'll be picking a niche soon.

For more information about SiteBuild It! for WAHMs, click on this link: SBI!

Also, take a moment and see if you can relate to this WAHM (in the video below).

Have a wonderful day!

Idea for Making A Unique Info Product

The number one reason people use the internet is: Information!

Yes, information is still the main reason people browse the internet. It's a powerful tool for researching and obtaining the information you are looking for without leaving your house.

If you're looking for a way to afford to stay at home, you should look into marketing information. Selling information is a very profitable business.

But what product will you offer and on what topic?

The following is a helpful article by Marlon Sanders. Marlon has had many years of experience in the field of selling info products on the internet. His article gives insight in helping you to find and develop a unique product - your product - to produce, set up, and profit from.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"How to Make Money As An Info Product Marketer By Cashing In On The Amazing Power Of "The-One-And-Only."

Subtitle: Why You Don't Gotta Be A Rocket Scientist Or Extreme Expert To Get Started In The Info Product Business -- And A Simple Way To Cash In On Quick Hit Products You Can Create THIS Week!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Marlon here.

You know how when you get started as a newbie in this business you don't know WHAT to sell, WHO to sell it to or HOW you are gonna get started?

I'm gonna break it down for you today and give you a simple, easy, non-threatening way to get started in this business.

First, you have the big boys on the block in any highly lucrative market.

They pull out all the big guns -- sophisticated product launches, video, high end membership sites, seminars, coaching.

This is the full arsenal.

And frankly, the skill level is beyond most beginners unless you have exceptional talent.

There's another kind of player -- the Guerrilla player. This player knocks off specific topics the big boys overlook or don't cover.

What they do is create little info products, PDF reports, ebooks, teleseminars that cover very specific topics within the broad, overall market.

The advantage of these products is they are fairly quick hits to create.

The other advantage is you can round up 10 of the products into a bundle and sell that. Or you can break them out and sell them separately.

I'll give you an example: I've mentioned the market recently that that teaches guys how to meet girls. And visa versa, girls and women how to meet guys.

I ran across a site the other day that was cool. He isn't a big name in the market. So he just is hitting topics that are very specific that no one else is covering in as much depth.

For example -- the phone.

All guys DREAD calling that girl or woman they just met on the phone to ask for that illusive date.

So what this guy did is created a little audio product JUST on that. Only he added one twist to it that I thought was very clever -- He KNEW guys get all nervous about picking up the phone and CALLING.

So his little info product teaches them how to do it via TEXT messaging! Brilliant. He just solved a big anxiety, a big problem.

And no other "gurus" in that market teach guys how to do the text game in as much detail (or hardly at all). So he took a little simple method he'd discovered for getting dates by text messaging and made a little $20.00 product out of it.

Yeah, no one gets rich off of a $20.00 product. But he does sell bigger ticket back end stuff. And here again, he has chosen the role of the GUERRILLA.

He picked a topic hardly anyone else is doing seminars or big tickets on -- daytime. How to meet girls and women in coffee shops, bookstores and other daytime activities.

So here he is in this crowded market. And he's founds some topics to focus on that are not well covered by the big guns.

In Red Factor, I called these "underserved" markets for those of you who are plugged into that body of knowledge.

Here's another one I spotted.

The point is, you may be new and wondering what YOU can sell in a crowded market or in ANY market! The answer is to find some topics that are IGNORED by everybody else.

Then you make those topics your specialty or the focus of your ebooks, audios, interviews, teleseminars, seminars or whatever.

Now, I've built my whole business on what I call FLANKING moves. These are similar to Guerrilla moves but are different. The basic idea, though, is similar.

You sell to underserved markets. Vintage Red Factor thinking there.

And if you're a struggling beginner wondering WHAT do you sell, start looking for some little topics in a market that no one else has done anything on.

That would make you the one and only on that topic.

I used to sign my name: Marlon Sanders, the one and only.

Now you know why.

I don't care HOW crowded the market. You can always find those Red Factor opportunities, those Guerrilla topics, those Flanking moves that no one else is covering.

It's a LOT easier to sell when you are the ONLY one with a product on the topic!

One last example: There's a guy in the magic field who had a trick that he stopped selling (because he got out of the trick selling business). I've heard the trick now sells for $1,000 on Ebay.

The trick is a gimmick that lets you FLOAT a bottle without strings attached. Most levitations of stuff that are close up involve some sort of string, and therefore can ONLY be done with very light stuff.

His levitation?

You can float heavy stuff like bottles. And you can do it close up. And there are no strings used!

How crazy is that?

The point? Here's a killer trick with a SOLID USP. It's a great little product because it's a "one and only."

I hope I've convinced YOU to consider being a "one-and-only." And to start out in this business by doing little quick hit products you can knock out in under a week. Or even a few hours.

Remember that little phone call product I told you about? It was $20.00 and just a little audio the guy made. But it had great info.

He could get $39.00 for it or maybe $49.00 if he transcribed it into a tidy little PDF.

Marlon Sanders
"The one and only"
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Marlon Sanders is the author of "The Amazing Formula That Sells Products Like Crazy." If you'd like to get on his mailing list and receive tips, articles and information about online marketing, visit: http://www.0tips.com

Solving the Mystery of Private Label Rights Content

PLR aka "Private Label Rights" - you hear the term used often on the Internet. Yet there's still much mystery and misunderstanding surrounding PLR and it's appropriate use. Can the explanation be simplified?

What is PLR or Private Label Rights content? How can you use PLR content? Are there limitations as to how I'm allowed to use PLR content? How can it benefit you and your business? And last, but not least, where can you find PLR content?

What is PLR Content?

Simply put, PLR content is content that does not originate from your own pen. It is content written by someone else that you can use and put your signature to it. It is not copyrighted.

When people search the Internet, it is frequently for information. One of the most difficult tasks of building your business on the Internet where "content is king," is providing useful content.

To put up some useful content, you have several options:

• You can write it yourself.
  
• You can hire someone else to do the writing.
  
• You can obtain PLR content relative to your web site theme, and use it.

Using PLR content is a great accelerator to writing useful content.

While you still may want to research your subject and rewrite your PLR content to suit your need, using PLR content can be a great time-saver and money-saver.

At the least, writing your own content from scratch will be time-consuming. And hiring someone else to write your content will cost money.

How Can I Use PLR Content?

There are many ways you can use PLR content.

1. Websites
   
2. Business blogs
3. Newsletters
4. Mini-courses and training
   
5. eBooks
   

Are There Any Limitations to Using PLR Content?

When you obtain PLR content from a PLR content provider, there is usually a limitation related to the resale of the material in it's original form to others. No, unless you have permission to resell your private label rights content from it's source, this is a no-no.

My recommendation to you is to read and abide by the terms set forth by your PLR content provider.

However, it is possible to rewrite your content to make it into a new product that you can use to sell as PLR content. But you cannot pass on the content you received in form that you received it!

What are the Benefits of Using PLR?

1. It saves you time.

You may be great at writing. But there are many other tasks that you need to attend to when you are setting up your Internet business. Using PLR content provides the "skeleton" that you can use to write great content for your business. While you may have to do a little rewriting or a little research to make it useful and original, it beats starting from scratch!

2. It saves you money.

While you may have to purchase your content from a PLR content provider, the cost for PLR content is small compared to hiring a writer to write your content.

Many PLR content membership providers allow you to "test drive" their product for free before you commit to a membership. There are also other PLR content providers that sell PLR content packs on individual subjects.


Where Can I Find PLR Content?

There are many places to find PLR content providers. Just type "PLR" into a Google search box and see how many sites offer PLR content. There are many offers of PLR content you can also find on eBay.

I also have a review-resource page that lists PLR content providers that I like and use. You can find my recommendations at PrivateLabelRights for content.

Some are free to try. Some cost a little, some cost more. The PLR content providers that cost more usually offer more.

PLR content is available to you for almost every application and at a cost anyone can afford.

My best wishes for your success!

You're Invited to Join - Espired Membership

I joined eSpired.com a few months back and took a "wait-and-see" attitude before recommending Paul Kleinmeulman's web site to anyone.

After poking around and returning multiple times, I can now officially say, "eSpired.com" is inspiring and a valuable resource for people who are looking to be pointed in the right direction of having a successful internet marketing business.

So, without further ado, I would like to announce The Launch Of Espired Membership...

It's not often that you hear an Australian making it big online, but that is exactly what Paul Kleinmeulman is doing and because internet marketing has allowed him to achieve his dreams, in both income, travel and family time, he wants to give back.

Espired Membership is Paul Kleinmeulman's way of giving back to the internet community by showing you how he was able to become so successful so quickly.

He shares with you what works and what doesn't about the following topics, when building a successful business online....

Unchanging Internet Marketing Principles...

Product Creation Methods...

Killer Copywriting Methods...

Traffic Techniques...

List Building And Email Marketing Methods...

Affiliate Marketing Tactics...

Outsourcing Systems...

For all the details check out...
eSpired.com

It just opened in July 2007 and it's brand new. I am in... Will I see you there too?

Here's to your online success.

Jo Rasmussen



----------------
Now playing: Dionne Warwick & The Spinners - Then Came You (S K Y . F M - Oldies - The 50s, 60s, & 70s - three decades of great oldies on www.sky.fm)
via FoxyTunes

If You Fail to Plan...

As the old saying goes, "If you fail to plan, plan to fail." Or something like that :-)

This is never more truer than when your start your business.

One of the most crucial steps to a successful business is planning. Nobody goes into business with the goal to fail; yet many business go belly-up within the 1st year of opening.

What could they be doing wrong? Could it be that they failed to have a realistic plan?

So, before jumping in, you need to count the cost of starting your business. You need to research thoroughly your dream or idea - and how to make it come true.

Whether you decide you want to open a retail store, a carpet-cleaning service, or a website selling baskets - you need to make a plan... and write it down.

So, what do you need in your plan?

First it would be good to examine your talents and abilities.

Doing what comes natural is a lot easier than starting to learn something from scratch. Not that you will know everything about your business from the start. (You will learn a lot as you go along). However, you will already have come a long way if you have an existing talent or ability that you can build a business around.

So right now - you need to get a piece of paper and begin to write down a few ideas.

Write down things you know about, things you like, things you've done, and things you'd like to learn. Start from your remembrances as a child and continue right up to whatever age you are right now.

I'll give you an example of what I would write (if it were me):

I have worked as:

1. A telephone operator
2. A secretary/stenographer
3. An insurance underwriter/salesperson
4. A house/office cleaner
5. A bookkeeper
6. A school bus driver
7. A safety instructor/coordinator

Over the years I've taught myself:

1. How to sew, knit, stitching
2. Play musical instruments
3. Computer - upgrading, repairing, maintenance
   
4. Internet marketing
5. How to design web pages
   

I could go on and on - and this doesn't even touch what I like to do such as hobbies!

So, enough about me...

This is about you - and starting up your own idea for a business.

The first step is to start with a plan...

After you've done that, I'll tell you the next step in a "not so far in the future" post.

Afford to Stay Home Lens at Squidoo

Just wanted to invite you to view my Afford to Stay Home lens at Squidoo.

Free Marketing Tool - Directory Submitter

Have you ever attacked the task of submitting your website to the too many to count directories on the Internet?

I have. And usually after the 5th or 6th time, it gets old. I begin to think, "My God! I don't have time for this!" or "I could be spending my time doing something more productive!"

It can be pretty daunting.

I know, submitting your website to directories is part of getting coveted one-way links - something of value that is considered by search engines.

But there are some things to think about before submitting to the directories. If you've ever used a directory submitter that just submits to numerous directories all at once, you know the uneasy feeling of not really knowing whether or not your submissions really ever made it or were accepted. And to submit to the directories one by one, well, that speaks for itself. It can be overwhelming!

I received an offer today for a free program called Directory Submitter.

I want to say up front: I do not download every tom, dick and harry program that is offered in my Inbox. Those days are over. (Yes, when I was a newbie on the Internet I think I did download and try just about everything :-) )

But the "marketing pitch" was catchy, and I was also invited to watch a video to see how the program worked before downloading it.

So, I watched the video.

I won't tell you because if you click on my link, you can watch the video, also.

I just want to say that I like the idea of having control over where my website submissions go. And I like the idea that I can prefill information so I'm not filling in the same name, email address, website link, description, etc. etc. And even then, the prefilled info can be changed to my liking before submitting.

So, I clicked on the link. It collected some information like my first name & email address, which is a typical request. I know the person asking is collecting my email so they can send me updates and perhaps a marketing message. I can always delete or unsubscribe later if I like.

So, I filled out the info they wanted and next came the "one-time offer" sales page. I quickly read through the sales pitch - sounded like some useful programs I may want to try in the future - but I clicked the "not interested at this time." Yup, you're right. I just didn't feel like giving up those bucks at this time. I was just interested in the free program.

A little pop-up came up and asked if "you're sure," and I clicked yes.

It then brought me to the download link. I downloaded it, installed it and plan to give it a workout tonight.

So, in truth, I can't tell you yet whether it's going to be a great tool or a mediocre tool. But I promise I will report my findings.

Of course, if you're brave (like me) and want to try it out (for free) and post a comment back here about what you liked or didn't like, you can download Directory Submitter here.

More to come later...

Slow and Steady

I remember when I thought you could get rich quick on the Internet.

That was back in the '90's.

I thought that because "they" said it, it was true.

Not that I'm a materialistic person. I'm really not. But my desire to be home with my family can cloud the reality of starting up an Internet business. Not to mention, I like to think that people are honest and truthful.

The reality is: You may be able to "get rich." It just doesn't happen overnight. And you may not "get rich" at all - but you may be able to work your way into a nice income.

Your goal to afford to stay home is reachable. And as everything else, the "journey" is usually more enjoyable than when your reach your destination. So enjoy each day you are moving in the direction to afford to stay at home.

However, it's not easy - or quick - by any definition of the words. It takes work... and a goodly amount of commitment, persistence, and determination.

I read a quote from a long ago President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge:

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

I am so inspired by this quotation that I typed it and hung it up ON my computer... and I think it's a good thing to pass on to anyone who is thinking of starting up a business, even an Internet business.

Just as the tortoise vs the hare tale, the slow tortoise won the race; So, too with Internet marketing.

You can rush into this... and as quick as you came in, you can rush right out - discouraged and defeated, saying it doesn't work.

If you know from the "git-go" that making a success of your business is going to take patience and w-o-r-k on your part, then you're going to make it.

Take time to learn. And whatever mistakes you make - and you will make many - don't quit and throw in the towel. You need to persist.

And an important point I have learned: When someone is trying to sell you something that they say will make you rich quick - you need to step back and think. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is. Listen with your head - not with your heart.

For very few, quick riches (i.e. lottery) comes to them. For the rest of us, the reality is that we need to persist, work smart and be patient.

More on this later.

I Like To Stay Home

I like being home.

Well, let me clarify - I work a full-time job outside my home. So, when the weekend comes, I look forward to sleeping in (until 7:00 a.m.) or not having to immediately get dressed for the day.

I usually get up. If it's cool in the house, I throw on some sort of jacket or sweater over top my pj's and go downstairs to make coffee and let the dogs out. My labs are always excited to see me get up and are happy to go outside to "do their duty" after sleeping through the night - good doggies.

So, on my way to the door I turn on my computer so it will be ready for me when I'm ready to sit down with my coffee.

Ahhh! Weekends - life is good!

I remember in the not so distant past when I did this almost every day. My children were young. Computers were not common in anyone's home. But I liked to read - and still do!

While it was early and the kids were still sleeping, I'd sneak downstairs and make my coffee, snuggle up in a chair (if it was cool outside) or go out to my sunny front porch with a book to start my day.

In those days I didn't work. Well, some of us women would object to me saying that. I DID work. I was raising my children. And no better job there is than being able to stay home and do this most important job. If I had to do it over again, well, I'd do it over again and again the same way.

Now, my children are grown and have homes of their own.

This is why I look forward so much to [early] retirement. I want to be home again to enjoy my children and my grandchildren.

But I'm a worker. So in my early retirement, I suppose I shall still "work."

My computer offers me so many opportunities to work at so many things. My options are so great that it's hard for me to hold back the fact that I want to "do everything."

Whoaa horse!

Anyway, for those who might be interested - I have a website that sells wild bird-related products. It's been online since late 2004.

No, I can't retire yet...perhaps someday...

What Are Your Talents?

What sort of business will you start?

If you have a special talent or a cherished hobby - and all of us have a special talent somewhere lurking within us - think about how your special talent or hobby may be turned around into a business that you can run from home.

If you like to do something or have previous experience in a field, it will be easier to turn it into a possible money maker.

Start off writing down your interests, hobbies and abilities. It doesn't have to be spectacular. Just things you enjoy doing or things you've been trained to do, as in a work environment.

I worked 13 years in a general insurance agency and became quite knowledgeable about insurance coverage and recommending different programs for a variety of applications. I also worked as a telephone operator for a time and enjoyed it immensely. I've also helped install in-ground swimming pools! The point here?

We all have different experiences and abilities that make us who we are as individuals.

Think about all the variety of experience you bring "to the table" and - write it down. It will help you sort through the maze of discovering what type of home-based business you can start and eventually help you afford to stay home.

Afford to Stay Home

I don't pretend to be an expert...

I work a full-time job.

For those of us who have a dream of working from home, whether you're a young mother, a single dad, a person nearing retirement (but wants to take an easier and more fun route to make money), or a person who finds it hard to fit in the 9 - 5 "mold", - whatever your circumstance - the common denominator and burning desire is to be your own boss.

Can we afford to quit our traditional "day job" to come home?

I come from a long background of family members who worked from home.

My grandfather started a dairy farm back in the 1920's. In addition to the farm during the Great Depression, he trucked produce from his farm in Orange County, New York to New York City - which was 75 miles away! In those days, trucks (and roads) were not what are today!

Sometime in the 1930's, he built a small roadside "stand" for my Grandmother to work during summer hours. She sold beer (on tap and in bottles), soda (pop) distributed from a local business ("Sweeney" beverages), Hershey's ice cream, and flipped hamburgers when the hard-working farmers and others came in to break for lunch.

I was a little girl in the late 1950's standing behind the curtain that separated the the room where patrons were served and the kitchen which was a private area where there was a stove, sink, table, chairs and a couch. My sister and I daily peeked through the curtain to a life of hard-working, hungry black-dirt and dairy farmers along with other locals that came to take a break to laugh with friends, share a bit of local gossip and relax from the toils of life.

This was business!

After my dad married my mother in 1944, he moved into the house that was part of my grandfather's dairy farm. Along with my grandfather, he also worked the hard business of a farmer - milking cows, planting and harvesting corn, "getting hay" and more. My dad was his own mechanic because he had to know how to fix things when they broke down.

In the 1960's after my grandfather suffered several health setbacks, my father took over the farm totally. My father had no boys - just us three girls... and guess what?

My sisters and I worked the farm side by side with my father. And yes, he was a stay-at-home dad.

At this point I want to say, this was not a glamorous life...being girls and also being kids, we wanted to play - ride our bikes, wade in the brook and catch frogs, climb trees and later (when we got older) paint our fingernails and socialize with our friends. No, at that time we did not appreciate that we had to be there to help work the farm - the animals had to be tended to every day.

But this life taught us how to be responsible and ... WORK! And looking back in retrospect, my sisters and I had my father at home every day when we got off the bus from school!