I get many requests from people who want to see more pictures of my kids. Of course I love their photos so I'm happy to share them on occasion

Take this one for example. My husband bought our 2-year old son, Brooks, his first bike with training wheels, complete with a sporty new helmet with a frog motif. At nap time, he refused to take it off and the result is adorable. I hope you agree.

Well, since I do more all day than stare at my kids' pictures, it's back to work.

Take the case of 60-year old Richard Rocco ...

The workers replacing them today are being offered jobs that pay only 70% of the outgoing workers' salary. Mind you, inflation is rising far faster than wages, even when wages are headed in a positive direction! The handwriting is on the wall, and it's not in pencil or subtle black ink. It's in bold fluorescent colors and blinking wildly to get our attention. No matter where you work, who you work for or what you do, now is the time to start your own business.

I used to date a guy who had trouble holding a job. When I expressed my concern about this, he told me, "Don't worry about me. I'll always have a hustle." I had visions of him pimping and selling drugs on street corners. I don't know what he's doing today, but I think at least part of what he was trying to say was that he would never rely on other people to meet his needs.

It's great to have a job, but these days, you also need a hustle.

What's your hustle?

In business, everything you do must be designed to hit your sweet spot, the place where your passion, your knowledge and your action intersect to create a solid "pop," letting you know that you have hit a homerun. You can't have a sweet spot without passion, knowledge and action. Lack of any of the three will create a chasm in your business that will be difficult to overcome. You can have endless passion and unquestionable knowledge, but if you don't take action, you won't be successful. You can have knowledge and take action, but if you don't have a passion for what you are doing, you will become bored and burned out. If you have passion and action, but are without knowledge of your capabilities, your market or your product, you will be shooting in the dark.

Passion. Knowledge. Action. Combine the three and you'll hit your sweet spot every time.

When that happens, repeat this mantra:
I am in business to help you while I pursue my passion, and also make money.

It's simple, but it works. When you become bogged down in a particular task or detail, repeat this mantra. If in doing the task at hand you are not helping someone, not pursuing your passion or not making money, then do something else.

You don't have to give away commercial trade secrets to share a bit about your business with a group, and you should always be ready to do so because you never know where the next business opportunity will come from. Always have a 3-4 sentence summary of your business stored away in your head and be prepared to share it when asked.

In business, what you don't say can hurt you. So get your 30-second "elevator speech" together and practice it until you can say it like a yoga mantra. Use active words and practice saying it with gusto and ease. Here's mine.

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Your elevator speech should hit all the high points of your business:

1. the name of the business
2. who you serve
3. your mission
4. where to go for more information

What's your elevator speech?

Along with the Talented Two (a fun name I collectively use to refer to my kids now and then), I was running errands yesterday. As we drove past the local shopping mall, my 4-year old daughter said, "Hey look! It's mommy's office!" It took me a second or two to realize that she was pointing at the coffee shop on the corner. I asked her to tell me more about mommy's office, and she explained how whenever we go there, "Mommy's working on her computer".

Her statement reminded me of how different today's working world is than the one my parents were raised in. There was a time when everyone was chained to a particular work space. Whether it was a manufacturing or service related industry, you had to be in a particular location to do it. Those days are gone, especially if you are a Lifestyle CEO.

Mommy: If you need help what do you do?
Kids: You ask for help!!
Mommy: And if someone helps you, what do you do?
Kids: You say thank you!

We have a lot repetitive "lessons" in my household because I want to make some things automatic in their lives. I don't ever want them to flounder around in need of assistance, and not have the courage to ask for help. And I always want them to express appreciation when someone does help them.

This morning, the January 2006 Lifestyle CEO To Know Denise McMillan of Plush Creations in Colleyville, Texas contacted me. Denise is featured in the current issue of Southern Living Magazine, one of the premier magazines for women. After the feature came out, Denise wrote the editor to thank him for including her company. A short time later, the editor called her to thank her for the thank you note. The two chatted, and the conversation resulted in the editor scheduling a personal meeting with Denise to do a more in-depth story on her and her business, also to include her husband who owns a restaurant in town.

I have read that Southern Living has a rate base of 2.45 million, making it the largest regional magazine in the country. This means that Denise has a lot to be thankful for. She tells me that as soon as the magazine began circulating, she noticed her site statistics start to climb. Of course Denise quickly moved to start filling the new orders, but first she took a moment to email the editor and thank him for including her. That simple act of gratitude not only resulted in a pleasant conversation, but it also opened new doors for Denise, the editor and Denise's husband. Denise may be featured in a more expansive article. Her husband's restaurant may be included. The editor found a new angle for a story that will interest his readers. Denise's hometown of Colleyville will benefit if the feature comes to fruition. And Denise's son will see how his parents' hard work, dedication to craft and good manners results in greater and more exciting opportunities.

Yes, it's still good manners to say "thank you," and we should all do it regardless of whether or not we get anything tangible in return. But as Lifestyle CEOs, it's nice to know that expressing gratitude can also open new and exciting doors, and help us create the life we love as businesswomen, mothers and home managers!