Giveaway: The Home Office Organizer “Small Business Startup Kit”, Sponsored by Office Depot

Hey Brandie! What a COOL contest!! First, I totally NEED a new laptop. My current laptop is a 4 yr old Dell and it’s on the fritz. =/
It’s low on memory and is at times whimsical…shuts off when it feels tired or just whenever…so it’s definitely time for a new one. What office would be complete without a printer and a shredder? I love that the shredder is on wheels so that you can move it to any location. This is an awesome package and I’m happy to retweet! =)

Unlike many of your other posters I am not a corporate office worker, jewerly maker, freelance writer, or blog professional, trying to improve my business. I am a mother of four boys under 11, who decided after 12 years to make the scary leap and try my hand at college. A laptop would allow me the chance to do homework, from home or the playground, and see my children growing while they see me learning. Also it will allow me the options of looking online for jobs, since as everyone knows, jobs are only posted online these days. I might even get a chance to learn about blogging, and start a daily journal of my life and it’s ups and downs, and there are many let me tell you. I would love someday to have a job that allows me the freedom to be home when my kids are sick and non school days, but still earn enough to feed them. So if I were to get a chance at this package deal I would have more than a once in six month story to write. I’d have a “how this deal gave me a turning point to start my success” story that will last forever.

I have worked at the same job for the past 17 years. I just received notice that I am to be laid off as of March 13th and with the economy the way it is I’m afraid that the job market is not going to be good. I do accounting type work calculating income for the low income energy assistance program here in Maine. With so many people out of work and looking for jobs it is not going to be easy to find a job, so I thought maybe now would be the time to try and start my own business which is something I have wanted to do for over 20 years now. I would of done it years ago but I was to scared since I was a single mom and the sole provider of this family and the thought of not making ends meat was just to much. My children were depending on me to provide for them and I didn’t want to let them down. Instead of following a dream I decided at the time I would work long and hard hours to see that they always had a roof over theirs heads and food on the table with lots of love. Now that times have changed and the children have grown (My oldest son graduating next year) and I no longer have to pay for expensive day care and with the economy declining I would like my chance to be self employed. I enjoy attending Auctions of all types and have found that buying and retailing these auction items is a joy and I could make money doing it. The cost to start and operate a business is expensive and this would be such a tremendous help to me. I needed a digital camera that could take upclose pictures of small details for online advertising so I purchased a nice camera 4 days ago. The cost of the camera took a third of my savings. I have been researching laptops but they are so expensive I can’t afford to buy one yet. I applied for information about the Women’s Work and Community business program. http://www.womenworkandcommunity.org/wesa/womenbusiness.shtml
This program requires you to attend a small business class and they will match you 2 for 1 up to $4,000. I’m hoping that by enrolling in this program I will have the skills that I need to be successful. Thank You for the opportunity to enter to win this prize package for the Small Business Startup Kit it will give me a great boost for starting my own business for sure~!

Rhonda Martins last blog post..Family Game Night~

I just tweeted at twitter about this site and awesome giveaway here
http://twitter.com/exotic1/status/1270425806
exotic1
Thanks Again~!

Rhonda Martins last blog post..Family Game Night~

I am a homeschooling mother of four and blogger. I also hope to start a VA business soon. Having a current computer set up would be a huge help in getting started.

Hope I win and I’ll be glad to write about the experience!

Maryas last blog post..A planning day…

I subscribed in Google Reader!

Diana Critess last blog post..stages

Oh yeah, and I retweeted!

(can you tell I really want to win???)

http://www.twitter.com/paynesgrey

Diana Critess last blog post..stages

I’d use this sweet office gadgetry to *finally* get my consultation business off the ground. I know the business is there, I just need to tools to make it a reality. Please help me help myself… I subscribed in my RSS reader.

I’m a Mid-Life Baby-Boomer wife of over 30 years; mom of 2 grown daughters; and have 2 young grandchildren. My interests include research and writing. I started blogging to share my experiences as a work at home mom, and have really grown to enjoy meeting new friends from all over the globe. Originally I had hoped to promote my eBiz through the blog, as well as to share information with my friends.

For over 30 years I have been in the professional field of Law in the capacity as a Paralegal as well as Legislative, Regulations and Research Analyst, in both the public and private sectors. Taking my Paralegal Experience one step further, I have now established my virtual assistant website, and offer freelance Virtual Assistant Services. After being employed in the business community for many years as a Paralegal, I’m looking forward to retirement, and being a Work-at-Home Grandma. I’m hoping to develop my work at home business and get it up in running as I anticipate that I can hopefully retire in the near future.

Cindi ~ Moomettesgrams last blog post..How Mommy Bloggers Can Increase Their Technorati Authority

Subscribed in a Reader

Cindi ~ Moomettesgrams last blog post..Easy Way to Work From Home ~ Start a Recipe Blog With Your Own Recipes

Wow where do you start. I have a very small business – Lubbock Moonlight Musicals. I work as the Executive Director for it and I have absolutely none of the above items. I use my antique desktop computer for everything that needs to be done and an older style printer. With all of the business plans, sponsorship packets, flyers, programs, letters etc that need to be sent out and done this year the above items would be a dream. A laptop to take with me on sales calls to show them our packets and website, etc. The capability of writing notes during auditions and meetings. A printer with the capability of not only printing but copying and scanning would save me many late night trips to Kinko’s. We are a very small nonprofit organization without the means of having an “office” which is now at my home, or any of the wonderful amenities that other companies enjoy. Thank you for the opportunity to enter this and hopefully make myl ife a little easier!

My story:
I just love making money at home. Working out of my home office, I’ve built my business by compiling a portfolio of projects and work assignments that I really enjoy and can honestly say that I love what I do for a living. I’ve also grown to really appreciate the empowerment and freedom that comes with working at home. (my speciality is data collection/entry both field & online – I also do alot of clerical, administration work)

Overcoming a multitude of hard luck and hard times, I was able within a couple of years to become self-sufficient working at home. 2 years ago, I was able to purchase my home, a dream come true under my previous circumstances. Bringing my business to the next level includes now helping others achieve their dreams of working at home. My vision is to share my passion, to help and encourage others to not only find work at home that fits them, but to also become great at what we do, by sharpening our spiritual and business skills.

Why I want to win:
* I love to win cool stuff
* My vision + these GREAT tools can’t help but = SUCCESS
* I’m always looking for a reason to do a “happy dance”
* If these tools led to my reaching my dream sooner, that would also mean more women taking the steps to reach for their dreams– how cool is that?

Still new to twitter, but will get over & twitter this cool contest.

oh yeah, I’m following you on twitter now (@CaraM) and retweeted!
http://twitter.com/CaraM/status/1272623332

CaraM – TheHouseholdHelpers last blog post..Blog Maintenance

Wow! What a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.

I just received lost my job and seeing as work is hard to come by right now, I have decided to go after my dream! I have always enjoyed sewing and find it relaxing. Why not make money while doing it, right?

Thanks again!

We’re in the same line of business!

No, I’m not a professional organizer, but don’t tell my drawers. They are as organized as they can possibly be. They are outfitted with the best drawer organizers on the market, made by my cabinet-maker husband. They are wood, adjustable, and custom-made.

We have delighted, repeat customers. Just need to get the word out more…

He works in the shop, I work at the computer. I help him out there, he helps me in here. The extra equipment in this give away would be great.

And, just so ya know…I’ve had you in my reader for months.

I would love to win this package! I already stopped into The Home Depot for possible supplies. I have lots of ideas but no money. This presents a bit of a problem. I used to work in business, moved to teaching and now have the chance to combine my background experiences and teaching together. I am going to be a Communications’ Coach. I finally “stole” a corner of one of the bedrooms in my home to put a little office together. Now I need to put something in there! I seem to have my children’s friends and nieces and nephews that always need a place to crash. I am so excited to start this new adventure! Now that my kids are a bit older, I can focus on me. I have lost 115 pounds over the past two years and now have the energy to create this business. I love to help people and this would help others and myself. Thanks for considering me. I have crossed my finger, legs and eyes!

After graduating college in 1989, I have encountered a rather broad range of career moves all due to a series of unfortunate circumstances. My first job in metallurgical engineering lasted 3.5 years before the company closed and I had to find my second job in engineering. I had to relocate from Chicago to Charleston but the job lasted for 9 years before the company had a huge layoff of over 100 people including me. I was not ready to relocate again so I had to reinvent myself down another career path. I received my property management license and worked in that field for 3 years before the company sold and I again lost my job. Next job… assistant to the owner of a high end residential and commercial builder which lasted 6 months before the company decided to focus only on the commercial side and needed to downsize once again putting me in the unemployment line. Never fear, I landed a job in the rug manufacturing industry handling the purchasing and logistics and design. This was great for two years until the company folded and we all lost our jobs. It was then that I decided, if every company I work for is going to go belly up, it might as well be my own!!! I went in to business for myself. It’s been a slow start and with advertising and marketing costs being so high, it would be really great to have new reliable equipment without the cost. With good equipment, I could also do much of my own marketing materials without the cost of an outside source. Please consider my request…. help me break the chain of past misfortunes and help me start out my new company with great success!

Retweeted! )
http://twitter.com/AmyBuchheit

I would love to win this prize! I am a homeschooling mom of 2 teen boys. We use our computers for school work, managing my husband’s business, and the business I am in the process of launching on my blog. I also keep all of our church’s womens ministry, assimilation ministry, drama ministry and music ministry files on my computer. Another computer would lessen the stress of waiting our turn. We have 2 printers that work when they want to. The other day neither wanted to work and the main computer gave us a warning that stated “internal parts are wearing out, replace printer soon”-that is not possible with our current financial situation. Our scanner is ancient and also works when it wants to.

Winning this prize package would be a blessing to my family, our clients and our church.

Cindy Schultzs last blog post..Aaron

We are in the beginning of setting up a non-profit foundation called Rockin’ Rods. The idea developed after numerous times, friends of my partner’s sons would ask him for help with their cars or make remarks such as ‘ i wish my dad knew more about cars and could work with me’ …
So, with this foundation we hope to have the tools and a space large enough to begin by teaching simple auto classes, a safe place kids could come to work on their cars and let it grow from there. We also want to bring Vet’s in to help and mentor. A former Gulf Vet encouraged this because not only do they have the mechanical skills to share, most would jump at the chance to feel needed again. It’s a win, win course and we are very close to launching.
This amazing prize would be a blessing and a great boost to our humble beginnings. Thanks for your generous offer.

I rt ~ http://twitter.com/momof2dancers/status/1286363617

Ginnys last blog post..Review ~ Big Bang Mini for Nintendo DS

I would so love to win this prize! I stated my company Creative Virtual Office this summer. Creative Virtual Office provides virtual assistance to many professionals, especially my favorite which is mom entrepreneurs. The office equipment that I use, is the same equipment that I have had and used as a student finishing my degree. I definitely could use a total office make-over! Half of the stuff that I have dates back to high school!

Currently, I could use a new laptop because mine is on it’s last leg! I love having the use of a laptop because it truly allows me to be a hands on mom and great business-woman; all at the same time! I’m able to feed my baby, skype with a client, empty the dishwasher and check emails, again, all at the same time!

I do not have shredder and I need one! Currently, I have my three year old (i.e. my personal shredder) assisting me with ripping up papers that are important and confidential. How sad is that.

My all-in-one, sigh…it works, some days. Currently, the scanner is on the fritz. I have to go through 9 million steps, just to use the scanner. I can’t even get into it…stupid no-in-one.

So please pick me! My clients, my child and I thank you!

What a fun contest! I would love to win this and let me explain why. I have raised three productive citizens all while obtaining my college education and working full-time. I am on the slide down to retirement from my full-time job and on the up slide to building my own successful business. To win and have these tools and resources at my disposal would give me a big boost and point me in the direction needed. Having all the right tools is not necessary for success but it certainly helps.

Thanks for the fun contest!

I’ve been thinking about this contest for the last several days, unsure of whether or not I should throw my hat into the ring. After all, so many of the contestants have stories that show how much they really need the prize in order to get out of bad jobs, to get their businesses off the ground, etc. The truth is that I don’t have an oppressive boss to escape, and I’ve actually started a rather successful business of my own.

But (there’s always a but, isn’t there), I am at a crossroads. Everyone tells you that you need to diversify your income, and I am poised to do just that. (Now I have images of myself cliff diving, yikes!) I have a new venture that I plan to undertake in the next few months. It has the potential to offer not only a new stream of revenue, but also to be quite enjoyable. After all, it revolves around Bunco, of all the crazy things.

Unfortunately, I’m conflicted. As we business owners know, it is hard to take money away from the business you already have. How can I divert funds that should be going toward my freelance writing business in order to start up this new opportunity, especially when the one business would have to fund the other for a while? I mean, it feels a little like insisting that one of your children donate a kidney to the other!

So, if I were to win the Office Depot prize, I feel like it would be a great chance to reach out into this new realm without jeopardizing what I have already built. I could follow the oft-touted “diversify” advice. And I could also avoid living my own version of Sophie’s Choice,/i>.

I’m new to all this stuff. But then I come from an “older” generation. I was born before even transistors were invented. Dick Tracy’s Wrist radio was a sci fi item. Yes we had cars but the tires still had tubes. Tubeless tires were invented years later. When I went to college at Cal State Northridge the research computer had 40 K of RAM [yes 40 K] It was considered cutting edge. This laptop in the contest is more powerful than the computers used to send men to the moon. Yes I could use such a powerful tool in my homebased MLM company. I hope to become independent from depending on the social security check to survive on. Maybe this will help me to type faster than 5 WPM