ily. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary agAs a self-publisher, you become a business person. Your book is your product. Your readers are your customers. When I first made my career change, I didn’t think I had any business savvy. After all, I had been in a social service agency. I did court reports, visited children and parents, and handled emergencies. I was not a welfare worker, so I didn’t deal with money. True enough, I did budgets and clothing orders, but overall, headquarters handled the money.

My commerce was in the arena of human suffering, addictions, and family dysfunctions. Back in 1998, I went to a writer’s conference with a business woman, and I spent most of my time delivering poems and looking at the other exhibits rather than manning my own booth. Later, I said to my older son, (who has his own business), "I guess I’m not about business."

“Yes, you are about business. Don’t say that." He was referring to my ability over the years, as he called it "to wring water from rice."

From that I began to analyze my skills I’d gained over the years. As a working mother, I had put many of my dreams on hold while I worked, and reared a family. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary age

nts, and handled emergencies. I was not a welfare worker, so I didn’t deal with money. True enough, I did budgets and clothing orders, but overall, headquarters handled the money.

My commerce was in the arena of human suffering, addictions, and family dysfunctions. Back in 1998, I went to a writer’s conference with a business woman, and I spent most of my time delivering poems and looking at the other exhibits rather than manning my own booth. Later, I said to my older son, (who has his own business), "I guess I’m not about business."

“Yes, you are about business. Don’t say that." He was referring to my ability over the years, as he called it "to wring water from rice."

From that I began to analyze my skills I’d gained over the years. As a working mother, I had put many of my dreams on hold while I worked, and reared a family. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary ag

, I went to a writer’s conference with a business woman, and I spent most of my time delivering poems and looking at the other exhibits rather than manning my own booth. Later, I said to my older son, (who has his own business), "I guess I’m not about business."

“Yes, you are about business. Don’t say that." He was referring to my ability over the years, as he called it "to wring water from rice."

From that I began to analyze my skills I’d gained over the years. As a working mother, I had put many of my dreams on hold while I worked, and reared a family. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary ag

bout business. Don’t say that." He was referring to my ability over the years, as he called it "to wring water from rice."

From that I began to analyze my skills I’d gained over the years. As a working mother, I had put many of my dreams on hold while I worked, and reared a family. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary ag

ily. Like Mary Kaye’s philosophy says, God, Family, then career. So now I am gleaning through the five philosophies I learned as a social worker, which I have applied over the past 6 years as a literary service provider, Internet radio show host, ghost writer, and now new literary agent.

• Treat every client (or customer) with respect. As a social worker I often dealt with derelicts, substance abusers, and prostitutes. I still felt that they were all worthy of human dignity. Because I treated them as such, they in turn, treated me with respect. The payoff: I was never assaulted during 23 years of working in high crime areas in the inner cities of Detroit and Los Angeles.

When you’re doing book signings, no reader is too small to not meet with a smile. Listen to their stories. Often they will come back and buy your book.

I’ve found the same applies in doing business with other businesses. You must have good interpersonal skills to work with people. This means you will not constantly be embroiled in arguments and disagreements.

When I have problems with technical difficulties on my Internet shows that are beyond my control, I’ve learned to be reasonable and not throw my hands up. It is important to never lose your momentum when you are building an audience, and this means sometimes having to accept that human beings error. They are late, sometimes they don’t even show up. I