Sprint Writing for the Win
By Rebecca Talley – “There is no one-size-fits-all for writing a novel – or any book, for that matter. We all must figure out what works for us.”
To Creative Middle-Aged Sisters in the Working World
By JoLynne J. Lyon – “Decide how you’ll measure success. Study your possibilities. Say a prayer. And if it’s what you want to do, get yourself out there.”
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Why You Don’t Want to Get Your Book Done Quickly
By Angela Eschler – “The quality of the book is a publisher’s best chance to convey the brand experience that will convert readers.”
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What’s More Important: The Actor or the Show?
By Rebecca Burnham – “I don’t think it’s possible to put on a play that builds community unless you are intentional about prioritizing the people over the product.”
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Time Management Skills: Creating a Life of Order
By KaTrina Jackson – “Time is a limited resource, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks and to-dos. But time management doesn’t have to be a mighty dragon to fear.”
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Building a Skincare Business from Scratch
By Kami Pehrson – “Your passion, or lack thereof, comes through when you sell your products.” – Lauren Tyson
How to Find Your Golden Idea
By Junior Germain – “Your first business idea may not be the one that brings the most revenue, but as long as you are learning something, you are winning.”
A Conversation with Bonnie Oscarson
If we shift our focus to creating a meaningful life and allow the Lord to guide our experiences, we will be prepared for the future He has in store.
How to Master the Apostrophe
By Breanna Call – “The more you practice using apostrophes, the more confident you’ll be that you’re applying them correctly.”
The Desire to Paint the Savior
By Jessica Michaelson – “When I am painting works of Jesus, I find that I search and ponder about His teachings more in my daily life.”
A Conversation with Scott Christopher
By Scott Christopher – “What you’re passionate about does make a difference.”
A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Online Business
By Kami Pehrson – “Don’t measure your success against others—just focus on yourself.” – Megan LaFrance
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Common Publishing Terms to Know
By Breanna Call – “As with any trade, there is a plethora of jargon. But there’s no need to be overwhelmed or confused as you step into your writing journey. We’ve got you covered.”
The Blessings of Involuntary Self-Employment
By Mariah K. Porter – “What matters to me matters to Him, and I don’t need to worry as I put my faith in Him.”
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How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story – Part Five
By Ali Cross – “This is the darkest hour before the dawn, and the door through which your hero must pass to experience profound transformation.”
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The Five P’s to Pitching Your Book
By KaTrina Jackson – “There are things you can do to make pitching a positive experience—and increase your chances of landing that dream publisher!”
How to Bring the Spirit to a Sacrament Meeting Musical Number
By Hailey Ashcraft – “Playing and internalizing music brings [us] closer to the truth of the gospel and the importance of the gospel message than anything else.”
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10 Writing Tips to Make Your Writing Glisten
By Kami Pehrson – “Incorporating these suggestions to align with your style will make your writing more effective, engaging, and concise.”
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Val Bagley: Precious Things of Every Kind
By Tristi Pinkston – “Seek the Lord’s partnership whenever we undertake a piece of art meant to glorify Him or teach others about Him.”
Unlocking Creativity Amid Trauma: Finding Inspiration on Your Hardest Days
By Kami Pehrson – “When life throws you in the mud, [you can choose to] plant yourself and grow.” – Dr. Christina Hibbert
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Top “Quali-tee”: Launching a T-Shirt Design and Printing Business
By Kami Pehrson – “Find joy in working together and aim to inspire others who want to cultivate their creative gifts.”
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A Conversation with Adassa
By Adassa – “Sometimes you have to say no to money so you can say yes to moments—and moments you can never get back.”
A Conversation with J. Scott Savage
By J. Scott Savage – “Magnifying your calling doesn’t guarantee you’re going to make a lot of money or be famous, but it does guarantee that you’re taking those talents and you’re doing something with them.”
Powering through Your First Draft
By Tiffany Thomas – “Having a minimum daily goal will get you closer each day to finishing your rough draft.”
Getting Started in Music Production
By Becky Willard – “Reverse engineering trains your ear to hear the detail in every sound that makes up the song.”
A Conversation with Jane Clayson Johnson
By Jane Clayson Johnson – “No one should discount the experiences that they’re having. Whether they be difficult, whatever they are, they’re preparing you for the journey ahead.”
Pitching to Agents
By Elana Johnson – “If pitching to an agent gives you the heebie-jeebies, take comfort that you’re not alone.”
Making Connections at a Photoshoot
By Katie Gee – “Keeping the photoshoot light and happy will, in turn, make the photos, and the subjects in them, light and happy.”
A Conversation with Reyna Aburto
By Reyna Aburto – “If we are trying to glorify our Father in Heaven and our Savior, they will allow us to grow and to learn even more.”
How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story – Part Three
By Ali Cross – “Resonance is the key to hooking your reader and keeping their interest.”
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Getting Started with Cosplay
By Alyssa Caldwell – Seeing all the people dressed up as their favorite characters showed me that cosplay is pretty much whatever you want it to be.
Basic Whittling Techniques
By Bob Manning – We all have gifts to share.
Selecting the Right Song for the Right Time
By Michael D. Young – Seek the gift of discernment to know what message the Lord wants His children to hear in a meeting through music.
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Art Can Make You a Better Writer
By Cathy Witbeck – Art will stimulate your mind, boost your creativity, and help you become a better writer.
Four Steps to a Page-Turner
No one wants to write at tortoise speed or produce a book that would make a tortoise yawn.
How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story—Part Two
Failing to establish these early beats is like trying to change a light bulb while standing on a cardboard box. You’re more likely to crash through the box than brighten your room.
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Creating Your Music Brand
By Becky Willard – Your brand secures your identity and makes you unique in a very crowded space.
Healthy Habits for Creatives
Just as chapters are written one word, one sentence, and one paragraph at a time, your best self is created one healthy choice at a time.
Nine Ways to Prep for a Vocal Recording Session
By Becky Willard – A great vocal performance doesn’t happen by accident. Many factors contribute to making a recording session successful.
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Tomorrow I Will Write a Book
By Mariah K. Porter – When you make your art a priority in every sense, you will find yourself able to stop procrastinating and become more productive.
How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story – Part One
By Ali Cross – The Save the Cat method makes the novel-writing process like a road trip with rest stops along the way.
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Combining Art and Writing
By Cathy Witbeck – While art can enhance the way we look at the world, writing helps us process words and ideas.
Keeping Your Creative Spirit Alive
By Laramie Dunn – It’s important to carve out time for music, art, and literature, as creativity enriches not only Mom, but her family as well.
Writing Meaningful Struggles: Using Different Character Arcs
By September C. Fawkes – When you have a clear idea of your protagonist’s type of arc, you will have a clearer idea of how to shape their story.
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Passion and Persistence: Nurturing Creativity through Contemplation, Focus, and Endurance
By Joseph A. Browning – While the best artists appreciate steady hands, God works best with quiet minds.
Representing the Savior on Stage
By Tristi Pinkston – A play that reverently features the words of the Savior can be a testimony-building experience—if we take care to depict the Savior appropriately and well.
What’s in a Melody? Eight Tips to Getting It Right
By Michael D. Young – Crafting the perfect melody for your lyrics can be tricky. Like in a science laboratory, sometimes your creations will blow up in your face, and you’ll have to start over. But occasionally, you’ll find the perfect combination of elements right away and produce a spectacular reaction.
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Using YouTube and Social Media to Inspire and Help Others Grow Spiritually
By Aspen Bailey – God magnifies efforts and the Spirit always testifies of truth in any form. Living a life patterned after the Savior’s example is testament enough for the world to notice.
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The Importance of a Good Book Cover
By Jeff Wheeler – Readers do judge a book by the cover, so it’s important to hire a professional cover designer because you don’t get a second chance to make that first impression.
How I Research for a Historical Project
By Heather B. Moore – If you’re planning to write a historical novel or other project, research is vital to developing the story and bringing credibility to your work.
Creating Hymns from Scriptures
By Michael D. Young – Well-crafted songs have the power to inspire and change lives, and there is no better foundation for these songs than the scriptures.
Tips for the Creative Parent
By Tristi Pinkston – The Lord will bless your sincere desires to serve Him both as a parent and as a light to others by means of your art.
Channeling Your Inner Voice
By LDSPMA – Readers, agents, and publishers all want the same thing—a book they connect to and can’t put down. And most often, that means a book with voice.
God Prepares a Way: 5 Lessons from a BYU Student’s Opera about 1 Nephi
By Jeremy Madsen – The miraculous story of the making of “He Shall Prepare a Way” teaches us 5 lessons about launching creative projects in the Lord’s way.
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Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ Through Music
By Kami Pehrson – Music is a powerful way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through articulating belief and inspiring learning and faith. Moreover, music allows Church members to worship in a manner that is customized to every individual.
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Religious Freedom: The Cornerstone of a Creative’s Work
By Shaun Stahle – Faith-filled content is the antidote to preserving faith, family, and country from dissonant voices bent on destabilizing and destroying…Perhaps more than any other industry, Latter-day media professionals are equipped with the gift and tools to educate the masses.
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How LDSPMA Changed My Life—- and Can Change Yours
By Tyler Brian Nelson – In two short days at the 2019 LDSPMA Conference, I went from feeling like writing could be a hobby . . . to something that I could actually make into a career.
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Portrait of a Painter: The Journey of Latter-day Saint Artist Dan Wilson
By Howard Collett – “God is in the very details of our work. That doesn’t just apply to Christian artists working on temple paintings, but it applies to anyone in any career. God can answer specific questions to help us be better providers, better employees, better employers, better husbands or wives, or wherever we need help.” – Artist, Dan Wilson
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How to Publish Your Audiobook for Less
By Sapphire Hodges – Authors can do a lot of the work themselves for less cost and learn something along the way.
Inspiration & Service in the Creative Process
By Steve Dunn Hanson – Mastering technique is not the same as creating something meaningful or life-changing. If our desire is to do that…our relationship with the Savior is key.
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The Power of Asking ‘Why?’: Improving the depth and credibility of your writing
By Howard Collette – Asking questions while researching your book (or preparing for a presentation, podcast, interview, etc.) will add depth and understanding to your work.
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Called to Create: Interview with New Host Connie Sokol
By Rachelle Christensen – Called To Create is part devotional, part scripture, part life experience, part kitchen table chat. You’re getting all the things in one podcast.
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Sometimes Things Do Work Out
By Steve Dunn Hanson – We can choose how any situation or circumstance we find ourselves in will ultimately affect us. We can literally shape the results of all our experiences.
Presenting Moral Themes for a Secular Audience
By Emma Heggem – When our moral beliefs work their way into our stories, how do we avoid coming across as “preachy” or “simplistic”? By handling these themes with honesty and complexity.
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Why Fiction Is as Precious to God as Nonfiction
By Nicole Bay – When I began writing fiction, I wondered if my creative time would be better spent researching family histories or writing religious nonfiction. I thought about it, worried about it, and prayed about it. My prayers were answered in several ways over the course of a few years.
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The Other Christmas Miracle
By Robert Starling – Whatever caused it to happen, and however widespread it was, the “night without darkness” came at the precise time prophesied by Samuel. This “other Christmas miracle” physically saved the lives of believing Nephites on that holy night so long ago, just as we are saved by trusting in Christ in our crazy world today.
Why We Should See Goals as the Means, Not the End
By Jeremy Madsen – The value of goals is not so much in achieving them, but in how the process of setting and striving for goals alters our behavior.
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The Lady and the Map of Sorrow: How Stories can Offer Direction in Dark Times
By Bridgette Tuckfield – Truths (and the stories they’re embedded in) can be maps through darkness and despair. This is the case whether they are an ultimate truth such as Elder Palmer spoke of, or a small one like in Howl’s Moving Castle.
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I Can’t Even Get a Job at McDonald’s: Overcoming Impossibilities in Life and Writing
By Steve Dunn Hanson – Mentors in our life can inspire us to overcome all kinds of difficulties in writing and in life. One of my mentors reminded me that there are two kinds of choices a successful person makes: the right ones and the ones they make right. I saw this statement exemplified courageously by one of my dear friends.
Faith and Fear are Two Sides of the Same Coin: 3 Steps to Creating in Faith
By Lauri Mackey – Both faith and fear are a belief in something unseen and yet to be experienced; why do we sometimes give fear more power than our faith? Your gifts and talents in your chosen field are needed. My hope is that you can find some motivation in these words and plan right now to take that action step that will create your own motivation, and then momentum in giving faith all of the glory and power it deserves and kicking fear to the curb.
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Minority Voices & the Power of Podcasting
By: Tyler B. Nelson – The power of podcasting is immeasurable, because it is the power of voice. It can educate. It can uplift. It can inspire. Podcasting allows us to sit down and spark the needed conversations about topics that are crucial to this day and age.
Humbly, I Market: 5 Reminders of the Power of Humility in Creating
By Emma Heggem – If you want people to actually discover the existence of your work and pay attention, you will have to get involved in some level of marketing. By realistically representing your talents, accepting negative feedback, and treating competitors, coworkers, and potential customers with kindness, you can share your talents with the world and still remain a faithful, humble servant of our Lord.
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Cussing & Creating: 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t (& Should!) Use Profanities in Your Writing
By Lizzy Pingry – Writers must evaluate the way they express themselves: how does our use of language and its profanities build or destroy our stories?
5 Reasons You Should Read “Done!” by Don Aslett
By Jeremy Madsen – If you want to reach more of your goals, win the fight against your endless to-do lists, and make a greater impact on the world—I highly recommend Don Aslett’s book “Done!”
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Lessons in Spaghetti Sauce, Horseradish, and Peace: What Creators Can Do to Lift the World
By Tyler Nelson – Whether it is in print, film, audio, or any other medium, we can spread the message of Christ. As you prepare your next piece, compose, or speak, remember we can help lift that darkness by delivering messages of light.
Questions Every Writer Should Ask Themselves
By Steve Dunn Hanson – How we answer the “Why” and “Where” questions will affect the content, quality, and impact of our creativity. But those responses beg another question: is our writing congruous with who we really want to be eternally?
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Showing Versus Telling to Write Compelling Dialogue
By Emma Heggem – Don’t waste time with dialogue that isn’t going to strengthen your story. Focus on the moments that readers truly need to hear (read) about and you will end up having a much easier time keeping them interested and invested.
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What Is LDSPMA Really About?
By Michael I. Judson – We are not out to dominate some “industry.” Rather, we want to bring the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we can through the creative works of gifted writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers and more.
7 Ways To Help Readers Discover Your Books
By Karlene Browning – When you publish your first book, you aren’t just putting a story out there. You are launching a brand and an identity that will travel with you over the course of your writing career. If you do it right, it will help lead readers to you in a natural and organic fashion. If you do it wrong, it will confuse readers and they will get lost on their way to finding you.
Remembering Heaven: A Documentary and My Appreciation to LDSPMA For Making It Happen
By Sarah Hinze – For many years I have collected stories about heaven—not only the heaven we go home to, but the heaven we come from before we are born. Through connections made at the 2018 LDSPMA Conference, I was able to turn these stories into an award-winning documentary.
7 Reasons Why You Should Try New Things
By Brittany Passmore – If you think [new] activities might distract you from whatever creative profession you’ve chosen, let me suggest that they’ll actually make you a better creator than a worse one. New experiences can be incredibly important for your professional and personal development, even if they have nothing to do with your creative work!
Announcing the Praiseworthy Awards for Emerging Authors!
By Katie Wiscombe – Nelson Mandela shared some inspired insight on the subject when he said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” So what are you waiting for? Dust off your manuscript, click the link, and submit your 2,500 words. Impossible no more–you just got it done. One step closer to your dream becoming a reality.
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Aaron Merrell: Working in the Film Industry
By Trina Boice – Check out a recent BYU-Idaho Forum presentation, featuring Aaron Merrell, who is a senior producer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s Publishing Services Department. In the forum, Aaron gives a behind-the-scenes look into producing the Book of Mormon Videos series. He also shares insights about working in the film industry.
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Seeking and Creating Praiseworthy Works
By Ted Finch – It’s time for you to discover how the Lord wants you to make your voice heard. It may be in the walls of your home, to your extended family, to your community, or to the world. You might share your praiseworthy stories, ideas, music, or other unique opinions from your perspective. Now is the time to share.
Praiseworthy Award Nominations Are Open
By Nicole Bay – We know you’ve either created or loved a book or other work that deserves some recognition. Check out our eligibility and submissions guidelines, and then use this form to submit a nomination. Nominations are open from March 15 to April 16, 2021, for works produced in 2020.
Podcasting: Why You Should Think About Trying It
By Ashley Fontes – The steps for starting a podcast are very similar to starting a blog . . . and there is no one saying you can’t have both. My podcast allows me to reach my audience where they are in ways that my blog can’t. While my blog talks mostly to caregivers and teachers, my podcast can reach straight out to yogis.
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How To Build A Book Launch Team
By Bradley Salmond – Build your team by making a list of 20-30 people that you can contact directly. These can be business contacts, online relationships, or subscribers to your email list. Keep in mind that not everyone on your team will follow through. This is why you have to communicate clearly to the book launch team what actions you want them to take, when, and how. From the beginning, your expectations should be clear.
7 Character Traits of Creative People
By Trina Boice – Have you ever wondered what drives creative people? What makes them different? Hanging out with other LDSPMA members energizes me, inspires me, and encourages me to tap into my own creativity more! You can develop your own innate creativity by incorporating the following seven traits into your daily life.
Announcing the New LDSPMA Podcast!
By Ted Finch – Podcasting is turning into a medium where we can simply and effectively share our light. We can flood the airwaves with hope and positivity. We can model civility and celebrate differences of opinion and diversity of thought.
The Arts as a Superpower
By Shaun Stahle – Those who tell stories help society get to know each other. Words and images and sounds are our superpower. The more we use our powers to tell the plight of another, the more we defuse the ugly and demeaning and debase that confronts us.
The Entrepreneur Mindset
By Mariah K. Porter – Creating and revising a product is only half the battle as an entrepreneur. The other half is marketing. In order to truly treat your business the way it deserves to be treated, you have to put in the work to get eyes on it.
Common Roadblocks to Getting into Creative Flow
By Trina Boice – You know the feeling. There’s a deadline looming, and your mind has gone completely blank. Here are some common roadblocks to getting into creative flow and how to move past them and get on with the job.
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4 Lessons I Learned from the BYU Folk Dance Ensemble
By Laura Arnold – Dance can change the way we see the world. As we learn about other cultures, dance teaches us to share joy and light with all of God’s children.
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How to Start a Blog
By Oakli Van Meter – Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. Something you can write about pretty much every week.
Acting with Juice Boxes: Exploring Indian Breathing Techniques
By Brittany Passmore – I certainly don’t consider myself a professional actress by any means, but I cherish the memories I have from participating in school and community productions. Because we have so many talented and aspiring actors and actresses in our membership, I wanted to talk about a breathing technique I learned from my high school theatre teacher about rasa boxes.
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So You Want to Be an Artist? Here are 3 Secrets You Need to Know.
By Anna King – In this post, I’m going to let you in on the three most important secrets to being an artist.
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Latter-day Profiles
Latter-day Profiles is a collaborative effort of students, faculty, and staff at Brigham Young University-Idaho. The program features in-depth interviews with noteworthy members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Guests range from leaders in business and industry to educators, to musicians and authors to volunteers. All have stories to tell that are interesting, informative, and thought-provoking. Latter-day Profiles is produced by students in coordination with faculty and staff advisors. That means the students research the guests, schedule the interviews, run the cameras, and edit the programs. BYU-Idaho Communication faculty, Brian Howard, hosts the program and works closely with the students in the production process. Currently, Latter-day Profiles airs Sunday afternoons at 2:35 Mountain Time on BYUTV. Twenty-eight…
A Reflection of 2020 and the LDSPMA Virtual Conference
By Mike Judson – By now, your recollections of the first virtual LDSPMA annual conference may be fading a bit, so we decided to jog your memory with reminders about what a fabulous conference it was. As a friend used to say, “That’s one in a row!” and indeed it was one worth remembering.
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Merry CHRISTmas!
We want to thank you for making LDSPMA a part of your busy life by being a member and sharing your creative talents with others. This year has been a pretty crazy one, so the light you shine in the dark world has been especially important. We’re constantly amazed by all of the things you’re doing to make the world a better place. We hope you feel our love for you as we create events and services to help you grow your professional talents and business. More important, we hope you feel the Savior’s love during this Christmas season. We have some VERY exciting new developments for 2021 that we’ll tell you about in January! Until then, we wish you…
A Quick Primer on Starting Your Own Home-Based Business
By Amy Collett – Entrepreneurship is a lofty goal, but one many aspiring business owners can easily reach by starting small with the home-based business. By getting your venture established in this manner, you can maximize flexibility and minimize overhead. But how do you get started? Is it really possible to market yourself and make money? Answers are found below.
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