There’s been a LOT of buzz lately over Itty Biz’s latest product, Online Business School.

If you don’t know Naomi Dunford, she runs Itty Biz, which offers consulting to small and home business owners. It’s through the Itty Biz blog that I started gaining more knowledge as to how to run my own web design business full time - especially in terms of marketing and self-promotion.

My Own Personal Experience With Itty Biz

It wasn’t long before I hired Naomi myself - you can read more on my Taking the Freelance Plunge post, as well as on this home business success story over on Itty Biz.

Long story short, I knew that I wanted to leave my day job to run my own business full time. I had the talent as a web designer, but not necessarily the sales or marketing skills to make it a viable option.

I knew I needed some expert advice, so I hired Itty Biz back in January. We had an amazing consultation that set so many things in motion! I can’t even begin to express how motivational my consultations with Naomi were!

She offered me amazing advice and support, and I credit her with being a big part of the reason I was able to take the “plunge” a full 6 months earlier than planned. Of course determination and talent played the largest role, but Naomi’s helpful advice helped steer me in the right direction.

Freelance Folder recently posted an open thread asking the question “How Do You Stay Sharp?” The post has some great discussion in the comments section, where many people said that it’s through web sites and blogs that they are able to keep up to date on developments in their particular fields.

Web Design / Development Blogs You Should Be Reading

I myself have a set of design and development related blogs that I read… whether for the latest xhtml/css and WordPress tricks, for design inspiration, etc.

I asked my designer friends on Twitter which sites they thought were the best design blogs to read. You know, the old question “if you were stuck on a desert island and could only have one…” LOL

Without a doubt, the number one answer was Smashing Magazine - for good reason! But there were many others, as well. So for all of the web designers and developers out there, below are 17 essential design blogs you should be reading!

Continuing on the theme of guest blogging, my second article on Freelance Folder has just been published…

10 SEO Techniques All Top Web Sites Should Use

“They” say you are not supposed to voice political views on a business blog. They are probably right, but last night was a moment in history that I experienced first hand.

A Moment I Don’t Want To Forget

Last night, history was made as Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America.

Watching the votes come in - connected to the news channels on tv, connected to the news networks online, connected to Twitter users throughout the world, watching the events unfold before us…

This was a moment in history that I will never forget.

For those of us in the United States of America - today is a historic day. Every four years in November, Americans are given the opportunity to make their voice be heard.

This year’s Presidential Election is particularly crucial.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter have no doubt which of the candidates I support. I’m among one of thousands who participated in early voting this year. Many of you also voted early.

Many of you are standing in line right now…

This post is part of the “Just Three Things” series…

As freelancers and small business owners, we all have an endless to do list. Whether it’s written down, or is running around in the back of our minds and keeping us up at night - there are things we want and need to do to take our businesses to the next level.

Learn more about the concept, and join in! And without further ado, here are my three things for November 2008.

There is something to be said for setting goals and holding yourself accountable for reaching those goals.

I’m just about five months in after having reached my dream of taking the freelance plunge in June 2008. There was an incredible set of steps I had to take in order to reach this goal. But just because I’m here now, doesn’t mean the journey is over.

The ultimate goal now is to improve upon my business and make it as successful as possible. With this comes an an endless to do list that often gets pushed aside by client work, writing proposals, and all the other administrative aspects of running your own company.