[nabentre] accessible work from home

Fri Mar 30 17:05:09 UTC 2018

Great points Peter. I think we also need to remember that we are as diverse as any population out there and some will want to take certain opportunities while others will not. That's ok. We just have to own it and really think about it before turning down an opportunity and we must be willing to then look for another. Not all sighted people take business opportunities and what works for one person might be a great example to another of what they may like to try. 

I think when working from home it is important to figure out what one's strengths and skills are and what others one may need to work on. 

Busking is so cool! I love that idea and have seen people make quite a good income even if for a short term. I enjoy having a variety of things that bring in income. It makes for an interesting existence on this planet with all the interesting and diverse people we are blessed to have in our circles. 

Michelle 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 30, 2018, at 9:24 AM, Peter Donahue via nabentre <nabentre at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good morning everyone,
> 
>    It's also true that blind people are exposed to business
> opportunities but decline them. We have seen this over and over again from
> blind persons in the U.S. and abroad.
> 
>    These rejections are not limited to network marketing opportunities.
> 
>    I recently heard that some blind persons were opposed to
> crowdfunding because they viewed it as another form of begging. Crowdfunding
> is used to raise funds for numerous needs and projects yet blind people are
> not tapping this form of fundraising and perhaps making a business of
> helping others create crowdfunding sites.
> 
>    I was once a street musician also called a busker. Busking is a very
> old form of income generation that has been used for centuries by performers
> of one kind or another. Provided one opbains the proper permits if required
> and follows the rules and guidelines street performers are expected to
> observe when operating within various municipalities one can earn a
> lucritive income as a street performer. mOst of the time you'll need to get
> off of your behind, and learn some travel skills so you can get out of the
> house the rewards can be wonderful! Like crowdfunding many blind people
> still view it as begging despite busking's honorable place in history. The
> difference is that a street performer is providing a service to their
> community in exchange for donations. In some situations street performers
> may also receive compensation from the city or town in which they perform to
> supplement the donations they collect. It's the service aspect that
> separates a busker from a beggar who simply collects mony for whatever
> reason without compensating the giver for their monitary donation.
> 
> We constantly hear blind people say they wish they had an income creation
> vehicle that allowed them to work from home. yet when presented with such
> oppoortunities they make some excuse for not wanting to do it and if they
> decide to test the entrepreneurial waters they're discouraged from trying.
> When they attempt to earn an income using time-tested ways to earn a living
> they're treated like a crab and pulled back into poverty's crab basket. 
> 
>    Thanks to busking I was able to leave Massachusetts on vary short
> notice in 1981 and didn't have to spend three days living in the streets of
> Boston. None of those blind people who were mad at me because I was willing
> to explore a unique way to earn a living were in any financial position to
> help me in a time of despiration when it was needed. They should really
> talk!
> 
>    Likewise thanks to our networking business Mary now has a
> fully-working Braille-Edge 40 she bought without crawling to rehab a swamp
> we're glad we didn't have to drain for her to buy a more compact Braille
> display with new capabilities her Pack Mate doesn't have.
> 
>    All businesses require you to learn new skills. We heard some folks
> say they don't like to talk to strangers something any one who owns a store
> of one kind or other must do on a daily basis. If they don't the business
> will fail on day one. Other types of businesses also require you to
> cultivate people skills too. Unless you want to work for someone else the
> rest of your life only to retire on a third of your income you must learn
> and master these skills to be successful. While we don't get it perfect 100%
> of the time our ability to communicate with people has been recognized by
> others. A blind friend of mine from Massachusetts recently hired me to help
> promote his new book. Remember that tretus I wrote called "The Decision" in
> which I detailed the many ways in which business ownership has blessed us? I
> can add one more blessing to that pile in being able to create another
> income stream without leaving home.
> 
>    From time to time we receive messages from folks complementing us on
> our success. To all of them we say "Not so." We're only successful when
> others follow our llead. When we share our various business ideas with you
> and you take up the charge and become successful that's when we succeeded
> because we did our job and are reaping the rewards of having done it well.
> The good news to those who have been exposed to different business
> opportunities and turned them down it's not too late to make a mid course
> correction. Mary and I can be very forgiving people and are willing to do
> whatever is necessary to help someone become successful. All the best for a
> wonderful Easter.
> 
> Peter Donahue who needs to buy a new pare of shoes so he can dress for
> success.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabentre [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle
> Creedy via nabentre
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2018 8:56 AM
> To: NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
> Cc: Michelle Creedy
> Subject: Re: [nabentre] accessible work from home
> 
> Hi Lauren 
> 
> Interesting idea. I wonder whether you are leaning towards some kind of
> internet marketing? There again, you would probally have to have some kind
> of business already in place. It's hard because we all have such diverse
> interests and so on.
> 
> I find the NFB very helpful with mentoring and I wonder whether this is
> worth writing up and sending to the appropriate division. for their
> consideration? 
> 
> Michelle 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 30, 2018, at 3:28 AM, Lauren Merryfield via nabentre
> <nabentre at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> There are so many programs out there where people are supposedly 
>> making money. I am wondering why there aren't more for totally blind 
>> people to do that are accessible. I mean, one could spend a lot of 
>> money, time and effort in those programs, yet not make a thin dime.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I, for one, don't want to hustle family and friends, do cold calling, 
>> or carry inventory in my studio apt-yeah, right.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I want customers coming to me, online, where I am, at home. I suppose 
>> that even when I am out and about, if some business brought me money 
>> on the phone, that might be good, too.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I want something where there is not a huge learning curve; that we 
>> could do even when we are tired or not feeling well, because that is 
>> sometimes my reality.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Several years ago, there was a guy who claimed to be blind who was 
>> going to start a business and employ blind people, but it never got 
>> off the ground. I wonder if there is someone, or a group of some of 
>> us, who could come up with a program as good as any out there and make 
>> sure it is accessible and that the 70%-80% of unemployed could do from 
>> home, especially given transportation issues these days in some 
>> locations. Whew, that  was a long sentence! I tend to do that.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> My issues right now are these:I am much more clear about what I 
>> *don't* want to do than what I am willing and able to do; I don't have 
>> the cash to start a business, I don't want to feel like I am 
>> reinventing the wheel, I don't want to do or even learn about a 
>> business plan, I need money yesterday, and I'm getting up there toward the
> other end of my life, as someone put it.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I remember working for hotel reservations companies and their huge 
>> learning curves, made even more daunting by constant changes they 
>> would make, handing us memos nearly every three days or so. Sometimes 
>> we had to unlearn something we were just getting under our belts. It 
>> was difficult to feel confident and to finish calls as quickly as the 
>> companies wanted so they could make more money. I had thought I'd 
>> really like that work with reservations, but I learned to have 
>> reservations about reservations, pun intended. I did not want to be 
>> pushed like we were; the way they do it. The turnover was something 
>> else, too. Peoples' positions changed overnight. It was way too 
>> stressful. I want something now that would not be particularly 
>> stressful, would be helpful to us and to our clients, would be 
>> something the NFB could do and be proud of-we were able to help blind 
>> people find work-that kind of thing. We've done the KNFB reader and 
>> other projects, why not a work-at-home program that would work for many of
> us, sponsored by the NFB?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> In the programs I've investigated, when I discover how inaccessible 
>> they are, when I bring this to the company's attention, they are most 
>> often, not all that interested in fixing things "for one person." I 
>> explain that it would not be for one person, that there are fifty 
>> thousand members of the NFB and that doesn't count those blind people 
>> who are not in the NFB. Maybe we would bring in more members, too, if 
>> we had the work-at-home program some of us are looking for.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I apologize for not being the one who could do this. I don't have the 
>> techy skills or the business skills. It would be really neat if the
> Entrepreneurs'
>> division could accomplish this. if someone more techy and 
>> business-wise could create the program, then those of us who are not 
>> as much into that could do the labor. Or if someone had enough clout 
>> in an ongoing program that they could get the higher-ups to pay 
>> attention and want to help blind people, in particular, PURRhaps that
> would work.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sorry I've rambled. But something needs to be done, before it is too 
>> late for some of us.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Lauren Merryfield
>> 
>> Blessings in Jesus' name! 
>> 
>> 
>> "This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or 
>> discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
>> Joshua 1:9
>> 
>> 
>> My evangelism blog is at ask in jesus name . org Visit us at catlines 
>> . com with our store coming soon.  (remove the spaces.) Advice from my 
>> cats:"Meow when you feel like it."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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