The First Step in Successful Mystery Shopping

First Things First…

If you take any steps toward becoming a mystery shopper, the first step should be getting yourself a dedicated email and password for this venture.

Sure dozens of emails requesting your services sound nice but it can become overwhelming QUICKLY. Plus when those schedulers and account managers come calling or emailing, as it were, you want the bigger bucks.

In addition to higher paying mystery shops,  my field services contracts can yield up to $130, each. I got started with a list like The Hot New Mystery Shopping List. Fifteen years ago I began mystery shopping with a hot new mystery shopping list and today I've successfully made a career for myself as a field services professional.

Just as we all stand around the proverbial water cooler and dream about working for ourselves, I did that too. I dreamed of working from home or working for myself then I took a leap. I leaped with faith in myself.

You Must Crawl Before You Walk…

It didn't happen overnight. I used mystery shopping as a springboard to a lucrative and  sustainable full time job. I have a full time job, with part time hours. I am self employed as a field services professional.

Now that my break is over it's back to this deluge of email. It seems that I found out about the dedicated email TOO LATE!

I've been mystery shopping for years upon years but the industry has changed. With a few swift clicks you too could be sifting through tasty offers. You, too, could be getting paid for shopping and dining.  Amusement parks and hotels use mystery shoppers, too!

TIP: Applying to more companies gives you more opportunities. Mystery shopping companies all over the United States are looking for people like YOU! Apply to five companies per night for a week and you can pick and choose the mystery shops that suit your fancy!

Field services contracts worth more than one hundred dollars a pop might be the penacle of my craft, but I also enjoy the mystery shops for (free) oil changes and quick flamed pizza in my neighborhood.

Try The Hot New Mystery Shopping List today. Earn extra cash next month!

Apply to several companies tonight and prepare for the avalanche tomorrow. Results will vary according to needs in your city and surrounding areas.

My primary email address with AOL is chock full of mystery shopping requests for services. However, my dedicated email for my work at home ventures is Google Gmail. As a bonus, Google+ has a pretty cool social circle.

So, REMEMBER the first step in SUCCESSFUL mystery shopping is to get a dedicated mystery shopping address.

Get a dedicated mystery shopping  gmail address and add me to your Google+ circle at The Field Services Diary on Google+.

Thanks for reading and sharing! Happy Shopping!

by Michelle Brown

#mysteryshopping #workathome #gmail #googleplus #thefieldservicesdiary

Working From Home and Being Self Employed - *Good* Time Management Skills Needed

Having good time management skills is a must if you plan to be successful as a self employed Field Services Professional working from home.

As I plan my schedule for the next few days, slating a full day for office work and phone calls isn't particularly feasible at this time. It is sad to say that the only time my phone rings, pretty much, it's work. That could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing. The bad thing is that my #Framily doesn't call me much. I guess that stands to reason since I don't call them much, either! The good thing is that my phone does ring, regularly.

Good time management has always been a struggle for me. That is one reason me and Corporate America couldn't get along. I mean, who likes to rush through lunch in ONE hour? I found it hard to do on a consistent basis. #NOW, I have so much work to complete that sometimes I eat lunch late or not at all! That can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing, but my diet while working in the field is another post.

Being self employed is not as glamorous as some may think. Have you ever seen a one-man band? They look a little funny, but they skillfully orchestrate all of their tools and instruments to form entertaining sounds. Often times, owning a small business means you will be wearing many  hats, using different tools and instruments. Good time management skills are a set of tools any good business would benefit from.

I'm learning that I can complete sketches and enter reports better in the morning time. I believe my creative time is during the evening. At that time my thoughts flow easily and creatively. It is in the evening when I am of no use performing left brain activities. However, in the Field Services business, planning, mapping and routing the night before are recommended. I should walk the walk.

I have been introduced to a broad concept of batching all of my activities so that I can get more done. I purchased a nifty planner from Office Depot with weekly and monthly templates. #NOW I must determine what's important for me to do daily, weekly, and monthly. I must say that my #Framily is high on the list, however one must establish boundaries and find a happy medium. Being able to hang out and commune with my #Framily any day, any hour is a dreamy benefit. Not having to ask permission from anyone is one of the greatest benefits of being self employed.

I look forward to filling my new planner with great accomplishments, giving myself checks and stars for tasks completed. It'll look nice and feel good, too. Everyone needs a stroke of the ego, every now and then. Sometimes you have to toot your own horn. Don't expect anyone else to do it for you! In addition, I look forward to seeing, in black and white, my growth and accomplishments. The year is going to pass, anyway. Will you be the same person this time next year? I plan to be bigger (in spirit) and better! How about you?

Is time management one of your strong skills? I work on my time management daily. Well, regularly. Ok I work on my time management skills often; when I have time, that is. Boy I'll tell you, it's a vicious cycle. 

by Michelle Brown

Starting a New Chapter

Today has been interesting. As I struggled with loads of contracts last week, this week seems dry. Slow. Famine-ous. After a few relaxing hours this morning, I realized today would be the day to press forward on my Internet Marketing gig. Other avenues are fading away.

Being a Field Services Professional for more than a decade has been an interesting ride....

Having your Field Services and BLOGGING businesses earn revenue takes work! Late nights, long hours and little profit can be expected - but success is so tasty!  I earned more than $75k my first year as a... [MORE]

Working From Home

It's Tuesday and I am relaxing with a cup of coffee on the porch and writing. Working from home allows me the luxury of relaxing during the regular work week. I have an  appointment at the salon this afternoon and I'll visit a few "clients" today. Piece of cake. 

Working from home is the best thing since sliced bread, in my opinion.Mystery shopping - gets you fine dining for FREE! You make your own schedule and have lunch with friends. Working from home allows you to generate multiple income streams!

It is not about making $100,000 at one job, get yourself two or three jobs and make $40-$50,000 each. During my first year as a vendor with First American Field services, I earned $70,000. Now I'd like to try my hand at a different "work from home" phenomenon - BLOGGING!

The system is already setup and it just needs YOU! Tell us what you do. I am a self-employed field services representative and I will show you how to can earn money in your spare time. From mystery shopping to government contracts - I've done them all!

Signed,

Paid in the shade