The Students' Lifestyle

Today's post is by  LaNette Kincaid, owner of Just Pearlz and blogger at Women with Gifts. In this post, LaNette shares some tips on how you can be your own boss by starting a small business. See how you can cash in on your talents today.

As college students, if each of us were totally honest with ourselves we can admit to having several talents inside of us that would potentially make us all millionaires. Sadly, a lot of those talents are suppressed because students must choose between earning a degree or starting a small business. Being a college student and an entrepreneur is not overly hard if you stick with what you love or what you have experience in.

Being a good college student is very time consuming ,so I wouldn't suggest starting an IBM type business while in college unless you have the manpower and money to support this venture. However, I do suggest starting a very small business that incorporates hobbies or duties that you can complete with the greatest of ease.

I've been to a lot of career and club fairs at school and I honestly really going to them. It's a great chance to get involved on campus, network, and even meet new friends. But the one thing that I hate about these fairs are the people behind the table that look like they'd be rather be anywhere else but there. These "happy" workers are usually few and far between, but hey really suck out my interest whenever I meet them.  So to help these people out, and to vent a little, here's a few tips I wish I could tell these people to make the best of out time together.

Smile
When you've been picked to sit at the table all day for your organization, one of the beat things to remember is to be approachable. Everything from your body language to facial expression should express that you are willing answer questions to an interested student.

Talk to me
If you see me lingering at your table or flipping through your brochures, why don't you introduce yourself. This isn't a bar scene where I'll think you're a creep for saying hi to me. It's your job to get me interested. So say hello, introduce yourself and the company/club, then tell me why I should join.

Tell me about you
Last year I attended a program downtown that was mainly meant to bring volunteers and organizations together. I was really wanting to get some more volunteer hours and saw an organization there I heard a lot about and liked their cause. As soon as I got to the table, one of the women there smiled at me and shoved a bunch of flyers into my hand asking me to hang them up in the bathrooms at school for her. No greeting. No information about the organization or how I could join the cause. She just told me to pass out posters. Needless to say, she turned me completely off. Don't be like this woman. You want to draw people in to your cause and get them to join arms with you, not turn them off from your cause. IN other words, be courteous to potential members/employees and you'll not only shine, but shine for your organization as well.

Know Your Stuff
If I ask u a question about your program and you can't give me an answer you immediately lose credentials in my eyes. Who wants to join an org where even the recruiter can't answer basic information, such as when are meetings held. If you don't know an answer, tell the truth. Then explain that even though you don't know the answer now, you'll be happy to bring an answer back to them. That makes me think you actually value me as a potential member, and you can now contact me!

1. I can't stand sleeping with shoes underneath my bed because someone once told me that I wouldn't get any sleep at night with shoes underneath my bed. 
2. My hands are mildly double jointed.
3. I generally drink juice/water after I eat my food.
4. I never fold my clothes. I just throw them in my drawers. 



Just a few of the books I sold online

I recently asked you all on Facebook how you guys made extra money. A lot you commented saying that you sold things you had among other side hustlers. I decided to take this advice and sell the one item we have the most of at my house- textbooks. By now a lot of you know that textbooks are expensive as heck and trying to sell them back to the bookstore usually isn't worth it, especially if it isn't a newer book. So I decided to take my books online to see what I could get from them.