I am struggling with running my own business, because most of my customers are also my friends. They keep asking me to do things for them for free, and I feel guilty telling them no. How do I juggle being a business owner with being a good friend?

This is a great question! I have discussed this problem with many of my clients who are new entrepreneurs. You must be able to separate friendships with business relationships. Do not confuse the two.

You shouldn't feel guilty about quoting reasonable prices to clients of yours who are also your friends. If you don't value your time, no one else will, either. The way you have to look at it is this - if these people do not value the thing that they are asking you for enough to pay you for it, than you shouldn't either.

As a business owner, this is your livelihood. No true friend would ask you to take food off of your family's table. I wish you luck!

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

My best friend is dating my ex. I never really got over him, because he really hurt my feelings and then later told me that he still liked me. We had began flirting again when suddenly she informed me that they were now seeing each other. Is that right?!

No, it is definitely not right. Your friend has now broken the ultimate golden rule for friendships. Did no one ever teach her friend etiquette?! You DO NOT date your best friend's ex-boyfriend. It's just plain wrong, and it's pretty oogy.

There are feelings that still linger on, and it is mean and selfish for your best friend to put you through that emotional pain. You have to see them together, and hear them talk about being with one another. If she was really your friend, she would have resisted his advances, told you what he was saying to her, and moved on. A real friend would never let a guy get in between your friendship, or do anything that might hurt you.

She was obviously jealous of you and your ex's relationship and wants to get a piece of him herself. You shouldn't feel bad, and just realize that she is getting your left overs.

If you do decide to stay friends with her (which I wouldn't personally recommend), be sure to keep a close eye on this girl! She seems very toxic to you, and I wouldn't put it past her to do other things to stab you in your back. My suggestion? Find a new boyfriend, and FRIEND, who really care about your feelings and aren't playing head games with you. I wish you luck, and I hope this helps.

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

I have a situation, and it's really upsetting me. My dear childhood friend's husband recently made some sexually suggestive comments about me. She told me about it. It made me sick to my stomach. What should I do?

First, let me say that I am sorry you are upset about what was said about you. No one should ever have the right to say things to you that would hurt or upset you. On the other hand, he didn't say it to you. He said it in the privacy of his own home, to his wife, who he didn't think would go back and tell you.

I know that there are many things that my husband and I say amongst one another that we would never think to repeat around others. There is a confidentiality between spouses, that even carries through to the courtroom! You can't make a husband or wife testify against their mate. I wouldn't blame him for his words. I would feel more at odds with my friend, who thought it was a good idea to spill the beans to me.

Your friend may have been thinking that she was innocently telling you something that might even boost your self-esteem. She may not have realized that you would react negatively to her husband's comments. Was she upset by his comments? If she was, she shouldn't have gotten you involved. She should have addressed it with him. If she wasn't, that means that she knew that his statements weren't serious and that he didn't mean any harm by them.

You have to think back and figure out why his comments are making you this upset. Is it because of something from your past that makes you extra sensitive to these things? If so, it's not his fault for saying what he said. You have previous issues that need to be worked out. Has he ever made you feel uncomfortable or made advances to you before? If not, you shouldn't blow this out of proportion. Don't make more of it than it really is.

If he has made advances toward you or made you feel uncomfortable, you need to talk with your friend and get things straight with her. Good luck!

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

I have started a manuscript, but I am nervous about how to get it puublished once I am done with it. What avenues should I take?

I hear this question a lot in my writers seminars and workshops. The fear of the unknown will stunt the growth of your project. Stop worrying about what will happen to your story once you are finished with it - just finish it! Once you are completely done with it, get it edited (for content, flow, continuity, punctuation, and grammar), THEN worry about the next step. Until then, focus on getting it completed. My company, http://www.ImoianPress.com offers great editing services when you are ready. :)

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

I am sure that my wife is cheating on me. She stays out to all hours of the morning, and she keeps telling me about some co-worker of hers named, "Derek". What do I do?

A surefire way to tell that a spouse has started tipping out on you is to listen to their words. When your mate begins to talk incessantly about a person of the opposite sex all the time, your personal antenna and radar should go up. Especially if they are spending lots of unaccounted for time away from home, and the intimacy has began to wane in the bedroom. You need to sit down and have a long talk with your wife. Don't start accusing her, or else she will shut down and all communication will be lost. Instead, open up with this: "I feel like we are growing apart lately. I need to know what I am doing wrong. I want us to have a strong relationship, and I want to know what is lacking. Where do you need me to do better? What do you wish I was doing more or less of?" By taking the blame, you allow her to turn off the defense mechanisms and actually talk to you about her issues. Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

I have a great idea for a business. I want to provide people with custom-made theme songs and jingles for their businesses. What should be my first step?

That sounds like a fantastic idea! First of all, you will want to think of a catchy name for your business. Next, you need to google information about your secretary of state's office in your home town. Go there, and register your business name as an LLC (Limited Liability Company). Next, visit www.irs.gov and get a Tax ID, or EIN, number so that you can start doing business. Visit your local bank and bring your proof of registration from the Secretary of State's office and your Tax ID number, and open a bank account in your business name. They will give you business checks and a business debit card. You can start doing business now! Design a logo, order business cards with the logo, create a website, set-up a Paypal account, and start raking in the dough. My company, http://www.ImoianPress.com , can design logos, create websites, and design and deliver business cards to you in no time. We also can begin to market and promote your service! Way to go - let's get started!

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?

I have a friend who is always acting like she is jealous of me. What should I do? She makes fun of my clothes, but the next week she'll be wearing my same outfit! She told a few people at school that she didn't like my hair, then she did hers the same!

That is not a real friend. Why do you still call this girl a friend of yours? Friends encourage you, and they have your back when OTHERS talk about you. Disconnect from this wanna-be, and find yourself some real friends who will love you for you!

Allow the Best Girlfriend You Never Had to answer your personal or business-related questions! How can I help you?