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Do you have what it takes to start a home-based business? The truth is, not everyone is cut out to work from home. It is not as easy as a walk in the park, as some perceive it to be, or some people may tell you about it.
Some people may find working from home easy and ideal for their lifestyle and temperament, but some find it a hair-pulling experience. They are stumped with the idea that they will work alone in their basement, facing their computer or working tables for most of the day. Yes, there’s no boss to tell them what to do and how to do a task. But for those who are used to being told what to do, this situation is very problematic, and their business will not go anywhere.
The worst part of working from home for many people is that there’s no one else to talk to other than the family members and maybe, the cat or the dog. The lack of social interaction that a corporate setting allows can drive some nuts!
To make starting and nurturing a business from your home successful, you must have the right inner workings. Even with a foolproof business plan, you need the proper mental attitude to work successfully from home. Otherwise, you may be better off allocating capital to rent a proper office downtown or return to your previous job as a salaried employee.
How do you maintain your sanity while working from home? Below are five traits you need to survive a home-based business:
You must be able to focus on your objectives.
As a start-up entrepreneur, it is easy to be pulled into many directions. However, you need to have the ability to focus your efforts on clearly defined objectives and stay on course despite constant distractions.
Having a clear focus allows you to schedule each day with activities designed to achieve your goals. Whether the task at hand is to secure a meeting with a potential investor or request reciprocal links for your website, you wake up each morning driven to reach your business objectives.
Focusing on your objectives also entails identifying and exploiting significant opportunities, the pursuit of which is the very heart of entrepreneurship. Successful entrepreneurs have the uncanny knack for seeing things in the marketplace that others don’t and building viable businesses around that recognition.
You must be capable of remaining optimistic at all times.
Entrepreneurs who succeed are those who work to build their businesses despite many obstacles. Why do they do it? Because they’re driven! Driven by passion, opportunity, and optimism.
You need to believe that the glass is always half full, even when it’s pretty much empty. You must be convinced that the future will be better than the past and will improve upon the present. This optimism, this belief in the possible, is a remarkably potent resource for overcoming obstacles.
You must learn how to balance family, work, and personal needs.
Let me tell you a little secret: this is the hardest part of working from home. If you are one of those who decided to work from home to be with your family, you will sometimes find it nearly impossible to do work while juggling your family and personal life.
Writing out the words balance work with family is easy, but the reality, it is not. I have a 19-month-old toddler, and my work patterns drastically changed upon his arrival. I found that it is impossible to make babies understand that they need to let their mommies or daddies work.
When I used to stay glued to my computer working the whole day, now I have two cute tiny hands tugging and pulling me away from work and the computer. I can only work when he sleeps or whenever he allows it. He is now the boss.
If you are faced with a situation similar to mine, you need to be prepared to sacrifice your own sleep to get work done. Or make arrangements for someone to take care of your children, whether a babysitter or daycare.
Real life is not a switch that you can turn on and off for the convenience of your business, and you must make a lot of effort to work on your business while meeting your family’s demands.
You need to be proactive in managing time.
Discipline is an important ingredient if you want to make it big as a home-based entrepreneur, and part of discipline is effectively managing your time. Despite interruptions in your home (children, laundry, cooking, etc.), you must find time to work productively.
You must be able to stick to your guns and stay on track, despite temptations to take a longer nap, go to the mall, or watch TV. Disruptions are inevitable in a home-based environment, but how you control those events will spell the success of your business.
Get into the habit of writing your to-do list using a system that works for you. A daily planner where I jot down my To-Do list is an essential tool for me. Knowing what I need to accomplish for the day helps me make the most of my work hours.
You can put a whiteboard in your work area where you list the things that need to be done for the day. A big calendar with enough space might also do the trick. PDAs, high-tech cell phones, or computer programs are neat tools that help you organize and prioritize your day.
Once you have your list, prioritize your activities for the day according to their importance. You can do this the night before or early morning, whichever works for you. Then tackle your to-do list from the most important to the least important. Even if you cannot complete everything on your to-do list, you can get the most important tasks out of the way. That is, the key is to work smarter, if not necessarily harder.
Flexibility, however, is also important. There will be days when your child s babysitter may not be able to come or your son s baseball game got extended. During those days when your time for work is cut, do the most important tasks first.
You need to have a strong appetite for learning.
To succeed as a home business entrepreneur, you must adopt a sponge-like attitude to learning. Your enthusiasm and openness to learn new things, try out new ideas, and find better ways to do things are critical to the continued positive development of your business.
If you are starting a business from home, it is definite that you do not have a management team to craft and hone your strategies. You will have to rely on yourself to develop approaches that will work for your business, carefully identify and reach your audiences or prospects, and manage the daily responsibilities of running a business.
Some of the tasks and challenges you will face may be beyond what you know; some will even be over your head. Even if you have no idea what to do, the phrase “I can do it” must be part of your vocabulary.
To gain ideas and knowledge, you will need to research better, seek mentors and ask the right people. Read more about your industry. Borrow books on how successful entrepreneurs did it, and adopt the winning strategies that apply to your business. Get inspired to do better by networking with like-minded individuals.
Are you ready to start your home-based business?
Starting a home-based business can be a lucrative and fulfilling endeavor for individuals primed and committed to its success. It is vital to deliberate on your aspirations, evaluate your readiness, and establish a comprehensive business strategy before taking the plunge. Moreover, you must be prepared to confront obstacles such as time management, motivation, and solitude.
Nevertheless, with the right attitude, planning, and tools, a home-based business can provide adaptability, financial benefits, and a sense of autonomy that may be difficult to attain in a regular job. Ultimately, your decision to embark on this journey should be based on a practical evaluation of your strengths, shortcomings, and resources and a clear understanding of the hazards and advantages of embarking on a home-based business.
