Many people desire the ability to work at home. They imagine themselves rolling out of bed, commuting 20 feet without any traffic, except for the occasional pet sleeping in the hallway and starting work in their home office as they sip on their favorite latte. Without the daily office politics, commute, and water cooler gossip they feel they’ll be more focused and, ultimately, more efficient. However, with this freedom come some unforeseen drawbacks that can affect your stress level. You may find it difficult to keep yourself organized and motivated without the pressures of a boss or management team.
When you work from home and not required to clock in and out at a specific time, you are responsible for your own time management. To keep yourself and your home office organized so you are more productive and have less stress, try the following tips:
1. Keep a separate and specific work area in your home. This can be as simple as setting up a large desk and a small filing cabinet in a quiet room. Make sure you have plenty of lighting. Keep it clean and organized so you can find the materials and supplies you need to do your work.
2. Learn how you are more productive. Identify what type of work environment helps you work at your best. Are you more productive when you’re working at your desk or sitting on the couch? Your home office is your domain. Add personal items and things that help give you a positive attitude to help make you more productive.
3. Schedule specific task. Plan your work schedule by identifying your most productive time and when you have the most energy. If you a morning person and think more clearly in the mornings then do your most difficult and important task during this time. If you have children you may want to begin work after you get them off to school, before they wake up or even during their nap.
4. Set your business hours and adhere to the schedule. Just because you work at home doesn’t mean you can take a break whenever you want because there’s no boss to tell you to get back to work. You must be managing your time by setting your business hours and following them, after all you are your own boss. Also, many people or clients may assume since you work from home you are available 24/7. Avoid interruptions by setting specific office hours when other people can contact you regarding business. Communicate this - put your business hours on your business cards, website, e-mails and voice-mail recording.
5. Plan, negotiate and prioritize. No matter how hard you try, your business and personal lives will collide. Don’t stress out when personal interruptions affect your business life. Learn to detach from your work mode, to focus and address the interruption and resolve it so that you can move forward. Then switch back to work mode and get back to your regular work schedule. Eventually, you will learn to weave in and out between business mode and personal mode throughout the day so their can be a productive balance between work and life when you work at home.
Showing posts with label work from home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work from home. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
How Much Fun Are You As a Home-Based Business Owner?
Isn't it amazing how when something is off kilter, a series of events or circumstances arise that shines a big bright light on the situation?
The matter requiring attention is revealed one way or another whether you want it to be or not.
If you're a coach, this may ring true more so for you. I don't know how many times I've conducted a session with a client only to realize that I am in as much need of directing my attention to the very same issue they're working on.
In recent weeks, I have allowed myself to become consumed by business activities while fitness, family and fun have taken a back seat.
Sometimes you need to burn a little extra fuel to get the rocket off the ground, but there comes a time when you have to let up on the power boosters and let the momentum you've created propel the ship.
If you continue to run the ship at full power, the fuel supply will quickly disappear and you may not make it to your intended destination.
Fortunately, a series of events have required that I pay attention to the imbalance I created. First, I was asked to write an article on how to build fun and balance into a home-based business while remaining productive.
Second, I paid an impromptu visit to the library and picked up Jay Conrad Levinson's, The Way of The Guerilla, an excellent exposé on the motivations of today's entrepreneur and the critical importance of balance, family, health and relationships.
I had no idea what this book was about until I started reading it, however, it was exactly what I needed at the time.
Third, I had a coaching session with a client in which we focused our attention on an extensive project that will involve a large group of people and require specific structures, processes, responsibilities and a compelling vision that will be embraced by every member of the team.
Focusing on the schematics of a project is often the easy part. It's giving our self top priority throughout the process that poses the biggest challenge.
As we wrapped up the session I stressed the importance of taking care of "self" to my client and at the same time, I realized the message applied to me as well.
As you go through your day and work your plan, keep in mind these words I shared with my client ...
"Your body and your mind are the vehicles that will allow you to carry out your dream. Give them top priority because without them, everything else is dust."
I actually posted these words on my computer screen as a daily reminder to myself. If this is what you need to do to serve as a daily reminder of the importance of taking care of yourself first, I encourage you to do the same.
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
The matter requiring attention is revealed one way or another whether you want it to be or not.
If you're a coach, this may ring true more so for you. I don't know how many times I've conducted a session with a client only to realize that I am in as much need of directing my attention to the very same issue they're working on.
In recent weeks, I have allowed myself to become consumed by business activities while fitness, family and fun have taken a back seat.
Sometimes you need to burn a little extra fuel to get the rocket off the ground, but there comes a time when you have to let up on the power boosters and let the momentum you've created propel the ship.
If you continue to run the ship at full power, the fuel supply will quickly disappear and you may not make it to your intended destination.
Fortunately, a series of events have required that I pay attention to the imbalance I created. First, I was asked to write an article on how to build fun and balance into a home-based business while remaining productive.
Second, I paid an impromptu visit to the library and picked up Jay Conrad Levinson's, The Way of The Guerilla, an excellent exposé on the motivations of today's entrepreneur and the critical importance of balance, family, health and relationships.
I had no idea what this book was about until I started reading it, however, it was exactly what I needed at the time.
Third, I had a coaching session with a client in which we focused our attention on an extensive project that will involve a large group of people and require specific structures, processes, responsibilities and a compelling vision that will be embraced by every member of the team.
Focusing on the schematics of a project is often the easy part. It's giving our self top priority throughout the process that poses the biggest challenge.
As we wrapped up the session I stressed the importance of taking care of "self" to my client and at the same time, I realized the message applied to me as well.
As you go through your day and work your plan, keep in mind these words I shared with my client ...
"Your body and your mind are the vehicles that will allow you to carry out your dream. Give them top priority because without them, everything else is dust."
I actually posted these words on my computer screen as a daily reminder to myself. If this is what you need to do to serve as a daily reminder of the importance of taking care of yourself first, I encourage you to do the same.
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
How Do You Win At Home-Based Business? Hit The Floor Running
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion... or... it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle... or... it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion, when the sun comes up... you better be running.
****
With no boss breathing down your neck or clock to punch, It can be so tempting to stay in bed one hour longer, to postpone picking up the phone and contacting that prospect, or to focus your time and energy on the easy and fun stuff and put the unpleasant stuff off until later.
One of the core competencies you need to succeed at home-based business is DISCIPLINE. You are now responsible for your success 24/7 and if you aren't doing what is required to succeed, there won't be someone to come along behind you and clean up your mess. It's do or die, eat or be eaten.
To truly succeed as a serious home-based business owner, you need to be strong-willed and self-disciplined. You also need a solid, thorough, written plan to keep you on track and in constant motion.
To ensure continuous momentum, you can plan your daily activities a month in advance, or even weekly. Some people prefer to dedicate each day of the week to a different task, for example:
Monday - marketing
Tuesday - business building
Wednesday - customer relations
... and so on.
Others prefer to perform a variety of tasks on any given day, for example:
Monday - marketing (morning), business building (afternoon)
Tuesday - customers relations (morning), industry research (afternoon)
The most important factor here is have a Plan and stick to it.
Although most people start a home-based business to create freedom, many of them fail to recognize the critical importance of a structured plan.
No plan = no business and no business = no freedom.
So remember, hit the floor running each morning, keep ahead of those who are following behind and overtake those in front of you. Whether you're the lion or the gazelle, you've got to run!
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle... or... it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion, when the sun comes up... you better be running.
****
With no boss breathing down your neck or clock to punch, It can be so tempting to stay in bed one hour longer, to postpone picking up the phone and contacting that prospect, or to focus your time and energy on the easy and fun stuff and put the unpleasant stuff off until later.
One of the core competencies you need to succeed at home-based business is DISCIPLINE. You are now responsible for your success 24/7 and if you aren't doing what is required to succeed, there won't be someone to come along behind you and clean up your mess. It's do or die, eat or be eaten.
To truly succeed as a serious home-based business owner, you need to be strong-willed and self-disciplined. You also need a solid, thorough, written plan to keep you on track and in constant motion.
To ensure continuous momentum, you can plan your daily activities a month in advance, or even weekly. Some people prefer to dedicate each day of the week to a different task, for example:
Monday - marketing
Tuesday - business building
Wednesday - customer relations
... and so on.
Others prefer to perform a variety of tasks on any given day, for example:
Monday - marketing (morning), business building (afternoon)
Tuesday - customers relations (morning), industry research (afternoon)
The most important factor here is have a Plan and stick to it.
Although most people start a home-based business to create freedom, many of them fail to recognize the critical importance of a structured plan.
No plan = no business and no business = no freedom.
So remember, hit the floor running each morning, keep ahead of those who are following behind and overtake those in front of you. Whether you're the lion or the gazelle, you've got to run!
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
How Do I Choose A Home Based Business?
Did you know that "home based business" and "work from home" are among the most frequently requested phrases on the search engines? I just entered the term "work from home" at Google, and I got back 4,730,000,000 results. What does that tell you? It tells you that there are plenty of websites around trying to keep up with the demand for information related to working from home. It also tells you that there are plenty of people promoting business opportunities. Network marketing, multi level marketing (MLM), and direct sales organizations and their representatives are trying to get your attention.
OK. So you have this plethora of information, you narrow it down to a few choices by sending emails or making a few phone calls, and you decide to join Company A. But wait! Wasn't this company on TV recently for being involved in some type of fraud? So you do a little more online research, and find out that yes, your business opportunity is on the verge of a meltdown, and you breathe a sigh of relief for not being drawn in before its demise.
That's just the best case scenario. The fact is that a large number of opportunities for the home based entrepreneur will fail, and drag down a number of poor innocents with it. Case in point: Brixdale.com. If you go to this website, what will you see? Nothing! This company was served a Cease and Desist order from the State of NY order last year, and closed up shop immediately, and the income stream that the distributors were enjoying stopped immediately. And there are many, many other stories like this.
WELL WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A HOME BASED BUSINESS?
You may know a number of people that are very successful home based entrepreneurs, so you know that working from home is possible. Now we need to narrow it down to a business that fits your personality. So what should you look for first when evaluating a network marketing or direct sales organization? Very simply, longevity. Yes, I know there are so many more variables to consider, but longevity is a big one. And you know why? Well, if a company has been in business for over 1 year, then you know they've overcome a number of hurdles. If you talk to individual distributors and see that they are actually getting commissions on time and that support is very responsive, then you know you have a seasoned opportunity. We know that the first year in any long term endeavor is often turbulent, but getting through that first year means something good may come the next year.
Now if you are a belt and suspenders type of person (like me), one that puts in a little more effort to make sure everything stays in place, you would naturally want to take this reasoning a step further and reason, 'Well... if a one year old company is good, then a three or five year old company would be even better.' That is absolutely true.
The more time a company has to deliver products, respond to feedback, and upgrade services, the better they get at it. Take your average fast food franchise for example. How often do they upgrade their dining area? How often do they change the menu? Progressive organizations know that keeping in tune to customer satisfaction is the key to their success. Any business opportunity that you consider as a potential money maker for you should follow the exact same pattern.
There are so many variables to look at when you're considering a home based business. Evaluating the longevity of a company first will eliminate a substantial amount of research on your part.
OK. So you have this plethora of information, you narrow it down to a few choices by sending emails or making a few phone calls, and you decide to join Company A. But wait! Wasn't this company on TV recently for being involved in some type of fraud? So you do a little more online research, and find out that yes, your business opportunity is on the verge of a meltdown, and you breathe a sigh of relief for not being drawn in before its demise.
That's just the best case scenario. The fact is that a large number of opportunities for the home based entrepreneur will fail, and drag down a number of poor innocents with it. Case in point: Brixdale.com. If you go to this website, what will you see? Nothing! This company was served a Cease and Desist order from the State of NY order last year, and closed up shop immediately, and the income stream that the distributors were enjoying stopped immediately. And there are many, many other stories like this.
WELL WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A HOME BASED BUSINESS?
You may know a number of people that are very successful home based entrepreneurs, so you know that working from home is possible. Now we need to narrow it down to a business that fits your personality. So what should you look for first when evaluating a network marketing or direct sales organization? Very simply, longevity. Yes, I know there are so many more variables to consider, but longevity is a big one. And you know why? Well, if a company has been in business for over 1 year, then you know they've overcome a number of hurdles. If you talk to individual distributors and see that they are actually getting commissions on time and that support is very responsive, then you know you have a seasoned opportunity. We know that the first year in any long term endeavor is often turbulent, but getting through that first year means something good may come the next year.
Now if you are a belt and suspenders type of person (like me), one that puts in a little more effort to make sure everything stays in place, you would naturally want to take this reasoning a step further and reason, 'Well... if a one year old company is good, then a three or five year old company would be even better.' That is absolutely true.
The more time a company has to deliver products, respond to feedback, and upgrade services, the better they get at it. Take your average fast food franchise for example. How often do they upgrade their dining area? How often do they change the menu? Progressive organizations know that keeping in tune to customer satisfaction is the key to their success. Any business opportunity that you consider as a potential money maker for you should follow the exact same pattern.
There are so many variables to look at when you're considering a home based business. Evaluating the longevity of a company first will eliminate a substantial amount of research on your part.
How Can You Earn Money From Home?
Well enough about me. I'm sure you are wondering if it can happen for you. I believe it can. The Internet allows everyone access to millions of people daily. You may choose to have an online business like I have or you may want to create one of the many other types of online businesses. Here are just a few of the opportunities available to you either as an Online Business owner or simply working from home to create additional income. Here are a few examples:
* Online Web Business
* Online Jewelry Store
* Online Dollar Store
* Google Business
* Ebay Business
* Data Entry
* Type At Home
* Process Rebates From Home
* Online Paid Surveys
These are just a few of the many types of work at home programs and home based business programs. Some of you may not want to own and online business. You may simply want to create some extra income or you may want to work at home, replacing your current income, without owning any type of business. The Internet allows you to take whichever route you choose. You are the boss! It doesn't get much better than that.
How do you go about choosing a program for you? Well it seems difficult, but with some of the simple suggestions I'm going to give you it can be done quite easily. Do not simply join the first program you see. There are many programs that will simply take your money leaving you with nothing but despair in the end. Take your time when asking the following questions of yourself:
* What are you income expectations?
* Do you want an online business or simply to earn some extra cash?
* What are your skill sets?
* What do you feel comfortable doing?
* How much time do you have on a weekly basis?
* Do you have a computer, access to the Internet and a printer?
* Are you willing to invest about the cost of a night out in yourself?
* Will you be willing to exercise some patience?
* Will you take the time to put forth the effort required?
Once you have the answers to the above questions then you are ready to begin researching for the right program for you? Many people do not match up the above items with the program they are choosing and end up in failure. This can give you your life back. Surely it's worth the time to give you the best chance for success. You can do it, just make sure it's done the right way.
I recommend using a website like mine, but not necessarily mine, that has done some research for you or be prepared to spend the hours separating the good programs from the scam artists. Answering the above questions is a must but just the beginning. Your goal should be to find 2-3 programs, in the end, that meet your profile.
After you have found the programs of your choice, join the 2-3 programs of your choosing, read the step-by-step guidance provided and start earning money.
You have to take the steps necessary to fulfill your dreams. The cost to give yourself a chance is minimal. You can spend less than going out to dinner and a move one night with your family. Surely you can spend that much on yourself. Please feel free to read both this article or one of my many others by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.
I hope you have great success and are able to enjoy the things in life that are important to you.
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