I’ve worked from my home for the past 20 plus years and found it to be a double-edged sword. On one side of the sword you have complete flexibility on the other, there is too much flexibility. Working from home takes not only discipline but also the ability to have laser-beam focus on your goals.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if you don’t make the time to develop a plan of action, you won’t use your business-building time wisely.
Here’s a pearl of wisdom: If you are working from home or thinking about starting a home-based business, the first thing I’d recommend would be to develop a “work from home” plan of action.
Don’t be what Zig Ziglar calls a “wandering generality.” Whether you’re in network marketing, have an online EBay.com business or make wedding dresses out of your spare room, you need a well thought out plan of action and well written goals.
Commit to making some quality time to create a workable plan of action that will contain both your short-term and long-term business-building and moneymaking goals. Don't be intimidated by the words action plan and goals. Think of goal writing and planning as a road map that will keep you focused on going positively toward your moneymaking goals
Schedule a chunk of time to sit quietly to make some important business-building decisions:
1. Where will your workspace be located and how will you organize your work area? Yes, these questions are part of building a successful home-based business. Your work environment is where you will be spending a large portion of you business-building time.
2. What supplies and materials will you need to do business effectively? Do you need a computer, landline, a color printer, bookshelves within reach, one or two file cabinets, a scanner or other supplies?
3. Decide how many uninterrupted hours you are willing to devote to working in your home office – will it be full time or part time? This is an important part of your plan because if you don’t set aside a block of work hours in your mind, as well as on paper, you’ll run the risk of playing mind games with yourself. You know what I mean, worrying about the things you should be doing outside the office while you are sitting at your computer and then worrying about not getting enough work done while you’re outside the office.
4. Commit to a schedule. Just as you would in an outside the home job, take your work schedule and work hours seriously. Think of this schedule as your business-building moneymaking time. Sometimes, it is more difficult to develop a schedule when you’re at home because there are so many variables and distractions. This is where the double-edged sword comes in – truly, it takes laser beam focus and discipline to work from home.
5. Take yourself and your working from home seriously. I’ve found from personal experience and working with coaching clients that when you take yourself and your work from home time seriously, others will take your working from home seriously also.
6. Where do you want your business to be in five years? Are you still working from home? What are your goals for growing your business? What month-to-month and day-to-day goals do you need to make in order to make your five year vision a reality?
7. Are you truly willing to make your goals reality – to consistently do those things that will make you money and bring business-building success? Your home-based business will grow only if you are willing to consistently commit time, energy and money to your work from home plan of action.
I can’t stress strongly enough how important it is that you make quality time to write a workable plan of action. Then, once this plan is complete, emotionally and physically make an unstoppable commitment to faithfully and consistently working your plan and going for your goals.
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Sharon Recommends
Here is an offsite link to Amazon.com - I'd like to recommend one of my favorite "time management" books “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy – it's short, sweet, to the point and filled with practical suggestions: Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
I'd also like to recommend my Kindle ebook How To Keep Yourself and Your Business On Track. The empowered woman's guide to staying focused on your money making goals. Here's a direct link: How To Keep Yourself and Your Business On Track (Women Empowering Women)
I've purchased this book for myself and my opinions are solely mine. I am also an affiliate of Amazon.com and if you purchase this book through this link, I will earn a commission.
