Are you serious about working at home? Before you get into a new start up at home stop and ask yourself 'can I see myself working at home everyday?' and be realistic with yourself.
Sometimes people realize that they just aren't cut out for working at home in the home environment.
If you are serious about making a business successful at home then sit down with your spouse and discuss openly how things will go.
Things like, you may be in the office til 9 or 10 at night sometimes especially in the beginning.
All these kinds of things have to be considered so you can plan to make it work.
If you have never worked from home and you have a family there is something that you need to remember - you are moving a business into your family's space.
You must be very very considerate of the family's daily routine and don't expect the whole world to change because you work at home.
For example you must not schedule things that take concentration when the kids are due to come home unless your work place is secluded and out of the way.
Remember you are moving work into the family's space - not the other way around.
Work smart and schedule smart and you will get more done.
One of the best things about running a successful home business is I get to schedule my own work day and I enjoy the freedom to make all my own decisions.
The worse thing about running a successful home business is that I have to remember to schedule all my tasks and I don't have anyone else that will make me do it! Figure that one out.
It boils down to: working from home is terrific in every way as long as you mind the store.
You can't run a successful home business being unorganized or undisciplined.
The biggest problem many new entrepreneurs face is it's too easy to 'blow off' everything and go play.
Don't take off from work to go play until you have accomplished everything that should be done.
Make your daily schedule and get everything done that you started on for that day.
If there is something that doesn't get done then put it on the next day schedule and make it happen.
Work to make it work.
If you can't be disciplined enough to do that then you may want to put in your application at Wallyworld! Ha, it's a harsh reality but I hope you get my meaning.
The thing is, how do I know if I'm on schedule or not? What keeps me from losing track or forgetting to take care of the details.
One of the smartest things you can do for your company is the cheapest investment that you can make.
I have a daily, weekly and monthly planner that helps me see that I am either not doing everything or I am.
It simplifies everything if you use it - it won't help if you are not disciplined enough to use it consistently.
Remember that if you don't MAKE it work it - the business will FAIL.
Your family and your livelihood are depending on you to get it all done.
It's a terrible sinking feeling when you look back in the third week of the month and you failed to do things that should have been done.
Now what? Who's in charge around here? You are! Sounds drastic but it's how I look at the responsibility to my family and to my business.
If I don't do it there is no one else to blame but me.
So guess what - it gets done and with great satisfaction! I love working at home.
Start organizing yourself by getting a small calendar that you can take with you in your car and get another large one to put in your office or workspace so that you can see it when you work.
The one I use is about the size of a half page and it's a monthly planner that has a week per page.
On the small calendar write down all your notes for the week like a reminder to pay a bill on Friday and also to keep track of phone numbers that you will need while you are out.
On the large calendar keep all your personal items like school teacher meetings or doctor visits.
My wife will put appointments that we have to keep on the large calendar and when I go into the office I can update my little calendar so I don't accidentally 'double book' appointment times.
It helps us 'coordinate' our days and weeks a lot better.
Don't let work go so you can play.
Be mindful that if you do not take care of the business the business is going to fail.
After I have met my objectives for the day or for the week I can now enjoy the freedom that working for myself is all about.
I can go and do what I want, when I want.
I might get up late one day - not too likely but it could happen.
I might take my wife to breakfast or lunch.
It's my call now that my work is on schedule.
On the other hand, I work many nights when I'm not on schedule.
You can have a plan to be a successful home business but if you don't schedule your days and weeks properly you aren't going to get everything done and you won't meet your goals.
With the whole world outside your window it can be a task focusing on work in the home.
To be a successful home business you must be disciplined with every minute of every day.
Set schedules and live by them.
Don't cheat yourself out of success.
Set up basic rules that you will follow each and every day.
One example may be to start Mondays a certain way and Fridays another way.
Whatever the schedule you decide live with it and don't cheat.
As an example here's a rule I keep in my office.
I cannot stand to do bookkeeping but I know it is a very important task for my business so I schedule myself every Friday morning at 8:00 til whenever I finish to take care of bookkeeping and other office duties - open the mail, and so forth.
I make myself do it on Fridays because I 'schedule' myself to do it.
I am so gungho on scheduling that I live by it and it works for me.
Be willing to change the schedule if for some reason you find out it doesn't flow well.
Don't be rigid, be fluid and change when the business requires change but be disciplined with your time and be consistent.
Time will creep away like a thief.
Before you know it it's 5:00 and you haven't finished everything you set out to do.
And then before you know it you are looking at the end of the month, where did all the days go? Don't be afraid to make changes when need be but stay with the program.
Be a successful home business by being organized and disciplined.