One of my readers wrote me recently with a common problem that so many folks have when it comes to starting their internet home business, the problem is fear.  Here's what one of my readers wrote me…

"Hi Ms. Liz,

I'm so concerned with making a time commitment I end up being unable to get started or I worry about getting ripped off that it’s keeping me from moving forward.  I check your site constantly and get all motivated and then I chicken out."

It's not unusual to be afraid of starting your own internet business.  It can be hard taking that first step, but you will find that by making the commitment and taking action things will happen fast.  But you have to take action. 

By getting started I don't mean creating a website or buying a bunch of products and services, instead start by researching ideas. Don't begin investing a lot of money either, start with thinking about what interests you then join associated forums and talk to other business owners.  Understand how you will create your business and how you will make money.  Learn tips, tricks and ideas that help make others successful. Study them and put your plan together.  

Your next step will be to plan your time wisely.  Without good time management you'll not only waste your time, it will be a lot easier to lose focus.

I have a friend who tells me all the time that she wants to write her own e-Book, the problem is that she can't seem to make it happen, whenever she starts to set he goals and make a plan it never materializes. What she's doing is sabotaging with negative thoughts.  In other words she's sabotaging herself before she ever gets started.  The interesting thing about this is that these people never realize they are doing this to themselves. It's a common symptom of lack of confidence.  When this happens, building self esteem and confidence is so important.  Without it you can't take those important first steps or keep the momentum going for long term success.  

I'm certainly not perfect and my internet business has had its ups and downs,  but I've always been much less worried about failing and kept my focus on being successful.  I never wanted to be that person who looks back ten years from now and says, "if only I'd taken the opportunity when I had the chance". Change your focus and you'll change your life.

If you're worried about getting ripped off or losing money, don't be.  Never to let money be your main guiding force, sure money is important but you have to be in business because you truly want it and love it.  If you're worried about money before you ever get started you're letting fear be your guide and that's setting yourself up for failure.

Researching and investigation are the things that will save you from losing your shirt.  Be practical and realize that nothing can make you rich overnight. Find people that you trust and follow their example.  Business opportunities that brag instant riches with little work and no knowledge should send up a red flag.    

My advice is to make a simple plan and take it one step at time. If you have a business in mind and you have business goals, perfect, but if you aren’t sure about what business to start, you're going to have to look at the options and make a decision.  That all takes time, but it's time well spent.

In my internet home business ideas guide, I outline some of the most profitable internet business ideas, but you will still need to do your own research.  For example, I'm heavily into affiliate marketing and information products but jumping into either of them without careful research is a mistake.

Building your website or blog without knowing what you plan to do with it or how you will actually make money isn’t wise.  I might be able to make money with information products but there are a thousand different ways to do something and what works for me may not work for you. 

Don’t jump into an online business without thoroughly checking it out and never start a business on a whim, but don’t drag your feet either. Start by making a long term plan for your business and make it realistic, for example, if you might want to be making $1000 a month within the next 6 months, sit down and make a plan for how you are going to do that and set aside at least one month for research.  Don't feel compelled to start building a website or selling things until you have your plan in place.

Here's a checklist that may help get you started:

• Research business ideas.
• Narrow the ideas down to 2 or 3 that interest you.
• Find people on forums or in chat rooms that are doing these businesses.  Read some recommended guides and ask lots of questions.
• Learn the process and make a list of the steps you need to take.
• Create a plan.
• Develop the tasks for completing your plan.
• Develop the steps to take for each task.
• Create a realistic time frame for implementing each step.

None of these things will cost you more than a few hours of your time. Once you have a plan in place, you’ll have more confidence to carry it out. 

If you follow these steps and give yourself enough research and training time you can have a profitable business up and running within 6 months to a year, depending on how well you plan, it could be sooner.

You may not make enough money at the start to quit your job but within 3-5 years it's very possible that you will, but you’ll never get there if you don’t take action to get started.

Your thoughts?

While checking my email this morning, one of my email subscribers commented with the following message:

"I do not understand any of it, I do not have a computer at home I only have access to one at the library, besides, I need money now, not later.  Bottom line is I just do not understand it."

Wow, that screams "Frustration"!

For starters, if you don't have a home computer, I don't advise starting an internet home business.  It would be difficult if not impossible without a computer in your home. 

I would first suggest finding a way to get a home computer, even if it is a used computer it's enough to get you started and is much more convenient than commuting to the library. There are also quality refurbished computers that are very reasonably priced that are completely worth looking into.

But what I noticed more than not having a home computer is that this person has basically given up, they do not understand how to get started or how making money online works, but the real issue I think is that they're not willing to work at understanding it.  

Starting an internet home business is like starting anything that is new, you have to learn.  But first you have to have the will and the commitment.  To do anything, you must truly WANT it, despite the frustrations and the let downs.  

Having an internet home business boils down to this:

Deciding what you want to sell and how you want to sell it.

For example, do you want to sell your own product?  If so, do you make the product yourself or will you get the product from someone else? Or perhaps you want to offer a service? (web designer, virtual assistant, article writer, etc.)

Do you want to sell tangible goods, or sell electronic items such as informational products? Or maybe you don’t want to sell your own products at all, perhaps you would rather promote other people's products for a commission as with affiliate marketing. 

Deciding how you want to make money online should always start with an interest or talent that you may have.  It could even be something that you are intimately familiar with.  If you have a hobby for example, you may want to sell items that are associated with your hobby or you may want to sell 'how to' information related to your hobby.  

The possibilities are endless. So a plan is in order.  Remember "fail to plan and you plan to fail"  

Start with a clear goal of what you want your business to be, then set up 5-6 clear objectives for achieving that goal. 

Next decide what actions or steps you need to perform to complete objectives. Review those objectives every day and if your actions aren't helping you achieve your goals then you need to keep reviewing them until they do. Your goals, objectives and actions are a direct result of research and education, so don't skip this. 

Failing to understand how to achieve your goals and the necessary steps that will take you there is where many business owners fail.  In other words, if you want to sell blue widgets online find out if they are items people will actually buy, next examine how you will build a website and collect payment, then figure out how to promote your business. 

Depending on what you are selling and how you are selling it, there can be many steps in between, but this is precisely why you must research and educate yourself first.

This all may be overwhelming to the newbie that hasn't a clue about how to get started, but if getting out of the 9-5 grind and building a business that could potentially mean the difference between working for someone else and being financially independent is your ultimate goal, you'll have to step out of your comfort zone and help yourself first. 

…no one can do that for you.  

You may have no business ideas, No clue about building websites and almost NO budget, however here's a "Driver's Manual" on How To get started the right way building an internet home business. Get the details you may be missing. You have no excuse now!

If you don't already have an internet home business, you probably wish you did.

Building a business online is an exciting venture and very doable for almost anyone.  But for many people the challenge is knowing when the time is right so you can begin putting a plan into action.

Tanny Lahav of "Internet Home Business Ideas and Opportunities" has some pretty good insight into helping you understand if you are ready to start a home business and the personal signs to look for…   

How Do You Know Your Time For An Internet Home Business Has Come?

How do you know the time for starting an internet home business is at hand? Have you ever asked yourself that question?

For many people it's more than wanting an internet home business, they know it's their life’s goal but they have trouble knowing when it's the right time to get started.

Here are a few personal signs that you need to look for?

- You want more for your life, yourself and your family. You may have realized that you don't have the extra money you wish you had for things like buying a new car, a new house or even a small vacation. You simply want more out of life.

- Your job or your skills no longer provide you personal satisfaction.  You may find yourself bored with your job or the tasks at hand.  

- You may have reached the top of your pay scale or perhaps you are not able to keep up with inflation costs.  In ten years you may not see yourself as better off financially than you are now.

- You are an independent person, a free spirit.  You may be someone who has ideas that just get pushed aside because of office politics or company restrictions. You may be someone who tells yourself what to do and how to do it.  You set your own time schedule and plan methodically. 

- You Love being at home and the benefits of working from home are important to you.  If you have children you realize the importance of being with the kids and tending to their daily needs.

- You're ready to give up the long commute to the office and with today's gas prices even a short commute won't be missed.  

- You are an independent worker.  You are a planner. You know what needs to get done and you do it without hesitation.

When the time may not be right

Having your own home internet home business isn't for everyone.  There are things that you should think carefully about before taking the leap:

- If you are someone who enjoys the social aspects of working in an office it can be hard to adjust to a solitary home working environment.

- If you have trouble planning or sticking to a schedule or don't deal well with distractions of kids or household chores you may find that you aren't as productive.

- If you enjoy the security of a consistent pay check you may have trouble adjusting.

Timing is an important part of getting starting in any business successfully. You may not be ready today but that doesn't mean the opportunity won't present itself at a later date.

Only after giving the topic careful thought and honest personal evaluation will you know  if the time is right for taking the steps you need to have your own internet home business.

If starting an online business is a goal your striving for check out our building a home internet business website for more tips, strategies and getting started information …and most of it's free!