Working From Home

Lesson #1

Ah, working at home - no more rush hour traffic, no nine to five. You're home with the kids, the dog, the family and you have a flexible schedule, but beware, there can be distractions and you must avoid them.

Working from home is a huge benefit but before settling in simply be aware of what the distractions are, stay organized, focused, stick to a schedule and beware of the following...

Can't Talk Now, I got a business to run!

Don't let people who think that just because you are working at home, you're not working. I still run into that situation today.

Family members, friends and neighbors just assume I have tons of time on my hands because I'm at home. When a chatty neighbor or friend wants to shoot the breeze, kindly remind them that you are on a schedule and you'll have to resume your conversation at a later time. A family member wants to talk or the kids get loud simply remind them you are working and close your door if you have to. I even have a 'Do Not Disturb' Sign on my door - works great ;-)

Stay Focused

The internet is the ideal breeding ground for confusion. There are so many ideas, products, salesmen, and marketing specialists that the distractions can be overwhelming.

Start out by creating a plan and following it. Don't let advertising and marketing emails take you away from your plan at hand. In fact I suggest not reading your email until the end of the day. Reading your email first thing every day is the perfect way to take you away from the things that need doing. If you get a lot of email that distracts you unsubscribe from those lists.

I Want To Do It myself!

No matter how hard you try you can't do it all yourself so don't even try. Delegate as many of your tasks as you can. Things such as email, link building, writing ad copy, making phone calls, etc. It's often hard to justify paying someone else to take on tasks that you know you can do yourself, but a smart business owner will delegate the tasks that are less important and focus on the tasks that actually make the business profitable.

Schedules & Planning - Use them!

You need a plan and you need to schedule your plan. There's housework, kids, phone calls, bills to pay and who knows what. The only way you can effectively get your work completed from day to day is to create a schedule. You won't be organized without it, and if you're disorganized, you'll be working all the time but getting nothing done.

Start at the 10,000 foot level and write down where you want to be ten years from now, what you want to have and how much money you want to make. Next, plan out year by year what you will do to get there.

Next plan out the immediate year, month by month. Determine what tasks you want to get done each month. Then as each month draws near plan out your tasks, then at the beginning of each week schedule out how and when you are going to get those tasks done, scheduling realistic time frames for getting each one completed.

Get Out Of That Chair!

If you're like me, working hours on end in front of the computer is easy, but don't underestimate the power of a good stretch, a breath of fresh air or a walk in the park.

I can't tell you how many times I've worked on something that I just couldn't get right. However, when I got up, took a stretch or stepped outside for some fresh air, I was amazed at how that problem I struggled with just magically transformed into something perfect.

Your brain needs a break every so often, so rejuvenate and clear your mind by getting up, taking a breather and doing a few stretches.

Gratitude

Always have gratitude in your heart. It's so important to your overall well being. Be thankful for what you have, for who you are, and be incredibly thankful for all you can and have become. Practicing gratitude keeps us from falling into arrogance, resentment, and the pressures of the day. It's also spiritually uplifting.

Never Doubt Yourself

Always be positive about your accomplishments and never doubt that you can have a successful online business or that you can be rich. How you think has a huge impact on what happens to you in your life. If you've ever read The Science of Getting Rich you'll really be able to connect with what I'm talking about.  

I don't suggest being rude, but try to avoid those that dismiss your ambition and your choice to create an online business. Never give in to or listen to put downs or negative talk about what you do. Having your own business is your decision and you need all the support you can get to carry it out.

Continue To Lesson #2:  Getting an Internet Business License & Legal Considerations

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