This is a great, especially in this day and time, with a new business starting every 12 seconds. With the corporate down-sizing, raided retirement funds, and aging of America, it is no wonder you don’t want to work for someone else. You start thinking of all the things you won’t have to do anymore: you no longer have to ‘punch a clock’, answer to someone else, spend countless money to upkeep a wardrobe, or fill you car with gas a couple of times a week. But, what kinds of things do you have to do? Do you have the discipline to work for yourself in a home based business?
Let me tell you a storythis happened to a family member. He bought a service company. He felt great, owning his own company with his name on the door. He bought a new laptop, a wardrobe of casual clothes so he would look cool in the office, supplied all his employees with walkie-talkie cell phones. His plan was to sit in the office and answer the phone while his ‘crew’ worked in the shop. He had no idea that he might just have to get his hands dirty and help out in the shop occasionally. It wasn’t long before those ‘occasional’ stints out in the shop began to happen daily, therefore his clothes were stained, and his employees abused the phone privileges.
His idea of owning a small business was to be the ‘boss’ and let others work ‘for’ him. His business died in less than two years, and he lost over $120,000.00.
So, what did he do wrong? Mainly, he lacked the self-discipline and motivation needed to see the bottom line in front of him. He thought the kind of money he spent to buy this business would be all he needed to do to be the ‘boss’. It was not that he did not know how to do the business in that service field; anyone can learn that from books. It was that he wanted to work his eight hours and go home, (on the premises), and not think of the business until time to open the shop the next morning. He was not willing to dedicate himself with the hard work and exertion it takes to beat the competition. He let his focus stop at 5:00pm. When he stop focusing, he stopped being productive. He had no one to tell him to keep working; he felt he had paid big money for that privilege. But, to own a successful home business or any other type of business, you have to be willing work while others are not, while others are sleeping or having a good time.
Being your own boss requires you to develop tremendous self-control if you want to be successful in your own business. You have to learn to say ‘no’ to unproductive actions, like watching TV instead of making that phone call, or taking a nap instead of listening in on that conference call. You should be willing to stay the extra hour at your desk in a home office to get the job done. Be willing to balance your family time with your work time. It can be lonely when you need to get something done, and your family goes to the movie without you. But, if you are a stay-at-home-mom, or a retiree, when you own your own business, be it a home based business in direct marketing, or a home based business in a service sector, you are the one that dictates how much money your are going to generate, by the time, devotion and discipline you have. It is up to you to decide to stay focused and determine your work habits that will build productivity and profits.
Lynette Simmons is a successful online Entrepreneur with experience in several fields. In addition to the online businesses she runs, she has years of retail experience from other home businesses she has run and is still running. All but 1 year of her work life she has been ‘self employed’. Feel free to visit: http://newdirectionstothetop.com http://getawaytofun.com http://newdirectionswinegifts.com
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