Work at Home

Do You Have What it Takes to Succeed?

With the economy in full-flung recession and the jobless rate higher than it's been in a generation, many unemployed workers turn to working from home to create a full-time income. Opportunities abound for the creative entrepreneur, be they stay-at-home mom or a job seeker tired of scouring the want ads. However... for every success there are dozens of failures. Here's what you need in order to succeed when working from home:

Home Office -- A dedicated work space. Just as an office or a cubical in a traditional business setting enables you to focus on the tasks at hand, in order to create a successful home-based business you must have a secluded space of your own where you can work uninterrupted.

Time Management Discipline -- You may not punch a time-clock when you sit down at your desk, but you need to establish a routine and *stick* *to* *it*. Success is not a matter of luck; rather, it is a result of small, focused tasks repeated diligently to obtain results.

Attainable Goals -- Retiring tomorrow is not realistic, unless you're Donald Trump. Incorporate within your business plan measurable, reasonable short-term goals, and reward yourself when you achieve them.

Persistence -- You've probably heard the ancient Chinese proverb, "A journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step." That's nice, but if you don't keep going, you'll never arrive at your destination. Working from home requires extraordinary "stick-to-itiveness." Just. Keep. Going.

Downtime -- Working from home can be more stressful than a traditional day job, because your "office" may be just down the hall. Take time out for yourself, and make sure to relax and unwind after each day's work, so that you're rested and refreshed and ready to tackle tomorrow's to-do-list.

Dedication -- The path of the entrepreneur can be lonely and forbidding. Commit to yourself to persevere until you succeed, to study your business diligently, to apply what you learn daily, and to believe in yourself unconditionally. If you don't believe in yourself, who else will?

Support from Family -- Your spouse, your children, your loved ones are the reason you get up in the morning and go to work -- even if your commute is a mere stroll down the hall. It is important to have the support and encouragement of your spouse, to help motivate you when you minor setbacks and disappointments occur.

The important thing is.... Take Action. Keep Going. Believe In Yourself -- and Achieve!

Posted in: Work at Home