Starting a Home Based Business - How Productive Were You?

Well it might seem obvious to many people, the question really has other far reaching implications. It really gets to the heart of running or starting a home based business. Everyday, we are bombarded with emails, distractions, surfing around the internet, watching TV etc. The problem is that while it might satisfy your current hunger for whatever that may be at the time, it really does little for you to make money in a business.

Hence the reason for the question. I always ask myself just before I go to sleep, what did I do today to move my business forward. Sometimes, I know I accomplished a lot. Other days, I know I was not productive.

So the key to building a long term and viable business is establishing priorities each day that you need to accomplish. Think about it for a few minutes. What would happen to your home based business if you prioritized your business activities each day and cleared off those messes at the beginning of the day. That's right, you would have the rest of the day to get other things done.

So before you go to bed each night, write down a few items, tasks or priorities that you need to accomplish for the next day. It may be 2 tasks or 10. The point being, write them down. When you get up and start your day, put that list on your desk and complete those items on it and check off each task as they are completed. I would wager that by noon, most of those items would likely be done and completed. The whole point of this is to get busy, but in a productive manner on a daily basis.

That seems to affect many of us. Procrastination syndrome - you heard about that right? Well, that's just something I came up with and has a nice catchy phrase. But, its the type of syndrome that will cost you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars every year. Imagine for a moment, if you could muster up the strength and energy and approach each day like its your last one. Wouldn't you want to be the best you can be that day. Why not make it that way each day.

If you keep track and you should on a electronic calendar or manual one, all the tasks you do each day, then look back after each 30 days what you have actually accomplished, you will be amazed. So break it down into daily tasks, then sum it up on a 30 day period and quarterly basis. At the end of the year, you will simply be amazed at all the messes you cleaned up and I bet you might even be making a lot more money in your home based business.

Cheers

The Value of Working with a Team in Your Internet Home Based Business

When I first got started working my internet home based business 15 plus years ago, I never really got what it meant to work with a team. I thought I had the basics down pat and could simply do it on my own. I soon realized after not making any money, that I missed out on a lot and of course making any real money.

It wasn't that I wanted someone else to do it for me, but help me along the way. I really didn't understand what a team of like minded individuals could do to assist my business. I had tunnel vision and for many years after that. All I kept saying to my friend and mentor, show me the nuts and bolts, I can figure out the rest.

Wow, what an eye opener and great learning experience. If I had not gone through some rough years, then I wouldn't have the mindset I do today.

A few things I learned in building an internet home based business or any business for that matter:

Tip 1 - Its OK for people to help you and me.

Tip 2 - No they are not going to do it for you.

Tip 3 - If you want success, then you must be willing to pay the price for financial freedom.

Tip 4 - Work on yourself and personal development because that will get you through the tough times.

Tip 5 - Ask for help - its ok, we all need mentors and coaches in our lives.

Tip 6 - Be willing to do the actual work. There are no free rides in life and business.

Well, that's a wrap for today. I thought I would share some simple, but highly effective home based business building tips to help you.

Fear - The Silent Killer of Home Based Business Ideas

People from all walks of life usually start a home based business with big ideas. The hope and dreams can quickly come to a screeching halt if that 4 letter word creeps in called FEAR. You see, people that want a home based business have great plans and ideas, but for whatever reason, they get stopped often times before they get any traction.

So how do you fix the problem and get people on the right course to financial freedom?

I believe people just need to understand that any business should be looked at in terms of a long term plan. Not the 30, 60 or 90 day garbage we see so prevalent on the internet today running rampant and the lure of easy and quick money. Start your home business with a solid business plan. The reason for that is it can alleviate a lot of your Fear because you are focusing on what needs to be done, rather than on what has not been done. Keeping busy, especially in the beginning with the right activities will give the new person the confidence and motivation to keep moving forward.

A solid business plan should include such things as;

How are you going to fund your new business venture?

Do you have both short and long term goals?

Are you working from home or leasing out office space. Gawd, I hope you don't ever fall for that trap of leasing out office space. Especially with advances in technology, you can absolutely everything from the comfort of your home.

Do you need extra staff or can you outsource some of the day to day tedious tasks?

How much money do you need as a base to keep your home based business going for the next 1 to 2 years?

Are you going to market a product or service, or perhaps both?

Do you have to warehouse your products or will the company drop ship the item for you? Most companies just drop ship today, so don't feel that you need to pay big money to keep a bunch of product in your house. In fact, most good companies have specific policies that forbid you from doing that, which is a good thing.

As you can see, take some time to formulate your business plan to set in motion the activities that you need to do on a day to day basis to make money with your home based business ideas.

Now getting back to the silent killer called FEAR. I think that as a new person joins, if you set out the right activities focusing on getting them off to a reasonable start, even making their first 50 bucks, will do wonders for their ego and certainly get them motivated.

But understand that you need to let any prospect know that making money is a long term game plan.

Be available for the new people, do 3 way calls with them and help new people get enrolled into their business ASAP.

The last tidbit is to understand that their perception is their reality. If they don't understand something, then explain it to them in a professional manner. Don't make them feel stupid. I remember joining up with a group quite some time ago and I felt at times stupid. I didn't know what I didn't know. I was looking for the leadership to show up and guide me. At times, it felt more like a dictatorship, rather than a positive learning experience. What I realized sometime later, was the so called guru was really out for himself.

So for me it was a very valuable learning experience and one that I don't take for granted. When I come across a new person, I try and help them as much as I can to get off to the right start with their home based business opportunity.