Working
From Home
Most people start out thinking that working from home will be
easier, that they will have more free time, and that they will
make more money. While it is possible to achieve each of those
goals, it certainly isnt how things start out...
Tip
1
Be realistic with yourself about the time that you have to invest,
and the amount of money that you would like to earn.
Be
prepared to invest longer hours as you start your own business,
or set up your home office for telecommuting. You will need
to to set aside some time for research so that you can learn
all of the things that you need to know in order to succeed.
You'll
also want to map out an Action Plan, or Business Plan, so that
you know what you will need to do (and when) and have realistic
financial goals to work towards.
Tip
2
Put some serious thought into what you want to do. You
should choose something that you enjoy, or that you find easy
or interesting. Some people are natural writers - some are not.
Some people are very social and outspoken, while others prefer
to keep to themselves. Make sure that you choose a business
model that is a good match for you.
See
Business
Ideas if you arent yet sure what you want to do,
or are looking for additional income sources. You can also check
out the Freelance
Writing Jobs or free tips & courses about Selling
on eBay.
Tip
3
Research! Knowing upfront how much profit potential your business
model has, or who your competition is, could be invaluable to
you down the road. Network with others who have experience online,
or even in your field, and ask questions. Find someone that
you trust, and learn from them.
You
can use tools such as the Free Trial at WordTracker
or Overture's
Search Term Suggestion Tool to get an idea of how many people
are searching for the topics or products or markets that you
are most interested in.
Ten
More Tips for Working from Home
from Self
help resources for Entrepreneurs
1.
Take care of yourself.
Healthy eating habits, following a regular sleep routine and
exercise all contribute to your well being which allows you
to perform at your best.
2. Do the worst first. If you find you cannot
stop worrying about a certain task, then do the worst task first.
Once that task is completed you will feel relieved and able
to concentrate on the rest of your tasks, one at a time.
3. Focus on the task at hand. Attempting too
much at once and underestimating the time it takes to do it
will surely put you right back in the center of feeling overwhelmed
and a step behind.
4. Control the phone. Decide when and where
you will answer the phone. During off-time--use voice mail.
5. Separate work from play. Are you running
the dinner table conversation the same as a meeting of the Board
of Directors? Think about it.
6. Keep a Master List. Merge all your to-do
lists, schedules and activity lists into one Master List. Use
the technology that works for you whether it is index cards,
spiral notebook, computer or a PDA.
7. Clean off your desk. Clutter is a distraction
and time waster. How much time do you waste looking for documents
and files?
8. Learn to say no. Take a reality break and
identify what you can reasonably expect to get done. Accept
your limitations and control your expectations. Would you really
expect anybody else to work as hard as you do?
9. Use technology to help you. Create systems
for handling your routine tasks. Take the time to learn how
to use your computer to improve your efficiency to perform routine
business tasks. Use templates for letters, faxes and email.
10. Slow down. Are you rushing through everything?
Stop, look and listen.
Discussions
from the Home Office...
Health
Insurance for Self-Employed?
Suggestions
For How To Stay Focused
Mileage
Tip for Home Based Business Owners
Homeschooling
while Working From Home
How
do you do it all?!
Why
are you Working from Home?
Does
anyone have a written routine they follow?
Tell
us about YOUR Home Office!
Kitchen table? Separate room? A desk in your bedroom?
Where do you work, and how does that work out for you?
More
info on Working From Home: