Showing up on time
Showing up on time with a smile on your face is almost always more important than what you actually say or do.
Words of wisdom from Seth Godin’s blog.
This rings true when I think about all the people I have worked in offices with over the years who have been punctual and upbeat and who have - despite not having great skills in their particular area - risen through the ranks and now hold mid or top level management jobs.
5 ways to maximise your time
Your biggest investments in your home business are going to be time and money. You might be able to startup with a small amount of money but there’s no way you are going to get something going without investing a serious chunk of time.
You need to make sure you get maximum benefits from the time you have.
1. Plan your work
Write down your objectives for the day, the week, or the month. Estimate how long each task is going to take and where you are going to fit it in. Once you complete tasks, write down how long it took. Comparing your estimates against the actual time it took is a good idea because it helps you make more effective plans with more realistic estimations in the future. If a task took much longer than your estimation, think about why: was your estimations way out or was the task harder than you expected and how can you be more efficient next time?
2. Get up earlier
I always find that I work better in the mornings. I’m fresher, more focused and less likely to get side-tracked. Many studies have shown that office workers do their best work in the morning. A cup of strong coffee is an absolute must first thing if you want to get off to a flier.
3. Have the right tools
No matter what you use for your home business - a PC, a sewing machine, a pen and paper, whatever - make sure they are ready to be used when you need them. You don’t want to be wasting your valuable time updating your PC, searching for your favourite pen or ordering new thread. Make sure your tools work for you.
4. Stick to a schedule
When working from home it is very tempting to get the odd five minutes of work in here and there. I think it is far more productive to keep to a defined schedule - your family knows when you are going to be working and when your time is theirs. Sticking to a schedule helps keep a separation between your work and your free time - which I think is very important - if you let the two mix, both will suffer.
5. Take a break
If your work is stressing you out too much: take a break. Running your own business from home is supposed to be a fun and rewarding experience that will make your life better. If it’s all getting too much, let it go for a few days - a break will see you returning to your work refreshed and full of enthusiasm.
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Lose the negative attitude: start your own business
Many people dream about starting their own business, few get further than that.
People are daunted by the prospect of starting their own business, they come up with reasons why they shouldn’t do it and stay in their ’safe’ job. They think that it’s only for a certain kind of person and they are not that type. They think it takes luck, or the right parents, or the right education.
Truth is, you can start your own business! A good idea, perseverance, dedication and integrity will get you a long way.
If you can:
- Believe in your business idea and your ability to make it work
- Work hard to achieve your goals and grow your business
- Persevere when it would be easier to give up
You have what it takes to turn your dreams into reality.
Needed for your home business: time and money
Time and money are the two things you are absolutely going to need when kicking off your home business.
Everyone complains about not having enough time. Your full-time employment takes up most of the day, you want to spend quality time with your family, your favourite TV shows, your hobbies… Where the heck are you going to find time in all of this to grow a new business? You need to be realistic about how much time you can give to your new venture - you’ve got this great idea for a business but are you going to be able to fit it in day-to-day?
Decide how much time you can spare before diving into anything - you don’t want to spend money getting something set up only to find you can’t maintain it.
And, talking of money: You are always going to have to spend some money to get a home business off the ground. It might only be a little, say $60 for some web-hosting or $20 for some stationary but you will have to pay something out. Think about what you can afford. Are you going to finance your new business through your monthly wage or are you going to take a loan? Can you still survive if the business idea doesn’t work out and you are left out of pocket?
Your biggest investment in your new business will be your time, closely followed by your money. Have you got enough of both to spare?
Idea blast: Import something
Been on holiday and fell in love with the local beer? Been on a business trip and couldn’t do without that amazing sock-pressing machine?
All those people over there are benefiting from those great products. Can you bring them to the people over here?
These guys have.