Business Building

Ever feel like you're constantly going but getting nowhere? Are you spending countless hours on business related tasks but not seeing any growth in your business or your income?

The key to being successful in your home business is maximizing your time with focused business building activity. Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your home business: the most fun, the most productivity and the most true success!

1. Write it down- Sit down on Sunday evenings and write down what you want to accomplish in the upcoming week. Then assign certain days for certain activities. Be as specific as possible and then evaluate how you did on Friday afternoon. If something wasn't accomplished or needs extra time to be finished, roll it over into your next week's goals.

2. Have something to 'write it down' in/on- Speaking of 'writing in down' from #1, you will need something better than the back of that envelope to write it down on. Invest in a calendar notebook/planner or at the very least a notebook with sections that you can put a printed calendar and goal sheets in. Then keep each weeks' sheets. It's great to look back and see what you've accomplished as well as what you still need to work on. Then when you have spare moments, just grab that notebook and you have your 'to do list' right in front of you. As we all know firsthand (including myself), that envelope you jotted ideas on is nowhere to be found when you're ready to work.

3. Stick to it- Stick to doing what you've planned as closely as possible. No good plan does any good if you don't act on it.

4. Be dependable- In any business, your reputation is very important for building clientele, providing good customer service and ultimately succeeding. Be dependable. If you make appointments, be on time and if you promise something follow through. The best way to ruin your chances of success in a customer or team rooted home business is to have a bad name in customer service and dependability.

5. Expect to succeed- More important than anything to your success is your attitude. You can have all the ability, training and resources in the world but if your attitude is not positive, you can't expect to succeed. I used to hear this and think, "yeah, right," but over the years I've come to see and believe that attitude really is everything. Decide to succeed and that you're willing to do whatever it takes to succeed and you will! The only thing holding you back from your own success is your decision to fail.

6. Invest in you- As a home business entrepreneur, you are your greatest resource. Invest in building your skills and yourself. Listen to motivational CDs, attend success seminars, take the time to learn as much as you can about your company and what the successful people did to be successful. Take notes from the best, they are the best for a reason. I also love to read biographies about successful people from all walks of life. I love reading about people that overcame great obstacles to succeed. The Will Smith movie, "The Pursuit of HappYness" is a great example.

7. Hold onto your values- Do some soul searching and make sure the business you are working and the business company you are keeping is right for you. Never give up your values, morals or beliefs for money. God blesses us for being faithful and having sound integrity. Follow God's plan and find the success He has in mind for you, it's always far more than what we can construct ourselves. There are so many wicked ways to make money by hurting others, selling out and being deceptive. This is never a route to true success. No amount of money is worth selling out on your values and beliefs or harming others to get it.

8. Do what you care about and care about what you do- In other words, make sure your heart is in it. Follow your heart and God's guidance and you can't go wrong. No business is a 'one-size-fits-all' and never let anyone tell you otherwise. If God has placed a desire in your heart to work from home, let Him guide you to the business that is right for you. It may mean you starting your very own business from the ground up.

9. Work smart, and sometimes hard- Working smart is often more valuable than working hard. Use your time wisely and don't let time vacuums suck away your day. Designate specific times for email and stick to those, don't turn on your IM program if you know it distracts you and keeps you from the task at hand. Being at home is not a free ticket to do anything, anytime.Do I need to repeat that...being at home is NOT a free ticket to do anything, anytime.

To really succeed in any business, you need to appropriately schedule your time and stick to the schedule the majority of the time.Of course, we all do take a Friday afternoon off occassionally or sleep in somedays, that's the advantage of working at home. The main thing is, don't fall into a habit of not sticking to your schedule; it will cause failure faster than you can imagine.

You will often find that working at home is harder than just punching the clock at a 9-5 job. At home, if you don't reach your goals, you don't get paid. You can't just show up at your desk for 8 hours a day and get your check. If you enjoy the guaranteed check and not worrying about working so hard, the home business arena may not be for you. It's not for everyone. Many people do enjoy a 9-5, guaranteed income regular old job and there's nothing wrong with that. Home businesses are not for everyone. Evaluate your goals, desires and what you enjoy to be sure working at home is for you. Possibly a flex-time or part-time job outside the house would be the best fit for you and your family. Explore all your options before making your final decision.

10. Take a break- I've found that working at home makes it harder to take time off. Can you pass by your desk without just checking your email 'one more time?' Can you not take a phone call from a business associate while having dinner? Well, yes you can and yes you should. Business time is important but family time is even more important. Never forget why you wanted to work at home in the first place. Designate family time and you time and stick to it. Spend time with the ones you love on purpose and take some designated time just for you too. Read a book, take a bubble bath, go for a walk. This creates a healthy sense of balance. Don't be a home workaholic, it's worse on your family than working outside the home.

I hope these tips will help you create a healthy balance and generate growth in your home business. They have all been helpful in keeping me grounded and moving forward while working from home.Take your home business seriously but also take time to rejuvenate yourself and spend time with the ones you love. Many blessings in your home business career!

About the author: Michelle Hansen is a home business entrepreneur and motivational coach. She lives in TX with her husband,Shane and two children.They own several work at home websites and see their online businesses as a gift from God in ministering to others and helping families realize their dreams of working from home!

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