Negative Criticism - Stigmas attached to Internet and Home based Business

Negative Criticism

            There is a certain stigma about working from home. Primarily, people just don’t seem to understand how anyone could possibly make a living off the internet. It’s pretty much a “see it to believe it” mentality. Negative criticism can easily get the best of any up and coming internet marketer. But as an internet marketer, you must have the mental toughness to keep your head in the game, learn from failure, and stay true to your goal.

            This may be very cliché, but you have to ignore all the naysayers. Don’t listen to them. Most of them don’t even know what they are talking about, I personally find the people who have the most to say about a topic usually don’t know that much about it. Anyone who actually knows how to run an internet business will tell you that it is very possible and the results are very real. 

            Believe it or not, even your friends and family will have something to say. When they come straight out with it, or raise an eye brow and say “Internet Marketing… hmm”  It will always come out in some form or other. But don’t let anyone belittle your dreams. Making the decision to work from home and start-up any business, particularly an internet based one, takes a lot of courage.  Use the negative criticism to motivate you, and learn from the positive criticism from mentors and genuine people who only want to see you succeed.

            But there are ways one can avoid negative criticism. First: don’t talk about your online business. Just don’t talk about it at all. When it comes up in conversation, say one statement about it and switch subjects. Second: if people ask you about it directly, just tell them something vague and change the topic of conversation.

            Every single person in the world receives negative criticism as well as positive criticism. It’s how we use the remarks of our critics that determines the success of our hard work. So keep up the good work my friend, you are well on your way to living your dreams. Don’t let anyone strip that from you!

 

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Want to Start Working from Home- Learning to Schedule

Have A Clear Plan

            I cannot stress this enough. This statement applies to everything in life. People, if you want to have a profitable business, you must have a very clear plan. No corners can be cut, no shortcuts, nothing. Have a very clear, very detailed plan. One more time: you need to have a very clear, very detailed plan.

            This plan involves every little aspect of your business. Not just product development, affiliate commissions, whatever you’re doing to make money, but the plan must also involve revenue, schedule of work, deadlines, everything. Just because you are working in your PJ's, it doesn't mean you can run your business successfully in the same casual fashion. No body will be standing behind you telling you when and how to do something, therefore the success of your business is purely reliant on your ability to commit to the tasks you delegate to yourself. So forget the load of washing in the other room, or the golf clubs calling your name and start setting tasks. Immediate, weekly, monthly and annual tasks and goals.

            The reason most people want to work at home is because they want to spend more time with their families. This is a very great reason to work at home, however everyone must realize that it may take a long time for this to come true. The beginning of any entrepreneur’s journey involves work, work, work, It really all boils down to how passionately the individual wants to meet his or her business goals.

            But scheduling isn’t the only reason why one should write out a clear plan. A very clear, detailed plan will not only help you schedule your work, it will also allow you to realistically evaluate your work. By following the plan, you will learn what works well, what doesn’t work well, what wastes time, etc. Constant analysis is the key to success.

            But the most important thing about having a plan is that it will help you learn to see the patterns that work and the patterns that don’t. After you gain an eye for this, you’ll be able to creatively think of new patterns that could possibly take your business to the next level. The possibilities are literally endless!  

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Keep it up

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

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Working From Home- The Ultimate Guide.

The ultimate working from home guide

 

 

So you may  find yourself at this page because your are looking for a job that fits in with your life style, rather then a job that rules it. Here is where you can get the facts, how can you earn a living and still achieve a dream lifestyle?

 

Here is a  guide to everything you might need to know about working from home.

 What type of work is there for me?

 On a basic level there are three types of work-from-home scenarios:
 

 -Totally Home-based business - There are plenty of legitimate work from home businesses out there, but for every good opportunity there are 10 get rich quick scams, the allure of which are hard to ignore. You really need to be savvy when researching and finding the right opportunity for you.

 

-Self employed contractor - A Contractor can generate income by hiring out professional skills or  services. For example a bookkeeper, hair dresser, or Keyboard instructor, this service is generally charged by the hour.

 

-Telecommuting involves you working from home either on a full time, part time or casual basis, however, you are generally required to communicate with head office via email, phone etc. This is fantastic for people who are not quite ready to jump into self employment, or perhaps people on maternity leave or young children. If you think your job is one that you may be able to convert, talk to your manager, if may end up being a more efficient adjustment for everyone.

 

Where do I find these jobs?

 

There are plenty of recruitment websites that offer self employment opportunities. You may also see offers in local newspapers/newsletters, in these cases there may be plenty of legitimate offers, however you have to be aware- there a is sea of dodgy listings out there, so do your research.

Some websites that offer Genuine Work from Home opportunities:

Lifestyle Careers

Extra Income and Employment

Work At Home Mums

 

Is working from home really all its cracked up to be?

For many, working from home would seem to be the Holy Grail. Being able to go to your kids soccer games, catch up with people through the week, or simply being freed from a 9-5 constrictive week seems like a perfect scenario. But before you hand in your resignation, you have to be aware, that converting from an office/shop or whatever your situation maybe to a home office is a BIG step. If you enjoy working with a team, and are motivated by other employees, working from home may not be for you. Working from home requires amazing amounts of motivation, discipline and organisation.

 

 

 

 

Working from home pros

Greater flexibility in your working hours

• Greater flexibility and being able to choose your own hours
• Independence and  potentially not having to answer to a boss
• Possibility to enjoy more family time and the ability to structure your day around personal and family commitments.
• Tax advantages - you may be entitled to claim office equipment and utility costs
• No more commuting! Plus you save tome and your money on travel and parking
• Free yourself from office politics and policies.
• Work in your pjs!

Working from home cons:

• Household distractions and family interruptions
• You have to self motivate, and it can be quite lonely
• Lack of Technical support
• Home and work life have a tendency to merge, making it harder to switch off.
• You have to take responsibility for your own productivity.

Work-from-home jobs

Online marketer, Medical transcriptionist,  book keeper, telemarketer, payroll officer, customer service, data entry, blogger, trade/professional services. (please stay tuned for a dedicated post!) are just a very few of the work from home possibilities. It all about finding something that you are obviously good at, and importantly, dedicated too- because nobody will be standing behind you, telling you to work harder!

 

What do I need to start?

Part of the allure of starting up a home-based business is, often the start-up costs are much lower then one who may be starting a brick and mortar style business. Your biggest PRO is not needing to lease a space! Below is a very general start up list. (for more info please see the home office post)

• A dedicated office space 
• a comfortable desk and chair
• storage space
• A computer, email, and relevant software (e.g accounting, CRM (customer relations management))
• A fast internet connection
• A dedicated phone line, fax, mobile and answering machine

 

 

 

Find your Market

Finding the right business opportunity can be a job in itself. You need to consider how much time your honestly have to dedicate to your business, and how it may effect you and your family. Research is CRUCIAL! You don't want to go through the effort of starting up the business to find you are trying to succeed in a flooded market, your haven't calculated your costs, or you have signed up for a scam. Particularly in the beggininng stages of your research keep an eye of sights such as MoneySmart, SCAMwatch, and ACCC 

 

One of the biggest tip I can give you, if it seems to good to be true- it probably is. Be wary of situations you have to "pay big money to make money" or get rich quick schemes. Chances are, you will get burnt.

 

 

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Its going to be a Bumpy Ride

“Starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster. There are highs and lows and every turn you take is another twist. The lows are really low, but the highs can be really high. You have to be strong, keep your stomach tight, and ride along with the roller coaster that you started.” – Lindsay Manseau

 

 

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Creative a Productive Home Office- Tips and Tricks.

Creating a productive home office space is absolutely crucial when planning or even revamping your home based business. If you get the basics right, your business stands a much better chance of being efficient and profitable. Consider these tips when creating your haven.

 

 Creating the Space

If you are extremely short on space, use a wall and try mounting shelves on the top portion of a wall to store files and use a table that can be folded down. Use a privacy screen to help define the area as a work space. Generally a bugger space with  a door is extremely preferable- when that door is closed, it means that you are in work mode, and it should discourage distractions or intrusions.

 

Be Prepared

Having everything you require at your fingertips is an extremely important rule to learn about Working from Home. I find that even going to the kitchen to make a cup of tea can be devastating to my work flow-all of a sudden I’m washing dishes, a doing non-work related tasks. Make sure you have a working compute, paper, phone, pens etc – all easily accessible. If your leaving the office every 5 minutes you will surely achieve a lot less in your day.

 

 

Separate your working space
Have a well thought out plan from the get go is pivotal when trying to set up and create a space that has everything you need. Draw yourself a floor plan and consider where the power points are, where you can fit storage and the desk, and how does this effect noise levels, and possible distractions. You need to make sure the space is as work friendly as possible. (e.g Having the desk facing the window has presented major problems for me the past, giving me an excuse to anything but work!) Clever and well thought out planning is essential- Your home based business’ success is fairly reliant on it!

 

Organisation

Whether you have a sanctioned off wall, or a massive home office, keeping the area organised will do wonders for you efficiency! Consider filing systems, overhead shelves and stackable storage boxes, there is literally thousands of nifty and innovative storage products out there (my inner control freak is getting dizzy just thinking about it!) try Ikea or Howards storage world for ideas. It is also one thing to have amazing storage solutions, however, you really need to implement an easy to use filing system, get to know where you keep all of your important documents quickly, there is nothing worse than wasting time ripping the office apart looking for things! You should also take that advice when it comes to organising your computer and hard drive… If you’re like me you think “I will remember that downloaded folder in that really awkward spot on my hard drive”….. 9 times out 10… you don’t!

Let there be light

A home office is a place you may well be spending a lot of time in. Having proper ventilation and a well-lit area will make potential long hours a lot more comfortable. There may be some areas that are well lit, and others that are dank, consider the placement of your desk… will the rising or falling sun create glare? Will the sun be directly on important documents that will fade over time? Do you have reflective surfaces that will create over bearing reflections? Having a light, bright and airy space, with clever use of light will make your home office much more pleasant!

Comfort first

So you may have your eye on the most divine Scandinavian chair, but frankly, a wooden plank with splinters maybe more comfortable. Like shoes, sometimes comfort should be your priority. Ensure you have a good desk and an ergonomically-designed chair. If you really want to add personality to a room, use colours, artwork and furnishings, rather than uncomfortable furniture. Or if you prefer, go with a minimalist look that projects a clean, calm and natural palette. It’s all about your tastes, and where you feel both mentally and physically comfortable.

So you now have the perfect space. Well….stop day dreaming and get to work! In many cases you have to work much harder at the home based business then if you were working your average 9-5. It takes discipline, and dedication- however having an amazing space to work and creative is a massive step in the right direction.

 

 

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Inspirational Quote of the Day

Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure -Napoleon Hill

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