Setting Up Your Home Business for Success

January 9 2010 by Jeff in Success Training |Comments Off


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One important consideration for your home business is your work area. You want an area where you can have quiet, non-distracted time to work on your business. For some people this can be a spare bedroom converted to an office or a space in the basement or a kitchen table. For others this can be a challenging consideration, especially if there are children or pets in the home. But, you really need dedicated, uninterrupted time to work in order to succeed and that is best accomplished in a particular area set aside for the business. This is even more critical if you starting your business part-time because the few hours available for productive business time need to be maximized.

Comfort is also important when creating your home business area. You need to be comfortable and relaxed talking with people about your business. Whatever way you can best accomplish that is fine. A good chair can be great investment in this area. Also, make sure you have enough room to work by having a sufficient, clean space to use your computer and make notes if needed. Again, this doesn’t have to be an office, but the space requirements are similar. There are many ways to create a comfortable space; in fact, I have heard from other home business owners that they successfully use their laptop and a phone on the couch for business. This method doesn’t work for me…it is too close to the TV! The point is that are many ways to create a comfortable office environment. Experiment and find what works for you.

Next, you need a few common business tools for your home business. Most of the legitimate home businesses available today can be run with only a computer and a phone with a good flat rate long distance plan. The Internet has truly made the home business a viable option and with high-speed Internet you can view and host online webinars and meetings, creating a true virtual business. In addition to a phone, computer and high speed Internet, I suggest a hands free headset as well. Several manufacturers make reliable, inexpensive headsets in both wired and wireless models. I prefer the models from Plantronics, but there are other good units available. This is probably my most relied upon tool because of the flexibility and speed it provides in working my computer or a notepad while I am on a call. The bottom line is it only takes a few key tools to get started, several of which you probably already own.

Finally, the most important component to setting up your home business is time. Establish a minimum goal for time spent working your home business on a weekly basis. Setting up the space and acquiring the minimum tools is the easy part – now comes the real challenge. You must spend consistent, dedicated time on your business if you desire consistent results. By definition the home business is time flexible, but not time exempt. It is still a business, which requires effort. I recommend you start with an hourly number for the week, trying different times and days of the week to find the most productive time. If you are starting part-time, as most do, use 10 hours or even less if that is too much. And, remember, this amount can be split over different days. But, whatever number you use, consistently spend those hours each week on your home business. Eventually, your time will be leveraged and you will see increasing results.

Thanks for tuning in!

Jeff

Five Ways to Re-Think About Your Money

January 2 2010 by Jeff in Everything Else |Comments Off


As Featured On EzineArticles

There are as many definitions and opinions of money and what it means as there are people using it, so this question is very personal.  Your answer to this question likely colors and defines your financial life to a great degree.  My thoughts on money, which I am about to share, have certainly had a great impact on my life.  I have struggled with how it fits into my life and those of others.  So understand, this is not a treatise on the definition of money, but rather some thoughts on what money has meant to me, and a few suggestions of how to change your thinking about money.

Here are my suggestions for improving your relationship with money:

1) Use money as a Tool, not as the end goal.

2) Needs vs. Wants – Understand which category you are using.

3) Only exchange your money in Balance with your income or means.

4) Exchange your money only for things of True Value to you.

5) Focus on the Lifestyle result, not the money itself.

Use Money as a Tool, Not as the End Goal

Let’s start with Dictionary.com’s definition of money: “…any circulating medium of exchange, including coins, paper money, and demand deposits.” The key part of the definition to recognize is that money is a “medium of exchange.” This is important because, literally speaking, it means money is used as a substitute to exchange or trade for something else of value – e.g. we buy or purchase something.  Thus, the first and most important realization to come to grips with is that money is simply a “tool” in which to use in an exchange.  Money in and of itself has no value – only that for which it can be exchanged has value.  And, it is these other things of value that are, in my opinion, the most important concept to recognize when thinking of money.

Needs vs. Wants – Understand Which Category You are Using

Most of us, myself included, have needs and wants.  Unfortunately, when it comes to money and its exchange for things of value, we sometimes get these two categories confused.  A person needs food, clothing, shelter, security, etc..; People want large homes, new cars, expensive jewelry, vacation homes, and for some, fame, status and notoriety.  Many times in my life, I have had a problem making this distinction in an appropriate fashion.  My emotions would cloud the decision – thus, my wants received priority at times when I should have been focused on needs.  This disconnect has caused me to make some really bad decisions with money, as I am sure most people can relate.  Delaying wants is very difficult!  Delaying needs can be catastrophic!  Honestly, I continue to deal with this issue, but I have learned to at least recognize this struggle when it appears, which is most of the battle.

Only exchange your money in Balance with your income or means

What do you exchange money for?  House? Cars? Credit cards?  (Yes, we exchange money now, for the privilege of delaying the exchange of money later – an option usually paid for with interest.)  Are you making payments on all the things in your life (homes, cars, vacations, etc…) that consume all or more of your income?  Yes, these are necessities by today’s standard, but what are the tradeoffs?  Don’t get me wrong; I am not suggesting you shouldn’t exchange your money for these things.  I enjoy the finer things of life as much as anyone, but what I am suggesting is that you consider the cost and method of payment in relation to the other things you value.  If your monthly outgo of money is greater than your income, you should re-evaluate how you are exchanging your money.  This situation can cause you to sacrifice other areas of your life you truly value.

Exchange Your Money Only for Things of True Value to You

What do you value?  More family time?  Prestigious material things?  More time to use as you please?  Philanthropic work?  As Americans, many of us aim for an appearance of a high standard of living, as compared to others.  As capitalists we believe that access to a great lifestyle is one of the most basic, underlying tenets of our country.  However, if we live beyond our means to achieve this material standard, we can unwittingly forfeit all of the other areas of life that we may value, such as time with our families or rewarding volunteer work, for example.

Focus on the Lifestyle Result, not the Money Itself

What I have realized over the years is that when I focus on a goal for which money can be a tool in the process, but not the money itself, I have far greater success.  For example, a few years ago my wife and I wanted to change our life dramatically.  I was an executive in a successful company with a great lifestyle by most people’s standards, but it was fueled by emotional monetary decisions and massive consumer debt.  At the same time, the company’s future was questionable, so we decided we wanted a lifestyle where we had greater control of our destiny coupled with limited or no debt and without the stress it provides.  We also wanted increased freedom, so we focused on the lifestyle freedom our money could buy (exchange.)  We made the conscious decision to change how we used our money to a use that was more in tune with our new goals.  Today our life is totally different.  We moved from California to a lower cost area in Georgia and downsized to eliminate the majority of our debt, positioning ourselves to live our life by design.  We used our “money” in exchange for an arguably improved lifestyle with dramatically improved freedom.  My wife and I are substantially happier as a result.

Final Thoughts

So, how do you really feel about money?  What is important to you and are you using your money appropriately to support these areas of value in your life?  I believe you will find that when you think definitively about what you truly value and its relationship with your money, you will begin to make better decisions and improve your life.  Use your money as a tool to help you create the life of your dreams!

Thanks for tuning in!

Jeff

Simple Steps to Achieve Your Goals in 2010

January 2 2010 by Jeff in Success Training |Comments Off


As Featured On EzineArticles

So, here we are in a fresh new year and you’ve probably made one or more New Year’s resolutions.  What were yours?  Lose weight? Quit smoking?  Make more money?  Start a new business?  These are some of the most common and worthwhile self-promises that many of us make each year.  But are they promises or goals?  Are they just in your thoughts or are they written down with a definite plan of action attached, which you review daily?

I have been through this exercise with varying degrees of completion as much as anyone my age, but I have had success too.  When I review why I was successful with New Year’s resolutions or any goal, it was always because of few simple steps.  These are not necessarily new ideas, but they are the methods that work for me.

First I really decided what I wanted.  This may seem simple, but it is critical!  You must decide what you want to achieve; not casually think the goal would be nice or you be would probably be better off if you succeeded.  You must decide and visualize this accomplishment in the present.  In one of my successful achievements, I decided, at the age of 38, I wanted to go back to school and finish my degree.  This was so important that everyday, I took a few minutes to visualize in my mind walking across the commencement stage, receiving my degree.  This became a daily habit and I finished my goal ahead of schedule but exactly in the year I choose.

Secondly, I wrote down my goal as a written, definitive plan.  Many success coaches and motivational speakers talk about the power of written goals, but I don’t think most people take them seriously.  I believe in the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”  This is important because if your goal is out of sight then it isn’t in your mind!  Continuing with my previous example about completing my degree, I had a written strategy of which classes I needed at what time in order to meet my goal date.  Much was in a spreadsheet that I reviewed everyday in addition to a written goal statement attached to my laptop screen, which I could see constantly.  I truly believe that these actions made the difference in my success by keeping the goal “in my mind.”

Third, I didn’t give up when I faced adversity.  The universe has a subtle way of testing our resolve about what we want, especially firmly decided and planned goals.  There are no straight lines that I have ever experienced in achieving anything.  Each goal, project or achievement has its speed bumps, setbacks and even detours.  The key is to refrain from allowing them to dissuade you from your goal.  Yes, you will have experiences that will test your level of commitment, but if you keep going, things tend to get better.  And, oh how much sweeter an achievement is after adversity!

So here we are on January 2, 2010.  Have you decided what YOU want?  Have you made a written plan to achieve it?  Are you going to visualize success everyday?  And, most importantly, are you going to push ahead if you reach a stumbling block?  My goal for all of us is that we achieve the life of our dreams!  If you ask me, that is the most important goal of all!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned…there’s more to come!

Jeff

Goodbye, 2009!!

December 31 2009 by Jeff in Everything Else |Comments Off

This is a great day!  It is the last day of 2009!  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am glad to see this year in the rear view mirror and welcome the exciting opportunities that 2010 has in store for us.

I am grateful for my wife and my friends and all that I’ve learned this past year.  My goal now is to create the life of my dreams with this new knowledge and new zest for life.  I have big goals this year and am going to make them come true and then some!

May your life be as blessed as mine with hope for the future and gratitude for the past.  If I can help you in any way, let me know.

Have a blessed day!

Jeff

The Purpose of This Blog

December 28 2009 by Jeff in Everything Else |4 Comments

There are as many aspects of home business to discuss as there are people operating a home business.  But over the next year, I would like to narrow the focus to discuss those, which in my opinion, are the most important and universal to everyone.   Some of the key questions we will ask are:  Are you cut out for entrepreneurship?  Can you manage people effectively?  Can you delegate/outsource/automate the appropriate tasks?  Who are the most important stake holders in your business?  How can you determine what opportunity is right for you?  And, most important – WHY do you want to be your own boss?

Along with these big questions and others, I want to discuss the broader subject of how we create income and how this concept is the most important one to grasp, as opposed to simply saying “I will be better off when I am my own boss.”  You see, becoming a home business owner dramatically increases our responsibility levels and requires a shift in perspective; a requirement to retrain our mindset.  For many, this is a welcome challenge and in fact is exactly what they need to thrive; but in others, it is an unexpected reality for which they are sorely unprepared.  Becoming one’s own boss does not lead to a more satisfying life for everyone, so we will discuss the common trade offs with self-employment and why it can be tougher for some.

Important areas to discuss also include the different home based business models: home office for traditional businesses, virtual businesses, home based franchises, direct sales, MLM, national,  global, etc… Home business, self-employment and entrepreneurship takes on many forms, which we will discuss, as well.

Successful home business owners have a success mindset.  And, all have defined their “WHY.”  What is it that motivates you to enter the world of small business?  Is it a life long dream?  Is it a better lifestyle for you and your family?  Have you had it with your job?  Has your job let you go?  Whatever the reason, each of us must embrace the “WHY” before we can make significant progress.  Since this is such a key subject and one every successful entrepreneur in any field must address, I will endeavor to keep this topic front and center in it’s rightful place.

Thank you for tuning in!  I look forward to your replies and learning about your home business!

Jeff