It’s All In The Mind
We’ve spoken in the past about how focus and determination are important if you are to succeed. This comes all the more into play when talking of a home based business. Setting up and running a company or operations out of your home office can be extremely trying if you have friends and family members always determined to stop by. The first thing most successful home based business owners will do is to set up a time and zone or space in which they work. This then is their ‘office’ and is treated as you would any 9-5 job in a company. It means no personal calls, no friends stopping by uninvited and no long and leisurely coffee breaks taken as and when deemed necessary.
However, while setting up an ‘office space’ is important, even more important is switching to an entrepreneurial mindset. This is about adjusting the way you think, act and believe to reflect a business ownership. In order to do this, you will need to do the following:
1. Ignore all the nay-sayers: These are the people who say you cannot do something. A surprisingly large amount of negativity comes from family and friends who should in fact be your biggest supporters. In the event this happens, it’s all the more difficult to tune out their voices. While donning ear-muffs may not be an option, putting on a pair of ‘internal’ ear-muffs is. Listen to what they have to say and if you believe it’s positive criticism, then by all means, act on it. If you do know however that it’s negative criticism, then learn to ignore them. Action speak louder than words and by proving you can do something, you will succeed in shutting all your nay-sayers up.
2. Focus on self-motivation: It’s often hard to run a business from home. The other daily chores; laundry, dishes, kids to be picked up and dropped off, often begin to encroach on the time set aside to get work done. Add to that, it’s sometimes hard to get motivated to go out and seek new business, build a strong marketing strategy or just get the job done. At times like this, it’s important to seek motivation from within. Self motivation can be a very strong and powerful tool. By pinning up a dream board or goals chart and listing your achievements and accomplishments in a place you can see them, It’s easier to set that alarm for one hour earlier each morning or switch off the television and get back to work.
3. Seek outside support: While self motivation is important, successful entrepreneurs will also realize the value of seeking outside support. This comes from business groups and organizations and individuals who have already tread the path to success. If you find it hard to make time for meetings, joining online forums and reading books on your elected subject will also help.
4. Create a business plan and write down your goals: All businesses need to have a plan and a list of achievable goals. Your plan can be a simple one-page sheet of the direction you wish to see your company grow; or it can be an elaborate document which you can have a professional help you create. Whichever option you select, make sure it covers exactly what your company is all about and the future you see for it. Write down your goals at the start of your operations and keep them updated. As and when you achieve them, check them off the list and add on newer ones.
5. Visualize your goals: Writing down your goals is not enough. You need to be able to visualize them. Get into the habit of seeing yourself ‘living’ the life you’ve always wanted. Perhaps it’s with a new house and a fancy car; or a better education for your children. Visualize standing in this new house, driving the new car and your children as graduates. By seeing where you want to be, you’ll find it much easier to get there.
6. Celebrate all your victories, large or small: And finally, take the time to celebrate all your victories, small or large. Got a new client? It’s time to celebrate. Booked a new event? Celebrate. Completed your tasks on your daily ‘to-do’ list? That too is an achievement and needs to be acknowledged. It’s the many small steps you take on a daily basis, which will lead you to your final destination. Don’t forget to enjoy and appreciate each and every one of them.
Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”
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October 20 2009 10:57 am | Home Business Ideas, Time Management, Wealth Strategies, personal development
October 24th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Hi J,
Great article,
It really is all in the mind. You covered all the bases well.
You can only keep one thought in your mind at a time, you might as well make it a good one.
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