If you want your home business to succeed, the first thing you have to realize is that this is not a hobby. It is a job, a career, and a vocation. No one else will take it seriously if you do not.

To start with, you must have regular hours of business. Granted, you are the one who sets the hours, but set them you must and don’t allow other people to think that they can be changed at a moment’s notice without good reason. If you want to have different hours on Tuesdays then you do on other day, that’s fine. If you want to work in the early morning or late at night because one of them suits your personality or your family’s needs better, that’s fine too. But you cannot just fit your work into the nooks and crannies of someone else’s life or when you can grab a moment here and there. Your business will not succeed that way.

For instance, if one of the reasons that you are working from home is because you don’t want your child raised in a day care center, that’s a good motivation. But you must schedule your day so that you have the best chance of working without interruption for the time that you need. Give this some thought and figure out what works best for you: If there are two adults in the home, figure out who will be responsible for child care when. If you are a single parent, you may need to do your most intense work in the evening when your child is asleep or, in the case of an older child, when he or she is at school. Sometimes another parent will be glad to trade off time for your two children to have “play dates” at one house or the other so that each of you can have some time that you need for your own work. You will need to be creative about this, but if you are serious about it yourself your family will soon learn that work time is work time for you.

Also, it is important that you do not think that you can just use a corner of the kitchen table as your workspace, in among the peanut butter jars and the flowerpots. This type of atmosphere is not conducive to serious work. You can set up your workspace wherever it is best for you, but consider finding, if you can, space that can be separate from the family’s living quarters - even if that means a decorative screen around your computer area. Psychologically, this will mean a great deal to you in terms of your ability to put yourself in a “work mind set” when you settle down to your home based business. Make the area pleasant and well lighted and set up your workspace so that you can readily reach the tools that you need.

Occasionally take inventory of the things that you use most and make sure that you have a good supply on hand and don’t have to dash around looking for something just when things are popping. Again, make sure that your family realizes that this is your work space and that the success of your home based business is important in their lives too, so that they will be less inclined to snitch pens, paper or other items that you depend on finding at hand when you reach for them.

We repeat - others will take your business as seriously as you take it. You are the one to set the tone for success in your work from home business. Take charge of it!

I AM A SINGLE MOTHER - CAN I GET HELP STARTING A BUSINESS?

The concept of the home based internet business is practically MADE for you! As a single mother you have enough to be concerned about in earning a living at all to support your family, being all and everything to your children with no backup and taking on all the worries and cares which in other situations are shared by two. The last thing you want is to have to worry about the type of child care you can get and how much you
have to pay for it. The second last thing you want is to be afraid that your child is going to get sick or hurt and that your boss will be angry if you miss more time from work. The best way to insure that you have good child care and an understanding and flexible boss is to have a job where you provide the child care yourself and YOU are the boss!

Can you get help taking advantage of a work at home business opportunity? Yes, you can.

Without being a computer or internet expert you can find many resources which will help you decide which business is for you. You probably want something which can be started up at low cost and also provides flexibility as to time along with stability of income. You will find that some ideas have been around for a while - such as sewing, if you have that ability or want to develop it or marketing of cosmetics such as Avon or Mary Kay. Other business ventures are newer, but still meet the criteria we’ve just mentioned: eBay, for instance, or desktop publishing. Afraid you don’t have the knowledge and skills for these? Would you be surprised to learn that a simple internet search will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to begin and succeed in any of these ventures - or almost any other that you can think of.

Another good idea is to look at the web sites of companies such as Clairol and Revlon who primarily market to women. Sometimes these companies offer loans or grants to women who want to start a business. Making application for this type of assistance can be the first step in learning to negotiate the paper work that any business entails. Even if you don’t get specific financial help it is good experience to research, and apply for, these opportunities.

There are actually national support groups especially for women who work at home or want to. These groups are organized online and are an easy way to benefit from the experience of others. Statistics show that there are 91 million businesses run by women and nearly half of them are run from the home. Does this convince you this is not a pipe dream but a practical solution for some of your potentially biggest problems?

SBA, or the Small Business Association, has a special web site for women. Here you can get information on loans or grants, tax guidelines, opportunities for special training or finding services in your local area. Some Social Services districts have programs such as Learn to Earn which are designed to help single mothers avoid having to apply for welfare by providing them with the training they need to earn their own living. Almost any type of specialized training you need can be obtained online and this is an advantage not only to you for the sake of meeting your childcare responsibilities but to the social service provider which does not have to be concerned with finding transportation for you to get the training.

Always remember that each one of those 91 million women who are running their own businesses started out with some of the same difficulties and fears that you have. If all of them did it, so can you!

Some of the very qualities that attract people to the military life are what make them good candidates for an internet based home business. What are these qualities? A sense of adventure, an attraction to signs of leadership and the ability to discern what constitutes a good leader, courage and idealism and an understanding of the joy of testing one’s own limits.

A sense of adventure: What could exemplify this more than launching out with a good idea and seeing where it can take you? This was the spirit of the pioneers who settled this country and is a unique part of the American character. Attraction to good leadership: This is one of the things that make corporate life - indeed life spent working in someone else’s business so difficult for many - the fact of having to put up with what we know is incompetent or uncaring leadership because someone else, not of our choosing, is in charge of every aspect of our work life. Being our own boss in a home based business we at least know we don’t have to answer to someone we do not admire or respect. Courage and idealism: We have the opportunity to pioneer, follow our dream and run our work life according to our own ideals and ethics. Finally, testing one’s own limits: this is the bottom line for a home business idea - how far you go is limited only to your own abilities and ambition. No one can stand in your way.

So, you are a veteran and want to start your own internet home business? AWESOME. - there’s lots of help available to you.

There are sites especially designed to encourage people to do business with veterans. They will be glad to have you listed with them. There are any number of sites which offer sample ideas for you to choose among or which can get your own creative juices flowing.

Statistics show that an unusually high number of businesses are owned by veterans. It is also true that veteran-owned businesses seem to succeed very well. Part of the reason for this may be the qualities mentioned above that attract people to the military in the first place, as well as skills that are learned in military service. Veterans are often able to retire from the military while they still have the drive and ambition to start a new life. Did you know that there is such a thing as Public Law 106-50 which is known as the Veteran’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business Act?

This is a good but somewhat long and technical read for any Veteran who is thinking about starting a business.

This law, enacted in 1999 to help out people in the military reserves who are called up for active duty, has been widened to include help for veterans who are starting out in business. Financial as well as technical help may be available through these resources. Training and services and counseling are often available through the services of retired executives who are eager to pass along their valuable expertise. The Veteran’s Outreach Program is just one such resource. There are many.

By the fact of being a military veteran you have already demonstrated many of the qualities needed to be successful in an internet home business opportunity. Now it remains only for you to step out in confidence and claim your own destiny!

Our favorite Veterans free services are:

Score.org
This is an excellent service which consists of retired executives who volunteer their time to assist home and small businesses. I have personally used the Albany N.Y. Score and the free service is excellent. My mentors have helped me over the last five years on various businesses. You will also be pleasantly surprised to see how many of the mentors are Veterans I know I was.

http://www.sba.gov/VETS/

This is a special department of the Small Business Administration that was developed to help Veterans. If you only had the choice of one program to really research choose this one. This program helps you utilize all the resources of the SBA. Another must read.

Defining Your Happiness For Home Business Success

You might be saying now “Steve why are you writing an article on happiness? This is a Home Business Site!” The reason is that I estimate that at least 70%+ of you are making the switch to Home business due to lack of feelings of happiness and fulfillment in your life.

For this reason, it is important for you to understand what you really want to achieve from your home business.

Personally, I have been trying to define in my life what really makes me happy and how I can make money at it. What I am looking for is much more than money. I am looking for calm and a sense of peace in my life.
To find out if you are really ready to work for yourself from home? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you have a hobby that you would do daily for free?

This is one of the keys to success and happiness in a home business. You must have drive and passion in order to succeed. Doing something you really enjoy will help smooth out the bumps in the road. Also, doing something you really enjoy will help you to tolerate the remaining time at your ‘other’ job. Please do not choose a home business based only on your perceived earning potential. If you do, the chances are you won’t have the long-term persistence needed to succeed.

2. Is it money that you really want or is it the freedom of choice you really want?

This is a critical question because, again, if it is solely money you are looking for you will not have the enthusiasm and passion needed for long-term success. Focus on doing what you love and the money will follow. People will see your enthusiasm and it will spread to your clients.

3. Are people you work with dragging you down emotionally and spiritually?

One thing I know for sure is that I no longer want to be around negative people. Mark Twain has a great saying “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Everyone knows a person like the character on Saturday Night Live “Debbie Downer.” Lets face it, some people are only happy if they are complaining about something or are raining on someone else’s parade. Avoid these people at all costs, remember it is better to be alone and focused and passionate about what you are doing.

4. Do you want to start off fresh where you are in control?

Starting your own home business is like having a clean tapestry for painting. You control your destiny. You control what “colors” to use. Think big, never small, and you can do it.

5. Do you enjoy helping others when you can?

Owning your own business provides you with an opportunity to give back to your community. This also provides an excellent Barter and Networking opportunity. Help as much as you can afford to and these good deeds will come back to help you in the future.

Have faith in the overall good in people but, at the same time, realize that some people might try to take advantage of your generosity. Use bartering in some of the situations to help lower your overall costs.

6. Do you believe in expanding your mind through research and networking?

If you enjoy research you will be well served by starting your own business. You will have to learn some Accounting basics and Marketing skills as well as some Tax basics. Network with people who can help you in these areas. Suggest bartering your services with them. This is a great grass roots way to get advertising for your home business. If you come across a dishonest person, break the relationship as quickly and tactfully as possible - they will only cause you harm and heartache.

7. Are you dedicated and disciplined?

Setting up a schedule and ‘things to do’ list will greatly help with your organizational and time management problems. You must be disciplined and stick to your schedule. Complete one task at a time and move to the next. MANY business have failed because of having to many’irons in the fire.’ This leads to lack of focus, which is one of the number one reasons that businesses fail.

8. Are you prepared to ignore the negative ‘nay sayers’?

Be prepared to have to ‘cull’ some of your friends, There will always be people who are jealous of your drive, passion and determination. Accept that fact and don’t let them take up any of your time. If the Nay Sayer is your spouse or another family member, sit them down and tell them how much your new business means to you and your future together. If they cannot be positive, ask them not to comment at all. Usually after family members see how hard you are working they will come around and begin to support you. Try getting them involved with smaller tasks that they can take off your plate.

9. Are you prepared to work at your other job until your Home Business takes off?

This is something that people don’t think enough about. You should be prepared to stay at your ‘other’ job for at least six months while building your home business. Many people have quit only to find the HB doesn’t provide enough immediate income so they have to crawl back to the old job, or worse find another lower-paying job. I personally made this mistake

10. Are you prepared to take an open and honest look at your behaviors?
This is something that I really had to be honest with myself about. For years I had grown a negative attitude, almost to the point that I had a chip on my shoulder. I sat down with an old friend and discussed my situation and he said “Steve your attitude stinks.” I was in shock. Upon really looking at my behavior I saw that I had created negative ‘anchors’ that were standing in the way of my success. When I looked at a job, all the negative feelings from my previous jobs flooded into me. Be conscious of what you are feeling, and be prepared to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive. Remember, Bill Gates started in a dorm room, Michael Dell started in a garage. Do not be afraid. You CAN do it - it takes a plan, discipline, hard work and follow through.

In closing, let me say once again that you can do it. You deserve success and the happiness it brings. Franklin D. Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Don’t be afraid - you deserve this success. We all do. Nelson Mandela put our ideas about self doubt and fear far better then I ever could:

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Nelson Mandella

Now get out there and kick butt. If you would like to contact me please see below.

We are always looking for positive, persistent people to partner with. If we can help you in your success we will be glad to do so.