Many people have told me they have given up their goal of having a successful home business because all the work-at-home options are scams. When I tell them I and millions of others in the United States also work-at-home, I'm told that working at home doesn't work for them.
Perhaps you are thinking the same thing. I'm here to tell you that having a successful home business is possible for anyone and everyone. But it won't show up in your email nor can you simply sign up for a program and start getting a check. While starting a home business isn't hard, it isn't always easy. Below are ten things you need to insure your success.
1) Take 100% responsibility for your actions. You are where you are now because of choices you have made. I understand that life may be tough. Perhaps you have been laid off. Or maybe you or someone you love is ill and can't work. Life presents challenges, but some of the most successful people in history have overcome tremendous odds to achieve success. Take Kyle Maynard. He was born without any arms below the elbow or legs below the knee. Despite his physical challenges, Kyle was one of the top wrestlers in Georgia in his senior year of high school. He is also the author of the book, "No Excuses" which is what this step is about. You need to give up excuses that prevent you from taking action on your goals. You need to refuse to let obstacles including frustration and discouragement get in your way. When bad things happen, you need to CHOOSE to continue on. While you can't control the external things in your life, you can choose how you respond to them. By choosing to act instead of be acted upon, you will be taking 100% responsibility for your life.
2) Decide what you want. That sounds pretty easy. More money. Better house. More time. But, these are vague and don't inspire action. Instead be clear about what you want. Exactly how much money do you need? What size and style house do you want? Where is it located? The more specific you are with your goals, the easier it is to focus on them and be inspired by them.
3) Believe in YOU! Arthur Williams once said, "The number one reason that keeps people from winning in the United States today is a lack of believe in themselves." You should be your biggest supporter and yet most likely you sell yourself short. You can do great things. History is littered with people who had less than you and rose to great heights. Helen Keller was blind, deaf and dumb living in a world in which women were second-class citizens, and yet she was educated and became a public speaker. Babe Ruth struck out more times than he hit the ball. But he knew the ball was coming and kept on swinging. If you put your mind to it, you can have a successful home business. I know it. But you need to know it too!
4) Set goals. Goals help define where you want to go so you can develop a map to getting there. Fitzhugh Dodson said that "Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." To be most effective goals should be written, specific, realistic without being too easy, and they must have a deadline. Once your goals are set, read them at least three times a day. An easy way to do this is to have a copy taped to your bathroom mirror, one on the refrigerator and one at your desk or any other places that you will see them regularly.
5) Take action. Having goals without action is like having a road map but not getting in the car to go anywhere. Mark Twain once said, "The secret to getting ahead is getting started." Unfortunately, it's the start that stops most people. Don't be one of them. Do something every day that moves you towards your goal. In fact, set out to do 5 things every day that will move you towards your goal.6) Stop stopping yourself. How many times have you wanted to do something but didn't because the timing wasn't right or things weren't perfect? In order to be successful, you need to stop limiting yourself. Stop waiting for the right time or the right situation. Success does not come when the time is right, the stars align, and life isn't busy. It comes because of consistent effort even though life isn't perfect.
7) Get past the fear. Fear is best described as: Fantasized Experiences Appearing Real Fear is what keeps us in our comfort zones and broke or unhappy in jobs. But what is there to fear anyway? What people will think? Who cares? Odds are they don't have what you want and can't help you get it anyway. So why listen to them? To overcome fear you need to make your dream bigger than your fear. Your desire to have a successful home business needs to outweigh the fear of failure or rejection. That's not to say you won't have fear. Instead you need to accept the fear and forge ahead towards your goal.
8) Be willing to pay the price. We aren't talking about money although sometimes that is a part of reaching your goals. The price may be in time or sacrifice. Leisure activities like reading and watching television may have to go on the wayside as you spend time working on your goal. You may need to give up some extras like manicures, lattes, or dining out so you can have the extra money to live on or to use to build your business. A price must be paid to reach your home business goal, but the payment is temporary, while the payoff can be the attainment of your dreams.
Building a successful home business is easier than ever, but it won't happen without purposeful effort on your part. You need to plan. You need to work. You need stop fear and a lack of confidence from stealing your dreams. This year, over 300,000 people will start a successful home business. Will you be one of them?
About the Author
Leslie Truex is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible (2009 Adams Media). She has been telecommuting and running home businesses for over 15 years and helping others to work at home in jobs or home businesses since 1998. Get work-at-home jobs and other resources with her free newsletter at .