Seven Steps To Work-At-Home Success In 2012

by Leslie Truex

Home Business / Other Business Opportunities

Published on this site: January 4th, 2012 - See more articles from this month

The other day a woman said to me that her family was trying to put her off from working at home because it doesn't exist. When I hear stories like this I don't know whether to cry or scream. I want to cry because I'm thinking of the dream that is being snuffed out. I want to scream because people do work at home. In fact, it's so prevalent now, you can't go anywhere without meeting one of us. We're your friends on Facebook, the person sitting next to you in the coffee cafe, and the owner of the business you just bought something from.

Today working at home is possible for anyone, but it's not fast, immediate or automatic. It requires research, planning, implementation and diligence. If you're willing to put in the effort, you can work at home in 2012.

1.  Decide what you want: That sounds pretty easy. More money. Better house. More time. But, these are vague goals and don't inspire action. Be clear about what you want. Be specific including what color, what size, what shape, what brand...etc. Do you want to be home with the kids every day? How much money would that take? What size and style house exactly do you want? Where is it located? On how much land? The more specific you are with your goals, the easier it is to focus on them and be inspired by them. In fact, these desires are the fuel that will keep you moving forward when a part of you wants to give up.
   
   
2. Believe it is possible: Richard Bach who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull said, "Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can." Working at home is possible. Millions of others have proven it to be true. They are no smarter or more talented or luckier than you. They just knew it could be done and figured out how to do it. You can do the same.
   
   
3. Know it will be hard: In M.J. Ryan's book, "This Year I Will..." she relates studies that show people who accept that reaching their goal will be hard and that mistakes will be made are more successful than people who don't. These people understand that set-backs are a part of the process and are determined to learn from mistakes. Working at home is like any other goal, some days you do well, others you don't. Set-backs take all forms, such as people who think you're nuts for working at home, customers returning products or complaining, a marketing strategy that cost a fortune and produces no results, and so on. It's all a part of the process.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. Take 100% responsibility: 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. Life presents challenges, but the most successful people in history have overcome tremendous odds to achieve success. Kyle Maynard 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. At the 2004 Georgia State Wrestling Championships, he had an impressive record of 35-16. 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, and instead recognize that challenges are obstacles to work around not reasons to quit. While you can't control all 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.
   
   
6. Work through the fear: Fear is best described as:
   
   
   • Fantasized  
   • Experiences
   • Appearing
   • Real

Fear is what keeps us in our comfort zones: 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. So why listen to them? To overcome fear, you need to make your dream bigger than your fear. Your desire to work at home needs to be bigger than the fear of what others are going to say about you (and truth be known, people don't think about you nearly as much as you think they do if at all). Also, make your goals urgent and just as important as other things in your life. When you MUST live your dream, you will.

7. Be willing to pay the price: I'm not talking about money although sometimes that is a part of reaching your goals. In paying the price you sacrifice and work harder than you have ever done before. 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 in building your business. A price must be paid but the payment is temporary, while the payoff is forever.

Working at home is available to anyone willing to do the work. Getting started begins with have the right mindset of belief and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone and work through the challenges.

(C) 2012 Leslie Truex