5 Steps To Get Your Priorities Straight At Home And In Business
Operating a successful home-based business is a time-consuming endeavor. This is doubly true as work-at-home moms in that we are responsible not only for the success of our business but for our family as well. We must be self-reliant, self-motivated, and disciplined ourselves to attain success in both areas.
When running a business from home, it’s easy to let the phone calls, emails, and paperwork keep you tied down, making you feel that you don’t have time to take…FREE INFORMATION
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Operating a successful home-based business is a time-consuming endeavor. This is doubly true as work-at-home moms in that we are responsible not only for the success of our business but for our family as well. We must be self-reliant, self-motivated, and disciplined ourselves to attain success in both areas.
When running a business from home, it’s easy to let the phone calls, emails, and paperwork keep you tied down, making you feel that you don’t have time to take a break or to spend quality time with your family. Maybe you’ve noticed that you spend a little more time than you’d like in front of your computer or on the phone.
Maybe you see your kids acting out, trying to gain your attention. Perhaps you are seeing that this isn’t the work-at-home dream you envisioned.
You started out with such noble intentions, but maybe the excitement of success in your business has caused you to lose sight of the REAL reason do what you do each day. It happens to so many of us, but don’t worry, help is on the way.
Below are five ideas to prioritize your life and business:
1. Be honest – You probably didn’t start your work-at-home career to climb the “corporate ladder” of your at-home business.STARTING A BUSINESS
Chances are that you started your business with the best of intentions – to be able to be at home with your children, to contribute financially to your family, or simply to have a little spending money of your own. Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to show you the things that you need to change.
Take a moment and honestly ask yourself how you’ve been handling the time commitment of owning a business:
• Are you spending too much time on the phone, the computer, etc?
• Are your kids spending more time than usual in front of the TV?
• Do you snap at your children because of the stresses of your business?
• Do you worry about your business – to the point that it distracts you when you are with your family?
2. Make a list – Sit down and write out a list of things that you see that you’d like to change. This can be a list of things you can do differently to limit the time you spend on your business; or a list of ways you can “de-stress” so that you can deal kindly with your family.
3. Log your time – Buy a notebook or create a spreadsheet that you can use to log the time you spend on your business each day. Make a column for each day across the top and a row of half-an-hour increments down the side.
Every time you sit down at your desk, write “IN” in the box that corresponds to the time and day. Every time you leave your desk (or complete a task), fill the appropriate box with the word “OUT.”
At the end of the week, total up the hours each day that you have spent on business tasks. Are you surprised or is it about where you thought you’d be?
This can be a real eye-opener and show you in black and white if your priorities have gotten off track. Take special note of how much time you spend on e-mails and things that aren’t billable.
Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing, also recommends that you plan and schedule your time. Prioritize things and have the work that will require the most effort and concentration scheduled for your peak time. Try not to get sidetracked and stay on task focusing on what you need to do.
You’d be amazed how much more work you can get done by simply changing how you work e-mails. If you only answer them at set hours, you save yourself from being online all day and not accomplishing much.
4. Take a break – If you get to the end of the week and your time log has you in shock, it’s time to take a break. If you normally work during the weekend, make it a point to take this weekend off. Shut down your email, turn off the ringer on your phone, and shut the door to your office. You’ll be surprised at how refreshing this will be.
Use this time off to re-evaluate how you need to be spending your time. Try to plan out when you can work on your business without losing out on time with your children. If your children are in school, make it a point to stop working when they get home.
If your children are still small, maybe you can limit work hours to naptime or, if possible, have a grandparent watch them once or twice a week to allow you a bit more work time.
5. Plan an activity – Now that you’re ready to make a change in your routine, why not plan an activity once a week? This can be an outing with your child or just something simple like setting aside time to make cookies together.
If possible, find another work-at-home mom and hold one another accountable to keep to your new schedules. Make a weekly play date where your children can spend time together – you can talk business if necessary or decide to make it a “no business talk allowed” discussion time.
The years that you have at home with your children are a gift as is your business. The time necessary for each will be different for every family and situation. Take the time to find what works for you and set your schedule accordingly.
Make it a point to evaluate your priorities every few months to make sure that your time in spent properly. The rewards will be well worth it, when your family not only is proud of your accomplishments in your business, but also more importantly your accomplishments as their mom.
Things To Consider For Starting A Business
Are you planning to start a business? You must have a clear plan and strategy for achieving your goals. Too often new jump ahead without mentioning what they sell, how they sell it, and to whom they will sell it.
Thanks to the internet, it is more straightforward than ever to start a business in the comfort of your own home. Although it is not easy to be an entrepreneur, it is generally known that starting a project is very rewarding.
The hardest part is starting. So many people have business ideas that never leave their notebooks. Others want to have a business, but they do not know where to start. These are the six necessary steps for starting a business in 2019.
2. Get starting capital
Although the costs of starting a business in 2016 on the Internet are considerably lower than those of a traditional company, you still need a little money to start an online business.
The main reason why most companies fail is the lack of capital. Provide a plan to make financial resources possible, whether it concerns sales, your funds, or external investors.
3. Choose The Right Location
Location plays a significant role in determining the success of your business. A wrong location can jeopardize all prospects, and at the same time, the right one can build a strong foundation for a fruitful venture. Therefore choose the location wisely.
Discuss with people who have vast knowledge in the industry that you have chosen. If you set up your business amidst your competitors, there are higher chances of success, studies have shown.
4. Establish Your Unique Selling Proposition
What makes your company unique? The Internet is a big market, and when you start a business in 2019, you have to make a unique sales proposal (USP) for your product or service. Why would people buy from you instead of someone else? If you do not know, how can you expect your potential customer to know?
5. Know your ideal customer
No company can sell anything to anyone. You need to be clear about who your ideal customer is so that you can create your marketing messages to attract them directly. What are their needs, wishes, concerns, problems or wishes? How can your products or services help them?
6. Implement a proven business model
Use a proven business model that will work in your market. If you do not have one, look at your competitors and see what they do. Buy a business mentor that shows you how to grow your business and move a potential customer to a customer.
Very often you can learn a lot from people who have preceded your industry. They can help you avoid pitfalls and make your path to success faster and easier.
It may not sound natural to start a business, but if you have a passion and want to see it become a successful business, it will take planning and organization. Use these tips to get started and build a company you can be proud of.
Regardless of your age, education, technical skills or qualifications there are no specific requirements for being a successful online entrepreneur.