Home Based Business Start up

Your search is over. You've found your fit! It's finally time to focus your attention on your own home based business start up. Congratulations!

You'd probably agree that there really is nothing more exciting than starting your own business. You have high hopes and great expectations. You may also have some concerns and questions and even be wondering where to begin.

Begin with the End in Mind

I believe it was author Steven Covey who first introduced us to the idea of beginning with the end in mind, but its universal application extends to home based business start up. Beginning your journey to success in a home business income opportunity is like a travel adventure. It begins with having your destination in mind. Before you head off on a vacation or any other kind of trip, you first have to consider where you're going – what it will look like, what it will feel like, and what you'll be doing once you get there.

Only after you have that image in mind can you begin to make all the arrangements; decide on the best way to get there; map out your schedule; buy your tickets; reserve your accommodations; shop for the clothes, shoes and other things you'll need; and finally, pack for your trip.

When it comes to home based business start up, our natural tendency is to pack our suitcases first – and then wonder why we never reach our destination or earn any real income. It's because we don't even know where we're going!

It's important to have a clear vision in mind of where you're heading, and to define the meaning of success as you begin.

5 Keys to Success

Once you have your destination in mind, you can start packing your bags with five keys to your home based business start up.

# 1 – Focused Action

When I decided to start my own business, I spent hours and hours planning, reading, thinking, wondering - but I had such a hard time moving into action!

Finally, one day it dawned on me – I wasn't focusing on what was really important! Oh, I was staying plenty busy, but I didn't seem to be making any progress. In fact, I was struggling just to get started! What I was missing was FOCUSED action!

In order to be successful in your home based business start up you have to focus on things that really matter and let go of everything else. In other words it's necessary to give priority time and attention to the activities that will make a difference.

So the first key to success is to clear the decks of anything that's slowing you down, holding you back or stopping you from the success you envision and move forward with FOCUSED ACTION!

#2 – Realistic Expectations

I have a tendency to get excited about many things, and starting my own business is one of the most exciting things I've ever done. But, like in so many other areas of my life, I had unrealistic expectations for what I could accomplish and how quickly I would succeed. As a result, my emotions were up and down like a yoyo, and I spent way too much time being discouraged or disappointed with myself and others. I tended to look at the glass half empty (all I wasn't doing), rather than celebrating the successes along the way.

My unrealistic expectations also led me to leave a part-time position sooner than I should have. Nothing can threaten business success quicker than under-estimating how much time or money it will take to get going, or cutting off other income sources too quickly.

I encourage you to think about the expectations you have for starting your own business and honestly assess how realistic they really are. It's important to set yourself up for success, rather than failure, so pay attention to the expectations you have both for yourself and others as you make your fresh start.

# 3 – Excellent Follow-Up

It's always bothered me to see how poorly other business owners follow-up. But as I started my own business, I had to face the fact that I wasn't doing any better. For example, I would tell people I'd call them back or send them some information about my business, and then I wouldn't! I even tried out a variety of contact management systems and time management tools, thinking each one would help me do a better job of building relationships, expressing appreciation and keeping in touch. But as I continued to be critical of others for their lack of follow-up, I kept dropping the ball myself.

They say that the “fortune is in the follow-up,” and I'm convinced it's true. In a home based business start up, providing excellent follow-up is the way to build trust with prospects, vendors, customers and clients. If you say you're going to call someone back – do it! If you ask for someone's business card, make sure you do something with it (besides dropping it in a drawer or leaving it in your pocket), especially if someone expresses interest in getting more information from you!

Because so few people follow up at all, let alone in a way that's consistent and timely, any follow-up will give you a significant edge over your competition as you start your own business. And if you've been disappointed with the results you've achieved up to this point, take a look at your follow-up. It's almost impossible to break through to success without it! Send thank you notes, return phone calls, provide timely information – they're all important to starting your own business or making any kind of successful fresh start.

#4 – Simple Systems

Whether you're talking about excellent follow-up or any other kind of focused action, nothing will hold you back from your God-given dreams quicker than complicated or undefined systems. When you're making a fresh start, having simple systems in place is not optional – it's essential! Taking time to map out your approach for things like following up with prospects and caring for your customers should be a top priority for your time and attention as you start your own business.

We've all had the experience of nearly being “stalked” by an enthusiastic sales person, as if we were the most important people in their world, only to drop off their radar screen as soon as we've bought their product or service! As your prospects become your clients or customers, you want them to continue to feel special! It's important to map out, step-by-step, the system you'll use to help them do just that!

If you're joining a network marketing business opportunity, chances are the company leaders have already discovered the best practices and procedures to use. Don't re-invent the wheel or make things more complicated! You can learn from them what the best and simplest systems are. Then adopt them as your own and teach others to do the same so they can make their own fresh start for success!

#5 – Healthy Habits

When I'm making a fresh start in my life, I tend to put everything I have into it, and put everything else on hold – even my own health! In fact, when I was starting my own business, I rarely took time to eat right and exercise went out the window. I stayed up too late and then would lie awake at night thinking about all I had to do the next day (or hadn't done that I'd intended to). As a result, I was tired, grumpy and pre-occupied most of the time. When I finally gave myself permission to slow down, I would crash.

What did I learn? Nothing is more important than maintaining healthy habits – taking care of my physical health, my emotional health and my spiritual health.

For me, healthy habits include getting up early enough to allow some quiet time in the morning, before I get into my day. I'm at my best when I allow at least 10-15 minutes for devotional reading, writing in my journal and prayer.

Right behind are exercise (especially out-of-doors) and healthy eating. Like a 3-legged stool, I go out of balance when one of these three healthy habits is missing in my life and it seems that things quickly spin out of control.

Two other healthy habits that I set aside far too easily are getting enough sleep and taking time out for fun and relaxation. As I've talked with other home-based business owners, I've discovered I'm not alone!

As part of your own home based business start up, take time to ask yourself what you need to start doing, stop doing, or continue doing to take better care of yourself.

A breakthrough to success will happen only as you adopt healthy habits – physically, emotionally and spiritually!

Have a question about home based business start up or need help getting started? Contact me.

Home | New Info | FreshStart Cards | Contact Me