Archive | March, 2015

Staying in the Game Working At Home

By Lowell on March 29, 2015 in Blog

Mindset is always important to anything in your life, from how you see things when you wake up, for example it’s ‘going to be a great day'(!) or ‘just another day’, (ho hum). Obviously it is much easier to go through life having a positive attitude and always expecting the best from others as well as from your own efforts.

However it seems we need a little extra help staying positive and realizing we are still part of the big picture when we work at home alone. Sometimes it does not come at all natural for people to be alone most of the time and it can get depressing if we let it. As well there may eventually manifest the smothering feeling of ‘cabin fever’ from staying home.

The extra help we may need could be anything as simple as setting a time each day to leave the house to go outside for fresh air and exercise – even just an hour will do wonders; Or it can involve maybe signing up at the local community college to take a course either for business or just for fun, if you really need to be around some people and get a change of atmosphere a few times a week.

Something we do need to realize and that is that rest and relaxation is not slacking. It is part of life and we will be much happier, healthier and more productive if we factor time in that is apart from our work. It used to be more simple when we had hours where we went to work and then we came home or went somewhere after work to relax and enjoy.

So like with many things you need to consider when starting a business working at home, we must replace some elements that we may have taken for granted all the years we worked at a job. An example of this would be self-discipline which would be like having regular hours that we know are time that we work.

While we are free to work whatever hours any time we want to, the fact remains we need to put in those hours as a matter of routine. It’s not optional if we actually want to make money from our business. So we can work a few hours in the morning and then take some time off to run errands or get some exercise or clean the house, or whatever we need to do; and then come back refreshed and ready to put in a few more hours to complete our work day.

Having just this much structure is important to keep on track and to help you to ‘keep your chin up’; especially when starting a business, there will be a curve where you may not be seeing results quite yet and it is very necessary that you are able to stay motivated during these periods. Even a not-so-new business has times when sales are slow and we should use that time for something positive – learning more about your industry, acquiring new skills, taking a self-improvement course of some kind to improve your mindset, or just getting some rest and relaxation.

Online Home Business Entrepreneur – Bucking Up

By Lowell on March 28, 2015 in Blog

One of the most detrimental ‘habits’ or ‘traits’ for anyone doing anything is a sense of entitlement. Nobody owes you anything other than what they have literally agreed to. It is particularly harmful to people who are learning to start their own business if they believe someone else is responsible for their success or failure.

Being new, being computer illiterate, etc are not valid excuses where we become entitled to someone else doing our work (unless they have agreed specifically to do so or we are paying them). If we don’t know something then we need to learn it. ‘Information is power’ is certainly true, that is if we use the information to take action. If there is free training available certainly take advantage of it. If necessary pay for training through a community college (online) or some other online resource that is free or inexpensive.

We must take responsibility for our own actions. If we buy something then we should understand everything about it – what are the guarantees, refund policies, etc. If the purchase is a big one, then we are responsible to find out what the reputation of the seller is. What are the features and specifications? Do they meet our needs?

People seem to really have a sense of entitlement when something has been given to them free, which is ironic. Rather than to appreciate what has been given to them and to use it fully to our benefit, we will demand that people provide services or products that they have not offered once we see they are givers. It says a lot about someone if they are greedy and unappreciative.

If we are logical we will understand that in order to afford to give their property away for free, that there must be something in it that might possibly promote their business. For example they give you something free if you will read their newsletter or advertising (represent a prospective sale) – or they give you something free with the hope that you will upgrade the service or product which might result in some income for their business.

Unless they say they are a charitable organization then you might assume that they are in business to make money – just like you hope to be. There is no crime in that and nobody deserves to be called names or accused of anything for trying to do business – as long as they are honest about it.

Entitlement can really get ugly if the person is not able to achieve what they anticipated in the time they think is reasonable. Then they will blame their sponsor, the program, the government, their parents, etc., never taking responsibility themselves.

Starting a business is a gamble. If you know going in that you are the one who is responsible to make it work and that if it doesn’t work then you are still the responsible party, you will do much better with your business. This is because for one thing being responsible gives you control. As well, maybe the fact that you realize you are responsible and have control will cause you to take the appropriate actions necessary to make it work, rather than sitting back and waiting for somebody else to do it.

About ‘sitting back and waiting’ this is a fatal error under any circumstances with any business. You need to be engaged on a daily basis. Don’t be fooled by pie in the sky descriptions of home business or ‘autopilot’ – yes some things are automatic but you are the one that needs to pay attention to make sure it is working right, and to promote your business. You need to be very aware even if you are paying someone to do something for you, that it is in fact being done correctly and that there are statistics to prove it. There is no such thing as ‘wealth without work’.

Internet Marketing – What Goes Around Comes Around

By Lowell on March 27, 2015 in Blog

Everything that you do on the Internet can link back to your ‘brand’ or domain name. If you are posting in business forums, social networks, blogs, or article directories using your domain name in your signature file or ‘author bio box’, it will create back-links from that site to yours. Back-links show the search engines that you are engaged in your business so they do not hesitate to send their customers to your links.

The cycle continues as everything you do online is associated to you – for example you may establish yourself as an expert in your field if your articles and blog posts are informative, interesting, and hence have value. Note here that straight spam-type advertisements are never pleasant or attractive to anyone. It is not to say you can’t advertise or promote your business in your content, but it should be discreet and be in the context of information rather than ‘pushing’.

Another thing that goes around and will come around is your willingness to help others. Almost without a doubt someone helped you, whether it was free or not, you got the instructions and information you needed from a sponsor or mentor or other resource. If you participate in forums you may have received and given help when asked.

This help could be as simple as even just welcoming a newbie to the group. That helps them to feel confident that they are in a comfortable environment with like-minded ‘peers’ who will be of some kind of at least ‘moral’ support, if not direct assistance upon request. In turn that person will proudly assist someone else coming up behind them someday.

There really does seem to be something to the Biblical principle that when you give to others, you get twice as much in return – and in this case you will begin to be seen as an expert, coach or mentor. People will begin to look to you – rather than you having to chase them down to sell them something – they will want to know what you have to offer and what you have going on that they might work with you on.

Probably one of the most important situations where you should remember that ‘what goes around comes around’ is in being positive and supportive to people who are trying something new – who may be walking out on faith and not have a clue what they are doing or if they will succeed. Too many times so-called ‘loved ones’ can only provide negative feedback. They may have heard a rumor that so-and-so’s cousin’s brother-in-law’s nanny once lost money online so that naturally means that everything you see or do online will be a scam. NOT so.

People who are loved should be encouraged and given support and affirmation particularly when they are going out on a limb. If you consider them stupid or naive, then certainly warn them to be careful of who they do business with and remind them of the old adage that ‘if it sounds too good to be true it probably is’. Just don’t forget to encourage them by at least wishing them luck in their new endeavor. Know for a fact that Internet marketing is a legitimate way to earn money and many have been doing so for decades now.

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Archive | March, 2015