The Home Business Boom
The Home Office Boom by Robert Nixon
The Home office is becoming more and more common.
Small business is moving out of the expensive store front type
of office and into offices with living quarters for the owner
and converted rooms for a small staff. The owners are realizing
that the change is actually better for their employees, as the
relaxed atmosphere does not decrease productivity nor
professionalism.
Midsize and larger companies are allowing more and more of their
staff to work from home also, with maybe a weekly meeting at the
office or via web conferencing. They too are saving money by
being able to downsize office space, parking costs and other
associated problems. More employees are actually putting in more
time doing their computer based work as they don't have to quit
a task and put it off to be completed the next work day because
of commute times, child care issues, or structured break and
lunch times. They can tell from the results who is working and
who is taking advantage. I won't go into those that take
advantage but those that do, would do the same in their cubicles
if not 'micro managed' anyway. The companies save money by
learning who these people are and replacing them in what turns
out to be a shorter time by giving them the option of working
from home. The employees also save by being able to write off a
percentage of their expenses for the home office on their taxes.
Check with your tax person as various states have different
requirements and allow different deductions, as do the feds.
The one thing the small and larger companies have in common is
that they treat the home based office as a real office, as do
their employees.
This is also the one thing that separates many 'newbie's' to the
internet home based business arena. They just don't take it
serious. Let's face it, work is work. Anyone that thinks you can
make a living on or off line without putting in time or
investments of money is not. Sure, your internet presence is
your website but you must spend the time to do the other things
necessary to make your business a profitable concern, and that
takes time.
Here are a few things that may assist you:
1. The major item often overlooked is a schedule. First you have
to create one, then you have to stick to it. Dress for your
'work' hours as if you are in an office working for a larger
company, maybe not in a business suit but 'casual', yet
professional. Have a designated area for your office, with all
you need handy, like paper, pencil, telephone, etc. Focus on the
task at hand and work on it only until it is completed.
2. Realize you have to do things yourself. I have seen it happen
again and again where 'newbie's' want others to do 'free' work
for them. This just won't happen. What works a lot of the time
is working on the 'barter' system. I had very expensive
programming work done for me at no cost, but in return I gave
classes on the proper use of the program in an internet chat
room for the owners of the program. I have been giving
presentations, adult training classes for half of my adult life,
so it was not a big thing for me, as to the programmer is was
not a big thing for them to do what their expertise is for me.
Most people will do what is expected of them when they know what
is expected of them ahead of time. There is a 'learning curve'
that must be taken into account. I was amazed, however when I
found out how many did not know what I consider simple. Things
like how to re-size windows, copy and paste,( let alone how to
set up an e-mail campaign, submission routines, things like
that). I had to divide the classes into various sessions, basic
novice, elementary and advanced.
3. Follow advice. If your asking for advice from people in order
to learn from their expertise, then once you get the advice
follow it. Over and over again, when people write me or call me
to complain that things just are not working because they
determined not to follow previous advice, I wonder about their
lack of commitment. Maybe because I give the advice 'free'?
Would they feel better if I charge a fee? They come to me in the
first place because I have been in their shoes and don't want
them to make the same costly and time consuming mistakes I have.
We are all going to make mistakes and what may work for me may
not work for you. I even try out new things I learn from my
mentors. There is and will never be any guaranteed anything as
far as being connected to the internet is concerned. Just as
something may appear overnight it can go away.
In conclusion:
Play and work are both four letter words. One makes the other
possible. You have to enjoy what you are doing. Get serious and
as each item is checked off on your steps to success, you should
get the feeling of accomplishment. If not, then don't waste your
time but find something else to do with it that you can. Too
many people think they will get in and make it big, and all will
be done in a very short time. Work the program and the program
will work for you. Stick to your schedule and know what will do
what for you so you know what to expect in return.
Robert Nixon
http://www.cpucash.net/stepstosuccess.htm