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Everybody dreams about it - having a leisurely cup of coffee on a lazy
morning, enjoying life as your home-based business continues to bring in the big
bucks. Well... I hate to burst your bubble, but this home-based business thing
is HARD WORK, so before you hang up your tie and high heels, here are a couple
of good and bad things to expect.
You write your own paycheck
That's exactly how it is with a home-based business and being your own boss. YOU
WRITE YOUR OWN paychecks! How much you earn depends on how hard you work... plus
you get to keep ALL the profit. There's NO BOSS to tell you that the company
hasn't been doing great so all you're getting is 45 cents as your bonus, while
he comes to work the next morning in a bright, shiny new Porsche!
Problem is, you then realize "Hey! Just a minute... I've got to put some aside
for that rainy day, retirement fund, vacation, etc, etc. I'm MY OWN BOSS NOW!".
So you find the paycheck that you actually write for yourself at the end of the
month has a few less zeroes in it! How's that for irony?
It's hard work
Having your own home based business is a lot of hard work. If you're used to
taking 30 minute coffee breaks on company time, you're in for a real shock.
Assuming you're running a one-man show (which is usually the case for new
start-ups), then you're likely to find that there's not enough hours to do all
that you want to do, let alone have a leisurely cup of coffee!
The good thing about this is that every ounce of sweat you put into your home business will ultimately yield results. Remember, the pyramids weren't built in
a day, but when they were completed, they lasted for generations. That's the way
it is with your home-based business. You're working hard to build a better life
and future for your family that will probably last long after you're gone.
The buck stops where you are
Whether it's a virus that crashes your computer, an unpaid bill or a customer
complaining on the phone, when you own a home-based business, the buck stops
where YOU ARE! Every problem becomes YOURS. There is no computer division,
accounts department or PR department to blame. It's a bit frightening when you
consider that you are the central - and probably the only person - who can keep
your business going.
If you're worried about making the wrong decisions, let me put your mind at ease
- YOU WILL! You ARE going to make wrong business decisions, but don't let it
discourage you though, because even big-wig CEOs make mistakes. Will there be
tough times? DEFINITELY. Tough times bring out the best in people and every mess
you get INTO and OUT OF, makes you a better person - smarter, tougher and more
resilient. After you've gone through a couple of ups and downs, you'll get into
the groove and go with the flow - that's the way it is with business and that's
the way it is with life in general.
Different type of benefits
If you're like me, you've probably grown accustomed to (and taken for granted)
the many benefits of a regular nine-to-five job - free medical and dental,
vacations, paid training, coffee breaks and the occasional business lunches.
I found that for me at least, running a home-based business has given me
priceless benefits. Tops on the list would probably be the fact I'm closer to my
family. In addition to taking care my websites and running our home catering
business with my wife, I'm also the official driver, handyman and maid all
rolled up into one. Even though it gets totally crazy sometimes, I love that I'm
always there for my kids. Oh, they still make it a point to drive me up the wall
everyday, but I'd rather be driven up the wall by them than by my maniacal
ex-boss.
The Naked Truth
OK, here's THE NAKED TRUTH about having your own home-based business - YOU SET
THE RULES, YOU CALL THE SHOTS. That means you can do things anyway you want,
from your working hours to your filing system to what you wear (or don't wear!)
at work. Careful though... when you set lousy rules, you'll end up with a lousy
system, a lousy business and worse, a lousy reputation. In the end, it's going
to hurt that paycheck that YOU write for yourself every month. Just because it's
a home-based business doesn't mean that you can throw professionalism out the
window. In fact, an even higher level of professionalism may be required because
you're operating independently and competing with established companies.
Of course how much flexibility you enjoy depends on what kind of home business
you're running. Since my mornings are spent taking care of my websites and
writing, I don't physically interact with people much, so I do have the liberty
of working in my bathrobe or anything else I choose (I leave it to your
imagination). While lost in cyberspace, I also have the liberty of snacking
anytime I want, which accounts for my growing waistline. Then in the evenings,
when my wife and I are busy with our catering business, I'm definitely fully
clothed, complete with my tidy apron and smiling my best smile as we take care
of our customers.
So What Now?
There you have it folks, my run-down of some of the basic stuff you can expect
when you start a home-based business. You may earn less and have to give up some
status for the first couple of years, but when you consider the big picture and
take into account all the other intangible benefits, there's nothing quite like
being your own boss! As your business grows, you'll be writing yourself bigger
and fatter paychecks. Then, you can sit down to that leisurely cup of coffee,
enjoying a lazy morning, while your home-based business brings in the big bucks!
Care to hang up your tie and heels, anyone?
About the Author
Andrew Shim is the owner and editor of
PositiveMoneyIdeas.com a website which offers FREE IDEAS for those
interested in starting their own freelance or home based business and
PositiveTones.com , a FREE resource website for Positive Living.
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