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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

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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

About the author:

Over the last twenty years I have through trial and error

learned what will and will not work. I have fallen for many

promises that I thought was a 'sure thing' and well you know, I

want YOU not to make the same mistakes, but to learn from mine.

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