Sometimes, working from home can be a struggle. What? Did I just say that working from home can be a struggle? I must be out of my mind right? I mean, you don’t have to get up early, go to a job, take orders, work for a wage, deal with corporate politics, worry about employees, leave the house and miss out on your children growing up. There are a ton of perks and very few negatives about working from home. It has been a huge blessing to my family and I. We love it.

Let me share an example with you of something that can kill your work day progress. Her name is Macy. She is just over one year old, she loves her Dad and I love her, but she cries when she can’t have Dad. Also, I have Kyla and Saydee who are seven and five who also require Dad’s attention. Saydee is not in school yet and is a bored hyper little girl. She can only color, play Wii, play barbies, jump on the trampoline or ride her bike alone for so long before it isn’t fun anymore and she is back to being bored. Kyla gets home from school mid afternoon and is excited to be home and is ready to go do stuff. All of this is why I work from home, I love it. But, if I let it distract my work day, it can be very damaging to my success.

Now, for me, I have to designate a period of separation from my kids in order to be effective. I can’t be holding Macy and type on the computer at the same time. Some people may be able to pull this off. My wife is actually a very talented one hand typer and is probably faster one handed than I am with two. I just can’t do it.

So what we do, is we have an office. A room where I can escape from the kids for a few hours to work. We have established some rules around this office time so that the kids know that I am working and not to interrupt. We made it fun for the girls and helped them make a sign for my door. They know that when the sign is up, Dad is working. It’s kind of funny, I get reminded at least twice a day what the sign means when it is turned one way or the other. They take ownership in the rules. Now, does this work 100% of the time? No! But is sure does help.

I usually work from 2pm to 5 pm every day, Monday through Thursday. Fridays I work in the morning for about an hour. That’s it! The important thing is that my wife and children know when I start work and when I finish work. I have my DMO (Daily Method of Operation) established. There is no frustration of not getting that chance to get some work done because it is planned into my day. I don’t ever get to the end of my day thinking of all the things I have to get done because I never had the opportunity to do it that day. Three hours of focused, uninterrupted work is better than 8 hours of unfocused mediocre work.

If you are a single parent with children at home, plan to work around your lifestyle, not settling for excuses of why you can’t do it. Plan to do it. Work during nap time, before they wake up, after they go to sleep or while they are away at school. Make it a priority and it will happen. It just has to be planned in.

There are some days where all I require is my phone and people to talk to. Those days we are most likely out on the road living the lifestyle. Other days, I am marketing to find those people to talk to. Give and get!

Honestly, there is no comparison to the lifestyle I enjoy. No other business opportunity on the planet can even hold a candle to this. I love my life and have complete control over my time, whether with children or without. They are definetely not distractions, they are not a burden, they just love their Dad. Every time I go into my office, I go there because of them. I am always home while most Dads hardly ever are, and I will never take that for granted.

What other methods have you found effective in managing your home life while working from home. Your feedback is appreciated!

Thousands of people start a Home Based Business every single day! Thousands! Why? What makes a Home Based Business so attractive and where are all these people coming from?

Before getting too far into the perks of a Home Based Business, let’s do a quick analysis of the competition:

1. A J.O.B. – A job really doesn’t even hold a candle to a Home Based Business but people will actually choose a good paying job instead of a Home Business. Why? A false sense of security, a regular paycheck and much less risk. Don’t forget, you also get 2 weeks of paid vacation and a bonus check here and there.
2. A Franchise – Franchises are the closest thing to a Home Based Business in the fact that  they have a system already in place. The downfall to a franchise is the franchise rules, the large start-up costs, and the continued franchise fees. To start a McDonalds a person has to have a net worth of a million dollars with half of that being liquid. You can make 6 figures with a McD’s but must deal with employees, long hours, complaints, etc. You get the picture.
3. Brick and Mortar Business – For anyone who has no clue of what a brick and mortar business is, allow me to explain….it is any other regular mom and pop business. Clear? With these, there are no systems to follow, larger start-up costs, employees, etc. In order to have true success in these businesses, you must buy one that is already successful, have a great business plan or plenty of funding until you are profitable. Most mom and pop businesses are not profitable until 3 – 5 years after starting. 90% of all businesses fail within their 3rd year. It is a sad statistic I know, but true!
4. Work at home JOB – These are the transcripts, letter mailing, answering emails, taking surveys type of work. They are not your own business and the pay is minimal for the hours of work invested. You can make a little extra money though, enough to pay for an extra tank of gas or something of that nature!

Human nature is to flourish, excel, succeed and to live a life of luxury. A job definitely isn’t the answer nor a work at home job. Franchises and mom and pop businesses can provide this on a larger scale but at what cost? What would it take to get there? Is your family the one that has to pay for your success?

People are turning towards a Home Based Business because:

1. There is a system to follow. No guesswork is involved.
2. The compensation in specific business models is unparalleled in any other type of business opportunity.
3. The initial investment to start a home based business is extremely low for the income potential.
4. Complete control over your work schedule. Work when you want!
5. A Home Based Business is mobile. Take it with you on vacation and make money while gone or just work from home!
6. No stocking, warehousing or pre-purchasing products or inventory.
7. Direct mentoring from other successful Home Based Business Entrepreneurs.
8. Residual and passive income streams!
9. Most have a proven track history of success.
10. Freedom and complete control of your time as an Entrepreneur.

Little else compares to having your own Home Based Business. It all just depends on what you’re looking for in your life…..time freedom with the income, just the income, or neither. I think the choice is obvious!

I had fun thinking of all the things that drove me nuts with having a job. It has been over 4 years since I was in a J.O.B and Just Over Broke. I was recently visiting my brother and we were having a conversation about him coming and visiting for New Years. He mentioned to me that his employer requires him to work for an entire year before he will be allowed to take a day off! So with all that said, I am going to rate that as the top situation avoided by being an Entrepreneur!

1. Your Employer or Boss requiring you to work an entire year before taking one day off! You teach people how to treat you and then allow them to do so. If you allow this to happen, you are more wacko than I thought. Yes, I just called my brother a Wacko!
2. “So…why is it that you feel you deserve a raise?” This line drove me nuts even though I only had the privilege of hearing it once a year at most. Basically, you are being asked how much you feel you are worth! My answer: “More than you can afford!” Anything less than that would be settling, tucking your tail between your legs, and taking it up the ‘you know what!’ Always trying to prove my worth was annoying.
3. “Ummm…We’re thinking about laying you off!” Ouch! My Brother-in-law got this line just the other day. They actually offered him a voluntary lay-off instead, basically meaning, 6 weeks of pay and 6 months of benefits. Pathetic severance package huh!?
4. “I want you here 5 minutes early every day, so that you can be ready to work at 8!” You know what I had to say to my boss, “As long as I am clocked in before 8 am, I am ON TIME!” Did that tick him off? Yes! Did he do anything about it? No!
5. Ummm….I feel that my employees are not dressing professionally enough. Can you dress nicer?” My Mother-in-law got this one last week. The sad thing, it’s not directed towards her. It was for her co-worker who comes to work in an accounting office in a skirt, mountain boots, and flannel jacket! I wish I had a twitpic for you all to see that image!
6. Getting told when to go to lunch everyday. This wouldn’t be so bad if lunch time was at the same time every day, but instead, you get a 15 minute notice!
7. “Thanks for all you have done this year but, due to the economy, you won’t be getting a Christmas bonus this year! Instead, I am giving you all a ham!” This actually happened to me, but what he was really saying is, “My wife wants a BMW for Christmas so I took it out on you!”
8. Getting hurt on the job, bleeding from a gash in your head, while your boss shops around trying to find the best deal on getting it fixed! I can understand always finding the best deal but come one! You have an employee bleeding to death while you try to save $50.00!
9. The entire application process! What attributes or qualities do you have that would make you a good employee? “Uh, because I am a team player, I work well with others, and am a go-getter!” That was my most used answer. Say that and you are guaranteed to get hired everytime!
10. Working your butt off for an entire year to get your face put up on the wall with the quotes, “Employee of the Year!” On top of that, working an entire year to get a pat on the back or a little recognition from your supervisor or boss, guys, it’s not worth it!

The truth of the matter is, I can’t stand to work with others if they are morons, I am only a good team player if I am playing on the team I choose and I am a go-getter for me and those I care for, not for a boss. I just want the bi-weekly check!

I think I could come up with at least 10 more on my own. What situations, phrases, or things have you been able to avoid or want to avoid by your choice to become an Entrepreneur?

When speaking of a Home Based Business, the words “Home Based” are a little misleading. Sure, just having the privilege of working from home over having to go to a job in some other location is enough for most people. I mean, when you work from home you are only so many steps from your refrigerator, so many steps from your bathroom and at home with your family! You will never miss out on anything right?

Well what happens when you have a family event in the middle of the week? What if your family wants to go visit the grandparents for the weekend or maybe even the entire week? What then? You are “home based” right?

I guess it really depends on what kind of Home Based Business you are involved in. Let’s do some reviews of  home based businesses that are more “mobile” than others.

Ebay – Now I am not an Ebay power seller nor will I ever be. Ebay can definitely be a home based business but requires handling and shipping of products, unless of course you do some kind of wholesale distribution. You can set it up to have the manufacturers ship the products for you. All you do is take the orders and collect the profits. But for the most part, an ebay business is “home based.”

Day Care – I only have a few words for this one…..50 kids that are not your own! Definitely “home based!”

Avon, Arbonne, etc – I don’t know much about these businesses and don’t pretend to know, but my mother used to be involved in both of these and she spent most of her time having “make-up” parties at her home, hitting up family and friends, making local visits and hand delivering the product to her customers. So from my experience, “home based.”

MLM/Network Marketing – When you think of a Home Based Business, this is usually the category to search in. These are primarily marketing businesses connected to a wholesale company. Now most MLM companies that I have known require you to pre-purchase your product. Thus, you have a garage full of stuff. On the other hand, there are some MLM opportunities where the wholesale company ships the product direct to your customer. Most of your marketing is done on the internet or over the phone and can be done Internationally. So depending on the opportunity, “mobile!”

Direct Sales – Most direct sales home based businesses have a wholesale company that ships the product for you. You are never required to pre-purchase or warehouse any product. My pick is definitely with Direct Sales mainly because I get paid first. The customer pays me directly, I then pay the wholesale amount to the wholesale company, then they deal with the shipping and customer service. In direct sales, most of your marketing is done online, in newspapers, magazines, etc and can all be done with a phone and a laptop! Direct Sales in brilliant, much more lucrative and definitely “mobile!”

There you have it. Finding a Home Based Business that is mobile is fairly simple and will allow you to experience true freedom to come and go as you please. Take your business with you on vacation, a work trip, while attending a conference, attending family events or where ever it is you decide to go. It’s a beautiful thing when you can take your cash machine with you!

This is a video of me and my daughter hard at work. I absolutely love what I do! So if you have the idea in your head that Home Based Businesses don’t work, think again! Honestly, I can’t speak for all the other ones out there, but this Home Based Business definitely works and it pays big.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdgQbXyYC6Q[/youtube]

Can you really work from home and be as successful as you’d like to be? Are there any Home Based Businesses out there that can produce results? Are the promises and the advertisements stating the dream lifestyle and amazing income fluff or are there success stories? I guess the real questions is: Can the average person have the same results?

Now before I answer that question, let me dish out some statistics. It is fact that 80% of all businesses fail before their 3rd year in business, most millionaires have gone bankrupt or failed in different business ventures several times before experiencing success, the average income in most MLM structured home based businesses is less than $5k a year.

So can average people have all out massive success in a home based business? No! Average people can’t have much success in anything and I will tell you why, but first let me share with you the unwritten meaning of success. It means to excel, reach goals, stand out, accomplish dreams, create a fortune, experience results and all in all reach your desired outcome. How then, if you are average, meaning like everyone else, can you ever have more success than those who are also average. You must be different. You can’t be average and excel in a home based business or in any business for that matter. You must first learn to stop thinking like an average thinker, and to start thinking like a bug thinker, or an Entrepreneur.

The reason I say this is because there are thousands of people starting a Home Based Business everyday! Every single day! Now what is going to separate you from them? What are you going to do differently that will ensure your success? Here it is:

1. Direct Sales! Don’t waste your time or money on an MLM.
2. Find a Home Based Business with a system to follow and follow it to the “T”. System = success.
3. Find a mentor who is having success and get started with them.
4. Do what your mentor tells you to do and call them frequently.
5. Treat your home based business like a business, not a hobby. If you ever want to succeed then you must take more pride in your business than you do your job. Doing the bare minimum will not cut it!
6. You must be creative. No one will do it for you. Think of new ideas, “be your business” and do something original.
7. Play full out!! I cannot emphasize this enough. Mediocre and average effort will bring mediocre and average results. Play full out for all out massive success.

So many people just don’t realize that they can actually make more money, have more time, and spend more time with their family by starting a home based business. Average thinking people who have failed have clogged forums with negativity have distorted the true potential of a Home Based Business. While they have been doing so, so many people have been building fortunes and living dreams.

Direct Sales is one of the most lucrative industries in the world. People are literally making their prior annual salary in one single month. Why? Because they are not average. They are Entrepreneur…and there is a huge difference.