Are You the Type of Person Who Can Work From Home?
Everyone is not cut out to be a small business owner. Do you know if you have what it takes?
Most small business success stories begin in basements and around kitchen tables. But although the self employment idea and working from home is often the most affordable choice, not everyone thrives in a cocoon-like environment.
I live in a major centre where hour-long commutes are commonplace. So when I had the opportunity to work from home, I jumped at the chance. What I found, though, was that I started to become stale.
The Quiet Became Deafening...
My only social contact during the day was the post office clerk. And the stress of making decisions alone all day and juggling all the business priorities started to get to me.
So I learned that I work better in a collaborative environment - and I joined a few relevant small business owners groups to compensate for a more traditional work set up.
Becoming a home-based small business owner sounds alluring, convenient and financially savvy.
In fact, even major corporations have adopted "telecommuting" as a common practice in today's workplace. But we are social beings, and many "home-preneurs" find that being alone all day can be demotivating.
If you have children, home-biz convenience may win over the challenges - but diaper changes and day care pick-ups can interrupt serious work flows and limit your ability to expand.
I AM Working, You Know...
For some reason, some people believe that home-based small business owners have all the time in the world for errands, favours and other non-business activities. You'll have to set boundaries around that one... or your days will pass quickly with little or no impact on your bottom line.
What if your spouse also works from home? Are you prepared to be with your partner 24 hours a day? It's not quite as romantic as it sounds, and can set the stage for overly unromantic communication at odd times during the day.
In other words, becoming a home-based small business owner is not just about a great self employment idea whose time has come. It's about an alignment of several factors: the market, the timing, the idea, the financial picture - and YOU.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Here are few of the key skills you'll need to successfully pursue that self employment idea...
Self-discipline and internal motivation. It's easy to get distracted when you don't have the boss breathing down your neck.
Strong organizational and time management skills. You're not going to earn a dime unless you can achieve significant results with you new small business.
Ability to work in relative isolation, and without a team. Eventually, you may have employees, but most new business owners, especially home-based ones, start out as a team of one. Can you work under those conditions or will you go stir crazy?
So, one of the first steps in considering whether to become a small business owner is to know yourself. Do you have what it takes to become one of the small business success stories?
Most small business success stories begin in basements and around kitchen tables. But although the self employment idea and working from home is often the most affordable choice, not everyone thrives in a cocoon-like environment.
