What woman hasn’t dreamed of being able to toss her business clothes in the trash and wear her pyjamas to work? Regardless of whether or not you have children at home, working from home has become more and more popular in recent years. Everyone from CEOs to graphic designers want a slice of the work at home pie.
Before you douse your best dress suit in lighter fluid and dance around the bonfire, proclaiming your freedom from cubicle hell, consider what it takes to work from home and if you have the stomach for it, because let’s face it - working at home isn’t for wimps. Working at home has a unique set of obstacles that you need to prepare yourself for before you clean out your desk.
The first thing you must discover is what you want to do at home. Do you want to join a company as an Independent sales representative? These are often the MLM (multilevel marketing) and deal heavily with your success relying on how many people you can bring into the company as well as how well you sell and market. If you don’t believe in the products or ideas you are selling, it will be hard to make this work at home job work for you.
If you’re the entrepreneurial type and you have a great idea for a business or even a skill you can market and profit from, consider starting your own business. Many women find success as freelance web designers, virtual assistants, and even writing. Errand services, daycares and even tutoring are all possible options. If you’re not sure what would make a good work at home job for you, feel out friends and family for ideas. They can often be great resources and can help later with marketing your business.
As mentioned already, working from home isn’t something that everyone who dreams it, can handle. It takes a dedication and resilience that most people find they don’t have; unfortunately, many people find this out too late. If you’re one of those people who prefer to put off today what you can do tomorrow, being able to dedicate yourself and discipline yourself to work at home hours may be a struggle. Likewise, some people don’t have the kind of qualities that working at home requires. If you’re someone who constantly craves praise or likes to see results instantly or a profit, think again. When you work at home, for the first few months to possibly the first year, you may see little in profits and praise? That’s more likely to have to come from within until you build a clientèle that can sing your praises and spread the good word about you.
Once you’ve decided that you have the stomach for working at home and even have the perfect work at home business idea in mind, calculating the money it will take to start your business will be next. Depending on the type of work at home job you choose, you can begin working for little to no money at all. It helps to have some of the office equipment you will need already at home. This includes a cell phone or separate phone line for work, a computer or laptop, a printer, and basic office supplies like paper, pens, envelopes, and stamps. The bottom line is that you may need to spend some money before you can make some money.
Time is going to be never ending when you work at home. The more time you are able to put into your business, the better. Many work at home women put in an average of 10 hours a week to get the business off the ground. You don’t have to stick to those numbers though, if you can put in more time; go for it. Your time will be made up of marketing and spreading the word about your business in the beginning. This is where your friends and family can come in. They are great sources of free marketing and are often willing to try out your business or pass the word along to someone who can use your products or services.
The ability to be patient when you work at home is something many women who work at home struggle with. After you’ve spent time making flyers, business cards, and marketing or even applying to various companies and organisations, at some point you enter the waiting game. Work may not come fast and steady in the beginning and even if it does, there will always be times where you see a lull in business. It happens to the best of any business. It’s neither an indication of success or failure on your part but it’s always important to be able to kick your marketing talents into high gear when this happens and get resilient if you’re looked over. Someone will need your services. Who knows? Those who got the job may not have lived up to their potential, and that’s when you will get your foot in the door.
Above all else, having a support network of friends, family and especially people in the same business as you will go a long way towards your success. It’s great to believe in yourself and your abilities but having others be able to give you the pat on the back and boost you need when you feel like you are struggling will keep you moving and keep you striving for success.
Recommended Reading
For more information and advice on working from home, take a look at the following books:
Will Work from Home: Earn the Cash - Without the Commute
The Work-at-Home Success Bible: A Complete Guide for Women
The Recession-Busting Guide To Making Money Online From Home
Undress for Success: The Naked Truth about Making Money at Home
Work at Home Now: The No-nonsense Guide to Finding Your Perfect Home-based Job
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