Don’t let fear stop you
by Melody
Today I was thinking back to when I first became a Virtual Assistant. I was working as an IC for several online companies and the workflow was ok but it wasn’t steady enough that I could really count on it. On the side, I was also doing various support services for my family and friends.
My buddy, the almost famous Nell, kept telling me I needed to start myself a business since many of the tasks I was doing were the same ones I’d do as a virtual assistant. Although I knew in the back of my mind that she was right, the thing that kept holding me back was the fear of failure and also, believe it or not, the fear of success.
I kept playing over and over in my head how I would feel if I failed. I worried about what would happen if I landed many clients and all the sudden was overwhelmed with work and couldn’t handle it… it never dawning on me that I could turn work down. What if I didn’t know how to do a particular task?
Thinking back, this all seems silly because I do have a very full schedule and sometimes have to turn work away, I have taken tasks that I didn’t know how to do & I fumbled my way through until I learned it, and I have had tasks that just kicked my butt! But the thing I’ve learned is its okay to fail sometimes because it’s all part of learning and growing.
Failure or what we perceive it to be is not the end of the world. In fact, it’s probably not even the end of our career. It’s just a stepping-stone that if handled properly can turn out to be one of the greatest lessons we learn.
I can’t imagine how life would be right now if I had given in to my fears and not taken that first step. I’m sure it would be quite different, as I most likely would be working outside the home now.
So I thought I’d take a moment to share this story and to also thank my buddy Nell for all the advice, encouragement and support she has given me over the years. THANK YOU NELL!!!
Mel
Balancing Your Family and Home-Based Business: Ways to Reduce Stress and Be Productive
by Melody
If you own a home-based business, you may have found that you spend more time working and less time with your family, the reason you started a home-based business in the first place. Finding a balance between the two can be difficult because you want to be successful at both. What happens is you get tired, stressed and become unproductive in both areas.
You can successfully balance your home life and your home-based business. The key to finding balance is controlling your time first by deciding what you can and cannot do and then organizing yourself so that you complete your daily tasks more efficiently. When you begin each day knowing what you need to accomplish and how you are going to do it, you will get more work done, in less time and with less stress.
A schedule is crucial to your success at work, but even more necessary if you expect to have any time left for your family. When the workday is over; leave your desk, shut the door and give your family time the same undivided attention as you do your work. All the pressing business matters and unfinished projects can wait until the next day.
By following a schedule and accepting that it’s okay to leave unfinished work for another day, you may find you have fewer unfinished business matters at the end of the day and far less stress.
Here are some ways to use your time more effectively:
Prioritize. Write down everything that needs to be done and then prioritize the list.
Keep it simple. Don’t make everyday tasks harder than they have to be. Learn the quickest, easiest way to complete the task and do it that way every time.
Where are you going? If it’s your first time driving to a new location, get directions. A big time waster is driving around aimlessly trying to locate a building you were sure you knew how to get to. Instead, take 5 minutes to look on mapquest.com or maps.google.com and get driving directions.
Are you done? When you are organized, you can quickly see what has been completed and what needs to be finished. Using a to-do list is one of the easiest ways to keep track of your tasks. A simple spiral notebooks works great.
Declutter your office. If you don’t need it, want it or use it, why should you keep it? By eliminating clutter, you not only free up space but the time it takes to move all that unnecessary stuff around because it’s in your way.
Eliminate unnecessary interruptions. A pet peeve of mine is to be half way through a project that requires my complete attention and the phone rings or someone barges in and needs something done right now. For times like this, let your voice mail take your calls, give family members a 10 minute warning ahead of time so they can get all their questions, requests and emergencies out of the way before you begin. For smaller children, give them a quiet activity that they can do while you are working.
Toss Junk Mail. When going through the mail have a wastebasket next to you so you can toss any junk mail that you may have. Better yet, toss it at the post office so you don’t drag it home! While at the post office, buy stamps by the roll and envelopes in bulk so you have them on hand.
Plan your attack. Whether you are shopping for groceries, clothes or office supplies, you need to make it as quick and painless as possible. Instead of making short shopping trips every day, plan on doing all of your shopping once a week or if possible twice a month.
Make a list of what you need and where you have to go to buy it. Know your route and plan to shop for non-perishable items first and groceries last, while also trying to avoid backtracking. Only buy what’s on the list! As much as this hurts me to say - if you don’t have shoes on the list, stay out of the shoe section. Browsing wastes time and money.
Prepare in advance. Mornings will run a lot smoother if you set the kid’s school clothes, hair accessories, shoes & backpacks out the night before.
This is true of business tasks too. At the end of the workday, set out anything you know you will need the next morning. If you make all your calls first thing in the morning, leave yourself a pen, paper, any account information and the Rolodex out so it shaves off a few minutes the next morning.
Ask for help. If your business has grown to the point that you can no longer handle it alone, you may want to consider outsourcing certain jobs or hiring a virtual assistant.� You can have routine jobs or special projects completed by others and for a reasonable price. Virtual assistants are great at doing all the tedious, time consuming tasks that take up so much of your time.
You can balance your home and business if you get organized, manage your time wisely and set realistic goals as to what you can accomplish in one day. Making small changes in the way you work can add up to lots of extra time.
How To Reduce Your Expenses When Operating A Home Business
by Melody
Operating a home-based business can be one of the best decisions you will ever make. When starting a home business it is important to budget your time and money wisely. While a home business can be quite profitable, the money will not start rolling in over night and you will want to keep your expenses down until you sales start coming in.
Here are some ways to help you reduce your business expenses:
Keep accurate records of your expenses and review them at least once a month. Seeing what you spend in black and white can give you a good idea of where you can cut back.
Consider joining an alliance for small and home-based businesses. You will be able to get discounts on everything from office supplies to health insurance.
In purchasing office machines, buy multi-purpose equipment such as a printer/copier/fax in one. Make sure you take any discounts offered by suppliers such as a small discount when you pay your invoice within 10 days.
Remember that you may be entitled to certain tax deductions on your home and vehicle when you operate a home business.
Make sure you turn off non-essential office equipment when not in use to save on electricity costs. Take advantage of free advertising by submitting press releases and articles to local papers and online sites. Add your website to online directories and participate on networking forums.
When you must print a document, print on both sides of the paper (called duplexing). This will cut paper costs by 50%.
Emailing well wishes and letters will save you money. If you know Uncle Bob uses a computer often, why pay $3.00 or more for a card and a stamp when you can send him a free birthday e-card? As they always say, it’s the thought that counts.
Instead of purchasing a print copy of your favorite newspaper or magazine, read it online. You’ll find that many companies offer a free condensed version on their website.
Reduce junk faxes by switching to an online service. You can send and receive faxes from your computer and delete the junk ones before printing. If you have to print a fax, skip the coversheet when possible.
Never buy scratch/doodle pads. Instead, use one-sided junk mail, envelopes and other papers for notes. Cut them into 4″x 6″ strips, staple or use rubber cement to bind them together with the blank side up. Use them to take phone messages, jot down notes or let your children draw pictures on them.
Use paper from your shredder for packing items before mailing, eliminating the need to purchase packing peanuts.
Buy in bulk! Anything that is nonperishable that you use a lot of such as paper and pencils, you can usually find in bulk. The initial cost is a little more but it will save you time and money in the end.
Reducing your expenses when operating a business from your home is not only smart but is often necessary to turn a profit. By making small changes in your business operations, you will see an increase in your profits.
Is a Home-Based Business Right for You?
by Melody
Before leaping into the role of a home-based business owner, you might want to consider a few things. A home-based business may provide you with more freedom than you currently have; however, with freedom comes sacrifices. Having a successful home-based business is possible, if you are willing to take the good along with the bad.
The freedom to work the days and hours that you want is very appealing to many people. When you operate a home business, you literally have the ability to work around your family’s doctor appointments or your child’s school activities. The negative aspect of this, which many people don’t take into account, is the reduced amount of social interaction with peers. You will have to determine if you can handle the solitude of a home-based business. There won’t be the daily chat around the water cooler or people stopping by to say hello. If working alone isn’t a problem, then a home-based business may be right for you.
When you work from home, you have more say about what work you do. There are many opportunities available but it’s up to you to choose one that is right for you. Even when you find a business that fits your needs and likes, you may find there are several areas in which you have little or no experience. For this reason, you must be highly motivated for your home-based business to succeed. Strong planning and organizational skills are needed, and you must be a self-starter to reach your business goals. Take a personal inventory of your skills and characteristics to make sure you have the drive and will to succeed.
Home-based businesses may have financial benefits outside of the actual pay you receive. Your business may be eligible for special tax deductions. This usually involves filing an itemized return and requires good organizational and bookkeeping skills. Your accountant or tax consultant can tell you which, if any, deductions apply to your home business.
Although many people want to begin a home business in order to have more time with family, family time is often one of the first areas that suffer. It takes a great deal of time and effort to get a home business off the ground. Making and sticking to specific office hours early in your home business life will help to guard your personal and family time.
When beginning a home business, be sure to take into account that there is often a lack of a steady income. Here are several things that you can do to prevent this from being a major drawback. Prior to starting a business, create a viable business plan with the help of professional consultants. Take advantage of the free help that is available online, as well. You can also start a part-time home business. This will allow you to save money from your steady income while you learn the ropes of your home business.
Unlike a job in which you report to an employer, a home-based business’ success or failure rests on your shoulders. Every victory or disappointment will be your sole responsibility. You will either reap the rewards or suffer the consequences of your actions and choices.
Owning a successful home-based business is the dream of millions of people. Take a long hard look at your situation and yourself. If you think you have what it takes to start and maintain a home-based business, you probably do. There may be those who doubt your decision but it’s not their opinion that matters. It’s what you believe that counts. With effort and determination, you can realize your dreams and earn a steady income from your own home.
Melody Spier, owner of Essential Office Support offers virtual support services to small and home-based business owners. You do the tasks that you do best and let a Virtual Assistant do the rest! http://www.EssentialOfficeSupport.com