Startup Sunday
When I worked for an employer, and friends talked about the best home-based business, I admit that my eyes rolled back in my head. I envisioned myself struggling to put together jewelry or crafts that would stop casual shoppers in their tracks with their beauty. As friends raved about Pampered Chef or Dove Chocolate at Home, I would think to myself how much I liked getting the same, predictable paycheck every Friday.
Then I was laid off, along with the two dozen other journalists in my office. Boy, did that change my perspective! Suddenly the paycheck from an employer didn't seem predictable at all. But neither had I developed a zest for cooking equipment or a crafty streak overnight -- none of those avenues was the best home-based business for me.
Instead, I thought about what I was good at. Words. Asking questions. Writing down the answers. Researching relevant information. Telling a story. Maybe I could develop a viable business around words! I was launched like a rocket. Now, a mere 15 months later, I'm busy at least 40 hours a week writing articles for various publications, and on top of that I have CurrentMom to write for and edit.
For me, the best home-based business is built around my already well-developed writing and communication skills, which I honed in 15 years as an on-staff journalist. I'm willing to bet that the same is true for most successful entrepreneurs. The field that they launch a business in may be different, but the skills they deploy have been with them for quite some time. My strength is communications; for you it may be analytics, sales, organization, networking or even crafts and design.
If you're thinking about starting a business, ask yourself what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, who you know and who might be willing to spend money on the products or services produced from those skills. Sometimes, a good brainstorming session with a friend is all you need to jumpstart your own home-based business. (I'm always happy to jump in -- just tell me your idea!)
The one caution I would add is that you need to look hard at the dollars and cents -- and hours of work required -- before you launch into a new home-based business. If you're not a numbers person, ask an analytical friend or relative to give you a reality check. It's easy to get carried away with the vision of what you could do, and neglect to look at how much you are likely to earn from the work that you do.
For instance, there are many outlets for freelance writing that will pay $10 or $15 for an article that takes you three hours to write. There simply aren't enough hours in the day to make a living at that kind of gig -- you're better off taking a retail job that won't exhaust your brain, and pitching articles to mainstream publications in your free time. (My fallback plan was to find a job checking people into an apartment or office building, so I could scribble in between visitors.)
You make some great points.
Most people think of their job as being secure, but nothing could be further from the truth. I learned (first hand) that being laid off has nothing to do with your performance, and almost everything to do with money. When companies decide who to let go, they look at who is costing them the most (regardless of how much the employee is actually worth), and who will be the least likely to sue them. (You would think that it would be a great opportunity to dump the non-performers, but that's not the way it works.)
While starting and operating your home based business can be stressful at times, it is certainly no less secure than sitting in a cube every day and begging for a paycheck. Besides, it's much more fun to work at your passion each day, and create wealth for yourself (instead of your company).
Posted by: Patrick Howard | Monday, January 18, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Good points on home business. And we all should have the fortune to love what we do and have it fit into our lifestyle, and even boost us into a higher lifestyle. I love my Healthy Chocolate business (certainly NOT Dove chocolate - LOL). First of all, I love chocolate. Secondly, a billion other people a day love it right along with me. There's no ice breaker that will get you more positive responses than "Do you like chocolate?" Pure unprocessed cocoa is the worlds most powerful antioxidant. With baby boomers reaching their 60s and having more years to look forward to than ever before, antioxidants are what they are seeking to keep them looking and feeling younger. And getting your daily antioxidants, Omegas, probiotics, etc. by eating chocolate, something we usually think of as a guilty pleasure, is like a dream come true.
MyFitChocolate
Posted by: Terri | Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Home Business success is achieved only if all other aspects of life are also successful. Over six to eight hours a day, you work, rest your mind closed, and focus on the work ahead. Have to think about work when she had to spend time with them.
Common problem for those who choose to work from home, is a constant tension in all directions. Many home businesses often fail because the owner is unable to complete its work on time. Or that they think that their families suffer from lack of time, they must fit their needs. If you are considering starting a business from home, it should be noted that successful business is all about time management.
Posted by: kurniawan | Saturday, February 06, 2010 at 08:17 AM
Very well put.
You are all right and Very in tune with my own posts and blogs.
Posted by: roger turntine | Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 08:15 PM
Thanks for the great content and information. I am always browsing the internet looking for good content to get ideas for my easy home based business blogs and articles. You have some real good content here so just keep on doing what you are doing as good stuff like this is always hard to find.
Posted by: Business Insurance | Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 11:42 PM
One of the most fulfilling parts of freelance writing is the power to set my own schedule. But with great power ... well, you know the rest. Would-be entrepreneurs have a responsibility to truly consider what kind of work environment makes them most productive, whether that means a set 9-to-5 schedule in a home office with the door closed or flexible hours stolen between kids' soccer games and dentist appointments. Same goes for the kind of work that makes the entrepreneur most happy and productive. And great tips about examining the hard numbers!
Posted by: Amy Reinink | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Absolutely - I think some people make the mistake of thinking, "I like clothes/makeup/crafts/cooking" and then jump into sales of those items. But what you need for those businesses is a love of sales, not lipstick!
Posted by: Catherine | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Thank you for the information on home based business...
Posted by: work at home business | Friday, September 10, 2010 at 07:44 AM
ACD Direct is currently seeking experienced customer service professionals to process calls in a telecommute situation
Posted by: Melissa | Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 04:31 PM
Think of your talents as the things you’re really good at. They’re like personality traits. For instance, you may be a very creative person, or a person who’s really good at attending to details or a person with a gift for communicating. Your talents are the base for any successful business venture, including a home-based business.
Posted by: Adt Reviews | Monday, July 30, 2012 at 03:09 PM