By Darrell Finkeldei
Most people who start a home based business do so with the
objective of creating a second income. It is a replacement
for working a part time job. After all, working from home is
much more appealing than working for someone else at someone
else's work place.
With a part time job you would have a certain number of
hours to work on a specific schedule of days or evenings. Do
you treat your part time business in the same way?
Part-Time versus Spare-Time
When was the last time that you really had some SPARE time?
Think about it. Life has it's way of using up every last
minute of every day for you. There really is no such thing
as SPARE time.
It doesn't really matter what kind of business you have
chosen. It might be network marketing, direct sales, or an
internet business. The fact is that most people will fail to
generate that second income because they don't recognize the
difference between "part time" and "spare time".
Those who are successful in creating a second income from a
work at home business know that spare time never comes. They
commit to a specific number of hours to work their business,
set a schedule, and stick to it. Just as they would if they
had a part time job.
Five Proven Ways To Avoid The Spare Time Trap
1) Choose a Business That You Will Enjoy
This is the greatest advantage to starting a part time
business from home. You don't have many choices when looking
for a part time job. But, when it comes to home based
businesses, there is something for almost anyone.
If you choose something you enjoy doing it will not only be
easier for you to MAKE the time to work your business, your
enjoyment will be noticed by your clients or customers and
enhance your income.
2) Decide How Much Time You Can Devote To Your Business
Most home based businesses can be started on a "shoestring
budget". Therefore, you can generate a second income by
working as few as five or ten hours per week.
Be realistic in your decision. Take a good, hard look at
your weekly activities. Are there some activities that you
can give up to make time for your business?
Here is where you will decide just how important this second
income is to you. But don't make the mistake of not allowing
time for family and recreation. If your business becomes a
"ball and chain" you are doomed for failure.
3) Set a Schedule and Stick To It
Once you have decided how much time you can devote to your
business you must decide WHEN you can work your business.
Get a planning calendar and block in all your weekly
activities. Then block in the times you can devote to your
business.
Try to block time for your business on a regular basis. If
you have committed to ten hours per week, try for two hours
per day, five days per week rather than five hours on two
days a week. Having a routine creates habit and good work
habits contribute to success.
When you have your time scheduled...STICK TO IT. It's easy
to say "I'll work double tomorrow" when you are working for
yourself. Successful people just DON'T fall into this trap.
4) Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More
Plan what you need to get accomplished during your work
time. Knowing what you want to get done leaves little room
for distraction. Stay focused on getting the tasks at hand
done.
And, when planning, always prioritize your work. Concentrate
on doing those things that will move your business forward
and actually generate income. But don't let the details slip
by, either. Automate as much of the detail work as possible.
5) Set Goals and Work To Achieve Them
Setting goals for your business is one of the most important
things you can do. It is a skill not easily learned, though.
Goals must be realistic in order to be achieved. And they
must also be specific.
Making a million dollars this year is certainly a goal, but
it is rather broad and vague. A goal to make one sale per
week is more specific and can be broken down into smaller
and more exact parts.
If it takes 10 sales calls on average to make one sale, then
you can achieve that goal in specific increments:
- generate 10 new leads per week
- make two calls per day
- generate one sale
Once you start achieving goals like this it is not hard to
take the next step. If each sale nets you $100.00 how many
sales will it take a month to go full time? How many new
leads will that take? How many calls per day? Break your
goals down into realistic parts and they become much more
achievable.
