Having achieved your dream of a home online business, you want it to succeed. You will have an online business that will belong to you. You are boss, and expert on all aspects of running business. You have your freedom at last, now you need to manage your new business in a way that will ensure it grows and prospers.

With you as manager and staff, these things will all be so easy...won't they? Maybe not. Having your own business, especially based at home and alone, is not necessarily as straight forward as you may have thought. Just ask yourself for now, if you were a manager before, were you a good manager? As a subordinate, were you a good member of staff, someone your bosses respected and could rely on? Ask yourself. Be honest and ask some of your former co-workers, who should be honest too. Listen to any conflicts. You will have to deal with those conflicts as manager and staff.

Really? Yes, really! You have to deal with yourself. You are boss and staff. The best staff are those who follow instructions, work hard in their allotted time, work efficiently in what they are doing, and apply all knowledge and training they have. They are also going to flourish by coming forward with good ideas and having them listened to.

The best managers give clear instructions and communicate their expectations of their staff. They also explain why certain things are done and paint broader picture to enlighten their staff about what their role means. They also know when to listen to ideas of others, including staff, and when to buy in expertise. Are you able to fulfil both roles?

By being aware of need to manage finance, marketing, purchasing and other “departments” of your online business, you are part of way to managing your business more effectively. If you can learn to compartmentalise, in your own mind, those same “departments” then you will be taking another step along same road. If you can devote time to learning more about those “departments”, becoming an expert in each, and also learn what you can about management, then you will be a powerful manager of your online business.

Who will benefit from that? You, and those you support and care for. Does that not make effort worth it?

What activities have you participated in during past year that are posturing you for continued growth?

What new business skills have you learned? Have you enrolled in any courses to upkeep certain skills or develop new ones?

What personal skills have you learned (ie. conflict resolution, improving verbal or written communications, interpersonal relations)?

What education, training or mentoring have you completed?

What organizations do you belong to and what is your capacity within those organizations (ie. member, chair, treasurer, secretary)?

What publications to you subscribe to?

Do you work with a mastermind group who keep you challenged, offer valuable resources, feedback and support?

Do you surround yourself with people who are further along life and business success continuum than you are?

Seriously evaluate your investment level in growing yourself as a human being and as a business owner. If you see need for additional investment, take action immediately.

Continuous learning will keep you excited, stimulated and positioned for future growth. It will also keep your mind active and open, which will allow for creative insights, new ideas and a stronger ability to recognize valuable opportunities when they present themselves.