What other business or organization would allow you to work in your slippers with curlers in your hair (or whiskers on your face!) while speaking with clients, negotiating contracts, or managing transactions?

How many jobs will afford you opportunity to take a 15-minute break to get dinner on stove or plant a flower garden?

None that I'm aware of.

Today was a workday for me. It was designated as record keeping, strategic planning, creative thinking, get-everything-in-order day.

Today I …

-wrote several business articles -cleaned up my e-mail inbox -paid bills -updated my business expense spreadsheet -analyzed my monthly income statement -reviewed last month's activities and revisited strategies and goals for month ahead -reviewed my client files to determine whether or not check-in e-mails were in order

I accomplished everything I set out to and more.

While working on above tasks, I took several 15- minute breaks. During these breaks I …

-did two loads of laundry -cleaned a bathroom -weeded one flower bed -raked a few dead leaves off lawn -got supper started

When I need to get away from my desk for a while, I take little "breaks" that allow me to work on a small task around house.

Sometimes, I just sit on my back deck with a glass of grape juice or water in my hand, and enjoy warm sun as I watch chipmunks; squirrels and foxes run around yard.

It's a little piece of heaven.

I remember days when I crawled out of bed in morning, scraped an inch of ice off my windshield, and headed to work.

Parking is very expensive in our downtown core, so I would park in a lot a few blocks from my workplace to get a reduced rate. I would wear multiple layers of clothing, big mitts and a warm hat and scarf so I wouldn't freeze while walking (make that running!) to my office building.

Usually, quite opposite result is produced.

When running your own business, you often work harder and for longer hours than you would for an employer.

Your perception of being a business owner and reality of it are miles apart. This is why so many entrepreneurs end up feeling out of balance and out of control.

If you are experiencing these same feelings, you are not alone, especially if you are in early years of building your business.

A gap exists between your original expectations and reality of running a home-based business.

It is important to acknowledge your false perceptions and recognize reality of being your own boss.

It is also important to understand that running your own business is one of most rewarding experiences in life, and as long as you are aware of realities and remain committed to create success you seek, you will make it happen.

In order to create breakthroughs for yourself and your business, you need to understand and embrace 8 powerful strategies.

1. Determine Your Values

This cannot be stressed enough. The success of your business will directly relate to honoring your core values.

A great tool to determine your values can be found at www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com/valuesgame.htm

2. Create A Vision

What is it you want to achieve in next six months to a year? Where do you want to be in 5-10 years in your business and personal life?

Write down vision you have for your company and your personal life (5-10 items each). With this done you will be able to set realistic goals and focus your efforts where they are needed.

Beside each item listed, write down what realizing this vision will feel and look like. Every successful entrepreneur will tell you she wrote down her vision and how this practice has contributed to her success.

3. Set Goals

Take a few hours this week to identify and write down three or four key goals necessary to move your business forward.

Include personal goals as well! (These include relationship, physical, emotional, spiritual, family, nutritional, etc.)

Picture yourself at end of this year. It's New Year's Eve and you are looking back on your achievements.

What would you like to have accomplished by then? How will you feel looking back at your amazing accomplishments?

4. Maintain Quality of Life

This is critical to success of your business. If you are burned out, stressed, exhausted, unhappy and imbalanced, your business will suffer.

Play your favorite sport every week, get out with friends, play with your children, attend school functions and dinner engagements, get adequate sleep, eat healthy meals and take your partner on a date.

If your work and personal life are not in balance, you will do yourself, your family, and your business a great disservice.

When you are in balance, you have more energy, you can think more clearly and you can maintain a sharper focus.

When you function in a balanced state, you can accomplish more quality work in 3 hours than you can in 12 hours in an imbalanced state. You will make better decisions and fewer mistakes.

Take mini-vacations. Every time you do, you will come back fresher, sharper and capable of creating amazing breakthroughs in your business.

The little things that set you off before will go unnoticed when you're refreshed. 5. Leverage

If you lack a particular skill, have someone else take on task for you. You don't have to be and do everything.