Let's start with a list of qualities that might benefit someone working for him/herself:

1. Ability to see big picture and plan accordingly;.

2. Self-discipline;

3. Ability to use time wisely;

4. At minimum, a moderate drive to achieve;

5. Adaptability;

6. Autonomy;

7. Decisiveness;

8. A feeling of control over your own destiny;

9. Having (energy) drive and enterprise;

10. Motivation to grow;

11. Sense of intuition;

12. Ability to spot opportunities;

13. Perseverance;

14. Problem-solving abilities;

15. Risk-tolerance;

16. Self-confidence;

17. Social skills.

As an example, let's look at John Doe. John has an excellent nose for a good opportunity; he drives his wife crazy with always turning everything into a new business idea. He's not afraid to make a decision and take risk. He has a huge drive to achieve; he wants to be rich! John is confident that he can accomplish everything he sets out to do.

But back to WHY of that business plan. You’re going to be starting small, slow and boy! is there a lot to learn. What’s point of actually sitting down and writing a business plan? You’re not Bill Gates, this isn’t Microsoft, just you in your home office a few hours a week, slowly building an online business presence, not really understanding what heck you’ll be doing.

Relax and breathe. Unlike Mt. Rushmore, your plan won’t be designed to withstand weathering of ages. You can expect it will change and bend with flow of your real experiences, which will be totally yours, not identical to anyone else’s.

What writing your plan will do is cause you to pause, think, dream, study and focus. The written document, whether it is one page or twelve, will give your business a framework to work within. The internet is vast and seemingly endless. It is easy to lose focus and drift away on a different whim or idea every day. Understanding where you are today, what tools you have to work with, what your goals are, and how you can best achieve them and measure your success, will help you stay on target and not waste what few hours you may be investing in your business at start-up.

Whenever you feel lost or confused, you can return to what you have written. When you analyze your situation and decide to make a change, rewrite that part of plan. Understand that it’s a living document, intended to grow with you and your business. Your business plan is your friend.

Getting Started with Business Plan

First you need to study company and its management. You need to read and learn about products, compensation plan and network structure. See you next month. Just kidding.

Plan on doing SOME reading each and every work day for next few months, if not indefinitely. Keep up with company forum entries every day; read something in training reports every day. Your education will continue. Plan for it.

When you are ready, open up a Notepad window and answer these questions:

What service/products does your business provide and what needs does it fill?

Who are potential customers for your product or service and why will they purchase it from you?

How will you reach your potential customers?