Volume 1/Issue 1

Feb ‏2004

Speaking from experience!!

Let us face it …

We all know there is lots of hype, false claims, and misleading associated with running a profitable business on Internet. I personally have come across dozens of announcements and invitations to join such programs and make an easy buck for almost doing nothing. The promise has always been that Internet will work for you and generate a steady income while you enjoy other things in life. I wish things have been easy, but then whole thing will not work for anyone anymore if everyone jumps onboard.

In this series of Buyer-Heavens Articles, I will try to speak openly and frankly on these issues from my own personal experience. Honesty and professionalism will be overall guidance for my elaborations on issues and challenges in having a truly profitable home business. Doing so, I look forward to open a venue for sharing thoughts, ideas and suggestions among us and extend a helping hand to each other whenever and wherever possible.

Enjoy ….

Sohaib Thiab

Buyer Heavens

where business deals are win-win for all !

Lesson-1: There is no Free Lunch!

This is common sense rule. No one is going to offer you something for free. There is always a price to be paid in one way or other, so be prepared for that. Claims contrary to this simple business rule are pure hype and cheap talk.

The point I want to make here is that you must be aware of price that you have to pay, either directly or indirectly, visible or hidden, so be careful. For starter, your domain name registration and hosting would not come free, would it?

Having a PC and an Internet connection is not free either, is it ?

Lesson-2 The effort/payback balance

When you are owner of a home business, you will find hundreds of distractions that vie for your time, energy and focus.

Common distractions include: children, family, friends, neighbors, pets, phone calls, mail, household chores, video games, television, neighborhood children, visitors, and so many more.

As an owner of a home based business, you must always remember your purpose in bringing your profession home. What was your reason for wanting to own a home business? Was your goal to work from home so that you can share in lives of your children? Was your goal to be out from under rule of a tyrannical boss? Was your goal to have freedom to work when it is convenient for you? Was your goal to make tons of money working for yourself?

Here's a few good tips that will help you stay focused on your home business:

TIP #1: Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own home business, you will not be working for yourself for long. It is far too easy to let circumstance drive your activities --- and when circumstance is in driver's seat, you are more likely to crash and burn.

TIP #2: Remember --- your own business is a lot like a real job. Some people go to work to play, some go to socialize, and others --- most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment --- go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, your salary is directly proportional to your productivity. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense to stay focused on getting as much done in as short of a period as possible?

Go to work to work and to make money. Leave playtime and recreation for when your workday has ended.

TIP #3: When you are dealing with family in course of your workday, it is important to schedule your activities as much as possible. With small children, you must take time when you must, but you should also work hard to make sure you dedicate a specific number of hours to your workday.

With older children, it is much easier to tell them that you will be working between hours of x and y. Your children and your friends must understand that certain hours of your day are devoted to activities of your business.

TIP #4: Don't permit your friends and extended family to run over you. Many people get blind idea that if one works from home then they are not actually working.

Well-meaning people may try to fill your doorway to bring advice about getting a real job. Others may simply believe that if you are at home, then you are fair game for chitchat and socialization.