Here come the ladies! Women entrepreneurs are becoming a prominent force in business. Not all businesses succeed, but there are methods to get you ahead of the rest. Bridging home and office life is a fine line, but once mastered, tastes like sweet success. Some initial hard work is necessary, but if you are up for the challenge it is up to you.
Business and life are both full of success and failure. The key is learning how to accept and flourish from both outcomes. From bullying to a brain tumor and Cushing Disease, I experienced obstacles that nearly stopped me from obtaining success. But I didn’t let any of it stop me, I overcame and became stronger because of it.
My words of advice for at-home business success:
Take the Risk – Go BIG. If you are going to invest all your time, money and energy into your passion, be it your business or some other calling, you either go at it one-hundred percent or you don’t do it at all. You are doing a disservice to yourself if you don’t give it your all. You are the only one standing in your way. Massive success requires full commitment. Don’t always be wondering what opportunities are out there, go out and get it for yourself!
Let the money motivate you. Contrary to some beliefs, money is not a monster. In fact, it is necessary for your business and the economy to thrive. Put good intentions into the expenses and profits of your business. Money is merely a physical form of exchange for intentions. Your money is helping if you believe in the good or service you are providing. Money helps your business succeed, and your client find happiness in their purchase. Hiding behind the cloak of your ambition will hinder success in your business growth. Money follows action, so utilize opportunity; don’t demonize it.
Don’t be your own worst enemy. I can’t tell you how many times I am coaching an entrepreneur, and the biggest obstacle they face is themselves. Stop telling yourself you can’t and tell yourself you can. When their business is up they don’t believe it, and write it off as a fluke or lucky streak. When business is down, they’re ready to throw in the towel and go back to the 9 to 5. If you’re going to be successful in life and in business, you must be your biggest cheerleader.
Find your support system. Let’s face it: business can be tough, not to mention intimidating. Surrounding yourself with other successful entrepreneurs can provide you with great advice and connections. Who better to understand the ups and downs than someone in the same boat? Support can come from anywhere, don’t forget about your family and friends. They might not want to hear about the money woes or paperwork, but you can always grab a drink and vent. You will feel better after. The secret is to find a coach or mentor who has already achieved success in your field. They can help guide you and make the journey easier.
Accept and grow from failure. Failure in business and life is inevitable. Seek to learn from your failures. See them as lessons and opportunities from which to grow. Most importantly, never let the fear of failure stop you from going after your dreams. If business came easy and failure-free everyone would be doing it.
Give the haters the cold shoulder. You don’t have the time to worry about what other people think. Move beyond the negative energy to be your best self. In business and in life, there will always be people who do not agree with you. You can’t change anyone else’s beliefs but your own. If it makes you happy, do it. If it doesn’t, then don’t. Constructive criticism is helpful, but when you listen to others too much, it is easy to end up basing your decisions off their opinions. You know what is best for you and your business.
Business is tough. There is a lot of hard work to be done, and not enough time to do it. But the best things in life require perseverance. For those who work from home, you must be particularly mindful of your business. In many ways, you are at an advantage, but you must continue to push for growth and success. Remember to see failure as an opportunity for growth.
