Home Based Business Opportunities - Are They For Real?

[Ed Bach]

Home based businesses are becoming more and more popular. People are
less and less secure in the "traditional" job market. They have reason
to look for change. The days of starting with a stable company out of
school and continuing into retirement are no more. In fact, this has
always been fantasy. There are many that think home based businesses
are scams but the reality is just the opposite. It is the traditional
employee-employer relationship that is the scam. Let me explain.
Let's define what we are discussing.
Perform an internet search for any of the following terms: work at
home, home based business, business opportunity, work from home, etc.
There will be vast differences in the search results and at the same
time quite a bit of cross-over as well.
There are two main categories of people searching for these subjects.
First, is the person who wants to make money at home....with a job.
This means that someone pays them something for their time or the
performance of a task. The second group is people who are looking to
actually work a business for themselves. They may or may not have any
understanding of what that entails, but they are looking nonetheless.
What is the process?
Usually the process starts with (1) cold calling or "friends and
family" marketing or (2) the prospect responds to an ad. It really
doesn't matter what the business does at this point or what they
offer. The early stages all involve lead generation.
Since my business does not rely on cold calling or contacting friends
and family, I will focus the professional marketer side of the
business.
Respondents to ads are taken to a "filter". This "filter" is a
website, telephone hotline or similar screening method. I talk to many
people who say the same thing..."I could not tell much about the
opportunity by your website". This is done on purpose to separate the
tire kickers from the serious. My websites are actually designed to
weed out a large portion of the people who make it to my web page.
If you are asked to provide your name and email address (or other
information) you have "opted-in", that means you have requested to be
contacted by whoever placed the ad. Please realize this before you
provide your information. You will be contacted by someone. You are in
control. If it is not right for you, simply say so. Professionals will
be direct with you and appreciate the same in return. I don't want to
waste my time or yours.
The process varies widely from there. This article is not about how to
perform lead generation in your home based business. This article is
about what a prospective work at home or work from home prospect
should consider before they "opt-in" .
What is the Expectation?
Your expectations are your expectations. There is no right or wrong,
as long as YOU are following your passion, as long as YOU have a
reason bigger than money for wanting to start your new opportunity. If
money is your sole motivator, be careful. You may not have thought
through this completely.
I will not discuss "jobs" in this article. I simply don't believe that
jobs are right for achievers, for people with visions and passions.
So, you have a burning desire to create your own business!
Congratulations! The best way to create true freedom is with a
business of your own.
Why a home based business? Why not some other kind of business? Is
there a difference? A business is a business. I don't even like the
"home based" terminology. In almost cheapens the concept. What does it
matter where you work from?
A real business requires an investment. It requires start-up capital
and it requires a dedicated investment of your time to make it work.
If you are talking to someone who is telling you that for $50.00 and 2
hours a day you can make millions....just look somewhere else.
Business need not be difficult, but it does require effort.
Create a business plan. It need not be complicated. What kind of
"investment" can you make in your own future? Consider the basics,
computer, phone, software to make more efficient use of your time,
etc.
What about advertising? How will you develop qualified leads for your
opportunity?
What kind of business entity will you be? Will you run a sole
proprietorship, LLC, Corporation? Do you have an accountant that can
help you take advantage of the many tax advantages of becoming an
entrepreneur?
Here is the KEY to success!
Have a goal. Write it down.
Realize that you are becoming a business owner. Take that
responsibility proudly.
You are not a home based business owner, you are a business owner! You
will be compensated in direct proportion to your results, not your
efforts. Results matter and they unshackle you!
You will need to make decisions. Continue with certainty as you make
decisions to lead you toward your goal!
Now here is where it really gets exciting. Once you make your decision
as to what your life looks like, and continue to take action toward
that destination, the rest falls into place.
Your decision to pay that initial investment, your decision to be
coachable and trainable, your decision to place your advertising, your
decision to call people back and ask for a decision....all of this
happens before the resources materialize. Make it happen, find the
cash, become the person of YOUR dreams and create abundance for
yourself, your family and your associates!