So what’s on your procrastination list? You know! The things you’ve been meaning to do, but you’ve always had a reason to put off. For me, it’s all the small stuff around the house. Paint the metal-work on the porch, stain the capped post leading to the basement, install the door handle on the closet in my office (BTW, that’s been on the list for 2 summers now), install the new light fixtures in the kitchen, etc.

Here’s a great tip on overcoming the rot of procrastination, I found in an article written by Steve Pavlina.

Replace “Have To” With “Want To”

First, thinking that you absolutely have to do something is a major reason for procrastination. When you tell yourself that you have to do something, you’re implying that you’re being forced to do it, so you’ll automatically feel a sense of resentment and rebellion. Procrastination kicks in as a defense mechanism to keep you away from this pain. If the task you are putting off has a real deadline, then when the deadline gets very close, the sense of pain associated with the task becomes overridden by the much greater sense of pain if you don’t get started immediately.

The solution to this first mental block is to realize and accept that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Even though there may be serious consequences, you are always free to choose. No one is forcing you to run your business the way you do. All the decisions you’ve made along the way have brought you to where you are today. If you don’t like where you’ve ended up, you’re free to start making different decisions, and new results will follow. Also be aware that you don’t procrastinate in every area of your life. Even the worst procrastinators have areas where they never procrastinate. Perhaps you never miss your favorite TV show, or you always manage to check your favorite online forums each day. In each situation the freedom of choice is yours. So if you’re putting off starting that new project you feel you “have to” do this year, realize that you’re choosing to do it of your own free will. Procrastination becomes less likely on tasks that you openly and freely choose to undertake.

How do you deal with procrastination? Leave me your comments below.

Whether you are attempting to venture into a location beyond your home or contain your business in the comforts of your home, starting a home based business is an excellent choice. Many companies, varying in size and capacity, have been introduced as home based businesses. Statistics show that two out of three businesses begin as a small venture from home. With the era of internet based businesses, the idea of working from home has popularized immensely. It has become a concept of many new businesses, as they are able to reach consumers out of their local region. There are a few aspects of a home based business that need attention before embarking on a new venture. They are (1) zoning laws, (2) the ability to separate your workspace and home space, and (3) maintaining your professionalism.

Zoning Laws and ordinances: A home business must follow the laws regarding location, as any other business. Many cities have zoning ordinances established as a means of determining the areas for commercial and residential purposes. Although, almost every city is equipped with zoned areas, the new wave of home based businesses have allowed for changes within these ordinances. Most activities that restrict a home based business are:

Extreme car traffic
Large and overbearing signs
Amount of clients walking in and out of your “business”

Taking these examples into account, will not only help you determine whether your business can be homebased, but it will allow for a more detailed overview of your current business capital, in hopes of determining if you have the capabilities to venture out of the borders of your home and find a commercial location, if needed. Contact your local city zoning office for details pertaining to your specific city and home.

Workspace and Home Space: It is critical to separate your workspace from your home space, especially if your business requires face-to-face meetings with your clients. Organization is not only essential to your business operations, but also to its survival.

1. DO NOT share your personal telephone with your business. Eliminate the amount of noise in the area in which you will keep and use your telephone. Having a separate line will help with your business traffic and will instill a good sense of professionalism to your clients.

2. Keep it professional. Answer your phone as if you are in the office of a fortune 500 company. Do not allow for family members or friends to handle your business line. When away from your home office, create and maintain a current and professional voice mail message. Always reiterate your company’s information, such as other methods of contact and website information, in a warm manner. Clients hate to leave messages and so eliminate that fear with a warm and caring voice and message.

3. Paper image. Although you may not have the creativity of a graphic designer, have your business stationary lined with a company logo, name and contact information. If needed hire a professional to give your company a boost in both appearance and credibility. Do try to incorporate the style and image presented on your website, if applicable. Also, maintain your paper work in an orderly fashion, with labels, titles, folders and even filing cabinets. Maintain your home office as you would an office in a glamorous office building on 5th avenue.

Professionalism: Professionalism takes into account all the elements of the above aspects, therefore present your business and office with extreme pride, cleanliness, and sophistication. The way your business is perceived will make or break your venture. Therefore, take into consideration your personal appearance when you are deliberating for your business. The way you dress will determine your mood and the image you project to your customers. Although, this is a home based business, your attitude and mood can generate an more traffic or completely annihilate your professional image. Dress to impress, as they say and dress in a manner that will illuminate your home office with confidence and a sense of success.

This is a guest post from our featured writer. Giselle Rivera.

Not Without a Plan (Featured author - Giselle Rivera)

The most important advice a professional business owner can give to an entrepreneur on the verge of creating their own company, is the fact that a business plan is key to survival for a variety of reasons.  Many believe that a business plan is a tool strictly used to find financing for you new venture, but this notion is completely naïve to the entire concept of a business plan. A business plan does allow for you to approach a lender or an investor, but it is also a means of achieving the business goals of the company.  A business plan will help implement the objectives and the target the target market of any company at any given time of the company’s life cycle.  Although it does not ensure success, it does allow business owners to avoid common mistakes and remain focused on their original vision of the company.

To formulate an effective business plan, certain components need to be included.  They are:  (other than the essential Cover page, Table of Contents and title page)

1.Executive Summary
2.Business Description
3. Market Strategies
4.Competitive Analysis
5.Design plan
6.Operation/management plan
7.Financial factors

Executive Summary:  Outline and description of the product/service offered through the company.  This section should be extremely effective and “eye-opening,” as it is the first section seen by readers.

Business Description:  This description will elaborate the briefing explained in the Executive summary.  Example: Industry history, demand of industry, trends (if any), and the amount of opportunity in that industry.

Market Strategies:  Define the market of the company.  Include its size, structure, growth and sales potential.  This section should focus on consumers and competition.  Evaluate the strategies that will allow for assistance with price, distribution and sales.

Competitive Analysis:  Answer: How does this business relate to its competition? Describe advantages, barriers developed to prevent failure because of competition, and show methods of preventing weakness or ways to improve.

Design Plan:  The design plan reveals the product/services development stages and the context of production, including marketing.  Using diagrams are an effective method to demonstrate the ideas of this section.  Create a schedule for the product’s development and timeline.

Operation/Management plan:  Day-to-day operations and management of a company is critical to its overall success.  Describe these daily functions and the qualifications of those in charge.

Financial factors:  This shows how profitable a business can be for short and long term views.  The financial factors should ALWAYS include: A cash flow statement (showing the amount of money flowing in and out of the company) and a balance sheet (showing the company’s strengths financially through assets and equity).  A return on investment, break-even point and return on assets are also great factors of the financial section of a prominent business plan.

Collecting and gathering this information means that there has been an efficient amount of thought placed into the business and its future.  A good business plan will never be placed away and never looked at again, in fact a good business plan, is placed somewhere accessible and is used as a frequent guide to managing the company.  It will always determine which path to choose and what to avoid.  Reviewing and editing a good business plan annually is key.  There should be adjustments made for change of markets or clientele or even, demands.  A good business plan should adapt to new eras and periods of its life cycle.

*Through extensive research for a variety of business plans, for family members, friends and clientele, I have been able to completely grasp the concepts behind the business plan and have offered my writing services to those who need.  Therefore, feel free to contact me in regards to any questions or if you need to have a business plan written efficiently.  Contact me at GiselleR@eliteresumes.org if I can be of any help.*

Do You Know Your Market?

With the idea for a new business, comes a circle of questions that need great attention before proceeding any further.  The first question on your list of 500 is to define your target market.  Your target market is your consumer.  The consumer is the individual or group of individuals that strive off your business, your core market of individuals in which your advertisements are addressed to.  There are two basic target markets: consumer and business.  It is apparent the definition for the two markets, but for the purpose of clarification, here are two examples:

1. If you sell shoes to a retail store or in your own store, your target market is consumer.
2. If you sell commercial property or business equipment, then your target market is business.

Defining your target market will ensure a better chance of success and it will create a niche for your business and its services and/or products.  To determine and identify your target market, the process of evaluation of your products and/or services need to take place.  Once you have completed the questions below, you will have taken the step in identifying your audience and aiming directly for them, oppose to wasting money on those that are not interested or fit for your product and/or services, according to statistics.  Follow the question set below to help identify your market.

1.Describe the idea and concept behind your business
2.What will the concept be used for?
3.Are there similar concepts and ideas currently in the market?
4.What are places in which the individuals that would be interested in my product/service spend their leisure time?
5.Education places?
6.Shopping/Eating?
7.What is their preference in newspapers and magazines?
8.TV and Radio stations?  Any particular shows?

Once you define your target market, and you create a niche for your new founded business, keep it current.  Always re-evaluate your business, and where it stands with your clientele.  Ask yourself the following questions every time you re-evaluate your business.

* Who are your clients?

* Who are not your clients?

* Can they be converted into potential sales? How?

* What is the impression your clients have of you and your business?

* What do your clients think your mission is? Values?

* Can your niche evolve into current times, and current market and economic change? –Remember, you want a business that is successful, regardless of the economy, because society sees it as a necessity.

* What is your niche’s life cycle?

Once this niche has been well-established, your next step is to create a mission statement that will encompass the goals of your business and your philosophies in which your company will abide by.  The mission statement should be no longer than a few sentences; maybe a short paragraph of only five sentences.  The mission statement is what is presented to your customers as an overview of your business standings.  But not only is this statement instilled in your customers, but also in your employees, competitors and communities.  Like all other aspects of starting a business, the process of creating a mission statement starts with a list of questions that you can reflect upon.  Ask yourself why you are in business? who are your customers? how you differ from competitors? and define the type of level of service you provide.  Also, mention the roles played by your employees, if any, because they too are the key to a successful business if they are your direct link to your consumers.
The right words and phrasing can create the ultimate mission statement and give a lasting impression to your customers, employees, vendors and community.  For great lasting impression is a great method for establishing a new business.

We’d like to thank Giselle Rivera at www.Eliteresumes.org for another great contribution.

Editor’s Note:  If you’d like to be featured as a guest writer on Obzokee.com, please visit our “Write for Us” page.

Bad Timing? Or Perfect Timing?

Starting a business is a job in its own.  Once you have decided to embark on a passion that has opened your eyes to your future, the next step is evaluating the timing.  Timing is essential to any business.  Is it the outline in which tasks and responsibilities are determined and prioritized and where income is re-evaluated.  Timing always lead to  the question: “full-time or part-time?”  The answer depends on your specific situation and lifestyle, but many experts believe that starting a business part-time is always the best decision.  So, don’t quit that full-time job just yet, you just might need it to source your new venture or take care of your current financials until your venture is well-developed.
Not only is part-time a great idea because you are able to maintain your current income, but it is also important in the fact that it limits your risks and input if it was to fail.  Remember, not every business is successful, but if it is done properly and with great detail and organization, it may well be the next fortune 500.

Like anything with advantages, starting part-time labels important aspects of the business as disadvantages due to time constraints.  The inability to market your business may be a disadvantage because it’s a time consuming process.  But, don’t be discouraged, if you can set aside certain days or times to focus strictly on marketing, you can overcome such a disadvantage and beat the odds.  Building and maintaining your clientele also falls into the category of disadvantages, but by establishing various contact methods, such as email, fax, and phone (even a business cell phone will help) and various hours of operation, this disadvantage can be flipped into a pro for your business setting and schedule.

With a start-up venture on part-time, you must consider all that and will be affected  by your new business both professional and personal, like family, financial plans, and marketing plans.  The time placed on these aspects are critical and will impact your business in every way.  Therefore, take a closer and fuller look into these aspects for time management and for the simple purpose of better communication.

Here are some main pointers for a part-time start-up:

Involve your family.  Starting a business is time consuming and intense whether it is part-time or full-time and involving your family will keep a good sense of communication and a create a better living situation for the entrepreneur.  Involve them in the small but important tasks, like mailing direct marketing, or sending out letters or even answering the phones.

Focus on one task.  Excitement is a feeling that can overwhelm the starting of a company.  As you are gathering information, new ideas and concepts might arouse in your mind.  Just jot them down on a notepad for later reference and research, but continue the task at hand.  Remember, completing a task is extremely important because of time.  Time is money and the more you spend on various projects means that the less time you spend completing one important project.

Be realistic.  Excitement is once again a trait in which can cause various ideas to emerge, but be realistic.  Start modest until you are fully capable to put in the time that is needed to launch new ideas and add new products or services.  Being realistic will keep you focused and grounded.

Balance.  Balance your time for leisure.  Since this is a part-time venture, you have already managed your time for family affairs and your full-time position; all that is left is your leisure time.  Maintain some time for relaxation and other involvements, because too much one thing is never good.  Always spending your free time on your business will make you extremely self-critical and over analytical.  Take some time for yourself!  Remember, if your not in sound mind, it will reflect in your business, so take it easy.

We’d like to thank Giselle Rivera at www.Eliteresumes.org for another great contribution.

Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to also check out Genuinejobs.com for all your work from home career needs (vacant jobs… help with your resume, cover letter and job interview skills). If you’d like to be featured as a guest writer on Obzokee.com, please visit our “Write for Us” page.