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Small Business Information |
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Starting is the Hardest Part
You can't imagine how many people ask me how I did it. To turn my back onto convention, to turn a deaf ear on the people who wants what is best for me, to snub my nose at people who thinks I am making one of the biggest mistakes in my life?etc. Hey, this is what I do best, so, I am really good at this. Granted, not everyone is as good at defying convention (and logic) as me, so, I'll keep that in mind. :-) I can't explain how it happened and I cannot pin point when it was that I decided to quit my job and work from home, but it happened because I wanted to be with my kids (Then, it was a lone Joshua but the resolve to have another child while working from home only went on to cement my decision). I receive at least 10 to 15 emails EVERY SINGLE DAY from people telling me how much they wanted to do what I am doing right now - they ask me how I did it, what was required, how was it in the beginning, how to deal with loved ones, how much money they would need to reserve to start their own business, what kind of business they should start and how to spot a scam, etc. And I always answer very definitively, JUST DO IT, ok? Yes, you need to have some kind of a financial reserve in your bank account for stormy days. You'll need a couple of butcher knives to scare those debt-chasers away when they try to shoulder their way through your door - but other than that, you don't need to have any more reserve that what you already have right now! Pure gall and gut. (If I were a man, I would use other words, but I am not?so, sue me!) Look, all I can is this: if you think you would rather work at home where you are free to divide your time between your family and you, decide when to work, how you work and what you work on, just do it. First of all, think about what you would like to do. For example, if you like scuba diving, do you think it's possible for you to work from home teaching scuba diving or selling scuba diving gear? If you like to read, do you think it's plausible for you to sell books online? If you type really fast, you think you can sell your secretarial or typing services to others? Put yourself into your potential clients' shoes - do you think you will pay for your own kind of services? Remember, you're good at what you do so, you have to imagine that you're NOT good at what you do. For example, if you are good at typing, you have to imagine those two-finger-peck-by-peck typers who ARE willing to spend some money to get someone to type out long documents for them. If you are willing to pay for such services, how much do you think you would pay for it? And then, the next thing you should do is to go to www.google.com or www.yahoo.com (or whatever favorite search engine it is of yours) and type in a relevant keyword. Research out our competitors. If I had to be really honest with you, I'd say send them emails and pretend to be a potential customer/client. Get a quote from them - not one but maybe, like, TEN of them. If this is the kind of money others are making from their own businesses, then you SHOULD be earning that kind of money as well. I don't have a lot of space to go into details today but I will divulge more information later on, so, do come back for Part II!! © 2005, Marsha Maung Feel free to reprint or publish this article on your website, ezine, magazine, newsletter?etc. Please include the bio, links and credit intact. Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from her home in Selangor, Malaysia. She loves nothing more than blowing bubbles in the park with her 2 kids, Joshua and Jared. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.creativejooz.com and is the author of "Raising little magicians", and the popular "The Lance in freelancing". More information can be found at http://www.marshamaung.com
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