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Topics & Tips
Home Business
Staying Sane in a Home Based Business - An "Overload" Rescue Plan
At last, you have achieved your dream. You've escaped
the traditional “away from home” workforce and are now
self-employed in your own home based business.
There you sit, in your spiffy new office - whether it's
in the corner of the sitting room or in a converted
bedroom - surrounded by your equally spiffy new
toys...your computer, desk and some strategically placed
shelves.
Your new multi-function center will print stuff, fax
stuff and copy stuff. (It won't hang out the washing,
but hey, you can't have everything.)
You've even got work coming-in and the immediate worry
about making a living has vanished. Hooray! You really
“can” work from home!
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At first, working at home is pure bliss. Then you get a
week when everybody and their dog seems to want your
services. After putting in a few late nights, you meet
all the deadlines and think: “Phew...I'm glad that's
over!” You decide to relax and give yourself a day off.
After all, you worked all through the weekend and earned
it, right?
Unfortunately, the following week you find yourself off
to a bad start trying to make-up for your day off.
Before you know it, you find that you're dropping
further and further behind. You reflect gloomily that
when you were working for someone else, at least at the
end of the day you were finished...what didn't get done,
didn't get done! |
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Well, it's time to take heart and set a few simple
strategies in place that will keep you in control of
your time...and your sanity.
1. Do NOT Accept Any New Work This Week.
Take a good look at what you have on your plate now, and
carefully plan the week ahead. Your aim is to regain
control. Tell new clients that you are fully booked, but
you can put them on a priority list to be phoned next
week. (This will not only allow you to catch up, but
make your services appear highly in demand.)
2. Build In Time For Leisure and Rest.
Not only for this week, but EVERY week. A half hour
walk; a twenty-minute break in the sun with a cup of
coffee; a quick swim or a movie outing with friends -
all these activities can recharge your batteries. You
will find that you can achieve far more when you are
rested and alert. (How many times have you sat at the
computer staring at the screen, achieving very little,
because you're over-tired?)
3. Tackle Urgent Tasks First.
If you're behind, your first step must be to contact all
clients and arrange firm new deadlines. Make sure you
base these new deadlines on what you CAN achieve, not
what you HOPE you can achieve. If any existing client
needs your services or products urgently, bump them up
the queue.
4. Prioritize Remaining Tasks.
Scrap anything that is not essential, and delegate what
you can. Consider involving family, business associates
or friends to handle some tasks. (Warning: do not hand
over tasks that must be carried out only by you as the
principal of the business. Your reputation is
important.)
5. Set Achievable Daily Goals.
If you finish a task ahead of schedule, begin the
next... but adhere to a definite cut-off time each day.
What you are doing this week is establishing a system
that will continue to work for you.
Getting out of trouble when your business is in
overload, is just like getting out of debt. Your
business rating is similar to your credit rating -
nothing can be gained by denying that a problem exists.
Nothing can be gained by slipping deeper into the mire.
Call a halt; contact the main players; set workable
strategies in place and you can quickly regroup.
Before you know it, your home business dream will be on
track once more.
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