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
Email : marshamaung@yahoo.com
Site : http://www.marshamaung.com

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

---

Dont Wait - Sell The Future Now!

Just as you are about to say "good-bye" to your... Read More

A Key to Success: Be Consistent

Over the years I heard the best way to learn... Read More

25 Valuable Phone Numbers For Small Businesses Success

Starting and growing a small business can be a daunting... Read More

Creating Time the Virtual Way

Time. As a small business owner, it's the commodity you... Read More

Success Tips for Small Business Owners

Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do... Read More

The More you GIVE the More you GET

Why give freebies?We have all seen freebies at trade shows... Read More

Avoiding the Small Business Cash Flow Roller Coaster

A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More

How Disabled Veterans Can Win Government Contracts

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that... Read More

If You Want To Be Remembered...

Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or... Read More

Your Business and the Story of a Tree; Part One

This morning, I went to take a short walk outside.... Read More

Facts About Starting Elderly Group Home Businesses

There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More

Build Credibility, Value, and Trust on a Shoestring

Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to... Read More

Small Business Ideas - Your Image Can Lose You Business

What image do you and your people portray to your... Read More

Building Your Business for Success in 2005

It's a strange anomaly.Most people who set out to start... Read More

Sexual Harassment - Its just not on!

Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More

Do You Need Accounting Software for Your Small Business?

If you're anything like me then you dislike with a... Read More

How to Start an Office Support Service

Office support services can range from basic data entry to... Read More

FFP vs. CPFF Contracts

SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More

Business Checks are an Added Cost to Your Small Business - Try Making Them Yourself!

Starting and managing a small business is no fun chore,... Read More

Questions to Ask as Your Business Grows

Here are some of the questions that you need to... Read More

6 of 1, Half Dozen of the Other

Motivational author and speaker Jim Rohn says that for a... Read More

Small Business Survival

In today's economic climate, the first priority for the small... Read More

Family Business and Conflicts

What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More

SBIR - A Nice Add-on Business

If you are a small business and qualify to participate... Read More

Pressure Washing Heavy Equipment

One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More

Eight Key Steps to Selling Your Business and Cashing In

This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most... Read More

Franchising Companies Relationship Strategies

Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it... Read More

Contract Cleaners ? A Guide for Business Part 2

In the first part of this article I put forward... Read More

Motorizing for Profit - The Craftsmen Have Left the Building

In the summer, I can't drive two blocks without seeing... Read More

How to Remove Stress from Owning a Business... Forever!

I meet and talk to hundreds and hundreds of business... Read More

Build Your Small Business by Building Relationships

-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --People do business with... Read More

Old Data in Database Marketing Software

Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More

Definition of Security: Small Business Owner

Yes, that IS security when nobody can downsize you because... Read More