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by Debbie LaChusa, 6FigureWorkAtHomeMom
When I
first went out on my own I was afraid. After all, I was leaving a
steady job with a regular paycheck for the uncertainty of
self-employment.
I had never run a
business before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was
worried I might not be able to do it.
I was afraid I
would make mistakes
I was worried I would
go broke and not be able to pay my bills.
I could go on forever
about everything I was afraid of when I first left my full-time job
to start my own business. There were so many voices inside my head
casting doubt on my decision.
But
one voice drowned them all out
It was the voice that
kept telling me it was my only choice if I was going to be the kind
of mom I wanted to be.
The kind of mom who
could be home with her kids after school. The kind of mom who didn't
have to ask anyone's permission to take an afternoon off to go to
her son's baseball game, or take her daughter to the orthodontist.
So I cast aside my
fears and took the leap
But I did not take
that leap without a safety net. And I think that's where many
people make their first mistake when starting their own business.
They underestimate the
time it takes to establish a business and they often run out of
money before their business gets to that point, forcing them to
close up shop and go back to a job.
They find themselves
under constant financial pressure, and they make decisions about
managing and marketing their business accordingly, instead of looking at what's in the best interest of their business.
And, they are usually
hesitant to invest in themselves and their business because they are
operating from a place of scarcity because money is so tight.
It's no wonder that
80% of new businesses fail. Many of them are doomed from the
beginning.
Protect yourself with a safety net, before you jump
One of the biggest
tips I can share with you is to prepare before you jump. Plan
to quit your job and start your business, don't just leap into the
unknown.
That may mean socking
away extra money so you have money to live on while you are in
start-up mode with your new business. Or, it may mean
negotiating a part-time or contractor position with your current
employer so you have an income stream while you are
building your own business.
I used both of these
strategies when I started my own business and they kept the pressure
off while still allowing me the extra time I wanted for my family
and to build my own business.
I get emails all the
time from broke business owners who say they desperately need help
marketing their business but they can't even afford to invest
$100 to get that help. That's sad.
How is their business
ever going to have a chance if they can't get the skills they need
to make it successful? They are doomed to stay in a constant
state of struggle and scarcity.
Remember, what you focus
on expands. So if you are always focused on what you don't have,
whether that be income, clients, time, or money to invest in yourself
and
your business, you will continue to find yourself in a place where
you don't have any of these things.
Instead, I encourage
you to find an income source to support you while you are building
your business.
Find a way to go
part-time in your current job. Or, find some
consulting work, freelance work, or a part-time job. You can
use Elance.com to find
freelance or project work if you don't have any local resources.
Then use the rest of your
time to build up your business, and invest in the help you need to
build it up as quickly as you can. Remember, there is probably
someone out there who has already done what you want to do that you
can learn from.
So,
what is stopping you?
Has fear been stopping
you from becoming a work-at-home mom, or from taking your current
business to the 6-figure level?
Are you afraid of...
-
Leaving the "security" of
your job
-
Not being able
to get enough clients
-
Not knowing
what to do
-
Not being
able to balance your life between work and family, when your work is
always there
-
Not knowing anything about the legalities or tax laws of owning your own
business
-
Having
to sell to get business ... and you hate selling
-
Not being
able to stay focused with all the other demands facing you at home,
as a wife and mother
-
Not
having a steady income or being able to make good money
Set your fears aside
Those fears may
never completely go away, but they certainly don't need to stop you.
Remember the reason you want to become a 6-figure work-at-home-mom
and let that reason motivate you, rather than letting your fears
stop you.
Create a plan for
going solo, or taking your business to the next level, and start
taking steps today. Who knows where it might take you or what life
you will create for yourself and your children?
© Copyright 2007 Debbie LaChusa
Want to use this article on your website or ezine?
You can. Just include
the following paragraph, including live website links, and
email me to
let me know where you're using it. Thanks!
Debbie LaChusa feels
blessed to be a work at home mom who gets to spend time with her
family, do work she loves and earn a great living. She founded
10stepmarketing and
6FigureWorkAtHomeMom to help other moms do the same. To see
a free "Tribute to Work At Home Moms" video and register for
free WAHM tips, visit
http://www.6FigureWorkAtHomeMom.com
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