Conquering the Challenges

Anyone looking at me today would think that starting a home-based or online business is a walk in the proverbial park.  That wasn't the case.  There were many challenges along the way.  And if you are just getting started, I'm sure you are experiencing many of the same issues.

1.  Support.  The biggest challenge I had when starting out was getting people to take me seriously.  I don't mean prospective customers or clients.  I mean family and friends.  It's difficult to start a business without some support from those around you.  Support like a spouse who will walk the dogs so you can work, or a friend who will pick the kids up from school while you meet with a client.  But it is often difficult to have any credibility with those who know you best - especially if you have no prior business experience.  It took me quite a while to convince my family that I was serious about this and to show them I could be successful.  But as time went by and I didn't give up and as I slowly started actually earning an income, the belief - and the support - came.  Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to overcome this obstacle except be persistent, be patient, share your successes, and have faith.

2.  Time.  Like me, many of you are starting your businesses part time while still working your regular job.  And if you have a family as well, then finding time to actually build your business can be challenging.  Too many will simply take time from other things like sleep or family to devote to your business.  But you can't do this forever and eventually it will take its toll and something will suffer - your health, your relationships, or the business you are trying to build.  Don't try to steal time for your business.  Simply vow to do one thing every day to move your business forward.  On days when you don't have much time, it can be a small task like reading about your niche, or placing an ad.  On days when you have more time to spare, tackle the larger tasks.  But make sure you do at least one thing EVERY day.

3.  Space.  Depending on the type of business you start, you could require some space to run it.  At the very least you will probably need some sort of office space.  The good news is that with today's technology, almost anyplace can be an office.  When I first started, I worked from a little computer desk in a corner of our bedroom.  Then we built an addition on our house and I had a loft area to use as an office.  But today, with my laptop and smartphone,  I often find I am working in my car, or the local Starbucks, or in the living room while my husband watches television.  The products I sell are mostly digital and those that aren't are shipped directly from the manufacturer so there is no space needed for inventory or storage.

4.  Knowledge.  I spent the bulk of my career as a Navy cryptologist and Russian linguist.  So when it came time to start a business of my own, I didn't exactly have a lot of experience or knowledge.  I could send email and knew my way around the internet somewhat but that was about it. 
Fortunately, there are plenty of books, classes, and online resources where you can gain the knowledge you need.  I recommend many of them in this blog and at BoomerBizCoach Recommends.

5.  Tools and Equipment.  No matter what niche you choose for your business, you will need some resources.  My business is almost exclusively online, so all I really need is a computer.  And although I resisted forever, I would now be lost without my smartphone.  Fortunately, an adequate computer can be had relatively inexpensively these days.  If you are continuing to work while you start your business, put some money aside each payday to help cover the costs of purchasing what you need until you start earning income from your business.  Or you may be able to rent what you need or borrow from friends and family.  Don't let necessities (like bills) go so you can put the money towards your business.  And don't think you have to have the top of the line gadgets while you are getting started.      

Creative Businesses You Can Run From Home

So you want to start your own business.  Awesome!  There is only one small catch - what type of business to start? 

Deciding what type of business to start can be a difficult decision - or not.  If you base your decision on your skills and interests, coming up with the right business for you can be a relatively simple decision.  The first step, then, is to determine what your skills are and how they relate to your interests.

I am very good at teaching and coaching others.  I am also very efficient at organizing things.  I love to talk and write and I've been told I communicate very effectively.  Math and science are a breeze.  And I have an amazing memory for facts and figures.  I have also been told I have quite the flair for the dramatic. I am extremely quick at learning other languages.

I'm not very artistic.  I can't draw a straight line.  Even my stick people look odd.  I am also not very athletic.  I enjoy some sports and I love the outdoors, but I am not going to win any medals.  I get bored easily and I detest routine and repetitive tasks. 

I love music, art, travel, books, gardening, teaching, parties, cooking, theater, animals, outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, science - especially astronomy and physics, history - particularly medieval, languages and I am quite the do-it-yourselfer.

Now, taking a look at my skills, my interests, and areas where I'm not so skilled - what types of business are good for me? 

First, I got started in meeting and event planning.  I'm a good organizer.  I love to travel and have parties.  I'm great with words and language (helpful in reading and understanding contracts) and I communicate well and love to talk (helpful in contract negotiation).  I enjoyed it and probably would still be involved if not for the current economic situation.  More and more companies are cutting their meeting budget.

I like animals, I love to travel, and I write well.  Sounds like the start of "Traveling Bob."  A travel blog and site written by a dog?  Why not?  It's been fun - and profitable.  Creative enough to hold my interest (remember I tend to lose interest quickly).  Unique enough to catch the public attention.

I still needed something else to do.  I am a certified master trainer.  I love to design training courses and curricula.  And I love to help others, especially those who are much like me.  BoomerBizCoach is the perfect business for me.  It taps into many of my skills and interests. And there is a definite need for this type of service.

The point I'm trying to make is that by combining your skills and interests, and making sure you account for the areas you are lacking in, you can easily find the perfect home business for you.

I have a friend who is a military wife.  She is also the garage sale queen.  She loves everything about them - organizing and running them, shopping at them, finding that perfect item for a great price, or selling an item at a great price.  She watched as military family after family held their own garage sales either before a transfer or right after.  And she listened as most of us grumbled and groaned about it.  And she saw a niche for her perfect business.  She organizes and runs garage sales for military families.  She does all the work.  Clients pay her a commission out of their earnings.  And these are usually more than average since Chris is very good at what she does.  Chris has been doing this for a number of years now, and still loves what she does.

Jessica loves photography.  She takes fabulous photos.  But she doesn't stop there.  She then uses photo editing software to turn them into truly unique pieces of art.  Now she has a very successful photography business.  People come to her to get work they can't get anywhere else.  I even have one of her photos - a portrait of the women in my family that looks like we all posed together for it, when in reality, my grandmothers and my mother had passed on many years before the photo was created.  It's beautiful and one of my treasured possessions and I gladly paid her price when I saw what she had put together.

David, a client, loves computers.  He also loves to write and does so very well.  After several years at the local poultry plant, David was offered the chance to write the company newsletter and a new business was born.  David now publishes newsletters for several local businesses who don't have the staff to create their own and gladly pay him to perform that service for them. 

I could give example after example of friends and clients who have taken what they know, combined it with what they love, did a little creative brainstorming, and came up with the perfect home business.  You can do it also.  Not sure how to get started?  Take advantage of my free workshop that helps you do just that.  You get all of the tools necessary to help you assess your skills, talents, passions, and interests, plus a 60-minute coaching session with me where we work together to help you find the right path for your business.  Interested?  Contact me at mwhiteley@boomerbizcoach.com.  Let's find that perfect business you can run from home.