Starting a Home Based Business Part II

By Jill Mowser

So, now that you have a winning idea, you need to get your business off the ground. That can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are starting from scratch and doing it from home, with all kinds of distractions. The secret to starting a successful business can be summarized in two words - patience and perseverance!

1) Be Patient!

When I first began my home-based manufacturing company, I had wonderful ideas, and was sure my business would be a great source of income for our family. I soon realized that no matter how I think things should be going, usually nothing goes as planned, and there are so many factors beyond my control!

You might have the best idea in the world, but it takes time (and more time, and then some more time) to implement a great idea! In the real world, there is really no such thing as an easy (or quick) way to make money. That is where patience comes in.

If you have a new invention, or are providing a new service then you must be patient. Virtually all new businesses depend, to some extent, on other people. The problem with that is that usually other people's priorities are not the same as your own. You will probably have to gently (or not so gently sometimes) nudge them along, but also have patience. It takes longer to get a new business rolling than you can probably imagine.

2) Persevere!

Sometimes we see patience and perseverance as almost the same thing. But patience refers to taking a deep breath, and waiting when things are beyond your control. Perseverance is more proactive. You can patiently wait for things to happen, but if all you have is patience, then you will probably be out of luck!

Perseverance means even when dozens of things go wrong all at once, you just keep going. Maybe you need to change the way you are doing things a little. Maybe you need to find new companies to deal with. Maybe you need to re-arrange your schedule and put in more time (or less time if your family is suffering... that's when you really need to draw on your patience). If you are confident in your business (and other people have given you positive feedback as discussed in Part I) then don't quit! Keep trying new things until you see some success!

In Parts III and IV you will learn some more practical tips for your business including how to obtain financing and marketing your new product or service.