by Holly Marie Wright

Created on: May 01, 2009

I have seen many home businesses fail and many succeed. The number one thing that you need to evaluate before starting a home business is your own personality. This doesn't mean that z or y personality fails while x succeeds, it means that you need to identify challenges to this new work environment before they become an issue.

Are you a self starter or do you need someone to poke and prod you along? Don't worry this is not a show stopper; you may need to evaluate some techniques that will help you along if you are used to having a boss lead the way.

Can you set boundaries? You may need to set specific work hours. I have a neighbor that loves to stop by. I now have a signal, if I am working I leave a curtain in the window. If the curtain is down I am free to chat. Make sure that your family or persons that you reside with are aware of when you are working. There is nothing worse than the family member that thinks since you are working from home that you are "free" to answer every phone call and request that arises.

Are you easily distracted? I know that some days even doing the dishes looks like more fun than the work task at hand. Write a list of distractions down and then try to find ways to minimize them.

Can you remain positive? Many people will say negative things for a variety of reasons. Be prepared to counter their negativity and recognize that they may just be jealous of your new working conditions.

Can you work in an environment where you are minimally interacting with others? If you are an extrovert this will prove to be a challenge. You may want to consider joining groups that will supplement this lack of interaction or choose to have your "home-business" located in a business incubator where a group of businesses share resources such as copiers, faxes, even receptionists.

Do you have a mentor? Every successful person that I have ever met has a mentor or group of mentors. People that you can look to for advice and realism. Don't be afraid to approach people outside of your expertise, sometimes a completely new perspective brings some great innovation. Have people in your circle that aren't afraid to criticize constructively. Remember to learn from them and your mistakes. Continue to grow throughout life.

Keep going, if you are passionate about something you will succeed. Just remember that sometimes you need to adjust your techniques for how you get there.

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