Poverty to Riches: Myth or Reality
by Glenn Beach
You CAN start with empty pockets and piles of bills and build a steady income, even wealth, via the internet. It's a long,hard road though, so it's best to prepare and take along a good map.
First, a comparison to building an offline, bricks-and-mortarbusiness, just for perspective. If you're young, you might educate yourself in your field, go to work for someone else,and build your experience, reputation and equity. Then youcould take out a business start-up loan, rent a storefront, buy all the necessary equipment, tools, furniture and merchandise, buy advertising -- and wait years to work your way out of debt and make a profit.
If you aren't young, have a family and all the expenses anddebts that go with that,and are not making enough money working for someone else to get ahead, you don't have the same options. Night school, years of part-time education andtraining, with your creditors hounding you every step of theway...sound familiar?
So you turn on your computer and wonder...wish...that one of those promises of quick riches could be true for you. I wouldn't go there if I were you.
Here are some first steps to getting started as an internet entrepreneur:
1. Honest self-assessment: There are certain qualities necessary to being self-employed. If you can honestly say that you are self-disciplined, self-motivated, determined, self-confident, patient, persevering and maybe even a bitstubborn, you have what it takes.
2. Research: You need to spend some time researching thecompany, the products, and the people already working thebusiness. Is the company solid and dependable, are thecompany executives accessible and responsive, are the products of high desirability and quality, and maybe mostimportantly, is there experienced, successful, and friendly team support?
3. Support: Surround yourself with cheerleaders, mentors, knowledge, and inspiration, both on- and offline. Your family,the company, and others who have succeeded where you are treading for the first time, should all be available to you.You should never feel that you're all alone.
4. Infrastructure: Decide what you need: computer,printer, fax, phone; whatever your chosen business requires. Create an office space that suits your lifestyle and work needs. A corner of the living room can function well if you can work while the kids are at school or if their noise doesn't bother you, but evening work may require a separate room. Don't put your office in the bedroom if you work evenings and your spouse goes to bed early. You need your family's support, not their animosity!
5. Realism: It's tempting to try a business that makespromises it can't keep. Many tell you that one person or afew make thousands of dollars a week and so can you. None ofthem will point out that maybe you will be one of thousandswho quit before they make a cent. "Put money in your pockettoday!" Yes, but will any go in tomorrow?
Accept the fact that any business worth its salt can taketime. Maybe you can begin making money in a couple months, ormaybe a year. You have to be able to maintain life as youknow it for however long it takes. Understand that it won't be a steady climb to the top from where you are today; the path will go up and down.
6. Selling someone else's product or your own: Obviously, the big money is in selling your own product. Selling for anothercompany is a great way to get your feet wet in internet commerce,however. At first you may feel like you're floundering in anunfathomable sea of information, but at some point will come the knowledge that you're "getting it." Working for a good company will leave you knowing that you have what it takes to do it on your own, if you choose.
7. Business plan: This keeps you focused, helps you develop goals, strategies and work plans; and aids in evaluating your results. It can include contingency plans, and is never writtenin stone. As you learn and your business develops, the plan willevolve too.
Now that you've got the road map...take that first step! Your future begins today!
About the author:
Glenn Beach is a poet, writer and home business entrepreneur in Nova Scotia, Canada. Free newsletter, more articles, and business start-up info at:
http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.comYou are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the resource box with an active link to my site.
Work at Home Business Opportunity in Canada
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
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