Work From Home Business Means Giving Up Your Day Job Mentality

Dreaming of a home based business often includes a scene where you are sitting in an easy chair sipping coffee or your favorite beverage with the phone at your side. If that phone is not ringing off the hook then you are dreaming about a vacation not a home based business.

Those who have always worked for someone else should be aware that there are things that you will definitely miss when you are building a home based business. Failing to consider the things you have always taken for granted in your job could have a negative impact on your attitude about owning a work from home business.

1. Regular hours and paid overtime if you have to work late

2. Days off every week with no job responsibilities

3. Assigned rest, coffee, or lunch breaks

4. Paid vacation and in some cases bonuses for exceptional work

5. Social interaction and camaraderie with co-workers

6. Acknowledgement from peers or supervisors for a job well done

7. Support from co-workers or supervisors to deal with unusual or tough situations

When you have a job, your responsibilities are clearly outlined for you and your co-workers. You all know what is expected every minute of the day. There is an expectation that the tasks within your job description will be completed by the end of the day. Tasks that do not fall within your job description will be completed by someone else. You know when you can stop for coffee or lunch breaks and while you are on a break someone else will carry the workload until you return. You know when your workday ends and if you have to work longer, you expect to be well paid for staying late.

When your work day is over you can leave the job behind and go home. You do not have to worry about the costs of running a business and making sure that the overhead costs are taken care of. You do not have to worry about paying the bills, cleaning the office or washing the windows unless, of course, that is what you were hired to do.

You may or may not have input into decisions that impact the workplace. Either way an employee is not the sole decision maker. The employer is the decision maker and he, or she, will take the blame or the responsibility for the outcomes, good or bad. Professional support and supervision are generally available if an employee needs help or guidance. The social aspect, networking and camaraderie amongst employees can help to make the workday enjoyable.

As an employee, you exchange your skills for a set amount of money. You always know how much you will earn on any given day and your payday is as regular as clockwork. You may be living from paycheck to paycheck but the knowledge that you have a stable income paid to you on a regular basis can be comforting. If you are good at budgeting you may even be able to put some money away for retirement. Unfortunately, too many people with jobs live beyond their means and get caught up in a cycle of debt that keeps them chained to their job well beyond retirement. Debt is a trap that kills dreams.

The "dream" of a home based business rarely takes into account the things that you will miss if you do not have a job to go to everyday. Work at home can be very rewarding, but, like anything else, there will also be challenges to face and overcome. Your attitudes and expectations will have a huge impact on your ability to let go of your job mentality if you want to work from home busines.