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How come we live in America and yet so many can't reach the American dream?

Guest post by: Cheryl Matthynssens

Article Overview: It is really a simple answer. We learn how to drive. We learn how to read. We learn how to write. No one teaches us the definition of perseverance and how to manage finances whether personal or business. No one teaches you BEFORE you open your business how to market. Many people have great ideas, great locations and no idea how to get the word out. How do I know this, been there done that. Like many online, I spent a great deal of money to open an online business. I paid for the website design. I paid for the auto responder and the merchant account. Problem was, as I sat there with all that in my lap, there was no real map as to now what. The door was open, the clock was ticking and no one was stopping by my website. It is my hope that by passing on this knowledge I gained the hard way, you can avoid some of the same pitfalls.

How come we live in America and yet so many can't reach the American dream?

Ten Things You Must Have to Run a Home Business! Simple, free but important!

First and foremost, you must have a Long Term Goal that is broken down to a short time goal. From that short term goal, you should build your daily goals. Whether this is online marketing activities to achieve each day, cold calls, lead contacts or sales numbers, you need to have what you must achieve each day. Once you have your daily goals, do the ones you don't like first. That way as you tire slightly, it gets easier to finish because the things you don't prefer are already done.

Second: Your Long Term goals need to be visual. Some businesses teach a dream book. Others will teach you to make a vision board. Either way, you need to have some way of looking at what you want to achieve daily. Me personally, I sort of have a vision board. On my desktop, I have a collage of pictures that represent my dreams all pasted over one another till the screen is filled. Every time I sit at my computer, I get glimpses of my board. On it, I have family. That is the number one reason I opened a home business. I also have my dream home, my truck and my dream office. Regardless of how you keep them in front of you, do so. Otherwise, you are driving on a long trip without either destination or a map.

Third: Structure. You have to set a schedule. If your goal was to have time with the children, but you are in a panic mode constantly managing your websites, marketing campaigns or phones, you gained nothing. Set a schedule for each day. Start your day on time and end it on time. Build your schedule around the things that are important - Family and Freedom. Don't build your family around your schedule.

Fourth: Don't give up! One of the most horrible things that modern day society has gained is instant gratification. While this is nice when I want gas, a hamburger or my phone with me at any given time; it is detrimental to other more important things. Because we have no patience anymore, so many American's open businesses and sits and waits for customers to come to them. It does not work that way. And worse, statistics show that many people stop trying to reach goals, RIGHT BEFORE they will reach them. Just short and they walk away from what they wanted most. Don't give up!

Fifth: Education! Whatever business you choose, you need education. You need to know your products, your website tools, your shopping cart, your merchant account and most important your marketing! Do not choose a home business that just hands you a product and nothing else if you do not already have training in these things. In my opinion, a good home business will include that training in your start up kits.

Sixth: Focus! I cannot stress this enough. If you get to your office on time, but you are easily distracted by an email, a phone call that is not moving you towards your goals or even daydreams, that time in your office is wasted. You need to keep your mind where you are at any given moment. Whether having dinner with your significant other or on a business call, focus on the moment. Stay on task and you will always stay ahead.

Seventh: Affirmation - We live in a negative society. There are multiple authors and even religious organizations that teach concepts such as 'you are what you think', 'you attract what you think about' and even 'positive in... Positive out - garbage in... Garbage out." If you think you will fail, you will. If you need to tell yourself you have already achieved whatever it is you need to overcome. "I am a successful Marketer." "I have a successful business." My personal one is: "I have abundance, heath and success in my life."

Eighth: A successful marketing plan. If your home business company did not provide that, then you need to find one. You also need one that fits your personality. If you hate cold calls, buying leads to call will not bring you success as they will hear it in your voice. There are multiple companies that teach marketing.

Ninth: Financial Management. Did you know that many people who win lotteries or receive unexpected large windfalls go bankrupt within five years? This is the strangest thing to me. We teach our children so much in school and never teach them how to manage the money we are sending them out to earn. Our country is facing financial ruin due to such alarming debts because we as American's generally speaking, are never taught to manage money. Take the time to get this education. There are so many knowledgeable people out there. Access them!

Finally: A Good Product! Why is this last, because if you do not have the items above on this list, it won't matter what your product is. You can have the best product in the world, but if no one stops by your store or website. If you cannot remain structured and focused, it just won't matter. A couple things I would definitely look for: One, a product that has a guarantee of some sort. Make sure that if your customer is not satisfied, they have some way of gaining back satisfaction. This helps with customer trust and confidence. The other is a product that you believe in enough to get excited about. That passion will not only help you stay focused, it will show in everything you do.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a home business, make sure you have these things in place. If you do, I will meet you at the top!

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Article Tags: american dream, definition of perseverance
Referred by: http://jaykubassek.com



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