Why Home Based Businesses FAIL!

While this question does not get asked of us allot, question anyone who has read our stuff, researched us, and alike… It’s pretty simple to comprehend that we are pretty good at what we do. So anyone asking us about failure or why they might or could fail as others before them have… well, it just could be that this is too much of an embarrassing question to ask. So, I thought I’d put it on the table and give everyone some insight as to what it takes (or not) to make it. As a matter of fact, as I look back over this draft, the same holds true for just about any venture.

Remember this quote… “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them”. George Bernard Shaw

Being good stewards of the team we’ve built (through their hard work not ours… we just get to Coach everyone but we are there for them 7 days a week without fail and we’ve travelled to see them too. On top of that, we make sure they have the tools they need in their tool box. After all a carpenter has a hammer!!)… we thought it to be a really neat idea to explain kind of the Top 10 Rules, or things to look for, to help you succeed and literally help you knock it out of the park with your new business venture, “At Home” or otherwise.

None of these rules lead to success or failure however, putting them all to use will in my opinion greatly increase your chances of success.

# 1… It really doesn’t matter what type of “At Home Business” you really want to start. After all, we’ve started a business at home (or we’re giving it great consideration) because the overhead is low (most of us do it from a spare bedroom or the basement), or we’ve started it to make extra money… and in allot of cases – we are simply out of work, so we are forced to consider other alternatives given today’s economic climate. So it really doesn’t matter if you’re an internet person, AVON, Mary Kay… I mean it just does not matter. We all need a couple of extra bucks today. Even if your inclined to put your bookkeeping service on-line, or Grand Ma’s all-time Favorite Red Gravy (spaghetti sauce!!… for those who have never had the privilege of Red Gravy). An “At Home Business” can be quite frankly anything you want it to be.

So, go to all your family and friends and tell them what you’re doing. This is a really great way to toughen up your skin and get all your NO’s (or are you CRAZY!!) out of the way. As a matter of fact, when you start your list of folks you want to tell, I’d like you to start with ALL THE PEOPLE who you think will tell you NO or at least think you’re crazy. You’ll be surprised how many of those NO’s will in fact become YES’S!! and eventually be in your corner cheering you on. Some might want to even help you too!!

Since our family & friends usually are the most critical of what it is we do… they naturally will pound away at how stupid we are, how foolish we are and that what you’ve learned or discovered is NOT true or it’s half baked. I just love the unemployed brother in law’s, who suddenly become an expert at the internet and every other conceivable subject for that matter.

In this context I just love the Eric Clapton quote of… “Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I’d rather lie around. No contest.” There is not a day that goes by when I don’t smile at that quote. We all feel that way at one time or another. If you want to get your NO’s out of the way… go there first. My very first quitter and quite frankly the only one I ever had that resigned, was my own sister. So, I’ve been there and done that.

# 2… You have to have product knowledge. It is and will become paramount to your success. After all, you can’t run around with marbles in your mouth. You’ve got to know your product, you have to have knowledge of its plus & minuses and you have to have conviction in what it is your doing. Passion for lack of a better way to describe it, speaks to and for all of us and will become crucial to your success.

I don’t care if you’re in the car business, the restaurant business (or you sell Avon or Tupperware). You have to have a sense of what you’re doing. Passion is essential to your success. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing… then why would you expect anyone else too? Should you find this difficult to do, remember what Tom Hanks said… “The hard is what makes it great”.

# 3… If you want to learn how to swim, you’ve got to get in the pool! Reading and planning and for that matter… watching a ton of video’s will in fact certainly help you… but please don’t start there. You can get analysis paralysis easily and very quickly. A ton of the smartest folks I know have no common sense.

Should you be having a tough time starting… in the words of author Sally Hogshead, “Figure out what’s stopping you, then deal with it”.

Learn the essentials and rely upon your mentor (that’s what we’re here for). All you really have to do is have a conversation with folks. It’s not like getting a new car or something and then going to your Buddy’s house and reading him the owner’s manual. No, of course not…and after all, what difference does it make when you start. Keep things simple, keep things lite… talking someone into something is NOT the way to go about it. They are liable to say yes just to get you to shut up and then you never hear from them again.

Next time you catch yourself trying to explain contractual details… picture yourself projectile vomiting all over them. It’s ugly but that is exactly what you’re doing!! Take the approach that is quoted by Eleanor Roosevelt. “Do one thing every day that scares you”. You’ll not only get over your fears but you will begin to radiate confidence in all that you do!

“Refuse to carry a membership card to the lowest common denominator”, Sally Hogshead.

# 4… It takes allot of footwork to get yourself off the ground. Kind of the 80/20 Rule. For those of you who don’t know what that means… it goes like this. It takes 20 % of your effort to accomplish 80 % of the objective, however, it also takes 80 % of your effort to accomplish the remaining 20 % of the objective.

Remember this… “Figure out who you are and then do it on purpose”, Dolly Parton.

They can call our business “belly to belly” and believe me, that is how it starts. In a bad way, it’s very hard if not incredibly hard work. In a good or great way… it’s builds your self-esteem, it builds your confidence and finally, it will make you very good on your feet, which in itself, makes you very good at overcoming objections.

# 5… Don’t be in it for the money. While dollars are essential to success and keeping groceries on the table, being in it for strictly the money will have folks looking through you like you were a window. There is nothing worse than sleazy sales tactics as they accomplish nothing. I would rather be the turtle than the hare, if you know that story.

Learn how to be a giver (if you’re not already). After all, helping folks get what they want or need… will in turn, do the same for you. Our business is almost biblical in nature (and I’m not a preacher nor am I going to start now). But it kind of goes like this… he/she who begot who begot who begot. You’ve got to learn how to teach, grow, nurture and make yourself duplicatable. If you’re a one person show… you will fade very quickly – if not, disappear. Steve and I are always saying… we will run with you, we will walk with you… sit down and we’ll go right around you. You’ve got to stay in the game and you’ve got to have SKIN in the game (as the saying goes).

Let me try saying this another way. If you choose to pour yourself into others… and help them get what they want… it will, beyond the shadow of a doubt, come back to you. There is nothing more rewarding than helping others. Money if you will, is just a symbol of value creation. How about creating value in you and others, by helping them. I promise, you’ll blast through the roof and into orbit faster than you know what hit you. Just watch what helping others will do for them and you… it does and will make your heart as big as all out doors! Someone allot smarter than me said… if you see a turtle on top of a fence post, odds are someone helped him get there!!

# 6… My college mentor told me from the get go, “Go make your mistakes with other people’s money”. This was and remains very non-traditional thinking. And 35 or so years ago, he was completely outside the box. He also said (and this is the mid- ’70’s, couponing will only convince the customer you were overpriced to begin with… pretty cool thinking way prior to the value/dollar menu). Don’t get stuck thinking 1960… if the internet is doubling every 72 hours with new data/information… then so must we! We must always be willing (and trying like crazy) to re-invent ourselves. That’s just the world today.

So present to your Mom or Dad… or sister or brother… and for Christ’s sake, role play with your mentor/your sponsor. And then make your list, your list of everyone you know. The easiest way to do that is to quite frankly go through the Yellow Pages. Start at A and go to Z. Who do you know at the bank, hairdresser, the person who sold you your car. The reception person at the Vet… I mean the list is quite endless. They say the average person by the time they reach 30 years of age, probably knows of 1,000 people. I’m not kidding… one thousand people. Then give each one of those names a check… one for being a people person, one for being a leader and one for having some resources (in other words, having a couple hundred to start with).

You’d be surprised what folks needs are (and don’t pretend you think you know). I heard this story the other day from our Founder and it goes like this. On the LAST SHOW of that really famous talk show hostess (who has recently started her own network… so now you know who I’m talking about) there were some 300 people in the audience. She gave each one of them a new car. That’s 300 new cars – quite a gift, and I think everyone would agree with that. But you see, only 200 could take advantage of it… as 100 people could not come up with the gift tax money with which to pay for the car.

I mean can you imagine??

Lesson is, don’t presume you think you know what people’s needs are.

A final thought on this… look at Bill Gates and the Foundation he has created… and on top of that, look at the enterprise he and his good friend Warren Buffet have started by getting their buddy’s and associates to contribute most all their wealth back to charity. It’s amazing what NOT and NON TRADITIONAL thinking can and will do for you. Look at all the biggies who have done so well (and have or are giving back). That famous talk show hostess I just referred to, The Donald, Ellen (did you see her Christmas Special), Bill Gates, Steve Jobs (and all that Apple has done for education) and then there is Warren Buffet. The list is pretty endless and growing all the time.

# 7… READ and READ and READ!!

In one of our video’s we give you a list of books that quite frankly are pretty easy reads. Find that hour a day (could be early in the morning or it could be from watching less TV). And very quickly make it a habit to read for an hour a day. My routine is in the morning. Every morning I go to my coffee place, they’ve got WIFI and the whole nine yards. I get there about 6:45 and I go till 8:00. From 8 till 8:15 I skim the local paper (here in rural Colorado it’s all high school sports and who died) and then I turn on the portable lap top (I got one on EBay for like $75… it’s real tiny) and I use it just to get rid of simple email that won’t eat my time that’s so valuable during the day. Even after all of this, I’m still at my desk by 8:45! You’ve got to create habits… and this is one that will improve your mind as well as start your day by getting your mind thinking in a positive way. You’d be surprise how this will JUMPSTART your morning, each and every day!!

Here is another trick. Set yourself up 2 email addresses (at least)… I have four. Separate personal from business and do yourself a great big favor and check the personal only twice a day. Early in the morning like I suggested previously and then again at the end of day. Otherwise it eats up too much time. I read somewhere that our addiction to email is due to our need to be wanted, which is why we jump every time we hear the DING. Let go of it or turn it off. It’s mostly unproductive time anyway. Besides, if someone needs us bad enough they text or call. So don’t worry about it, that is, that your missing something. Odds are, you’re not!!

# 8… Integrity!!

Never lie. Never make it up, never back track, never look at anything from the sole standpoint of having to get “the deal”.

It will bite you in the backside each and every time you do it.

Folks have got be able to depend on you, trust you and beyond the shadow of a doubt… take what you say as Gospel. When you approach it this way, you’ll duplicate yourself, your team will duplicate themselves and folks will rely on you with respect as well as admiration.

I know this is a short explanation… but nothing really more needs to be said on the subject. You either got it or you don’t.

# 9… The bounce. You’ve got to be able to survive the bounce. Or quite frankly better said by Ty Webb (aka Chevy Chase) in the movie Caddy Shack… BE THE BALL!

I listen to a ton of CD’s and tapes. I just hate having down time. Sure I like listening to music just like the next person but anytime I can learn something or listen to words of wisdom… I’m there.

The speaker was Darren Hardy, the editor of Success Magazine… and for those of you who don’t get this subscription… start it tomorrow, as you won’t regret it!

Darren’s theory is all about up’s and down’s… and that your fall from grace as it were, is all about surviving once you hit the ground. Whether it’s your fault or someone else’s or even if you got the blame. Life is about surviving the bounce. Get over the fall and move on… and if you find you need to dwell on it, take the weekend off and then call me. I don’t think (and I’m sure I could be wrong)… that anyone has bounced (hit the ground) harder than me or Steve.

# 10… Mel Robbins in her new book (or fairly new book this past summer) talks about and as a matter of fact it’s the title of her book – Stop Saying Your Fine.

Mel’s theory or theories are… what we need to do is face it. Life can be like the snooze alarm if we allow it to be. When that thing goes off (the alarm) in the morning… face it, jump to it. Let those cold feet hit the ground. With every thought we’ve got… we should only take about 5 seconds to deal with it or odds are we will forget about it or in the worst case, chicken out in my opinion. Don’t chicken out – deal with it!

Face the music, deal with the issues… especially when they are all about you and your lack of confidence. Reading, the tapes/CD’s while driving in the car I’m suggesting… they all deal with moving your life forward and stop pre-tending that everything you see or read in Facebook is true. It ain’t! Life is not that glamorous for any of us.

# 11… I always like to add a bonus!!

Author Sally Hogshead in her book Radical Careering, is quoted as saying… “Some days, success is about luck, or talent, or skill. But most days, success is about wrestling failure to the ground until it screams uncle”. “Mistakes are tuition”.

If this is not the bitter truth then I don’t know what is. Mistakes (as we learn from them and sometimes very valuable lesson’s) are life’s learning curve. Don’t we all wish we were 17 again, as back then we still knew everything!! Remember those days.

You’ve got to suck it up sometimes and just jump in the pool. Find yourself the best example of whomever is doing what it is you want to be doing and copy it, mirror it and learn from them. Every one of those folks has a recipe for success… stop trying to re-invent the wheel. There is way too much great stuff out there! Follow their lead!!

Think about it this way… they (your mentor/hero/coach) did not get there by mistake. They worked their tail off to get there. Be COACHABLE… Be TEACHABLE. They’ve made it and your attempting to duplicate their success. Be a mirror… Be a sponge… Take it all in & Suck it all up!!

# 11A… The Free Reports, Free Video’s and really neat stuff (valuable information) we are sending you… we just didn’t think this stuff up overnight. We’ve spent years on this research, it’s methodology and everything else that’s involved.

Take advantage of what we’re sending you… and in the end, if you think or believe that we’ve lost our ever lovin’ minds!! Please at least pay attention to how to Get the Government To Fund You’re At Home Business. The guy who invented it was and is an investigative reporter and it’s incredibly factual.

Enjoy!!