A Few Things To Do Before You Begin

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT!

BE PATIENT!

GET ORGANIZED!

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If you want to change your life, you must FIRST CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS!

You know that you want to work at home, but ARE YOU READY TO WORK AT HOME?  What I mean is, have you thought this through?  Do you know your reasons for wanting to work at home, and are prepared to make the kind of commitment that will be necessary for you to reach your goal?

Many people have gotten blinded by all the claims and hype that suggests that working at home is easy -- that all you have to do is sign up for some program, do a little work, and you'll have all the money and time in the world to goof off doing whatever else it is you want to do (including absolutely nothing at all).  What a joke!

The truth is, ask anyone who's working at home either in a home-based career or home-based business, and if they're honest, they will most likely tell you that working at home is much more demanding than working for an employer.

You'll need to consider upfront whether or not you're truly ready to embark upon this path.  It's not an easy journey, but if you start with the right frame of mind, and remain committed to working toward your goal no matter what obstacles you encounter (and, believe me, there will be obstacles), then get ready to experience the ride of your life!

Don't be discouraged if you discover that you're not as ready as you thought you were.  This Guide and the tools and resources you'll find in it, can help you to get ready.  But, there's a catch -- you must be honest with yourself about what you really want and who you really are.  If you're not honest, this Guide will do little for you.  If you are honest, and are willing to learn, listen, and work, this Guide will help you to start and stay on the RIGHT path.

There are all kinds of books that can teach you "how to" do anything you'd like to learn, but unless you have the proper mindset, they will do little for you.

In fact, pick up and read any book about successful people, and you'll quickly learn that at the foundation and core of their success is a mind filled with positive, affirming, inspired thoughts.  They have succeeded because they believed that they would.

If you want to change your life, you'll have to begin by changing the way you think.  Why?  Because your life is the sum total of the choices you've made.  And, your choices have been influenced by, among other things, the way that you think and what you believe.   

If you try to change any area in your life without first changing your attitude or the way that you think about that thing, you will lack the commitment to stick with the process of making the change, and so you'll quit before you reach your goal.  

Without the proper mindset, you'll become easily discouraged and discontented when you run into the inevitable obstacles you'll encounter during the process of making that change.

How many times have you decided that you wanted to become better at something like, say, saving money or looking and feeling better by losing weight?  And, how many times have you started out on those journeys with the best of intentions, only to give up before you'd arrived at whatever goal you'd set?  

Now think -- during any of those times, did you take the time to consider what you believed about your ability to reach your goal?  Did you take the time to learn how to change your thinking in that area either before or while you were engaged in the process of making the change?  For most people, the answer is "no."

That certainly described me at one time.  You see, through the years, I've made several attempts at becoming self-employed.  When I look back at those attempts, I can now clearly see that the reason I failed was because my thinking was all wrong.  I mean, I went into each of one those ventures with a desire to work for myself, but deep down I didn't really believe that I could pull it off (though, at that time, I would never have admitted that).  So, because I did not believe that I could, that way of thinking overruled my best intentions every time.  

The moment I encountered an obstacle, I would think, "See, I knew it.  Oh well, I might as well give up before it gets any worse."  I couldn't see that the very thing that I "thought" would happen is exactly what did happen.  I thought I would fail and I did fail.   

Consider the words of these very famous and successful people:

"Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you're right." --Henry Ford 

"Change your thoughts and you'll change your world." --Norman Vincent Peale 

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." --Willie Nelson

So what made the difference between the failures of my past, and my present success?  I changed what I believed.  I've learned the importance of monitoring my thoughts.  I've learned that there really is creative power in the thoughts you think -- that whatever you think and believe will happen is exactly what will happen. 

Thinking the right thoughts doesn't just happen.  And, it doesn't happen overnight.  Your past experiences, current circumstances, and other external and internal factors in your life (including people) all influence the things which you've come to believe about yourself and your abilities.  That's why it's important that you don't try to "go it alone" or try to figure it all out on your own.  The truth is, you can't.

Most people know instinctively that they can't figure  out how to be successful on their own.  That's why the "self-help" and "motivational" industries are so huge.  But much of what's taught in this arena is only half of the story.   You can follow steps, and try to use a "mind over matter" approach to reaching your goals, but these activities most often produce limited, short-term results.

Changing and developing your new belief system is a process.  A life-time process -- and one that requires a continuous commitment to learning and growing.  It's not always an easy process, because it often demands (especially in the beginning) that you let go of ways of thinking that you've grown comfortable with.  

It's risky to adopt new ways of thinking.  It's risky to change what you believe. And while some embrace and are motivated by risk and uncertainty, others are very fearful of it.

I've grown accustomed to taking risks.  But, that process began during my childhood.  Growing up, I experienced lots of upheaval and movement and change.  Now, that's not to say that risk-taking is always easy for me.  But because I have a willingness to learn and grow, and because the rewards of change have always far outweighed any discomfort I may have experienced along the way, I've come to see change as an adventure rather than an obstacle.

I read a lot -- all kinds of books and magazines on a wide range of topics -- to increase my knowledge.  Knowledge is the "water" that helps make the "pill" of change easier to swallow.  People usually fear change because they fear the unknown.  But, the more you know about a thing, the more familiar it becomes, and so the less you fear it.   

I also pray and read daily the greatest success book ever written -- The Holy Bible.  My favorite book is the book of wisdom -- Proverbs.  I can state without hesitation, and with full confidence that all that's been accomplished in my personal and professional life is the direct result of my faith in (and actively pursuing to live a life governed by) the truth of the Word of God.

To stay inspired and motivated -- to help me keep my mind right -- I have Post-It^® notes with inspirational and biblical quotes placed at eye-level all around my desk.  I also have several inspirational messages posted on my refrigerator -- I read them every time I go into my kitchen. 

Step by step, little by little, the way that I think about myself and my ability to reach goals and succeed in whatever I set out to do has changed -- completely.  Now, when I encounter obstacles, instead of thinking that they are meant to stop me, I see them as opportunities to discover new ideas, and to use my imagination and be creative.  

The beauty, and unexpected blessing, has been that moving beyond each obstacle has increased my confidence, and motivated me to apply this positive way of thinking to other areas in my life.  So now, instead of simply changing the way I work, my entire life has changed!

That's the power of thinking the right thoughts!

If you've purchased this ebook at a time in your life when you're feeling discouraged, I'd like to offer some suggestions that I hope will offer you encouragement and help to turn things around. 

First, make a commitment to spend one hour each day either reading an inspirational book or listening to an inspirational tape and/or CD.  Surround yourself constantly with positive, inspirational, and encouraging words, and that's what you'll think about.  Keep thinking about those words, and you'll change what you believe.  Change what you believe, and nothing is impossible.

Also, please be careful of what advice and opinions you listen to, especially while you're getting started.  Some of the people in your life who love you the most, will, unfortunately, also be the ones to discourage you the most.  

I have a friend whose husband loves her deeply, but every time she decides to try something new, he never has a positive word to say to her.  He says things to discourage her, and she often gives in to his way of thinking.  She's an intelligent, creative, talented woman, but she allows her husband's negative thoughts about her ability to reach her goals outweigh any positive thoughts she may think herself. 

They say that misery loves company.  This is especially true if you are attempting to make positive changes in your life in the presence of someone who's down, discouraged, or unhappy with their own life, but who is still choosing not to do anything to change their lives.  

People who think and project negative thoughts and attitudes have their own agenda (though, they may or may not be aware of it).  They're most often fearful and insecure about themselves and their own abilities, and so they project those thoughts and feelings onto others who are attempting to ACTUALLY DO what they themselves wish they had the courage to do.

They'll say things like, "Oh, you don't REALLY think you can do THAT do you?"  Or, "You'll never change."  Or, "Why are you wasting your time with that?  It will never amount to anything."  

They say these things because this is what they believe about themselves.

If you're trying to do something positive in your life, resist the temptation to believe negative people.  Resist being influenced by what they tell you -- even if they say they've already tried what you are trying to do, but that it didn't work.  For all you know, it didn't work for them because they simply didn't follow through (of course, no one ever wants to admit that -- they'd rather fault the program/product/service, whatever).

Tell them you're going to try it anyway, and don't dwell on the idea that they may be standing by waiting for an opportunity to say, "I told you so," if things fall through.  Even if it comes to that, you'll still be further ahead than you would be if you continued wasting your time chasing after some "get rich quick" myth.  

When you're trying to make a positive change in your life, it's crucial that you associate with positive people who are trying to reach similar goals.  These associations are critical to your gaining confidence in your ability to truly reach your goals, and make the kinds of changes you are trying to make in your life.  When you're just starting out, and especially if this is all new to you, you already have your own set of fears, doubts, and worries.  

I'll let you in on a little secret.  Successful people aren't without fears, doubts, and worries.  We're human, just like everyone else.  But the difference is that we don't allow those fears, doubts, and worries to stop us.  It's all about perspective and the choices you make.  Either you can think of fears, doubts, and worries as obstacles that you cannot overcome, or you can think of them as opportunities to use your imagination and creativity so that you can jump over them.  

The choice is yours, and you'll have to make that choice a lot when you're starting out because your goal may appear unreachable.  Believe me, it isn't.  It right in front of you.  And, by engaging in productive activities rather than unproductive ones (like looking for some kind of "quick fix"), you're even closer to reaching your goals than you may realize.

That's where you're association with positive, success-focused people will be of greatest benefit to you.  Talk to them.  Learn from them.  Your association with positive people will strengthen and encourage you, and will help you to stay on your path.  Don't make the mistake that many people do of trying to go it alone.  It's very important to talk to others, and to share experiences and ideas with those who are going after similar  goals.  

Participate on discussion boards and in chat rooms, or sign up for discussion lists through services like Yahoo Groups.  Always be willing and desiring to meet new people, because the very opportunity you're looking for may present itself through a conversation in a chat room.

Engage only in productive activities that will keep you moving towards achieving your goals.  Stay positive, and don't let anyone else's fears, doubts, or negative attitude (or your own for that matter) hold you back.  Just think, if you remain focused and committed to your goal, and as you begin to realize your dreams, your courage will inspire those "doubting Thomases" to finally go after their own dreams. :o)  

There's little in the world that can compare to the feeling that comes from knowing you inspired someone else to pursue their own dreams!

Never stop learning, never stop growing, and never give up!  

You've got to BE PATIENT!

Whether you want to work from home because you're feeling frustrated and fed up with the commute or negativity at your current job, have been unexpectedly terminated or laid off, or have decided to make the transition to earning a living as a stay-at-home parent, you will be tempted beyond measure to jump right on the internet and begin searching for home-based work.  

You may start posting your resume on every work at home Web site or job board you can find.  You may even think that some of those ads for work at home envelope stuffing, arts & crafts, or "typist" jobs sound like honest, reasonable, reliable opportunities.  Mostly, you’ll be consumed by your need to find work so that you can earn a full-time income – FAST!     

Listen, if you take no other advice from me, hold fast to this piece, for it also will play a part in your ultimate success or failure in reaching your goal to work at home.

The first thing you absolutely, positively must do is BE PATIENT.  

Impatience is perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to achieving success – in anything.  Now, I know that practicing patience is an especially challenging concept when dealing with the internet.  But given estimates that it can take as much as 3 times longer to get hired in a work at home job as it does to get hired in a "regular" job, you simply must learn the way of patience.  

I know the bills are coming due.  Believe me, I've been there.  But, you must be patient – patient with yourself, patient with learning the basics, patient with laying the foundation.  If you're not patient, you'll start falling for any and every work at home promise, or you will waste your time, efforts, and money engaging in unproductive job search techniques.  And, that will spell certain disaster.

Additionally, patience and persistence work hand in hand to help you overcome the temptation to quit if things don't move along as quickly as you'd like them to.  But, you mustn't quit.  YOU MUST NOT QUIT.  If you do, you'll never know just how close you might have been to accomplishing your goals. 

In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill vividly tells the story of a man who learned the hard way that quitting can cost you your fortune:

I’m convinced that many new hopeful home job seekers fail in their job search or at finding legitimate home-based work, simply because they’ve refused to be patient and persistent.  They too quickly involve themselves in programs and activities that are counterproductive to what they're hoping to achieve.  

Or, without having taken the time to set concrete goals or to establish a plan for reaching those goals, they begin engaging in unproductive search activities.  Usually, if things don't go as they'd expected, they give up much too quickly, and will never know that their greatest dreams could have probably come true had they simply been patient, considered what they were trying to accomplish, and kept going no matter what. 

I say that they've "refused" to be patient, because practicing patience is a choice.  You must choose to be patient.  You must choose to be persistent.  And, once you've made your choice, do everything in your power to stick with that choice.  Choosing to be patient is not a "once-and-for-all" thing.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Life is constantly presenting us with choices.  And, in some cases the decisions we make will require us to choose between whether we choose to be patient, or whether we will react as a result of our impatience.

When you're impatient about something, it is because you've chosen to be impatient.  Think about it.  Has there ever been a time when you wanted something that you knew you couldn't get immediately, and so you were willing to wait for it?  Guess what?  You made a choice.  You chose to wait.  You chose to be patient and wait for whatever it was. 

YOU are in control of your choices.  That right to choose is called free will, and it is a gift that's been given to each of us.  Use it wisely -- choose to learn the way of patience -- and you will find the success and prosperity you're hoping for.  :o)

Now, first things first.  To get started right in your new home job search strategy, take as much time as you need to familiarize yourself with how the information in this handbook is organized.  

Familiarize yourself with where to locate specific information, and browse through the steps outlined (but, resist the temptation to move ahead).  It will be helpful for you to have an overview of what it will take to succeed in your home job search.  And, learning how each step builds and prepares you for the next will help you to understand the importance of resisting the temptation to skip steps, or to move through them in random order. 

Don't actually do anything just yet.  Once you've familiarized yourself with how the handbook is organized, print the entire section entitled, The Truth About "Work At Home" And The Internet and read through all of the information once (including the linked information).  Also, print and read the free bonus report, WANTED: Legitimate Home-Based Work.    

Once you've completed reading these sections, take a deep breath and relax.  I know it will seem overwhelming.  I felt that way too when I first learned this method.  I was feeling anxious and impatient, and I was tempted to simply give up and go back to my old job search methods.  But then I remembered that even though they were familiar, they weren't working, so I just kept reading, kept learning, and kept practicing what I'd learned.  I took one step at a time, and completed one task at a time, and after a while I reached my goal. 

Like I said earlier, there's no special magic to finding legitimate home-based work.  The key is to increase your awareness about the many work at home schemes that you'll encounter, and to learn and practice and master the "right" job search method.  

This is no different from  anything else that you know how to do well.  When you began, you didn't know what you were doing.  But, you learned what steps to take.  You learned what worked and what didn't, and you did what worked.  Now, you're good at whatever it is you are good at doing, and if you look back to the beginning I'll bet that you can remember a moment when you thought you'd never make it to where you are now.  

That's the secret to success.  Take your time.  Be patient.  Learn, practice, and master the right concepts, and I guarantee you will be rewarded with success every time!  :o)

Organize Your Search From The Start

There's an old saying in business:  work smart, not hard.  Working smart begins with planning and preparation.  In other words, get organized!  This same principal holds true no matter what task you are undertaking.  When it comes to planning and conducting a successful home job search, getting and staying organized will help you to maintain your focus, and will keep you moving forward.

As you read this handbook for the first time, you may feel a bit overwhelmed.  There's a lot of new information to grasp, and as tempted as you may be to skip some sections, you'll be in the best possible position to reach your goals more quickly if you follow the order provided by this ebook.  

If you're like me, feeling overwhelmed can sometimes lead to inaction.  Or worse, feeling overwhelmed may tempt you to get started, but with no clear direction or goal.  This is a dangerous way to work.  If you're not able to track your progress in an orderly manner, you'll begin to feel like you're running in place -- like you're not accomplishing anything -- and, you'll become discouraged and want to quit.

So, to help keep you moving forward along a straight, focused path, the following checklist is provided.  These tools will help you to set up and track your  progress in your home job search.

Organizational Tools

1. 3-ring binder (use to store hard copies of this handbook as you print them -- don't print the entire book all at once, since it's regularly updated with new information)

2. Notepads (for taking notes and jotting down ideas)

3. Manila file folders (for storing copies of skills assessment results, and checklists you print and complete; also for storing copies of cover letters you send by snail-mail or email to companies you contact)

4. Create a simple spreadsheet or database using a program like Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access, so that you can enter and track the details of your job search.  

Set up a separate page, and record the following information for each job site you use:

• Name of job site and the date you established an account at that job site ( if registration was required)

• Your account name and password (if they were needed)

• Date when you posted a resume, including the version of your resume that you used (in Step 4, you'll learn the benefit of creating resumes that are specifically tailored to each type of job you are pursuing)

• What job site services you signed up for (i.e. search agents, weekly newsletter, etc.)

For each job that you apply for add the following details on the corresponding job site page(s) you created above:

• The job title, job identifier number, company name, full contact information, and date/time you applied

• The resume and cover letter that you used (or cover paragraph) - print hard copies of these documents if you can

• The contact information and dates of everyone with whom you spoke at the employer's firm or recruiter's office

• Take good notes during your conversation 

• Write down any follow up phone calls that you made or faxes you sent, and the date and action of the next follow up step

• Make note of any feedback receive from the employer or recruiter

I know that keeping track of these details will be a pain in the neck for some, but the process give you clear picture of which job sites are most effective for you, and which are a waste of your time.  You'll also be tracking your movement, which will motivate and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goal. 

All in all, your tracking efforts will make for a more efficient job search.

If you need to learn how to create a simple spreadsheet or database, refer to Step 3 for a list of Web sites where you can get training in these skills for low cost or no cost.

Finally, remember, STAY POSITIVE AND BE PATIENT.