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Poor Richard, the Home Business Guru!
I must admit, I didn't think of Poor Richard's Almanac as a guide to home business. In fact, every time someone dragged out that old "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" business, I cringed! But a friend pointed me to a website which listed the Almanac's advice (do you think they were trying to tell me something?). And I discovered, to my surprise, that old Richard was a pretty good business guru! Don't believe me? Here are some examples of his business maxims (with a little embellishment from yours truly!): 1. Diligence is the mother of good luck. No affiliate marketing package, no "make $100K in 6 months" opportunity (did you fall for that???), and no Google spider can do for your business what sheer diligence will do. Working your business every day - making calls to contacts daily, searching for inexpensive advertising opportunities daily, doing one piece of marketing daily, delivering great customer service daily - done week after week will ensure that your business is successful year after year. In other words, do the grunt work! 2. Have you something to do tomorrow? Do it today. But that diligence starts by working your business today. We all make plans to do great things, but few of us actually begin with the small things which are at hand. And it is those small things - done one after the other - that are the foundation which becomes great things! That being said, sometimes great things can come out of sunny days spent lounging in the sun! (Thinking time, right?) 3. Necessity never made a good bargain. Have you ever known people who only seem to deal with the moment? Every decision is made under the "tyranny of the urgent?" Some business people love the adrenaline rush of those spur of the moment decisions, but I can almost guarantee that somewhere at the core of that company is a long range plan. Long range planning is especially important in a home business. Plan now what you will do if business slows, insurance rates rise, and tax rates skyrocket (aside from pulling your hair out and shaking your fist at the government!). 4. Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge. You may know everything there is to know about home business, having read everything that print and internet has to offer! You may be a biz whiz, but if you don't have a passion for your business, why should anybody else? And if you don't care, and your potential customers don't care, then you are out of business, buddy! There is one more maxim I want to share with you - "love your enemies, for they will tell you your faults." Now, who loves ya, baby? Pamela Cole Harris is a writer, editor and web entrepreneur. Her new website: http://www.pajamabusinesses.com is full of information on starting your own home business - perfect for every person who dreams of working from home. Also visit her other websites, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com for her unique decorating and remodeling style (and a free newsletter!) And http://www.thewellfedtraveler.com for out of the way places and out of this world food!
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