Home Based Jobs - Four Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you're new to working from home, or you're thinking of starting to do flexible home based job, here are 10 common mistakes to avoid: 1.
Mistaking "busy" for "working" Let's establish a definition: "Work" is doing things you're paid to do; "Busy" is doing things you're not paid to do, no matter how occupied they may keep you.
Re-arranging your files may keep you busy, but will that generate revenue? Probably not.
As a virtual outsourcing freelancer you "sell" your time.
Your time, leveraged by your skills and experience, is your most precious commodity.
Many freelancers find they spend, for example, four hours a day "at work" but only two of those hours actually generate revenue.
Streamline your processes and maximize your productive.
If it takes you six hours to get four hours of "work" done, figure out what you're doing wrong.
2.
Buying unnecessary equipment or supplies Unless you have unlimited resources, you'll want to keep spending to a minimum.
Your net income is, after all, the difference between your income and your expenses.
It's tempting to buy a new computer, copier, scanner, or phone system, especially if you've left a corporate job where resources were plentiful.
Only buy equipment or supplies that are absolutely necessary for your day-to-day work.
Wait to invest in new office equipment until your workload picks up, or when a project requires that investment and the project prices makes the investment worthwhile.
3.
Taking on too many projects Winning projects is fun.
Missing deadlines and disappointing your clients is not.
Don't be tempted to take on a lot of projects so you can quickly build your portfolio and your reputation; avoid stretching yourself too thin by only taking on what you can actually handle.
If you're good at what you do, there will always be more projects.
Don't sabotage your feedback by biting off more than you can chew, especially while you're still learning the freelancing ropes.
4.
Over-committing Do you like to say, "No, I can't do that"? Most of us don't.
Having a can-do attitude is a fundamental trait of most successful people.
If you're a freelancer, saying "yes" too often can be a bigger problem than saying "no.
" Every project you take on locks up precious time, time that may be better spent elsewhere in terms of revenue and building your portfolio.
If you can, make sure you choose projects that maximize your skills and your earnings.
And if you don't have the skills to take on a task, don't say "yes" unless you know you can cost-effectively develop those skills.
Learning to set up a WordPress blog for a client may be a poor use of your time if you'll never use those skills again.
Mistaking "busy" for "working" Let's establish a definition: "Work" is doing things you're paid to do; "Busy" is doing things you're not paid to do, no matter how occupied they may keep you.
Re-arranging your files may keep you busy, but will that generate revenue? Probably not.
As a virtual outsourcing freelancer you "sell" your time.
Your time, leveraged by your skills and experience, is your most precious commodity.
Many freelancers find they spend, for example, four hours a day "at work" but only two of those hours actually generate revenue.
Streamline your processes and maximize your productive.
If it takes you six hours to get four hours of "work" done, figure out what you're doing wrong.
2.
Buying unnecessary equipment or supplies Unless you have unlimited resources, you'll want to keep spending to a minimum.
Your net income is, after all, the difference between your income and your expenses.
It's tempting to buy a new computer, copier, scanner, or phone system, especially if you've left a corporate job where resources were plentiful.
Only buy equipment or supplies that are absolutely necessary for your day-to-day work.
Wait to invest in new office equipment until your workload picks up, or when a project requires that investment and the project prices makes the investment worthwhile.
3.
Taking on too many projects Winning projects is fun.
Missing deadlines and disappointing your clients is not.
Don't be tempted to take on a lot of projects so you can quickly build your portfolio and your reputation; avoid stretching yourself too thin by only taking on what you can actually handle.
If you're good at what you do, there will always be more projects.
Don't sabotage your feedback by biting off more than you can chew, especially while you're still learning the freelancing ropes.
4.
Over-committing Do you like to say, "No, I can't do that"? Most of us don't.
Having a can-do attitude is a fundamental trait of most successful people.
If you're a freelancer, saying "yes" too often can be a bigger problem than saying "no.
" Every project you take on locks up precious time, time that may be better spent elsewhere in terms of revenue and building your portfolio.
If you can, make sure you choose projects that maximize your skills and your earnings.
And if you don't have the skills to take on a task, don't say "yes" unless you know you can cost-effectively develop those skills.
Learning to set up a WordPress blog for a client may be a poor use of your time if you'll never use those skills again.