But why should it be bliss? Is it because these people do not want to be working at their full potential-do they want instead to sit back and relax and just go with the flow, getting a little bit of work done here and there? If the answer is yes then these people-the ones who would most enjoy being their own boss-are the people who might just do the worst if they were.



To be your own boss you have to have many skills, but more important than what you can do is your determination to keep going. Enthusiasm may get your started, but motivation and stamina are needed to see a project through to the end and so avoid one of the biggest problems with working from home-the temptation to sit back and relax.

If you struggle with this then there are certain things that you can do to increase your chances of success. Firstly, you should ensure that you have suitable working environment with the minimum of distractions. This will help to prevent you stopping work to go and see to something else, and forgetting to return to work.

Setting your own goals and deadlines is a must too. Allowing an order to not be placed for three weeks when you need the materials to make your in stock goods will hold up many other things you need to do-like selling the goods and making money from that sale! A schedule tends to be of help in this respect for many people, with regular working hours so that you can plan for more fun things when you are not scheduled to work. Your schedule needn't be rigid and unbending, but should establish a pattern of working times and include enough hours that you can achieve the full week's work.

Breaks are important too because if you work without pausing you may tire before the day is through. A tired at home worker has the perfect excuse to stop work early, for they don't have to ask the permission of a boss to clock off early. Regular, short breaks for refreshment can help you to stay focused and alert.

Rewards help us all to work that little bit harder-and needn't be extravagant. Aiming to work hard for two hours before you take a break can help maintain your focus if you are honest with yourself regarding how hard you are actually working, and the break itself becomes more satisfying because of the knowledge that you achieved something before hand. Working harder than normal so that you can finish an hour earlier can also be wonderful motivation-especially since you are not being paid on the clock and so won't lose an hour's wages.

The success of your work at home career depends heavily on your being able to find things that keep your motivation high, but don't be surprised if you hit a rough patch at times. Step back and take a break-you are likely to return from a day off with a renewed enthusiasm for the task ahead.