One of the disadvantages of running a business from home for me is that my work is always in the next room and I can sit down to it any time. I tend to be most productive in the morning, and there are certain times during the week when I don’t work, but otherwise, I don’t schedule my work time. When I worked a job outside the home, I had a specific schedule and left work at work.

I definitely don’t want to become a clock watcher, but some days my lack of schedule allows me to procrastinate too much or waste too much time. Today has been one of those days. I’ve really not accomplished much at all, but I’ve been at my desk for quite a few hours.

I’m thinking that if I had more of a set schedule I might end up being more productive during that time. If I only work certain hours I may be less tempted to indulge in time wasting activities. Without a schedule it’s easy to think I’ll finish the work later.

How do you handle work time for your home business? Do you keep a schedule or just totally wing it?

Every day I see offers for the latest “must have” business tools. And every day I see people asking for recommendations for something that will help them increase sales, improve their marketing skills, gain more website visitors, work more efficiently, build a better website, or countless other “remedies” for what they may lack in business skills.

There are a great many extremely helpful business tools and resources out there. I believe in using them to help your business grow and I even promote some myself. But many times I think we forget that we’ve always had the most important tools. And often we just seem to forget to use them.

Dawn Rivers Baker, aka The Journal Blogger, posted them today in To Deal with Recession, Use Your Head: “What you need to be successful is lodged between your ears. It’s called a brain. It houses things like analytic ability, creativity, insight, communications tools and imagination.”

I’d like to add one more skill to her list…. common sense. Too often when choosing a home business or looking for ways to improve one, common sense seems to escape us. Remembering to use common sense when evaluating business opportunities and business tools will save you money, time, and help you avoid frustration.

If someone is making promises that common sense tells you are impossible, listen to yourself. If your common sense dictates that a recommended method just isn’t something you could ever see yourself doing, don’t buy into it.

Of course success often requires moving outside your comfort zone, and if what you’re doing isn’t working, it’s probably time for a new method or tool. But if something doesn’t seem right to you, investigate further, look for alternatives, and use your common sense and the rest of your brain. Trust yourself!

Southern Living at Home (SLAH) is reportedly for sale. SLAH’s parent company, Time, Inc. wants to refocus on print and digital brands and get out of the direct sales business.

Source: http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2009/01/time_puts_southern_living_at_h.html

Southern Living at Home consultants sell home decor products such as ironware, pottery, glassware, books and magazines.

Learn more about the company by visiting our Home Decor direct sales company directory at
http://www.homedecorbusiness.com/

Have you considered teaming up with another direct sales consultant to give your business a boost and expand your customer and prospect base?

Networking and collaborating with other direct sales consultants adds tremendous opportunity. When you reach out to other direct sales consultants whose products complement or supplement your own, you’re widening your reach. For example if you sell candles and you team up with someone who sells bath and body products, combined you have a very large reach of people to market to – picture women taking luxurious baths by candlelight.

Additionally, teaming up with other direct sales consultants broadens your knowledge about the direct sales business, everyone has their own unique approach and teaming up with someone who is very successful may help you attain your own personal sales goals. Additionally, you may pool resources like printing, outsourcing and so on to create a very effective and efficient business.

Where do you find direct sales consultants to team up with? Continue Reading

At the start of a new year, it’s not unusual for many people to begin looking for a home business. With the current economic recession many more people will look for a second job or home business as a bit of insurance against a possible layoff, because their wages have been frozen, or for a better sense of security. Stay-at-home parents often look for ways to supplement the family income from home for the same reasons.

If you are seeking an additional income you may be considering a direct sales business. The potential for profit is very appealing as is the ease and low-cost of getting started. But there are dangers as well.

Here are some of the pros and cons of direct sales.

Pros:

1. Direct sales gives anyone a chance to be a business owner and entrepreneurship allows everyone to realize their dream of working for themselves.
2. Direct sales has low start up costs and low overhead. Most can be started for $100-$200 and because consultants can work from home and almost never have to carry inventory, the ongoing costs can be contained. When you sign on with a direct sales program, you are provided with all of the tools you will need to get started.
3. There is plenty of variety in direct sales. With opportunities for selling jewelry, candles, home decor, health and beauty products, clothing, and much more, you can choose a product that you feel comfortable with and believe in, and that your customers want.
4. Direct sales business owners set their own hours. Consultants can work part-time or full-time as their schedule allows and moms can work around their kids’ schedules.
5. Direct sales programs offer support for their sales consultants. It can be tough getting started, especially if you have no sales or marketing experience. The support of the company and your sponsor can mean the difference between success and failure.

Cons Continue Reading