When we are first considering how to build a home business, the reason the first year is important is because it is when we begin to learn if any of our ideas are feasible. We need to really decide if we could start our own business at home. Our mindset, or attitudes and habits will determine if we can proceed. Otherwise we might decide that we ‘can’t’ do it right now because we realize it is not a proposition that will necessarily result in anything instant or magical.
Since everything in reality takes time, we do need a way to survive while we build and develop our business. We must realize what all exactly we will have to contend with in order to have multiple important priorities. Money, time, and all resources available to us will determine whether we can come up with a firm plan in which we can manage our finances well at the same time as we are trying to start a business.
Probably the worst idea would be that we speculate. We shouldn’t be overly confident or downright foolish to assume that if we spend the money we need for survival (rent, food, utilities, etc) on our business, that we will surely see a return on our investment in plenty of time. This can be disastrous. No matter what you want to believe, or what you see or hear, there is nobody who can guarantee that we will make money by a certain time. Get real. The people who are making money have likely been at it for a while and know what they are doing.
If advertisements include statements that we interpret to mean we will make money instantly, then we have to understand what they are actually saying is merely that it is possible. If they are really doing it, then they have first-hand knowledge that it can happen for anyone. They may have been making money for some time and probably by trial and error, now know what strategies work best.
If they are honest they will not make it seem like a ‘cake-walk’ and will tell you how they struggled in the beinning making considerable sacrifice, until they figured it out. Some may demonstrate exactly what they do on a day-to-day basis, and may share documented statistics to prove it. It all may be true. However we have to realize that is still no guarantee it will work the same for us. Things change all the time and what worked before may not work as well now. Read the fine print: ‘Results are not typical’.
It really depends to a large degree on how much we want it and how hard we are willing to work to get it, whether or not we have similar results. The first year we will determine whether we actually want a business bad enough to sacrifice. While it is true people are cutting it close to the bone financially, if we take stock of what we spend, we will likely see that we can find a few dollars to invest in our goal.
We can usually determine which has the greater priority if we think logically. For example, is a $5 designer coffee more important? Is going out to a $10 lunch? Both very temporary pleasures. On the other hand, you could do something with that $15 toward a business expense. More examples are trips and all sorts of entertainment. Going without one evening of fun could mean $25-$50. If we sometimes decide in favor of our business plan, we could get some gratification by putting that money aside. Probably accounting for it on paper or somewhere would make it seem more tangible.
You are getting someplace. It may seem small but those ‘pennies’ add up if we are consistent. Pretty soon you may have $100 saved and know you can cover some expense for 6-months or more where you don’t have to worry about it.
