What are some of your biggest home based business challenges? Do you struggle to stay focused? Trying to figure out how to do sales and marketing? Dealing with administrative tasks? Let’s talk about it.
I’ve been operating a home based business since early 2000 and my home based business challenges have ranged over a wide range of areas.
Like everyone, I struggled with how to effectively market my business. I was constantly struggling to come up with new marketing ideas, generate more leads, and just reach more potential customers.
I struggled with maintaining any sort of work-life balance. The number of times I would work through the night to be greeted by the morning sun became too many to count. To this day, I believe “balance” is a myth. We are always leaning one way or the other as our priorities shift. Early on, it was all about getting the business moving. Then, the focused moved to building memories, coaching basketball, making sure the wife and I had weekly date night, etc…
I struggled with tax planning and accounting. (Hint: Hire a CPA early in the process).
As the years progressed, I became better at lead generation, follow up, and closing sales. I learned how to better manage my time and become more productive. I was able to build my home based business and I truly enjoy the freedom it provided me.
These days, my biggest home based business challenges have more to do with my social life. My kids are all grown and moved out. My wife passed away in 2013. I spend more time alone than I have in many years, and it’s a strange feeling, to say the least. I don’t mean this to be a “woe is me” post. I have quite a few opportunities to meet with friends. I play music quite a bit on the weekends and I genuinely enjoy my life.
Life is simply different now. Where I used to be constantly interacting with my wife and kids, I find myself sitting alone working quite a bit. Where I would often be able to get up from my desk and talk with my wife or the kids, I just look around and think, “Well … I guess I could read another article on SEO or watch a video on content development.”
I love what I do for a living. I just miss a lot of the social interaction that came with having a house full of Rooney’s.
Maybe it’s time to create or find a local networking group for folks like me who need some more social interaction with other home based business professionals.
I will have to give that one some thought.
What are some of your own home based business challenges? Share your thoughts and questions here. We just might start up some great conversation together!
Brian Rooney
Supported By Our Advertisers: