Success lies in the eye of the beholder. Or maybe that’s just beauty. We all define success differently. Some define it according to a bottom dollar amount. Did the home business owner earn more than he spent? Some will define it according to time. Did the home business owner spend time with his kids this week? Did he log in a date with his wife? Some will define it simply according to relationships. Do his kids like him? Does his wife not want to kill him this week? Home business owners have found success in several arenas with some simple principles.
First and foremost, successful home business owners find a way to balance family and work. They remember why they came home in the first place. Few home business owners choose to come home because they lost their job and had no other choice but to open their own business and work from home. Just about anyone can get a job if he really wants to. So home business owners typically come home for one or two reasons: to be their own boss and to spend time with their family. These home business owners find a way to both work hard and play hard. They take their business and family time seriously.
Secondly, successful home business owners read. They educate themselves on business practices, money management, and even family life. They understand the value of seeking out wisdom in various arenas of life. Additionally, the successful home business owner knows that he will grow as a person and an entrepreneur when he applies whatever he learns to his business and family life. He studies those who have succeeded at what he wants to do. He recognizes their habits, demeanor, and practices, and he mimics them with great detail.
Finally, a successful home business owner manages his money. He understands the need to manage money both at home and in the home office. Before he spends his money on bills or desires, he first writes out a budget. He involves his family in the personal budget, and he involves them in the monthly budget committee meeting. He will show them how they are spending money at home and receive their input on the budget. In the same way, he may involve his family in the business as well, hiring his kids as associates or menial labor, thus giving them the opportunity to learn about money management as well, with the first lesson being the correlation between hard work and money.
Success truly does lie in the eye of the beholder. Some people might deem a man who makes only $40K while spending the vast majority of his time at home a failure, and yet others deem his strong family relationship a success. Thus with this in mind, the home business owner must first of all define his concept of success, and then take the necessary steps to become successful in his own eyes.