Home For The Holidays or Home For All Of The Days
Home For The Holidays… or… Home For All of The Days
The extremely valuable benefits of having a home based business
I don’t know about you but I sure think the holiday season is special. Thanksgiving arrives and reminds us of the blessings of family and of all the things we have to be thankful for. But that’s just where it starts for me. All the way through… from Thanksgiving to New Years, I am constantly reminded of how blessed I really am and how my life has never been better.
It certainly hasn’t always been that way. There have been times in my life when I didn’t understand how important it was to put things in order of priority, or indeed, what those priorities should be. I spent many 18 hour days and 60 plus hour weeks chasing a career that at the time I thought was the most important thing in my life.
This focus put a tremendous strain on my family and frankly, didn’t win me any awards as Family Man of The Year. Many times I would show up late for my children’s Christmas play or family functions and sometimes I didn’t show at all. My priorities were all business first and even my social life consisted of networking and business related functions.
So needless to say, my first marriage didn’t work out.
Some time into my second marriage I came to the realization that I was on the same track. I was still chasing the elusive golden ring and in the corporate world… that ring is only for the chosen. You see, I was never one of the chosen because, to be honest… I was way too honest. What do I mean by that? Well, I’ll tell you. I was always considered a renegade because I called it like I saw it. If bad decisions were being made I was always the one to express my opinions and offer alternative, better options. Of course upper management didn’t like to be challenged about their strategies and I was always ruffling feathers.
Some corporations have executives who welcome input and surround themselves with top level minds who don’t always agree with them. They understand that this is the avenue to achieving greatness. Unfortunately… those corporations are very rare and are usually found at the top of the list of Forbes greatest companies… or… on the fast track toward that lofty pinnacle.
So… where am I going with all this? Well you probably guessed by the title of this article that I have found my home… at home.
A home based business was the answer to my dreams
So a few years back I started a home based business and after some trial and error I finally got the hang of it.
The benefits of having a home based business are too numerous to cover here in this short article but here are a few;
· No commuting to work. I can now roll out of bed, grab a cup of coffee and bagel and be in my office… all in just a few minutes.
· Less money spent on gas. And speaking of commuting, with today’s gas prices, my walk from the bedroom to my office is sure easier on the wallet.
· Professional Growth. This is a real winner for me. Being able to run your own business allows you to learn and apply all aspects of business management. I am sales director, marketing professional, strategist, business development manager, and more. No longer do I have someone looking over my shoulder and criticizing my every move. I succeed or fail on my own… and I like it like that.
· No limits on creativity. Wow, this is huge. After being stifled all those years under know it all bosses, the creative dam has burst allowing a wave of creativity that has elevated my spirit to levels previously unknown.
· Tax advantages. Another biggie. I had no idea how much money I could save on my taxes by having a home based business. Tax savings were way more than the start up investment and each year in business I discover additional ways to legally reduce the government’s take.
· Less stress. There is sure a lot less stress when you know you can juggle work and family. For instance, there’s no worry when one of the children has the flu and needs to stay home from school.
· Less risk. Running a business from home takes less start up capital than any freestanding business or franchise. My start up cost was less than 500 dollars yet I have access to millions of dollars of inventory and I can build a giant sales force without dealing with payroll and all the other headaches associated with employees.
· Advancement. Hello… what a concept. The harder you work… the more you make. You don’t have to wait for someone to decide whether you have jumped through all the hoops and kissed all the right a—-, your raises are directly proportional to your efforts.
· Extra Time. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the average American spends 348 hours each year commuting. With a home-based business, I have used those extra hours to regain control of my personal life.
· Family Time. And here is the one that prompted me to write this article. Because of the extra time my home based business has freed up for me, my family life has blossomed like a flower in springtime. To have so much more quality time with my family is such a blessing that I have trouble finding the words to express my feelings about it. To be there for my daughter Kayla’s 13th birthday, or share in the excitement of my 11 year old D.J. when he first learned to ride his rip stick… invaluable! The relaxed atmosphere when spending time with my lovely bride of 19 years and the luxury of time off for more family vacations… are just a couple more benefits that come to mind. But overall, my home based business has given me a life, a real family life. I would never have known this kind of complete satisfaction with who I am and where I am going… if I were still chasing that corporate brass ring.
So yes, I’m home for the holidays… but more important… I’m home for all of the days.
Here’s wishing you all the best for the holidays and may you become as fortunate as I in realizing your wildest dreams.
Dave Carter