Although it might seem obvious to you that the best way to make a living is to run your own home-based business –because it will give you the independence you need to do what you love without a cap on how much your business can earn once you automate most of your business processes and outsource the bulk of the work–this is not how most people think.
However, it isn’t exactly easy to be the captain of your own ship. While you may have an excellent business idea, say, working as a freelance web developer and sourcing work from private clients, you also need to make certain that you run your business with the same diligence and efficiency you would show if you were working for someone else.
One simple way to help you build a solid foundation for your business is to make certain that you create the right business environment.
Here are 5 tips to set up your home office so that you have everything that you need when you need it to perform at your best.
1. Internet Service
You simply must have the high-quality Internet services. Don’t settle for a service that provides you with slow service; instead, invest in a service like Suddenlink wifi which offers speeds up to 1 Gbps, as well as unlimited data
2. Office Equipment
You will need basic computer equipment like a desktop or laptop, an external hard-drive for backups, and a network battery backup unit to manage electrical fluctuations.
You will need necessary office equipment to print, scan, copy, and fax; however, you won’t need several pieces of equipment because you can get all these functions in an all-in-one office machine.
You will need indispensable telephony equipment like a smart phone and headphones for Skype calls.
And you will need essential stationary, such as a three-hole punch, a stapler, pens, markers, legal pads, file folders, and so on.
Incidentally, while you can do almost everything you need to plan your business with software, it’s sometimes helpful to use some old-fashioned tools to stimulate creative thinking. Sometimes it’s simply easier to brainstorm ideas by listing, sketching, and doodling because of the psychomotor stimulation of putting pen to paper. So buy a stack of yellow legal pads and a variety of pens—red, blue, and black. You may also benefit from other tools, like a highlighter, permanent marker, pencils, a sharpener, and an eraser.
Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to these options; you can also get a tablet to access business apps, a handheld calculator, a home sound system, a DVD player, and any other device or piece of equipment you feel will help your business.
3. Technology.
You will need the right software to be able to do the work you need for your clients. If you need more hardware resources than a small home network provides or more advanced software than you can afford, consider signing up with a cloud service provider and accessing industrial-strength software through Software as a Service (SaaS) providers.
4. Furnishings
While, of course, you will need basic office furniture like a good desk, chair, and filing cabinets, you don’t need to take a bare-bones approach to setting up your home office. So spend the money necessary to get an ergonomic desk and chair, even investing in a standing desk if you feel that it would help you perform better. Since you’ll probably be spending most of your day in your home office, you might as well make it comfortable.
5. Décor
Your mood will affect the quality of your work, so add décor that will motivate you to achieve your business goals. You might, for example, if you’re facing a blank wall, add wall art of a beautiful beach home to help keep your vision of your intended lifestyle top of mind. Of course, a few framed pictures of your family on your desktop might work just as well. The point is to add décor that will stimulate your imagination and motivate you to do your best work.
It takes courage and imagination to set up your own business. Instead of settling for a corporate job in your quest for financial security, a job where you have to follow orders all day long and humbly accept whatever compensation someone else has decided you deserve, you’re charting your own course in life Setting up your home office as perfectly as possible is the first step in your efforts to take full responsibility for your mental, emotional, and financial well-being.
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