The Work at Home Millionaire Journey

I’m grateful for the fact that I have the entrepreneurial spirit.  It’s one of those things that I tend to take for granted until I am reminded how differently entrepreneurs think than the rest of the world.  We have an endless number of options and choices where others see few, if any, bright opportunities.

I was recently reminded of how fortunate I am when I came across a news story entitled “Too old to start anew?”  It talked about the struggle baby boomers are facing in the job market.

The story reported that one 56-year-old man had opted for a $17,000 facelift.  The facelift made him look 10 to 15 years younger and gave him more confidence.  I guess we’ll stay tuned to see whether it helps him get the job he’s looking for.

Now maybe this guy has other issues that we don’t know about, but a $17,000 investment in hopes of a better outcome from a job interview?  Really?

The scary thing is, his chosen path is likely more socially acceptable than mine.  When I made the decision to change careers, I didn’t submit my resume to a gang of new potential employers.  I didn’t go back to school in search of a new degree that would qualify me for new job opportunities.

Instead, I made the decision to turn my part-time online business into my full-time income.  Why is my decision the exception rather than the norm?  Why aren’t thousands, if not millions, of people rushing to start their own online businesses?  Three reasons, I think.

First, people are still looking for that false sense of security a J-O-B gives you.  I would think by now, more than ever, it would be clear that the sense of security you seek from working for someone else is indeed false.  Still, I hear talk of a “steady paycheck” and healthcare benefits when people are stressing over the potential loss of a job.

We are programmed to believe that only someone else can provide us with these things.  But what I found when I left the “comfort” of working for someone else was that my “unsteady” paycheck was far greater than the one my employer so dutifully provided every month.  And, yes, I have to pay a nice sum for health care, but even when you subtract that from my home business profits, I still come out ahead.

Second, the home business industry has such a bad rap that many people don’t consider starting their own business a viable and honest alternative to a “real job.”  This reputation is in part deserved.  There is a lot of get rich quick hype out there.  A lot of network marketing companies selling overpriced junk.  A lot of work from home “opportunities” that will do nothing but cost you money.

It’s no surprise that most people wouldn’t even consider starting a work from home business.  When they think of starting their own business, most think of investing 6 figures in a fast food chain.  And then working 60 hours a week in hopes of making a profit by their third year.  Who has the time, money, or desire to do that?

If you can get past the embarrassment of telling your friends and family you’ve decided to start an online business at home, you will find unbelievable opportunity out there.  Exercise your due diligence.  Do your research.  If it seems in any way dishonest or too good to be true, it probably is.  Go on to the next.  And, yes, you will have some start-up costs for your new business.  But I promise it won’t even come close to $17,000.

Third, most people never consider starting an online business because they are afraid to fail.  What if it doesn’t work?  What it no one buys?  Well, the short answer is that you try again.  And again and again until you get it right.  If you study the mega-successful, you will learn that none of them made it big on their first try.  But 99% of us won’t even give it a first try.

So tear up your check to the plastic surgeon.  Stop worrying about having to compete against 178 other applicants for an entry level job that sounds pretty boring anyway.  Hook up with an experienced mentor and take action to build your own online business starting today.  It’s the only job security there is.

JENNIFER HERNDON works from home with her kids.  She has been a home business consultant for over 11 years.  Jennifer’s passion is empowering you to achieve success through a positive mindset and consistent action.  Discover step-by-step instruction on how to start and succeed with your online business inside the List Building Club.

Filed under: Make Money Online, successful home business on April 20th, 2009