Not Yet Working From Home - Are You Afraid?

Do you really want to work from home? Would you like to: 1) be your own boss? 2) Set your own work and vacation schedule? 3) Decide how much money you earn? 4) Commute from your bedroom to an office near your kitchen? 5) Declare proper office attire to be a pair of shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt? 5) Eliminate office politics? 6) Spend more quality time with your family? 7) Avoid layoffs during business slowdowns? 8) Enjoy the pride of owning a successful business?

With all the current job layoffs and downsizing in the world economy, baby boomers are watching their retirement plans quickly disappear. As a result, many have been forced to learn the clear advantages of working from home. It may not be right for everybody, but what’s actually holding you back? The answer for many is obvious—FEAR. Fear of what?

How do I know what I’m afraid of? Here’s how to find out. When you tell somebody why you aren’t working from home, listen to the excuse that comes after the word, “but.” For example, “Sure I’d love to make a good living working from home, but…”

All right, stop reading in the next couple of minutes. Locate a pen and paper or open a new file on your computer. Ask yourself the exact question above, and then write out your list of excuses—which you may prefer to call reasons—for why you continue working a job or profession that you don’t like. Here are a few possibilities: 1) How can I be sure that I’ll have a paycheck next month? (Fear of loss of income, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of being inadequate.) 2) What if I quit my job and then can’t make it in my own business (Fear of failure, fear of loss--job and income--fear of criticism.) 3) What if I’m not “enough?” This can include being smart enough, clever enough, educated enough, personable enough, tall enough, short enough, energetic enough, disciplined enough, etc. (Fear of being inadequate—not enough--translates to lack of confidence and low self esteem.) 4) I don’t know enough about business. (Fear of being inadequate, unable to learn, etc.) 5) I don’t have the money to start my own business (Fear of failure, of being inadequate.) 6) If I do this and it doesn’t work, “they” might laugh at me and think I’m a fool. (Fear of criticism, fear of being inadequate—low self esteem and lack of confidence.)

What is fear anyway? We humans like being in control. In fact, anytime we’re not in complete control of a situation, we feel uncomfortable. Afraid. Most people fear the unknown. The reason is that we can NEVER know for certain what will happen in the future. Nobody can “control” what may happen next Wednesday or next year. We can take actions right now (the present) that may influence events next Wednesday or next year, but we can’t control any event until it actually arrives in the present time.

Building your self confidence enables you to move forward into the unknown. This requires faith in yourself that whatever happens in the future, you’ll figure out a way to deal with it. “I may not know today exactly what will happen tomorrow, but I know today that whatever happens tomorrow, I’ll deal with it to the best of my ability.” Copy this and put it on your office wall. This is self confidence. Can anybody ask more than this?

To remove any fear, you must first identify and acknowledge it. Try to determine who probably taught you to be afraid of this particular thing. Look back at your childhood—where most fears originate. Then take steps to remove any specific fears that seem to be holding you back.

Remember that some concerns are normal and beneficial before starting any new venture. These represent problem solving, not fear. For instance, look at all necessary preparations before cutting off your present source of income. Write out a plan for exactly what you want and how you intend to obtain it. Study, learn, and prepare. Set aside a reserve of money for family needs. Study what other successful people have done in the same business. Copy them. Use their success to boost your own confidence. “If s/he can do it, so can I.” And you will if you do the exact things they’ve done. Remember, “If you want what another person has, then do exactly what s/he does.”

Anytime you find yourself making excuses for not doing what you truly want, take an honest look at what’s holding you back. Chances are that it’s some form of fear. Figure out what you’re really afraid of, and then get to work removing that fear from your life.