Career Changers - Want to Play it Safe? Who Can You Trust If Not Yourself?

Copyright © Laura Shapiro, Your Home Business Guide

Career Changers - Facing Fears and Setting Trends

For many employees, the concept of enjoying what they do for a living is laughable or just beyond comprehension. If you were raised as I was, taught that in order to be successful, you need to play it safe and stick to the “sure” road, then you know what I mean.

We were taught that you are not supposed to like your job. Just do something that can support you and your family and try to enjoy the off-work life that you can squeeze in on the side.

But as evidenced by the rising number of long-term employees who are becoming casualties of this tough economy, the truth of the matter is, a safe road doesn't exist anymore. Or maybe it never did. And many who have invested a lifetime into a "solid" job that they didn't really enjoy anyway, are now out of that job.

Forced career changers are now turning to alternative ways to make money. Some are looking for employment in completely different fields and even liking their job more!

For others, starting a home business is definitely a worthwhile pursuit and one that many are at least considering. Before you do, ask yourself this: What is something that your really love? Something that you could spend all day doing and still not be able to wait until the next day to start all over again?

Not sure where to get started? The amount of quality internet marketing training available on the web today is nothing short of phenomenol, and a great deal of it is free! With this, anyone can start a business doing what they love. It was once considered lucky if you happened to love your job or career. If you plan on running a home-based business, you should consider it essential to your success.

Here are two reasons why:

1)If you are going to be successful in starting up a business, you will be putting in a lot of time. If you're spending time on something you love, it will not be a sacrifice.

2)You can only attract people into your business if you are genuinely excited about what you are offering.

I'm often been asked this question: Do you love what you do? I believe that people ask me either because they see that I am very enthusiastic about my work or because they AREN'T and are really trying to understand if it's possible to love your job.

My question to them is “Can you be successful at your job if you don't love it?” I believe the answer is yes. But can you be a leader – someone that people look up to – if you aren't convinced about what you are doing? My answer is No.

For all you Career Changers. . .before jumping into another office job, consider what it would be like if you could be your own boss. And before getting into business for yourself, take a long hard look at what you would be happy doing.

Maybe many ideas come to mind or maybe just one. Don't let it just be a dream. As a Professional Career Changer myself, I can help you make it a reality.

Laura Shapiro is a Home-Based Business Owner and Consultant in addition to being a full time Mom. Is a Home Business your Dream? It doesn't have to be - let me help you make it a reality. Start with this free online marketing course. . .

http://www.My-Home-Business-Guide.com

Career Change After 40

Copyright © Laura Shapiro, Your Home Business Guide

Are you considering a career change after 40?

Finding a job when you are older is never easy. And in today's economy, finding a job at any age is tough. Even those who should be considering retirement have been forced to look for jobs all over again.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 394,000 women and 460,000 men over the age of 55 were actively seeking work in 2008.

And many have started researching work from home opportunities or home businesses. The ability to work from home is an ideal solution for a variety of reasons.

There is no need to relocate in order to find a suitable job.

You can work from the comfort of your home.

You can do something that you love for YOURSELF and not for your boss.

You can spend more time with your family.

You set your own hours.

You save money on gas, eating out, your wardrobe and on your taxes!

And if you run an online business, you're doing business even while you sleep!

People over 40 are one of the fastest growing segments of home based workers. And Career Change over 40 is becoming easier to handle as a result of this.

Let's take a look at the over- 40 advantages that lead to home business success:

After 40, you are more realistic about the world.

You are less likely to be lured by the grandiose claims of late night infomercials that claim some workers are making thousands of dollars a month working from home. You set realistic goals and work hard to reach them. In other words, you already know that the "get rich quick" schemes don't work.

Older workers are more disciplined.

When you work at home, no one is looking over your shoulder to make sure the work is getting done. You have to be responsible enough to do the work. Often workers in their 20s get easily distracted by life. Workers in their 30s are raising families, often with young children. After 40, life is more settled. Older workers have been working for years and have a great work ethic.

Experience matters. Even if you choose a home based business that is different from anything you have ever done, you bring a lifetime of work experience into your new business.

More than half of all small businesses in the United States are operated out of a home. No matter what you age is, you can do it, too!

Laura Shapiro is a Home-Based Business Owner and Consultant (who started after 40!) in addition to being a full time Mom. Is a Home Business your Dream? It doesn't have to be - let me help you make it a reality. Start with this free online marketing course. . .

http://www.My-Home-Business-Guide.com

Working from Home Benefits: Did you Know that You Save Money by Working from Home?

Copyright © Laura Shapiro, Your Home Business Guide

Working from Home Benefits

Did you know that, according to the Small Business Association, more than 52 percent of all small businesses are run out of someone's home?

Did you know that these people actually save money by working from home?

With unemployment at more than eight percent, more people are looking towards home-based business opportunities.

Working at home has many advantages and one of them involves your finances.

Here are some of the key ways working at home can save you money:

If you have small children, you can save on expensive child care.

I put this first because this is the expense that I (and so many other parents that I've spoken with) just HATED to incur each month - the cost of sending your child to someone else so that you can work.

In some areas, child care costs can be as high as $1,000 a month. Many moms who work at home are able to successfully take care of their children and work. However, not all moms (or dads) can handle the pressure of taking care of their children while trying to work.

I find that sending my 18 month old son to daycare for a couple of hours a day is better than having him watch a movie or keep himself entertained while I am working. He gets the social interaction that he needs and I get a couple of hours of undisturbed work time. I can then work again while he takes a nap and after he is in bed at night.

Save on Gas and Car Maintenance.

If you spend five dollars a day for gas and account for wear and tear on your car, you could save more than $1,000 a year. You will also save time, particularly if you had a long commute to the office. Going down the hall and to the left takes less time than driving across town.

Save on Office Attire.

For many, not having to dress up is on the top of the working from home benefits list. This can save you hundreds of dollars a year on a wardrobe as well as allow you to be casual ALL THE TIME. But a word of warning -- you may not want to work in your sweats or pajamas every day. This can be a detriment to work. You need to feel like you are a professional at home too.

Save on Lunches.

Lunches with coworkers and giving in to the temptation to drive through a fast food restaurant can be expensive. You may be surprised at how much you were spending each month.

Save on Overhead costs.

This may seem obvious but before the internet, if people wanted to start their own business, they had to set up shop somewhere.

As we know, many home based business owners actually just work from their dining room table! Unless you have a product where you have to have inventory, you don't really need a building. If you do want to have an office where you can consult with customers, renovate or just redecorate a small area of your home. If possible, give if a separate entrance. Many business owners have turned their basements into office space. And most people can operate their business with their laptop and cell phone!

Get the Home Business Tax Advantage.

Finally, many people who are considering a home based business are concerned about licenses and self employment taxes. If you are not careful, these can take a bite out of your profits. However, if you study the tax laws and possibly hire an accountant, you should be able to figure out how to reduce your taxes. As for business licenses, in many areas, home based workers are not required to have a business license. Check with your local area to see what the requirements are.

Hopefully this article has given you just a brief idea of how working from home benefits your wallet! This is just one of the advantages of working from home. Please read on or request an article on something you would like to understand more about when it comes to operating a business from your home.

Laura Shapiro is a Home-Based Business Owner and Consultant in addition to being a full time Mom. Is a Home Business your Dream? It doesn't have to be - let me help you make it a reality. Start with this free online marketing course. . .

http://www.My-Home-Business-Guide.com