Helplessly Hoping

Helplessly Hoping.  Not much as a life strategy, would you agree?  I was in a store the other day and heard a guy with all due earnest optimism say that his time to hit the lottery had to be near.  Again... hanging one's sense of optimism on the lottery... go figure.

As many of my generation know, Helplessly Hoping is a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song.  If you will allow me to borrow randomly from the song, one line of the lyrics is, "confusion has its cost".  Frankly, I am not certain whether it is confusion, lack of knowledge, lack of trust... but I am certain that there is a lack of something inherent in people not taking charge of their financial destiny.

Confusion presupposes that are different aspects to be confused over, right?  As I think about it, it may be more apt to say "ignorance has its cost".  This is not meant in a negative way.  This is simply to say lack of knowledge about any subject can be costly.

As marketers, our job is to educate.  As mentors, our job is to educate.  As people who have a responsibility to "raise people up", our job is to educate.  This is the foundation (and the reason for) calling ourselves a Learning Community.

We need to inspire people beyond helplessly hoping in real terms that are actionable and achievable.

That's what we do.  That's who we are.  And, at the end of the day, we get paid to do so.

A Core Offer

This applies to people starting a home business who do not have a group of people with whom they are currently working.  If this describes you, please read on.

Everyone needs an anchor - a home base - a primary program.

This has to be what you build your brand on - what you are known for - and what you unflinchingly support as your foundation.  It is what you "lead" with to new prospects who are considering joining you.  We recommend strongly that it is not "this or that"... but it is ONE THING that defines who you are, what you do, why you promote it - and is the expectation for anyone who joins you that this program is what your business and community are built upon - at its core.

This is not to say that in time you can not add things to your earning portfolio.  It is simply to say that "out of the gate" you are consistent with your primary offer when engaging new people.

Obviously, you do not need to follow this advice, however, if you are looking to build a long-term, stable and prosperous business, it must be built on a stable foundation.

This stable foundation is your initial, primary offer that everyone in your community adopts and embraces equally and who have the ability advocate for it making sense as a great place to start.

Iterations

So, what does iteration mean?  One definition could be doing something over and over until you get it right.  Another could be successive approximations.  Another could be the process of continual improvement or refinement.

A part of what we teach is to have an "About Me" website.  This is a brief bio that enables people to get to know your story.  It is the beginning of building your brand as someone worthy of trust and being followed.  For some, this is a difficult task.  Understood.

Here's the thing.  It does not need to be perfect.  As you refine it over time... it inherently evolves.  This is a work-in-progress.  Remember, you are "paid" in direct proportion to the value you offer.  If you have a weak bio, your earnings are a reflection.  This is the same as not having the skills to teach... but if you never set up the tools to use, you will never be able to teach someone else how to use them.

The point is this:  start somewhere.  Make the effort.  In all areas of your business, you will not have "arrived" on day one, but it will take constant tweaking to improve.  This is the reality... and most people do not have the persistence to stick with themselves if they don't see immediate results.

Effort equals results.  There is no mystery here.  There is no guessing.  Everything is a matter of competence.  You become competent by engaging in iteration after iteration after iteration... until you are confident that what you have produced is the best you can make it.

At that point, your money "issues" should be in the rearview mirror.

What Would You Do to Save Yourself?

I once worked with a guy in a retail environment.  He was about 40, had 6 kids... was articulate, knew his job and was good at what he did.  At the same time, he was literally drowning in frustration and hated what he did.

Although he uses computers all day every day at work, he defined himself as a computer illiterate outside of the confines of the tools we used.  I always found this irony interesting.

I have a pretty strict guideline of not mixing my home business with those whom I associate with on a daily basis.  Nonetheless, when I have written different pieces for this series, I have naturally mentioned some of them to him.  His lack of interest has always puzzled me.

This brings me to the question of this title.  "What would you do to save yourself?"  I mention my co-worker simply because I think he represents many people who hate their lives and what they are obligated to do (go to a job they hate) in order to meet their bills.  It is the classic definition of being "stuck".  Every day... year after year.

So let me ask you:  what would you do?  Our business requires a bit of risk of time and money... followed by doing things on a daily basis to effect an outcome.  x=y.  Do the things, get the outcome.  It is not quite that linear at first, but ultimately with time, it is.

Save yourself.  It doesn't need to be with what we do.  Simply commit to doing something to save yourself... from the lack of money... from the frustration of having a job you hate... from all of the choices you need to make because you can't afford it...

What we do is just one option.  The key is to find your "side thing" and make it happen.  One of the articles I shared with my co-worker was, "You Can't Out-Earn Your Self Image".  As long as you continue to define yourself as an hourly wage worker and see (or seek) no other alternatives, you will remain stuck.

So, let me ask again, "What Would You Do to Save Yourself?"

Difference Makers

Do this exercise.  Put yourself on your death bed.  Let's assume you have lived a long life.  Will it be important to you to have made a difference?  How will that be defined?  Will you have had a positive impact on the world, or did you simply and complacently exist; conforming to what was "normal" and expected?

We are a Community of difference makers.  At the most fundamental level, our goal is to make a difference in peoples' lives.  We are driven by this purpose and are united by common values of competence and credibility, honesty and integrity, candor and accountability, and this is just some of what is at our core.

Do you care about being exceptional, or about distinguishing yourself in some way?

There is no higher calling and no greater honor than to lift people up and enable their new beginning.  We offer one viable and realistic path... not the only path, but a solid one to consider if one is seeking change.

People in our Community come to understand the noble nature of what we do.  We help change lives.  We transcend the petty deal-making and espouse a greater good that is only attained through effort and perseverance.

We create change by backing potential and possibility with skills and disciplines that include mastery of tools and tactics.  This is not "join, shoot from the hip and hope for the best".  What we do is thoughtful, strategic and smart.

Make a difference by joining us, then, invite others to consider being a difference maker as well.

The Shrewd and The Naive

This post can quickly devolve into what many would describe as class warfare.  OK, so be it.  Let's call out oppression for the sake of profitability - and - the lack of conscience corporations and the economic elite demonstrate.  Not much joy in talking about this, but here we go...

Let me ask a fundamental question this way:    Do you think your employer is looking out for your best interest, or their own?  Some would say yes, my employer understands positive culture and rewarding performance.  These are the lucky ones.  Most laugh at the question as preposterous.  Why is that?

In the Fortune 500 culture, shareholder value takes precedence over everything.  At the end of the day, if a company is not growing and increasing profitability, Management is forced to squeeze what they can control to maintain their "numbers".  The first, most obvious and easiest thing is to cut labor... or to repress labor by short staffing, increasing production requirements and then firing non-achievers... there are as many ways to do this as Heinz has pickles.

The bottom line for you and me is that they depend on our compliance.  We are relegated to fear for our paycheck because many are living hand-to-mouth, month-to-month.  We are manipulated by a system designed to get the most out of us at the least possible cost... with the old notion that a JOB stands for Just Over Broke and as such, most are stuck.

I use the word Shrewd in the title, but perhaps what I mean falls closer to Abusive.  The darker side of shrewdness gives license to executive and management compensation, with those contributing the same hours and talent (providing value) receiving a relative pittance.  Nonetheless, we conform and keep our mouths shut due to the fear of retaliation, which ultimately could mean job loss.

Our community exists to simply pose an alternative.  An option.  A Plan B.  Some "see it".  Most don't.  Here's a way to look at it.

At the end of the day, what we do is no different than giving birth to a child.  When you join us, you give birth to the possibility of a new life.  This requires daily care and attention and your life is inherently different with the advent of this new thing, whether it be a baby or a business.

Most people do not take this responsibility seriously and therefore fail.  It is not the fault of the business model, it falls squarely on the shoulders of people who do or do not invest the time to plan and perform tasks... otherwise known as work.

So, think about your job.  Think about your effort.  Think about being stuck and droning weekly, year after year.  Then, think about investing a similar effort in something you own for yourself and your family.  Think about taking something seriously and changing your circumstances.

It is all possible.

Freedom and the Right to Choose

We are all free to make choices.   However, many times, jobs are not chosen but are more a function of circumstance.  As a result, many stay stuck in their lives, relegated to a job they have by default and then rely on the relative safety of the status quo in the 40 hours a week for 40 years grind.

This is the expectation set by societal norms - and the value system that is most prevalent in public schools.  It is the worker bee mentality of doing your job, doing it well, earning a wage or salary and making a commitment to this as an expression of "responsibility".

There is no arguing this, except in the context of alternatives and the right to choose.  We do not recommend or encourage "dumping your day job".  We strongly encourage doing our "side thing" as a means to earn extra income and offer a strategy to first equal and then exceed your current full-time income.

What we do is measured, calculated and predictable.  The financial aspects (how the money is earned) is straightforward.  The rest is a formula of effort invested equalling results derived... E=R. There is no mystery, it is simply a matter of choice.  Answer these for yourself:

1. Are you comfortable with, and do you see yourself living the same life for the rest of your life?
2. Are you willing to integrate new things into your life?
3. Are you willing to take a risk and bet on yourself in getting started?
4. Are you willing to trust that a community exists that will help you?
5. Ultimately, are you willing to re-define who you are?

These are all choices.  You are free to choose.  Answer the questions.  Look in the mirror and choose to get going or to remain where you are.  We exist to encourage and help guide your destiny.  This is what is truly in the balance.  There is a whole new world of possibilities if you are receptive to it.

Keep Your Colors Wet

The reality is this.  Most people are a dried, brittle canvas.  In terms of life experience and expectation, the oils have hardened, the acrylic is set, or... the water is dry.  Their futures seem certain as long as they continue to conform to what is expected and stay in their safe-zone of a job and benefits.

Most people feel "set" financially in meeting their bills and saving for Christmas and vacations.  No value judgment here, I am simply describing reality.  Most are "comfortable" with their lot in life and not seeking to rattle their status quo.  We wish them the best.

In keeping your colors wet, it enables moving around the mix on your canvas.  It maintains the possibility of the next brush stroke.  We are a community who are malleable to opportunity, wherever it may arise.  As such, we do/will not appeal to brittle canvases of the world.

We seek to attract artists wanting and willing keep adding depth and color to their canvas of life... to be open to the possibilities of what can be rendered, without having yet created it.  You can call it risk-taking or intrepid adventurism... but simply know that whatever "it" is, most people do not have "it".

Our job is simply to expose and invite people to have a look:  all the while welcoming their being objectively critical and thorough in their analysis.  Here's why:  what we do "stands up" to examination.

It is thoughtful.  It is thorough.  It is practical and it makes sense due to its simplicity.  It is not high art, but daily brush strokes that over time result in mastery.

Keep painting your life.  Create a vision of your higher self and expend the effort to achieve that vision.  It is not about the money.  It is about what the money will enable in terms of options.  It is about enhancing peoples' lives with money being the byproduct.

The canvas is yours.  Always keep your colors wet.  Life is, and will always be a work-in-progress.

The CIA

No, not the spies in Washington DC... the CIA in our world is an abbreviation for the words Competence, Integrity and Analysis.  Stick with me here.  These three words encapsulate most of what we do, so let's take a look at how they apply; and, why you will want to understand (and use) these words when describing yourself and how they form a part of our moral foundation.

Competence 
If you don't know already, we are a "skills pay the bills" organization.  There is no faking it.  We talk about providing service and value - and - being paid has a direct correlation to the amount of service and value you provide.  Competence means that you have made the transition from student to teacher and you possess (have earned) the skills to teach others.  Competence means you consistently engage in business building activities as a part of your skill set on a daily basis.  Competence simply means you are capable of transacting a process from 1) marketing to, 2)  recruitment to, 3) support - with each having their own set(s) of tools used in each part of these three processes.

Integrity
Without integrity, you will not build trust.  Without trust, you will not be a worthy business partner and have no business. Y/our brand must exude honesty, with the premise that we are genuinely interested in helping people.  The notion that we are interdependent means that we rely on each other in the context of a community that has stated norms and values.  A portion of these values is being conveyed here, through this article.

Analysis
Analysis means that we invite and welcome skepticism.  We want people to look hard and what we do and come to a confident decision about being involved.  Through this process, we will earn trust and create good-will.  We want T-crossers and I-dotters.  It's all good... and having to answer tough questions will only serve to make you sharper and more valuable.  Therefore, don't shrink from peoples' analysis and skepticism... embrace it.

We are a purpose and values-driven enterprise.  Our focus on community norms serves the very real purpose of putting everyone on equal footing.  This is to say that if you are a part of who we are, you have something to offer people who consider joining you.  At first, you legitimately lean on the rest of us, but ultimately (to be in business) you need to have skills to teach, behaviors to emulate and be a leader whose character aligns with The CIA.

Access to Economic Opportunity

This article is about tone.  It is about how we present ourselves to people evaluating what we do.  It is about "access" to an off-ramp on the highway of life.  Some people will choose to read the road sign, turn on their blinker and pull off to have a look.  Most will keep moseying on down the road without a thought of attending to what is passing by them.

Yes, we have something to offer.  Ultimately, it can be transforming in terms of income, lifestyle, and options people have.  Our ethos and values dictate that people understand that we are simply one of many options.  We feel no need to impress others in a showy manner but allow the overall "tone" of what we do carry-the-day, followed by responsible, descriptive information.

We don't want to be perceived as the latest, greatest, whiz-bang deal that you want to jump on and get rich with.  It is simply not that easy and does not work that way.  Therefore, our focus is the friction.  It is the work involved.  It is the competence gained through skills and knowledge acquisition.

The overall mechanics of what we do are no different than many, many other opportunities.  The value proposition of what we offer is how we go about posturing and explaining what we do.  We offer a portal to Economic Opportunity and invite people to step through it to experience what is on the other side.  Our goal is to be perceived as honest and measured in our approach.

As such, we are educators who provide information for people to evaluate.  We do not need to "sell".  People will see it, or they won't.  This is the nature of the "game".

At the end of the day, the more people you expose to what we have to offer, the more money you will make... with the caveat that you focus on, and build productive relationships with people you bring into our business.

As the old saying goes, we lead horses to water... however, humans have a bit more brain power in deciding whether they drink.  The point here is that we are "leading", not pushing or prodding.  Inherent in what we do is to create exposure to people who potentially may be interested based on varying degrees of being stuck and frustrated with their lives.

If the time is right, if the life-angst is high enough, if the few bucks it takes to get started are available... or, if the "risk" seems worth the effort, then people act and join.

The majority do not.  This is simply the reality of what we do.  The predicate to your success is the number of exposures you make to people who may potentially be interested in having a look.

From Tinkerer to Titan

My view is that everyone should have a "side" something to make money.  It could be painting rocks you find - and selling them at a flea market... it could be anything...

When considering what we do, we would be foolish to not embrace casual "lookers" who are at the tinkering stage of getting involved with something.  Once we have their attention, it is our job to demonstrate that there is "meat on the bone" that is worthy of cooking and eating... (and) that can be a sustainable food source for years to come.

Going from tinkerer to Titan is an evolutionary process.  Evolution inherently means transformation over time.  In our terms, time means weeks and months, not eons.  It is about things learned, tasks completed and moving up the knowledge and competence food chain.

Skill acquisition and then being able to pass along these skills is the heart of what pumps life into the success we have.  You must embrace being a learner with an eye to becoming a teacher, mentor and role model.

You will be paid in direct proportion to your competence and credibility.  If you are not learning and teaching others what you have learned, you are not in business.  Our role is to transform tinkerers into Titans, and this is a noble and worthwhile endeavor.

Everyone Wants What We Have

Yes, everyone wants what we have.  The trick is to enable them getting it.

This begs the question of defining the "what" in what we have.  Ultimately, this is financial security that has the potential to migrate to prosperity, then with time, legacy and generational wealth.  And boy... does this presuppose a lot!

The nitty-gritty of getting there is explained in the posts in this series.  If the math works... if the marketing makes sense... if the vibe feels right... if the people associated with your "thing" seem genuine and sincere... (and) if you are committed to doing what you need to do on a daily basis to make-it-work, then success should be a certainty, right?

It is just a matter of applying effort doing specific things.  It is about finding people who may be interested in "what we have" (but/and) are willing to take the steps necessary to "own it".  It is simply a matter of 1) time spent, 2) applying effort, 3) doing specific things.  This is not complicated.

Your role (and your goal) is to find people with the maturity and hunger to find the time to do these things.  And, at the end of each day, before your head hits the pillow, you will have the opportunity to ask yourself about how much time you spent applying effort doing specific things to build your future.

Our community exists to help you stay on target, to be an accountability mechanism, and to help and support you in making the transition from the person you were in the circumstances you were in, to a whole new world of possibilities.  Most people can not make this transition and stay stuck in entrenched, habitual lifestyles from which they can not break free.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether you are the exception or the rule?  Everyone wants what we have.  Not everyone is willing to make the sacrifices and change the behaviors necessary to make it happen.

Gut check time.

Go Out and Do It, Before It's Too Late

Dreams can come true.  It starts with a decision to get going.  Then, a commitment to keep going... until attained.  It is not a fantasy, but something earned.

"Pity the fool" who thinks it does not require effort, overcoming setbacks, handling the sense of being overwhelmed, getting stuck and then unstuck... and all of the peaks and valleys that are an inherent part of growth.  Nothing is a straight linear progression, but in many instances is two steps forward, one step back.  It all good - this is when and where the learning takes place.

Decide.  Commit.  If you join us, you will be in a good place, however, it does not need to be with us.  Find something you are comfortable with and get going.  The clock inexorably ticks, however if you are not motivated to excel or exceed your current circumstances the weeks and months will turn into years and decades.

Waiting for the time to be right?  It never will be - and might as well be now.

Decisions are a function of information.  Gather information.  Analyze it.  Then decide and get going.  It is better to regret having done something than to regret never having done anything at all.

Chop, chop.  Get cookin'.  If you want to eat - gather what it takes and, get cookin'.

Planning Night

OK.  One night a week you have to plan.  Well, you don't HAVE TO, but if you want to increase the probability of your success, you will.

This goes hand-in-hand with making a schedule and generating a task list.  It takes a bit of effort at first... to get to know Google Calendar and how you make the actual schedule and identify all of the big chunks of time that are already committed.  That is the easy part.  Where success is driven is in all of the "uncommitted" hours.  This is where the work gets done for your business.

I recently wrote a post, and in it I said:  "If You Don't Know What You Are Doing, You Don't Know What You Are Doing".  This gets to the heart of a schedule and task lists.  This defines daily activity and taking the steps necessary to build your business.  It makes you focus and apply conscious effort.

My planning night is Sunday.  I typically know what my fixed commitments are for the coming week by that time - and I can always adjust on-the-fly.  The point is this:  have a pretty firm idea of how you are going to "attack" your week.  Know what your daily goals are.

You will want to break your task list into daily production targets when you are first getting started... depending on how you are choosing to market.  We will be talking about all of this.  Then, as you build a group, you will need to create spots of time for helping your team.

These are the two main things you do:  recruit and support.  The when and the how is defined by a schedule and task lists... and then having it reflected in an activity tracker.

As the saying goes, "this is not rocket science".  It is simple accountability to yourself and providing a structure of what's and when's... i.e. what are you going to do, when?  If you follow this simple advice and set daily activity targets, your chances of success skyrocket... and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to make it happen.

Multi-Level versus Network Marketing

Let me be clear.  We build a network through marketing.  This inherently qualifies us as Network Marketing.  However, Multi-Level Marketing (typically) infers percentages of group volume at different levels that are (many times) termed in stones (diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby...) precious metals platinum, gold, silver, bronze...), organizational or geographical titles i.e. National Director, Regional, Area, and starting at some entry-level inferring "Representative".  There are many, many more.  However, in some form, they all infer "rank".

Most of these models require successively larger organizations or group sales volumes associated with a group size.  With size and volume, you "rank advance".  Also, with each, the higher levels get larger and larger pieces of "the pie".  These pie pieces (again, typically) are percentage-based.

Again, we do not shy away from being network builders, organization developers or community organizers.  The biggest difference in what we do is that we are whole-dollar-based, not percentage-of-the pie-based.  Ultimately, where we want to end up is with much smaller groups of people and reaping 100% of whole dollar amounts.

As such, we need far fewer people as we concentrate on quality and education, not large numbers with never-ending recruiting creates a vicious circle because as many people quit, as join.

There are many more differences, but let me mention just one more.  Most MLM's are physical product based.  What we do is education-based.  Our product will never end up in your garage stacked in boxes of stuff you can't sell.  Everything we do is a service or is digitally-delivered.

The programs we work with were chosen for their compensation models.  Ultimately, culminating in a monthly subscription with a group of 30-50 people (as a first goal) that will equal most peoples' primary income.  And, as you know, or will come to learn - this is done in a Community with everyone participating - helping each other learn, earn and ultimately prosper.

Fear is Temporary. Regret is Forever.

I understand caution and holding on to the reins as tightly as you can.  I understand a conservative approach to life and having all of your bills met.  I understand not "acting" on something because it is beyond your current world-view and does not match with the current status quo.

There is fear of loss (financially, time, credibility).  There is a fear of self (can I do it?).  There is fear of not knowing what to do.  There is fear of others (said differently, can I trust the person or thing has my best interest in mind?)  And actually, there is fear of success (for example, if money is not a concern, as a couple, then do we really don't need each other?).  There are many more examples.

Fear is the driver that prevents people from moving forward.  (I am budgeted so tightly, I can not rob Peter to pay Paul to come up with the money to get started).  This is many peoples' situation, and it keeps them stuck.

Our role is to provide a safe comfortable place to sit.  To consider.  To ponder if what we have to offer is reasonable - to any thinking adult.  Ultimately, it is about odds and probability of success.  If the assistance is there...  if the compensation and growth projections make sense...  if the person you are talking to (who is wanting to get you involved) is consistent with everything we stand for... then we will be a comfortable chair that feels welcoming and safe.

This mitigates fear.  It bolsters confidence.  It emboldens striking out in spite of the fear(s) and enables people who are considering what we do to feel a difference - in the context of ways to earn additional income.

The other end of this is regret.  It is staying stuck and living a life of quiet desperation.  We understand the dilemma. Fear is at the core of most decisions.

Regret is the consequence of not confronting and defeating it.  Now is the time.  Trust what you are learning here.  I hate the over-used term, "it can change your life", but hopefully we put some weight behind the claim and you understand that we are more interested in your success than your money.

Unless you are successful, the money does not matter, because none of us will make any.  It all starts with confronting fear and taking the first step.

To Do Lists

Ponder this for a minute:  You don't know what you are doing if you don't know what you are doing.

This gets to the core of the daily discipline of being organized and getting stuff done.  Chances are if you are not keeping yourself accountable to things written on a list, you are being far less productive than you could be.

It can be an app or a software program... if you use the list function in Gmail or Outlook (which is what I do)... or if you have a notebook and pen... or the back of a napkin... you are robbing yourself of productivity if you are not crossing things off of a list as you get them completed.

Having a list is the same thing as knowing what you are doing.  It inherently forces intentionality... i.e., "what do you intend to get done today?"  I am not going to extend this discussion to objectives and goals, but they are all related.

Write things down.  Execute on the things.  Then, cross the things off when completed.  This is self-accountability and it is the time-tested way to make things happen.

You are "Paid" for Attention and Mentorship

The title here is about your income in a home business being directly correlated to the value you offer.  I encourage you to think about the people you enroll in your business as clients and investors.  They have paid you (invested in) your services.  Clients (can and should) have expectations that you will "deliver" by attending to their needs - by being a good mentor and role model.  No different than an Attorney, Accountant, or any other professional who are retained for their expertise and the results they deliver.

Service and value are at the foundation of the Law of Compensation.  You will reap what you sow.  Our community is built on a foundation of norms and values and primary among them is that you build an organization based on quality and competence.

If so, you will build an organization that will last and your future security will be on much more solid ground.

Re-Wiring Time for Productivity

When will it happen?  When will you make it happen?  If you are a generally busy person, you need to nail down segments of time.  Let me provide an example.

Writing this piece takes time.  I have an appointment at 11:00 am.  It is now 9:15.  I need a half hour to shower and get dressed.  That gives me 45 minutes or so to write this and then I am out the door.

So what? (you may ask).  Here's the deal.  I am consciously jamming productivity into my day.  I am being mindful and intentional.  I am taking action.  This has been the case for the 100+ posts I have written for my readers, in addition to all the other things I do to grow my business.

Now, apply this snippet to your own life.  How can you best-utilize bits and pieces of time?  It starts with understanding the big picture of what your firm commitments are (work or going to class, sleep, personal hygiene, eating, walking your dog...) then all the rest of your time is "at play" in terms of how you divvy it up.

There is no more important resource than time.  This is all about how you intentionally use it - or, you capitalize on the use of it.

Jam productivity into your day.  In this context, it is about building your business, however, whatever your passions... make things happen.  Be awake, be alive, and get busy.

Money Instructions

Bake a cake, put together a bookshelf that comes in a box, learn how to operate your new remote for your TV... you simply read the instructions and do as they say.  What we do isn't quite that simple, but almost.  Whether we call it instructions or principles, let's get to the point.

There are core things you need to understand in managing a home business.

1. Everything hinges on you having a way to get "what you have" in front of people for them to evaluate.  We specifically target types (or groups) of people and use methods that are low cost or no cost.  If you are not telling people about what you do, you are not in business - and your business will not survive, let alone grow.  This has to be done with regularity and consistency.  Initially, it is all you do.  Then, you need to apportion chunks of time to teach others what you do.
2. Inherent in doing #1, requires a commitment of time.  This time will replace old patterns and habits.  We will do a time analysis with you and get you to commit to how many of the 168 hours a week you will invest in your business.  This is a baseline inventory of your life.
3. Inherent in #2 is "change".  Not successfully adapting to change is the primary reason people do not thrive in a home business.  If you are not willing or ready for things to be different in your life and how you spend chunks of your time, you will remain where you are.
4. Your authentic self is critical.  Our community is built on a foundation of transparency, integrity, and authenticity.  Being open and honest about who you are, what we do and what our motivations are is critical to the establishment of trust.  Without the ability to earn trust, you will not succeed.  
5. You need to understand the principle of reciprocity.  This means you exchange things with others that match or are equal.  It is somewhat akin to playing tit for tat.  For example, if someone tells you (or you ask them) that their favorite color is blue, you respond with your favorite color.  Now take this and apply it to any piece of information you might learn about, or want to disclose to someone.  This builds trust.

I could go on.  This is a good start to understanding the core of what is important.  Having a budget, understanding the numbers, baselining and benchmarking your progress... there is a ton more to integrate into your "becoming" a professional home business owner.