"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis

"Never part with your dreams. When they're gone, you might still exist, but you cease to live." - unknown

Author: Stephanie Foster

The ads just make it sound so easy to get rich from home. You see them on television, hear them on the radio, and all over the place online. It seems like all these people are making big money from home.

Know what? Some of them are. But far more are not.

The reason for this is pretty simple. Earning money from home is not nearly so easy as some would like you to think. On the other hand, it can be quite fun, even as you work hard at it.

Having fun is, I think, key. If you aren't enjoying the experience of working at home you are not likely to have the motivation to keep it up when you get frustrated. And most people do get frustrated sometimes.

Choose the Right Opportunity

There are a lot more ways you can work at home than there used to be. The Internet really opened things up. It's not about selling to your family and friends and anyone who will let you get 3 words out. You can still sell to them, but your options have greatly expanded.

You can work with products related to just about any interest. Rather than having to open a knitting store because that's what you love, you can start a website all about knitting, making friends and recommending products and earning commissions.

You can do likewise with rock climbing, your favorite reading material, or many other hobbies and interests. If you love doing something, you can earn from it.

All this does not mean you have to work online. But you can, and the financial risks are often lower. But just as with any other business, you are risking your free time. A big part of why you need to choose the right opportunity is because you need to love it. You need to love it so much that it hardly matters that you're spending a ton of time on it, getting frustrated with poor earnings, and having to learn a bunch of new marketing skills to succeed.

Be Realistic

If you aren't realistic about what will and will not work for you, your business may be quick to get into trouble. This includes recognizing when a business offer is too good to be true as well as when it is just not suited to your skills and interests.

But at the same time you need to dream. You need to aspire to success.

Be realistic about what your business needs in order for it to succeed. This includes time and money. It includes how you and your family will cope as your business struggles to take off.

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About the author:

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/ about being a work at home mom. Her site offers many options for people looking for legitimate work from homeopportunities.


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12 comments
  1. Anonymous September 18, 2007 at 8:00 AM  

    Let me share this business idea with you. Here are some legitimate ways to make money online. From building your own business wholesale directory to becoming a pay per click affiliate, these are legitimate ways to do so.

  2. Janet Ford September 18, 2007 at 9:00 AM  

    I, too, am a stay at home Mom. Homeschool Mom for the last 7 yrs and now that the kids are graduating, I'm looking to get an online business started. I want to STAY home even after the kids don't. :)
    Keep the advice coming!

  3. EJ Cooksey September 18, 2007 at 9:17 AM  

    Hi Janet,

    Thanks for visiting my blog!

  4. Anonymous September 20, 2007 at 10:15 AM  

    I think there are two common mistakes people make when starting to work from home: starting too many things at the same time and not being able to focus and persevere enough until the income starts to come. Every day I hear about a new program to make money online, about a new oportunity, about a new resurce to add to my daily reads... it's so easy to get lost!

  5. EJ Cooksey September 20, 2007 at 10:52 AM  

    Hi Simonne,

    Thanks for those tips! I have been unfocused the last couple of weeks...I have been bombarded with stuff in my email and I have spent the last two days just deleting and unsubbing from things that I do not need. It is time to get myself refocused on my plans.

    Thanks for the reminder!

    Also, I love your All Tips and Tricks blog and will be stopping by more often.

  6. Anonymous September 21, 2007 at 3:22 PM  

    If you want to earn some money try PeakClick. Want some reasons to join, here are just a few: Sign up is free, Extremely easy to set up and implement, Real time statistics, One of the highest pay out rates in the industry (70%), One of the top affiliate programs (earn commissions on 3 separate sales levels), Get paid every 15 days, High quality customer service and technical support.

  7. Gerri September 22, 2007 at 6:46 AM  

    I'm not a stay at home mom. I have a 9-5 job, wife and 3 month old baby so don’t get to spend as much time as I would like on my blog. This I don’t mind too much, I love spending time with my new family. Anyway, I agree with you Simonne, people start getting TOO BUSY and lose focus and then things start crumbling. As you said, you are always finding out new ways of making money online but we are only human and can't help being a little curious. A little discipline is required at times.

  8. Anonymous September 25, 2007 at 6:27 AM  

    Hi!

    I also tried to make money online..

    I think it's great fun to stay at home and earn..

    Hope you agree with me

  9. Anonymous September 25, 2007 at 6:37 AM  

    I agree with simonne, there are too many online money making sites..

    And who knows instead of making money online may be they are making profits with persons who are silly enough to pay for sign up!

  10. EJ Cooksey September 25, 2007 at 10:21 AM  

    Hello Diana, Gerri, Rentrino and Flowline,

    Thanks for stopping by and visiting!

    One of the keys to success is to stay focused!

    To your success!

  11. Ginene September 28, 2007 at 8:05 PM  

    Great post! I agree. Its not easy to make money from home but if you enjoy what you do and stay focused then it is possible.

  12. EJ Cooksey September 28, 2007 at 9:33 PM  

    Hi ginene,

    Thanks for stopping by!

    I have always believed that if you want something enough, you will find a way to achieve it.

    You must stay focused and you can succeed!


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