We often talk about all the benefits and perks of running a home-based business, but there really are some downsides as well. There are things that some of us miss by working from home—one of which is that there is no one else to blame when things go awry! When you are on your own and the ball gets dropped—who can you look to but yourself?
I am not really talking blame and negative self-talk here—that doesn’t help anyone. Neither does guilt or beating ourselves up when things go wrong—but for me, knowing that I am not only “the buck stops here” but really the ONLY one responsible, it has caused me to be more attentive to detail and more compassionate with myself and others. After all, I am only a human and I make plenty of mistakes; daily mistakes and it doesn’t do one bit of good for me to get all caught up in feeling badly.
Instead, I know that the more attentive I am when all those balls are in the air, the less likely there will be big problems on the other end. I have found that my clients respond well to knowing that I am a one-person show too. They know that they get me directly and that there is built-in personal accountability on my part. It is my work, my business, and my efforts—they have a problem or concern and they get me.
Even if you are fortunate enough to build your business up to where you have some employees, chances are that like most small home businesses, you will still stay the ultimate authority and responsibility. Sure, this has its aggravations and isn’t always sun and roses, but it does not have to be a horrible, stressful scene either. We just have to remember that we are the ones keeping all those balls in the air and if one of them falls—it’s all up to us.
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