My goal to work at home has been realized. There is much work to make it a success, but I am at home and working! This is likely the last post on DW@H. While I would like to continue this blog as a way to help other fathers work at home to be with their family, I can’t see it happening just now.

I am in focus mode.  I need to focus on making my new business a success.  I need to focus on my farm.  Most of all, I need to keep focused on my family and God. As part of this, I am getting rid of some of my websites and online distractions so I can better focus.

God bless, Mike

I am coming up on the three month anniversary of leaving my corporate job. I had visions of jumping right in and starting on my business.  That is not how it worked out. In fact, I found that I had higher priority things to take care of.

First and foremost was my immediate family. Second, was getting my farm under control.  Third, was catching up from being behind for so many years. Have I accomplished it all?  Not quite.  However, things are going much better and I can sense that I have some breathing room.

It looks like serious work can start in September. It takes much more discipline to make progress when you are working at home to start a business. There are so many distractions beyond the daily work of a family and farm. I have a schedule laid out, but it takes some work to keep to it.

Needless to say, I am excited to get started in a meaningful way. I’ll keep you updated!

Recently, I blogged about several steps I am taking to get focus for my on-line business. I’m eliminating distractions and concentrating on one thing.  The trouble is, I have two (or more) things I am doing and this is causing me to lose focus. I am having great success in eliminating distraction from email. I completed my website update. I got started with affiliate marketing.

There lies the trouble. I only got started, then I stalled. Why did I stall? Of course there are several reasons!

1. I took on a web-redesign project. I am really interesting in doing website upgrades, so that is why I took on the project.  Even that is slow-going – NOT GOOD. This has now become my top priority to finish.
2. I didn’t set aside a definite time to work on affiliate marketing. This will be done, starting with #1 above.
3. Farm-work and my regular job are busy right now.  Both of these will right themselves in due time.

As you can see, I am almost back to navigating some roadblocks, only this time it is not as serious. I believe that website upgrades may be part of my business plan, so this extra project is really worthwhile. I know that I can get back on track, I just need to focus. Lynn Terry posted a great blog about Staying Focused When You Work Online.  There is a lot of good advice in there!

I have a project that I want to do, in fact I am quite anxious to start it.  There is a problem though.  Yes, you guessed it!  A roadblock.  I won’t say exactly what the roadblock is, but here are some general characteristics to describe it.

1. It has a looming, non-negotiable, deadline.
2. It is not a quick thing.
3. I tried to outsource it but that didn’t work out.
4. It’s not the most fun thing to do.

Everyone hits these kind of roadblocks from time to time.  Here is how I am planning to break through it.

1. Make it a priority.
2. Break it into smaller pieces.
3. Set a schedule to complete the pieces.
4. Block out big chunks of time to get it done.
5. Set an earlier deadline than the real deadline.

Will I get it done?  I think so. YES!  Once it is out of the way, I can do that project that I am really looking forward to.  I guess that is point #6.  Reward myself for getting through this roadblock!

One last thing.  If you think this roadblock will come up again, plan for it next time.

My thanks to Robert Plank for his comment last night to my post called When can you quit your day job?.  At the close of that post I said, “I’m not quite ready to answer these questions yet. I will start thinking about them.” Robert replied, ““Start” thinking about them? Why not just answer them?” He is exactly right.  It was a push when I needed one. How will I ever accomplish anything unless I do something.  You have to be a “doer!”

Robert is a great example.  He is a high-energy “doer.”  Robert has published a great resource called Time Management on Crack.  It’s all about becoming productive and getting the right things done, right now.  This package includes a 22 page report (packed with information), four videos, and some exceptional bonus content.

Everyone is busy.  You can either decide to work more, or decide to get more done in the time you have.  Time Management on Crack gives you the knowledge, techniques, and motivation to do just that.