Would you like to work from home? Many people dream of an arrangement like this. Most people report to a physical place of employment, clock in at the time clock using an employee code provided by their employer, and then begin their workday. Why would someone give up something traditional, like a job, and begin something nontraditional, such as a business that alowed him to work from home? There are several reasons why an individual might want something like this.

One reason is because working from home allows people to save money on gasoline. People who have a daily commute to and from work must spend a great deal of money on gasoline, while those who work from home buy gasoline just once in a while. A woman might own a cosmetics business, for example. She approaches friends, family, neighbors, and any one else she sees and asks if they are interested in purchasing cosmetics. People can call her to place an order. She then places the order using the company's website, and the products will be delivered to her customer in a few days. She has just earned some money, and she was able to save her gasoline by doing her business from home.

Another reason to work from home is to save money on childcare. Some companies have on-site childcare for their employees, but most do not. Since most jobs do not offer this service, employees must spend money on childcare. By working from home, they eliminate this expense. They are also relieved of the worry of wondering whether their child or children are alright, since the children are right there with them. They know how the children are doing and can check on them at any time, rather than worrying that the daycare center personnel might be overworked and might not be watching like they should.

If you would like to work from home, you can. You can also succeed. However, you must set some rules so that this arrangement will work.

First, tell your family and friends. Tell them the work schedule you keep, so that they will leave you alone during those hours. If you are bothered with phone calls or visits, your work will not get done. You will then have to double your work efforts, working twice as hard the next day to make up for lost time. If you are left alone, on the other hand, you can meet your goals. After your day has ended, you can reconnect with everyone. Call your friends and family, and see how they are doing. Talk to your neighbors. Everyone will be glad to hear from you.

Second, have an area in your house that is specifically for work. An office is an ideal place. Have a desk, good lighting, a phone, a computer with Internet access, and any supplies that you will need, such as paper or pens. Get rid of any clutter that will get in the way of your business.

Finally, discipline yourself. You cannot run a business or expect to make significant money with it if you do it just sometimes. A business is something you work on every day, like a job. You may want to consider working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for example. This is a traditional work schedule that allows you to have the early morning, evening, and late night hours for yourself. Early morning and late night hours would be for sleeping, and evening hours would be for winding down from your workday so that you can be fresh, rested, and ready for the following day.

If you would like to work from home, set some rules, and stick with them. Then, get ready to succeed.