My tip for success today is listening to music while you work. Not everyone can listen to music while they work, but for those of us that can’t concentrate when there is dead silence, music can be very helpful. Today, I am listening to upbeat music that I am singing along to rather than listening to music that is just background noise. I find that my pace is a little faster (with the beat of the music) and I am a little happier.

If you are in a slump or a funk and can’t get going, try turning on some music. If you don’t have anything that inspires you, jump on itunes and spoil your self with a couple of songs or a new album. Just be careful not to have so much fun that you end up dancing around the house instead of doing what you are supposed to!

Today I am listening to Everclear – tapping my feet the whole time I am writing!

I’m going to have to agree with Shannon, the weather definately affects my focus level.  So then I thought, what about a whole season?  Can it be that you are more productive during the different seasons? 

Well, it’s finally here, my favorite season, fall!  Just walking outside to get the paper you feel light as air ready to take on the world and maybe even go for a jog (I drank another cup of coffee instead J.  Summer in SC is pretty hot and VERY humid.  If you have errands/appointments during the day, then by the time that you return, you feel pretty tired and exhausted.  I guess it would stand to reason that I’m not as productive.  What about winter?  I guess in the winter there’s nothing to do but huddle indoors and work….so maybe I am more productive.  I’ve never really thought about it but will pay more attention when the temp drops below 55 degrees (to a Southerner – that’s cold).  We’re used to flip-flops and tank-tops for most of year.….not sweaters, hats, gloves, parkas, and boots.  I don’t know how you Northerners can stand it.  But, I guess you can get used to anything.  In fact, our northern friends look like their going to pass out when we hit 90…which is most of the summer.  So, my parting advice:  If fall is YOUR most productive season…..seize the day so you can slack off laterJ!!

Do you suffer from a “little” anxiety as you build your home-based business?  Feel like you’re just waiting for all of your work to show results?  Anyone who operates a home-based business probably has probably experienced this.  You market your product/service, network, work on your website, submit press releases etc.  But here’s the problem….a lot of what you end up doing, at least in the beginning, is WAITING.  You know that that just one phone call, one client, one opportunity can transform you from the Waiting to “Working like a crazy person”.  So how do I maintain my sanity?

Breathing and meditating.  I learned this from a yoga show on FIT TV.  I basically watch….I don’t actually do the exercises J, except for this breathing thing….this I can do from the couch.  Breathe in through your nose slowly for 4 seconds, hold for 16 and exhale through your mouth for 8.  As your lungs get stronger go up to 5, 20, 10 then 6, 24,12 and so on.  You get the formula.  You can almost feel a chemical change in your body.  Your shoulders relax, oxygen gets to the brain, some of the tension seems to leave your back and when you’re done, you feel like you can get back to it.  It works even if you’re not waiting but working like crazy.  Try it……Practice It…..It works!

Very simply……..I wanted to share:

I found this link on the Problogger website and found it applicable to Solo Success. Check out 5 ways to start a productive day by Freelance Folder.

There are some very useful tips for those of us that only have ourselves to get motivated in the morning!

I don’t know about all you work-at-home people but staying motivated and focused is one of my biggest, if not THE biggest challenge.  You see, I started a real estate company last year after 10 years in the corporate American rat race.  Let’s just say, the last few years of running on the wheel made me a bit dizzy, nauseous, etc.  Anyway, having been in real estate investor, on the side for many years, I decided that it was time to jump into the deep end, full force.  Problem is…..if you’ve been awake for even a minute over the last 2 years you probably know that the real estate market has taken a bit of “down turn”.  So, as you may imagine, the phones aren’t ringing off the hook…yet.  So, if you want something to happen you just have to MAKE it happen.  But, if you’re a self-employed solo business owner, that takes a constant discipline, motivation and focus.  So, what are the top strategies to staying motivated when working from home….solo?  For me, one of the most important is staying connected to other work-at-home friends.  I always get a little charge talking to someone else who faces the same challenges and struggles.  So, I grab the phone, dial and hope that I’m not interrupting Shannon’s power hour of writing inspiration.  So, after about ½ hour (ok maybe it was 1hour) of gab and gossip, the idea of this blog was formed.  So it begins…..the birth of a blog and Part 1 in a series of “Successful Strategies for Flying Solo”.  Stayed tuned

Does the weather change the way you approach your work day? Even though working from home should have no effect on the weather – to some it does! For instance, for some, when it’s raining outside there is little to no motivation to work – only to curl up with a good book and take a nap. For some, when it’s sunny there is little or no motivation to work because you can’t stop thinking about all of the things you could be doing outside. For me, I get more done when it’s gloomy outside because there is no motivation to go outside and get distracted. When it’s sunny, I am convinced I am missing out on fun that is happening outside!
Having the chance to go work on the patio while the weather is nice is the goal. Often, the goal is simply  to take my laptop and find the place to work that suits my mood for the weather of the day. Ahhh, technology what conveniences it affords us! Whatever it takes to be successful and get the job done, right?!?