Like many of you (probably) I do not have a physical office. I have to make my calls, do my paperwork, and everything else from my home office. Once I'm going, it's fine, but lately I'm finding all sorts of distractions to keep me from doing what I should be doing (like what in the world am I doing here on a Friday afternoon rather than calling?).
To those of you who work from home, how do you focus entirely on prospecting? Should I be going to the library and sitting in a cubicle, or sitting in my car, or just motivated enough to only do calls while I'm in my home office?
Help a brother out!
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All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
Like many of you (probably) I do not have a physical office. I have to make my calls, do my paperwork, and everything else from my home office. Once I'm going, it's fine, but lately I'm finding all sorts of distractions to keep me from doing what I should be doing (like what in the world am I doing here on a Friday afternoon rather than calling?).
To those of you who work from home, how do you focus entirely on prospecting? Should I be going to the library and sitting in a cubicle, or sitting in my car, or just motivated enough to only do calls while I'm in my home office?
Help a brother out!
I feel your pain!
It is just afternoon here and I am already gone mentaly.
The only thing that gets me moving again is setting some easy appointments. Client review/upgrade type. Once set I have to S..., Shower and Shave. And get dressed in big boy clothes. And mostly away from the internet. And Judge Judy.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." Charles Darwin
Last edited by WinoBlues : 10-09-2009 at 11:15 PM.
Reason: Spell check, did not want my hand slapped.
Motivation comes from within, that's all on you. Is it possible its not motivation, but instead call reluctance?
Not so much a call reluctance thing, because I really do enjoy talking to people. Cold calling isn't exactly what I'd call a leisure activity, but I don't mind it.
Maybe I just have trouble getting in "the zone" sometimes, I dunno. I just know that I can't be the only one.
It took me a while to realize that the more I work, the better I feel. Sure, I can zone out and be lazy - but I feel guilty doing it, beat myself up later, and don't have any money for golf at the end of the day. I may be reluctant to start, but I feel GREAT when I do!
Home "officing" is a difficult proposition. I strive to work in blocks of time and not make excuses to deviate from that. There is always something trying to interrupt, so the number one rule of thumb is to discipline yourself to do that actual work-- not reshuffling papers or dawdling. Also, break up the day much the same as you would in an office-- take regular breaks and lunch. But, most of all, work smartly. If you are having trouble setting appointments (or whatever) don't let yourself slack until you meet your daily goals. You have to be your own coach.
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"Some are weather-wise, some are otherwise."
- Benjamin Franklin
Home "officing" is a difficult proposition. I strive to work in blocks of time and not make excuses to deviate from that. There is always something trying to interrupt, so the number one rule of thumb is to discipline yourself to do that actual work-- not reshuffling papers or dawdling. Also, break up the day much the same as you would in an office-- take regular breaks and lunch. But, most of all, work smartly. If you are having trouble setting appointments (or whatever) don't let yourself slack until you meet your daily goals. You have to be your own coach.
Every day when I go to the mailbox someone else has their hand out for a check. Hope I don't develop "mailbox reluctance". Call reluctance is bad enough.
I've got 3 kids and a wife and I find it nearly impossible to have a steady block of time to dedicate towards my business.
I've had to work out of my car (and my wife really likes knowing that I'm "out of the house" as well).
Yup. Especially with it getting cooler now, that may work. Pick me out a good shade tree and smile and dial. Zero distractions, except the radio, and i can do without that.
This is why I just got out, and rented an office, on the cheap.
Just go out there, and find an office room to rent, heck, $300 or $400.... it will do wonders to your motivation, and if 400 a month is a killer.... perhaps it is time to reevaluate career.
If you have a few minutes to chat, I can give you some ideas to stay motivated and focused.
Selling from home isn't for everyone. Some need an office environment to be consistent producers. However, setting daily and weekly activity goals and then tracking your success works for many. I have an activity worksheet and tracking system I can share with you to keep you on task. Lots of other good ideas to share as well.
Send me an email with your availability next week.
Well, I took a few minutes to do some calls and set up an appt for somebody I've been working a LONG time, we'll close a sale on Monday.
I guess I just need to get off my lazy arse and JUST DO IT!
Please don't take this as a slam, because it applies to many. There is no excuse for not working and you just need to do it. Do this for 2 weeks religously, and once you see that it works, it will be easier to do.
Get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. Do your paperwork until 8 or so. Do not do anything, like talk on the phone(non cold calls), send emails, clean your office, etc. MAKE 8-5 SELLING TIME ONLY!!! NOTHING BUT SELLING, constantly talking to people. In the evening cold call from 6:30-8. Call it a day then do it all over again. SALES WILL COME IF YOU DO THIS. As an example, I am sitting in Cincinnati and I have sold 2 major medical plans while up here, and they both were referrals from people that I have sold Med. Supps to, and they were cold calls. If you work 8 hours a day, things will fall into your lap.
Please don't take this as a slam, because it applies to many. There is no excuse for not working and you just need to do it. Do this for 2 weeks religously, and once you see that it works, it will be easier to do.
Get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. Do your paperwork until 8 or so. Do not do anything, like talk on the phone(non cold calls), send emails, clean your office, etc. MAKE 8-5 SELLING TIME ONLY!!! NOTHING BUT SELLING, constantly talking to people. In the evening cold call from 6:30-8. Call it a day then do it all over again. SALES WILL COME IF YOU DO THIS. As an example, I am sitting in Cincinnati and I have sold 2 major medical plans while up here, and they both were referrals from people that I have sold Med. Supps to, and they were cold calls. If you work 8 hours a day, things will fall into your lap.
Dude, I take nothing from you as a slam. This is solid advice that I just don't know why it's so hard for me to implement. It may be that the Med Supp market, which i cold call for, is tough in Alabama, and i AM getting call reluctance.
So many of the posts in this thread have been spot on, and I need to APPLY all this wisdom and NOT BE LAZY!! You dudes are trying to help, not criticize. I hope there are some others out there who can benefit from this stuff, because it's gold.
Calling from a Home Office
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