To be sure you stay on track, which is easier when organized, you should have at least a tentative plan. You need to know if you have any money you can invest in your business or you must find free ways to do everything at first. You should have a plan so that you can commit your time.

Your qualifications and skill-set that you have acquired in your working lifetime are the core assets you have to work with. They represent the foundation that you will build upon to create a profitable business. You can always get a lot of free information and even ‘formal’ training online if you would feel better to update your skills.

It is fairly important that you be confident in what you can bring to the table when starting a business of your own. You may need to learn to use simple technology, and even learning about a new industry or niche may be on the agenda for you. Since you will be technically ‘self-employed’ it is more or less up to you what you do or don’t do. Probably best if you can avoid doing things you really don’t like if they are not necessary. If necessary then learn to live with it.

It may help you to do some self-assessment exercises at the planning stage of developing a business. Like an inventory, listing what exactly you have to work with. This will make you feel strong and/or point to things you may need to get some more details about before you can proceed.

On purpose or not, you will be learning lots of new things as you go along – even while still in the planning stage. If you have an open-mind and are willing to learn and to do the work necessary, you will do fine. It is best to get anything you need to learn out of the way so that it doesn’t become an obstacle that keeps you from making progress.

Be honest and play a role reversal game. Take stock of your skills and attitudes about work and ask yourself if you would you hire you? Apply for a job in your own home business. Write a cover letter resume and state why you are qualified for the job and really believe you are the best candidate and should be chosen for the position.

Remember not to use ‘convincing’ behavior or ‘selling’. Merely present yourself and leave it at that. (selling and convincing can create an atmosphere where people will resist rather than cooperate) if you do not do it in the right way.

Use power words to describe your assets such as for example, accurate, dependable, reliable, flexible, proactive, timely, can learn quickly, are efficient and enjoy helping others. Spell out you skills – mainly emphasizing the duties for the available position. You can also include ‘life’ skills. For example you were on a debate team, or committee at your church or club.

Final Exercise: Provide actual statistics and other information to demonstrate where you have had on-the-job experience using your skills. Provide the position title and define all the duties that you performed. Give length of experience and special recognition, promotions, and accomplishments. Be sure to include references the employer can contact.