Working from Home

In life, we all want to bring in lots of money doing what we want. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just happen out of the blue. If you want to create a small business that blossoms into something large, then you have to educate yourself, take the plunge, and put in the work. The same goes for if you’re hoping to get the dream job you’ve been looking for – you need to do the research, become more accomplished, and nail the interview stages. Working hard and putting in the effort is so vital when it comes to having a fantastic life. If you put the hours in, then you’ll get them back – with added interest. 

All of those points are again applied and emphasized when one chooses to leave where they are for newer, self-employed pastures. Leaving your job or getting away from what you’re currently undergoing and starting your own venture can be pressurizing, but it is very rewarding if you do things correctly. It’s quite a risk sometimes, but the reward makes everything worthwhile. 

Before you even bother with committing to something that can be perceived as daunting and draining, you’ll need to make sure that you sort out a few things and complete a few tasks. If it was a straightforward thing with very few steps, then we’d all leave our jobs and become millionaires from home, right?! So, without further ado, here are some of the jobs that you’ll have to take care of before you leave and begin your new adventure. Don’t worry, they’re not too confusing or convoluted!

Make Sure You Know Exactly What You Want To Do With Your Life

This is a pretty big commitment, so you’re going to want to make sure that you know what you’re doing. Many, many people in this life leave their current jobs when they’re in marvelous positions in order to try new things – only for it to not work out at all. While you’ll likely find a new job if it doesn’t work out, it’s still wise to ensure that you’ve made the right decision. You may have picked what you want to do, but have you really thought about it in detail, or is it just something that sounds quite pleasant right now? The novelty often wears thin a lot of the time. 

Speak With Your Family And Everyone Involved About It

If you live alone and your responsibilities affect only yourself, then this kind of conversation will be quite easy to have. You’ll obviously still need to talk in-depth with people you care about in order to get their views on things, but the liabilities aren’t any of their concern. 

If you have a family to take care of, then perhaps sitting down and chatting with them would be the right thing to do. By no means should this be a negative chat, but it’s good to get everyone’s opinion. Let them know what you intend on doing because their lives would be affected, too. 

Create A Plan

This is obvious, but it should still be noted as many people will head into something like this without any prior roadmap. You’ll need to plan out pretty much everything you do – personally and professionally. Of course, you’ll have a business plan and you’ll write out everything you intend when it comes to the small business you’re looking to create, but this goes beyond your work. You’ll have to get into a new way of working and living seeing as your life is about to head into an entirely new routine.

Save Up And Check Your Outgoings 

Because you’re going to be in an entirely new position regarding every aspect of life, you’re going to need to check on how things are going financially. If you’re doing very, very well for yourself, then this idea may not be at the forefront of your worry – although you’ll still need to plan it out anyway. If you’re not exactly the wealthiest household in the world, then perhaps you’ll need to save and look for different ways to slash expenses. Think about how to reduce the electric bill and cutting off subscriptions that you don’t necessarily need. 

Begin The Work Before You Commit Full-Time 

Many people jump straight into work as soon as they leave their previous job. While this isn’t exactly a crime, it might not be the smartest thing you ever do because you’ll have a lot of work ahead with very little reward. You should begin working on this kind of project for months (or even years) before you even consider leaving your current job. You may not get much time, but the free time you do receive should be put to good use. Build it up alongside your full-time job until you can actually leave and make it into your new full-time role.

Look At The Likes Of Accountants And Other Important Services  

You won’t just be able to do this entire thing on your own – you’ll need lots of help from lots of different areas. While this is something you’ll commit to once everything is up and running, it’s still good to figure it all out as soon as possible. An accountant would help out massively as you’ll be able to get on with your work while your numbers are overseen and looked after properly. Lawyers are also important to be in touch with just in case you accidentally run into legal issues.

Get Your Home Ready

Of course, this applies if you’re working exclusively from home – which you probably will be for the first few months (or years). You’ll want to ensure that you have a healthy working environment and a nice office you can be productive in. 

Get Into The Right Mindset 

You need to get into the right headspace and position yourself in the right place to succeed. You should no longer think of yourself as someone who works for someone else – this time, you’re the leader of the pack. Think positively and always look at how you can be the best. This kind of thinking will boost your confidence and turn you into the stone-cold killer you need to be in order to make lots of money!

With the state the world is in at the moment due to COVID, it is no surprise that a lot more businesses have moved to work from home either full time or part-time. This has now led to the meetings you would usually attend in person, being held on the virtual meeting system, Zoom. The only problem with these Zoom meetings, other than trying to pay attention the whole time, is that you may not feel comfortable being on camera. 

Feeling anxious about being on camera can be due to a number of factors, from worries about doing something embarrassing to concerns about how you look. 

Here are some tips that may help you to feel more confident when on your Zoom Meeting Video calls.

Make an effort

Just because you are working from home, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make an effort in regards to how you look. When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good you tend to feel more confident as you know that you look presentable. 

You can do this in a number of ways. Firstly, dressing smartly as if you were going to the office will help give your confidence a boost. When getting dressed up you may feel more comfortable as this is something you would have done if going to the office as normal. You can also do your hair as well if this something that you would normally do for work or if you know you feel more confident with a certain hairstyle. Doing your makeup can also help as this is known to be a major confidence booster. For some women when they have their lips, eyes, and hair done it makes them feel happier and boosts their self-esteem. ​​​​​​​

Be organized

Even though you are working from homing and doing your meetings from home, you can still make sure you are organized for your day. Having a notebook and pen for meetings is a good idea so that you can note down anything important, also before the meeting making sure all your devices are working properly is a good idea. Having audio not work or not being able to get into your meeting can knock your confidence, as you may feel like you’re disrupting things. This can be especially embarrassing as you don’t access to IT support as you would do in the office. 

Choose the correct environment

Making sure that you are in a comfortable and quiet area of your home is best when attending a Zoom meeting. It can knock your confidence and be embarrassing if you are interrupted or your colleagues see something in the background while you are in the meeting. Somewhere that will not have people coming in and out, is quiet, and has good lighting is perfect for when you are in a virtual meeting. 

Hopefully, the above-mentioned tips will help you to feel far more confident when on your next Zoom meeting.

On the face of it, the life of a social media influencer may seem idyllic. You get paid by brands to promote their goods. You get free stuff sent to you on a daily basis. You’re afforded fame and adulation both online and in the real world. And best of all, you get to spend every day doing what you love. Whether you’re into fashion, makeup, videogames, movies, fitness, travel, food, or… anything else people online are interested in, you can make a lucrative living promoting, reviewing, and discussing brands and products with a following that adores you.

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But, of course, if it were easy… everyone would be doing it. You need to separate yourself from the chancers, the fakers, and the also-rans. Here are some things to remember that will help you get you started:

It’s a business, like any other

Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, once said, “Don’t play games you don’t understand, even if you see lots of other people making money from them.” Truly understanding your industry is key to having success. Including influencer business services.

If you expect to make money through social media, you need to treat it like a business. And as with any other business, you need to turn up to work. You need to set aside time to create and post worthwhile and engaging content. What’s more, you need to make time to engage with brands and other influencers. If you just post and then expect people to flock to you, you may be disappointed. However, if you make yourself a part of an online community, engaging meaningfully with others’ posts you are much more likely to be embraced by followers. 

My best tip for being noticed in micro-influencer communities? Give more than you’re asked. Google’s Larry Page encourages entrepreneurs to deliver more than customers expect. It’s a great way to get noticed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates.

For me, this has included creating a free Canva end-of-campaign datasheet. Including hyperlinks, screenshots of Google Analytics for each designated campaign, and emailing campaign managers and public relations managers with any and all links pertaining to each campaign no longer than one-week post-submission. This allows publishers to quickly index and share your links with their clients while keeping your site, name, and expertise in the mind, and mouths, for agencies in your niche.

Brand Storytelling

Yes, people want to engage with your brand, your look, and your personality. But being a social media influencer isn’t necessarily about you. It’s about your audience. It’s about posting the kind of content that they want to see. So make sure you’re always asking them what they’d like to see more of, what interests them, and what they’d like to see you lend your unique vision to.  

You want your readers, followers, and subscribers to be able to quickly access your work, understand your message, and to create a lasting emotional bond between your work, including any sponsored, commission, or linked branding. It’s all about getting your readers to understand your story by way of relating to their own life experiences. This is done by way of evergreen posting content and seamless weaving of promotion, nostalgia, and creativity.  In order to create this marketing bond, each evergreen should include the following elements:

1. Creating an authentic, relatable bond. This encourages readers to continue telling others their personal story, ties to a specific product and service, and your story as well. Long-term digital word of mouth sales funnels. 
2. Build your personal brand. Remember, the best stories are infused with personality. 
3. Be active on social media. Stories will spread through the power of social media. Syndicating your story via social media posting, live videos, infographics, branded video content, newsletters, and live video sessions. Matching brand-loyal readers and brands themselves. This is accomplished by encouraging your community to share your story far and wide. 

Your income is taxable… but your expenses are tax-deductible!

The last thing you want is to fall afoul of the IRS while you’re trying to launch your social media empire. It’s vital that you remember that every cent you earn from promotions is taxable. Yes, even if you also have a day job. 

But don’t worry, while your income may be taxable, your expenses are also tax-deductible. So you can claim against not just the products you discuss and review but cameras, editing software, and anything else that you employ to launch you to stardom. Check out our list of potential deductions for influencers.

It’s okay to need a helping hand to boost your following

Like any business, you need to establish a name for yourself online. But with so many others trying to get noticed alongside you, you’re likely to need a helping hand when it comes to getting noticed. Organic engagement is the gold standard, but as many small businesses find, it helps to get a helping hand to give your visibility a boost. Services like Trusy Social can help by getting you noticed on the platforms that matter to you.

With these codes from Coupons Collector, you can give your following a boost and get noticed online without the need to spend a small fortune. Likewise, paid ads may seem like throwing money into a vacuum, but depending on the platform you use, they can get your content noticed by the kind of people that are predisposed to engage with your content. When they like, comment on and share your posts, you will find that your reach grows organically. Just make sure you never take your following for granted and keep your focus squarely on creating quality content. Including a reputable video production company, including Angela Wei Milk Studios. 

You’ll never get anywhere by being shy

Getting frustrated? Seeing your following grow every day, but still not getting noticed by brands? Shy folks get nothing! There’s absolutely no shame in emailing brands directly and asking to be considered for promotional items. Many brands are prepared to give smaller influencers a break, and if they like your content, they may even be able to help you grow your following.

If one brand politely declines, don’t be disheartened. Move on to another. And don’t feel that you can’t check back in with brands that have rejected you once you’ve grown your following a little. 

Never give up!

This isn’t like a traditional career path. You need to create your own opportunities and hustle on a daily basis. You will have days where you lose followers. You will have days when your content barely gets any engagement. You will have days when you wonder “what’s the point?”. But you owe it to yourself to keep your foot on the gas pedal and never give up.  The best things come to those who wait!

Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance. The before-mentioned six tips will help you navigate the path much more easily.

Now I want to ask: What’s your favorite success tip for entrepreneurs? Share it below in the comments section below.

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Looking for a job can take a lot of time and energy. To make sure that your time and energy is being well spent, it’s worth assessing your job-hunting strategy. A few common mistakes could be stopping you from getting hired. Here are a few mistakes to avoid.

Putting too much information on your resume

Employers receive a lot of resumes and often don’t have the time or patience to read long sprawling essays. Try to condense your resume so that it only contains relevant information. If you’re trying to land a job in accountancy, consider whether you really need to discuss your paper round job as a 13-year-old, your high school French grades, or the fact that you love horror movies.

Sticking to popular job boards

Popular job boards are a good place to find vacancies – but they’re not the only place to look for jobs. By not exploring other options, you could be missing out on opportunities. Consider trying niche job boards – for instance, if you want to land a job in medicine, it’s worth finding a new employer on Practice Match. You may also find jobs being advertised on social media, at job fairs, and via recruitment agencies. It’s worth even applying directly to companies that aren’t advertising just in case they may be thinking of expanding their team.

Failing to network

Many people find a job by talking to friends and friends of friends. Make sure to take advantage of your close network – if you know anyone who may work in your target industry, reach out to them. You may also be able to take advantage of networking events such as seminars, conferences, and conventions.

Not doing enough company research

Employers like to know that you’ve researched the company and that you’re not just applying to whatever vacancies come up. This is particularly important during the interview – you’re likely to be quizzed on certain aspects of the company, or you may simply be asked to tell the employer what you know. You can do your research online, by looking at their site and by checking out any other media sources, or by even visiting your local library.

Failing to collect references

Some employers may ask for references. Make sure that you have previous employers and people in positions of authority lined up who you can contact to give you a reference when necessary. You don’t want to be scrambling around last minute looking for people who can provide a reference.

Not knowing your worth

Certain skills and experience could make you valuable. Make sure that you’re not applying to positions where you’re overqualified and likely to be paid less than you deserve. Similarly, you don’t want to be reaching above and beyond your worth. It’s also important to know the average salary that people are paid in your industry – if you do get hired and you get around to discussing the salary, you need to be sure that you’re being offered a reasonable amount of pay.

Not chasing up applications

A lot of people send out applications and never follow them up. Chasing up applications can show that you’re keen. It’s definitely worth doing if you haven’t heard back from an employer after an interview. Avoid hounding employers repeatedly as this will annoy them and potentially destroy your chances of getting hired – a single follow-up email or phone call may be all that’s necessary. Zety offers a guide to chasing up applications that could be worth reading.

This post is sponsored by Diamond Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Starting any new business can be daunting. Especially when its an at-home business. And nothing can derail the best of plans like the initial missteps taken when creating your business, particularly surrounding the realm of finances. This is why you will want to keep the following five financial options in mind when starting your next at-home business this season at home.

Decide Which Products or Services Your Small Business Will Offer

Before you can start a home business, you have to know what products or services you want to offer. And when deciding what business strategy will be most viable for you at home, consider these questions:

• What do you have to offer?
• What makes you an expert in this field?
• Do you have all of the education and skills you’ll need to compete successfully in the marketplace or will you need to get training?
• Does the product or service you’re thinking of marketing meet a need for your target demographic?
• Is this a seasonal product or service, or can you market for business throughout the year?
• How sensitive is marketing this product or service to general economic conditions?
• Do you have a passion for this business idea?

While money is great to earn, it’s not enough to propel you to success. You need to be enthusiastic about your offering to the public as well. Making one of the first financial options to consider for your at-home business whether or not you will be able to maintain your personal drive and enthusiasm when it comes to the day-to-day operations of your business. After all, if you cannot stand behind your idea it doesn’t make sense to invest in a business, training, marketing, and product production.

Your business is going to be your livelihood, so it should be something you believe in, enjoy, and would gladly promote to others. Which is why so many find success in turning hobbies into business structures. Because when you choose an idea you’re not excited about, it will be difficult to get motivated at times. It’s all about the mindset of remembering to “Do what you love, and love what you do.”

Know Your Market and Your Competition

While having a great product or service is required to start a business, without buyers, you still don’t have an equitable business. Which makes knowing your market paramount. Including being versed in what your demographic wants, needs, and what inspires them to continue to buy from you. All points are necessary for at-home business success. This means investing money in identifying your target market and determining your unique selling angle. This will help you to be able to set your business apart from others that are similar in your field. Here are a few things to consider when investing money in marketing or acquiring the services of marketing firms:

• Who Is Going to Buy Your Product or Service?
• What characteristics or traits will your typical customer or client have?
• Will you market to businesses, to consumers, or to both?
• What Is Special About What You Offer?
• How does your product or service meet the need of your target market?
• What is your competitive advantage?

Use these questions to create a marketable point of reference when it comes time to invest funds into crafting a marketing plan. This will help you when it comes time to outline how you’re going to let your target market to advance your business and business finances in the season to come.

Do the Tasks That Need to Be Done

There is a lot that goes into starting a home business. Along with the legal tasks of starting a business, there’s also the day-to-day tasks that can make or break our business. Such as the ability to deal with hassles and frustration of repairs, personal and employee health care, and costs of technology and upgrades. All expenditures that will require future financial planning and cash reserves to make these daily, weekly, or monthly tasks possible. If you can’t accommodate these costs or tasks, then a home business may not be for you.

To make sure you have the financial reserves to succeed, answer this question honestly: Can you handle the day-to-day general tasks that starting a small business requires, like:

• Supplying products/service
• Distribution of product
• Invoicing/billing
• Ordering supplies
• Bookkeeping expenses
• Marketing Costs
• Filing Costs
• Formation of LLC Costs
• Deal with temporary financial disappointment
• Manage financial overwhelm

While some of these tasks can be delegated to virtual assistants, many others will fall to business owners themselves to resolve. This can be hard when home business owners are solopreneurs, starting on a shoestring budget and having to wear all business hats simultaneously. It will behoove you to plan to start planning your cash reserves now. As well as how much of your net income you will reinvest in your business moving forward. Steps that will help financially and emotionally give you the stamina to carry you through until you can hire help or have a better footing in your own business in the seasons to come.

Make a List of What Needs to Be Paid

It’s much easier to complete any task or project if you have all your supplies ready and at-hand to start working. Which will make dishing out funds for the following crucial in starting your at-home business this season, including:

• A Home office. A dedicated, separate space with a door is recommended if you plan to take the home office deduction. This space will need to be used regularly and exclusively to run your business and will require funds to get this space up-to-code.
• Converting space: If your home office will be in a room, garage, or attic that requires building or altering the space, funds will need to be diverted to this expenditure.
• Space for inventory, supplies, records, and/or equipment. Remember to consider whether or not this space will need to be climate controlled.
• Power usage. Such as the installation of extra outlets, power strips, and the like.
• Secondary phone, fax, or internet lines. While many today use a cell phone, a second business phone line creates a separation from personal and business and allows you to have other business-only connectivity such as fax and Internet. Which may or may not require additional funding for installation as well.

As you determine what you’ll need, keep track of your estimated costs, and make sure these figures are properly accounted for in your initial cost projections as you start your at-home business.

Find Out the Legal Requirements are Necessary to Run Your Home Business with Neon Funding

While it’s tempting to set up shop and start selling right away, there is a protocol that must first be met before running an at-home business. Failure to comply with these rules can often result in fines and being forced to close up shop. Here are some legal issues to consider you will need to finance before starting your at-home business:

• Check your zoning laws before starting a small business. If you won’t have a sign, you can usually get a waiver. Also be sure to check with your homeowner’s association’s covenants and restrictions, as well as your lease agreement if you rent your office space, for any restrictions on-at-home businesses.
• Contact your city or county regarding a business license. Most areas have a business license requirement. Usually, it’s affordable and is generally under a few hundred dollars to obtain.
• Check with your state’s occupational regulatory agency to see if your business requires additional permits or licenses. For example, most businesses involving grooming (people or pets), financial help, child care, or food services are regulated by the state and you may need an additional on-site examination before a permit is issued.
• Get a sales tax license from your state’s taxation or comptroller’s office if you sell tangible goods. This allows you to collect and pay sales tax.
• Open a business-specific bank account. The IRS frowns upon the co-mingling of personal and business funds in tax filings.
• The costs associated with professional services such as Neon Funding, a lawyer, or an accountant.
• Get an employer identification number. While not required in a sole proprietorship, it is necessary if you employ people. It’s free and the advantage is that you can use it, instead of your social security number on business-related paperwork, you’re provided extra indemnity assurance when filing paperwork online.
• Protect your intellectual property by filing for a federal patent, trademark, or copyright. The costs of filing or minimal but will pay dividends in the years to come.

There are also costs that come from protecting your business. As when you go into business, you’ll potentially be exposing yourself, your home, and your family to a variety of risks. You need to think about how you’ll manage those risks and find out if you need small business insurance to help handle them before it’s too late. Which will require your business to require better personal insurance, property insurance, and liability insurance?

Remember, your homeowners’ and auto insurance policies weren’t designed to cover your home business. Small business insurance can be a major expense, but less expensive than a lawsuit or recovering from a loss due to a fire or other catastrophic event.

While you can start a home business on a budget, it’s not likely you’ll build a profitable one without incurring some expense. Which makes taking the previous five elements into consideration as you are calculating your startup costs. Everything from the amount of money you need to open up shop to daily petty cash funds. While it’s okay if you don’t know specific costs, but you want to get as close as possible, perhaps even over-estimate expenses.

Once you have your financial cost list in-hand, look for ways you might be able to cut costs and fund your business without going in debt. And always remember to factor in expenses such as how much will you need to pay your bills until the money starts coming in from your home business. Will you be keeping your full-time job or is there another breadwinner in the family that can help you until you develop an income stream? As you move closer to starting your business, keep a tally of expenses you didn’t anticipate and add them to your list.

Finally, since it takes money to make money, look for funding sources for your business that ideally won’t put you in debt. All important factors to financially consider when starting your own at-home business this season at home.

Friends, not only do you need money to start, but you’ll need money to stay open. The goal is to earn enough to cover your operating expenses and make a profit. With this in mind, how will you better financial plan for your own at-home business at home this season? Leave your plans and tips in the comments below!

Please note, this post is sponsored by Diamond bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

While you can start a home business on a budget, it’s not likely you’ll build a profitable one without incurring some expense. Especially for the self-employed. Which makes taking the previous five elements into consideration as you are calculating your startup costs. Everything from the amount of money you need to open up shop to daily petty cash funds. While it’s okay if you don’t know specific costs, but you want to get as close as possible, perhaps even over-estimate expenses.

Once you have your financial cost list in-hand, look for ways you might be able to cut costs and fund your business without going in debt. And always remember to factor in expenses such as how much will you need to pay your bills until the money starts coming in from your home business. Will you be keeping your full-time job or is there another breadwinner in the family that can help you until you develop an income stream? As you move closer to starting your business, keep a tally of expenses you didn’t anticipate and add them to your list.

And as the old saying goes, it takes money to make money, look for funding sources for your business that ideally won’t put you in debt. All important factors to financially consider when starting your own at-home business this season at home. This is why many small businesses may need to turn to lenders to help make their business goals a reality this season. Three types of business loans small businesses may want to consider include:

Term loans from Associates Home Loan

A term loan is a common form of business financing for those seeking self-employment loans. for the purposes of home buying or business-centric loans. You get a lump sum of cash upfront, which you then repay with interest over a predetermined period. With various online lenders offer term loans with borrowing amounts up to $1 million and can provide faster funding than banks. The pros of these types of loans include access to upfront funding to invest in your business, typically higher borrowing amounts, and faster funding provided borrowers utilize an online lender rather than a traditional bank. As online banks typically distribute funds within a few days versus up to several months with traditional banking facilities. But do keep in mind that term loans may require a personal guarantee or collateral to secure funding and terms costs can be high. These types of loans are best for small businesses looking to expand practices and operations as well as borrowers who have good credit and a strong business and who don’t want to wait long for funding. Such as lending houses such as AstroFlipping.

StreetShares loans

StreetShares loans are a funding source guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, offered by banks and other lenders, that allow borrowers terms of repayment based on the loan’s funding will be used. Typically ranging from 7-10 years for buying equipment and 25 years for real estate purchases. Some of the benefits of these types of loans include some of the lowest interest rates on the market, high borrowing amounts, and long repayment terms. But as might be expected, these loans are harder to qualify for and require a longer and more rigorous application process. Making these loans a better option for small businesses looking to expand or refinance existing debts, borrowers who can wait for longer periods prior to funding disbursement, and borrowers with established businesses of 4 or more years.

Business lines of credit

A final type of funding that might be a great benefit to small business owners this season may be lines of credit. A business line of credit provides access to funds up to your credit limit, and you pay interest only on the money you’ve drawn. It can provide more flexibility than a term loan and is typically unsecured, so no collateral required. However, these types of loans may carry additional costs, such as maintenance fees and draw fees, and often require better credit scores to qualify. These types of loans are best for small businesses looking to finance short-term financing needs, managing cash flow or handling unexpected expenses, or for businesses that are seasonal in nature.

Friends, not only do you need money to start, but you’ll need money to stay open. The goal is to earn enough to cover your operating expenses and make a profit. With this in mind, how will you better financial plan for your own at-home business or home buying expenditures this season? Leave your plans and tips in the comments below!

When you think of what it means to be a successful entrepreneur, what names come to mind? For me its Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, and business leaders like Saeed Torbati. You may ask,  what do these highly admired individuals have in common?

These individuals ascribe to common beliefs when it comes to being a successful entrepreneur. From starting new ventures every other day. To deliberately put into practice the art of the right attitude towards a business and the determination and grit to believe in their own personal success. Including a strong sense of self-confidence, in terms of their skills and abilities.

But most importantly a true entrepreneur knows that before they are able to properly combat the rigors of business and climb the corporate ladder they must first cultivate their mind. This is often done by utilizing one common principle: the 5-hour rule.

The 5-hour rule is pretty simple: Carve out one hour from each weekday to devote to deliberate, intentional learning. Self-starter education that is applicable to the greater goal of advancing your personal field, business, or brand. Practices that are made each day without exception. 

The reason why the five-hour rule is so effective? It’s the driving force in priming the world’s most accomplished people to perpetuate their personal and professional success. This rule helps them work smart, and just faster and harder, as well as to focus on long-term self-improvement. Rather than current workloads, projects, or deadlines.

Think of Bill Gates. An entrepreneur that prides himself on annually reading 50 books. Should it be believed that these books are tied to his daily projects? Likely not.

Moreover, nothing beats an expert. While jumping head first into business, and blogging, is a great way to get your proverbial feet wet in the business, it can be shortsighted. As there’s no substitute for the benefits that good old-fashioned expertise and self-driven knowledge can bring to your field and mindset.

A great example, Mark Zuckerberg. A man who leverages his knowledge and expertise he has himself gained as part of his business principal. It’s his knowledge, and not his IT savvy, that has made him the business success he is.

There are literally tens of thousands of sites and app designers. There’s only one Facebook. And this is due to no small part that Mark Zuckerberg is a walking encyclopedic of how his business runs.

Now, if you’re looking for ways to utilize the 5-hour rule in your own day-to-day life and up your endeavors, here are 3 ways to get started:

Read

Want to be a baller? Start by being a bibliophile first! Besides Bill Gates, big-time bookworms include Oprah, President Obama, Mark Cuban, Nike founder Phil Knight, billionaire entrepreneur David Rubenstein, and self-made billionaire and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Gilbert.

Warren Buffett takes this habit to the extreme — he read between 600 and 1000 pages per day when he was beginning his investing career and still devotes about 80% of each day to reading.

Overall, each devotes daily time to reading, and many others have started their own publishing boutiques or literacy initiatives to help others learn the love of reading too! Book club goals, anyone?

Think

Taking time to each week to reflect on your personal and business life has been shown to improve job performance. It’s crucial and life-affirming for AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who makes his senior team spend 4 hours per week thinking about their own personal goals each week before engaging in AOL-sanctioned tasks. All during for-pay hours on the clock.

Experiment

What do Benjamin Franklin, Coco Channel, and Thomas Edison have in common? They were known to take on risky experiments for their personal knowledge and business practices.

A great example? Both Google and Microsoft have allotted time in the day for employees to experiment with their ideas. Experimenting in business not only helps keep your faculties sharp, your ear to the streets when it comes to marketing trends, but your heart focuses on your purpose. It helps you know you’re why.

The #1 thing your business, blog, and platform cannot survive without. 

So I say all that to say this: If you want to save money, start a business, or up your own personal or professional game, start by implementing the 5-hour into your weekly planning strategy today!

Now I want to ask, do you use the 5-hour rule at work or home? Has it helped you to reevaluate your current strategies and dealings? If so, I’d love to hear about it below!