Happy At Home: Principles For Fulfilling Work-From-Home Lifestyles

There is so much I want to share about the joys, pains, challenges, and opportunities of working from home..  But I realize sometimes we just want simple answers.

Being a home-based business owner/operator and building a happy home share simple principles.  It's not easy but, if you keep these keys to contentment at home, you'll find more joy to overcome to pain.  I'll try to be as concise as possible so you can apply them to your work-life balance as soon as possible!

This old adage reveals a powerful truth:

You can build a house or you can reach further and build a home.  To do the latter, you need to focus on love and dreams.  This applies to business as well!

Without further delay, here is what I have discovered in my journey thus far.  These are the simple keys to being happy at home with work and play, business and family:

• Practice Honesty - There are far too many bait-and-switch tactics used in any line of business, especially in sales and marketing, so be sure to undersell and overdeliver.  Never promise what you can't guarantee.  Being honest will create more loyal customers and colleagues; more importantly, your family will see this and be more supportive of your ventures..  And they will practice honesty more as well!
• Show Your Warts - A very specific type of honesty is sharing our weaknesses, opportunities, shortcomings, and challenges with others.  No one knows everything.  No business model is perfect.  If you are more forthcoming with these flaws, trust is more easily built and bonds last longer.  In business and family lives alike, when you admit your faults, unity is forged and you become far more approachable.  People will also worry less about what you are trying to hide. 
• Take Regular Breaks - You often hear that you should carve out time for work but few stress the importance of taking regular breaks.  You don't want to burn out and if you sit still for too long.  Regular breaks also ensure you remain patient and the quality of your content and communication is consistent.  It is recommended to limit time spent sitting down to one hour at a time.  Get up, walk around, go check the mail, call a friend, fix a light snack..  Whatever you do, don't just sit down and allow your muscles (including your brain) to get lazy on ya!
• Focus On Your Why/Dreams - A powerful WHY (Why are you doing this?) will keep you driven when things seem bleak.  Big dreams dispel despair. Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that the biggest reason businesses fail is because the founders do not dream big enough.  These dreams should not be materialistic.  Think more in terms of quality of life, security for your family and loved ones, and the simple little things you can't do consistently otherwise due to financial woes or working long hours at a traditional [dead-end] job.
• Keep Family First - For most of us working from home, our families are our biggest driving force yet we could also lose sight of this easily.  Sometimes, working our businesses leads to isolation which can breed resentment from the very people we expect to support us.  Avoid this by using your business venture(s) as a catalyst for strengthening bonds and creating new memories with your loved ones.  Remember that work should enhance your life, not take the place of it!
• Believe In The Power Of One -  Sometimes all it takes is one sale, one person we spend extra time to help out, one person we give hope to, one child we encourage and show love to when they need it most..  That one person can create ripples that make everything and everyone around them that much better.  Good deeds get paid forward and real change takes place.  This compelling truth is what empowers happy families and successful businesses.  Getting the "one" or the "first" can be a daunting task but remember that one can easily become many when we truly influence and inspire others.
• Forge Alliances - No one gets to where they want to be alone, though some may want to believe that.  Surrounding ourselves with individuals we can brainstorm/mastermind or at least find mutual support with makes a huge difference.  There are plenty of naysayers and dreamstealers out there so building positive relationships is crucial for our mental sanity and resilience.  Think less in terms of competition and share a bigger pie, as Guy Kawasaki often reveals in his keynotes and books.
• Be Enchanting - Speaking of Mr. Kawasaki, Guy also has many wonderful gems to share about enchanting our families and business contacts alike.  Guy is probably the most approachable influencer and entrepreneur of our time - he actually talks to his fans and supporters via social media, at conferences, or wherever he may bump into them!  The core of the enchantment formula is essentially this: be likeable, be helpful, be approachable, be authentic/yourself, and be compassionate (genuinely care about and relate to others).

Do you enchant or sell?  Do you influence or manipulate?

•  Make The Time - All too often, we fall into the trap of saying we don't have enough time or can't find the time.  There is only one answer in this scenario: make the time.  Effective time management is probably the toughest part of being self-employed; as such, maintaining a proper balance will always be an ongoing effort.  When it becomes more difficult to find the time for your family and your work, remember your dreams, your purpose, and become excited about them all over again - supercharge your motivation and business alike!

• Become The Product Of Your Product - It is darn near impossible to sell a product that we do not truly believe in or use ourselves.  Becoming the product of your product means a lot of things to different people but, in simple terms, it means you have to truly believe what you are offering is useful, life-changing, and legitimate.  If and when you can, use the product.  Develop intimate stories that relate to people that would be interested in your product or service.  By forming connections with your target audience, prospects will more often come to you and be more open to discussions and follow-ups.

Now I am sure there are some other great tips and keys to success/happiness that I am missing but these are the biggest ones that come to mind.  I hope they help you find true contentment at home!

What tips do you have for building a happier home and maintaining a fulfilling work-life balance?