in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now

At first blush one might suppose that home based businesses would be stress free. After all, look at the advantages: be your own boss, make your own schedule, work when you feel like working and there are no traffic jams to and from the office!

Let's look closely at these four factors, which I consider to be myths. Be your own boss. Being the boss means now you, not somebody else, have responsibility for all the tasks related to managing a business. These include checking for regulatory compliance, tax reporting, maintaining business accounts, planning and managing inventory, order taking, keeping the books, advertising, marketing, delivery, billing and reading the mail. It's not that any one of these and dozens more tasks are necessarily complicated. Some of them, in fact, might be boring, as in sifting through the junk mail.

What can be stressful is the multiplicity of tasks. Put another way, being your own boss means keeping track of unending and unrelenting details. There needs to be a quick, efficient system for getting all these details out of the way in order do the actual business of making something or selling something. That's where the stress develops: no brooding over bills, no piling up of mail to be opened at some later date, no delay in filing or storing data, no idol moments to debate what to save and what to throw away. The filing system, whether by computer or in file cabinets needs to be well organized so that what goes in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now

now you, not somebody else, have responsibility for all the tasks related to managing a business. These include checking for regulatory compliance, tax reporting, maintaining business accounts, planning and managing inventory, order taking, keeping the books, advertising, marketing, delivery, billing and reading the mail. It's not that any one of these and dozens more tasks are necessarily complicated. Some of them, in fact, might be boring, as in sifting through the junk mail.

What can be stressful is the multiplicity of tasks. Put another way, being your own boss means keeping track of unending and unrelenting details. There needs to be a quick, efficient system for getting all these details out of the way in order do the actual business of making something or selling something. That's where the stress develops: no brooding over bills, no piling up of mail to be opened at some later date, no delay in filing or storing data, no idol moments to debate what to save and what to throw away. The filing system, whether by computer or in file cabinets needs to be well organized so that what goes in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now

tasks are necessarily complicated. Some of them, in fact, might be boring, as in sifting through the junk mail.

What can be stressful is the multiplicity of tasks. Put another way, being your own boss means keeping track of unending and unrelenting details. There needs to be a quick, efficient system for getting all these details out of the way in order do the actual business of making something or selling something. That's where the stress develops: no brooding over bills, no piling up of mail to be opened at some later date, no delay in filing or storing data, no idol moments to debate what to save and what to throw away. The filing system, whether by computer or in file cabinets needs to be well organized so that what goes in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now

tual business of making something or selling something. That's where the stress develops: no brooding over bills, no piling up of mail to be opened at some later date, no delay in filing or storing data, no idol moments to debate what to save and what to throw away. The filing system, whether by computer or in file cabinets needs to be well organized so that what goes in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now

in and comes out can be done quickly.

And then, of course, there are the unending phone calls. "The boss," as one of my key contacts told me bluntly when we were introduced, "does everything." That's the job description: the boss does everything. No matter whether the task be secretarial or executive in nature, the boss does it. The pressure is to do it right now. Get behind with a home based business and there will be instant stress because getting behind means that tomorrow there will be twice as much to do.

The art to be developed here is MULTI TASKING.

Make your own schedule Working at home is only possible when you are working at home! The problem about being at home is that there are always things to be done. "Things" to be done include preparing and eating meals, keeping the house orderly and clean, answering the door, getting out the trash, taking care of any dependents, feeding the pets, bringing in the paper and the mail, visiting with the neighbors. Unless one is living absolutely alone in a totally managed apartment or condo it is nearly impossible to be home without having "things" to do. Once you have made a work schedule the real stress begins: keeping the schedule instead of doing what needs doing for home maintenance and daily living.

Sticking to the schedule means no TV interruptions, no extended phone conversations, no time outs to run up to the store or take a quick siesta. Working alone is boring, tiring and often non-stimulating. There is no companionship, no joking around and no other workers to pick up the slack or form a team approach. You do it or it does not get done. You work no matter what mood you are in and no matter how you are feeling physically. Any time you break with the schedule the business stops and work piles up.

The art to be developed here is F