Work at Home Productivity Tips -

By Jan Ferrante 

Learning successful home business strategies was the last thing on my mind the other day as I climbed the stairs to play a game of foosball with my daughter.

WORK AT HOME BUSINESS STRATEGIES AND FOOZBALL?? 

I bought a Foosball table a few weeks ago.

It's one of the best things I've ever done.

The kids love it, someone is almost always playing it.

I find it to be an amazing tool to help learn better coordination and "brain fitness". 

What has really amazed me is how well the kids play.

They zip the ball around like a bat out of hell, while I stand there going duhhh.

They think it's quite funny, although when I play them, they take it easy on me.

My husband is still in awe that they beat him. All the time. He's not used to.

I was playing my 10 year old daughter, who totally blows me away. 

Score

Daughter - 10

Me - 0 - it's almost too embarrassing to admit.

Game Strategies and Small Business Strategies - An Amazingly Useful Analogy 

But as we were playing, I couldn't help but look at the obvious and apply it to business. 

Here is what I saw as her success strategy.

•  You have to have a strategy. She was quick to point out that I was just winging the ball if I was lucky enough to hit it when it came my way. She on the other hand was setting herself up - making plays. Passing to herself (with little fear of being intercepted). Thinking ahead. Being on the offensive rather than the defensive. That is a must if you want to work at home. There really is no other way if you want to play.

• You have to have enthusiasm. This girl gets into her game. It's a game… on a table. And she comes away red and sweating from all the jumping around she does.

• You have to have speed. Like I said, that ball is moving! In internet business, speed translates into "speed of execution" - time from conception to execution. Some of "us" get hung up and never score because we move to slowly, even coming to a standstill. End of game.

• You have to practice. I can see my game improving over time. They play a lot, and it shows. Practice makes perfect as they say.

• You have to work on technique. They have a way of spinning the handles that gives them POWER. When I tried it, I got PMMMPH! Which they thought was hilarious. It was, talk about old lady sports! The problem was that I wasn't doing it right even though I thought I was. 

• If you don't know, ask. When she showed me, I could do it too. Sometimes it just takes a little know how from the right person. In home business, a good internet business course can be worth it's weight in gold. But remember, you have to take action on it, or it is worthless.

• Attitude. Nothing can kill a game faster than a bad attitude. The same goes for business. When they are playing happily, all is good and as it should be. As soon as someone gets a burr in their bonnet, no one wants to play and it just isn't fun anymore. Don't take anything too seriously. There is always another shot. And next time round you'll probably do it even better as you put all of these success tips into practice.

For some really good questions to ask yourself to help you to find out exactly where you need to be applying these strategies, check out this article on Home Business Strategies by Mary Emma Allen of Home Biz Notes. 

So, I am off to get a cup of tea, and work on my successful business strategy.

And to work on my foosball game. 

To receive additional home business strategies, subscribe to our free WAHM in Focus weekly work at home tips.

You can also listen to our weekly WAHM in Focus work at home podcast.