Home Business Opportunity Rules

1. Separate your work from your living areas.

2. Don't put your office in your living room.

3. Get a separate telephone line, preferably a business line for the yellow page listing.

4. Don't be too cute with voice mail messages unless you're in the jingle business.

5. Be upbeat answering the telephone. Use a mirror to make sure you smile as you answer.

6. Don't wait for the phone to ring. lf you're not working market yourself.

7. Set goals for every day and work on those first separate the important from the urgent.

8. Don't expect to work effectively with children underfoot.

9. Value your time as you value your money.

10. Don't work morning, noon and night.

11. Use color codes to make files and disks easy to find.

12. Don't allow paperwork and office equipment to take over your home.

13. Get furniture sized for a home office, usually smaller than standard.

14. Don't use a kitchen, dining room or bridge chair for your desk chair.

15. Save time by using check-writing and accounting software.

16. Don't throw away paper copies of receipts, invoices and checks. Tax records must be kept for at least six years after you've filed a return.

17. Dress in a way that helps you work productively, whether it heels or a necktie, or a sweatshirt and jeans.

18. Don't let housework or hobbies distract you from getting your work done. Instead, schedule time for them.

19. Have the attitude that you work from home, not at home.

20. Don't have personal items (like children's toys) visible if customers come to your home.