Do you like it?  I mean REALLY like it?


Life events.  They have a way of changing your whole
outlook on life.

You've experienced a life event if a close family
member or friend has passed away, you've gone
through a divorce, you've had a fire or other disaster
that displaced your family for a period of time, you've
experienced a serious illness or accident within your
home, or you've moved your entire household.  I
would imagine that most on this list have
experienced at least one of these life events.

Why are they called life events?  Purely and simply
because they have a dramatic impact on our lives,
our work, our families.

We recently went through a major life event this
summer with the loss of one of our children.  It was
the most bittersweet moment of our lives.  Our long,
agonizing summer culminated in having to remove
all life-support and letting our son slip away.

Although I would never hope to go through
something like this again, it did have some truly
wonderful outcomes.  The lessons we learned and
our desire to do good in the lives of others has
become firmly cemented.

Let me tell you how this life event affected my
outlook on our home-based business.  I hope you
will use my experience to help you re-evaluate your
own business.

The day we had to let our son go was devastating, but
let me tell you what was even harder... coming home
and facing each day with the fact that he was not here.
Each day for many weeks had been so intense, long
hours at the hospital, fasting, praying.  Our home
office had been left abandoned for weeks and our
complete focus was given to our son.

Now, the day after the funeral abruptly left us at
home to face the life we had forgotten.  We had to
get our business back in order.

I sat in my chair, turned on my computer and stared
at the monitor.  It seemed foreign.  At that moment,
it hit me... the strangest, yet most clear thought
entered my head, "Do you really like what you're
doing?"

Why in the world would such a perplexing question
pop into my head now?  Well, I had just been through
a pretty sobering life event, one that would change
my entire outlook on life.  I would now have to
question everything in my life, and it was time to
make the needed corrections, if any.

In all honesty, if there ever was a time to "get out,"
that would be it.  It would be a perfect break from
the past to venture into new business paths.  Truth
was, I was about to take a terrifying leap into my
reality.

As I sat and contemplated this perplexing question,
a wonderful sense of worth came over me.

Yes!  I love what I do.

I love what our business is all about.  I love what I do
for our clients and for our subscribers.  I love being
home with our children, all of whom I homeschool.
I love having them climb all over me during a
deadline, even as frustrated as I may get.  I love
thinking up new ideas for our business, new
products, new technology, new marketing ideas.
I even love the early-morning as well as late-night
hours.  In short, love being an entrepreneur.

There is one thing I don't love.  I don't like the
bookwork.  Can anyone relate?  I do it because I
love everything else that goes with it.

After going through this little exercise in my head,
a renewed commitment came into focus.  I was
absolutely ready to do all that was needed to
make our business not only a success... no...
I was completely committed to making it a raging
success.

I liked our business.  All I could think of then was
what changes I would need to make for our
business to be more successful.

Our son had actually left his mother with one of
the greatest gifts one could hope for... focus.  I
was able to see clearly what was and what wasn't
important in my life.  I knew what I wanted and I
was ready to go for it.

It has been that way ever since.  My time is more
productive and my marketing efforts are ten times
more focused and effective.

Now, it's your turn.

Close your eyes.  I mean do it right now.  Don't
wait for some better, less stressful moment.  Do
it now.

Imagine that you have just been through your own
life event.  You are now in a situation to
completely start anew.  You are not tied to your
business.  Now, here's the big question.

Do you like what you are doing?

Do you get excited about your product?  Do you
like the way things are going around your home
office?  Do you feel that what you do benefits
people's lives?

Okay.  Open your eyes.  Stare at your monitor.
Where has this exercise taken you?  What did
you like about what came to your mind?  What
would you like to change?

Either way, this gives you a starting point to build
on, whether you are two months into your
business or two years.  Don't take this exercise
lightly.  It is tantamount to your happiness, and
thus to your success in your business.

If you don't like what you're doing, I mean really
like it, you will not be able to be successful in
your business.

Once you get this clearly in your mind, you will
be ready to focus on your own success.

------
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in
its entirety with the author's credits below.

Heidi Perry, the author of this article, is editor of
HomeBizBytes.  Sign up for her popular newsletter at
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm


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http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com
Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com

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