No one achieves success by himself. The most successful people throughout history may have had a special tenacity, but they also needed others to help them implement their dreams. Bill Gates had Paul Allen, Steve Jobs had Woz, and so on. And all of them had a team of people who supported, provided guidance or participated in creating success. In my case, I have my family’s support, a mastermind group to go to for feedback or specialists in areas I’m not as skilled in, and virtual workers that help keep things running.
It can be hard to ask for help. I’m a die-hard do-it-yourselfer and for many years I did everything. But I learned that even though I could do everything, I wasn’t the best at everything and often trying to do it all wasted time. Today, if there is something I want to do, I talk to people I trust first, research, and often pay someone else to take care of it.
Help comes in all forms. It can mean asking your spouse or neighbor to watch the kids while you work on your work-at-home dream. Or it might include getting the kids to pitch in around the house more.
So don’t be afraid to ask for help. Join networks of others in your industry or that can help you learn about what it takes to work at home. Facebook, LinkedIn, and other online networks are terrific for learning more and getting feedback on your efforts. They’re also great places for finding experts to hire so you can spend your time focused on what you do best. Another option is to find a mentor who can show you the ropes that you avoid pitfalls and reach your success faster.
If you can’t afford a mentor, consider joining a mastermind group. I belong to Solo Masterminds, which is rich in successful online entrepreneurs ready to provide feedback, advice and support. Plus there are tons educational materials in all sorts of areas from business building, scripts to use on your website and more. I often stop by to answer questions. And when I’m stuck, I often ask for help or feedback there.
