International
Chairman of Action International Brad Sugars, believes there are
5 key motivations fuelling the growing popularity of professional
home based business: time, lifestyle, profit, team and technology.
"Obviously
time is a key factor when working from home. Home based professionals
such as our Business Coaches are not disadvantaged by the down
time normally spent travelling to and from work and they enjoy
flexible hours," he said.
According
to Sugars flexible working hours is just one of the reasons that
a professional home based business offers the ultimate lifestyle.
"The lifestyle
of a professional working from home allows for increased interaction
with family members, a tailored work environment and the freedom
to set the self paced completion of tasks," he said.
He also firmly
believes in the win-win relationship existing between home based
business and their client base due to increased profit potential.
"One of the
great advantages of a home office is the low overheads. What our
business coaches save on renting an expensive office suite can
be passed on to their clients - creating a win-win solution for
both parties,"
"Clients
also benefit from flexible working hours and can schedule regular
coaching calls to occur before or after work," he said.
Sugars also
notes that many of his coaches work together with their partner
to create a great team synergy in the home environment.
"After years
spent working in separate careers many home based professionals
can involve their partner in the business. Partners can be involved
in a business development and support role and teenage children
who have excellent computer skills can earn some extra pocket
money," he said.
Not surprisingly
the rapidly expanding portfolio of business technology makes the
home based option a very attractive one.
"All of our
business coaches are a part of a global network utilising e-mail
and the Internet as well as having regular teleconferencing calls
with their Master Franchisee, Coaches Coach and fellow team members.
This combined with a universal database system allows for a very
professional approach to business from their own home office,"
he said.
Sugars concedes
that the home office environment is not immune to the challenges
faced in the convential work environment and explains that a day
in the life of a home based professional is anything but average.
"There is
no such thing as a typical day. By necessity, we ask our coaches
to reserve time in each day for different kinds of chores eg.
starting Mondays with a meeting and ending Fridays with writing
reports,
"There is
also time reserved for their training and attendance at workshops.
Home based professionals must be proactive and consistent in furthering
their own personal and professional development," he said.
Sugars explains
that many of the coaches have worked with other home based business
professionals to provide them with a well needed objective opinion.
"The coaches
are fortunate in having other ACTION
team members as a sounding board. Many of our clients who work
from home are looking for coaches to give them an objective appraisal
of their business and marketing. Whilst they can turn to their
accountant for financial advice and their lawyer for legal advice
a coach can help them systemise and market their business," he
said.
